Angie and sleep (or lack thereof)

Lately we've been having some difficulty with Angie sleeping at night.

Ever since Angie was little, she would softly rock herself to sleep in her crib. Basically, she would be sitting up in her crib while rocking until she fell asleep. A few months ago, she started to climb out of her crib during the night, so we purchased a regular size bed.

Since then, we've been experiencing some difficulty at night. Angie has been waking up during the night and has been sitting in the living room rocking in Alfonso's chair. I think waking up in the night is nothing new to her, but since she no longer has her crib to lean against, she now needs to calm herself by rocking in Alfonso's chair.

Not only is this disturbing the household (she often wakes up in the middle of the night and is very vocal- singing and talking, while waking up the household) but she is not sleeping as much at night. Every morning we find her lying in an uncomfortable position in Alfonso's chair. She is often very irritable during the day, and will try to fall asleep in the afternoon. We generally try to not let her sleep during the afternoon (because then she cannot fall asleep at her bedtime), but often we cannot handle her irritation.

I am not sure what to do about this, other than I hope she grows out of this stage. :(

LIke little lost sheep

hmm, I know this won't be the case in several years, but my kids are very attached to me. As Alfonso would say, "they follow you around like little lost sheep." And literally, they do. If I go upstairs to brush my teeth or put away clothes, I immediately hear my kids saying "mama?" and follow me upstairs. Or if I go downstairs to take the garbage to the big bins, I hear them say "mama?" and follow me downstairs.

My kids are two and three, what is going on? Are they still fearful of abandonment (or whatever stage those psychology theorists have come up with)?

I love the bond that I share with them, but it's difficult for me to have a moment to myself. And they still cry if I leave them home with Alfonso. At least after I have worked for two days, Angie is ready to give me plenty of kisses and hugs. I love having her run to me and sharing a long hug with her. She will often sigh and rest her head on my shoulder. And I love seeing Christopher's little face pressed up against his bedroom window when I am pulling into the garage after being gone for 14.5 hrs at work. When I am walking inside the house, I will hear him shouting "mama!" from his room.

I love my babies and I know that I will miss this time in their lives.

A year later....

Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted. A little too long! I am doing well, much has been going on in our lives. I was reminded of my blog earlier this evening while skimming through old emails. I remember the reason why I started this blog nearly 5 years ago. It was when I first became pregnant with my son Christopher and I wanted to share our journey of parenthood and marriage.

These last several years haven't always been easy. Both of our immediate families live in other states. We also work (myself part time at 2 days/week and Alfonso 3 days/week) and we have children that are a year apart. Our lives have changed quite drastically over a very short period of time. Last year I was diagnosed with an auto immune disorder that has led me to undergo numerous tests and requires me to see two specialists every couple of months. I am doing well, but at times I feel fatigued.

I am back in school (I joined this past fall) and I am taking classes part time for my BSN. I hope to have my degree completed by Fall 2013. Speaking of which, I need to start my readings for this next week.

I love the rain!

I never thought that I would say this, but I am tired of seeing sunshine 360 days a year. This week has been amazing since it has been raining for the last several days. Not just a little sprinkle or two, but a downpour that has threatened the closing of freeways, and has caused neighborhood evacuations from potential landslides.

Now onto more serious matters. On Wednesday I had my bone marrow biopsy. It was very painful and I hope to never go through it again. I am sure half of the office heard me crying. It was like having a nail driven into your hip and then a sharp, pulling, aching pressure that traveled down my left leg. I should've taken the sedative... I will find out the results two weeks from now. I am still hobbling about in pain, and taking ES Tylenol every 6 hrs. It makes picking up kids and changing diapers a little painful, but laying them down on the floor makes it a little easier.

The haps

Back in November I went to have my blood drawn for a routine set of tests that my PCP ordered for me. A few weeks later, I found out that my WBC's were low (3.2) so she ordered another blood test to double check. It was still low (3.5, normal is 4.4-11) so I asked for a referral to see a hematologist. I actually had to insist upon it, since my PCP thought that "this could be my norm." I didn't think it was my norm, and went to the extent of retrieving my blood work for the last two years. I got my way...

So, I've been seeing this hematologist since December (and let me tell you how depressing it is to be sitting in a waiting room with people with cancer) and after a series of tests to determine why my WBC's are low (latest is 2.5) they are going to be doing a bone marrow biopsy in the next week or so. Maybe something is depressing my immune system... or maybe it's my norm. But you start to feel your own mortality after hearing words like leukemia, hepatitis, or lupus being spoken. So far no lupus or hepatitis, but we'll have more insight after this bone marrow biopsy.

Starting over....

Okay blog, it's been a super long time since we've last corresponded. I guess I've been experiencing a bit of a writer's block. And life with two kids, a husband and a part time has kept me pretty busy.

I took the kids to the park yesterday. It was a perfect fall day; the air was clean and crisp, the sky was a perfect blue and the leaves on the trees were a golden yellow. I had the best time with the kids. Besides playing on the swings and climbing the jungle gym, I was able to sit back and watch the kids play. I didn't have to supervise every step the kids took.

I remember a year ago when Angie was 5 months old and Christopher was nearly 18 months. I remember having to hold Angie in my arms while pushing Christopher on a swing or bfeeding Angie while watching Christopher run across the park into a neighbor's yard. I am thankful that times have changed and it's gotten a bit easier.
The first year with the kids was difficult, but I am a stronger person beacause of this.

Hiii!

It's been a little rough these last few weeks. We were all sick with the flu last week. The kids got it first, and then Alfonso and I were sick. We ended up calling off from work for a few days while we all recuperated. Then a few nights ago, Christopher woke up at 1:30am and vomited all over his crib. Poor Alfonso had to clean him up (I was working the next day). Christopher is doing ok now, it was probably something that he ate that didn't agree with him.

My mom is officially on her journey to Africa to see my sister Crystal. She flew from Traverse City-Detroit. And then from Detroit-Paris. They have a stop over in Paris for a day or two, and then from there they are flying to Niger (West Africa). She is going with a childhood friend of my sister. This is the first time that my mom has travelled outside of the US. I hope that she will be okay... Niger is very hot and windy, so I hope she doesn't have a flare up with her asthma.

We have Angela's 9 month appointment this week. She isn't crawling yet, but moves around by creeping. It's hilarious to see her moving around the house. :) She is eating very well; loves most foods with the exception of pears and applesauce (too sour?). She even eats her vegetables! I am still bfeeding her, but not nearly as often. I will be a little sad when she is weaned. I will not miss pumping while I am at work. I get so stressed when I can't pump (because I am too busy and such) so it will be nice to not have any additional stress while at work.

I plan on posting some more pics soon. I ended up dropping my Olympus digital camera (I've had it for almost 5.5 years) so it would cost too much to fix it. I am now using Alfonso's camera, but the camera doesn't take the best photos. I hope that once we have some extra money saved for our emergency fund, I can store a little extra for an entertainment fund. I have my eye set on the Canon Rebel. :)

I smell teething

So.. this may be a little odd. But I can tell when my children are teething by the smell of their breath. It reminds of blood, but a little more medicinal. I could tell when Christopher was teething (I was pregnant at the time with Angela) and since having Angela, I've been breastfeeding.. So maybe it's hormone related? I was asking my dentist about this, but she had never heard of it. But I googled "teething breath" and a few hits showed up, so I am not the only one.

The reason why I bring this up is because Angela is teething, and a tiny little bud is starting to pop on the lower left part of her gums. She's been gnawing on me a bit more than usual, and has been fussy this entire evening.

It's been a long (long) time!

Hi everyone, sorry for the tardiness with this blog. I figured I should put something out there, since it's been several months since my last update.

These last few months have been busy with the holidays and my return of going back to work. It's been quite an adjustment for everyone, especially for Alfonso. However, I think we are doing okay. Work has been going pretty well for me, despite the annoying politics and the layoffs that were going around the hospital. I think it has settled down for now, but for a couple of weeks it was pretty high strung. We are always hearing about "the budget" from the management, so it can be tiresome.

I am only work two days a week (12.5 hr shifts) but I am so tired on my days off. I don't usually sleep well (I sleep downstairs in the guest room) while Angela is upstairs with Alfonso. I always wake up during the night feeling uncomfortable (I am used to feeding her during the night at some point) and I can hear her crying upstairs for me.

I am still pumping while I am at work, (usually twice, sometimes three times) and we've been giving her solids for the last two months. She loves her meals.. she makes screeching noises when the spoon is not in her mouth. I can't give her the food fast enough. She is quite the piggy.

Christopher is doing well. We think he is going through a growth spurt, since he eats all of the time (literally two breakfasts in the am, lunch, snack, dinner, dinner snack). It's crazy... and think about how many diaper changes coincide with all of this eating.

I am turning 30 in two weeks! I am feeling pretty excited. I loved the second half of my twenties, so I hope my thirties are just as amazing. And this will be the first time Alfonso and I have been in the same decade with our ages. Haha!

Here are some recent photos of the kids:

Angela at 5 months

Angela is 5 months today... Such a big girl. And totally loves to be held, especially by mama. She has been doing complete rolls for the last several weeks. Depending on what part of the floor we lay her on, she will occasionally roll into furniture and then get stuck. I am usually in the other room when I hear her squawking, so I have to run out and rescue her.

We had our first family photos taken last week. After rushing to meet the photographer, I was picking Angela up from the carseat and saw that her entire back was covered in poop. Normally this wouldn't be a problem (we carry extra clothing for this type of occasion) but this time we didn't have an appropriate outfit to change into (the pink and white striped Nike onesie wouldn't have coordinated with the rest of the family). Poor little girl.. She didn't seem to mind though. Here is the finished product. We plan on sending this out with our Christmas cards.



We had a very nice Thanksgiving. Our friends from Berkely came down and visited us. Rather than cooking a turkey with all the fixings, we made carne asada on the grill and had corn tortillas, rice, beans, homemade salsa and homemade guacamole. Yum! It was sooo good. Then we had pumpkin pie for dessert.

I have so much to be thankful for. A wonderful husband, two healthy and beautiful children, my wonderful family and friends, and a great career!

Video of Christopher walking on Halloween

Angela at 4 months

It's hard to believe that Angela is now 4 months old. She is no longer considered an infant, but a full fledged baby! We had out doctors appointment yesterday; Angela weighed in at 13 lbs, 2 ounces and 24 inches long. She is in the 40th percentile for height and weight.

She is noticeably more alert; enjoys smiling, squealing, and cooing with us. She has started grabbing objects and will bring them to her mouth. She loves to roll onto her stomach and prefers to lie on her side while sleeping.

Christopher has adapted quite well to her. I will occasionally find him trying to touch her mouth and eyes, but otherwise doesn't pester her too often. It's cute when they smile and interact with each other. I hope that they will play together when they are a little older.

We had a very enjoyable Halloween. We spent the early part of the afternoon at a Halloween party with other mothers and their babies. In the evening we went to the mall and Christopher enjoyed his first carousal ride.

I am looking forward to starting my job in December, as staying home with the kids can be quite mundane. I feel that I will be a better wife/mother with the occasional break from home. I hope that this will work for the family.

Christopher walking

What we've been up to...

This week has been going a little bit better. Christopher is still teething, and two molars are popping through his gums. I've been giving him tylenol, especially before bedtime to help alleviate the pain.

Last week Angela hit her 3 month growth spurt and wanted to nurse every 2-3 hours day and night. I was getting a little worried that this was going to become a habit (especially at night) but for the last 2 nights she has only woken up once. Thank goodness, especially since the sleep deprivation was starting to hit me hard.

Still doing stroller strides; every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It can be a little hectic getting everyone out the door by 8:30 every morning, but I am always glad to get a good workout in.

We took the kids hiking last week. Angela is finally able to handle the car rides without having a complete meltdown, so now we can go places. Last week we went to malibu and enjoyed a nice sunset over the ocean. This weekend we are attending a fall festival in nearby Palmdale.

Here are some recent photos:

A weekend of growth spurt, teething and stomach virus

Blaaaa! It's been a rough week! I started feeling sick Thursday (stomach cramps, nausea, poor appetite, achy joints, fever) and spent Thursday and Friday schlepping around the house.

Poor Angie decides that she is going to enter her 3 month growth spurt a little early, and has been eating every 2-3 hours night and day. I've done my best to keep myself well hydrated while munching on toast for two days.

Then, Christopher developed a fever on Thursday, so we just treated it with tylenol and fluids. I figured he was going through whatever I was going through. Then yesterday he started to get the "teething breath" (I have super acute smell and can smell when his teeth are breaking through) and sure enough he is popping two molars on the bottom. This morning he puked up his breakfast, so we have been giving him fluids and toast. He had a slight fever this afternoon, so I gave him tylenol and he seemed to be feeling better.

What a weekend! I hope everything is resolved by Monday!

stroller strides

It's been a busy couple of weeks. I recently started a work out routine so that I can get back into shape. I joined this group called stroller strides, which is apparently nationwide. www.strollerstrides.com

Stroller strides involves walking with your stroller along a route and doing various work out stations along the way. We use bands to work on triceps/bicep curls, while also doing lunges, squats, stairs and other activities. I have noticed a difference in my shape in the last three weeks, and I have lost 5 lbs so far. It is a good way to work out, meet other women and expose the children to the nice outside air. I figure that since I cannot join a gym, this is the best way for me to get back into shape. We have been doing stroller strides 3-4 times a week, which has kept us pretty busy.

I've also been keeping myself busy with baking. I love baking, and recently I have been baking zucchini chocolate chip muffins (thanks to AJ for posting the recipe on her blog) and banana bread. Today I am hoping to try a pumpkin-oatmeal muffin recipe. I bought wheat flour, bran, and flax seed, and I've been substituting with those ingredients to increase the nutritional value in the muffins. I've also been using applesauce instead of vegetable oil and you can't tell the difference. I figure I can just freeze the muffins, and we can use them for a snack or quick breakfast.

Christopher has recently started taking step (4-5 steps at a time), which is really cool to watch. Angela has begun "talking" to us; which sounds similar to someone softly blowing their nose (it's really cewt!). She really enjoys her play mat and get's really excited when she makes the toys move.

yargh!

Just got off the phone with HR.. it's like pulling teeth to get any information. To make a long story short, I won't be going back to work until December 22nd (was pushing for January 5th, but am maxed out on leave of absence). Then when I restart work, I will be part time.

geesh

So the other night I was making dinner.. I had Angie on her play mat in the living room while I was preparing our meal. All of a sudden I hear her crying (more like squawking) and I ran over to investigate.

Angie had managed to roll onto her stomach and was lying on the play mat looking rather discombobulated. Poor baby...

A recent photo of our Angie:

Crystal's Camel

Ok, so it seems that Crystal is wanting to raise money to buy a camel for her village. She will use this camel to transport large/heavy items for her tree planting project, and if she is able to buy a female camel (they are more expensive) she will have it mate. Of course she will donate the camel to the village once she has finished her service with the PC.

My mom (Ruth) is collecting money for those that are interested in donating. She will send the money via Western Union. You can send a check or money to my mom:

Ruth Pilon
1175 AuSable Trail
Grayling, MI 49738

Thank you!

Just photos- enjoy!