Jeremy is continuing to fine-tune his low-budget movie-making skills. This week's installment includes teasing our dog with food, and Luke's first Dance Party . . .
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Soy Boy
*Sigh* Look at that sweet boy! Luke had his two month appointment on Tuesday. Actually, "two month" is a bit of a misnomer; after all, he was 11 weeks old on appointment day - isn't that nearly three months? Anyway, my mommy friends had prepared me that the visit would be traumatic because Luke would get so many shots. I called in a half-day sub so that I'd have plenty of time to go to the appointment, take Luke to Honey and Grandfather's, go to the pharmacy to pick up some Infant Tylenol, and reapply my make-up since I figured I'd end up crying along with Luke.
Well, best laid plans...
Things started normally. We stripped Luke down so that he could be measured and weighed. Check out our growing dude!
- Birth length and weight: 21.5 inches long; 9 lbs
- 11 week length and weight: 25 inches long; 13 lbs, 6 oz.
Whoa! That means Luke nearly gained half of his birth weight for all of you math whizzes out there. : ) Of course the little man was raising hell (hates the nudity, as I've mentioned before) so we re-diapered him and headed to the exam room.... where Exorcist Baby appeared.
Dr. Scott enters and, as if on cue, Luke volcano barfs all over his brown velvet blanket (so much for warmth) and himself. Epic stuff. The next few minutes were kind of a blur between Luke's screaming and Dr. Scott's rapid-fire instructions, but in a nutshell, Dr. Scott determined that between the fluid in his ears (we didn't know!), his congestion, his rash on his arm and legs, and his nighttime fussiness, Luke might have a milk allergy. So I did make that trip to the pharmacy - to buy soy formula. So there you have it. My kid is on soy formula. We go back in two weeks to get his ears checked... and get those infamous shots. So far, the formula seems to be helping his congestions, fussiness, and rash. He's spitting up a little less... but that spit up smells like green beans. (Soy formula smells like green beans, which used to be a favorite food. Not so much now, I'm afraid.) Ahhh, the adventure that is parenthood...
Later that week - November 20 - was our four-year anniversary! So hard to believe. We celebrated the way any hip couple would: watching Survivor between diaper changes and feeding frenzy, dining on Chili's to Go (fancy!), and dressing Luke up in his fleece bear suit. (If you study his mouth closely, you can see the spit up making its way out. Seconds later, a white, pastey, green bean-smelling substance made its way all over the cute bear suit.)
All kidding aside, we cherish our anniversary more than all the others we've had. I think Jeremy would agree with me when I say that this was our best anniversary yet, because we have our little Luke. Our gratitude for his safe arrival and continued health is limitless.
Ideally, with some time off this week, I'll be able to take and post more pictures and videos. In the meantime, I wish you all a very blessed Thanksgiving. Hug and kiss your kids and cherished your loved ones!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Blogging: A Great Way to Procrastinate!
Hello readers! I hope this finds you all doing well. I couldn't help but notice a lack of comments on the previous post, and I think I know why. It's because it said Luke endorsed Obama, isn't it? Two things on that: 1)Jeremy wrote it, not me; but more importantly 2)I would hope that our blog can be a place where all who love Luke, regardless of political affiliation, can come together in the name of truth, justice, and the American way. So I ask you: can we put politics aside and focus on Luke's off-the-charts cuteness?
Yes we can. : )
And now... levity! Six weeks grades are due tomorrow, which means I am drowning in essays and behind in lesson planning. UGH. I'll try to get some essays graded while I wait for this photo to upload...
Here's Luke at his first wedding. Our good friends Tracey and David got married last Saturday. We had a wonderful time! Luke was very well behaved, though he only made it to "Dearly beloved" before he started "speaking up" in the ceremony. He loved the lights at the reception, and he even did some dancing! Our computer is too lame to upload the video at home, but maybe JRo can take care of that this week at work. We'll see...
We also have a great video of Hannah trying to get some sausage off the counter. Again, I'll have to get JR to add that from work. Well dang... this has turned out to be kind of a lame post. I'll do better next time.
*Sigh* I guess this means I should grade now. Have a great week!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
More Milestones
Luke is two months old, and big sister Hannah is three years old! That's 21 in dog years, and, to celebrate and to cope with the new stress that has entered her life over the past eight weeks, Hannah broke into our liquor cabinet. Here she is dealing with her massive hangover. (Please note that I'm kidding. I don't let my dog drink. It's just a funny picture.)
My return to work has been great in many ways but so difficult in others. The toughest part is that during the work week, I miss Luke's peak happy hours (usually 9:00 a.m. to noon) and see him during his fussiest period: the 7:00-10:00 p.m. Scream Fest. I called my mom Wednesday night convinced Luke didn't love me or know that I was his mom because he hadn't smiled at me in days. She assured me that, contrary to what I thought, he didn't smile nonstop from the time I dropped him off to the time I picked him up. I guess the good part of all of this is that I definitely treasure the time I do have with him, especially this weekend! I basically didn't leave him alone all day Saturday, and I caught some pictures of him smiling this morning. (Well, I guess more accurately, this is on his way out of a smile... it is tough getting a picture of a squirmy kid!) He is all kinds of happy... until he realizes how long it has been since he last ate, and then he raises hell. I did not get a picture of that for you, though his mopey, pushed out bottom lip face is the cutest damn thing I've ever seen.... is that wrong for me to say?
A few more things. I took some "nudes" of Luke so you could see his hysterical tummy. I think his torso is shaped like an upside-down cupcake: narrow ribs and then POW - big ole gut. Hysterical! He's also getting lots of fat rolls on his arms and legs. So precious!
Also, Luke's new favorite is his mobile! This has been a godsend during Scream Time, as he listens to his music and zones out, watching his dragonflies "fly" above him and/or stare at his bumper pad. You can also see him in his Halloween outfit. I know, I know - we're no fun for not doing a costume. But most are sized 0-9 months... that would swallow him! We'll save the fun for next year when he's more into it and can trick or treat and get something besides the all-formula-all-the-time diet he's on now. 
Luke says, "I love Mummy." And Mummy loves Luke. : ) Happy Belated Halloween, everyone!
Here are a few attempts I made at taking his monthly milestone picture in his glider next to his bear. I couldn't keep him from slumping over (though I tried two days, as evidenced by his different outfits), but you get the idea. The good news is that his slumped poses highlight his "Buddha belly." Luke is still a hearty eater and, though a semi-frequent volcanic barfer, he's clearly keeping enough food down to stay plump.
My return to work has been great in many ways but so difficult in others. The toughest part is that during the work week, I miss Luke's peak happy hours (usually 9:00 a.m. to noon) and see him during his fussiest period: the 7:00-10:00 p.m. Scream Fest. I called my mom Wednesday night convinced Luke didn't love me or know that I was his mom because he hadn't smiled at me in days. She assured me that, contrary to what I thought, he didn't smile nonstop from the time I dropped him off to the time I picked him up. I guess the good part of all of this is that I definitely treasure the time I do have with him, especially this weekend! I basically didn't leave him alone all day Saturday, and I caught some pictures of him smiling this morning. (Well, I guess more accurately, this is on his way out of a smile... it is tough getting a picture of a squirmy kid!) He is all kinds of happy... until he realizes how long it has been since he last ate, and then he raises hell. I did not get a picture of that for you, though his mopey, pushed out bottom lip face is the cutest damn thing I've ever seen.... is that wrong for me to say?A few more things. I took some "nudes" of Luke so you could see his hysterical tummy. I think his torso is shaped like an upside-down cupcake: narrow ribs and then POW - big ole gut. Hysterical! He's also getting lots of fat rolls on his arms and legs. So precious!Also, Luke's new favorite is his mobile! This has been a godsend during Scream Time, as he listens to his music and zones out, watching his dragonflies "fly" above him and/or stare at his bumper pad. You can also see him in his Halloween outfit. I know, I know - we're no fun for not doing a costume. But most are sized 0-9 months... that would swallow him! We'll save the fun for next year when he's more into it and can trick or treat and get something besides the all-formula-all-the-time diet he's on now. Luke says, "I love Mummy." And Mummy loves Luke. : ) Happy Belated Halloween, everyone! Sunday, October 26, 2008
Busy times...
I returned to work this past Wednesday, so I haven't been able to post updates as I'd like. I'll be really quick tonight, but I hope to find time to take lots of pictures on Wednesday (when Luke hits the eight week mark...wow!) and post them by the weekend.
As you can see, he's not missing any meals. : )
It's been a big few days with my recent return to work. Luke stays with Honey and Grandfather three days a week and Miss Sandra (a great recommendation from a family friend) the other two days. He's been a little prince by all accounts, and he's still - fingers crossed! - sleeping well for his mom and dad when he gets home. We hope this continues! While I've definitely missed Luke, it's been nice getting back to work and having an outlet for more "grown up" interests. (Translation: for a few hours of weekdays, my conversations do not involve wet and dirty diapers and vivid retellings of how many burps Luke had during a feeding.) I've grossly underestimated how exhausting this transition would be. We'll see how I'm feeling after my first five-day week passes.
And now - pictures...
1)This one is from Oct. 10... I just find it too hilarious. I had been trying to get a good shot of Luke's face when Hannah ambushes him with kisses. I think his expression says it all!
2)Here is a picture of Luke in his "going home from the hospital" outfit on his second day of life...
And on his 47th...
As you can see, he's not missing any meals. : ) Monday, October 13, 2008
I'm thankful...
Between the end of last school year and my current maternity leave, I've spent a lot of time watching television. (To tell the truth, I always watch a lot of television, but that isn't really my point.) Jeremy introduced me to Frasier, which was on while I was in high school and college - i.e., before I was a couch potato. This post isn't to praise the virtues of this show (which, for what it's worth, are endless - such a smart and touching comedy) but to share an epiphany I experienced after a recent episode.
I cannot remember the episode's title, but one of the major characters, Niles, is in the hospital having heart surgery. As he is wheeled off to the operating room, Niles makes a comment where he wonders whether hospitals have memories - after all, many of life's most impactful moments happen within their walls. The rest of the episode shows Niles's loved ones in the waiting room recalling significant events that happened inside that hospital - births, illnesses, accidents, disastrous diagnoses. And because Luke's crying stopped for the duration of the episode, I was really able to take it all in.
Most of you know that the first few months of 2008 were very difficult for my family and me. My dad spent the first two months of the year in ICU at Baylor Grapevine - the hospital where Luke was born almost six weeks ago. When Dad went into the hospital with trouble breathing, we all imagined the problem could be easily remedied. But within 24 hours he was being intubated and moved up to ICU. January 14 marked the beginning of several weeks of anxiety and stress for Dad's loved ones. There were several points where we didn't think he'd make it, and I can vividly recall all of my emotions during those difficult hours in the ICU waiting room. I was in agony, and not just because I didn't know if Dad was going to make it. I was in agony because, at the time, I was just six weeks pregnant. I knew I had to try to keep my emotions and stress in check, not only for my overall health, but for that of my baby. And I tried to sleep when I could, to eat right, to stay positive... yet my mind was never far from the fear that I might lose not only Dad, but also my baby - or harm him or her by not taking care of myself. I knew how important it was to be as careful as possible during my first trimester, and in the darkest of times, I just didn't believe that things could have a happy ending on both fronts. I guess that's what happens when life brings you hardship and blessing simultaneously; it's awfully difficult to embrace the good times when the bad ones are so prominent.
A day that epitomized that dilemma took place after my eight week appointment. My OB's office is right next door to Baylor Grapevine, so after my appointment, Jeremy and I headed next door to tell Mom how it went. We had a picture of little Luke - who, at that point, looked like a gummy bear - and a good report that everything was progressing just perfectly. I wanted to tell Dad about the appointment, too, but he was unresponsive. I will never forget going into Dad's room to tell him about the appointment. I shared the wonderful news through muffled sobs - because I didn't want to be telling Dad this when he couldn't truly be there. I hated that I was sharing this news without Dad's questions, without his jokes about names for the baby (in time, he'd choose "Otto Hubert," which drove me crazy), but with tubes and beeps and monitors responding in his place. Again, joy and despair merged. Quite the emotional roller coaster, particularly for one with surging pregnancy hormones.
You know, of course, how this ends: it was a long road to recovery, but Dad finally came home in mid-May, and he's doing wonderfully. As that Frasier episode reached its fitting end (a character recalling his child's birth), I looked down at my Luke - asleep in my arms, beautiful, safe, and healthy - and I broke down. In the months since Dad has been sick, I've heard of others who did not survive what he went through. Since I've had Luke, I've heard of mothers whose babies haven't been so healthy and strong. I realize how faithful God has been to me. I feared the worst of outcomes for no reason at all. Luke's grandfather does know him, and he's crazy about him. (Crazy enough to think a Youth Medium shirt fits him, as you may recall.) And the baby whose safety I worried so much about is just perfect. I'm thankful for so many things God has provided - from Dad and Luke to the grace and knowledge I've needed over these past six weeks. But after a seemingly random rerun, I'm thankful for His reminder that when hardships and blessings appear simultaneously, we should always focus on the blessings.
I cannot remember the episode's title, but one of the major characters, Niles, is in the hospital having heart surgery. As he is wheeled off to the operating room, Niles makes a comment where he wonders whether hospitals have memories - after all, many of life's most impactful moments happen within their walls. The rest of the episode shows Niles's loved ones in the waiting room recalling significant events that happened inside that hospital - births, illnesses, accidents, disastrous diagnoses. And because Luke's crying stopped for the duration of the episode, I was really able to take it all in.
Most of you know that the first few months of 2008 were very difficult for my family and me. My dad spent the first two months of the year in ICU at Baylor Grapevine - the hospital where Luke was born almost six weeks ago. When Dad went into the hospital with trouble breathing, we all imagined the problem could be easily remedied. But within 24 hours he was being intubated and moved up to ICU. January 14 marked the beginning of several weeks of anxiety and stress for Dad's loved ones. There were several points where we didn't think he'd make it, and I can vividly recall all of my emotions during those difficult hours in the ICU waiting room. I was in agony, and not just because I didn't know if Dad was going to make it. I was in agony because, at the time, I was just six weeks pregnant. I knew I had to try to keep my emotions and stress in check, not only for my overall health, but for that of my baby. And I tried to sleep when I could, to eat right, to stay positive... yet my mind was never far from the fear that I might lose not only Dad, but also my baby - or harm him or her by not taking care of myself. I knew how important it was to be as careful as possible during my first trimester, and in the darkest of times, I just didn't believe that things could have a happy ending on both fronts. I guess that's what happens when life brings you hardship and blessing simultaneously; it's awfully difficult to embrace the good times when the bad ones are so prominent.
A day that epitomized that dilemma took place after my eight week appointment. My OB's office is right next door to Baylor Grapevine, so after my appointment, Jeremy and I headed next door to tell Mom how it went. We had a picture of little Luke - who, at that point, looked like a gummy bear - and a good report that everything was progressing just perfectly. I wanted to tell Dad about the appointment, too, but he was unresponsive. I will never forget going into Dad's room to tell him about the appointment. I shared the wonderful news through muffled sobs - because I didn't want to be telling Dad this when he couldn't truly be there. I hated that I was sharing this news without Dad's questions, without his jokes about names for the baby (in time, he'd choose "Otto Hubert," which drove me crazy), but with tubes and beeps and monitors responding in his place. Again, joy and despair merged. Quite the emotional roller coaster, particularly for one with surging pregnancy hormones.
You know, of course, how this ends: it was a long road to recovery, but Dad finally came home in mid-May, and he's doing wonderfully. As that Frasier episode reached its fitting end (a character recalling his child's birth), I looked down at my Luke - asleep in my arms, beautiful, safe, and healthy - and I broke down. In the months since Dad has been sick, I've heard of others who did not survive what he went through. Since I've had Luke, I've heard of mothers whose babies haven't been so healthy and strong. I realize how faithful God has been to me. I feared the worst of outcomes for no reason at all. Luke's grandfather does know him, and he's crazy about him. (Crazy enough to think a Youth Medium shirt fits him, as you may recall.) And the baby whose safety I worried so much about is just perfect. I'm thankful for so many things God has provided - from Dad and Luke to the grace and knowledge I've needed over these past six weeks. But after a seemingly random rerun, I'm thankful for His reminder that when hardships and blessings appear simultaneously, we should always focus on the blessings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)