Trick-or-Treat 2010

Baby Builder's, Inc. "Under Construction" (Complete with a WSU hard hat)

Bella the Bumblebee and a Green-haired Penguin, Araya

Bella's ready for trick-or-treating with her Minnie Mouse basket from Memaw

Attempting to round up 15 kids for a pre trick-or-treating picture...Not so much.

Trick-or-treating with Daddy

Halloween Weekend Fun 2010

Bella's school director, Michelle, helps Bella in Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin

The kids lining up for games

Story time with Mr. Pat

At the end of the party, we found Bella traded in her bee costume for the Princess Dress

Our Halloween festivities kicked off Saturday afternoon at Bella's School's First Halloween Party. Unfortunately, I had to spend the day at work, so Charles took care of finishing our costumes, making something for the potluck, and making sure Bella's costume was complete. (I must say, he did an amazing job!)

Bella had a blast - all the kids really enjoyed being dressed up and having free reign at the school. They ran the hallways and the dining room until they were all tuckered out. As we left, Bella asked, "Are we going to a party again?" She always wants to make sure that we'll see her friends again.

A Stitch in Time

Bella, in the dentist's chair, for the x-rays.

I received a page while at work on Monday, around lunch. I didn't recognize the number and it made me nervous to return the call. I waited a minute before picking up the phone, then dialed the number.

Michelle, Bella's school director, answered the phone. Initially, I was relieved to hear a friendly voice, then it struck me that she was paging me...and there's only one reason she would page me.

She tells me that she just got off the phone with Charles and that he's on his way to the school. What? Why? Is Bella ok?

Michelle: Bella fell on the playground and hit her face. It's pretty messy, she was bleeding a lot from her mouth and her nose...but it's slowing...she's starting to calm down now...we've given her popsicles and we tried to put ice on her face, but she's not tolerating it very well.

What? Huh? Is she ok?

Michelle goes on: Well, with you and Charles being the experts in health care, I just called Charles so he could take a look at her and decide what to do.

I couldn't get off the phone fast enough to call Charles.

Me: Charles. What happened? He tries to calm me... You call me the instant you see her. I'm heading into a meeting, but page me the instant you see her.

Nervously sit through first twenty minutes of meeting. Pager goes off.

Charles: We're headed your way.
Me: What? Huh? Why?
Charles: She looks pretty bad, but she's having a popsicle now. Bleeding's stopped. I just want to make sure she doesn't have a broken nose. I'm glad you weren't there to see her initially - it was pretty bad.
Me: Oh.my.goodness. Page me the second you are here.

Another half hour goes by before they arrived.

I met them in the ER and my heart just about broke in half. I'm pretty sure I heard it tear into a million pieces. The left side of her face was puffy and swollen, blood was oozing from her mouth and nose. She looked like Rocky after a fight....

I'll spare you all of the details of the painful exams by various folks, the sound of Bella screaming, the look of horror on her face as we held her down, hearing her cry "I don't want to" from twenty feet down the hall... I completely get why we always ask the parents to leave... I completely get the neurotic parent that we nurses roll our eyes at... I get it. My compassion meter went through the roof.

They ended up "attempting" to stitch up the lacerations under her top lip. It was horrible. I actually left because I knew I wouldn't be able to let it happen. They bundled her up so she was completely restrained. Charles stayed with her. I came back too soon and I could hear her screaming from down the hallway.

Needless to say, she didn't handle it well, there was too much blood, she didn't sit still (obviously) and Charles put a stop to it all. They got one stitch in and we decided to take her home and monitor it ourselves.

She passed out afterward, we packed her up, and went home. I picked up a soft/liquid diet for her of popsicles, apple sauce, yogurt, pudding and I made jello. I also picked up Toy Story 2.

It was quite honestly the hardest four hours of my parenting life thus far. Without a doubt.

Today is Thursday. The swelling has improved somewhat, but the bruising persists. Her lip is back to normal though there are a couple of abrasions.

We follow up on Monday. I'm anxious to see what she remembers of it all and how she'll handle being back in the dentist chair.

And now I want to put my child in a bubble. I hate that I can't always protect her. It's the worst feeling.

BH2: 9 more weeks

On my 30th week and 6th day of this pregnancy I went in for an ultrasound to check on BH2’s health and development.

My OB had expressed concern because I was measuring too small. (Which of course, catapulted me into a feverish state of worry and research and more worry.)

In the days that I waited for my ultrasound, I was incredibly intentional about my nutrition, dietary habits, sleep positions, rest, hydration status, physical activity and cautious during my play with Bella. I had convinced myself that I could fix this measurement problem in the week before the ultrasound. Ha!

I had really wanted Bella to be there for the appointment, unfortunately Charles and I both got held up at work too long to allow us to pick up Bella before my appointment.

All in all, BH2 is doing great!

Weight: 3.4 lbs
Percentile: Just over 50th percentile
Heart rate: 140s
Amniotic Fluid: 15.5 (normal: 5 – 25)
Position: Head angled down by my right leg, facing forward. Legs bent and crossed at the time – directed to my left shoulder. BH2’s spine is on top of mine.
Measurements: matching my weeks
Est. Due Date: Still New Year’s Eve!
Gender: One of them for sure.

Drama on the Playground

Bella: Mia wasn't talking to me today.
Me: Why wasn't Mia talking to you today?
Bella: Because I was playing with Cash (a little boy in their class).
Me: She didn't like that you were playing with Cash?
Bella: No, because Cash was my baby.

Oh. my. goodness.

Here's another one from the church playground this weekend. All the kids including Bella were outside after the service, playing, running, climbing on the equipment. Charles and I went out to collect Bella, so we called to her and she came running over in tears.

Me: What's wrong? Why are you crying?
Bella: Because all the other kids keep playing with Brandon.
Me: Honey, you're all playing together! It's ok...
Bella: But I want to play with Brandon!

Meanwhile, Brandon has come over and started tickling her as she tries to squirm away.

We walk away and she says, "I want to see Brandon again!"

What is going on?!

Why am I Surprised?

Why am I so surprised that God knew just what I needed this weekend?

Saturday I was feeling exasperated, out of patience, at my ropes' end, helpless, hopeless, and full of self pity. Attractive, right?

Work has been incredibly stressful due to recent events at the hospital. All of us in administration have been operating in crisis mode, knee-jerk reactions, bottom lines, and damage control. My hours have been long, the work endless. The projects and committees continue to form.

My body has been tiring, slowing. It has been getting more difficult to help Bella get dressed, get on and off the potty, play. Sleep is elusive.

And, to top it off, Charles' unexpected injury which put him on the bench for several days.

I just felt like I couldn't be pulled any more and I felt like a disappointment.

That night, Charles felt well enough to keep Bella while I went to a women's outreach event with the girls from church.

Sometimes, all you need is a little perspective. The women's shelter facilitator came to speak to us about the ladies that come to the drop-in center, their struggles, their stories, and their successes.

Abuse.
Desperation.
Homelessness.
Abandonment.
Addiction.
Their children taken away.

Perspective.
God knew just what I needed to yank me from my hole. Surprise, surprise.

I quickly took stock of all the wonderful things in our life and counted all my blessings as I put together care packages of socks, deodorant, shampoo, etc for women who had real struggles.

My mountain turned back into an anthill -- maybe even smaller.

30 Weeks

I had my 30 week check up on Friday. I should find out early this week about my glucose tolerance test. No signs of preterm labor. The only thing she did say was that I was measuring small for being 30 weeks. She ordered an ultrasound for Thursday to get more accurate measurements. It didn't occur to me to be worried about it until I came home and Charles asked if we should be concerned. So, of course, I started googling and web MD-ing...and needless to say, I'm worried.

Have I been eating right?
Is my placenta doing it's job?
Did I eat something dangerous?
Intrauterine growth restriction?
Low amniotic fluid?

And that's not even the tip of the iceberg.
Four more days until the ultrasound...

Go, Team, Go!

I couldn't resist buying this outfit! I went to Walmart (I hate going to Walmart), but I was buying things to make care packages for a women's shelter. Anyhow, came across this WSU cheerleader outfit -- the only one in a sea of UW gear (boo, hiss). Wasn't cheap, but Charles never balks at WSU paraphernalia. I think she's flipping adorable in it! Charles agreed, but saw a flash forward image of her 16 years from now! Yikes!

The Tendon Repair

Here's Charles immediately after his procedure. Still pretty groggy in this picture.

Here we are heading home. Bella was a little afraid of hurting daddy's arm.

Charles' surgery went well. The doctor was able to reconnect the tendons with a solid connection and little else was involved. He repaired the cut artery as well. Though it was just a minor surgery compared to many, we're always relieved when it goes without a hitch. Charles has months of rehab ahead of him with a goal of being able to carry our new baby by the time BH2 arrives. For the next several weeks, Charles is not to lift more than 1/2 - 1 pound with his left arm.

Though this has been an unfortunate slip up and minor bump in the road, I like to think of it as a forced rest period for Charles. He's been going at 150 mph since he started this job, 24/7 and friends, coworkers, and I all think this will be a good respite for him.

Today he's managed to squeak out a couple of work e-mails, but for the most part, he has rested, slept, and taken advantage of his pain meds.

This will be a nice change of pace.

Cuts Like a Knife

Our Sunday night was progressing quite typically; Josh was coming over with his girls to play and hang out. I was in the bathroom with Bella getting one leg in her pull up -- when all of I sudden I hear shouting from Charles and hear him running to the kitchen sink.

I leave Bella (one leg in and one leg out) to see what the commotion was and just saw his right hand clenching his left and blood spurting between the fingers. I quickly went into nurse mode and tried to figure out what happened. He tells me he stabbed himself - lots of blood splatter. He's holding so tight that his right hand's knuckles have gone white... in the meantime, Charles has also gone pale as a ghost though he's not squeamish with blood at all. He started to break into a cold sweat. I grabbed a chair and sat him down before he could pass out (though he didn't thankfully).

At this point he won't let go for me to see it or dress it. His thumb, where he's finally told me he stabbed himself, was blue at the end from the pressure. Apparently, Charles was rewiring behind the TV and cutting some cables when the knife slipped. I examined the living room and found blood splatter as far as the other side of the room and in various places on the floor. (The CSI freak in me confirmed the blood was arterial based on blood splatter; he had cut an artery.)

I called Josh to tell him to turn around because we would need to head to the ER for stitches. He offered to come over anyway and watch Bella since the girls really wanted to see each other. They arrived and Charles finally recovered and let me bandage his wound. (We've got the coolest first aid bag, by the way).

The funny thing is that you'd think we'd go to Charles' ER. Not so, my friends, not so. Charles, always thinking of work like he is, wanted to go to his competitors free standing emergency department. (For those of you that don't know, Charles proposed, planned and is building a free standing ED in Redmond.) So, we passed his hospital by 20 minutes just to go check out the competitors. Sheesh. (Bonus: this place was near the Krispy Kreme...)

Stitches, antibiotics and a recommendation to follow up with the hand doctor is what we left the emergency room with. Charles still cannot move his thumb at all and we worry he has damaged the tendons some how. I'm crossing my fingers (haha) that it's just the inflammation that's preventing movement.

I left Charles to get ready to leave and I assigned Bella to keep an eye on daddy. As I left the room, I hear Bella ask, "Daddy, are you ok? You have an owie?"

Careful with sharp objects, kiddo.

Emergency Preparedness Fair

Charles and his team host an emergency preparedness fair annually at his hospital. Bella and I, devoted child & wife, always make an appearance to support daddy. We learn about disaster planning, collect bags of freebies from vendors, check out emergency vehicles, and watch demonstrations. Fun, fun. Bella was actually crying in this picture, wanting to get down. Smile, and you can get down. Mommy wants a picture.

Dear BH2

We can't wait to meet you.

Your sister is especially excited, but I wonder what in her mind she has conjured up thinking about you. She talks about you all the time and already, she is protective of you. She hesitates to hug me because she doesn't want to squish you. Do you know that that's your sister giving you raspberries - that thunderous noise you hear randomly throughout the day, yeah, that one. That's your big sis. She also gives you kisses. When she comes home from school, she runs up to me and lifts my shirt up so she can see how much you've grown. She calls you her baby. She says, "Mommy, you have my baby!"

About your sister... you'll have to cut her some slack. She's had us all to herself for three years. She may not share well right away and she may be a little rough with you. But I'm guessing you're a pretty tough cookie (like your sister). Bella may over hug and over squeeze, but in time she'll learn that she's got to be gentle with you. She's been practicing with her baby Sally and so far, Sally's in pretty good shape.

I wish there was a way to catch you up on all the places we've been and all the things we've done, all of our little family's history. Someday we'll show you all the pictures and share with you all the memories from before you came -- I'm sure you'll grow tired of the same old stories one day. Except for pictures, I'll soon not remember life before you, just as I can't imagine life without Bella.

I can't wait for all the new memories our little family of four will make. I picture you and Bella together all the time -- in the backseat on a road trip, at restaurants, at playgrounds, on rides, sitting on Santa's lap. My imagination runs wild with thoughts of all four of us laughing and playing, giggling and holding hands and I turn into a sappy, happy pile of mush. (Which I'm sure you'll grow weary of as well... every time you have a first...)

I know my schedule hasn't been easy on you (then again, you're not exactly taking it easy on mommy either!). I'm up early and on the go all day; I know I don't get enough sleep. My job is stressful and emotional and perhaps you'd like some more balance and regularity in there. I enjoy you poking and playing with me during meetings; I'm sure my colleagues wonder what I'm smiling about. People at work are always asking me if I'm ok, because I've always got my hands on my belly. If only they knew we were holding hands and high-fiving. I love having you with me all day.

Your daddy is amazing. He's super excited to meet you. What you'll learn about daddy is that he's got banks of energy like nobody else. He works hard and the gears in his mind are always turning. Daddy likes to make up silly songs and they'll stick with you until you're old. Daddy's pretty much a natural at being a dad. When you get stronger he'll roll around on the floor with you, toss you in the air, have tickle wars, and he'll teach you many things that I can't teach you. He loves you fiercely.

We can't wait to meet you.

28 weeks

Side ruching = seriously flattering. My bump looks half the size than in my other clothes. Maybe if I wore ruched tops all the time people would stop guessing that I was due any day now!

BH2 Update

Let's see if I can come up with baby's first list of 10:

1. Baby is most likely a fox trotting boxer and a soccer player - simultaneously.
   
2. Baby is most active at night - just as I'm trying to sleep. Starting early!
3. My belly is measuring a centimeter smaller than it should be. (Take that all of you who gawk at the fact that I still have 3 months left!)
4. Baby feels like he/she's super low, really putting the pressure on my bladder.
5. Baby and I have our glucose tolerance test next week.
6. Baby is wreaking havoc on my hips and back.
7. Baby is giving me heartburn!
   
8. If Baby is a boy, we've got his name set.
   
9. If Baby is a girl, we've got a first name and we're still working on a middle name.
10. BH2 already has his/her first package of newborn swaddlers waiting for him/her. (Thanks to cousin Josiah who couldn't use them!)
11. Baby is already soooooo loved by soooooooooo many!

Phew.

A Bella Update

1. We buy her tops in 4T, her pants in 3T, and her shoes in 8 - 9. Such a big girl!
2. Me: "Bella. Knock, knock." Bella: "Come in!"
3. She tells me stories about her friends at daycare. For example, she came home the other day and said, "Claire was throwing dirt. I don't like her throwing dirt. She got a time out because she was throwing dirt. Throwing dirt is not nice."
   
4. She also tells on her friends, i.e., "So and so pushed me by the car and he got a time out. We don't push or we get a time out."
5. Bella asks if she can play her games on "Daddy's iPad".
   
6. At bedtime, I usually read her a book and then she likes to read it back to me. It's super cute how she flips the pages and tells me about the pictures.
   
7. Bella tries to postpone us leaving her room at bedtime by calling to us (as we walk out), "Mommy, I have a kiss for you!" (and of course I have to go back in and get my kiss!)
8. She loves to give my belly raspberries "to wake the baby up".
9. We're currently giving her eye medication twice a day. She had been telling us "there's a bump in my eye", so we pulled her eyelid down and saw that she had a large inflamed, red area under her eyes. We took her to her pediatrician and we tried allergy meds for a week, to no avail. So, we got a referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist and now we are trying steroid eye drops for a week. On another note, she got a complete eye exam and we learned Bella has 20/15 vision! She passed all her eye exams with flying colors!
10. Potty training update: if we take her every half hour to an hour, she does not use her pull ups. However, she still will not tell us she needs to go. We need to try harder - it's just hard not being home for long stretches. It doesn't help that our friends of older girls and multiple children are now advising us to just wait since Bella will most likely regress once baby is born anyway. Biggest. Frustration. Ever.
    
11. Bella's uber snuggly. Not sure if it's a regular stage or a result of baby coming... No matter what the reason, I'm really loving snuggly Bella and enjoying precious moments with her.
    

It All Catches Up

It was bound to catch up to us. Hard and full work weeks sandwiched between busy, fast, and sleepless weekends finally got us. This past weekend Town Hall was down for the count with cold symptoms. Boo. Friday was restful as we stuck to our evening routine. On Saturday Charles and Pastor Fred headed to Covington for an outreach seminar. I had originally planned on going as well - we even had a sitter in place (Pastor's girls were going to watch Bella), but I was on call, so I had to cancel. However, I did take the girls up on the babysitting for some much needed "momma" time.

I felt a little guilty, but I convinced myself that errands and shopping would be more efficient if I went alone. Plus, Bella loves playing with Kendra & Claire. Getting her in and out of the car and in and out of carts - the thought overwhelmed me. (See? I'm still trying to convince myself that it was ok for me to take some time to myself...) I ran about town adding to my maternity wardrobe - quite successfully, I might add.

I picked Bella up after about 4 hours and we went home, snuggled, and fell fast asleep. Charles came home shortly after and we simply hunkered down as we all were starting to feel sick. Same can be said for Sunday after church.

And, now we're back to the grind just two days into our work week... hopefully we'll be able to enjoy this coming weekend!