We made it to the north east, specifically my Grandmother's house in Rochester, NY. The journey here was exhausting! We left Colorado on a red-eye flight out of Denver at 1am. Kelly was pretty wound up at the airport and continued to terrorize her Uncle Dylan for the beginning of the flight. Layla and I sat in the row ahead of my Mom, Kelly and Dylan. I nursed Layla and she fell asleep, and then so did I until I heard the captain announce the decent into JFK airport, at which time I gently woke up Layla, nursed her again and waited to deplane the aircraft.
The entire 90min layover at JFK is a huge blur. I have no idea how we got to the next plane, but obviously we did. Then we landed in Rochester, on time and my Grandma and Aunt Liz picked us up. Once we got to my Grandma's house we ate some food, not sure what, and after One Life to Live, Layla and I took a nap. I expected her to do her usual 30 min catnap, but she surprised me and let me sleep about an hour and 20 mins. Then my mom took her nap and we eventually went to my Aunt Martha's for dinner and to visit with my cousins. Again, the whole thing is a blur, I was so tired.
Thursday my Mom and I went running through her old stomping grounds, passed her highschool Mercy, where we knelt down and said a prayer on the grotto, and continued our run. The best part is that I also lived here, at my Grandma's house, so I know the area really well too, and used to run through all the neighborhoods, so it was good. I like running with my mom, especially because it doesn't happen as often as I would like and won't be happening for a long time. The cool down we walked with my Aunt Liz, up to St. James and all around. Total it was over 7 miles!
Thursday night we went to my friend Kim's house for playtime and dinner. She has a daughter 6 weeks younger than Kelly and a son that is 6 months. It was delish! Salmon, salad, fresh fruit and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Kelly had a BLAST playing with Bre and all her awesome toys! And I had fun catching up with an old nursing buddy from Strong. She is the one who came out to visit us in North Carolina last summer.
Friday I ran with Layla in the phil&teds while Kelly played with my cousins (her second-cousins) Sarah and Caitlin. We had a good 4 miler. It is SO much easier only pushing one baby and at sea level, and with like no hills! Having Caitlin and Sarah around was nice because Kelly had lots of entertainment. They did her hair and nails too, things she does not like me doing. That night we (Aunt Martha, Megan, Amanda, my mom, Grandma, and my girls) went to dinner at the Wintonaire and listen to music on the jukebox and drank some beers. A good night.
Saturday I ran with both girls all around, probably 3-4 miles, then we got cleaned up , Kelly took her nap and Layla and I went to the Eastview mall to meet up with Aunt Martha and Megan and Amanda and I finally bought some cute outfits to wear to Aaron's graduation. I still need to get shoes though. We also had really delicious frozen yogurt. It was the first time trying it and I got a chocolate mint Froyo shake. Very Good!
Saturday evening we went to St. James Catholic Church for mass. It was really nice, the last time I had been there was for Kelly's baptism on her 4th day of life! Nothing has changed, except the Priest, which was a bummer, but they are all good. That night we went to dinner with Aunt Martha and her kids at Taka House for some of the best SUSHI. We love it!!! In fact I am craving it right now! Afterward we stopped off at my Great-Aunt Puggy's house for some chit chat.
Today (Sunday), my Mom and I went running with the girls, I needed to buy diapers, so we ran to the East Ave Wegmans ( I LOVE Wegmans), and then all around coming home. Probably 3.5-4 miles? Idk, it doesn't really matter. Then over to my Great-Aunt Jackie's to see her and my Great-Uncle Mike. My Great-Aunt Suzi and her hubby my Gerat-Uncle Jerry also stopped by, so that was fun to see them.
All in all, things are going well and I am really just trying to enjoy myself here. I kind of wish I was moving back here, instead of North Carolina...but I would miss my husband too much, so clearly that would never work, haha.
I didn't realize how much stuff I just left here when I moved out! There is crap in all the rooms I have to deal with before I leave, ugh! Unfortunately most of it is going to goodwill. The idea to hook a trailer-hitch thing to my Grandma's car is not going to work out apparently, so I can't bring my bed or her treadmill home with me :( I am totally bummed out about this, my bed is the-most-comfortable-bed I have ever slept in. I am making room for my grandma's sewing machine and one of her Kerby vacuums and probably her counter mixer (as long as it works)...and hopefully my mom's old vanity (she really wants me to have it, an Kelly would like it) and maybe a couple other things other than all the other stuff like our suitcases, jogging stroller, etc. She drives a 2006 Honda CRV so not an extreme amount of space or anything.
So, other crappy things. Layla has been giving me such a hard time when I nurse her! She is all gassed out or something??? It is so frustrating!!! A couple times I gave up and pumped and gave her a bottle. And when we go out I don't even bother trying to nurse her, I either feed her before we go, or try then end up pumping and taking a bottle. If we go to someone's house I will go through the fiasco of nursing her, otherwise if its to a restaurant, I bring a bottle (of breast milk). My stress level sky rockets! Which I know just makes it worse. I am hoping, once we are home in NC, after some R&R we can get back on track. The idea of just bottles won't fly for me because she is still waking up at least once, sometimes twice at night, so to warm up bm its just silly. When she is sleepy, she's doesn't care and just nurses no problem, but during the day, its nightmareish. She still isn't taking good naps, just short little 30, sometimes 45+ mins, and she stays awake between 2.5-3 hours at a stretch, so, idk. Maybe, hopefully, when we are back in NC and settled she can be on more of a schedule? ugh...
We are leaving to drive down on Aug 3rd (Wednesday) and hoping to be there on the 5th. Aaron gets home on the 6th, and the graduation is the 12th. My mom will probably leave to head back up to Rochester on the 10th or 11th. That is going to be a really hard good-bye. Everytime I think about it I cry :( Then the weekend of the graduation Aaron's parent's rented a condo on the beach in Wrightsville, NC and his brother Sam is flying in, so Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night, that's where we will be having fun. Then finally some down time, I think. I hope.
Alright, pictures are coming eventually, for now I must go to bed.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Leaving Colorado
Today is our last day in Colorado. I absolutely love it here. I am excited to see my grandmother and aunts, uncle and cousins, and Rochester girlfriends. BUT, I am sad to be leaving. I am sad for Kelly and Layla who have gotten to be around so much love and attention the past few months, but excited for them to embark on another phase of their lives and to be re-united with their daddy! So many emotions, so much anxiety, ugh.
Packing has been an absolute nightmare, because I have no idea if we are coming back here. The number Aaron gave me to find out his group assignment did not work, therefore I won't find out until he does, on Aug 6th. I have packed and donated as if we are not coming back. I gave Mac, Aaron's dad a very large suitcase packed to the brim with 50lbs of clothes, shoes, etc and he brought it with him to D.C. and will drive it down with him and Pat come in for the graduation. Then there are all the gallons of frozen breast milk down in the deep freezer and the plastic storage bin full of my winter clothes (i.e. wool Guess coat, Uggs, etc). That stuff will need to be shipped to us in NC if we are not moving back, the breast milk shipped on dry ice. I am also shipping 2 larger size boxes to our neighbors house today, and not looking forward to how much that is going to cost, they are HEAVY. Oh well, I'd rather pay to ship it than have to go shopping for new shite.
Bad news: my awesome Phil&Teds has 2 flat tires that were not there on Sunday!? I think I overfilled the tire in front when I took the girls on a run and visited Colleen at the gas station. I am going to attempt to fix it with fix-a-flat and deal with the repercussions later, and if that doesn't work I am going to have to locate 12" inner tubes. sighhhhhhhhh
Alright, gotta get going before Kelly wakes up and it starts raining again.
Packing has been an absolute nightmare, because I have no idea if we are coming back here. The number Aaron gave me to find out his group assignment did not work, therefore I won't find out until he does, on Aug 6th. I have packed and donated as if we are not coming back. I gave Mac, Aaron's dad a very large suitcase packed to the brim with 50lbs of clothes, shoes, etc and he brought it with him to D.C. and will drive it down with him and Pat come in for the graduation. Then there are all the gallons of frozen breast milk down in the deep freezer and the plastic storage bin full of my winter clothes (i.e. wool Guess coat, Uggs, etc). That stuff will need to be shipped to us in NC if we are not moving back, the breast milk shipped on dry ice. I am also shipping 2 larger size boxes to our neighbors house today, and not looking forward to how much that is going to cost, they are HEAVY. Oh well, I'd rather pay to ship it than have to go shopping for new shite.
Bad news: my awesome Phil&Teds has 2 flat tires that were not there on Sunday!? I think I overfilled the tire in front when I took the girls on a run and visited Colleen at the gas station. I am going to attempt to fix it with fix-a-flat and deal with the repercussions later, and if that doesn't work I am going to have to locate 12" inner tubes. sighhhhhhhhh
Alright, gotta get going before Kelly wakes up and it starts raining again.
Monday, July 18, 2011
1 down, 3 to go
I just wrote a long post, and then accidently deleted it, and the stupid auto-save ruined it! :`(
Basically, just saying that the first week of no contact is always the hardest, but now that its over, I should be fine. I really look forward to seeing Aaron and being a family again, in our own house, even in North Carolina. The best thing from yesterday, and really the whole weekend, was when David G. called me. He had just ran into Aaron at Camp McKall. He said Aaron was happy, doing very well, and that their first mission went off with no problems and that it was really easy. I guess this week they are out in lock-down for the planning for their major infield operation or whatever. I don't really remember all the terminology. Any way, and then they run the mission starting this weekend, and then finish and are done! He also said I could write him a personal letter and E-mail it to him and that he would show him if he runs into him again the following Sunday, so I will probably do that. I was so happy after I heard all the great news. The only not-so-great news was that guys that had graduated in May were still waiting for their orders, because they are back-logged...Basically that just means that even after Aaron graduates we will have an undetermined number of months of more waiting. Hopefully, we will at least be told where we can expect to be going, but who knows!
Sunday Collen and the babes and I went to McDonalds to meet up with Tony's wife Ann and their 2 kids. They have gotten SO big! Its been at least 5 years since I have seen any of them. Ann looked great as always, and their kids, Alina (age 7), and Ian (age 9) were really cute and funny! We just got some food, I ate my entire value meal, soda and fries and all! And I never did run yesterday either...but, heck I am still breastfeeding like a champ, so its actually not a bad thing to consume about 1000 calories in one sitting! haha.
As a side note, I was able to gain back a few pounds. I weight myself like twice a week, and I seem to fluctuate between 120-123. For now, I think that is fine. I mean, I wouldn't mind weighing less, but I think Layla would, since I wouldn't be making enough milk and she rarely takes a bottle. In fact, I don't know if she even still will? With my luck, probably not. Oh well, its not like I plan on going back to work anytime soon. I had my opportunity to do it here with free child care, and I couldn't care less.
Saturday we went to Mary's pool. We had fun, Kelly really hates the pool this summer. She just wears her life vest all day and refuses to get into the water. I kind of force her in and she holds onto me for dear life, never really so much as cracking a smile. I don't get it, she loves baths, and loved the ocean and the pool last summer? Probably just a toddler thing. I did hold her once and jump in and went under water, but I think she maybe slightly enjoyed it? haha...one day she will be a fish, like most kids are at the pool!
Its been a totally busy day already, walked to the YMCA, ran 6 miles whiles the babes played in child watch, took Kelly to Speech Therapy, went to pick up Ryan from summer school (he is taking chemistry to get ahead), came home. Meanwhile the painters are here painting the outside of the house (its going to look awesome!), and I have PT at 4:15. We leave a week from tomorrow, and we will have full-full days until we go!
Basically, just saying that the first week of no contact is always the hardest, but now that its over, I should be fine. I really look forward to seeing Aaron and being a family again, in our own house, even in North Carolina. The best thing from yesterday, and really the whole weekend, was when David G. called me. He had just ran into Aaron at Camp McKall. He said Aaron was happy, doing very well, and that their first mission went off with no problems and that it was really easy. I guess this week they are out in lock-down for the planning for their major infield operation or whatever. I don't really remember all the terminology. Any way, and then they run the mission starting this weekend, and then finish and are done! He also said I could write him a personal letter and E-mail it to him and that he would show him if he runs into him again the following Sunday, so I will probably do that. I was so happy after I heard all the great news. The only not-so-great news was that guys that had graduated in May were still waiting for their orders, because they are back-logged...Basically that just means that even after Aaron graduates we will have an undetermined number of months of more waiting. Hopefully, we will at least be told where we can expect to be going, but who knows!
Sunday Collen and the babes and I went to McDonalds to meet up with Tony's wife Ann and their 2 kids. They have gotten SO big! Its been at least 5 years since I have seen any of them. Ann looked great as always, and their kids, Alina (age 7), and Ian (age 9) were really cute and funny! We just got some food, I ate my entire value meal, soda and fries and all! And I never did run yesterday either...but, heck I am still breastfeeding like a champ, so its actually not a bad thing to consume about 1000 calories in one sitting! haha.
As a side note, I was able to gain back a few pounds. I weight myself like twice a week, and I seem to fluctuate between 120-123. For now, I think that is fine. I mean, I wouldn't mind weighing less, but I think Layla would, since I wouldn't be making enough milk and she rarely takes a bottle. In fact, I don't know if she even still will? With my luck, probably not. Oh well, its not like I plan on going back to work anytime soon. I had my opportunity to do it here with free child care, and I couldn't care less.
Saturday we went to Mary's pool. We had fun, Kelly really hates the pool this summer. She just wears her life vest all day and refuses to get into the water. I kind of force her in and she holds onto me for dear life, never really so much as cracking a smile. I don't get it, she loves baths, and loved the ocean and the pool last summer? Probably just a toddler thing. I did hold her once and jump in and went under water, but I think she maybe slightly enjoyed it? haha...one day she will be a fish, like most kids are at the pool!
Its been a totally busy day already, walked to the YMCA, ran 6 miles whiles the babes played in child watch, took Kelly to Speech Therapy, went to pick up Ryan from summer school (he is taking chemistry to get ahead), came home. Meanwhile the painters are here painting the outside of the house (its going to look awesome!), and I have PT at 4:15. We leave a week from tomorrow, and we will have full-full days until we go!
Friday, July 15, 2011
things I can't get enough of...
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| I drink a lot of water, and these seem to be my favorite, but I remove the straw |
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| We use the Soothie pacifiers and haven't had any recent problems with nipple confusion |
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| The Medela Pump'n'Style is the best breast pump out there (in my opinion), worth the $350 price tag! |
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| I've been running in Mizuno WAVE RIDERS for years, by far my favorite, even though they really don't last past about 500 miles |
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| Phil & Teds Explorer with double kit, perfect for jogging and walking with my babes to the park or the YMCA, a must for families with more than one babe under 4! |
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| The Fischer Price Jungle theme swing; Layla loves this for fun and naps, the one we have in NC is a different theme, but same swing. I like this one because it runs on batteries or plugs in the wall |
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| Kelly's water bottle of choice; she learned to use a straw before age 1, thanks to the ease of the Camelbak when other sippies didn't work for Kelly |
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| I love, love, love, avocados!!! I eat them like everyday! |
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| Cilantro! I add this to everything from bagels, to tortillas, etc, I love it! |
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| PB goes with everything, especially my breakfast toast! |
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| The perfect end to any day, the Champagne Cocktail, its a once a week splurge! |
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Layla 3 months
Where does the time go? I feel like it was just last week that my little baby was born, and she is already getting so big and aging before my eyes!
She loves sucking on her fingers! I try to help her find her thumb, because I know how happy and easy thumb suckers are, but we'll see if she takes to it the way Kelly did
Happy baby! So glad to say I think we are finally over the colicky hurdle
Stats:
Length: undetermined (I will have to measure her and update this)
Weight: about 10.5lbs, probably more, but I only have the bathroom scale, so cannot get a very accurate measurement
Clothes: 0-3 months, some 3-6 months
Skills: rolls easily from belly to back, and can but as some trouble going back to belly, her one arms gets stuck most of the time (hehe); lifts head and chest off floor, constantly kicks legs, lots of baby talking especially when looking her in the eyes, definitely knows my voice, follows voices, uses hands and feet when playing with gym
Sleeps: now sleeps in her bed [yay!] but I usually have to rock her to sleep or put her in the swing until she falls asleep, still wakes up at least once during the night, and though I have tried to feed her before I go to bed in hopes she will sleep longer, she still wakes up at her normal time; goes to bed around 0830pm, nurses around 2am, nurses around 5-6am and would like to stay up but I usually put her in the swing so I can get more sleep (this usually works) wakes again around 0830-0900.
Naps: during the day she naps every 2 hours for usually only 30-40mins; usually naps in her swing, or sometimes I am able to lay her down, but again she prefers being rocked to sleep
Diet: 100% breastfed, able to take a bottle, but hasn't had a bottle for a full feeding in quite some time, I know I need to make sure she does otherwise its going to be done, but there is not usually anyone to do it per say (my mom is quite busy most of the time and Colleen works a lot, so eh, she only "snacks" from bottles if I give it to her)
Enjoys: cuddling (I remind myself to enjoy this as much as possible and I do, because I know it doesn't last much longer, Kelly was finished cuddling by like 4 1/2 or 5 months), rocking in the rocking chair, swinging, playing with baby gym, going anywhere while sitting in snuggly facing out, listening to stories when I read Kelly books, smiling!
Other: bald spot on back of head from rubbing, but the top is growing in really nicely! she definitely has more hair now than at birth, and its coming in much lighter and almost red-tinged! haha, she might be a ginger!! lol!
Other: bald spot on back of head from rubbing, but the top is growing in really nicely! she definitely has more hair now than at birth, and its coming in much lighter and almost red-tinged! haha, she might be a ginger!! lol!
I must say we have come a long ways since the early weeks. It took me a lot longer to figure Layla out, but I think we are finally on the same page, and she doesn't have her crying fits even close to what they were before. Plus, she is past the supposed crying peak. As long as Layla is being held or talked to, she is happy and good. She still loves watching her sister play, and a lot of times if she is crying, and I can't pick her up right away, Kelly will go up to her and start talking to her or offer her the paci immediately, because she knows and she is an awesome big sister!
I have not started the mini pill birth control yet, but at this point is does not matter, Aaron is still in the field for 23 more days. I am starting it August 1st, and will stay on it for as long as I am breastfeeding, and then go from there. As much as I love, love, love babies, raising them by myself for the most part is not the way I want to do it, so I am certainly not having more kids. To me, military life does not coincide with having a large family. I think 2 kids is good when half the parents are gone half the time.
Monday, July 11, 2011
thank heaven for 7-11
13 years ago today my brother Dylan was born! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DYLAN!
I don't know if I can ever get used to this. So far, I feel okay about it. I am suppose to call this lady that is in charge of the group assignments to find out where we will be station. Either that, or just wait til Aaron, gets back, so duh, of course I will call, probably tomorrow, to find out when to call back. It makes me really anxious, I am so nervous that we will end up going over seas. If that's God's plan, I guess there must be a reason, so I will just have to do what I can to cope.
Last week was a decent week. I took the babies to the YMCA 4 times last week, and unfortunately though Kelly got sick :( For a breastfed baby, she gets sick a lot. Its mostly just a runny nose, but on Friday, she was especially sickies, and probably had a fever, I did not take her temp, but I dosed her with children's Motrin, gave her her children's Zyrtec, and some honey for her cough. Then I called off for my PT appointment, and had a really awesome 7 miler, and then we went to Mary's pool to swim, Kelly did not get a nap, but was pretty good any ways.
Very Awesome completely homemade birthday cake from family friend Mary
It was a mint chocolate cake with butter creme frosting, so rich, and so delish!!!
In other news, Aaron left for the field early Sunday morning, so no further contact for the next 4 weeks! We miss Daddy!!
My girls will keep me strong!
Last week was a decent week. I took the babies to the YMCA 4 times last week, and unfortunately though Kelly got sick :( For a breastfed baby, she gets sick a lot. Its mostly just a runny nose, but on Friday, she was especially sickies, and probably had a fever, I did not take her temp, but I dosed her with children's Motrin, gave her her children's Zyrtec, and some honey for her cough. Then I called off for my PT appointment, and had a really awesome 7 miler, and then we went to Mary's pool to swim, Kelly did not get a nap, but was pretty good any ways.
Kelly was still afraid of the water, but would go in a little bit, with me
Layla just hung out on the side and enjoyed the warm Colorado weather under the shade of the umbrella
Mommy & Kelly, YAY!
After Kelly got dressed, because she kept peeing everywhere, LOL, she loves showing her belly
Self portraits are the best!!
My Mom and Mary
We also went to the park a few times for some fun in the sun!
Layla likes the view from the front the best
Healthy Snacks before the park
Kelly is a little shy, even though we see baby Riley there pretty much every time we go
She loves talking through the intercoms with mommy
Layla chills out in the stroller (we always walk to the park, its only like 0.25mi away)
Independence Day is a day to celebrate those who have fought for our freedom. Praise God for that! For us, this year was pretty uneventful. We had a cook-out at Eddie's house, and hung-out, and then I took the babies home, put them to bed. Her are some select pictures from the day...
Kelly loves her baby sister
Layla Loves her UNCLE Dylan
We just bought our tickets to go back east. We leave in two weeks. I am actually sad about this. Its hard to know what to feel. I feel like we need more time here, even though we've been here over 2 months straight. But then again I also miss having my own house, my own quite space. BUT, I love being around my family. We are flying in the Rochester, NY to visit my Grandma (Great-Granny!), and to hopefully pick up my pretty much brand-new daybed I had during nursing school,her treadmill she is giving us (the one I have at my NC home is broken), and a dresser, and small desk for Kelly. It all depends if my Grandma's CRV can pull an trailer because we are driving it down after hanging out up there for a week. Then I finally get to see my lovepants!!!
But, ugh. I am so afraid for what the future holds...
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Happy July
This is the weekend Aaron went to Boston and Worcester, MA instead of Colorado to see us. Both is grandparents are there, along with an aunt/uncle and several cousins. Surprisingly, I really don't care that much that he's not here with us? Probably because I know he is with his family, and having fun, and not that I am having fun per say, it just doesn't bother me this time. Maybe the antidepressants are working? I am just glad he is not with a bunch of his army bachelor friends. I do wish we were there, last year was a blast! His family is so much fun to be around! And I do miss him like crazy, the difference is I'm not crazy this time! And its not like I'm alone, I'm with family too, tho, we're not at a lake water skiing and swimming and BBQing all day. Plus, these girls keep me so busy, I don't have time to throw myself a pity party about it!
Oh, so I have officially hit my goal weight of 118lbs! I should be jumping for joy about it, the only thing is, I was not trying to loose weight, and I certainly didn't plan on hitting it for at least a few more months. My milk supply had been so high, and then today it really bottomed out. I think I was probably pretty dehydrated, its been really hot here and we don't have air conditioning (usually you don't need it here but for maybe a week or two out of the summer), and I feel like I sweat all the time because I am usually holding Layla or Kelly and also constantly moving around. Plus, my stomach is still not toned up either. Its not fat or anything, just still has the looser than usual skin. After Kelly, it seemed like it took forever for it to go back, but I also took a lot longer to loose all the weight then too, the last 5 pounds any ways. Yesterday I took a bath with Kelly and my mom was in the bathroom talking to me and she said I looked anorexic! HA! Yeah right! I know I am looking a little boney, but I am honestly not trying too. I want toneness, not bones. And I have also cut way back on my running. I had been doing 4-6 miles per run, now its 3-5mi, and all much slower than in previous weeks. I am still trying to recover for my pelvic and back pain, so I thought maybe I will run less like my PT said, but it doesn't seem to help. So, today I started back with drinking Ensure milkshake with ice cream! I love them, so de-lish!!! I'd like to keep my weight in the 121-123 range, so I know I am making enough milk for my little lady. Then I am keep running and nursing and not wither away.
In other news, my mom is withering away worse than me. She has lost at least 15 pounds since I got here 2 months ago, thats more than 10% of her body weight. She is only 105! Yes, she is shorter, 5' 4" but it doesn't look right at all. She is starting to freak me and everyone else around her out. She didn't need to loose weight, just maybe tone up, and she is not working out or on a diet, she is just ANXIOUS, and spinning out of control. She has a major anxiety disorder, and her regimen of 1-3 xanex prn (1mg each) and 2 ambien (10mg each) at HS are not working. She barely sleeps and then is constantly pacing and talking a million miles a minute. Her stress level is through the roof. ::sigh:: I don't know what to do? Part of me thinks I need to take the girls and go back to NC, bc how can us being here be helping? Then the other part says at least if I am here I can watch her? I don't know. She can't sit still long enough to adequately look for a job (lost her job [lost health insurance this past October] last July, lost her good paying job 5 years ago) and I have been trying to help her get rid of junk around the house because sooner or later she is going to loose the house and have to move out of it, and she has a real hard time getting rid of anything. I keep trying to get her to apply for social security disability, because she is definitely in no state of mind to work and at least then she'd qualify for medicaid and could get mental health help, but again, she has yet to sit down and fill anything out. Honestly, I think she needs to just smoke some weed, I am not even kidding. In my professional, registered nurse opinion, that's what she needs so she can chill the heck out and catch up on sleep and then be able to think straight. That's all I got to say about that for now.
We went to Mass today, so tomorrow we will probably go for a walk and hopefully make it to the park. And hopefully I will get my run in too. I used to be so good about taking the girls like on a daily basis, but lately I have been so exhausted, and they don't always nap at the same time, that we haven't been going. I keep making excuses to not go. Terrible mom.... I feel really guilty about it too. I also prefer going with someone else, like my brother or mom or sister, because its hard to get Kelly to go play when I am holding Layla. Also, the sun is so bright and its always so sunny, I don't like Layla getting sun so young, and its hard to keep her covered when I do have to hold her, even in the snuggly, (she doesn't like wearing her awesome tie-dye hat), so thus, we haven't been going but once a week. I seem to be justifying that because Kelly goes to the YMCA childcare, and they play on the playground there, that it counts as playing at the park. Yes I am lame like that. If Aaron was here, it would be a no-brainer, we'd be there everyday. In a couple months it will be much easier I think, when Layla is a bit older and maybe doesn't need to be held so much? Idk.
We have been reading A LOT though. Finally, Kelly is back into letting me read books to her. Her favorite is The Popcorn Shop by Alice Low. Its one of my sister's old books from 1st grade, level 3 reader. Its not even like a book-book, ya know? But she loves it, so that's what matters. I also read her all my old childhood favorites that survived the flooding of the basement. I love the books that rhyme, so I can sing them, HAHA, in my horrible singing voice, but Kelly really enjoys it.
Layla appears to be on a sort of schedule. She still wakes up to eat at least once a night, and then early in the morning and then goes back to sleep for a few hours. Her longest stretch between feeding has been 6 hours, but its usually like 5 or 5.5 at night. During the day she wakes up, eats, then will play with her gym til she fusses or whatever, I changer her, she hangs a few more minutes, then I will walk around holding her, then end up rocking her, which always seems like forever because its in the living room and there is no TV in there-lol- and then I usually try to put her in her swing, and then either the swing eventually swings her to sleep or I rock her to sleep, and the total time she spends awake is about 2 hours. Then I lay her down, usually on the couch, (in such a way she won't fall off if she rolls) because its a pain to put her all the way upstairs, even with the baby monitor, and she wakes up 30 or 35 mins later, and we start all over again. Obviously, if we go out its totally different, but that's pretty much how it goes. At night she either goes to bed, at 7:45 pm or later, but not much later than 8:30pm. And Kelly goes to bed at 8:30-8:45pm. She had been going to bed at 9, but that's way too late, especially when she kept waking up earlier and earlier. Needless to say, though I don't want to jinx myself, I have gotten my night back for mommy time! And thus my stress level is much lower. And Layla usually doesn't cry too much anymore either, as long as you pick her up and cuddle her, or just talk to her, she is happy!
But I still don't want anymore babies. I would totally be a surrogate, despite all the pubic bone and back pain I still continue to have, but I don't want to do all this other hard stuff again. I love the cuddling, the smiles, the laughing, and that, but I don't like the whining, the crying, and the pooping/peeing/sorta potty training, struggling to breast feed, etc. I could definitely do without all that. So note to self, DON'T have anymore babies!! ok, I'm done thanks. I gotta always remember this.
And Layla LOVES watching her big sister play, and LOVES when her big sister talks to her, its the cutest thing ever! They are going to be best friends, or they will fight all the time, lol, but right now its cute. Kelly still gets crazy, and whines, omg does that girl whine sometimes, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used too, so that's good. She also just got a hair cut today, from Granny of course, and looks so super cute, as usual. She is so curious about everything, I love it! She hasn't started with asking "Why?" yet., but she definitely gets her point across with her facial expressions and "da-da this?" LOL, she is so cute! She is very good at communicating with sign, and making the sounds of certain objects, of which she cannot pronounce the word, such as for vacuum, she makes a vacuum noise. She is a smarty pants, even if she doesn't always say what she is talking about.
Tomorrow is Paige's 3rd Birthday Bash, and we will be going. She is the little girl that gives Kelly all her clothes. I am talking black garbage bags full of clothes! Its great, we save a lot of money thanks to her and her Grandma Arlene (Colleen works with her). It should be a great time, she is so cute!
Oh man, its almost 10:30pm, need to go to bed!
Despite everything I am feeling a lot better, not so depressed about my life...After I find out where we will be moving I might actually have a reason to be depressed, but right now I am going to live in the moment and enjoy life!
Oh crap, now its 10:36pm! ha..bedtime!
Oh, so I have officially hit my goal weight of 118lbs! I should be jumping for joy about it, the only thing is, I was not trying to loose weight, and I certainly didn't plan on hitting it for at least a few more months. My milk supply had been so high, and then today it really bottomed out. I think I was probably pretty dehydrated, its been really hot here and we don't have air conditioning (usually you don't need it here but for maybe a week or two out of the summer), and I feel like I sweat all the time because I am usually holding Layla or Kelly and also constantly moving around. Plus, my stomach is still not toned up either. Its not fat or anything, just still has the looser than usual skin. After Kelly, it seemed like it took forever for it to go back, but I also took a lot longer to loose all the weight then too, the last 5 pounds any ways. Yesterday I took a bath with Kelly and my mom was in the bathroom talking to me and she said I looked anorexic! HA! Yeah right! I know I am looking a little boney, but I am honestly not trying too. I want toneness, not bones. And I have also cut way back on my running. I had been doing 4-6 miles per run, now its 3-5mi, and all much slower than in previous weeks. I am still trying to recover for my pelvic and back pain, so I thought maybe I will run less like my PT said, but it doesn't seem to help. So, today I started back with drinking Ensure milkshake with ice cream! I love them, so de-lish!!! I'd like to keep my weight in the 121-123 range, so I know I am making enough milk for my little lady. Then I am keep running and nursing and not wither away.
In other news, my mom is withering away worse than me. She has lost at least 15 pounds since I got here 2 months ago, thats more than 10% of her body weight. She is only 105! Yes, she is shorter, 5' 4" but it doesn't look right at all. She is starting to freak me and everyone else around her out. She didn't need to loose weight, just maybe tone up, and she is not working out or on a diet, she is just ANXIOUS, and spinning out of control. She has a major anxiety disorder, and her regimen of 1-3 xanex prn (1mg each) and 2 ambien (10mg each) at HS are not working. She barely sleeps and then is constantly pacing and talking a million miles a minute. Her stress level is through the roof. ::sigh:: I don't know what to do? Part of me thinks I need to take the girls and go back to NC, bc how can us being here be helping? Then the other part says at least if I am here I can watch her? I don't know. She can't sit still long enough to adequately look for a job (lost her job [lost health insurance this past October] last July, lost her good paying job 5 years ago) and I have been trying to help her get rid of junk around the house because sooner or later she is going to loose the house and have to move out of it, and she has a real hard time getting rid of anything. I keep trying to get her to apply for social security disability, because she is definitely in no state of mind to work and at least then she'd qualify for medicaid and could get mental health help, but again, she has yet to sit down and fill anything out. Honestly, I think she needs to just smoke some weed, I am not even kidding. In my professional, registered nurse opinion, that's what she needs so she can chill the heck out and catch up on sleep and then be able to think straight. That's all I got to say about that for now.
We went to Mass today, so tomorrow we will probably go for a walk and hopefully make it to the park. And hopefully I will get my run in too. I used to be so good about taking the girls like on a daily basis, but lately I have been so exhausted, and they don't always nap at the same time, that we haven't been going. I keep making excuses to not go. Terrible mom.... I feel really guilty about it too. I also prefer going with someone else, like my brother or mom or sister, because its hard to get Kelly to go play when I am holding Layla. Also, the sun is so bright and its always so sunny, I don't like Layla getting sun so young, and its hard to keep her covered when I do have to hold her, even in the snuggly, (she doesn't like wearing her awesome tie-dye hat), so thus, we haven't been going but once a week. I seem to be justifying that because Kelly goes to the YMCA childcare, and they play on the playground there, that it counts as playing at the park. Yes I am lame like that. If Aaron was here, it would be a no-brainer, we'd be there everyday. In a couple months it will be much easier I think, when Layla is a bit older and maybe doesn't need to be held so much? Idk.
We have been reading A LOT though. Finally, Kelly is back into letting me read books to her. Her favorite is The Popcorn Shop by Alice Low. Its one of my sister's old books from 1st grade, level 3 reader. Its not even like a book-book, ya know? But she loves it, so that's what matters. I also read her all my old childhood favorites that survived the flooding of the basement. I love the books that rhyme, so I can sing them, HAHA, in my horrible singing voice, but Kelly really enjoys it.
Layla appears to be on a sort of schedule. She still wakes up to eat at least once a night, and then early in the morning and then goes back to sleep for a few hours. Her longest stretch between feeding has been 6 hours, but its usually like 5 or 5.5 at night. During the day she wakes up, eats, then will play with her gym til she fusses or whatever, I changer her, she hangs a few more minutes, then I will walk around holding her, then end up rocking her, which always seems like forever because its in the living room and there is no TV in there-lol- and then I usually try to put her in her swing, and then either the swing eventually swings her to sleep or I rock her to sleep, and the total time she spends awake is about 2 hours. Then I lay her down, usually on the couch, (in such a way she won't fall off if she rolls) because its a pain to put her all the way upstairs, even with the baby monitor, and she wakes up 30 or 35 mins later, and we start all over again. Obviously, if we go out its totally different, but that's pretty much how it goes. At night she either goes to bed, at 7:45 pm or later, but not much later than 8:30pm. And Kelly goes to bed at 8:30-8:45pm. She had been going to bed at 9, but that's way too late, especially when she kept waking up earlier and earlier. Needless to say, though I don't want to jinx myself, I have gotten my night back for mommy time! And thus my stress level is much lower. And Layla usually doesn't cry too much anymore either, as long as you pick her up and cuddle her, or just talk to her, she is happy!
But I still don't want anymore babies. I would totally be a surrogate, despite all the pubic bone and back pain I still continue to have, but I don't want to do all this other hard stuff again. I love the cuddling, the smiles, the laughing, and that, but I don't like the whining, the crying, and the pooping/peeing/sorta potty training, struggling to breast feed, etc. I could definitely do without all that. So note to self, DON'T have anymore babies!! ok, I'm done thanks. I gotta always remember this.
And Layla LOVES watching her big sister play, and LOVES when her big sister talks to her, its the cutest thing ever! They are going to be best friends, or they will fight all the time, lol, but right now its cute. Kelly still gets crazy, and whines, omg does that girl whine sometimes, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used too, so that's good. She also just got a hair cut today, from Granny of course, and looks so super cute, as usual. She is so curious about everything, I love it! She hasn't started with asking "Why?" yet., but she definitely gets her point across with her facial expressions and "da-da this?" LOL, she is so cute! She is very good at communicating with sign, and making the sounds of certain objects, of which she cannot pronounce the word, such as for vacuum, she makes a vacuum noise. She is a smarty pants, even if she doesn't always say what she is talking about.
Tomorrow is Paige's 3rd Birthday Bash, and we will be going. She is the little girl that gives Kelly all her clothes. I am talking black garbage bags full of clothes! Its great, we save a lot of money thanks to her and her Grandma Arlene (Colleen works with her). It should be a great time, she is so cute!
Oh man, its almost 10:30pm, need to go to bed!
Despite everything I am feeling a lot better, not so depressed about my life...After I find out where we will be moving I might actually have a reason to be depressed, but right now I am going to live in the moment and enjoy life!
Oh crap, now its 10:36pm! ha..bedtime!
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