Today Nic enjoyed a day in the park. And by park I don't mean some ordinary park with swings, and a walking trail, I mean the US National Whitewater Center. If you are not from Charlotte, or have not been there, check it out at http://www.usnwc.org/. It's awesome. This week they are hosting the US Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom. So we spent about 4 hours today watching future Olympic athletes complete - it was very cool. As you can see from the picture, Nic was enthralled. He actually spent most of the time alert and watching the people, the water, the dogs, etc. And then for those of you not from Charlotte, below Nic is a picture of my friend Janice (who provided the tickets to this event - thanks Janice) with a tiny USNWC staff person in front of her:)
After the event, Nic sang Janice the ah ah ah song, which goes like this "ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah..."
Then he showed her how well he can roll from his back to his tummy, which is his new favorite "trick". Oh, and then he "drank" from a glass of water. By "drank" I mean took water into his mouth from a glass like a normal person, then unsure of what to do with the water once in his mouth, let it run on out. He will start to eat solid food in the next 3-4 weeks, so it's a good start.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Looking at the World Through Mom Colored Glasses
I was flipping through my calendar the other day and saw that Mother's Day is coming up in May and made a note to send my mother something and then thought holy *%&!, I'm the Mom. Not that I hadn't realized it yet, but it struck me a little different. Now, don't get me wrong, I've have had my indoctrinations into motherhood with a 180 in my daily life, an emergency trip to the hospital, the fact that it now takes 2 hours to do what used to take an hour, and the feeling of if you hurt my child and I will beat your f******* a** (must be in the mood for cursing today). But on top of that the world looks different. Parking garages are scarier, the #7 on the bottom of Nic's bottle brought changes in how we feed him and ourselves, and unsafe drivers make me even madder now, but I react more calmly (because I have a "baby on board" - I still hate those signs - like I would hit you if you didn't have that sign).
There was a student in Chester County, SC who was planning a "Columbine style" attack at his high school, but luckily his parents called police when explosives were delivered to the house. About 2 miles from our house a teenager was shot and a woman injured when someone came to their front door and open fire when they answered. Though this didn't appear to be random, it was too close to home. If I am not up listening to Nic breathe, those things keep me awake at night.
So how do we keep our children safe in this world. I know the mothers out there have thought about this alot. I can feed him organic food from glass bottles. I can drive the biggest, most gas-guzzling SUV with him strapped into the industry recommended safety seat.
I can hope that the president we elect will bring about positive changes in our country. Of the options we have, can they ensure that Nic will have a safe place to go to school with qualified teachers who won't harm the students (because if you hurt my child I will beat your f****** a**)? Can they ensure that we/he will have access to affordable, quality health care? Can they stand firm on environmental issues so that he has a healthy world to live in when he grows up and raises his own family?
My friend Rachel posted a link to another blog that posed some good questions on politics. Check it out at http://amommystory.blogspot.com/2008/04/dear-presidential-candidates.html
Since I am about as versed at politics as I am at history, I won't embarass myself with too many details on the issues. But like everyone else, I know what I need, but I'm not sure where to get it.
But I digress from the political issue...
Off to build my plastic...ooops I mean GLASS bubble (or maybe #1 plastic) to put Nic in for the rest of his childhood.
There was a student in Chester County, SC who was planning a "Columbine style" attack at his high school, but luckily his parents called police when explosives were delivered to the house. About 2 miles from our house a teenager was shot and a woman injured when someone came to their front door and open fire when they answered. Though this didn't appear to be random, it was too close to home. If I am not up listening to Nic breathe, those things keep me awake at night.
So how do we keep our children safe in this world. I know the mothers out there have thought about this alot. I can feed him organic food from glass bottles. I can drive the biggest, most gas-guzzling SUV with him strapped into the industry recommended safety seat.
I can hope that the president we elect will bring about positive changes in our country. Of the options we have, can they ensure that Nic will have a safe place to go to school with qualified teachers who won't harm the students (because if you hurt my child I will beat your f****** a**)? Can they ensure that we/he will have access to affordable, quality health care? Can they stand firm on environmental issues so that he has a healthy world to live in when he grows up and raises his own family?
My friend Rachel posted a link to another blog that posed some good questions on politics. Check it out at http://amommystory.blogspot.com/2008/04/dear-presidential-candidates.html
Since I am about as versed at politics as I am at history, I won't embarass myself with too many details on the issues. But like everyone else, I know what I need, but I'm not sure where to get it.
But I digress from the political issue...
Off to build my plastic...ooops I mean GLASS bubble (or maybe #1 plastic) to put Nic in for the rest of his childhood.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Possibly the longest day of my life
Monday was, possibly the longest day of my life.
Monday my beautiful, perfect, charming, and spectacular son had to go in for surgery. Yes, surgery. Here's how the day went.
7:45am notice a swelling in his groin
8am call the Pediatrician's office and realise they don't open til 8:30am
8:30am not wanting to waste time, arrive at the door of the Pediatrician's office
8:45 see the pediatrician (or else they would have had a hysterical mother on their hands)
12:45pm arrive at the Pediatric Urologist's office
1:15pm Pediatric Urologist tells us his situation is an "emergency".
3pm Nic goes in for emergency hernia surgery
3:30pm Urologist tells us that he did well in his surgery and is in recovery
3:40pm Mom breaks down in tears (joyful) in the family waiting area
5:00pm mom and dad get to see Nic
5:15pm Nic is smiling at the nurses as we carry him back to his room (he's such a flirt).
7:30pm mom and dad return home with a sore, swollen and grumpy - but healthy baby Nicolas.
It was probably a routine surgery for the Urologist (who was excellent by the way) but very traumatic for mom and dad. Nic got pain meds, but we may have needed them more.
The next 2 days I didn't leave the house and sat there and watched him breathe during his naps. I stayed up and listened to him breathe on the monitor.
3 days later he is happy and kicking around like nothing ever happened.
Mom and dad, however, may need another week of recovery.
My mom has said that once you have a child you will "throw yourself in front of a truck (train, etc) for them". Once I gave birth to Nicolas, I had to agree that I would do ANYTHING for him. If the doctor could have cut me open for him I would have done that in a heartbeat. Ted said the same thing. Until the day that I gave birth to him, I had not been given a hospital room. I had not been admitted to a room that was mine for my stay - thank God. I hope to not see many of them in my future. Though a minor procedure for all who look in from the outside, it was, well...scary, scary, scary and scary on top of that. I don't know what I would do if I lost him, I really don't, I don't even want to think about it anymore. It makes me think of all parents who have lost their children and pray (not being an overly religous person) for them.
This will probably not be our first hospital trip with him, but I will hope and pray for a healthy life for him.
Monday my beautiful, perfect, charming, and spectacular son had to go in for surgery. Yes, surgery. Here's how the day went.
7:45am notice a swelling in his groin
8am call the Pediatrician's office and realise they don't open til 8:30am
8:30am not wanting to waste time, arrive at the door of the Pediatrician's office
8:45 see the pediatrician (or else they would have had a hysterical mother on their hands)
12:45pm arrive at the Pediatric Urologist's office
1:15pm Pediatric Urologist tells us his situation is an "emergency".
3pm Nic goes in for emergency hernia surgery
3:30pm Urologist tells us that he did well in his surgery and is in recovery
3:40pm Mom breaks down in tears (joyful) in the family waiting area
5:00pm mom and dad get to see Nic
5:15pm Nic is smiling at the nurses as we carry him back to his room (he's such a flirt).
7:30pm mom and dad return home with a sore, swollen and grumpy - but healthy baby Nicolas.
It was probably a routine surgery for the Urologist (who was excellent by the way) but very traumatic for mom and dad. Nic got pain meds, but we may have needed them more.
The next 2 days I didn't leave the house and sat there and watched him breathe during his naps. I stayed up and listened to him breathe on the monitor.
3 days later he is happy and kicking around like nothing ever happened.
Mom and dad, however, may need another week of recovery.
My mom has said that once you have a child you will "throw yourself in front of a truck (train, etc) for them". Once I gave birth to Nicolas, I had to agree that I would do ANYTHING for him. If the doctor could have cut me open for him I would have done that in a heartbeat. Ted said the same thing. Until the day that I gave birth to him, I had not been given a hospital room. I had not been admitted to a room that was mine for my stay - thank God. I hope to not see many of them in my future. Though a minor procedure for all who look in from the outside, it was, well...scary, scary, scary and scary on top of that. I don't know what I would do if I lost him, I really don't, I don't even want to think about it anymore. It makes me think of all parents who have lost their children and pray (not being an overly religous person) for them.
This will probably not be our first hospital trip with him, but I will hope and pray for a healthy life for him.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Who Needs Nursery Rhymes?
Janice and I went to get our nails done last weekend. Fruit Punch was my color choice, but this is about something different. Janice needed to buy a nail top coat or base coat or something like that from OPI. The only one of this product that they had was in a special package with what appeared to be the OPI Pig Mascot. This pig, to the right, was wearing a red ladies hat, white/pink "fur" coat, red heels and nothing else. Not that we would expect a pig to have a pantsuit on under the coat, but it gave the pig an odd appeal or maybe a disturbing factor depending on who you ask. Janice tried to refuse the pig but I had to, for some odd reason, bring it home. I'm not really sure what I am going to do with the pig, but I will know when the time comes. Until then it's a toy for Nic and Piper (our lab). So while "dancing" the pig around in front of Nic and Piper, I came up with a song that goes like this. Unintentionally to the tune of the "Two and a Half Men" theme song, Pig pig pig pig I'm a big pig pig; pig pig pig pig I'm a big pig pig......(then not to be uncreative) Pig pig pig pig I'm a cross dressing pig, pig pig pig pig, pig pig pig pig, I'm a pig, you're a pig, we're all pig pig pig pigs, pig pig pig pig... and so on.
Nic squealed with delight, I mean totally laughed and squealed with delight. Then I put the pig in the bouncy seat with him and he hugged it and held on to it and yelled when I took it away. The pig may have to make a quiet departure before he gets too attached.
Nic squealed with delight, I mean totally laughed and squealed with delight. Then I put the pig in the bouncy seat with him and he hugged it and held on to it and yelled when I took it away. The pig may have to make a quiet departure before he gets too attached.
Monday, April 7, 2008
4 month doctor visit
Nicolas went for his 4 month doctor's visit today and as we suspected.....he's a GENIUS!
OK so the doctor didn't actually say that, but I know that's what she was thinking. He is now 14.5 lbs and 25.5 inches. Unfortunately for Nic, he had to get blood drawn and get vaccinated. As you may guess, this did NOT make him happy. It didn't please me much either. Not that I was against them doing it. I know that he has to get vaccines and getting blood drawn was a necessity too. But the crying and the pained look on his face was so heartbreaking for his mom. He got the big red face and WAILED. I would too being a little guy like him getting a needle stuck in my arm (which didn't work) and then getting pricked in the heel. Then if that weren't bad enough, getting 3 shots in the leg. Luckily he is sleeping soundly now.
I am still not sure that I want to stay with this particular practice. As I mentioned before our original pediatrician left unexpectedly when he was 2 months old. I found her, however, at another practice even closer to the house. Today's visit was supposed to decide it for me,but unlike previous visits they were friendly and efficient and I got in and out in 1.5 hours which, for all that was done, isn't too bad.
OK so the doctor didn't actually say that, but I know that's what she was thinking. He is now 14.5 lbs and 25.5 inches. Unfortunately for Nic, he had to get blood drawn and get vaccinated. As you may guess, this did NOT make him happy. It didn't please me much either. Not that I was against them doing it. I know that he has to get vaccines and getting blood drawn was a necessity too. But the crying and the pained look on his face was so heartbreaking for his mom. He got the big red face and WAILED. I would too being a little guy like him getting a needle stuck in my arm (which didn't work) and then getting pricked in the heel. Then if that weren't bad enough, getting 3 shots in the leg. Luckily he is sleeping soundly now.
I am still not sure that I want to stay with this particular practice. As I mentioned before our original pediatrician left unexpectedly when he was 2 months old. I found her, however, at another practice even closer to the house. Today's visit was supposed to decide it for me,but unlike previous visits they were friendly and efficient and I got in and out in 1.5 hours which, for all that was done, isn't too bad.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
10 Thoughts
My friend Janice has a posting on her blog of the 10 thoughts I am having and asked her friends to do the same (www.gopuddlejumping.blogspot.com). So here we go.
1) Why does the sun come out after you have changed from sunny day plans to rainy day plans?
2) Why do salads and wine at restaurants always taste better than at home?
3) Nic is "talking" to me right now and it's one of the coolest things I've ever heard.
4) The most amazing experience I have had in my life is giving birth to my son and I hope everyone out there who wants to one day have a child will because there is nothing like it.
5) I used to think blogging was hoakie (for lack of a better word), but I really like it now.
6) Getting a pedicure on a blah day really lightens your mood.
7) I received a t-shirt in the mail the other day wrapped like a deli sandwich and now I want to send them to all my friends.
8) I can have fun for hours making faces at Nic.
9) Ted tried to use Nic as bait for young women at the mall, but the average age of the women he attracted was 50.
10) I will try to remember every time something pisses me off or gets me down that I have a wonderful life filled with wonderful people. Chances are that if you are reading this, you are one of those wonderful people, so thanks!
1) Why does the sun come out after you have changed from sunny day plans to rainy day plans?
2) Why do salads and wine at restaurants always taste better than at home?
3) Nic is "talking" to me right now and it's one of the coolest things I've ever heard.
4) The most amazing experience I have had in my life is giving birth to my son and I hope everyone out there who wants to one day have a child will because there is nothing like it.
5) I used to think blogging was hoakie (for lack of a better word), but I really like it now.
6) Getting a pedicure on a blah day really lightens your mood.
7) I received a t-shirt in the mail the other day wrapped like a deli sandwich and now I want to send them to all my friends.
8) I can have fun for hours making faces at Nic.
9) Ted tried to use Nic as bait for young women at the mall, but the average age of the women he attracted was 50.
10) I will try to remember every time something pisses me off or gets me down that I have a wonderful life filled with wonderful people. Chances are that if you are reading this, you are one of those wonderful people, so thanks!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Baby Jogger
Nicolas and I had our first outing in his baby jogger last week and our second today. If being able to stay at home with him were not pleasure enough already, this would make it great! We went to a nearby neighborhood where there are continuous sidewalks and from one end to the other spanning 4 miles. It was noon on a beautiful Thursday. As I jogged along with him enjoying the mild temperatures and wonderful sunshine, I thought .....this is spectacular. Despite the fact that it was the first time I had run since May, I felt pretty good. We actually walked some and jogged some so don't be too impressed with my ability to run 4 straight miles. The simple pleasure of being outside on a great day with my son getting some exercise was amazing. Those of you who work all day inside are probably thinking "must be nice". Well having spent many years working inside on nice days, working long hours on nice weekends, or being too *&!**$^ irritated and exhausted from the former to enjoy a nice day, I am glad to finally be able to sit back and say AHHHHHH.
Thank you to the nice YMCA folks who purchased the baby jogger for my baby shower back in October - it will be used well!
Nic seemed to enjoy the experience, watching the world go by, getting "isn't he cute" from the others out walking, and falling asleep before the excursion ended.
But now Nic is now screaming his cute little head off in his crib upstairs having only slept an hour:). Got to run!
Thank you to the nice YMCA folks who purchased the baby jogger for my baby shower back in October - it will be used well!
Nic seemed to enjoy the experience, watching the world go by, getting "isn't he cute" from the others out walking, and falling asleep before the excursion ended.
But now Nic is now screaming his cute little head off in his crib upstairs having only slept an hour:). Got to run!
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