Thursday, April 28, 2011

For your viewing pleasure: Twinkle Star

Dad and Jeanne created this masterpiece this morning:
Twinkle Star
P.S.  That's her voice being mixed!

Playing with Laurie and Gran:
Sand2

Playing with Laurie and Gran:
Sand 1


These are the pics I took of Loki while at the Doctors this week.  Look at those cheeks!



Jeanne playing in the flowers yesterday on our walk.
In other new... I've started looking for work.  Stupid buyer bailing out.

Things you shouldn't do...

So, giving a toddler a treat for having a dry diaper and going potty before bed does deserve a treat.  However, do not give said toddler a treat, then send them to bed.  You are destined to find said treat dried and stuck in toddlers hair at 5 in the morning when you are barely awake.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Loki's 1 month check up

Loki’s 1 month appt was today:
weight
3-21-11:  5 pounds 14 ounces
4-26-11:  9 pounds 13 ounces

length
3-21-11:19.5"
4-26-11: 21.25"

head cicumference:
3-21-11: 12.75"
4-26-11: 14.5"
Way to grow Loki!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Home for sale!

Anyone want to buy a home?  Real Cheap!  We'll even buy it from you the next day, we just need a middle man.  So... anyone willing to get a loan from the bank to buy a good CHEAP home, give us a ring.. seriously...we'll buy it from you... we just need to catch a break...

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Birthday Little Rose

To the Fabulous Miss Rose,
  I hope you had a wonderful birthday party at Eileen and James' house!  I wish I could have been there to sing and howl to you.  Have a wonderful year darling!

P.S.  psst, tell your mom I said Happy Birthday too!

April 2010
April 2010

A Special Thank you to Laurie

We want to thank Laurie for spending her Spring Vacation here and helping take care of Jeanne and Loki.  Jeanne just loved playing with her Aunt, and amazingly Loki was calm only in her arms.

I wish you lived closer, but for now, a small reminder of your time here.






Thursday, April 21, 2011

Lets make a fort!

We're having a bad day.  We're still on the hook with our home, and the buyer is a ditz.... the details are boring and stressful.  Paul came home, I'm sure wanting to chill and forget the day.  We're both exhausted.  He walked into a home with both babes crying, Jeanne had just woken up.  Instead of complaining himself, he and Jeanne are making forts in our bedroom.

At least one babe can be made happy.

Poor Loki has such tummy troubles.

Jeanne has such a great dad.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Some pics and our evening boy

Mom took today off and both she and Laurie came over early to help me.  We spent some time playing outside, and Jeanne sported a new hat.

The first pic is of Loki in a new hat he received as a gift.

(typing one handed here, trying not to wake Loki: see text below










Colic (also known as infant colic, three month colic, and Infantile colic) is a condition in which an otherwise healthy baby cries or screams frequently and, for extended periods, without any discernible reason. The condition typically appears within the first two weeks of life and almost invariably disappears, often very suddenly, before the baby is three to four months old, but can last up to 12 months of life.[1] One study concludes that the chances of having colic is lower in breastfed babies.[2]
The crying often increases during a specific period of the day, particularly the early evening.
The medical definition of colic is a condition of a healthy baby in which it shows periods of intense, unexplained fussing/crying lasting more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks.[3] However, many doctors consider that definition, first described by Morris Wessel, to be overly narrow and would consider babies with sudden, severe, unexplained crying lasting less than 3 hours/day as having "colic".


Loki is a colicy baby.  The evening hours (6-10pm) really hurt around here

Sunday, April 17, 2011

He reminds me of another little boy

I heard tell of a little boy who seemed to know how to tell time as an infant.  As soon as the sun would go down, this little boy would become a terror.  There was just no soothing this boy.

My boy is like this.  Although, the season is different, and the sun is still out, his whole behavior changes dramatically around 630pm.  First, let me tell you how the daylight hours go.  Loki will nurse, let himself be burped, and fall fast asleep He would sleep so deeply that you can put him in his swing, his car seat to go for a walk or errands, or to lie down in his co-sleeper, and stay there dreaming mightily for 2 to 3.5 hours.  He will wake, I will change him, and repeat. 

Except if it is 6:30pm or later.  He will wake, scream bloody murder during his diaper change, nurse fitfully, literally, with his little fists throwing a infant fit.  The whole while screaming for more milk, and yet pushing away the almighty boob with his baby fists.  Since he is crying while nursing, he takes in a lot of air with his milk.  This air means that instead of a burp or two, he instead will spit up a lot.  Since he spits up and his belly *was* full of air, he protests that he is still hungry and hill nurse poorly again.  He does this all night long.  All night.  So far, every night for the last 6 nights. 

He *was* a good sleeper at night.  Now, I am at my wits end. 

Even though Paul did his best to help me last night (and is doing so again tonight) there are whole hours where there is just so calming Loki.  Paul has been so helpful and supportive when he can be, and let me and Loki sleep in this morning (6:30 am is when Loki starts to sleep again, so we were able to sleep until 8am!  Thank you love!).  Even so, I woke with little patience this morning and within 2 hours I was fried with Jeanne and Loki and really wanted to go to the gym. 

I snapped at Paul, and I snapped at my mom.  Both Paul and my mom ignored my temper and helped watch the babes and let me go to the gym and sweat.  There are both too good to me.  To top it off, mom stayed and helped with Jeanne for a while, and Paul fed me fantastic food all day.

Tonight Loki started screaming, but kept giving his "I'm hungry" cue, but every time I tried to feed him he would FLIP OUT.  I brought Loki into our room and closed to door so as not to wake up Jeanne, but after 20 minutes of him screaming at me, I asked Paul for help.  Within 4 minutes they came out of that room, Loki quite, calm and falling asleep on daddy's shoulder.  Huh, go figure.  Whatever makes him happy.  Daddy's little boy.  No problem.  At least I get to brush my teeth before bed.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Snippets

I don't have a lot of time, so I will just write random one sentence summaries of my day to give you a taste.

Nothing is worse than hearing your daughter cry in her sleep.  What is she dreaming of that is making her cry?  Is it of me?  Is she dreaming of being hurt, ignored, unloved?  My poor girl.

Why, pray tell, is Loki ravenously hungry when I need to get Jeanne either on the potty or down for a nap? aka, when I need two hands...

For a 'wimpy white boy' who needed to spend 5 days in the NICU, he sure has one set of lungs on him!

Remember to breathe Crystal.

I hate that this thought went through my head today: "If he's screaming, he's alive".

Friday, April 8, 2011

Things move much faster now a days

Alarm went of at 6:00 am, hubbers sleeps through it 3 times, both Loki and Jeanne wake at the same time (of course).  Hubbers changes Loki while I put Jeanne on the potty and bring her into our room.  The four of us lie in bed for 10 minutes, then start our day.  Since Loki just nursed, he fell back to sleep and Jeanne was happy as a lark with her 'button' I made dinner in the slow cooker while having my morning coffee (pulled pork loin with shredded sauerkraut, carrots and zucchini).  Hubbers gets ready for work while  try to get breakfast ready for Jeanne.  Jeanne just loves NOT listening these days.  I keep telling her to leave Loki be when he is sleeping in the swing, but NO, does she listen, NO! (grr)

Breakfast was had by all (8:30 am finally!) then I attempted to take a shower.  This means I have to put Jeanne in her bed (even though I know she can crawl out, its a good starting place for her) with toys and books, and put music on (today was Led Zeppelin). As soon as I get her settled Loki starts to fuss.  I try to console him and sooth him, but its a no go, and he needs to nurse again.  I can hear Jeanne on the monitor and every once in a while she calls for me or 'daddy', but it sounds more like shes just talking about us, rather than calling for us.  I manage to take a SUPER fast shower (9:15 am), and while I am drying off Jeanne is now clearly calling for me, and I can hear her knocking in her bedroom door (meaning she's out of her bed).  I'm still naked, since Jeanne is calling me loudly now, I pick up Loki, run past my living room window (shades are open of course) and open Jeanne's door slowly since I know she's right behind it.  Guess what I am greeted with.  A happy, beaming Jeanne who invites me to dance to Dyer Maker (she reached for me and says "hand", and starts dancing).  I laugh and start dancing with Loki on my shoulder and my hair wrapped in a towel.  This a a great moment for me.

After our dance, I get dressed and decide to take Jeanne and Loki out for a walk.  Loki is in the car seat, Jeanne has her shoes on, and we are almost ready, I just need my shoes.  I see Jeanne over by Loki with two wooden blocks in her hand, hovering over Loki's head.  I yell "NO!" "Jeanne don't!"  She looks at me, then drops them both, thankfully on his belly.  Unfortunately I lose my temper at Jeanne and slap her hand. I feel like hell immediately, and explain to Jeanne that she has to listen to mummy, that she can't throw things at Loki.  This is a really bad moment for me.  Jeanne recovers quickly, so at least I know I didn't hurt her.  We leave the house for our walk (9:55 am).

Off to the garage to pick up our double stroller (it technically fits in our trunk, but then nothing else would).  It's a beautiful day, 60F with the slightest breeze.  I walk for 30 minutes, then let Jeanne play in the volley ball court (aka giant sandbox) for a while.  Loki wakes and I nurse him while Jeanne plays and we sit on the grass.  I know it will take a while to make lunch, so we head in the house (11:00 am) and Jeanne watches "Play with me Sesame" while I do dishes and get our lunch ready.

12:00 pm Jeanne eats really well, blueberries in yogurt, several spoonfuls of molasses and a cup of applesauce.  12:30 she had her milk and we read books before her nap, she needed a little help, but fell asleep around 1:10pm  Loki has been asleep since around 11:30 and its now 1:45pm, so I'm off to wake, change and feed him. 

*sigh*

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Short story author: Greg Egan

While I was pregnant, hubbers bought a book of short stories for me, as I did not feel like I had the time, or mental energy to read a longer book.  I was wanting to read Towers of Midnight: Book 16, as it was given as a gift to me from a dear friend, but the sheer heft of the book deterred me.  Next in line was the first book Game of Thrones: Book 1 by George R.R. Martin.  I started it, but was overwhelmed with the number of names and new characters I would have to learn, and after 15 books of the Wheel of Time, I didn't want to start a new series.  In lieu of this, my dear hubby bought me Luminous: by Greg Egan.  Egan is a fantastic writer!  He holds nothing back, and writes really in depth, extremely descriptive stores about biology, physics, neurobiology, psychology and sci fi.  He defines nothing, and there is no ramp up room for understanding  a new topic.  If you don't know anything about cooling atoms with lasers, than you are out of luck with this particular story.  This is NOT a detriment, this a wonderful breath of fresh air!  As a SAHM, I basically say and think the same thing all day long (" cover your mouth when you cough", "do you need to go potty?", "what color is this..., no it is not green, it is...")so when I get to read an intelligent, well written, wonderfully intriguing story, I feel grateful.

So I guess, I want to thank my husband for buying me this book, and allowing me 2 minutes a day to remind myself that I am a) an adult, b) an intelligent adult, and c)I still have a working brain.  I'd also like to thank Greg Egan for some truly fantastic and original sci fi with  an education!




Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Groceries

Can someone with more than one child please tell me how you get groceries into your house when you have a toddler and a newborn?  It was manageable with just Jeanne, since she can walk up the stairs with minimal help (and I can sherpa up), but I can't hold Jeanne's hand, 4 bags of groceries and the cars seat with Loki in it up a flight of stairs.

Some of recommended leaving the kids in the car (still buckled in) and run up the groceries, then go back down and get them, but I feel uncomfortable leaving Loki alone, he could easily spit up and choke and I wouldn't know it...  I also can't bring the kids up and leave them in the house, as I don't trust Jeanne alone with Loki, but even if I put her in her room with the door closed, I'm still left with Loki being alone.....

Anyone....

Bueller?
Bueller?

Holy Calamity, Scream and Shout!

Hubbers went back to work this week, which included a day trip (4am-730pm) to DC on Tuesday (ug, it's only Wednesday).  All of  a sudden, this SAHM thing got REAL.  I thought taking care of a toddler was difficult, or energy dependent, CLEARLY I was mistaken.

Jeanne for the most part is great, although she has been practicing the art of NOT listening (I can ask her to cover her mouth when she coughs 500 times a day, and a get a blank stare, but if I whisper "Want to watch Gabba"?, wow boy, she'll come running from the other room).  She's also been pretty sick. This weekend she had a high fever with chills, which left daddy sleeping with her and wiping her down with a wet cloth, while I tried to feed Loki.  Jeanne has also been coughing like mad, and I assumed it was due to allergies (everything is blooming and covered with green pollen here).  I brought her to the Dr's after she coughed through her whole nap time, but she only has a virus (sigh).

Loki is bipolar. He either eats really well, and sleeps a long time, or eats greedily and spits it all up and wants more 45 minutes later.  I've been nursing him while lying down at night, which will let us both sleep a lot more, and does not require him to be burped.  But if I want to move him to his co-sleeper so he can sleep on his back, he will spit up and be fussy for almost 90 minutes, every single time I try to move him.  Its rather annoying.

Hubbers was exhausted after his trip yesterday, so I *tried* to let him sleep without disturbing him too much, but Loki's fussing did wake him a couple of times.  Daddy tried to help burp him and calm Loki, but in the end it came down to just feeding him again.  Daddy was swet enough to give Jeanne her milk at 6 am( YES, she slept all night!), and he took care of her in the morning, and let Loki and I sleep until 7:30am (oh great googily moogily!).

I have unfortunately noticed I haven't taken ANY pictures of Loki or Jeanne, it's hard enough watching them, never mind getting them to pose!  I'll try this weeekend when there are more hands around.

P.S.  Thanks Granma Barb for coming over last night, it made all the difference in the world!  I am SO glad you are here!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Well, he's a good sleeper

so far anyway...  Loki also loves his pacifier, which is very different from Jeanne.  Jeanne would push her tounge out and move her head away anytime we tried to give her a pacifier. When she rooted, she wanted FOOD.  Not so much with Loki. He loves to fall asleep with his pacifier, and will cry a fit if you don't give it to him.  I've often thought he was just hungry again and would try to nurse him, but he would fall asleep within moments and not eat.  So, I suppose I will be buying more pacifiers this weekend.  The two we bought Jeanne we really just used to help her with her teething, but whatever makes the boy happy!

Jeanne is adjusting well, she has her ups and downs.  She is always asking where Loki is if he is out of sight, and is always good enough to tell me that "Loki want milk" when he is crying (which always makes me laugh, "Yes, Jeanne I know, I'm trying to get to him love."  She also asks to hold him a lot, and loves to smother him in kisses, which again makes us happy, but worries us too.  She tries to be gentle, but she is only 22 months old.  Jeanne's temper tantrums have also been on the rise, but we've been careful not to feed into them, so she cries, throws herself on the ground, and we let her get it out.  When she's done, we wipe her tears, and its as if it never happened.

I think hubbers and I have been very deliberate in paying attention to Jeanne, we both get on the floor with her while Loki sleeps, we sit at her toddler table and have nachos and SALSA, and hubbers has now taken over the nightly Jeanne duties, so she gets extra daddy snuggle time early in the morning.

I'm sure there will be hiccups and really bad days ahead, but so far all I see is my wonderful family.