Multitasking

Multitasking from VDog on Vimeo.
It's kinda long (less than a minute thirty) but I couldn't bear to cut out any of his cuteness (although maybe I should have cut out my singing, heh).

WHOA!

WHOA! from VDog on Vimeo.

Bed Head & Citrus

"We've got some serious bed head going on here... ...He eats oranges and lemons like they're apples."

Haiku Rainy Day

I napped this morning
When I usually Haiku
Sorry it is late!

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Raining all day long
Stayed inside and played and ate
Made us both restless

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Once again, it's Haiku Friday!

(Sorry if this is kinda lame; I started BlogHopping before I finished my post! Whoops! Oh, and I thought about vlogging the 'ku, but why mess with a good thing? More video tomorrow.)

Meg Ryan Hairdo

"This is the Meg Ryan hair-do. It's...perfectly tousled, with a little flip in the back."

This Is What A Preemie Looks Like - 5 Weeks Old

I shall now commence vlogging until further notice.



This is of my tiny Little Man at five weeks old. He would fall asleep before eating enough, pretty much all of the time. It was a tough period for all of us. He had been home only a week when Warrior took this video.

Weekly Winners ~ Big Day Out!

*Updated to add: Yup, that's the Big Guy in the striped hat. Little Man and the Big Guy had an awesome playdate at the park last Thursday, and I really liked the shots I took of the Big Guy as well. Plus, you know, he's a Cracker and a regular on the blog. ;) *

Round the Bend and Back Again

I'm sorry my friends
Been really busy lately
Love that you email

Stop by my Buzz page
Wondering where did she go?
Crazy but good week

Huge sigh of relief
A let down of emotion
I cried tears of joy

My baby is fine,
According to the doctors.
Holter was normal

His poo was blood-free
New GI doc was a dream
Said blood was minor

In her opinion
The least worrisome symptom
Of an allergy

Really? Blood in poop?
WTF? How can that be?
With that one symptom

She said, I don't have
Moms change their diet at all
Wait just a second

I thought, is this real?
Are you fucking kidding me?
My diet for naught?

Nine months without milk?
Five of those without citrus,
Wheat and much much more?

It was hell on me
Worth it for my Little Man
Or so I had thought!

He won't take any
Mom substitute, starting at
Three months. Boobs only

And all of the time
Guess you can't beat skin to skin
For my Little Man

It's been such a ride
So many worries and tests
This first year of life

I hope this next one
Is a wee less exciting
For my sanity

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Insomnia sucks
Blog posts running through my head
Why do I lay there

When I could get up
And blog till my heart's content?
Guess I hold out hope

That sleep will come soon
I fear the 4:30 feed
So I stay in bed

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So, yes, I've been really busy -- Mom's group outings, doctor appointments, my sister's birthday -- but also really preoccupied. It's been such a relief to finally have a "normal" baby (I know this is such a subjective thing, but from the get-go, things haven't gone "normally" or the way that they are "supposed to"). It hasn't quite sunk in yet. I am grieving for this last year+ of worry and doctors, and hospitals, and being strong.

Of course, I am very happy, but it is mostly a feeling of relief. Like a giant weight has been lifted off my chest. I feel like I don't have to hold my breath anymore. It's still processing in my brain and I almost can't believe what has happened these last two weeks.

First, the pediatrician said he was doing great. Then the cardiologist says everything looks great; "normal." The holter study came back normal. So now if I notice that LM has a fast heart rate, we'll just take him to the Children's Hospital ER, but this is unlikely to happen. No more monitoring, no more special heart doctor.

Then we go to the GI doctor this week and it's a whole different experience from the last few times.

First, a little background: we had a male doctor who had been really harsh with me at times, who had been insistent on my extremely strict diet, and when that didn't work quickly enough, he seriously wanted my to force my son to drink (completely disgusting) hypo-allergenic formula.

So the last time we saw him, things went well. Dr. H was very blase about the whole situation. I thought it was odd, but was glad that he was more positive. So I went to check out and make the follow up appointment for two months from then (late Sept.). I was told that they "didn't have his schedule yet," and to call back in a week. I called back the satellite office where we had been seeing Dr. H. They said, "he doesn't work out of this office anymore. Let me transfer you to the Main Campus."

Okay...no problem. Right?? So they transfer me and then the person at the Main Campus says that he doesn't work in that office anymore! WTF?? So I had to make an appointment with a new doctor, and since LM wasn't one of "their" patients, we had to wait until this week to see someone.

Okay, this week. We go to the new GI doctor. She is wonderful. The nurse is wonderful. They both oooh and aahhh over Little Man, who is being completely charming, despite only having had a short nap in the car on the way there.

We go over the history. They evaluate him. He gets high scores from the nurse and doctor. We get told to HAVE SOME DAIRY ALREADY!!!

So I'm trying fluid milk this week, and if Little Man has no reaction, we can try some for him. Yippee!! I honestly CAN. NOT. BELIEVE. IT.

I am also a bit annoyed that two doctors had such differing opinions on the course of action that would have been appropriate. The new GI doc said that the only worry with the blood in the stools is if they become anemic. And then she would have just prescribed an iron supplement.

I know it's all a moot point now, but I can't help but feel a bit frustrated that all of my hard work and struggle was perhaps not necessary. I'm sure I'll get over it. Ay caramba.

Oh yeah! And we're off the heart medicine and the acid reflux medicine for good it seems. I really just can't get over how lucky we are. I know it's been a hard year, but I DO feel very lucky that Little Man's "problems" have (hopefully) only lasted a year. I know that we will most certainly face other hardships and tests in the future, but right now I'm exhaling, and I don't plan on holding my breath for anything else (especially unknowns).

Okay, I know I don't usually swear (save for ass and crap and stuff I don't really think is "that bad") but hey, the 'ku needed it, and it's what I thought and said to Warrior when I relayed how the visit went. Hopefully my family won't hold it against me!

In bloggy news, I REALLY want to be back "in it" if ya know what I'm saying, but I haven't been getting much screen time with the compy, so forgive me if I'm being a "bad blog friend." I need to start "blogging without guilt." Heheh.

Have a great weekend, everybody, and I CAN promise some Weekly Winners on Sunday -- I took some good ones on our adventures out and about!

Haiku Update

It's been a big week
One year pediatrician
Well child appointment

Monday. Thursday was
The last cardiologist
Visit, hopefully

Heart and head healthy,
Big things for my Little Man ~
I am so thankful!

So Monday we had the ONE YEAR APPOINTMENT!!!! We made it! Woohoo!! Here's how the Little Man stacked up (I post these for family & friends; I've been told it is one of their favorite things to read about):

Head circumference = 48.5 cm = 95% (HUGE considering he was two months early. And actually he jumped from the 90% at 9 months, so we're just gonna wait and see how he measures at the 15 month appointment -- if he jumps again, we'll do a head ultrasound to check for hydrocephaly, which is common among preemies, but right now the doc doesn't think it's a concern, since his cognitive abilities are on-track. The doc asked if large heads run in the family, lol, which they do!)

Height = 30 inches = 60% (roughly, he wasn't cooperating very well during this measurement!)

Weight = 19lbs 4oz = 6% (up 14+ pounds from birth, though!)

So the Little Man continues with his supermodel body type -- huge head on a tall, skinny body. All cuteness.

It's hard to believe that a year ago he was a tiny baby in the hospital, and now he's almost a little boy!

Yesterday we went for what I hope was our last appointment with the cardiologist. They did an EKG, which was normal, we chatted with the doctor for a little bit, and then he was fitted with a holter monitor, which is basically a 24hr EKG.

As long as the holter study results come back with no arrhythmia's, Little Man will no longer have to be on medication or see the cardiologist. He came off of the medicine about ten days ago to "challenge" him for the holter study. If he has another episode, we will have to go to the hospital and get an EKG and go back on medicine for the foreseeable future. But the doctor is hopeful that Little Man has outgrown this quirk.

Big head, nice shoulders, skinny body

With his "iPod"

Monitor leads & super cool shirt holding it all on

Since he wasn't crawling the last time he had a holter study, this was the first time he got this AWESOME shirt to keep the monitor in place. Before they just rubber banded it to his onesie.

I gave him the light-up pen that my phlebotomist gave me when he found out I was pregnant so that I could take the monitor off of him.

All the people in the cardiologist's office came to say Hi to him, since he was so cute (as always) and was one of the only babies in the office not crying.

I'll find out next week what the results of the holter study are.

Next week we see the GI doc (more on THAT drama later) to check in about the milk protein allergy issue. Hopefully we'll be done with that office, too!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Little Man's Story, Part Two

Get caught up: Little Man's Story, Part One

I had spent the last week taking care of Sasha and relaxing at home (since I was already on maternity leave).

I celebrated my 27th Birthday with my family and #4 on Sunday, December 17th, 2006. I cooked for everyone and accepted little help, much to my Mom's dismay.

I spent a lazy Monday hanging out with Sasha and having a visit from #4 while awaiting my "real" (on the actual day) Birthday celebration with the Warrior that night. I remember it vividly.

We ordered red chicken curry, basil chicken, chicken pad thai (can you tell I like chicken?), and steamed rice. We were shoe horned into a small table, right in front of the register. Not exactly the mood and ambiance I had wanted for my last baby-free Birthday dinner. We had no idea the restaurant would be so jam packed on a Monday one week before Christmas.

Warrior and I were both so excited. I had spent the week ordering the bassinet, crib, stroller and accoutrements. We held hands across the table and talked about the impending change to our universe. We talked about our first daughter, Sasha, and her sad, sad state. But most of all we talked about Little Bunny, as he was known then.

I had just become noticeably pregnant -- my belly button hadn't even popped -- as I spent the majority of my pregnancy looking like a porker who eats five hot dogs at every sitting (this line courtesy of my brother) unfortunately uneven in my fat distribution. I told Warrior that I didn't have enough "Preggie pictures" -- and that we needed to go home and take some.

This is as big as I got. I am proud of my Belly.

My Belly started shrinking the next day :(

We realized that this was my last Birthday with just the two of us as our little "family." We knew I would be a 27 year old Mama, but we didn't know that Warrior would be a 33 year old Papa. We thought we would have one more just-the-couple Birthday to celebrate, Warrior's 34th, three weeks before our due date.

We went to bed with dreams of Little Bunny and parenthood racing through our heads.

The next morning, Tuesday, December 19th, was uneventful. I went downstairs and brought my cereal back up to our room to be with Sasha (we were taking our meals and living completely upstairs due to her surgery). I surfed the Internet from the La-Z-Boy and enjoyed the sun streaming in through the sliding glass doors.

As I prepared for my nap (I was constantly tired throughout my pregnancy, and napped often -- the luxuries of a first pregnancy!) I noticed a clear discharge that was "different." I thought about it for about a minute, since I had just read in one of those helpful books that you need to watch out for something of that nature, as it could one of the first signs that your water has broken, or you have a leak. I thought, "hmm, that's weird," and then went to sleep.

When I woke up about an hour and a half later, my thighs were wet. Not soaked, but wet. There were also a few small wet spots on the pillowcase of the pillow I was using between my knees. I thought, "either I've peed myself, or my water has broken." I went to the toilet and felt a trickle. I was pretty sure I hadn't peed myself.

So I called the doctor's office, and said, "Hi, this is VDog (not really), I'm at 30 weeks, and I think that my water has broken. I woke up from my nap and my thighs were wet blah blah blah, I could have just peed myself, but I'm pretty sure that my water has broken."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

"Ok, the doctor is on-call at the hospital right now; I'll have her give you a call."

The doctor literally called me back within three minutes. She has always been prompt at returning my calls, but I knew this meant it was SERIOUS.

"Doctor Amy" (she actually says, "this is Amy"; I LOVE that) has a very soothing, calming voice, and it was very reassuring for me to hear her voice. Although what she had to say was not reassuring -- after I told her what had been going on, she said, "Well, it definitely has to be checked out, and the best place to do that is here in Labor & Delivery."

This concludes Part Two. Stay tuned for Part Three where I FREAK OUT!!! and get hospitalized.

I promise to not let so much time lapse between "episodes" Two and Three!

My Band

The wonderful Mishi at Secret Agent Mama tagged me for this random, yet fun meme. I haven't done memes in a while (and sorry if I didn't do yours), but this one sparked my interest, didn't require any thinking, and let me display my mad photoshopping MS Paint skillzzzz.

"My CD"


Wanna Play Along? Here's how:
(Mine in bold)

1. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random - The first article title on the page is the name of your band.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_High_School_Rifle_Club

2. Click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3 - The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/2480.html
Socrates ~ "Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat." (My problem is that my philosophy seems to be the other way around.)

3. Visit http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/ - The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/2173519208/

4.Use your graphics program of choice to throw them together, and post the result.

I tag:

The Nap Warden, cuz she loves her some Photoshop.

Anyone else that wants to play ~ I'll put your link up here to your "CD."

Here's Cracker #7's "CD"



Also:
Auntie Al_Pal

Madame Meow

First Birthday Week

'Cause it's all about the Little Man...and his fans have been in sore need of some pictures.

The Hairdo

Preparing for the photoshoot


Le Photoshoot

Hey peeps, I'm One now! Woot!

Squee!

I climbs now...and git into all sortz uf trubble...I big boy now!

Haiku Contest Winners!

The three winners are:
Jennifer, Holly, Mishi
Candle, soap and book

Each respectively
Hope they enjoy the winnings
Thanks for playing, girls!

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Holly (AFF) asked for the soap, since she's a "dirty, dirty girl" (her words, not mine!)(prolly cuz us SAHM's never get to shower, lol), and also because she came in 2nd place, I let her choose first.

That leaves Jennifer with the travel candle, which works out well since she'll be in temporary housing in Indiana when she makes the big move back to the Midwest (tip: burn the candle a couple of times in your home before traveling so that the scent is familiar and comforting, and you can whisk away any funky new place smell with it when you get there).

Mishi gets the GRAND PRIZE!! -- an autographed (by me)(she asked for it!) copy of Haiku Mama.

Congratulations, ladies. Now I just need to know where to send your fantabulous prizes to. I'll get 'em out on Monday, since we have one wicked storm here today, and you couldn't PAY me to leave the house in this weather.

I'll update this post with the "correct" answers to the contest later. Right now I'm still rockin' whatever cold I have workin'. Ugh.

Happy Haiku Friday, everyone!

Just A Reminder...

The Haiku Mama contest ends tonight at 11:59 PST. I think that was a bit unclear on my original post. Sorry about that.

Top prize is a copy of Haiku Mama (signed by VDog if ya like, heh).

Two runner-up prizes:

1 Voluspa Tuberosa Agave Travel Candle (smells SOOOO good, esp. if you like tuberose)

1 Mistral Grapefruit Red Currant Full Size Bar Soap (ditto, if you like grapefruit)

Secret Agent Mama is in the lead with Anglophile Football Fanatic hot on her trail.

Here's a hint: July only has five entries, at least two of which are song titles/references -- so send me an entry already! At least one prize left! (Who knows, maybe I'll feel generous and scrounge up some more prizes!).

So -- find post titles that are/reference song titles or lyrics. Email 'em to me: vdogblog at gmail dot com. By the end of the day. Win something. That is all. (Let me know if you have a preference of runner-up prize, or be surprised.)

Good luck!

I WILL post again someday, I swear. Some good stuff, too. Right now I'm feeling sick, blah blah blah. Love to all y'all! I'll be back in ur blog readin' ur thoughtz soon.

Happy Birthday, Little Man!!

This Morning

One Year Ago