Blogiversary

Today I celebrate the one year anniversary of this blog. I've learned a few things in the last year:

• I've surprised myself in how many technical tricks I've picked up along the way. Certainly not enough to be an IT person, but enough to be happy about.
• I've been surprised at who has become a loyal reader of this little family blog.
• I've learned so much and my world has been opened by the blogging community. Many of you out there are friends, though we've never spoken in person or even on the phone. You have inspired, educated and supported me in ways I am so grateful for. I promise to post about the blog awards that I have been given as I have not forgotten about them.
• Blogging has been so much fun and has been a creative outlet that I really need. Somewhere along the way as I grew up, had a career that I loved, left it to stay at home, added the titles; wife, mother, mother to a child with special needs, I've felt that I lost who I am outside of those roles. This blog has helped me rediscover many things about myself.

I think too that it's fitting that my first ever post was about Sophie's birth. As I type this, those darn Braxton Hicks contractions have increased in length and severity. I really hope to make it to May to go into labor, as it would be best for Helena, but I'm getting more and more signs that she may make an early appearance, at least earlier than her due date of Mother's Day. Then again, she could surprise me and hang on for a few more weeks. So, as her birth could happen anytime in the next couple/few weeks, I'm adding Twitter to the sidebar, just to be prepared.

Anywhozill, thanks to all of you who stop by and comment regularly. I really appreciate it and look forward to the next year in blogland.

Help Support the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was passed on July 25, 2006—20 years after Adam Walsh's Abduction. The act established a National Sex Offender Registry law, but recent news reports reveal most states will not be in compliance with the law by the upcoming July 2009 deadline. If senators and state representatives don't comply with and fully fund the act, it will expire. Act Now!

It's time to bail out our kids. Make your voice heard by imploring your senators and state representatives to comply with Adam's law and give it full funding.

Don't know what to write? click here for a sample letter

To contact your senator: Go to senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking the arrow from either drop-down menu. Contact information will be provided. To send an e-mail, click on Web Form below his or her name. E-mail your letter to make a difference.

To contact your state representative: Go to House.gov and click on Write Your Representative in the upper left-hand corner. Select your state from the drop-down menu, and enter your ZIP code, including the four-digit ZIP code extension. Contact information will be provided. To send an e-mail, click on Send a Message. On the state representative's page, click on E-mail the Congressman/Congresswoman, and e-mail your letter to make a difference.

Ear Tube Follow Up and Audiology

Most importantly, it was a good visit. In and out in 1 hour to ENT and audiology is a world record. Sophie's ears look good and the hearing test went well. The results are pretty much the same as in October. Her hearing is pretty good with a mild loss in the low pitches. Follow up in 6 months.

The trip, however, was another story. We got into town with a smelly engine and without a stroller with which to haul our stuff. While I took Soph to the appointments in a borrowed hippo shaped wagon from the hospital, Mark and Alexander found a shop within walking distance of SLCH. Appointments were done by 12:30 but the car hadn't been checked out yet. We spent the day between the 2nd floor entry way with the trains that are mounted around the perimeter of the ceiling and in the cafeteria.

We heard from the shop that the AC compressor was bad and they did not recommend trying to drive it home. If the belt broke, it would possibly cause serious damage to the engine and we would be stuck on the side of the road. Mark's dad concurred. They couldn't get to it until today, so we had to decide if we would be staying overnight or renting a car to get home. Staying would have meant rescheduling ST, the tub surround repair (major leak into the basement from the main floor) and Mark missing 3 classes. That and we had no supplies or Sophie's meds or extra food out for the cats. Thankfully, RK and Julie came to the rescue and drove in from St. Charles. We are borrowing RKs car and returning it, probably Wednesday, which meant that we were able to drive the 3 hours and be home last night. Thank you RK! On the way home, driving through the rain, Alexander had a potty accident and he ended up with a brand new pair of St. Louis Cardinals pjs. I was fully convinced that my water would break (as we're not technically supposed to be travelling out of town) and well, it would have fit the theme of the day.

I spent the day hysterically laughing to the point of tears, which is dangerous given my near full term pregnant status. The car could have broken down in the rain on our way, causing us to miss our appointment and stranding us, who-knows-where. It didn't. We thought the over due oil change may have been the problem and were planning to just get an oil change. Had we done that, instead of taking it to a shop, it would likely have broken down on the way home. Had we remembered the stroller, Sophie might not have had such a good nap in the cafeteria, in the bed we made for her in the hippo wagon. She doesn't nap well in the stroller. Had we left right away after the appointments, I would not have had the yummy onion rings that I love. As our little comedy of errors continued to develop, I couldn't help but see quite clearly how much worse it could have been.

2nd floor entry, trains

Cheesy post-nap grin

Alexander working hard on Noggin.com in cafeteria

Sophie's Baptism Anniversary

Happy 1 year baptism anniversary sweet Sophie and to your baptism buddies Silas and Sofia! You have changed so much in one year's time, yet many at church know you by name and love to watch you grow. You are amazing and thriving and I am so proud of you. I know you'll be a wonderful big sister. I love you!

During the service we sang 'Borning Cry.' I cannot sing this hymn without getting choked up. Click below to enlarge. The side ribbon came off one of your cakes and the cloth was used to dry your head after your baptism.

Here is your candle, your baptism banner made by a member of the church, and your certificate.

some information edited for privacy

Easter Lily, Highly Toxic to Cats

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but trust me on this one. I know from personal experience that this is true as our beloved cat Tommy nibbled (JUST A FEW NIBBLES) of an Easter lily leaf, a plant that I brought into our home without knowing it would kill him. We had him in the hospital and tried all the known remedies, but he had renal failure and left us the day before Easter a few years ago. Please read below and pass along to all of your cat loving friends.

Easter lilies and other lilies can be toxic to cats, causing kidney failure and death. All parts of the lily can be toxic, and eating just one leaf can result in severe poisoning. After eating a portion of an Easter lily, a cat will generally vomit and become depressed within 2 hours. The vomiting may subside, but the cat will not eat and continue to become more depressed.

Contact your veterinarian immediately if you know or suspect your cat has eaten any part of an Easter lily. Treatment includes causing the cat to vomit by giving an emetic, administering activated charcoal and a cathartic (stimulates bowel movements), and giving subcutaenous or intravenous fluids. A cat must be treated within 18 hours of ingesting the plant, or the damage to the kidneys will be irreversible.

Other lilies which belong to this same plant species and are also toxic include tiger lilies, rubrum or Japanese showy lilies, and various day lilies. Many other bulb plants are also poisonous such as daffodils and hyacinths.

Weeks 34-36

What can I say? Its been a very busy past couple of weeks. (click the pics to enlarge) So, to catch up, weeks 34-36:

Belly Shot, Week 34

Belly Shot, Week 35

Belly Shot, Week 36

Alexander gave me a very endearing lesson on child birth. He knows the baby is a girl and he's informed me that after Helena is born, we're having another baby boy.

ALEXANDER: Come help me Mom.

ME: Just a minute. I have to sit down. This baby is moving around a lot. You know we're going to have another baby at home soon?

ALEXANDER: Yes, you'll go to the hospital. The baby girl will jump out of your mouth. Then a baby boy will jump in your mouth and go all the way down (to your belly).

ME: Is that what will happen?

ALEXANDER: Yep.

We had our 2nd Level II ultrasound and everything looks great with no need for any more USs. She's weighing exactly what she should if not a little more. At this rate, she'll weigh between 7.5-8.2 lbs full term. That would put her nicely between her brother of 9lbs. and sister at 6 lbs 12 oz. The doc said she has just a small amount of hair, so we'll see. We weren't able to get a good profile picture as she was hiding her face, so here's one of the little feet that kick me all day and night long.

Braxton Hicks contractions continue to strike every day, some pretty intensely. It's harder to breathe and I'm tiring quickly these days. I'm nesting big time, including scrubbing walls. I also started a prenatal water aerobics class. I did prenatal yoga with Alexander and water aerobics with Sophie. There's just something quite healing about water pressure, but both classes are great. I'm pretty much ready to have Helena, though there are 3 weeks left until I'm full term (and could go as long as 7). On the other hand, I find myself cuddling more with the kids, knowing that our lives will once again change very soon. I can't wait to see Sophie in the role as big sister.

WARNING:

Bare belly shots below complete with unedited stretch marks and gall bladder surgery scars. Can't handle it? X out now.

Week 34

Week 35

Week 36

Fun with Family

Spring Break for my sister's family was a week earlier than ours. They came for a visit for a few days over St. Patty's day and we had a wonderful time. They were days filled with freeze tag, board games, grilling out and beautiful weather, painting pictures, green shirts and a visit to campus on St. Patty's followed by Wii American Idol. AI has become my new stress buster. Hey, it's better than vodka or 2 buckets of ice cream a day (I'll stick to just one bucket thank you).