8 weeks ago

This is what I looked like... (ready to POP!) this was 10/19... she was born 10/22!

a little update!

Riley is now 7 weeks and 2 days old! She's a growing fool!! We had her weighed last Thursday... up to 8lbs 13oz! This week she is really smiling a lot and starting to "coo" too. SOOO cute!! If we play with her paci near her mouth, she will lick it and smile and coo. It's so funny! I'm in love. It's true. Head over heals, do stupid things type of love!

She has quite the adventure coming up... this weekend is my family's Christmas party and that is always a real comedy show, to say the least. At least this year I have a cute little baby to show off. I'm a little bit worried about everyone wanting to touch and hold her since it is cold & flu season. EEK!! It'll make Ryan more crazy, though... seeing as how he is a bit of a germophobe and hypochondriac!! I'm sure he'll be diagnosing her with all kinds of diseases by Sunday. HA!

With us... not much is going on. I'm working a bit now. I hate it. My favorite days are the ones that are just me and Riley. I get much more accomplished on those days. I'm DREADING going back to 5 days in January. But alas, bills must be paid. At least I get to take Riley with me. I don't think I could drop her off at daycare. Ryan is working in his new position and doing great. If only it came w/ a significant raise. Now that would be glorious. He hasn't had many late nights so far, so that is nice!!

Anyways... I'm going to go relax before the Poops wakes up and wants to eat again.

my first digi scrap page...

Well... along with photoshop... I've found this wonderful digital scrapbooking hobby. Boy oh boy am I doomed! These things are addicting!

Merry Christmas from the Plices

I finally figured out photoshop... so let the fun begin!!

she's growing!!

My little girl is getting sooooo big!!! She was 6lbs 9oz when she was born and had gone down to 6lbs 2oz by the time we left the hospital. At her 1 month appt on 11/21 - she was already 7lbs 15oz! Yesterday, I took her to the lactation center to have her weighed... she's up to 8lbs 13oz already!!! She's a growing fool!! Now... if she could focus some of that growing energy into her hair, we'd be in business!! However, she's still not even as Ryan was when he was BORN!!

She's smiling so much more now and starting to coo! I love it. She's just growing up so fast! Haha. She even slept in her crib for the first time the other day! Currently she is napping away in there right now. This is just a daytime thing for now... I'm not ready to move her at night yet. Probably after the holidays we'll start in there at nights. Oh geez... I don't know. It's just so fast! haha.

Riley snoozing in her crib for the first time. 12/5November 4th... first time in the swing! 13 days oldToday (12/7) in the swing! 6 weeks 4 days!

what happens when Riley DOES sleep!

Well, yesterday after Riley's 1:30 feeding until midnight, I TOTALLY messed up her sleeping due to dr's appt, errands, Andy's birthday celebration... I mean really... the kid is very dependent on her schedule. Ok, I am very dependent on her schedule... however, it works well. I have a happy baby... Anyways. I thought we'd be DOOMED last night with this over tired baby. I fed her in hopes that she'd fall asleep eating. not the case. She hollered while Ryan held her for about 15 minutes, then I got her and calmed her down and she was out by 12:15... kid slept until 6:15 w/o a peep! Then she went right back to sleep and slept until 9:30 when I WOKE her up! Today she went down for all (but one) of her naps w/ no problems! Laid her down awake, but tired... and she was fast asleep w/in 5 minutes each time! maybe a little fussing, but not enough to even warrant it being called a 'cry'!! For her nap/bed at 7:30, she fought it a little bit, but the poor thing had gas and so her belly just hurt. Now my sweet princess is snoozing away (what I'll be doing in a few). My well rested baby was so much fun today!!! She was so happy and just looking all around!

How I found her this morning...

Ryan made her have pouty lips, in her sleep...

Big Smile!!! First one caught on camera! She loves when Ryan tickles her chin

Big Stretch!

How I found Riley on Friday morning - first I was scared, then I laughed!

what happens when Riley won't sleep

Ohhhh Mom, you're in big trouble!

I'll give you a half smile with my fat cheeks for the camera

HEEEEEY!

Ghiradelli brownies

are a gift from up above.

a little of this and a little of that!

Well... Riley is officially 5 weeks and 1 day old. That translates into 1 month and 5 days old. I can hardly believe how old she is getting! And so fast...

Thanksgiving day was GREAT!! The day after was great... kinda. Riley and I met up and went out to lunch w/ a nestie - Katie. It was loads of fun! It's fun putting a real face behind that person I chat with on a daily basis!

However, Maggie (my parents dog) was throwing up all day on Friday. It was so sad... we finally figured out what was going on... when the turkey was deep fried in our backyard, instead of tossing the peanut oil over the fence - he (the person who did the turkey) dumped it under a big rock (I think)... my dad went over and cleaned it all up w/ deck cleaner and she stayed away. It was too late. The damage was done. By Saturday, Mags would only lay around and move if we really pushed the issue. Saturday night she wouldn't even get water. My dad took her to the emergency vet. She was in shock. It was severe pancreatitis - the peanut oil and rocks (probably) tore her pancreas up. We were devastated. There was also a mass in her stomach. The vet didn't expect her to make it through the night... but my parents agreed to treating her if it would make her better. Sunday morning she was doing better, but still VERY sick. She'd at least gotten up and walked around, temp was coming back up... but she had severe diarhea. They did another x-ray that afternoon... the mass had moved, but not enough. And yet another x-ray that night - it hadn't moved anymore. Surgery was necessary. However, she was a big dog and they don't have long life spans - she was already 8 - and she was pretty overweight. The vet couldn't even say if she'd make it to getting surgery since she still was not considered stable... and if she did make it to surgery, he couldn't promise she'd make it through surgery. My parents were already facing a $2k - $3k vet bill. My dad told the vet that if she could live comfortably and not be in pain w/o surgery, then keep treating her. However, with surgery not bringing any promises - it didn't make sense to keep things going until then. The vet said she is and would be in a LOT of pain until surgery, if she made it. They decided to put her to sleep. Because there was no surgery done - we will never know if the mass in her stomach was related to the peanut oil or not. I think it was not. We have a feeling that she has probably been sick for a very long time, just not showing symptoms. My heart is broken. She was a GREAT dog. But... we loved her enough to not keep her alive for selfish reasons when she was in a great deal of pain. I miss her so much... but it really was the best option. Shoot, now I'm crying. Must go grab a tissue. I'll return.

Now... on to happy things! I think Riley is finally recovering from our traveling. She's been sleeping a LOT today!! Yesterday afternoon and this morning were hell on earth with getting her to go to sleep - but night time, she slept GREAT. I think the poor little thing was just so exhausted she didn't know what to do with herself. However, the rest of the day has been cake. She woke up, ate, diaper change, look around for about 3 minutes, start dozing off. I swaddled her and then laid her down. She was awake, but tired. Almost 0 fussing to go to bed those times!! I'm so proud of my big girl!! She is even smiling more and more now... I love it! It melts my heart!! I can't wait for her to really start cooing and smiling and laughing a lot. I really am enjoying her being a newborn though... I'm not ready for her to grow up!!! She sure does love just looking around and observing the world around her!! Here are a few new pictures...

Ohhhh Dad! Mom's gonna be so mad at you!

Relaxing with Paw Paw - enjoying football

Seriously - stop taking pictures! I know my bow is cute!

What I have learned so far...

in my 4 short weeks as a mommy...

My sleepless nights are now spent cuddling my sweet baby girl. Most nights, I don't mind the feedings (except when she won't go back to sleep!) because this is when it is just us and I just get to cuddle her and relax...

My life did not end when she was born... it was flipped upside down... but it was a new beginning

I had only a few things I said "never" to and I'm sticking to those. However... with other aspects - I have become MUCH more flexible

1 cry can be the most frustrating thing in the world, but it can also be the most heartbreaking

Some days I feel like I have no "motherly instinct" because I listen too much to what others tell me to do... when I go with my gut, everything ends up working out.

I could not have ever picked a better man to be my husband and the father of my little girl. He has stepped up to the plate in ways I could never imagine and is more supportive about EVERY thing than I could ever ask for. He pretty much takes over right when he gets home from work and does whatever he can to make sure I am not stressed out.

I refuse to live in "isolation"... when hanging out with friends is going to interrupt our "routine", we invite them to our house rather than going out. I get out of the house at LEAST every other day - sometimes with Riley, sometimes w/o.

And... last, but not least...
That I would make plans around nap and feeding and really weigh whether or not it is worth it to ruin a nap by going and doing whatever it is (usually it's not)... or determine how many naps will be ruined if I decide to go do (insert long activity)! Nap time is a good time. It's me time. It's my down time.

This is not to say that every day is easy or that even being a mom is easy. There are hard days... every day there is something difficult. When she won't just GO TO SLEEP and is crying whether you hold her or she is in her bed and won't stop and you know it's because she's tired... it's frustrating. At the same time, it is heartbreaking because that sweet baby doesn't know that sleep is good and will make them feel better! But I'm in love... with my little girl... and in love in a totally new and amazing way with my husband. God has blessed us...

little of this... little of that

Well let's see... tomorrow marks 37 weeks. As long as I make it to get a pay check next week, Riley's allowed to arrive any time. If she'd go ahead and wait until next Friday to come, that'd be PERFECT. You see... I have next Friday off. So then I wouldn't be not working any hours I was already paid for. (I'm paid hourly and I'm paid ahead of time.) However, Lara did cancel her trip for early next week... she didn't want to go in the first place and also said that she was feeling uneasy leaving me stranded like that. Haha. She is too sweet.

Let's see... some updates. We went on the hospital tour tonight. It was quite nice! Now that I know where to go... I'm ready to have this kid! haha. As of last Thursday, I weighed in at 125.5 lbs. I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Really... it's nice to know SOMETHING is going on... but it really doesn't make a difference! I could stay like that for another 5 weeks, really. Or... I could have her tomorrow. So... yes, reassuring that there is some progress, but doesn't promise anything. I am, however, now feeling lots of discomfort in my lower abdomen... I wasn't having any of that before.

Ok... on to the good stuff!!

Today was my first big scare... I stood up from the chair I was sitting in (I was giving Benjamin his lunch) and all of a sudden I feel this cool sensation on the back of my upper thigh. At first I thought, "OH NO! My mucus plug! This is so embarassing!" Then I realize that, no... it can't be that it's wet... not gooey! and then... I thought, "OH NO! My water just broke! OH CRAP! Not yet!!"... in th end, I had just spilled some of my water on my chair and didn't realize it... it was also down the front of my shirt. WHOOPS! But it was pretty hilarious, none the less.

Right now Ryan is setting up the exersaucer... you know, this kid needs to start exercising the day she comes home... and the dog is trying to help. He has the bottom "saucer" part sitting gon the floor, so Ella sat in it. She looked at him as if she were saying, "Thanks for this great new seat you got for me, Dad! You're the greatest!" Unfortunately, by the time I snapped the picture, she was getting off of it. DANG IT! By the way... it is KILLING me not to set up the exersaucer and just let Ryan do it... I'm so obsessive about things that I assume he is going to break it or mess it up... just because HE is doing it and not ME. I'm out of control these days. (update... he has it all together and just is working on adding the toys... however, as soon as he got the top on... he had to push on it to make sure it bounces. It does... he gave it the nod of approval. This is serious business apparently. Oh... and he has to test out every toy that goes on there... he approves.)

Ella lost her bear privileges... you see, something in the fur kept making her hack! We'd think she was about to throw up and rush her outside... and then nothing. And then she'll do that hacking... as if she is some sort of cat trying to cough up a hairball for a few hours. I freak out and think she is choking and dying... Ryan laughs at me. I don't know what he's laughing at. I'm not dramatic or anything. She is still stealing socks... she's kept it to one at a time lately, though. Thank goodness. The other thing she has been doing is hiding stuff! It's hysterical!! She will push things in to the crack of the couch so that she thinks nobody can see them. She also will get her ball and tuck it under her chin (when she is laying down on the couch) and if we come close, she makes sure we can't see it. It's pretty funny. I love that dog.

Alright... I'm sure tomorrow I'll be able to think of some new ailments to tell you about... For now here are some pictures and a little verse at the end that my brother in law sent me today.

36 weeks 2 days bare belly

36 weeks 2 days clothed

Today I'll leave you with this verse...
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

I'm back!

I think I might try to start updating this more often. Haha. You know, like actually keep people posted about things.

Here's what's going on.

Friday - had my 34 wk appt. Lost .5 lbs from last time. Which means I am only up 10.5 lbs from my pre pregnancy weight. It worries me a little bit, but I'm measuring fine and my dr doesn't seem worried! She said she'd let me know when I need to worry. Haha. Next appt will be the beginning of the end. Internals start and so do weekly visits. AHH!!
Next was the baby shower at Ryan's work. It was neat to meet all of these people he works with. Mostly just a bunch of ladies... I think 2 guys stopped in. We got our travel system (the gender neutral one - and it really makes more sense in the long run.), a HUGE box of Pampers Swaddlers diapers (I think it is 256 diapers... 1/2 size 1 and 1/2 size 2), and a really cute quilt. I will try to get an album up and going to post these things in.

Yesterday - In laws came in town. Got in about 1:30. We just relaxed mostly (we'd been cleaning and running errands all morning, so that was nice) and just chatted. We had an AMAZING dinner! Grilled some steak, twice baked potatoes, salad, and cake. I got to practice my decorating! They were impressed! haha

Today - church. We went to sunday school AND service!! Usually we just leave after the music, but the ILs wanted to stay. Glad we did. VERY good message! Then out to lunch... Doug and Linda left to head home. Yep, they came yesterday afternoon and left today. They were here for exactly 24 hrs. Yes, it does take them 8 hrs each way to drive. Insane! I dropped my brother off at the ER to see if he had a broken arm. Turns out it isn't, just really bad bruise I guess. Sucks for him. Can't even get pain meds! While he had my car... I worked on Riley's room a little bit. Last weekend we went through TONS of hand me downs and so today I separated them in to sizes and put all of the 12 - 24 months stuff into a storage container.

I still need to do some laundry (which includes Riley's stuff too) and vacuum again (dog sheds a lot), but overall... we accomplished a LOT this weekend!! Next weekend is our shower back home with family! Woo hoo!

Pregnancy update. As of today I am 34 weeks 3 days. This means 5 weeks 4 days or 39 days until my adjusted due date. It's getting soooooooo close! I cannot believe it!! In no longer than 7 weeks and 4 days I will have my little girl in my arms! (that's giving that she has until 2 weeks after my due date to get here). I'll be glad to have her out of my ribs! However - I've had such an easy and uneventful pregnancy. I looooove feeling her move! It's so neat! I'll miss that a lot!! But I think that holding her will be so much better! I'll try to update and post belly pictures as well!

heart broken

It absolutely breaks my heart these days to see what people say and how they do not value other human beings. The message board I am on on a regular basis proved to me that my little world is not so realistic. I like to believe that people are not so hateful and not so selfish that if they were to find out their child was not perfect, they would love it all the same and continue with the pregnancy. Apparently... this is not how it goes! I was shocked to see so many women - who are pregnant, have children, or are trying to get pregnant - said they would kill their baby if they found out it had some sort of severe disability. What are they going to do if something isn't detected and they find out after birth that the child has a severe disability? How many times have those tests been wrong? How many times have people beat the odds? How could somebody still decide to terminate a child based on a probability?

There are some things that I will just never understand. Ever. Maybe it is because I have been touched by people with special needs. I have been touched by families of those with special needs. I could never make a decision to kill my baby because it wasn't perfect. God would not give me something I couldn't handle. Not to say it wouldn't be hard - I'm not saying that at all. But, if God brings me to it - He'll bring me through it. Even if I am kicking and screaming and crying the whole time! Haha.