Never in My Life

have I been so sick before. I caught the flu and then it turned into pneumonia. 11 straight days of an on and off fever, with chills and sweats.

During those 11 days:

I spent Thanksgiving by myself, at home, in bed. No family get to together and no family picture of Ivy's first Thanksgiving. No pumpkin pie.

Our day after Thanksgiving tradition of myself cooking my mini day after Thanksgiving meal, with Stove Top stuffing and garlic mashed potatoes didn't happen. Or our putting up the Christmas Tree and listening to Christmas carols, while the turkey cooks.

Still a little bitter about all of this.

Instead, I went to Urgent Care the day after Thanksgiving. The Dr. said I had strep throat, an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis, all of this by barely looking me over. He gave me an antibiotic for the strep, that was safe for nursing, but I continued to get worse.

David called the families long time physician Sunday and he was really concerned about how long I had been sick. He had me come in on Monday and I had blood work done, chest x-ray, exam and the diagnosis was pneumonia!

He told me that I could try and continue the antibiotic the previous Dr prescribed, so I could continue nursing. But my Dr wasn't very optimistic that it was going to be strong enough.

I really didn't want to temporarily stop nursing, pump and dump and Ivy to have to have formula, so I stuck with the original prescription and spent two more days of being sick.

Come Wednesday night and I was still really sick and not getting better. I was starting to have issues with my supply. I think my body finally decided that it had to do something to get better, but not even that was enough.

I had had enough and made the switch to the stronger antibiotic. And then finally no fever!

It's been 3 days since switching and I am feeling much better! Still hacking up a lung and tired, but so, so glad to not have a fever anymore.

Ivy so far has done really well with the switch to formula. She hasn't had any tummy issues or anything. But the poo, oh my! I have already gagged several times from the foul smell.

I am pumping and dumping, which is a pain in the butt and sucks. My supply is going back up. I finally ventured out of the house, for lunch today. It was nice to be able to get outside, but it was tiring.

I'm not looking forward to going back to work on Monday. I probably need a couple of more days of rest, but I have already used all my sick time. This past week was all vacation hours.

I am ready for life to get back to normal. Two good friends had babies while I was sick and I can't wait to meet the little guys. I also want to get start decorating our place for Christmas and finish our shopping. Just ready for normal.

One lesson learned from the whole experience, I don't think I will ever go with out getting a flu shot. I don't want to ever go through that again.

Day 22

I am sick and feel awful. I think it may be the flu. This seriously sucks. If it's the flu you are contagious for 5 days. Umm Thanksgiving is in 2 days.

I started feeling bad last night and today I was feeling pretty good, but I have a fever again. I haven't really been able to get in any real sleep other than last night, because during the day Ivy eats about every 2 hours. Sigh

On another note, Ivy turned 4 months today!

Day 21: Deal on Robeez Shoes

Check out this deal on Slick Deals for Robeez shoes! Up to 50% off!

I can't decide which ones I like for Ivy. These are a few that I like.

Day 20: A Very Special Person

Today, Ivy and I visited Mandi who was our Bradley Instructor/Doula. We checked out her new classroom and Mandi was awesome enough to allow me to share Ivy's birth story with her students. Afterwards, we talked a bit about me potentially becoming an instructor. There is definitely lot's to think about!

And of course, we couldn't leave without a photo. We didn't get a photo of Ivy with Mandi when she born, so we had to take one today for Ivy's baby book.

Day 19: Confessions

Not everything is perfect in our household.

 

 

~ This morning for breakfast, I ate half a slice of Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. I opened the fridge and I saw it sitting there and then it said: Eat Me. How could I resist?

 

~ I haven't done one load of Ivy's laundry, since before she was born. Many thanks to my wonderful mother in law for doing it for me.

 

~ Hmmm... that last confession just made me realize that I haven't done a single load of laundry at all. ::bows my head in shame:: Thank you David.

 

~ I really need to buy my parents Christmas gift and send it to them before Christmas this year. I am already a terrible daughter, because they got last years gift when they came out to visit Ivy in August.

 

~ For a slight moment yesterday, while pumping at work, I wished that Ivy was on formula. Pumping is a pain. I give props to all the moms who exclusively pump. I don't think I could do it. I soon remembered though all the positives to continuing to breastfeed and I would miss it if I weaned her now.

 

~ Sometimes after a long week of work I don't want to share Ivy. So when out and about visiting with family and friends, I will put her in the sling. People are less likely to ask her to hold her when I do this. 

Day 18: Reaching

At almost 4 months, Ivy has started taking a genuine interest in her toys. In just the last day or two she has been reaching for them. For awhile now, she might accidentally hit a toy with her hand, while laying on her play gym. She normally just stares at the toys for a couple of minutes. For her to really like them, it had to make sounds or light.

Well when I came home today, she was making very intentional movements with her hands. Grabbing at the hanging toys or batting at them! I thought it was maybe just her doing it accidentally again but this was definite reaching.

Since, she likes to stand more now and is playing with her toys, I think she finally may be ready for a jumperoo!

Day 17: Wordless Wednesday

Day 16: 9 Years

9 years ago today marks the start David and I's relationship together. What an amazing 9 years it has been! I seriously can't believe it's almost been a decade. Of those 9 years, we dated for 5 and half and been married now for 3 and half years. And just recently, we had out baby girl. Wow!

I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in the future! I love you David!

Day 15: Baby's 1st Christmas Ornament

In David's family, him and his brothers were given a Hallmark ornament each Christmas. When we got married, all of the ornaments came to live at our house. We have since carried on the tradition for ourselves and we typically by each other an ornament each year. I think this is a great tradition and plan on doing this for our children as well.

So, I have been searching for Ivy's 1st ornament and here are a couple of ones that I have seen and liked.

Lenox

Lenox

Hallmark

The problem is that I can't decide which one I like the best!

Day 14: Weekend in Review

Overall it was a pretty good weekend! Busy, relaxing and productive.

Friday night, Ivy and I got all bundled up and went with Jenni and Dave to one of the local high schools football game. It was Ivy's first game and she did great. She slept through most of it, including sleeping through the screaming done by the young boys behind us. When she was awake, she was really intrigued by all the sights and sounds.

Saturday, Ivy and I went to a friends baby shower and then made a trip to Trader Joe's. I also made this flan for our friends wine tasting/dinner party. I'm not normally a big fan of flan, but this recipe was really good! I want to make it again. The wine tasting was fun and like always the food and company were great.

I also noticed that Ivy has figured out how move her pacifier in and out of her mouth. It has to be in her mouth first for her to be able to do it. She can't pick it up and put it in her mouth. Well she can pick it up, but she ends up trying to put it in backwards or sideways.

Then today, we went to church, then lunch with David's parents and then came home and cleaned. This evening the family came by for pizza and hanging out.

Whew! I need another weekend to relax from how busy we were!

Day 13: Old Christmas Photos

I know we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet, but I wanted to share these photos. I decided that in an effort make our place more festive come time to decorate for Christmas, I wanted to replace the photos in our picture frames, with photos of previous Christmases. I asked my mom for help and she emailed me these today.

Why I had a boys haircut, I do not know!

Rainbow Bright!

Day 12: Random Friday Musings

It's finally the weekend!

~ I am looking forward to sleeping in!

~ We will definitely be busy this weekend. I have a baby shower to go which I still need to buy a gift. A Wine tasting/dinner party tomorrow in which I need to make a flan. Laundry and cleaning.

~ I can't believe that Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away!

~ Ivy went to her first football game tonight. It was cold out, so I had to bundle her up. This was the first time that she would be spending an extended amount of time outside while it was cold, so I didn't really know how to dress her. Before leaving, I was concerned that I had put too many layers on her, but I think I did a good job finding the right balance between hot and cold. She did though end up wearing socks on her hands, haha!

~ I am both loving and hating the time change. I like the fact that it's not dark when I go to work but hate how it's now dark when I get home. Ivy did pretty well with the change. We moved her bedtime to 8:30 from 9:00 and she is still sleeping through the night. Wohoo! I need to be better about going to bed earlier though.

~ It may be time to bust out the electric blanket for my side of the bed. I love to sleep in a cold room, all cuddled up in warm blankets and a with a kitty at my feet.

~ I have been really enjoying Lady Antebellum's album Need You Now, especially their song, Hello World.

Day 11: Back in the Kitchen

Yesterday, was the first time in a very long time that I was cooked a real dinner. I seriously can't remember the last time it was. This is sad. If you could see me now, I am shaking my head with disappointment at myself.

Since going back to work, my philosophy has been once I get home, I try to spend as much time with my precious baby girl. If that means not cooking dinner and eating out, so be it. But honestly, I have missed cooking. I want to bake some Pumpkin Cupcakes!

So yesterday evening, I placed Ivy and her swing in the kitchen and proceeded to cook dinner. As I cooked, I would occasionally stop to sign and dance for Ivy. She did really well and it was nice to have a real dinner. We did it again this evening!

My goal this weekend is to make the Pumpkin Cupcakes!

Day 10: Recent Photos of Ivy

I realized that it's been awhile since I posted some photos of Ivy, so here you go!

Day 9: First Real Laugh

Last Friday, Ivy gave me her first real laugh at 3 1/2 months old! For awhile now she would give us kind of a half laugh. Kind of like a "ha ha". But this time it was definitely a laugh. It sounded like giggles almost. Supper cute!

And of course when I grabbed my phone and tried to record her, she stopped. That little rascal!

Day 8: Steady Ground

The entire morning and part of the early afternoon was spent resolving what happened this weekend. Lots of waiting, of which 2 hours was spent just at DMV. New debit cards on hand, a new drivers license on the way, and another paycheck waiting for me at work. I feel human again. I can buy gas or groceries if I want to!

So very happy right now!

Day 7: Fast Forward

Can we just fast forward a couple of days, or a week from now?

I hate waiting and not knowing if the person, who took my purse, was able to cash my paycheck. Today has seriously crawled by. I had already been planning on taking tomorrow off and was looking forward to sleeping in and relaxing, but instead the day will be busy dealing with not so fun issues. I am not looking forward to it.

Otherwise on a good note, Ivy allowed me to scrub down the entire shower today. She sat in her swing and watched me the entire time. I didn't think cleaning the shower was that interesting, haha.

And the time change wasn't too bad for her. She normally sleeps in till 10 or 10:30, so when she woke up at 9:00 this morning, it wasn't super early. Tonight though, I was hoping to keep her up till her normal bedtime of 9:00, but she was falling asleep in my arms at 8:00. I went ahead and just put her down.

I think the time change in the spring will be a harder adjustment for her since she will be older and also because you loose an hour!

Day 6: Crying Inside

and actually a bit on the outside as well.

Last night, I accidentally left my purse on top of my car and it was stolen!

I seriously can't believe this happened. I came home last night and was unloading everything and put my purse on top of the car. I had tons of stuff to take inside, since Ivy and I had been staying with the IL's, while David was out of town for work. I was trying to figure out how to get it all inside, stacking it all precariously on the stroller and in my hands when Ivy started to fuss. I forgot all about my purse on top of the car and went inside our apartment.

It wasn't until today, did I realize my purse was missing. I was looking for it and it dawned on me that I had left it on top of the car. I went outside and of course it was gone. :(

I immediately started calling my bank and credit cards. Turned out whoever stole my purse had already charged over $2000.00 on my credit card! $700 spent online at Ticket Master and $400 at Disney World, along with food and other items. They tried to also purchase clothes later this afternoon, but by that point the card had been canceled.

So, I spent my afternoon trying to resolve this whole thing. I had to cancel my credit card and debit cards and put a fraud alert on my credit report because my social was in my purse. I never normally carry my social with me, but it was in there from when I had returned to work. For some stupid reason, when I came back from maternity leave, I had to show them my drivers license, social and do a drug test even though they had all of this already on file. But whatever, I should have taken my social security card out immediately, but I forgot.

What's also frustrating is that my paycheck from the week before and my checkbook were also in my purse. UGH! Can it get any worse?!

So on Monday, I now get to go to the police station, file a report. Go to the bank and close our account, go to DMV and contact work to have a stop payment put on my paycheck from last week. I really hope they didn't figure out a way to cash my paycheck!

It's been a long day. I am emotionally and physically tired. I also feel violated in a way. It's sad how dishonest and sinful people can be. I think am going to go cry myself to sleep now.

Day 5: Excitement

Here is a little video that I took the other day of Ivy talking. Sorry for the not so great quality as it was taken on my cell phone. She normally talks and coos in this sweet quiet voice, but this time she very excited.

Day 4: Chunky Legs

I put Ivy in the Bumbo today and her not so little legs barely fit! She can't be getting too big for the Bumbo already. She is only 3 months old! She will probably be able to use for a little while longer, but not as long as I expected. Boy am I glad, we are just borrowing it and didn't buy one ourselves.

My little girl is growing up too quickly!

Day 3: Randomness

It's day 3 of NaBloPoMo and I'm already racking my brain for topics. Blogging in general when having a baby becomes much harder due to trying to find the time. Right now, I am typing with one hand and Ivy is asleep in the crook of my left arm. It's past her bedtime and I really should have put her asleep before attempting to blog, but I missed her all day at work and just want to spend more time with her.

So in an effort to at least make this post substantial, here is some randomness:


* I have made it my goal to complete all my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving.

* Did you know there is only 7 weekends before Christmas?!

* Do we even need to buy Ivy Christmas presents? I am leaning towards just buying her a stocking and her first ornament and leaving it at that.

* Our apartment is a disaster, because I have been enjoying spending time cuddling and playing Ivy rather than cleaning.

* Confession: I have only had one Pumpkin Spiced Latte this fall season. For some reason I am just not feeling the pumpkin this year.

* The high 90 degree weather in November is just wrong.

Well, Ivy just woke up and is fussing, so it looks like my time is up. It's time for bed. Hopefully tomorrows post will be more interesting.

Day 2: Pumpkins, Fall and a Ladybug

Even though Ivy was not old enough to go trick or treating this Halloween, I still insisted that we dress her up and take photos. So, I bought her a very cute ladybug costume and we ventured out to the pumpkin patch in Yucaipa and tried to take some photos.

They came out pretty good. It was cloudy out and Ivy still squinted the entire time we were there. :( But what can you expect from a 3 month old!

So here is what we were able to get.









I can't wait for next year when she is more active!

Day 1: ~ 3 Months

Dear Ivy,

You are now 3 months old and getting bigger each day. I am constantly amazed at what a wonderful baby that you are. You are rarely fussy. You are sleeping through the night. The Lord has definitely blessed us!

Physically: You are still in 3 months clothe,s but some are getting small on you. You can wear some 6 month clothes. I weighed you the other day and you are close to 15 lbs! I think your hair may be becoming more red, which I still can't get over the fact that you have red hair in the first place.

You have sticking your hands in your month for awhile, but it's only just recently that you started holding your hands together and playing with them. You sit in the Bumbo and stand with assistance. You still hate tummy time and your car seat. You have not rolled over yet or started reaching for objects, but I am sure you will learn to do these things soon.

I went back to work 2 weeks ago and I miss you so very much while I am gone. When I come home though you greet me with the biggest smile. We started swaddling you again a little after 2 months and you started sleeping for 6 to 7 hour stretches. You were still going to bed after 12 though. I was worried about this when it came time for me to go back to work, but you all of a sudden started to go down at 9:30 after eating. I wake you up around 5:30 and feed you before I leave for work and you sleep another 3 hours for dad, eat again and then go back asleep for 2 more hours.

I am really looking forward to the next couple of months, as we head into the holiday season. There will be many firsts for you and I can't wait!

Love,

Momma

NaBloPoMo 2010

NaBloPoMo 2010 starts tomorrow. This year it's going to be hard since Ivy is here now, but I am still going to go for it. I have done it before and I can do it again. So here is to NaBloPoMo 2010. Happy blogging friends!

Anyone want to join me?

Getting So Big!

I know I am late on doing Ivy's 3 month post and picture and hopefully I can do it tomorrow. Until then, here are some photos of Ivy's first time in the Bumbo!