Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Putting Out Fires

Yesterday, Gabriel and I spent the morning playing firefighter. We'd drive on our sofa firetruck until we saw a fire and then we'd jump out, take our hoses off, and spray the fire out.

If only those were the only fires I was putting out yesterday.

With sleep deprivation looming over everything, Lily vomited once. Soleil, twice. Each time, I got a nice bit of it on me. Our 15 year old, 70+ pound dog slipped in our kitchen, but he was too heavy for me to help him up, so on our kitchen floor he stayed, and that was painful to watch. No one wanted to sleep at the same time, so a nap was unheard of.

It used to be that when Lily vomited, a panic would come over me and I'd clean her up in a tizzy. Anymore, I just grab the towel and wipe and play with her cheeks, hoping that I can convince her that she can focus on something else to keep from bringing her milk up. It never works.

Yesterday, this anger (not at the kids) overtook me for a second. I imagined this little sprite sitting off in some corner getting a good laugh at all he'd put me through. My first thought was how I'd like to punch him so! Silly, I know. Then I stopped and thought about it and just. . .accepted it all. It is what it is. Deal with it.

It's not easy. But it's got to be taken care of and I'm the one here during the day to do that.

Soleil--who rarely ever cries, by the way--is crying. Time to put out another fire.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Lily licks (I mean, loves) her sister

You may have to watch this video twice. The first time, to see Lily giving Soleil a taste. The second time, to watch Lily's hand.


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Allergies?

I can't tell you how many days we have been vomit free, but I will say that it could not have come at a better time. It just so happened that before Soleil was born, I took Lily again to the doctor because she sounded congested and I wanted to make sure she wasn't going to be contagious. The doctor noticed that we had seen him SIX times since September for the same problem, and practically each time, he thought he heard wheezing but could never be sure due to her loud congestion.

I questioned whether it could be allergies. When my "allergies" act up, my face itches, my eyes water, and I have drainage in the back of my throat that makes my throat itch. Lily was rubbing her face a lot, Dave and I had noticed her eyes looked watery, and it just seemed to me that drainage in the back of her throat (there were times when we never saw evidence of a runny nose) could have been causing a tickling feeling, thus causing the vomiting. Plus, there are two things here that we didn't have back at our old house--an inside dog and carpet.

I'm not one to quickly put my children on medicine, but when the doctor suggested Singulair and told me that it helped with wheezing and had an antihistamine, I was willing to try it.

Lily has not vomited since. I still keep a towel downstairs, just in case, but I'm so much more relaxed when I feed her. That's such a good feeling!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Zilla's a girl!


Moments after birth


After her first bath--our little frog

Meet Soleil Faith
Born January 7
3:42 pm
5 pounds 14 ounces
20 inches long

We're now home and doing fine. She's such a sweet little girl. I know it's only been a little over 24 hours, but she's quiet and loving and so cuddly. And tiny. Just a little bigger than Lily was when she was born.

I'm glad to be home. I've missed Gabriel and Lily, and they missed me. Lily was so cute when I got home. I honestly think she heard my voice because she whined until I picked her up and started playing with her. Then she was so happy and she kept showing me how much of a big girl she is. Gosh, she feels different, so chunky.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers throughout this pregnancy.