It's so absolutely wonderful to be at home, as a complete, happy family of 4! Grant LOVES Grace, and gets so excited about "Baby Grace". When he hears her over the monitor, he stops playing and says, "baby grace!!! baby grace!!!" And he wants to "hold it" all the time. :D
I'm tired, but so happy to be home. I've got to the monitor volume figured out - it needs to be high enough that I hear her when she needs me, but low enough that every single newborn squeak doesn't wake me up!
My Peanut Shell sling arrived today, and I'm so excited to try it. I think I'm really going to like it! It will be nice to go out on a walk with Grant and have Grace right there, but still have my hands free. I think I'm going to love it!
Off to play with Grant!
he jumped!
So, when Grant was released from his physical therapy several months ago, one of the few things he still wasn't quite caught up with was jumping. The PT said it's just a skill that comes with time, and there wasn't a whole lot you could do about it. So, we've just practiced jumping with him and make a big deal out of it when he does try to jump.
Well, he just jumped tonight and got both feet off the ground!! way to go, grant!
Well, he just jumped tonight and got both feet off the ground!! way to go, grant!
A neat recipe for my friends with kids...
Here's a fun activity for Easter (a friend sent this to me, and the explanations might not be totally the way I'd word things, but you'll get the picture ;-)).
To be made the evening before Easter.
You will need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
1. Preheat oven to 300
2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.
10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
To be made the evening before Easter.
You will need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
1. Preheat oven to 300
2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.
10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
50 Odd Things
So, I obviously am putting of cleaning! ;-) I got this from a friend and filled it out for my blog.
1. Do you like blue cheese? absolutely! looooove blue cheese salad dressing, but the fat content usually makes me buy something else!
2. Have you ever smoked? Nope
3. Do you own a gun? I think Matt has a rifle from my dad somewhere in the house
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? grape
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really- only before early pregnancy appointments, before we find out if the pregnancy is healthy - thankfully, we're done with that part of our lives!
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I used to like them, but know I cannot handle them, at all! I'll maybe eat a brat, maybe...I think I'd rather eat a plain bun with relish and mustard!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Hmm...I dunno if I have a specific Christmas fave
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? probably a toss-up between coffee and diet coke!
9. Can you do pushups? *a* push-up,probably! When I'm not pregnant anymore, I'd like to try this program.
10. Favorite piece of jewelry? my wedding ring set - almost 7 years later and I still love them!
11. Favorite hobby? does shopping count? ;-) How about running and cooking?
12. Do you have A.D.D.? I wonder sometimes! lol
13. What is one trait you hate about yourself? I wish I needed less sleep! ;-)
14. Middle name? Ruth
16. Name 3 drinks you like: diet coke, limeade, grapefruit juice
17. Current worry? thankfully,not really "worried" about anything at the moment...my minor concern is finding curtains I like for the nursery!
19. One of your favorite places to be? right now, after seemingly being hospitalized for so long this pregnancy, at home, with my boys! :D Besides that, Matt and I love traveling together, anywhere. :)
20. How did you bring in the New Year? I can't even remember! I'm sure we were just at home.
21. Where would you like to be? right this second? fast-forwarded in time about 9 weeks when we have Baby Girl!
23. Do you own slippers? yes
24. What shirt are you wearing? a purdue sweatshirt, but it's about to get stripped off because I'm HOT
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I've never tried!
26. Can you whistle? yep
27. Favorite color? anything bright
29. What songs do you sing in the AM? we definitely don't sing in the AM around here...we're pretty slow risers. :)
30. Favorite girl's name? if we had distinct favorites, this Baby Girl would be named by now! :P
31. Favorite boy's name? Grant, of course! ;-) I also love Lincoln, Anderson, Harrison, and Lee.
32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets on my maternity pants!
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Grant waking up saying "good nap"
34. What vehicle do you drive? a new Durango, which I am IN LOVE with. It's soooo much easier to get Grant in and out!
35. Worst injury you ever had? hmmm, injury? probably a sprained ankle my freshman year of high school. I can remember not telling anyone (after the initial 3-4 days of rest, etc), but it hurt for weeks afterward!
36. Do you love where you live? I do!
37. How many TV's do you have in your house? 2
39. Do you have any pets? I think we still own a dog named Lizzie ;-)
41. What is your favorite book? It'd be hard to name a favorite - I do love a lot of Christian fiction.
42. Do you collect anything? nope! collecting leads to clutter! ;-)
43. Favorite Movies? The American President, Father of the Bride I & II, Made of honor,
44. Favorite Singers? I like a variety - Michael Buble, Chris Tomlin are probably up there on the list. A lot of contemporary Christian music.
45. Favorite Websites? the Food Network, any running site :D
46. Number 1 current goal? surviving the end of this pregnancy at home, and starting to run again after Baby Girl is here!
48. Favorite month? Hmm...probably mid-October through mid-November, as it feels like fall, which is my favorite season
49. Do you have a bucket list? not written down
50. Do you remember your dreams? almost always
1. Do you like blue cheese? absolutely! looooove blue cheese salad dressing, but the fat content usually makes me buy something else!
2. Have you ever smoked? Nope
3. Do you own a gun? I think Matt has a rifle from my dad somewhere in the house
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? grape
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really- only before early pregnancy appointments, before we find out if the pregnancy is healthy - thankfully, we're done with that part of our lives!
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I used to like them, but know I cannot handle them, at all! I'll maybe eat a brat, maybe...I think I'd rather eat a plain bun with relish and mustard!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Hmm...I dunno if I have a specific Christmas fave
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? probably a toss-up between coffee and diet coke!
9. Can you do pushups? *a* push-up,probably! When I'm not pregnant anymore, I'd like to try this program.
10. Favorite piece of jewelry? my wedding ring set - almost 7 years later and I still love them!
11. Favorite hobby? does shopping count? ;-) How about running and cooking?
12. Do you have A.D.D.? I wonder sometimes! lol
13. What is one trait you hate about yourself? I wish I needed less sleep! ;-)
14. Middle name? Ruth
16. Name 3 drinks you like: diet coke, limeade, grapefruit juice
17. Current worry? thankfully,not really "worried" about anything at the moment...my minor concern is finding curtains I like for the nursery!
19. One of your favorite places to be? right now, after seemingly being hospitalized for so long this pregnancy, at home, with my boys! :D Besides that, Matt and I love traveling together, anywhere. :)
20. How did you bring in the New Year? I can't even remember! I'm sure we were just at home.
21. Where would you like to be? right this second? fast-forwarded in time about 9 weeks when we have Baby Girl!
23. Do you own slippers? yes
24. What shirt are you wearing? a purdue sweatshirt, but it's about to get stripped off because I'm HOT
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I've never tried!
26. Can you whistle? yep
27. Favorite color? anything bright
29. What songs do you sing in the AM? we definitely don't sing in the AM around here...we're pretty slow risers. :)
30. Favorite girl's name? if we had distinct favorites, this Baby Girl would be named by now! :P
31. Favorite boy's name? Grant, of course! ;-) I also love Lincoln, Anderson, Harrison, and Lee.
32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets on my maternity pants!
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Grant waking up saying "good nap"
34. What vehicle do you drive? a new Durango, which I am IN LOVE with. It's soooo much easier to get Grant in and out!
35. Worst injury you ever had? hmmm, injury? probably a sprained ankle my freshman year of high school. I can remember not telling anyone (after the initial 3-4 days of rest, etc), but it hurt for weeks afterward!
36. Do you love where you live? I do!
37. How many TV's do you have in your house? 2
39. Do you have any pets? I think we still own a dog named Lizzie ;-)
41. What is your favorite book? It'd be hard to name a favorite - I do love a lot of Christian fiction.
42. Do you collect anything? nope! collecting leads to clutter! ;-)
43. Favorite Movies? The American President, Father of the Bride I & II, Made of honor,
44. Favorite Singers? I like a variety - Michael Buble, Chris Tomlin are probably up there on the list. A lot of contemporary Christian music.
45. Favorite Websites? the Food Network, any running site :D
46. Number 1 current goal? surviving the end of this pregnancy at home, and starting to run again after Baby Girl is here!
48. Favorite month? Hmm...probably mid-October through mid-November, as it feels like fall, which is my favorite season
49. Do you have a bucket list? not written down
50. Do you remember your dreams? almost always
Re-visiting my teaching days
Wow! I found a group called "Lake Highlands High School Alum" on Facebook, and wow, it brought back memories!!!! I saw sooo many old students! And, a lot of them have already graduated or are graduating this year from college - wow!! I still have such fond memories of that building and my classroom, and my first 3 years of teaching there will always have a special place in my heart. Yes, there was stress, and yes, the job was all-consuming (my first year of teaching Matt was SHOCKED at the amount of work that went into it!), but I truly loved it. A portion of my heart will forever be in the classroom, and I am confident that some day, when the kiddos are older, there will be a perfect part-time job for me somewhere.
I'll those too, then, please!
A couple of evenings ago I was chatting with one of my night nurses (Heather, whom I really, really like but she only works weekends :(), and we were just commenting how nice this hospital is. She said that one of her patients - in severe pre-term labor - recently pressed the call button and said she had a question for the nurse. Heather went to check on her, concerned about the baby and the pre-term labor situation.
But, nope, nothing was wrong with the patient - she just asked for the "big white fluffy towels" for the shower! (instead of the thin, small, hand-sized bath towels the hospital has!) Yeah, this hospital is nice, but it's still a hospital! I don't think they take fluffy towel requests! ;-)
But, nope, nothing was wrong with the patient - she just asked for the "big white fluffy towels" for the shower! (instead of the thin, small, hand-sized bath towels the hospital has!) Yeah, this hospital is nice, but it's still a hospital! I don't think they take fluffy towel requests! ;-)
Grant Favorites
Sitting up here on the maternity floor is making me sentimental and nostalgic remembering Grant's birth, as well as making my heart dream about when Baby Girl will make her appearance.
So, here are some of my favorite pictures from Grant's Birth Day.
Look how small he looked in the sleeper and the carseat!
Here is under the bili blanket, trying to get jaundice gone. He was a little glow-worm! :)
So, here are some of my favorite pictures from Grant's Birth Day.
Look how small he looked in the sleeper and the carseat!
Here is under the bili blanket, trying to get jaundice gone. He was a little glow-worm! :)
Friday evening, Hospital Day 8
It's 11 o'clock at night and I sit here listening to Baby Girl's heart beating away on the monitor. It's so sweet to hear, and warms my heart. I was walking around the floor tonight and stopped and looked in on the nursery, where there were 4 babies all lined up. It was so sweet to see! Two babies were all stretched out under the warmer, which I love to see because it reminds me of Grant when he was little. My heart wonders about what Baby Girl will look like - will she look like Grant? Matt? Me? I think that Grant looked a lot like my baby pictures, but now as a toddler Grant looks so much like his daddy. So, I wonder if Baby Girl will look like Matt's baby pictures? Will she have as much hair as Grant had? I hope she has Matt's lips - Grant does, and they're just beautiful. I already look forward to meeting her, to holding her, to loving her in person.
Monday Night
I have changed into my hospital gown (I sleep in the gown, but change into my real clothes during the day - it helps me feel more human, if that makes sense), have fresh blankets and have dimmed my lights, but I hesitate trying to go to sleep.
Because, I think this ICU floor senses when I try to sleep. Seriously! Late this afternoon I tried to take a nap - my vitals had been drawn, my IV was functioning, no tests were ordered - so I thought it would be a perfect chance to actually sleep.
The ICU anti-sleep monsters came out again! The janitorial staff picked that.exact.time to WAX the floor outside my room. After about 15 minutes of napping I awoke to "vrrr...vRRRRR..vrrr..."!
The largest chunk of uniterrupted sleep I've had was last night from 12-3. 3 hours! The nurse tried to joke with me that it was preparing me for a newborn, but at 3 in the morning, my sense of humor isn't that much - I need sleep!
I guess that's enough complaining for me. Off to bed!
Because, I think this ICU floor senses when I try to sleep. Seriously! Late this afternoon I tried to take a nap - my vitals had been drawn, my IV was functioning, no tests were ordered - so I thought it would be a perfect chance to actually sleep.
The ICU anti-sleep monsters came out again! The janitorial staff picked that.exact.time to WAX the floor outside my room. After about 15 minutes of napping I awoke to "vrrr...vRRRRR..vrrr..."!
The largest chunk of uniterrupted sleep I've had was last night from 12-3. 3 hours! The nurse tried to joke with me that it was preparing me for a newborn, but at 3 in the morning, my sense of humor isn't that much - I need sleep!
I guess that's enough complaining for me. Off to bed!
Pink!
My best friend stopped by the hospital today, and brought me bright pink toenail polish! 
I was telling her that had I known I was going to wind up in the hospital again, I would've at least gotten a pedicure!
So, she brought the most fabulous shade of bright pink in honor of Baby Girl Walker. Even though it had to be in the ICU, we had fun together eating lunch and painting toenails!
(the picture doesn't show quite how bright and fabulous the pink is!)
I was telling her that had I known I was going to wind up in the hospital again, I would've at least gotten a pedicure! So, she brought the most fabulous shade of bright pink in honor of Baby Girl Walker. Even though it had to be in the ICU, we had fun together eating lunch and painting toenails!
(the picture doesn't show quite how bright and fabulous the pink is!)
Pump and picc line
So, my far-away friends haven't seen the pump or picc line. so, just for y'all, here are some pictures - I wore this crazy pump around my waist for 14 weeks! I had syringes of Zofran, and anti-nausea medicine, that would fit into the pump and then the pump would "pump" medicine into me 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The syringe had a long tube that connected to my picc line (PICC = peripherally inserted central catheter). The picc line went in at my elbow, and was about 14 1/2 inches long. It went all the way through a vein in my arm, around my shoulder, and ended just about 2 inches above my heart in my chest. That's how medicine got into me for 3 months!
We had to do the picc line because oral medicine never helped the hyperemesis - IV meds were the only thing that EVER helped. And even then, at the very beginning of the pregnancy, IV meds didn't make me feel fantastic - just functional. It wasn't until about the beginning of December that I started to consistently feel better.
My home health care nurse, Lisa, came out weekly (and sometimes even bi-weekly or tri-weekly!) to change the dressing on the picc line. What an ordeal it's been so far!
The syringe had a long tube that connected to my picc line (PICC = peripherally inserted central catheter). The picc line went in at my elbow, and was about 14 1/2 inches long. It went all the way through a vein in my arm, around my shoulder, and ended just about 2 inches above my heart in my chest. That's how medicine got into me for 3 months!
We had to do the picc line because oral medicine never helped the hyperemesis - IV meds were the only thing that EVER helped. And even then, at the very beginning of the pregnancy, IV meds didn't make me feel fantastic - just functional. It wasn't until about the beginning of December that I started to consistently feel better.
My home health care nurse, Lisa, came out weekly (and sometimes even bi-weekly or tri-weekly!) to change the dressing on the picc line. What an ordeal it's been so far!
MOPS!
My devoted blog readers will remember my disastrous MOPS experience last year (where I was literally left standing in the corner with no one talking to me!) Well, I've decided to give another MOPS group a chance after hearing good things about it. I already received a really nice note from the director of tomorrow's group, so hopefully that means this group will be better!! I think Grant will love playing in their childcare program at least! :) I'll let you know how it goes!
Team Pink!
Well, even though we found that the baby is a girl awhile ago, yesterday was my "big" ultrasound at 20 weeks where people *usually* find out the gender. (ya know, non-hyperemesis, non-contracting, non-pulmonary-embolism people 
).
So, I thought it'd be fun to track back to the post when we found out Grant was going to be a boy:
http://journey2guat.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html
I was going to have the ultrasound tech take a picture of us yesterday, but I forgot the camera! bummer!
Anyway - it feels so "complete" knowing we'll have one boy and one girl. I cannot explain how much Matt and I are praying for the next 4 months to be so uneventful and smooth and lead to a healthy baby girl in late May!
). So, I thought it'd be fun to track back to the post when we found out Grant was going to be a boy:
http://journey2guat.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html
I was going to have the ultrasound tech take a picture of us yesterday, but I forgot the camera! bummer!
Anyway - it feels so "complete" knowing we'll have one boy and one girl. I cannot explain how much Matt and I are praying for the next 4 months to be so uneventful and smooth and lead to a healthy baby girl in late May!
Making Cookies!
Grant and I made cookies for the first time together yesterday. He LOVED it. After he figured out how to dump stuff into the bowl, he was SO into it! And, he was just mesmerized by the KitchenAid mixer - he kept saying "wow...wow".
And, he also figured out fast what the best part of making cookies is! Look at his little finger:
(the quality's low because it was my phone)
And, he also figured out fast what the best part of making cookies is! Look at his little finger:
(the quality's low because it was my phone)
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