Category Archives: Family
Hernias? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Hernias!
The dude was finally “of age” (50 weeks gestation) to have his hernia surgery so we headed down to Great Falls after work on Wednesday. It had been a craptastic day for me so I rewarded myself by experiencing the wonderfulness that is Sonic for the first time. We thought the dude was going to be up all night and scream at us indignantly because he couldn’t have any formula after midnight, but he slept instead. If we’d actually known this, maybe WE would have gone to bed on time and not stayed up on our laptops until midnight.
Surgery was at 7:30ish on Thursday and Daniel charmed the scrubs off his surgical staff. His anesthesiologist talked to us about just doing a coddle block on him (kind of like an epidural) instead of putting him under completely and apparently Daniel’s surgeon agreed so the dude didn’t get to enjoy the joy that is morphine. I thought I’d be freaking out in the waiting room but the only hellish thing was the presence of FOX News on the TV and that was easily blocked out using headphones and iTunes. Surgery went well and when they brought him to us in the post-op area, he was awake and really pissed that OMG-HE-HADN’T-EATEN-IN-NINE-HOURS-AND-WHY-WERE-WE-GIVING-HIM-THIS-WEIRD-SUBSTANCE-CALLED-WATER-THAT-WAS-NOT-HIS-FORMULA?!?!?!?!?!!!?!?!? While we were waiting for him to have a wet diaper and be cleared to leave, I enjoyed some seriously great dude time with him snuggled into the crook of my arm. After we got back to the Great Falls Inn, we all took naps after feeding the dude. He was doing so well that day that we went to go see my aunt and uncle later.
We drove home on Friday after stopping by the surgeon’s office to get some Vaseline gauze (seriously the grossest stuff EVER!!!!). The dude had some issues last night — his bowels started moving and he got fed too much and ended up puking on me right after I’d given him his Tylenol. He also aspirated a little bit which meant a lovely conversation with the hospital on what to do. (I swear… I think they play rock-paper-scissors over who gets to deal with me.) The dude couldn’t have any more Tylenol as we weren’t sure what he’d actually kept down so we had a VERY howly little boy because he was uncomfortable. (In addition to the hernia repair, they also circumsized him.)
Life Happens
Let’s see… what has happened in the last week or so…
[+] Jon got his new laptop. With birthday money from both sets of parents, Jon was able to get a laptop of his own from Dell (with me using my employee discount from my [employer who cannot be named]). It’s been a good thing — he’s been able to customize it and I don’t have to share any more!
[+] The dude had his 4-month Well Child exam. At his exam on 8/27, he was 11 lbs 1.5 oz which is pretty respectable. His growth curve is perfect and he’s at about the 50th percentile for a 2 month old which is what he is gestationally. He got two of his shots that day which did not make him a happy little bear and he got his other shot this last Tuesday. His hernia surgery is scheduled for the 11th and everything seems to be set for that.
[+] I had my annual exam right before Daniel’s appointment and unfortunately, I didn’t fare as well. My bloodwork came back crappy (not unexpected) though they finally caught my thyroid misbehaving so I’m now on Synthroid. I honestly can’t tell you if it’s working yet or not because I was dealing with a nasty migraine this week and felt like cat spit anyway.
[+] We made arrangements to fly to [undisclosed location] in California to interview at the end of September. We’ll stay with my in-laws (more like Daniel can stay with them and bring us if he wants) and hopefully see some family and friends out there.
I Can Relate
Have I mentioned how much I love Sara @ Going Jesus?
I relate so well to this entry. I lost 30 lbs in the week after my c-section and gained a chunk of it back during the 2 months that I was commuting to Great Falls.
Had To Blog This!
So I’m talking to my mother-in-law…
Jen: So I need to find Justin a good god-father present.
M-I-L: I believe the gift of a dead horse head is traditional.
Life As A Mommy
I’ve been lax about blogging lately because I haven’t had enough brain cells to do it, or (like right now) I’m typing one-handed because I have the big-eyed boy in my arms. (OK… I could put on my Moby wrap but I haven’t had a chance.)
I haven’t been to church in at least a month so I’m not having any really decent faith revelations. I honestly wanted to see my baby more than I wanted to deal with people and to make it to two care times, I had to skip the 11:00 service at Church #2. I prayed a lot on the way down and I listened to religious podcasts but I broke the Sabbath. (OK… sort of. I caught a midweek service some of the time before my month-long drought.)
I haven’t been out much since Daniel came home because we’ve had to quarantine him due to his compromised immune system. (Preemies have crappy immune systems. Ask me how I know this.) I’m home most of the time. I watch a lot of news when I can’t sleep and I’ve kept up on the outside world that way. Otherwise, it’s been a lot of getting out to make trips to the dump or to do things like get prescriptions.
My life does revolve around Daniel right now. I keep a separate blog for his stuff (located here) because I’d rather keep this blog about me and not post that OMG-HE-HELD-HIS-HEAD-UP-TODAY!!!!!! Mommy-blogging can get annoying and I’m respecting that some of my audience doesn’t really want to know the minutae of Daniel’s bowel habits or motor skills. By the same token, it was good to have the Caringbridge site so I’ve got Daniel’s blog up for people who want to keep tabs on him that way.
In terms of world events, I have been following the elections in Iran and my Twitter icon is green to show support for Mousavi. I think Ahmadinejad is on crack for thinking that the US sparked the protests and that Mousavi’s popularity was a plot by Obama but he’s always been a little daft when it comes to factual things… much like our last administration and Fox News. (Yes, I had to throw that in.) I actually care more about Neda’s death than I do Michael Jackson’s death.
So… that’s my world right now.
Daniel Coming Home — What We Need for Those Who Asked
Daniel is coming home within the next week and there have been some of you who have asked what we need.
Well…
[+] We have a couple baby registries. If the item hasn’t been fulfilled, go for it!
[+] Gift cards for Albertsons or Target or Wal-Mart would be great so we can pick up formula and diapers.
[+] If you are someone we know in real life and in real time, call and ask if we need help with something. Chances are, we might like to have help with some cleaning, cooking, or just spelling us for a couple minutes so we can shower.
Thanks. 🙂