GGM update

We took GGM to the doc today for a follow up and the doc says she looks great and that she appears healthy. The little chunk has managed to gain 12 ounces since we left the hospital on Friday! She's up to 8 pounds and 15 ounces. I'm telling you, the kid never stops eating. She's going to help me get back to high school weight by the end of the year! Not really. I need to lose 5 more pounds to get down to pre-LRM weight, 12 more pounds to get down to pre-GGM weight and 18 more pounds to get down to pre-OSU weight. My first goal will be to drop 10 more pounds (pre-marriage weight). PSM said he will race me to a six pack. I found a pic of me in my bikini on my honeymoon and that is going to be my inspiration to work out regularly. Can I look that good in a bikini after having two kids in 2 years? Stay tuned and find out next summer. Maybe I'll don the bikini now and take a "before" picture and then an "after" picture. If I'm successful, maybe I'll share. ;)

Puking LRM

The cherry on top of my GGM sundae was little miss LRM getting sick. I pretty much devoted my Saturday to giving LRM all the attention that she demanded of me. I nursed GGM and took LRM to the park, just the two of us. We played on the springy horsie thing, had a big swing, played in the sand and went down the spiral slide. Every time we went down the slide I would say "this is the last time" and we kept going. The real last time we were about to go down, LRM kind of gagged and then puked all over both of us. Not spit up - real puke. Then she puked again, and again, and again - 5 times!!!!! Down the spiral slide!!! It was so gross. We now call the park "Vomit Park." After all the puking I got LRM down the ladder and she puked some more in the sand. She was covered in puke and freaking out because there was old celery on her sleeve. I stripped her all the way down to her diaper because all of her clothes, socks, shoes were covered in puke. I was wishing I could have stripped myself! Anyway, we got home and both took a bath. She wouldn't eat dinner so we gave her PediaSure which she puked all over herself and PSM. She learned how to puke in the toilet after I caught two pukes in the towel that I wrapped her in to clean the first chocolate puke. We've been trying to keep her away from GGM for fear of passing on a stomach virus. She was puke free today and GGM seems to be feeling ok so I think we are in the clear. Could I have a break, please?

No more sick babies!!!

Our sweet little GGM came home last night after spending 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital. We awoke early Wednesday morning to feed GGM and found that she had a temperature of 101.9. Being that she was only 18 days old, we took her to the Emergency Room where she endured a urine collection, blood draw / IV stick, and spinal tap. She also had to be admitted for a minimum of 48 hours to ensure that she did not have a bacterial infection such as meningitis, which could be fatal in infants as young as her. Needless to say we were quite worried. Her initial tests all came back negative but they had to do cultures on all of her fluid samples to watch for bacterial growth. Meanwhile her fever was up and down and we were watching for chicken pox because we had been exposed when she was only 5 days old. After two long days of waiting for test results, they all came back negative and we got to go home!

Our stay in the hospital was not bad. The hospital where we went has a pediatric ER so everyone working there is used to dealing with babies and children. I got to eat yummy hospital food because GGM is nursing. I also got to sleep on the very cozy hospital recliner. GGM had her vitals taken every four hours and had to have IV injections every 6 hours. She also eats about every two hours. With all the activity, I hardly slept. Our nurses were pretty good. We had all NICU nurses because GGM was so little. It was nice knowing that the people caring for her were good with very small and very sick babies, especially when they had to poke her tiny veins to have blood drawn.

Luckily, PSM's parents arrived on Tuesday evening and were at home to care for LRM while PSM and I spent time in the hospital with GGM. LRM has had a great time playing with her Aachi and Thatha and we're very thankful that they have been here!

BOO!

This year for Halloween we did our typical "try to scare the kids" bit, which seem to have worked because we are still eating left over candy! On Sunday before Halloween, PSM took LRM to her playgroup's Halloween party while GGM and I hung out at the hospital, waiting to go home. On Tuesday, I took them both trick-or-treating while PSM scared the kids.

Miracle Baby

Since I've been out of touch lately, I haven't had a chance to ask my own friends and family to pray for my dear friend Kristen and her family. Kristen was blessed with a beautiful baby boy, Drew, 2 days before GGM arrived. Drew has been dealing with some serious medical problems but seems to be recovering beautifully. Less than two weeks after brain surgery, the little man is home with his mommy and daddy. You can view Drew's blog at http://dwgehrig.blogspot.com/. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Kristen, we all love you guys!

Mommy of Two!

So I've been very very bad for the last 2 months. Here's the quick and dirty and then the good stuff. LRM had a febrile seizure, which totally stressed me out and put me into preterm labor at 34 weeks, so Doc put me on bedrest. How does the mother of a 16 month-old do bedrest? With a wonderful husband, that's how! So for 6 weeks I waited for this baby to arrive. After all the anticipation of an early baby, our beautiful GGM was finally born on time on October 28. As we assumed from the 4D ultrasound, she looks just like LRM, but with MRM's nose. Actually, I think she's going to be my clone!

My labor was easier than with LRM. I labored for 9 hours but only had to push for 20 minutes. What a relief! I pushed for almost 3 hours with LRM and I was tired. GGM was a good girl, though. No cord around the neck (like her sister) but she was sunny side up. I'm afraid if she had been face down then she would have fallen out at home during week 34! So far she's a good girl. She LOVES to eat, especially at night. She eats about every two hours and is a champion pooper. :) She loves to cuddle and doesn't cry much. Let's hope that doesn't change.

My mom and sister Mariah just left today after spending a week with us. PSM's parents arrive later next week and we'll have them for a month. How lucky can I be to have help for so long? We have great parents!

Ok, so I guess you want to see pictures? PSM created a beautiful slideshow that can be viewed at
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=1679b2a01fded9bd2c375e&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email. Enjoy!