Out of the Mouths...

So, Brian came out of our down stairs bathroom. As he was coming out he reached around the door and flipped the lock, checked the handle, then closed the door. I asked him if he had just locked the door. At which point I think it dawned on him what he had done, but his response was, "no, it's just stuck".

A little fun for your Friday...
Um, Yuk


http://www.thinkofthe.com/products/lunch_bag.php

Family Photo

We tried to take a family photo the other day. Is this how it is in every family?

Update

We are just starting to come out of the newborn haze. I think. At least we have some good days between the sleeplessness. Though last night Mera thought that it was a good idea to eat every two hours (1/2 hour to feed + 1/2 hour to hold her upright = 1 hour of sleep for me). But mostly she goes three to three and a half hours at night. It's not so bad.

The reflux is slowly getting better. She was on Axid, but is now on Prevacid and we are hoping that it will help more. But we won't know for a little bit longer because she is also on medication for thrush. Seriously, it never ends. I feel like I should put money directly into our pediatrician's retirement account. Especially since our insurance hasn't stepped up and started covering her yet. Loving self pay, let me tell you.

In all honesty, there isn't much to complain about really. People have poured out their generosity in amazing ways. I've only had to cook a few times in the last month - so many people have brought us meals! Baby gifts appear every day or two! The community we are a part of has wrapped its arms around us and supported us as we celebrate this addition to our family. All I can say is a truly heartfelt "Thank You!"

Flying Solo

Today is my first day with both kids by myself. My husband returned to work this morning after three weeks off for the adoption. His company was wonderful about letting him have time off and it was much appreciated by me.

I'll be honest. I have spent the last three weeks week afraid of him going back to work. I knew the day would come that I had the responsibility of both kids alone. No back-up for me to take a nap or someone there to hold a crying baby.

Along with sole care-taking responsibility I also had to get Brian to school and home again this morning. That can (and over the last week has been) tricky with Mera's schedule.

But I am proud to say that it has been an easy day. The schedule has all worked out and Mera has been rather easy. I almost think that I have this mothering thing figured out.

But then I laugh at myself knowing that tomorrow could be he**.

Thank you to all those who have asked about our sleep. Mera is on a baby antacid and is doing much, much better. We aren't up all night any longer, but we do still have to hold her upright after a feeding. During the day it is usually about an hour and I try to get away with half an hour at night (just so I can go back to bed). She is sleeping 3-4 hours at a stretch. More specifically, her schedule is on a 3-4 hour cycle. So last night she was up at 1, but I didn't get back to sleep until about 2:30 and up again at 5.

I keep reminding myself that this will pass. We waited so long for her. This is just a little bump in the parenting road. I won't even remember it when I am watching her graduate college, get married or have her first baby. There is so much more ahead. This is nothing. I'll sleep when she gets older and doesn't need me to be there so much. Then, I will miss these days.

Big Brother

Sleepless In Seattle

Yes, I had to do a post with that title. Corney, but it had to be done.

We are settling in to life with an infant. Meradith has been fairly fussy. Okay, really fussy. My husband and I are each taking half the night sitting up with her. It has taken it's toll on our sleep.

But we do have a light at the end of the tunnel. We originally thought that she was having gas because she was so hard to burp. So I went to town burping her - pat, pat, thump, thump, jiggle, jiggle, pat, pat... and on it would go with no burp.

Oh, the screaming. It broke my heart.

Then I was out getting myself a new weekly calendar for 2009 (because I can't function without one) and came across a wonderful book.

When Brian was little I read The Secrets of The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. L.O.V.E.D. the book. She has a new book out called The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems. As soon as I saw it I snatched that right off the shelf and headed to the check out.

As I was looking through it I came across the section on Baby Reflux. Sounded a lot like Mera. So we have implemented the techniques (like NO patting, thumping, jiggling - oh, the mom guilt) and last night we got sleep! Whoo Hoo!

Hopefully we will be able to keep her calm and all her formula in her little tummy.

I will post more pictures soon. Right after I get a little sleep...