The Plague

Before you do anything, watch this video of Lierre with your sound up. You won't regret it. If you do not laugh, something is probably wrong with you.... :)

Hello everyone. It feels like it has been forever. I feel like our family has traveled a very long, hard journey this week and back again. Let me begin in the beginning...

The Plague
Thanksgiving. A day to give thanks. Our whole family (I'd say around 20 people) got together at my brother and sister-in-law's house. It went well, everyone ate and was happy, except little Lierre who decided she could not nap there and thus went without a nap from about 1:00 until she finally caved and went to bed about 8:30 (an hour or so later than normal), exhausted and burnt out. She fussed a little bit on and off through the night. Our dog, who sleeps in our room, also had nightmares (how silly, right?) and proceeded to yelp throughout the night to the point Tim and I had to wake him up. I finally fell asleep around 5:00, only to be awoken about an hour later to the sounds of Tim violently throwing up. And then again. And then Lierre crying.

The delicious turkey Tim made for our family earlier in the week.

This, my friends, was the beginning of "the end." I texted my mom to complain a little bit about my lack of sleep and Tim being sick and her response was "Dad, too." Weird... my dad rarely gets that kind of sick. Over the course of the next 24 hours I learned that the following people were sick: my dad, Tim, my grandmother, my aunt, my cousin, my great aunt, and two of my nephews.

It was my brother, Evan's, birthday. His sad little birthday party got reduced to his wife, Ashley, my mom, and me (lugging around a fussy Lierre). Everyone else was sick. We congratulated ourselves for "making it out" without getting sick and kind of uncomfortably shifting since we did not know the reason why. Fast forward to the next day... Tim went back to work and Lierre proceeded to cry for two hours that afternoon. I got more and more achey. That night (Sunday) I ended up getting a 102.5 fever and felt like death. I also felt nauseous. I had to end up missing work. Which really doesn't look good in your first month.

Long story short.... my mom also started feeling bad, my brother Evan and his wife both got sick. Literally everyone, with the exception of about 5 people, got sick in my family. I had to go back to work and so did Tim. Both of us were sick. It is Friday and today is the first day I have not felt absolutely terrible. On top of that, work was the hardest it has been so far... with deadlines, and changes of schedules, and cranky full-moon students.

Lierre
I still am not sure what is going on with Lierre--whether she has a touch of this same bug or what. She spit up so much on Thanksgiving and the days surrounding it that I asked Tim to take her to the doctor on Monday. It turns out she is now 12 pounds 7.5 ounces (what a chunk) and so her Zantac dose was no longer working with her reflux (I'm still not sure it is working as it should...). I had noticed she had pulled her ears once or twice the day before so I asked if Tim would mention it to the doctor. I was worried she had an ear infection. To my dreaded dismay, she said that she was running a low-grade temperature but no ear infection--it was probably just the beginning of teething. Uh-oh. However, since Monday I have noticed her having a low fever in the 99-99.6 range every single day at some point. I have looked at her gums and do not see any swelling or redness...she does not seem any more "mouthy" (chewing on her hands or toys). Her cries have been off and she has not been "talking" as much as normal to me. Has anyone else experienced this with teething or should I march her back to the doctor and demand a second look?

Grumpy Gills on a walk to get out of the house.

Also... her sleep at night has still been pretty good, but her naps during the day have been pretty awful for the past week. She might take a morning nap from 1-3 hours, but then that might be it for the day. Sometimes we might squeeze in another hour nap with a (great day) 30 minute "snooze" late afternoon. However, where she WAS just laying down and going to sleep, now all she wants to do is lift her head and look around. She has also almost 100% mastered rolling from tummy to back so she will spend a good portion of her normal "winding down" time winding back up because she just wants to roll over again and again. Any help with this one?? I'm SO proud of her for rolling over and doing well.... but, seriously, she needs to SLEEP more during the day and we need a second to breath.

One night while we were both sick....She fell asleep with her nighttime feeding and wouldn't wake up.

Anywho...that is all for now. If you can't tell from this choppy writing and the events listed here.... I am exhausted.

Even Jack is exhausted.

3 Months

Dearest Lily Leah Lierre Elizabeth,

Three months came and went on Friday.... this happened to coincide with Daddy's 32nd birthday! Overall, it was a great day for celebration--Sunshine, a Friday, a beautiful fall day. However, you were not in the party mood... Your poor tummy is still giving you trouble just about every day. Friday was no different--in fact it was a pretty bad evening until you finally called it a night and let daddy and I celebrate by eating Domino's pizza and "watching" (aka sleeping) a movie.

About a year ago, I started wondering if you were a possibility...little bits of nausea here, some funny dreams there....but I kept you a secret for fear of being thought I was "crazy" for not being able to prove something so important. When my family members joked at Thanksgiving that my nausea better not mean I was pregnant (amidst laughter), I fully denied the possibility. I also denied a glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner and only ate about half a plate of food. You were there, little one. Smaller than a poppy seed and already changing my life.

The past month your little personality has slowly starting to peek out here and there. I heard your first real, actual giggle, followed by severe hiccups and fussiness. I knew it was your real laugh because, well, I could hear it...but also because I got the same chills, teary eyed reaction that I got the first time I saw your smile. I promise you, I could sit and watch you smile and wait for you to laugh all day every day. Sadly, your laughs are still inconsistent .... I think partially because you worry about those mean old hiccups all the time! I cannot wait until I hear the sweet peals that is your laughter every single day.

You get so angry and heartbroken and fussy when we pause from eating to try to get you to burp.... a fiery streak that tells us exactly what you think and how you feel.... I think you get this from your daddy. You do this when you think we have left you alone too long as well. I hope your sweet personality traits continue to shine through though.... sure, keep your backbone, it is wonderful to have.... but don't let your "temper" get the best of you.

You love to talk. You are very good at taking turns. Daddy and I like to pretend you are telling us about your day or the dreams that you had during your nap. It is hilarious to us when we say things like "Did you have any good dreams during your nap, Lierre?" and you start waving your arms and cooing and gurgling up a storm. We are really trying to make a conscious effort to talk to you about everything these days. Today you watched me fold clothes and I talked about all the colors of the shirts, what the parts of the shirts/pants are called (collars, buttons, zippers) and your eyes never left my face while I described it. I hope you love to learn....it will enrich your life so much.

You did not have a 3 month doctor appointment, so I'm not sure exactly how heavy you are. We tried to weigh me on the scale and then add you to my arms to see how the weight changed. Your weight is around 11ish pounds, but we can't be sure on our rickety scale. Your cheeks are much rounder, even chubby at times. I wish I knew how long you are, though... I swear you have grown at least another inch or so. It is much harder fitting you into my lap and it seems as though you take up almost the entire play mat when I lay you on it. I cannot imagine how it will be next month or months down the road, when you get so long and start to be mobile and don't want mommy as much. You really are losing the newborn look and look much more like an infant.

You are a star with sleeping. A complete champion. You are still napping a few times a day, some about 2-3 hours, others about 30 minutes. However, at night you sleep about 12-13 hours on your own. We actually have to wake you up in the mornings sometimes.... ever since you have found your thumb, that morning bottle doesn't seem quite as important. Sometimes people ask me what "method" we are using to get you to sleep... I always just kind of go "uhmmm...." and make a face. YOU, my dear, are doing this all on your own. Sure, we keep a routine as best as we can at night, but you just love sleep at night.

I have been working almost a full month and you have adjusted very well with the change. Between your grandma and daddy, you have been well taken care of and smothered in love. I have adjusted better than I thought to being at work, but I still long for you daily and have to force myself out of the door in the mornings. The best part of my day is when I finally hold you in my arms after work... it's as if I can finally breath deep.

You hate: gas.... it hurts you so bad and breaks my heart. Unexpected/Loud noises (like Jack barking)... it scares you and there have been a few times when we have had to comfort you.

You love: your bottles (you don't miss breast feeding at all....), having your daddy "bicycle" your legs while singing to you, and as always, snuggling.

Daddy bicycling your legs on his birthday

New Things: You can actually be put down for little bits at a time now without getting upset right away. You have also found the television.... while this is helpful when I need to cook something, or walk outside, or run to the bathroom.... I have to physically cover your eyes sometimes until you break your concentration on the television. Eeek.

I can't believe you are three months old. That sounds SO old to me! We love you so much and I never get tired of spending time with you.... in fact, the more I am with you, the more I want to be with you. You are a breath of fresh air and I love entering this holiday season and seeing it through your eyes. Everything is so much more magical with you here.

Love always,
Momma

Satisfying Saturday

I have had many people ask me how work went this week... my first full week back to work. Well... I will get to that later. For now it is time for pictures of a wonderful, simple Saturday.

After keeping me up on and off all night, Lierre refused to wake up Saturday morning

First time in the Bumbo!!

"What is this thing, mom?"

"Iiiiiiii don't know about this!"

"Ehhhh....."

"Get me out of this thing!"

"Get me out NOW!"

"Hehehe.... I got mom so good. I'm just fine!"

On a warm Saturday walk in the stroller

Be still my heart.

And then Tim and I got to go on our first date since Lierre was born. We tried a movie one time, but we were rushed the whole time, the movie ended up being depressing, and overall it wasn't that great. So! Last night Aunt Ashley and Uncle Evan came to watch Lierre so we could go out. We went to MJ's Steak and Seafood. It was so calm and peaceful and deeeelicious. For those of you who don't know, it is set up in what looks like an old house. I think it may have been at some point. We sat upstairs (think old house with wooden floors), on a little table meant for two with a white table cloth (big deal, you guys) and ate steak and mashed potatoes and salad and risotto and bread and got completely stuffed... and then we were exhausted (Thank you, little lady, for your disjointed sleep the night before). In fact, when the waitress came to give us our check, I was leaning with my head against the wall and Tim had his head resting on his hands. We are such old people. 

We then went to Menchie's for some frozen yogurt. Tim and the owners get along pretty well and they appreciate Tim's help watching the area while he works, so the owner took us "backstage" and showed us where they store all the ingredients, how everything they use they try to use "green" materials that are safe or biodegrade, and all the fancy ways they keep their yogurt fresh and ready. It was seriously super clean and more organized than most classrooms (of semi-organized teachers). Pretty cool stuff.

I wish I had gotten a picture of us, but we were just so excited to GO that we didn't even think.

And then I was about to get into bed after our date and found this......

I am married to a five year old. Tim's idea of a funny joke. I have to admit, it did get me a little!! =]

Overall, yesterday was a wonderful Saturday! Now I'm going to enjoy my Sunday AND Monday (yay long weekend) with my loves.