About Miss Marlee June

With all the pregnancy drama going on lately, I feel like I haven't updated much about Marlee. The poor girl didn't even get an official 2nd birthday post :( At the time I thought we might be celebrating another birthday that day. I hope everyone at least enjoyed the pictures from her party...we had such a great time!

Marlee is doing really well. She's full of sugar and spice, and a joy to be around. I missed her so much last week when we had to rely heavily on family to take care of her while I was under the weather.

She's a couple of weeks into her new school and LOVING it. The program suits her (and us) so well. It's such a blessing to have a place that fits your philosophies. A few of our friends are a bit unhappy with their daycare situation right now, and it's made me even more grateful for our little school! Marlee is excited on school mornings and a happy jabbering little clam when I pick her up. Nothing makes a mom more happy than a happy kid, right?

We're all fighting an annoying cold right now. Marlee and I have a cough that sounds terrible, but we both feel fine! I think she must have picked it up being around all the new kids. I usually put us on immune boosting herbal supplements for cold season, but apparently I should have started a bit earlier this year!

I'm not sure of the cause--whether it's being away from me more than usual, picking things up at school, or feeling a bit under the weather--but MJ's been a bit more, um, trying than usual. We went to Target a couple nights ago, and she had her first public meltdown. Perhaps she just felt the need to show me what TWO is all about. Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't stick around! When we got home, she told me (without prompting) that she was sorry for being naughty at Target. So sweet.

Marlee has been sleeping in her big girl room now for a few weeks with not so much as a glance back at the old crib. The transition was so much easier than I expected. I really stressed about nothing. She loves her room and everything about it...so do I! I'll have to post some pictures, even though we're missing some finishing touches (like chair rail).

Baby Sister is all the buzz around the W house. I told Marlee she was coming after her birthday, so now we're ready! She loves to rub my belly and give kisses to Baby Sister. Yesterday, Dell was coming over to drop of some groceries. I said, "Marlee, guess who's coming over today," and she said, "Baby Sister? Oh, my goodness!!!" So now we're talking more in detail about how it will happen...

When Mommy knows baby sister is coming, we'll take you to Giggy's house. You'll wait with Giggy while Mommy and Daddy go see Miss Anjili and Miss Margaret (the midwives--she loves them). They will help Mommy bring Baby Sister out. Then, Giggy will bring you to see us!

She gets so excited when we talk about it. I'm hoping that will translate to excitement and happiness when the time comes!

Okay, Here's the Scoop.

I guess people have been getting bits of information from different sources, and everyone is all worried about me. I'll start this post by saying that I'm good, Slim is GREAT, and everything is right on track.

• Sunday I started having what I thought were false labor pains and some contractions. The pain got worse through the night.
• Monday morning I saw my midwife. She determined that the pain was separate from the contractions and suspected a GI parasite.
• Felt good Monday evening. The three of us went out to dinner for MJ's birthday.
  
• Early Tuesday morning, the pain was unbearable, and I drove myself to the ER. (note: I went to a close hospital, not where I'm delivering, so I was handled by on call docs. My midwife and OB are miffed b/c I didn't call them at home :))
  
• The ER wanted nothing to do with me, of course, and sent me to Labor and Delivery.
• I was hooked up to fetal monitoring. I continued to have steady contractions, but not labor. Blood in my urine and elevated white blood cell count let to diagnosis #2, UTI/Kidney infection.
• Got some IV fluids and antibiotics, left feeling a bit better.
• Felt GREAT Tuesday afternoon, and finally slept a bit Tuesday night.
• Wednesday afternoon, pain was back. Called midwife, who called other hospital for extended test/culture results. Turns out there was no bacteria in my culture, so I was treating an infection that didn't exist.
• Midwife has me come to L&D at her hospital, calls in OB to see me as well.
• Doc determines that the only possible thing left that would explain my symptoms and test results (blood in urine w/ no infection) is kidney stones. He orders up a shot of narcotics for pain. Not much else we can do.

It's Friday now, and the pain has really subsided. I expect it will flare up again as the stone(s) try to leave my system. Hopefully I won't dismiss labor pains as kidney stones!

Through all this pain and drama, Slim is moving and shaking and passing all of her non-stress tests with flying colors.

35/35

35 weeks down, 35 DAYS to go!

It's been a drama-filled week pregnancy-wise. I honestly don't have the energy to recount it (nor do I want to worry people), but the final verdict is that I have a kidney infection. I've had two courses of IV antibiotics, and we're hoping another five days of oral antibiotics will finish it off. I'm feeling much better already.


I'll add a picture tonight :)

Marlee's 2nd Birthday Party.

We had Marlee's friends over on Saturday for a birthday bash. Thank you so much to everyone who came and everyone who helped me pull it off!

Lots of pictures HERE...and more to come :)

More HERE.

Too Cool

From last weekend's trip to the lake :)

Marlee-ism of the Week

In the car with Giggy and Auntie last night:

"No, Mom. I don't have time right now."


It's Mommy in normal conversation, Momma when she's tired or fuss, and Mom when she's feeling particularly sassy. :)

"How Are You Conscious Right Now?"

That's what my midwife said today after taking my blood pressure. I said, "Give me 30 seconds."

We spent the next 20 minutes checking my BP and pulse in several positions (sitting, standing, lying, walking) and listening to Slim's heartrate. The final ruling: Bedrest for Mommma.

I'm allowed one hour of "active time" a day. It shouldn't be too hard. I feel like I've been on involuntary self-imposed bedrest for weeks. I'm simply not physically capable of doing much more.

Other than that, everything looks great. Slim is head-down as she should be and the belly is measuring right on time (take that, strangers who like to tell me I'm huge!). Only six more weeks (hopefully less) until we meet our new little one!

Hint Hint

Marlee and I were playing "restaurant" in her room. I asked her to make me a cheeseburger in her play kitchen, and she replied,

"No, Mommy. I make you a salad."

Okay, MJ. Mommy can take a hint.

First Day of School

Wednesday was Marlee's first day at Montessori school. It was a short day...a little over an hour and we stayed to play too. Today she goes alone for the first time. She loved her new school, and we're really excited about it too. We think she'll do well with the Montessori curriculum, and we like that the philosophies are in line with ours.

Marlee's new classroom is beautiful, complete with it's own little garden (watered by rainbarrel!). Here are some pictures of Marlee exploring it for the first time :)

Bringing a plant to her new teacher

Playing with the cylinder puzzle.

Jumping her sillies out on the trampoline.

Some pictures of the beautiful newly remodeled classroom...It's so pretty!

At the Ball

This is Marlee and her playdate, Sarah, dressed for the ball. Apparently they have different ideas of acceptable ball attire. :)

Shots Hurt

Marlee got her MMR vaccine yesterday. It was just a quick nurse visit--we were only there for the shot. I tried to explain what was going to happen, but it didn't sink in. When the nurse first gave Marlee the shot, MJ cried for Daddy like she always does. Once she calmed down a bit, she looked at the nurse and said, "It's not nice to hurt friends." The same nurse walked by as we were checking out, and Marlee gave her a serious scowl.

Tales from Nanny

Nanny babysat Marlee last night while Michael and I went to a hospital tour. Here are some classic lines MJ fed Nanny:

"I need sumpin' to eat. I'm starving."

"I'm going to sleep tomorrow. I want to watch the dancing show."

and after Nanny left:

"Nanny said I sleep tomorrow."

Precautions (or Paranoia)

It took me a couple of weeks, but I've finally taught Marlee all of our names. She knows her name is Marlee June W****, Mommy is Renee W****, and Daddy is Michael W****. My main reason for teaching her is so that she can answer those questions if she ever (God Forbid) gets separated from us.

She also knows she should find a mommy with kids if she can't find her mommy or daddy (I figure that's easier than finding a police officer). It's horribly scary to think about, but I personally have found five (!!!) lost kids in my adult lifetime (cruise ship, airport, 3 in the mall). It happens.

I feel like it's important for kids to know these things as soon as they're young enough to understand. We're headed to Disney World in a few months, and it's such a comfort to me that she knows what to do if we get separated. She will also have a card on her with our cell numbers. Do any other moms of toddlers do this? Maybe I'm just paranoid. ;)

On a similar note, I feel so lucky that she doesn't have a tendency to wander. Before I was a parent, I used to scoff at those child leash things. Add that to the list of things I thought I knew about parenting. I don't see a need for one with my child, but if I had a wanderer, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. What do you think of them?

Seeing is Believing

Michael just came in from work for his lunch break. He talked to Marlee for a bit and even kissed her goodbye when he left for the gym. Ten minutes later, Marlee was walking around calling for him. I reminded her he went to the gym. "No he did not." She continued to look for him. I must have told her 3 times, "Marlee, Daddy left to go to the gym, remember?" "I'm looking for him, Mommy." Okay fine. You're going to be looking for a while.

Then she walked to the door, pulled aside the curtain, and said, "Oh. The car is gone. Daddy's driving to the gym."

Sigh.

Look What Marlee Made!

Marlee and Daddy went to a kids' workshop at Home Depot on Saturday. They worked together to build this cool message center for Marlee's new room. Now all it needs is a cool paint job :)