Better Nights

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and prayers. I don't think I have ever been so tired and therefore so emotionally and mentally drained. I also think its just a new normal to get used to. I am used to working during the day and therefore being challenged on deadlines rather than challeneged with crying children. I am loving my time off at home- don't get me wrong- just taking getting used to not having adult interaction all day. I am lucky because yesterday was my first day home alone with both of them and we had play group so I was able to get my adult conversation in. Rusty told me to start watching the news during the day if I needed adult stimulation:) Have you ever known me to watch the news?

I decided to take my friends advice and take a nap last night from 9-11. Of course the night I decide to do this, she cries and is awake the entire time. We did get her down finally at 11:15 and she slept until 3:30. I had her back in bed by 4 and she slept until 6:30/7:00. I had her back down at 8 and was able to get Reese ready for school and Rusty took him to school so I have some time to rest this morning

Except for the lack of nap last night, I couldn't ask for a better night. She was a little fussy in the early evening but overall was very happy and alert. I think we both slept alot better with her in her own room.So far I have not been successful at getting her to sleep in her car seat long when we go on car trips around town. She wakes up as soon as we get out of the car

We are going to go to grandma and grandpas this weekend. Reese is so excited and wont stop talking about it. He told me he was going to grandma and grandpas to show them little sister. He also keeps talking about going upstairs at their house- I guess that's his new thing. I am excited to get away for the weekend and have a little break- Rusty and I may even be able to sneak off on a date.

Night issues

We have recently had some long nights around here. I am starting to wonder if she has colic. Things were going really well but the past few nights she has screamed for hrs on end and has had a hard time going back to sleep in the middle of the night. Just about the time we think she is good to go down and we start back to sleep she starts screaming. You can hear her stomach and I know she is in pain. Please pray that this is temporary and will pass and that we don't have months of colic ahead of us. She is great during the day but come night time there is nothing you can do to help her.

2 weeks

Caleigh is 2 weeks old today. I feel like she has been with us for much longer- I guess that's what happens when you are sleep deprived. Things have been going ok for the most part, however last night she decided to scream off and on until 1:30 am. I am starting to worry that she has colic or that she may have a sensitive stomach so I guess I am going to cut milk out of my diet. Here's hoping she doesn't have a milk allergy also. Praying that tonight goes better because I really could use a few hours of good sleep. Thank goodness my Dad is still here to help- terrified next week when I am on my own during the day. Caleigh is great during the day but come nighttime she turns into a scream fest and its exhausting. I have been doing a lot of middle of the night praying around here. Knowing that we aren't going to have more children really gets me through the night because every night that passes means we are 1 step closer to sleeping through the night

Sad that "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" is over tonight.It has really gotten me through these late night feedings since nothing else is on. I never would have watched it, but its good middle of the night tv. I have taken to taping all the late night talk shows as well.

Reese did great at gymnastics today. Far better than the video I posted 2 weeks ago.

I went to the dr today and I am released to drive, lift Reese and carry Caleigh in the infant carrier. 12 lbs to go to get to pre baby weight. Very doable to me.

Pictures

We had our 3 hr photography session on Sat. We did family pictures, pictures of Reese and
Caleigh, and pictures of Caleigh. Alot of the pictures of Caleigh were when she was naked and lucky me- I got the explosion all over my clothes:) Here are a few of the sample pictures the photographer sent (the rest to come in a few weeks) My sister and Mom came up on Saturday to visit. My mom is staying through today to help and then my Dadis coming tomorrow. I am grateful for another week of help. Things are going really well- until they both start needing something at the time. That will just take some getting used to. I have only been alone with both for 45 min so far but next week I am on my own. It will be quite a production to get Reese to MDO compared to when it was just him.

Praise God

Thank you to everyone who was praying last night because we had a wonderful night. She went down really easily both times and we all got a good (well as good as to be expected) nights sleep. I feel like a new person.

Late nights

Things with Caleigh have been going amazingly well- well until last night. I finally felt strong enough to carry her yesterday and start changing diapers on my own (not due to incompetence- due to the fact I couldn't carry or lift her because of my surgery). I didn't wake Rusty up until 4 am to swaddle her (he is still questioning why I cant swaddle and let him sleep:)) . Well it was 6 before we got her back to sleep- so yes it took almost 3 hrs. We would lay her down and then almost be asleep and she would start screaming again. By the time she went to bed at 6 neither of us could sleep- and then to top it off- the power in the house went out for an hr. Good times. I think fervent prayer will be going on tonight for a better nights sleep. I am good with an hour to hour and half for a middle of the night feeding and back to bed but after 3 hrs- I thought I would loose my mind. Of course this all happens when Rusty is headed back to work!

Reese returned home from his grandparents and has decided he needs to be in time out a minimum of 5 times a day. I think once he starts back to MDO next week and gets more adjusted, that it will get better. It does make me feel better that Rusty and his parents are all in agreement that he is not himself- so I am not dreaming it. This afternoon I woke up from a nap to find him standing at my bed (never happens since he is in a crib, but grandma got him out today) and we had a sweet 20 min of laying in bed and looking at fishing magazines together. That's my Reese that I know and love! He wanted to lay in the big bed and didn't like Daddy's pillow. Hopefully one of these days he will decide to sleep in the big bed in his room- but that's a battle I am not willing to fight right now. Caleigh can stay in her cradle for several months and I think we will try one transition at a time.

On a positive note he did do better about staying on his mat in gymnastics. Elizabeth went down and sat with the kids to keep them in control and I am thankful for that. I think the teacher is slow to transition so they get bored- shock!

Rusty's parents are headed back tomorrow so tomorrow night and Friday we will have our first experience as a new family with no extra help.

I need a new name for my blog so feel free to get creative and send me ideas

Gymnastics and Welcome Home

Relaxing afternoon
Reese wearing Caleighs bib

Welcome home from the hospital- trying out the cradle

Reese hanging out in the hospital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYEGnUvXENA

Click on the link above to see Reese's gymnastics video. This was from his class when I was in the hospital. I can see why we were told we need to talk to the kids about staying on their carpet squares.

Everyone knows how social I am and after alot of begging and pleading, Rusty finally gave in and took me to the church picnic last night. Caleigh's first big event out was a success. I was going crazy staying in the house and had to get out. I am so glad to have the adjustment time with Caleigh, but do look forward to Reese's return home tomorrow.

Caleigh Marie

We are proud to announce the arrival of our daughter

Caleigh Marie
June 10
7:17 am
8 lbs 9 oz
20 inches long

You pronounce her name like Cali not Kaylee. We picked the spelling of her name because Leigh is my middle name. I am 4th generation with the middle name Lee/Lea/Leigh. Marie is Rusty's mothers name and my grandmothers middle name.

I am making a slow but steady recovery. We came home last night at 9 pm. The hospital was packed and they were literally waiting for us to leave to clean the room to get someone a room

There are 8 people in our bible study and 4 of us had babies in the last 11 days. Caleigh even had a friend in the nursery. The dr said the hospital is hoping with Ike babies- which makes him laugh since we didn't have power outages or effects here:)

Reese has gone to his grandparents. It is nice to have the time to recover but I do miss my buddy. He really wanted Caleigh to come sit with him on the fireplace today. I think he wants a play mate in her!

Also- to add to the fun- Rusty and I got in the car on Wed to head to the hospital only to realize his car was broken into. There was a little crime spree in our super safe neighborhood. It was a good thing we were headed to the hospital because it didn't give him a chance to be upset about it.

10 Years

Today I hit the 10 year mark at my job. I never would have thought when I took this job out of college that I would still be there. I was planning on working a year and then moving when we got married and therefore finding another job. Well the move to Temple never happened and 10 years later here we are

Reese has had a very fun week. We started swim lessons (4 days for 2 weeks), gymnastics (1 day for 6 weeks) and Kindermusik (1 day for 8 weeks). His babysitter also took him to the park twice and we hit the splashpad. Yesterday we went to the family reunion where he swam and fished in the lake. He is having a blast!

My Dad is here for a few days and we are getting spoiled. He has been cooking up a storm and watched Reese so that we could go to the movies. We are trying to get out as much as we can before Wed:)

Sunday fun

We had a busy Sunday. After church Rusty and Reese went fishing while I took a nap. Then after Reese's nap I took him to the pool with our friends (for the 3rd time in 4 days) while Rusty took a nap. Reese couldn't have dreamed up a better day- fishing and swimming. Reese started swim lessons today so I think he now thinks every day when he wakes up from his nap we go to the pool! He will have 8 lessons between this week and next.

We also went to the bounce house on Friday, McD playground on Sat and have hit the splash pad twice this week. I have been really spoiled because his MDO is out for a month so we have babysitters here everyday until 2 so that I can work. What that means is he goes down for a nap at 2 and so do I! I am loving having down time every afternoon and not running straight from work to the MDO and to a toddler at full speed.

Reese also starts Kindermusik and gymnastics this week. You would never think that I am 9 days away from delivery the way we are going. I would have thought I would have delivered by now but maybe she wants to go to the end. I am already past where I was with Reese and we are all setup and prepared (unlike with him)