Friday, December 23, 2011

4 Months

LMI, I cant believe you are four months old today time is going by so quickly. This past month was filled so many fun things. You learned to roll over from your tummy to your back (although since being in the harness this new skill has stopped) and you are loving your activity mats. You stare, grab, swat and coo at your toys with a smile from ear to ear. You are begining to laugh, but it sounds much more like a gurgle. And the best of all - you give me the biggest smiles in the morning when you wake up. It is the best part of my day.

We have had fun at our fitness class (you much much more than me) as you especially love the parachute and bubbles (gym.boree has the best bubbles ever), you light up during music class and you listen intently at the library storytime.

You now weigh 10lbs2oz and are 22.5" tall. You are doing so well.

You are loving your first Chanukah and become mesmerized by the candle light.

Thank you for all you have given me. I love you so much.

***

I wish you all a happy holiday. I think of you all often and I hope that 2012 brings good things for everyone.

Monday, December 19, 2011

One Year Ago

... My brother got engaged, my neice was born and LMI was conceived. It is still so unbelevabe how thesebturn if events happened almost simultaneously. When I think back to how depressed and deeply sad I was it amazes how much has changed in a year. I remember her birth as if it were yesterday. It was probably the hardest obstacle I have ever faced. My younger sister gave my parents their first grandchild - a fact that to this day still upsets me. I remember holding it together long enough to see my sister and her brand new baby and then almost instantlt falling apart in the hallway outside her room. It was so so so hard.

BUT I did it. I stepped up for my sister and I feel good about that.

My neice has brought so much joy to my life. She gives the biggest smile when she sees me and is now at the point where her mommyitis is disappearing and she will play with me. I couldnt recognize it at the time, but having our girls so close in age has been a blessing. I'm still (and probably alwaysvwill be) upset that I wasnt first, but I dont let that fact ruin my life anymore.

***

LMI had a follow- up appointment for her hip dysplasia today. Turns out she is a medical mystery like her mother. The angle of her hip got worse since being paced in the harness. The dr said this highly irregular. Of course. The good news is that the ultrasound showed that her hip isnt able to dislocatevwhen in the harness which is a good thing. So we continue. I acm not sure what the hipnangle percentages mean, but I didnt get the impression that it is serious. Thank goodness.

Here's the skinny on life in the harness:
- Ha.lo makes a sleepsack with a swaddle atached - life saver at the beginning. It was a good way to transition out of the swaddle.
- Ba.by Le.gs are leg warmers. Totally cute and super easy to wear over the harness. LMI wears them as tights with dresses on top and you cant tell shes wearing the harness.
- She hates tummy time as it hurts so we need to be extra creative with ways ti help her strengthen her head and neck. Airplane anyone?
- Cleaning the hardest is a huge pain in the butt, it takes forever to dry. Ugh.

Overal the harness is doable, but a total pain. Hopefully she will be out of it soon. Our next check is in three weeks.

***

Yesterday A and I hosted our annual family Hanukkah party. We had twenty relatives at the house to enjoy latkes, bagels and other treats. It was extra special ths year for obvious reasons. Tomorrow night we light the first candle and I just cant believe that there will finally be three of us around the chanukiah this year. Still is unbelievable to me. To those who celebrate Chag Sameach!

-R.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Yesterday sucked. LMI had her appointment which confirmed the hip dysplasia suspicion. Currently her left hip is loose and therefore can become dislocated in certain positions and therefore the harness was recommended. She was a totalsuper star during the ultrasound and examination, but when it came to fitting her for the harnesses (we got two because she is a huge barfer) she was none to pleased. She cried. A lot.

It isnt that bad of an contraption. The angle that she is placed in is not so severe so with loose tops or dresses, it wont be so noticiable. We were at the hospital for two hours and when we left she was calm and sleeping in her carseat as if nothing happened. Until we got home.

LMI was a total mess all day. I was most worried about bedtime as she was making the tansition into a sleepsack. She did great though. The harness did not seem to affect her and she woke up today with a smile on her face. It will suck, but we will get through this.

-R.