The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... the trees and flowers are filling in nicely.  I have really missed watching the seasons change.
I am thinking... these classes I am taking at the Y are going to be the death of me.  I had no idea that I was soooo out of shape!
I am thankful for... Granny watching Camille today while I rushed Meghan off to the pediatrician for a pre-op physical.  Naps went longer than I had intended, and Camille was not quite awake enough to get dressed and rush out the door.
From the kitchen... I am failing this stay-at-home mom stuff.  I guess I better make a menu this week.
I am wearing... jean and a T-shirt.  I am still accepting that I only really need one pair of shorts while living in Minnesota.
I am creating... a grocery list.  (Yes, I know, boring.)
I am going... to a Zumba class tomorrow.  I went to my first one ever last Friday and had a great time!
I am reading... ummm....Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown.
I am hoping... Ken and I find a way to meet more couples with children.  We could really use a night of entertainment including adults. 
I am hearing... Granny listening to the Twins game upstairs.  One-hundred and sixty-nine games per season and she doesn't miss a single one.  I just heard her mutter, "oh, he shaved off his mustache."  Yes, she really knows the team that well.
Around the house... everything is pretty much cleaned up and has a home.
One of my favorite things... Camille and Meghan are so affectionate.  Camille gave me a snuggle and an "I love you" after I read her a story tonight, and Meghan likes to give me a little kiss on the cheek when I put her into her crib at night.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Meghan is having her eye surgery on Friday morning so we are not making any other plans for the weekend.
Here is a picture I thought of sharing...

Meghan received one nasty bite from another child today at the YMCA.  Amazingly, the child also had a pacifier in his mouth when he bit her.

A Little Update

Somehow we are busier now than when I was working full time. 

Ken is enjoying his new job.  Camille and I think it's awesome that he gets to ride the train into the heart of the city each day...and Ken doesn't seem to mind the commute.  He has already re-connected with his referee friends and has even braved the cold to referee a few games.

The girls and I have fallen into a rather busy routine.  Camille and Meghan go to their grandparent's house 2-3 mornings a week so I can get some work done.  We try to visit my grandmother (the one we're not living with) once a week.  We drop into the local library for story hour every so often.  The rest of our time is spent either A) going to Meghan's numerous doctor appointments or B) going to the YMCA.

Meghan's latest tests have all come back normal.  In the last month, she has gained a pound (hooray!) and started walking.  We are still waiting for a few more tests to be done, and then she will likely have her entire digestive tract scoped to look for possible causes of malabsorption.  Also, on May 27th she is going to have surgery on her blocked tear duct.  She is still eating massive amounts of food for a 15 pound child.  I am afraid we will need to take out a loan to feed her when she is a 30 pound child!

After a lot of coaxing by Ken, we joined the local YMCA.  They have a great little daycare where the kids can stay for up to 2 hours while I work out.  Initially I was not thrilled with the idea of a gym membership.  However, one of the employees helped me set up a fitness plan, and I am devoting some much-needed attention to my mid-section after having 2 kids.  I took in several classes this week, including one that required me to stay in a push-up position with my legs on a large exercise ball.  I was rolling all over the place!  Of course, I'll go back next week as it's the only time I get a chance to take a shower without worrying what the kids are into.

Camille likes going to the YMCA.  On certain days they let the kids loose in the gym with "bouncy balls," as Camille would say.  She considers gym days a smashing success and is quite mournful if she is not able to go.  Camille is still adjusting to the move.  She and I keep talking about various ways that she can make friends and how she can introduce herself to other kids.  She has been rather disagreeable and in a sour mood, which definitely tests my patience.  I am wondering when I'll get my smiley daughter back.

For me working from home is a bit of a chore.  I feel like I should be constantly working if I have free time.  In spite of this feeling, I don't get very much done as I am often distracted.  Hopefully I will figure it all out soon!

Of course, I have stayed up too late and Meg's crying now.  Good night!

Happy Birthday, Meghan!

Meghan turned one today!  She had many adventures in her first year of life.

Meghan at birth

1 month old!



Meghan is baptized.  June 24, 2010 in Kindred, ND

Meghan at 2 months old, sunning herself at Uncle Jason and Aunt Nikki's lake home in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Meghan at 3 months.  Look at that chunky baby!



At 4 months, Meghan takes her first trip to Cocoa Beach for the National Kidney Foundation Surf Festival.



5 months!

 

At almost 6 months of age, Meghan enjoyed our family trip to Quito, Ecuador for a friend's wedding.


At 6 months, Meghan took a trip to Savannah, GA and stayed at the haunted Kehoe House. (It's still a mystery where the pictures are from that trip.)



At 7 months, Meghan took her first camping trip to Little Talbot Island.




At 8 months, Meghan braved her first ND blizzard...



 and enjoyed her Aunt Becky's wedding.

Meghan enjoys building a bear with Camille at 9 months.


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Meghan at 10 months with her big sister.

 

Meghan helps drive through Kentucky during our move from Florida to Minnesota at 11 months old.



Meghan turns one!

Meghan is definitely a gift from God.  In spite of her "failure to thrive" diagnosis, she continues to thrive.  Please pray that in her next year of life the cause of her poor weight gain is discovered quickly, and she is able to further enjoy the innocence of childhood.

Seven Quick Takes

-1-

I won't lie.  I am exhausted.  Meghan has not slept in at least a week (teething, maybe?) so I haven't either.  During the few hours she does sleep in a day/night, I have been trying to get caught up with work.  She has been crying for the last 24 hours straight, unless held by me.

-2-

Lack of sleep makes me cranky.

-3-

Camille needs to get out of the house and play with other kids.  She is seriously bouncing off the walls and furniture.

-4-

Our reprieve was going to be escaping to Fargo on Monday for a week with the cousins.

-5-

Next Wednesday was the only time in the next 2 months we could see a GI specialist for Meghan (who still has not gained an ounce in the last 6 months).  Post-pone that trip to Fargo.

-6-

In the last 3 weeks we have proven that a queen size bed is not big enough for the 2  3 4 of us to sleep in.  Would someone please buy our house in Florida so we can return to our king size bed?

-7-

How do you spell relief??

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... the deer have been walking by twice a day since we arrived.  Yesterday during dinner a mallard duck and his mate waddled by.  Who needs a zoo membership?
I am thinking... actually, I have taken a break from thinking the last two weeks.  I am in heaven!
I am thankful for... Ken arranging a workspace for me with two monitors.  The extra monitor makes work so much easier.
From the kitchen... a turkey breast is in the oven.  Yum!
I am wearing... not nearly enough clothes for the cool weather that blew in this morning.  I really need to go shopping with my friend Jennifer, the personal shopper expert.  I don't have anything to wear in this cold weather.
I am creating... a to-do list for all of the work I need to get done.
I am going... to hopefully visit my Grandma tomorrow.
I am reading... not much time for reading right now...
I am hoping... I can get together with my friend from high school, Sarah, again soon.  The girls and I had a lovely playdate with Sarah and her daughter and son this morning.
I am hearing... Camille playing with her electric toothbrush.  After being afraid of the vibrating Sponge Bob for a year and a half, she can't get enough of brushing her teeth.
Around the house... We still need to clean out the garage so I can park my car inside.  We are also going to find a tree  branch to put in a pot and decorate an Easter tree with Granny.
One of my favorite things...  Meghan yells "DaDa" and crawls to Ken when he arrives home from work each evening.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Visit Grandma tomorrow.  My parents and sister are coming to visit this weekend and we will celebrate my Sister-in-Law's birthday on Sunday.  We are so happy to be able to enjoy these family events again.
Hereare a few pictures I thought of sharing...

Meghan helps drive from Gainesville to St. Paul

Hmmm...this shovel is too big.

This spade is just right!

Camille bikes around the cul-de-sac.

Golfing at the Mall of America

A hole in one!

Need I say more?

**It's hard to take pictures of Meghan when I'm wearing her in the baby carrier.  More of her later.

Camille's Little Coconut

Camille usually walks around the house yelling at Meghan, "come here, sweetheart...no, no sweetheart..."  Today she used a new term of endearment.  "Hello my little coconut."  Little coconut actually fits Meghan very well.  Her head is about the size of a coconut, she has hair the color of the exterior of a coconut, and she is smiley and sweet like a pina colada.  I think Meghan has a new name!

Seven Quick Takes

Okay, so today is Thursday.  I'm a day early.  Or 6 days late.  And I have 10, so not really quick, either.

-1-

After four fairly long days in the care, we finally arrived in MN.  Fortunately, we did not encounter any car troubles or other difficulty.

-2-

Two Men and a Truck loaded everything for us in Florida and, as we discovered upon arrival in MN, did not wrap our furniture very well.  Several nicks and scratches were endured.  Luckily we do not have any furniture of value.

-3-

We have nicely settled in at Granny's house.  The girls are sharing a room, which is working out surprisingly well.  They don't talk at bed time and Meghan's cries have only kept Camille up once, so far.

-4-

Meghan had a rough start.  She had a high fever four nights in a row and was really fussy.  After the third night of fever and fussing, I took her to her new pediatrician.  He assured me she just had a virus and sent us home with nothing.  After the fourth night of fever and absolutely no sleep, I took her to a different pediatrician I happened to drive by on the way to the grocery store.  The second pediatrician significantly more helpful.  She clearly saw Meghans very infected ear and understood me when I said she was not at all herself.  We left with prescriptions for antibiotics, ibuprofen, ear numbing drops, and referrals to every specialist Meghan needs to see.  Fortunately, the meds worked and we had a good night of sleep last night.

-5-

As an aside, after the 3rd night of fever, I suspected Meghan had roseola.  Sure enough, on day 4, she broke out in a rash.

-6-

Camille is struggling to adjust to the move.  Initially the new surroundings bothered her at night.  Once I put her own comforter, pillows, and stuffed animals on her bed, she started sleeping better.  Now she's having trouble during the day.  She's not really sure what to do with herself.  I cannot blame her as I'm not really sure what to do with myself.  The adjustment would probably easier if we were in our own home and I could spend time working on the house.  Granny's house does not really have a good spot to sequester the kids and let them play while still keeping them in my sight.

-7-

We are really enjoying spending time with my grandmother and are so grateful that she has room for us.  However, living in an enormous "do not touch" house with two little kids is an indescribable experience.  The knick-knack body count so far:  1 glass angel has lost her halo and some lovely silk flowers lost their leaves.  Not too bad for being here 6 days!

-8-

Oh yeah...Meghan has figured out how to remove the covers from the electrical outlets.  Her tiny fingers are just perfect for removing those buggers that the rest of us have to use a knife to remove.

-9-

I killed a brown spider (the Florida variety) in the bathroom today.  The little guy crawled out of a shopping bag that was briefly in my trunk.  Hopefully we left all other little critters in Florida!

-10-

Granny has deer that wander by her porch every day at 10AM and 4PM.  When I have my camera ready, I will take a picture and post it.  Perhaps I can capture all 12!