Cute Burp Cloths!

I went on a search today on my fabric shelf for any fabric that I had that didn’t have pink in it. It was rather hard, but I had some owl fabric left over from my camera strap and Abby’s crayon roll that I had recently made. We’re starting to get prepared for the arrival of Lucas and I had some free time today during Abby’s nap that I thought I would make some burp cloths. I think these are super cute!

These are so easy to make.  I cut the chenille and the fabric pieces of 18 x 8.5 rectangles. I placed the fabrics right sides together and pinned them. I sewed all the way around the cloths leaving about 2 ½ - 3 inches to pull the fabric back through its self. I pinned the opening and did a top stitch around the border. I made seven of them so we are getting a start to our collection of burp cloths. I’m sure little Lucas can go through these in a day.

I have to warn you if you make these that the chenille is messy and be prepared to pull out the vacuum cleaner when you finish! Also it is best to prewash the fabric so due to the massive shredding. Happy sewing!

Dear Junebug

Dear Junebug,


Hopefully we won’t be calling you Junebug much longer. Your daddy and I have been talking about names, and hope to decide on one this week. We are 21 weeks pregnant and it has flown by. You are moving all over and starting to push on my side and make your comfortable. They told me that my placenta was in the front and that I wouldn’t be able to feel you move as much, but You are definitely letting me know your there. You move on my sides and you have started to push some. You prefer me to lay on my right side, which I think is how you are most comfortable.

We had an ultrasound on Monday, and they told us you were a boy! Your daddy and I couldn’t be happier. All your measurements were just perfect, and they said everything was just perfect with you! It looks like I am going to end up in a second c section due to a few concerns with me, but I told them we will do whatever it takes to keep you safe! I can’t wait to meet you and hold my sweet little boy.

I am so thankful that you weren’t shy during the ultrasound. I drank about 10 ounces of orange juice before I left the house, that always gets you moving. As soon as we saw you on the tv, I saw your boy parts, and asked if you were a boy, and the ultrasound tech said well it sure looks like it! I already know that there is something special with little boys and their mommys. I already love you so much!

You were sucking your thumb some during the ultrasound, it almost looked like you saved at us, because you kept moving your arms up and down. You looked so precious in the womb, so safe, so sound, and nothing in the world to harm you. I will try to keep you ask safe and sound as possible as long as I can. I never want anything to harm you or hurt you.

Your sister, Abigail was sitting beside me on the couch this morning and she reached over and rubbed my tummy and said baby. Were trying to teach her how to say brother. I know she is excited about your arrival although she is still so young and doesn’t quite understand what is going on. Your daddy and I hope to look at paint and get started on the nursery in the next few days. We just have to decide on a color! Right now the room is yellow.

Your sister will come over to me and life up my shirt trying to see her. She is actually wearing her “big sister” shirt today, we will get you a little brother shirt soon! I can’t wait until June!

They told me that you weighted a whopping 10 ounces and that your heart rate was 162! I love you Junebug!

Love

Your Mommy

Update on Abbyroo...

As a parent, you always try and do what is best for your child. There isn’t one thing I wouldn’t do for my sweet Abigail to ensure that she is safe, healthy, felt loved, and that every one of her needs are met. I pray for her all the time. A lot of times I will just wake up in the middle of the night and go get her out of her little crib and rock her and pray for her. She is one of the most things I hope most precious to my heart, along with my husband.


We have had a pretty rough week. Early Monday morning (about 4 or 5) Abby got the croup. As I’m sure you know Croup is a virus and there isn’t anything they can give you to treat the croup, it just has to run its course. They can prescribe a steroid to reduce the swelling in the lungs if your child is wheezing while coughing. Abigail didn’t have any of the wheezing. She was very congested, but breathing very well. I called her pediatrician and we decided that we didn’t need to bring her since, since I had brought her in two times prior for the croup. When you bring them in for croup there it is more “educational” for the parents, than “treatment” for the child. Her croup cough continued through Tuesday but was completely gone by Wednesday and only followed by a normal cough.

We kept her home from daycare of. Wednesday, she just didn’t seem like she felt well. She woke up with a mild temperature of about 100. We just wanted to keep her home and give her extra cuddles and kisses. When we keep her at home Jason and I try to do a split shift with her. He stayed with her in the morning and I stayed with her in the afternoon. Jason told me she didn’t eat very well that morning, but she played, and would drink plenty of fluids. I got home about 12:00 and she was asleep. She woke up around 1:30/2:00 and her temperature was 102. That was the highest her temperature has ever been. I gave her some Tylenol and waited a little bit to see if it would keep her temp down. I also put her in a cool bath. Abby loves the tub and she sure wouldn’t mind to play in there a while. Her temperature stayed down to about 101 with the Tylenol and the tub so once again I ran the ped’s office. They told us we could alternate the Tylenol and the Motrin every two hours. We started alternating the meds and kept her in the tub and her temperature finally broke about 8:30 that evening.

We kept her home again on Thursday and we thought she was doing so much better! The highest temp she had all day long was 100. She ate well this day, played hard, but I think it was just too much for her little body to handle. We figured we would be able to send her to daycare of Friday if the snow stayed away. I never thought I would say it – but I am so thankful that it snowed and that we stayed home!

Abby didn’t eat her breakfast very well at all on Friday morning. She seemed just kind of aggregated and didn’t want anything you offered her. She played well on Friday morning. We were cleaning up and we took some books back to her room, and when we came out, she walked as fast and persistent as she could into the wall. It didn’t knock her over but it sure did thump. She cried and I picked her up and calmed her down. We were finishing picking up her toys and she started throwing a fit. When she throws her fit and falls out, I let her finish. She went on about 3-4 minutes and Jason and I were talking, and he said, she probably just feels bad. I knew she didn’t feel well so I picked her up while she was throwing her fit (which is pretty hazardous with the kicks) and just held her. As soon as I her arms started shaking and she wouldn’t respond to my voice. It only lasted like 20 seconds, I asked Jason, Was that a seizure? We decided it wasn’t that it was just me being paranoid. About 3 minutes later she went into a full blown seizure. I handed her to Jason and I started taking off her little clothes. I ran and got her medicine that were suppose to give her if it lasts more than 5 minutes and had it ready. The seizure lasted 2 ½ minutes, but felt like an eternity. I called the pediatrician and we got an appointment for her to be seen that day. I knew we could get in them the same day, where it would have been a couple days to get in with her neurologist.

She looked good, except for her ears. She has a double ear infection, so he prescribed her some antibiotics. I told Abigail that she was going to have to start telling her mommy when her ears hurt. She is such a trouper when she is sick and rarely complains. It is almost funny she had a double ear infection, only because I had taken her to the doctor so many times wanting him to look at her ears and they were fine. The doctor let me use his scope and look at them and explained to me what I was looking at.   They did a consult with UK neurology and they have doubled the dosage of her seizure medicine (Keppra) in the mornings and left it the same in the evenings, we will go back to neurology for yet another EEG in late Feb or early March. She had lost a whole pound!  They are going to check on her weight here again in a couple weeks, they want to make sure the medicine isn't making her lose her appetite.


I was just so thankful that it snowed yesterday! I’m thankful we were all home. I was so thankful to be with Abby while she had her seizure. I’m thankful we didn’t have to use the medicine to stop it and that it only last 2 ½ minutes. I’m so thankful that my husband was there too to provide comfort to Abigail and to myself during and after the seizure. I’m also so thankful that she was being held while she seized. I can’t imagine going through that and how scared she must get. After her seizure, we cuddled on the couch and she fell asleep. She seemed to be chilled and I covered her up tight and just held her.

I know they don’t know exactly what is causing her seizures, but I am so thankful for the great physician who is ultimately in control. I know that he is going to take care of her and ensure that she is safe. I just love her so much and there isn’t anything in this world I would do for her. We have so many Christian friends that have prayed for her and we know that this too shall pass.

Dear Abigail

Dear Abigail,


You have been sick the past couple of days. You broke my heart as I held you yesterday for several hours with your 102.8 temperature. I felt so helpless as a mom. Your daddy stayed with you yesterday morning while I worked, and then I came home about noon. We ended up spending most of our afternoon together with you in the tub. For as bad as you felt you enjoyed your cool bath. You are the sweetest little girl, even when you are sick.

We have been talking more and more with you about your baby brother or sister on the way. I asked you one day last week if you wanted a baby boy or a baby girl, you looked at me in the eyes with the sweetest little voice and said, “nooo”. We read everyday your big sister book and you come and rub my belly and say baby. You will even kiss my belly several times day without me prompting you to do so.

You are starting to say a lot more words and put your words together. You will get your toy phone, and say, “mama bye bye love you”. Its so funny because you love to play with your pretend phone, but when we try and talk with you on the real phone all you want to do is push the buttons and hang out. Your daddy dropped something while we were sitting on the couch and you reached down to get it and handed it back to him and said, “got it”.

You love to play with your little kitchen lately. We put it in the kitchen so you could cook while mommy makes dinner in the evenings. You take your food in and out of the microwave and pretend to eat it. You hold it up to your mouth and say, “yum yum yum” and smack your little lips together.

I am just in awe of you and how much I love you. I knew as soon as we were pregnant that I would love you more than anything, and I loved you the moment I found out I was pregnant. When you have a baby and hold him or her in your arms, you just know that you would do anything in the world for that baby, and that you love it so much, but that love grows. It doesn’t seem possible but it grows. You are the best part of my day, and the sunshine of my life. I love you to pieces baby girl! I hope that you feel better soon! I know you are receiving double and triple kisses from both your daddy and I.



Love,

Mommy

Update on Roo

We had our follow up with neurology today at the Neuroscience institute at UK. We weren’t able to see her regular doctor there (Dr. Farzan) but were able to see Dr. McCoy. She was able to spend quite a bit of time with us and talk to us about Abigail. She said several things that really helped me understand things more and not question so much their decision for medication. She was wonderful and helped us as parents be more at peace with Abigail’s disorder.


Abigail was diagnosed with unprovoked partial seizure disorder, which are seizures associated with epilepsy. They came up with these diagnoses based on the fact that her limps didn’t shake during the seizure. The only movement in her body was her hands, and she had a spaced out look and was unresponsive. Her first episode of seizures they said they were probably febrile seizures even though she didn’t have a fever, due to her having an “illness” when she had the seizures. This time she had a virus, so we figured it was still a febrile seizure. The doctor told us that children with seizure disorders are more prone to have seizures when they are sick and their immunities are down. I almost think at this point I will be able to spot if she is going to have the seizure. I am so thankful that I blogged about her last episodes so I am able to remember the things that led up to the seizure.

We are so thankful for Abigail, and it is just amazing how God uses things like this to teach us and make us stronger. We just pray for daily and trust God that she will be safe and healthy. They are going to keep her on her medication for one year. At the end of the year they will do another EEG and if it is normal then they will see if she is able to come off of her medication. We have a follow up again in 6 months. Thank you so much for your prayers! We have definitely felt them!

Update on Roo

Well my day went most unexpectedly. Woke up, went to work and received a phone call from the daycare that Abigail has had a seizure. They told me that they had already called an ambulance, and should be leaving any moment to head to Patty A Clay. They told me that her teacher Ms. G would ride along in the ambulance with her so she wouldn’t be alone. I left work immediately to race to the hospital in Richmond, from my office it would probably take about 45 minutes to get there. I’m honestly surprised that I didn’t get a ticket on my way there. Jason arrived to the hospital about 2-3 minutes after the ambulance and I was about 15 minutes after him.

When I arrived at the ER, I came in and she was being so brave. They were monitoring her heart rate and had taken her temperature. When I arrived they had to get a urine and blood sample. They also hooked her up to an IV for fluids. I honestly wish we had been able to take her to UK (where all her doctors are) instead of Patty A Clay, but that is the closest hospital to the daycare, and that is where they always send their children if they have an emergency. There is absolutely NO comparison to “pediatric nurses” and regular nurses in working with babies.

The nurse couldn’t find her little vein to get her blood, they weren’t easily able to get the IV in, and they had trouble with the cath to get her urine sample. I just remember when we took her to central Baptist they had the same problem, but at UK, it was like GOLD. They have amazing pediatric unit there, and the doctor’s are amazing.

At the appointment all her blood work and urine were perfect. Her temperature was fine, and they said she was just perfect. They did a consult on the phone with the pediatric neurologist that Abigail sees and they prescribed her a daily medication called Keppra / Levetiracetam, which is syrup that she will take it twice daily. They were concerned that this was her third seizure in a period of 8 months.

Her first episode of seizures they diagnosed as “febrile” seizures even though she had them without a fever, she had them with an illness, and however this time she had her seizure she didn’t have a fever either. They have diagnosed her with “unproved” seizures. We took her to her pediatrician today also he wanted to see her, and take a look. Physically he said she was wonderful. Hears, eyes, nose, throat, reflexes, body, everything was just perfect.

I called her make her follow up appointment with her neurologist and they are supposed to call me back within 48 hours for her appointment time. They will need to see her within 2 weeks since they have added additional medication and they want to do another EEG and MRI.

It is the worst feeling in the world to have your child in pain, discomfort, or something medically wrong with them that you can’t control. However looking back on this day, I praise God for the safety and provision he had over her. She had her seizure when her teacher picked her up to change her. She was being held during the seizure by one of her favorite people and they were able to leave the room and have her medication ready within two minutes of the seizure starting. Her most favorite teacher was able to ride in the ambulance with her and stay with her until we got there with her, and Jason and I were both able to arrive safely at the hospital within minutes of her arrival.

I am so thankful for a job, that I can just walk out on in a moment’s notice when something comes up, and for a supportive and loving husband/father that loves his family more than anything. It was so hard to hear her cry, scream, get mad from the nurses poking and prodding on her. She was in such sweet spirits considering the situation. We blew up purple gloves in the ER and played with them. We played peek a boo with daddy’s hat, and I was so thankful that my car was a mess because I found some much needed necessities in there: Paccy, Sippy cup, play keys, toy microphone, and some much needed snacks. The daycare sent some diapers and wipes, so we were all set for our long day full of doctors. There was a several hour lapse between the ER and the DR appointment and I was able to swaddle her up and just rock her while she slept. I held her tightly and prayed for her. I told her before she went to sleep that I wished she didn’t have to hurt, and I would take it all away if I could. I told her that I loved her more than anything and that we would get her the best care we could.

Its so funny because after we left the ER I told Jason to stop by Kroger and get her some balloons on his way home. He called me and said they only have Happy Birthday balloons, and I told him that was fine since she couldn’t read. So she has a Hanny many balloon that says happy birthday to go with her bouquet of purple glove balloons we blew up in the ER. She loves to play with them. We filled her prescription and are going to give her the first dose in the morning. We wanted to be able to closely monitor her with a new medicine in her. I love her so much. I told her no more scary stuff this evening and she reached up and wiped my tear. She is the sweetest little girl with the sweetest little heart.

We should know more in a few weeks, I know that I can't have control over this situation, and I am so thankful for a God who is.  I thank all my family and friends for their prayers, we definately felt them.  I have had the song by Plumb stuck in my head for a few days now, and what wonderful song to have stuck in my head today.  God will always have us SAFE IN HIS ARMS.
 
Safe in My Arms:  By Plumb
 
Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your Curly Que's
Your contagious smile
And as I watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight
Knowing

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Story books
Are full of fairy-tales
Of kings and queens
And the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You'll someday see
The truth for lies

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
Cause you are never all alone
Cause I will always
Always love you

Hey I
Hey I
Will love

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms
In my arms

Dear Abbyroo

Dear Abigail,


You are truly the most precious thing in the world to me. I just look at you and wonderful how you could get any sweeter, any more beautiful, and any kinder hearted. You made our Christmas this year so delightful. Everything was so excited, so joyful, and such a “wow” moment for you. You woke up about 7:30 on Christmas morning and came to the living room to see what Santa brought you. We gave you your sippy cup of milk and made you some pancakes before we opened your presents. Of course your most favorite thing to play with was the packaging and the wrapping paper. Someday when you have children, remember it isn’t about the money you spend on them, because they will be happy with anything you give them. We got you many things, but your favorite was an ocean – Melissa and Doug puzzle. You got to write Santa a letter, leave food out for his reindeer and leave him some cookies. You embrace everything that you do, everything is just fun.

This morning I heard you in your room talking this morning, and I went in there and you had thrown up in your crib. You were covered from head to toe and your sheet was completely saturated. I went in there and you were just sitting in the middle of your bed not saying a word. You looked so pitiful. I took you to the bathroom and gave you a bath. I never want you to hurt or feel bad. I just want you to be happy, safe, and just perfect.

We have had a lot of snow lately. Your daddy bought you a sled which you absolutely adore. You have so much fun being pulled around the yard and going doing the slope on the side of the house. You are definitely a snow bunny – I told Jason that I hope we get a lot of snow this year since you like it so much. I love to hear you laugh, and you laugh almost constantly while we are on the sled.

You continue to amaze me in how smart you are. You have taken off in using your sign language and learning new words every day. You know several animal noises (dog, cow, snake, cat) and several others. I also ask you what sound does daddy makes and you make a farting noise with your mouth. You know two colors, purple and green. You know all your body parts, and when I ask you where your muscles are you act like your flexing them and go grrrr. It is so cute. I ask you where Abigail is, and you put your chest, I ask you where the baby is and you’re come over and rub my belly.

I love you more every day. I don’t quite know how that is possible, but I do. I held you on my lap this evening and just scratched your little head. For some reason you love for me to lightly scratch your head. You gave me several hugs and kisses. I wrapped you up for bed and you always say night, night. Your daddy will walk you down the hall to put you in your crib and he always stops at the closet and you do “I Love you in sign language” the best you can. You say: bye, bye, night, night, love, you. It melts my heart. You starting putting all those words together last week before bedtime.

I love you Abbyroo. Were about to start a new year together, it is hard for me to believe that it is 2011, I look forward to all the memories’ we will make.

Love,

Momma

Take a breath

This time of year I have to slow down, take a breath and remember the reason for the season. It is so easy for me, a person who is always going to stop, working forty hours a week, being a full time mommy and semi crazy pregnant lady to just enjoy this Christmas season. We do a lot at Christmas time and I don’t want to get mixed up in the business of it that I blink and it is gone. Last year we started some new Christmas traditions with Abigail, but more than the Christmas traditions, I want her to learn what Christmas is all about, Jesus.


I look forward to having time off of work at Christmas. They give us 2 days at Christmas and 2 days at new years, so it will be a wonderful 2 weeks. I’m not going to be taking any additional time off work until the baby comes. I have 14 weeks of time saved at work for maternity leave and want to spend every moment of that at home with our precious new addition.

We have a lot coming up the next few weeks. I look forward to seeing my family in TN and spending time with friends and family here. I look forward to making our Christmas ornaments for friends, making peanut butter fudge, rock candy, chocolate molds, and our traditional breakfast casserole. I look forward to cutting out Christmas tree sugar cookies and decorating them with Abigail. I look forward to the Christmas service at church, wearing our warm pajamas on Christmas Eve all cuddled up with Jason and Abigail. I look forward to Christmas morning when I know that Abigail will tear into her gifts and play with the box instead of the toy. I look forward to her not understanding why we aren’t going to take the holiday Barbie out of the box and putting it with the one on the shelf we got her last year. I love everything about Christmas and I hope that in the midst of the business that I can just truly remember the reason for the season and share that with Abigail.

I got an email last month about getting a free Christmas Message from navigators. I got it in the mail last week and Abbyroo and I have been reading a Bible verse out of the book every day and we talk about it. The book is kind of boring to her I’m sure because there are no pictures. However she will bring it to me, sit on my lap and let me read to her the scriptures. I want her to love Jesus. I know as a parent this is something that I will have no control over. Jason and I will lead and guide her, but ultimately she is going to have to accept Jesus as her Lord and savior. I pray every day that I can lay the foundation that she needs to have a life of trusting and believing in Him.

Merry Christmas my sweet little Angel! I hope that Christmas in the future isn’t about getting gifts to you. I hope that you will find that the true gift of Christmas is Jesus. I love you Abbyroo!

Dear Junebug

Dear Junebug,


I still am in awe and wonder that we are pregnant with you. We’ve made it to the second trimester and it feels like in these 12 short weeks I have a lifetime of love for you. It is amazing how just knowing that you are inside of me the love that I have for you and the longing my heart has to hold you. I put my hand on my belly everyday and tell you I love you. We had our first ultrasound last week and we saw you. You were just as precious as could be and I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. The 20 minutes that we were in there I don’t think that my eyes moved from the TV screen where you were. I didn’t want to blink and miss one moment of your sweet little face. I teared up seeing that little heart flutter. You fell asleep during the ultrasound and the tec had me cough really deep to wake you up. You turned over to your little belly and had your face down. The tec got a really cute picture of you that I carry around in my purse now. Your little heart was beating at 167 beats a minute and it sounded like a train, such a strong heartbeat. I long for the day that I get to hold you in my arms. To stroke your little cheek, see those little toes, see that precious smile. The doctor says that you are just perfect, and I know that you are. Everything about you is just perfect, the way God designed you.

I can’t wait for you to meet your daddy and big sister. They make our family so wonderful and I just can’t wait for you to be a part of it. Your daddy leans down to my belly most evenings and tells you that he loves you and talks to you. If you are anything like your daddy or sister you will sure love music. Abigail would dance from the time she was in the womb when she heard that music. I look forward in this next month or so to feel you move. I pray for you every precious child. We have about 6 more months to ourselves, just us. In the mean time I will talk to you on our car rides, play your classical music for you with the belly earphones at, and I will eat those little cheeseburgers from McDonalds that you are making me crave. I love you Junebug!

Mommy

Same sweet features

So I have always thought that I had a very photogenic child.  For mother's day while I was pregnant, Jason got me a 4-d ultra sound to get pictures of Abigail prior to birth.  I remember signing a release while I was there that they had the rights to the photos and could use them for promotional adds and advertisements.  Today when we went for our 12 week doctor's appointment for June bug we were sitting in the waiting room waiting on the ultra sound tech, I picked up the Kids' directory.  Turned to page 7 and looked at the add for the Fetal Photography center and low and behold there was my sweet little Abigail, picture #3.  I looked at it and said, "Jason look at that picture" and he said "that's Abigail!!!"  She took great pictures even before she was born.  Love her so much and it amazes me how she still has those same sweet features. 



December edition of the kids' directory, Abbyroo is the 3rd picture over. 



Abbyroo's 4-d Ultrasound picture

Abbyroo today :)