Stir Crazy

Since we got home last Sunday I have only stepped out of the house a couple of times. Thanks to Mom I was able to get my hair cut last Tuesday and got out for one hour. The girls have been so yucky I haven't dared step out for fear of contaminating some other poor soul! When we woke up yesterday they were both pretty chipper so we decided to go to lunch with my parents and sister. My parents are leaving today for a month long job my dad has in AZ so I really wanted to see them before they left. The girls still had a bit of a runny nose (though nothing like the faucets they had earlier this week) and a cough that I suspect will last for days more to come! So I figured it would be safe to venture out for a few hours. All was well until lunch was wrapping up and Kayla started to get cold and really whiny again. I told my sister that I thought she was stuck on whine mode from being sick for so long and that it was time to whip her back into shape (not literally of course!) I was so annoyed by her mood thinking she was just tired for her nap and still a little weak until we got home and I felt her. She was burning up with a fever so I took her temperature. It was 103.5 so the mother in me started to panic a bit. It was 3:30 pm on a Friday and after trying to get ahold of any doctor I could I finally gave up and got an appointment at the after hours urgent care clinic.

But then a new panic set in when I started to think about taking little Lilah to that germ infested place. Jer is out of town, my parents were on their way out of town, and Jer's parents were at the lot. Thankfully Nikki came to the rescue. I dropped Lilah off at her house and we were off to the doctor. By the time we got there Kayla was miserable. When they took her temperature it said 105.7 and I really started to panic. The nurse said since it was a rectal temp that you can subtract about one degree off of that, but still panic set it! The doctor checked her out and really couldn't find anything wrong. He said she had a tiny bit of red around the edge of her eardrum but not enough of anything to be causing such a high temp. He said it may be from a bladder infection (Kayla had said once that her bum hurt) so he gave her an antibiotic that would take care of any ear or bladder issue and sent us home.

So off we were to the pharmacy and to pick up Lilah Cougar. Thankfully, Lilah had slept in her car seat the whole time so Nik and Clint didn't have a screaming hungry new born on their hands. Thanks Nik!! Then we came home. By then it was about 8 pm and Neeley was crying, Kayla was crying and Lilah was ready to eat. I was in break down mode (why is it that every time stuff like this happens Jer is out of town?) and Jer calls on the phone. He is the guest speaker at an event in Las Vegas today but was ready to hop on the next plane home he was so worried. I assured him that we would be fine once I got everyone settled in for the night and not to make any decisions when all 4 of his girls were crying on the other line.

Dad and Clint came and gave Kayla a blessing which was a great comfort! Then I quickly got the girls in bed and settled down to feed Lilah. Then it was straight to bed for me because I wasn't sure how much sleep I was going to get. I got up at midnight to check on Kayla and she was fever free! Not just fever down but temp all the way back to normal. I checked it four times before I actually believed the thermometer.

Talk about being thankful! Thankful for family, doctors, medicine, the priesthood and a little sleep! Kayla slept through the night. I was so tired though, I woke up out of a dead sleep and tried to think of the last time I fed Lilah was. I figured it had been over 3 hours so I better wake her up to feed her. AFTER I woke her up I realized it had only been a little over an hour since she ate last, but since she was awake I was stuck feeding her again. I think I must be going crazy!

So that brings us to today. Home all day again with the girls. I figure it is a waste to even get dressed. But now I am going crazy. I keep thinking I can just keep myself busy and the day will go fast but I am too tired to do much. I have tried watching the food channel (seems like it is the only good thing on Saturdays) but every show is making some version of chili for the superbowl parties. (If you want to know what special ingredient they all add, just ask me!)

They are both doing well right now so I am glad for that. We'll see how the day progresses. I am thinking maybe I will make some of my mom's rolls for a first time. I usually stay away with anything that has yeast in it, but why not add to the frustration!

Sick Days!

Runny noses, fever, crying, Neeley, whining, tissues, tissues, runny noses, tissues, Kayla, raw noses, hand washing, jammie days, runny noses, staying home, etc...

This picture sums it all up!

Break time!

Neeley is off to school, Kayla is in bed (not asleep yet, still protesting nap time) and Lilah is just fed and now in dreamland.  I am waiting for my cocomotion to finish mixing my hot chocolate.  I decided that when you work it is law that you get two fifteen minute breaks a day so I try to do the same.  Right now the laundry is screaming to be done, the kids toys are strewn about, what to have for dinner is on my mind and I have only a limited amount of time before it is time to boob the baby again and go pick up Nells at school.  BUT, I am now forcing myself to have some me time.  Most days I say, oh, I'll just pick these things up really quick, put in a load of wash and start mixing up something for dinner (well, no, nix the dinner thing because I haven't been cooking much lately.) and before I know it my me time is flown by and I didn't take it.  Today, I am taking it!

So off I go to drink my hot chocolate, watch part of some lifetime show and deliver a cup to Jer who is working in the basement.  Maybe I can convince him to take a break too!  Who knows?

Grandparents!

We are all excited to see Jer come back home but we will be sad to see Grandma and Grandpa leave!  It has been so nice to have them here to help while Daddy is away.  The girls have loved every minute of playing make believe with them and it has been nice for them to get a little extra attention while I have been busy with "Lilah Cougar"  (not sure where she came up with this nick name but Neeley likes to call Lilah that!).  I have also loved having the support and company!  It is so nice to have an adult around for conversation and it has been nice not to be home alone at nights!  Even though this is number 32 for them they still love them all and make room in their hearts for each of them!  We love you G & G!

My first real bath all by myself!  I just sat their calmly and enjoyed the warmth!  I am such a mellow little thing!

Getting Sleep.

Lilah has been home for exactly one week now.  She really is a good baby so far.  She had a rough night the second night home where she got up every hour but since then she has been great.  I wake her up 2 times a night and then she sleeps, well, like a baby!  When I went in to get her today she looked so cute I had to do a photo shoot.  Kayla came to have a peak too!

Yesterday Neeley wanted to take some pictures to show her class at school.  So we put their matching shirts on and did a little photo shoot then too.  I can't help but laugh at how red faced Lilah is from screaming and how cheesy Nell's grin is.  It reminds me of the theatre symbol with the happy and sad face.  

Nee Nee and LaLa have been so cute with her.  It is like Christmas morning every morning for Neeley.  The first thing she asks is, "Where's Lilah?"  Today her umbilical cord finally fell off.  Neeley has been anxiously waiting for this event because I told her that Lilah could have a real bath when this happened.  She was so excited to have a bath with her so all four of us girls got in the tub together.  It is really fun to see the girls get so excited about the baby.  I had such a wonderful childhood with my sisters.  There is just something about sisterhood!

We have been so blessed to have family around us.  I have never had so many yummy meals.  Between the ward and my sister in laws we have had a dinner every night since we came home.  In fact tonight was the first night we had to make dinner.  We still get one last dinner tomorrow night from Jennie which we will treasure as our last.  I have felt a little guilty accepting so many dinners but it sure has been nice.  I have been talking to the girls a lot about service lately.  Each time we have had a dinner, some babysitting or someone has shoveled our driveway I have been able to point out this act of service.  What a wonderful bunch of examples to draw from!  Neeley and Kayla have gotten so used to dinners they keep asking, whose bringing dinner tonight!  All of the leftovers have been fun too because I haven't had to make lunch.  The only draw back is all of the desserts!  If I keep eating all of them, I'll never get this baby weight off.

My parents have been staying here with me since Jer left on the cruise on Wednesday.  It has been so fun to have them here.  The girls get the added attention they need and I get the help and support I need.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Just in case it's been a while since you've experienced a newborn, here are a few of my favorite things:

The way she nuzzles up to my neck when I hold her.  The cute little squeaks.  Hiccups.  Baby size sneezes, 3 or 4 in a row.  Peace.  Sleeping so quiet you have to make sure they are alive.  Sleeping so loudly you have to turn off the monitor.  The way she wraps her little fist around my finger.  The way they put their arms up stiff in the air with this helpless cry when you take their cloths off.  Baby acne. Miniature toes and fingers.  The cry where they say, "la, la, la".  And lastly, how sweet they smell after a bath!

Baby hungry yet?

My Day Old Child

My day old child lay in my arms

with my lips against her ear

I whispered softly, "How I wish, I wish that you could hear;

"I've a hundred wonderful things to say

(A tiny cough and a nod)

Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow

so I can tell you about God."

My day old baby's mouth was still

and my words only tickled her ear.

but a kind of light passed through her eyes, 

and I saw this thought appear.

"How I wish I had a voice and words;

I've a hundred things to say.

Before I forget I'd tell you of God - 

I left Him yesterday."

- Carol Lynn Pearson

She's here!

Born January 2, 2008

7 lb. 20 inches

10:15 p.m.

After a long day of waiting the delivery was a breeze.  In fact the doctor kept telling me not to push and she just slipped right out!  Other than those dreaded cramps each time I nurse, I really don't even feel like I had a baby.  I was able to get a really good night sleep last night with just a few feeding interruptions which was nice.

Neeley is just elated to have her here.  She is already a great big sister giving lots of loves, kisses and has been a big help already.  Kayla really likes her too but needs to learn to be soft with her.  When they came to see her in the hospital, Neeley was into the baby and Kayla was into pushing the nurses button and taking "rides" on the bed!

Lilah is a pretty little girl.  She really had no "war" wounds and came out looking just perfect!  Her little fuzzy hair is dark just like Neeley and Kayla's was.  She is really a quiet baby so far (the key word here is so far) and sounds like a little kitty with her noises!

We got home this morning and have made it through a feeding already.  Now she is sleeping soundly in her bed and the girls are building forts with the couch cushions.

When the doctor came to see me today I told him I needed him to prescribe two things, the room service menu from the hospital and the nurses call button.  The hospital has a new eating plan where you just choose whatever you want from a lengthly room service menu and can order meals or snacks whenever you want.  It was pretty nice!  And that nurses button is just like round the clock maid service!  Too bad we can't take these things home with us.  It sure would make things much easier!

Well, I better get some lunch before I have to boob this baby again

Easy Baking!

Neeley's grand wish from Santa this year was an Easy Bake oven! Which by the way is not so easy when you have a 2 year old who wants to join in as much as a 4 year old. She kept trying to stick stuff in the oven while Neeley and I were mixing!


Our first gourmet creations were some pink my little pony cookies with white icing.  We mixed them up and then stuck them in the EASY bake oven.  Well it turns out that it was not as easy as I thought it would be.  You see, Santa (I love having someone to blame) forgot to put a bulb in the oven!  So our first attempt at EASY bake cookies actually got cooked in our toaster oven instead!  But neither Neeley nor Kayla seemed to mind since they got to eat the finished product!  I think we have some future chefs in the family!