When I burp Elijah he is so tall I can barley do it. His chin is way above my shoulder and he stands with his legs straight. So tonight, Andy and I pulled Eli to a sitting position and he pretty much straightens his legs to stand. Of course we're not rushing him or anything-but we got it on video!
Monday, August 31, 2009
It's a long one...it's one of those just for the record type of posts
No one should have to see their newborn baby look like this.
But I did.
It was 16 days and nights before Eli got to be home in his bassinet with us.
It was 9 days before I slept in the same room as my newborn.
Everyone asked when I was going to be discharged from the hospital. They asked "is he staying in your room with you yet?" I said "I was discharged 2 days after he was born. I'm staying in HIS room." He was in room H39.
I cried when my sister left on day 2 of this fiasco.
I cried in the car to and from the hospital-every time. Empty car seat and the anxiety of what could have happened when I wasn't there.
I cried when I tried to call my sister. Even during good moments-I couldn't do it.
I cried when they didn't get the spinal fluid the first time...and the 2nd time. (I may have cried with happiness that they got it the 3rd time).
I cried hard with Andy reading aloud the first blog entry my sister wrote, and many after. (to read click here )
I cried with fear that he wouldn't know us as his parents. It was like getting babysitters right away when we would leave for an hour.
I cried when I asked the doctors if Eli was going to die and there was a pause and nobody answered me. (Of course he wasn't going to, but they had no clue what was going on-and how scary of a response).
I cried when I would log onto facebook and friends of my sister that I did not even know or friends/family that I have not talked to in a while showed support.
I cried when they gave us a hard time about staying over night the first night Eli was in the ICU.
I cried when I was hooking up the breast pump in the pumping room of the ICU-instead of breastfeeding in bed at home.
I cried when I tried to listen to music-no matter the song, but specifically "A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion and "Say Hey (I love you)" by Michael Franti and "Beautiful Boy" By Celine Dion.
I cried the first night Andy didn't stay at the hospital with me.
I cried when I missed Bailee and felt like she didn't know how much I still loved her.
I cried when I told Eli about all his Aunts and Uncles and cousins-ALL of them.
I cried after visits with people because I didn't want to sit in the waiting room and talk, I wanted to be by Eli...yet I appreciated the visit. I cried because that was confusing and people who traveled far like my brother, could not get in to see him.
I cried when Eli got the nurse who wouldn't let me breastfeed and wouldn't fight for it with the doctors.
I cried when I downloaded my first 100 pictures of Eli and they allll had medical equipment in them.
I cried when we got the nurse who rushed around and came in every beep of the monitor when other nurses had convinced us that those first beeps were ok.
I cried when they gave him his first bath (at Froedtert prior to Children's) without telling us.
I cried when one doctor (on call in the middle of the night) told us that we could have Elijah's belly button surgically fixed (for cosmetic reasons) when we were worried about a new rash and had no concerns with his belly button. She also forced me to play with a teddy bear in front of Eli to cheer me up.
I cried when I was reading books to my little guy in the ICU instead of in our new glider.
I cried when Eli cried during his car seat test.
I cried when he got new IV's (multiple in both hands, one in the foot/ankle, and one in the belly button).
I cried when I felt bad worrying about finances and medical bills.
I cried one night when the nurses didn't come in the room as soon as I wanted them to and I cried when I complained to the nurse manager about it.
I cried when they wanted to give him a new IV the night before he was supposed to leave-forced the nurse to call the doctors in the middle of the night and had Andy drive to the hospital at midnight as well to fight for no new IV.
I cried when they moved Eli from one room to another further away from the nurses station.
I cried when I realized they moved Eli to another room and didn't move his picture his cousin Charley drew.
I cried when I thought about how many people loved him and never met him.
I cried when I got heartfelt text messages from friends who didn't want to bother me but wanted to show support.
Andy and I cried a lot. Both of us, usually at different times. As one was weak, the other was strong. It was amazing how our relationship worked during this hard time. The 2 weeks after Eli was born was probably the most time I have ever spent with Andy. We hardly left each other's side... I remember one specific moment where Andy went to get breakfast and I was pumping in our little parenting room. I couldn't call him because we couldn't use the phone in that room and it was so hard to be away from him-he was my rock. At certain points I would look at Andy and think..."I'm not the only one going through this. He is Elijah's parent too". Being the Dad during pregnancy does not leave you many duties. I know this was hard for Andy. There was only so much carrying of heavy objects and rubbing of my feet that he could do. I knew he was looking forward to physically having that child to help me out with being a parent, and when Eli was in the hospital, I would sometimes look at Andy and realize how hard it was for him-his real dad duties STILL hadn't started.
When Eli got moved to the ICU at Children's Hospital, the nurses had us get involved in his care. It was awesome. Whenever they asked us to change diapers-I always had Andy do it. Not because I didn't want to, but because I wanted Andy to get his hands on the little guy. (He didn't get to hold Eli for the first day).
My mom also came to visit a few times. I know she was acting very strong too. She just showed up one day-left work early and drove an hour (maybe even through rush hour) and put on the yellow gown and blue gloves-yeah she wanted to see Elijah but I know she also was just supporting me. She was prepared to give the nurses and doctors a hard time if they weren't right there to help us. She often brought food or a little something for Eli and understood when I just needed a moment or couldn't concentrate on outside stuff or didn't ask her how her day was.
And then there were my friends. One of my closest-Peggy who was DYING to get her hands on little Eli and could hardly believe he existed since she couldn't see him. I know Peggy and I know it was hurting her that she couldn't talk to me whenever she wanted...knowing she had to give me space when I was busy or emotional. I could hear it in her voice too when I did talk to her. She was so supportive of me during my pregnancy and I knew she would be a big part of our baby's life when he/she arrived...but this was unexpected-that she wouldn't be able to see the baby right away! She took me out for ice cream, met me for lunch if I needed it, organized lunches for me from co-workers and did get to be one of the first to hold Eli when the time was right. My other closest friend Melissa made a special trip and just spent time with Andy and I eating breakfast. How cool that she made that effort when she couldn't even see Eli. She brought along lots of treats for us, army shoes for Eli and even something for Bailee. And then there were my coworkers. They fed Andy and I. Every day there was a different yummy meal. This provided us time out of the medical environment and kept us strong enough to get through this time. So appreciated.
And then there was baby Eli. He had his ups and downs. And he was SO tiny-but he fought. He was such a fighter. I'll never forget a text I got from my friend Colleen who said "We are so proud of you and you're little soldier." And I thought DAMN RIGHT-he IS a soldier. That was another crying moment. Such a small body who went through so much. Too much.
But there were so many good moments too-and I'm not going to list them all. But there now is a HUGE spot in my heart for the nurses and doctors of Children's Hospital. They were SO awesome. I can't believe it-because I work with doctors and nurses in my job and the men and women who took care of Eli were soooo special to Andy and I. Andy made sure to remember each nurses name and I made sure to say thank you every time we left Eli's bedside. Some were more personal than others-but most of them were not afraid to tell us "This is normal" or "yeah this was unexpected" or even to look up a lab value for us right away. They would call me in the middle of the night to tell me Eli was ready to eat. They would be there in a heartbeat but they wouldn't hover if Andy and I needed a minute. Being away from Eli was anxiety filled time. Every time we were on our way back to the hospital after a short stint away we would get nervous that if we rounded the corner Eli might be back on oxygen or might be getting an x-ray for this or that. The nurses were always there to explain everything to us. And if a doctor left the room and we looked perplexed, they were RIGHT there to review what was talked about and what was going to happen. They all had different swaddling styles but all held Eli with care and love. Every time we walked up to Eli's room they would update us-did he poop, did he cry, did he have a gas smile etc. One particular doctor captured Andy's and my attention. He was the nicest and calmest man and man did he know his stuff. Every morning we made sure we were there as he "rounded" on Eli and answered all of our questions. This was the most important part of our day as this was when all our fears were put to rest. I think it's safe to say that Dr. Sampath saved our little son. Andy and I would feel very anxious and SURE that something was wrong and he was there to ease it all and we walked away laughing each time-knowing that everything was going to be ok...just from talking to this man. Hooray for Children's Hospital-we cannot say enough about this staff of people who truly make miracles happen.
Andy and I still cannot believe that we had a child that had to be in the ICU. We still cannot believe we didn't have a "text book" version of labor and delivery. I feel like things weren't fair. I feel like I didn't get the full experience of being a new mommy with a new baby. And that might be true-but I am trying to look at it like our experience was just different.
We grew up very fast during those first few weeks. We had to make decisions, worry about finances, do lots of explaining, sign papers, ask questions...about our brand new son that nobody EVER thinks they will have to. In addition to just plain loving him up-and that is usually enough for new parents right!? Frequently we thought we should ask for a Chaplin, but I think Andy and I did our fair share of praying on our own. That in combination with everyone else who was pulling for us-Eli made it through and he is just PERFECT.
We shouldn't have gone through that. But we did. We made it. And now we have a very healthy little boy on our hands. At one point I looked at Andy and said "Do you think this is a bad dream?". I don't remember his answer. No matter how hard that time was, I'm so glad it wasn't. It has taken me weeks to type this...and yes i cried the whole time. . It's amazing what the human body can do-no matter how small. And yes, it's true what all mom's say-I would do it again.
But I did.
It was 16 days and nights before Eli got to be home in his bassinet with us.
It was 9 days before I slept in the same room as my newborn.
Everyone asked when I was going to be discharged from the hospital. They asked "is he staying in your room with you yet?" I said "I was discharged 2 days after he was born. I'm staying in HIS room." He was in room H39.
I cried when my sister left on day 2 of this fiasco.
I cried in the car to and from the hospital-every time. Empty car seat and the anxiety of what could have happened when I wasn't there.
I cried when I tried to call my sister. Even during good moments-I couldn't do it.
I cried when they didn't get the spinal fluid the first time...and the 2nd time. (I may have cried with happiness that they got it the 3rd time).
I cried hard with Andy reading aloud the first blog entry my sister wrote, and many after. (to read click here )
I cried with fear that he wouldn't know us as his parents. It was like getting babysitters right away when we would leave for an hour.
I cried when I asked the doctors if Eli was going to die and there was a pause and nobody answered me. (Of course he wasn't going to, but they had no clue what was going on-and how scary of a response).
I cried when I would log onto facebook and friends of my sister that I did not even know or friends/family that I have not talked to in a while showed support.
I cried when they gave us a hard time about staying over night the first night Eli was in the ICU.
I cried when I was hooking up the breast pump in the pumping room of the ICU-instead of breastfeeding in bed at home.
I cried when I tried to listen to music-no matter the song, but specifically "A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion and "Say Hey (I love you)" by Michael Franti and "Beautiful Boy" By Celine Dion.
I cried the first night Andy didn't stay at the hospital with me.
I cried when I missed Bailee and felt like she didn't know how much I still loved her.
I cried when I told Eli about all his Aunts and Uncles and cousins-ALL of them.
I cried after visits with people because I didn't want to sit in the waiting room and talk, I wanted to be by Eli...yet I appreciated the visit. I cried because that was confusing and people who traveled far like my brother, could not get in to see him.
I cried when Eli got the nurse who wouldn't let me breastfeed and wouldn't fight for it with the doctors.
I cried when I downloaded my first 100 pictures of Eli and they allll had medical equipment in them.
I cried when we got the nurse who rushed around and came in every beep of the monitor when other nurses had convinced us that those first beeps were ok.
I cried when they gave him his first bath (at Froedtert prior to Children's) without telling us.
I cried when one doctor (on call in the middle of the night) told us that we could have Elijah's belly button surgically fixed (for cosmetic reasons) when we were worried about a new rash and had no concerns with his belly button. She also forced me to play with a teddy bear in front of Eli to cheer me up.
I cried when I was reading books to my little guy in the ICU instead of in our new glider.
I cried when Eli cried during his car seat test.
I cried when he got new IV's (multiple in both hands, one in the foot/ankle, and one in the belly button).
I cried when I felt bad worrying about finances and medical bills.
I cried one night when the nurses didn't come in the room as soon as I wanted them to and I cried when I complained to the nurse manager about it.
I cried when they wanted to give him a new IV the night before he was supposed to leave-forced the nurse to call the doctors in the middle of the night and had Andy drive to the hospital at midnight as well to fight for no new IV.
I cried when they moved Eli from one room to another further away from the nurses station.
I cried when I realized they moved Eli to another room and didn't move his picture his cousin Charley drew.
I cried when I thought about how many people loved him and never met him.
I cried when I got heartfelt text messages from friends who didn't want to bother me but wanted to show support.
Andy and I cried a lot. Both of us, usually at different times. As one was weak, the other was strong. It was amazing how our relationship worked during this hard time. The 2 weeks after Eli was born was probably the most time I have ever spent with Andy. We hardly left each other's side... I remember one specific moment where Andy went to get breakfast and I was pumping in our little parenting room. I couldn't call him because we couldn't use the phone in that room and it was so hard to be away from him-he was my rock. At certain points I would look at Andy and think..."I'm not the only one going through this. He is Elijah's parent too". Being the Dad during pregnancy does not leave you many duties. I know this was hard for Andy. There was only so much carrying of heavy objects and rubbing of my feet that he could do. I knew he was looking forward to physically having that child to help me out with being a parent, and when Eli was in the hospital, I would sometimes look at Andy and realize how hard it was for him-his real dad duties STILL hadn't started.
When Eli got moved to the ICU at Children's Hospital, the nurses had us get involved in his care. It was awesome. Whenever they asked us to change diapers-I always had Andy do it. Not because I didn't want to, but because I wanted Andy to get his hands on the little guy. (He didn't get to hold Eli for the first day).My mom also came to visit a few times. I know she was acting very strong too. She just showed up one day-left work early and drove an hour (maybe even through rush hour) and put on the yellow gown and blue gloves-yeah she wanted to see Elijah but I know she also was just supporting me. She was prepared to give the nurses and doctors a hard time if they weren't right there to help us. She often brought food or a little something for Eli and understood when I just needed a moment or couldn't concentrate on outside stuff or didn't ask her how her day was.
And then there were my friends. One of my closest-Peggy who was DYING to get her hands on little Eli and could hardly believe he existed since she couldn't see him. I know Peggy and I know it was hurting her that she couldn't talk to me whenever she wanted...knowing she had to give me space when I was busy or emotional. I could hear it in her voice too when I did talk to her. She was so supportive of me during my pregnancy and I knew she would be a big part of our baby's life when he/she arrived...but this was unexpected-that she wouldn't be able to see the baby right away! She took me out for ice cream, met me for lunch if I needed it, organized lunches for me from co-workers and did get to be one of the first to hold Eli when the time was right. My other closest friend Melissa made a special trip and just spent time with Andy and I eating breakfast. How cool that she made that effort when she couldn't even see Eli. She brought along lots of treats for us, army shoes for Eli and even something for Bailee. And then there were my coworkers. They fed Andy and I. Every day there was a different yummy meal. This provided us time out of the medical environment and kept us strong enough to get through this time. So appreciated.
And then there was baby Eli. He had his ups and downs. And he was SO tiny-but he fought. He was such a fighter. I'll never forget a text I got from my friend Colleen who said "We are so proud of you and you're little soldier." And I thought DAMN RIGHT-he IS a soldier. That was another crying moment. Such a small body who went through so much. Too much.
But there were so many good moments too-and I'm not going to list them all. But there now is a HUGE spot in my heart for the nurses and doctors of Children's Hospital. They were SO awesome. I can't believe it-because I work with doctors and nurses in my job and the men and women who took care of Eli were soooo special to Andy and I. Andy made sure to remember each nurses name and I made sure to say thank you every time we left Eli's bedside. Some were more personal than others-but most of them were not afraid to tell us "This is normal" or "yeah this was unexpected" or even to look up a lab value for us right away. They would call me in the middle of the night to tell me Eli was ready to eat. They would be there in a heartbeat but they wouldn't hover if Andy and I needed a minute. Being away from Eli was anxiety filled time. Every time we were on our way back to the hospital after a short stint away we would get nervous that if we rounded the corner Eli might be back on oxygen or might be getting an x-ray for this or that. The nurses were always there to explain everything to us. And if a doctor left the room and we looked perplexed, they were RIGHT there to review what was talked about and what was going to happen. They all had different swaddling styles but all held Eli with care and love. Every time we walked up to Eli's room they would update us-did he poop, did he cry, did he have a gas smile etc. One particular doctor captured Andy's and my attention. He was the nicest and calmest man and man did he know his stuff. Every morning we made sure we were there as he "rounded" on Eli and answered all of our questions. This was the most important part of our day as this was when all our fears were put to rest. I think it's safe to say that Dr. Sampath saved our little son. Andy and I would feel very anxious and SURE that something was wrong and he was there to ease it all and we walked away laughing each time-knowing that everything was going to be ok...just from talking to this man. Hooray for Children's Hospital-we cannot say enough about this staff of people who truly make miracles happen.
Andy and I still cannot believe that we had a child that had to be in the ICU. We still cannot believe we didn't have a "text book" version of labor and delivery. I feel like things weren't fair. I feel like I didn't get the full experience of being a new mommy with a new baby. And that might be true-but I am trying to look at it like our experience was just different.
We grew up very fast during those first few weeks. We had to make decisions, worry about finances, do lots of explaining, sign papers, ask questions...about our brand new son that nobody EVER thinks they will have to. In addition to just plain loving him up-and that is usually enough for new parents right!? Frequently we thought we should ask for a Chaplin, but I think Andy and I did our fair share of praying on our own. That in combination with everyone else who was pulling for us-Eli made it through and he is just PERFECT.
We shouldn't have gone through that. But we did. We made it. And now we have a very healthy little boy on our hands. At one point I looked at Andy and said "Do you think this is a bad dream?". I don't remember his answer. No matter how hard that time was, I'm so glad it wasn't. It has taken me weeks to type this...and yes i cried the whole time. . It's amazing what the human body can do-no matter how small. And yes, it's true what all mom's say-I would do it again.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Swimmer
They don't make swim diapers small enough for newborns! That is probably because you are not supposed to put a baby in a pool right? Well...we did anyways. We couldn't resist. There was a shaded area of the pool, we stuck a hat and sunglasses on the little fellow and swayed him in the water. HE FELL ASLEEP!!!
My Update (From Eli)
Hi World!
Today was my 2 month doctor appointment! I'm actually going to be 10 weeks tomorrow but today was my first round of shots! I did so well. Right before the nurses came in to do them the doctor leaned over and told me all about them and what to expect. I love that he gave me that personal attention and talked to me, the patient instead of just to my parents! He also said that I have really good head control and everything is looking just fine. Daddy was very helpful during the shots but mom sat in the corner and put her face in my blanket. (Whatever mom! Rolling my eyes). The nurses did the shots quick and I only gave out a little scream. Then they gave me 2 blue band aids, one for each leg and I love those!
When mom got home she put my Milwaukee Brewer's jammies on and I took a nap in my crib! I was very content today and not fussy. I thought that might impress mom.
When Dad came home from work today he put me in the bumbo chair. Here is a picture.
I'm still pretty small for it, but it fits me really well right now because it gives me some neck/head support. Here are the rest of the stats the doctor gave me.
Height: 22 1/2 inches (18 1/2 inches at birth) I am in the 25th percentile!
Weight: 9 lbs 6.5 oz (5 lbs 4 oz at birth) I am in the 5th percentile!
Head Circumference: Not sure on actual amount, but I am in the 5-10th percentile!
Mom seemed worried about my weight, being in the 5th %, you know...being a dietitian and all. My dad said "He's only 2 months old!" but it was explained to him that it's not a comparison of age, but tells us that if I were in a room with 100 babies, there would only be 5 smaller. The doctor had to reassure my mom that since I was small at birth it seems right to him. He graphed out my weights and it makes a nice curve meaning I have been gaining a good amount of weight each time. I have gained over 4 lbs since birth and I eat realllllly good! I may hit a growth spurt in the next year at some point and catch up. But mom is happy I get to continue to wear my newborn outfits a few more times. Dad was not concerned, he's so laid back!
Here is a picture to compare me now with me when I was born.
Well that's pretty much all for now, I'll write again in 2 more months after my next appointment! Love, Elijah
Today was my 2 month doctor appointment! I'm actually going to be 10 weeks tomorrow but today was my first round of shots! I did so well. Right before the nurses came in to do them the doctor leaned over and told me all about them and what to expect. I love that he gave me that personal attention and talked to me, the patient instead of just to my parents! He also said that I have really good head control and everything is looking just fine. Daddy was very helpful during the shots but mom sat in the corner and put her face in my blanket. (Whatever mom! Rolling my eyes). The nurses did the shots quick and I only gave out a little scream. Then they gave me 2 blue band aids, one for each leg and I love those!
When mom got home she put my Milwaukee Brewer's jammies on and I took a nap in my crib! I was very content today and not fussy. I thought that might impress mom.
When Dad came home from work today he put me in the bumbo chair. Here is a picture.
I'm still pretty small for it, but it fits me really well right now because it gives me some neck/head support. Here are the rest of the stats the doctor gave me.Height: 22 1/2 inches (18 1/2 inches at birth) I am in the 25th percentile!
Weight: 9 lbs 6.5 oz (5 lbs 4 oz at birth) I am in the 5th percentile!
Head Circumference: Not sure on actual amount, but I am in the 5-10th percentile!
Mom seemed worried about my weight, being in the 5th %, you know...being a dietitian and all. My dad said "He's only 2 months old!" but it was explained to him that it's not a comparison of age, but tells us that if I were in a room with 100 babies, there would only be 5 smaller. The doctor had to reassure my mom that since I was small at birth it seems right to him. He graphed out my weights and it makes a nice curve meaning I have been gaining a good amount of weight each time. I have gained over 4 lbs since birth and I eat realllllly good! I may hit a growth spurt in the next year at some point and catch up. But mom is happy I get to continue to wear my newborn outfits a few more times. Dad was not concerned, he's so laid back!
Here is a picture to compare me now with me when I was born.
Well that's pretty much all for now, I'll write again in 2 more months after my next appointment! Love, Elijah
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
How many Roeder's does it take for a Pool Party?
Now that I figured out how to post videos-I HAVE to share this.
Here is another classic home video. This is from our trip to Tennessee. Now remember when you watch this-not everyone is in the pool. There are even more Roeder's!
But you can see how much fun this can be (and how crazy). You really have to look out for yourself when in the pool or you could get hurt.
And yes mom, that is me having a beer! I had to time my 1 beer/night and my jumping in the pool with Eli's feeding. I couldn't go in the pool right before he needed to eat because then I'd be all wet sitting on the furniture inside. And I could only have a beer right after he ate too-so that is why I am not in the pool. Often times I was in the pool just as everyone else was getting out or when everyone else is eating lunch etc.
Anyways, enjoy watching the Roeder Tennessee Trip 2009! **Just a side note-when Andy focuses on "Mr. Gabe"-take notice that he is only 2 1/2 years old and swimming (with a life vest) in 9 feet of water! Go GABERS!
Here is another classic home video. This is from our trip to Tennessee. Now remember when you watch this-not everyone is in the pool. There are even more Roeder's!
But you can see how much fun this can be (and how crazy). You really have to look out for yourself when in the pool or you could get hurt.
And yes mom, that is me having a beer! I had to time my 1 beer/night and my jumping in the pool with Eli's feeding. I couldn't go in the pool right before he needed to eat because then I'd be all wet sitting on the furniture inside. And I could only have a beer right after he ate too-so that is why I am not in the pool. Often times I was in the pool just as everyone else was getting out or when everyone else is eating lunch etc.
Anyways, enjoy watching the Roeder Tennessee Trip 2009! **Just a side note-when Andy focuses on "Mr. Gabe"-take notice that he is only 2 1/2 years old and swimming (with a life vest) in 9 feet of water! Go GABERS!
Who needs an Eli fix?
Ok- for everyone who is far away-here are a few home videos of the e-bug!
They are not the best quality because we shot them at spur of the moment in dim lighting. In the 2nd one he starts to cry! We are the classic NEW parents and even have another video (that we won't post) that is over 3 minutes long of Eli kicking in his bouncy seat. (if you're THAT bored, let me know and I'll send it to you!). Next time we'll work on quality! Oh yeah and don't tell Andy that I did this-he would kill me. Again-we are the classic NEW parents-trying to get our child to smile.
They are not the best quality because we shot them at spur of the moment in dim lighting. In the 2nd one he starts to cry! We are the classic NEW parents and even have another video (that we won't post) that is over 3 minutes long of Eli kicking in his bouncy seat. (if you're THAT bored, let me know and I'll send it to you!). Next time we'll work on quality! Oh yeah and don't tell Andy that I did this-he would kill me. Again-we are the classic NEW parents-trying to get our child to smile.
Dear Dr. Eagle Scout (aka Greg)
Please help you're curious younger sister. An Eagle Scout ought to know!
Do you know how I can make sure there is no skunk living under our deck? We are scared to let Bailee out in the backyard until we know it is gone!!!
Another thing, Bailee stepped in one of those sticky rat traps (we were using to catch insects/ants behind the tv in the basement). She then used her other paws to try to get it off and finally resorted to licking her paws and now has this sticky residue all over her mouth, feet and body. An emergency vet could not help us via the phone. She had no ideas. The box says to use mineral spirits which the vet told us is paint thinner or something. We can't use that on a dog! We can't get the sticky off her paws. Any ideas of a non-toxic way to remove super sticky stuff????
Love,
Raina
ps-anyone else that reads this that might know-please enlighten me!
Do you know how I can make sure there is no skunk living under our deck? We are scared to let Bailee out in the backyard until we know it is gone!!!
Another thing, Bailee stepped in one of those sticky rat traps (we were using to catch insects/ants behind the tv in the basement). She then used her other paws to try to get it off and finally resorted to licking her paws and now has this sticky residue all over her mouth, feet and body. An emergency vet could not help us via the phone. She had no ideas. The box says to use mineral spirits which the vet told us is paint thinner or something. We can't use that on a dog! We can't get the sticky off her paws. Any ideas of a non-toxic way to remove super sticky stuff????
Love,
Raina
ps-anyone else that reads this that might know-please enlighten me!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
This made my day!
A few prerequisites to understanding the humor in this blog (tho after seeing the pictures, many of you may see it right away).
1. On Sunday I went for a walk with Eli and 2 of my girlfriends-both gals new to motherhood. We got to talking about changing diapers and they couldn't believe that Eli had not, in his 9 weeks of existence, pooped out of his diaper yet. He has had explosive poops while we change his diaper, but never all the way up his back at random times.
2. A lot of my friends are super generous and have given Andy and I the extra diapers they have in the size that their child grew out of. We have used the same brand of diaper ever since we brought Eli home because that is what we had the most of. We appreciate EVERY single free diaper we got, and we will use them-no matter how they work. I won't mention any brands because I am not endorsing any specific type of diaper here on my blog. Last night I put Elijah in a gown for bed-super cuddly. Then we put him in his green swaddle blanket. After feeding him early this am, I changed his diaper and showed Andy I was going to use this other type of diaper-a new brand. It didn't seem very tight, but it was a size 1 which is what he has been wearing. I think this just sets up the story below.
This morning Andy didn't have to leave for work until 10 am. At 8 I asked him if I could go lay down for a 1/2 hour. He had Eli in his swaddle on his lap. About 5 minutes after I laid down I heard Andy yell from the bottom of the stairs "Raina, can you look at something for me?". I had no clue what but of course agreed. When he came up, he turned Eli around so I was looking at the back of him, he was just in his gown at this point-no more swaddle blanket. This is what I saw.
He must have pooped!!!! I asked Andy if it had just happened and touched it, it was dry! Who knows when it happened. The next thing I did was lift up his gown. This is what I saw! 
I don't know how long he was wearing the diaper like that but Andy and I laughed very hard. So I don't blame this on being a new parent (but I could and probably should) but instead on the new type of diaper! Ha ha ha! This made my day. Of course, we changed him into a new clean diaper and fastened it tighter! Eli has now "pooped out" as they say. Another 1st for the little guy.
He must have pooped!!!! I asked Andy if it had just happened and touched it, it was dry! Who knows when it happened. The next thing I did was lift up his gown. This is what I saw! 
I don't know how long he was wearing the diaper like that but Andy and I laughed very hard. So I don't blame this on being a new parent (but I could and probably should) but instead on the new type of diaper! Ha ha ha! This made my day. Of course, we changed him into a new clean diaper and fastened it tighter! Eli has now "pooped out" as they say. Another 1st for the little guy.Monday, August 24, 2009
How the Stink Went Down
How ironic that Bailee's nickname has almost always been "Stinker Pants".
1:15 am Raina wakes with Elijah and feeds him
1:45 Raina calls Andy in for a diaper change and to rock Eli in his arms for a few minutes
1:46 Raina walks back to bedroom and Bailee jumps up to go outside
1:48 Raina lets Bailee (Stinker Pants) out in the back yard. She hears Bailee running on the gravel by the deck
1:49 Bailee runs to the sliding doors to come in, Raina is perplexed-how could she have even peed if she was only on the gravel for 1 minute. Bailee runs right upstairs, head and tail down.
1:51 Raina walks upstairs through the living room and smells it!
1:52 Raina follows Bailee upstairs who is rubbing her face and body on the carpet in our bedroom. The air is hazy and stinks BAD like skunk or burning rubber.
1:53 Raina calls Andy's name to come see if it's a skunk smell, Raina takes Eli.
1:55 Andy gets Bailee out from under the bed and Raina traps Bailee and Andy in the bathroom while she searches the internet on how to treat a dog who got sprayed by a skunk. Eli is in his crib, wide awake but quiet. Door is shut so his room stays "baby fresh".
2:00 Raina opens bathroom door only to give Andy the vinegar to rub on Bailee's coat.
2:15 Raina checks on Eli, still wide awake.
2:16 Raina keeps searching the internet, Andy keeps scrubbing Bailee who he describes as "She's shook".
2:20 Raina calls emergency vet and gets instructions for hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid dishwashing soap
2:30 Raina finishes mixing up the ingredients and gives to Andy.
2:31 Raina goes to check on Eli, still wide awake but quiet.
2:35 Raina sprays Fabreeze throughout the whole house.
3:00 Andy finishes scrubbing Bailee and lets her out to dry off on sheets that were spread on the couch.
3:30 Bailee is dry and runs upstairs to fall asleep.
3:45 Raina takes a shower to get rid of the smell.
4:00 Eli starts crying.
4:05 Raina feeds Eli.
4:30 Raina rocks eli to sleep in her arms.
4:45 Raina rocks herself to sleep :)
ahhhhhhhhhhhh....I won't even tell you what I did minute by minute today to get the stink out of our house! BUT-Bailee smells better than she did before the skunk-it's just the house that smells rotten.
1:15 am Raina wakes with Elijah and feeds him
1:45 Raina calls Andy in for a diaper change and to rock Eli in his arms for a few minutes
1:46 Raina walks back to bedroom and Bailee jumps up to go outside
1:48 Raina lets Bailee (Stinker Pants) out in the back yard. She hears Bailee running on the gravel by the deck
1:49 Bailee runs to the sliding doors to come in, Raina is perplexed-how could she have even peed if she was only on the gravel for 1 minute. Bailee runs right upstairs, head and tail down.
1:51 Raina walks upstairs through the living room and smells it!
1:52 Raina follows Bailee upstairs who is rubbing her face and body on the carpet in our bedroom. The air is hazy and stinks BAD like skunk or burning rubber.
1:53 Raina calls Andy's name to come see if it's a skunk smell, Raina takes Eli.
1:55 Andy gets Bailee out from under the bed and Raina traps Bailee and Andy in the bathroom while she searches the internet on how to treat a dog who got sprayed by a skunk. Eli is in his crib, wide awake but quiet. Door is shut so his room stays "baby fresh".
2:00 Raina opens bathroom door only to give Andy the vinegar to rub on Bailee's coat.
2:15 Raina checks on Eli, still wide awake.
2:16 Raina keeps searching the internet, Andy keeps scrubbing Bailee who he describes as "She's shook".
2:20 Raina calls emergency vet and gets instructions for hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid dishwashing soap
2:30 Raina finishes mixing up the ingredients and gives to Andy.
2:31 Raina goes to check on Eli, still wide awake but quiet.
2:35 Raina sprays Fabreeze throughout the whole house.
3:00 Andy finishes scrubbing Bailee and lets her out to dry off on sheets that were spread on the couch.
3:30 Bailee is dry and runs upstairs to fall asleep.
3:45 Raina takes a shower to get rid of the smell.
4:00 Eli starts crying.
4:05 Raina feeds Eli.
4:30 Raina rocks eli to sleep in her arms.
4:45 Raina rocks herself to sleep :)
ahhhhhhhhhhhh....I won't even tell you what I did minute by minute today to get the stink out of our house! BUT-Bailee smells better than she did before the skunk-it's just the house that smells rotten.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
3 Years
Andy and I were in Tennessee with his family for our 3 year anniversary. We decided to celebrate tonight instead. We bought some steaks (more expensive than we would usually) and grilled out. We also made red potatoes, zucchini and mushrooms and a little later we will do chocolate fondue where we will dip bananas, strawberries, white cake, pineapple, cantaloupe, marshmallows and graham crackers.
We toasted a glass of wine for dinner. I asked what his mountain and valley were (highs and lows) for our 3rd year of marriage. He looked at me and very seriously said "Him" and pointed at Elijah. That is because he is such a joy-so exciting and so lovable-but he gave us such a stressful time when he arrived-like we had to earn him (and a blog to come on this-hard for me to write about, but I mean to).
When I asked him what he hopes for in our 4th year of marriage (I prayed he would not say a 2nd child-too soon! Ha), he said: "health for everyone" and I almost cried. What a serious and mature answer.
Andy turned itunes on and a mix is playing. Right now it is "True Companion" by Marc Cohen. The perfect song for us. I truly believe Andy is the best thing that has happened to me. Even better than Eli because without Andy he would not exist. Andy keeps me calm when I am at my most anxious. He makes me laugh, makes me think, makes me talk and makes me slow down in life. He is simple where I am complicated and has grown up SO much since we met. He is mature now, a family man who I respect, cherish and want to grow old with. I can be myself with him-sing out of tune, dance without being able to touch my toes, bounce ideas off of him, verbalize my disappointments in myself and show my insecurities. I hope I am half as much to him as he is to me. I can tell my family and friends love him-and that just makes me so proud. I still remember moments from our wedding, which I believe was one of the best weddings ever...not only because we all celebrated all night-but because we did make vows that I will not struggle to keep.
LOVE YOU A LOT AND ALL THE TIME "ANNIE".
Here are my favorite pictures of our 3rd year of marriage!
The Choo Choo
The pool in TN
Uncle Matt and Cousin Elliot
Rustin's wedding in Denver
Up north
A brewer game totally pregnant
The Badger hockey game with good friends
The crib!
The beautiful tree in front of our house.
My belly and me
Andy's bday celebration
We toasted a glass of wine for dinner. I asked what his mountain and valley were (highs and lows) for our 3rd year of marriage. He looked at me and very seriously said "Him" and pointed at Elijah. That is because he is such a joy-so exciting and so lovable-but he gave us such a stressful time when he arrived-like we had to earn him (and a blog to come on this-hard for me to write about, but I mean to).
When I asked him what he hopes for in our 4th year of marriage (I prayed he would not say a 2nd child-too soon! Ha), he said: "health for everyone" and I almost cried. What a serious and mature answer.
Andy turned itunes on and a mix is playing. Right now it is "True Companion" by Marc Cohen. The perfect song for us. I truly believe Andy is the best thing that has happened to me. Even better than Eli because without Andy he would not exist. Andy keeps me calm when I am at my most anxious. He makes me laugh, makes me think, makes me talk and makes me slow down in life. He is simple where I am complicated and has grown up SO much since we met. He is mature now, a family man who I respect, cherish and want to grow old with. I can be myself with him-sing out of tune, dance without being able to touch my toes, bounce ideas off of him, verbalize my disappointments in myself and show my insecurities. I hope I am half as much to him as he is to me. I can tell my family and friends love him-and that just makes me so proud. I still remember moments from our wedding, which I believe was one of the best weddings ever...not only because we all celebrated all night-but because we did make vows that I will not struggle to keep.
LOVE YOU A LOT AND ALL THE TIME "ANNIE".
Here are my favorite pictures of our 3rd year of marriage!
The Choo Choo
The pool in TN
Uncle Matt and Cousin Elliot
Rustin's wedding in Denver
Up north
A brewer game totally pregnant
The Badger hockey game with good friends
The crib!
The beautiful tree in front of our house.
My belly and me
Andy's bday celebrationThursday, August 13, 2009
Home Grown
Anyone that really knows me knows that I eat cucumbers every day! I'm so proud of myself for growing these this year. The spoon in the picture shows the size and they probably would have grown a bit bigger but I picked early since we're leaving for vacation tomorrow.
I love to eat them plain, but does anyone have any good recipes using cucumbers?
Oh yeah-this little one was homegrown too!
I love to eat them plain, but does anyone have any good recipes using cucumbers?Oh yeah-this little one was homegrown too!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
To Grandma, Love Eli
Dear Grandma,
Look how my big sis likes to hide (well she thinks she's hiding!). But we can always see her blue leash! Not so sneaky.
Here is a picture of me trying to get used to my new nook. I got it from my "aunt colleen". I like to use this when mom takes me shopping and all the old ladies oogle over me. It tells them what I really think. 
And here I am wearing the cute hat you bought for me at the garage sale. 
This is my girlfriend Lily. They call her the bird, though I don't know why-she is a looker! 
And mommy has been trying to read to me more often! I love books-isn't my mom a crazy dresser? My outfits are much cuter than hers.
And oh boy! When Daddy is home watching tv on the floor next to me, he lets me lay on my tummy. And oh how I love it!!!
And here is the last picture for you. Mom says it shows how much I've grown. I'm still wearing all my newborn clothes-some are roomier than others. But look at these jammies! My hands/wrists are popping out!!! 
Well that's all for today Grandma! Hope you have a better day and I can't wait to see you! We can do pat-a-cake more and more. Love, Eli aka Bubis aka goobis aka sumo aka burrito
Mama said you might need a "pick-me-up" today, although I am not sure what that is yet. I'm still young-but she said no matter what, I am the one who could accomplish this! So here I am. I wanted to tell you all about what I've been doing lately. She said this will make you most happy! I will try to use pictures, because I don't know that many words.
I loved coming to see your house. The fireworks were awesome and I loved going to Harpoon Willies.
Don't worry Grandma, all of your secrets are safe with me! (For now, but if I'm anything like my cousin Charley, I will be telling what is in each xmas present that I help wrap!)
Don't worry Grandma, all of your secrets are safe with me! (For now, but if I'm anything like my cousin Charley, I will be telling what is in each xmas present that I help wrap!)
Look how my big sis likes to hide (well she thinks she's hiding!). But we can always see her blue leash! Not so sneaky.
Here is a picture of me trying to get used to my new nook. I got it from my "aunt colleen". I like to use this when mom takes me shopping and all the old ladies oogle over me. It tells them what I really think. 
And here I am wearing the cute hat you bought for me at the garage sale. 
This is my girlfriend Lily. They call her the bird, though I don't know why-she is a looker! 
And mommy has been trying to read to me more often! I love books-isn't my mom a crazy dresser? My outfits are much cuter than hers.
And oh boy! When Daddy is home watching tv on the floor next to me, he lets me lay on my tummy. And oh how I love it!!!
And here is the last picture for you. Mom says it shows how much I've grown. I'm still wearing all my newborn clothes-some are roomier than others. But look at these jammies! My hands/wrists are popping out!!! 
Well that's all for today Grandma! Hope you have a better day and I can't wait to see you! We can do pat-a-cake more and more. Love, Eli aka Bubis aka goobis aka sumo aka burritoIf you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band
Well it's official, we broke up. Melissa and I that is.
After college I got an internship at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, which means I was going to be moving. At the same time, Melissa (my greatest friend from high school) was starting school at UW-M, so we decided to try living together. We looked and looked at apartments (yes with our moms!) and found a cute little apartment on the 3rd floor in Shorewood. It had "character".
We had a nice man as a landlord who we asked "If you had daughters our age, would you feel they were safe living there?". I guess it was obvious we were a little nervous living in Milwaukee. But we had each other. Who knew that the church across the street would be where Andy and I got married? We were close to the lake, within walking distance to the Shorewood Library and could use shopping carts to get us home on late nights at the Shorewood Pub. We also had a foreign man who lived below us who we could never really "figure out", neighbor girls that never talked to us, we plastered greeting cards to our walls and had our parents over for a lasagna dinner in our dinning room (as well as many many games of presidents and a-hole, beer pong, golf, hockey etc).
When we moved out, we stayed together! We moved to what I would call a "box apartment".
That first night we lived there we celebrated with some of our friends out some bars close by (which we then started visiting regularly-so close!) and Andy and I got lost walking home since we didn't know our neighborhood well enough. Melissa to the rescue-came to pick us up! This is also where we bought our first dog together, Bailee.
What an adventure she was! We had a neighbor below us that didn't like when we did taebo or exercise on our elliptical, much less even turn the tv on! I can't even start to describe the number of adventures we had at this place or count the number of nights we ate popcorn and watched tv together. This was the apartment that I lived in when Andy and I got engaged and where Melissa helped me plan the big day.
From here, we needed to part ways. Andy just didn't agree with having Gerk live with us after we got married. Why not? She would keep me busy and listen to me complain! But we just couldn't fully part, so we moved out to Greenfield and both got an apartment in the same complex....this was the beginning of us "breaking up". We lived close enough to walk barefoot to each others apartment, but not in the same building. We also were within walking distance to the 1st Choice (but not quite close enough to walk home from Club Paragon in our Halloween Costumes). It was hard, but necessary when you move on with your life. From there, Andy and I bought a house and Melissa made other changes in her life that took her out of Milwaukee and much further away from me. She was ready to move on too, and got engaged and married our great friend Joey!
This is getting long and I didn't even start talking about our high school and Pizza Hut memories yet! Don't worry, I won't bore everyone with THOSE memories, but I have always been a firm believer that when you go off to college after high school, you should not follow your best friend, nor should you try to "room" with a friend in the dorms that first year. I feel as if it may not work out and you may lose that great friend in the end. I also think that often times it causes you to not branch out and meet new people as you have this friend to sort of cling to in situations where you are uncomfortable. When we graduated, I was the first friend off to college-UW-Stout. I left early to play soccer and it was over 4 hours away and I had no car to come back for a visit. Melissa went off to UW-Oshkosh to create her own memories. We still saw each other on holiday breaks and summers (even though my parents moved away from Sheboygan) and therefore moving in with each other was a little scary for both of us. But, (for me anyways) it worked out great and even though I can't get those years back (no matter how bad I want to or how hard I try), I remember them well with a huge smile on my face.
So where is this going you may ask? Why the break up mentioned at the beginning of this post? Well, since Melissa married an Army Man...she now gets to go on adventures with him. I say gets to go on adventures because of how well Melissa has accepted the lack of choice in all the moves ahead-she looks at it as an adventure with her husband. It is hard to just pack up and go where you are told whenever they tell you to. Waiting for information on where your life will go next is tough and I give Melissa all the credit in the world for doing this with such grace. But, on the other hand, she totally wins out because she married such a great man. Joey has been a great friend to me for years and years...and I won't even get into all the memories except to just make note that I did teach Joey how to fish on North Twin in a small tin boat with a couple of beers ;). SOOOOO they are on the road...on the way to Texas to live for a few months, with their new dog Duke. After that, maybe Korea? We don't know, but I do know that it may be a very long while before I see them again and that is hard for me. I wish them the BEST of luck on all their moves and adventures. I hope nobody replaces me in their lives, but I wish them many happy times, lots of new friends and happiness together as a family with Biff and Duke.
Do I miss Melissa? Just about every darn day! How could I not-she is just this amazing girl that always totally understood me for me. Love you GERK!
After college I got an internship at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, which means I was going to be moving. At the same time, Melissa (my greatest friend from high school) was starting school at UW-M, so we decided to try living together. We looked and looked at apartments (yes with our moms!) and found a cute little apartment on the 3rd floor in Shorewood. It had "character".
We had a nice man as a landlord who we asked "If you had daughters our age, would you feel they were safe living there?". I guess it was obvious we were a little nervous living in Milwaukee. But we had each other. Who knew that the church across the street would be where Andy and I got married? We were close to the lake, within walking distance to the Shorewood Library and could use shopping carts to get us home on late nights at the Shorewood Pub. We also had a foreign man who lived below us who we could never really "figure out", neighbor girls that never talked to us, we plastered greeting cards to our walls and had our parents over for a lasagna dinner in our dinning room (as well as many many games of presidents and a-hole, beer pong, golf, hockey etc).
When we moved out, we stayed together! We moved to what I would call a "box apartment".
That first night we lived there we celebrated with some of our friends out some bars close by (which we then started visiting regularly-so close!) and Andy and I got lost walking home since we didn't know our neighborhood well enough. Melissa to the rescue-came to pick us up! This is also where we bought our first dog together, Bailee.
What an adventure she was! We had a neighbor below us that didn't like when we did taebo or exercise on our elliptical, much less even turn the tv on! I can't even start to describe the number of adventures we had at this place or count the number of nights we ate popcorn and watched tv together. This was the apartment that I lived in when Andy and I got engaged and where Melissa helped me plan the big day.From here, we needed to part ways. Andy just didn't agree with having Gerk live with us after we got married. Why not? She would keep me busy and listen to me complain! But we just couldn't fully part, so we moved out to Greenfield and both got an apartment in the same complex....this was the beginning of us "breaking up". We lived close enough to walk barefoot to each others apartment, but not in the same building. We also were within walking distance to the 1st Choice (but not quite close enough to walk home from Club Paragon in our Halloween Costumes). It was hard, but necessary when you move on with your life. From there, Andy and I bought a house and Melissa made other changes in her life that took her out of Milwaukee and much further away from me. She was ready to move on too, and got engaged and married our great friend Joey!
This is getting long and I didn't even start talking about our high school and Pizza Hut memories yet! Don't worry, I won't bore everyone with THOSE memories, but I have always been a firm believer that when you go off to college after high school, you should not follow your best friend, nor should you try to "room" with a friend in the dorms that first year. I feel as if it may not work out and you may lose that great friend in the end. I also think that often times it causes you to not branch out and meet new people as you have this friend to sort of cling to in situations where you are uncomfortable. When we graduated, I was the first friend off to college-UW-Stout. I left early to play soccer and it was over 4 hours away and I had no car to come back for a visit. Melissa went off to UW-Oshkosh to create her own memories. We still saw each other on holiday breaks and summers (even though my parents moved away from Sheboygan) and therefore moving in with each other was a little scary for both of us. But, (for me anyways) it worked out great and even though I can't get those years back (no matter how bad I want to or how hard I try), I remember them well with a huge smile on my face.
So where is this going you may ask? Why the break up mentioned at the beginning of this post? Well, since Melissa married an Army Man...she now gets to go on adventures with him. I say gets to go on adventures because of how well Melissa has accepted the lack of choice in all the moves ahead-she looks at it as an adventure with her husband. It is hard to just pack up and go where you are told whenever they tell you to. Waiting for information on where your life will go next is tough and I give Melissa all the credit in the world for doing this with such grace. But, on the other hand, she totally wins out because she married such a great man. Joey has been a great friend to me for years and years...and I won't even get into all the memories except to just make note that I did teach Joey how to fish on North Twin in a small tin boat with a couple of beers ;). SOOOOO they are on the road...on the way to Texas to live for a few months, with their new dog Duke. After that, maybe Korea? We don't know, but I do know that it may be a very long while before I see them again and that is hard for me. I wish them the BEST of luck on all their moves and adventures. I hope nobody replaces me in their lives, but I wish them many happy times, lots of new friends and happiness together as a family with Biff and Duke.
Do I miss Melissa? Just about every darn day! How could I not-she is just this amazing girl that always totally understood me for me. Love you GERK!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Movie
I rented the movie "Revolutionary Road" staring Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio. I thought the movie won some awards-it was a book first I believe. However, after watching it, I was left wondering if I missed some parts. I watched the making of the movie where I saw the characters dressed in outfits I never saw, shooting scenes I never saw. Did anyone else see this movie? If you did, please shed some light...tell me your thoughts-I was left wondering if this movie had some underlying meaning that I was missing out on. Or, was it just a movie about a couple who both were simple people who wanted more for themselves and never got it, all the while arguing with each other?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
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