The Miller Family

New name...

2011-07-18T11:20:00.001-04:00

If you have our blog saved under www.marykathrynmiller.blogspot.com - please note the new name: www.amillerfamilymoment.blogspot.com and save to your feeds/readers/favorites accordingly.

Click here to be redirected: The Miller Family

Baseball, Fish and Food!

2011-07-18T08:48:00.000-04:00

Last summer, we were stuck in the NICU with a preemie. This summer, we've not been at home very much! I guess we're making up for being cooped up last year.

We spent a few days in lovely Cincinnati, Ohio for a little family getaway and we had so much fun! Although we did so many different fun things, I still think Luke's favorite part of the whole trip was exploring our hotel room and enjoying his meals - as usual.

Friday night, we went to a Reds game. Luke hasn't really taken to clapping like other babies we know, but once he saw everyone else cheering the team on after a home run, he was all about the clapping!

The next day, we had lunch at a famous little place, featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, called Blue Ash Chili. The food was fantastic and it was so neat to be in a place that had been a hit on a show that we really like.

That afternoon, we went to the Aquarium. HUGE hit! They have a no-stroller policy on peak days, so we shared carrying Luke in the Baby Bjorn the whole time. We got quite a workout and got to see lots of cool fish.

Sunday, we had breakfast at a local bagel shop and took a long walk through downtown Cincy. We took our time heading home and stopped at IKEA for an overload of all kinds of home stuff. I love that place, but it's overwhelming, even for someone who loves shopping - like Luke! (Ha! And you thought I was talking about me!)

Vacations are wonderful, but there's nothing quite like coming home.

Pink or Blue?

2011-07-08T09:37:00.000-04:00

When expecting, it seems that the questions and advice are just part of the deal. Everyone has a better way, a different opinion, and more experience. We've already gotten lots of unsolicited advice about what we should do differently with this baby, that we should try not to have a c-section this time (trust me - I didn't want one the first time!), and even advice on where to put the new baby's room and moving Luke into a big boy bed.

After the drama with Luke's pregnancy and the struggle to even have a baby, I'm used to stuff like this, and usually, I can just smile and nod. But what has really begun to rub me the wrong way is the questions and comments about boy vs. girl, and whether or not we will find out the gender with this baby. I'm am thrilled that Eric agreed not to find out this time. We're both totally cool with that decision and have no preferences with what we "get" either way. Seriously, none. Others, however, get pretty worked up about it. "Well, since you have a boy, you'll want a girl this time.", "If you get a girl this time, you can be finished.", "You're not finding out? That's dumb! How will anyone know what to buy?", "Oh, I hope it's a girl. You need a girl." "Oh my, can you imagine if you have more boys?" Actually, I can imagine it and I think it would be wonderful!

I didn't realize that having a girl was so important. If we have one, great! If we don't, I'll have two beautiful boys and I'll be over-the-moon thrilled about it. I also didn't realize that the size of my family was anyone's business but mine and my husbands.

I've still got about 22 weeks to go - so I guess I'd better man up. Or maybe lady up?

The fastest year of my life!

2011-06-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

Our sweet boy is now a full year old! I am amazed, quite shocked really, at how quickly this went by. I was warned, but it still surprised me. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this sweet boy's life from day one!
We had the sweetest, most special little party on Saturday with our closest family and friends. Luke was certainly his charming little self and entertained us all quite easily. I am humbled by how sweet and generous our family and friends are and by how much they love us and our Luke!

A picture for every month!

His birthday cupcake lasted all of two minutes!

His new fire truck!

Later, Lily...

2011-06-16T20:42:00.001-04:00

When we lost Daisy back in January, we were aching to have a dog in the family again. We probably jumped the gun in getting another dog so soon, and a puppy at that. Then we flat out lost our minds when, a month later, we added ANOTHER puppy to the mix.

Lately, I've been on the verge of a serious and quite real nervous breakdown. All...because...of...dogs. I've cleaned up more poop than Luke can produce diapers per day, and I'm quite certain I've done enough yelling to permanently scar my child for the rest of his life. He's never sure if "NO!" is directed at him or a dog. After breaking down in hysterical tears to my mom this week over the situation, "there's not enough of me to go around" and being terrified of losing it completely when the new baby comes, Eric and I decided that one dog had to go.

My parents had been seriously considering getting another dog after losing our family dog of 14 years in February. So, as luck would have it, my dad was totally interested in keeping Lily. I can't say that I had too much trouble driving away without her.

So now, we just have Pete. He's pretty depressed without Lily and I'm feeling horribly guilty for letting her go; like I gave up on one of my kids. But, I keep telling myself that it's a win-win. My parents get a new puppy, we can see her when we visit, I get a little of my sanity (and clean floors) back, I can focus on my sweet son instead of worrying about a neurotic dog.

Surprise, Surprise!

2011-05-25T22:00:00.000-04:00

After a very exciting, and surprisingly drama-free appointment last week - I am thrilled to report that Baby Miller #2 is on his/her way! God is so good!

A life well lived...

2011-05-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

My Grandpa Turner passed away on April 29th. He had been battling some health problems for a long time, but they were well managed. We were not expecting to lose him when we did. My grandfather was a faithful Christian man, and it is a comfort and a joy to know that he is whole and restored with his Savior.

I have to say that I am crazy blessed with an incredible family. I love them with all of my heart, and I am so grateful for the time we had together for this celebration of my grandfather's life. I miss them!

My family at the luncheon following my grandfather's funeral

My handsome brothers at the street sign for the beautiful home my grandfather built over 20 years ago. He named the street Winton Woods.

Luke is so lucky to have 3 uncles who love him to pieces. He is well entertained when he's with his Aunt Rachel and his uncles.

We live a very blessed life and I am so grateful!

Dogs

2011-04-18T20:02:00.000-04:00

What a charmed life...

Wee Bit Wednesday...

2011-04-13T20:54:00.001-04:00

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch?

artichokes - I would put them in everything now

{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major?

Yes, Music Education

{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)?

I saw a couple of foxes messing around outside of our apartment in Carmel a couple of years ago, I also saw a gigantic moose standing in the road when I was driving through Tennessee a few years ago

{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller?

Nope

{five} can you juggle?

Not well

{six} hardwood floors or carpet?

I prefer hardwood, but I have carpet

{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”?

Soda

{eight} what was your first car?

A 2002 Chevy Cavalier

{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?

I have had a few "decadent desserts" that I really didn't care for because they were so over the top, but I'd have to say that the carrot cake with cream cheese icing that I had for my birthday a few years ago was amazing.

{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture?I would do it at least once a month if Eric would put up with it, or if the room would function well - I wish I could re-arrange our living room, but it really only "works" the way we have it now.

Oh, to be carefree...

2011-04-11T16:44:00.002-04:00

I'm one of those "moody", swim-around-in-my-own-head-pondering, impulsive, creative people. A bit of a free-spirit. At the same time, I have some Type A, OCP tendencies: I can't stand for things to be crooked or scattered, I love to make lists and cross them off in a particular order, I will start all over on something handwritten if I make a mistake, and I am a grammar-phile. Some days, I have to convince myself that, even though Luke only spit up on his shirt a little bit, his whole outfit doesn't need to be changed. I wouldn't say that I'm a planner, but I get a vision of things in my head and sometimes, I can get a little bent out of shape when life plays out differently than my vision. And, boy do I worry.

Something that is totally redeeming about this is that God knows this about me. He made me who I am and knows what is best for me. So, it would figure that my husband really is a planner. He makes lists, he crunches numbers, he researches, and he spends time weighing the pros and cons...sometimes for months. He even takes his time weighing his options when we eat out. I don't know that Eric has ever done something impulsively. This is why we are perfect for one another. Eric grounds me and helps me to slow down and live in reality. I like to think that I help Eric to appreciate the creative, not so planned parts of life and to communicate in a way that really gets to the heart of what we're trying to talk about. We have come lightyears in our communication with one another since we first met, and we have both learned to value our different gifts and talents.

As I look back over the last 5 years of my life, I realize that NOTHING has gone according to my plan. But oh, am I glad that it didn't. I'm simply reminded that I am not supposed to worry and I need not hold so tight to my hopes for my future. God has proved to me again and again that His plans trump mine. I am not the one in charge, and I do not know what my future holds. Every heartache, every joy, every frustration, and moment of mystery has had a purpose, and my life is richer for it.

There are days when I watch my sweet son rolling around on the playroom floor, chewing on whatever prize he's just gotten his hands on and squealing with joy, and I wish to be that carefree. But then, I get down on the floor and roll around laughing with him, and I realize that I can be.

So today and every day, I am thankful my longed for and oh-so-perfect baby; his incredibly good-natured personality, that he lights up when he sees me, that it takes so little to make him deliriously happy, and that he is healthy and thriving.

I'm thankful for two crazy puppies. They never worry about anything! They're nuts, they keep me on my toes and bent over cleaning up after them, and they make our life and home so happy.

I am incredibly greatful for the treasure of my husband. He knows me - all of me - and adores me anyway. He is patient, understanding, and sensitive to hurts, needs and desires. He would do anything for me. He is selfless and the kind of father that I always wanted for my children.

God knew better, and I am so blessed.

Wee Bit Wednesday...

2011-03-30T14:41:00.001-04:00

{one} what was your first job?

babysitting, at 12 or 13

{two} have you ever seen a stand up comedian?

not in person

{three} when was the last time you played mini golf?

probably years ago at Hilton Head on a summer trip with Eric

{four} what was the last picture you took?

I'm guessing it was one of Luke

{five} burnt food: yes or no?

no, although food on the grill a little bit "charred" isn't bad

{six} if you have a pocket full of change, what do you do with it?

put it in Eric's change cup, then turn it all in for cash later on

{seven} can you touch your tongue to your nose?
ew, no

{eight} do you scrapbook?
I made one fabulous scrapbook for my parents' 25th anniversary, after that I've never wanted to touch another piece of scrapbook anything. Once was enough to last the rest of my life. It's funny though, I receive scrapbooking gifts every holiday and birthday from people who must think it's a consistent hobby. I did however, get a "ready made" d-i-y scrapbook that was super easy and had everything already cut and ready. I loved that one.

{nine} do you buy lottery tickets?

no, but I should probably start

{ten} do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it?

depends, I love pictures of my family, but I love taking pictures of my son

Crawling, Babbling and Big Boy Food...

2011-03-28T14:39:00.000-04:00

This whole "growing up" business is for the birds! My big boy is now 17 pounds, can crawl through entire rooms, eats "real food" (and LOVES it) and is pretty darn close to some real words. It is so exciting to watch this process and I'm usually the first person to do the Crazy Mom happy dance when new developments occur. But, it is also so bittersweet; my tiny boy is not going to be a baby much longer.

Mom guilt...

2011-03-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

Mondays are hard. Eric doesn't come home until 10:30 because he has class, and I'm usually coming off of a weekend that threw everything off. I have to try to re-group in the midst of what feels like a little mountain of chaos. I'll admit that I'm not entering in to this Monday with a good attitude, but even on days when I'm ready to face whatever it can throw at me, Mondays are still hard. This morning is no exception. The weekend was just awful: I have a puppy who won't go to the bathroom outside unless it's perfect weather, I have a baby who is going through the "please don't put me down" phase which makes dealing with said puppy pretty difficult, and I feel like my responsibilities are piling up with no end in sight.

Don't get me wrong. I signed up for this and I am so grateful for the ability to be at home full time. But some days (Mondays) I desperately need a break. Just 30 minutes. I need for someone else to change the next nasty diaper, to clean up the next wet puppy mess on the kitchen floor, to take a shower without a baby sitting in the bouncy seat watching me through the shower door, to fold the laundry, to vacuum the floors, to make dinner.

This morning, Lily (our puppy) was not happy about being shut in her area of the kitchen behind the baby gate. So, she broke the gate. I heard her making lots of noise, and was pretty baffled when she was sitting on the other side of a bashed up baby gate chewing on one of Luke's toys. All the racket she had made knocking it down woke Luke up from his nap. I nearly lost it. I feel like I can understand why women shut themselves in a dark closet just to get some peace and quiet. And yet, if I were to say that I needed a break, or I was having a tough day, I suddenly feel unbearably guilty. I feel like I'm calling my son a burden and that I need a break from him.

What's the answer?

Fast friends...

2011-02-22T21:56:00.000-05:00

Generations...

2011-02-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to take Luke to Maysville to see my grandparents. This was only the third time they had ever seen him, and they certainly made up for lost time.

Luke sitting on a quilt that belonged to his Great-Great-Great grandmother.

Can I have a do-over?

2011-02-15T23:25:00.000-05:00

My baby got locked in the car today. I have no idea how it happened. I have a theory, but it doesn't really matter at this point. Once I realized what had happened, my heart dropped. I felt like a horrible parent and had to collect my emotions before calling my husband to get a phone number or two for help. I tried and tried to reach Eric on his cell, and since he just started a new job last week, I realized that I didn't have his office number yet. By this time, Luke had become hysterical seeing me through the window and knowing that he was in the car by himself. By some miracle, I remembered the 1-800 number for AAA, and was told that they had a truck 4 miles from my house and could be there in 5 minutes. Perfect! 10 minutes later, my son is still hysterical and AAA called again to say that they couldn't find my house. What the? I told them to forget it, I was calling 911.

I called 911 and 3, count them 1-2-3 minutes later, two fire trucks, two police SUVs and 2 ambulances showed up at my house. To say that I was humiliated wouldn't be enough. I'm sure my neighbors won't soon forget it!

Lily...

2011-02-15T16:41:00.000-05:00

We have been talking about getting a boxer puppy for a couple of years now, and after we lost our sweet Daisy, we decided that it was time. Our home just wasn't as happy without a dog!

Meet Lily!

Lily is a pure-bred, fawn and black mask boxer. She is 9 weeks old, and weighs about 10 pounds. She is spunky, is a "lap dog" and learned how to sit and potty outside (only 1 accident indoors) in about 24 hours! She prefers to be cuddly and close, and is incredibly gentle and affectionate with Luke. She is so special that we're just sure that she was handpicked for us by Daisy.

Sweet Daisy...

2011-01-29T12:24:00.000-05:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We had to say goodbye to our sweet Daisy last night. After several months of decline, and the inevitable loss of control, we decided that it was best for her if we let her go peacefully. Our hearts are broken today. We came home to an empty house, and for the first time, we weren't greeted by her sweet face.

I am sad for so many reasons. I wanted Luke to grow up with Daisy; learning to walk while leaning on her, learning to say her name, and going for walks to the park in our neighborhood. Luke loved Daisy. He lit up and wiggled furiously whenever she was around. She had the same affection for him from the moment we brought him home. She cried whenever he did, she'd check on him constantly, and any chance she got to kiss his hands and face made her so proud. She was my friend. She was always there when you needed a pick-me-up, a kiss in the face or just some company. She protected us and our home, even when it wasn't really necessary. She was so much fun to play with, and even into her older age, she could play and pounce like a puppy. She accepted me into her life with Eric from the very moment she met me. I've been her mama for nearly 6 years.

I feel like I've lost a child. But, I know that someday, we'll see her again, whole and so happy. Until then, there will be an emptiness in my heart that is Daisy shaped.

Happy Anniversary!

2011-01-27T09:57:00.000-05:00

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

~Mignon McLaughlin

If you had asked me on my wedding day what my life with Eric would be like 4+ years in the future, I'm not sure I would have painted quite the pictures that I am able to today. The last 4 years have been full of loss, heartache, hard decisions, blessings and incredible joy. There have been many moments when we could have so easily given up; gone our separate ways. But, with each new endeavor, each trial and each joyful moment, we've clung to each other and God, fallen in love over and over again, and that has made all the difference. Marriage is hard, but it is so totally worth it. I am so honored and blessed to be Eric's wife and Luke's mama. If the best is yet to come, then we're really in for a treat!
I love you Eric, and I am so looking forward to the rest of our lives!

Photo issues...and Wee Bit Wednesday!

2011-01-26T09:06:00.001-05:00

If anyone who reads can give me any insight on disabling the right-click and save function for the pictures on this blog, I'd be very grateful. I know several of you have done that and I'm very interested to know how.

{one} if you were granted three wishes, what would they be?

ooh… that would be hard. 1. to never have to worry about money, 2. that I'd never have to live without my husband or children 3. that i could be at my ideal weight without having to worry about what i eat.

{two} who is your favorite author?

i used to be crazy about Nicholas Sparks, but most of his books are the same.

I recently read a book called "Wrestling with an Angel" that was superb. Made me cry.

{three} what crowd were you involved in during high school?

hmmm, i wasn't really into belonging to a "crowd". had lots of friends, but only a handful of really good friends.

{four} what is your favorite thing to do when you have time to yourself?

lately, a hot shower. but, most of the time, it's cooking, or some reading.

{five} do you have any hidden talents?

i can do the crossword in about 15-20 minutes, and I can change a blow-out diaper without getting any of it on me or the surface my son is on.

{six} can you fake any accents?

Uh, no. And those who think they can drive me crazy! I can spot a fake accent from miles away.

{seven} have you ever been mentioned in the newspaper?
Yeah, a few times.

{eight} have you ever been arrested?
nope.

{nine} what is your favorite job you’ve had?

being Luke's mom and the U.S. Senate

{ten} do you have any scars?

oh yes. many on my hands, one in my bellybutton from a surgery years ago, and a nasty c-section scar from Luke's birth.

Happy Wednesday!

Wee Bit Wednesdays...

2011-01-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

{one} name one thing you worry about running out of:

diapers, Neosure fortifier - used to be caffiene and toilet paper

{two} what is your favorite pizza topping?

ham and pineapple

{three} what is your favorite harrison ford moviecan't say that I really have one

{four} apple juice or orange juice?not a big fan of either - both upset my stomach

{five} what’s your favorite thing to do on a sunday afternoon?

snuggle on the couch with my boys

{six} what is the wallpaper on your cellphone of?

Luke and more Luke

{seven} do you have a favorite tv commercial?

I love the commercial where the dad is trying to get his son to eat baby food, and to prove to him that it's good, he takes a bite himself. What follows is the most horrid face ever!

{eight} what is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

I don't really eat weird things - my husband would say hummus is the weirdest thing I've ever eaten though

{nine} what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?

My nursing tanks, won't leave home without one on

{ten} if you were a character from “lost”, who would you be?

Never watched that show...

The strong-willed child...

2011-01-11T14:33:00.000-05:00

So, I've mentioned a few times that Luke is a great sleeper. It was true up until 3 weeks ago. He came down with a double ear infection, ran a high fever and started this pattern where we'd put him down, and he'd wake up and cry every hour all night long. He wouldn't nap unless someone was holding him and even then, he'd only nap for about 30 minutes.

No one was sleeping, especially him! We got to the point where we could manage to get him to go for about 4 hours, but that was the maximum. For a baby who had been sleeping 10-12 hours a night since 3 months of age, this was a huge change and an even bigger problem. At first we thought that he was still sick, maybe teething or was having issues with tummy pain. So we took the necessary steps to try to help it.

After trying everything from sleeping in the rocking chair with him on my chest (that worked, but there's no way I'd make that a habit), changing bed times, feeding him again and again, eliminating things from my diet, rice cereal, soothing him without picking him up, soothing him with picking him up and a new white noise machine - nothing was working.

So last night, after trying it all and failing with an EXHAUSTED baby, we took him out of his swaddle and let him cry. He cried for 45 minutes straight. Eric had to persuade me not to go into his room several times because it was so hard to listen to. After about 30 minutes, he slowed down, wimpered a bit, started up again, and finally gave up.

After 8 hours of peaceful sleep with no waking, I found him in his crib on his tummy, as cheerful as could be and very well rested. And...he took a 2 hour nap with nary a peep this morning and this afternoon.

Time flies when you're having fun!

2010-12-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

Christmas has come and gone, Luke is now 6 months old, and we're getting ready to turn the corner into a new year! Things are happening so fast around here that I'm wishing that time would stop for a little while!

I didn't manage to get an "I'm 6 months old today" shot since we were out of town on his 6 month day. But, since it was Christmas Eve, we got plenty of photos that day.

At 6 months:

- You are fun, fun, fun! Everything warrants a squeal or a laugh and you have trouble winding down at night because you're having so much fun! Dad really loves egging you on!

- You are SOOO close to sitting up on your own. You haven't mastered balance from side to side, but as soon as you get it, you'll be sitting on your own.

- You love music, especially mom's singing. Sometimes it's the only thing that will calm you when you're upset, and listening to music when you're playing really makes you happy. I am thrilled that you really seem to love classical music.

- Your legs are super chubby, which is a HUGE change from only a couple of months ago. You love it when we make you "run" and when you're excited, your legs become uncontrollable!

- You love to "talk". You're really only doing vowels and learning the sounds that you can make, but every now and then we'll hear "Na na na, or ma ma ma". When you're upset, Daddy and I always laugh because you say "Ne ne ne ne".

- In the last two weeks, you've shown such interest in what Mom and Dad are doing when we're at the dinner table, that we decided to start you on some rice cereal. You seem to know exactly what to do with it, so we've kept it up. You love eating and you get so excited when we let you taste things.

- You are so friendly! You smile at everyone who says hello, and while you're pretty good about being held by most people, every now and then you have a meltdown if you can't see Mom or Dad while you're with someone else.

- You still love to snuggle and will put your head down on my shoulder during the day when you just want to be held.

- You adore books and being read to. You love it best when your Daddy reads to you, and you often want to turn the pages before he has finished. Your current favorites seem to be "Peas and Thank You", and "Silly Fish".

- Bath time is still a favorite. We recently removed the infant sling from your tub, and you've discovered splashing. Oh what fun!

You are so delightful and you are the joy of our lives baby boy. Life was certainly less fun before you happened. Your Daddy and I are humbled and amazed by the treasure of you!

5 months

2010-11-28T23:17:00.000-05:00

Family of three...

2010-11-03T17:59:00.000-04:00

This poor blog has been pretty neglected lately. But, I am happy that I can say that I've been doing "more important things". I've wanted to document, and I will, but there's nothing like just being in the moment with your family. And, right now, I feel like I'm living one big happy dream.

Luke is just blossoming! He's becoming so playful, very squirmy and wiggly, and although he tends to be on the quiet side like his Daddy, every now and then he's very vocal. He is so smiley and is quite the fan of his parents. He loves all things bright and colorful, and although solids or tastes of big person food is pretty far off, he seems so interested in everything that comes near his mouth. He now weighs 11 pounds and is filling out his newborn clothes to the point that we're on the verge of getting into 0-3 month things. For a baby who started out at a very tiny 4 pounds, he has come so far! He is now every bit the roly poly little ball of happiness! Each milestone, although a bit delayed is cause for quite the celebration!

We've been busy these last few weeks with first babysitters, trips to Grandma Missy and Grandpa's house, visits from family, first Halloween and the approaching holidays! We're incredibly excited for what's to come, but we're so very happy just savoring these fleeting moments of babyhood with our precious little man.

4 months ago

4 days ago

Bliss...

2010-10-14T11:47:00.000-04:00

Luke has always been a good sleeper. Even in the NICU, he was predictable and would often go an extra half hour to an hour between feedings, which for a preemie is unusual. Although getting up every 2-3-4 hours to feed him has been tiring, we're grateful that we can pretty much set the clock by his demands.

Over the last three weeks, Luke has begun sleeping about 5-6 hours a stretch; waking only for a diaper change and a feeding, then going back down for another good stretch of sleep. Our pediatrician told us that it was perfectly fine for him to begin skipping feedings if he didn't wake for them now that he has established an excellent pattern of weight gain.

So, imagine my excitement when Luke slept for 8.5 hours last night! At 6 am, I noticed that I hadn't heard a peep since 10:00 pm. I was a little worried at first, but Luke isn't the type to forget that he's hungry. 30 minutes later, he was ready to eat and I was very happy to oblige!

I could definitely get used to this!

Spontaneity? Yes, please...

2010-10-03T18:40:00.000-04:00

Monday night, we got word from Eric's mom that a family member who had been ill for a long time had passed away. We discussed attending the funeral on Friday, so Eric took the day off and we planned to drive down to Mitchell just for the day. We got up super early on Friday and started getting ready to leave. While I was getting Luke all set to go, Eric said "Would you like to drive on down to Louisville on Friday after the funeral and spend the weekend at your parents'?" At first I thought he was kidding, but he was dead serious! So I said "absolutely", quickly packed a couple of bags and we were on our way. We were flying by the seat of our pants!

We spent most of the day in Mitchell, and got to my folks' house around 9pm. I was amazed that all three of my brothers were actually home. What a treat! Saturday, we went to breakfast at Panera and talked for so long that it turned into lunch. Then we came back home and visited until dinner time. My mom cooked a wonderful meal, and I was so grateful for that, especially since I didn't have to cook a bit of it!

After dinner, Eric walked into the kitchen while I was helping mom clean up and said "Would you like to go see the sneak preview of Life As We Know It?" This is where the spontaneity almost stopped. My mom lit up and said "I'll keep Luke. You guys go and have fun!" I still can't believe we did it, but we had our first night out without Luke! A movie (sneak preview of a really good movie!), and Starbucks afterward! And, everyone did just fine with the whole evening! How nice to come back to a happy baby that you're just aching to get back to, and how wonderful is my mom?!

Thank you to my sweet, thoughtful and fun husband for suggesting these things! I am so lucky to have him!

Leaving Luke...

2010-09-29T09:41:00.000-04:00

When Eric and I were expecting Luke, we talked often about how we'd leave him with a babysitter for the weekend or evening and go do something on a regular basis. We're planning to go to Big Blue Madness in Lexington next month, and a Purdue game up in Lafayette with friends in November. Both of these events are not ideal for an infant, so hints have been made about leaving him for the weekend. When we first began talking about going to these events, I was on board with going if we could take him with us. I don't know if it's the way Luke came into the world and the fact that I couldn't be parted from him for more than an hour or two while he was in the NICU for a month, or if I'm just not ready to be away from my baby that long. Although he is thriving and growing, he does have some special needs, which is why I'm wary of leaving him.

There are several reasons why I don't see this happening:

1. We're nursing. It's difficult to nurse a baby when you're not in the same room with them. He takes bottles with vitamin fortifier a couple of times a day as well, but it would be disastrous (for a few reasons) for us to go an entire weekend with bottles. Which brings me to my second point...

2. How in the world does one bank enough milk (while actively feeding a baby) for 2+ days away?

3.There are about 2 people I would feel comfortable leaving him with for a weekend, who I know would do things the way they need to be done and would keep his prematurity at the forefront of their mind with every activity. Anyone else probably wouldn't work out and would make it impossible for me to enjoy being away.

4. I don't think it's a good idea for our first outing away from him to be out of town, or even out of state. Too far.

5. I just don't want to. I miss my son after a night of sleep, how am I going to feel after 48 hours?!?!

That said, I'm more than ready for a date night with my husband. But, we don't have parents/grandparents in the area. Do I call one of my teens from church and hit them up for a babysitting gig? That doesn't feel right. Or do I beg a grandparent to come spend the weekend so Eric and I can go to dinner? That seems like quite the production for a dinner out.

This is really weighing on my mind. So much so that last night, I dreamt that I left Luke alone, in his crib all day while I went to work somewhere. When I came back, he was hysterical and didn't remember me. Now, that REALLY makes me want to go out of town.

3 months...

2010-09-24T15:26:00.004-04:00

At 3 months (or more like 8 weeks) you:

- smile, smile, smile!

- coo and talk back when mom and dad talk to you

- calm at the sound of music or mom's singing

- still like to eat every 3-4 hours

- prefer to be held every moment of the day

- just began to fit into newborn clothing

- love your bath, especially getting your hair washed

- can hold your head up pretty consistently with only a little wobbliness every now and then

- tend to prefer mom and dad to others

- startle, pout and then cry at loud noises (so cute, but so sad)

- have begun to get big crocodile tears when you cry - mom can't stand this!

- love to grip mom's shirt when she's holding you

- are a BIG fan of your passy

- weigh about 9 pounds and your little thighs now have pudgy rolls

Keep growing little buddy! You're extraordinary!

Discoveries in the land of Parenthood: Efficiency

2010-09-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid, my parents could never just let us be on a weekend or summer morning. Of course, the Weaver kids were super-scheduled with free moments being few and far between. I had so little free time that my piano lessons were at 8 am on Saturday mornings with soccer games directly after because there just wasn't any other time that worked. But, when there was a free day, you could usually expect to be woken up by my dad and a chore list. All five of us got a job (or three) that was to be done by lunchtime. Oh man, how we hated that chore list. I usually got the whole kitchen or a bathroom. Looking back, I laugh at how silly we were about getting these chores done. We'd moan and complain, hide in a room claiming to be doing something much more important. I even remember Nathan locking himself in the bathroom that I was supposed to be cleaning claiming that he "wasn't feeling well" for over an hour. Thinking back, if we had just gotten to it, we would have had a clean house, the rest of the day free, and much happier parents. But, efficiency and doing "chores" willingly and with a smile isn't exactly what teenagers do best. But, I digress...

So our sweet boy is 3 months old today (adjusted age: 8 weeks) and it has taken me nearly that long to figure out how to get in a shower, meal, exercise (I fail at this most days - although, caring for a child is exercise in and of itself, if you really want the truth), and some housework in between all of his needs. Some days, I don't shower until late afternoon, I don't remember to eat until my tummy is making noises at me and though my house is pretty caught up right now due to Luke's baptism luncheon last Sunday and the 26 guests we had at our house, I am not getting to things as often as I prefer.

But today? Today, I feel accomplished because I have more than checked off my "chore list". Luke slept for 6.5 hours straight last night and boy, does that make a difference in my energy level. So, since 7:30 am, I have already bathed and dressed my son, changed 5 diapers, run 2 loads of laundry, vacuumed my house, dusted, cleaned a bathroom, made a full meal for dinner guests this evening, set my table and cleaned my kitchen. I'm slowly but surely learning how to run this show. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I have one of the most laid back and happy babies on the planet. He's perfectly happy to be strapped to my chest as I do all of this, looking around and grinning at me every few minutes. I can't tell if he's amused at my technique or just enjoying himself. Maybe he'll take a hint now and be happy to help out when he's, maybe, 13?

Oh Christmas...

2010-09-16T12:11:00.001-04:00

I've never been one to get into the whole shopping for Christmas early. I don't even want to think about the decorations or gifts (unless I need to do something special that will take some time) until Advent begins. Then, I throw myself in full force, and I get pretty excited as we light the Advent candles each week. I think I'm in trouble, though, now that I have a little one. Eric and I are both insanely excited for Luke's first Christmas this year. We realize he'll only be about 6 months old, and probably won't remember much. But, it's still very special.

In the past couple of months, we've seen thing after thing that we're dying to get for him as a Christmas gift. Toys, books, and items for an in-the-works playroom. As I was browsing last night, I was very tempted to buy each one of these "Holiday Preview" items from none other than...Land of Nod.

12 days of Christmas ornaments

Super cute tree skirt

(I'm seriously thinking about making this myself)

The cutest stockings ever!

Baby's 1st Christmas Ornament

I guess I should start saving my pennies!

Luke's room

2010-09-16T11:52:00.001-04:00

I think I've mentioned in previous posts that Eric and I have a slight obsession with Land of Nod baby stuff, and Pottery Barn Kids. Luke's room is done in several from PBK and we've recently made a few purchases from Land of Nod.

When we saw this map, it was a must-have! It has special details of each state, like horses for Kentucky, corn for Indiana, and along the outer edge there is each state's motto. With stickers that say "I live here", "Grandpa lives here", "I've been here" etc., we knew that Luke would have a lot of fun with it someday. We'll just have to hide the stickers so he doesn't pepper the thing or his room with them.

I've had my eye on this precious growth chart since last fall, when we found out we were expecting Luke. We finally bought it and expect it to arrive any day now with Luke's full name on it.

Passy aggressive...

2010-09-14T12:29:00.001-04:00

When Luke was in the NICU on a gavage tube the pacifier we used served an invaluable purpose: sucking results in a full tummy. For a very weak premature infant, sucking takes all of the energy they can muster. Taking meals orally is like an adult running a marathon. And, they eat 8+ times per day!

When Luke was born, he couldn't suck at all. After about a week, he could stay awake long enough to take about 10 mls orally, and then he'd shut down. Over time, and with the help of his pacifier, he developed a strong sucking reflex without any nipple confusion and was gradually weaned from his feeding tube as he became able to take a feeding orally without shutting down. So, once we came home from the hospital, Eric and I decided to limit the use of the passy as much as possible.

Now, with Luke at 9 pounds and quite the hearty appetite, Eric and I see no need for the passy. We've tried limiting its use to bedtime and situations where some heavy duty soothing is needed, but someone has become quite the fan. We were doing pretty well until we went out of town for Labor Day weekend and simply went into survival mode. Being away from home with unfamiliar faces, noises and surroundings made us fearful that he would revert to his old ways and shut down as he did in the NICU due to overstimulation. So, the passy was not off limits and was a huge help at bedtime. I've never seen so many relatives clamor to find a passy for a baby that never really needed it before. I guess that's the old rule...babies use pacifiers...period.

Luke has decided that this passy is his best friend. He is unhappy unless he is sucking on something, hungry or not. It's not 24/7, but close to it. I refuse to be a parent who jumps up to put it back in his mouth every time it pops out, but I also have a hard time listening to a baby who is totally happy 90% of the time screaming to be "soothed". Ugh.

How do you get a kid to suck his thumb?

What's good for the soul...

2010-09-10T23:07:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows my family well knows that it's rare for all 7 of us to be in the same place at the same time in the last 4 years without some very carefully orchestrated planning. This past weekend had been on the calendar for quite some time, making it possible for every...single...Weaver to be in attendance.

What a breath of fresh air it was to be surrounded by people you love, with gorgeous weather, a new baby and great food! I kept pinching myself expecting to wake up from a dream!

My Grandma Turner (Luke's great grandmother) meeting Luke for the first time:

My Grandpa Turner and Luke:

Lounging on Aunt Rachel's lap:

Napping with Uncle Aaron:

One of those days...

2010-09-03T13:55:00.001-04:00

Moments like this make everything better:

(Please excuse the fact that I sound like lunatic in this video. It seems that the more goofy I am, the more he likes it.)

Progress on our house...

2010-09-02T13:27:00.000-04:00

I have had several friends and family ask for update photos on the progress we're making on the house. Needless to say, there wasn't much happening from June to the first of August. But, since I have been feeling so much better (nothing like a cure for pregnancy issues like delivery!) and am mobile again, I've been doing as much as possible in my spare time (ha!) to work on things. It's certainly not finished, and we have a long way to go. But, it is definitely looking "homier" day by day. And as always, thanks to my sweet husband for all of his tedious and hard work with painting!

Our living room

Other side of the living room

Our guest room

Guest room

Luke's room

Our bedroom
(mostly a mess -so this is all you get...the wall is actually a dark grayish brown that looks really neat - didn't come off that way in the photo)

The other side of the Master Suite -
(you get a better feel for the wall color in this one - and you may or may not notice that I still haven't had a chance to hem the end of the valance...)

What I am most proud of, other than the fact that this really looks like a home instead of college apartment, is that I made all of the window treatments. I mean, let's face it, a home looks much more "finished" with something on the windows. In looking into buying them or having them made, I was freaking about cost! So, I ended up buying fabric and blackout fabric and spent a day making them myself. I ended up with something that looks designer, and in comparison to what I would have spent buying what I was liking in catalogs and stores, well...there really is no comparison.

The only rooms left are the kitchen, dining room and the front study/sitting room. We're also working on getting things onto the walls. But, we'll get there eventually. Stay tuned!

If you can't buy it, make it...

2010-08-26T18:52:00.001-04:00

My son currently fits into 5 outfits. One of which is a riduculously small set of newborn overalls, the others are preemie onesies. Other than that, we've found that the Gerber Organic (not sure why these fit better than the original) plain white onesies are a bit big, but work. So, in order to put him in something other than boring, plain white, I've had a little fun with my sewing machine this week as I'm coming up with some alternatives.

I've also done a turtle and a fish, but they're in my washing machine.

I mentioned in a previous post how irritated I was with little boy clothing. Most of it is either very expensive or not at all appealing. I can do some things second hand, but I'm pretty picky. Anyway, I found a place that sells classic bubble rompers for boys and will personalize them for free. It wasn't too cheap, but wasn't too bad either. Considering that this boy has nothing classic or dressy (that fits), it was worth it.

How precious is that?! I can't wait until he can wear it!

Discoveries in the land of Parenthood...part two

2010-08-23T16:34:00.000-04:00

So while there is a lot of "stuff" I'm discovering as I settle into parenthood - I'm also learning a lot about the "non-stuff".

Follow along with me and see which ones are "been there, done thats":

my son and my husband make me over-the-moon, cheesy grin happy, even at 4am
people don't know much about preemies - this is totally understandable, but hard for us

when you tell them he is 8 weeks, but that his adjusted age is 2 weeks, they ask the stupidest questions
It hurts my feelings to hear "what's wrong with him"

random folks have absolutely no qualms about touching my infant - totally unacceptable
random folks don't touch when his father is holding him
what I once considered a clean public restroom is just plain filthy, and usually without a place to change a diaper
people are so kind and helpful when they see that you have a newborn; they'll take your grocery cart back for you, hold doors, watch your stuff while you handle an issue and they'll even load your groceries for you when he's screaming his head off because he's hungry
some women have unkind things to say when they see my son having a bottle
some women have unkind things to say when they hear that I had a c-section
there is nothing quite as special as seeing your child with your husband
preemie clothes are impossible to find

once a preemie grows out of these clothes, the difference in the size of newborn clothes is outrageous - we only fit into about 4 outfits right now

nursing does NOT take off weight like I was told it would
having a traumatic birth experience hasn't deterred us at all from wanting more children - totally worth all of it
walks in the evening were never as fun until Luke
a gummy, milky, sleepy smile at 4 am makes everything else melt away
cute, classic clothes for little boys are really expensive and hard to find - little girls clothes are a dime a dozen
I pumped 7 ounces in one session and was pretty proud of myself

then a girlfriend told me that she pumped 14 and I was worried
then someone reminded me that her baby is 2 months older than mine and was born full term

every family member has an opinion on how you should be dressing, feeding, burping, changing, engaging, and transporting your child
my feet are now a whole size larger than they were before pregnancy
I am incredibly proud of my husband - there isn't anything he's above or afraid of doing or participating in - with the exception of nursing :)
I "talked" to Luke for an hour yesterday and didn't even realize it - it was probably more entertaining for me than it was for him
I have a diaper bag that's packed full of stuff - it seems stupid, but is totally necessary
We tried really hard and had to wait to be parents - we never imagined it would be this incredible

Discoveries in the land of Parenthood...

2010-08-23T10:07:00.000-04:00

Before we had Luke, lots of people would tell us "The only things a baby truly needs are milk and love". While that's totally true, there are a few things that make having life with an infant SO much easier. I'm quickly discovering which things I wouldn't want to be without!

Jogging Stroller - Not only is it convenient, it is so smooth that Luke is zapped out in no time. It makes our evening walks very pleasant. I love that our infant seat clips right in and I can fold it up with one hand and lift it into the back of our SUV.

Medela Pump-In-Style - Lots of people think that we aren't breastfeeding because Luke takes half of his feedings by bottle. I'm still getting over the hurt feelings of the ridiculous comments I've received in public regarding the issue. But, on the bright side, my son is growing and thriving after a very rough start because he gets all breastmilk and just a teaspoon fortifier in a bottle 4 times per day. And, I couldn't make that possible without this WONDERFUL breast pump. They're definitely NOT cheap, but worth every single penny! I hope to be able to give him breastmilk much longer because I have this pump.

Swaddle-Me Sleep Wraps - We are big fans of swaddling around here. It makes life a lot simpler. But, we have a baby Houdini. We'll wrap him up so beautifully that someone deserves a high five and some snaps...until 5 minutes later when Super Luke has managed to work himself totally free. I can't figure out how he does it! These wraps hold him in all night with the exception of his legs, which I'm still trying to figure out. I only wish they came in preemie size. (Oh, and that's not my baby - just some random baby modeling the thing. He's cute - but Luke's cuter.)

Baby Bjorn - These aren't cheap either but, again, worth every-single-penny! Our baby loves to be held. A lot. Like every moment of every day. It makes getting anything done pretty difficult when you only have one arm free. This carrier is so great because it works well even for a premature infant (on the MUCH smaller side). I don't have to worry about him suffocating or falling out and he can hang out with me while I do just about anything. Oh, and how awesome is it that it fits my husband, too!?

Triple Paste - Luke comes by his sensitive skin honestly. But because he's a preemie, it's worse than it would be otherwise. We're extra careful about keeping his bottom clean and dry, but we use this stuff to keep him comfortable. It was recommended by a NICU nurse, and boy did she know what she was talking about! Luke can be fire engine red at one changing, and back normal an hour later. Again, not cheap stuff, but worth it.

I'm endorsing a lot of stuff here by name, but I wasn't paid to do it.

Just a happy parent finding out what I love about certain products!

Sleep...

2010-08-10T21:51:00.000-04:00

I have to start off by saying that we are incredibly lucky to have a baby that doesn't have issues with sleep. For a newborn, he does an excellent job of sleeping for 3-4 hours at a time between feedings at night. We've been toying with the idea of putting him to sleep in his crib in his own room for a few days now. We have an excellent baby monitor (it's freaky the things this monitor can pick up!) and I even without the monitor I know I would hear everything, but I'm just not sure I'm ready for that. Not to mention that our bedroom is not exactly next door to Luke's room.

So, for the past few nights, after his early evening feeding and our dinner, we've put him in his room. He does really well and really only fusses when he's hungry or gassy. We make lots of noise (vacuum, washer and dryer, music, talking, etc) when he's sleeping so that he's not unable to sleep through things as he gets older and more aware.

Tonight, Eric decided to experiment with something that we got as a gift at one of our baby showers - The Sleep Sheep. It's a great invention and I'd use it often if our child didn't do just fine without. I may end up using it as he gets older. Anyway, Eric brought the monitor to me in another room and made me guess the sound. He had it set on a whale. No kidding, this thing makes the noise of a big blue whale with some white noise in the background. I asked Eric why he was trying to scare our infant, and he just laughed. He then told me that that noise is what Luke hear while in utero. I bet....

How lucky am I?

2010-08-09T15:51:00.001-04:00

I've been eyeing these pretty personalized mother's charm necklaces for months on Etsy. One came for me in the mail today with my sweet boy's name engraved on it!!! Just one more reason my husband is fabulous!

Where is the love for dads?

2010-08-03T14:06:00.003-04:00

Last week, we made our second weekly visit to our pediatrician for a weight check for Mr. Luke. While there, he needed a diaper change and a "snack". I was a little put out that the nurse tried twice to hand me something while I was feeding my son. Clearly, my hands were full, and clearly my husband's were not. Why isn't he capable of taking in the information the nurse was giving as well as the object she was handing to me?

Since Eric has been home with us the past couple weeks, he's gone to these appointments and is perfectly well versed in every detail of his son's life. Eric can tell you the time of Luke's last diaper change and it's contents, how much he took at his last feeding, his weight, his length, and how many times he was up the night before. He knows how to comfort Luke, and his likes and dislikes. He even knows which preemie outfits we've outgrown and which actually fit. Eric is also very well aware of the special needs of a preemie and is very good about making sure others are aware of these needs as well, especially when they are visiting our home.

Not only has Eric embraced his role as a father, he has taken very good care of me, as my husband, as I have recovered from major surgery, lots of pain and a total sense of failure. He was the one who consoled me and gathered information as we braced ourselves for an emergency c-section 6 weeks before our due date. He's the one who has made sure that we followed every rule and took the safest way possible in my recovery. He was the one who spent several hours with our little one after he was born because I could not. He's the one that remembers the first day of Luke's life and gently reminds me of little details, because I cannot remember.

Now, I knew that Eric would be this kind of dad long before we had this little guy. My dad was that kind of dad, and my brothers will be that kind of dad. What I am discovering about fathers and society in general is that this knowledge, behavior and the importance of being able to advocate for your child as his FATHER is highly unusual. Why do I know this? Because most doctors and nurses will not acknowledge my husband when we are discussing HIS child. No one expects him to be able to answer when asked about the details. People are surprised when he can answer! Fathers are every bit as important to a child's development and care as the mother. With the exception of nursing, a father can (and in my opinion should) do everything that the mother can. Children are better for having fathers like that.

I am so proud of my husband for being an incredibly knowledgeable and involved father to our son and for being a loving, patient and incredibly helpful husband to me. Eric has most certainly earned his title of Daddy!

One tiny boy...

2010-07-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

We've now been home for 3 full days, and I'm in heaven. I was made to be this boy's mama. He is charming, patient, curious and so funny. I am wrapped around his tiny finger...and he knows it.

Somebody pinch me...

2010-07-08T00:16:00.000-04:00

This feels way too good to be true!

Let the meltdown begin...

2010-07-06T01:25:00.000-04:00

I honestly don't think that any parent is ever prepared for giving birth too early and sending their child to intensive care for weeks on end. I have felt more out of control and helpless these last two weeks than at any other time in my life. Nothing I can do will change the situation.

By tomorrow at about 1:00, I will have spent two weeks at Clarian North hospital. Five days spent recovering from an emergency c-section and the remainder in my son's room in the NICU. I have been home twice for a combined total of 2 hours and I am on a first name basis with the nurses from first and second shift in the NICU. Not only do they know Eric and me, they are all very familiar with Luke and his reputation for going through diapers like it's a job!

Last week, the neonatologist scolded me for spending entire days in my baby's room. I didn't even realize that it had been days since I had simply set foot outside and I hadn't had more than 3 hours of sleep (crappy sleep at that) since June 23! Since my husband is most definitely in agreement with the doctor over trying to get me out of the hospital at least once a day and trying to keep me off of my feet, I agreed to dinner out this evening followed by a night at home in my own bed.

Meltdown #1: Eric and I have been praying for Luke at his crib each evening. I realized as we pulled away from the hospital that we didn't do so before leaving this evening. Tears flowed....

Meltdown #2: My mother-in-law has been transporting laundry to and from the hospital as we've needed things. Since preemie clothes are like looking for a needle in a haystack - we have about 6 outfits and have to rotate. Since M-I-L left town this afternoon, we brought our own laundry back to the house tonight. I began to bawl when I smelled Luke's sleeper before tossing it in the washer.

Meltdown #3: We have a top of the line breast pump for me to use at home. I was only convinced to actually come home tonight because I could pump during the night and be back at the hospital very early in the morning. I got the pump and Medela pump kit out to find that parts were missing back at the hospital. More crying...followed by the sweetest husband on the planet driving all the way back to the hospital to get them for me.

Now, I'm really worried that I'm going to wake up at 3 or 4 am and beg Eric to take me back to the hospital.

I'm worn out!

The greatest blessing of them all...

2010-06-25T03:32:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: This is posted from my hospital room at 3am!

It's been a whirlwind week! Monday evening, I spent a healthy amount of time in the Emergency Room at the hospital because my blood pressure was high and rising, and I just didn't feel well. I was sent home (against our better judgement) by the doctor on call because "the bp was as low as they were going to get it". I thought that was interesting since they never gave me anything, or did any digging to find out what was going on. I left the hospital with a reading of 143/96. Better than it had been, but nowhere near my baseline.

Tuesday, I had my weekly NST and OB appt, and was immediately sent to the ER for high bp and fetal monitoring. The conclusion was better, but I was still surprised I was being sent home with a medicinal "solution" when Eric and I really didn't feel it was doing the trick.

Wednesday, I took the new dosage of the medication and monitored my BP every hour. It started at 143/93 and rose consistently until 2pm. Back to the ER I went, and after 4 hours of the same old thing and preeclampsia testing, I was admitted for complete bed rest. I was pretty uncomfortable all night because I felt so cruddy and had to stay in the same position constantly, but I was determined to stay pregnant with my baby at least another week.

Thursday morning, I went to the fetal medicine specialist for another bio-physical profile that Baby Miller failed. Scared to death for the safety of our child and for the fact that he wasn't moving or responding to ANY stimulation and our amniotic fluid was dangerously low, Eric and I agreed that it was time for him to be born. Two hours later, we were overwhelmed at the sound of our beautiful son's healthy cry!

Luke Andrew
4lbs 2oz
16.75 inches
1:39pm
June 24, 2010

Since I am at the hospital, I have no way to add photos, but I will take care of that this weekend. We are completely taken with this baby. He is a dream come true and quite the little fighter. He is very content and loves to be on his mommy or daddy's chest curled up and snuggled in. He has a nice crop of VERY dark brown hair and has dark blue eyes. We're learning to feed and Eric and I have a feeling that as soon as we get the hang of it, the nutrition it will provide will help him immensely as we work to take him home.

Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes. Luke will be home before we know it.

Bed Rest...

2010-06-22T17:41:00.001-04:00

I really thought I'd get to finish this pregnancy on my feet, but was ordered to bed rest for the remainder after more time at the hospital today. The positive part about it is that baby is handling everything really well, it's just my body that isn't. So from here on out, I've been ordered to lie flat on either side and not to do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g. I'm starting to panic as I look around my home (from a side-lying position) at all of the things that I need to do.

This is gonna be so fun...not.

Everyone's sleeping, but I'm still awake...

2010-06-22T01:01:00.001-04:00

We're keeping Eric's 13 (almost 14) year old cousin this week while she attends an art day camp at the Herron School. So, after a full night of tossing and turning with absolutely no sleep, I dozed very comfortably for about 3.5 hours after they left this morning for the drive downtown. Not a full rest, but enough to make me feel human again. After a full day of "getting the list checked off" at home (mainly in baby's room), I decided I most certainly did NOT feel well. You know, that throbbing headache, achy and exhausted feeling you get when you have the flu or something like it. I whipped out my handy dandy blood pressure cuff and tested. 162/105. The last time my BP was that high was August of last year, and there were other serious issues at play.

After a pointless and frustrating evening at the Labor and Delivery ER with a hungry, bored 13 year old who found every beep and monitor "annoying", we're home with no answers and no solutions. I do have a regularly scheduled appointment with my OB at 8:30, but I was amazed that the Dr. on call did nothing more than ask me to tell her why I was there and state that there wasn't anything she could do for me. Not even some medication to try to lower the numbers temporarily. Pathetic. My BP did come down (143/96), but for someone whose baseline has been something more like 122/80, a change that drastic and sudden is alarming. I guess we'll see what my doc says in the morning.

The worst part about it all is that I was told to go home and rest, but it's 1am and I'm wide awake with no hope of drowsiness or relaxation ahead.

Grounded...

2010-06-21T12:28:00.000-04:00

I'm stuck here:

But, I'm dying to be here:

Maybe next year!

The Fed-ex man made my day...

2010-06-18T18:29:00.000-04:00

You know your life is changing when you get giddy over the delivery of this:

Huge thanks to my brother-in-law for such a special and sure to be VERY well used gift! Baby Miller, Daddy and Mommy will spend lots of time here!

I'll take two, please!

2010-06-17T18:29:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Ashley for telling me where to buy pellet ice! $3 and one happy girl later - we have two large bags in our freezer!

Cravings...

2010-06-15T16:38:00.001-04:00

Lots of people have been asking me lately what my big cravings have been. I've been surprised not to have any major cravings throughout this pregnancy. I do tend to favor the occasional Sour Patch Kids, lemonade or a big bowl of fresh pineapple. I've also been known to have a desperate need for ice cream which comes on fast and furious. But, those things, while unusual for me, aren't totally off the wall desires.

At 33 weeks, what I'm struggling with craving-wise is having the unquenchable desire for pellet ice. It's hot outside, I'm supposed to drink fluids like there is no tomorrow, and I am addicted to pellet ice. It's great for a lot of reasons, like being porous and very easy to crunch without worrying that you're going to break a tooth. But, I've only found one place that has it: the McDonald's in Zionsville, and you have to go inside to get it. I know Sonic has it, but the closest Sonic is in Mooresville.

If you happen to stop by my house for a visit, consider swinging by McDonald's in Zionsville and grabbing me a large unsweetened tea. But, be sure to load the cup up with this lovely, refreshing, and oh-so-crunchable ice first! Baby and I will be very grateful!

Guilty pleasures...

2010-06-15T15:01:00.000-04:00

On the recommendation that I take it easy and "just incubate" for the next week or two, I've stocked up on viewing material. The first attempt was Avatar from Redbox. Someone at church recommended it, and although I really had no interest in seeing it, I figured that if that specific person liked it, I might too. Eric and I had dinner, then sat down to watch it. The first 20 minutes were pretty intriguing, but about 40 minutes in, I realized that Eric and I had both gotten up to start doing something else and the movie was still on in a room with no one in it. That's a clear sign that neither one of us likes a movie. So, off it went. We weren't impressed.

Now, on to my guilty pleasure.... About a year and a half ago, a girlfriend of mine got me started on Big Love. You know, the HBO series about the polygamist family in Utah. It's not at all realistic, but that's what's fun about it. I couldn't stop watching them! I got to the end of the second season back in 2008 and waited very patiently for the third one to run it's course on HBO (not a channel that we subscribed to) and make it's way to DVD. The DVD sells for something like $60 in stores, so I decided to hunt it down at the library. Guess how many other folks had the same idea? Over 300. The set came out in January. It's June and I finally have it and it's as ridiculous and juicy as ever!

Taking Suggestions...

2010-06-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

In about two weeks (or less), my fridge needs to be full of these:

Right now, it looks something like this:

Please share your suggestions for meals that freeze and reheat well. We're trying to prepare ourselves for d-day and I know that I will not feel like cooking anything postpartum. I really can't stand frozen pizza, and our latest attempts at trying out some of those skillet/frozen meals (i.e. Stouffer's Sweet and Sour Chicken - ewwww) haven't really worked for us; really only affirming my belief that homemade is always best. FYI, broccoli and I do not get along, and garlic is banned from our household for many of the same reasons. It's my intention (we'll see how far I get) to add a salad or veggie to each meal.

Share away....

33 weeks...

2010-06-10T17:46:00.001-04:00

We're starting our weekly OB appointments (yes, we're starting them early), and this week was a full one! Non-stress test (my new favorite kind of test), followed by a full sonogram, and a chat with our OB. I'm happy to say that there are no signs of gestational diabetes, and my blood pressure seems to be decent, although climbing. I feel like a hippo (and I look like one in the picture above), but I've only gained a total of 12 pounds. Go figure! Hopefully, I'll be one of those women that sheds that and then some in the weeks following birth!

What has caused concerned is that the amniotic fluid level has dropped significantly in two weeks time. And, the baby's abdomen is measuring smaller than it was two weeks ago, although the head is measuring a week ahead. We expected a small baby for several reasons, but it's getting to the point where the growth isn't quite where it should be and I'm not gaining weight at the rate that I "should be".

At our appointment next week, we'll look at all of this again and begin to determine what next steps are. If fluid levels have dropped again and growth is tapering off more, we'll have to look at our options. There will come a point that it will be more detrimental for the baby to be in the womb than out because my body will just decide that it's finished. This makes me feel like such a failure, but I keep telling myself that, no matter what, the fact that we have gotten this far healthily, and our baby is healthy is all that matters. Like I've said before, we are incredibly grateful to be under the care of a wonderful high risk specialist who is doing everything right in anticipating and handling these issues. Our goal is to get to 37 weeks (only about 3 weeks away), so our prayers are that we can hold out that long without any significant issues.

End of an era...

2010-06-09T20:14:00.000-04:00

When I was in high school, I fought my dad more than once on moving to another city. Once, I even swore that if he decided to move the family, I'd move in with Melanie Miller and he could leave me behind. When we moved to Louisville (our 4th move in my lifetime), he had promised me that I could at least finish high school in the same place. Fifteen years have come and gone, and it's pretty cool to be able to say that all 5 Weaver kids have the same high school alma mater.

That's right, Mom. Five.

Can't you think of a better adjective than cute?

2010-06-07T21:51:00.000-04:00

Our first baby shower was a couple of weeks ago. Not only is this baby going to be well dressed, there are a lot of people that are incredibly excited for his/her arrival. The shower was packed with some really special people; some of which I haven't seen since our wedding over 3 years ago. Obviously, my mom keeps them very up to date because I was asked some very detailed questions about things I had forgotten about myself!

Weaver girls

My Grandma Turner (can you believe that she's 82?!) my mom, my sister, me, my Aunt Linda, and my cousin Caroline

The beautiful display of desserts

(cheesecake w/ sour cream and berries and Derby Pie - a Louisville tradition - with amaretto)

I was a little disturbed by the 100+ year old china doll lying the the middle of the table. But, Mom told me that it's a high society, southern tradition and insisted we get pictures with it. Evidently, the thing is worth more than my car. It's still scary looking.

Rachel taking note of all of the beautiful gifts

#400

2010-06-03T17:16:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe that this is post number 400! We started this blog when we got married and moved to Washington D.C., and I think it continues to serve a great purpose as friends and family are able to check in on a regular basis. I can't imagine making that many phone calls to update people, especially once Baby Miller arrives!

This week has taken everything I have emotionally, and physically. My little sister, who was never supposed to be older than 4 graduated from high school and tomorrow flies off to North Carolina to spend the summer interning at church camp. Today has been no picnic, but I can't help but think that God is trying get me to look at things differently. Nearly a year ago, I was dealing with the possiblity of leaving a full-time job for a part-time job doing what I love. I did just that and have enjoyed every moment. Today, I'm anticipating the long awaited and longed for arrival of a new family member, and have no idea what lies ahead professionally. To be honest, all Eric and I really want is for this baby and our family to be my "profession" and top priority. I've been wondering all day if that's even possible.

This afternoon, I had a follow up appointment with my cardiologist. The last time I saw him, I was 18 weeks pregnant, and because the weather still called for layers, it was easy for my pregnancy to remain a secret. Because that man knows details of the struggle, what was keeping us from being parents and he's watched me cry in frustration, I think he is as happy about getting to 32 weeks as we are. I had an excellent EKG today (my last one was a bit strange), was told that my "ankles look fantastic for 32 weeks" and that I can back off of one of my medications. Before he left the room he smiled and said "Lots of people shouldn't be parents, but you deserve this so much and will be an outstanding mother." What a compliment!

When it was evident that parenthood wouldn't come without a fight, I spent some time being angry and jealous. Angry that we wanted it so much and it wasn't working. Angry that people had the audacity to tell me "We could get pregnant without even trying!" Angry at people who complained about how hard it is to care for a baby. Jealous of people who had "accidents" and were not even sure they wanted children. God quickly turned those emotions into a desire to follow His will and plan. We considered (and still consider) adoption, and I grieved a little bit over never knowing what it would feel like to carry a child. Boy did things change when Eric and I got on the same page about what God wanted for us. It is only by His grace and guidance that I found and have been under the care of one of the best high-risk pregnancy specialists in the country, an excellent endocrinologist and cardiologist.

Becoming and staying pregnant hasn't come without it's struggles, endless tests, needles and medications. But, being someone who never thought she'd look down at a wiggly belly full of baby at 32 weeks, I am humbled and will be forever grateful that God decided to give us this baby.

Sign of the times...

2010-06-01T12:40:00.000-04:00

Every night, Eric reads to me from the daily pregnancy book that we have. We're on day 3 of week 32. It goes in to great detail about Mom's development and baby's development and we've loved sharing the information every night before bed. Last night, he finished with "Soon, you'll be back to normal brain function." I was just sure he'd made that up! Sure enough, that was the last sentence for that page on week 32. I gave him a hard time, but not before both of us burst into laughter.

I'm told that I'll never be back to normal brain function. Whatever that is....

Birthdays and Baby Showers...

2010-05-24T17:00:00.001-04:00

Last weekend was loaded full of fun and celebration! It has taken me all day today to get back on track and feel like I'm recovering!

Eric's birthday was Saturday, and I loaded his day full of surprises and gifts. He got breakfast in bed, lunch wherever he wanted, an adorable child's chair that he's been talking about from Target for quite a while, dinner downtown at Harry&Izzy's, and tickets to the Lady Antebellum concert next month. I made up a lame but, somewhat believeable story about needing to pick something up downtown and desperately needing a pit stop in the restaurant before we went any further. While I was in the restroom, his mom and dad appeared in the lobby. We ended the day with cake at home.

This is what Daisy did all day:

Sunday, I had an early morning at church and then jumped in the car to ~~speed~~ drive to Louisville for our first baby shower. I was overwhelmed at how many sweet people came to visit and share in the celebration of this little one, some of which I haven't gotten to spend time with since our wedding. I have never seen so many precious and absolutely gorgeous baby items! However, the treat in all of it was spending time with my sweet family and dear friends.

Realizations...

2010-05-20T17:46:00.001-04:00

1. I can no longer move like I once could. Every effort to become upright takes about 3 minutes from start to finish. I cannot walk through a store or up the street quickly (like I used to) without getting winded and feeling overheated.

2. I think...no, I know that my hips are a least 4 inches wider than they used to be. If they aren't, then I need an eye exam and different pants. In addition to feeling and looking wider, I feel like someone has taken a stretcher to my pelvis. Ouch.

3. It has taken me a very long time to feel an attachment to my child, but I honestly had tears and a tight chest while walking through a baby section today. I was quite surprised by it.

4. I really do not like the color orange and brown in baby clothes. There is something tacky about it. Maybe it's just the combinations I've seen so far?

5. In about a month and a half, Eric and I will never be alone again.

6. I average 16 bathroom trips in a day (that's a good day).

7. I have found stretch marks and it makes me want to cry. I am lucky that they've only appeared in inconspicuous places (and sparingly).

8. I think ice cream is a gift from God.

9. I am silently freaking out that we have absolutely no baby furniture in this house.

10. I am worried that my parents aren't going to be "into" this grandparent thing and we'll only see them twice a year like my grandparents.

11. We're going to be somebody's parents.

Welcome Baby Tooley!

2010-05-17T13:56:00.001-04:00

Our dear friends, Ben and Jessica, welcomed their second little one into the family last Tuesday. Genevieve Marie Tooley joins big brother Evan! She is very tiny at 5lbs 2 oz and 17 inches, but is very healthy and as pretty as can be!

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

2010-05-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

I took a little trip to the Salvation Army store on Tuesday. You never know what you'll find in a place like that because in reality, most of it is just junk. I searched through the aisles just waiting for a treasure to pop out at me. I was totally thrilled when a little parsons chair sitting in the corner jumped out at me. It was dirty, it was dingy. It smelled like it had spent many years in a smoky, dark bowling alley. In fact, the smell was so strong that I had to take a break while cleaning it. Despite all of that, the chair is in great shape. The wood is solid and not too much in need of some refinishing (or painting). But, for only $3, I knew I had ideas for this little chair.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a before picture. But, you're free to enjoy the finished product...

A great helper...

2010-05-13T20:05:00.000-04:00

29 weeks and counting...

2010-05-13T15:52:00.001-04:00

Is it funny or sad?

2010-05-07T16:50:00.000-04:00

I find this totally hysterical (if you haven't seen Baby Mama, you should).

I wasn't sure, however, whether my husband's similar fascination with the breast pumps at Target recently was quite so hysterical. He's done this. He's also held them up to the place that they're meant for (on me and himself) and made noises. I did laugh, and I did pray that no one saw it as I begged him to knock it off. It's funny now, but I'm sure he'll know better when I feel like a Dairy Cow.

Life, currently

2010-05-06T23:49:00.001-04:00

Painting - Round 1

(just for the added effect, I will tell you that he was singing "Hey Soul Sister" over and over again - not the whole song, just the verse "Hey Soul Sister")

How many folks does it take to move a couch? There were 6 here and Sam, Sabrina (in her baby carrier) and I observed.

Painting Round 1 - finished (but still taped)

Painting - Round 2 finished master bedroom

Painting - Round 3 finished master bathroom

Baby Miller's room is finished and Daddy did an excellent job. But we won't be sharing those photos any time soon since the color tends to give away the secret.

Next up: Guest Bedroom, Guest Bathroom, and the Study

Eventually: Kitchen (will be a beast to paint), and Dining Room

Painting goes well with a little Gloria...

2010-04-30T11:29:00.002-04:00

This morning, Eric took trip 45,231 to Lowes to order a storm door for the back of our house. When he came home, he was quietly taping the living room for a coat of paint when I heard him start to sing this:

I asked him if he'd heard it on the radio in the car. He said "No, I heard it in Lowe's."

Painting goes well with a little Gloria, and we spend WAY too much time in Lowe's.

Captain Obvious...

2010-04-21T18:07:00.001-04:00

Can I tell you something you probably already know? Moving blows.

Can I tell you something you probably could have easily guessed? Moving while 6.5 months pregnant REALLY blows.

I don't want to sound ungrateful or snotty, because I am so blessed to be in this situation! Really, I am. But I'm ready to burst into tears. All I have managed to pack is the top half of my closet (sweaters), our dvds, a bag for Goodwill, and 4 trash bags full of stuff to pitch. I'm exhausted and my lower back is screaming at me. I'm not totally sure, but as I was taking a large bag to the dumpster, I'm almost positive I had a couple very painful contractions. So, I quit for today. That's about all we need right now - a preemie in the NICU. I can take a hint.

If this is any indication of how the next few days is going to go, this may be a disaster. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Is this your house? Why, yes! Yes, it is!

2010-04-20T01:02:00.003-04:00

This afternoon at 4pm, we we handed two sets of keys to our very own, brand new home. We were so excited when we got there that we ended up spending a good 20 minutes just walking through it and looking at things. We celebrated with Dairy Queen and by buying paint at Lowes. Eric is currently at the house finishing up the paint job on our baby's room. I was only allowed to stay long enough to see one single swipe of paint on a wall, just to be sure I was still in love with the color. (Oh yes!) Then, I was quickly shut out of the room and sent home. I'm sad because I love to paint and I'd love to be spending this time with my favorite guy. But, I'm banished until the fumes are gone. What can I say, my husband is very protective.

Don't ask to see pictures of this particular room until Baby Miller makes his/her appearance later this summer. We have family members who (to my delight) still do not know the gender of this baby and we'd like to keep it that way mainly for my amusement and to prove how much fun a delivery surprise is.

I will, however, share lots of other rooms once the painting is finished. Stay tuned....

It's been a (long) fantastic day!

26 weeks

2010-04-18T00:22:00.001-04:00

You tell me, but I don't see much of a difference between this and the last photo. (Please disregard my washed out/tired appearance - I really was having a good day!) I will tell you, though, that I feel a huge difference and it involves my belly button, my ribs, the ability to finish a meal and the ability to catch my breath!

Funny story: When we were first married and had moved to DC, we lived with Matt (Eric's older brother) for a few months. Matt is every bit a bachelor, and has some habits that made (make) us laugh. The first Sunday morning we were there, we woke up to Sinatra's version of "Strangers in the Night", and Matt serenading, at full volume, his black lab Rowdy. We later found out that this is a Sunday morning ritual.

Our baby is fairly active in the evening, from 9:30 to about midnight. It makes it hard for me to go to bed, but it's a great opportunity for Daddy to get in on the action. However, Eric has found that when his hands go to my tummy, the movement stops. Bashful baby.

So, Daddy's solution? He sang "Strangers in the Night". The baby either loved it or hated it, because Eric got quite a show.

Homes, Abodes, Dwellings, Residences...Oh boy!

2010-04-11T22:57:00.002-04:00

In the past three weeks, I think I have learned more than I ever thought I wanted to know about:

- searching for a home
- finding the perfect home (we're pretty darn lucky on this one)
- making an offer
- purchase agreements
- fiduciary obligations
- counter offers
- appraisals
- home inspections
- energy efficiency standards
- Good Faith Estimates
- mortgage applications
- debt to income ratios
- closing costs
- amortization schedules
- 401-Ks as liquid assets (they're not, by the way)
- walk-throughs
- new appliances
- closings
- the more times I sign my name, the worse it looks
- property taxes
- property tax exemptions
...and so much more

And, somehow I'm glad to know all of it. It's been totally worth it to be the proud (and informed) owners of this! We close on April 19th, and we're out of our minds excited!

Now, we're going to learn about paint colors, fencing, power tools, lawn mowers, weed eaters, window treatments, room arrangement, and much, much more.

Happy Easter...

2010-04-03T12:38:00.000-04:00

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect spotless righteousness

The great unchangeable I AM

The King of Glory and of grace

One in Himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

How do you like your Cheez-its?

2010-03-31T12:06:00.000-04:00

Evidently, I like mine chilly.

Welcome to the newest mindless habit of pregnancy. It's not the first time I've done this, and I am willing to bet that it won't be the last. Thank goodness for a sweet husband with a great sense of humor. He's started snapping pictures of my insanity.

Offer Accepted!

2010-03-31T12:01:00.000-04:00

Our offer was countered, but it was something we could totally live with and had expected. We signed the builders papers and the purchase agreement yesterday and now we're taking steps toward finalizing our loan and closing. I didn't sleep well last night (I spent 2am-6am in Eric's chair), and for the first time in several nights, I know it wasn't all because of Baby Miller.

Our new home is a "new build", one of about 4 that the builder had left. It's a Signature Series home, so it has lots of upgrades, vaulted ceilings in several rooms, and cobblestone on the outside instead of all vinyl. The front door will be black and I believe they will add black shutters to the front window. The yard will be sodded and seeded the end of this week, so I expect that by this weekend things will look pretty different. Although, I think it's kind of fun to see big piles of dirt in the yard. It makes you appreciate the transformation that much more!

My heart rate is a little high today...

2010-03-29T10:16:00.000-04:00

We're making our first offer on a new home!

Prayers accepted and appreciated!

New Camera...

2010-03-27T09:31:00.000-04:00

Thanks so much for the suggestions on the camera not too long ago. We ended up with this:

Since our "big camera" is a Canon and we've liked it so much, we decided to go with the same brand as opposed to the Kodak Easy Share or the Nikon. It's simple, lightweight, and takes some pretty fantastic pictures. Yay!

Blast from the past...

2010-03-25T10:46:00.000-04:00

When I was a child, fun food was not part of my parents' grocery list. When other kids were getting Pop-tarts, Kool-aid Bursts, Gushers, Star Crunch and Capri-Sun, we had generic bulk cereal, milk and water. I didn't even know what soda was until adolescence. My health, bones and teeth are grateful for these decisions, based mainly off of the fact that convenience food in small packaging x 5 kids (including 3 growing boys) was not in any way practical or super tight budget friendly. Every now and then my mom would buy the "family size" oatmeal cream pies and because my brothers were wild about them they would be gone in oh...something like a day.

One exception to this rule was Toaster Strudel. Maybe once a year (or less) my mom or dad would splurge on ONE box of Toaster Strudel. Considering that there are 6 in a box, you took your time enjoying that one little breakfast pastry. My favorite was always raspberry.

Imagine the transportation back to 1987, when I was grocery shopping the other day and saw that Toaster Strudel were 10 for $10. I've become a lot like my parents in that I buy fresh ingredients and staples as opposed to pre-packaged meals/snacks. So we don't indulge in the fun stuff much in our home either. For childhood's sake, I bought a box of blueberry and raspberry. Eric wasn't as excited as I was since he grew up with the fun stuff (and soda), but he appreciated my nostalgia. I had one this morning, and it was every bit as fun as I remember!

Kids these days...

2010-03-22T13:29:00.000-04:00

It's fairly obvious that I like being around teenagers. Otherwise, why would I be a high school youth director? I love that they're like sponges; soaking up all kinds of information (good and bad) and trying to process it. I love that some of them go after their faith like it's something they cannot live without. And, I love that they are so honest and so ready to love. But, I was a little disturbed this weekend to see teenagers that don't exhibit these qualities.

I know they've always existed, and that everyone and every generation has groups that don't fit the description. But, what I've noticed is that these kids have more trouble relating to each other and to the public than a hermit! They can't order food at a restaurant. They can't tell a concierge what room they're in or call a front desk for more towels. They can't make eye contact with anyone. They cannot articulate what it is they think or feel about something they just saw or experienced. They trash a hotel room and when asked to clean up say "That's the maid's job." (I know. This isn't a new one.)

However, put a cell phone, Nintendo DS or Facebook in front of these same kids and they are different people. Ask them the plot of each and every Harry Potter or Twilight movie/book and they are scholars. Cynicism, concern for only yourself and the concept that no one could possibly know more about anything than you are on the menu regularly (I know these aren't new either).

Why is this so bad? Why are these kids so incredibly unhappy all the time? Why can't they enjoy the company of others if it's not on a computer or by text message? Why am I increasingly disappointed each time I have spent time with some of these kids?

Happy Birthday...

2010-03-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

18 years ago today, this girl was born:

18 years ago, I became a big sister to the prettiest baby girl on the planet! She was so petite, so quiet and so beautiful. As a newborn, she was so alert and bright eyed as she was passed around to her three big brothers and big sister. We were in heaven!

She's the lighthearted, loyal, full of compassion and serious about her faith kind of girl that everyone wants to be friends with. She has certainly changed my life for the better.

Happy 18th Birthday Rachel Elise! I love you so!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood...

2010-03-17T16:52:00.001-04:00

I snapped this picture on a walk that I took earlier this morning. I only wish I'd been able to capture the gorgeous fountain that was right behind me without the fear of being run over in the middle of a roundabout.

With the frigid temperatures and wetness over the past few months, I fully believe that God gave us winter that we may better enjoy and appreciate springtime. Everything about today is beautiful! The air smells so fresh and clean, the sun feels incredible on the skin, and the blue sky makes you want to sit outside until the sun goes down. But, isn't that just like life? We experience winter in our hearts and minds, but it only makes the springtime and the happy times so much sweeter!

Cameras...

2010-03-15T10:51:00.000-04:00

We have a really nice, really expensive camera. It has been such a blessing over the past 3 years because we've been able to document our life together with some fantastic pictures. But the thing about this camera is - it's big and bulky. It's not a great camera for quick snapshots out in public or around the house, and I can't imagine trying to lug it around with a baby.

My birthday is this Friday and what I'd really like is a small camera that I could throw in my purse (or diaper bag - whoa, did I just say that and mean it?) and have with me at all times. I'm not a huge fan of Kodak Easy Share, but I know that for the price they're pretty good.

So tell me - what are your suggestions of smaller, affordable cameras that are reliable and take decent photos?

The verdict is in...

2010-03-12T11:59:00.000-05:00

The baby verdict is in, after our "big ultrasound" this morning. However, the goods are sealed in an envelope in Eric's possession somewhere in downtown Indy. My mom called this morning and was practically giddy.

Mom: "Do I get an envelope?"

Me: "No, Mom. We'll tell you guys on the 27th."

Mom: "Kathryn, I can't wait that long!!!"

Me: "I can't help you. We don't even know what it is right now since the envelope is sealed!"

Mom: "Ugh. Okay.... But you know this is torture."

Me: "I guess."

I could have sworn that I saw "boy parts" this morning. But, evidently I was looking at the umbilical cord. Maybe, maybe not.

All in all, we're so thrilled to report that this baby is perfectly healthy, right on schedule (give or take a few days) and quite stubborn. We have to go back in 4 weeks for another ultrasound since baby never came out of his/her balled up position. We did, however, see him/her in the Superman pose, and sucking a thumb. Bliss!

Fab 5 Fridays...

2010-03-12T11:49:00.001-05:00

It's Friday again? Thank goodness! Joining Emily in her Fab Five Fridays. This is the time of the week when I can stop and give thanks for the little things in life. Even a girl who prides herself in not caring too much for the tangible things of this world needs to admit there are just some things that make my life a little more fabulous from time to time.

1. My Pet Vaccuum - It's hard to get a break from the H-A-I-R that comes with a German Shepherd. She is SO worth it, but the extra moo-lah we spent on this thing was, too!

2. Redken Quick Dry Spray - If you have thick, never been processed, hair like me, you'll agree with me when I say that - IT TAKES FOREVER TO DRY! I can spend 20 minutes trying to get my hair completely dry. And that's not including the time it takes to style it. I have no idea how it works, nor do I care, but it cuts the time in half.

3. Max Lucado - Grace for the Moment Daily Calendar - It is amazing to me that each time I flip this little calendar to the next day, I read exactly what I need to read in that very moment. It's exactly what it says it is - Grace for the Moment.

4. My husband - I know he's not a "thing" but my life wouldn't be as sweet or as wonderful without him. He definitely makes life easier! He brings me back down to planet Earth when I need it, and he is so special that he can make me want to dance in the rain.

5. Target Pharmacy - I recently transferred all of my prescriptions to Target. I had heard some great things about them and I was so fed up with CVS that I'd try about anything. Since doing so, I've saved probably 30-40% on my prescriptions and I can renew them online!

What 5 things make your life easier?

20 weeks...

2010-03-10T16:34:00.002-05:00

Baby Miller (or Little - as Aunt Judy calls him/her) is busy growing and wiggling and I'm loving every moment! What a wonderful blessing this pregnancy is!

You can't make this stuff up...

2010-03-09T11:00:00.001-05:00

Here is a rundown of my most recent (crazy) dream:

Eric took me to dinner...on the moon. Randy Newman was entertaining dinner guests by playing "Short People". We fell off and drifted off into space when the "fake gravity" ran out.

Needless to say, I woke up laughing...and a little freaked out. Anyone care to take a stab at why I had this dream and what it means? The only thing I can come up with is that I'm totally losing it.

Getting on my nerves

2010-03-07T23:34:00.002-05:00

Laid up in the hospital is not exactly how I had wanted to spend my Saturday, but that's where we ended up after some very persistent and uncomfortable back pain that later migrated to my abdomen. The doctor that was on call was fantastic and saw me right away. She did all of the right things to make sure that our baby was healthy and in no form of distress. I can handle pain, but I would never have forgiven myself if I had just chalked it up to muscle pain when the real issue could have been with baby.

It seems as if Baby Miller really enjoys shoving him/herself way over into my right side and hang out on top of a nerve or two. It's a position that occurs regularly because I recognize it. Needless to say, I haven't been any form of comfortable for a couple of days. But, that's okay as long as it means that our baby is happy.

So I guess now, I can truly mean it when I say - my baby is getting on my nerves.

Fab 5 Fridays...

2010-03-05T17:53:00.001-05:00

Fab 5 Friday is a day to share 5 things that make life easier:

1. Wristlet Key Fobs - I used to drop my keys all the time, which is bad if you have a nice electronic car key. Now, I wrap this thing around my wrist and I'm good to go no matter how full my hands get. If you love it and want one, the best deals and cutest patterns are on Etsy.

2. My Iced Tea Maker - 10 minutes, 3 quarts of water, some ice and 4 family sized tea bags is all it takes for great tea.

3. My Wallflowers - I'm not a huge fan of Bath & Body for the body. But I love their scents as hand soap and home fragrance. I plug one of these into a couple rooms and my home always smells nice for about 3 months. My favorite scents are Dancing Water, Fresh Linen, and White Tea and Ginger. I appreciate them even more when B&BW has a 2 for $5 on refills.

4.Cooking Light magazine/website. I've lost count of how many times I've used this magazine/website to help me come up with something tasty and healthy. I've never been disappointed. And, when they say quick meals in 15-20-30 minutes, it really is that simple.

5. Pilates for Pregnancy - They don't eliminate every ache and pain, but they certainly help me feel much better than I think I would if I didn't do them.

What makes your life easier?

Halfway!

2010-03-04T15:11:00.000-05:00

It is blowing my mind that we will be 20 weeks tomorrow! It doesn't feel like it's been that long, but that it's just now starting to sink in. I've had a lot of people start asking me how I'm feeling, along with the regular "Do you have a name?", "Do you know the gender?", and "Can I touch your belly?". The answer to each of these is: no.

In honor of the halfway point, I thought I'd post a few things that have made me smile over the last 20 weeks:

Feeling GREAT! I feel wonderful and although my tummy is more "rotund" than ever before, I'm starting to become pretty proud of it. (Please remind me of this at about 6-8 weeks postpartum or when I'm emotional about baby weight.)
Feeling movement. Baby Miller is a wiggler. If I could demonstrate what I think he/she is doing in there, it would look something like this. I love it!
Learning to love naps. I never liked naps before. Now, I don't think I can function after 4:00 if I don't have one.
A new sense of kinship with my mom. She's done this 5 times, and is an expert in my opinon. Even though she gives me some kooky advice, it's been fun to talk about this stuff with her.
Eric's excitement. I've never seen a guy so excited to be a dad. It's so sweet and refreshing.
Eric's insistence on walking through the baby section of any store we're in. We've found some really cute, and really cheap stuff!
Daisy's intution that things are different and changing. She's kind of clingy and very snuggly. I've caught her on our bed 5 times now, always on my side with her head on my pillow.
The kindness and support of family and friends. We've received some precious and priceless gifts that we will treasure the rest of our lives.
The warmth of our church family. Some of them are as excited for this baby as we are.

What I didn't expect and has really surprised me:

How hard it is to sleep at night, even in early pregnancy
The utter hatred some other pregnant women have for their husbands. Some of them, I can understand, because some people just don't need to procreate. But some of them really need to lighten up.
My cravings for Sour Patch Kids, artichokes and pineapple
How hard it is to find petite maternity pants
How hard it would be to GAIN weight. I've only gained 3 pounds so far. Because my doctor doesn't seem to be worried about this, I'm considering this a good problem to have.
The opinions. The gosh-darn opinions! And the people who force them down your throat.
Waddling. I waddle, you guys. And it's not pretty.

Our "big ultrasound" is next week, so I'll try to post photos then. Until then, I need some advice. I have major, major hip pain (gotta love those loose joints) when I sleep on my side. I am a side sleeper, so that's the most comfortable position for me. But, I always wake up in pain after a few hours. I've tried a pillow between the legs, and one under my hip, but it's not working. I appreciate any insight you mommies out there may have! What was your favorite and most comfortable way to sleep while you were pregnant? Did you buy a body pillow? Did you sleep in a recliner?

Chicken Pasta Salad

2010-03-03T10:13:00.006-05:00

Chicken Pasta Salad

2 cups - cooked penne pasta
1 cup - quartered cherry tomatoes
1 pkg. (4 oz.) - crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup - italian dressing
1/3 cup - lightly packed fresh or dried basil
1/4 cup - chopped red onions (I usually leave these out)
1/4 cup - chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
1/2 lb. - boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

Combine and toss all ingredients except the chicken. Top with sliced chicken and serve.

I believe that this makes about 4 generous servings (a little more than a cup) at 290 calories per serving.

White Chicken Chili

2010-03-02T08:30:00.000-05:00

If I remember correctly, this recipe is quite similar to one that my friend Christy (the amazing mom of triplet boys, plus a 3.5 year old) posted a while ago. Mine is a little different, but they're both delicious. Make it while it's still chilly outside!

White Chicken Chili
1 pkg. McCormick White Chili Mix
2 cans cannellini beans
1 can cream corn
1 can sweet corn
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 cup sour cream
2 lbs. chicken breast - chopped into small cubes

Boil your chicken until cooked through. Dump all of ingredients into the Crock-Pot on low heat and add about 2 cups of water. Simmer long enough to heat through. Serve with a sprinkle of your favorite shredded cheese.

Sharing my faves...

2010-03-01T14:35:00.002-05:00

So, I guess it's not entirely fair for me to expect friends and family to share their recipes with me when I haven't shared my favorites. I may be burnt out on the ones I use most often, but that doesn't mean that others wouldn't enjoy them.

Crock-Pot Orange Chicken

1 1/2 cups Chicken Stock
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
3/4 cup orange marmalade
4 green onions, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
About 2 lbs of chicken (any part will work)
1/2 cup yellow mustard
Hot cooked rice

1.Stir the stock, soy sauce, mustard, marmalade, 1/4 cup green onions and cornstarch in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the chicken and turn to coat.

2.Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with the rice. Or -if you're short on time, cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours instead.

*If you're not fond of mustard or you find this recipe to tart/tangy, add a little bit of orange juice in place of some of the marmalade. But, don't use less than about 1/2 cup of marmalade or your sauce will be runny. But, hey, if you like runny sauce - go for it!

More goodies to come....

Calling all cooks...

2010-03-01T11:51:00.000-05:00

I'm totally burnt out on my recipes. I need your suggestions for low sodium, generally healthy meals that I can make fairly quickly. I'd really like to find a few Crock-Pot goodies, since I'm going to have to retire my regulars for a few months (we're sick of tortilla soup, white chili and the others that I've regularly made). Nothing like leaving food in a slow cooker and coming back to a finished meal in a few hours, right?

Leave a comment with your favorite recipe site, cookbook or your favorite recipe. If you'd rather email, just let me know and I'll send you my address.

I've been hit...

2010-02-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

It officially hit me this week. A rush of pure panic swept through me and the only thought I could hear was "Holy poo. We're really having a baby."

To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to pan out. I mean, it never has before, right? I know that sounds terrible, but, it's true. I was expecting to lose this pregnancy, just like the others. Now that we're halfway to the end, I feel the baby on a regular basis, and I look undeniably pregnant, I am starting to freak a little bit. I don't feel like I can't care for an infant. That part doesn't cause me panic. It's the way my body is going to look afterward, with the birth part and what in the world to expect, with the being parents and FULLY responsible for a helpless tiny life, with the money, with the raising a happy and loving child, with the moving in May. That's not all, but that's the main stuff that freaks me out a little bit.

So, I decided to tell Eric how I was feeling. He's been so cool about all of this. In fact, I've never seen a guy be so excited and at ease to become a father. He's definitely ready for it. I figured that he'd know how to make me feel better. He usually does. So last night, I said "Doesn't this terrify you even a little bit?" Wouldn't you know - he very matter-of-factly said no!

"Why not!?", I asked. "Because I've got you and, I know you're going to be a great mom. We'll work through it all together" he said.

It didn't solve my problem. But it certainly made me smile. Here's to trying my best to prove him right.

Enumerator...

2010-02-25T16:53:00.001-05:00

Eric and I have decided that we both want me to stay at home with this baby. Eric's salary allows us to do that with a little bit of flexibility, and we are both thrilled. It's a dream come true for both of us. I will still keep my church job, but since the hours I'm with kids are on Sundays or weeknights and I can do the little extras at home, Eric will be home when I need to be at church. It's a perfect way for me to keep doing a job I love, and still be at home with our little one.

I've been looking for extra ways to earn a little bit of income before this summer rolls around and baby is here. The government is hiring people part-time for census (or enumerator) jobs for 8-10 weeks starting in March. Considering my last post and its title, it's funny that I tested for one in Cicero this afternoon. Lots of numbers, math and organizational questions. I'll get my score back in a week, but it was super easy. I guess I do do little numbers. It pays $15 an hour and you can pretty much name your schedule. So I think for 10 weeks at a temporary job, you just can't do any better.

I don't know why I was surprised at the way the afternoon unfolded, or the folks that were test taking with me, but I was certainly amused.

Enjoy a few fun facts about my afternoon:

- I was the only person who showed up with the correct paperwork
- I was the only person who showed up with 2 proper forms of identification
- I was the only person who could locate my county, city and street on a map
- I had to argue with the gov't employee that Carmel is not in Marion County
- There were only 3 of us who didn't fill out the form in the area that said "For Office Use Only"
- The proctor weighed about 500 pounds and knocked over 3 chairs while he was walking through the room monitoring the test (is it mean that I couldn't help but giggle?)
- The proctor read the test instructions in what he called his "Darth Vader test voice"
- One man was asked to leave because he kept asking the girl next to him what her answers were, out loud
- Three people left without their passports/social security card
- One man brought in a beer to drink while taking his test

Don't you just love people?

I don't do numbers...

2010-02-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

My husband and I are very different people. We have different personalities, different strengths, and different weaknesses. I do better with words and artistic subjects, and he's better with numbers, engineering type things and analyzing just about anything. Sometimes we both get frustrated with it, but I really do think that it's in our best interest that this is the way it is. After all, we had nothing to do with these abilities and the one who did knew exactly what He was doing.

I do have to say that when my husband sits down to crank out our taxes and does it with such ease, finding way after way for us to keep a little more in our pocket, I am in awe. I think I've already thanked him for doing them four times. It's not that I think I'm incapable, I'm just really grateful for his expertise and willingness. He doesn't complain (because really, who likes doing taxes?) and he even tells me little bits of information about what he's doing to make me feel like I'm involved.

Thank you God, for NOT giving me the gift of numbers, because I really love my husband.

Advice

2010-02-18T19:58:00.002-05:00

My mom is definitely in a position to give pregnancy related advice. After all, she's (naturally) birthed, breastfed and raised 5 kids. But, I just had to roll my eyes and laugh when I realized that the weirdest advice I've gotten so far came from her!

Mom: You know the white stuff when you peel an orange?

Me: You mean the peel?

Mom: Well, kind of. The white stringy stuff.

Me: Yeah.

Mom: Pregnant women should eat that stuff. I read somewhere that it's really good for you.

Me: Can't I just peel and eat an orange?

Mom: No, you're supposed to eat the white stuff.

Me: I think I'll take my chances on that one. That sounds pretty nasty.

Dad: Yeah, and while you're at it, chew on a few banana peels.

I'm no bio-chemist...

2010-02-17T14:52:00.002-05:00

...but I can now describe what's wrong with me. Ha!

After several hours at the hospital, and a whole bunch of bloodwork (I'm wondering if there is any left in my veins!), we're a few steps closer to figuring out the problem. There is a problem, but I am relieved to say that I was thrilled with my new Endocrinologist (she's a specialist in endocrinological disorders in pregnancy). She spent 45 minutes with me explaining the details of the functions (and dysfunctions) of the thyroid, going over each piece of my labs and their timeline, and explaining why my OB was alarmed when she saw the labwork on Monday.

All in all, I've never been more relieved to know the details of a problem. What isn't making sense (bear with me) is that normal thyroid function follows the High Low or Low High pattern. For example, if your Free T3, Free T4, and Total T4 are high, your TSH is going to be low. If your Free T3, Free T4, and Total T4 are low, your TSH is going to be high. The ranges of normal are different for each person, but the pattern remains the same. All of a sudden, my labs are most definitely NOT following this pattern. Right now, all of my numbers are "out of range" high. Some of this is to be expected in pregnancy, but like I said, there is more to it pattern-wise. This makes it difficult to determine how to adjust my medication to solve the issue and means that my pituitary gland is somehow very confused. Now, this is a very simple and non-scientific explanation for what's going on so don't quote me on it. There are more specific terms and big words to go with it all, but this is the most basic way to describe it.

So, for now, I'll be monitored weekly and as long as numbers don't spike or plummet, I'm told that we don't need to panic or worry for our baby's safety. Even though the problem is not solved, God has given us some real peace for this situation. Thank you all for your prayers! We appreciate them more than you know!

Must it be Monday?

2010-02-15T15:12:00.002-05:00

I was on such a high this morning when I woke up and started my day. I had a good OB appointment on Friday, got 3 FULL DAYS of uninterrupted time with my sweet husband, we'd begun to think about registering for some baby things, and we even talked about decorating a nursery. I realized that this weekend was the first time I had let my worry go and begun to embrace the thought of a new baby in our family. I was enjoying talking about it with Eric and it felt like such a relief.

I was brought back down to earth after a phone call from the nurse at my OB's office. The bloodwork they did on Friday came back and my thyroid levels were severely elevated. My AFP test results hadn't come back yet, but they wanted to get me into a Endocrinologist as soon as possible. I understand that thyroid levels elevate in the second and third trimesters, in fact, I was expecting to get a wacky level. But what I don't understand is how my numbers could have been so perfect in December (2.29) and now be so alarmingly high? She asked if I had been feeling okay, and in all honesty, I've felt better, but I was attributing it to being pregnant. Evidently, I should be feeling much better than I do.

The first thing I did when I got home was to jump online and read everything I could on thyroid disease and pregnancy. I like to be informed, but I couldn't help but think that I made a mistake in searching for this information because the more I read, the more terrified I have become.

I am especially worried due to this little tidbit of information:

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to:
•congestive heart failure
•preeclampsia
•anemia
•miscarriage
•low birthweight
•stillbirth
- Because thyroid hormones are crucial to fetal brain and nervous system development, uncontrolled hypothyroidism—especially during the first trimester—can lead to cognitive and developmental disabilities in the baby.

For those of you who aren't aware, it has been determined that this disease (and all of its side effects) are the reason that I have not been able to sucessfully carry a pregnancy.

At this point, Eric and I covet your prayers. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I have faith that God has placed our baby and me in the care of two very skilled specialists at the perfect time.

Finally...

2010-02-10T16:43:00.000-05:00

Now we can relax! We finally have the most essential item for our baby wildcat...