Today was Carmina’s due date. We’re all so glad to have had these last ten days getting to know her. We’re all completely in love.

The Work Nap

If you are fortunate enough to have a workplace that has an area for naps and your workload can wait, take advantage of that benefit – shoot for a 20-30 minute nap to take the edge off your exhaustion. A shorter nap will keep you in higher levels of sleep, which prevent you from waking up groggy. In order to accomplish this feat, set an alarm on your cell phone or ask a coworker to wake you.

The Work at Home Nap

If you work at home, being sleepy on the job is not as much of a problem, or is it? The real problem is keeping it from becoming a habit. And actually the habit is only a problem if it interferes with your productivity, clients, or your family. If you successfully incorporate napping into your schedule, then go for it. But if it becomes something that cuts into your work, try to do this only if you are super-tired so that you can get the most work done.

The Work at Home Nap with Kids

This is similar to situation above, but because your “boss” is your kids. If the kids are young enough, try to get them to nap with you or nap when they nap. Of course don’t leave young children unattended. If you’re afraid you can’t stay awake, call a friend, family member, or babysitter to come over and help you out. Lastly, you can always try The Meditation Nap if you need to stay awake, but also need to get some rejuvenation.

The Meditation Nap

This is not a sleeping nap, but it will give you the similar feeling of renewal that you get after a short nap. In a nutshell a meditation nap is conscious quiet rest time. Here’s how you do it.

• Allot approximately 10-20 minutes.
• Start by doing a couple stretches, whatever feels good.
• Next take 10 deep breaths with eyes closed and sitting upright.
• Take the rest of the time to empty your mind of everything. A good way to do this is to mentally repeat a mantra, which is one word or phrase such as “empty the mind” or “peace” or “om” or whatever works for you. As thoughts come into your mind, notice them like clouds going by in the sky, but don’t grab hold. Just keep coming back to your mantra.

At the end of your allotted time open your eyes, take another couple deep breaths and stretches. If you suffer from eye-strain, lightly place your hands over your eyes during part of the time. This helps eye strain tremendously. You can also try giving yourself a face and head massage.

Need more advice? Here is a complete website on how to stay alert.

And They Lived Happily Ever After has been updated to the latest version of WordPress!  Happy Anniversary!

Here is Kevin’s birth story. Be warned it is LONG!

For about a week before Little Dude was born, I had been having this pain right under my ribs on my right side. Then I would start contracting and contract for about two hours, every single night. It was really starting to get old, knowing that I was definitely having a C-section whatever happened. I attributed the pain to being feet stuck up in my ribs.

I stayed up late Sunday night knitting and Monday morning I got up early with Erich to get him ready for work. We were in the bathroom and I was talking to Erich, telling him that I thought I slept wrong because my shoulder really hurt. I thought I had pulled a muscle. I was also having a few contractions here and there, but I figured they were just annoying Braxton hicks.

We were out of bread so I headed to the grocery store (at 6am!). I was starting to hurt more, it hurt a bit to breathe, but just felt like a pulled muscle. I came home and got Erich out the door, and laid down on the couch to get some more rest. At about 830am I talked to Erich on the phone and told him I was really hurting. He suggested I call the OB, but I was hesitant because I really didn’t want to bug them. I did call them about ten minutes later, and the nurse suggested I take some Tylenol and get a heating pad to put on my shoulder. She said to call if it got worse.

Read the rest of this entry »

Do you ever have days or weeks where you feel like you are *so* busy, yet when you look back you can’t for the life of you remember what you’ve been doing to fill all that time?  That would be me.  I’m not sleeping much, on average 4-5 hours of choppy nursing interrupted sleep.  My days are filled with the kids, knitting, and working.  I’ve been fielding a good portion of calls and emails for our website design business.  I’ve also been trying to get back into the groove of knitting and working on a growing customs list again.  And of course, Christmas is around the corner so I have lots of knitting to do for that too!  Whew! Busy busy!

I did this pair of pants though the other day and I just think they are SO cute!

I really enjoy dressing my babies up for Halloween.  It’s an occasion I remember my dad having so much fun with when I was little, and while I didn’t dress up like him, I did have fun honoring the occasion for my children.  (And I really enjoy eating the candy too!   )  Kevin was really hard to find a costume for though.  While he is 7 weeks old today (!), he is still barely 8 pounds.  Even 0-3 month size is just way to big on him.  I did find a swaddling blanket with a cap though and that really worked for him.  He just ended up snoozing in the sling anyway while we went door to door.  He’s nursing so I’m sure he got a taste of that chocolatey goodness somwhere along the line.

A Monkey, Cow, and “Flutterfly” (aka butterfly)

I always joke that I made Magdalena with to much fear and Carmina with not enough fear.  And while pregnant with Dude boy, I said I hoped I got it right this time.  But anyway, Carmina has no fear.  I spend my day trying to keep her from killing or maiming herself.  She has fun doing it though, so I guess that is what counts.

In August, she started a “mommy and me” tumbling class.  It meets right before Magdalena’s class.  For the last year though, Carmina has been participating somewhat in Magdalena’s class.  So, she started her own class, and absolutely LOVES it.  That girl is crazy!  She’s doing so well, both are really.  And she’s so STRONG.  She has recently mastered doing kickovers on her own.  This is a skill set for the 3-4-5 year olds.  It was on the checklist of things Magdalena had to pass for the level below her current one.  So Carmina doing it at 27 months is quite impressive in my opinion.

I’ve been a member of online communities for almost 6 years.  I’ve forged friendships with ladies around the country.  I’ve met a few, talked with a few on the phone, and been touched by all of them.  This last week I found out a friend and fellow knitter lost her battle to liver cancer.  She leaves behind her husband, her five year old daughter, and 2 year old son.  I can not imagine the pain she must have gone through or the emotions she dealt with knowing she would be leaving behind her children.  May she find peace and comfort whereever she is now.

Several of us are donating to a fundraiser to raise money to go to her chlidrens college fund.  I’ve knitted the most gorgeous set that includes a hat, kimono sweater, and pants.  Someone else is donating a diaper to this set.  Please join us October 28, 2008 at 2pm as we stock the store and raise money for a friend we loved dearly.  http://www.hyenacart.com/tinyladycooperative

There is so much to write and tell and share: the birth story and the NICU story and all of those emotions. And let’s not forget about the appendix I no longer have. But now is not that time as I’m tired and you know, needing to nurse a baby.

We are home though. Got home this afternoon. I think he likes it. It’s really odd to be home. I always think it’s a little weird to come home with a new baby, but coming home with a baby that is 8 days old and having been away (unexpectedly!) so long, well it’s weird.

I will say that as awful as the NICU experience was and how stressful it was to have a baby 24 days early that really should have spent at least one more week in the womb if not more (his scheduled csection was tomorrow! sept 25). It was kinda neat to watch him do what he would have been doing in the womb this last week: learning to breathe. He literally made progress in 12 hour increments. You could almost see his little lungs getting better and filling with surfectant. But like I said, that’s a story for another time.

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, and well wishes. As always, my internet friends step up and lift me up in my times of need, and I have no doubt that your thoughts and prayers coming in from around the world, helped our little boy get better so quickly. Each night and whispered in his ear that people from around the world were thinking of him and praying for him, and that we are blessed to live in such a world.

Kevin has been transferred to a hospital with a NICU which has doctors that can administer a CPAP machine to help expand his lungs.  He will be on this machine for 24 hours, but should be able to come home after that.  Suzanne is still at the first hospital waiting to be discharged by her doctor and for her mother to come back with the car and children.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support as we go through the process of bringing Kevin home.

I have lot to write out. This is what I sent out via email this morning.

We had our baby boy on Monday, September 15 at 4:57pm. He came 24 days early (10 days earlier than our scheduled section). I woke up in horrible pain in my side and shoulder and started contracting. By the time I got to the hospital it was determined that I most likely had appendicitis and that he needed to come out. Kevin Clayton was born at 4:57pm weighing 6# 11ounces and was 19″ long. (He’s a big boy for a 36weeker!) He is named after his Grampy Kevin, who died in 1992.

He is currently in the special care nursery requiring oxygen. He does not appear to be sick, just early. The hope is that he will start weaning off the oxygen today and hopefully go home soon. We are all anxious to hold him and love him (and you know me! I want to nurse him!) All prayers and positive thoughts are greatly appreciated.

The general surgeon came in to talk to me a bit ago. The pathology on my appendix is not back, but it was enlarged and the tip looked “thickened” which he said is generally a sign of early appendicitis. He thinks that my body was just sensitive and that being pregnant made everything more agitated. Kevin’s heartrate was in the 180s when we got to the hospital, so he was a bit distressed as well. The surgeon thinks that we absolutely made the right decision and thinks that we saved his life and mine.

it’s a bit irrational.  Every where I look online someone is talking about food and I’m thinking, man that sounds good!  I don’t need to eat more nor do I need to go to the grocery store and try and find the ingredients to make all of these things people are talking about.  Sheesh.

This week was eventful.  We had an ultrasound and appointment.  Little Dude is guesstimated to weigh about six and a half pounds at this point.  Since ultrasound guesstimates this late are usually a little high, and because my husband seems to create children with really long legs that really mess up their calculations (I think), my guess is that in two weeks he will be no bigger than eight pounds.  Really I’m guessing about seven and a half pounds.  He has super super chubby cheeks.  He frowned at us when we were putting pressure against his head to get a nice face shot, he’s not a fan of the ultrasounds!  He also blew us a little kiss.  He looks like his Daddy.  We are all really excited to meet him.

I also received all of my pre-op paperwork.  It’s insanely bizarre to me to see this stuff.  They already have my appointment made to come the day before and get my blood drawn.  I have the lab work orders, and they type and screen two units of blood and reserve them for me in the blood bank.  That’s weird.  I’m glad it’s there (obviously) it’s just odd.  It made me think of all the preparation that the hospital staff will go through the day before my surgery, all this preparation that *I* used to do for others is now being done for me in anticipation of this Little Dude’s birthday.  I’m excited and nervous and a wee bit scared, ha! Only 14 days to go!

We’re a cosleeping family. From the very first night Magdalena was born, I could never imagine having her farther than a few feet from me. She eventually moved on to her own room with her own big bed by her own choice when she was around 2. For several weeks she had slept in her own room for naps, and at night we’d ask where she wanted to sleep, with Mommy and Daddy? Or in your own bed? She almost always chose to sleep with us until one day she decided she wanted to sleep in her own room. And there she has slept for the past 2 years with the exception of a few slumber parties on the floor in our room.

Carmina has slept with us up until now too. My plan has always been that Magdalena and Carmina would share sleeping space, since their room has a double bed. For months I’ve been asking Magdalena if she wanted to sleep with Carmina. Her answer has always been an adament “no!” One night Carmina ended up sleeping in Magdalena’s room, and Magdalena slept in the spare bedroom. I’m not sure why we had such a crazy bed arrangement that night, but the next day Magdalena was asked if it was okay if Carmina slept in her bed again. And Magdalena was thrilled! Carmina seemed to be sleeping as good or if not better in her bed with Magdalena, and hasn’t called out for me at all.Magdalena practically begged for Carmina to sleep with her the next night and Carmina automatically runs into their bedroom now and not mine. The arrangement seems to be working and I’ll admit after a few nights of restless sleep, I’m easing into sleeping in a bed only with my husband, if only for just a few months. Not that I really sleep at all anyway, but that’s a whole other post.

This morning we were laying in bed and I felt this little shake. The fan started rattling. I figured Erich was moving the bed and it irritated me. Then, the bed started shaking, everything on the dresser started shaking and Erich woke up. An Earthquake in Indiana! It was relatively long, about 30 seconds, considering you are just sitting in bed listening to everything shake around you. It ended up waking up Carmina too. That’s crazy stuff.

My no brain state has reached new heights. I stand by that whole theory of Momnesia being true. I’m a lot dumber than I was say four or so years ago. I had a conversation with Erich (so he says) that I have absolutely no recollection of. I went to get my laptop to take it downstairs and do a little cleaning (clean the screen etc.) and forgot in the span of about 30 seconds of when the idea popped into my head and when I got to the area of the laptop. It’s amazing and embarassing at the same time.

Magdalena, who is four, has lately been really hard to handle. TONS of tantrums and crying and fighting and just really random behavior so unlike her. After about a week of this, I finally figured it out. She *needs* a nap, but has not been napping. I’ve been making her stay in her bed and read books at naptime in hopes that it will help, but I’ve had to focus on Carmina so much because she gets up and walks around, that I’ve really overlooked getting Magdalena to take a nice nap. I have been able to lay both down and leave and everyone goes to sleep. Today I decided that I needed to probably lay down with them. I can’t lay down with them together though because that just does not seem to work. So we go up to take naps, I tell Magdalena I will be in there in a few minutes. I lay down with Carmina, she falls asleep. I slip out and get Magdalena situated and lay down. She was out in literally 2 minutes of just being able to lay still. That little light bulb went off in my head. She’s just been *tired*. She knows she doesn’t want to go to sleep, but she really does need lots of sleep. She’s like her Mommy, we need our beauty rest. Unfortunately, Carmina woke up and I went and laid back down with her where I fell asleep for like 45 minutes. Oops. I lost my nap quiet time!

We have got to get naptime figured out and without me laying down everyday because come October it’s not going to be so easy me thinks. Hopefully Little Dude will be easy going and lay down with me if I need to lay with either girl.

Oh my goodness, I am tired. Seriously seriously tired. Magdalena woke up at 2:30 to announce that the dog had pooped in her room, and oh yeah she puked. Great. So I get out of bed, find a pacifier (because those things go missing at the most important times!) and give it to Carmina and tell her to snuggle with Daddy. I put Magdalena in the bathroom and spent the next 20 minutes cleaning up dog poop and changing the sheets. Then I had to give Magdalena a bath and brush her teeth. Not fun. Her long hair is absolutely beautiful, not so much fun though with puke. The joys of motherhood right? She’s upstairs now watching Aladdin and drinking Sprite. I’m making some beef noodles and we’ll have those for dinner if all goes well.

Yesterday she had her second dentist visit. It was 100% successful and she did great. No cavities, barely any tarter (go us!), and beautiful perfect teeth. Thank God. I had horrible horrible teeth as a child. I have good teeth now, but not then. So it’s a relief to know that she may bypass the many hours of torture time spent in the dentist with drill and fills. And you know now, they’ll take you and put you out to fill lots of cavities at once, but not back then. Oh no, I remember all to well sitting in that chair multiple times a month for multiple fillings. Anyway, she has great teeth, a new toothbrush (and she asked for a new one for her sister too!) and we go back in 6 months.

I’m still doing Motivated Moms. The house continues to impress me and come into shape. I’m finding that when I have all my chores finished early that I find the time to declutter little areas. The act of actually cleaning the house is a lot less overwhelming in general. It’s really nice. Last night I did a little extra and decluttered little areas that just seem to accumulate constantly. It looks so nice in there. Things are starting to be dusted off from head to toe; frames, corners, nooks and crannies are all getting clean. Very nice to start to the year if I do say so myself. Of course there is always more, but the more seems manageable and like a light at the end of the tunnel. I also like that motivated moms gets around to the stuff that gets overlooked. Like today one of my chores is to deal with one kitchen drawer. Just one, not the whole kitchen, just one single drawer. Totally doable and will not suck the life out of my day, you know? If you want to get your own calendar, there is a link over there in the sidebar where you can do just that. Really and truly I can’t sing the praises enough!

This week also happened to be teeth cleaning week. Erich went yesterday. The dog has his teeth cleaned on Thursday. And Magdalena and I have our appointments together this afternoon. Last time she let them polish two teeth and that was it. She did let them count and they said her teeth were beautiful (of course!) and that the fact that they were spaced far apart was something they like to see in children because they are all easier to clean well. This time I’ve been talking to her all wee about how we need to let them count her teeth and polish them with the loud buzzy thing that tickles. (like my technical terms? haha) I told her that they would make her teeth all pretty and white for her birthday party on Sunday. And that is a note that rings in Magdalena’s head,we must be our prettiest for the party you know.

Speaking of party, Magdalena will be FOUR on Monday. FOUR. It doesn’t seem possible. She was just that 5# little breathing ball of human we brought home from the hospital during a snow storm. She has been planning her birthday party for months. And has really focused on it since Christmas is over now. She wants another Sesame Street party. For those keeping track at home this will be her fourth birthday party and her third Sesame street themed one! I tried to talk her into something else, a princess party? How about a backyardigans party? Nope. Sesame Street. And who can argue with that. You only turn four once, right?

So she’s been planning this party. She had me write out a list of all the people she wanted to invite to her party, her long list of friends and family including all the new babies. It was really painfully cute to listen to her list off the people. At first she wanted FOUR cakes but I have talked her down to two. Really two cakes is overkill and a lot of decorating work for myself, but it’s her thing and I want to make her birthday special. Her pinata will be here today, it’s a cookie monster pinata. And I’m going to see if my mom will stay and watch Carmina while Magdalena and I go grocery shopping to get all the supplies. Fun stuff, I love birthday parties!