Well, Bea has been in day care for four days. On the good side, she seems to like it there, doesn't cry when we leave her, and is usually smiling when we come to pick her up.
On the bad side, she is already sick! (Four days must be some kind of record.) She has a stomach virus. Symptoms include -- in clinical terms -- gas, poops, and barfing. Luckily, she has mostly just had gas. The doctor says she's handling it better then most of the other kids. So, 10 points for Bea's immune system... I guess.
Through everything, though, Bea always seems to be smiling. The day care people were laughing at how she threw up three times in five minutes, but was smiling right afterwards. When we take her to the doctor, she smiles at all the nurses and doctors -- even after she gets a shot.
I sure hope she stays that happy forever.
Melissa
P.S. I have the stomach virus now, too.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Elsa in the Air
A year ago this week we were in Cincinnati. Which means it was a year ago tomorrow that we lost Elsa. It’s been a long time since we talked about Elsa on the blog. Truthfully, it’s easier to just write about Bea, but Elsa is in my thoughts constantly.
Maybe it’s just what I want (or need) to believe, but since Bea and Elsa were born, I believe Elsa’s spirit is always around. And, what’s more, that same brave soul that did all she could for Bea is here to help me through rough patches, too. I’ve always believed in angels (or something similar), but even if I hadn’t before, I would now. There have been many times when Elsa just seemed to be sending me a message. Here are four examples:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. One day, in the Special Care Nursery, they were moving the babies around (which they do often). Bea was the first baby moved into a new room. When Bea was settled, I left for a few minutes. When I came back, there was another baby next to Bea, and the name sign above her bed said “Elsa”. I burst into tears. When I explained to the nurses why I was crying, they gave each other a weird look. They said when they moved this Elsa next to Bea, the lights flickered and dimmed. No other lights in the room dimmed except the two above Elsa and Bea. They had never had that happen before and had just called maintenance. Then, the nurse who was comforting me said, “It’s ok, Elsa R., mommy knows you’re here.” And, at that exact moment, the lights came back on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. Sometime in May, around the time of the “no dairy proclamation” (when Bea was only sleeping 20 minutes at a time), there was an evening when I was very sad about Elsa. It had been storming all day, but when it let up a little, I decided to take Bullet for a walk to get out of the house. I was so miserable and tired, I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. I was actually focusing on the ground to keep my balance. It was still raining a bit, and I thought, “If I cry now, no one will notice, they’ll just think it’s the rain.” Just then I looked up, and in the entire sky was taken up by the most brilliant, beautiful double rainbow. I knew Elsa didn’t want me to be sad anymore.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3. We live right next to a huge nature preserve. All summer, and to this day, there has been a mother deer and her twin fawns hanging around the neighborhood. Although the other neighbors don’t like that they eat the plants, I love them and in my head, I called the twins “Elsa” and “Bea.” I see them so often when I’m out with Bullet, that they don’t really even run from us any more. A few weeks ago, I was thinking about Elsa when I was getting the Christmas things out – I had just opened two little stockings we received as a gift for the twins last year and I was pretty down. Then I opened up the Christmas ornaments. There were two little deer ornaments my mom had bought for the twins.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4. As anyone who has read this blog since the beginning knows, I associate Elsa with the stars. Actually, there is one specific star in particular – Alcyone, a bright star in the constellation known as The Pleiades.
I took astronomy in college have spent a lot of time star-gazing during the past few years, so I know a little bit about the stars. The Pleiades is also known as the “Seven Sisters” and is actually a cluster of hundreds stars, but you can only see 7-9 of them. It is the only star cluster you can see with the naked eye, so it has a lot of mythology around it. In Japan, they call the constellation “Subaru” – which is how the car company got its name. You can see the main stars in the Subaru logo in any parking lot (or on my old car).
I remember looking up at the sky during that horrible week in Cincinnati, seeing the Pleiades, and thinking if she is one of those stars she won’t be lonely, because there are so many others with her.
Then I went into the hospital for so long, and I couldn’t see the stars from my window. For months after I got out of the hospital, I kept looking for the Pleiades whenever I went outside at night. But, I could never seem to find them – and my new-mommy-brain was too fuzzy to concentrate on it.
One night in the fall, Matt was having a particularly hard time getting Bea to sleep. I couldn’t listen to her cry, so I went out walking with Bullet. I glanced up said, “Elsa, please help Bea sleep peacefully tonight.” And, there were The Pleiades, bright as could be, just above the horizon. Then I remembered. The Pleiades are winter stars. You can’t see them in the summer in the northern hemisphere – they’re just below the horizon – but they're always there even when you can’t see them.
Bea was sleeping soundly when I got home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Occasionally, some brave person will ask us how we’re doing about Elsa. Well, it’s the kind of thing that never quite goes away. There’s not a single day that we don’t think of her, miss her, and love her.
So, tonight or the next night you have a clear sky – look up, find the Pleiades, and say “hello” to our Elsa. Here’s how to find her: http://www.navaching.com/naji/pleiades.html
Melissa
Maybe it’s just what I want (or need) to believe, but since Bea and Elsa were born, I believe Elsa’s spirit is always around. And, what’s more, that same brave soul that did all she could for Bea is here to help me through rough patches, too. I’ve always believed in angels (or something similar), but even if I hadn’t before, I would now. There have been many times when Elsa just seemed to be sending me a message. Here are four examples:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. One day, in the Special Care Nursery, they were moving the babies around (which they do often). Bea was the first baby moved into a new room. When Bea was settled, I left for a few minutes. When I came back, there was another baby next to Bea, and the name sign above her bed said “Elsa”. I burst into tears. When I explained to the nurses why I was crying, they gave each other a weird look. They said when they moved this Elsa next to Bea, the lights flickered and dimmed. No other lights in the room dimmed except the two above Elsa and Bea. They had never had that happen before and had just called maintenance. Then, the nurse who was comforting me said, “It’s ok, Elsa R., mommy knows you’re here.” And, at that exact moment, the lights came back on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. Sometime in May, around the time of the “no dairy proclamation” (when Bea was only sleeping 20 minutes at a time), there was an evening when I was very sad about Elsa. It had been storming all day, but when it let up a little, I decided to take Bullet for a walk to get out of the house. I was so miserable and tired, I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. I was actually focusing on the ground to keep my balance. It was still raining a bit, and I thought, “If I cry now, no one will notice, they’ll just think it’s the rain.” Just then I looked up, and in the entire sky was taken up by the most brilliant, beautiful double rainbow. I knew Elsa didn’t want me to be sad anymore.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3. We live right next to a huge nature preserve. All summer, and to this day, there has been a mother deer and her twin fawns hanging around the neighborhood. Although the other neighbors don’t like that they eat the plants, I love them and in my head, I called the twins “Elsa” and “Bea.” I see them so often when I’m out with Bullet, that they don’t really even run from us any more. A few weeks ago, I was thinking about Elsa when I was getting the Christmas things out – I had just opened two little stockings we received as a gift for the twins last year and I was pretty down. Then I opened up the Christmas ornaments. There were two little deer ornaments my mom had bought for the twins.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4. As anyone who has read this blog since the beginning knows, I associate Elsa with the stars. Actually, there is one specific star in particular – Alcyone, a bright star in the constellation known as The Pleiades.
I took astronomy in college have spent a lot of time star-gazing during the past few years, so I know a little bit about the stars. The Pleiades is also known as the “Seven Sisters” and is actually a cluster of hundreds stars, but you can only see 7-9 of them. It is the only star cluster you can see with the naked eye, so it has a lot of mythology around it. In Japan, they call the constellation “Subaru” – which is how the car company got its name. You can see the main stars in the Subaru logo in any parking lot (or on my old car).
I remember looking up at the sky during that horrible week in Cincinnati, seeing the Pleiades, and thinking if she is one of those stars she won’t be lonely, because there are so many others with her.
Then I went into the hospital for so long, and I couldn’t see the stars from my window. For months after I got out of the hospital, I kept looking for the Pleiades whenever I went outside at night. But, I could never seem to find them – and my new-mommy-brain was too fuzzy to concentrate on it.
One night in the fall, Matt was having a particularly hard time getting Bea to sleep. I couldn’t listen to her cry, so I went out walking with Bullet. I glanced up said, “Elsa, please help Bea sleep peacefully tonight.” And, there were The Pleiades, bright as could be, just above the horizon. Then I remembered. The Pleiades are winter stars. You can’t see them in the summer in the northern hemisphere – they’re just below the horizon – but they're always there even when you can’t see them.
Bea was sleeping soundly when I got home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Occasionally, some brave person will ask us how we’re doing about Elsa. Well, it’s the kind of thing that never quite goes away. There’s not a single day that we don’t think of her, miss her, and love her.
So, tonight or the next night you have a clear sky – look up, find the Pleiades, and say “hello” to our Elsa. Here’s how to find her: http://www.navaching.com/naji/pleiades.html
Melissa
Sunday, January 13, 2008
January So Far
So far we've been busy little bees (and Beas) in January. Here's just a taste of what we've been up to:
GONE, DADDY, GONE
Matt is currently in San Diego on business and visiting relatives -- FOR A WHOLE WEEK! He sends us emails detailing his gourmet meals, golf outings, and ocean view room. (He also called to say he missed Bea... what about the rest of us?) haha. Anyway, all week I've had lots of great help from relatives and neighbors who have helped me watch Bea, shovel, and more. Bea, Bullet, and I have had several sleepovers at my parents' house -- which is really nice, because they feed us tasty treats, too!
GROWING AND TEETH
Bea has been very busy getting big and getting teeth. She now weighs a wopping 18lbs 14oz! (Which is so heavy, that I threw my back out last week and now need PT!) She is also the proud owner of two front teeth, brining the total teeth tally to six, with four more on the way. I'd take a picture and show you, but Vacation Matt has the camera.
DAY CARE
The big news is that we also started the year looking at day care centers. After touring a ton of places, we settled on one near Matt's work and Grandma's house. Bea starts this week. I'm a bit of wreck about it, because I think she'll have a hard first few days, get sick a lot, etc. But, since I haven't worked for more than a year (!), it's time to get back in the saddle. Anyway, I think Bea will eventually enjoy being with all the kids.
WORK
Which leads us to work. I have started working again and have a bunch of new projects already. If you have any work for me -- let me know! :)
GO PACK GO!
Matt always lets you know about his Gophers, so I think it's fair for me to give a "Whoo hoo!" for my Green Bay Packers, who won their playoff game yesterday!! If they win next week, they'll be in the Super Bowl. Maybe we'll have a super bowl party if the Packers make it. Of course, Matt will say we can't have a super bowl party, because we only have a crappy little TV and no cable. So maybe IIIIIIIIIII'll have a super bowl party. BYOTV.
AND NOW, A MESSAGE FROM BEA
rb bxvbv v t vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv xxxxxxxxxxxxxw2exxxxxeewewwsz.
Aw, her first post... which was so exciting that she peed all over me through her jeans while typing it. nice.
obviously, gotta go.
Melissa
GONE, DADDY, GONE
Matt is currently in San Diego on business and visiting relatives -- FOR A WHOLE WEEK! He sends us emails detailing his gourmet meals, golf outings, and ocean view room. (He also called to say he missed Bea... what about the rest of us?) haha. Anyway, all week I've had lots of great help from relatives and neighbors who have helped me watch Bea, shovel, and more. Bea, Bullet, and I have had several sleepovers at my parents' house -- which is really nice, because they feed us tasty treats, too!
GROWING AND TEETH
Bea has been very busy getting big and getting teeth. She now weighs a wopping 18lbs 14oz! (Which is so heavy, that I threw my back out last week and now need PT!) She is also the proud owner of two front teeth, brining the total teeth tally to six, with four more on the way. I'd take a picture and show you, but Vacation Matt has the camera.
DAY CARE
The big news is that we also started the year looking at day care centers. After touring a ton of places, we settled on one near Matt's work and Grandma's house. Bea starts this week. I'm a bit of wreck about it, because I think she'll have a hard first few days, get sick a lot, etc. But, since I haven't worked for more than a year (!), it's time to get back in the saddle. Anyway, I think Bea will eventually enjoy being with all the kids.
WORK
Which leads us to work. I have started working again and have a bunch of new projects already. If you have any work for me -- let me know! :)
GO PACK GO!
Matt always lets you know about his Gophers, so I think it's fair for me to give a "Whoo hoo!" for my Green Bay Packers, who won their playoff game yesterday!! If they win next week, they'll be in the Super Bowl. Maybe we'll have a super bowl party if the Packers make it. Of course, Matt will say we can't have a super bowl party, because we only have a crappy little TV and no cable. So maybe IIIIIIIIIII'll have a super bowl party. BYOTV.
AND NOW, A MESSAGE FROM BEA
rb bxvbv v t vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv xxxxxxxxxxxxxw2exxxxxeewewwsz.
Aw, her first post... which was so exciting that she peed all over me through her jeans while typing it. nice.
obviously, gotta go.
Melissa
Monday, December 31, 2007
Breastmilk Is GONE
I keep forgetting to post that the freezer is BARE! Bea drank her last bottle of breastmilk on Dec. 17. So, the people who guessed Dec. 15 were dead on. Especially because the weekend we went to Appleton, we didn't take any breastmilk, so there were two days of formula in there. Now, if anyone has anything they need to store in a cold enviornment, we've got room.
Good Riddance 2007!!
Here we are on New Year's Eve. Finally. I have to admit that I'm usually not a big fan of New Year's celebrations, but this year I couldn't be happier. This has been the longest year EVER. So, wahooo! Hogmanay! See-ya '07.
If you had told me on New Year's Day 2006 that on New Year's Day 2008 I would have an 8-month-old baby I wouldn't have been surprised. But, I could have never imagined the journey it took to get here!
As you can tell (because I'm typing this), we're not out on the town. We're having fun here at home with Bea. Attached is a picture of Bea in her ducky bathtub and Matt just a few mintues ago. Ah, things ain't what they used to be, but it's all good.
We wish you the very best in 2008. Thanks for everything in 2007!
Love, Melissa
P.S. Congrats to Rob and Sara, who have a new baby boy today -- a new cousin for Bea. Welcome Logan, we all can't wait to meet you. New Year's Eve sounds like a heckuva a good day for a birthday party.
If you had told me on New Year's Day 2006 that on New Year's Day 2008 I would have an 8-month-old baby I wouldn't have been surprised. But, I could have never imagined the journey it took to get here!
As you can tell (because I'm typing this), we're not out on the town. We're having fun here at home with Bea. Attached is a picture of Bea in her ducky bathtub and Matt just a few mintues ago. Ah, things ain't what they used to be, but it's all good.
We wish you the very best in 2008. Thanks for everything in 2007!
Love, Melissa
P.S. Congrats to Rob and Sara, who have a new baby boy today -- a new cousin for Bea. Welcome Logan, we all can't wait to meet you. New Year's Eve sounds like a heckuva a good day for a birthday party.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Happy Holidays
Hope you had a great Christmas. Bea's first Christmas was full of fun and excitment (and a lot of time trying to occupy her in a high chair while sitting at family dinners...).
For those of you who aren't in Minnesota, we had the perfect white Christmas -- it has snowed every day for a week or so. And, on both Christmas Day and Christmas Eve there was lovely snow falling each day. It was like being in a snow globe. Here's a picture of Bea and me on Dec. 24 in the snow when it stopped briefly. Bea is standing in a spot that Matt shoveled for Bullet - so you can get an idea how deep the snow was, or how small Bea is. It snowed another six inches or so after that.
On Christmas Eve, we had Grandma Liz, Grandpa Dick, and Great Aunt Sue over for dinner. Here is a picture of Matt, Grandpa, Bea, Grandma, Bullet, and me. (Apparently, I didn't get the "red shirt" memo...)
Then, on Christmas Day, we went to Princeton to see Grandpa Steve, Grandma Pat, and the rest of Matt's family. We had a very nice meal and all had a fun time watching Bea and her older cousin, Sadie. Unfortunately, when it came time to drive home, the snow had made the roads slippery and driving horrible. We saw many people in the ditch and had to drive home very slowly. But, we made it eventually! Here is a picture of Sadie and (Sadie's mini-me) Bea.
At Christmastime, you really count your blessings. We have so many things to be thankful for this year. Thanks to all of you for being part of our extended family and many happy wishes for the new year.
Melissa
For those of you who aren't in Minnesota, we had the perfect white Christmas -- it has snowed every day for a week or so. And, on both Christmas Day and Christmas Eve there was lovely snow falling each day. It was like being in a snow globe. Here's a picture of Bea and me on Dec. 24 in the snow when it stopped briefly. Bea is standing in a spot that Matt shoveled for Bullet - so you can get an idea how deep the snow was, or how small Bea is. It snowed another six inches or so after that.
On Christmas Eve, we had Grandma Liz, Grandpa Dick, and Great Aunt Sue over for dinner. Here is a picture of Matt, Grandpa, Bea, Grandma, Bullet, and me. (Apparently, I didn't get the "red shirt" memo...)
Then, on Christmas Day, we went to Princeton to see Grandpa Steve, Grandma Pat, and the rest of Matt's family. We had a very nice meal and all had a fun time watching Bea and her older cousin, Sadie. Unfortunately, when it came time to drive home, the snow had made the roads slippery and driving horrible. We saw many people in the ditch and had to drive home very slowly. But, we made it eventually! Here is a picture of Sadie and (Sadie's mini-me) Bea.
At Christmastime, you really count your blessings. We have so many things to be thankful for this year. Thanks to all of you for being part of our extended family and many happy wishes for the new year.
Melissa
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Hooping it up
I haven't made a post in a really long time and I'll try to spread out the news in a few posts. To follow up on Melissa's previous blog my Mom is doing very well. She had thyroid surgery at Mayo on Wednesday and found out she didn't have cancer but they removed the growth as a precaution. It looks like Grandma Pat will be around for quite a while. So let's skip to the purpose of this blog...
Basketball and Bea. Melissa bought Bea a cool basketball set with a lion as a backboard and the balls, after entering the net, roll down to the lion's feet. We've developed her ball handling dexterity by starting with long slender objects for her to learn how to grab, then moving to slightly bigger objects with many corners and edges for good gripping. Then we moved to the NBA approved indoor-outdoor-and bathtub blue, red and green infant balls Bea is palming in the attached picture.
To develop her forearm strength we started with push ups and practicing banging anything on the table - plastic lids, plastic glasses, essentially any break-proof non-edible, non-gaggable object. She can now successfully make a basket about every other day. Also attached are pictures of her throwing one down then bringing down the backboard like baby Shaq. After she pulls down the backboard she likes to eat the little fuzzy things on top of the backboard. Rather then get a technical for showmanship she usually gets cheers, pats on the back and a lift off the ground so she can sit up and do it again.
Her arc is a bit flat so we're working on getting the ball off of the palm of her hand and using good follow through. Now if only Tubby was the women's coach.
Basketball and Bea. Melissa bought Bea a cool basketball set with a lion as a backboard and the balls, after entering the net, roll down to the lion's feet. We've developed her ball handling dexterity by starting with long slender objects for her to learn how to grab, then moving to slightly bigger objects with many corners and edges for good gripping. Then we moved to the NBA approved indoor-outdoor-and bathtub blue, red and green infant balls Bea is palming in the attached picture. 
To develop her forearm strength we started with push ups and practicing banging anything on the table - plastic lids, plastic glasses, essentially any break-proof non-edible, non-gaggable object. She can now successfully make a basket about every other day. Also attached are pictures of her throwing one down then bringing down the backboard like baby Shaq. After she pulls down the backboard she likes to eat the little fuzzy things on top of the backboard. Rather then get a technical for showmanship she usually gets cheers, pats on the back and a lift off the ground so she can sit up and do it again.
Her arc is a bit flat so we're working on getting the ball off of the palm of her hand and using good follow through. Now if only Tubby was the women's coach.
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