So There Is This Boy...

And I love him so much.

And he is the most handsome boy in the whole world.

He is my son.

His name is Charlie. He was born in October 2015. And since I haven’t updated this blog since I had the boy, I figured I would write about him.

My baby boy is a rambunctious little daredevil. He does have the devil’s red hair. He is my little ginger, the only one of my four children to have red hair like his mommy.

But he is clearly daddy’s boy.

And he is not a cuddly boy either, unless he is sick or just so tired he can’t do anything else. Then we can sneak some cuddles in.

As he is the first boy, I was unprepared for the daring escapades of a little boy. Where all of my daughters were slow to crawl or walk, Charlie was up on his feet and running before he was one. He will climb anything. He is going to give me a heart attack. My daughters were verbal early on and he is just figuring out words. He communicates with direction.

Charlie is a big fan of Zootopia. As a matter of fact, no matter how big the temper tantrum, if you play Try Everything, he will stop and dance. He will also dance to Boogie Wonderland and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Hot Dog Dance.



He is the best boy in the world. I love my Charlie.

Letting Go

We brought our little Pooky home almost 9 months ago. I can not believe it has been that long. She is growing up way too fast. Every time I pack up more of the stuff she has outgrown, I feel a little sad. I had to raise the bouncer seat up a notch. I put the baby tub away. She is getting too big for her infant car seat. My baby is such a big girl.

The saddest thing, what I was not ready to do, Michelle has given up nursing. She has been fighting with me for a few weeks. She pushes and fidgets and bites. She has no interest. I tried feeding her in quiet places. Tried waiting for her to get tired. She fights.

I don't want too see her hungry. So today, we have switched to formula. Last night we cuddled and said goodbye to nursing. I only cried a little.

It is a good thing. Michelle won't be so cranky. I won't have her attached to me at inconvenient times.

I can wear real bras again. I don't have to wear nursing friendly tops.

I can do this.

But why do they have to grow up so fast?

Lovie

When Carolynn was a baby, she had this stuffed Lambchop doll that went everywhere with her. As a matter of fact, one of her first words was "Chop". Then there was her blankie, she called it her "Key". It has Bugs Bunny on it and she got it for her first birthday. She still sleeps with it. She is almost 17.

Catherine had Cow. A raggedy old stuffed cow she got when she was five. I think she still sleeps with it. Then came Cow Jr., Cowalina.... You get the idea. There are quite a few.

Michelle is 6 months old now. She has always been fascinated with red things. She has a giant Clifford doll she loves. But being a big red dog... It is the same size as her. My friends Adrienne and Serenity gave her a Minnie Mouse doll at her baby shower. It is wearing a red dress with a red bow. And it is just the right size. She carries it about. She chews on it. She snuggles it. I buy her new stuff and she still reaches for Minnie. Crunchy, crusty old Minnie.


Today we went down to the Disney store to find her a new dress to wear for pictures. I bought her some new dolls. I picked up a second Minnie and packed it away, just in case.

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Sweet Potato Time
January 2013
Apple Valley, California

Feeding The Baby

Now that Michelle is such a big girl... All of 4 months old... She has started eating baby food. She is a good eater. A pig really. She never misses a meal. Her first food was mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. I gave her a few bites from my plate. Technically I have been giving her little tastes of stuff on her binky practically since she got the binky when she was two weeks old.

Her first food just for her was rice cereal. She loves it. And baby oatmeal. Then we moved to applesauce. That has remained one of her favorites.

So far we have tried...

Rice Cereal- Yum!

Oatmeal- Yum!

Applesauce- Yum!

Bananas- Yum!

Sweet Potatoes- Yum!

Turkey- So far just one try on that and it was a no go. I will try that more times.

Pears- Yum!

Peaches- Yum!

Carrots- Yum!

Prunes- Yum! But be careful of the aftermath. Because EWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Peas- Negative! OMG! We have tried it four different times. She gets so excited when she sees the baby food container and a spoon and then you get the bib on... She opens her mouth just like a little baby bird. Then when she realizes it is peas, she gets so mad and won't open any more and cries until you get her something else. Usually I can get her to eat about 1/2 of a container. But it is such a struggle. I won't be forcing that one anymore.

Green Beans- That one we have tried twice. It isn't as bad as the peas, but it isn't looking good.

Squash- The first time we tried it, she was too busy making raspberries to give it a go. The second time, she ate it right up.

Mashed Potatoes- This is homemade. Not baby food. I just thin out what I make a little for her. She loves it.

She also has a cuppie now. A cuppie! She drinks juice. Well, 20% juice and the rest water. She likes apple, white grape and pear.

Before I know it, she will be ordering a Big Mac and nomming on a turkey leg.

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Shaver Lake, California
January 1, 2013

Gag Reflex

I have serious issues with oatmeal. Just the smell of plain oatmeal cooking makes me gag. The flavored kind is easier to take since it tends to smell like cookies. But I don't eat oatmeal. No way. Not a chance. Just ask my sister's mom. It just isn't happening.

Earlier this week, I took the baby to the doctor and he says she isn't gaining weight and I should give her formula. However, after some research, I decided not to do that. However, I began looking at ways to increase breast milk production.

The baby seems fine and dandy to me. But if she needs more food she can have it.

Online and through friend recommendations I found that oatmeal can do a lot to increase breast milk production.

Oh the dreaded oatmeal.

But I will do anything for my baby.

So yesterday, I choked down a bowl of apples and cinnamon oatmeal. I gagged a bit and drank a lot of water, but I did it. For Michelle.

Today I choked down a bowl of cinnamon and spice oatmeal. It went down a lot easier. But still required water to make it go.

The things I am willing to do for this baby.

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Baby Shower For Baby Michelle
July 21, 2012
Apple Valley, California

Check Up

Yesterday we took Michelle for her 2 month check up. She is healthy. But the doctor says she isn't gaining enough weight. She weighed 8 lbs and 12 ounces yesterday. She weighed 7 lbs and 15 ounces when I had her. He suggested we give her formula. I say no. Instead, today I am researching tips to improving breast milk output. We have to take her back in 10 days for him to check her weight again.

He also put her on vitamin D drops. They smell awful and from the face she makes, I am guessing they don't taste awesome either. Then she got 6 vaccines. She only cried a little. She is a tough cookie.

All in all she is a healthy, strong baby.

So we took her to Mary and Tonya's for dinner so they could cuddle her and spoil her rotten. And they did. And we had turkey and it was fabulous.

That's What Big Sisters Are For

Last night when I was getting ready for work, David was sick. He had been sick all day. But when David is sick, he also goes into denial. He was coughing and had a sore throat and just felt like crap. But he was fine.

So I get him some Nyquil, some vitamin C and some throat drops. He doesn't take any of it. He is fine.

But he is avoiding the baby.

But he is not sick.

Finally, he admits it and I try and get him to take some medicine. But he still won't. He is afraid he won't hear the baby a night if he takes the medicine.

Carolynn is drafted to take care of the baby at night. David sleeps on the couch and Carolynn goes and sleeps in my bed with the baby in the bassinet next to her. I went off to work. Carolynn could handle it.

According to Carolynn's report....

The baby woke up around 3:00AM. Carolynn got up and fixed her a bottle and fed her. Then she tucked her back in.

Around 4:00AM, she heard a lot of diaper related sounds coming from the baby's bed. So she got up and found the baby was exploded. So off to the baby's room for a change of diaper and some fresh jammies. Then tuck in time again.

Of course, Michelle had other plans and spent some time playing a fun game of “Spit The Binky”. Michelle spits her binky out then starts fussing, and when Carolynn looked in at her, she smiled and giggled. Carolynn gave her back her binky. Then repeat. Again. And again.

Finally she was out.

Until about 7:00AM. That is when Michelle woke up. And was ready to go. So Carolynn got up and got her changed and turned on some cartoons.

When I got home, I found them both in Michelle's room. Disney Jr. was on TV. The baby was asleep in her chair. And Carolynn was passed out on the floor.

Because I Almost Forgot, But I Didn't

This will be my sixth NaBloPoMo. And I almost forgot. I have been so busy with the baby and the job and the kids and the David...

But I think I can do this. I have a lot to say. A LOT! I have barely written anything since I had Michelle. It has been 8 weeks. I can't believe it. It seems like I just had her, although I don't remember ever not having her.

So we begin. Blog posts coming your way every day for the whole month. I promise.

I hope.

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One week ago today...

Michelle Franchesca
September 5, 2012 4:16 PM
7 lbs and 15 oz
19 Inches

Irony

So it's Labor Day.

I am not laboring. Not even a little. Not even a hint of labor. At 42 weeks into a 40 week process...

You could say I am a little frustrated.

You would think I would have expected this. Catherine was due on Labor Day. She was born on the 21st after they had to induce her too.

Apparently Tony Stark designed my uterus.

I have wasted two weeks of my maternity leave. Which sucks since I won't have more baby time. But was good because I think the stress of worrying I would go into labor at work, the general stress of working in a prison, the heat and the exhaustion are what sent me into the false labor that made me go on maternity leave in the first place. This has been a nice break.

It would have been even nicer with a baby.

Tomorrow the girls go back to school. After a year of home school, Catherine is ready to go back. They both have back packs full of supplies, books and brand new lunch sacks. Carolynn got her hair cut and then dyed it. She meant to die it like an auburn brown but it came out more purple maroon.

David has been back in school a week now.

And tomorrow night I check into the hospital and I don't check out again until I have a baby.

And then....

We begin a new chapter.

Until then....

Because I Really Enjoy Being Pregnant

So I go in today to get induced. But... and this may be a little TMI... my cervix isn't opening. Like at all. To induce labor, they really need it to be open a few centimeters. Like 3 or more. Mine is barely at 1. ONE!!!!!!

No contractions...

Nothing is working...

So she scheduled an induction for Monday.

Labor Day.

Hilarious.

Still Waiting....

Not a contraction. Nothing.

Luckily, due to the previous false alarm, I have been off of work. Which is good since I have been exhausted.

Today we went to the girls school and got their books and classes sorted out. Tomorrow we pick up Catherine's iPad. We went to the bank. We went to Jack In The Box. We got Carolynn's hair cut.

All that and still, no baby.

Stubborn. That is what she is. Tomorrow I have an appointment to see about inducing this.

If she doesn't come tonight.

Which I doubt.

Today Is The Day

But it's not.

Today is the day the baby is due. But she isn't here. Nope. No baby for us. We had some false alarms. They felt pretty real to me, but the doctors say no. And they are right, because then it stops.

So far today, nothing.

But the bags are packed and in the car. The car seat is installed.

Come on baby.

At this point, I would like her to wait until tomorrow night or later. I have appointments to meet with the girls new teachers tomorrow morning.

Which is probably when she will come....

Soon....

And I Am Not Even Blonde

It all started one Tuesday morning. I am always off on Tuesday and Wednesday. But our dog Drizella thinks that she needs to get up when the sun comes up.

No. Not on my day off. It's 6 am. She is whining to go out.

So I sit up to yell at her to shut up.

And the room is spinning. Whoa. I must have sat up too fast. So I lie back down to wait until it stops. I doze on and off until 9 am waiting until it stops. It never does. Eventually I try and get up to go pee. I fall onto the bed. David gets up to help me. It is awful. It's spinning and spinning....

So I call the midwives office. She thinks it may be anemia. She tells me to take an iron pill and drink some water. Then take a nap. I should feel better later she says.

I do what she says. I take the pill, I drink water, I sleep until noon.

And I feel a bit better. Still woozy, but at least I can walk. David takes me out for some tacos. I watch TV. And later than night...

It's back. The dizzy. So dizzy I throw up. And it continues all night and into Wednesday. So I call the midwives office again. Now maybe she thinks it is the flu or even just dehydration. She says get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids. If I can't keep anything down for 24 hours, come in.

So I sleep. I drink. I finally keep down some toast. But the dizzy never stops. I wobble around the house. This continues...

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday...

Finally on Monday they run a bunch of tests.... No dehydration, no infections, no anemia... nothing...

The dizzy continued....

Tuesday, Wednesday...

Finally I go back to work on Thursday. Still a bit wobbly, but slowly getting better. By Saturday it was mostly gone.

Two weeks almost of being dizzy.

Why?

Who knows?

Just over a week until the due date.....

The Hilarity

So my sister Nicole wants to get into law enforcement. She spent months applying to the police academy. She had to track down so much information for the application. She was working out and trying to eat better. My niece Carter, who is two, was finally old enough to go to day care in my sister's opinion. Everything was ready. She finally got the application all turned in.

And so she waited....

And then they called her in for a physical and drug test...

My sister is not going to the police academy...

Not yet anyway.

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I can't even believe how many of us there are!!!!
July 2011
Apple Valley, California
Picture Taken By My Cousin Wendy