tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85802690145726610002024-03-12T17:31:37.655-07:00title and registration.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-6710748585417165172017-01-19T09:15:00.003-08:002017-01-19T09:15:52.516-08:0018 monthsIt's crazy how quickly time flies as an adult, and even more so as a parent. My little baby is now an 18-month-old toddler who looks for ways to make us laugh, sneaks into her room to get her paci out of her bed, and runs around at full speed as much as she possibly can. She loves to play with her friends at day care and isn't quite sure about sharing her toys with younger kids at church.<br />
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<li>Weight: 21.38 pounds (9th percentile), length: 31 inches (55th percentile)</li>
<li>18-month well child check went well! She paraded around the exam room while we waited for the doctor and was pretty cooperative for the exam. She is a little shy around people she doesn't know, but tends to warm up pretty quickly. She cried when they gave her the vaccine but it's her last one (aside from annual flu shots) until she's 4!</li>
<li>She is a fantastic sleeper when she's in her routine. Every night we put her pajamas on, read 3 books, brush her teeth, and say goodnight. But outside of her routine (in the car, at church, etc.) is a no go and she will fight sleep. </li>
<li>We got rid of the paci during the day, so she only gets it at night in her crib. She was totally fine with it until the last week or so, and she has started taking it out of her crib and holding it SO tight when we try to take it. When we do get it away from her, she has a meltdown. I plan to take it away completely soon but I don't have the heart to do it yet because she loves it so much.</li>
<li>She started walking at the end of October and has completely mastered that skill. Now she's on to running.</li>
<li>T is a total chatterbox. She tries to say so many different words and right now can say about 35-40 different ones. She learns new ones every day and also fills in the silence with a lot of stuff we can't understand.</li>
<li>Her favorite toys right now are my Beanie Babies from when I was younger. We found the two cat ones that my parents saved for me, along with a whole box of other animals (with the tags carefully preserved in case they were ever worth a lot, ha ha!) and she likes to have those in the car. She also loves petting Sully, and started saying Sully a little while ago. She now thinks all cats are named Sully.</li>
<li>Her hair is getting so long. It's funny to look back on pictures when she was so bald. When her hair is wet, her bangs go to the top of her nose. She really needs a haircut but I'm nervous about how she will do with it.</li>
<li>She is still in size 3 diapers. We bumped her up to size 4 when we ran out of our last pack of size 3, but they were too big and stuck up way above her pants. So still size 3 for now!</li>
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Being her mom is the hardest and most wonderful thing I've ever done!</div>
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Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-59667686091752544112016-12-07T10:58:00.002-08:002016-12-07T10:58:40.795-08:00Work-Life Balance.Does anyone have the answer to what work-life balance really means? I'm striving (unsuccessfully, thus far) to find it. I work full-time for a software company, plus I do freelance writing for two different companies. When I started freelancing in 2009, I had just graduated from college and was desperately trying to make ends meet in my first taste of actual real life (paying rent). I had a brand new English degree and some debt I'd accumulated while in school, so I searched craigslist for jobs that would supplement my income. I sent my resume to hundreds of faceless addresses, so I was surprised to hear back from one, especially when they wanted to schedule a phone interview.<br />
<br />
In hindsight, I'm lucky that I wasn't taken for everything I have (which wouldn't have been much). The company asked for my bank account information for the direct deposit and hired me on the spot. I naively handed it over, but thankfully, they were legit and I've been working for them ever since. In the beginning, the assignments were sparse and the topics were strange. I remember writing articles about poker tournament winners and why gift cards make great holiday gifts. In the first year, I probably made a total of $500, but that was still exciting. For the first time in my life, I was getting paid to write. And that was something.<br />
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In the second and third years of freelancing, work was spotty and I'd be thrilled every time I got some. The company started a Facebook page for the freelance community, and the top question asked was "how can I get more work?" Writers dwindled and before long, my plate was filling up with assignments. I made a habit of never turning down work, unless I was on a marked out vacation, because I always wanted to be one of the top writers who received the assignments. I'm not actually sure if this helped, but now I get so much work, I am often swimming.<br />
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At some point, I hope to transition from a full-time employee to a full-time mother, but I want to keep one foot in the career that I love by continuing to freelance. But at this point, I feel like I'm working more than I realized I would. When I get home from work, I pick up my daughter from day care and we have a few hours to spend together. Part of that time is spent making dinner, part of it is spent doing some exercise (a necessity for my mental health), and then she goes to bed around 7:30. Weekends offer more time to spend together, although I find that I am less patient because I'm still learning what she needs when she screams or how to get her to eat more than two bites of a meal.<br />
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And with so much work coming in, much of of the "free time" I have in the evenings and on weekends is spent writing. If you've ever clicked on an article with "Top # Places to Eat" or "The # Best Nissans for Families," there's a good chance I wrote it. Other businesses request content on specific topics to post on their websites, blogs, etc. and I write that content. I also write car reviews for models I've never even seen and describe entrees at restaurants in state I've never visited.<br />
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I've gone down a rabbit hole with this post. My overall message is that I don't have a good balance because I work a lot. And I'm afraid that my daughter is suffering for it. But I'm not sure how to change it right now, because work is what keeps us stable and comfortable, with food on our table and warmth in our home.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-23751699150468688602016-08-17T08:49:00.002-07:002016-08-17T08:49:22.235-07:00Summer Love.I LOVE the summer. There are so many things about it that make me so happy- swimming, long days, barbecuing everything we eat, having picnics outside, and lots of ice cream. It's always a little bit of a heartbreak when it's coming to an end, because I feel like I didn't do enough to take advantage of the summer. Last summer was really different because I had just had T at the end of June so I was recovering from the c-section and not really wanting to take her out to pools, water parks, etc. So this summer was a lot more fun!<br />
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Last weekend we went to Cowabunga Bay, a local water park, and had a blast. Chris' parents joined us and loved seeing Thea splash around. She is such a little water baby now, which is crazy because when we first switched her into the full-size bathtub, she screamed and freaked out for a couple weeks straight. Now she can't get enough, splashing and playing and crawling through the shallow parts. We took her on one slide and it scared her, but hopefully we can squeeze in a couple more trips to the water park to get her more used to them before the summer is officially over.<br />
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We haven't gone to any parks with her yet, but she's finally at the age now where I think she would have fun. Our neighborhood has a little playground within walking distance so we will plan to take her there so she can crawl and climb to her heart's content. She also loves to swing!<br />
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T is also talking up a storm these days! A lot of what she says still is hard to understand, but my heart swelled with pride when she learned how to say cat! Now she says it over and over when she sees Caesar or Sully and it is honestly one of my absolute favorite things she has ever done. She still doesn't want to walk- although when we were on vacation last weekend with Chris' family, his mom and sister said she took a couple steps on her own while we were gone shopping. So that is crazy, and it could be here before we know it. Other words she says are: wow, uh-oh, no (that's a fun one, especially when I'm trying to get her to eat), and this.<br />
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We have loved our current child care situation for while C and I are working, but unfortunately it didn't quite work out as well as we hoped, so we found a new one and she will start there on Monday. She went there for two days in July when my babysitter was out of town, and it went really well, so I'm hoping it will be a smooth transition and the last time we have to switch her care provider!<br />
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<br />Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-43310001883169643582016-07-05T09:38:00.000-07:002016-07-05T09:38:07.173-07:00One year old.<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333px; line-height: 21.5333px;"> Pregnancy seems to last for a long time. Between morning sickness, feeling tired literally all. the. time., aches and pains, an expanding belly, and not being able to sleep by the end of it, it seems to take a lot longer than 40 weeks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333px; line-height: 21.5333px;"> Once the baby arrives, it seems like the exact opposite is true. At the beginning the nights seem very long when you aren't getting a lot of sleep, but the weeks fly by and all of the sudden you have a one-month old, two-month old, etc. Now I have a one year-old and it is absolutely crazy to me. I remember the day she was born so vividly. I also remember the amazing things she learned to do (her first smile, her first giggle, the first time she said "Dada" and "Mama", when she rolled over, and the first time she crawled). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333px; line-height: 21.5333px;"> We celebrated her birthday with a zoo-themed party, which was a lot of fun. We ate sandwiches, lion veggies, cheetah chips and dip, kangaroo kabobs (fruit), and camel cake and cookies, and drank jungle juice and water from the watering hole. (I am not this creative. The ideas all came from <a href="http://www.simplyrealmoms.com/posts/zoo-birthday-bash-food/" target="_blank">here</a>). A lot of our family and friends were able to celebrate Thea's birthday and we had a fantastic time. We hosted it at a pavilion in Murray Park and gave bubbles and finger puppets as favors, which the other kids in attendance loved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333px; line-height: 21.5333px;"><span id="goog_126174878"></span><span id="goog_126174879"></span> We also had the 12-month check up!</span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Weight: 17.2 lbs (4<sup>th</sup> percentile) – working on giving her more protein and fat (avocado, butter, peanut butter on bread/crackers, etc.)</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Length: 29.2 inches (44th percentile)</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Wearing all 9 month clothes, finally! Her feet are still really small and she is only just getting into 3-6 month shoes. But baby/kid shoes sizes are very confusing.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Size 3 diapers</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Her hair is very light and coming in thicker. It's long enough in the back for pigtails but she isn't fond of us trying to wrap an elastic around her hair.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Six teeth! Two on the bottom and four on the top!</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">In the last week she has struggled to go to bed at night. We follow the routine (bath, books, bottle, brush teeth, bed) but she screams for a few minutes when we put her down. I usually go back in a couple times to give her the rest of her bottle and rock her and sing to her and she'll go to sleep. Once she's asleep, she will usually stay asleep for 10-11 hours.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Loves almost all food we give her. She spit out Thai masaman curry (her loss) and kidney beans from a three-bean salad but likes pretty much everything else.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">She can almost walk on her own. She does it really well if we hold her hands, but she still walks on her tiptoes.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">She was getting too long for the baby bathtub so we transitioned her into the regular tub with just a little bit of water and lots of toys. She screamed the first few times because she seemed scared and unsteady. She now lays down on her tummy in the tub and kicks and plays with toys and is much happier. We also started playing music for the first part of her bath as she gets used to being in there, which helped a TON.</span></li>
</ul>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-6913836682744697542016-05-24T14:46:00.004-07:002016-05-24T14:46:52.498-07:00Changing times...In preparation for my office moving downtown, I started looking for someone who could take care of Thea a little closer to our home. I was driving about an hour each way to take her to my mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, so it made for long days for both me and Thea. I found a woman who lives down the street from us who is a stay-at-home-mom of four and was interested in taking care of Thea during the days. We had dinner with their family a couple of weeks ago, and they are fabulous! She is sweet, loving, and nurturing, and her three daughters are all older than Thea and were immediately interacting with her and making her laugh. The youngest is a boy and is a few months younger than Thea.<br />
<br />
Both Chris and I felt good about the change, although it was bittersweet because T was in such good hands with our family. But adding another 1/2 hour to the commute each way was going to put us in the car for three hours a day, and that just didn't seem fair (or fun) for Thea. So we decided to move forward, and started with the new family on May 16. The first week went very well, but this week has been a little tougher. She started crying when I drop her off, which is absolutely breaking my heart. I feel awful when she cries and reaches for me, and there isn't much I can do other than give her a hug and a kiss and promise her I'll be back soon.<br />
<br />
There are a million reasons why she could be struggling. Change is hard on babies, not just adults. She has three new teeth poking through on the top. Maybe she's having a growth spurt, which is why she is so tired all the time. I wake her up every morning to go to their house. I even read about developmental changes that occur between 9 and 12 months where babies experience separation anxiety because they haven't yet learned that the people they love will always come back.<br />
<br />
There are things I can do to hopefully ease her stress. When we play, I can play hide and seek with her toys so she learns that they do come back. I can talk to her every day and every night about the plan for the next day, getting her more used to the routine. In my mind, because she doesn't talk yet, I think she doesn't understand me. But this isn't true, because when I give her a warning about doing something I am trying to teach her not to do (like hit the keyboard on my laptop), she looks and seems to know what I am saying. So I can reassure her multiple times a day that I will always come back.<br />
<br />
It's not a trust issue with the babysitter. I know she is wonderful and that this is more of just a difficulty with change than anything else. Thea is also used to having 1:1 attention from her caregivers ,while this mother has several other kids pulling her attention in different directions, so I imagine that is hard on her too. But I also think that these things are good for her to learn, as it helps her understand sharing, patience, and other important values, even at such a young age.<br />
<br />
I wish that the solution could be for me to stay home full-time. But with Chris in school for at least another year and a half, this just isn't an option for our family. It's hard every day to leave my sweet baby in the hands of someone else. But I am thankful for people that I trust and who give her love and care when I have to be away from her.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-72354426387736093022016-05-12T11:36:00.000-07:002016-05-12T11:36:08.814-07:00I am exhausted.It has been absolutely crazy for me during the past few weeks. My coworker went out on maternity leave, so I have been doing a lot to help cover for her. She is the coordinator in our little marketing department and we have all felt her absence, but I am glad she gets to have some time away with her new little babe. Oh, and we also have four major events in a 1.5 week period, and she is the main event coordinator for everything we do. So I have been learning a LOT about event planning, which has been crazy, stressful, and overwhelming, but also a good learning experience. Things I have learned:<br />
<br />
-Never use a vendor that requires daily phone calls to stay on top of orders.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/kFJVH.jpg" /><br />
<br />
-Don't assume that things are done or that people got your emails/voicemails/both.<br />
<br />
-Accept that fact that no matter what food you order, some people won't like it. Related: there are a LOT of gluten-free vegetarians in the world.<br />
<br />
-When you think something is finalized, plan to keep working on for at least three more rounds of edits.<br />
<br />
-Don't take on any freelance work when you are in the middle of four big events at work.<br />
<br />
I'm sure there's more, but my brain is so fried that I can't remember what day it is.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-75347896102314880262016-04-28T11:49:00.001-07:002016-04-28T11:49:13.464-07:00TechnologyIt really is amazing to me how these little babies come into a world that is filled to the brim with technology. I am a huge fan of technology. I use my phone to stay in touch with friends and family all over the country (FaceTime is the actual best thing ever), I am able to work remotely because of my laptop and internet connection at least one day a week and spend more time with my baby, and even can keep myself entertained while exercising or in my downtime.<br />
<br />
Thea is fascinated by technology too. At first she didn't really get it. We went to San Diego last month and took a later evening flight in hopes that she would fall asleep, but that was not the case.<br />
<br />
(Side note: babies who are in good sleep routines and have good habits are GREAT until you try to shake up their routine, like take them on a plane or to church, and they can't sleep in a dark room in their cribs. But anyway,)<br />
<br />
So in a desperate attempt to keep her from screaming, we pulled out Chris' iPad to see if she would be distracted by Baby Einstein videos or anything....and all she wanted was to put the whole tablet in her mouth. So that didn't work.<br />
<br />
But she does love music (as mentioned in my previous post), especially The Wheels on the Bus song. So one day when we were on the way home, I had just picked her up from one of her babysitters after work, she was screaming and we were stuck in traffic. I found a version of that song on YouTube and she was riveted. She instantly stopped crying and was quietly listening all the way home.<br />
<br />
I also love to work out, and I have both an elliptical and treadmill in my basement. She used to sit in her swing and be entertained by that, but now that she is getting bigger and busier, she wants to be down and crawling. I know that regular exercise helps with my mental and physical health, helping me to be the best mama I can be, so I make it a priority. If Chris isn't home to watch her, I let her watch one of these nursery rhyme/singing videos on YouTube while I work out.<br />
<br />
In the last couple of weeks, she has also become fascinated by the TV remote, my phone, and my laptop that I use for work. When I'm working from home and she is crawling around the family room, she comes right to the ottoman where I have my computer and starts trying to "type" on the keyboard (AKA hitting it and adding a bunch of extra letters to whatever I'm writing :) ) She also will find the remote if we have left it within her reach.<br />
<br />
I'm certainly not against TV, as both my husband and I watch quite a bit of it, but I do want to limit how much she gets every day. I also think it is also a balancing act, ensuring that she has plenty of interactive toys and books so she isn't driven by TV or playing on my phone at every chance she gets.<br />
<br />
It will be so interesting to see how her fascination with technology grows and changes along with the industry.<br />
<br />
(Side note: I am sick with a cold today so she has watched more than the average amount of nursery rhyme videos. Thank goodness for those when I need to get a work task done while coughing and generally feeling blah.)Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-53817345469732771042016-04-19T15:14:00.000-07:002016-04-19T15:14:08.094-07:00Music.I really love music. If I am in the car, as the driver or a passenger, I immediately turn on the radio and bop along to whatever music is playing. I used to attend a lot of live music shows, although that has changed since having T. I also love to sing, and music is my absolute favorite part of church. It is nearly impossible for me to hear a song I like without immediately singing along.<br />
<br />
So while I was pregnant, T heard quite a bit of music while in my womb. My favorite genre is folk rock, although I have quite a broad range. My playlists include lots of Ingrid Michaelson and Joshua Radin, with a sprinkling of oldies and emo songs (leftover from my high school days). During the holiday season, I play Christmas music nonstop, especially the Carpenters album.<br />
<br />
I remember a day before I was pregnant that I was driving in the car with two of my sisters and my nephew. We got stuck on the freeway behind a really bad accident on our way to meet up with the rest of the family to eat sushi. My sister's son was hungry and she was nursing him with no pumped milk available. So he was screaming and screaming, not understanding why the car wasn't moving, or why he wasn't eating. She told me that "his song" was a new church song in the Children's Songbook, so I immediately pulled up a video of kids singing it on Youtube. We played that song on repeat for at least an hour until traffic cleared and we could get to the restaurant. She recalled what each of the "chosen songs" were for her other two children, and we laughed about it.<br />
<br />
T's chosen song is The Wheels on the Bus. Hands down, no question. I have played hundreds of other songs for her when she is upset, but nothing quiets her the way that song does. If we are stuck in the car for longer than she would like, all we have to do is start singing that song and she goes completely silent. I found a video of kids singing it on Youtube as well (for some reason, every version is British kids) and she will sit absolutely still for the extent of the video, listening to the words and the tune.<br />
<br />
She also has a little toy bus that sings the first line of the song at certain intervals, and when she hears that, she stops what she is doing and listens. Occasionally she will even dance.<br />
<br />
No other song has this effect on her. I have tried other church songs, pop songs, classic rock songs, oldies songs, and everything I can think of, but her song is The Wheels on the Bus.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-91503461389123005592016-04-04T13:13:00.002-07:002016-04-04T13:13:33.383-07:00Finding her voice.Before T was born, Chris and I would sit on the couch after work and talk about what she might be like. Chris' cousin has an adorable little girl with the sweetest, high-pitched voice and we wondered if T's voice would sound like hers, or how she would giggle. Now that she has been with us for nine months (!!) we still like to talk about what activities she will like (swimming or running like mama, soccer or music like Dad?) and envision ourselves sitting in the stands at her matches/meets/games/events and cheering her on. We also wonder what her voice will sound like. She makes a lot of noise, and started saying "dadada" and "mum" pretty early on, but most of what she says is in her own language. This past weekend, she really found her voice and started making growling and roaring noises at her toys, her toes, and everything else in her sight. This brings back a memory of my nephew, James, at a grocery store or Target or somewhere with his mom. She is telling him, "we do not roar at people." I feel like I understand this more than ever before. Thankfully, yesterday was our church's general conference, which means that we get to stay in all weekend and listen to our church leaders on TV instead of going to church. Trying to control those roars and growls in the quiet of sacrament meeting probably would have been near impossible.<br />
<br />
In the last week or so, she has also drastically amplified her need for independence. When she sits in her high chair at the table while we eat dinner, we give her puffs and other finger foods to snack on. If we try to feed them to her, she turns her head and closes her mouth. But place them on her tray, and she will dive right in, even making excited "mmmm" noises as she eats. Except yogurt drops, which she turns down with great disdain.<br />
<br />
She had her 9 month well check last Friday, and is very healthy and happy.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Weight: 15.75 lbs (5<sup>th</sup>
percentile) – the pediatrician did mention that her weight gain isn’t quite as
rapid as he’d like, but isn’t too worried. He just said to start adding chicken
and other foods to her diet, since she won’t gain much weight with what she is
eating now (fruit and veggie purees </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">J</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> )</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">She still wears some 3-6
month clothes (mostly onesies) and all 6 month pants. We have tried a few 9
month clothing items on her, but they are always really loose. Most pants are
too short on her, which makes us think she is tall. But she is 24.5 inches
long, putting her in the 18<sup>th</sup> percentile for length</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">After our San Diego trip
(where she had 2 blowouts and wet through five diapers) we moved up to size 3
diapers during the day, size 3 overnight diapers at night. Putting her in the next
size at night (or overnight-specific ones) has been a real game changer and she
hasn’t wet through one since.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Her hair is getting longer
and lighter! Her cousin KK always asks, “when do you think it will be long
enough for pigtails?"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-color: white;">She h</span>as two teeth (bottom
front). Gma thought she felt a few more poking through the top, but we haven’t
seen them yet.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">We hit a bit of a sleep
regression, which was tough. The night before Easter was the worst because she
woke up 10 times! Every time I went in there, she was standing in her crib and
was very sleepy. From what I have read, this seems normal because of
developmental changes, but that doesn’t make it any easier! She is doing better
now, although she is fighting going to bed lately. She immediately stands up
and starts crying, especially once I leave the room.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">She loves to eat real food,
and will say “mmmm” while eating. This is especially pronounced when I give her
little tastes of my frozen yogurt or other treats. She isn’t too picky,
although she hates yogurt drops (I have even tried multiple flavors!). She gags
and chokes a little bit when I try to give her pieces of food, but hopefully
she will get the hang of it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Loves to crawl and stand up
to EVERYTHING (even things that aren’t very stable, like her swing). If you are
holding her, she will wiggle until you put her down. The only exception is if
you are reading her a book – she will hold totally still and turn the pages</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Her bath seat had a little
hammock thing that suspended her kind of above/in the water, but she seemed to
be getting too long for it so we took it out. Her first few baths without it
have been a little questionable, and it seems like she feels unsteady so she
holds on to the sides.</span></li>
</ul>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-71998316058680839582016-03-23T13:42:00.003-07:002016-03-23T13:55:52.279-07:00Enjoying the moments.As a working mama, I feel guilt. Every time I hand my precious baby to one of her grandmas or her aunt and head to work, my heart aches a little bit. The first day I went back to work after maternity leave was the absolute hardest, and every minute I was at work felt infinitely long. Since then, it has gotten easier (especially since I found a job that I am much happier at), but I still miss her. I hate that she is laughing, playing, making her little sounds, and trying new things without me there to experience it.<br />
<br />
I am grateful for my sister-in-law, my mom, and my mother-in-law, who are so willing to care for her with love. She couldn't be in better hands, except that I want her in mine. My office will be moving downtown this summer, which means my commute is about to double. I am considering all of the options and figuring out what will be the best for our family. The thought of taking her somewhere else, where she won't have her cousin Andy or other familiar, loving faces makes me feel afraid. But keeping her in her car seat for an extra two hours a day doesn't seem like a welcome alternative.<br />
<br />
When I first went back to work, I thought a lot about getting my "pre-baby body" back. Not that I was some kind of model for fitness, but I certainly had gained some weight in pregnancy. I also could never run during pregnancy because of swelling, dehydration, and other ailments, so I was looking forward to getting back to that. I would leave work, pick up Thea from whomever was watching her that day, and go to the gym. Day care workers would care for her for an hour so I could work out, although most of the time, they ended up calling me to come change a diaper or console my crying girl.<br />
<br />
My gym membership expired in November, and I decided not to renew. I spent that money on a used elliptical I found on the online classifieds, and Chris and I somehow managed to move it to our new house. Now when I get done with work, I can focus on the moments I get with my sweet baby. She jumps in her bouncer while I make dinner, and I can listen to her talk and babble. I get to give her baths and watch as her tiny body continues to grow and develop. I can get my exercise in after I put her to bed. Before I go to bed, I take a few moments in the quiet darkness of her room to listen to her breathe, and tell her how much I love her.<br />
<br />
I am learning. Motherhood is a million things at once: exhausting, terrifying, exciting, magical, wonderful. I always get to be her mom, even if I don't always get to be the one providing her care. But when I get home, I make it about our time. Even in the car on the way home from the babysitter, I talk to her and sing to her, so she always knows the sound of my voice.<br />
<br />
I remember my sisters telling me, "it's easier when you are pregnant because the babies get to be with you all of the time." I get that now.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-90869810119508052972016-02-29T13:43:00.004-08:002016-02-29T13:43:48.566-08:00An update<div class="MsoNormal">
There was this time where I thought I would be better at
blogging, and it would help me remember what was happening in my life as a mama
every month. But here it is, February 29, and I haven’t posted since November.
What a slacker.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life for us has been unbelievably busy in the past couple of
months. We sold our condo and moved to a townhouse in Murray, and we have about
two boxes left to unpack so we are slowly making progress. It is a lot bigger
and has another bedroom, plus a full finished basement, so we are loving the
extra space. I am coming up on six months at my new job, and so far everything
has been great. I really like my team, and I have learned a lot. Chris is still
loving his job on a construction management team, and we are nearing the
countdown of the end of school….(three semesters, I think?) So, progress! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thea is still just about the sweetest baby I know. She is
now entering a little bit of a shy phase, where she hides her face when she
doesn’t know someone super well. She still is fine going to people, although we
don’t interact with a ton of strangers. I think the fact that she goes to both
of her grandmas and her aunt’s house every week while I work is helping her not
be afraid, although it’s hard to say. She lights up when I pick her up every
day and that is the absolute best part of my day. I also work from home every
Friday, so I love having an extra day with her. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorJolGwDVXXFbt0N5PD-P8uBaQ7sI7eP_2Y5Ua-GKR64DCTWRwaohHrpM2VNEVGs_ZWnt9MCmfGU7pryHox7hZxiPtI213Z1beu6DHYn-BXw0QOyNRXT-GNuZo2xLhju7H1v9HQfhMp8/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorJolGwDVXXFbt0N5PD-P8uBaQ7sI7eP_2Y5Ua-GKR64DCTWRwaohHrpM2VNEVGs_ZWnt9MCmfGU7pryHox7hZxiPtI213Z1beu6DHYn-BXw0QOyNRXT-GNuZo2xLhju7H1v9HQfhMp8/s320/IMG_1336.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with Mama on Friday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Weekends are our favorite, since we can hang out together as a family as much as possible. Since the weather started getting nice, we love going for walks on the river trail near our new house. Thea loves being outside, as long as it doesn’t interfere with her mealtime.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHMqJnoeAIzmiPMo-WhqaaVjJPoh7LGG2TlvffcL7FuL-bcjcHHDiHM-GdENMagvyv7hM4daO9AvPRzSJ5Vdc-Sl9Aobv_6vZaZK0WUZQtC6_Edl5WCKg2AbXAWOET937vQ_UlpITrGg/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHMqJnoeAIzmiPMo-WhqaaVjJPoh7LGG2TlvffcL7FuL-bcjcHHDiHM-GdENMagvyv7hM4daO9AvPRzSJ5Vdc-Sl9Aobv_6vZaZK0WUZQtC6_Edl5WCKg2AbXAWOET937vQ_UlpITrGg/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out in the stroller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She likes most foods and is getting better at eating. When
we first started she pushed everything out with her tongue, but now she gets
excited and tries to grab the spoon. She also likes puffs, yogurt drops (kind
of), and we gave her an apple chip at Costco over the weekend, which she seemed
to like. I get nervous feeding her new stuff because I’m always afraid she will
choke. She also has two teeth (front bottom), and getting those in was a little
tough but she was a champ. We are still using the amber necklace, and it’s hard
to say how much of a difference it makes, but people always comment on how cute
it is, so win-win. I make most of her purees with the Beaba Babycook, and the
only thing I’ve made that she didn’t like was green beans. They are really hard
to get totally smooth though, so the texture might have been the problem
because they made her gag.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thea is also still pretty small, and 3-6 month clothes fit
her well. 6 month pants tend to be the right length, although they are a little
baggy in the legs, but they work. She also still wears 0-6 month socks and
shoes. She is currently wearing size 2 diapers during the day, and size 3
overnights when she goes to bed. She loves to sleep on her tummy and will turn
over as soon as I put her in the crib.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is a fantastic sleeper at night. Lately she has been
getting tired earlier, so we put her down around 7 p.m. Her nighttime routine
is a bottle (between 4-8 oz, depending on when she last ate), bath (every other
night), and a bedtime story or two. Then I lay her down in her crib with her
kitty paci, and she goes right to sleep. The only time she cries is if she hasn’t
gotten enough formula, in which case I’ll give her a little more. In general,
she naps very well too, although sometimes she cries for a couple minutes
before falling asleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWSj_VKprJ2HsKw-txC3X7L4B7zlnVEDCabVAe6q2r70qRchmZXET1m5WNnpeH8wK-0ll8HWVQnk4z0f5cLJ0DvLGv_LGDJfbEYfMNz8FM7xs52bm_exLypUJKSzf5ML8IKoj-b6hWsw/s1600/IMG_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWSj_VKprJ2HsKw-txC3X7L4B7zlnVEDCabVAe6q2r70qRchmZXET1m5WNnpeH8wK-0ll8HWVQnk4z0f5cLJ0DvLGv_LGDJfbEYfMNz8FM7xs52bm_exLypUJKSzf5ML8IKoj-b6hWsw/s320/IMG_1253.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after waking up from a nap after church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her favorite toys are things she can put in her mouth. She
likes teething rings, key-type teething toys, and bath books that she can chew
on. She also loves books and will sit very still while we read to her.
Otherwise she is usually wiggling to get down and crawl. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYX9-KeZk1EezfZQy8RGX0FaqU_ScPxBW6h-VL7tCL884VJ6zxBtsSZVjhCGA2ah1TLXmPbHuAc5wdrZzXixa0Jq3XRFNVWGHv4GilaW7pBS31mzEzEatvqqcRMsKLs72CCK4XmakkJU/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYX9-KeZk1EezfZQy8RGX0FaqU_ScPxBW6h-VL7tCL884VJ6zxBtsSZVjhCGA2ah1TLXmPbHuAc5wdrZzXixa0Jq3XRFNVWGHv4GilaW7pBS31mzEzEatvqqcRMsKLs72CCK4XmakkJU/s320/IMG_1241.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacking bowls that she loves to chew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, she can crawl!
She started when she was about 7 months old, and has gotten really good at it
in the last month. Before I know it, she will be across the room and trying to
climb the stairs, chase the cats, etc. Sully is very patient with her and will
just sit there while she tries to pet him or grab his tail, but we always show
her how to “be nice to Sully” and “be soft to Sully” while guiding her hand
gently on his back. Caesar is not interested in her and takes off when she gets
too close.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56w6zVPSjHlvDVTzfv_5V59ZeYy1fOQr7IWCJltxa9hbVVRS76n-TzW_69XhehnU2XwBujEec9xcmoYVxvSVX_NGy2t9-z2PkKV8nhXkXy5IYgAfyPljLJ4wFMezNhFQTwx-diewBeX0/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56w6zVPSjHlvDVTzfv_5V59ZeYy1fOQr7IWCJltxa9hbVVRS76n-TzW_69XhehnU2XwBujEec9xcmoYVxvSVX_NGy2t9-z2PkKV8nhXkXy5IYgAfyPljLJ4wFMezNhFQTwx-diewBeX0/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We better learn how to climb stairs soon...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also got to spend some time with Lis and the Nilsson
family when they came in February for Charlie’s baptism. The baptism was
wonderful and we got to take Thea swimming, which she only thought was medium
fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvyx7nfCmoPYLBMDWxCVbKrgVjS7_4ZJMrHfCDW0UEwZmuRCWGcYfuquef4dCyqEcTzNrgBHM7v6l-6InUGb7QrJVau21WjeHNjX1FP6Gn3P-VHygSMIHXog1cd1BEV9wCtIBhfs2kEo/s1600/IMG_1314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvyx7nfCmoPYLBMDWxCVbKrgVjS7_4ZJMrHfCDW0UEwZmuRCWGcYfuquef4dCyqEcTzNrgBHM7v6l-6InUGb7QrJVau21WjeHNjX1FP6Gn3P-VHygSMIHXog1cd1BEV9wCtIBhfs2kEo/s320/IMG_1314.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She smiled when we got out of the pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, life is great in the Blackham household. We are
looking forward to the spring and summer so we can spend as much time as
possible outside, and have longer evenings to take walks on the parkway trail.
Things are busy, since I am still doing freelance writing for two other
companies along with my full-time job, but I love having the opportunity to
keep writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-78483368842556981832015-11-17T14:18:00.000-08:002015-11-17T14:18:46.691-08:00Catching up...In the past month, so much has changed in our lives. First, we now have a (somewhat) mobile baby. We took a trip to Orlando to visit my friend, Diana in mid-October, which was so much fun. C and I spent the first day there at Universal, and we got to do all the big rides because T was with my friend for the day :) My ultimate nerd dreams came true that day because Harry Potter World. Enough said. The next day we went to Magic Kingdom for the greatest thing ever, AKA Mickey's Not-so-Scary Halloween Party! We went a couple of years ago at Disneyland and absolutely loved it, so we wanted to check out how things are done at Disney World. Ashton dressed up as Mickey and T was Minnie. I had found this super cute Minnie ears headband on Etsy that was specifically for babies, but it didn't come until the day after we left for Florida, so that was a bummer. But then we got a bunch of candy, so win!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The party actually goes until midnight, so T fell asleep in her stroller and slept from about 8:30 until the next morning. When I went to get her out of the pack-and-play, she had rolled completely over from her back to her front. That was the first time she had ever rolled over! She did it once more while she was awake that day, but now she is a champion roller and will pretty much get to the opposite position ASAP. It caused some sleep issues for a little while, because I would lay her down on her back and she would immediately roll over and then start crying. But now she seems to like sleeping on her tummy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We also had her 4-month check and she is growing like a champ. She is still only 18th percentile for weight, but she is increasing at a good rate so that's all they care about. T also loves to blow raspberries, talk to herself and to the monkeys that hang from her bouncy seat, and smile and laugh when C gets home from work.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also left Intermountain and took a position at a software company called Infinisource. I was super nervous about leaving what I know, but am so so glad I made the change because I love it. I am a marketing writer and basically have fulfilled my other lifelong dream of being able to write for a living. Oh, and I get to work from home a day a week, so that's one more day I get to spend with sweet T.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A couple of weeks ago, C was talking to the superintendent at his job site who mentioned he was selling his townhouse. Fast forward to today, we have accepted an offer on our condo and are planning to close on both on December 9. So that's another crazy thing that is happening in our lives. We will be sad to leave the place we have loved and called home for 4.5 years, and there is such a heart-wrenching sadness that comes along with leaving a home that you have loved. But T's room is currently a combination nursery/gym/laundry drying area/office, and it just isn't working. We need more space and this place met every need (and want) we have. So on we go to the next adventure!</div>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-21540930694901156052015-09-04T12:27:00.004-07:002015-09-04T12:27:52.919-07:00Exercise After C-SectionSo having a C-section wasn't part of my plan, but it was the necessary way to get T here safely. After the surgery, it was so hard to even get out of bed and walk through the halls of the hospital, so it was hard to imagine myself running again anytime soon.<br />
<br />
At the 6-week point, my midwife cleared me to start doing light exercise so I walked on my treadmill a few days a week and then started back to the gym last week. Yesterday was a rough day for both of us - she was cranky and screaming a lot, and I had a tough day at work, so I really needed a workout to help combat my stress. I put her in the swing (which she LOVES, always falls asleep in it while I'm on the treadmill) and started walking for a couple minutes. Then I did 2 minutes of slow running, 2 minutes of walking, 7 times. It felt SO GOOD to be running again! I was worried about the bouncing and how it might feel, but I wore compression pants and I felt so great the whole time.<br />
<br />
T has her 2-month well child check today and I'm already stressing about the shots. I am definitely pro-vaccine but it just makes me sad that I'll have to see her cry and not be able to do anything about it!Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-49280384720922306502015-08-27T12:49:00.002-07:002015-09-10T09:40:32.067-07:002 months<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have our two month well check a week from tomorrow, but I weighed myself holding her and she is about 9.5 pounds</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Eyes are still blue, still pretty bald on top with a funny little brown mullet on the back</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mama started back to work this week, which has been hard. I am working 24 hours a week for 4 weeks, then going up to 30 hours a week after that. I have an awesome mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law who each take care of her 1-2 days a week while I work, so she is in great hands. I just miss her!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She is getting more used to getting dressed, being buckled in her car seat, etc. She doesn't cry much, but she will cry if her diaper is wet or dirty, or if she is hungry. She also gets a little bit fussy starting at about 6:30 p.m., and she'll fall asleep for about 30 min around that time every night.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She still doesn't notice the cats, but she is very interested in the monkeys that hang from her bouncy seat. She also started talking to herself in the last few weeks, and we just love to listen to her little voice.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">I got her a Bumbo chair to help strengthen her neck and improve her balance, we are going to try that out this week</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She eats between 4-5 oz per feeding, between nursing and formula. She still eats about every 3 hours, although the two evening feedings are closer together.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She sleeps so well at night, about 9-11 hours without waking up. (knock on wood) She takes 15-30 minute catnaps during the day, but seems to have the schedule down because she does more cluster feeding in the early evening before bedtime. She goes down between 8 and 8:30, wakes up between 6:30-7 a.m. We moved her into her crib about a month ago and she has slept so much better </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">She mostly wears newborn clothes, with a few 0-3 onesies here and there, and 0-3 jammies (newborn onesies and PJs are too short). I need to try shoes on her again, I haven't for awhile.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Mama was cleared to start exercising again, which has been great! Went to the gym one day and have been walking a lot on my treadmill. I can also sleep comfortably on my stomach again and have very little pain - just a twinge every now and then.</li>
</ul>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-22871140797131296182015-07-29T13:12:00.004-07:002015-07-29T13:12:39.282-07:00One month old!<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Haven't weighed her in awhile but I can tell she is growing because she fills out her onesies better and her socks actually fit (sort of)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She has blue eyes (like mama) and brown hair on the back from when she was born, but I think the hair growing in on top is starting to lighten.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She is a very sweet baby. She cries when she is hungry (and boy can she let me know when she is hungry) or when she needs to burp. Otherwise she is pretty content to just hang out in the Boppy, bouncy seat, swing, etc. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She is not a fan of her car seat. She will fall asleep in it when we are out and about (unless she is hungry) but as soon as we get home, she will wake up within a few minutes of still being in it. It also makes her sooo sweaty.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She doesn't seem to notice the cats much. Sully doesn't care much about her either - he will stay asleep on his bed when she is right next to him crying. Caesar seems to worry more about her and will come in when she is crying to smell her head and meow at us to make sure we know she needs something.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She is getting super strong - can almost hold her head up on her own and loves to kick, keep her legs straight, and kind of stand up when I hold her or sit her up to burp.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She eats about every 3 hours. I nurse her on both sides first, where she usually gets about 3/4-1 oz, then she will have a bottle of 3 oz of formula. She tends to fall asleep during feedings so we are still working on that. It happens more during the day than at night.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Sleep is going well, she typically sleeps 4-6 hours when I first put her down (usually around 11pm) and then another 3ish hours after that feeding. She isn't a super great napper in the day, maybe 1-2 hours max at a time, but this is also probably because she isn't finishing the full feeding so she wakes up sooner to eat more.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She doesn't always want to be in her bed, so during the day she often naps on the couch in her Boppy next to me.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">She sleeps in a cradle in our room, but I anticipate moving her into her crib in her room within the next few weeks since she is only waking once per night.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still wearing newborn diapers and newborn clothes, jammies. We have tried a couple pairs of newborn shoes but she always kicks them off because they are too big.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mama is doing well also - since she sleeps well, I don't usually take naps in the day. C-section scar is healing well and overall I feel about 75%. I still have some pain and soreness when I do too much. I REALLY want to sleep on my stomach again but every time I try, I get a little sore and my body tells me it's not quite ready yet. No exercise until 6 weeks after the surgery, but I am looking forward to getting active again. We will also start going for walks with her in the stroller once it cools off a bit.</span></li>
</ul>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-5329039503503069302015-07-29T13:02:00.004-07:002015-07-29T13:02:45.858-07:00Thea's Birth StoryJune 21, 2015 was my due date for my baby, and I had tons of dreams throughout the pregnancy that I would have her early so that's kind of what I expected. On June 4, I started having regular contractions that were about 7 minutes apart and lasted all day and my midwife thought I was in labor so I went down to L&D to have a non-stress test and figure out what was going on. Turned out I wasn't in active labor so I went home and the contractions stopped that night. Nothing ever happened after that, despite my best efforts to try every option to naturally induce labor, so my midwife scheduled the induction for June 28, 2015.<br />
<br />
The night before we went to a wedding reception for one of my childhood friends and then went home to get a good night's rest (right). The next morning we checked into the hospital and the nurse started a medication that was supposed to prepare my cervix. I started having cramping and contractions so a few hours later, the anesthesiologist came in to give me an epidural for pain control. It didn't actually work very well, so after six doses of medication (which all went into my left leg) he had to come back and take it out, then put it back into a different spot in my back. That one worked and the next few hours of contractions were much more manageable.<br />
<br />
At that point, my contractions weren't hard enough to help me dilate (I was only at a 4) so the nurse started me on Pitocin. That's when things got scary. With every contraction, my baby's heart rate would drop so they worried that she was on her cord. They moved me around in all different positions to try to get her heart rate under control, but it just wasn't working. They stopped the Pitocin and let me rest for awhile to see if I would contract on my own, but it still didn't happen and I wasn't any further along. The nurse started Pitocin again, but we had the same exact result.<br />
<br />
I remember this moment very clearly because Chris, me, and the midwife were watching Celebrity Family Feud and she turned the TV off to discuss options. I immediately knew what was coming and started getting really emotional but she explained that I wasn't far enough to start pushing, and they couldn't risk the safety of the baby by continuing to give me Pitocin. So they called the OB/GYN doctor who was on call and he was there within about 15 minutes. He came in and talked to me for a few minutes and then they wheeled me into the OR.<br />
<br />
The anesthesiologist gave me some more medication through the epidural so I would be numb, but I could feel something sharp when they started, so he gave me another type of medication that was more of a sedative and after that things went fuzzy. I remember Chris saying, "it really is a girl" when she came out and I remember the doctor bringing her around to show her to me and I knew her and I remember the nurse commenting on how long her eyelashes were. Other than that, it was a blur and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I woke up in recovery to a nurse pushing as hard as she could on my stomach (worst part by far), which she continued to do several times in the next hour, and that I could barely stay awake.<br />
<br />
Chris came back and forth from recovery to the nursery and told me details about my sweet baby. I couldn't hold her because I was so sleepy and out of it, so I worried I would drop her. A few hours later, they took me into our room and brought her in to me so she could nurse. It was really hard and painful, mostly because of my incision, so that experience was tough.<br />
<br />
Having a c-section wasn't my plan but it turned out that she had her cord wrapped around her neck and body so she never would have been able to come out on her own. I am glad that we made the decision to go ahead with the c-section, even though the recovery has been really hard. It's amazing how I have already forgotten some of the pain and struggles associated with healing from a c-section, but I guess if you could remember the birth (no matter what type), no one would want to have another baby!Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-58503049612995078792015-05-15T07:54:00.002-07:002015-05-15T07:54:16.510-07:00Sully BearIf you don't like cats or pets, might as well skip this post.<br />
<br />
I have been volunteering at the local animal shelter for about a year and a half and it has been a great experience. I am learning so much about animal welfare and it has helped me realize my ultimate dream of working in that field. When I first started volunteering, C had one request: don't bring any animals home. We already had one feisty cat, Caesar, who we weren't sure would ever get along with anybody else. I reluctantly agreed, but after about six months of volunteering, I had already fallen in love with three different cats (all of whom were adopted, yay!) So C knew it was a losing battle, and we made a deal: if I got another cat, he could get a different car.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to last June, when he picked out the car he wanted and I found the perfect cat. Sully was a big 16-pound guy who was as gentle and mellow as they come. For the first couple of hours, we weren't even sure if he could meow. It took a week or two, but he and Caesar became friends and now they are best brothers. Every vet visit that I took Sully to, they would tell me that he was overweight and we should work on that. He was on a pretty regimented diet, so I didn't think too much of it. After all, when we adopted him from the shelter he was already a pretty big cat so I figured that was just his size.<br />
<br />
In the past couple of months I started noticing that he was losing weight and I could feel his ribs and spine more than ever before. He also had a wound that wasn't getting much better so I took him in for a checkup. He weighed in at 12.1 lb, so almost a 4-lb weight loss in just a few months (which is a lot for a cat - imagine losing 1/4 of your body weight in a couple of months!) I also mentioned that his thirst had become insatiable and he was using the box a lot more than Caesar. They took some blood and urine and sent us on our way, and I took him home fearing the worst.<br />
<br />
The next morning, the vet called and gave me the news: Sully has diabetes.<br />
<br />
She went over the basics: insulin shots twice a day and a different diet. With my volunteer work at the shelter, I have been able to get to know some amazing people who foster and care for special needs cats, so I reached out to one of my friends who has a diabetic cat for help. Her advice along with the help of the staff at the vet has helped us realize that it will take some time and patience for both cats to adjust, but that Sully can still have a good life with us. It makes me really sad every time I think about him having to get shots and make such big changes in his life, but I also am grateful that he has something treatable.<br />
<br />
He is a very unique cat. When we first got him, we noticed some trigger signs that he may have a history of abuse. Since living with us, he has relaxed completely and seems to feel very comfortable. He has a special bond with C and showers him with lots of love. I am hopeful that this won't change his personality, but that he will continue to feel better as we get his blood sugar regulated.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-9104243180027900712015-01-15T08:38:00.003-08:002015-01-15T08:38:46.285-08:0028 and Pregnant.In October, Chris and I took a trip to the East Coast to visit my sisters and see NYC (Chris has never been). Since he is studying civil engineering, he has a special interest in bridges and other unique structures, which there are plenty of in NYC. His professor also gave them an extra-credit assignment over fall break to take pictures of themselves with the class textbook in front of something cool that applies to civil engineering, and the best pic would get extra credit points. So we went all around the city to find the best bridges and took pictures with Chris and his book in front of them. It was such a fun trip. Then after a few days there and in New Jersey, we drove to North Carolina to spend a few days with my other sister. Super fun.<br />
<br />
When we got back, I found out that I was pregnant! It was perfect timing, because the first trimester was super tough and I am so glad I wasn't sick on the trip. It would have ruined it completely. I am now almost 18 weeks along, and the sickness comes and goes. In the first trimester it was pretty much nonstop, so it's getting better but still not totally gone. I have also been able to exercise a little bit in the past few weeks, which I couldn't do at all at first, so that has been great.<br />
<br />
Almost six years ago, my roommate found out she was pregnant and it was pretty crazy. She was going to be a single mom, which she knew would be really tough, but she went through with it and had her little boy five years ago today. I lived with her until her son was about three, so I have a really close relationship with both of them. I have seen firsthand how tough it is to have a baby, so I feel like I am a little bit more prepared than someone who hasn't ever lived with a newborn. During her pregnancy, MTV started the series "16 and Pregnant" and my roommate and I would watch it together every week.<br />
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Since I found out I was pregnant, I started recording every episode of 16 and Pregnant to "get ready." Chris thinks this is a very strange thing to do, since we are not 16, but I am so interested in the stories of these girls. I am happy that I have a stable relationship and home to bring this little girl into, but it still feels scary and overwhelming to know that I am going to be completely in charge of this tiny person.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-85044669729298733052014-08-11T14:23:00.001-07:002014-08-11T14:23:42.665-07:00July and AugustWell, the good news is that I have been running consistently for all of July and August! After my last flare-up, I went back to the doctor and he gave me a list of shoes that I should be wearing with my orthotics. I noticed that under the running section, all of the shoes listed were stability shoes....which got me thinking.<br />
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Last fall, I went to a different running store to get some new running shoes (because my favorite running store closed). I wanted to start from scratch, since I had been wearing a version of the same shoe for the past 7 years and started wearing stability shoes when I was about 70 lb heavier. So the salesperson watched and recorded me running on the treadmill, then told me that I really didn't pronate much so I probably didn't need to be in stability shoes anymore.<br />
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Now, I am no doctor but this is the first time in my running life that I have ever had foot problems, and I hadn't drastically changed any of my habits. I was still running every other day, using Hal Higdon's training method for half marathon #5, same plan I used for the other four, and pretty much doing things the same way I always had. So I started to wonder if it was maybe because the stability shoes I had been wearing this whole time had been keeping my feet more stabilized.<br />
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So I went back to that running store and got similar shoes, but the stability version (Mizuno Wave Rider 10) and lo and behold, my problems are solved! (knock on wood) I have been sticking to treadmill runs, partly because it's unbearably hot outside and partly because I want to be able to stop if I have any pain. Thankfully I haven't, so I have been slowly increasing my mileage and getting back to running every other day. HOORAY!<br />
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The rest of the days are spent with my two cats, who are best friends and should have been together all along, and with my family, some of whom came to visit in July, and at camp, where it rained for most of the days and was quite chilly. It's been a busy summer!Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-10633541150707879692014-05-27T15:04:00.000-07:002014-05-27T15:04:07.638-07:00plantar fasciitis is a four-letter word.Well, I'm just going along in life, complaining about being busy and being happy that I am running again, and BOOM.<div>
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Plantar fasciitis rears its ugly head again.</div>
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The doctor warned me that it can flare up at any time, and I might be able to run a lot with no pain, or I might run a tiny amount and suddenly feel it again. So, apparently he was right. I am trying to figure out if there is any option (besides another shot in my foot, yikes that was brutal) like maybe wearing a walking boot or something so that I can at least walk around at work and for things I have to do, without being in so much pain. I'm not sure if that's really something they do, but I am trying everything I can. I'm taking some time off from running, but I want to stay active with biking, swimming, weight training, etc. I am just frustrated with this.</div>
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Especially because my #1 favorite 5K is coming up next weekend and it doesn't look like I'll be able to do it. It is the best race ever because husband proposed to me at the finish line, it is one of the first 5K's I ever ran when I started running, it costs $8 and includes a huge bag of candy (it's sponsored by Nestle), and they give away tons of prizes at the end! I've never won anything at it, but the same year that Chris proposed, my dad won a new TV! So I am so sad to not be running it with my parents this year. I didn't run it last year either because it was the day after my grandpa passed away. So sad.</div>
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But I am trying to be positive and not lay around and cry all day. I got a Fitbit so I am going to work hard on sticking to the diet plan that it gives, to try to lose weight and ease up on the pressure on my poor foot. My usual tactic is to just become very lazy and mad at everyone, but that's not really working out for me... I am also doing anything and everything I can to help with the symptoms- ice, night splinting, etc. Fingers crossed!</div>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-66438724734357945892014-05-23T07:00:00.003-07:002014-05-23T07:00:58.518-07:00MayThe past couple of months have been <u>so busy</u> around our house. Suddenly both husband and I have new jobs at church, which have more responsibilities, so one of us is often running to or from a meeting...and on the days we don't have those, we are running to a friend's choir concert, babysitting, trying to catch up with friends, or somewhere else. I am wiped out and looking forward to a long weekend. Although we didn't have much planned for the weekend at the start of the week, pretty much every day now has something planned, so it may not be as relaxing as I hoped...and we don't even have any kids. It's hard to imagine getting it all done when we do.<br />
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It's helping me realize that I have to learn how to prioritize and sometimes have the courage to say no to things. I imagine that becomes easier when you do have children, since their schedules dictate what you can and can't make happen, but I need to work on that now. Sometimes it's okay to say no, and not give a myriad of reasons why it just won't work out. It's really hard for me because I want to accommodate and make things work, since I feel like my schedule is probably the easiest one to alter, when I am making plans with friends who have kids, or more rigid work schedules, or whatever else might make their life seem busier than mine. But I am realizing that because of this personality trait, I am coming home late, feeling exhausted, and struggling to get to work on time because I am just tired from running around.<br />
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So I am making my life and schedule a priority. I remember when I was losing weight, and I was extremely rigid about my workout time. I went at a certain time every day, and nothing short of a stress fracture could stop me. My life definitely had less going on then, but I still think that I need to bring this mentality back. When I am working out, everything else feels so much more manageable.<br />
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Anyway, I'm done with that for now. I got a treadmill a couple weeks ago, and I have been running on it a lot. I'm still having an issue with my hamstring, but when I run slower on the treadmill, I don't feel the pain like I do when I run outside. So, I'll take it.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-55980440035852404702014-04-09T12:14:00.000-07:002014-04-09T12:14:09.308-07:00Victories.Well, I've been running 2-3 times a week for the last month and it's going well. I have some weird knee pain when I bend my legs certain ways, but they don't hurt at all when I'm running, so I have self-diagnosed it as a problem with my new mattress. It's pretty plush and I sleep on my stomach, so I think that somehow I am hyper-extending or twisting them in the night, since I was waking up every morning with horrible pain that would slowly diminish throughout the day. I started putting a pillow under my ankles and it has helped a ton.<br />
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Anyway, back to running. I am up to 3 miles, and aside from one tougher run this week, it's been great. I feel so much better about myself and everything in my life when I am able to run. I planned out my 12-week half marathon training plan for a race on June 21, and then the next day, I got a wedding invitation from my cousin for the same day. It's a cousin who I have only met a handful of times, so it wouldn't be the worst thing if I didn't make it. I am still trying to decide what to do. The race is put on by my work, so the entry fee was pretty low, and it is an annual event so I can always run it another year...and I was already feeling hesitant about trying to increase my mileage so much after coming back from injury...<br />
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But I am still not totally decided. So I am going to keep training and see how things go. And find out which of my other cousins are going to the wedding, since that may play a big role in whether I go or not :)<br />
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In other news, we had a chocolate fountain at my work today to celebrate one year in our new office building. The past week and a half have been very difficult at work, so this was a fun break. We switched to an entirely different software program that basically impacts a huge number of our jobs, and it has not been easy. The software has crashed every single day since it launched. So I am ready for the weekend.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-22622297408793819212014-03-19T09:19:00.000-07:002014-03-19T09:19:03.610-07:00A busy couple of weeks.So I started easing back into running at the beginning of last week - did 1.25 on the treadmill last Monday, then another 1.5 this week. The first run felt pretty good (although I was super out of breath, can't believe how fast I lost my endurance!) - it was awesome to be back to running, but I did feel some pain in that hamstring again. So I foam rolled like crazy and then tried it again, and this past Monday's run felt so much better! I had a tiny bit of pain just after I stopped running, which subsided quickly and by the time I left the gym, I didn't feel it at all. Hooray! I am signed up for a 5K at the end of April, and then a half in June, so I am hopeful that I can get there by then.<div>
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We went to Vegas last week for husband's spring break, which was so fun. We saw Bill Cosby (!!) live, which was one of the coolest things for me. I have been a huge fan ever since I was a little kid, because it was one of the only TV shows we watched at my house. We had a bunch of episodes recorded on VHS tapes and would watch the same ones over and over. My dad saw him once when I was around 8 years old and brought me a signed picture, and I still have it! The autograph is pretty much worn off, but I still display it proudly. I have a neighbor who comes over every Tuesday for dinner and 2 episodes of The Cosby Show and it is the highlight of my week. So, it was AWESOME. The trip was fun too, it was really warm so we went swimming and ate good food. Very relaxing.</div>
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We got some big news while we were there - husband's parents put their house on the market and put in an offer on a house in Daybreak (a planned community in Utah). It is in a 55+ community, so his dad is looking forward to saying goodbye to yard work. Husband isn't that upset about it, but he isn't as attached to things as I am. I am sad because I have always felt so welcomed and comfortable in their home, and we stayed there for a couple of weeks over the summer while our house was flooded. Plus Caesar (our cat) absolutely loves going there because he loves the stairs and the huge basement where he can run around. So it is emotional for me, although not nearly as bad as when my parents sold my childhood home...</div>
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The good news is that their new place will have a full gym, so they are going to give me their treadmill!!! I am super excited about that. Husband kept saying that we didn't have room, but after some convincing (and begging...and offering to get rid of stuff...) he agreed that we could make it work. YAY! It is a perfect one for me too, because his dad has a lot of joint pain and arthritis so he picked one that has an extra cushioned deck. So it will be easier on me while my body tries to heal. </div>
Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-46380114082324933042014-03-03T10:04:00.002-08:002014-03-03T10:04:21.961-08:00Feeling less afraidAfter finally coming clean to husband about my concerns about my sciatic nerve causing all this pain in the back of my leg, he was kind enough to offer me a massage with some Deep Blue cream. While he was poking around, he found huge knots in my muscles right in the spots where the pain is the worst. After doing some more online research, it looks like my symptoms and physical evidence are pointing to a hamstring strain.<br />
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To me, this is a huge relief. I was seriously stressing about a possible nerve problem, because I just didn't know what the outcome would be as far as sciatic nerve problems and continuing with my running goals. The websites I read said muscle strains typically happen because of overuse, which totally makes sense after the super downhill and uphill half (I didn't train on hills at all). I never took time to let it heal (even when I was off running, I continued to do elliptical, heavy spinning, and weight training, all of which used my hamstrings a ton).<br />
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So I am making the executive decision to continue with massage (thanks husband) and ease up on weight-bearing activity for a week or two, and see if that helps. If not, I think I will go back to my sports med doctor for some extra help.<br />
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I have a 5K coming up next month, and a half marathon in June, so I am really hopeful that I can get healthy enough for those!<br />
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It was my birthday yesterday, had a super fun and relaxing weekend with all of my favorite things and some of my favorite people.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580269014572661000.post-21388900502935626672014-02-28T11:17:00.003-08:002014-02-28T11:17:41.390-08:00Afraid.So it's been awhile since I ran. November 9, to be exact. I ran the <a href="http://dogey.blogspot.com/2013/10/haunted-half.html" target="_blank">Haunted Half</a> and felt great, but when I went to run 4 miles a few days later, my foot was in a lot of pain. I took a week off, then gave it another shot and ended up limping home because it was so sore. Saw a doctor, got a diagnosis, blah blah blah now it's three months later and I am really scared to run again.<br />
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My foot generally feels okay as long as I wear my orthotics. Days where I am on my feet a lot at work are worse, but I feel like that issue is resolved (hopefully). What I am more afraid about is the pain that runs down the back of my right leg. This has actually been going on since the half marathon too. I thought it was maybe just a strain from overuse (I climbed a LOT of hills during that race) but it hasn't gone away... And it gets sore when I do certain exercises at the gym, not just running.<br />
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So, like any foolish person with access to the internet, I googled it. Sometimes this is beneficial, and other times it makes you want to cry. Apparently the area that I am having pain is right where the sciatic nerve sits. I don't really know what to do about this. Do I make an appointment with my sports med doctor? A neurologist, since it's potentially nerve related? Ignore it and pretend like nothing is wrong?<br />
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Well, anyone who knows me knows which option I chose. (Spoiler alert: it's #3.)<br />
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But now it's three months later and I am still feeling the pain and I still don't know what to do. And next week I am going to start re-introducing short runs but I don't know if that's really that smart. But if I don't start running soon, I think I might just lose it.<br />
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Serenity now.Dogeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981517436133427651noreply@blogger.com0