Quality Time

The past so many days have been all about quality time with Avery's bestie, Luke.  We went to Idlewild a week ago and had a blast at the park and in the water area.  She is fearless on the rides. All was awesome until the very end of the day when she toppled on the swinging bridge and scuffed up both knees pretty good.  She's okay, but I was a bit worried as I ran up the tower what I was going to find.  We are pretty lucky as far as boo-boos go.  There haven't been too many so far.  *fingers crossed for the next 5 years*

This (long) weekend she got to hang out at his place watching fireworks last night.  Today they got to swim together.  Tomorrow is the town parade -- yep, together.  I adore his parents, so it is good quality time for me too.

Birthday party planning has begun.  We know 100% we want a Batman theme and I am pretty set on going to Simmon's farm.  I hope that the weather isn't scorching come the end of August.

Kissing Concrete

Yesterday and today were quite nice, so we went outside armed with big girl panties and one of our potties.  We made it quite a while yesterday before the panties ended up wet, and Avery immediately came over and told me.  I had her on the potty several times and she just wouldn't go, so I wasn't surprised it happened.  It needed to though, so she got a sense for how unpleasant it felt.

This morning when we tried the same not too long into the process she told me "I need to poop Mommy".  YAY!  We came upstairs and she immediately went potty.  That's a huge win.  After we went back outside and it wasn't but a short period later that she took a tumble while pushing her little bus along the concrete.  She went booty over teacup and face planted.  I saw the tumble starting from the corner of my eye, but there was no way to get to her in time.  From the look of the resulting boo-boos on the left side of her face, I would say she thumped the forehead high, bounced a bit, and then hit again with part of her lower forehead above her eyebrow, her cheek, the side of her nose, and even her eyelid.

She was quite unhappy for a minute, so I just cuddled her.  Once she was calm and I got a look I was glad it wasn't worse than it is.  She did let me clean it off and put some ointment on it.  Man that's going to be uncomfortable when it scabs.  Lord help me keep her from picking.

Trying to keep up

Around 4pm on Wednesday we got the text requesting that we all pick up our kids ASAP - daycare had a sewage issue going on.  I guess whatever the backup or blockage was effected the downstairs area - it was (smell) notable when I walked in.  As such they were closed on Thursday and Friday.  It was just kiddo and I and trying to keep her worn out across a long weekend has been a challenge so far.  Working when she napped also helped to completely exhaust me at this point.

I've been trying to test Avery out with a few things to see how she'd do on vacation with just a shower and sharing a bedroom with us.  That means I've used the shower sprayer when bathing her, much to her dismay.  I've gotten her to enjoy it enough that she laughs and says it tickles, but she's not a fan when it comes time to rinsing her hair.  Regardless, that we will survive.  As to bedtime, that's another story - man she can fight to stay up all night and even once she falls asleep she's kicking, turning, and climbing out of the blankets.  Last night was not a good night's sleep as a result, but it was doable.

Final "first" to report was not being fast enough to prevent her from tossing herself off of the bed this evening.  She's okay, but she scared herself as she tumbled down landing on the dog bed.  I've been warning her, but I guess there are some things you don't fully get until you experience them first hand. I'm just glad she didn't get hurt.

Following up

Today I got Avery to her pediatrician for a follow up check on her injury.  This morning between school drop off and our trip to the doctor the one side of her nose was trying to bleed again. Poor kiddo.  The doctor did indicate this is reasonable and could happen for a couple of weeks.  All in all the swelling is way down and she is looking pretty good.  We're okay.

Humpty Dumpty

On Friday school called me shortly after 10am.  No one was more eager to hear what they had to say than I was after she started out with "we had an accident".  I left the house shortly thereafter to find my kiddo still wailing a bit, to take her straight to MedExpress.  Long story short, she fell in the hall as the class was headed downstairs for playtime and put her upper lip, just below her nose into the metal door stopper.

We are so grateful that God was watching over her. There are no broken or loose teeth, no broken nose, no major damage whatsoever... but it sure didn't look like that was the case.  She has a scratch on her upper lip towards her nose and no cut on the inside of her mouth.  Her nose continues to try to bleed and is still a bit swollen and slightly mis-shapen.  Her lip swelling went down a good bit, but you can still see the bruise just inside of her mouth on her top lip.

She's a trooper.  She still ate well and has allowed me to brush her teeth pretty normally since the day of.  She did bump it last night and cried a bit as her nose bled a little.  I love to cuddle with her and when she came home she was happy to cuddle with me until her nap time -- but I don't want her cuddles if it means she is in pain.

I'm to follow up with her pediatrician.  Since the office was closed when I called on Friday afternoon I have to wait until tomorrow to try and get her in asap.  In the mean time, I continue my prayers of gratitude for how lucky we are and to ask for healing and to have the swelling go away returning her beautiful little face untouched.

Gnap Gnap

Have you ever watched the episode of the Smurfs where a purple fly bites one and then they start biting, saying "gnap"?  Yep.  Avery is all "gnap gnap".  She's been a bit bitey the past week when she isn't happy with us for constraining her (picking her up when she needs to go do something).  I guess it was inevitable, but I was hoping to have skipped that phase since we're to 20 months and they say that starts around 18 months.

While we were away on vacation she also popped out the two lower cuspids.  Now we're down to 6 more to go.  This at least explained a few bouts of diaper rash we've had lately.  I do wonder if it encourages the biting, but her instances of biting all seem to be frustration-based.

We did have a nice cruise vacation together.  Avery did well sleeping and we managed to eat in the dining room.  She wasn't much of an eater onboard, but we did pretty well without needing a ton of outside food brought on.  While in Bermuda we took Avery to a pink sand beach where she played with her bucket and shovel in the sand.  She still is not a fan of cool water lapping up at her feet - be it ocean water or the 'beach' pool onboard.  In Boston we took Avery to the aquarium.  Despite the obscene crowd we had a good time and she enjoyed watching the penguins, fish, sharks, and other critters.

We have lots of great photos once again of her, and the whole family.  Sunday was Easter, so we put even more miles in heading to two get togethers.  All of these miles in the past week and a half and it was the last couple miles that scared me.  Last night we were very lucky on the highway coming home from a bit of shopping.  Ben's car is a bit banged up as a result, but we are all well.  To my knowledge the folks in the other vehicles were also ok.  Long story short a dog ran across the highway.  Ben was in the left lane.  He and the driver to our right slammed on their breaks.  Unfortunately, the guy to our right had another car behind him, and a tractor trailer behind that.  The truck didn't get stopped fast enough and crunched the car in the middle, which we believe popped out and came into our lane, hitting us.  I believe the dog also was safe and ran up the hillside.  Thank you God for watching over us all.

Sink your shark teeth into this

This post is all about teeth.  First, the ones on Avery's "friend" from school (as the teacher referred to him or her) that sunk into her arm yesterday.  Poor kid.  As I was told she must have been snapping herself into a seat and this "friend" must have wanted that seat.  The teacher turned around just in time to see him or her sinking teeth in and they "had a hold of her pretty good".  She did have welts from both top and bottom teeth, so I am sure it was unpleasant.  I guess in addition to crying she also was staying clear of that "friend" for the remainder of the day.  We used this opportunity to practice "owie" as I pointed at those marks.

This morning Avery was awake a bit early.  She remained content and entertained, so I remained in bed.  Shortly before I needed to get up I heard the following - unfortunately, I wasn't prepared and recording!  "Mommy, do do do do, Daddy, do do do do".  Yup, I'm pretty sure I caught her first rendition of Baby Shark on the monitor.

Incident Report

On Friday when I picked up Avery from daycare I signed my first 'incident report'.  When they said they had one for me I admit, I'm awful, and thought it meant she hit someone or something.  No, instead she tumbled while running in the gross motor skills room and bonked her head.  She has a decent black and blue mark there still tonight.

Throughout the weekend she managed to tap it off of the railings on the stairs and then tonight when she was frustrated she was bopping her head on the kitchen floor.

Speaking of her head... at the pediatrician appointment we measured in at 20" around, that's in the 99th percentile!  Her height at 32" which puts her in the 50th percentile and her weight at 25 lbs 1.5 oz, which is in the 75th percentile.

She did get two more shots while there.  Today she woke a little snotty and coughy, but seemed less doomed to illness as the day progressed.

We're also getting definitive NOs from her now.  Man is she going to be a challenge as she starts to use that big old noggin.  Her Dad told her if she didn't eat he was going to turn off Elmo.  I didn't think she'd understand it, but when he went and picked up the remote and repeated himself she said No with a tone that rang of "how dare you!"

I poop, therefore I am.

We remain binky free.  That was way too easy.  I feel like I say this often with Avery.

She is also telling us "I poo".  Usually it is announced after she's gone, but she even told me in advance one day.  This is definitely the first step towards potty training.  So I went ahead and bought the potty I was planning to get for her.  We won't be trying to train any time soon, but I want her to get okay with it being around and even sitting on it fully clothed for the time being.

I've been hearing the above phrase a lot the last few days.  She's been a bit loose and diaper rashed.  Is it from incisors starting to push down?  I can't tell.  But I know her rear has been quite sore.

She had a few rough night's of sleep in a row too.  The first night she woke with a squealing cry, the one that tells me to get up directly, not to wait it out.  I found her feet through the slats fairly far.  I was able to get her back down within a reasonably short amount of time, prolonged only by my attempts to get a blanket on her after I put her down (if she starts to cry and stands it comes back off, obviously).  The next night we were in the midst of the loose stool.  She woke crying and I decided to go in to check to see if she went, rather than leaving her to fall back asleep with a poopy diaper.  Sure enough she needed changed.  From there she didn't want to go back down as easily.... at least not until she pooed again less than an hour later.  Then the third night, shortly before bedtime the power kicked out.  Her room is shockingly dark without her clock or sleep machine glowing, so it wasn't the easiest put down.

Tonight we head to the doctor for her 18 month appointment!

Daycare is going well at drop off now, but she continues to come home with report cards that say she's not eating much there other than bread and fruits.

The youngest puppy is learning from the older ones

This morning Avery woke up a bit too early, so I brought her to my room to cuddle for a few minutes.  She didn't want to go back to sleep.  Instead she started mimicking Danika, who was panting.

I suspect she was a little sore as she had a shot in each leg again last night.  First her second dose of the flu vaccine and then her last DTAP.  At least we're getting to the point where we'll be done for a few years.  But we did go to the chiro prior, so that could help.

Most definitely teething

A week and a half fighting diaper rash, this is definitely the longest struggle we've had thus far.  This time we're seeing distinct wound spots.  I firmly blame the desitin at this point for amplifying things when we first noticed the rash starting - the rest of it is headed to the garbage.  I seem to get things tamed down and then she has a day with 5 or 6 poops, which makes it pretty hard to not flare it back up.

We can now see her first upper lateral incisor trying to push through and her molars on the bottom are still in progress.  Regardless, that incisor makes #10, we're half way home.

Avery's Halloween costume was a big hit at daycare and with neighborhood folks, many commenting it was the most creative they've seen in a while.  She sure made for one cute little Cabbage Patch Kid and she did look a good bit like Trixie in her red sweat suit and eyeliner freckles.  She did score her first candy from the neighbor which her Dad and I ate, but I did share a twix with her today and she really liked it - look out world.

Major Tumble

Friday night we had our first major tumble.  It was about 45 minutes before bedtime, she was cruising about and stepped to move between her octopus ball toy and the coffee table.  Well, the coffee table was a bit further away than she had estimated.  I watched it from part way across the living room as she went forward, smashing her nose and lower face into the side of the coffee table.

Her nose was bleeding and talk about inconsolable crying.  I am not going to lie, I was terrified.  I held her and we dabbed the bit of blood.  Debating if we needed to go to the ER, her Dad searching the internet, and I clung to her, trying to get her calmed.  About 15 minutes later as she calmed down she started to seem drowsy, but it was close to her bedtime - tell me that doesn't compound your worries, even if you know she didn't hit the upper part of her face/head.

We got her totally calmed and down to bed with just a bit of tylenol for pain, but then woke her lightly 2 hours later to make sure she still seemed herself.  I didn't get a lot of sleep last night - no surprise, right?  She woke and cried out a few times requiring consolation and holding which is SUPER abnormal for her. I suspect she rolled and bumped a tender part.

Once I felt better that there wasn't a big concern of major issues and my mind calmed a little all I could think was "her beautiful face... please Lord, protect that beautiful face".  I fully expected to find two black eyes this morning.  Thank God she looks wonderful today, maybe a slight bit of swelling across her nose and that's it.  When she woke from her nap today she had a little more snotty blood coming out.  That and a small mark on her lip that looks more like she scratched herself and that's it.  We are so lucky.

This just was a bad week for sure with her going down ill and her fall. In between I went down a bit ill, probably with whatever she had, but fortunately it wasn't coming out as vomit.  Friday evening was quite a challenge to keep up with her as she was feeling well again, but I certainly was not - and very weak.  Thank goodness I went to bed immediately after she did on Friday night and I got 10 1/2 hours of sleep to help keep me covered for my lack of sleep the night before and then after she fell.

Another new food to report as well - rhubarb!

Back to Sunshine and Rainbows

Fortunately, we're back to a healthy looking bottom again, so I'm able continue shopping for those rainbows to decorate for Avery's birthday party.  Today we made it up to Build a Bear (perhaps you saw the mayhem that ensued this past week when they had a pay your age promotion) to use the coupon we got.  So for $10 Avery has her first unicorn - it will serve to help decorate for her birthday as well.  Unfortunately, despite the website saying they had both unicorns in stock they neglected to clarify that the ones they had were already stuffed.  So she didn't get to pick out a little heart for him or assist in the stuffing, hence there are no photos of the event.  This makes me a little sad, but it's okay, I know we'll have other trips there in our future, right?

Visiting with Aunt Jackie

Kiddo returned to the doctor last night for a few more shots (it seems like there is an endless list of them).  Since we were already there I did ask them to have the doctor come in to peek in her ears and listen to the rattly breaths.  All seemed fine to the doctor.

Today Avery stayed home from daycare to hang out with Aunt Jackie, as she will a few days during her visit.  This will give us more opportunities for her to nap in her crib and to get her eating off of a spoon.  This week we have an avocado ready to mash up for her.  Late last week she got through a small container of apples.

Change in support personnel

Yesterday I met with the two 'leaders' of the doula group here and was able to talk some things through with them.  I had talked with the one several times via email and phone since last Wednesday and they're working to give me a viable solution.  I will be proceeding with their help as one or the other should be available when I go into labor.

This is a good thing because I'm feeling more and more pressure each day.  Granted, yesterday I did a little too much in the evening so I had myself hurting, but even without all of that at times when I stand I really feel the lower belly pressure.  I guess it makes sense since we're at the two week mark.  Time has really flown.

Like a balloon - let's capture that on film!

I'm swelling back up, well at least my feet and ankles are.  It's so unpleasant.  Getting down on the floor and back up for some of my cleaning tasks is already difficult, but when you place a foot sideways and FEEL the swelling ugh.

I looked around a little for a massage place - but I am starting to think I won't be getting massages out here.  It looks like pricing is about double what I paid back in Jingletown - especially for maternity massage - and at least in Jtown I knew I was going to get a good massage.

Tomorrow morning we're scheduled to meet the photographer at Mingo Creek Park for my maternity shoot.  I had one dress purchased for the event and pulled but of course he has nothing that matches.  So I've had to slap together another outfit for some pics with him.  I'm hoping that non-maternity dress/top looks decent in the photos. *sigh*  Still lots to gather up to take with us to that tomorrow.  I'll be up all too early to get myself looking respectable for said event (hair/makeup)... then back for more cleaning before a game night here at my place.  I'm an idiot, why did I allow that on the schedule?

Ch ch ch ch changes

Fortunately, I had a slightly sore arm from the vaccine, but did not get ill in any way, shape, or form.  As a matter of fact for the past so many days I have been feeling even better - smaller or maybe she's sitting in a better position and the swelling in my ankles has reduced to a very mild issue (if I hadn't been swollen previously I wouldn't even notice it right now).  I'll thank the cooler evenings for that last one.  With the water gone I even lost a few pounds!

Last night I had a bit of a rough go with sleep in the middle of the night.  There were some pains coming up across my belly like what was in there was simply too heavy and going to pull the whole thing off.  It seems to start from the bottom left, which is where things 'felt funny' in the past - a very pregnancy related pain in my mind.  Maybe it was braxton hicks, but it seemed to hurt longer than what they claim those would cause.  Of course then the thunderstorms rolled through too, so I was woken again by a puppy in search of part of my bed.

I'm sitting on my completion discount for Amazon right now - and the mattress price dropped back down.  He is encouraging me to wait to place an order since we have another shower at the end of the month, but I'm twitching.  That seems like forever from now and who knows how the prices will trend between now and then.  I think I'm going to try and hold out until the billing cycle for my credit card changes over and then all bets are off.

Vaccine for Mummy

Today I headed out to get a TDAP vaccine. Actually, I did this twice.  The first run out was to the nearby Walgreens (and for a Starbucks run mid-day), but they "couldn't tell if it would be covered by my insurance" - Walgreens, not Starbucks.  *shakes head* After talking to Highmark I learned it is definitely covered and didn't matter which vaccine (I'll cover that later) so I headed to the Giant Eagle pharmacy after work.

I had a little bit of a wait, but I got my Boostrix TDAP.  From what I read there are two options, Boostrix and Adacel.  The first is Class B approved for people 10 and older, where as the other is a Class C for 10-64 year olds.  Sure, neither is perfect, but I'll opt for the lesser of two evils every chance I get.  Now we see if I end up with a sore arm tomorrow.  Hopefully I won't get wiped out by this.

Contract signing meeting and 3/4 done!

Last night we had our contract meeting with our doula, Sara.  It was nice to sit and talk a little more freely one on one.  I am confident she knows/gets what I'm wanting and will be willing and able to support it providing there isn't medical reason to go another direction.

Craziest moment was filling out the form and putting my name in where it said "Mother's Name".  While you know instantly what they want there, you do have a second where you think "why do they need my Mom's name?  oh wait... that's me... Mother!"

The other craziness is that today is week 30.  3/4 done.  10 weeks to go... 70 days.

I am still getting some heartburn, but have a big container of Tums.  The temps went down a little, so my feet don't feel or look as much like a sausage as they were.  I'm sleeping pretty well and feeling better than I was standing/moving.  All good progress vs the downhill things could easily take at this point in my pregnancy.

Joy and Pain, like sunshine and rain?

I'm sitting here today thinking about how incredibly lucky I am with this pregnancy.  I've not had the many of the typical unpleasant symptoms and at my age to say that everything look so healthy at week 29 is truly a blessing.

That said, I do have to note that the swelling in my ankles/feet has started - moreso on the left.  Nothing extreme, but it's worth mentioning to the doctor's office today and watching.  I'm pretty sure it is due to the warmer temps and the fact that I was standing a little more and outside while my sister was here busy working away.

I also was woken before 1am with a rather sharp pain at the lower left of my belly, right at 'that spot' that felt 'odd' to me years ago before I had the miscarriage/found out I was pregnant.  It lasted for just a few minutes, but it was unpleasant and had me nervous to stand to use the restroom.  I was sleeping on my left side as they want you to at this point.  It may have been round ligament pain, but to this point I've only felt that when moving and as soon as I relaxed it went away.  I don't think it was a braxton hicks contraction as it was just at that one area and not hardening my whole tummy.  This too will get mentioned at today's doctor appointment.

I've also had a few bad dreams in the past week.  Nothing about kiddo, but moreso relationships.  I think he and I need a nice cuddle to ease my brain.

Still I know these are all small potatoes worries and I'm grateful.  Girl was pretty quiet while my sister was visiting, so there wasn't really an opportunity to say "here feel", but she's shifting around a little more this morning.  I do think she's just going to be a stubborn/contrary one, but I guess I deserve that.