Just watch it... It's cool. I promise

I'm usually  not one to post long videos on my blog, but I had to share this one because it makes me happy. I have been watching tons of videos on the i-LIMB since I first read about it. It is an incredibly advanced artificial hand that just became commercially available in 2008.



At first, I couldn't figure out why I loved this particular video so much. Then it hit me: this guy sees his i-LIMB as a cool new gadget to show off. I also love it because he's doing every day tasks with it. I look forward to seeing Jane with something similar in the future.

Guilty Pleasures

I have two rules about entertainment:

1) I can watch anything on TV just as long as I am running on the treadmill and,

2) I can read anything just as long as I am nursing a baby.

This has led to me watching more episodes of Oprah and reruns of Gilmore Girls than are probably good for me, but at least I come away with a workout, right?

For the last eighteen months, I have read only good books - appropriate for my age range (except for the final Harry Potter - I read the first six while nursing Emily and wasn't about to stop short of the end). I have made sure that anything I read could be toted into airport terminals and doctor's waiting rooms without embarrassment. For eighteen months, I saved a guilty pleasure, knowing that I would be able to read it when I started nursing again.

On black Friday, I finally purchased my guilty pleasure - a boxed set of the Twilight novels. Due to shipping delays, I just received it last week. I was in the middle of The Age of Innocence when they finally arrived and I eyed them anxiously as I finished reading the great literary masterpiece. I felt uplifted at the end of the novel as Newland Archer walked away from the Countess Olenska's apartment without going in and then, without pausing to let this amazing book sink in, I dove into the Twilight series.


I am really enjoying reading something fun and fluffy again. Maybe a little too much. But not so much that I wish Chris would become infected by a vampire. The books are also making me feel old. Very old. At times, I want to tell Bella how stupid it is that she is dating a vampire and that no one really "loves" someone after knowing them for two weeks. I have reached the conclusion that there is a reason these books are in the teen section at Barnes and Noble. But, still, they make for great reading in the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep and I am dreading being finished with them. Still, next time I have to go to the doctor or get my hair cut, I will be grabbing the waiting copy of David Copperfield to accompany me. I wouldn't want anybody getting the wrong idea...

Grateful

The day before Christmas eve, I took Jane to the doctor for what I thought would be a routine 2 week check up. I was not expecting the first thing out of the doctor's mouth to be, "They've told you about Jane's newborn screening, right?". No, they hadn't. The next sentence was even worse: "Her cystic fibrosis test came back abnormal. It needs to be redone". Of course, the abnormal results couldn't have been on that one where you have a reaction to the chemical in diet coke or the one where you need an injection of something or other and then move on with your life. The bad result had to come on one of the worst diseases known to man. It was one of those experiences where all the oxygen seems to be sucked out of the room. Thus began the three longest weeks of my life.

Since that day we have been waiting to hear back on Jane's retest. Today I finally got the result: all her numbers are normal. Despite the worry, I am actually glad I had this experience for two reasons. 1) I am more grateful for the health of my children and, 2) This helped to put Jane's missing left hand into perspective. I know she can live a full and happy life with one hand. There are things that are much worse and although the challenge she has been given will be difficult at times, it will not be insurmountable nor will it prevent her from doing anything that every mother dreams her children will do.

The world changes drastically when you view it through the lens of gratitude. Today I relized just how fortunate I really am to be blessed with a beautiful, healthy daughter.

Things better forgotten

When you have a new baby in the house, you suddenly remember all the details you forgot with your last child. It's best that we forget because that's the only way anybody would have more than one child. Here are some things I forgot until now:

• You have to burp new babies halfway through feedings. Otherwise, they spit up all over your lap. 
• Sleep deprivation gives you a massive headache.
• Newborns poop like 10 times a day. 
• Babies hate baths for the first couple months.
• For the first little while, you're on a two hour timer that resets every time the baby starts to eat. If you can't get a task done in an hour and a half, it will just have to wait until the baby is at least 6 months old.
• Sleep becomes more important than anything else you have to do. 

I also forgot how much you love your children in spite of all this. And how one wide-eyed look can make up for a whole day of crying and spit up. Someday, when I look back on this time of my life, I hope that's the only part I can remember.

A long, long time ago...

Okay, so it wasn't that long ago, but still, it's difficult to remember my life without Chris. We were married eight years ago today. I have to say, hands down, it was the best decision that I ever made. For eight years, Chris has put up with my eccentricities and loved me in spite of them.

In these past eight years, we have lived in three apartments and then, finally, our first house. We have had two beautiful daughters. We have both graduated college and gone through the stress of the PE exam. We have had our share of disappointment, but looking back, I can honestly say that it has only made our marriage stronger. The past eight years have been the best of my life. It's hard to imagine that it all started when Chris finally overcame his nerves enough to blurt out "Will you go to the movies with me?". Thanks, Chris for plucking up enough courage to ask me on that first date and for everything that has happened since. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Sorry for the picture - I'm about five monts pregnant in it, but it was the only recent one of us together - besides the nine months pregnant one that was taken two weeks ago and I'm not about to share that. I think we should get glamour shots for Christmas.

Introducing Jane

On December 10th at 3:28 in the afternoon, Jane became a part of our family. She weighed in at a hefty 5 pounds, 12 ounces and was 18.25 inches long. She is a sweet girl and we are very happy to have her. Despite all the fears of my doctors during the pregnancy, Jane was born with a perfectly healthy heart and is very healthy in all other respects. Jane has one special arm that Emily has dubbed the "cute arm". We love her all the more for it and know that Heavenly Father would never have given her a challenge she can't overcome.

Jane has puffy blonde hair just like her sister did. Her eyes are blue and I have given up hope that I can produce a child that looks remotely like me. That aside, although she looks very much like Emily, I can already see the two are very different in personality.

Someday soon, I will share some unswaddled pictures, but for now, Jane starts screaming everytime I unwrap her. I would rather have a peaceful swaddled picture than an unwrapped screaming picture. For now, anything that keeps her happy, keeps me happy. Although, right now, I am just happy she is part of our family.

Nursery Pictures... Finally

So, now that I am two weeks away from my due date, I finally got around to getting sheets on the crib and taking some pictures. We didn't get many suggestions from friends and family on the nursery decor so we had to fend for ourselves. I hope we did okay. (Thanks for the suggestion of yellow, Ginger. Unfortunately, Emily's room is yellow, so we went with purple and green instead).

Okay, so... drum roll... and here it is...

We still have a couple items to add and for anyone wondering, the twin bed is for me because I have a hard time stumbling down the hall in the middle of the night. It's best for all involved if I just crash in the nursery until the baby learns to sleep through the night for the most part.

Chris did a great job with the chair rail and it should prevent a similar incident to the tinkerbell wallpaper border fiasco of 2007 when Emily's arms finally got long enough to reach the aforementioned decor from her crib. The stripes are also Chris' work. I think they turned out very nicely. I was in charge of steam cleaning the carpet and putting sheets on the crib. I guess I got off pretty light. Thanks, Chris.

Now all we need to do is insert 1 baby (and move the changing table and rocking chair from Emily's room) and we will be in business!