Howdy ladies

kit_kats_mom wrote: Just checking in. I have two free hands for the first time in a long while so I figured I'd let you guys know what we've been up too.

Lauren is smiling and cooing a lot. I swear she said apple yesterday but I know it was just random sounds she was making. Still, pretty funny. She's got another cold from her biohazardus sister but she's handling it well. She slept fitfully last night but still slept better than Katherine ever thought of sleeping when she was this age. The only problem I have with Lauren is that she won't take a bottle any more. That was my one goal with her since K never would take one and I was really feeling tied down by nursing after the first year. I did my part by pumping and filling up the fridge and Lauren did take bottles when I was hospitalized. However DH kept forgetting to give her a bottle once a day and now we've tried 3 nights in a row and she is refusing. Grrrr. I'm a little ticked at DH about that. She is a little chunk though. She's wearing all 3-6 mo clothes and some 6-12 month clothes. The 6-12 are footed sleepers because she's so dang tall that her tiny little toes curl if she's in anything shorter. I swear I'm unpacking a box of K's old clothes every week in search of something that will fit Lauren. It's nuts!

Katherine is doing great. She is testing her limits a bit but we are trying to keep our tempers under control. It's really irritating when we ask her to do something and she says "wait a second mommy. I'll be right there" then plays with her toys. I know where she gets it from (me) so I've been trying to work on it.

DH's foot is still bothering him and his mobility is still impared. He did see a specialist last week and he thinks it either rhumatoid arthritus or gout. We are hoping for gout since that is curable with meds. I've been visiting a chronic pain support message board in an attempt to try to understand his depression and pain. It's really taking a toll on all of us. I'm getting frusterated when I'm overwhelmed with things to do around the house (from cleaning to changing light bulbs) and he's stuck on the couch surfing the net or watching TV with K. K wants him better so she can go on walks with him again, and I'm just tired. I'm trying to be supportive though. He does what he can but I still haven't had any time without at least one of the girls. He just can't handle both of them at the same time. I know he's getting depressed too. He wants to help, and he does, but it's not as much as usual. I can't imagine being stuck on the couch, in pain for 3 months though. yikes. poor guy.

I got a new car. our old 1994 minivan was falling apart slowly and at 160k miles, who could blame her. LOL When we were visiting my mom last week, the latch on the back door broke and it wouldn't stay shut. That was the final straw. We went and bought a 2005 dodge grand caravan on Saturday. It was used but it only has 18k miles. I'm pretty pleased with it. The best part for me is that it has two sliding doors, one on each side. It's been a big bother to try to get both kids in the same side of that old van. This is much easier.

I also had a checkup with the cardiologist about my heart problems after delivery. He said that it was not peri-partum cardiomyopathy because that causes lasting problems. He's been a cardiologist for 30 years and has seen exactly one other woman who had the same symptoms I did. He has no idea why my body reacted that way but according to the EKG and echocardiogram, my heart is just fine. Yay!! That was good news on valentines day.

Anyway, I've been reading the posts but I really hate typing with one hand so that's why I've been invisible. I've missed you guys! HUGS

coasterqueen replied: Glad you had some time to post. I'm not looking forward to not having two after reading your post, lol. Just kidding.

It sounds like Lauren was a lot like Kylie was...the growing issue and clothes, I mean. Makes me wonder...will Miss Megan be bigger than Kylie or more on the tiny side...I'm guessing bigger, lol.

I'm glad to hear the great news about your heart. That has to be such a relief! I'm sorry to hear what your DH is going through but it's great to hear how supportive you are. One thing that struck me in your post was you saying he can't handle both of them at once. I've actually heard this from MANY MANY people so it's starting to make me wonder....hmmmm.....I hope my Dh is going to be this way.

You got any new pics of Miss Lauren? It's funny about the apple...I think after having one we will/are looking for those things we know are to come so we swear we hear/see them earlier, huh?

jem0622 replied: Glad u r well. Sorry that DH is in the dumps & in pain. Glad the girlies are thriving! I am busy too and about to start a new job...so I will be even more in the MIA mode. Your little one is so much bigger than my girls! Sorry that she is not taking the bottle. Just keep at it.

HUGS

MomToMany replied: Hi Cary!! Thanks for the update!!

Wow, Lauren sure is growing fast! Glad all is going well, despite DH's foot. I hope that gets figured out at the next appointment.

As for the minivan, I love ours! We have a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan with the double sliding doors. Those are awesome!!

What a relief that there's nothing wrong with your heart! Something to really celebrate on *heart* Day!

Boys r us replied: What a crazy life you lead woman!! Congrats on the new van!!! I'm sure K is testing her limits with you guys, I think that's very normal at this age anyhow and since she's got some other things going on too, with becoming the big sister and mommy and sister being in the hospital and daddy being hurt...a couple of months and I'll bet she'll be all settled into the new updated version of her life

I can't believe Lauren is wearing 6 months clothing and bless her little heart for having caught a cold...Poor thing!!!
Ya'll have been through so much, you must have nerves of steel and the patience of a saint!

A&A'smommy replied: OMG wow you have been very busy!!! I hope your dhs foot gets better or at least you get it figured out soon so you guys can move on from that. YAY I'm so glad your heart is doing good that is SO scary!!! WOW Lauren is going to be a tall girl Alyssa is really tall too almost as tall as her four year old cousin

kimberley replied: thanks for the update! sorry to hear DH is down in the dumps and still suffering. that has to be hard on both of you. fingers crossed that it is gout and he is better soon! i am glad you have a clean bill of health. that whole heart thing is scary!

K sounds like she is her usual spirited self . poor mommy must be exhausted! i can't believe Lauren is growing so big! that is great! maybe lay off on the bottle for a few days and have DH try again. IKWYM about getting that "tied down" feeling after the first year . congrats on the new van!

Josie83 replied: Gosh Cary it sounds like your life is crazy. Thanks for taking the time to fill us in! Glad to hear you've been lurking even if you've not been able to eply. we miss you around here! Sounds like Lauren is growing like crazy . . . it must be hard for big sister to get used to having her aorund but I'm sure she's doing fine. please give your husband get well hugs from us all! xx

Josie83 replied: Gosh Cary it sounds like your life is crazy. Thanks for taking the time to fill us in! Glad to hear you've been lurking even if you've not been able to eply. we miss you around here! Sounds like Lauren is growing like crazy . . . it must be hard for big sister to get used to having her aorund but I'm sure she's doing fine. please give your husband get well hugs from us all! xx

jcc64 replied: Hey Cary,
So glad about the heart thing- what a relief! That was a trip, wasn't it?
Sorry about dh, sounds like he has a little post partum depression, doesn't it? Are you satisfied with the care he's receiving? It must be so hard on all of you to be operating at anything less than 100%.
Glad to hear the girls are doing well. Totally cracked me up with the bio-harzard comment. Totally true.
Might be down your way next month for a little vacation. Where are you again?
Gotta run, at the office today.

kit_kats_mom replied:
After visiting the chronic pain board, I suspect it's just depression brought on by the constant pains he has. Poor fella can't get out of bed without a painkiller or tons of ibuprophen. Then he's got to limit his activities and use a cane or roller chair to get around. For a big strapping guy like him, that's got to be hard KWIM? He hates watching me doing all of the work that he would be doing if he felt good. I suppose I'm kind of seeing the side of a DH whose wife is on bedrest. It's not easy from either side.

Since we moved to elderly central, we have both received much better care than we ever got in Tallahassee. The docs down here are AWESOME. Now I know why all the older people move here when they retire. It's not the weather. LOL

I PM'd you. I'd love to see you! Maybe we could do a zoo day or something if the kids are coming.

Jamison'smama replied: Good to hear from you---glad you are doing well. I understand about the one-handed typing!

I know that having two is an amazing but exhausting experience--I hope DH improves quickly so you can keep at least some sanity.

Isn't it scary how our words come back to haunt us? Jamison told Jack--stop crying or sit in your room! Yikes, we of course only say that when she is whining about NOTHING but still.....

I'm sending good wishes for your DH--and for you.

DansMom replied: Hey, great to hear the update. I'm sorry about DH's troubles---my DH has an anxiety disorder that sometimes leads to bouts of depression. The good times make up for it, but it can be no fun to feel like you're the only one making everything stay afloat for several weeks, kwim? That is such great news about your heart! Too bad it happened in the first place, but what a relief that there was no permanent damage.