Momma’s Angel

Life Update

Published: May 12, 2006

We’ve been home a little more than two months now and another step of our transition here has occured - our personal belongings were delivered. All of our things are now pretty much in one place (except for boxes in the attic). It’s great but actually a little bittersweet as we close another door of sorts to the very nice place that is Norge. I’ve been in touch with friends we met there, think back to it, and look forward to visiting a foreign but familiar place.

Tim has been successfully and happily working from home. His boss seems to be happy (I over heard this end of a call) with how Tim’s doing. He has received a small raise, along with the rest of his collegues and may yet get more if they pay him in dollars instead of the dollar-equivalent of kroner; Tim said the exchange rate is the lowest it’s been in two years. With our belongings arriving, he now has a bigger “office” with his work MacBook Pro and Windows PC side by side. We’ve seen his mother (Grandma) either here or in Richmond monthly, his dad and step-mom (Nana and Papa) and step-sis (Aunt Jenn) almost weekly and even his mother’s parents (Gigi and Papa) who came for the baptism. He met some Drupal volunteers in DC last month (maybe it was March), a local “Opera Enthusiast” this week, his LC friend Helen in March and just yesterday, and friend/discipler Alan (plus his wife and son) last month in Lynchburg. He “complains” sometimes about what could be “sympathy weight” he gained in the last almost two years but I think he looks even better than he did when I met him 7 years ago. Thankfully, he is happily surprised he is enjoying be back here. He is, of course, our private computer/internet support person, and occasional handy-man as he put in snazzy new doors handles and locks which were bought but never installed. Next month we will celebrate his 26th birthday!

Sara Ellen is five months old!! And so big. Next month at her 6-month check-up I won’t be surprised if she is even closer to 20 lbs and over 24 inches. It is so fun to watch her personality and abilities develop. She doesn’t quite pull things yet but her grip is even stronger so that if she is holding onto something like the door of the freezer and you pull her back, it opens! She also held by the handle of a small paper shopping bag I got from the optomotrist this week. She also puts her arms around my neck, grabs that or ears and hair. Sometimes if I go face to face, she will give baby kisses, sucking on my cheek and nose. She is enjoying sucking on a sippy cup but is usually surprised when she gets water. She wants so much to get up and go. She does her little crunches and her legs come up as she tries to sit. If you prop her up she leans forward over her legs and can usually pull back. She pushes up on her arms well and kicks her feet but can’t yet get it all up at once. We’ve finished giving her amoxicillin for the bladder infection and are paying more attention to how we clean her up. She has grown so much more secure and is happier in the stroller, car seat or bath, and being alone in the bed for a few minutes doesn’t upset her anymore unless she really wants to be held, is tired or hungry. She doesn’t mind being held briefly by new people and smiles at strangers praising her adorableness. Many awed parents (strangers) have commented on our highly superior Quinny Speedi SX which sadly inflates our stroller snobbery. I expect the Tripp Trapp high chair to be as great when we get it out in a few months. When we go outside I like to sit or stand her on the grass and she enjoys stomping on it, quite a different feeling than squishy stomachs, carpet or hardwood floors. Today we finally had it professionally mowed so we have a lawn instead of a field so I can put her down without her getting lost!

Since I had Sara Ellen I have lost about 10 lbs - some new pants are a little too big now and some fit better. It feel so nice. I did read it’s a healthy average to lose about 2 lbs a month in baby’s first nine. Tim’s mom sent me a wonderful Mother’s Day gift of some nursing clothes and I really hope I can get more. I’d like new clothes in general but especially new tops that are flattering and comfortable. I also need summer dresses! The great nursing dresses from Motherwear cost about $80 so I hope Mom can make/help make dresses with “invisible zippers” in the bust seems. When I am Matron-of-Honor for Sara in August, hopefully I won’t have to feed Sara Ellen quite as often as it will mean disappearing for a while to make my way out of a strapless dress. Speaking of August, I am looking at maps to work on plans for our road-trip. Maybe first will be a day or two to Allison in Cincinatti, Ohio. Another day or two to Brookfield, Wisconsin for Tim’s cousin’s wedding with a possible stopover to see my cousins near Chicago. Tim wants to hit Champaign, Illinois where he spent some his [pre]adolescence so maybe before heading to Lynchburg for Sara’s wedding,we can stop there and in Knoxville to see Julie. She and Matt celebrate their first anniversary in June and later that month she should deliver their baby!! — Back to current events. Would you believe talking about weight and clothes got me there?! Sheesh. Since getting back, I’ve taken a couple ballet classes. That was pretty good, but because of loose ligaments/joints from pregnancy and not dancing for a while, I twisted my ankle. The day after I couldn’t walk on it and I went to see someone and bought crutches, but the next day I was able to put more weight on it. I’ve never really done that before and learned from the instructor that it happens all the time, injuring and reinjuring. Our new insurance kicked in April 1st which meant we didn’t have to pay lots and lots of money for gyn visits. I had to call around, but I finally found one taking new patients. My doctor in Norway noticed a yeast infection (typical after hormonal changes) before we left but pains I had still didn’t go away after treatment so a visit to my new doctor found I’d had a reaction to the sutures they used for the episiotomy and it’s tear. It’s not very common but it happens, basically too much skin grows as the area heals and even though there is no nerve tissue, women who react in this way feel pain. On the first visit she removed one area of granulation - it gets burned off!! I wasn’t at all prepared for this so it really hurt, even the lidocaine injection to numb it. And how am I supposed to relax when I’m holding my heels in the stirrups instead of just letting them hang over knee stirrups like in Norway. So smart. The second time was much better even though she said this one was harder to get to because I was prepared. Then a third visit to follow-up. She took a culture at the first visit and found there were bacteria that needing killing or I’d get a pelvic infection so I got a prescription for that. At the follow-up she prescribed Estrace which is an estrogen supplement for personal comfort except one of the side effects is breast tenderness and for me made feeding Sara Ellen hurt. The risk of transfer in milk was not high but the discomfort made me stop. Even after stopping, the hormones makes my body think it’s going through my normal cycle (which shouldn’t happen until Sara Ellen starts weaning). I don’t recommend it.

I haven’t visited with Sara yet but we’ve spoken a couple times. I saw Christy-Lynne and Brooke in April. Brooke may visit in June. Christine came to the baptism and we visited during lunch. Next weekend I’m hoping to go with Mom and Emily to see Barrie in her place in DC. Blythe actually stopped by the day we arrived but we went to sleep early and I later learned she stayed and hour chatting with Mom. Hopefully we’ll get together soon. We’ve gone through our stuff in the attic and tried to sell stuff at a community yard sale last weekend but I only made $.75. This Sunday I’ve requested Johnny Rockets for Mother’s Day lunch. Mom and Dad are in New Jersey for fun, a little before their May 24th 26 year anniversary. That means I get to drive my siblings around.

I’ve loved being home. I love my 24 hour job but I would also like to do some other things like volunteer for the American Cancer Society and do some sewing and scrapbooking projects. No ideas when we’ll move but I would like to look at local apartments.

* We have also visited with Tim’s sister Corri. She came down a couple days after we arrived and last weekend.
* Last weekend downtown Annapolis hosted the Volvo Ocean Race and the Maritime Heritage Festival. My dad, who is part of the Coast Guard Auxilary/Volunteer, gave a funny voice to a mechanical boat named Coastie. We’ve got photos to go up.
* The first weekend in June is Emily’s dance recital. My Uncle Michael is coming down in mid-June. Uncle Frank is going to be King Lear and we’ll be going to see him perform at this structure of what used to be a girl’s school in Ellicott City. Last year he Oberon, the Fairy King from a Mid-Summer Nights Dream.

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