Wednesday, January 28, 2009

In the swing of things

I wish I could say we are back in the swing of things, but I can't. It's coming a little slower than I'd hoped. The last several weeks have been a bit hard, Piper has some sleep issues and as a result so do the rest of us. Pretty much since we brought her home she has had to have someone actually holding her in order to fall asleep and even then, it will take her an hour or two of fussing and crying to fall asleep. She's kind of been a sleeping nightmare. This last sunday was an extroardinarily difficult day so I decided something had to change. I couldn't handle holding and just hoping beyond hope that she'd fall asleep and stay asleep long enough for me to shower or give Sadie some much needed attention. I had just re-read babywise and was determined to conquer this sleep issue. So since monday we've been letting her cry herself to sleep for all of her naps and bedtime, going in to soothe her every ten minutes. There has been a whole lot of crying, but alot more sleep, and alot more hands free time for me. I have gotten more done in the past 3 days than I have in 5 weeks. She is still crying off and on for about an hour give or take 30 min. everytime, but I'm just hoping that we're getting closer to her being able to fall asleep on her own. I'll let you know how it all goes. I hope I can withstand a few more days of crying. I know it'll be worth it in the end.

Sadie is in love with her Piper, she is such a little nurturer at heart. She always wants to help Piper and always tells me to go get her! when she cries. Yesterday she comes down stairs and says "elephant is so sleepy, take a nap in Piper's bed" a few minutes later.... "on no elephant's crying, I go read him a story" and off she goes with her favorite book. So considerate.

Her new obsessions are dresses; she pretty much has to wear a "pretty" dress everyday or we have huge alligator tears until THE dress is put on her. She is continually telling Piper how much she loves her and giving her big wet slobbery kisses all over her head. Piper's head is always drenched in Sadie kisses. oh the love of a big sister. She is also the bounciest girl ever. She is always running and bouncing all over the house especially when she's excited (and it doesn't take much to get her excited). One of my favorite things she does though, is anytime she gets excited she talks and talks and talks in her high excited giggly voice. I love it! for example, last night she went with Ryan to go get taco's and from the moment she left the house to the the time we sat down at the table to eat she kept telling us in all the various ways she could think of that we were going to have tacos for dinner!!! She never ceases to crack us up with her funny chatter. What a blessing motherhood is!! I have to keep reminding myself that on hard days, but really, there is no greater joy than spending time with your family. I truly am so blessed to be the mother of these two sweet little girls.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Piper is home and is such a little angel. She came home Sunday as planned, along with her best friend....her oxygen, but thankfully for her and us she was able to get rid of that on tuesday afternoon. That night we cleaned her all up, gently peeled off those dratted tapes and got to see her for the first time tapeless, tubeless, and wireless. Those cheeks were everything I imagined them to be.

last days in the hospital


leaving the hospital, horray!


Our new best friends, Pipers Oxygen and my pump. She is still having issues with nursing so me and my pump have spent alot of time together. Glad to be able to put away at least two of these three machines.


just after her first bath. She's free!


We celebrated Ryan's birthday new years eve by having a surprise birthday party. I had planned this with a friend before all of the baby drama came about (Rachel also had a baby a few weeks ago). Her husband, Tom, also shares Ryan's birthday of New years eve so we planned a ping pong birthday party. They were surprisingly both surprised. I'm a little amazed we pulled it all off.

the birthday boy

the birthday boys and their brand new babies

Rachel and Tom

little Miss Piper got all dressed up for the occasion and then promptly slept through it all