Parents afterall

Closing this one out

2006-07-23T22:09:00.000-04:00

So, I started this blog to track my pregnancy with Daniel. He is 5 months old now and has his own blog started. I am moving on and closing this out. I am really glad I kept this going, so much has happend in the past year. Please visit our new blogs and make yourselves comfortable:-)

If life were only as simple as a database.....

The Adventures of Daniel and his dog

2006-07-19T08:55:00.000-04:00

Chad can't wait for Daniel to be old enough to mow the lawn.

Daniel can't wait make his paws green like Belle when daddy mows the lawn.

Chad and Daniel on a hike with friends. The trail guide we had said this hike was easy, and even novice for dirt biking. I am not to sure if the trail guide author even saw the trail. There were plenty of steep hills, brooks

with nothing but tree limbs to cross, and narrow sections. It was fun, but that was becase I wasn't carrying Daniel the whole time. However Chad seemed to enjoy it just as well, and Daniel slept during a lot of it.

This is fairly early on in the hike, after the first steep hill. We have been trying to get more pictures of us together. Last year we started to realize we don't have much record of us together from our first 6 years of marriage:-)

So to explain this picture......the almuminum foil roll got all untangled, and it was impossible to roll up. So Chad decided everyone should just make foil hats. For the record, Joanna did have a foil hat on, but she gave hers to Belle. Later that night I heard the people at the campsite next to us making fun of our foil hats. However, which is sadder.....wearing a foil hat, or having nothing else to talk about other than the next campsite wearing foil hats?

Ready to move

2006-07-18T12:18:00.000-04:00

Well...we are more than likely going to move, soon. No we have not got an offer on the house. However when Chad looked at how much we are spending on gas, daycare, a storage unit and some other miscellaneous things, he realized all those "extra" payments were equal to another whole mortgage. After talking with a mortgage person we found out that it would cost a lot less to have a loan on 2 houses. Not a bridge loan...just a really really large loan amount. So we are going to take some time to look and not rush it. However it’s weird to think we might be deciding soon on the house. Its hard because I know I won't find my "dream house"....well because my dream house would be:
-Large...but homey
-older... historic would even be better, but with the layout of a modern house
-On a Lake, but in a neighborhood
- A walk out basement
-Enough land to have a large garden....and a small orchard, but close enough to neighbors to be
neighborly possibly in a quaint little older neighborhood.
-Enough room to entertain and allow guests to spend the night...but no unused rooms.
-3-4 bathrooms.....but I only want to have to clean 2 and one of them has to be in the master bedroom...oh and I would like that one to be large (find that in a "older historic" home!)
-A large kitchen WITH A SILVERWARE DRAWER! we haven't had one in while
-A master suite
-Hardwood flooring, lots of natural light, a fireplace, and a hall closet to put coats in.
-A nice sized garage for Chad
- All this in a nice diverse little community
Most of what I want contradicts something else. So the best we can do is pick the priorities and go from there. Even if there was something out there that was close to all of the above, there is no way we can afford it, and if I could I would just feel guilty living in such a big house when people are starving in the world. But anyway we want to be in the next house for a while so we are really being picky.

We went camping 2 weeks ago with friends and I have some great pictures from that weekend. We had such great time, and we brought both Belle and Daniel. However blogger is taking ForEVER in posting pictures so I will put those up after I get this posted.

I am actually closer to starting a blog for Daniel. So hopefully those changes will come before moving:-)

Belle: "Daniel this is how you roll over, like this, see Daniel"

(edited to change anyways to anyway....since that is the grammatically correct term;-)

Sweet Freedom

2006-07-05T09:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday America!

(edited) Also happy anniversary to me! I started my blog a year ago today. Kind of weird that I thought to check and see when I started....and it just happens to be today. Well not to weird considering I started this blog to track my pregnancy with Daniel and we figured out last year afer the 4th that I was pregnant. So I really do need to change the layout soon:-)

This holiday seems to always sneak up on us. Lately it also seems to end just as the holiday begins....guess that is what happens when it falls on a Tuesday.
This year we got to cram much into the holiday....camping, bocce, swimming, hiking, fireworks, movies, and hotdogs. No parade though.

Daniel had his first camping trip. It was only one night, but it was a good practice for when we go camping for real this weekend. I have a feeling I got off real easy because we camped with a Grandma, Grandpa, Great Aunt, and a couple of female cousins...ha I barely saw him! Daniel got to go swimming in a pond.
Then we went to my mom's and relaxed up there. There Daniel got to swim in Lake Huron. He did ok for being 4 months old. It wasn't really swimming...actually he got held while in the water...but it was fun none the less. His pediatrician said it was fine to put sun block on him even though all the "experts" say not to put it on him until he is 6 months old. It was nice to be given the go ahead since I was going to break that "rule" anyways;-)
What really surprised us this weekend was that Belle swam...of her own free will. You would think she would love the water, since she is a spaniel type dog (Brittneys are not technically spaniels...even though they used to be called brittney spaniels, the spaniel part was taken off a while ago). Well no our little web-pawed little dog does not like to swim (or did not). She avoided me near water because I would try and make her swim. However on Daniel's first "swim" I stood there jaw dropped because my little doggie was doing what I always expected her to do SWIM! She would always wade in the water, but once it got to deep she would jump out. However she just swam and swam and swam some more. I just can't wait until Daniel is old enough to go swimming with his doggie. I used to have a blast with my dog Bandit growing up swimming with him, the two of us could be in the water all day.
Chad and I are both really lucky to have come from families that embrace teaching children to swim young (also teaching water safety). Water has always been a big part of my life, which is one reason why I look forward to our move so much. I just feel so peaceful being near water. I loved living in the Soo. Just even seeing a large body of water on a daily basis keeps me calm.

Monday night Chad and I got to see a movie. We saw Cars, while my mom watched Daniel. It was our first time to a movie theater since Daniel was born. I love Pixar movies. They are so creative. One of my favorite movies of all time is Monsters Inc., however Cars just might have beaten it out. I will definitely get the DVD. I can't wait to see the special features on it.

Last night we tried to take Daniel on his first Geocache. However we went before a fireworks show and it got late before we could find it, also Daniel was crying the whole time on the hike in. I got him calmed down and he really enjoyed the hike out. I forget that he needs a few minutes to absorb new surroundings. If I would have taken the time before we headed out we might have been successful....but it was a nice hike anyways. We then moved the truck to get a better view of the fireworks. It is a huge park, so we could sit where it wasn't so loud. Daniel actually noticed the fireworks, it was nice to sit down and enjoy a traditional Independence Day event.
Now I am back here at work, however our new software tools have been launched, our client is gone for a week, so things are dead around here. I love being in the office this week, it’s so quiet and so easy to get into work. I hope much of the stress our team has been experiencing for the past 6 months will subside...Of course thanks to Daniel I did not get to experience all 6 months of it....lol....GOOD BOY!
Hopefully I will have time this week to finally make the changes to the blog.

Well happy Independence Day everyone.....Remember those who fought for our Freedom, those who continue to stand for our freedom, and the families of those who stand for our freedom.

Still posting

2006-06-30T08:14:00.000-04:00

Well I am still attempting to post when I can. Work again has gotten Uber busy and I just don't feel like going onto the computer when I get home. I also would really like to change the format but I just don't have time to make the effort to figure out how to do it.
Last Friday was my bithday, I had a great day I stayed off the computer and really relaxed for the first time in a long time. I got my license renewed (Daniel cried off and on the whole time there.....but my picture looked like it turned out nice). Then it was off to Daniel's 4 month check up.
We were given the go ahead to start rice. We have, but he just doesn't seem ready.

One of the daycare workers said Daniel snorted when he was laughing once.

He is now pulling my hair (I knew this day would come).
(alert begining rant)
I must get it cut.....but I have NO idea what to do with it. That is why my hair is always long, I just don't know any better....I would love to be pulled off the street to be given a makeover....well really a hair over. My hair just frustrates me to no end. And YES I get it layered. For some reason people always tell "You should get it layered"....and I look at them and say "Its layered now.....and you can't tell....so what is it going to do?"

OH but the cute thing is Daniel is pulling it now and attempting to put it in his mouth.

I can't think of anymore Daniel updates, other than I still have not witnessed a roll over on his own, but he does it more and more. It is really funny we sit there with him and say "Ok, now roll the rest of the way over". He gets to his side puts his hand in his mouth and I swear HE SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS!
"Nah I am comfortable like this"
When we look away, he is over. What a silly baby

OK, I now really have to get back to work......

Fathers day (really really late)

2006-06-22T15:37:00.000-04:00

Happy belated Father's day to my wonderful husband! He is such a good daddy to Daniel and the girls (dog and cat). A wonderful helper to me, and leader for the family. Many woman complain how their husbands can't fix things and just break it or make it worse. Not Chad he can learn to fix just about anything. I can't wait to watch him as he teaches Daniel what he knows so someday Daniel can grow up and being a great daddy just like his.

We spent most of last Friday night and Saturday working on getting the house ready for an open house on Sunday. Then Sunday morning Chad got his Father's day cards and his present. We were going to take Daniel on his first GeoCache. I went and found some caches near his parents house. However we were so tired by the time we got there we put off doign it, then it rained.

Father's day is still difficult for me since my dad died. I wasn't to sure on how to recognize him, I put flowers on the grave on Memorial day and I wanted to do something else on Father's day. However on Saturday I received such a wonderful gift. We went stopped by my brother's hosue and my sister-in-law Colleen said she had something for me and had to give it to me NOW. So she ran off and returned with a little onsie. It was from Perdue (where my dad went to College). I was actually there when he bought it for my yet-to be born nephew. It didn't take much to talk him into buying it. It was funny to see him kind of giddy about having a grandchild (the only one of 4 he met). I forgot all about it until Colleen showed it to me. So that is how we recognized my dad on Sunday, Daniel wore the onsie his grandpa G bought.
Later that day we had more encouraging news about the house. One couple came through and they seemed to really like it, but still had to get approved for a mortgage. We had a showing on Monday and one on Wednesday. The one on Wednesday also looked promising.
Right now we just keep working on new projects to keep us busy. When we are busy we tend not to mess up the house as much (oddly enough). It also keeps our spirits up.

Well I have the camera here today but for some reason I can't post pictures onto blogger so I will put some up later.

etc...etc...etc

2006-06-15T12:48:00.000-04:00

(Edit on Friday Morning)Keep Ashley and her family in your prayers today:-)

Quick post before I get back to work.

Daniel has rolled over....I think only once and we weren't watching. We were outside and just finished dinner. Daniel was happily playing on the mat, I went to go put the corn cobs in the compost bin, and Chad was playing with Belle. I came back up to Daniel and he was on his belly, and Chad had left him on his back. So we brought him back in, got the camera and tried to get him to do it again....Belle even showed him how to roll over (we did not even prompt her to do this). She kept nudging him with her nose and then rolling on her back...we have pictures, but I keep forgetting to bring in the camera.

Oh I got a raise...not much, but it’s something. I may also be getting a laptop soon, and I am about 80% clear to work from home permantely when we finally move...whenever that is. I talked with my boss on Monday and I just need to submitt a proposal. But it is looking positive

Chad (with some of my help) refinished the front deck so it looks a little better in hopes of drawing more people to look at the house. It looks great, although at first Chad didn't think it looked much different....but Chad is color blind so...

We have an open house this Sunday, I hope I can have the house ready in time. Our last open house had one couple come through who were looking for a house with a basement. I was ecstatic about having even that one couple.

We have taken another tactic in selling our house. We have been praying, and at one point I even put buried one of those Saint Joseph statues in our front yard. However we dug him up and now have decided to pray for the people who are going to buy our house. There is someone out there who will buy it someday and for whatever reason they have not looked at our place yet. So we just keep asking God to help get them to that point.

My mom broke another bone. For some reason she thought it was wise to play T-ball in sandals with heels.....silly mommy. So now she has to go through the summer with a cast on her foot....again.

I really have some more thoughts to post but I really want to change my blog around a bit. Some time soon I will have my own blog and this one will be for Daniel, Belle and Tess.

I believe that is all for now:-)

Congrats and Prayers

2006-06-09T08:10:00.000-04:00

Congrats to: Abby

and

Please pray for Wesley today.

That is all for now:-)

Thanks!

2006-06-05T07:40:00.000-04:00

Thank you to Amie, Mandy, Jason, Kendra Lynn, and Genivieve you the anniversary wishes!
I can't believe I haven't posted in a while. We have been really busy at work so I can't post there much, and at home we have also been busy with house stuff. To celebrate our anniversary we went downtown to have dinner, then to a Casino....where I did good, but Chad did bad. We spent only the money we said we would (actaully I think less). We were going to go to the movies, but I am a sucker for the big Tub O'popcorn. Since we are still in that weight loss competition we spent the money we would at the movie theater on tickets popcorn and drinks at the casino. The cool thing was to walk around downtown Detroit. We walked past Comerica where the Tigers were winning, to Campus Martius and to Greektown. We parked near the RenCen and walked around there, but since I work there not exactly a highlight. However Chad did get to see Daniel's daycare (from the outside). Oh yeah Daniel, want news on him?
Well this blog was started originally to track my pregnancy. However since that is over I kind of want to close this one and start another. It will be pretty much the same I just want to keep the pregnancy as a seperate record.
So when I have some time I will be (or I will make Chad) design a new blog. Daniel has been talking with Belle and Tess about starting their own blog. You would think a 3 year old puppy, a 15 year old kitty, and a 3 month wouldn't have much to say....however Daniel does plan to take over the world, Tess NEVER shuts up, and Belle well she has lots of adventures.

OK now for some pictures:

"Why did the Pistons have to lose Daddy?"
"Oh Daniel thats just the way it goes in this town, get used to your sports teams disapointing you...there is always next year at least they make it into the playoffs"
"But I'm so sad"
"Well son, if this makes you sad, don't even think about the Lions"

I have been sorting through some of Daniel's clothes to get pack away small ones so it is easier to find things. I found overalls I have not put on him yet (plus a few other outfits that he may no longer fit in). So since this may be the only time he wears this I had to get a picture of him in it. This was one of the last pictures I took before he spit up. It looks like he was getting sick of all the picture taking.

Happy Anniversary!

2006-05-24T12:40:00.000-04:00

Ok so yesterday was the actualy Anniversary, but we both got busy at work and I started a blog entry, but could never finish it, and quite honestly it is still incomplete but it is a long awaited rough draft. So below is what was supposed to appear yesterday:

I just want to say happy Anniversary to the best husband in the world! We only have been married for 7 years but we have 13 years of memories….now as a gift to you….I am going to start to write out our story, its a first draft, but its a start.

May 23 1999 .... a love story

Her name was Denise, she liked to read and write stories and loved animals especially her cat and dog. She lived south of 12 mile and went to Edmonson. She was happy to go to middle school, but Denise would miss saying hi to the doggies that lived next to her elementary school. Sometimes the owner would come out and yell at the dogs, but Denise would lie to the owner and say “no the doggies stayed in the yard”.
His name was Chad, he loved the Red Wings, he had 3 cats and a dog. He lived north of 12 mile and went to Simonds, his parents grew up south of 12 mile. His grandfather lived next door to Edmonson elementary, he had dogs. Denise lied to his grandfather.
In 6th grade he had Sage class (homeroom) with Mr. Gedda, she had Sage in the class next door with Mrs. Malone.

There wasn’t much interaction between the two until 11th grade. The first time either remembers talking with each other was one night at an all night float building party. They shared a lawn chair, and avoided working on the float, and had a great time.
Then senior year came and they had Physics, Statistics, and Government. In 2nd hour they both would be in the library. Chad was the ever faithful library assistant. Denise avoiding work by taking “Independent Study Creative Writing” she never actual wrote anything. They talked a lot, they liked each other but were kind of shy.

Enter Jason

Jason was one of Chad’s best friends. Jason and Denise knew each other since kindergarten and lived around the block from each other.
Jason in need of a date for Prom began this awkward moment (in the middle of statistics class):
“So Chad and Denise…what are you doing for Prom?”
To which Chad replied “Uh I don’t know Jason isn’t that like 2 months away?”
“Well yeah, but people are getting dates pretty fast, well you two are going together right?”
Denise “huh?”
Chad “wha??”
“Well if you two go, then maybe Georgia and I can go and we can double”
Denise “huh?”
Chad “wha?”
“Well you like him right?” said Jason looking at Denise and pointing at Chad
“Um ok I guess I do”
“And you like her right?” said Jason looking at Chad and pointing to Denise
“ok”
“So you are going to go to Prom together”
“uh ok” said Chad and Denise in unison….not quite sure what was going on
“Great now that is settled Denise can you see if Georgia would want to go to Prom with me”
“uhhh oookk” said Denise

Jason and Georgia did not last (both are very happily married other wonderful people).

Denise and Chad continued to talk. Sometimes they would hang out as a group going to movies and National Coney Island. The word “Prom” was not spoken to each other for a few weeks. Chad showed Denise this thing called “e-mail” and the “World Wide Web”. The talked on AOL Instant Messenger. Eventually they went on a first date. This was asked in an unusual manor as well:

The phone rings, Denise picks it up:
“Hi Denise…this is Chad”
“oh hi Chad”
“So I have these tickets to the Red Wings, and none of the guys could go, do you want to go”
“Ok”
“I will pick you up on Saturday my dad will let me use the Jeep”
“Ok”

Afterwards they went to National Coney Island. The next day they went to clean up Metro Beach with other “Earth Smart” members (the environmental club Denise started and was president of).

Prom was great, they slow danced to Boys II Men.

After graduation they went to graduation parties together, Chad let Denise wear his Red Wing Jersey.

The summer was great, they were inseparable. But college was nearing. The day before Chad left for Ferris State they went to Cedar Point. They had a great time. Before they parted Denise asked what would happen and Chad gave her a necklace. They were going to try and make it work. Denise cried. They told each other “I love you”.

Onto College

Denise went to Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan. There she made many friends one one of whom lead her to be involved in His House Christian Fellowship. They e-mailed everyday (before e-mail was even that common), sent lots of letters and cards and talked on the phone quite often.
At school Denise fell in love again, this time with Jesus. Then Denise prayed for Chad, she wanted to marry Chad, but didn’t want to unless he was a Christian. She never told Chad this, but continued to pray. Chad transferred to Michigan State University, where he hung out with the Carmody clan. He loved it there but still missed Denise. He would attend the His House fellowship there from time to time. They would both attend retreats so they could see each other. Then one day Chad was having a rough day, he decided to look to Jesus for help.
Later that week Chad and Denise saw each other at the retreat. Chad was really excited, he wanted to tell Denise he understood, he had decided to follow Jesus as well. Denise cried.

It took another couple of years but Chad was finally able to propose to Denise in her junior year of college. Chad had some time left at MSU, but they decided Denise would move to Lansing and they would be married while he finished college. Because Chad was born on April 23, and Denise June 23 they were married on May 23 1999.
It wasn’t long before the first “little one” came along. Her name was Tess, she was brought home from Chad’s parents’ house in a George Forman grill box. She was a cat, and eventually forgave them for the box.
The next 3 years were full of moves and job changes. Finally they could buy a house, and a year later they got a dog they named her Belle. Belle was a handful as a puppy. Neither remembered dogs being so hard to take care of. Denise cried.
But a couple more years passed, and Belle wasn’t so bad even Tess liked her.
The couple had already been through so much. The deaths of Denise’s grandma and father months apart had been rough, but Chad had been so strong for her. They worked hard in their careers, still had many job changes but eventually enjoyed what they did. They went on many adventures camping trips, canoe trips, traveling to France. They were really happy.

Then a gas pump fell on Denise…..she actually wasn’t hurt bad at all. However somehow it was made clear to them that there was more for them to do. So God blessed Chad and Denise with a baby, he was supposed to be born on March 4th 2006. He decided to come instead on February 21st…..he was trying to make it on the 23rd. A very special boy Chad knew was named Daniel and Chad’s dad was named Daniel, and Denise’s middle name is Danielle and they also just really liked the name Daniel. John was Denise’s dad’s named, and she still missed him. So they named their baby boy Daniel John. Denise cried.

And their story will continue…..
And Denise will probably cry some more.

Love you Chad……

Mother's Day

2006-05-17T12:54:00.000-04:00

I had a good Mother's day...got exactly what I wanted plus some.

On Thursday when I picked Daniel up from daycare he had a present for me. His very first craft project. He worked very hard on it. His handprints ar on it and it says "Happy Mother's Day I Love you"....where 'love' is actually a heart. OH and the flowers are really pens....he is such a creative little guy.

This is what my desk looks like now with the new pictures (well part of my desk...the part I never use). Yes that is an "easy" button from Staples on my desk..it is REALLY loud. A coworker gave that to me before I went on leave.....guess he figured I needed it then;-) That dictionary and thesaurus set on my desk.....that is what I won at our senior all night party (whoo hoo). I also have a framed autographed picuture of the Piston's mascot Hooper on the other side of my desk.

So we left on Friday evening to spend the weekend at my mom's. I was going to be packed and ready to go. I started work at 6 am.....however one of the downfalls of working from home. Its hard to "leave" the office. I was finishing up some stuff and coworkers kept asking for help. So at 5:30 pm I was still working! The weekend was fun, and we saw Chad's mom on Sunday and also got some shopping done while Daniel hung with the "G-Rents". Monday I had a docs appointment in the morning and Chad had Lasik done in the afternoon. Monday night I was exhuasted.....so Tuesday I was um....sick, yep. I actually have proof:

Well at least the dog and cat believed me:-) Chad was actually taking pictures of me while I was napping. Silly husband.

So happy belated mother's day to all the moms out there.

Big Loser!

2006-05-10T08:08:00.000-04:00

That is what I plan on being, yep a big loser....oh wait I mean Biggest Loser! Chad and I are joining his family in a fierce weight loss competition. There are 7 of us competing to see who will lose the most percentage of their weight by August 1st. We started May 1st (after binging on pizza). Chad and I are doing good with making healthier dinners. Both of us have tried to eat better and have done well before, however it has been at different times or using different methods. This is the first time we are basically doing the same thing. Plus we are trying to walk every night. It has been good so far and Belle loves the walks. I have been using my sling much more lately with all the walking and being back to work. It is funny the reactions I get from it. There is The 'confused' "I could never do that, it is too complicated to put on" ...it’s like putting on a purse. The 'no ways' "That doesn't look safe and he has to be uncomfortable" ...He sleeps in it, sometimes I put him in it when he is fussy. The 'I didn't have that when' (when said in disgust) "Well...WE didn't have that when I had kids".....many cultures have used the sling to carry babies for centuries so it is really NOT new. However I do get compliments on it as well, just the other reactions are more funny to post about. I hear the "we didn't have that when...." with other things too. I don't really think too much of it, until that "tone" is invoked and their face looks like they just smelled poo. Do some people honestly think inventions won't come along everyday or that inventions are bad? Maybe it’s the way they say it and I read into their body language and vocal tone too much...but geez get over it people. I am starting to see the "my way is/was the best way" philosophy of raising kids. I really never want to be like that. We are willing to try different things and what works with Daniel we keep doing it, if it doesn't work we stop. Who knows with the next kid....maybe I will actually read a book about babies by then;-)

Anyways its kind of fun walking with Daniel in the sling going from the building to my car. He seems to enjoy it as well especially the elevator rides:-)
This is us a few weeks ago after a walk with Belle and daddy.

Jealous of the "evil us"

2006-05-03T10:56:00.000-04:00

Yes....I was jealous of another set of parents....I felt inferior and became envious....ok well I am being a little dramatic, and it only lasted for like a minute.
OK to explain at our church there is this other couple. We refer to them as "evil us" or "bizzaro us" (Superman reference). Now they don't look a thing like us, and they are really a nice couple and really shouldn't be called evil or bizzare. I think the only reason we started to call them this was because they went to U of M. Actually we like them just fine, we started to call them that because we could remember their names at first. We knew that "bizzaro Denise" went to MSU at first then transferred to U of M.
I didn't go to MSU, but my husband did, and I lived in Lansing for a year, so we both have a hate for anything U of M. I didn't really care before I lived there, but after....grrr...must be the water.
Anyhoo......go figure when we announced we were pregnant.....so were they. Actually we were due the same week (the "bizzaro us" name was temporarily dropped just befor this, then we realized it still fit). They had a girl we had a boy.

So the other day "bizzaro Chad" said that their baby slept from 8 until about 6 (or something like that) straight through the night. She ate about every 2 hours during the day but was sleeping through the night. I brushed this off at first because the thought of having to feed every 2 hours still sounded horrible. Then after Sunday night I kind of wished Daniel would do that, since in the morning he eats every 21/2 - 3 hours anyways.
Then came the e-mail......we are having a meeting tonight, and guess what? They can't make it because they have to get her to sleep on time. Heck Daniel will probably be sleeping but we can go, he has learned to sleep anywhere. So...I am no longer jealous, and I am quite proud of myself for being happy with what I got (ok NOW I am happy but whatever). However, I shouldn't gloat because they are doing it their way and that is best for them. However the "bizarro us" title still applies...again they are actually very nice....other than the U of M thing:-)

OH and yes.....we are weird...Oh and no....no one else we know has a secret "nickname"

not that I would tell you;-)

Week 2 Here is Daniel's "office"

2006-04-27T16:04:00.000-04:00

Well I am closing in on week 2 of being "back to work". I work from home tomorrow and Monday. So far it is working out, but it is taking a while to get back into the swing of things. Sadly not many issues that were around when I left have been resolved. We are having the same conversations now that we had before I left (typical I guess). In some ways it is not to hard to get back into my "work" mode. The exciting thing is I will soon have a new tool to play with that does reports for me. Yippeee! for me;-)

To the left is Daniel's "office".

Although usually when I go down to visit with him I find him in a bouncer or a swing.

I am also finally posting a picture of Daniel and his cousin Maura that was taken a couple of weeks ago. I told my mom I would do this a while ago. Maura was born in October so she has around 4 months on my little guy.

I really can't think of anything more to post. I should also get back to work. By the way I may not be able to post much after May 9. I will be moving to a new desk....in a cube right in the front by some managers I believe. I won't know what it is like until then. So I will try to keep up but we will see:-)

sleeping through chaos

2006-04-18T14:24:00.000-04:00

I just went down for an afternoon visit with Daniel. It was feeding time for several babies, and the caregivers we scurrying to get their bottles all ready. There was quite a bit of screaming going on, and what was Daniel doing? Sleeping through it. I didn't want to wake him and get him started as well. So my visit was quick. I went down ealier and rocked him to sleep and put him down for a nap, that was a nice visit. I leave in 2 hours so I am trying to decide if I want to go down in another hour....or just wait until I leave. On one hand I want to reassure him, on the other hand....I really don't think he notices much.....however I REALLY can't stand going through all these e-mails right now and have become bugged eyed from work. If only I could take a nap with Daniel:-)

Here I am again

2006-04-18T09:24:00.000-04:00

Well I am back at work now.....I didn't post last week because I was trying to enjoy my last week at home with Daniel. I plan on working from home Mondays and Fridays, and I will be in the office Tuesday - Thursday. There is a daycare in our building, well a different tower but same complex, I can go down anytime I want.
I have been good so far and have put off visiting. I need to get through the 200 or so e-mails that came for me while I was gone. Luckily I can delete most of them.
However my big issue right now is my e-mail is not working at home, so I would like to get that resolved by Thursday so I can work at home.
I came in for a visit last week and got some good news from a coworker (Jeff). Apparently he has been pushing to get me and him laptops and trying to get my boss to open up to the idea of me working remotely once I move to Port Huron. It is more likely now, and it would be so nice to have that second income. I mentioned it to him before I left that I would like to work from home, but I just didn't think they would go for it. So while I have been gone he has been pushing it for me. Isn't that nice?
I think I mentioned before that I like the people I work with, however I still don't have the bond that I did with my old coworkers. I really still miss all of them, they really were like family to me. However it felt really nice that Jeff was thinking of me while I was gone. I really don't contribute a whole lot to our team still, most of them don't really know what to ask me for (I basically can figure out how to get them any report they want from their data). However Jeff is one of the few that know what I can do. I guess I shouldn't complain to much though, part of my job description is to create my job description so lack of work...kind of falls on me.....

Well enough about work.....the little guy has been smiling up a storm lately....well "a storm" may be pushing it. You have to get him in the right mood, and not hold a camera up in his face. Although we have been getting good pictures of it. I will post those later. He is still a serious baby, pondering all the time.
I should have gotten a picture of him this morning I dressed him up in an outfit that he hasn't worn yet (I was surprised he still had those around). It was like his first day of school I am sure it will be changed before we get home. Geez now that I talk about him I want to run downstairs to see him:-)

Anyways I would really appreciate it if you all could keep us in your prayers for selling our house, my being able to work from home in Port Huron, and e-mail working at home(....that Simpsons episode the other day where Homer was in India, and Apu's brother was answering the help desk for a certain computer company...totally true....so I put off calling the help desk as much as possible...unlike the episode they DON'T change their accent and they aren't that helpful.)

Serious Baby

2006-04-05T14:04:00.000-04:00

It is fun to see some of a personality develop in Daniel. So far he is kind of a serious baby. He is always thinking and furrows his brows alot. He moves his hands around and his mouth in a way that makes you think he is going to start saying something. Not just anything, something earth shatering....like how to reverse global warming or something like that. Lately however he has just been crying alot.
We also have been having a problem with him not eating all he should at once, then an hour later getting hungry again. Finally yesterday I had to turn the volume up on his piano shut his door, turn the tv up loud, go into the computer room and wait for an hour. Then I fed him his whole bottle. After that I could rock him to sleep and he finally took a nap (after being awake the whole morning and crying for most of it). Chad and I had discussed this before that the crying and eractic eating probably were linked. So we are now trying to get him back on more of a schedule. I understand right now we can't force him onto a schedule, but what was happening was getting out of hand.
Today I got to see a baby who was content just sitting in his chair watching me clean up the kitchen. He is still having trouble taking naps when he is obviously tired, but it is much better today than the past week has been.

I've been blogsurfing....just not blogging

2006-03-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

What a busy weekend, and it didn't involve house stuff. We had a family birthday dinner on Saturday, and I went to a baby shower on Sunday. The baby shower was really nice....but it also made me feel guilty for not getting thank you notes out from mine. We just got birth announcements on Saturday, now we just need to get them out. Chad stayed home with Daniel while I went to the shower, when I got home this is what he said (while folding laundry).

"He was kind of fussy, I fed him at 1, then at 3 he was really hungry again, then just spit half of it up. I was going to do some work outside but he kept crying when I put him down".

My response
"yep"

I finally order a sling from someone online. I kind of sew, but I don't trust myself to well. I wanted to see one in person before I attempted it. It just seemed like it would be an ordeal to get the sewing machine out of the garage and attempt this if I wasn't going to make it right. Then I found someone who sells some for under $20. I figured I would go ahead an order one and I could always make one on my own later. When I got it on Saturday I felt kind of silly because it was exactly how I imagined it and I probably could have done it.
However it has been wonderful to use. I can get so much more done around here and Daniel is happy in it. This is where I ordered from:
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/
We also have 2 carriers, but it is hard to use those now when he doesn't have head control. I think Chad will like to use a carrier more than a sling anyways.
OK now for some pictures, we gave him his first bath a while ago. He was pretty good, I think he liked being naked in a clean dry towel the best though.

Well hopefully I will remember to post again soon. I have actually been on the computer quite a bit today. I had a report for work to finish (my boss was being "hounded" for it), I started my sister's taxes, and now I have actually posted....I get a gold star:-)

naps suck

2006-03-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

It is hard for me to post. Before Daniel was born I don't think I ever posted at home. I usually post at work, while avoiding said work. However now when I am on the computer I really don't feel like posting, or replying to e-mails, actually I kind of like avoiding the computer.....I am started to dislike the TV and the food network as well. I need to get back in the habit of at least communicating with the outside world. Right now I am avoiding looking at houses in Port Huron so posting sounds fun. Chad's mom convinced us to paint the living room hallway and kitchen. We had painted in the last two years, but it was a yellowy orange color that doesn't entice buyers so much. So last Friday night and Saturday morning we painted with her help. We would have never got it all done without her! We had a showing on Saturday afternoon, and were done just in time (they came early.....don't do that to people who have a dog and a newborn to get out of the house;-). Anyways here is our listing (they came Sunday to take pictures):

http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1056201215

The walls are ...well off-white. I think it still came out closer to white than we anticipated (we wanted an "oatmeal" color), but that is fine. You can see in the background of my last posting (the picture of me and Daniel) the color it used to be. The color before never really turned out how I wanted it, I was happy with it, but always wanted to redo it. Maybe the next house I will try again. It is kind of weird because it no longer seems like my house, however if we are going to move anyways it will help make the break easier.
Daniel is doing good. He has a 1 month checkup on Tuesday. We try to take him out so I am not a hermit...however I actually don't mind staying in the house (hey its not so bad when its clean;-). Last Saturday while the house was being shown we went to Logan's Steakhouse to eat (then to our first puppy store visit....picture day so it was CRAZY!). Anyways the manager there commented that we were "very brave" for having our newborn out so early. He said he had a one year old and they never took her out so young.
I guess when my mom was here we got used to taking him out without thinking to much about it. She pretty much got us out of the house every day (we did have 2 doctor visits). When it is just me and him I don't always want to go out because I really don't have anywhere to go. Also I would just spend money and buy stuff...that we will just have to move anyways. By the time I think I need to go do something, I also feel like napping. However I am finding it difficult to nap for the first time in my life. My mom mentioned that having to get up in the middle of the night gets to you, and only taking naps catches up after a while. I thought..."but they are naps...I love naps more than bedtime" Well yesterday after waking up very grumpy I realized only taking naps does suck. Right now I do most of the night feedings because Chad is working and I stay home and can take naps. However around Wednesday I started having trouble napping. It wasn't like I had anything to do, or that Daniel was up or hungry...he was napping fine.
Last night Chad took the night feedings and I am feeling much better this morning. I woke up perky again. So I think we need to re-think this whole....'mommy does night feeding thing'....or else we will have one grumpy family.
I have also allowed myself one snippy comment a day (and they can carry over to the next day if I don't use them). We have recently hit a slight snag in the house selling department. It involves me using big realtor words that I don't fully understand myself and dealing with city taxes and whatnot. In the end it might be good for us because I think we are do some city taxes back. Anyways I had to go to city hall to explain using the big words I don't understand to a city clerk what the problem was. She then had to go explain this to another clerk
"This lady bought the house in '87...." My response
"I did not buy the house in '87 I was in elementary school then!".....on the way home I realized I didn't need to make the comment and it was said in a very snotty manner, and very unnecessary to act that way. But it was funny and I decided I should be allowed 1 a day. Actually I felt much better after that and decided my new tactic in this whole matter is to play up the whole postpartum thing.
"I just had a baby, my husband works far away, we are trying to sell our house, and I don't understand all these big words....can you please help me?"
It works, its the truth and if you are really friendly otherwise people are really willing to help. I did that with someone else and I think she is really helping me.
Oh and I didn't make a snippy comment yesterday I can have 2 today....although I was grumpy with Chad in the morning yesterday so maybe I have to deduct one....nah;-)

Making myself rest

2006-03-07T16:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had finished cleanup of the laundry room.....technically I am not supposed to do much housework...but since the house is on the market, there is a lot to do, and I feel like I can do it, its hard not to. Its really hard not to do some things...like not lifting anything heavier than Daniel (so I can lift Daniel and the cat....that's it?). So I haven't been to good on the taking it easy thing. Last week I got a bladder infection, so Thursday and Friday I did slow down. Last night I started to feel sore and run down. So today I decided to take it easy....Chad also told me as he left for work to make sure I napped today (isn’t that a nice thing to hear:-). So there I was taking it easy, hanging out with my boy. I heard car doors shut (it sounded like a van). Then people talking....and they started to come closer...Belle started to bark (oh no, is someone here to look at the house and they forgot to tell me?). No they were at the neighbor’s house (which also happens to be up for sale...since NOVEMBER!). I peeked out the window....and they were looking at our house as they were going into the one next door. I went to take a shower, and after I got out Daniel was hungry so I got a bottle ready. Sat down to feed, then the phone rings (its nice that I taught Belle how to pick up things I drop, now I need to teach her to get the phone when its ringing). It was the realtor...guess what, the people looking at the house next door wanted to see our house right now. I told her, that it wouldn't be a good time but tomorrow would be fine, and that we had a newborn and it was hard to get out. I didn't mention that the house needed to be vacuumed, the litter box cleaned, and clothes be put away. She didn't call back to make an appointment. Oh well. Daniel displayed his displeasure with a very loud poop and a gassy smile. It made me laugh....typical boy. And now for some pictures:

The bib says it all!
I found these two catching up on some much needed reading.

His room.... about a week (maybe less) before he was born.

His room the night before he was born, his crib wasn't even there yet.

Back to life

2006-02-26T12:30:00.000-05:00

Phew it has been a long week. We came home on Friday, but had a doctor’s appointment first thing in the morning. We used the past 2 days to just be together as a family (dog and cat included). It was really nice, and much needed. In the hospital we were just getting stressed by amount of people that would come in at once.....ALWAYS at once. We would go hours not see a soul. Then all of a sudden 5 people were in the room all asking questions, Daniel would cry...all 5 people would fuss.
Belle and Tess have been adjusting fine. Tess was actually more upset that her litter box needed to be changed. Belle still wants to kiss and nose Daniel, but she has calmed down a lot and she checks on us when we are feeding at night.

Pictures....Chad set up a website, but he didn't remember my log in and password for the blog so it didn't get posted here. So for the first set of pictures go to: http://www.msu.edu/~kubikcha/Daniel/

We have many more (of course) but for now I will share his birth story for those who don't know it.
He was originally due on March 4. However a few months ago they saw he was breech. I had a fibroid tumor next to his head. Because of the fibroid and being my first pregnancy they didn't want to try and reposition him and had me schedule a C-Section. That was scheduled for February 27th. I had the choice of Friday the 24th or Monday the 27th. I figured well Chad starts his new job on the 21st so......lets go for the next week. Last weekend (18th and 19th). We took a load of stuff to Port Huron to store. Our house is going to be listed on March 1st so Chad spent a week trying to "unclutter" the house. We looked around the area to get a better idea of where we might want to live. I didn't do to much of the lifting myself, but all the running around did make me tired. We took it easy on Sunday, and proceeded to finish up some things in the nursery. On Monday I still was feeling generally tired and sore, so I worked from home. I also needed to finish up some work things before I left on leave. It was just less distracting to do that at home. By the end of the day I was feeling much better and Chad had the nursery all complete (well except for the crib), and the office was getting its attention in the "unclutter" department. So for Tuesday I had planned on going in to work, Chad had planned on driving an hour away to start a new job. However Daniel planned to make his debut.
When we went through birthing classes the instructor mentioned that we should talk with our mothers about their labor experience, because mothers and daughters tend to have similar ones. Of course this was no guarantee....but anyways. My mom told me her water NEVER broke on all three of us. I was aware that I still could go into labor before the scheduled C-section. However I was going in a week early, I was feeling fine, I should be ok. I was a little nervous about Chad starting a new job 1 hour away 2 weeks before the baby was due....but....what could we do. So at 4:30 in the morning and Chad's first day of work (the day I was going to go into work and finish up a LOT of stuff).....my water broke. I woke up to change positions, and felt funny....a little wetness....but.....oh geez
"Chad....get up we have to go to the hospital....my water just broke"
"What.....are you joking.....uh.....yeah it looks like it did"
Chad then very calmly got us packed up (yeah hadn't done that yet), helped get me dressed, and called the hospital. He did do this very calmly....but we were both still nervous. The hospital we delivered at is about 20 minutes away (on average). Luckily it was by then 4:45 and there was no traffic. So pretty smooth drive.
After getting to the hospital everything is kind of a blur. I remember there being a resident who looked really sleepy who checked me out and confirmed that we still needed a C-Section. I remember watching news clips about closing the zoo and still being upset by it. Actually Monday night I was yelling at the TV because of the Detroit City Council decision. We were joking that's why I went into labor, I was mad about the zoo. Anyways at the time it seemed like a long time to get into the operating room. However looking back it went by quick. I had a great surgical nurse with me who was really good at keeping me informed at what was going on. I didn't like doing the spinal tap, Chad came in and I felt much better. I was asked if I wanted to see the baby I said yes, so the pulled a mirror over. Then I freaked and couldn't look until the pulled him out. Then he finally came out and he cried and I felt so much better. They asked for a name, and we gave it to them. I tried to explain to the nurse why we named him Daniel John. That it is our fathers first names, and we both have always liked the name Daniel, and how my dad died a few years ago... but it was hard to explain when I started to talk because of thinking of my dad, and how I miss him. And thinking of Chad's dad and how it is going to be so nice to have him around.
After that it is another blur. When you are numbed from the chest down, you don’t' feel any pain, but you do feel touching, and moving. The pressure at one point was horrible, not painful, but it made me so uncomfortable and sick. I got sick, but couldn't move to much so I had to move my head to the side and Chad had to hold a container while the nurse suctioned.
I think it was after that I finally got to see my baby boy. I remember being wheeled back into the room holding Daniel. Then.....the next 6 hours were horrible because I could hold him every once in a while but I still couldn't move, I had to lay down, I couldn't feel my legs and feet. I and Daniel were checked for the next hour. I kept trying to make my legs move, because someone said I could sit up once my legs were moving. My left leg and foot got feeling back before my right. In the afternoon I was able to sit up and hold him, but I still was hooked up to an IV and hadn't gotten out of bed. I finally had the IV removed the next day and that was such a relief because I could hold him better without tubes getting in the way.
The hospital was great however, it just seemed like we would get staff and visitors all at the same time. This is also when they would bring in meals. By the time the staff stopped probing us and left they would come to get the food that I hadn't had a chance to touch. I was so happy to go home on Saturday, however we had to wait for another billirubin test to come back, since Daniel looked a little jaundice. Once we got home, Tess looked completely different to me. Her fur was all puffed up, and didn't feel as soft. However she took on look at Daniel and didn't seem bothered. In fact within an hour or two she licked his toes and head butted him. She was just happy we were home and strangers weren't in her house. Then Chad's parents brought Belle home and she looked completely different too! I was worried that it was me, I was seeing them different...but then Chad noticed her waist was larger (he usually can get his hands around it). She pigged out at Grandma and Grandpa's on Sunny's food. Her fur was messed up from wrestling with Sunny. She has adjusted well, she still gets a little rough around me (with the c-section she has to be careful). However she seems to like her baby brother.

He's here

2006-02-21T18:25:00.000-05:00

My water broke at 4:30 this morning, Daniel John was born at 8:31 am, 8lbs 4oz, 20.75 in long. More detailss to come.

Perceptions are funny

2006-02-09T08:12:00.000-05:00

Its funny what people say to you when you are pregnant. Everyone seems to have different take on what has "changed" about you. Now granted people who know you well will be able to judge. But sometimes I think people are just grasping at something to say. For instance my hair and nails have always grown at a crazy rate. In elementary I was teased because my nails were so long. I would cut them, but they would quickly grow back. Also every fall in high school I was on the swim team. After a few weeks of practice I would have dried out hair that was impossible to put all up into a swim cap. So I would cut it to shoulder length. By the early summer my hair would already be to my mid-back.
Anyways people tell me "Wow since you've been pregnant your hair/nails have grown so much". I try to explain that, no you probably just didn't notice before....but no one really believes me.
So this weekend I got my hair cut. It was to my mid-back and now it is just below the shoulders. No one here at work has noticed except this morning. One of my managers said it looked cute (she did notice the cut). Then another coworker who I haven't seen since last week said
"Man you hair is growing like a weed"

She hasn't seen me since before my hair was cut. I just checked.....and yep hair is still just below the shoulders:-)

soon there will be a real baby and.....

2006-02-08T14:25:00.000-05:00

I hate days like this. I have much to do both here at work and at home. However none of it is appealing right now and I just have that "But I'm BORED" feeling. No celebrity pictures this week either:-( We talked to our realtor last night and we will probably get the house listed sometime next week. Chad is going to take next week off (read: quit crazy stripper office) and start packing. The funny thing is, if he would have organized the garage while he was laid off it would make things easier on him now....I put it on his list in the fall. Boys! We are trying not to get stressed about all the work and changes ahead of us but sometimes stress is good...it gets you motivated. I have doctor appointments weekly now. I have been meeting with just one of the doctors and I really like him. He is detailed in his answers to questions. Not that I would mind the other doctors. I generally don't feel comfortable around doctors but the ones at this office I have always felt comfortable around. I think that is a OB thing...if its something different they are taught....can't they teach that same manner to other doctors? Our shower is this weekend. It should be fun and nice to take a moment to spend just on the baby, which is something we don't do enough:-)

Well my 2 furbabies are in for some adjustment as well. I keep asking Belle what is she going to do when she isn't the baby anymore? I realize that she has no clue what I am saying, but her facial expression are fun anyways. However I think she might be more upset by a move. She is a mommy to baby bunnies afterall;-)

Also she always has the cat to snuggle with. With the cat its a toss up by what she will be more upset about. A crying infant and no place to hide in her own home.....or....having to move out of her house and go for an hour car ride to a place she has never been before. Well they are good buddies now, so they can comfort each other. Hopefully they will be willing to let a baby into their "circle of trust":-)

Just hanging in there

2006-02-03T09:52:00.000-05:00

Nothing new to really report. I have a doctors appointment this afternoon, so I will be leaving early. Making it my last day of Superbowl madness. I have been doing so much walking lately and its all catching up with me. I hope to rest this weekend. I did talk to my boss about my leave and it seems like I should be able to work from home the last week up to my due date. A coworker has figured out a way to get connected from home and he is going to help me out with that. I will also be able to work out some kind of schedule for afterwards. We will figure that out towards the end of my leave. He also knows about us moving. So do several coworkers. Its nice to get that out. Well we are going to go for another NFL adventure.