Two weeks already?

Still here.  Still alive.  Everyone is healing.  Slowly.  Some moments are great.  Some moments are hard.  Each day is generally a mix of the two.  Honestly life feels like we’re going 110mph at the moment with the new baby and the new house almost at the end.  If I’m not dodging flying cheerios and banana mush, I’m picking paint colors.  Or maybe I’m doing the tenth load of laundry for the day (why did no one warn me that double the kids quadrupled the wash?).  Speaking of which, Gav was a participant, very minor, in choosing our new washer and dryer as appliances were also chosen this week.

I suppose the word on the Street is “Adjusting.”  Sometimes it feels easy, sometimes not.  My birthday is coming up soon and Jim keeps asking what I want.  Honestly?  I would just love one full day and night without kids.  That would be beyond lovely.  Probably not happening though as a) we don’t have the money, and b) who would watch the kids for a mere 24 hours?  (Notice the implied emphasis on ‘mere?’)

Tomorrow (Sat) marks the 2 week home mark.  In some ways it feels like forever, and in others, it seems like he just arrived home.

Gav has had 4 different doctor visits and one trip to Strong Memorial Hospital so far.  Two blood draws, a tube up his urethra (penis if one really wants a nice mental image), countless nose swabs, a toe prick, and two different xrays.   He is fine.  Last week was not so pretty though.  He had RSV, bronchiolitis, influenza, and strep throat.  Poor baby boy.  And of course all arrived riding a lovely temperature of 103 for 4 days straight.  Welcome to the USA!  But all is well now.  And in the bigger picture, all is well in general- no parasites or buggies of any sort.  Complete and total clean bill of health.  Kudos to the IAG care center!

Gav has been steadily gaining weight, girth, and length too in the past two weeks.  He arrived home at 20 lbs 5oz and 29 inches long, and he is now 21 lbs 2 oz and 30.25 inches long.  A pound and an inch!  And that's WITH the flu and strep throat!!  For any of you mom’s with babies out there, he’s sucking down about 30-40 oz of formula each day!  We’ve gone through 4 cans already!  Boy is going to drink us out of house and home!

Sleep still leaves a lot to be desired.  Now that Jim is healed (and my punishment for not traveling is meted out), we’re tag teaming.  Two nights on baby duty, two nights off.  That at least gives each of us a bit of a break.  Tonight is my second night of ‘off.’  Do you see me rubbing my hands with a look of glee on my face?  I’ll deal with tomorrow night when it comes.

Gigi seems to have grown up overnight.  She’s a doll!  Not without issue of course- she IS only 3.  But I don’t have a single “wish” about her as a big sister.  She is kind and loving to him- except when she rolls over him with her baby stroller.  She runs to gag him with a spoon… er… feed him that is.  And she kisses him and hugs him in wonderful Gigi hugs that leave him bug eyed and gasping for breath.    Or at least begging to be let up off the floor.  Over exuberance aside, she is absolutely wonderful with him, and he adores her back.  When she arrives home from pre-school each day, we can just see his eyes light up.  He would follow her anywhere!  He already is a little mimic and copies everything she does (sometimes to her frustration).

Pictures.  Ah sweet pictures.  Would anyone believe we have not taken a single one with the exception of what is shown in the last post?  It’s true, so sad to say.  Truth be told, not only have we been out and about so much, but more importantly, the lighting in this house is HORRID!  It’s extremely challenging for any self-respecting, SLR photographer (no matter how amateur) to have any desire to take any photos at all (in other words, we don’t want to use a flash).  The subject matter is divine of course (just today a lady was busy in conversation, glanced up briefly and saw Gav, lost her train of thought, stuttered, and blurted out, “Wow!!.... He’s BEAUTIFUL!”) but the lighting.  The LIGHTING people!!!  Wait till we move into our house.  Windows on every single wall.  BIG windows.  One can see through the house no matter where one stands.  Lots of natural light for every time of the day.  Perfect for photographing our gorgeous kids!

And maybe someday I’ll get my mojo back for writing this blog.   And taking pictures.  Well lit pictures.