Where Did the Year Go???!!!

Savannah is one!!!!

This has been one heck of a whirlwind of a year! Savannah turned one on the 18th and we had her party last weekend. It was amazing, she had a blast. It is still hard for me to believe that she is already a year old. From colic and milk allergies, to part-time working, to roseola, and four teeth at once, to walking at nine months, and now to daycare and full time work! That wore me out just writing it.

Watching her become a toddler has been amazing and sad all in one. She is most likely my last and final baby. My miracle I never thought I would have or thought I wanted. The relationship between her and Chris is unbelievable. He loves and protects her and she loves and worships him. No matter how upset she is, he can make her smile no matter what. I am so proud of the way he has handled, this complete upset to his life and world.

I am sure this next year will hold many ups and downs, surprises and disasters. My hope is to entertain you all as Savannah explores the world as a toddler, Chris learns who he is as a tween, I open new and scary doors in my career, and Lamont and I start dating again!

Neglect

My dear blog, I am very sorry that I have neglected you for the past two months. I do find it quite ironic that I stopped blogging at the exact point Savannah began walking, coincidence, I think not. This entry will be an update on our lives as well as a list of the top ten opportunities (not excuses) that have caused me to neglect my blog.

1. Prime example, while writing this entry I had to intervene while Savannah was pouring her puffs(which she does not like) down the AC/heat vent.

2. Savannah is walking and jumping and climbing etc!

3. It has been a million degrees here most days and keeping two stir crazy kids from going insane while preventing heat stroke is not an easy task.

4. My Grandma Jo (on my Dad's side) passed away.

5. My Dad has been very sick and we have been trying to figure out what is actually causing it, he has surgery this Thursday, hopefully some answers to follow.

6. Chris is 12! Which speaks for itself, trying to secretly help him work through becoming a teenager and leaving behind childhood is not easy. I say secretly since if he knows I am involved he will resist full force (I have no idea where he got that from)

7. Been agonizing over going back to work full time or not. I have decided if the opportunity presents itself, I will take it, but I will not seek it out!

8. Savannah had roseola, a GI virus, and cut her four top teeth ALL at the SAME TIME!

9. We went on vacation which became the Lampoon's vacay from hell!

10. Oh how could I forget, the house we are renting is on the market and we have been showing it and doing an open house once a month (I am getting financial compensation for this, but it is an amazing amount of work!)

9 months! 9 months! 9 months!

Savannah is 9 months old today!

Where has all the time gone. Before long I need to plan her first birthday! The last few months have been a whirlwind, so many changes, milestones, ear infections!

It is amazing how different my life is now than it was 18 months ago. I love every minute of watching her grow, watching her and Chris interact and bond. I'm ready to kick this second ear infection's butt and start enjoying this ninth month (with some sleep that is!)

We can currently walk, though we only take a few steps here and there. She has decided that she will no longer indulge in baby food so table/finger foods it is, which can be difficult when you only have two bottom teeth. She is so busy and into everything she can't stand to be still or held down! Im sure the next three months will hold many adventures!

Mother's Day

My first mother's day with a little girl! I am so excited to get off of work later this morning and spend it with my babies. Hopefully today will be filled with a nice nap, a little couponing, and my son's basketball game around 5.

I asked Chris to cook dinner for me and he told me that he was going to buy an ice cream cake and act like he made it! Gotta love a 12 year old boy. I told the boys I wanted them to cook but no chili, pizza or tacos (that is all my husband knows how to make!)

Well, gotta finish taking care of some patients who are stuck at the hospital on their mother's day.

Happy Mother's Day to all of those who are mothers, who have been mothers, or who desire to be mothers. A mother isn't made so by the presence of her children but by the love and intention in her heart! (quote by muy!)

Coupons!

Yes, I have to admit it. I have been bitten by the coupon bug, and no I don't watch the show. Some friends started and I read some things online and have started a coupon book. I figure this will be a time worthy hobby since we need to scrimp and save every penny we can right now with me working part-time.

I figured this would be like most of my endeavors, I would have fun for a week, be really excited, and then poof I would be over it (like scrapbooking, working out, etc). But, as my hubby said, "Nope, this one will last because you really like saving money!" I think he might be right.

Getting a great deal or even making money off my coupons is like a scavenger hunt, Its almost like a high to find a great deal. So soon we might see pictures of dental floss and deodorant to the ceiling, but this is one obsession that will actually save me some money!

Priorities

It is so funny how your priorities in life are constantly shuffled on the list. My family has always been a priority, but my career was equally important to me. Lately, I find my career falling farther and farther down the list. Not saying this is good or bad, just something I have taken note of as of late.

I really think I need a change with my career. A part of me is regretting not taking the previous opportunity that was offered. I luckily work with a great group of peers whom I would hate to leave.

Right now the top of the list include raising happy healthy well-adjusted (if that is even possible these days) children and getting my husband's cpap machine here ASAP!

Sleep...what is that?

I was meanly teased by my dear Savannah over spring break with 12 hrs of un-interrupted sleep each night. She is now punishing me for all the rest I got! :)

The last two nights she has gotten up at 2am and 345am and it has been miserable to get her back to sleep. I am hoping that we are cutting our top two teeth and this will be over soon. The first night Daddy took over at 4 and I got up with Chris at 5. Last night I did the 2-5 then Daddy took Chris to the bus stop. Tonight I am on my own. Lamont is having a sleep study so I am hoping my dear girl has mercy on her Momma tonight.

It is so funny how things seemed manageable as a single parent with Chris and now if Lamont isn't here to help I am ready to snap. I think that kids know what we can and can't handle and adapt.

So keep us in your thoughts tonight. Savannah just might have to watch 4am Cheaters with Momma!

Vow renewal

Spending some alone time with Lamont this Friday was great. We had dinner at the Paula Dean buffet at the casino. It was okay, seafood was great the rest was fairly blah. But, it was laid back and he wasn't uncomfortable like he usually is at the restaurants I like to go to. Then we spend a night in a hotel, which neither of us could sleep since we are so used to being up with the kids. It was still a great and relaxing night.

Saturday night I went with a good friend to another friend's wedding. The wedding was the beautiful. It was at My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown and the weather was perfect.

It did get me thinking about the things that I missed by having my wedding at the courthouse. It was what was right for us at the time, but I would like to have some of those special memories. So I am thinking about trying to plan a vow renewal/reception so that we can have a cake (which Lamont doesn't eat :)) and dance (which he doesn't do)etc.

Lessons

This past weekend we were able to take a trip to Bristol VA to see my paternal grandparents. This was a weekend of firsts. My grandmother is pretty sick and we really wanted her to meet Savannah for the first time. This was also the first time that my husband had met my Dad's side of the family. Several of my cousins and their children along with my parents were able to come too. And to top it off, this was Savannah's first road trip/hotel stay. I decided to sum up this weekend in lessons that we learned about life, family, and everything in between.

1. Savannah is not a baby who likes to travel at night. Every time she fell asleep she wanted to turn over and started screaming when she couldn't.

2. Chris is no longer plagued with car sickness. We didn't medicate him and he didn't have one pang of nausea!

3. It is hilarious to have your children and their cousins see pictures of you and your cousins when you were their ages.

4. I am still severely allergic to cats. Thank-you to my cousin for Zyrtec!

5. It is quite profound to sit beside a woman (my grandma Jo) who is so fulfilled spiritually that she has completely accepted her own mortality. I have spent time with many, many patients who were dying and have never met someone so at peace with the inevitable.

Mimi and Poppi

My parents are finally coming up to visit! They haven't seen Savannah since after she was born. She can't wait to show off all her new skills and I can't wait to have extra hands to keep her out of stuff.

The visit will be a little bitter sweet since on the way here, my Dad is stopping to visit with my grandmother who is very ill. She has decided to be at home and have hospice come in if needed. We will be going down to see her in a couple of weeks or sooner if we need to. I'm hoping that getting to see Savannah, now that she is a much happier baby, will help to keep his spirits up. They will also get to see my Mr. Basketball Chris at a tournament in Lexington.

When my parents were here before we were right in the middle of her full blown colic and milk allergy, on their last days here we were getting her on the hypoallergenic formula. They didn't really get to hold or play with her since its a little hard to do that with a screaming baby.

I hope to have lots of pics to post and updates to give after the visit!

March Madness

It is March, let the insanity begin.

Chris has officially started track and AAU basketball seasons. This means track on Mon, Wed, Thurs. Ball on Tues, Thur, and most weekends and some traveling around the state. Luckily, all of this is helping him stay ahead in his schoolwork hopefully not leaving things to the last minute. He has been so exhausted that he is napping on the bus and when he gets home from school.

Savannah had her 6 months check up. She doubled her birth weight to 16lbs 5 oz and she is 27 1/4 in long. She still isn't a big fan of cereal or baby food, but it is getting a little better. She has cut both bottom teeth and the tops will be here soon. She has a little jerky crawl thing going on and pulls up on anything she can reach. And, drumroll we officially have our first cold, I think. She spent most of the day yesterday sneezing her head off and was up most of the night with the stuffies. Sent Dad and Chris out for saline drops, vapor rub, and a vaporizer.(though she doesn't see very sick from the pic above taken a few minutes ago!)

I start my part time schedule the end of this month. It looks like we have worked out an arrangement where we currently live to be able to stay for now. Lamont and I are trying to figure out a night away sometime soon, since when one is on deck the other is asleep lately. One of us manages one kid while the other runs the other around.

Whatever we are doing, its working. I have happy, healthy kids and that is what it is about!

Savannah update

She is getting way too big, way too fast!

We had our 6 month check up this week. She weighs 16lbs. 5 oz. (we made double our birth weight, but just by a smidge). She is also 27 1/2 in. long which is 95% for height. No wonder all her sleeves are up to her elbows and her pants are high waters!

She still isn't eating any solids, so we are gonna try a few tricks. Diff. time of day, diff. things to try to trick her into eating. Her pediatrician says she isn't far from walking, since she can puts her hands out to catch herself. Oh yeah! Just when I was getting used to her rolling all over the place.

I can't wait to conquer the world (cheaply that is) with her and Chris this summer. We will be mall, zoo, park, and swimming pool bound. When I am whining later about how broke I am, I hope to be able to look at all the pics from this summer and realize that experiencing every minute of my baby girl getting big and truly getting to know my son and the man he is becoming are priceless.

Craziness continues

Still working full time right now until we can get some bills taken care of. I will finally be able to drop down my hours in April. We are still trying to determine if we are going to have to move, we have been looking at some townhouses, but the thought of moving is so daunting with a little one.

Chris made a travel AAU basketball team, so that chaos will begin soon along with track season starting (which equals three days a week!). Luckily, I will be off during the week and be able to manage all the crazy practices, I just hate that I will miss most of games since I will be working every weekend. He finally pulled his grades up and got all of his work caught up, which even his math teacher is amazed about. Very proud of him for all the above!

Savannah is still as rotten as ever. Our first tooth broke through on the bottom. She can sit up for a few seconds at a time, which is how long she stays still. She still hates all baby food and cereal, which we will discuss with her doc today. She is sleeping pretty good at night still and I just can't wait for her to have some routine to her schedule with me home and not exhausted all the time.

Decision made....I think :)

I have made the decision to go part-time! One would think I should be excited about this decision, but it has been a painful decision to make. I love my career (being a nurse that is). I knew I would never be a stay at home mom, my career defines a huge part of who I am. I like to think I am damn good at my job too, so it is hard to put it on the back burner. Not to mention, we are not exactly in the perfect financial spot to significantly reduce our income.

But, our current situation is not working. I don't sleep for 36 hrs a couple of times a week, which makes for a very exhausted,impatient, and frazzled mom and wife. I refuse to work more just for the purpose of paying for daycare. Which leaves us with this option, I am going to start working two twelve hour shifts on Fri and Sat nights, this will allow me to manage both kids during the week and maintain some semblance of a schedule. I will then work while Lamont is off so that I can actually sleep.

I know that this decision will be so worth it in the end, and I know that I will have plenty of time to advance my career when she is a little older. I guess a big part of me is scared, like starting a new job with very little experience. Yes, I have been a mom for 11 yrs but it was my part-time job and Ill be honest not always what I have been the best at. Please don't take this the wrong way, I love my kids but they don't define me and I think that is okay.

So, like everything else I am determined to excel at this new adventure. I am competitive and a perfectionist, but the test of my success will come many years from now when my children are, (hopefully) successful, happy, well adjusted people.

Back to reality

The Super Bowl Party was a great excuse to do some major cleaning and a little organizing around my house. We had a great turn out at the party, I have the best friends and family ever. Glad the Packers were able to pull it out, a little sad my Brett Favre wasn't there with them.

Now its back to reality, Chris is off to school gotta get to the grocery and get some errands done today. Also have some major decisions still to make this week, I have made tomorrow my D-day (decision day). So hopefully, I can do some soul searching in between living life today, something tells me that little smiling face above may be the one actually making the decision for me!

Risk versus Benefit

I am currently in the midst of a huge mental crisis in trying to decide what to do with my life/career.

I have been given a job opportunity that would be great for my family life/sleep/sanity, it would be less hours for decent pay but still a pay cut from what I make now overall. I would work every weekend, but would be off all week to manage the kids and my house (which is not happening now) It would also mean that I would change organizations that I work for which is a huge change. The biggest dilemma is leaving my current co-workers,whom I love and are some of my best friends.

In general, I love everything about my current job except my lack of sleep and my direct manager. I almost wish I were more unhappy so the decision would be easier. I am a creature of habit and comfort and have become quite comfortable where I work, but change usually equals growth, right??....

So the next days will consist of determining where every penny can be squeezed or saved out of current budget, looking for a different place to live (which was already in the works), and deciding if the risk is worth the benefit. Which is ironically what I ask my patients and their families to do everyday!

one step forward, two steps backward....

Just can't seem to get ahead with these kids!

Chris is still sick, missed two days last week and now is still having headaches and abdominal pain. We were already struggling to make up school work to pull up his math grade from last six weeks and now more missing work.

Savannah is back on a hunger strike. Eating 4/5 oz at a time, and it seems like her belly is bothering her too. She is still sleeping pretty good at night though.

I think I may have overestimated my ability to manage all of this while working at night and not sleeping. I am currently looking at another job opportunity that would allow me to work on the weekends only(but at a large pay cut), which would allow me to be able to manage all of this during the week and maybe restore some type of sanity to our lives.

I knew that having another baby would mean many sacrifices, I am just trying to remind myself that it will all be worth it and that my family will be reminded of what is important, each other!

One day this will all be a distant memory and I will be wishing for the time back!

Catch up

Sorry for my absence this weekend, but it will probably repeat itself every other weekend when I work Fri, Sat, and Sun night. My life is consumed by work, sleep and attempting to see my family a couple hours a day. This is also the hard week, since I worked the weekend then tonight and Thursday. It is then followed by a four day weekend off then work one day and off three. So it seems to work itself out, just don't come to visit on the bad week unless you want to clean!

My family is hopefully over the bug, which Savannah and I have seemed to escape so far!

This weekend is the Super Bowl! One of my absolute favorite days of the year! It is a little bitter sweet this year since I think my dream husband Brett Favre has actually retired for good. I love this game even if I don't like the teams, love the commercials, the half-time show. Even more I'm going to have a few friends over which makes it even better.

So this week I will live for the weekend and kick-off!

(The above pic is Lamont and I seeing Brett on his birthday when Minnesota played St. Louis!)

Sick saga continues

Luckily, my nausea was short lived. I think God realizes that when the rest of the house is sick Momma can't be sick too!

Chris actually got worse as the day went on! Lamont apparently has the same thing. Now my mission is to keep Miss Savannah from getting any of it.

Today I plan to hydrate my son and husband, quarantine my daughter somehow, Oh and figure out how to get the red jello puke stain out of the cream carpet! And I forgot somewhere in there, take a nap and go to work tonight!

Sick, sick sick

Apologies for my abscence yesterday as it was a day after working all night, which equals mini periods of broken up sleep after working all night and being awake for 24 hrs.

Today begins after I have been up all night nauseated with abdominal pain. Chris woke up with the same this morning. Today will be my first real day as a parent of more than one child, since my older is quite self-sufficient, but today will actually need his Momma (secretly happy!)

Today will remind me of one of the photos in my Mom's photo album where she is laid up on the couch with the flu as my brother and I climb all over her and as my Dad was taking pictures.

So, bring on the gatorage, ginger-ale, and jello and please, please, please do not let my baby girl get sick!

"Sometimes its all about survival..."

Today is a going in to work tonight day!

Savannah and I's week is often defined by going to work days and coming off of work days (which are quite different). The first being defined by attempts to get preemptive sleep, the later by trying to get periods of necessary sleep for sanity.
This is a huge part of our inability to have a real schedule. I sleep when Savannah sleeps, so if she gets tired after 1.5 hrs awake so be it, I welcome the early nap. If she decides to nap long, I don't even realize it, cause hello I'm asleep too!

My pediatrician put it very appropriately as she was giving us the speech about the importance of good sleep and routine..."Sometimes its all about survival!"

So today is about survival, we both slept from 8-10am, not an ideal nap time. But she was up at 6 and made it for 2 hrs awake. Im sure we will sleep again somewhere around 1230/1.

I have to take comfort in the fact that she is growing and healthy. She will one day appreciate the bonding time we have had together. I say this as I'm forcing tummy time on her and she has scooted forward off the bobby and has face planted with her feet in the air! I need to add that she is snorting at me so I will pick her up. I would have missed this if I decided to have a normal life :)

Virgin

SOOOO, inspired by quite a few of my friends, I have decided to start a blog. I figure it will be interesting for my kids to look at one day and can help keep a lot of my family/friends in the loop of my life, while not limited to the text content of a status update.
Please ignore my grammatical errors, since language arts was not my strong suite. I am not the one to help you write a paper, but if you need a calculus problem solved or an organ dissected, I'm your girl.
My life is currently an experiment in sleep deprived insanity! When surprised with the knowledge of the impending addition to our family last Dec. ( the youngest at the time was ten!), I decided to continue working 12 hour night shifts and keep Savannah at home with me during the day. I came to this decision for two reasons, to avoid the cost of child care as well as the germs/antibiotics that may come along with it. I failed to adequately consider the severe lack of sleep and resulting insanity that would result.
A week in the life of the Shea household looks something like this these days:

• Chris is up an at um at 5AM to catch a 6AM bus to get downtown to middle school, since the one near our house would only teach him gang signs and how to do drugs (Im exaggerating a little, but not by much)
• Lamont works a regular 9-5, which is luckily very flexible about the 9 and 5 part of that.
• I work 7p-7a 3 nights a week, to include every other Fri/Sat/Sun so that I can split up days during the week since sleep does not happen while alone with the sweet precious angel.
• Savannah, hmmm I would have to say that she is allergic to schedules and has violent evil reactions to them. :) We are currently very proud of the fact that she has slept in her crib for the last 3 nights.
  

Somewhere, in the midst of all that I serve on several committees at work, Chris plays basketball and Tae Kwon Do, Lamont gets his video game fix and sometimes some dinner gets actually cooked at home.
So welcome to the ride, please keep your arms inside the vehicle at all times!