It is crazy to think we have been in Missouri for 3 weeks now...it still feels like we just got here! Of course that is probably due to the boxes that are still scattered throughout our house :) As Phil and I have found out, unpacking with a baby in the house is a much different processes than just unpacking-I am not looking forward to the day when we experience unpacking with a toddler! It will be even more of an adventure when Nora starts moving.
We lucked out and found a nice tri-level duplex to rent off post. It has 2 bedrooms and space for Phil to have an office/den downstairs. I am loving the layout of the house and the location-we have woods in our backyard and get to watch the deer and the fireflies at night.
As soon as the house is more set up and less of an embarassing mess, I will post a picture tour of it on our website.
As for the news with Phil, he was bumped out of the Career Course for July and is actually going to work on his Masters in Geological Engineering this summer/fall instead. He has about of month of "work" before he will start school. Once his masters classes are complete in December he will get ready to do the Career Course in January. As it turns out this is a wonderful turn of events for us, since our greatest hope in coming here was for Phil to get the opportunity to complete his MA. Unfortunately, it means we will be in MO longer, but the educational opportunity makes it more than worth it.
As for me, I am trying to get back into the SAHM rhythm. Nora, unpacking, and taking care of Phil consume most of my time. We were lucky enough to have some other friends come to MO for the Career Course this summer, so I already have a network here!
Missouri is turning out to be not quite as miserable as we expected!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
june already?
Time flys, whether you are having fun or not! I can't believe our time at Ft. Lewis is almost over, and while I have wished for an anticipated our leaving here almost since the day we got here, I can honestly say I will miss it a little. So much of our life as a couple and a family has happened here.
Friday will be Nora and my last day at Ft. Lewis. Saturday Phil will be driving us over to Clarkston to spend a week visiting my parents before we move on to Misery (missouri). Even though we survived our dress rehersal fairly well, I am still dreading spending 5 days on the road with sweet fussy Nora.
Once we are there and settled into a new place I will post an update on how the trip went :) Until then wish us good luck!
Friday will be Nora and my last day at Ft. Lewis. Saturday Phil will be driving us over to Clarkston to spend a week visiting my parents before we move on to Misery (missouri). Even though we survived our dress rehersal fairly well, I am still dreading spending 5 days on the road with sweet fussy Nora.
Once we are there and settled into a new place I will post an update on how the trip went :) Until then wish us good luck!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
bottles, bottles, bottles
As hot and sticky as our move to Missouri will be, I think what Phil and I are most excited about is the prospect of having a dishwasher again! When we moved to Steilacoom we didn't realize how spoiled we had become. Now with the addition of bottles and other formula feeding tools we are wishing for that dishwasher even more!
As far as Miss Nora goes, she is a completely different baby. I can see her little tummy getting better everyday. We have gotten into a rhythm with her feeding and spent some serious time and $$ figuring out what works best for her. Last weekend we bought and tried one of every bottle and nipple that claimed to help reduce colic. After 2 days of trying them all out we figured out what works best and invested in lots of those. Anything to help our little girl feel better!
This weekend is our "dress rehersal" for our move. We are driving to Clarkston to visit Grandma and Grandpa Reale-the trip is the approximate distance we plan to go each day on our way to Missouri. So, this week I am working on packing the car up as if we were moving so we have a realistic idea of what we can bring, what we need, and how much room we have for extras!
As far as Miss Nora goes, she is a completely different baby. I can see her little tummy getting better everyday. We have gotten into a rhythm with her feeding and spent some serious time and $$ figuring out what works best for her. Last weekend we bought and tried one of every bottle and nipple that claimed to help reduce colic. After 2 days of trying them all out we figured out what works best and invested in lots of those. Anything to help our little girl feel better!
This weekend is our "dress rehersal" for our move. We are driving to Clarkston to visit Grandma and Grandpa Reale-the trip is the approximate distance we plan to go each day on our way to Missouri. So, this week I am working on packing the car up as if we were moving so we have a realistic idea of what we can bring, what we need, and how much room we have for extras!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Allergy Adjustments
If you have been follow our colicky saga with miss Nora, you know that the last few months have been a real struggle for Phil and me. Nora has had a very hard time with all kinds of tummy trouble, and on Friday I finally got the doctors to listen to me.
After seeing her regular Neo doc, a Ped. doc, and a GI doc, taking more x-rays, and stool sample tests-they think they figured out the problem. Nora not only has acid reflux, but also a cow's milk protien allergy.
Unfortunatly, what that means for us is either a switch to a hypoallergenic formula, or if I want to keep nursing, an extremely restrictive diet for me. After doing a little research on just what I would have to cut out, we decided that we will switch her to formula. The diet excludes not only all dairy products but everything containing and dairy protiens or forms of dairy protiens which amounts to almost everything but fresh veggies and fruit. On top of the huge challenge of maintaining such a strict diet, one mistake on my part could have very bad consequences for Nora.
To deal with the acid reflux, the doc prescribed a liquid version of zantac, and we are already seeing results from that. She is so much happier! As for the formula change, it is an adjustment for us as well as Nora. The GI doc said it could take up to 4 weeks for the dairy protiens to completely leave her system. She doesn't like the bottle very much, but her tummy seems to feel a little better already-though both her and I miss nursing and it has only been one day!
We are hoping these changes will make her little tummy get better! I must say not having her cry in pain the last two nights has been glorious!
After seeing her regular Neo doc, a Ped. doc, and a GI doc, taking more x-rays, and stool sample tests-they think they figured out the problem. Nora not only has acid reflux, but also a cow's milk protien allergy.
Unfortunatly, what that means for us is either a switch to a hypoallergenic formula, or if I want to keep nursing, an extremely restrictive diet for me. After doing a little research on just what I would have to cut out, we decided that we will switch her to formula. The diet excludes not only all dairy products but everything containing and dairy protiens or forms of dairy protiens which amounts to almost everything but fresh veggies and fruit. On top of the huge challenge of maintaining such a strict diet, one mistake on my part could have very bad consequences for Nora.
To deal with the acid reflux, the doc prescribed a liquid version of zantac, and we are already seeing results from that. She is so much happier! As for the formula change, it is an adjustment for us as well as Nora. The GI doc said it could take up to 4 weeks for the dairy protiens to completely leave her system. She doesn't like the bottle very much, but her tummy seems to feel a little better already-though both her and I miss nursing and it has only been one day!
We are hoping these changes will make her little tummy get better! I must say not having her cry in pain the last two nights has been glorious!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Happy May Day
Growing up my sisters and I participated in one of the happiest holiday traditions: May Day. Starting probably before I can remember, on April 30th we made little paper baskets and walked around the yard collecting flowers to hang on the neighbors door the next day. Even after I went to college, if I could come home for May Day, I would. What a happy holiday, share flowers and a nice note with the neighboors around you. I can't wait to pass this tradition on to Nora.
As far as family news, things seem to be on the upswing. Nora is still an incredibly fussy impatient baby, but our evenings are improving. We have found that if we are able to respond to her fussing and provide whatever it is that she wants immediately, then we can avoid the intense screaming/crying. When we delay, she is quick to punish our ignorance. However, once whatever need she has is met, the happy calm returns! It is hard to believe we have been at this adventure for almost 4 months!
Phil is super busy at work preparing for the unit to come back, and preparing for our move. We got official orders last week to move to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO so that he can complete the Captain's Career Course. While spending the summer in Missouri is not exactly my idea of a good time, it will be a nice change for the three of us.
**I uploaded new pics to the photo album, check them out!**
As far as family news, things seem to be on the upswing. Nora is still an incredibly fussy impatient baby, but our evenings are improving. We have found that if we are able to respond to her fussing and provide whatever it is that she wants immediately, then we can avoid the intense screaming/crying. When we delay, she is quick to punish our ignorance. However, once whatever need she has is met, the happy calm returns! It is hard to believe we have been at this adventure for almost 4 months!
Phil is super busy at work preparing for the unit to come back, and preparing for our move. We got official orders last week to move to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO so that he can complete the Captain's Career Course. While spending the summer in Missouri is not exactly my idea of a good time, it will be a nice change for the three of us.
**I uploaded new pics to the photo album, check them out!**
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Is this the peak?
I know I said Nora was just a fussy/high needs baby a few posts ago; however, Phil and I (and the doctor) have revised that label. She is just plain colicky. After our visit to the ER at our follow-up appointment with the doctor, he concluded there was nothing serious to worry about and all the crying she was doing in the evening was normal.
According to the books, websites, and doctors I have consulted, colic tends to peak when a baby is around 6 weeks old-or 6 weeks after their expected due date in the case of fabulous preemies. Well Nora was 6 weeks after her due date yesterday, and let me tell you it was the most difficult day we have had to date. Poor Phil came home to both his girls crying! We are hoping and praying that we are now over this mountain of a challenge and that it is downhill from here.
***check out our family photo album for new photos from the last month***
According to the books, websites, and doctors I have consulted, colic tends to peak when a baby is around 6 weeks old-or 6 weeks after their expected due date in the case of fabulous preemies. Well Nora was 6 weeks after her due date yesterday, and let me tell you it was the most difficult day we have had to date. Poor Phil came home to both his girls crying! We are hoping and praying that we are now over this mountain of a challenge and that it is downhill from here.
***check out our family photo album for new photos from the last month***
Monday, April 7, 2008
Visit to the ER
Well, I just got home from my first visit to the ER with Nora. While I am sure this won't be the last time we ever have to go to the ER, I am hoping that it is a very long time before we ever have to go back.
This morning Nora had blood in her diaper, so after finding out that they don't give same day appointments to children at Madigan, we were told to take Nora to the ER. Two x-rays, a test of her stool, and SIX HOURS later all we know is that there probably isn't anything seriously wrong.
If you haven't picked up on my tone yet, I am VERY frustrated. After the amazing care Nora recieved in the NICU, I was a little surprised by the substandard system they have set up for kids. Both Phil and I can get same day appointments but Nora can't?!?! What the heck?!?
We have a follow up appointment tomorrow and shots on Wednesday, so expect another note this week.
This morning Nora had blood in her diaper, so after finding out that they don't give same day appointments to children at Madigan, we were told to take Nora to the ER. Two x-rays, a test of her stool, and SIX HOURS later all we know is that there probably isn't anything seriously wrong.
If you haven't picked up on my tone yet, I am VERY frustrated. After the amazing care Nora recieved in the NICU, I was a little surprised by the substandard system they have set up for kids. Both Phil and I can get same day appointments but Nora can't?!?! What the heck?!?
We have a follow up appointment tomorrow and shots on Wednesday, so expect another note this week.
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