A weekend of Gwyn

Agatha went off to my in-law's cabin in Running Springs for the weekend to play in the snow with Grandma and Grandpa (and do four homeschool assignments-homeschoolers never stop, do they?) So, we got Gwynie all weekend. Now, we missed Agatha, don't get me wrong, but it was so nice to concentrate on soft, cuddly Gwyn. I layed on the floor with her for hours, we ran errands and I was able to stop and nurse whenever she needed, we went on outdoor walks at the drop of a hat, life revolved around her naps, things had a nice, peaceful rhythm. She has been battling teething and possibly a cold (hard to tell the difference sometimes) so we have had humidifiers and peppermint/eucalyptus oil going, nose suckers and saline nose washes. Good times-but it has been nice to have only one to concentrate on. She broke through the top two teeth, so now she has four. And her GERD is getting better! We have been on every other day meds for two weeks and plan to go off completely in a week or two if all stays peaceful. Ahh-peaceful. It has been so quiet! I even had time to organize and load up our new garage with Adam. Never with two-never!

Some Kind of Professional

I had a harried meeting today! We forgot to give Gwyn her GERD meds until 4 hours late so she was uncomfortable, arching, whining, grunting and urping chunky loads of breastmilk all over me in a work meeting today. The meeting was at a bookstore and I had no table which today seemed annoying even though I usually don't. I had to wash my hair today, but had no time to blow dry so it was a frizzy mess. I had time only for mascara which I made sure I wore so as not to get the comments-Oh, you look so tired! I am still in my chubby clothes (because I am still chubby) and my shirt was too big and my pants too tight. Neither really matched my shoes. Her kids thought the burps and drool were yucky and a bit disgusted by it. I tried to conduct myself in as professional a manner as possible, but with all these variables I felt a mess. My job is great because I can bring my kids to some things, but today that seemed a mistake. I tried to be professional when presenting my information, and luckily the parent is a friend as well...but I couldn't listen to her kids read with mine yelling in all our ears and I just felt rushed. Oh, and Gwyn pooped half way through so I had to leave early to have time to change her before picking up my preschooler. Holy Moley-a millennium woman with so many hats. I don't feel like I wore any ONE of them well this morning.

Broken needle Heartburn

I have recently taken up sewing again. I learned under the tutelage of my mother and Girl Scouts, but rebelled for a while. Now, I am embracing the organic mother that I am-so in comes sewing again. Anyway I was sewing a burp cloth out of some cool pink tattoo looking flannel and BAM-a broken needle. It's like a metaphor for this whole GERD madness of ours. Everything seems to be going along fine and then BAM heartburn, spitup and screaming. You really have to be paying attention, always maintaining, always watching to keep it from breaking-or GERDing! I feel like I am always on my toes. Don't bounce, sway. Don't recline, keep her upright. Don't hold across the abdomen while on my hip-across the chest. On and on. I can't wait until we grow out of it. Thanks to Dr. Sears for all the calming advice and information. I love that guy. Too bad he didn't write my sewing machine manual. I hate that thing. Where's Adam to figure out how to change the needle?

Mamma Fuzzy Drivers

I am little mamma fuzzy today...the world seems fuzzy due to my sleep deprevation. Adam and I lucked out this time around and got a GERD baby. Not only does this child use all different baby gear because she has to be upright all the time (no bouncers, baby carseats, co-sleepers, cradle hold slings...only upright in swings, excersaucers, johnny jumpers and moby wrap or bjorn carriers!), but she disrupts my sleep ALOT. She sleeps fine, but I am up...she sleeps her first sleep in a travel swing for four-ish hours-but enevitably I am folding laundry, on the computer, picking up, showering, watching CLAD college course DVDs (I'm taking 12 units on top of a part time job and full time mommy!), or the many other things I need to do without baby. Then I get to bed and she inevitably calls to nurse, so I bring her to bed. Now my first child would lay on her side and tummy to tummy nurse off and on while we both snoozed peacefully through the night. But, Gwynie can't or she urps in her sleep and chokes. She has to sleep upright on my chest, so I can't fall asleep until she is done nursing. Then I sleep sitting up on a boyfriend pillow with her on my chest-until she urps, chokes and sometimes pauses in her breathing. She's getting bigger, but it still scares me, so I sit bolt upright and rouse her breathing...over and over again, all night. Then about 4 or 5 she gets figety in her sleep because of her acid reflux or poop that won't come or gas or something. She sleeps till 7 ish, but once again, I don't. I should have gone to the gym this morning, but I tried to sleep while my husband had the girls. No luck really. I should have worked out-at least then I would be thin and tired, instead of chubby and tired...but, then maybe I would have fallen asleep on an elliptical machine again-I did that a couple weeks ago-really. Maybe I shouldn't be driving to dance and church later today. Be careful out there-there are mamma fuzzy drivers on the road.

The Beginning

So...I'm starting a blog and I have anxiety as to what to write for my first post. Where to start? My kids? The funny four year old playing dress up in the other room? The infant pooping in her gdiaper in my lap? Our recent camping trip? My renewed enviromentalism with composting and flushable diapers? My excitement of being with "my girls" this labor day? My recent "loss" of a major mentor to a move to Salinas, California? My balancing act of working from home while having a colicy/GERD baby? My extreme sleep deprivation that makes me so fuzzy I can't figure out how to thread a bobbin? I guess I'll get to that stuff...if I can find time to blog everyday! I am at a stage of life where I don't even get makeup on everyday. It is a wonder if I get to the gym three times a week! I haven't mopped my floors for two months! Where does the time go?