The Last Two Weeks

Wow time has flown.  Here's a wrap of all that's transpired since we had Abrielle.

• I tested positive for Group B strep.  Since I delivered four hours after arriving at the hospital I was not on antibiotics for the required amount of time (which was eight hours).  We were required to stay the entire 48 hours so Abrielle could be observed.  You might as well have handed me a life sentence in prison, I HATE hospitals, I'm the first person to ask when's the earliest I can leave.  Some people love staying at the hospital, for me it's endless torment.  I hate the knock on the door every 30 minutes or so, I hate the phrase you need to get your rest (seriously I'm trying but you're in here bugging me!), I hate being observed and questioned!  I want quiet, I want my bed and I want my familiar things. 
• Our second night at the hospital was a nightmare.  Abrielle screamed and screamed and nothing I could do would calm her down.  After about 5 hours I asked the nurse to give her an ounce or so of formula, after 2 ounces she was out like a light.  As exhausted as I was I lay there and panicked about how I was going to handle a baby who screamed and couldn't be calmed down and be a functioning wife and mother to everyone else.  Thankfully she must have been working something out of her system becasue she has never cried like that since.  She hardly ever makes a peep and she sleeps like a rock at night.  It's been AWESOME. 
• I missed my family and so as soon as our 48 hours were up I checked myself and Abrielle out of the hospital.  The on call Dr. was NOT HAPPY with my choice since our 48 hour stay expired at 11:00 pm.  She wanted me to stay until the morning.  I wanted my own bed and there was no convincing me to stay.  Our neighbor Stacey was kind hearted enough to watch our sleeping kids so Derik could come get us.  There truly is no place like home.  
• My mom flew in from Utah on Tuesday.  She rented a car and drove herself to our home.  I was so glad to see her.  She has never seen our home and I was glad to have her help for a week.  My kids were so excited to see their grandmother too.  She drove me to appointments and held Abrielle and spoiled us all rotten.  
• Derik stayed at home with the three older children so my Mom, Abrielle and myself could venture out on Friday to the Houston Temple.  My mother did a session and Abrielle and I sat and snuggled in the waiting room.  I could hold Abrielle for every minute of every day and not get enough of her sweet spirit.  Even though I couldn't join my mom in the session this time, I enjoyed just being at the temple.  There was a wedding there too it was fun to see the new bride and groom.  I thought back eleven years to my marriage and I had to smile at how far we've come and the four beautiful children we've been blessed with.
• On Saturday the Mr. and I had the depressing task of going car shopping.  Thankfully my mother took on all four kids so we could go without kids.  It was one depressing stop after the other and things started to look hopeless.  On our last stop we did find an old used Toyota Camry that was in our price range.  I'm not sure whether or not we were being spared or it just wasn't the car for us but as we were writing up the final sales numbers we were informed the car had just sold to some one else.  So we are still trying to function as a family with just one vehicle.  I don't mean to sound greedy or unthankful for what we do have.  But living in Houston is not an ideal situation with one car, it adds so much stress to our lives with Dr appointments, a school that can't be walked to and a long work commute
• Monday arrived WAY to fast and I had to say good bye to my mother.  I knew it was going to be hard for me.  I'm not sure when we'll see each other again.  I cried and cried and cried, it's times like these I would trade anything to be back closer to my family and Derik's.  I was glad for my mom though, I know she was miserable sleeping in Alivia's bed and I know she had a life of her own to get back to.   Having her here for a week was wonderful and made me appreciate the fact that I have such a great mom and how lucky I am to still have her here on earth, even though we are so far away from each other. My children took her departure just as hard as I did.  
• I'm doing fairly well at keeping up with a newborn and household chores.  I credit my darling Abrielle for being such a good baby, it makes my life so much easier.  I hold her as often as possible, I know this snugly brand new baby stage is going to fly by and I'm just sitting back and enjoying the ride for once.  
• Abrielle failed her hearing test for her left ear so we had to go back and see the specialist for more testing.  Thankfully she passed this time with flying colors.  I am grateful that our prayers were heard and answered. 
• Derik has been super terrific to help me out when I need it and, he's done a lot of babysitting and kid wrangling lately.  I know he's stressed out, life has thrown us through a loop this last little while and right now we all feel like the bottom has fallen out.  I appreciate everything he does for our little family.  
• I got myself and Abrielle all ready for her 2 week Dr's appointment on Friday.  I arrived at her appointment only to discover Abrielle didn't have an appointment for Friday.  I think I really have gone brain dead.   The receptionist looked at me like you poor dumb woman!  Not sure how I messed that one up.
• I mowed and edged our lawn and weeded our front garden.  I then sanded and tried to repaint our garage door before our HOA sighted us again for our unsightly garage (ha ha).  I felt like garbage afterwards, I guess getting older has made it harder for me to recover from having a baby as fast as I used to.  I also ran out of paint.  So now our garage has 1 and 3 quarters of it painted and the rest is sanded and ugly.  Oh well eventually I'll get some more free time and paint and finish it up, hopefully before the HOA association decides to drive around and check up on it.