Playtime and helping

I may be tired from taking care of the baby, but the pups don't seem to be losing any sleep. Boo helped Alan put together Kaitlyn's crib. He obviously wasn't doing it right and needed lots of supervision. It turned out beautifully.

Observations on motherhood

In the month since Kaitlyn was born, I've learned that: • That little pooch left on a mother's stomach after childbirth is quite convenient for propping up the baby to breastfeed. • When using a breastpump, it can be quite entertaining to bet on which breast will "win." • What gives mom gas will give baby gas, and the bigger of the two will not necessarily be the one who "toots" the loudest. • The phrase "getting ready for company" actually means "putting on a shirt." • Baby wipes are an acceptable alternative to actually bathing. • Having a little girl does not mean you won't get "shot" during a diaper change. I think Alan's proudest moment to date was when we discovered Kaitlyn has a talent for projectile pooping. She did it several time in the hospital, but I've learned counteroffensive tactics since the last time, when she squirted me, the wall, floor and her isolette, which was so thoroughly coated the nurses had to take it apart to clean!

Bringing home baby and stomach surgery

Little blue eyes. Here's a brief overview of the last month in our lives: We find out our landlord didn't pay his taxes, the home is being sold on the courthouse steps and we need to move My water breaks early: 32 weeks and five days. We're told I'll be in the hospital on bed rest and antibiotics until labor begins on its own or I develop an infection. Labor begins and Kaitlyn is born at 33 weeks and one day. She's in the hospital for two weeks, I room in at the hospital and visit her in the NICU every three hours. Alan begins his pediatrics rotation. We begin looking for another home for lease. Because the market has changed, landlords are asking ridiculous amounts in deposits, fees, etc. etc. etc. We get disgusted and make a casual inquiry into purchasing a home. I look at a home for sale and fall in love. We make an offer. Kaitlyn comes home from the hospital. Our offer on the home is accepted. Rascal seems ill, so we go to the vet. An X-ray shows a foreign object in his tummy. He has emergency surgery to remove it. He's now recovering at home after two days observation at the vet. We are not people who go looking for drama, but it certainly found us! Kaitlyn was a NICU superstar — we were able to bring her home last Saturday, March 16. She weighed 4 pounds, .04 ounces. The cute stroller and car seat I agonized over picking out had to go back to the store and traded for a Chicco brand system, which can accommodate a four-pound baby safely. Streeeetching in her coming-home outfit. "I don't need no stinking NICU!" Actually, I could not be more thankful for the NICU, especially the nurses. What wonderful women. They were always glad to talk to me, explain everything and make me feel more comfortable with a stressful situation. And they never judged me when I came in for a 3 a.m. feeding looking . . . like it was 3 a.m. Although she was born at 33 weeks and babies usually can't suck, swallow and breathe until 36 weeks, Kaitlyn breastfeeds and takes my milk in a bottle like a pro. I love this picture. It looks like she's in a straight jacket, and that little disgusted look on her face is perfect. Her hair is all fuzzed out because she'd just had a bath. Mom calls it her monchichi look. I didn't know what that meant, but Google always provides: Tiny fingers! Peekaboo is VERY interested in the baby. I think she understand that Kaitlyn is not another dog though, because she never tried to get between me and the baby, like she would with Kritter or Rascal. She climbs up on the furniture so she can peer into the bassinet, and is on a mission to steal the pacifier for herself. Rascal has snuck in a couple licks of Kaitlyn's hands and feet. We wash them afterwards, but with three dogs, she's going to be licked occasionally, so I suppose she may as well get used to it! Kritter hasn't paid much direct attention to Kaitlyn, but he has been barking at imagined threats outside much more frequently than ever before. I think he's protecting her. My mom has been able to stay and help me out. I would not have showered all week if not for her! She likes to roll over on her side and stretch after I change her diaper while I get the swaddling blanket ready. Rascal recovering. The object turned out to be a hard piece of a toy one of my friends gave me. I threw it away months ago exactly because I didn't want them chewing on a toy with pieces that might break off. Either the piece has been in him that long or he just now found it somewhere. He's getting lots of rest and soft foods. Peekaboo and Kritter look very concerned for Rascal. Playtime — before the surgery. Googly eyes! Alan's parents have visited for the last two weekends, bringing with them Hazel the boxer and their new dog, Abby the chiwawa-? mix. I suggested naming her wawa, chichi, taco, chalupa, etc., but I was shot down. She's very cute and sweet. (And Terri, I'm not just sucking up!) The in-laws were going to get another boxer after the passing of Rocky, but Abby found them first. Happy Easter! Now it's nap time!

No making plans with this baby!

Me just a couple days before delivery. When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought for sure we would have a nine-pound baby boy. Instead, we have a preemie baby girl! On Thursday, February 28, my boss took the whole company on a shopping trip. He split us into teams, gave us each $50 and said we had to spend every penny. I'd seen a French bulldog on a shirt in the window of one of those stores where they play really loud music and the models on the walls are almost naked. I thought it would be several months until I could wear it. After a bathroom break, I rejoined my group. We were walking past Tommy Bahama and I was about to suggest we head to Tiffany's when . . . oh! "Either I just totally peed my pants, or my water broke," I told my coworker Melissa. Her eyes got very big and we headed back to the bathroom, where I called my doctor and was told to head to the hospital. My boss and his wife waited with me while Melissa ran to get her car and I paged Alan at work. I was very convinced that I'd just had a bladder accident because I wasn't having contractions. But, it seemed odd to pee my pants given I'd just been to the restroom. At the hospital, the nurse confirmed it was indeed the amniotic fluid bag, but enough remained that the baby was still comfortable. Because I was just 33 weeks pregnant, the doctor said the goal was to keep me pregnant as long as possible so she could develop further. I thought once the water broke, you were having the baby, but as long as there is enough left for the baby to float around in, you can stay pregnant as long as an infection doesn't develop or until labor begins on its own. I settled in to spend the next few weeks in bed in the hospital. They put me on monitors and an IV of antibiotic to ward off infection. Alan joked with the nurse that if the baby was born February 29, we could tell her that she would only have a birthday if she was good all year! Actually, the nurse said several woman had scheduled delivery on Leap Day — interesting. About 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1, I had another big rush of water. This time, I was sure the rest of the water had broken. I began having very sporadic contractions and was given pain medicine. It made me loopy. Every time I closed my eyes I saw psychedelic shapes and patterns. warning — labor and birth story below! I feel asleep at 1.5 cm dilated. At 6:30 a.m. Sunday, March 2, I woke up having intense, but sporadic contractions. I was 6 cm dilated — I'd slept through centimeters 2 through 5! I was moved into a labor and delivery room and they called the doctor and anesthesiologist. I remember asking how long it would take for him to get there — I wanted my epidural! Thankfully, he was already at the hospital and arrived quickly. "I hear you are interested in an epidural," he said. Yeah! Very interested! I have to say, for all the talk about how big the needle is, the epidural was one of the most painless shots I've ever received. Love it. The nurses had to tell me how to push — hold your breath rather than exhaling — because our birth and baby classes were supposed to begin this week. Too late! After about 15 minutes of pushing, baby Kaitlyn made her grant entry at 8:19 a.m. She came in at 3 pounds, 11.5 ounces and 17 inches long. The neonatal intensive care nurses put her in a basket right beside me and began their tests and assessments. Before they took her away, they held her near my chest and I got to give her a kiss. She was so soft and little. We waited two hours before we heard any news. Alan was pacing the room. Finally we were able to go see her. She looked like a little kid in the 'hood with that cap pulled low over her eyes. They wanted to protect them from the bright lights in the nursery. She started off with a little oxygen tube, monitors and an IV. She received a clean bill of health — everything is good with the exception of being premature. They don't like to estimate when she will be able to go home because it all depends on how fast she grows and progresses, but it will probably be three to four weeks. At first, I fed her my milk just 1 ml at a time. She looks different every day. Daddy burping baby. One day she had to "sunbathe" to get rid of a touch of jaundice. Then she needed to lay on a light blanket for a few days. She is doing great breastfeeding (no pictures of that!) but we also feed her with a bottle so the nurses can track how much she is eating. She loves to make faces at us! Happy baby. Blue steel. Happy baby, with bow. Blue steel, with bow. So tiny! In other news, we got a notice a week before Kaitlyn was born that our landlord had failed to pay his taxes and that the house was to be sold on the courthouse steps! Right now we're in the process of looking at other homes to lease. Buying isn't good because we might move in a year when Alan finds out where he will do his residency. I've had several crying fits over this whole dumb thing. It makes me so mad that this stupid man won't pay the $8,000 he owes in taxes, but apparently he owns several houses in Austin and is in over his head. The property management company said he is a CPA in California — what's up with a CPA not being able to add up that $8,000 isn't worth losing a whole house?! Are there any real estate lawyers out there who have a suggestion for us?

Christmas fun

For Christmas, we took our crew to Alan's parents' house, where his brother was also staying with his two dogs, Daisy and Samson. Hazel the boxer lives there, so that's six dogs in one house! Everyone had a great time chasing and playing. Rascal and Hazel were constant play partners. Whenever we left the house, our pups got put in "jail." When we came home, she went crazy telling us to hurry and get her toys out! They wore each other out. Daisy is a portly bulldog, so she needs help up on the couch. Peekaboo's first experience with a doggie door — Alan had to help her through. But she started using it on her own by the end of the trip. Alan's parents gave me a Canon EOS digital camera for Christmas — I LOVE it!!! It takes pictures the second you press the shutter button, and it's so sharp. Peekaboo didn't think the camera was so cool, especially when I woke her up with the flash. Boo played most with Samson and stayed away from Daisy, who can be a bit of a diva. Daisy loves food. In fact, she guards it. She figures out where the food is stashed and plops herself down so that nobody can get to it without going through her. Alan took this picture of Rascal and Kritter. Can you believe these two were once trying to tear each other to shreds on a daily basis? They're good friends now! Alan's mom gave us tons of baby clothes — she's excited about her granddaughter! Here, Alan models a bath blanket.

Our little girl

Me and my baby belly. We got a 3D ultrasound at my OB appointment today. Meet our daughter! She's 1 lb. 6 oz right now. You can't tell from this picture, but on the video screen the sonographer went through lots of pictures, and she looks to have Alan's nose. This is how Kritter reacted to his little sister's photo... Boo seemed confused... and these were Rascal's thoughts.

Good idea Norman

Norman has a pretty good idea to help me not stress so much about naming this little girl. Although don't think I'll be drawing her name from a list of your suggestions, I'd love to hear some. First you have to know all my criteria. Then maybe you'll understand why this is so hard for me! No names that have been in the top 20 on the most popular list for at least five years. No names that begin with letters that don't look pretty when I write them in cursive, including: C, F, G, I, O, P, Q, S, U, X, Y, Z No names ending in a "era" sound, because it would sound weird rhyme my daughter's name with mine. No unisex names. I like several names that - according to the Internet - could be used for both a boy and a girl. However, Alan's brother Kyle has very strong feelings against unisex names since he met a girl named Kyle. If we want him to speak to us ever again, we can't name her anything that could ever possibly be a boy's name. None of the following names because they belong to either friends or people we don't or didn't like (and I'm not saying which is which!): Emily, Jenny, Lori, Gayle, Brittany (any spelling), Tiffany, Heather, Beth, Rachel, Brandy, Carrie, Christi, Claire, Jennifer, Kimberly, Laura, Melissa, Mollie, Nicole, Shanna, Rebecca, Shelley, Jamie, Sandy, Nikki, Christina, Karen, LeighAnn, Megan, Lauren, Kelly, Jessica, Michelle, Kayla, Kathleen, Amanda, Mindy, Anna, Deanne, Erin, Stephanie.... this list goes on for a while. No name spelled in a weird way that would force the kid to spell her name all the time I think that's it - are there any names left?