I've gotta vent!

Okay, so I didn't want to make my blog a bitch sesssion, but sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

For anyone who doesn't know, I am not a drop in kinda person. In other words I don't appreciate the unannounced knock on the door or the people I usually find on the other side. It's not that I don't like to see people, but I find that usually people arrive at a bad time when the don't call first. For example, bed time, nap time, lunch time, my relax time etc. This has been worse for me since I was pregnant. I have been more irritable than usual and yes, I'm aware of it.

Problem two-! My mother in law has moved in to the neighborhood just down the street. Yes, I repeat, right down the street. She is within walking distance. UGH! This is the bigger problem of the two.

So, I've made it clear after a few of her untimely drop ins during Cameron's naps (yes, she woke him up) that she would need to call first. Did she listen??? No! So taking it a step further, I made a sign that says "sleeping, do not knock or ring bell" to hang on the front door. This has worked for everyone else, but not her. Last Tuesday I woke up to her voice at 8am. This was just 2 hours after I had gone to sleep after being up with Rylee. My mom was here looking after the boys for me, and I was resting. Resting until I was woken up by the loud voices. I don't mean to be intentionally rude, I really don't. However this is ridiculous. First, who visits anyone at 8am. And second, who does that to someone who just had a baby! For goodness sake, get a hint.

This problem escalated today when the note was hanging on the door. I was relaxing and I hear someone trying to open the front door. I decided that since she had ignored my note, I would ignore her standing there. LOL. I know, that makes me laugh too. Nope didn't work. Cause then she called the house and walked around to the back door which was open. I was so pissed that I went into my room and shut the door until she left. Luckily my mom was here again, so she was able to tell my mother in law that I was asleep. I wasn't. But who cares? How bout giving me some freaking privacy!

This is causing great distress in my life. I feel totally ignored and disrespected. I am trying my best to get used to having 3 kids. Two of them small children that require a lot of care. I am also a little emotional and very tired. So give me a break. Am I gonna have to move away to get my point across because obviously my subtle hints aren't working.

Ok- I feel better. Had to get that off my chest.

WOW! I do have 3 kids....!

Cameron looks so big and Alek looks baffled. Good thing Rylee sleeps through all the chaos. Well at least during the day anyway.

Do I detect jealousy??

Not that we didn't expect it, but Cameron is visibly jealous of the attention his new sister is getting. This was one of my biggest worries when I first found out that I was pregnant. I have given Cameron so much attention and let's be honest, have revolved my life around his needs, that I have spent much time very worried about how this would affect him. Worried that with an infant I will not have the time I need to devote to Cameron. So far, I've been able to balance well. Rylee is still sleeping 22 out of 24 hours.....those 2 hours awake are during the sleeping hours of most other people, but still! Even with that being said, Cameron has started getting a blanket and coming out to "rest" like his little sister. He has started pretending to cry and now he is trying to drink from a bottle. I'm sure with time, he will get used to all this, but in the meantime, it's quite a site to see me sitting in a chair with Rylee on one shoulder to burp and Cameron on the other.

And he will walk after all......

After much work Cameron has finally decided that walking may actually be easier than scooting around on his bum. He has been walking for quite a while with a walker but in the last week has decided that he can now get up onto his feet all on his own and is walking around the house in short distances. Of course his balance is still off a little (ok, a lot), but man we're making progress. Cameron is an extremely late walker even for a child with DS but he is getting there. And we are so PROUD of him for all of his hard work!

Rylee Grace Strickland

Rylee Grace Strickland

July 18, 2009

10:13 pm

6lbs 15 oz.

Well she's finally here. After what seemed like a lifetime, my nine months is over and the finished product has arrived. On Saturday afternoon after many failed attempts of walking laps around the mall, I came home and got in my trusty recliner for a much needed nap. Robert insisted that we walk around the mall since the doctor had indicated on Thursday that I was 4 cm and the baby was way down and she would be coming any time now. Robert was concerned that he would leave for another week of work and miss his only daughter's birth. Miraculously, during my nap, my water broke. Of course, even though I've been saying I was ready, I wasn't. I spent the next ten minutes walking around my house naked from the waist down (my pants were soaked and I knew that if I put on new ones the same would happen) trying to figure out what I needed to take and who was gonna watch my kids. It was quite hilarious and Alek was pretty confused as to why I was doing this.

We arrived at the hospital right around 5 pm and was immediately admitted. My doc decided to start Pitocin since I wasn't contracting and the anesthesiologist was in to give me an epidural shortly thereafter before I had time to feel any real pain. Then the scare came. A little while into this, my blood pressure dropped dramatically therefore causing the baby's heart rate to do the same. The l&d nurse had me reposition several times frantically before calling in another nurse to help. They finally gave me some kind of injection which raised my pressure back up and helped the baby's heart rate as well. They said sometimes Pitocin does this. The drip was stopped and I was told that we would restart it in 1/2 hours. It didn't ever have to be restarted. Before they were able to do that I felt the need to push and after being checked by the doctor, I was told we were ready.

Funny enough, even though I've had two other kids, I wasn't ready. I guess it doesn't matter how many kids you have delivered, it is still scary. Since all three of my experiences in labor and delivery have been different, I didn't know what to expect. Three pushes later and she was here. My first and only little girl had arrived. She is tiny. Much smaller than I expected. But she is healthy and happy and all is well.

I will admit that I spent most of my hospital stay waiting for bad news. After this happens to you once, you always expect some type of grim diagnosis. Luckily for me, all is well.

We are all smitten with our new addition. Cameron says "baby hold you". It's sooo cute. And Alek had been holding her all day. Now we can't forget that his first reaction to his sister was to say, "she's ugly." LOL. Things are great now. I'm in some pain, not so much from the delivery, but more so from the permanent protection against any further pregnancies. I think now our family is complete and we are all here together this week....even Robert and I couldn't be happier.

Doctors with positive outlooks!

Yea, I know....it's funny! You don't get many of these. In fact, since Cameron was born, there have been a lot of times I have despised doctors and the comments they make in regards to Down Syndrome. Cameron had his 6 month follow up with Dr. Montgomery (neurodevelopmental pediatrician) today. This is a 45 minute drive away from home which includes ridiculous tunnel traffic but definitely a trip I would make if I had to ride a bike. This doctor is so positive about Cameron and other individuals with DS. He takes time to focus on all the areas where Cameron has progressed and he sees the potential of people with DS. After his evaluation, he commented on how well behaved and social Cameron is. He of course touched on the motor delays which we are all aware of, but he says Cameron has minimal delays in the cognitive areas.

It feels good to go to a doctor who sees the bright side of our kids. Someone who doesn't see the issues, rather the joy we find from Cameron. And it doesn't ever hurt to have a professional tell you as a parent that "you are doing all the right things". I think that is one of the things you always worry about being a parent, especially a parent of a child with special needs.

So we're good with this doc for 6 months, but I almost look forward to January so I can see him again and walk out of a doctor's office with a smile on my face rather than the urge to break into tears.

Live and Let Die

Ok so I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I agree, he is the "King of Pop". He was a great entertainer and there is definitely no one else in the world like him. What I don't understand is why nearly two weeks after his passing, we are still finding coverage of his death on every channel on TV. I'm confused. Our country is experiencing many serious issues right now and our biggest concern is Michael Jackson. Why is everyone so concerned with this? We all die right? The media isn't following Farrah or Billy Mays this way. People die every day. It's unfortunate but it's true. I am just hoping that soon this media circus is over and we can continue to go on with our lives focused on more important issues. GOOD GRIEF!

Cameron likes the baby car seat.....this is gonna be a problem!

Still no progress.....

So I went to the doctor yesterday expecting something. Anything at all. I have been dilated 3cm since Monday a week ago and that is exactly where I am still. I have mixed feelings about this. I don't have to tell anyone who knows me that I am absolutely miserable. And that part of me wants this baby out. The other part of me, the part of me that has a 3 year old crazy kid hopes she stays inside forever.

Anyhow to avoid work Monday, I better get busy following up on all the "go into labor" suggestions I've had. Sex, Cheesecake, walking, cartwheels and squats for me this weekend. Lol. I'll be sure to post what works.