Monday, 28 April 2008
Chase was up every few hours last night. I think he was overstimulated or something from the afternoon party. He's been sleeping so good lately, and then of course he has to have a bad night...on a Sunday night...the night before I have to start a work week! Ugh!
Needless to say, I was tired at school today, and then I tweaked my neck. It's super sore right now, and I can't turn it one way. I don't think I slept good last night.
But, there was something to celebrate today...Chase climbed up his first set of stairs all by himself! No, it wasn't our new wooden stairs. I don't think I'll ever let him climb those soon, for fear of him falling down the hillside. At the Halsalls today, he climbed up their 8 carpeted stairs in the house. He did it about a month ago with my help. But, this time, he did it all on his own. Of course, I'm not sure I should be encouraging him to climb, but oh well. He's gonna do it eventually. It was very exciting. He just reached up for the next stair and climbed his way, up, up, up.
We went grocery shopping this afternoon, then played at home, played on the lawn, and then at Auntie Stevi and Uncle Gary's house. He started to get cranky with my cousin Geoff at around 6:25 pm, so I headed downstairs to feed Chase and bathe him and put him to bed. He went down quick! Super exhausted I'm sure....as am I.
I ate some leftovers and made dinner for Chris, who came home after 8:30 pm from working at the bike shop after his day job.
I'm ready to hit the sack and call it a day. I'm just getting old I tell ya.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Slip Sliding Away
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Chase made 10 months today! We didn't do much celebrating other than our usual playing around the house (especially since I missed yoga this morning because he was still nursing). Instead of working out, I decided to do some much-needed manual labor in the yard, which required putting on my shoes and long sleeves and pants and lots of mosquito repellent. It IS a jungle out there! It is much more difficult to do yard work in our yard since we're on the side of a mountain. Running shoes just don't quite do the job when there's slippery red dirt under your toes. I can only slide so much before I'm hanging onto the tall grass for support, in hopes that I don't go slip sliding all the way down the hill. I cut away and pulled a lot of the invasive vine that has been taking over our orange tree and bougainvilla (and in the process got all cut up from the thorns). I chopped up a lot of the grass that was half my height and filled two garbage bags full of yard waste. It looks a lot better (at least a little square section does because that's about all the energy I had for today, especially after I went slipping with a Bougainvilla thorn in my arm). I still have the rest of the hill to go, but I will have to tackle it next weekend. It's not like the landscaped yard my dad used to have well kept, and I'm no gardener, but it's a start.
This afternoon, we went to a last minute party at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park for Jenn's son (and Miya's nephew) Nicholas. They were doing relay races, we ate food, and enjoyed seeing the new baby Zachary and the growing babies all around. It was super windy, and not without excitement as police cars came whizzing through the park breaking up fights among picnickers in other areas of the park. We ended the afternoon with box sliding (for all ages - kids and adults and grandparents too!)..We laughed at the guys who tried to make a running start, but only ended up going about ten feet on their tummies....Gotta lose a few pounds?! Even gravity and a downward slope couldn't help them slip slide away down the hill at vast speeds.
It was fun to see everyone and see how all the little boys have grown!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
As He Grows Up
Saturday, 26 April 2008
As he grows up, Chase is not only getting longer (His legs almost reach my knees when I carry him on my shoulder!), but smarter and developing more of his personality (I think he's got his mother's stubborn temper for sure.) When he gets angry (if I take away a toy or if I don't pick him up when he wants to be, he puts his head down, clenches his fists, tightens and extends his legs, grits his teeth and growls "Errrrrr".) Although he was playing in a good mood from 6 - 6:30 am, after I left for 7 am yoga this morning, Chase screamed and cried for me the entire two hours I was gone, up until I held him in my arms. He's persistent I tell ya.
His hair is getting thicker, finally growing over the thin bald spot on the back of his head. We're trying to imagine what his hairstyle is going to look like when he gets older. When I look at my kindergartners I work with, I think, "Is Chase going to look like him?" and "I hope he doesn't act like him!". I can joke about that now, but it is fun to see him grow.
He is sleeping better now, whether that is from his new crib mattress (and finally a real crib as opposed to the Pack-n-Play. Perhaps we should have gotten him a real crib sooner, but how were we supposed to know? We're new to all of this.) or him just getting older.
Last night, I went out to dinner with some of the ALS support group caregivers. We enjoyed a nice dinner at PF Chang's. Chris had his friend Vince over to the house for dinner and a movie. Surprisingly, Chase ate a lot (well that's not surprising actually), took a bath in the tub no problem, AND went to sleep in the crib without a problem (Chris said he as asleep in two minutes...and obviously I didn't need to nurse him before he went down!).
So, perhaps I'm not as sleep-deprived because as he gets older, Chase is sleeping better at night. I'm actually still tired though (and that's probably why I've been perpetually sick all of April and am battling my 4th cold already, with a hoarse voice and sore throat). Perhaps that's because Chase has so much more energy now. For months, he slept on his back. We now realize, he probably just didn't have the strength to turn himself over so he laid down whichever way he put him. Now, once we put him down, he hops back up, stands up and holds onto the crib. In fact, he would probably climb the crib if he could. He flips himself over and sits up on the changing table, so I have to really watch him and restrain him when I'm changing his diapers these days. He pulls himself up on furniture and crawls around the house, chasing me whereever I go. After I nurse him (and even sometimes while he's nursing), he climbs me and tries to get higher and higher, as if I'm a jungle gym to play on.
As he grows up, he gets more fun and is easier to throw around. He loves to ride on Daddy's shoulders and even lets go of the death grip on Daddy's hair to cheer in excitement. We can take him out with us just about anywhere because he is eating more of our table food and he can sit up in a highchair and loves to people watch. He plays so hard each afternoon that he hardly naps anymore, so by 6:30 pm, he's just exhausted and ready for dinner, bath, and bed. As he grows up, we know we're going to have our hands full. When those ultrasound technicians and doctors said I had an active one in there, they weren't kidding.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sickness and Sleep
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
My immune system is just not the same anymore. I'm in a relapse again, not the flu (Thank Goodness!), but I'm fighting off some sort of sickness. This is the 3rd or 4th sickness I've had since I've been back at work. I've basically been sick every week for the past month. I slept for over an hour yesterday afternoon on the couch while Chase was playing in the kitchen and the living room by himself (Who knows what he stuck in his mouth!)...But he was as happy as can be (as long as I was there). That's how it goes these days. At Miya's, she has to be nearby. Once she gets out of eyesight, Chase freaks out and starts whining and crawling towards her. He's been like that at home too. He's okay in the morning for the most part. I can still put him down in the living room and go get ready in the bathroom. But, after about 20 minutes or so, when he realizes he's alone, someone needs to come join him and play with him (usually he makes enough noise so that Chris wakes up and plays with him so I can finish getting ready). Yesterday afternoon, Chris took Chase to the park so that I could sleep some more. Chris realized that if he gets out of a 15 foot range of Chase, then Chase comes crawling towards him quickly. A bit of separation anxiety.
He is sleeping better at night in the crib though. He's so worn out from playing all day that he goes to sleep fairly easily (after a couple of nursing sessions of course), usually around 7 - 8 pm (Tonight he was asleep before 7 pm!). I "dream nurse" (wake him up, but he's still in a slumber really) him one more time around 10 pm before I go to sleep. Then, he only wakes up one more time (around 3 am) to nurse before waking up between 6 - 6:30 am to play in his crib for about 20 minutes before I get him ready for the day. Sometimes he stirs in the middle of the night and cries, but usually I wait for Chris to get up and then he just rubs Chase's back and "shhh"'s him back to sleep.
Chase has had a rash of tiny bumps all over his body (mainly in his diaper area, some on his face and back and arms and legs). I think it's heat rash. But perhaps it's a food allergy? We'll see...It doesn't seem to bother him. It's been really hot lately though. So, today I went back to work with him to cool off in my classroom. Cooked dinner and baked some squash to try to feed to Chase (He wasn't too into it though.)
I've had to be at work at 7:30 am for meetings this week, so I've been trying to get us out of the house by 7:10 am. Doesn't always work though. This morning, the secretary was already calling me to make sure I was on my way because I was 10 minutes late!
Gotta go to bed now so that I can get up early in the morning!
My immune system is just not the same anymore. I'm in a relapse again, not the flu (Thank Goodness!), but I'm fighting off some sort of sickness. This is the 3rd or 4th sickness I've had since I've been back at work. I've basically been sick every week for the past month. I slept for over an hour yesterday afternoon on the couch while Chase was playing in the kitchen and the living room by himself (Who knows what he stuck in his mouth!)...But he was as happy as can be (as long as I was there). That's how it goes these days. At Miya's, she has to be nearby. Once she gets out of eyesight, Chase freaks out and starts whining and crawling towards her. He's been like that at home too. He's okay in the morning for the most part. I can still put him down in the living room and go get ready in the bathroom. But, after about 20 minutes or so, when he realizes he's alone, someone needs to come join him and play with him (usually he makes enough noise so that Chris wakes up and plays with him so I can finish getting ready). Yesterday afternoon, Chris took Chase to the park so that I could sleep some more. Chris realized that if he gets out of a 15 foot range of Chase, then Chase comes crawling towards him quickly. A bit of separation anxiety.
He is sleeping better at night in the crib though. He's so worn out from playing all day that he goes to sleep fairly easily (after a couple of nursing sessions of course), usually around 7 - 8 pm (Tonight he was asleep before 7 pm!). I "dream nurse" (wake him up, but he's still in a slumber really) him one more time around 10 pm before I go to sleep. Then, he only wakes up one more time (around 3 am) to nurse before waking up between 6 - 6:30 am to play in his crib for about 20 minutes before I get him ready for the day. Sometimes he stirs in the middle of the night and cries, but usually I wait for Chris to get up and then he just rubs Chase's back and "shhh"'s him back to sleep.
Chase has had a rash of tiny bumps all over his body (mainly in his diaper area, some on his face and back and arms and legs). I think it's heat rash. But perhaps it's a food allergy? We'll see...It doesn't seem to bother him. It's been really hot lately though. So, today I went back to work with him to cool off in my classroom. Cooked dinner and baked some squash to try to feed to Chase (He wasn't too into it though.)
I've had to be at work at 7:30 am for meetings this week, so I've been trying to get us out of the house by 7:10 am. Doesn't always work though. This morning, the secretary was already calling me to make sure I was on my way because I was 10 minutes late!
Gotta go to bed now so that I can get up early in the morning!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Productive Sunday
Sunday, 20 April 2008
This time I managed to go to 7 am yoga (since Chase was up and playing at 6 am). It was a great workout (almost a bit cool for that early in the morning). Chase was busy playing with Daddy when I got home. We did more laundry and chores around the house. Chris installed new light fixtures in the bedrooms (replacing the old 70's look of the old ones and the nonexistent one along with the 15 gecko eggs that were hibernating in the fixture in Chase's room -- gross!). He took Chase upstairs to play on the grass for awhile so that I could do chores uninterrupted. He went to help his parents pack up at the craft fair, and we met them at Big City Diner for dinner. Sarah, our server, treated us to a brownie dessert (at Chase's request of course)...and even though just minutes before we said we weren't hungry for dessert, the four of us somehow managed to eat the entire thing. You would have thought we licked the bowl clean!
Chase is already down in the crib for the night, but we are learning that we have to put the rail up and watch when he plays. He's such an active little guy that he stands up in the crib and sometimes puts his foot through the rails. Before you know it, he's going to be climbing out if we're not careful!
This time I managed to go to 7 am yoga (since Chase was up and playing at 6 am). It was a great workout (almost a bit cool for that early in the morning). Chase was busy playing with Daddy when I got home. We did more laundry and chores around the house. Chris installed new light fixtures in the bedrooms (replacing the old 70's look of the old ones and the nonexistent one along with the 15 gecko eggs that were hibernating in the fixture in Chase's room -- gross!). He took Chase upstairs to play on the grass for awhile so that I could do chores uninterrupted. He went to help his parents pack up at the craft fair, and we met them at Big City Diner for dinner. Sarah, our server, treated us to a brownie dessert (at Chase's request of course)...and even though just minutes before we said we weren't hungry for dessert, the four of us somehow managed to eat the entire thing. You would have thought we licked the bowl clean!
Chase is already down in the crib for the night, but we are learning that we have to put the rail up and watch when he plays. He's such an active little guy that he stands up in the crib and sometimes puts his foot through the rails. Before you know it, he's going to be climbing out if we're not careful!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Dave Matthews & Jack Johnson
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Went to 9 am yoga this morning since Chase didn't finish nursing until 7 am. It was a tough class since I haven't gone in a few weeks. I was ready to give up, but stuck with it because I knew I needed it and would feel better afterwards. Got home in time to clean up and head out again so we could go to Miya's to pick up her crib. We are going to borrow Taiga's old crib since he's in a toddler bed now. Chase has been in a Pack-n-Play (portable crib/playpen) this whole time, so we decided to move him to a real crib. It will give him a little bit more space to play in, more rails to chew and climb on, more spaces for him to throw his toys through, and a better mattress. He slept good tonight, only waking up once at 3 am to nurse before finally waking up at 6 am to play and start his day.
I had to drop off Chris at Kapiolani Park so that he could borrow his dad's car to get the crib and mattress (since we don't have a big enough car to transport that kind of stuff). It was already a zoo there at 11:30 am, with the craft fair doing on, Art in the Park along the zoo, and people lining up for the Kokua Festival. I had planned to go back this afternoon, but I knew parking was going to be a hassle.
Back home, our handyman Stewart was installing two new outlets for our window A/C's so that they wouldn't trip, and so that we could add an A/C to Chase's bedroom. Chris and his dad put together the crib, with Chase supervising and crawling in there to check things out, and I finished up laundry and kept Chase from putting foreign objects into his mouth.
In the afternoon, Chris left to go bike riding with the guys. Chase and I left to pick up Zippy's chili and to head to the park. My brother was having a bbq with friends as he does each year for the Kokua Festival. After driving around for half an hour looking for parking and finally deciding to swap spots with Chris' dad, because they were ending the craft fair, I found an awesome spot on the street, directly across from the Waikiki Shell entrance to the Kokua Festival! It was almost two car lengths long that I didn't believe it at first. But it was a spot! Too bad I didn't have tickets to tonight's concert...I had just found the best parking space!
Chase and I found Jay and Shelly and friends among all the other partygoers at the park. We enjoyed the music (from the outside) of Mason Jennings, Paula Fuga, Dave Matthews, and Jack Johnson, among others. Of course, Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson were the headliners. Chase was in a totally good mood, playing with everyone and entertained by the crowds of people with tents and barbecue grills going. People were playing frisbee and football in the park. Jay had brought bocce ball and horseshoes (and other partygoers asked to borrow them too). We barbecued, and enjoyed playing with Chase (who had fun crawling all over the place, playing with Shelly's hat, and getting flipped upside down by Uncle Jay). Chase even met his Auntie Lindsey (my stepsister) for the first time. Listening to a concert outside "The Shell" has always been a favorite pasttime. I remember going there when we were little, as a family. It's free to hang outside, and the Parks and Rec guys were good about emptying the trash cans and giving us extra liners. The cops were walking around checking for alcohol, but it looked like they were mostly just enjoying the outdoors and music like everyone else.
There was a beautiful sunset over Waikiki Beach, and once the sun went down, there was a beautiful full moon over Diamond Head. Can't beat the location! Once the sun went down, it got really cool so good thing I brought a blanket to wrap us in. Chase fell asleep in the Beco carrier and we decided to head home around 8 pm. Dave Matthews did an awesome acoustical set, and Jack Johnson had just started playing, but we were tired and cold at that point, so it was time to head home. Plus, it was dark and Jay only brought one lamp, so it was getting more difficult to recognize silhouettes.
It was a fun afternoon and evening. We'll have to do it again next year.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Cha Cha's
Friday, 18 April 2008
Went out for a date night with friends Kai and Jason to listen to Jason's brother's band perform at Cha Cha Cha Salsaria, which just happens to be Chris' favorite Mexican restaurant. Chase hung out with the Halsalls. They took him out for their first time, to eat dinner at Kahala Mall. He was good, until about an hour before we came to pick him up, as he had woken up and just wanted Mommy. But, nursing him took care of that, and then he was out again for the night.
It was fun hanging out and listening to mellow music tonight. We enjoyed good conversation, sharing each other's weird quirks (though I beat them all with my weird quirk of sleeping with the covers over my head) and Kai's idea of me opening a daycare so that I can take care of their kid (who has not even been conceived yet). We ate and talked and didn't even mention Chase or baby talk until nearly 10 pm!
Went out for a date night with friends Kai and Jason to listen to Jason's brother's band perform at Cha Cha Cha Salsaria, which just happens to be Chris' favorite Mexican restaurant. Chase hung out with the Halsalls. They took him out for their first time, to eat dinner at Kahala Mall. He was good, until about an hour before we came to pick him up, as he had woken up and just wanted Mommy. But, nursing him took care of that, and then he was out again for the night.
It was fun hanging out and listening to mellow music tonight. We enjoyed good conversation, sharing each other's weird quirks (though I beat them all with my weird quirk of sleeping with the covers over my head) and Kai's idea of me opening a daycare so that I can take care of their kid (who has not even been conceived yet). We ate and talked and didn't even mention Chase or baby talk until nearly 10 pm!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Remembering Tree
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Yesterday, as I was checking HM (Honolulu Mommies), there was a thread on "How you met your Husband". I cut and pasted a story I wrote on my blog a year ago, after Chris and I got married. The story focused mainly on caring for my dad...how my dad's illness finally brought me home to Hawai'i, how his illness taught me how precious life is, how I thought I would confirm the saying "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride"....and finally, how I reconnected with Chris (whom I grew up with at Summer Fun), and got married so that my dad could walk me down the aisle -- something I never thought would happen once he was diagnosed with ALS. I added to my story that two months after Chris and I got married, my father lost his 2 1/2 year battle to ALS. Then, two months after that, his first grandchild Chase was born.
Exactly one year ago today, my father's body succumbed to respiratory failure as a result of ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease). I remember just like it was yesterday. He had just moved from under our care at our house back to Bernice's house just a couple of days prior. Although I hadn't seen him since he moved, I decided to visit him because I had gotten an ultrasound that day. I showed him a cute picture of a baby boy with outstretched legs, crossing his legs at the ankles, just relaxing in my tummy. He smiled and told me to make sure I took his important file box from the cabinet. He told me to take it home with me. I fixed his pillows around his head and his knees. Uncle Frank came over to feed him dinner and hang out with him as Bernice had gone to Lindsey's basketball game that night. I didn't stay for dinner though and went home because Jay was going to bring home dinner for us. At around 9:30 pm or so, Bernice called my cell phone. I let it go straight to voice mail because I was already in bed. But then she called again and called the house phone too. The urgency in her voice told me that something was wrong. Plus, she told me something was wrong with Dad and to hurry down. I told Jay I was going down. It took Chris and I about five minutes to get ready to head down there. Within five more minutes, she was already ringing me again and telling me to hurry...because she thought he's dying. I called my brother and Uncle Gary and told them to hurry too as we raced down to the house, not more than 5 minutes away. The next half an hour was stressful, emotional, and surreal as close family and friends came to Dad's bedside. He was fading fast, and though he did not respond, I would like to think that he was still alive when we got there. Within half an hour, his lifeless body got cool and the next hour we spent making phone calls to friends, calling the Hospice nurse to come and declare his death, and waiting for the mortuary to come. It was a long night that night. I remember Auntie Stevi telling me not to worry...that they would help me take care of the baby, that they would be here for me (Little did they know that they really DID have to take care of me, as I would end up a fixture in their living room a month later when I was put on bedrest!).
The past year has been a busy one. After my dad's funeral, I didn't have much to think about except for the baby that was on his way and how we were in for a new adventure. When Chase arrived two months later, I was thrown into a new life that I was unprepared for...a new life of mommyhood (that I had no idea about): sleepless nights, engorged boobs, lots of diapers, infant poop, baby spitup, learning how to communicate and work as a team with my husband, learning how to communicate and figure out my baby, seeing the joys of him babbling, eating, laughing, crawling, standing, and playing. Wow! What a journey it has been.
Even though I remember the way my dad left so vividly, I much rather prefer to remember how he lived. He taught me many lessons growing up, and I hope to pass those on to Chase. He taught me how to fish, how to drive, how to cook, how to get dirty, and how to play sports (though I hope Chase will be better at sports than I was). He taught me how to be assertive, honest, selfless, frugal, carefree, adventurous, humble, and how to think of others first before you think of yourself. He taught me the importance of family, remembering where you came from (and being proud of it), being independent, the importance of education, loving food (and leftovers!), being worldly, meeting new people, being persistent, being reflective, and living life to its fullest.
There are pictures of Dad all around the house. Chase still lights up when he sees him each morning, and we say goodbye to him each time we leave the house. His ashes (though they're still in the original container we brought them home in from the funeral home - though my dad would say leave it because of his frugalness, I need to find something more respectable and nicer) are still on the bookcase in the living room. I always talk to Dad whenever I need to, sharing the ups and downs of parenthood with him. I'd like to think he's looking down at us, smiling.
Today, I thought it was appropriate to bring Chase to visit the tree at McCoy Pavilion. Last summer, his Parks and Recreation coworkers/friends planted a tree in his memory at Ala Moana Park, where he was last the manager. I had yet to see the tree myself, so we went for a late afternoon visit. Chase played near the tree as I took pictures of him. If it wasn't for Chase being here in our lives, this past year would have been a lot harder for me. Of course I do get sad when I see Chris' parents, who get to spoil and enjoy him each week, doting over him. I know my dad would have enjoyed him too.
We'll just have to make it an annual tradition, to visit Dad's park and his tree...to remember him, the kind-hearted, fun-loving, athletic guy he was. I know Dad wouldn't want me to cry for him today, so I've tried not to, but now after writing this, it's much harder. I miss him dearly, but know that he is in a better place, not suffering anymore... and though he physically does not get to enjoy Chase, he lives on with us in our minds and in our hearts.
Yesterday, as I was checking HM (Honolulu Mommies), there was a thread on "How you met your Husband". I cut and pasted a story I wrote on my blog a year ago, after Chris and I got married. The story focused mainly on caring for my dad...how my dad's illness finally brought me home to Hawai'i, how his illness taught me how precious life is, how I thought I would confirm the saying "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride"....and finally, how I reconnected with Chris (whom I grew up with at Summer Fun), and got married so that my dad could walk me down the aisle -- something I never thought would happen once he was diagnosed with ALS. I added to my story that two months after Chris and I got married, my father lost his 2 1/2 year battle to ALS. Then, two months after that, his first grandchild Chase was born.
Exactly one year ago today, my father's body succumbed to respiratory failure as a result of ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease). I remember just like it was yesterday. He had just moved from under our care at our house back to Bernice's house just a couple of days prior. Although I hadn't seen him since he moved, I decided to visit him because I had gotten an ultrasound that day. I showed him a cute picture of a baby boy with outstretched legs, crossing his legs at the ankles, just relaxing in my tummy. He smiled and told me to make sure I took his important file box from the cabinet. He told me to take it home with me. I fixed his pillows around his head and his knees. Uncle Frank came over to feed him dinner and hang out with him as Bernice had gone to Lindsey's basketball game that night. I didn't stay for dinner though and went home because Jay was going to bring home dinner for us. At around 9:30 pm or so, Bernice called my cell phone. I let it go straight to voice mail because I was already in bed. But then she called again and called the house phone too. The urgency in her voice told me that something was wrong. Plus, she told me something was wrong with Dad and to hurry down. I told Jay I was going down. It took Chris and I about five minutes to get ready to head down there. Within five more minutes, she was already ringing me again and telling me to hurry...because she thought he's dying. I called my brother and Uncle Gary and told them to hurry too as we raced down to the house, not more than 5 minutes away. The next half an hour was stressful, emotional, and surreal as close family and friends came to Dad's bedside. He was fading fast, and though he did not respond, I would like to think that he was still alive when we got there. Within half an hour, his lifeless body got cool and the next hour we spent making phone calls to friends, calling the Hospice nurse to come and declare his death, and waiting for the mortuary to come. It was a long night that night. I remember Auntie Stevi telling me not to worry...that they would help me take care of the baby, that they would be here for me (Little did they know that they really DID have to take care of me, as I would end up a fixture in their living room a month later when I was put on bedrest!).
The past year has been a busy one. After my dad's funeral, I didn't have much to think about except for the baby that was on his way and how we were in for a new adventure. When Chase arrived two months later, I was thrown into a new life that I was unprepared for...a new life of mommyhood (that I had no idea about): sleepless nights, engorged boobs, lots of diapers, infant poop, baby spitup, learning how to communicate and work as a team with my husband, learning how to communicate and figure out my baby, seeing the joys of him babbling, eating, laughing, crawling, standing, and playing. Wow! What a journey it has been.
Even though I remember the way my dad left so vividly, I much rather prefer to remember how he lived. He taught me many lessons growing up, and I hope to pass those on to Chase. He taught me how to fish, how to drive, how to cook, how to get dirty, and how to play sports (though I hope Chase will be better at sports than I was). He taught me how to be assertive, honest, selfless, frugal, carefree, adventurous, humble, and how to think of others first before you think of yourself. He taught me the importance of family, remembering where you came from (and being proud of it), being independent, the importance of education, loving food (and leftovers!), being worldly, meeting new people, being persistent, being reflective, and living life to its fullest.
There are pictures of Dad all around the house. Chase still lights up when he sees him each morning, and we say goodbye to him each time we leave the house. His ashes (though they're still in the original container we brought them home in from the funeral home - though my dad would say leave it because of his frugalness, I need to find something more respectable and nicer) are still on the bookcase in the living room. I always talk to Dad whenever I need to, sharing the ups and downs of parenthood with him. I'd like to think he's looking down at us, smiling.
Today, I thought it was appropriate to bring Chase to visit the tree at McCoy Pavilion. Last summer, his Parks and Recreation coworkers/friends planted a tree in his memory at Ala Moana Park, where he was last the manager. I had yet to see the tree myself, so we went for a late afternoon visit. Chase played near the tree as I took pictures of him. If it wasn't for Chase being here in our lives, this past year would have been a lot harder for me. Of course I do get sad when I see Chris' parents, who get to spoil and enjoy him each week, doting over him. I know my dad would have enjoyed him too.
We'll just have to make it an annual tradition, to visit Dad's park and his tree...to remember him, the kind-hearted, fun-loving, athletic guy he was. I know Dad wouldn't want me to cry for him today, so I've tried not to, but now after writing this, it's much harder. I miss him dearly, but know that he is in a better place, not suffering anymore... and though he physically does not get to enjoy Chase, he lives on with us in our minds and in our hearts.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Not Sleeping Through the Night, But Screaming Through the Night
Monday, 14 April 2008
Chase did a number on us last night and was up screaming his head off every hour or so last night. When he's screaming like that, I can only let him cry it out for like half an hour tops and then I just pick him up and nursing him back to sleep. I'm trying to stick to my guns and not give in to him and let him work us, but it's tough....When we try to bring him into bed, he thinks it's play time and gets all overstimulated (even with the lights out and everything.). Last night, we'd walk him around and up the stairs to put him to sleep, but then the moment we transferred him to the crib, he bounced back up like one of those punching bag toys and just started screaming his head off...Either that, he started wanting to play. I was like, geez, is he that light of a sleeper? It drove us nuts all night long.
It's just this roller coaster..this sleep thing. He does fine some weeks, then will take a setback the next. He actually slept through the night recently, but only because he was sick...so he was probably not feeling good and sleeping more. I'd rather have a healthy, happy baby.
I tried to take a nap later this afternoon when he was playing on the floor with his toys. But, he only wanted me to join in the fun too and he would grab at my face, pull my hair and jump on me. So, the "nap" wasn't too restful.
Chris went to work tonight at McCully Bike for the first time in months. So, I was solo tonight with Chase. We went up to visit Auntie Stevi in the late afternoon. She watched Chase a little so I could lay down, but I couldn't really nap. He ended up falling asleep on her shoulder for a twenty minute nap. But, this was at 5:30 pm so I was thinking, oh no, is this going to screw up his nighttime routine?! I managed to feed him and give him a bath (successfully) in the snug tub in the bathtub, with minimal whining and complaining. We played a little before I put him in the crib. Then he thought it was playtime all over again. As we read books, he laughed and screamed in excitement. He stood up and held on to the edge of the crib. I thought, "Great. Overstimulated baby again." I tried to put him in the swing to calm him down. But of course that only made him angry and scream even louder (this time, not out of excitement). He screamed for half an hour before I gave in and picked him up. The little guy just stopped instantly though once I came in the room. He knew I was going to pick him up...the little sucker! He eventually fell asleep nursing by 8:20 pm, and I put him down in the crib. So far he's been asleep an hour and a half. Chris just got home from work(s), and I'm ready to get some shut eye myself. Let's hope tonight he sleeps a bit more than last night.
Chase did a number on us last night and was up screaming his head off every hour or so last night. When he's screaming like that, I can only let him cry it out for like half an hour tops and then I just pick him up and nursing him back to sleep. I'm trying to stick to my guns and not give in to him and let him work us, but it's tough....When we try to bring him into bed, he thinks it's play time and gets all overstimulated (even with the lights out and everything.). Last night, we'd walk him around and up the stairs to put him to sleep, but then the moment we transferred him to the crib, he bounced back up like one of those punching bag toys and just started screaming his head off...Either that, he started wanting to play. I was like, geez, is he that light of a sleeper? It drove us nuts all night long.
It's just this roller coaster..this sleep thing. He does fine some weeks, then will take a setback the next. He actually slept through the night recently, but only because he was sick...so he was probably not feeling good and sleeping more. I'd rather have a healthy, happy baby.
I tried to take a nap later this afternoon when he was playing on the floor with his toys. But, he only wanted me to join in the fun too and he would grab at my face, pull my hair and jump on me. So, the "nap" wasn't too restful.
Chris went to work tonight at McCully Bike for the first time in months. So, I was solo tonight with Chase. We went up to visit Auntie Stevi in the late afternoon. She watched Chase a little so I could lay down, but I couldn't really nap. He ended up falling asleep on her shoulder for a twenty minute nap. But, this was at 5:30 pm so I was thinking, oh no, is this going to screw up his nighttime routine?! I managed to feed him and give him a bath (successfully) in the snug tub in the bathtub, with minimal whining and complaining. We played a little before I put him in the crib. Then he thought it was playtime all over again. As we read books, he laughed and screamed in excitement. He stood up and held on to the edge of the crib. I thought, "Great. Overstimulated baby again." I tried to put him in the swing to calm him down. But of course that only made him angry and scream even louder (this time, not out of excitement). He screamed for half an hour before I gave in and picked him up. The little guy just stopped instantly though once I came in the room. He knew I was going to pick him up...the little sucker! He eventually fell asleep nursing by 8:20 pm, and I put him down in the crib. So far he's been asleep an hour and a half. Chris just got home from work(s), and I'm ready to get some shut eye myself. Let's hope tonight he sleeps a bit more than last night.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A Productive Weekend
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Well, I managed to miss yoga both yesterday and today thanks to sleeping in past 7 am because baby Chase kept me up all night. Guess the 12 hour sleeping thing only happens when he's really sick because now he's back to his "I'll just wake up and scream two to three times a night and see if someone comes to get me" sleeping routine. I'd like to think that I could just roll over and sleep through it. But, not when he's screaming that loud through our single walled house. There were times when Chris got up and tended to him. But, ultimately, mommy had to come to the rescue to nurse him back to sleep. So, no yoga.
We managed to be productive in spite of my lack of exercise though. Yesterday, we went to the weekly farmers' market at Kapi'olani Community College. I was quite surprised Chris woke up earlier than 9 am to go, but he was determined to get some good veggies for his salad. I was even more surprised when he said that he should get his lazy butt out of bed more often to go to more farmers' markets. Wow! It's always fun to walk around, see the different vendors, and eat some kettle corn. I ran into my dad's friend Don, who has a booth there and sells fruits and his popular strawberry mochi. He met Chase and commented on how Dad really was trying to hold on to see the baby. This week will make one year since Dad has passed.
Today, while Chris watched and entertained Chase inside, I was outside priming and painting the stairs. Two hours later, and with hands that looked like the Incredible Hulk's (in color, not in size), I had finished painting the stairs, landings, posts and adding sand to the stairs for grip. There were passing showers, but I was determined to get it done. It took lots of scrubbing, lots of soap, and hot water to get all that green paint off my hands and legs (I was almost afraid I would have to teach with green hands tomorrow).
We dropped of Chase at the Halsalls so that Chris and I could go pick up a mattress at Sears for Chase's crib (We had originally bought a new one, but after waiting for it for over a month, and finding out that we would have to wait another month for it, we decided to just borrow Miya's). Then, we did some last minute grocery shopping before heading back to their house for dinner with Chris' parents and Chris' friend Vince and new girlfriend Lauren. It was a nice dinner of fettucine and barbeque chicken and salad, with chocolate haupia pie for dessert. Chase was asleep by 7:30 pm, and we headed home at 8:30 pm to get ready to put ourselves to bed.
It's been a long, but productive weekend.
Well, I managed to miss yoga both yesterday and today thanks to sleeping in past 7 am because baby Chase kept me up all night. Guess the 12 hour sleeping thing only happens when he's really sick because now he's back to his "I'll just wake up and scream two to three times a night and see if someone comes to get me" sleeping routine. I'd like to think that I could just roll over and sleep through it. But, not when he's screaming that loud through our single walled house. There were times when Chris got up and tended to him. But, ultimately, mommy had to come to the rescue to nurse him back to sleep. So, no yoga.
We managed to be productive in spite of my lack of exercise though. Yesterday, we went to the weekly farmers' market at Kapi'olani Community College. I was quite surprised Chris woke up earlier than 9 am to go, but he was determined to get some good veggies for his salad. I was even more surprised when he said that he should get his lazy butt out of bed more often to go to more farmers' markets. Wow! It's always fun to walk around, see the different vendors, and eat some kettle corn. I ran into my dad's friend Don, who has a booth there and sells fruits and his popular strawberry mochi. He met Chase and commented on how Dad really was trying to hold on to see the baby. This week will make one year since Dad has passed.
Today, while Chris watched and entertained Chase inside, I was outside priming and painting the stairs. Two hours later, and with hands that looked like the Incredible Hulk's (in color, not in size), I had finished painting the stairs, landings, posts and adding sand to the stairs for grip. There were passing showers, but I was determined to get it done. It took lots of scrubbing, lots of soap, and hot water to get all that green paint off my hands and legs (I was almost afraid I would have to teach with green hands tomorrow).
We dropped of Chase at the Halsalls so that Chris and I could go pick up a mattress at Sears for Chase's crib (We had originally bought a new one, but after waiting for it for over a month, and finding out that we would have to wait another month for it, we decided to just borrow Miya's). Then, we did some last minute grocery shopping before heading back to their house for dinner with Chris' parents and Chris' friend Vince and new girlfriend Lauren. It was a nice dinner of fettucine and barbeque chicken and salad, with chocolate haupia pie for dessert. Chase was asleep by 7:30 pm, and we headed home at 8:30 pm to get ready to put ourselves to bed.
It's been a long, but productive weekend.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Wiggles-n-Giggles is Back
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Today was definitely "Won Ton Min Day" as my dad would say. It was overcast and cloudy, white skies all day, with rain pounding down most of the morning. On days like today, when I used to pick up lunch for my dad, he would want me to pick up a Won Ton Min, his favorite Chinese comfort food....noodles in a salty broth, with kamaboko fish cake, thinly sliced char siu, and plump meaty dumplings (of course with yellow hot mustard mixed with shoyu to season the boiled won tons). So, I decided to get a won ton min for myself for lunch to honor my dad.
Gone are the moments where I'm cursing left and right because Chase has just inadvertantly bitten me because he has coughed or sneezed while nursing, thus reflexively biting down hard on my nipple simultaneously. Instead, I'm cursing now when he's biting me because he's jumping up and down over as if I'm a trampoline (the only thing is-- he has part of me in between his teeth).
There's no more screaming when we change his diaper (in fact I couldn't even find a toy or object to distract "Wiggles" this afternoon as he constantly flipped over and over while I was trying to change his poopy diaper -- thankfully, I was smart enough to not have unwrapped it yet), only screams of joy as Daddy comes home and plays peek-a-boo, scaring Chase from around every corner, then carrying him on his shoulders while Chase grips on tightly to Daddy's hair, with a huge grin on Chase's face.
Playing in the tub this afternoon was suprisingly no problem. I just sat him in there and he played with everything for about half an hour..no fussying, no crying, no anxieties....Sick one day and now he comes back a new man. He's like, "Ah, that ole tub! Huh! I've seen worse days..."
He gets all excited looking at the bright colors of his favorite book, talking and screaming at all the fun things he sees. And, when he wants to come find me in the kitchen, he crawls over to me with his one-knee crawl, the right knee on the floor, (but the left knee off the floor) and his left foot stepping along. Odd genes I tell ya. Must get that from his mother...the crawling thing that is. I never let my knees touch the floor when I was a baby. I crawled on my hands and feet with my butt high in the air.
And, just to make sure that Wiggles-n-Giggles is back to his happy ole self, I had to give him a good ole tickle in the ribs just to hear his hysterical giggle roar.
So, yes it is true, after a week of illness, Chase is feeling SO much better. He still has a cough with all that mucous that's been draining in him (How do babies get rid of that stuff anyway since they don't know how to purge it out? Must just come out in their poop.). But he's feeling better, no runny nose, and he's not lethargic and weak. Hmmmmmm...So does that mean we won't be seeing him sleep 8 hours in a row tonight?? I hope not (I'll be seeing the insides of my eyelids).
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Quick Doctor's Check
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
I took another sick day off from work today. Chase and I are still congested. I took him to see Dr. Sia in the morning but felt like he probably just has a common cold, so I was hesitant about going. Chris wanted me to go though, so it was more for peace of mind. I spent more time driving in and out of the parking garage than I did in Dr. Sia's office. Here's how the appointment went:
Dr.: Oh, so he still has a fever?
Me: No, that broke awhile ago. So, I think it's just a cold. I almost cancelled the appointment.
Dr.: No, that's okay. Let's see. (Checks Chase's ears, breathing, and throat) Yes, you're right. It's just a common cold virus. He has no middle ear infection, so no need for antibiotics.
Me: I've been having him sleep in the swing so that he's more upright so that he can drain more easily.
Dr: Oh good. That's helpful.
Me: And I've been showering him with me so that it can help loosen up his mucous. And he actually falls asleep in the shower! It really calms him. We've just been having to syringe his nose all the time, which he just hates!
Dr. Yes, that's good too. You can give him a Nasonex spray in each nostril so that should help him dry up a bit so you won't need to syringe him.
Me: Oh great. Thanks. I know he's just a baby and it probably takes him longer to get over colds since he doesn't know how to expel all the mucous.
Dr.: Yeah. Some say it takes a week and a half for babies to get over a common cold.
Dr. Sia shows me how to do the spray (which Chase doesn't like of course), and then we're off. Quick visit to the doctor's, but good to know that he's just got a cold and we're doing all that we should. I could tell that Chase was still sick because last week he let Dr. Sia do everything to him during the exam, and today he wouldn't even let him get at his ears or nose without a fuss.
I dropped Chase off at the Halsalls so that he could spend time with his Nana. It was nice to just go home and eat lunch and relax. I started doing laundry, the sheets and all my clothes that I have sweat through this week from being so sick. Time to disinfect the house!
I took another sick day off from work today. Chase and I are still congested. I took him to see Dr. Sia in the morning but felt like he probably just has a common cold, so I was hesitant about going. Chris wanted me to go though, so it was more for peace of mind. I spent more time driving in and out of the parking garage than I did in Dr. Sia's office. Here's how the appointment went:
Dr.: Oh, so he still has a fever?
Me: No, that broke awhile ago. So, I think it's just a cold. I almost cancelled the appointment.
Dr.: No, that's okay. Let's see. (Checks Chase's ears, breathing, and throat) Yes, you're right. It's just a common cold virus. He has no middle ear infection, so no need for antibiotics.
Me: I've been having him sleep in the swing so that he's more upright so that he can drain more easily.
Dr: Oh good. That's helpful.
Me: And I've been showering him with me so that it can help loosen up his mucous. And he actually falls asleep in the shower! It really calms him. We've just been having to syringe his nose all the time, which he just hates!
Dr. Yes, that's good too. You can give him a Nasonex spray in each nostril so that should help him dry up a bit so you won't need to syringe him.
Me: Oh great. Thanks. I know he's just a baby and it probably takes him longer to get over colds since he doesn't know how to expel all the mucous.
Dr.: Yeah. Some say it takes a week and a half for babies to get over a common cold.
Dr. Sia shows me how to do the spray (which Chase doesn't like of course), and then we're off. Quick visit to the doctor's, but good to know that he's just got a cold and we're doing all that we should. I could tell that Chase was still sick because last week he let Dr. Sia do everything to him during the exam, and today he wouldn't even let him get at his ears or nose without a fuss.
I dropped Chase off at the Halsalls so that he could spend time with his Nana. It was nice to just go home and eat lunch and relax. I started doing laundry, the sheets and all my clothes that I have sweat through this week from being so sick. Time to disinfect the house!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Sneezing and Coughing
Monday, 7 April 2008
I have spent the entire weekend confined in my house. I haven't left the house since I came home with Chase Friday afternoon (well with the exception of going to the doctor's on Saturday morning). Poor Chase has been sick since last week too, but doesn't have the flu symptoms like I've had. He has been sneezing and coughing a lot though the past couple of nights, trying to get the mucus out. We've let him sleep in the swing the past couple of nights because being upright helps him to drain a lot easier. When he sneezes, it's like this mass production. I yell for Chris to come help. I have to hold Chase's arms back so he doesn't mess it all over his face (if he hasn't already). Then I try to wipe what I can away with a soft tissue. Chase already anticipates what's going to happen next and fusses and turns his head away, arching his back. I have to restrain him in order for Chris to syringe his nostrils so that we can get some more mucous out. Poor thing. We may consider taking him to the doctor tomorrow if he doesn't get better. I think he's on the road to getting better. But, it's not like he knows how to blow his nose or clear his throat, so the mucous is just draining into his tummy if we don't catch it first. I don't want him to get worse. But, his affect seems fine. He still plays and laughs and smiles.
I'm not smiling yet, but hopefully I'll be better to go back to work tomorrow. I had to get a sub for today. I had to talk to the counselor and everything because we have state testing this week, and I am responsible for administering the test to several of my students. But, my sub is an old teacher from my school, so the counselor let it slide, "since I'm REALLY sick" (She even asked if I had a fever!) and I'll hopefully only be out one day this entire testing week. My fever and body aches are gone, but now I just have a really bad sore throat and congestion and a perpetually plugged up nose. The various box of tissues around the house have been my friends. I'm making sure to wash my hands good afterwards and use paper towels to dry my hands. We're disinfecting everything, including this computer keyboard!
Chris dropped off Chase at the Halsall's this morning so that I could rest. I'll pick him up after lunch. Chase and I have been getting lots of sleep lately, which is what we need to battle out these colds. Recently, Chase will go down at 7 pm. Then, he won't wake up until 3 am to nurse. I'll put him back to bed, and then he'll wake up for good at 7 am. Hopefully he'll keep that schedule after we're better...And hopefully Chris won't get sick either! Chris was considering going to work at McCully Bike tonight, and I said, "Um, I don't think so. I cannot take care of a sick baby when I'm sick like this myself." After some thought, he realized that he should just come home after his day job and see how we both are doing.
I have spent the entire weekend confined in my house. I haven't left the house since I came home with Chase Friday afternoon (well with the exception of going to the doctor's on Saturday morning). Poor Chase has been sick since last week too, but doesn't have the flu symptoms like I've had. He has been sneezing and coughing a lot though the past couple of nights, trying to get the mucus out. We've let him sleep in the swing the past couple of nights because being upright helps him to drain a lot easier. When he sneezes, it's like this mass production. I yell for Chris to come help. I have to hold Chase's arms back so he doesn't mess it all over his face (if he hasn't already). Then I try to wipe what I can away with a soft tissue. Chase already anticipates what's going to happen next and fusses and turns his head away, arching his back. I have to restrain him in order for Chris to syringe his nostrils so that we can get some more mucous out. Poor thing. We may consider taking him to the doctor tomorrow if he doesn't get better. I think he's on the road to getting better. But, it's not like he knows how to blow his nose or clear his throat, so the mucous is just draining into his tummy if we don't catch it first. I don't want him to get worse. But, his affect seems fine. He still plays and laughs and smiles.
I'm not smiling yet, but hopefully I'll be better to go back to work tomorrow. I had to get a sub for today. I had to talk to the counselor and everything because we have state testing this week, and I am responsible for administering the test to several of my students. But, my sub is an old teacher from my school, so the counselor let it slide, "since I'm REALLY sick" (She even asked if I had a fever!) and I'll hopefully only be out one day this entire testing week. My fever and body aches are gone, but now I just have a really bad sore throat and congestion and a perpetually plugged up nose. The various box of tissues around the house have been my friends. I'm making sure to wash my hands good afterwards and use paper towels to dry my hands. We're disinfecting everything, including this computer keyboard!
Chris dropped off Chase at the Halsall's this morning so that I could rest. I'll pick him up after lunch. Chase and I have been getting lots of sleep lately, which is what we need to battle out these colds. Recently, Chase will go down at 7 pm. Then, he won't wake up until 3 am to nurse. I'll put him back to bed, and then he'll wake up for good at 7 am. Hopefully he'll keep that schedule after we're better...And hopefully Chris won't get sick either! Chris was considering going to work at McCully Bike tonight, and I said, "Um, I don't think so. I cannot take care of a sick baby when I'm sick like this myself." After some thought, he realized that he should just come home after his day job and see how we both are doing.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
The Flu
Saturday, 5 April 2008
I've got the flu. All night last, I had body aches and was cold. I slept in a fleece jacket, fleece pants, and under a down comforter (in Hawai'i!). Getting up to nurse a baby with a runny nose was taxing as I was like a zombie, who felt like I just ran a marathon. This morning, I went to the doctor and they gave me a shot and some medication. I can't take the strong stuff because I'm breastfeeding, so I can only take ibuprofen and and some other stuff to ease the fever (which last I checked was 102 degrees) and body aches.
Chase and I both slept most of the day in two to three hour chunks with Chris taking care of us. He would bring him to me to nurse in between doing laundry. He's taking good care of us sickies. Poor Chase just wants to be with mommy too, so I've had to feed him, shower him, and hold him most of the day. He just screams with Chris.
It's going to be a long weekend.....I feel like crap!
I've got the flu. All night last, I had body aches and was cold. I slept in a fleece jacket, fleece pants, and under a down comforter (in Hawai'i!). Getting up to nurse a baby with a runny nose was taxing as I was like a zombie, who felt like I just ran a marathon. This morning, I went to the doctor and they gave me a shot and some medication. I can't take the strong stuff because I'm breastfeeding, so I can only take ibuprofen and and some other stuff to ease the fever (which last I checked was 102 degrees) and body aches.
Chase and I both slept most of the day in two to three hour chunks with Chris taking care of us. He would bring him to me to nurse in between doing laundry. He's taking good care of us sickies. Poor Chase just wants to be with mommy too, so I've had to feed him, shower him, and hold him most of the day. He just screams with Chris.
It's going to be a long weekend.....I feel like crap!
Friday, April 04, 2008
Sick Again
Friday, 4 April 2008
Just as Chase is getting better, I'm sick once again. I was sneezing all day long and went through half a box of kleenex while I was teaching. At first I thought it was my allergies acting up because they were mowing the grass outside. But, then the sore throat set in this afternoon. I tried to take a nap on the floor in Chase's play area, but he wanted to play with me. I kinda entertained him with one eye open. I pulled down my shirt when he was hungry, and he jumped on me and just went at it, standing, kneeling, bouncing up and down. Geez, the kid can eat anywhere, in any position!
Stewart came by to give us a bill for the stairs and talk about doing the repairs to the lanai, talk about double walling, adding an outlet for an A/C for Chase's room, and adding an attic fan to help with the ventilation in the house. He's also going to be putting in new doors for both Uncle Gary and Uncle Ray and has all his other clients, so he's a busy man. I told him I could finish up the painting on the stairs (priming, sand, and a new coat of green paint) on the half that's left. He won't be able to come next until a week from today anyway.
Chris picked up Vietnamese food (pho for me) for us for dinner. I had showered Chase earlier, so I just fed him and then put him to bed. It's been cool lately. I've been wearing jackets to work and had to bring out the down comforter again. Crazy! I can't believe I'm sick again though. Sucks.
Just as Chase is getting better, I'm sick once again. I was sneezing all day long and went through half a box of kleenex while I was teaching. At first I thought it was my allergies acting up because they were mowing the grass outside. But, then the sore throat set in this afternoon. I tried to take a nap on the floor in Chase's play area, but he wanted to play with me. I kinda entertained him with one eye open. I pulled down my shirt when he was hungry, and he jumped on me and just went at it, standing, kneeling, bouncing up and down. Geez, the kid can eat anywhere, in any position!
Stewart came by to give us a bill for the stairs and talk about doing the repairs to the lanai, talk about double walling, adding an outlet for an A/C for Chase's room, and adding an attic fan to help with the ventilation in the house. He's also going to be putting in new doors for both Uncle Gary and Uncle Ray and has all his other clients, so he's a busy man. I told him I could finish up the painting on the stairs (priming, sand, and a new coat of green paint) on the half that's left. He won't be able to come next until a week from today anyway.
Chris picked up Vietnamese food (pho for me) for us for dinner. I had showered Chase earlier, so I just fed him and then put him to bed. It's been cool lately. I've been wearing jackets to work and had to bring out the down comforter again. Crazy! I can't believe I'm sick again though. Sucks.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Feverish and Sick Baby
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Chase was super hot at midnight and 4 am this morning. He was feverish, super hot when he nursed, yet he was very talkative (His "na na na"s and "da da da"s and "ma ma ma"s were probably swearing, saying "I'm sick!") At 6 am, when he finally woke up, he was so fussy that I had to hold him as I got ready for work. He had a runny nose, mostly on his left side, but it was clear. I told Miya that I was going to drop him off at the Halsalls because he was sick. I had to nurse him three or four times in the next hour before I dropped him off. He got super fussy, clenching his thighs to show his frustration and arching his back. Throughout the day, even with two doses of Tylenol, his temperature went from 101 to almost 103 and down to 101 again. He did a lot of nursing and sleeping today. He ate some poi at 6 pm, then we gave him ibuprofen, and he went to sleep. He was fussy for the next couple of hours, so I finally pulled him into bed with me at 9 pm (He's been wanting to be by mommy and be carried by mommy all day today). After midnight, he woke up and was very talkative, bouncy and more alert, not feverish, but stuffy. At 3:30 am, he woke up again, and was talkative and playful. I tried to nurse him back to sleep, and all of a sudden, he went into a giggle fit, laughing hysterically for some reason. He just couldn't stop laughing. Crazy kid. I looked at Chris and we started smiling. Guess he feels better?! I didn't want to say anything..didn't want to encourage his playfulness at 4 am, but it was cute, and nice to see him feeling better. Finally, I had to put him in the swing to go to sleep because he was just getting too playful and awake.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Chase spent the day at the Halsalls and was feeling much better, with a 99.3 degree temperature in the morning. He was feeling so much better, smiling and playing all day, though he still had a runny nose (and he hates when we have to use that syringe on his nose!). It was nice to see him feeling better though because we hate when he is sick (though really this is only the 3rd time he's ever been sick.)
After work, we played with him until about 3 pm. I was so tired though from the long night that I needed to take a nap! Tried to take one at home, but he just wanted to play. I tried to see if he would be interested in watching Baby Einstein, but he'll only watch it for so long and then lose interest and want to play with his toys (which is good actually..don't want him getting hooked on TV). We played with his tower of toilet paper rolls. Jay and Shelly came to visit in the late afternoon, but he was very clingy to mommy and didn't want to play with them or smile for them. After eating some dinner and a not-so-pleasant bath, we put him to bed. He no longer has a fever, but he wouldn't tolerate us putting the thermometer under his armpit, so we'll just let him sleep tonight. And, hopefully, I can get some sleep too! Thank goodness it's Friday tomorrow!
Chase was super hot at midnight and 4 am this morning. He was feverish, super hot when he nursed, yet he was very talkative (His "na na na"s and "da da da"s and "ma ma ma"s were probably swearing, saying "I'm sick!") At 6 am, when he finally woke up, he was so fussy that I had to hold him as I got ready for work. He had a runny nose, mostly on his left side, but it was clear. I told Miya that I was going to drop him off at the Halsalls because he was sick. I had to nurse him three or four times in the next hour before I dropped him off. He got super fussy, clenching his thighs to show his frustration and arching his back. Throughout the day, even with two doses of Tylenol, his temperature went from 101 to almost 103 and down to 101 again. He did a lot of nursing and sleeping today. He ate some poi at 6 pm, then we gave him ibuprofen, and he went to sleep. He was fussy for the next couple of hours, so I finally pulled him into bed with me at 9 pm (He's been wanting to be by mommy and be carried by mommy all day today). After midnight, he woke up and was very talkative, bouncy and more alert, not feverish, but stuffy. At 3:30 am, he woke up again, and was talkative and playful. I tried to nurse him back to sleep, and all of a sudden, he went into a giggle fit, laughing hysterically for some reason. He just couldn't stop laughing. Crazy kid. I looked at Chris and we started smiling. Guess he feels better?! I didn't want to say anything..didn't want to encourage his playfulness at 4 am, but it was cute, and nice to see him feeling better. Finally, I had to put him in the swing to go to sleep because he was just getting too playful and awake.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Chase spent the day at the Halsalls and was feeling much better, with a 99.3 degree temperature in the morning. He was feeling so much better, smiling and playing all day, though he still had a runny nose (and he hates when we have to use that syringe on his nose!). It was nice to see him feeling better though because we hate when he is sick (though really this is only the 3rd time he's ever been sick.)
After work, we played with him until about 3 pm. I was so tired though from the long night that I needed to take a nap! Tried to take one at home, but he just wanted to play. I tried to see if he would be interested in watching Baby Einstein, but he'll only watch it for so long and then lose interest and want to play with his toys (which is good actually..don't want him getting hooked on TV). We played with his tower of toilet paper rolls. Jay and Shelly came to visit in the late afternoon, but he was very clingy to mommy and didn't want to play with them or smile for them. After eating some dinner and a not-so-pleasant bath, we put him to bed. He no longer has a fever, but he wouldn't tolerate us putting the thermometer under his armpit, so we'll just let him sleep tonight. And, hopefully, I can get some sleep too! Thank goodness it's Friday tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Taiga's Buddy
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Chase did good at Miya's today, after being on vacation from their place for two weeks. She said that she could tell he is growing up. He's crawling around a little bit and loves Taiga. He was the only one who could make Chase laugh today at the park. All the other moms were trying to make him laugh, but he would only laugh for his buddy Taiga. I took Chase to Kahala Mall after Miya's so that I could nurse him in the air conditioned place! Got a Jamba Juice and walked around. I went to 6:30 pm yoga tonight, even though Chase was screaming for mommy as I left. I saw one of my high school classmates, Nani Cockett, at yoga. She said one of our other classmates is getting into Bikram too. Nani was a star basketball and volleyball player in high school, but with Bikram being her first class last night, she sat out some of the class. I told her that's how the first class always is. It's taken me five years to get where I'm at now, and even now I'm not at tip-top shape since I haven't been going regularly for the past year. So, it's like starting at year two again.
Chase was fussy for Chris (who's under the weather and came home early from work today himself). Chris gave him a sponge bath before putting him to sleep.
Chase did good at Miya's today, after being on vacation from their place for two weeks. She said that she could tell he is growing up. He's crawling around a little bit and loves Taiga. He was the only one who could make Chase laugh today at the park. All the other moms were trying to make him laugh, but he would only laugh for his buddy Taiga. I took Chase to Kahala Mall after Miya's so that I could nurse him in the air conditioned place! Got a Jamba Juice and walked around. I went to 6:30 pm yoga tonight, even though Chase was screaming for mommy as I left. I saw one of my high school classmates, Nani Cockett, at yoga. She said one of our other classmates is getting into Bikram too. Nani was a star basketball and volleyball player in high school, but with Bikram being her first class last night, she sat out some of the class. I told her that's how the first class always is. It's taken me five years to get where I'm at now, and even now I'm not at tip-top shape since I haven't been going regularly for the past year. So, it's like starting at year two again.
Chase was fussy for Chris (who's under the weather and came home early from work today himself). Chris gave him a sponge bath before putting him to sleep.
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