Nine Months Old

3/4 of a year old! Where has time gone?

**Unfortunately, we've been so busy, I never fully finished this month's post. So, I'll quickly comment on the list of things I was going to elaborate on from this month... since you're closer to ten months now :)

Stages of crawling - big developmental milestone for you this month was crawling. Army crawling, to sitting and scooting, to working on getting your knees under you.

Teeth - you have two on the bottom and one on top

Blowing raspberries = drooling mess :)

Family pictures - they were mostly of you, but they turned out to be so adorable!

Great Strides DeKalb - our first Great Strides of the season

Pulling up - you figured out how to hold onto things (mostly our table in the living room) and get onto your knees

Not sleeping through the night - you started waking up 2-3 times a night starving - I think the combination of teeth, being more mobile and disinterest in nursing led you to waking in the middle of the night to eat

Touching Archie :) - its always quick and its rare, but it has happened a handful of times

Zoo - after we got your pictures taken, we went to the zoo and you loved it!

More new friends - Lila and Brooke - you met baby Lila when she was only a few days old, and we're excited for when we'll be able to meet baby Brooke. :) You'll have to show 'em the ropes!

You're getting to be so busy and I love it! One more month until we're able to spend the summer together! We love you so much Baby Girl!! :-)

In Other News

Last week, I finished my first post-baby 5k!

My friend and co-worker, Allie, and her mom, did it with me. Allie and I were on Team CF Superheroes and we raised $595 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!! Of course since my health was so unpredictable leading up to the run, my training had been sporadic and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to complete the whole thing without stopping to walk. But I signed up to do it and quitting wasn't an option. My goal was to run at least the first half (1.5 miles) and then I'd see how I was doing from there.

There ended up being over 7,000 runners just for the 5k that evening and the atmosphere was amazing!! I typically run with music on, but there were so many people cheering us on that I was able to feed off their energy and distract myself from the fact that I was actually running. Plus it helped having two running partners who set a great slow and steady pace for me.

Waiting to start

It took us about eight minutes to cross the start line after the first runners began, that's how packed it was!

Running selfie. Fail.

We made it to the half way point without walking, so we slowed down to grab a quick drink at the water station, then got right back into running. Thankfully my lungs and body were feeling great and were cooperating...I swear it was the energy of the crowd. Once we made it to mile two, I told myself that I was going to finish this without walking - I'd come this far, I could do one more mile. Around 2.25 miles, something just clicked in me to get moving. I turned on my Pandora, left Allie and her mom and started running a bit faster (which I later learned made me miss Tim & Anna along the street cheering for me because I was on the other side of the street & had my ear buds in, bummer!). When I rounded the corner towards the finish line, I decided to sprint the last 50 yards (we finished in the football stadium). It felt so good! After being so sick and not training as well as I could, I was still able to accomplish this goal. Although this was my slowest 5k (39:32), it was definitely my favorite one I've ever done! I was running to support CF. I was running with CF. I was running in an amazing crowd and atmosphere, and with great support with me and waiting for me.

Can you spot Allie in the crowd just as she crossed the finish line?! It was so crowded!

 

We did it!!

I knew Tim and Anna were waiting for me somewhere in the stadium, which was another huge motivator to run even faster during that last mile. Even though she'll never remember this day, I really wanted her to be there to see me doing this for our family. I run to keep myself healthier. I run to be the best mom and wife I can be. I want her to know what its like to set a goal, work towards it and achieve it. I'm proud that I was able to complete this 5k and will definitely be signing up to do it again next year!

My Recent Health - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

What a better way to kick off Cystic Fibrosis awareness month than a health update. Last time I posted about my health, I was doing very well! Unfortunately, just a few weeks after that post it started going downhill. I caught a cold which turned into a chest infection, so I emailed my doctor about getting on Cipro (an oral antibiotic). Well, it took much longer than usual for her to get back to me and fill the prescription, and in the mean time my lungs were feeling it. That was the first time in a very long time, if ever, that it just hurt to breathe. I was exhausted and felt like shit. My doctor was hesitant to give me the Cipro because its not breastfeeding friendly, but I didn't care. I had spent the last six months building a frozen stash of breast milk for this type of situation, so I wasn't too concerned.
We figured out a schedule that she and I were both comfortable with, then she called in a ten day supply of Cipro for me. I would nurse Anna first thing in the morning, then pump. Then I would take my Cipro and pump & dump the milk while at work while the Cipro was strongest in my system. By the time Tim and Anna came home in the evening, I was able to nurse her. After she went to bed, I would take my second dose so it was strongest while we were sleeping. The annoying part was pumping & dumping and bottle feeding on the weekend, but it was worth it to get my lungs back to normal.

Fast forward another few weeks to the middle of March. I was laying in bed one Saturday morning and I feel the 'pop' and gurgle...and I knew what was coming next - blood. I've had lung bleeds before, but not like this one. I tried to do a couple small little coughs, but I could tell this was straight blood and it was going to be a lot. I ran to the bathroom and just coughed it all into the toilet so I could monitor the color and consistency. Finally after a few minutes of straight blood, it started turning thicker, mucus-like consistency, but still bright red. I knew I had to contact my doctor abut this one, especially when it happened again that night and the following morning. This was unusual for me, so I was a little nervous, but I was also confused because I was feeling well prior to it and it seemed like it came out of no where.
My doctor started me on extra vitamin K (helps clot your blood) for a week or so, to see if it helped control the bleeding. After about a week, I didn't have anymore large bleeds and the streaking (mucus streaked with blood) slowed and finally disappeared. Sometimes bleeds happen when a mucus plug becomes loose, when an airway gets irritated, or at the sign of an infection. Since I felt relatively clear, we just assumed it was a fluke and my lungs just being annoying...

Until it happened again about a week after I stopped the vitamin K. This had me worried, but actually mostly annoyed! I was angry that my lungs were behaving this way and I was stumped because there didn't seem to be a pattern of when the blood was coming - it happened in the morning when I was laying down, at work once when I bent over, it happened after treatments... so this had me thinking there must have been more going on than just low vitamin k levels.
I decided to call my doctor and pick her brain, with the intention of getting on Cipro again. She was just as puzzled at what was going on and was hesitant to put me on Cipro again because the specific bacteria in my lungs was slowly growing resistant to it. She said she'd let me try the Cipro for ten days (the 10th day I had a scheduled clinic appt) and then we'd go from there. She said if my lung function was as beautiful as it was in January, then she'd let me stop the Cipro. If not, then we'd have to take a different route - possibly IV antibiotics. THIS FREAKED ME OUT!
I've never been on IVs before and I didn't want this to be the first time. I wasn't ready. What would I do about work? How long would I have to be in the hospital? Would I have to give up nursing - I don't think Anna or I are ready for that. It had me worried, but I tried not to dwell on it too much. I started my round of Cipro on a Monday, and by the following Monday I was feeling great. I was positive that I'd blow my typical numbers on my PFTs on Thursday...
Until Tuesday I woke up with post nasal drip and a sore throat...seriously?! 'Okay', I thought, 'this is just seasonal allergies, no big deal'. Then Wednesday rolls around with a lovely dry, itchy throat cough all day, UGH! I had a tight chest and I wasn't producing any mucus, which isn't typical for me, but I still wasn't feeling awful, but I was getting a little worried about my looming appointment the next day.

The morning of my clinic appointment, on the drive, I developed a mucus-producing cough so I tried to get out as much as possible. When Anna and I checked into the pulmonary section, we only had to wait a few minutes for a room which was pretty nice. We even got a room with a window which was excellent entertainment for a busy 8.5 month old baby. Soon after getting put in a room, the RT showed up with the lovely PFT machine...I did my first PFT and blew an FEV1 of 83% - thank goodness!! I was so worried they were going to be much lower. I did two more blows with the exact same result and felt a large weight lifted off my shoulders. Yes, my PFTs were down about 5%, but my weight was actually up about a half pound and my lung function didn't drop dramatically, so I felt that I was in the clear for IVs. Until...Anna and I were looking out the window, watching the traffic go by and I coughed up blood, right there in the doctor's office. Ahhhh, when was this ever going to end??? Thankfully it was a small bleed that turned into mixed blood and mucus fairly quickly, but I was so nervous to show the doctor. I thought for sure that she was going to recommend IVs now.

When she first came in the room, of course she had to say hi and talk with Anna before we discussed my health. :) She was pleased with my weight, but reminded me that my lung function was down. We discussed, in depth, everything that had been going on over the last couple months and brainstormed several ideas as to why it was happening. Thankfully, she's so wonderful and trusts me and how I tell her I'm feeling, and she was not going to put me on IVs right then and there, since I was feeling well and it seemed like I caught something within the last couple days. PHEW!
We decided to attack from all angles - I would continue my Cipro for another week (21 days total), adding Cayston (inhaled antibiotic) on top of it. We were hoping the overlap of Cipro and Cayston for about a week would really knock it out. I was also going to start Nasonex to attack whatever was going on in my sinuses that was not allergies. Then I'd come back in a month to see how everything worked and how I was feeling, and possibly do a round of Tobi (different inhaled antibiotic) just to keep things clear.

She was exhausted from my appointment, too!

So here I am, on day 20 of my Cipro and day six of my Cayston and I'm slowly starting to feel better. Whatever I caught right before I went to the doctor really hit me hard, and I'm glad we came up with this treatment plan because I have never coughed so much mucus out each day as I have for the last week. I think the combination of Cayston and Cipro really has been working. Fortunately, I haven't had any bleeding since the day at clinic, but I'm definitely not back to 100% yet and I'm really hoping the Cayston will help get me there by the end of the month. The talk of IVs and them being a possibility in the nearer future than I'd like still freaks me out a bit, but after conversations with Tim and several of my cyster friends, I am trying to remember that IVs are just another tool in the toolbox, not the end of the rope. I'm very fortunate to be this healthy at this age and that there are still so many antibiotic choices available to me.

Eight Months Old

Happy 8 months baby girl! This month has been so much fun! You've had lots of major developments and discoveries. :-)

You now have two teeth on the bottom (though they're not completely grown in yet) and I think one on the top is trying to come through. Luckily you haven't had a terrible time while teething. You're a bit more tired than usual and sometimes a little fussy, but nothing awful. Your teeth are so tiny and they make your smile that much cuter!

This was taken right before we discovered your second tooth coming
in & it was the best I could get :)

This month, you decided you don't like to cuddle as much. When you're tired, you'd rather just be put down in your crib with your paci to fall asleep on your own. It makes me a little really sad to miss out on cuddling, but it also makes me proud that you're becoming a bit more independent and grown up.

Sometimes you're really good at playing independently either on your mat or in your pack and play, and other times you just hate being left alone. You're enjoying tummy time a lot more now that you're much more mobile. You started out by just rolling around, then went to rolling, scooting backwards and spinning - which surprisingly gets you around pretty quick. And just within the last week or so, you started army crawling! Its so cute, but you only do it if you really want something, like a crumb on the floor or your worm head toy. It takes a lot of energy and effort, but its adorable watching you work your little body. You haven't quite figured out how to get up on your hands and knees yet, but we're really working on it every day.

One day, at the end of March, you were taking a nap in your crib while I was doing my treatments and you woke up before I was done. You were fussing and crying in your crib until I finished and was able to come get you. When I walked in your room, you were sitting up! I have no idea how you did that all by yourself, but I was so surprised and proud! I really wanted to take a picture, but I decided not to because you had already been crying for a few minutes and I didn't want to make you more upset by leaving to grab my phone. Since then, a majority of the time when I put you on your belly, you push yourself into the sitting position now. You still haven't mastered going from sitting to army crawling (without falling over) yet.

We've had a lot of fun this month now that the weather has started to warm up. We've gone on more walks and have even been to the park a few times. The first time Daddy and I took you to the park, we put you in the swing. You really could have cared less about the swing because you were too busy watching and trying to talk to the other kids on the playground. You love looking out the window and/ being outside & looking around at the cars, people and animals that go by.

For about a week or so you knew how to clap, sort of - it was so cute! Whenever we would say "Yay!" you would try your best to clap your hands, but now you usually just wave your arms up and down and make squealing and yay noises. :)

Speaking of noises, you babble non-stop using all sorts of sounds, and 'eh' when you are lazy or tired. And you're a very loud eater. We've been giving you more baby food and solids and you love it! When you're being fed with a spoon, you get very excited and make lots of "mmmm" and "omm omm" sounds while you eat...and even when you're waiting for the next bite. You've tried eggs, a tomato, watermelon, apples (a favorite), cantaloupe, applesauce, bananas, sweet potatoes and even a little bit of hamburger one night.

 

 

 

You LOVE swimming class and are getting so comfortable in the water.
You like to kick, splash and put your face in the water (mouth open, of course)

 

This is your latest discovery, so we had to take out the raised
platform in your pack & play before you flip over the edge

 

This month has been so exciting watching you figure out how to start moving! I can only imagine what's to come in the next month and I am SO looking forward to it! We love you so much, pumpkin!

Seven Months Old

This has been another month full of development for you, and its been so exciting; you're getting to be such a big girl.

We started swim class this month and it is adorable! We've only gone a few times so far, but I'm enjoying it. Your first class, you weren't so sure. When we were sitting in the shallow water before class began, you were whining and clinging to me, but once we got into the deeper water and started the songs/games, you relaxed a bit. You were pretty serious, maybe 1/2 smiled once, but no tears and you were all smiles when we were done. Then next time you were much more relaxed and even smiled a couple times. And this last time, you were so much more comfortable- you were so excited, kicking your legs, waving your arms, smiling and laughing, putting your face closer to the water - it was so cute. I also dunked you under three times during our Ring Around the Rosie song. You were quite startled at first, but I made sure to be very excited for you when you came up, so I think that kept you from freaking out. I can't wait to see how you'll be by the time the class is over; you're becoming such a little water baby.

We gave you rice cereal for the first time on Valentine's Day and you loved it! You seemed to know exactly what to do with the spoon, too. Since then, we've been giving you rice cereal a few times a week, and you've also had avocado once, too.

Not too long after introducing you to food, we started really practicing how to sit up. Before, when I would try to have you sit, you'd typically just fold in half forward or fling yourself backward pretty quickly. One night I decided to practice with you on our bed, to prevent head trauma, and you just stayed sitting up! I was so surprised at how quickly you were able to pick it up and how long you were able to sit all by yourself before falling back on to the bed. Its like you just knew how over night - I was so proud of you!

You look like such a big girl now when you sit in your room on your mat, or in your pack n play, playing with your toys.

Of course you had to show off your 'new trick' to Linda and Roger when we stayed with them for the weekend. Mom and Dad went to a show, so Linda and Roger were able to watch you for the evening. Unfortunately you weren't in the best mood because you'd been having blow outs for days. Come to find out, its because you're cutting your first tooth! On Monday morning, before we left Linda & Roger's, I decided to feel your gums and was surprised when I actually felt (and could barely see) sharp little white bumps coming through! Its been impossible to get a picture of, or really even to look at, because you've been sticking your tongue out constantly, I'm guessing to feel it yourself.

That same weekend, we went to Ryan and Kristen's baby shower, and Karissa & Ryan's baby shower. Karissa's water broke the night of her shower and we were able to go meet sweet little Adelaide on Monday before heading home.

Now here we are, you're seven months old today and you've been talking non-stop the past couple days. At the beginning of the month you were babbling 'mama' over and over, with some 'baba' and 'lala' thrown in. Now you make so many sounds and just put them all together to tell us long, loud stories.

You're getting so big and I just love you more and more each day! Love, Mommy

Six Months Old

Towards the end of this month, when you would smile and get excited,
you would scrunch up your face like this and make panting noises
through your nose. Its hilarious!

Happy half birthday to the happiest baby I know!! I know I say it every month, that I can't believe you're getting so big, but it truly amazes me how quickly time is going by, but we are loving every second of it. When I look back at pictures from when you were born, I can't believe you were that tiny, and sometimes I miss it, but I love watching you grow and learn. Each month you get bigger, smarter, sillier, happier (if that's even possible) and more mobile which is so exciting to me. You are now 13lbs, 10oz and 25.5" long - long and lean. :) You still eat every two-three hours during the day and sleep through the night, typically from 8:30-5:30 on weekdays, and sometimes you'll sleep in on the weekends. You're still not the best napper, and probably have gone an hour at the longest in your crib (except for after your six month shots when you when a little over two hours), but that's okay with me.

This last month was filled with a lot more developments for you. You're now able to roll from your back to you belly, typically over your right arm, and you've started rolling all over the place. Its hard to keep you on the blankets any more, but it's fun to watch you roll around to grab toys or try to catch the cats. You love to try to grab them and ''pet'' them. Archie still usually keeps his distance while Ozzie tolerates your hair pulling and usually leans into it and rubs on you. He's also really good about walking away when he's had enough. I think you two are going to be best friends. :-)

You don't keep the movements for only when you're awake, either. Right before you were able to roll from your back to your belly, you started sleeping on your side. Once you were able to roll over, you even started sleeping on your belly even though I'd put you down on your back. You also figured out that you can control your legs/feet and that you're able to feel and kick things, so you frequently make your way to a side of the crib so you can feel it with your feet, which of course, has ended up in you getting your legs stuck several times. A few times you did this before you fell asleep and you'd start fussing and crying until we came to help you (not without taking a picture first, of course).

 

For about a week, right after you turned five months, you would wake up in the middle of the night around 1am and 4am and just talk to yourself. At first I was worried that our wonderful days of sleeping through the night were coming to an end, but luckily it only lasted a week or so. You never fussed, so except for the first time it happened and I went in to rock you back to sleep, I just let you talk yourself back to sleep.

First time front-facing in the Bjorn

More things you've been working on this month include trying to sit up and blowing raspberries. You're not quite ready to sit up yet because you still fling yourself backwards and sometimes fold in half when you're reaching forward. You've been sticking your tongue out a lot and really trying to figure out how to blow raspberries, but you can never get your blow and tongue coordinated together, but it's super cute watching you try.

Getting too big and wiggly for the swing

You still babble a lot and do your high pitched screeching when you're playing or talking. We're borrowing the exersaucer from Grandma, which you love, and you learned how to drop toys off the tray then you lean over as far as you can to try to see them. You've also become very attached to me and have really stepped up the stranger danger (which your doctor says you're going through a little early), but I think you just really love your momma! Sometimes Daddy will do (and you two do have a strong bond, too), but if you want me and I walk by and go into another room, you're very likely to bust out into a tear-filled cry until you see me again, or I come pick you up. Mommy = food. :-)

Drumming on mommy's head & sitting on my shaking vest during treatments.
You love to sit/lay in your rock and play when I do my treatments.
I turn the vibrations on for you so we can shake together :)

It's been a busy, but really fun month! I love you at this age and as always, am looking forward to the many milestones ahead.
Love you, pumpkin!

Me, Myself & I (and a little about Anna)

My apologies for posts about Anna taking over the blog lately. As I have come to quickly realize, having a baby pretty much takes over your whole life (and I wouldn't have it any other way). Anna's doing very well, but I'm using this post to update about me.

I've been doing very well and enjoying motherhood so much! Of course it completely sucks working all day and not seeing Anna, but I know that she's in excellent hands. Before going back to work, I was worried about how my body and health would hold up with teaching, taking care of a baby and nursing. And I'll admit, although I feel its going pretty well, it's hard giving my 100% all day, every day at work because I want to be home with Anna. But I take pride in my job, and I want to do it well, and I hope that I'm getting back (even if its a bit slow) to being there for my students as much as they need....because they are extra needy this year.

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On the health side of things, I really couldn't be much happier. I just had my clinic visit on Thursday and it went very well. I'm up to 118.6lbs and my FEV1 was 88%!!! I haven't seen lung function numbers like that in two years and I haven't been at this weight (aside from pregnancy) in almost three years. Of course I'd love to be in the 90%s for my lung function (can't remember the last time I saw numbers like those), so that's my goal. But I am very proud of where I am now and still so amazed at what this "sick" body can do. :-)

I've started working out again, this time with several teachers after school doing PIYO work outs. We've been doing it for a few weeks now and they're great for strength exercises. To work on my cardio, I also began the Couch to 5K program yesterday, so I'm planning on balancing the two somehow.. I signed up to run a 5K in April, and I'll be running it for CF. I'll be on Team CF Superheroes and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm also planning on running Brett's Run again in June, which was the first race I did in 2012.

Overall, things are going wonderfully over here. Hopefully I'll keep finding some time to update on myself, but in the mean time, here's a super cute picture of Anna sporting her Rock CF gear at my clinic appointment on Thursday.