Marley & Charlie

And baby makes 5!

2009-08-17T22:53:00.003-05:00

Yes, it is true, I am expecting again. I am not very far along, with a due date in April 2010. We are surprised but happy. I do love birthing babies. It will be back to the Birth & Women's Center for us, I had such a lovely experience there. This time though, I had better get there at the first sign of labor. Charlie was born less than an hour after we went in, and even Marley was a quick delivery for a first born. I'd also like to make use of the tub this time, since we missed out last time it went so fast.
We are debating whether or not we will find out the sex of baby #3. I like to know, I want to know right now! But Steve said it will be our last time to make it a total surprise, and it would be kind of fun to have that extra surprise right when baby enters the world. I don't know, I'm not very patient, at least not with things like that.
It feels like I was just pregnant, not fully recovered from my last pregnancy, well at least not figure wise. But at least it's all fresh, I'm a pro at newborns and pregnancy now, so hopefully this time around will be as easy as the last two.

I ♥ Faces - Guest Judge

2009-08-16T22:33:00.002-05:00

I was honored to be asked to guest judge at one of my favorite websites that hosts weekly photo contests. Check out my little feature here .
I will have a large job ahead of me, going through hundreds of entries to pick the top 10 winners this week.

{Mickey Mouse}

2009-07-22T01:58:00.002-05:00

A friend went to Disneyland and brought Marley back a pair of Mickey Mouse ears with her name embroidered on the back. She, of course, adores them.

Hats! Hats!

2009-07-20T00:44:00.003-05:00

Charlie likes his hats, maybe you can't always tell by his very serious faces, even sometimes the sticking out of his tongue, but I am convinced, he really likes hats....Or maybe I just like hats. Either way he gets to wear them!

Thanks Grumpy!

2009-07-12T00:33:00.002-05:00

When Grumpy was in town visiting he left extra money for one of Marley's favorite things, the ice cream truck treats. She heard the bell ringing today, and immediately asked for a treat, so we grabbed Grumpy's money from the ice cream fund and bought a Chocolate Eclair for little Miss. Thanks Grumpy for the ice cream.

First Visit to the Salon

2009-07-09T23:50:00.002-05:00

I've always cut Marley's hair, a trim now and then. But summer is in full effect, added to it her new habit of putting her hair in her mouth when she's nervous, so we decided it was time for a haircut. This time I would take her to the salon, Salon 808, where mommy has her hair cut. She was kind of nervous and it got worse as it came time to sit down in the chair. She started chanting "get me outta here" over and over while simultaneously trying to flee the chair. I was holding her down, and kind of laughing so the stylist wouldn't panic. I said, what do you want, if you're good I will give you a treat, what do you want. We negotiated a deal that we would stop at Daddy Cakes afterwards and pick up a chocolate cupcake if she'd sit down and get her hair cut. It worked wonders, she did a fine job after that only fussing a bit when her hair was being blowdried. Afterwards, as promised we stopped into Daddy Cakes getting her the Death By Chocolate cupcake, as promised.

Girly Girl...with a Touch of Tom Boy

2009-07-07T00:33:00.007-05:00

She is as much tom boy as she is girly girl, pretty much split down the middle with her interest in princesses as well as Spiderman and Batman. These photos were taken on the same day within hours of each other.

She picked Me?!

2009-05-17T23:19:00.005-05:00

Couldn't help but brag a bit, but Sarah and I were both chosen in the top 10 over at I ♥ Faces, out of hundreds of entries in the Laughing theme this week. This isn't uncommon for either of us to be in the top 10 and sometimes #1, but what made this week extra special for me was the judge. This past week's judge was Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, whom I have followed for years as she writes about her interesting life on a cattle farm. If you've never heard of her you're missing out, check out her blog, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. She chose this photo of Marley as 6th best (I think it had more potential than 6th, but hey, I'm biased.)

April Fun!

2009-04-19T00:16:00.003-05:00

I know I am way behind on updating our blog! Spring is in full bloom and we've been taking advantage of the nice weather and lovely backgrounds for a few Spring photos.

Marley enjoyed chasing the ducks out by the Lake.

And Little Miss got her ears pierced! Not a flinch, tear or peep. She made the decision she wanted her ears pierced, knowing up front that it might hurt and she handled it like a fearless trooper. The blue lollipop they gave her after both ears were done didn't hurt either.

My Little Critter

2009-03-31T23:47:00.004-05:00

Baby Bear

Baby Bunny

Baby Bee

{Spring is Here}

2009-03-29T22:40:00.002-05:00

At least it was, and then it snowed this weekend. Hopefully it didn't completely kill off all of the bulbs and blossoming trees. But if it did, then I was lucky to get these few shots last week before the late snow.

And then there was Charlie, with the great big bear!

It's Official, They Love Each Other

2009-03-19T01:12:00.002-05:00

The following photos are not the best quality photos I've ever taken, but boy do they tell the story between the bonding of brother and sister. Tonight, for the first time, I knew for sure my children loved each other. It was definitely official, when Marley gave Charlie her new Lightning McQueen car papa bought her. I knew then, this was serious.

He just loves her.

Get used to it, the first of many hair pulls.

Lots Going On

2009-03-18T01:04:00.003-05:00

I am a little behind on this blog. I had a hectic week last week. Charlie for the first time since coming home from Children's Mercy came down with something. He was running a fever, as high as 103, and had to be taken to the Emergency Room once and the pediatrician twice last week. As quickly as his illness came, it disappeared. He is much better now, no fever, no stuffy nose, no long bouts of crying. For that I am really really thankful. We will be headed back to Children's Mercy on Thursday to get his immune system re-checked. They will be counting t-cells, and checking to make sure they are working properly. I have been anticipating this appointment since the day they told me about his lack of thymus. Keep your fingers crossed, your positive energy directed this way, your prayers in our direction, that Charlie's t-cells are growing stronger, working well, and that we will not have to be prisoners in the confinds of our house much longer. Did you know he has never been in a public place that was not medically necessary, like the doctor's office? He has been in the open air, like to the park with Marley or on a walk, but never to Target, Wal-Mart, or even a restaurant.

Also last week, one night after I took Charlie to the ER, I spent the next evening in the ER with a dear friend(who attended the birth of Charlie) while she heard word that she was experiencing a miscarriage and that her baby no longer had a heartbeat. I was going to be present at this baby's homebirth to photograph it's first breath, but sadly those dreams were lost. I will still be there for my friend's next birth, but we are mourning the loss of this baby.

Meanwhile, I took a few new photos of my kidlets, after Charlie started feeling better.

In the Spotlight

2009-03-10T09:26:00.002-05:00

Head on over to The Maternal Lens blog and check out my autobiographical post. One at a time all 5 of the blog contributors will be writing a little something about themselves. Currently I am being featured until probably later this afternoon or this evening when another woman will write her story.

{The Maternal Lens} Check us out!

2009-03-09T13:03:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned early in my last post, the launch of a new blog that I am honored to be apart of has finally happened! After many months of brainstorming, waiting for the right moment, honestly just procrastinating, we have finally went live with The Maternal Lens. We hope to be the next big thing in BlogLand, and I'm sure with this collaboration of talent and personalities it is sure to be a hit. We are five women, who are friends, mothers and photographers, coming together to share our stories, lives, photography, advice, opinions, and much much more.

Come check us out, http://www.thematernallens.blogspot.com/ If it looks like something you're interested in following, please do so, and check back in daily for new posts.

It's All About Me

2009-03-09T03:01:00.003-05:00

I'm taking over Marley and Charlie's blog, with rare photos of myself. I was in need of a good photo of myself for an upcoming blog that is under construction that I am apart of. It is a blog written by 5 women photographers from across the country ranging from Montana to Massachussetts with some stops in between. My dear friend and business partner, Sarah of Joyful Photography came over to exchange photo shoots. She was in need of a new photo as well, and she is one of the 5 contributors to our new blog. I decided to share with you my favorites, of the photos she took of me, and I of her.

You didn't think she was actually going to let Sarah and I steal the spotlight did you? Of course not, this little girl who now refuses to let me take her photo anymore, was more than eager to jump in front of the lens when she saw me taking somebody else's photo.

Spring is Near

2009-03-07T23:46:00.003-06:00

We've had a bout of warm weather and the bulbs are starting to bloom. We've been getting outside to walk a lot lately, and also some just to play around.

Lost and Found

2009-03-05T22:33:00.006-06:00

Today it was a record breaking high of 85 degrees, so naturally we had to get outside and soak up some of that sunshine. I took the kids on a walk with some of my friends and their children. I had Charlie in my Maya Wrap and Marley in the stroller. We walked until the sun started to get low in the sky and then turned around. We discovered, once we got back to the car, that we had lost Marley's little brown bunny somewhere on our walk. My back was killing me, from having 12 pound Charlie strapped to me, and it was getting dark, so despite Marley's protests and tears I told her we couldn't go back. We had probably walked close to a mile on the trail and a mile back, who knows where it was.

Well my soft side got the best of me, when at that same time Steve called and said he was just getting off work. I asked him to go home and get some flashlights and meet us there for a night walk/bunny finding adventure. Reluctant at first he decided we should give it a try. He probably heard Marley crying in the background. Luckily I had both of the strollers so I didn't have to carry Charlie strapped to me that whole way again. When Steve arrived we headed out. Meantime a couple with a baby had been the last people to come from the trail and I asked them if they happened to see a bunny. They said they had, but they did not pick it up. I asked them how far back it was and they said "a ways back." As we took off on our night walk equiped with a flashlight, a head light (like a miner would wear), two kiddos in strollers and eyes peeled to the ground, we weren't quite sure where to look the paved sidewalk path or the grass along side the path. I knew exactly where we had turned around the first time, so I knew how far to look. By now the moon was high over head and the stars were bright. It was a lovely evening. We kept hitting patches of cool air and then warm air. It was the strangest thing. At one point we smelled a skunk, which made Steve very nervous, and he enclosed Charlie in the stroller/carseat just in case we were to be sprayed, Charlie would be spared. Marley, well I guess she would have to fend for herself.

We scanned the ground in front of us, the whole time Marley saying she really hopes we find her bunny. Things weren't looking good when we got to the point where we had turned around the first walk, there were no signs of little bunny. We knew it wasn't on the sidewalk because we would have seen it, so we decided to really check the grass around us on the way back. The farther we went the more I was convinced that either we missed it, or somebody had picked it up (it is very cute), or even maybe a dog or animal carried it off. Marley decided a bird must have carried it away. We were almost to the end of the trail, and I had convinced Marley that we would have to call Grandma Vicki and see if she happened to have another one of the small bunnies at her house in Georgia (that's where she had received the bunny.) If I remember correctly she didn't have any more of that bunny left in stock (she sold them at their bakery, and since Marley had hers the rest had probably been sold.) All of the sudden low and behold, on the opposite side of the path, at least a foot into the grass Steve spotted the little bunny. We were all so excited, it was really a fluke that we found it, because we hadn't really been looking over on that side all that much because I thought we had lost in on the way back.

Luck be a lady tonight, at least she was for us. Steve thought we should immediately go play the lottery, but we didn't. Marley kept saying she was so happy we found her bunny, and secretly I think I was more upset that we lost that bunny than she was, I've always thought it was adorable, kind of Velveteen Rabbit looking.

When we got home, I took Marley's photo with it, and then sprayed it down with Odoban which kills 99.999% of germs, just in case one of those nasty skunks or some other animal had carried it over into the grass. Because we were never in the grass during our walk, and Marley didn't remember dropping it, so I know she didn't throw it over there. But long story short, we lived happily ever after. The End.

A Day in the Life

2009-03-03T13:23:00.004-06:00

This is a normal day, hanging out with Charlie on the couch, between feedings and medicines.

This is Charlie's view, of the mobile I made and hung above his nest on the couch.

A Little Recognition and other news

2009-03-01T23:58:00.002-06:00

I was pleasantly surprised to be informed that I had won another photo contest this week. A few weeks back I won Greeblemonkey's February Photo Contest, and last week I won 3rd place in the I ♥ Faces Adult Category, but this week I took first place in the I ♥ Faces Children's Category. The theme was B&W Children's photos and my photo was chosen out of hundreds as this week's winner by a professional photographer. To see the photo and the rest of the top 10 photos click here.Then this morning I was informed that another photograph of mine was chosen as the featured photo on Shutter Sisters' website as the daily click, you can view that here.

In other news, we volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, cooking dinner for the families that are staying there. This was our second time to do so, and this time quite a few families ate our meal so I was very pleased. We made spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and a yummy dessert (which I forgot to photograph.) Here are the photographs, the first one was everybody who came to help cook, minus myself.

Two Peas in a Pod

2009-02-24T22:53:00.003-06:00

Charlie had to get his monthly labs drawn today, to check his calcium levels and such. He is getting to the age where it is truly heartbreaking to see him in pain. You know that pouty face that is so cute when he's just pouting a little. Well imagine that times one hundred. It didn't help that the women at the lab didn't seem to have daily experience with extracting the blood of a little baby. They kept saying that babies have such little veins, and I know they do, but at Children's Mercy we never had this problem, and they drew labs daily. They stuck him once and he screamed as soon as they put the tourniquet on his arm and he didn't stop until we got home and he fell asleep. At the first stick nothing was coming out, they probably didn't have it in the vein. So they had to start all over again on the other side, this time in the back of the wrist. They got it in a vein but the blood was coming out so slowly it took quite awhile to get enough in the vial. Meanwhile he had been really crying and just staring at me like mama do something. The whole thing took twenty minutes or so of just trying to get enough blood. Then he wouldn't be comforted by me holding him or with his pacifier, not until we got home and he was exhausted from crying so hard and so long. When he woke up he was fine, maybe he had forgot at least until next month.
But before our appointment I snapped a few photos of the two of my kiddos together. Then we went and played at the park with Papa until it was time to get lab work. And the whole time Charlie was inside the hospital crying, Marley was in the car crying with Papa because she wanted to come in with us. She cried herself to sleep too. I see some resemblances, think they might be related?

A Goof Looking for Her Ball

2009-02-24T00:13:00.002-06:00

Okay, maybe we are just a tad bit stir crazy pent up indoors. BTW this shirt we bought for Charlie on the clearance rack at The Gap. It is a size 18 months, he will grow into it. Marley has been begging me to wear it and I kept telling her it was too small for her and that it was Charlie's. Well she proved me wrong, it fits her just perfectly and now she refuses to take it off. So if the rest of the photos I take of Marley in the future, she has this shirt on, don't be surprised. I can just see it now, she never takes it off and her senior pictures will be in this shirt with her midrif showing. Let's hope not.

The Tire Swing

2009-02-22T01:44:00.003-06:00

When I was a child my father made a tire swing for me. He hung it from the highest tree, up on their land in Perry. I loved that tire swing. I have vivid memories of swinging out back for hours. Well, 25 years later, my father has made a tire swing for my daughter. A house has been built where my tire swing once hung, so hers was hung a little farther back.
This was her first time on the tire swing, and boy was she excited!

I asked my dad to snap a shot of Charlie and me too. Charlie was hanging out with me in my Maya Wrap, it always puts him to sleep.

I snapped a photo of one of the wild country cats that has been hanging out lately. He was posing purrrfectly out by the barn.

Also a big thank you to all who voted for me in February's GreebleMonkey Photo Contest. I was very excited to see that I took first place with my photo of Charlie, http://www.greeblemonkey.com/

I also placed third in this week's I ♥ Faces weekly contest in the adult category, themed Wonder.

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

Charlie Brown

2009-02-19T23:21:00.002-06:00

This post is a little picture heavy, but I couldn't help myself. Charlie is just getting so big and healthy looking. His personality shines through more and more each day.

And have you ever seen a more perfect pout?

I've been working on this baby mobile for Charlie. I made it using scrapbook papers that I had been collecting, that I never put to use. He is so fascinated with anything up on the ceiling so I thought he might enjoy my creation. Now I just need to get it hung. I will take better photos when I get it in place.

And I took these photos over the long weekend we had. I thought this photo really represents life as we know it these days. Steve with the two kiddos, Charlie sticking his tongue out, Marley ready to squirm away but also wanting in on the action. And the one below it is priceless. Look at the way Charlie looks at his daddy. I wonder if he's thinking, "hey guy, you look just like me."

I am a Finalist in th February Greeblepix Contest

2009-02-18T13:02:00.003-06:00

I am so excited, this was my first month to enter and this photo (and baby boy) mean so much to me. I was honored to be chosen as a finalist in the love themed contest.I would appreciate your votes, but I realize there are a lot of really beautiful photos that I have as competition.Here is a link, http://www.greeblemonkey.com/2009/02/february-greeblepix-finalists.html And here is our story, This is Charlie. He is 7 weeks old and has already been through so much in his short amount of time here on Earth. He was born with a heart defect that showed up two days after I gave birth to him. He was life-flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital where he underwent open heart surgery on New Year's Eve and was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome. He has fought back from the depths of darkness, and is now thriving here at home. He's a strong little guy, with a scar down his chest to prove it. The love we have for him and the love he shows us everyday is infinite.I entered this photo in the GreebleMonkey's February Photo Contest, themed "Love",www.greeblemonkey.com/

If I were to win, the prize is a $250 gift certificate to Pro Rental where I could rent out a few lenses that I have been considering investing in, as I delve into the wedding photography business with one of my dear photographer friends. Being able to have a chance to try out a lens or two first would be a real help, and this would enable me to do so.

Here is my photo, and my name on the ballot is Megan - Trees and Bees Photog.

On another note, today is Charlie's big vaccination day. Remember the first round of vaccinations where they stick them at least 4 times?! Yes, that is what we face this afternoon.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day

2009-02-16T23:58:00.005-06:00

I know it's a few days late, but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House

2009-02-11T01:02:00.007-06:00

Tonight a group of fellow mamas, whom I call my friends, began our adventures in volunteering together and giving back to the community. This was our first time to cook at the Ronald McDonald House in town, for the families staying there with children who are sick and in the hospital.

We arrived early and baked cornbread and cinnamon rolls. Two of us had prepared chili earlier in the day so it had time to cook all of the flavors in. Some people donated some of the food, who couldn't actually stay and cook. You won't see them in the photos, but they contributed just the same, and we are thankful for that.

Although we didn't actually see anybody staying at the house eat our food, we are hopeful that some of it got eaten later after we left. Two of the staff at the Ronald McDonald House did get to eat our meal, as well as we did ourselves. We sampled some of the goods, realizing that they were going to have a whole lot of leftovers.

Here are a few shots from the evening. I will narrate.

This is everybody who stayed and cooked, minus myself. Two of which are pregnant and due just a week apart, the other was pregnant with me and had her baby two days after me. Must be something in the water.

This is the delicious cornbread, made with Jiffy cornbread mix and yellow cake.

This is what happens when you try and take a fellow photog's photo.

And another fellow photog. I'm telling you people, never photograph a photog, they just never cooperate!

Now if this doesn't make you hungry, nothing will.

Looks good enough to eat, just ask one of the pregnant mamas, she couldn't resist for very long.

And I didn't want her to have to go it alone.

The cinnamon rolls, minus the one we split.

Sweet Little Baby

2009-02-09T01:23:00.003-06:00

I took photos for the parents of a sweet little baby born six weeks early. I went to the NICU and photographed her using the available light.

Sweet Baby Caitlyn

Random Act of Kindness

2009-02-06T23:13:00.002-06:00

I did a random act of kindness tonight. I was dropping my husband off at his car. He had parked at Spangles after work, when a co-worker of his who lives in a neighboring town gave him a ride there to my parents' cabin where I was staying with my parents and the kids today. I didn't want to drive back with nobody to tend to Charlie if he started crying in the backseat. So Steve came to the cabin after working late and I was dropping him back off at his car where he had parked it at Spangles, so we wouldn't have to drive clear back to his work to get his car. Spangles was on the way. There was a homeless man sitting directly in front of our cars, leaning up against a tree. He didn't look drunk, just homeless. He had some of his possessions with him. I got out to switch places with Steve, so I could drive home, while Steve was getting in his car. The homeless man spoke to us, he just said hello and I said hello back. My husband pulled away and I had accidentally bumped the horn when I was turned around putting Charlie's pacifier in before I pulled away. I felt bad because it probably startled the guy. Anyway I turned to tell him sorry, with a little wave, like I didn't mean to do that. That's when I looked into his eyes, my headlights shining in his direction. He was pleasant looking, had a friendly look. I decided I would see how many $1 bills I had in my wallet and give them to him. He probably needed them more than I did. I have a roof over my head at least. Plus my husband said the man had been there when he had dropped off his car hours before, so I think he was probably staying there in the grassy area between Spangles and the K-Mart parking lot overnight. I only had $2, but I got out of the car and walked up to the man. Steve had already drove off, and I know that was risky, but it felt right. I said "Could you use this?" And he said, "I guess I probably could." He took the money and said "Thank you young lady, you have a wonderful year." I told him, "You too" and walked away. I wanted him to know there was kindness in unexpected places, to not lose hope. Who knows what he does with the money, but that's not really my concern. It's his life, he can do with it as he chooses. But for one brief moment, when he had little to call his own, he knew I cared.
My challenge to you is to do one random act of kindness this weekend. And if you do, let me know about it. I'd love to hear your story.

Laugh Out Loud

2009-02-05T23:34:00.005-06:00

Have I ever mentioned LOL annoys me, but in this instance I think it's okay.

And look what I get to wake up next to. The sweetest little baby boy east of Montana.

Time To Give Back

2009-02-05T00:08:00.003-06:00

During the course of our misadventures right after Charlie was born, during our stay at Children's Mercy, we were fortunate enough to have the love and support of so many people from all across the nation. So much so that our lives have been deeply touched and will never be the same. Our eyes have been opened, and we now see that the world is full of very kind people, and it is now time to give some of that kindness back. I have vowed repeatedly that I will try and pay back all of the kindness, positive thoughts, and charity that we received and pay it forward to others that are in that dark place that we have now moved past.
I started my journey on giving back last week. Late one evening, while checking my favorite social networking site, Cafemom, I stumbled across a journal post that another mother had written. Upon reading her journal I was struck by the similarities in what she was going through to what we had just been through. She said her daughter was born and immediately had to be life-flighted to the hospital and they were now staying at a Ronald McDonald House. After reading her journal I went to her page to see where she might be from, and low and behold she was from Kansas. Not my hometown, but Kansas nonetheless, which led me to believe they were possibly up at Children's Mercy in KC. I sent her a message and told her I had just gone through a similar experience when my son was born and offered my support and an ear to listen if she wanted to talk. I also asked her where they were staying. She wrote back the next day that they were not at Children's Mercy but in a hospital in my home town, just a few blocks away from me. I knew immediately that this was my first chance to pay it forward. I asked her the room number she was staying in at the Ronald McDonald House and told her I was going to bring her a care package. I then assembled a basket full of goodies, treats, magazines, lotion, a little toy for her baby, and enclosed two photos of Charlie (one right after surgery and one now, to show her how fast and far little ones can come.) That evening I dropped the basket by the Ronald McDonald House. When I rang the doorbell the Director answered and I asked her to give the mom my basket for me. I ended up speaking with the Director of the house for quite awhile and told her I was wanting to volunteer there, cooking meals for the families staying at the house. She took down my information and had the volunteer coordinator give me a call the next day. I decided I was going to need some help with the cooking so I started a group on Cafemom for area moms who want to volunteer locally, it's called Mamas With a Cause. It wasn't hard to get volunteers, we already have a pretty tight-knit group of local moms on Cafemom that I founded some time ago. We have made arrangements to cook a meal every two weeks starting next Tuesday. I am very excited! It's possible that the mom that I left the care basket for will still be staying at the house. Unfortunately she has been going through a lot since I left her that basket. Her 6 week premature daughter was discovered to have two holes in her heart, requiring open heart surgery, but not until she has gained enough weight to support the surgery. She was then diagnosed with Edward's Syndrome. Children diagnosed with this syndrome have a 5% chance of living to age 1. She has contacted me to take photos of her daughter, after seeing the photos I had taken of Charlie. I told her I would be honored to take them free of charge, and was actually glad to have the opportunity to make use of an organization I have been a volunteer for over the last year called The Littlest Heroes Project. I am looking forward to setting up a time with her to take those photos.
This is the first of many ways I plan on spreading kindness to others in need. And I would challenge each and every person that reads this blog to do the same. It took a life threatening event to fully open my eyes, when I should have been looking around for ways to support others in need all along.

Getting Better Everyday

2009-01-29T22:41:00.000-06:00

We had an appointment today with Charlie's cardiologist. He works at KU Med but comes to Topeka on Thursdays for appointments. After checking Charlie thoroughly out he said "I couldn't be happier with how he is doing." I have to agree with him. Everyday Charlie gets stronger, bigger, and more aware. He loves to stare up at me and has been very smiley for the last few weeks. He started smiling a few weeks ago, but I always thought it was a fluke. Now I can get him to smile and even laugh a little with certain phrases or sounds. He likes when I meow like a kitty cat, or call him a little stinker. He also smiles at Steve and Marley. Marley says boogity, boogity, boo and he seems to think that is pretty smile worthy. Yesterday marked his 6 week birthday and he slept through the night for the first time. My mom said, after looking through my baby book, that I slept through the night for the first time at exactly 6 weeks too. Like mother, like son, I guess. So far Charlie is meeting and exceeding all of his milestones. He is able to follow movement, like a finger. He loves looking at faces and patterns, and anything on the ceiling. He can lift his head a little and move it from side to side when laying on his belly. He is also starting to grasp things. Yesterday when his pacifier fell out, down by his belly he reached down and grabbed ahold of it and put it up by his mouth. He did not get it in his mouth, but he had the right idea. He did this twice in a row. So far it looks like Charlie is not only on schedule but ahead of schedule.

Give Peas a Chance

2009-01-25T22:46:00.000-06:00

I can see the love these two have for each other already. Marley refers to Charlie as Char Char in the most endearing tone.

I bought this little onesie for Charlie before he was born. I've always had a thing for peapods. The little hat was knitted by somebody who had a child in the hospital at Children's Mercy. It is a common thing around there to pass the time away. Sometimes women would come around with boxes full of the cutest knitted things. While we were there we were given multiple knitted hats in different sizes and colors and a little hooded sweater.

A Small Load

2009-01-21T21:55:00.000-06:00

A small load of baby.

Birth Announcements

2009-01-20T23:17:00.000-06:00

I have been working on Charlie's Birth Announcements. I made 14 different styles, I will probably just send out an assortment. I can't decide which I like the best. Here are a few.

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2009-01-18T23:19:00.000-06:00

We had highs in the mid-50's today, so we decided to take a walk as a family and get Charlie his first breath of fresh air, besides going to and from the car approximately 5 times before and once in a helicopter. We got our warm clothes on and I strapped Charlie to me in a fabulous baby wrap/sling/carrier that I had purchased handmade from a mother on Etsy.com He always falls right to sleep in it. I think he feels like he is in the womb again.

We walked through our neighborhood, which is always a pleasure, living in a Victorian neighborhood. I even explained to Marley what the horse posts were in front of some of the houses, and how, many years ago when people used horses for transportation they would hitch their horses up to those very posts when they went into their homes. I carried Charlie on the front of me the whole way, and Marley walked part of the way and rode on Steve's shoulders part of the way. Especially when I told her the cat rustling in the bushes up ahead was waiting to pounce on us. She didn't want down until we were well past that Siamese cat, and he lived up to my story, almost. He poked his head out, crouched down, and stared at us like he was thinking about pouncing.

About half way through our walk we saw a Life Flight helicopter on their way to the hospital to pick somebody up. We watched as it was landing at the hospital a few blocks away. It brought back lots of memories of Charlie's ride to Children's Mercy. That night, one month ago, as Charlie was being flown away, clinging onto life we watched as the helicopter fired up and took flight, with our two day old son aboard. It was very , very cold that night, and we stood there a good 15 minutes as they boarded, got settled, and then actually lifted off. I was already numb emotionally and the cold left me numb physically as well. I kept thinking my tears were going to freeze on my face. I now knew a little bit about what the family of the person being life-flighted today must be feeling at that very moment. The helicopter was just taking off to transport the patient to their new destination as we arrived back at our house.

When we got home we brought the sidewalk chalk outside and graffitied the front sidewalk. I took a few photos of Charlie after we got home, with his stocking cap still on, and then I took some photos of Marley being totally goofy out on the front sidewalk. I'm not exactly sure what she was doing, but it was entertaining to say the least.

Free At Last

2009-01-16T17:48:00.000-06:00

We had an appointment with Charlie's primary care physician in Topeka this morning, and I am proud to say he checks out great. We were able to remove his feeding tube, leaving him free at last from wires, tubes, IV's, catheters, tape etc. I will post a photo at the end of the photos I took of Charlie today (sporting his new tube free look) of just how hooked up he was just a few short weeks ago.

Charlie all hooked up after open heart surgery, just two weeks ago.

Welcome to my blog

2009-01-15T11:57:00.000-06:00

Welcome friends and family to my blog about two of my most favorite people in the world, Marley and Charlie. It is here that I plan on journaling, adding photos, and sharing my adventures in motherhood. Marley, my first born, just turned three. She has a zest for life and is a little firecracker, exuding personality, spunk and charm. She is very excited to be a big sister to her new little brother Charlie. Charlie is my new addition. He came into this world fast and furious, with the most perfect birth. You can view some of that here.

We had Charlie home for two days until we went for our routine 2 day exam with my midwife and mentioned his respiration had been a little quick. She sent us on to the pediatrician whom we had seen the day before, and he sent us on to the NICU at the hospital. By that evening our world had been turned upside down when it was discovered that Charlie had a heart condition, an interrupted aortic arch , and he was being life-flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City barely clinging onto life. Long story, shortened, they brought Charlie backed from the brink of death, and he underwent open heart surgery on New Year's Eve, when he was just two weeks old. While there he underwent some chromosomal testing and it was discovered that Charlie has DiGeorge Syndrome. That means the road that lies ahead for us is uncertain, with DiGeorge Syndrome the severity varies so greatly, ranging from not really even knowing you have it to more serious complications like greater risk for infections due to a low immune system as well as a great range in cognitive abilities. We have no choice but to play the waiting game to see how Charlie will be affected by DiGeorge, but regardless I couldn't love him more if I tried and we are not afraid what the future holds for this little guy, he has already touched the lives of many and left a great mark on the world and he is only 4 weeks old. I know he will do great things.

As of now we are all back home and doing well. We are adjusting to our new lives with two children. Most days are an adventure, but each passing day gets a little easier. And with lots of support from friends and family we are doing just peachy.