Do cats really get 9 lives?

April 10, 2012

I always loved that old saying that cats get 9 lives, but I'm really starting to doubt its validity.  My poor little Nika is 12 years old.  She was Joe and I's FIRST "baby".  Last week she got really sick and stopped eating.  She began vomiting all the time.  We found a vet that does house calls and she came out and diagnosed Nika with pancreatitis.  We are basically in the process of trying to pull this cat back from the brink of death.  I feel proud of the lengths we are going to to try and save our kitty.  Unfortunately, I fear we are losing the battle.  Here's what our efforts look like...

Each night we have to heat up her IV fluids and give them to her

These are her anti naseua medications- 2 doses/day

Hanging the bag for her nightly treatments

My least favorite part, having to stick her...

Super Dad- Who does all the needle pricking- holding her down for one of her treatments

Holding her in place while she's hooked up to the IV

In addition to these treatments, we have to force feed her 3x's a day.  She cannot eat dry food and is now on baby food.  We have to put it in a syringe and squirt it down her throat.  This whole process has been heart wrenching but we continue to do it in hopes that we can get those 9 lives out of our little kitty!  Yes, we are totally attached to our cat and I hope we can save her.  

I'm 3 and I can ride a bike :)

March 23, 2012

Ryder has been riding a balance bike since he was 18 months old.  For the past few months he has repeatedly asked for a bike with pedals.  We decided his 3rd birthday would be the perfect time.  Joe, being the bike enthusiast that he is, found the perfect bike.  Its just like his first bike but now has pedals, a chain (completely covered which prevents Ryder from playing with it and keeps him from getting the painful chain to the calve), and my personal favorite- BRAKES!

Being the environmentally conscious Mommy that I am, I "wrapped" Ryder's bike up with the newest in gift wrap, reusable wrap.  Some might call it a blanket, but don't be fooled, this is high quality, premium, grade A - GREEN reusable gift wrap, which of course means you can purchase it for a premium cost.

Reusable Green Wrap- not only environmentally friendly but inconspicuous too

Ryder loving his bike and ready to test it out!

Shortly after our photo op, Joe put Ryder's helmet on, knee pads, and elbow pads.  You can never be too prepared for that first bike ride with pedals and no training wheels.  About 10 minutes later they came back.  I thought for sure they come back due to injury.  Not the case.  They came back because Ryder was RIDING HIS BIKE!  Joe summoned me to see this momentous occasion first hand.  I can't believe it.  Just a few days shy of turning 3, Ryder can fully ride his bike.  And we have the video to prove it.  So very proud of my not so little guy:

In closing this post, a little reminder of where it all began.  People always ask how Ryder learned to ride his bike.  We purchased his coaster bike at 18 months.  It was a Christmas gift so we used it inside only.  We just pushed Ryder around on it and he would sit on the floor and spin the wheels.  He just played with the bike, and got familiar with it.  By the time the weather warmed up, we pushed him outside on the bike and little by little he began kicking his feet and lifting them up for a little ride.  It didn't take long before he was coasting on it.  Needless to say, I've become a huge advocate for coaster bikes.

Ryder's first bike- 18 months

Coasting on his coaster bike

Riding down the stairs....

The great CAKE baking...

March 29, 2012- Thursday

Today I start on Ryder's Birthday Cake!  He has requested a train cake.  Actually, he originally asked for a Thomas Cake, but as I was researching he saw the "candy train" and has insisted he wants the candy train. Who could argue that?  Candy AND frosting?  Seems like a no brainer to me....I know this train is going to be quite the process, but I'm game.  My cake baking began on Ryder's first birthday and from that day, I committed I'd bake his cake EVERY birthday to follow.

Getting started on the cake....

A "little" home made butter cream frosting....

The Train Cake - Pre Frosting (Day 2)

The Finished Product- Happy 3rd Birthday Ryder! (Day 3)

End Note:  It took 3 days to make this cake!  Note to self, pregnant women's body temperature is VERY high which heats the icing while you try to decorate= high frustrations.  I had to stop every 10-15 minutes to put my piping bag in the fridge to cool it down so it wouldn't run off the cake....With many breaks, I prevailed and Ryder got the cake he wanted!

Interesting Factoid:  Do you know why they call a pound cake a pound cake?  Because there is a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, and a pound of eggs... Apparently, this is common knowledge but it was news to me!

27 WEEKS- The countdown is ON!

March 19, 2012- Monday

I'm so excited to be 27 weeks!  We are getting so close!  At my OB appointment last week, Dr. Rosenberg, broke down the rest of pregnancy for me.  He explained that from now until 30 weeks will be the most critical time for us.  We really want to get through the next 3 weeks without any issues.  If we can get to 30 weeks, and something went wrong and we had to deliver early, the babies would still most likely be ok.  Once I hit 34 weeks, if I were to go into Labor, they wouldn't even try to stop it.  They would deliver the babies and they would most likely do well at that point.  He also told me that we will not go passed 38weeks, so that countdown is officially ON!  We have a maximum of 11 weeks to go.....

27 weeks and not sure how much longer I'll fit in this chair

27 week belly- still lucky with no stretch marks :)

The ART of manliness

March 12, 2012

Today is our 26th week of pregnancy!!!  Another week down and 12 more to go.  This week, I can't think of anything more appropriate to blog about than my husband. People often tell me what a great job I'm doing in this pregnancy and those words mean so much to me.  But I'd be remiss if I didn't say that I owe so much to my husband.  He takes the meaning of being a MAN to a whole new level.

It's hard to even know where to begin.  From day one of finding out we are expecting twins, Joe has been my rock.  I know its cliche but its true.  After the shock wore off and we arrived home from finding the news, I had a total breakdown.  I started crying wondering what we were going to do. How would we afford two more babies?  We needed new cars, the day care costs, and the the concerns flooded me.  Joe was so calm and reassuring.  He told me it would be great and we would make it work.  Since that day, he has continued to be calm and reassuring in the face of each concern we've had along the way.

Now, here we are at 26 weeks and things are way different than I had ever imagined they would be.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have a hard time letting others do things for me.  I'd rather just do it myself.  I have to rely on Joe for so much.  And he does it, without asking, and without complaining.  Not only does he tie my shoes every morning, but he makes dinner, he cleans the house, does our laundry, and takes care of Ryder.  It's absolutely amazing to see him in action. He has sacrificed so much of his time to take care of our family.  It's truly an art to see how he manages to do 30 hours worth of work in a 24 hour time span.

I have to just end with how our day went today, a very typical day in the life of my husband, the man.  Ryder wakes up around 6:30am.  Joe rushes out of bed to get him to the bathroom and takes him downstairs to play while I try to roll myself out of bed.  He makes the family breakfast, gets Ryder dressed, and himself ready for work.  I pack Ryder lunch.  By 8:30 (we were running late this morning, thank you day light savings) Joe has Ryder loaded in the car and they are off to school and Joe heads into work.  Before I start my work day, I email Joe our grocery list.  He not only works all day long but goes and gets the groceries and comes home and makes dinner.  After dinner, I was really struggling with more contractions than we feel comfortable with.  Joe sends me to bed and he and Ryder build towers and play trains.  I'm laying upstairs listening to Ryder's giggles and can't help but think, "Wow. I truly married an amazing man!"  After they finish playing, Joe gives Ryder a bath, gets his pajamas on, and brings him into me to read him a bedtime story.  While Ryder and I read, I can hear Joe downstairs doing dishes.  When the story is over, Joe puts Ryder to bed.  Seriously, I'm awe stricken.  Now, Ryder is in bed and Joe is getting on his bike for a little ride that he couldn't squeeze in during any other time.  While managing all the needs of our family, he is still vigorously training for a running race.

Words cannot truly express the gratitude I have for my husband.  I am absolutely amazed by the lengths he will go to take care of our family.  He has selflessly given of his time and himself in so many ways.  When i think about how hard this pregnancy is, both physically and emotionally, I look at my husband and am reminded how lucky I am.  It's not just hard on me, its hard on him as well.  He doesn't complain.  He just does it.  He makes things happen.   For those of you that wonder how I am getting through this pregnancy, the answer is simple.  His name is Joe Walsh!  I couldn't be more proud of him or happier to call him my husband.  He's truly the backbone of our family.  We love you, honey!

The man behind it all <3 <3 <3

25 week update

March 9, 2012

Today I am 25w4d!  I can't even believe it!  Yay for the pace of pregnancy picking up!  Today was my bi weekly appointment with our MFM to measure the growth of the babies, check dopplers, and fluid levels.  I am so excited, relieved, and grateful that the babies are doing so well.  Baby A measured 1lb 9oz ( my little peanut) and Baby B measured 1lb 12oz!  They are measuring 9% difference in size (down from 16%) This is the BEST news we could have received today!!!  It still blows my mind to think I am carrying over 3lbs of babies!!

Baby A with her foot up by her head- showing off her flexibility ;)

Baby B's Big Foot

My MFM told me that my uterus is already measuring at full term.  (NICE).  He asked if I have had any contractions.  I explained to him that I typically get a few each day, with no regularity, and that they are almost always in the evening after a long day.  OR if I've been on my feet for too long. He advised that if I get more than 4-6 in an hour to call my OB right away.  He also said he wanted to do the Fetal Fibronectin Test today.  The test measures fFn secretions from the cervix which can be indicative of preterm labor.  If it were to come back positive, they'd admit me to the hospital and give me steroids to help develop the babies lungs. He performed the test and boy did it HURT!!  It was fast, though, and I was glad when it was over.  Next it was time for the cervical check and my favorite, the contraction simulation.  He told me to watch the screen as he applied pressure to my stomach and joked, "This is what happens to your cervix when you lift up your son."  We watched the screen and nothing happened.  He said, "WOW.  Yours didn't even budge, impressive!"  He measured my cervical length and it was well above average. He told me how impressed he is with how well this pregnancy is going. He said this is not what they typically see with ID twins!  What a great appointment!  Its a great way to start the weekend.  We couldn't have asked for a better check up!!!

Big Brother so excited, might as well have a cupcake!

ATTN: FF MOMMIES

This post is for my FF Mommies!
Did you know you can find us on Facebook.... wait am I allowed to say Facebook on my OWN blog? hmmm.... ;)

If you want to join us you can befriend me here and we'll get you added to the group:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=542472448