Still Smiling Through the Pain

Melanie was sleepy & fussy most of the day on Sunday, so I was fearful she was getting sick. My fears were recognized at 5am today (Monday) when she registered a 100-degree temperature. So, she called in sick to daycare, and I called my parents' at 6:45am. My mom got up, got showered, and got to our house in time for me to still spend 15 minutes walking around trying to figure out what I needed and get to work by 9:30.

Mel is such a little trooper, she is still smiley and a sport although I think she's pretty achey - as is evidenced by her fussiness every time we move her. She basically stayed in bed all day today, and would play around for a little while before finding her thumb and therefore her sleep. One major way you can tell Melanie is sick is by her lack of energy - which she typically has plenty enough to go around!! This picture was taken at one point when my mom was trying to cool Mel down.

My mom is staying the night tonight with the anticipation that Mel won't be fit to go to daycare tomorrow - we're supposed to have her out for a full 24 hours when her temp hits 100. Are you sensing a theme with the last several posts and the presence of my mom?!?!

Overnights

Melanie and I stayed the night in Frankfort on Thursday night and Friday night (Jeff joined us on Friday night). In an unexpected move, my mom did overnight duty both nights!! It was dreamy (literally)!! Melanie decided to show her Grandma that her parents must be nuts to say she gets up so many times overnight; she slept great for Grandma! My mom is better at willpower than we are; when Mel would wake up, my mom would just rub her head until she went back to sleep; she understood that she didn't need to eat every time she woke up. In theory, I understand and subscribe to that. In practice, though, I'm lazy and I'll do anything to get some more sleep, so I give in and feed her - and then she doesn't eat much (because she's not actually hungry!!) So, it's my new resolution to get over these nighttime feedings, even if it takes listening to some fussing and thumb-sucking. Last night, however, she really did need to eat twice - she had 4 ounces at one point, and then during the 5:00 hour, she had 3 ounces - but maybe that isn't necessarily considered over night. It is to this sleepy girl, though!

Thursday night Mel had her first non-family babysitter - that is, if daycare doesn't count! My dad and I went to see my sister's newest Children's Theatre production, Alice in Wonderland. Since my mom was the "backstage nazi" (so titled by the kids), I needed some help with Melanie. My mom's friend and neighbor Kim watched her for about an hour and a half, and they had a great time playing! Kim and my mom became friends when they were both pregnant in 1975; so it is fun that Mel got to play with Kim at the same age I did! I don't know if it's perceived as a good thing or a bad thing that I'm completely comfortable leaving Melanie with other people. For me, though, it's a good thing. The show was awesome; Julie had another hit! Now we're just waiting for her next big hit, Baby Miller, due any day now! Well, technically, s/he is due on July 7. My personal preference - since it counts for a lot! - is July 3.

Thanks again, Mom, for giving us two nights of uninterrupted sleep! Now I just hope you feel better before Baby Miller arrives!

A Life Well Lived

On Friday night, we celebrated our friend Matt Smith's life. Matt and I grew up together - albeit several years apart. Our families were friends, and we played many a game of kick the can together. Matt was called home at the age of 33 - about three years ago - leaving a wife and three children behind.

This is our second year of attending the Matt Smith golf outing. The outing was started as a way to raise money for Matt's family. Just as one example of what a legacy Matt left, each year his wife Brooke donates half the money raised back into the inner-city Pittsburgh community where they live.

Every time I have the opportunity to look at Matt's life, I am humbled. He led a life that is a true testament to Jesus Christ and his love, and he lived it every minute of every day. Those of us - like me - who recognize God's love, but have a hard time sharing it, can definitely learn something from Matt. There were no less than 100 people in Frankfort last night to raise money in Matt's name. These are people that Matt knew from Frankfort, from Ohio, and from Pennsylvania.... and represent only a fraction of the lives Matt touched.

When Matt was diagnosed with cancer, and had a young family, it would have been very easy for him to turn inward and lose sight of the Lord. Instead, he continued to dedicate his life to his Savior, and taught everyone who came into contact with him that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

I was extremely humbled, as I always am, by learning more about Matt's life. His wife Brooke and three kids - Maddie, Grace, and Jackson - continue his ministry in the inner city of Pittsburgh. http://www.newhopeneighbor.org/yeskids.htm

We should all look to Matt as an example of what a relationship with God can be. One thing I know for sure: When Matt met his Maker, he heard the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I will strive - and fail, and continue to strive - to do the same.

7 ounces!

Last week, we learned that Mel had gained six ounces in three weeks. This week, she had gained SEVEN ounces in ONE week! Yay Melanie :) As of today, she is 10 pounds, 11 ounces.

My mom came over to spend the night last night, and then had the fun job of getting Mel's four month shots and meeting with the doctor. Everything went well, the doctor once again is very impressed with her development & strength, and tried to convince my mom that shots do not cause autism. This is a tender subject with me, that I won't get into here!

Melanie has not been eating much of anything the last couple of days - and I'm trying to read her cues a little better so we're not spending all of our time trying to feed her, versus time when she can actually have bigger meals. Easier said than done!

We are anxiously awaiting Baby Miller, who is technically due in two weeks, but can come any day now! Melanie cannot wait to meet her cousin, and we can't wait to meet our new niece or nephew! Stay tuned!

Seeing Cousin Charlie!

Yesterday after Mel's big excitement of getting her photos taken (it wore her out!) - we went to Frankfort to see Randy, Cory, and Charlie. We had a great dinner at Marshall & Brenda's and were endlessly entertained by Charlie running back and forth (and back and forth and back and ....) on the pool cover. Mel also got to see Aunt Julie while we were at the Bells'.

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We are very blessed to have not only such a great family, but a great extended family. Brenda (Cory's mom) and her sisters have taken over the costumes for my sister's upcoming children's theatre production. Yes, that's right, Julie is 9 months pregnant and directing a show next week. The fact that our families can count on each other for things like that is amazing. I told Cory, before she even met Randy, that I wanted to raise our kids so they'd be friends with hers. Little did I know how blessed we'd be that our kids would be COUSINS. That Randy, he has good taste, no? (sorry, Cory, I know you've heard that story a hundred times)

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Miss Mel has found her voice - she is babbling non-stop this weekend! Jeff pointed out that she takes after her Mom. So, good times are in store for everyone!

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We went to church this morning and put Melanie in the nursery, which so happened to be the same room(s) she's in for daycare. When we came back after the service, she was in a room all by herself with a caregiver - how's that for attention? She had fallen asleep, and the woman (girl?) said she did great. She's really finding her independent streak now that she's at daycare. Again, good times are in store for everyone if her independent streak is anything like her mommy's......

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Doctor called tonight - apparently he's been calling over the weekend but was calling my work number! He said everything looks "normal" - and walked me through each of the tests. A couple were on the "high side of normal," but he said there is nothing that concerns him now. The next step is to do some samples of her "output" (I won't go into details and gross you out) - she has her four-month appointment on Tuesday - yes, a little early - so Grandma Doan is going to take her to her appointment and then do the samples (and shots!).... She will have a fun morning.

Test Results!

Well, I haven't talked live to the doctor yet, but the nurse relayed that all of the blood work came back normal! She indicated that Doc would call me Friday evening, and I didn't hear from him - but I'm sure I will soon. I have faith that if there were any areas of concern, I would've talked to him last night. Of course, I was asleep by 8pm last night, but either way, there was no phone call :)

Melanie had quite an exhausting morning. We got her photos taken at Portrait Innovations. This place was fabulous. We walked out of there (after the photographer spent nearly two hours with us!) WITH our pictures! Great turnaround time! We also got a CD with ALL the photos he took on it! The CD doesn't include any cropping or formatting, but still! I'm impressed. Melanie was asleep by the time we left there, way too much smiling for her :)

Next Step

We had Melanie's doctor checkup yesterday afternoon, and she weighed in at 10lbs, 4oz (this is slightly lower than her weight last Saturday, but that could have been due to a wet diaper on Saturday!)

Anyway, the doctor was very impressed by her development, activity, and demeanor. He re-confirmed that she's eating enough and we're doing everything we're supposed to. However, he, like we, wants to rule out any underlying medical reasons for her slow weight gain. Babies at this age should be gaining about six ounces a week. Miss Mel gained six ounces in the last three weeks!

So today Grandma picked Melanie up from daycare and brought her over to the hospital for some bloodwork. For some reason that I'm now second-guessing, I met them there for the blood to be drawn. Melanie did not like this procedure, but luckily for me Grandma held her during the test. Immediately afterward, when she was back in my arms with the big ole' arm wrap on, she was smiling again; so I don't think there is any permanent damage :) I then brought her over to the office to feed her and show her off a little bit! We should have the results by the end of the week.

In other news, last night Melanie graduated from the bassinet to the pack & play, didn't get swaddled or put in her sleep positioner....I wouldn't say it was her best night of sleep ever, but I want to give her a little more freedom, and if she wants to roll over and sleep on her belly, she can go for it! We still have her in our room for our own sanity since she can't make it through the night without eating. She has slept in her crib, so we know it's possible - but we're just not up for it yet!