poor sicky baby

We have a sick little baby in our house.  Ruby's had a fever of 102 since Monday morning and it is NOT getting better.  The only thing that makes her feel better is watching Sesame Street while lying down on me.  She falls asleep like that, which hasn't happened since she was like 3 months old.  She is so miserable.

Last night we finally called our pediatrician.  We were told to come in because she hasn't had a wet diaper since Tuesday night, which is obviously not a good sign.  The doctor checked her heart, lungs, ears, mouth, and everything looked perfect.  Annoying.  So they put a catheter in the poor girl to check her urine to see if she has a UTI.  It was HORRIBLE.  She got back at the nurse by peeing all over her and the table.  They had to give us a onesie because her own shirt was soaked.  I guess she had a lot saved up in her little bladder.  We got to hear the ear-piercing scream that is reserved for the doctor's office--it makes her crying and yelling at home sound like an adorable mewing kitten.

It was all for nothing though--she doesn't have a UTI.  There's a 1% chance that her fever is coming from a  terrible scary malady that the doctor didn't specify.  The other 99% is that she has some virus that will hopefully work itself out.  I'm supposed to give her Tylenol, force her to drink a ton, see how she does today and tomorrow, and then call again.

So it looks like we'll have another lay on the couch day.  I am going a little bit stir-crazy but definitely don't want to take the poor bunny anywhere. It is so sad to see her like this--sooo not herself.   The doctor wasn't worried about her hydration because she's got plenty of tears and saliva, but I'll be relieved when she starts peeing again.

Best Thing #4

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the 4th Best Thing about my life right now.  Christy and Danny and the girls living in Salt Lake has greatly improved my life!  The only beef I have with them is that they live a full hour away.  Luckily, that hasn't stopped us from hanging out about twice a week.  The increase in our gas budget is worth it for the increase of my happiness (hopefully Kyle agrees).

Ruby loooooves Christy and her kids.  She gives Christy lots of hugs.  She plays with Lucy like CRAZY.  It is so fun to watch them run around together.  Ruby basks in the attention that Lucy gives her.  She also loves Joyce and Lydia!  She talks to them and gives them pats, it is really cute.

Hanging out with them definitely brightens my week.  We usually hang out on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Lucy's non-preschool days.  Today is Thursday and I'm not hanging out with them because Christy made plans WITH SOMEONE ELSE.  Rude.  Jk.  We also all get together on Saturdays sometimes, which is fun because Danny and Kyle get to hang out with each other.  Last week we went up there and babysat each others kids so we could both go on a date.  Kyle and I went out for brunch at this place in Salt Lake that has the BEST sourdough french toast, and then went to an enormous antique mall.  We then babysat their kids while Christy and Danny went out, and then we packed up all the babies and all went to The Pie for dinner. It was such a fun day!

Christy and I have wanted to live near each other for years.  We still think it's so exciting that we can go to lunch together, go shopping together, and make crafts together.  We're living the dream!  Now all we need is Katy here too!  The ultimate dream is to have a little Anderson Row on some street.  Someday.


Today is boring until Kyle gets home from work.  Then we are going to celebrate Groundhog Day by eating Costa Vida and getting my eyebrows waxed!  (That sounds weird.  Yesterday I got a haircut from Kerry and planned to get a wax, but we ran out of time so I'm going back today.)

The 3 Best Things

If asked, I would say that things are...good.  Not AMAZING, but definitely just fine.  The best things about life currently: Ruby being sooo funny and cute, Kyle being the most helpful and thoughtful man in the world, and Felicity.

RUBY.  She is insane.  She zips around the house, talking and playing with everything she can get her hands on.   Ruby talks CONSTANTLY.  She is a little babbler and I know it has meaning.  Sometimes she will look at me and say the same thing over and over again, waiting for me to get it. She is obsessed with her guys--Bunny and Tigger of course, and now also Abby and Nemo and Dumbo and a couple babies she has.  She feeds them, gives them juice, holds them and kisses them, pushes them in the stroller, and she's even starting to pretend to change their nonexistent diapers.  

Her favorite game is "Where's Bunny and Tigger?" which she plays with her dad.  She is really good at finding them after Kyle hides them and has started to hide them herself. Kyle and I just sit on the couch cracking up when she does this, it is so cute and funny.  

Ruby wants to dress herself.  She tries to put on her socks and pants by herself until I eventually help her because she is not even close at being able to do it.  It's so cute!  She tries putting on my shoes and I just about die. She does the signs for "more" and "all done" and she can say hi, bye, more, mama, dada, and no.  Caitlin is also pretty sure she said basketball yesterday at Timmy's birthday party, but I didn't hear it :)  Ruby looooves brushing her teeth with dad.  When we tell her it's time to say prayers, she comes and kneels down at the ottoman and usually folds her arm for a couple seconds.  Next we'll work on not giggling through the prayer and poking my face while I try to pray.

Ruby loves to count.  Not with numbers, of course.  She counts using made up numbers but the exact right inflection, it is so cute.  She does a big loud "DEEE!" that mimics how I sound when we get to "TEN!" It is adorable.  I now wake up every morning because it is so loud when she jumps in her crib, her new favorite activity.  Luckily, it keeps her extremely happy and entertained so I can sleep in.  When I do get her up in the morning, she points to her diaper to let me know she needs it changed. She loooooves Sesame Street, particularly Elmo.  She freaks out with joy when I put on the Elmo cd when we're driving.  We watch an episode while eating breakfast, and it makes her eat soooo slowly.  She loves it.  

Ruby is amazing and every night Kyle and I tell Heavenly Father how grateful we are for her.  

KYLE.  Guys, how did I get a man like Kyle?  He does everything for me.  By the time he gets home from work, I am completely wiped out and feeling sick and exhausted.  As soon as he gets home (from his own long and trying day at work), I get on the couch and he proceeds to do EVERYTHING.  He feeds and takes care of Ruby, he feeds and takes care of me.  He does the laundry and the dishes and cleans the rest of the house.  AND he manages to do it all with a smile on his face, to keep me from feeling too extremely guilty that he is doing everything by himself while I just lay on the couch.  He says that my biggest job is just to survive and grow this baby.  He really understands how miserable pregnancy can be, and he tries to make me feel better any way he can.  The other night I was feeling desperate for chocolate so he went to his nightstand and got out a Milky Way he had been secretly saving for just such an occasion.  COME ON THAT IS AWESOME.  He is amazing.

FELICITY.  Is it weird that a 90s show would be such a lifesaver these days?  Ok, so at this point in my pregnancy I am SO TIRED.  There are days when I have to let Kyle know that he is married to Zombie Becca at the moment.  All I want in the world is to TAKE A NAP. Buuuut I am also having trouble going to sleep at night--like, getting in bed at 9:30 and not falling asleep until 3.  SO I am trying really hard to not nap during the day, because that really kills nighttime sleep for me.  The hardest part of the day is during Ruby's nap.  I have like a 2 hour stretch of time when I don't have the energy to do anything but sit on the couch, but I CANNOT let myself go to sleep.  So. Enter Felicity.  It is the only thing that is capable of keeping me awake during those times.  Mostly because of how AWESOME AND DRAMATIC AND COMPELLING it is.  I remember when it was on when I was a kid, not nearly old enough to understand or even watch it.  Even without watching it, I knew that I LOVED Ben and didn't understand the appeal of Noel.  OH HOW I'VE GROWN.  Noel is now my faaaave and Ben is just cute.  When anything happens between Noel and Felicity, my heart literally jumps in my chest. That's how much I love them together. Thanks heavens for Netflix, which has all 4 seasons on Instant Play.

8 weeks

We found out I was pregnant on Dec. 30, after getting a negative result on Christmas.  I took the test after Kyle got home from work because we just couldn't wait until the next morning.  I left the test in the bathroom without looking at it.  I was certain it would be negative and was dreading the disappointment I would feel. When it was time to look, I started crying a little because I was sure it would be negative.  Kyle held my hand and walked in with me to look. I couldn't believe it was positive. We were dumbfounded and just hugged.

That day we told some friends and called Kyle's family.  Barbara's excitement is what first got me excited instead of just shocked.  She was at Carolyn's house in Amarillo because Carolyn had just had a baby (Julian, who we can't wait to meet! the first boy in the family!), so everyone thought it was hilarious that there's another grandbaby on the way.  Her first reaction (and Carolyn's) was "Are you serious?"  It's a good thing Grandma Barbara loooooves her grandkids.

Two days later my family came to town and we told them in person during 2nd Christmas.  Mom screeaamed. It was a really fun surprise for them.  Christy took a couple pictures right after they found out.

Bawling.

Then screaming.

I've decided it's much more fun to find out with Kyle.  With Ruby, I took the test while he was at work.  I spent all day freaking out, but not being able to tell anyone.  I had no idea how to tell him either.  I definitely prefer him knowing the same instant I do.

I am feeling fine. Very tired, occasionally nauseated, but nothing even close to when I was this far along with Ruby.  I haven't even thrown up yet! I am really grateful that I can take care of Ruby without extreme misery and needing help from everyone around me. I'm also grateful that I can eat!  Sometimes I feel so normal that I can't believe I'm pregnant. It's almost worrisome. I'm trying to just enjoy it while it lasts.

We are assuming it's a boy.  I feel so different from last time, and people say that boys make you sick later than girls.  Of course everyone and every pregnancy is different, but it's fun to think of a little boy in our family.  (But then I think about a little girl and that is equally exciting.) Kyle's mom and dad visited this weekend and bought her a little baby boy doll when we went to Blickenstaff's. He is so cute!  Ruby puts in his (magnetic) binky and pushes him around in the stroller they gave her. I hope she's so helpful when it's a real baby.  (Although I think I'll take over stroller duty for a while.)  Ruby LOVES babies right now so I hope that stays true.  She is so gentle with Christy's twins.  She is so excited to see them, but just pats their heads softly and talks to them instead of getting rowdy.

Long Lashes

Yesterday, my friend and co-sister-in-law Lindsay came over and gave me eyelash extensions!  She is training to get certified as an extensionist so I was the lucky guinea pig who got extensions for free. I have wanted to try it for a long time but was always too nervous/poor so this was just awesome.  And I LOVE IT!!!!

I keep looking at myself in the mirror and batting my eyelashes.  I am going to have to refine my flirtation skills to include coyly looking up at Kyle from under my lashes too.

I made these pictures small because it was freaky to see huge eyes on my blog, especially my own eyes. And no one wants to see my pores in that much detail.

Lindsay did awesome and I am really happy with the result.  I'm a real girl now!

uhhh

I spent the week with my family, who were here to move in Christy and Danny. Their house in Salt Lake is super cute and I am so happy they are here!  Ruby is going to have so much fun playing with her cousins, and I finally get to shop with Christy whenever I want.

There is a strong possibility that I am going to get eyelash extensions soon and I am FREAKING EXCITED. I have the dumbest stubbiest little lashes, and I have always been bitter about it.

I just scheduled my first OB appointment with the doctor who delivered Ruby and I am thrilled because I LOVE HIM.  This guy cut me open and hefted my uterus so you could say that I trust him.

I don't feel pregnant still.  I'm not sick yet, praise heaven!  Just reaaaalllly tired.

Ruby discovered that snow is the Most Fun Thing Ever.  Today we spent nearly 2 hours outside playing. It was a welcome diversion from her other afternoon activity--throwing tantrums every 5 minutes.  Little punk.

Super excited for the New Hampshire primary tomorrow!!

20 Questions

Here are some things you may be wanting to ask me, even if you didn't know it yet.

1. Do you still like the purple in your hair?
Yes yes yes yes.  I'm liking it more and more. I'll probably keep it up.

2. What's your current TV addiction?
Obviously Voyager.  Kyle and I are in the 6th season and it's still awesome.  I also am secretly obsessed with Vampire Diaries but let's keep that quiet.

3. Who do you like in the GOP 2012 race other than Mitt Romney?
Tough--there are good and bad things about all the candidates.  Even when pressed, I think "Newt Gingrich--oh wait, no, there's that thing.  Okay how about Huntsman--except no, remember that one thing?  Ron Paul!  Uhh...no, he is delightful but kind of crazy."  So basically, they're all better than Obama, but Mitt better win.

4. Are you pregnant?
Yes, yes I am.

5. What about--wait--seriously?
Ahuh.

6. When is the due date?
August 30

7.  Did you plan this?
Yep.

8.  Isn't Ruby a little young for you to be having another baby?
Well, yeah, but Katy and I are about the same spacing as Ruby and this baby.  It turns out that Kyle and I both feel pretty strongly about having kids close in age.  Me because I know how great it is to have close siblings, and Kyle because he wants to be an empty-nester as soon as possible.

9.  Aren't you a bit freaked out?
Understatement.  I'm terrified.  The memories of pregnancy and childbirth and those newborn months are still fresh in my mind.  But I decided I'm willing to sacrifice ease and comfort for a few years, for the next eternity of my kids being close--in age and hopefully relationship.

10.  Are you secretly hoping for a boy or girl?
Secretly, a boy.  I have a name I'm pulling for, and it'd be fun to have the first boy in my family.   He'd almost be the first boy in Kyle's family too, but Carolyn beat us to it on December 27th.  Of course, girls are awesome and less mysterious to me and we have a ton of girl stuff, so that would also be incredible.

11. What kind of birth are you planning?
I am having lots of thoughts about doing a VBAC or another C-section.  I don't want to talk about it in comments or the blog in general, it's way personal and not anyone's business but my own, and it's a highly charged subject that involves lots of feelings and opinions and I am easily bugged by it.  And I need to talk to a doctor anyways.  Plus that's months away.  PLUS it might not even be in my control. So let's just avoid it and everyone can be happy!

12. When did you decide you wanted to do this?
I didn't even start thinking about this until Victor from Rice King strongly encouraged us to have another baby a few months ago.  Um, it's pretty much a given that I will do anything Victor tell me--except try something on the vegan menu.

13. How do you feel?
Fine. I'm 5 weeks along, and with Ruby I started getting sick at 6 weeks.  I am making the most of this week and eating at all my favorite places!

Ok, 13 questions is enough.  We're very very happy and excited!!!!