Friday, November 27, 2009

Happy Disneyland Joli!

Since we weren't too sure of what Joe's schedule was going to look like this next month we decided that instead of a birthday party for Joli, we would go to Disneyland. She thought this was a great plan. When we got to the park I wanted to get us some Mickey ears so we went into the Mad Hatter to pick some out. Joli tried on a bunch of hats while she waited.
Finally we got the ears we wanted, and Joe even had them put our names on them!
We then headed straight for Toontown because we heard that Mickey was at his house. The line wasn't too bad, but for a three-year-old it was lacking in excitement.
Once we got inside Joli wasn't nearly as excited as we thought she'd be. I think she was expecting more than just Mickey.
We had some lunch and then explored Toontown a little more.
After Joe and Joli went on the Roger Rabbit ride, Joli saw that Minnie had come back. So we got in line to see her.
We had to entertain each other for a bit.
Finally we saw Minnie! Joli was very excited!
Inside Minnie's house there was a cake in the oven that said "Happy Birthday", we told Joli that Minnie was making it for her.
Joli also thought it was very cool that Minnie drinks tea just like she does!
While we were waiting in line for It's a Small World, the early parade started. It was really fun to see all the characters.

There was an older couple behind us in line that thought Joli was just adorable as she blew kisses to all the characters.
One of the things Joli had to go on was the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Joe stepped up for that one.
When we walked by the 45 minute ride for Dumbo we saw that King Arthur's Carousel had no line, so we made a little change in our plan. Joli didn't mind.
I was very selective in the rides that I rode but this one was pretty mild.

Apparently Joli is now afraid of the dark because she loved the entrance to Pinocchio but then cried through the whole ride. Same thing happened on Peter Pan which she totally wanted to go on!
Had to get a shot of the Winter Wonderland castle.
There is a new attraction called "Pixie Hollow" that has the cutest entryway.
We didn't realize that all "Pixie Hollow" was was meeting the fairies, so after I took this picture we decided we didn't want to wait 45 minutes for that and went and got dinner.
After dinner we went and scoped out a spot for the nighttime parade. We found a good one right up front too.
Next we went on Pirates of the Caribbean, which Joli also cried on, but since it's mine and Joe's favorite ride we told her to suck it up. Then we went to the Haunted Mansion which they redid as Nightmare Before Christmas and that was awesome. Finally we made it to Winnie the Pooh, and celebrated afterwards with a birthday cupcake.
On the way out they had some cool window displays. I really like this one.
We told Joli that she could pick out a present on the way out and that would be her birthday present. I didn't really want another stuffed animal and I was really excited when she picked something fun that we could do together!
We had a wonderful day and now we are all going to sleep!!

Thanksgiving

So I didn't take a single picture of Thanksgiving but if you head over to Kacie's blog she took a ton!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Feel Better Mommy

Today was a hard day. Didn't feel good most of the day. Threw up some. Finally took a nap around 8pm. Joli's been making me get well cards for a few days now, but apparently it just wasn't cheering me up enough...
I woke up and she said "Look Mommy! So you can be happy!". Joe was not too happy, but the two of them cleaned it all up.
Now the markers are put away and we have explained that she is only to color on paper. I didn't tell her, but there were actually some great smiley faces in her work. Oh yeah, the drawings went all the way around the room. On the door (front and back), on every wall, and the furniture. Now that she's sleeping I'm totally laughing!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Princess For a Night

Tonight was Joe's holiday party and it was a full on formal event. I was so excited to get all dressed up. Kacie wasn't really but I tried put some of my enthusiasm onto her. Before the ball we went together to get our hair done. I LOVE having someone play with my hair!
Then we went back to Chris and Kacie's and finished up the getting ready process. I think we did a pretty good job.
The guys cleaned up pretty nice too!
I was actually able to eat dinner as I had both mine and Kacie's husband making sure the waiters brought me the vegetarian option for dinner, since chicken is now a dirty word to me. Blah! They also brought me ice chips and rolls! Thanks guys!!
After dinner there were a few speakers including some celebrity guests. I knew a few of them were but I did my best to embarrass my husband when Rob Lowe walked on stage. I also tracked him down afterward. Oh yes that is him with his arm around me!!! I was a ridiculous school girl. I actually told him that I watch him every Sunday and burst into giggles when he said I looked excited! Whatever, it was Rob Lowe!!
It was so nice to see all the girls that I haven't seen in so long. They were excited to see me out and not throwing up!
The guys were goofy as usual, but we wouldn't want them any other way.
Kacie had a few drinks and was absolutely hilarious! Her sentences ran together like they were all one word but totally not even on the same topic! It was great!
I had to dance of course. Didn't make it as long as usual but I couldn't just sit still with all that music going on.
Abby also drank most of the wine supply and I couldn't help but laughing at how funny it is when you give all the Mommys a night out.
I had about eight glasses of water and was thoroughly excited as I haven't been able to drink water in about five weeks.
Joe was very entertained that I kept airing out my dress when I started to sweat.
One last picture of all of us looking pretty before we headed home to our children and our beds.
Nothing like cuddling with your daddy when you just so tired.
And now it's bedtime!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Faces of Joli

Last night Joli wanted to draw some pictures and I was thoroughly surprised to see that she had drawn her first face!!
She was so pleased with my reaction that she continued to draw more faces for me.

There ended up being about seven total but these were the best pictures I could get. I'm so proud to see that she's reached another milestone!!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Just So You Know

It has occurred to me that from a distance it may be difficult to understand the severity of the "Morning Sickness" that I am experiencing. Even before I was pregnant this time around, I looked back on my experience with Joli as though it couldn't have been that bad or that I could beat it somehow. Of course now that I'm in the thick of it, all of those memories have come flooding back and I am remembering why it has taken so long for me to want to do it again. As I write this I am hoping to not only help all of you to understand and realize I'm not "faking it" or "being dramatic", but also so that if I ever lose my mind and decide to do this again I will have some sort of diary to look back on.

Last week Kacie found a wonderful article that describes in great detail most of what I've been going through. Even with all the information it is still very lacking in describing how difficult your life can become during such a time. Which is why I have decided to describe what a typical day in my life looks like when I am home by myself and how vastly different it is when there is someone else to help.

Home Alone:
I typically wake between nine and ten depending on how much noise Joli is making. I stumble to the back door and let the dog out and try to make it back to bed without stopping at the toilet. Since Joli is laying next to me watching t.v., I check my emails and then lay with her thinking about the things I would like to eat. I try to only think of things I know we have because it is more realistic, but since I haven't been able to walk into a grocery store in almost five weeks, it's hit or miss. Once I decide on something I then have to muster the energy to go get it, and since I may or may not have eaten in the past 24-48 hours, it is a challenge in itself. As soon as I stand up a vertigo/blackout thing hits, and the swirling motion sends me to the toilet instead of kitchen. Once I am satisfied that there is not a single ounce of stomach left and am able to stand, I try to go to the kitchen. As soon as I open the refrigerator door an array of different scents hit my nostrils which sends me back to the bathroom. That is when I decide it's easier to just get back in bed.

Before too long Joli is hungry and goes to the kitchen and gets some sort of combination of juice box, string cheese, fruit leather, and fruit snacks. She brings it back for me to open and then has a picnic while watching cartoons on my bed. Around one or so I get the idea in my head that if I go out in the living room I won't feel as bad. So I get up very slowly, grab my blanket, stop to let the cats out of the garage, and then go lay on the couch. Less than five minutes later Brody is at the back door whining the come in, that cats have jumped up on the counter and knocked something over, and Joli has climbed up on my dresser and spread lotion all over her body. I get up and yell at the cats while cleaning up their mess, tell Brody sorry, and then ban Joli from my bedroom causing a record breaking tantrum because she "just wants to watch a movie!!!!". I shut the baby gate and then go back to the toilet. While I'm in there Joli continues screaming, but louder so I can hear through the door, and the cats start grabbing my leg under the door.

At this point I decide that I am going to eat something. So I go in the kitchen, plug my nose and look at ONLY what I came for. Once I get it made I have to sit and relax and try to force it down. I usually take a bite and then Joli's in my face complaining that she wants some even though when I make it for her she won't touch it. I give her a little and hope she goes away. She doesn't. I take a few more bites and then between the pressure to force it down and the pressure to share, just end up giving it to Joli. Now when I eat something, it is essential that I sit for while and let it settle. But usually about thirty seconds after I've given Joli the food she either spills it or one of the animals knock it over. So I jump up and yell at the guilty culprit while searching for a towel without getting too close to the kitchen sink. The sudden movement sends me back to the bathroom and this time I have three bites of food to come back up! Now this is where it gets tricky. Seeing the food in the toilet makes it worse, but the spinning water from flushing makes me dizzy and more sick. So it's kind of a lose/lose situation. This is where I close the bathroom door and lay on the floor for awhile.

Now repeat that last part about two more times and that is most of the rest of the day. At this point it is somewhere between eight and nine, and I'm completely exhausted and still have not eaten. So I lock up, put the cats away, bring Brody and Joli in my room, and Joli and I watch t.v. until we fall asleep.

When I Have Help:
I wake up and realize that I'm not home alone so I slowly get up and go sit out on the couch to talk to them. They ask me if I'd like anything, an then go into the kitchen and get whatever it is. I sit and eat what I wanted while this nice person makes Joli something too. I continue to relax while Brody is fed and cared for and Joli is helped into some clothes. Then said person comes and sits with me and we chat about all sorts of things. If I need something they get up and get it for me so I don't have any kind of head spinning problems. This person hangs out and entertains Joli, picks up whatever kind of mess is being created, and is just there in case I need anything. Most of the day is pleasant and before I realize it I've had at least a few meals. When it starts to get late, whoever is helping gives Joli a bath if she needs it and then helps her into her pajamas. It's getting closer to ten at this point and I'm pretty tired so Joli and I go lay down and fall immediately asleep. After a day or two of this pattern, some of my strength is back and we are able to do things like go to the park or to Starbucks. I mostly sit and watch, but I am out of the house and not throwing up!


It is easy for those that see me when I'm out of the house to think that I'm over dramatizing what is actually happening, but for those that come when I've been alone for a few days, they know it's not a joke, and there's a good chance that a day or so more would have put me in the hospital. So far I haven't gone more than 48 hours without food or fluids, but that's usually because Kacie and Chris rescue me before then. They have both helped me with anything that has needed to be done around the house. They've gone grocery shopping for me, and anytime Joli needs to get out of the house Kacie comes and gets her. Right now we are pretty much staying with them so that Joli and I both get fed. Luckily for them it's only for a few days until Joe is home again!! I've also had Laume and Jess stay with me, and that was a huge help as well. Jess felt so bad for me that she cleaned most of the house including my toilet so I wouldn't get even more grossed out when I was throwing up! I am so lucky to have such great family and friends. Now let's just hope that Joe can fill their shoes!


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fun Day!

Today Kacie came and got Joli to take her to a kid's concert. Joli had a blast!! She's a music lover!!!
Kacie brought Joli home with her and did some fun Montessori activities. Joli was so excited to have some structure.

She actually got a well balanced meal today!!

I've been wanting to do this game with her and I'm so excited Kacie did it with her.

We all headed over to Abby's for dinner and then the kids had a group bath!
Once the babies got out of the bath Joli and Syrus had a blast!
Before we left Abby read a bedtime story with the kids mostly sat through.
Joli came back to Kacie's house with her to have a little slumber party and here's Joli "watching a movie before bed".
What a nice day!