Busy as a Bee

We don’t really have a nickname for Garrett, but I have started calling him Baby Bee. I’m not really for sure why, but I guess that’s the funny thing about nicknames. This post isn’t about nicknames, although Garrett is called all kinds of things throughout the day and the subject might make for a good post….

Anyway, when I called him that tonight as I was getting him ready for bed it made me think of how busy I have been the last two weeks. It seems that Garrett has turned a corner in development and I have reluctantly increased my hours at work. In case, you were wondering or missing me at all this is the reason. I have also been trying to organize our cluttered house and get rid of a few things. I thought I might have a chance to work on my ‘side projects’ at some point, but I haven’t figured out how to work those in yet. I think once the clutter is gone and I finish past projects (like organizing our endless supply of pictures, getting Garrett’s scrap/baby book current or painting his step stool) I will get the chance. Looks like I have a touch of ADHD, starting so many things at once. I have always said I have too many hobbies.

It doesn’t look like Garrett has that problem as he keeps trying and trying at everything. He is now holding everything like a pro, rolling over and inch worm crawling! (At least that’s what he looks like when he does it.) He has a tooth cropping up and loves to laugh. Oh and he has started lifting up on his arms and raising his belly. It’s the cutest thing in the world! What’s not to love about this baby? He makes it all so very worth it when it’s put into perspective. So that’s what the pictures in the post are for, a reminder if you will of how the good Lord does answer our prayers.

Like I was saying, I am now working 30 hours a week as opposed to a mere 15. We were just getting by- mainly because I have a few bills that take up what I do make and because of a loan and car payment. I hate not being more capable. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the news that we have to have flood & hurricane coverage effective immediately. It seems the powers that be in the insurance world decided that anything in our county east of the waterway is in a more liable area for disaster. Which isn’t really a surprise considering we are less than 2 miles from the ocean. What did surprise us is the cost of the insurance, it’s going to be an extra $3000 a year. Whoever said “When it rains it pours”, knew exactly what they were talking about because we have had financial misfortune back to back since our tree fell down last August. I’m hoping this is the last of it. We are still paying off Bryan’s appendectomy, along with our doctor and hospital bills. Hopefully, we can pay enough of those to get a nice tax deduction.

This all leaves little free time for me and I am trying to be a big girl about it and not be too disappointed. Garrett and I are working on a new schedule. That’s taking up some precious time, too. We have to be up early now regardless of Daddy’s. Bryan and I have been doing good, to me that’s a testament of our love and lets me know we can make it through anything! God willing I will be able to start a business of my own that generates enough income to get us ahead, allows me to be home with Garrett and let’s me use my God-given talents (because, I have tons of ideas). I also hope my eczema clears up for GOOD…those are my prayers. But, the most important job I want to have is the ability to spend as much time with Garrett as possible.

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Pumping is for the COWS!

A man must have created this odd suctioning contraption! For no woman in their right mind would have created anything that looks so sightly. A woman would have at least created it hands free. I hear they do make a bra now specifically for a pump…which, I’m sure was invented by a woman!

So, the first time I tried the sucker on (no pun intended) I literally couldn’t stop laughing- I wasn’t for sure if it was the sight or sensation, either way it wasn’t one of joy.

Of course, now it seems commonplace. Heck, I can even do it in the front seat of my car in a full parking lot or in the backseat of a moving vehicle as cars pass by and neither phase me.

Although, it is a godsend, especially in light of my issues when Garrett was only 2 weeks old. I rather wish it wasn’t necessary. (For those of you who don’t know, I landed a staph UTI infection (MRSA) courteous of our hospital and their wonderful job delivering Garrett) Let me quickly elaborate: because of the infection, I was forced to take antibiotics for 9 days. The antibiotics I needed were too strong for Garrett since he was under a month old, which meant I had to PUMP and DUMP.

PUMPING and DUMPING is pure EVIL. Why, well because breast milk is liquid gold, especially when its coming out of your own boobs and especially when you have already established breastfeeding with your baby! At the time, I was miserable (read HORMONAL and very very Postpartum) I cried at the drop of a hat. So imagine the flood waters when I had to feed my baby formula and still had to pump and see my milk be p-p-p-p-ooooo–uuu—rrrr—eee—ddd down the drain. I shutter now, even thinking about it.

Luckily, we both got through the ordeal, but not without a couple of minor issues. Because I needed antibiotics immediately, Garrett was abruptly removed from my breast and given a bottle. You can imagine how upset he was, I’m positive he sensed how insanely distraught his mommy was given the situation too. After the antibiotics ran their course, I resumed breastfeeding- however, being so eager to get back to my baby, we didn’t ween him off the formula. This inevitably lead to another week of painful poo (we wrecked havoc on the poor little guy’s stomach). What’s more, Garrett was afraid that he might loss the boob again and became a CLING-ON. Therefore, week 3-6 of his life were very very emotional and dungeon-ness. He refused to be anywhere but at my breast or he screamed bloody murder. He has finally let go of this tendency but still requires the ‘NINNY’ in order to go to sleep. (NINNY a.k.a. BOOB)

Now as you can imagine, pumping really annoys me. Because although, it did help me keep my supply…it did dwindle some too. Pumping and dumping was hard to do while trying to feed him at the same time or at least in the same intervals, all while Bryan was working 14 hour days and no one was around! I’m not throwing a pity party over here, I’m just saying it was out of the ordinary and difficult given the circumstances.

The point to my blog, wasn’t about going into my ordeal, but rather to explain the irritating device and the upkeep of keeping it clean and having to deal with bottles. I really can’t stand it. When all I really need to do, is give my boy the ninny and life is good. Ahh, if only it were that easy. Since I am working again, I have to pump about twice a day to keep up my supply and some days I’m lazy because its a pain in the A@# to haul the contraption to work and stop what I am doing and go to the vehicle and pump in 100 degree weather! (It usually takes 40 minutes, just because I have to cool the car down first or I’m sweating like a pig!) And that’s what drives me crazy, I could be home and not going to all this trouble, I could be feeding him myself and then I remember all the different reasons I am pumping and I realize this is what being a mother is.

I guess it could be worse and I could be pumping as I work. Poor cows.

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Counting our blessings

I really want to simply share some blessings Bryan and I have regarding Garrett. I think well enough time that I say that, because too often I find myself complaining about the things we don’t have or the what if’s and I really need to take the time to soak in how blessed we are.

Blessing #1 :
Bryan’s schedule is very grueling and at the same flexible. He goes in most days around 2pm and gets home between 11:30- 12:30 at night. I’m fairly used to this, although I do miss when I used to cook dinner every night for him. Yet, it is because of this very schedule that I am able to work part-time and we can afford not to get a babysitter. Getting a sitter or sending Garrett to daycare would be awful in my opinion. I’m not fond of the thought of anyone keeping him until he’s over the age of 2 or 3, unless its family. I don’t have any particular reasoning for this, I just don’t like the idea. So, point is Bryan gets to keep him and I go to work for about 7 hours every other day. If we need a certain day to change, Bryan’s boss is very cool about changing things around and he tries to give Bryan an extra time off that he can since he knows we have the little one.

Blessing #2:
I have a very lenient job! Although, by no means a well-paying one, it benefits us by giving us extra money on hand and doesn’t leave Bryan with the sole responsibility and burden of providing for all our bills. I am able to go to work at any hour so long as I get my job done. It isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life but it works for now. I am able to work 20-25 hours with our arrangement a week. I couldn’t imagine going back to work full time and leaving Garrett. (I just read about this on another blogger’s page, called The Daddy Files.)

Blessing #3:
With our schedule so crazy, it’s natural that Bryan and I rarely have time together, we usually are anxious to get in ‘ME’ time before we get to ‘US’ – its a must, this way we are recharged for one another and not snappy with each other. Well anyway, along with the ‘ME’ time, we have to get chores and tasks around the house done. Somethings, unfortunately are impossible to accomplish with baby in tow. The main loser to this equation ends up being our once beautiful lawn and flowerbeds. Before baby, Bryan maintained the yard and I the flowerbeds. Today they are a sight for sore eyes. Bryan has tried 2 times to get outside to mow, all to be beat by rain once I arrive home from work. On Monday, the 3rd attempt, the lawn mower wouldn’t start. He was ready to borrow the neighbor’s when it began to rain again!!! Yesterday, as I was upstairs I heard a lawn mower and thought, “Hmmm…is that coming from our yard?” I ran downstairs and went outside and there was our neighbor mowing OUR front yard for us. I ran toward him and tried to convince him otherwise, with no luck whatsoever. So, I told him he couldn’t mow the backyard or Bryan would have my head! What is even more amazing, Bill is over 70 and mowing our lawn. (He’s in pretty good shape, though) I felt bad but really blessed, too because they are always doing so many things for us. They are our family here and without them we would be in trouble.

Obviously, we have many many more blessings than that…but these are the ones I wanted to share at the moment. I have been ‘counting my blessings’ everyday since Garrett has been born. Funny what a little person does to the soul. 🙂

Side note: Bryan received some passes to try the trial run of ‘The Red Robin Restaurant’ opening up near the mall. In honor of all Bill and Agnes do for us, we are taking them along with us on Friday. Bryan and I have never been to this restaurant before, so be ready for a full review! I’m looking forward to our outing as a family!

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