Sunday, December 02, 2007

I'm baaaaaaack....

I’m still here, really I am. It’s just been so darn busy around here lately that I have neglected this blog quite terribly. But now that I am back, I will try and post a little more frequently.

Sooooo, so much to say.......let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

Jenna’s preschool ended the end of October and since then, I’ve been feeling that she needs some sort of regular structured play time so she will be starting UNPARENTED, hold on, I’ll say it again because it gives me great joy….UNPARENTED playschool in January for 2 days a week for a 2 hours each class. It’s not that I don’t enjoy hanging out with her during the day, it’s just that I’m not all that great at long hours of play with a toddler and she really needs interaction with other children. She loves school, more importantly, the School Bag. She did very well at school (not that I can say that about every child there!!) and she made me very proud as she sat on the matt every class joyfully singing songs, listening to stories and making beautiful pieces of artwork that always hangs proudly on our Fridge-o-crafts. She’s just so darn sweet! Lately she’s taken to sitting for what seems like hours (toddler hours = 20 minutes in this house) just coloring pictures for anyone she can think of and then decorating it with lovely stickers. I always make it a point to completely gush over every piece of scribbled on paper she hands to me and she just loves that I make such a big deal and that ear to ear grin warms my heart like no other grin in this world.

In other news, Jenna now has a little sister, who she sweetly and ever so proudly calls ‘baby seesta’. Jolene Emily was born on October 28th at 12:02pm weighing in at exactly 4lbs and measuring 17” long. She wasn’t supposed to arrive until Dec 3rd (which coincidently is tomorrow) but she just couldn’t wait any longer and entered this world 6 weeks early. I had a lot of problems with high blood pressure towards the end of the pregnancy and it actually had me in the hospital quite a few times but in the end, I ended up with preeclampsia and there was no other option but to deliver. Thankfully, Jolene was very healthy, just little so she stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks to help fatten her up. It was the longest 2 weeks of my life and I really didn’t think I’d make it through. Thanks to help of my MIL who stayed with Jenna while I was in the hospital and right up until Jolene came home, we all survived unscathed. I knew Jenna was being well looked after so I focused all my time and energy into getting Jolene well enough to come home. The guilt of not giving Jenna the time she needed, deserved and was use to was overwhelming but nothing that a lot of candy, chocolate, hugs and kisses didn’t cure. It just proves the fact that children are just so resilient!

Jolene is now 5 weeks old and growing like no ones business. She was able to leave the hospital weighing 4lbs 8oz and at her Ped appt 2 weeks ago, she already weighed 5lbs 3oz. This whole new born mothering is a lot tougher than I ever imagined (kudos to those who have multiples!!!) but I’m fumbling through it like every first time mother (to a new born that is) before me. I was quite spoiled with Jenna as she came home with us when she was already almost a year old and was such and excellent little baby. I’m amazing myself at how well I can function with such a miniscule amount of sleep. Things are getting better though and I’m sure, soon, (please God soon!!!), that she will be sleeping through the night. Until then, there will just be days where the house looks like a garbage dump, days where my hair hasn’t been washed and greasier than all hell, and days when I will wonder….”what have I done to my ever so peaceful life???”. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t think those things every now and then but in all honesty, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I will always be thankful for having the opportunity to be a long awaited first time mother to my Jenna who, in my eyes, is the most loving, patient and well behaved little girl I know, thankful for being blessed with the opportunity to give birth to a very spunky, very healthy, very sweet little baby, especially after having tried for 8 very long years, and just thankful for all that I’ve been blessed with over the last few years. It’s funny how much life can change in 3 years….it amazes me everyday. Oh ya, did I mention the husband? Well, I’m very thankful for him too!! (most days!)

Here are pictures of my new family!

Jolene just minutes old.










Hanging out in her magic bubble!









My sweet little sprout.









Chillin' out at home in a nice tight papous (as my girlfriend calls it!)









Daddy with his girls (and his famous "enough with the camera" joking face)









Jenna loving her "baby seesta" to death! So sweet!

3 comments:

K said...

Congrats, Gigi (and Gary and Jenna)!! It's sooo great to get this update. I've been anxiously awaiting it.

Jolene is lovely, and Jenna looks like she's a fabulous big sister. That last picture is wonderful.

I know you're busy and sleep deprived these days, but I hope you can update the blog occasionally.

~gita~ said...

Aawww....miss Jolene is such a cutie =). Big sister Jenna must be so happy to have a lil seesta to play with :). Congrats.

Beth and Shayna said...

I am just catching up, my goodness you have been through a lot. Congrats on Jojo, she is a cutie. And Jenna looks like she is in love too.