The first two nights after Bonesteele was discharged from the hospital were awful. It was like he was a newborn again, but worse, because Bonesteele was a really chill newborn! Two or three times each night, he would just scream inconsolably for twenty to forty minutes. Didn't matter what we did - rocking, swaying, shushing, swaddling. Nothing helped. The only thing that helped at all was Mr N holding Bonesteele very tight until he eventually calmed down. He slept very, very little. And so did we. He also napped very little during the day.
Tuesday night I got about three hours of (interrupted) sleep. Wednesday I took Bonesteele to see his pediatrician for a followup. I mentioned the awful lack of sleeping. The pediatrician cheerfully told me, "That will continue for 7-10 days. It's from a combination of the stress of the hospital visit, and the steroids, which cause hyperactivity." It was really NOT what I wanted to hear. I called Mr N from the parking lot, freaking out. I knew if I continued to only get three hours of sleep a night, I was going to lose it! Mr N talked me back from the ledge and reassured me that we could get through this. He said to forget cleaning, forget cooking, to basically just focus on survival! He said he'd help me as much as possible at night.
Wednesday evening our home teacher came over (a guy from our church) and he and Mr N gave Bonesteele a blessing that he would recover quickly from all this.
And he is recovering, thank goodness! Each day (and night) is a little better than the one before. Last night Mr N had to work all night, so I was nervous how it would go here at home. Bonesteele continued to wake every 2-3 hours (my milk level is still recovering from the hospital stay - he hardly nursed at all while sick, so it went waaaay down), but then he would quickly go back to sleep, and I was able to fall asleep again too. We're still not getting a lot of sleep around here, but much more than three hours a night. So we'll take what we can get. We've only managed to get Bonesteele to take two naps today, but that's an improvement too. His cough is rare and much better.
Thanks for all the prayers, and please keep them coming!
August 22, 2008
August 18, 2008
Bonesteele Goes to the Hospital
Saturday morning, we found Bonesteele had completely lost his voice. I thought he was just a bit hoarse as we had recently started sleep training, so he'd been doing some crying at night. But this was pretty bad. He sounded awful. He was acting pretty normally - smiling and rolling around on the carpet - but the sound of him trying to cry was horrible, so I tossed the sleep training. I figured a day or two and he'd be right as rain. While on the phone with my mother in the early evening, I held the phone to his face so she could hear him. She asked, "Is he breathing through his mouth?" "No, through his nose, his mouth is closed," I responded. Unfortunately for all of us, I failed to ponder the ramifications of that fact. Obviously (in retrospect), this wasn't a matter of sore vocal chords.
Mr N got home from a motorcycle ride in time to watch the Olympics that night. After we watched Phelps win his (totally amazing) 8th gold medal, we decided Bonesteele's breathing was quite bad. He had also started a cough that sounded like a barking seal (which we did not know the significance of). We called our HMO's advice nurse. When she heard Bonesteele's breathing, she said we needed to take him to the ER immediately or call 911. That's when I sort of freaked out.
Off I went to the ER with Bonesteele. Our country's anthem was playing and Phelps was on the medals stand on the tv when I hurried into the ER with my wheezing baby (it was about 11 pm). The nurse at the counter "heard him coming," - he was that loud - and took us straight back into a room (with a door!) and within a few minutes a respiratory technician was checking Bonesteele out. The doctor was not far behind. Bonesteele had croup. They were all surprised - apparently croup season doesn't start until late September here - but once they found out Miss E was just getting over a cold, the mystery was cleared up. Bonesteele got a nebulizer treatment and some steroids in apple juice. I told him his big sister had to wait until she was about 18 months old to ever have juice, so he was quite "lucky."
Around 1 am, the doctor told me she wanted Bonesteele to stay overnight for observation and more nebulizer treatments. The first treatment had helped a bit, but Bonesteele was still breathing laboriously. We got into a room in Pediatrics around 3 am. We were both wasted by this point. Bonesteele had got maybe fifteen minutes total sleep since 11 pm. He was so tired he fell asleep sitting up on my lap. I wrapped him up and laid him in the crib and tried to pay attention while a nurse told me about the room and their procedures for what felt like an eternity (but was probably only twenty minutes). I curled up on the bed and crashed.
For an hour, until someone came in to check on the baby. Poor Bonesteele was so tired he didn't even wake. The rest of the night is a blur - I woke up at one point to find a different doctor checking on Bonesteele. Someone hooked up a cold humidifier to blow onto Bonesteele's face. I slept through a call from my husband at 7 am. I woke up to Bonesteele moving around, fussing to be fed, around 8 am. Mr N called shortly thereafter. I really wanted him to be there with me, as I was still pretty stressed (not to mention still exhausted), but what to do with Miss E? I remembered that my friend K was just barely back from her vacation and was going to church in an hour. "Ask K to take her to church with them!" I told Mr N.
Mr N was able to pawn our oldest off on K and joined me at the hospital. We slept when the baby slept. Bonesteele was like a newborn - he'd wake up and nurse, then fuss very soon thereafter to go to sleep. We'd swaddle him and rock him, and he'd sleep for an hour and a half. We repeated this every two hours all day. He had a few more nebulizer treatments. By 2 pm, they decided to hold off on any more treatments to see if he continued to improve on his own. And they wanted Bonesteele to stay a second night. I realized I was going to need a few more things from home. Mr N left around 3:30 to pick up Miss E from K's (where she had happily played through her nap). He brought her to the hospital briefly so I could see her, and brought the things I needed. They left around 5:30. I tended to Bonesteele and while he slept, I read The Other Boleyn Girl until the light from the window gave out around 8:30. In bored desperation, I downloaded a game to my cell phone. That entertained me for an hour until I could sleep.
Sleep was again erratic and interrupted, but oh well. It's a hospital. I woke at 8 am to see Bonesteele's regular pediatrician listening to his breathing with a stethoscope. He said he wanted Bonesteele to get one more dose of steroids and we were good to check out around noon. We're to go for a follow-up appointment on Wednesday.
So now we are back home, and so glad to be here. Bonesteele celebrated being home by taking a nice 2.5-hour nap and I celebrated by taking a shower! Bonesteele is smiling and laughing, despite the continued barking seal cough. His doctor said that may last for a week. He is breathing easily now, thank goodness. He is four months old today and weighs 17 lbs 10 oz. I love my big boy so much and am so glad he is doing better!
Mr N got home from a motorcycle ride in time to watch the Olympics that night. After we watched Phelps win his (totally amazing) 8th gold medal, we decided Bonesteele's breathing was quite bad. He had also started a cough that sounded like a barking seal (which we did not know the significance of). We called our HMO's advice nurse. When she heard Bonesteele's breathing, she said we needed to take him to the ER immediately or call 911. That's when I sort of freaked out.
Off I went to the ER with Bonesteele. Our country's anthem was playing and Phelps was on the medals stand on the tv when I hurried into the ER with my wheezing baby (it was about 11 pm). The nurse at the counter "heard him coming," - he was that loud - and took us straight back into a room (with a door!) and within a few minutes a respiratory technician was checking Bonesteele out. The doctor was not far behind. Bonesteele had croup. They were all surprised - apparently croup season doesn't start until late September here - but once they found out Miss E was just getting over a cold, the mystery was cleared up. Bonesteele got a nebulizer treatment and some steroids in apple juice. I told him his big sister had to wait until she was about 18 months old to ever have juice, so he was quite "lucky."
Around 1 am, the doctor told me she wanted Bonesteele to stay overnight for observation and more nebulizer treatments. The first treatment had helped a bit, but Bonesteele was still breathing laboriously. We got into a room in Pediatrics around 3 am. We were both wasted by this point. Bonesteele had got maybe fifteen minutes total sleep since 11 pm. He was so tired he fell asleep sitting up on my lap. I wrapped him up and laid him in the crib and tried to pay attention while a nurse told me about the room and their procedures for what felt like an eternity (but was probably only twenty minutes). I curled up on the bed and crashed.
For an hour, until someone came in to check on the baby. Poor Bonesteele was so tired he didn't even wake. The rest of the night is a blur - I woke up at one point to find a different doctor checking on Bonesteele. Someone hooked up a cold humidifier to blow onto Bonesteele's face. I slept through a call from my husband at 7 am. I woke up to Bonesteele moving around, fussing to be fed, around 8 am. Mr N called shortly thereafter. I really wanted him to be there with me, as I was still pretty stressed (not to mention still exhausted), but what to do with Miss E? I remembered that my friend K was just barely back from her vacation and was going to church in an hour. "Ask K to take her to church with them!" I told Mr N.
Mr N was able to pawn our oldest off on K and joined me at the hospital. We slept when the baby slept. Bonesteele was like a newborn - he'd wake up and nurse, then fuss very soon thereafter to go to sleep. We'd swaddle him and rock him, and he'd sleep for an hour and a half. We repeated this every two hours all day. He had a few more nebulizer treatments. By 2 pm, they decided to hold off on any more treatments to see if he continued to improve on his own. And they wanted Bonesteele to stay a second night. I realized I was going to need a few more things from home. Mr N left around 3:30 to pick up Miss E from K's (where she had happily played through her nap). He brought her to the hospital briefly so I could see her, and brought the things I needed. They left around 5:30. I tended to Bonesteele and while he slept, I read The Other Boleyn Girl until the light from the window gave out around 8:30. In bored desperation, I downloaded a game to my cell phone. That entertained me for an hour until I could sleep.
Sleep was again erratic and interrupted, but oh well. It's a hospital. I woke at 8 am to see Bonesteele's regular pediatrician listening to his breathing with a stethoscope. He said he wanted Bonesteele to get one more dose of steroids and we were good to check out around noon. We're to go for a follow-up appointment on Wednesday.
So now we are back home, and so glad to be here. Bonesteele celebrated being home by taking a nice 2.5-hour nap and I celebrated by taking a shower! Bonesteele is smiling and laughing, despite the continued barking seal cough. His doctor said that may last for a week. He is breathing easily now, thank goodness. He is four months old today and weighs 17 lbs 10 oz. I love my big boy so much and am so glad he is doing better!
August 14, 2008
Linguistic Adventures with Miss E
Opening prayer in sacrament meeting has just finished. The congregation says "Amen." Then Miss E loudly proclaims, "A-BEN!"
* * *
Injuries, Bandaids, and temporary tattoos are all "owies." And she "no like it."
* * *
Miss E: Bonesteele want go for a walk.
Me: Oh really?
Miss E: Yeah, he wanna go.
* * *
Injuries, Bandaids, and temporary tattoos are all "owies." And she "no like it."
* * *
Miss E: Bonesteele want go for a walk.
Me: Oh really?
Miss E: Yeah, he wanna go.
August 2, 2008
Story of a Tantrum
Mr N wants the kids to sit nicely next to each other for a picture. For reasons unknown, Miss E bursts into tears:
She cries for a while. By the time she calms down, Bonesteele has decided to join in:
His crying is much more short-lived. Both children are distracted by the television and their red eyes glaze over:
The End.
She cries for a while. By the time she calms down, Bonesteele has decided to join in:
His crying is much more short-lived. Both children are distracted by the television and their red eyes glaze over:
The End.
Update on the Kiddos
Well Bonesteele continues to grow at an exponential rate. I'm not kidding when I say that some mornings I look at him and see he has grown overnight! This morning I had trouble snapping on a size 6-month outfit!
Bonesteele loves Tummy Time. He holds his head up like a champ, looking around with avid interest. He is good for about five to ten minutes, then he starts to shriek in protest. Miss E used to scream and cry after ten seconds of Tummy Time. When I put Bonesteele down on his tummy, Miss E happily announces, "Tummy Time!" and we all lay down on our tummies to keep Bonesteele company.
Little Bonesteele is a thumb sucker. He is quite content while sucking his thumb. Leaves his face a slobbery mess, but he likes it that way!
While sitting in his bouncy seat, or chilling next to Mr N, Bonesteele drools profusely and blows lots of bubbles. He can soak a bib in about two minutes.
Note what is in Miss E's bellybutton.
Miss E has shifted in her preferences yet again. Bob the Builder just can't hold her attention for long. Now she is all about Sesame Street and It's a Big, Big World. I watch both with her (while simultaneously reading my book) - I like to watch out for the cameos on Sesame Street. Seeing Ben Stiller dressed as a giant cheese is funny stuff. Miss E loves Elmo the best, and thinks he is sooooo funny. She also finds the Count quite amusing. I usually try to turn off Big Big World while Miss E is distracted coloring (wasn't an hour of Sesame Street enough??) but Miss E always notices and starts to dramatically cry, "Big World! Big World!"
She is starting to erratically learn numbers and letters. 6 and 1 seem to be easy for her to remember and recognize. She is best at shapes. And constantly points out hearts and suns in books, on cereal boxes, on tv. I had no idea suns and hearts were so common until Miss E started to point them out everywhere.
July 15, 2008
Random Tidbits
Miss E knows the important words and phrases she needs to succeed in life: "Put me down now!", KitchenAid (she says this surprisingly well), "hups" (hiccups), "I need diaper change," and "Ask Daddy!" (I taught her that last one.)
* * *
Bonesteele has started outgrowing some 3-6 month clothes. Eek! He is not even 3 months old yet! I bought him some 6-9 month onesies today so he'll have something to wear in this heat. All the 6-9 month clothes I already had are warm clothes. Because I thought he'd be wearing them in October.
* * *
Mr N went back to work Monday. So long, paternity leave! :(
* * *
Mr N took Miss E to a U-Pick blueberry field on Saturday and they came home with buckets full of the luscious berries. I think berry season is the most marvelous time of the year. I made a blueberry betty yesterday (delicious topped with ice cream), and am going to make double-blueberry muffins tomorrow. Mostly though we have just been gorging on the blueberries!
Unfortunately due to a cool spring, the raspberry crop has been lousy, so we had to satisfy ourselves with a half-flat from the local produce shop.
* * *
Bonesteele is a happy, smiling baby. He is busy:
* * *
Bonesteele has started outgrowing some 3-6 month clothes. Eek! He is not even 3 months old yet! I bought him some 6-9 month onesies today so he'll have something to wear in this heat. All the 6-9 month clothes I already had are warm clothes. Because I thought he'd be wearing them in October.
* * *
Mr N went back to work Monday. So long, paternity leave! :(
* * *
Mr N took Miss E to a U-Pick blueberry field on Saturday and they came home with buckets full of the luscious berries. I think berry season is the most marvelous time of the year. I made a blueberry betty yesterday (delicious topped with ice cream), and am going to make double-blueberry muffins tomorrow. Mostly though we have just been gorging on the blueberries!
Unfortunately due to a cool spring, the raspberry crop has been lousy, so we had to satisfy ourselves with a half-flat from the local produce shop.
* * *
Bonesteele is a happy, smiling baby. He is busy:
- trying to roll over
- almost laughing
- sucking his hands whenever possible (making him wonderfully self-soothing)
- trying to feed Bonesteele grapes (!) when I turn my back for a second
- taking care of her baby bear - feeding, diaper changing, putting it down for a nap
- constantly asking, "What's that?" Her vocabulary is exploding.
July 12, 2008
Lots of Recent Pictures (for the Grandmas!)
Mr. N's foot is in the picture to illustrate how big Bonesteele is now! He had a well-baby check yesterday - he weighed 16 lbs 11 oz and is 25.25 inches long!
Miss E unsnapping Bonesteele's clothes. One of her favorite pasttimes.
I've been using my new KitchenAid to make bread! Miss E loves to ask for a "piece of bread."
Miss E eats oatmeal with great gusto!
June 27, 2008
Kids Update (Pictures Coming Later)
Miss E loves to sing. She will often request of me, "Sing!" Her favorites right now are:
Miss E is also experimenting quite successfully with forming her own sentences. "I drinking the water" as she drinks nasty water from a bucket in the backyard. Mr N tells her they will go for a walk later. She responds, "No, right now!"
Her super-keen hearing is handy. The baby sleeps in the closet (big, walk-in) at night because he likes it dark. I was doing dishes with the water running while Miss E ate breakfast. She looked up and announced, "Baby crying." Sure enough!
* * * * * * *
Bonesteele is getting impossibly chubby and cute! He loves to smile and coo. His main obsession in life right now is getting his fists into his mouth. As soon as he can coordinate it, he is definitely going to be a thumb-sucker.
He usually sleeps from 9 pm - 3 am, then from 3:45 - 7 or 8. His sleeping is still quite erratic though. My post-baby insomnia has returned (had it something awful after Miss E was born). This morning Bonesteele woke at 1 am, then 5 am. I never fell back asleep after that second waking. Finally decided to just get up and ride the exercise bike for a while. Might as well do something constructive if I'm not sleeping right? Hopefully by the time Bonesteele is about 4-5 months old I can get him sleeping through the entire night, so I can get some more sleep each night!
Somehow Bonesteele can sense when I have left and Mr N is in charge of the house. Then he promptly wakes up and cries until Mr N grudgingly agrees to cuddle him in the crook of his arm to nap. Then Bonesteele snuggles in for a snooze. Tricksy, no?
- If You're Happy and You Know It (which she calls "Happy and ya know" while stomping around clapping sporadically)
- Mister Sun (She sings this by singing the word sun over and over)
Miss E is also experimenting quite successfully with forming her own sentences. "I drinking the water" as she drinks nasty water from a bucket in the backyard. Mr N tells her they will go for a walk later. She responds, "No, right now!"
Her super-keen hearing is handy. The baby sleeps in the closet (big, walk-in) at night because he likes it dark. I was doing dishes with the water running while Miss E ate breakfast. She looked up and announced, "Baby crying." Sure enough!
* * * * * * *
Bonesteele is getting impossibly chubby and cute! He loves to smile and coo. His main obsession in life right now is getting his fists into his mouth. As soon as he can coordinate it, he is definitely going to be a thumb-sucker.
He usually sleeps from 9 pm - 3 am, then from 3:45 - 7 or 8. His sleeping is still quite erratic though. My post-baby insomnia has returned (had it something awful after Miss E was born). This morning Bonesteele woke at 1 am, then 5 am. I never fell back asleep after that second waking. Finally decided to just get up and ride the exercise bike for a while. Might as well do something constructive if I'm not sleeping right? Hopefully by the time Bonesteele is about 4-5 months old I can get him sleeping through the entire night, so I can get some more sleep each night!
Somehow Bonesteele can sense when I have left and Mr N is in charge of the house. Then he promptly wakes up and cries until Mr N grudgingly agrees to cuddle him in the crook of his arm to nap. Then Bonesteele snuggles in for a snooze. Tricksy, no?
June 19, 2008
I Have...
(the items in bold are things I've done)
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids (Mayan)
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
34. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter
What about you?
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids (Mayan)
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
34. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter
What about you?
Miss E's Stats
At her 2-year checkup yesterday, we learned that Miss E weighs 31 pounds and is 35 inches tall! What a big girl! (92nd percentile for weight, 85th percentile for height.)
Her articulation continues to improve. She likes to copy what we say. "Clean shirt." "Why?" "Geez." Mr N and I often remind each other that "The Sponge" is listening to what we say. It helps us keep our language prim and proper. She has started using manner words with prompting. That makes us very happy. She also shrieks "Put me down now!" when we change her diaper. That makes us laugh.
Her articulation continues to improve. She likes to copy what we say. "Clean shirt." "Why?" "Geez." Mr N and I often remind each other that "The Sponge" is listening to what we say. It helps us keep our language prim and proper. She has started using manner words with prompting. That makes us very happy. She also shrieks "Put me down now!" when we change her diaper. That makes us laugh.
June 10, 2008
June 6, 2008
Miss E Hits Two Years!
Wednesday was Miss E's second birthday. She spent most of the day fishing with Daddy at Detroit Lake.
When they got home, we had a little family party. There was a cake and presents!
Miss E is growing and developing at an astonishing rate. She seems to learn something new every day. Here are some insanity-producing things she has just started doing:
Here are some adorable things she has just started doing:
When they got home, we had a little family party. There was a cake and presents!
Miss E is growing and developing at an astonishing rate. She seems to learn something new every day. Here are some insanity-producing things she has just started doing:
- Shrieking randomly and loudly.
- Taking off all of her clothes and her diaper in the morning in her crib. Luckily, no accidents yet. Sometimes we duct tape her diaper on. Oh yes, we do.
- Whining until we pay attention to her.
Here are some adorable things she has just started doing:
- Yesterday she nursed her baby doll, put it to sleep in the bassinet, and put it in her shopping cart. She told it to "sit down" in exactly the voice I use to ask her to sit down while shopping.
- Last week we went shopping as a family. Dh manned Miss E while I browsed around with the baby. Miss E ran from rack to rack, pulling things off, holding them up to herself and announcing, "This is cute!" What can I say, she learned to shop from the best.
- She finally started saying "I love you." The 'love' is hard for her to form, so she says the whole sentence very slowly: I...wuvvv...you. Picture my heart bursting into a million pieces.
June 5, 2008
Bonesteele's Blessing
Bonesteele hangin' out with his big sister.
"Yeah, I'm MAN enough to sit in a pink bouncy seat!"Bonesteele was blessed June 1 by Mr N at our church service. Lots of family was able to attend - it was so nice to see everyone! Mr N said Bonesteele would be a happy baby and that is certainly true so far. Bonesteele has started smiling and cooing a lot in the past week. He is a sweet baby, and very low maintenance. He is easy to put to sleep, though he is still waking every 3-4 hours at night.
Isn't Uncle B's hair so pretty? (hee hee)
Saturday most of the family went to the coast. Grandma N, Bonesteele and I stayed behind. We had a nice relaxing day and went for a long walk around the neighborhood. The Ns at the coast went to Pacific City. They ate at The Pelican (highly recommended) and played on the beach. Miss E got totally soaked, as she is impervious to the cold! She had a great time running in the frigid waves of the Oregon Coast.
Sunday morning was the blessing. As I was dressing Bonesteele for church, I discovered to my dismay that his adorable christening outfit was too small - it didn't even fit over his head! So we had to quickly improvise. He wore a white onesie and the little white shorts from his christening outfit. With a hand-crocheted blanket wrapped around him, no one was the wiser.
After sacrament, everyone headed over to our house. We all chatted and had a good time. Some uncles earned their keep by playing with cousins M & E in the backyard until they were all exhausted. I made the crowd homemade chili and cornbread. It was weird but fun to make such massive batches of food. Since it was the Ns eating, there were barely any leftovers. Ha ha By Sunday evening, everyone had left, and it felt awfully quiet in our house! We had a great weekend and I'm really glad so many could make it for Bonesteele's blessing.
June 4, 2008
Mr N Goes Under the Knife
Mr N had a septoplasty on Wednesday May 28. It was a surgery to fix his deviated septum. We underestimated how hard it would be on him! He had to wear a mustache mask for several days, and was in a lot of pain. He couldn't pick Miss E up either, which turned out to be nearly impossible for him (he only followed that rule for 2 1/2 days). Ladies in our ward at church very nicely provided two delicious dinners for us.
Mr N was on Vicodin for a while, and slept almost all of Thursday and much of Friday. There is no rest for the wicked though - Friday evening family started arriving for Bonesteele's blessing. He was quite tired by the end of the weekend. Monday morning he had a follow-up appointment, and everything seems to be going pretty well. There was a scare Monday evening that perhaps one of his nasal passages had collapsed, but it seems that hasn't happened. His breathing now is quieter than I have ever heard it, and he seems to be snoring quieter and less often. Mr N reports that for the first time in his memory, he can breathe out of both nostrils!
Mr N was on Vicodin for a while, and slept almost all of Thursday and much of Friday. There is no rest for the wicked though - Friday evening family started arriving for Bonesteele's blessing. He was quite tired by the end of the weekend. Monday morning he had a follow-up appointment, and everything seems to be going pretty well. There was a scare Monday evening that perhaps one of his nasal passages had collapsed, but it seems that hasn't happened. His breathing now is quieter than I have ever heard it, and he seems to be snoring quieter and less often. Mr N reports that for the first time in his memory, he can breathe out of both nostrils!
May 15, 2008
Pictures of My Little Ones
Miss E tries out the new table. (Thanks Mom!!)
Power to the people!
Check out that hair color!
April 22, 2008
April 19, 2008
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