The Great Indoors

Well, yes, we survived hurricane Sandy.  We were very fortunate that Monday and Tuesday were more (or less) of a vacation for us.  Besides being unable to sleep Monday night due to the branches hitting our house and the seemingly never ending howling winds, it was a nice two days of rest and relaxation-- well as much as you can get with a two year old and a 3-month old.  
It was nice being able to spend time with the kids and just hang out.  I did use my time wisely by cleaning all of Bryce's toys, and getting the laundry completed (in the even of power loss we wanted to have clean clothes)-- but the other 80% of the time was spent mainly watching TV or reading....well, mostly watching TV.  

Bryce learned how to use headphones to watch Sesame Street:

That was pretty funny watching him be entranced with Sesame Street on our headphones.

Ryan got to wear her pumpkin shirt and headband for the last time!!!  Then we worked on our tummy time until she was all pooped out.

Alert and up....getting a little tuckered out...

And, we're out...

Living a Double Life

I would just like to pontificate a bit today on the in's and out's of living a double life.  Some might refer to this as the norm in the corporate world of a working mom, but nonetheless, I must point this interesting subject out. 

At work, formality and corporate lingo rules the day.  It's all about FILO (First In Last Out), the professionalism displayed in your clothes and your emotional intelligence, and whether you had anything intelligent to say during a meeting.  At home, it's about avoiding spit up, a temper tantrum (that's Bryce's), and a kitchen that's exploding with bottles, sippy cups, and toys.  In a way, in my world the pendulum swings from one end of corporate clothes and formality to the other with multiple trips to Toys R' Us for diapers, diaper genie refills, and the bottomless pitt of wipes.

Just sharing some thoughts...that's all.

The Pumpkin Patch (& More)

Well, we made it.  To the pumpkin patch that is.  I hesitate to write more than just that statement, because really, I think that everyone got the memo. For real people, did you all have to show up at 5pm on Saturday?  
There's the issue of parking, then there is the issue of 'free doesn't really mean free', and finally, there's the issue of too many people.  Let's address each individually:

1. Parking-- Apparently, at this pumpkin patch, the motto must be, park where you want and hope you don't get a car ding.  There are really no 'spaces' per se, more like open grassy areas where you just wedge your car.
2. 'Free'-- did you know you can go to a Pumpkin Patch for free?  But, if you want to go on a hayride, play on a playground, or pet the animals, you must pay.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that big of a deal to do shell out a few bucks here and there, but it's more of the point of the matter.  Just a tad annoying.  So needless to say, we didn't do any of that-- not that I minded though-- it was a kid zoo there, so I had no problem avoiding all the germs and runny noses that were awaiting Bryce on that playground.
3. People-- too many.  Way too many.  Kinda felt like China.  Seriously.

We got a few 'free' pics:

This is about as good of a pic as we could get

This is Sean trying to get Bryce to smile.

This was the reward-- dinner at our favorite diner.

Working on eating his 'tree'.

And, in other news, we have a super sweet boy.  This was pretty funny the other day.  He was checking on Ryan for me.  Literally.  And Ryan just loved looking at her big brother.

This is what happened the other morning when I walked in.

Pretty sweet.

First Week at Work Recap

Well, I survived.  More importantly, Sean, Bryce & Ryan survived as well.  Everyone did so well this week.

Here's what is happening in the mornings:

• Ryan wakes up periodically at 2am, 3am, and/or 4am.  She is not fully awake at these times and she's not hungry, but she tends to just wake up. So, like a horrible mother, I let her sleep next to me for those last hours, I mean, I need my sleep...  She'll typically doze back off with the help of a binky and being close to me-- except for Thursday.  Ryan and I were both awake at 3am that day-- guess who got to go back to sleep around 7am?
• 5:15-5:20am-- I wake up to express milk while watching the news.  For those that are familiar, I typically pump about 10-11oz at this time-- totally a crazy amount.  Almost as much a can of coke.
• 5:40am-- finish getting Ryan's bottles together for the day
• 5:45am-- Ryan has usually woken Sean up by this point and is ready for her first bottle.  Sean feeds her.
• 5:45am--shower and start getting ready for the day (hair/makeup)
• 6am-- "Daddy, I'm poopy" is heard from Bryce's room repeatedly for about 10 minutes until we go in and get him.  It's funny because Bryce hasn't really gotten the concept of getting out of bed himself yet
• 6:05-6:50am-- chaos ensues.  Getting Ryan ready (easy) and getting Bryce ready (not so easy these days).  Grab Bryce's lunch, sippy cups, Ryan's bottles, and binky and pack the car.  
• 6:50am- I finish getting dressed and try on a few different shoes with the outfit I've chosen-- this takes at least 5-10 minutes, and I typically go with the first pair I put on.  (Thank goodness I'm not really a shoe princess so this helps to minimize mirror time).
• 7-7:05am--  Sean and I load the car with babies.  I grab pump bag, phone, laptop.  Sean and I typically both have to go back inside the house to get something we forgot.  
• 7:10am-- The Reedy family arrives at daycare (yes Reedy family, Sean and I have to both go since we are down to one car these days-- that's another story for another day.)
• 7:10-7:20am-- get Bryce to sit in a little seat at the little table and eat his breakfast.  Get Ryan to the infant room, put her bottles in the fridge and get her set up either in her crib or in the swing or on the boppy.
• 7:20am-- breathe a sigh of relief and Sean drives me to work
• 7:40am-- Turning my computer on at my desk.  Thank goodness.

Just like our mornings, our evenings are just as crazy (if not more so, just due to the dinner/bath/bedtime structure).  

As for work, I really enjoy my job.  It's definitely fast paced and high stress, but I have a lot of fun in pharma marketing, and I definitely feel the need for this intellectual stimulation.  I know not everyone subscribes to this line of thinking, but I feel like I am a better mom with me working.  It makes me cherish my time with my babies when I have them, and it makes me want to continue to pursue my career to provide everything they want and need.  And, even more important for me these days-- it gets my head out of the 'maybe she'll hear me today' thinking for Ryan. Looking forward to more early mornings, long days, and weary weeks.  Thank goodness for caffeine.

Mommy and Me

Spending time together is the favorite part of our day. Ryan is enjoying daycare and her teachers love her. But the best part is watching how she reacts to everyone she knows.

Tummy Time

Ryan was happily working on her tummy technique this week. She's learning to smile-- so much fun!

Haircut

Q: Who didn't want Bryce to get a haircut?
A: Sean and Me. Which means everyone else 'suggested' he get one.

I guess it was a little unruly.
Here's the new look!!

Note, a cookie was his reward for doing so well!!!

This week's videos

Some little videos just for fun:

First day of school for Ryan.  Bryce is such a super big brother.  (Ignore the mommy voice...)

Bryce and Ryan have their pumpkin shirts on from grammy Krenz.  Teachers at school got a kick out of their matching shirts!

Bryce received this outfit from Uncle Dan.  It's hard to see, but he has monkeys on his shirt.

Ryan's First Day of Daycare

Well people, the time has arrived.  Ryan had her first day of daycare on Monday, which means she is getting older and older by the second, and more importantly means that I have to get myself back into a routine for work. I start next Monday the 15th, and I (rightfully so) gave myself a break this week by having two kids in daycare.  Between going to the gym, taking naps, and talking on the phone the day passes so quickly.  Oh sigh.

I will say I'm super excited to go back to work for the following reasons:

• I won't get on Sean's last nerve and he won't get on mine.  Sean works from home when he's not traveling, and this 'extra' time together is getting to be a little to 'extra-ish'.  :)
• Intellectual stimulation.  I crave intelligent conversations, the hectic days of work, and all the chaos that goes with being in the office with work colleagues. I really enjoy my job and my team, and I can't wait to be back in the craziness of pharma marketing.
• The Hoda and Kathie Lee show is getting a little old.  Don't get me wrong, I love them, but after awhile it's all the same thing.
• The new Katie Couric show isn't all that fantastic either.  Thank goodness I TiVo it so I can forward through all the boring guests.
• To get my mind off of all things related to Ryan's hearing.  It's good for me not to dwell, and with extra time on my hands this is easy to do

Although I'm excited, I know that a work schedule also means a hyper-focused 'mom' at home.  Everything (and everyone) will be on a strict eating/waking/getting dressed/getting baths/going to bed-- type of schedule.  Without this structure I know I'll go insane.  So think of us next week on Monday, because the next chapter in our lives begin:  Reality in the Reedy Household with two kids.  Exciting times!

Big brother smiling with baby sister in front of 'school'! 

Bryce was excited to help escort Ryan inside!

Ryan in her classroom!

In her crib! 

Back at Nemours

Sean and I are back at the Nemours children's hospital in Wilmington, DE today to meet with a person from Ryan's treatment team. As we sit in the lobby, it's hard to not feel so grateful for the health of our children....In the words of Forest Gump, 'that's all I'll say about that.'


Today was another step forward in Ryan's treatment plan. We met with the person that pretty much plays the role of Patient Navigator and Patient Consultant. (My terms, not her's) She was extremely helpful in explaining the treatment process for Ryan.

Her Cochlear Implant (CI) treatment team includes two Otologists (i.e. Surgeons), the Cochlear Implant Coordinator, three audiologists, a researcher, two speech therapists,  and a  social worker.

Her panel of tests for CI candidacy are as follows (deep breadth):

• Unsedated ABR (2 of them)
• Hearing Aid fitting & subsequent evaluations
• CT Scan 
• MRI Scan
• Sedated ABR
• Speech / Language Eval-- threshold
• Genetics Consult
• Opthalmology - Vision Screen
• Pre-CI Therapy-- speech perception test battery
• CI surgery
• CI Initial Stimulation
• Ongoing Speech / Language Therapy-- two 1-hour appts each week

So, with our 'Patient Navigator' help, she'll set up all the appointments for Ryan.  She set a target date of 9-months for Ryan to have CI, assuming that (1) hearing aids provide no real hearing for her and (2) her auditory nerve is anatomically correct.

To say the least Sean and I were a bit overwhelmed, but at the same time so thankful to have some kind of plan for her.  The target date for CIs is 9-months, which would be the beginning of May.  After the surgery, there is a 3-week window before she receives initial stimulation, so I'm guessing she'll be able to hear around the beginning of June of 2013 (yay!)  Then begins the true test-- learning of language.

Language is a whole other subject for another time.  In the meantime, Sean and I are moving on from grieving to fixing.  We are looking forward to all the steps in the right direction for our baby girl.