Rocking Chairs, Rocking Babies!

Tuesday Anna and I had a playdate with friends. Anna was feeling a little fiesty or off kilter or something. She cried any time I asked her not to do something or she would cry if the other kids were doing something and she had to wait her turn. I didn't know what was going on but we stayed and worked our way through it. When one of our friends left and it was just Anna and Allie it was as if the sun had come out. Apparently she didn't want to share her friend! We stayed a while longer and we were out sitting in the yard when this really odd bug started flying around me. I moved out of his way and then realized it was a baby and its Mommy had been under the arm of the chair. The baby landed on its Mommy's side and hung out there. My friend Shanda and I decided the baby was nursing (do bugs do that? lol) Anyway, then after watching for a few minutes we decided maybe the Mom was dead. I mean seriously, she hadn't moved in about 5 minutes not to mention she didn't mind having me sit on the chair or Shanda touch her. Finally, I saw her little legs moving so we knew she was alive. Anna and Allie kept asking what they were doing so we told them the baby was drinking milk. They continued to ask so we said oh they must be taking a nap now. Anna looked down there and said "but where is their rocking chair?" My sweet baby girl apparently thinks you shouldn't take a nap without a rocking chair lol. During the week, yes, I still rock her to sleep even though she is 3 years old. I still hold precious those moments when we get to snuggle and cuddle and just be still with one another. I love to feel her breathe on my cheek or my arm. I love to have her snuggle a little closer when she feels me stand up to lay her down. I love when she gets to bed and she looks up at me and then just rolls over and goes right back to sleep. It is like she has this complete trust that I will be there when she wakes up and I will protect her while she sleeps. I am going to cherish it as long as I can because I know it will not last forever and all to soon she will not need me (as much).

Melissa & Gina Update

Melissa was released from the hospital yesterday morning and is even allowed to drive. Gina has made improvement but is still in the critical period. She is getting antibiotics for the infection so hopefully that will clear up soon. She is still on the ventilater. She still needs our prayers. Melissa is hopping to nurse her and I don't know how that works with a baby in NICU but keep that in your prayers as well. I know that nursing was a bond that I would hope for everyone. I still miss it even though we have been done for a while now. I have heard that nursing can really help babies in NICU so I really do hope they can work that out. Thank you all for your prayers and positive thoughts! Keep them coming if you don't mind!

Let's talk about being sick and more.

I have a terrible headcold and so does Anna. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! We are both miserable. I think the hardest part, well one of the hardest parts, for me is looking into Anna's eyes and seeing how bad she feels. Knowing that I can't do anything to make it go away. I don't know about anyone else but I hate for my daughter to feel bad. I would rather take a double dose rather than let her get it. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way and we both end up miserable. We were both terribly cranky last night. It made for a very long night until bed time. Bed time finally rolled around and Anna went down without any trouble. However, about an hour later she was up because she couldn't breath. Bless her heart, I so felt her pain. Her Daddy just went ahead and brought her to our bed. I nursed her back to sleep and drifted off to lala land myself. Apparently, during the night Anna would whine and sit up and I was none the wiser, her Daddy informed me this morning. I said no wonder I feel like I had a pretty good nights sleep. I guess I slept through it all. That is the beauty of still nursing. It manages to put her right back to sleep anytime!!!

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Another advantage of still nursing is that yesterday she didn't really eat anything but she nursed plenty. So I know that she was still getting what she needed and was staying hydrated. Just thought I would throw that in if anyone reads this and is considering nursing! You know when I was pregnant I didn't want to nurse. My DH talked me into it. He told me all the advantages; better health, bonding, it is FREE!!! I think the last one was the one that really intrigued him lol. So I gave it a shot and I said I will do it for 6 weeks that is it! Well umm we are at 18 months just a little over my goal lol. We really only nurse for naps and bedtime now. I figure once we get through cold and flu season we will gently start nudging towards weaning. I am not really ready but the thought of nursing a 3 year old scares me.