To capture Dex turning 6 months and Anna turning 4 (which I'll discuss in a later post), we had our dear friend and extremely talented photographer take our family photos. I've included my favorites...
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Dex Turns 6 Months
I can't believe how fast they grow. I sound like a broken record throughout this entire blog, but it really is insane. In the blink of an eye my baby boy went from infant blob (still so cute) to this adorable, animated and smiley little dude that's practically crawling. Plus, on his six month birthday, my little Dex got his very first tooth. While this is an exciting milestone, it's a painful one for him. :(
To capture Dex turning 6 months and Anna turning 4 (which I'll discuss in a later post), we had our dear friend and extremely talented photographer take our family photos. I've included my favorites...
To capture Dex turning 6 months and Anna turning 4 (which I'll discuss in a later post), we had our dear friend and extremely talented photographer take our family photos. I've included my favorites...
Friday, October 5, 2012
The Lost Summer...
I hate to have the title of "The Lost Summer" for this post, but it is also the reason why I haven't been blogging about my two beautiful children as often as I should...especially during these precious few months of Dex's life.
It was the lost summer because our little family went through some wonderful, difficult and stressful times - all at once. It's like our life had been too boring for the past 8 years (since we were first married) and God decided to shake things up a bit for us.
First, we had Dex. Our little sweet, sweet Dex. He was amazing from the beginning...an easy baby (considering how difficult all infants are the first three months). I, however, experience post-partum anxiety immediately following his birth and basically didn't sleep for three months (while he was blissfully sleeping away each night in his crib. That was torturous for me. I needed to be more for Dex and Anna and I wasn't the Mom that they needed right then and there.
Then, when Dex was about four weeks old, I found Anna in the bathroom bleeding...yes, bleeding in her stool and all over the bathroom. Bill had just left for a business trip to San Diego and I rushed Anna to the Children's Memorial Hospital Emergency room. Thank God for my parents, who both rushed to our house to be with Dex.
What was to be a few tests, turned into days of horrendous procedures. My little 3-year-old Anna had to endure rectal exams, MRI's and even a colonoscopy (I won't even begin to desribe how horrible that was). She didn't eat or drink anything for 52 hours during all of it. She was the bravest person I know. Bill made it back in a day and we stayed with our baby.
She was diagnosed with something called Meckel's Diverticulum and surgery was immediately recommended. So, with my parents again watching Dex for a few days, we went back to the Hospital to have the surgery done. Let's just say, I was a wreck. You never know how deeply and desperately you love your children until you see them in pain...I saw Anna hurt and I wanted that hurt to go away. Actually, I wanted to take on the hurt so she didn't have to feel any of this. And, at the same time, my baby boy was at home needing his Mommy as he started out his new life. A mother's guilt, fear, sadness, exhaustion and confusion all rolled into one ugly package.
Long story short, Anna had the surgery and what they thought she had, she didn't have...they found nothing. The story is still an open book. The veteran surgical team assured us that Anna is a healthy child, but somewhat of a medical mystery (something no parent ever wants to hear). So, after weeks of back-and-forth, we took Anna home and she began to recover. Her scar is very small and she is amazingly healthy.
In the back of my mind I always fear something like this will happen again, but I just can't concentrate on that. I have too many other really, really good things happening in our lives. I have two very healthy children that I now know, more than ever before, how much I love them. A love I really can't ever put into words...it's beyond dying for them. It's almost like wanting to jump inside of their bodies and love them from the inside out. That's the kind of deep love I have for my kids. I guess in all of our experiences this summer, that is one gift I discovered and I'll hold on forever.
As for the rest of my family, Bill was my rock as always. He comforted me through hours, long days and endless nights of cying, self-doubt, obsessive worry and fear of everything. He didn't always know what to say, but he was there...loving me and always reminding me that things will get better and I will be myself again. I can't imagine going through life...the real stuff, the tough stuff...without Bill by my side. This summer just proved to the both of us that we react to and solve problems together as a team. Our family is the most important thing in our lives and we will stop at nothing to make sure it works...that our kids are safe, healthy, happy and loved, and that we always have our love. That love gave us so much strength. That is also a gift that I rediscovered in a whole new way this summer.
And, my parents. I guess you really never stop being a parent even when your kids are old and have their own little ones. Gaga and Bapa were "there" and didn't stop being there until it was all done...my post-partum, Anna's health issues, Dex's infancy. They truly stepped up and helped in ways that I can't ever thank them properly. All I can say is...it's good to have family close. You never know when you need a babysitter or a really massive shoulder to cry on.
This story and this summer has a happy ending. Anna is healthy, I am healthy and am myself again and Dex is growing and a happy 5-moth-old sleeping through the night. We were still able to do some really fun things this summer (which I've posted some pictures) and life is back to normal.
Whatever you can call normal with two kids :)
It was the lost summer because our little family went through some wonderful, difficult and stressful times - all at once. It's like our life had been too boring for the past 8 years (since we were first married) and God decided to shake things up a bit for us.
First, we had Dex. Our little sweet, sweet Dex. He was amazing from the beginning...an easy baby (considering how difficult all infants are the first three months). I, however, experience post-partum anxiety immediately following his birth and basically didn't sleep for three months (while he was blissfully sleeping away each night in his crib. That was torturous for me. I needed to be more for Dex and Anna and I wasn't the Mom that they needed right then and there.
Then, when Dex was about four weeks old, I found Anna in the bathroom bleeding...yes, bleeding in her stool and all over the bathroom. Bill had just left for a business trip to San Diego and I rushed Anna to the Children's Memorial Hospital Emergency room. Thank God for my parents, who both rushed to our house to be with Dex.
What was to be a few tests, turned into days of horrendous procedures. My little 3-year-old Anna had to endure rectal exams, MRI's and even a colonoscopy (I won't even begin to desribe how horrible that was). She didn't eat or drink anything for 52 hours during all of it. She was the bravest person I know. Bill made it back in a day and we stayed with our baby.
She was diagnosed with something called Meckel's Diverticulum and surgery was immediately recommended. So, with my parents again watching Dex for a few days, we went back to the Hospital to have the surgery done. Let's just say, I was a wreck. You never know how deeply and desperately you love your children until you see them in pain...I saw Anna hurt and I wanted that hurt to go away. Actually, I wanted to take on the hurt so she didn't have to feel any of this. And, at the same time, my baby boy was at home needing his Mommy as he started out his new life. A mother's guilt, fear, sadness, exhaustion and confusion all rolled into one ugly package.
Long story short, Anna had the surgery and what they thought she had, she didn't have...they found nothing. The story is still an open book. The veteran surgical team assured us that Anna is a healthy child, but somewhat of a medical mystery (something no parent ever wants to hear). So, after weeks of back-and-forth, we took Anna home and she began to recover. Her scar is very small and she is amazingly healthy.
In the back of my mind I always fear something like this will happen again, but I just can't concentrate on that. I have too many other really, really good things happening in our lives. I have two very healthy children that I now know, more than ever before, how much I love them. A love I really can't ever put into words...it's beyond dying for them. It's almost like wanting to jump inside of their bodies and love them from the inside out. That's the kind of deep love I have for my kids. I guess in all of our experiences this summer, that is one gift I discovered and I'll hold on forever.
As for the rest of my family, Bill was my rock as always. He comforted me through hours, long days and endless nights of cying, self-doubt, obsessive worry and fear of everything. He didn't always know what to say, but he was there...loving me and always reminding me that things will get better and I will be myself again. I can't imagine going through life...the real stuff, the tough stuff...without Bill by my side. This summer just proved to the both of us that we react to and solve problems together as a team. Our family is the most important thing in our lives and we will stop at nothing to make sure it works...that our kids are safe, healthy, happy and loved, and that we always have our love. That love gave us so much strength. That is also a gift that I rediscovered in a whole new way this summer.
And, my parents. I guess you really never stop being a parent even when your kids are old and have their own little ones. Gaga and Bapa were "there" and didn't stop being there until it was all done...my post-partum, Anna's health issues, Dex's infancy. They truly stepped up and helped in ways that I can't ever thank them properly. All I can say is...it's good to have family close. You never know when you need a babysitter or a really massive shoulder to cry on.
This story and this summer has a happy ending. Anna is healthy, I am healthy and am myself again and Dex is growing and a happy 5-moth-old sleeping through the night. We were still able to do some really fun things this summer (which I've posted some pictures) and life is back to normal.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A Post for Dex
This is dedicated to my amazing little boy, Dex. First of all, I want you to know how much I absolutely love every part of you. You are an answer to my prayers in every way. I love you're animated smile and your coos (you LOVE to coo). I love your chunky cheeks, thighs...actually all of you is pretty chunky. I love your open mouth kisses and your big beautiful blue eyes. I love how you love a nice hot bath each night and how you drift off to sleep with your passy in my arms each night.
This summer has been a rough one with sleepless nights, hospital stays, etc., but knowing that you've completed our family brings us so much joy...you bring us so much joy. We love you, our sweet little boy, and look forward to watching you grow and witnessing all of your "firsts." We're already amazed by you and I can't imagine all that will come with each passing month and year.
Love,
Mom and Dad
This summer has been a rough one with sleepless nights, hospital stays, etc., but knowing that you've completed our family brings us so much joy...you bring us so much joy. We love you, our sweet little boy, and look forward to watching you grow and witnessing all of your "firsts." We're already amazed by you and I can't imagine all that will come with each passing month and year.
Love,
My beautiful ballerina
Monday, June 18, 2012
Anna's First Dance Recital (Dress Rehearsal)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Welcome Declan Thomas Whelan
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Marco Island and Disney World
What a trip!! Not only did we stay for two weeks in Marco Island with the Whelan family, we tacked on a couple of extra days and took a "magical" trip to Disney World so Anna could finally meet her idols...the Disney Princesses.
Marco was a lot of fun. Since I was pregnant, I obviously couldn't partake in all of the usual merriment, but this trip was truly for Anna. She spent every day doing pretty much the same wonderful things: swimming in the pool, going to the beach, swimming, eating ice cream, swimming, going in the hot tub, swimming and more...all while spending every waking second with her cousins. That was the best part - Anna was able to get in some really valuable and fun "whelan cousin" time.
The highlight of the trip was most certainly Disney World. What an incredible place for kids and what an incredible experience as a parent taking your own kids there for the first time. I wasn't prepared for how emotional and wonderful just one day at Disney with my little Anna would be.
We started the day at the "Cinderlla's Table" breakfast inside the castle. We has a wonderful gourmet breakfast while each princess came up to our table to meet Anna, talk to her and sign her autograph book. We met Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Belle and Aurora. She was completely beside herself...just mesmorized by the "real" princesses. I really have never seen her so excited!
We then went to meet her favorite - Rapunzel. Then, on to Tiana, Tinkerbell and so much more. While there, we saw (and participated in) a super fun parade and even caught a princess show. We went on some of the rides, including the tea cup, Small World and more. Anna was a trooper and loved every minute of it.
Although the day was long and tiring for a three-year-old and a pregnant lady (and even for Billy, considering her had to carry her through most of the park), we had an amazing and memorable day. The pictures and video tell the story!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
