Parenting is Tough

Right now parenting is tough. For whatever reason, all sorts of issues are coming out in our twins. It's tough when you love a child but you are nothing more than a caregiver them. That is the reality of attachment disorder. I don't thing theirs is as severe as some, but I feel like I did all the right things when they got home to help them connect and attach. So why this is all escalating I don't know.

On the other hand, having two granddaughters only 15 minutes away is a blessing, as is watching how they attach with their mom, dad and other relatives.

River is a beautiful 16 month old toddler now. It seems like I was just posting about her birth. And Winter is ten days old. It will be fun to watch how she is the same and different from River, especially since they are so close in age and the same sex/gender.

Other random family  photos.

Winter in Florida

Winter Robin that is.

Friday 7:34 p.m.

7 lbs 10.8 oz

The Wonder of Christmas

One of the best parts of the Christmas season is having a new little one who is old enough to notice what is going on around her.

Jasmine, Kayla and I took River to Bethlehem Village. It was close to her bedtime, so I was a little worried. But no fears. It was 40 minutes away, and she napped on the way.

Signing in for the census

If you brought canned goods, you turned them in at the tax booth.

Then it was off to the stable.

Then we went booth to booth, and at each booth a person from the Christmas story told their part of the story.

 

I know this isn't that great of a picture. I was holding her and trying to hold my phone out far enough to get the photo but not drop the phone. I like the picture because of the wonder on her face as she sees the Christmas lights.

 

She was getting hungry so I bought chicken on a stick with rice because I knew she'd like the rice. She liked the chicken too. I also got a funnel cake. We split it all 4 ways. At those prices, we share!

One day when River came over while Mommy worked, I decided to get some photos of her playing with the new shatterproof balls. She loved them! I sat her in the rocking chair and piled them on her. I love her joy. It's contagious.

If you watch the video, you are in for a cuteness overload! For those of you who have been following my blog, does it really seem like she should be turning one in 11 days?

River is Growing Up

River is 11 months old now, and she is gaining new skills every day. She is babbling, standing for several seconds on her own and curious about everything.

Jasmine was showing her how to strum the ukulele, and she bit it!

She is giving the toy a lot of thought.

She decided to drink lunch.

 Jessica and Hunter had planned to go to Gatlinburg, but of course it is on fire, so they drove from FL to Colorado Springs!

Going up Pike's Peak

I'm guessing that by her first birthday River will be walking and talking!

River Would Like to Say ...

I'm going to be a big sister!

River's First Day at Church

River went to Sunday school with Mommy today.

11 days old

A Grandmother by Any Other Name

Growing up, I called my Grandma "Grandma."

When my stepdaughter had children, I became "Grandma Kathy" by my request.

When Jessica got pregnant, her mother-in-law, step mother-in-law and I started talking about what we wanted River to call us. I wanted something different than Grandma Kathy. As it turns out, we all had different ideas.

So we became (left to right) Gigi, Mimi and Nanny.

My question is, is this regional? Or do  people all over the US use those names? I don't remember hearing anything but Grandma when I was young and living in Indiana. But I don't know if it was because of the time or the region. What do you think? What do your grandchildren call you or what do you call your Grandmother--and Grandfather?

Happy Gigi shirt

My stepdaughter Ashley with her children, Phoenix and Griffin

Leave a comment below. What do your children call their grandmother? Is it the same as what you call yours?

New Baby!

In the midst of doing our list from the last post, we took time out to have a baby--well, my daughter did. Here's a brief account.

Monday night I went to bed knowing Jessica was going in to be induced at 4 a.m. Tuesday. For many reasons including that one, I couldn't fall asleep until 1:00. Then I woke up at 3:30. A lot of the reason was also a four hour conversation with a fiction coach that gave me plenty to rewrite so things were spinning in my mind. I got up and started writing in what felt like the middle of the night.

At about 9:00 I got the call Jessica was in labor, so Jasmine and I left for the hospital. I had a new "Gigi" shirt.

Jessica was progressing very slowly, so I suggested we get her out of bed and sit her on a ball. I've heard it helps. Everyone looked at me weird, and the nurse wasn't in favor of it but I got bossy :)

You can't see the ball under Jessica, but you can see it under Lisa, Jessica's mother-in-law, who is a bit mischievous.

Gigi and Mimi waiting. (What do your grandkids call you? I am Grandma Kathy to my step daughter Ashley's kids and will be Gigi to River)

Jessica was making progress on the ball, but they decided she needed an epidural to help her relax so she would dilate better. Well, that just didn't happen, and she got stuck at 8. 

Finally just before midnight a decision was made to do a C section. It turned out to be a good idea. The baby was stuck in the birth canal face up. They think she'd been stuck about four hours!

Unfortunately she started breathing before she was out and swallowed fluid. Then she wasn't breathing well at all. 

She was rushed out of the room without Jessica even holding her and hooked up to various machines and things to help her breath better and was transported to another hospital. It was about 2:00 a.m. by time she'd been stabilized and ready for transport. Jessica only got to touch River's hand through the transport unit. She remained at the hospital she was at while River went to NICU at a nearby hospital.

I would love to show pictures, but Hunter doesn't want any pictures posted of River with the tube. However, I was able to snap a quick one as they whisked her by us to get ready for transport.

Today I went to see River at NICU. I was only able to place my hand on her leg. They don't want people to touch her because they don't want her stimulated right now while they are working to regulate her breathing.

She continues to make progress, and they've cut back her oxygen. They may pull her feeding tube, so she can start eating tomorrow.

Please keep Jessica and River in your prayers.

Merry Christmas

from our family to yours!

As you can probably see, Jessica is expecting a baby very soon!