Some Observations......

Some observations after 2 weeks and 2 days......

1. My Ob/gyn was right when she said it would be tough at the get go. She warned me moving from man-to-man defense to zone coverage would be tricky. So far the Herdoiza team is still working on the transition. It is much easier when Steve is here to take on Amanda and Nick. I need to hit the bench after 10 minutes with Gabby, Amanda, and Nick. I'm overwhelmed at times, but I think this is mainly due to lack of sleep and patience :)

2. Eating dinner has become a luxury. It is beginning to fall lower and lower on my list of priorities. Once 4:30 in the afternoon hits.... chaos ensues. The kids are home from school, homework begins, Nick lets out his hyperness, Gabby is crying, and I have to think about dinner. Last week our friend Debbie dropped off 2 complete meals. It was such a nice thing to do. This week Kaye has called to say she would like to drop off dinner also. What life savers! The kids are getting tired of bagels and cereal. (But at least the cereal is fortified with vitamins and minerals, fiber, calcium, and whatever else they put in it.)

3. I forgot how much laundry a baby can go through. I have done laundry everyday this week. There has been lots of spit up and poop and all of my clothes smell like empty milk cartons. Thank goodness for Dreft and Oxyclean.

4. I think I'm aging before Amanda's eyes. The other morning she asked me why it looked like I had been crying all night. That my dear girl was not crying. That is my look of pure exhaustion in the morning. My eyes are puffy with dark circles. I guess I'll need to start working on my beauty sleep one of these days.

5. Finally, Nicholas is always home from school with me on Wed. and Fri. He has had to make some adjustments because I can't give him my undivided attention. Well, I am obviously not giving him enough because..... the other day I was nursing Gabby on the couch and Nicholas began to run laps around the kitchen and family room. He loves to run and often chases Tug around the house this way. He was counting each time he passed through the kitchen. From the couch I heard him count to 40....... that was impressive. Then he proceeds to tell me he is going to run 101 laps. Off he goes.............. after 70 (and he truly counted and ran 70) I made him stop and get a drink. Then I had to find my camera, this was crazy. In the end he ran a total of 122 laps. I told you I was not paying enough attention to him!!!!

Here we are at about lap 77.....

He is still going.............

I tried to get a picture of his flushed face, but the camera didn't do him justice.

Here are a few new pictures of Gabby and family....... This is one of her favorite poses. It tends to come out in the day and is no where to be seen at night.

Look how tiny she looks in her stroller. We were off to the bus stop for the first time last week. Here she is about 12 days old.

I just love these wrinkly and tiny toes!

Spending time with her big Sis...

The whole CRAZY CREW

Once again you can see how tiny Gabby is compared to her big-headed Uncle Brad. It is a good thing he has such a big BRAIN in there.

AWWWWWW....... As usual, Grammie has the touch...

Until later.................

Pay Backs..................

So Gabby is taking a little snooze and I'm feeding Nicholas lunch so.......... I wanted to share this story...

After 4 years I have really forgotten how much energy a newborn baby sucks out of you. I am at little Gabby's beck and call..... and I still have to try and appease Nick..... while Amanda wants to have play dates at our house, needs help with her science fair project...... etc. Anyway......

Steve and I have estimated we probably change AT LEAST 15 diapers a day. This little girl is a pooping machine :) (like all babies). Yesterday afternoon Steve brought Nick home from school and had an hour off. Great. I had to rush to the florist to get flowers for Amanda's science project. I raced to get the flowers, and I was home with 1/2 hour to spare. Maybe I could start dinner or take a breather. Well.... that wasn't going to happen. So this is a little gross but......

when Steve was changing Gabby she poops all over the place. I mean it shoots off the changing table onto the carpet, Steve's clothes, her blankets, Gabby's clothes, etc. I ask the obvious, "Did you put another diaper on her and keep her covered up while you were throwing the other one out?" Isn't that logical? Earlier in the day she had peed all over the changing table and her clothes. I was annoyed that he must not have learned his lesson from prior in the day. The clothes can be washed, but the carpet mess was annoying. Steve claims he had another diaper on, but she was just too quick. I sigh and huff and pull out the carpet cleaning machine. The last thing I want to do is clean the carpets, but you just can't let that stuff sit. YUCK! So with my few minutes of free time I'm carpet cleaning baby poop. Next, I throw in the wash and announce we are having KRAFT mac and cheese because I'm not cooking dinner. Steve leaves to go back to work and I'm pretty sure he is happy to get away from me and the chaos.

So....... this is where the story gets good. At about 8:00 after the kids have showered and Steve pulls in from work, I decided to get Gabby ready for bed. I take her upstairs to put on a nightgown and change her diaper. Well, wouldn't you know it. While I'm changing her diaper, (and I have a clean one right underneath her because I'm quick) guess who poops all over the CARPET, her clothes, the blanket and socks? Oh yes, my little Gabriella. She made a terrible projectile mess. It had only been a couple of hours.

What makes this story so great is........... guess who was standing in the doorway laughing...... STEVE. I couldn't help myself.... but I started cracking up too. I was soooooo sure this would not happen on my watch! I guess I proved myself wrong and had to eat humble pie. Things just happen and are not under your control. I felt terrible for being annoyed earlier. Anyway.... Steve took Gabriella while grinning from ear to ear, and I pulled out my little dirt devil spot scrubber for the 2nd time in 3 hours and started cleaning the dirty carpet. Next came the oxyclean and another load of wash............ The joys of babyhood.........

I'm buying stock in this little product.............. Until later......

4 Days Old.........

Presenting.......................... Miss Gabriella Brooke Herdoiza...... born Tuesday, April 14th, at 11:59 a.m., weighing 5 lbs and 11 oz. She was 18 1/2 inches long. What a beautiful baby!

Amanda has been such a proud big sister. She is willing to cater to all of Gabby's needs. We shall see how long this lasts. Can you believe all that dark hair? I hope it is here to stay.

Grammie and Grampie Gerwatowski visited us at the hospital.

Steve brought the kids every evening to visit the latest addition to the family. What a trooper. He was thoroughly exhausted by the end of my hospital stay.

Me and the crew....(boy do we look stunning!)

How do you really feel about the new baby Nicholas? (That's what I thought!)

We were all so happy that Grammie Herdoiza was here to meet baby Gabriella.

Finally, Gabriella in all her glory. Here she is about 30 minutes old. What a MIRACLE!

This song by George Strait sums it up................

I got my face pressed up against the nursery glass, She's sleeping like a rock, My name on her wrist wearing tiny pink socks. She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes, My brand new baby girl, She's a miracle I saw God today.

I've been to church, I've read the book, I know He's here, but I don't look near as often as I should. Yeah, I know I should. His fingerprints are everywhere, I'd just slow down to stop and stare, opened my eyes and man I swear, I saw God today.

Until Later.................

8:10

Here is a real time update.....just like 24. We are preparing to leave for the hospital. I got 3 hours sleep and I can't wait for the next 24 hours to pass. We are so excited to welcome this baby girl into the world! Beaumont..... here we come.

Anxiety

Well...... I can't sleep...... I have terrible heart burn.....I need to eat before midnight...and I'm pretty anxious about the upcoming surgery......and really excited about the new baby. Only a few more hours until I have to be at the hospital. My bag is almost packed, the diaper bag is almost packed, my camera is charging, and I bought a new camcorder this afternoon that is fully charged. Everything is just about out of my hands. I hate the feeling of not being in control. I will stay in the hospital for a few days while Steve and Mom H. take care of the kids and my daily responsibilities. I know everyone is in good hands. So.... on that note, I'm off to toss and turn the night away.

I'll be back in a few days to post pictures of baby girl Herdoiza........ in the meantime..........we are anxiously waiting................

Taking it EASY!

I am trying to take it EASY! That means vegging out at the computer for the first time in about a month. I am STILL eagerly awaiting Baby Girl Herdoiza. My amniotic fluid continues to decrease and I am having ultrasounds and non-stress tests weekly. I go for a fluid check on Monday and if my levels are at 5.... I will most likely have the baby. I have dropped from 9 to 7.5 this week ... we will see on Monday. In the meantime, Amanda's room is painted pink and nearly complete, the nursery is just about in order (the crib will be assembled this weekend), I put together the stroller and found the car seat. More toys, bottles, blankies, and onesies have been washed and sterilized. I got my hair cut and colored so I will look glamorous from my hospital bed. I have pre-registered with Beaumont anesthesia..... I think everything is in place. I just need to pack my bags and come up with a name for this little one.

In the meantime, here are some of the pictures I have been promising.....

The Hall of Fame Weekend..... Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of pictures because of the stinky circumstances when Amanda caught the stomach flu at the hotel. These pictures are from the banquet. Here are a couple of teammates and good friends, Gary and Cush and his former coach Torch.

What a great picture of Mom and Steve!

Accolades and praise......Wow, did he do at lot at Northwestern!

Steve gave a super speech..... funny, moving, and well thought out.

This is what the Northwestern Hall of Famer received. Pretty cool!

Steve was introduced at the basketball game during half time. Only Steve and Nic were able to attend the game while Amanda and I hung out in the hotel.

This pretty much sums up Amanda's entire weekend in Chicago.

On another note.... here is some crafty goodness from Amanda's birthday party.... the goody bags, candy bars, and another cake....


Amanda with her best friend Maddie

Getting all dolled up at the birthday party

The finished product........ Isn't she cute? Her hair was ADORABLE!

Happy Birthday dear AMANDA!!!


Talking on the cell phone to her Dad who missed the party. Steve was out of town for the weekend. Does this resemble the teenage years to come?

Here is Nicholas' pre-school photo for this year. He looks so old. He is suppose to be my baby!

Finally, I just finished Her Last Death: A Memoir by Susanna Sonnenberg. These memoirs always amaze me. Some people live very different dysfunctional lives. It was a good book with some crazy real life characters. I think everyone enjoyed it at book club yesterday. After our 5 minute discussion we realized we are all excellent mothers and role modes to our kids.

Well, I'm off to get Amanda from Daisy Scouts. Until later...............