Continuation of yesterday's post

Alright, here's the deal:

We are surrendering Maddie to a rescue for the week, and perhaps longer. This is obviously a very difficult decision for us, and we have come to this as a last resort. I hope that a week away will be good for all of us and we can get her back and happy again, but we just don't know right now.

She is leaving tonight and the husband will go to check up on her Thursday evening. I don't want to say goodbye, but I do know that we will at least see her next week before we make a final decision about whether or not we need to re-home her. Ultimately, we need to ensure that Maddie is happy...we've finally come to the point where we know she's not adjusting to having a baby around and is acting out because of it. We have tried everything we know to balance her needs with that of ours and Ellie's but it's not working and no one's happy with the current situation.

So we will know more next week about how to proceed. I just ask that those of you who read faithfully, as my friends, be as supportive as you can. If you pray, please say a prayer for us and for Maddie that we can make her as happy as possible. If that means she needs a different home where she can be the sole focus, then I have to make peace with that. But it's tough...she's been with us since she was nine weeks old. She was my first 'baby'. I just want to be the best momma I can to her, and still be a good momma to Ellie too.

Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 11

Just a quick post to let you all know I have some things to muse about, but I need to wait until tomorrow. Our family is changing tonight and it will take me some time to process. No, we aren't having another baby. :)

Be back tomorrow with the deets.

Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 10 - Tuesday version

I didn't write a blog post yesterday. I was working from home and going through the Ellie's routine with my sister, who is now living with us for the summer as the Nanny-Auntie. This is very awesome for many reasons. Mornings are a lot less stressful for one and plus, I like my sister so it's good having her around. I think Ellie likes her too. Musings are a go:

I'm packing up my office because we're getting an Extreme Makeover: Workplace Edition this summer. In the meantime, those of us who already live - er, work - on this floor are being relocated to another part of campus for the duration. I hate packing and moving, so I'm mighty cranky about all this.
I love when I find old stuff when packing, though. Like old CDs that I'd forgotten about that I really liked. In 2001.
Lost finale in less than a week. Oh God.
Baby update: according to last night's naked weigh-in, Ellie's up to FOURTEEN POUNDS! Okay, she was 11lb 3oz at her 4 month appointment five weeks ago. She's chubbed up soooo much since then. It's awesome.
Also, she's sitting up on her own for several minutes at a time and scooting (mostly in circles) nicely. Mobility is imminent.
I'm wearing a green polo and green fleece jacket today b/c I forgot that I left my black fleece in the husband's car. I look like a moron.
Getting that spring 'hair change' fever lately. I need to do something about that.
I also need to make a trek to Trader Joe's for some groceries. I haven't been there in about two months and I miss it.
I really wish spring would stick around. The rain is getting really old. REALLY old.
The husband and I are going to a nearby casino for a fun friends weekend on Saturday. We did this last year too but I was pregnant so I didn't have as much fun as I could have. This year...look out. Fun overload, you betcha.

Monday Musings, Post-Mothers Day Edition

So yesterday was my first real Mother's Day (I got some celebratoriness last year, but I was like, 2 months pregnant, so it didn't really count). It was a nice day, and my grandparents (Mom's folks) and uncle/aunt/cousins (Mom's bro and wife and boys) came to our house to see Ellie and hang out. All in all, a pretty chill day...and the husband said my gift is a spa day at Dosha in Portland to get pampered on a day of my choosing. Not bad, eh?

But more importantly, Ellie turned five months old yesterday. FIVE months??? Wait...we're almost halfway through her first year of life? How did that happen? Just typing it out makes me all giddy and stuff. She's just growing up so fast - she's doubled her birthweight (now at a whopping 13lb 4ish oz) and is sitting up with minimal support. Attempts at crawling have commenced, and usually take place at 4:30am in her crib, which wakes up the parental units of the house, but honestly...it's not bad. She's happy and cooing and squealing when she does it, and as long as we let her play for a bit, then go get her from her crib and bring her into bed with us for an hour or so long 'nap', it's all good. Ellie is really a remarkable little girl...I marvel at her everyday. She's bright and funny and sweet and charming and loving - of course, she's also stubborn and demanding and (too) independent at times, but I even love those more challenging attributes of her personality. She's gonna be no one's doormat, I tell you that much.

Anyway, I have learned so much about myself since becoming a mom, and it's strange to think that I'm not the same person I was before Ellie was born. I think I'm a better person. I love more easily, I protect more fiercely, and I laugh more heartily now. Motherhood really is a transformative thing and I'm blessed to have my husband and daughter along for the ride.

Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 9

I really don't have much to muse about today. The last week was fairly uneventful - the usual stuff with the baby getting all big and stuff, me working and trying to keep my house from falling apart, typical of a week in the life. The husband did start his new job on Friday and is in training with his group this week.

I will say that I've been battling with a very sore neck/right shoulder since last Saturday and finally went to urgent care this Saturday to get it looked at. I got quite the cocktail of drugs to help relieve the pain, but I try to just take the super-strength naproxen and leave the Vicodin and muscle relaxers to those times when the pain gets really bad. Like last night...thank goodness Ellie slept all night b/c I was OUT. The really crap thing about this muscle strain is that the nerves in the muscles are spazzing out and causing nasty pains that shoot down my arm and into my right hand. I'm supposed to refrain from lifting anything heavier than a milk jug, especially with my right side but um, no. I have a baby who just had a massive growth spurt and who happens to like being held and carried around by Momma. :)

Anywho, I'm trying to take it easy on my neck and shoulder...hopefully the muscles will heal soon.