Sliding into Feburary

It's been a warm January with a few days that reached into the 60s. I love it. You and Daddy would prefer the snow and cold. I blame this affinity on your Norwegian descent.

Somehow Daddy always gets the fun job of taking you and Lucy down slides. It could be that I'm not graceful at all and any sliding would result in an injury. Remember that sledding incident around the Halloween snow?

The beautiful warm winter weather has also given us an opportunity to introduce Lucy to the wonder of the park swing. As we all know, she is obsessed with the indoor, infant variety. We found out this month she also loves the park variety. She joins a long line of Marcot women who love their swing time.

I need to be more inspired in February and less sick. WE ALL NEED to be less sick. Making a month by month resolution, I shall blog at least twice a week. It's a short month. I can do it. God, I'm exhausted.

Daily life has to get better, right? I can't be tired forever. The constant cough that lives in our house has to subsided sometime. Lucy has to eventually sleep more than 3 hours at a time. Right? RIGHT? Oh please God, let me be right.

RSV

It's been awhile. Oh I have alot of material to post and catch up on. I have some videos too. However, since someone in our family has been sick since Thanksgiving, it has been a tough couple of months. All of us have been on antibiotics... twice. Three times for Daddy. But it all came to head yesterday when Lu spent the day in the ER. She had just been at the doctor last week and diagnosed with her second ear infection in two months. She was prescribed another round of antibiotics. But instead of getting better Lu just got worse and worse. On Monday she had a coughing fit so bad she threw-up all over her jumperoo. Monday night and Tuesday night were horrible. Lucy would just scream and scream in pain which would evolve into coughing fits where she couldn't catch her breath. She would try to nurse and couldn't because of the massive amounts of snot.  For the past 2 months I don't think I have had more than 5 hrs total sleep per night. Usually in 1-2hr increments. To say that I am sleep deprived would be an understatement. In fact in the past week, I haven't had more than 3 hrs of sleep the entire night b/c of how sick and miserable Lucy is/was. Thank God we have a plug-in swing that can sit Lucy up and she sleep somewhat comfortably for a little.

Anyway, this nasty wet cough and congestion had descended on Lucy over the weekend and I was struggling to survive the day so I could survive the night. Oh Nora, don't think you were an angel during any of this. You were/are sick too and haven't exactly been a joy to parent either. But at least you are sleeping where Lucy is not. But for good reason that I didn't realize. Thank God for Marta who said to me yesterday morning, "I really think you should call your pediatrician. Lucy is struggling to breath."

Now before you give me the worst parent of the year award, her signals of breathing issues were slight and she was already sick and on antibiotics. I had taken to her to the doctor less than a week before. But. RSV has a way of coming on quickly and causing havoc on an infant body. I didn't know this. Nora you were always so healthy. I never had to deal with this level of illness before.

So yesterday, we dropped you off at Ms. Pattis and Lucy and I went to the doctor where they immediately gave us a nebulizer machine and a breathing treatment. But it didn't work like it should have. Her little lungs still tugging and wheezing. Lucy's airway was swollen and irritated. Our pediatrician sent us to the ER for further tests and a chest x-ray. 6 hours later were discharged with a diagnosis of RSV. Thank goodness we were not admitted. Apparently babies with severe RSV get admitted frequently for treatment. Praise the Lord for awesome family and friends. Trish met Lucy and I in the ER triage and sat with us and held Lucy so I could run to the bathroom. Marta brought me lunch and made sure all of the nurses and doctors did their job well. Since I was not planning to go to the ER from the pediatrician, I was lucky to have a few diapers and change of clothes with me. The hospital gave us a lovely Linus blanket for Lucy since I didn't even have her blankie with us! Oiy!

Her little lungs were working too hard probably all weekend and I was just holding her over a humidifier thinking I was just a bad mom for not being able to make her feel better and make her more comfortable. Oh did I mention the really high fever? The refusal of food? The constant crankiness / clinginess?  It was bad. It is bad.

Now Lucy has to have a nebulizer treatment every 4 hours around the clock. So although Lucy's mood, eating, and cough is getting much much better today, my sleep deprivation is not. But it's a small price to pay.

AND! AND! I forgot to mention our miracle swing that was giving me 3-5hrs of sleep a night decided that its motor was going to piff on Monday morning. So I had little to no sleep Monday night into Wednesday before Daddy found a used swing on craigslist to replace our broken one. As if a critical virus isn't enough with us to deal with... the universe had to take the one thing that gave us some relief. But we lived through it. I am here today with one replacement swing, one nebulizer machine, a large supply of albuterol, Tylenol and Motrin and the largest bulb syringe for all that snot. And one sick little girl who seems to be (please please please) on the mend.

Last night, Daddy got home and hugged me knowing what a trial the entire ordeal was. I mentioned to him in all the craziness I had forgotten to tell him that we might have to buy Lucy's nebulizer at cost. Her pediatrician could not guarantee that it would be covered by our health insurance but in desperation to get Lucy better, I accepted financial responsibility regardless of medical coverage. So I told your father, "We might have to shell out 80 bucks for her machine." And he responded: "I think 80 dollars is worth it so our daughter can breath."

Touche Daddy. Touche.

Did I mention our lovely Sony camera broke again?!? Same issue. SIGH. This makes the THIRD time. It's in Texas being repaired as we speak. And I wouldn't have had that camera with me anyways, in a pinch my iphone camera had to suffice...


Getting her first breathing treatment in the pediatrician's office



Good photo of the Linus blanket!



Feeling better after some baby gatorade!



Big room and big bed for a little girl.

What a crazy ride these last few weeks have been. I can barely function most days, let alone blog. I pray we've turned a corner and we can return to our regular scheduled programming. 
 

Celebrating

Today is Lucy's 6mo birthday or her half birthday. Your father thinks it's silly to celebrate such an occasion. He didn't have to suffer through pregnancy and childbirth. So suffice to say we celebrated. And I only spent $8.00 on the entire party. Thank you Dollar Tree!

We baked a cake!



We sang happy half birthday





We played with the balloon. Lucy's favorite!

 

We ate cake.

 

We snuggled.



We wore silly ribbons in our hair.

How did 6 months pass already? It seems like yesterday we were in the hospital watching fireworks on PBS and basking in the glow of our little hairy one. My pride and love grows exponentially each day. She might drive me insanely nuts but she will always be my little Lu-bear.  

 

December 31st

How is it already New Years Eve? What happened to 2011? Christmas was exhausting. Or it could have been the three day trip to NYC after Christmas or the 5 parties or trying to celebrate your father and I's 4th wedding anniversary in there somewhere. Sigh. I try to keep up but then life just gets in the way. Oh and throw in someone in our family being sick for the entire month of December and here we are. 2012 is upon us. I haven't really thought much about 2012. 2011= preparing and dealing with Lu. 2013 is when I will begin planning to return to work. But 2012, I have no idea. As for right now, it will be the only year I will go without a "real" paycheck. My paycheck will be in hugs and snuggles. Gag me.

I think I will remember 2011 as the year of THE LU. Because Lucy is ALL consuming right now. God love you Nora, you are so very independent. You always have been. You learned to crawl at 4.5mo and that was it. Goodbye, mom. This one? Lucy? She is a clinging ball of terror. I can't handle her and her clingy-ness. For everyone else she is a doll. Figuratively and literally. For me? An absolute terror. Lucy played by herself for almost an hour today in your father's care. I enter the room and make one small peep. Her head POPS up from her quiet time play and immediately you can see the lower lip quiver. The arms go up and the screaming begins. If I am in the room, I HAVE to be touching her in some way or she will have a complete, utter breakdown. On some level, I am amused by her fondness for me. But mostly I am just really annoyed. Super annoyed that I cannot accomplish anything without this lump attached to me in some way. Or I just have to deal with her screaming. I can't deal with the screaming. She loves to nurse. She loves to grab me and my boobs. I have cuts all over my boobs from her grabby hands. I am being abused by my 5 mo old daughter.

OH I didn't know how well I had it with you as a baby. I always wanted a BABY not some freak-of-nature-super-advanced kid who never needed me. Now I have this crazy-sensitive, OVERLY needy baby who only wants me. Who needs to be constantly comforted by me. Who is always looking for attention. Sigh. The grass is always greener...

I could do a picture montage of the year, but I am lazy. Lazy, running out of time, coughing up a lung and my boobs are killing me from a certain someone pinching me. Maybe I shouldn't be complaining while ending the year since our family has been so blessed but I'm just not in the mood. Here's to a great 2012! We shall ring in the new year with what else?!? PICTURES!!!


From NJ's Liberty State Park: see the new world trade center? Right next to Daddy's head! Not complete yet!



At Ellis Island finding my great-grandma Concetta Ricci Marcotrigianio (your great-great grandma)



From Ellis Island right next to great-grandma's name. Her name has a good view!



Cafe Roma in Little Italy




NY Pretzel



Good morning NY!



Teddy's morning smile



Nora Christmas morning



great-grandkids with great-aunt Lucy.

 

Aunt Molly and Clare with Teddy and the Lu.



Central Park Rest



Central Park Zoo with Aunt Molly

 

Swinging in Central Park



Climbing the rocks in Central Park with Nonni



Nora, you were a better climber than me

 

Playing with i-pods Christmas morning



Obession with play nativity set



We love playing doctor- thanks to Marta!



Loved watching NY traffic



View from the club level at the hotel. We travel in style with Aunt Katie and Uncle Kevin!

2011 is the year where I gave you the world's most precious and yet at the same time, most annoying gift: a sister to share your life's adventures with!

Your welcome.


Crashing

December hit and it has been a slippery slope of disaster. It started on the 1st when Brandy went to heaven. It was hard. Hard on you and Daddy and Stan. Lucy and I are holding up well. Daddy is very sad, you are confused and Stan is just plain lonely. Yesterday, you asked me if we were going to see Brandy in church. I think I followed your reasoning: Brandy went to heaven to live with Jesus, church is where Jesus lives. It's somewhat interesting watching you deal with death from a being who lived full time with us. Stan sleeps with you every night now. I think it's a comfort to him and you.

Lucy spiked a fever. Low grade. She kept tugging at her ear and had this dry cough. I decided to take her to the doctor. I dragged you along even though you had no fever, your throat was swollen and had a wet cough but no ear complaints / tugging. You both get checked out by the doctor and you BOTH have right ear infections. How is that possible?!?! I asked, completely baffled. They have opposite symptoms! Apparently ear infections can present differently. Alrighty... now you both are on antibiotics twice a day. Add to that Daddy's case of bronchitis with a severe sinus infection and wa-la we have three-fourths of the family on medication.

Then if being sick / loosing the dog isn't bad enough we wake up on Friday with NO HEAT! NO HEAT! IN THE HOUSE! Suffice to say we got the wood stove roaring and after having the repair man here... it's still broken! We are waiting on a motor or some part to make it work again. So we are confined to the living room with the wood stove or the bedroom with a room heater. GREAT! With three sick people. Makes me sick in the head.

Not to complain but then you and Lucy are not able to take a decent Christmas photo together. Do you know how frustrating it is trying to get an infant and toddler to pose together for 5 minutes? I just about lost my mind yesterday and I didn't get "the one." Heck, I didn't even get one in focus where both of you are looking in the same direction. And Lucy's hair is more crazy than usual. I think a haircut is somewhere in her near future even if it breaks my heart. OH WELL! It could be worse... I could be trying to do this photo shoot with sick kids and no heat... oh wait....

Ok, ok, OK! Even with the train wreck December has been, I am very excited for Christmas and so are you and Lu. We have seen Santa twice. Once at the church Christmas Bazaar and once at Daddy's work event on Saturday. Each time you are very particular and will only hold Santa's hand. You will under no circumstances sit on Santa's lap. You are obsessed with candy canes and absolutely love Christmas lights. So does Lucy. I think this Christmas is going be fun with the two of you. And it already has been!

Nothing can change the love I have for you and your sister. Sick or not, heat or freezing, or missing a part of our family. There are so many worse things that could happen to us. I am grateful that Brandy is no longer in pain, our heat will be fixed and our good health will return. Now if I could only capture that perfect picture....