Trip to Chicago...sort of

It has been about two weeks since Regan entered the world and Melinda and I thought we should treat ourselves because of all the hard (sleepless) work we have put in so far. We were having a casual conversation and neither of us can remember, but one of us said "wouldn't a Chicago dog sound good about now!" You didn't have to convice me, so we packed up the kids and drove to Chicago's. It is a Chicago style, Vienna Beef, eatery here in Denver. Believe me, we do not get good beefs or dogs around here, so this place is a real treat.

The owner use to live in Chicago and started with a hot dog cart. He had a restaurant in Chicago after his success with the cart and retired in Colorado. His family came with him and since they could not find a good beef joint, they went back into the family business.

We take a trip up there, just west of Denver about twenty miles, about four times a year. I know for you Chicago homies, a place like this is on every corner. It has mucho Chicago memorbilia and flat screen TV's that show the sports teams and other interesting Chicago stuff.

So, I'm a sentimental beefaholic. It is the one day Melinda looks the other way and let's me bask in a combo, Italian Beef with an Italian Sausage and a glass of water, no coke. The price is reasonable and the sandwich is big, I'll admit I'm full about half way, but I proceed to take a deep breath and inhale the rest.

I don't know what it is about food and places, sort of God's memory box for us I guess. Makes me think back to some good ol' days and now I can share them with my children, although Connor got a PB&J. However, Connor enjoys it there, he likes the Blues Brothers and he'll, with no solicitation from me, put the movie in the DVD player and we'll watch the movie, he likes to skip and go the singing parts and the crash sceens.

At any rate, enjoy if you can, "this beef's for you!"

Two more weeks..

Just a quick update about Regan's broken wing. We saw the orthopedist yesterday- what an ordeal that was! Apparently they have two offices, one in Lone Tree near our home and the other way out in BFE! So naturally when we got to the closer office where I thought out appointment was, they told us we had to drive over to the other office where our appointment actually was. After getting there 20 minutes late and getting the stink eye from the receptionist and filling out a medical history for an 8 day old child, the doc sees us and tells we have to get another x-ray. So we leave all of our stuff in the office and I carry Regan down a floor while managing to give her a bottle at the same time, to where they perform x-rays. And after explaining to the receptionist there that she really did break her arm and not her collarbone (which no one can seem to believe) she tells us there isn't an x-ray tech available to come to that office. SO we have to go down another floor to the ER and have them take the x-ray. After explaining to the techs in the ER that yes she broke her arm, they take the x-ray and we go back up 3 floors to the doc office where he tells us in 2 minutes that the break is aligned and healing and she should be out of the splint in two more weeks. Two hours later we get to leave. But the good news is that is healing properly and Bill and I have become pros and re-wrapping the splint and dressing her so the arm isn't even disturbed!!

That's it for our day!
See ya, Melinda

One week old!

Well we have made it through the first week! And we are all still around to tell you about it. Regan is doing wonderfully. We had one teeny-tiny scare Saturday evening, her splint slid right off her little arm, mostly because the swelling has gone down, which is good, but we freaked! So our PCP told us to take her to the ER and they were able to re-wrap it for us, which we watched very closely in case we needed to do again ourselves. The doc also felt the break site and felt some calcifying already, which is really good. Tomorrow we go to the orthopedist and they will do another x-ray to see how it is healing and hopefully be able to determine how much longer she will need the splint. I have gotten creative with her clothes. She has a few little dresses that are sleeveless and they slip right over the splint, but I had to take some onesies and cut the right sleeve open so it slip right over her shoulder and be pinned. But we only have a few more weeks and then it is on to all those cute clothes!

Other than that small drama, life is good. We get up two times a night for feedings, but all in all she is a good eater and sleeper. Connor is enjoying being a big brother and so far we haven't had any jealousy issues. The one that is surprising me is Abby, or "Reverend Mother" as we call her (get it? Nuns live in an Abby?) she has been so attentive to Regan and will sit by her bassinet or peek through the netting of the pack and play to see how she is doing. She also lets us know if Regan makes even one peep! I was so worried how Abby would act around Regan, but it is like her mothering instinct just kicked right in. Whereas Chase could seriously care less.

My sister left to go home today. It was so great to have her here and spend time with her. I almost forgot how much I love being around her. Amazing how the person you fought over socks with in high school can turn into your best friend as an adult! She is such a great Aunt and loves Connor and now Regan so much. Her baby is due November 4th, hopefully I will be able to go and see her soon after that.

I am doing ok. I did have to go back to my OB today because I was in a bit more pain than I had been in before. My incision was burning on the right side and it is very bruised there as well. Turns out that it the side they really had to pull and retract in order to get Regan out correctly. So the nerves are just very sore and raw. And I also was officially told I was doing way too much. So I guess I need to listen and take it easy. It's just hard! I have this beautiful baby girl and I am DYING to show her off!! There will be time for that....



Ok, here is the mean Mommy- but I just had to take a picture in this cute little sundress!





This is for my sister, who did not appreciate the other picture I posted of her on the blog. So here you go Em, the whole blogging world will see how cute you really are!!

Well, time for a nap!

See ya, Mel

Regan is home!

We finally made it home!!! And back to our ability to post pictures on our blog. Both Regan and I were discharged this morning. She is doing well, her arm is healing nicely. And as you can see in some of the pictures below, her cast is almost as big as her whole body!!! Her weight has dropped to 7lbs 1oz from the original 7lbs 8oz and she looks SO tiny! Everyone keeps pointing out that a seven pounder is really not that little, but to my family it is VERY small! Connor was 8lbs 11.5 oz, my nephew was 9lbs 13oz and my Mom and my Grandma had 8 1/2 to 10 lb babies, so Regan is SMALL! So far she has been a great eater and sleeper, passed her hearing test and will make her first doctor's visit tomorrow morning.

I am also doing well. The pain is getting better and I keep on walking as much as I can. I am not sure we will be doing laps at the mall like we did with Connor, but definitely around our neighborhood. Skyridge was a great place to have this baby. Aside from Regan's broken wing, everything when so well. The doctors and nurses were fantastic and I am so grateful for all of that. And the OB that discharged me today saw my Pi Phi tattoo and told me she was a Pi Phi from Montana State!!! Very cool!

We had a lot of visitors at the hospital, my family of course, including my sister, Emily who flew in from Spokane. Em is now 25 weeks along, so she is up next! My good friends Susie and Kayla also came and we got so many beautiful flowers! I even got a wonderful phone call from one of my good friends from college, Molly. It was great to talk to her!

Connor seems to be adjusting well. He had a slightly stressful time away from us and I know he is glad we are all together again. But my Mom loves him so much and is so patient with him, it made that easier on Bill and I. He has been so excited to help with Regan, from diapering to feeding. And I was in the kitchen getting a drink and heard him singing a SpongeBob song to Regan, so very sweet. He also read her a story as well.

The dogs are still trying to figure out what is going on. Chase is a little interested, I think he is just glad that I am home. Abby is a little more nervous, she keeps whining and staring at Regan. It will take some time for us all to adjust to the new situation.

We will still keep our gmail account for a while, so you can reach us there or at our individual comcast addresses. Bill is home until August 14th (thank GOD!) so he will be able to take Connor for his first day of first grade!!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and wonderful thoughts both during my pregnancy and Regan's birth. We are so grateful for all of our friends and family!




All ready to go! See the size of my cast??


Abby is trying to figure out who this little one is...


Connor and Gus with Regan Auntie Em getting back into bottle duty


Susie is a natural So is Kayla!

Mommy and baby are ready to go home!

We'll keep you posted!

See ya, Melinda, Bill, Connor and Regan!

Waiting for Regan...

IT'S FINALLY DONE!!!!! I know, less than 24 hours until she is born, but we managed to actually get the baby's room finished!!! Well, almost finished anyway! I figured my Mom had done enough sewing and babysitting this summer, so we are going to wait to finish the curtains. But she did a wonderful job making all of the bedding and the pillows for the rocking chair. Thank God she can sew, other wise I would have had to break down and buy a nursery set. I just could not find anything that really appealed to me! So here it is, Regan's room...


We went with cranberry and white instead of all pink. But she is going to share the Pooh Bear mobile from Connor's nursery.


Big brother is ready to go!

Connor finally has someone sleeping in the room next to him. I feel so good- our house will be almost full! Just leaves the guest room in case anyone wants to use it!

I thought I had gotten a good picture of the dresser, but guess not.

Well, we will see you on the flip side of this pregnancy, when our little girl is finally here! Wish me luck!

See ya, Melinda

Big brother day!!!

Tomorrow Connor is going to have to begin to share the spotlight in our family. So in light of all of that we celebrated "big brother day" Saturday after he finished his last baseball game of the summer. We went to Red Robin for hamburgers and video games. And we gave him a "big brother starter kit" too. He got his official big brother shirt, some books to read, a camera to record his images of the baby's birthday and (of course) a Spidey transformer car! We had a really good time together and I think he is ready to go!





I think he is going to do a great job of being a big brother!

See ya, Melinda

Summer can't be over yet???

I can't believe baseball season is over! Ok well, little league baseball season is over anyway! Last night was Connor's last practice for the season and also the team's pizza party. The team's last game is this Saturday, but I am personally grateful they decided against having the party after the game- not sure I would have made it!

Normally Bill handles practice every week, but he had a work event to attend. A "work" event that just happened to be in a skybox at Coors Field watching the Dodgers pummel our Rockies. Life is rough all over I guess! So as he is sitting in the lap of luxury eating a $10 hot dog, I get to drag my SEVERELY pregnant self to practice in 95 degree heat! Ah, for the love of my son....

After practice the team headed to Cici's Pizza for a party. Which was quite fun I thought- hot, but fun. I got to talk with one of Connor's classmates parents for a while. You know the people you say 'hi' to as you are all picking up your kids, but never manage to ask them their names?? Well, I finally got their names and had a nice time talking with them.

Coaches Joe and Mike handed out trophies to all the kids (yes Mother and Father- TROPHIES just for showing up!). I am not sure if I should take offense or take it as a compliment when Coach Joe said that Connor always took an interesting spin on baseball?? Oh well, my son may not be the next Holliday, but he makes life interesting! Maybe next year we'll try soccer....



Connor with Coach Joe and Coach Mike


Connor and his baseball pal Jack




And on to the topic of the month, for me anyway... I went to my pre-op appointment yesterday and got all of my questions answered. And my sweet doctor appreciated all of those questions too! We are still scheduled for next Monday at 7:15am. The baby has managed to stay breech throughout the pregnancy, guess she wanted to be just like her big brother!

Other than normal house cleaning and packing my hospital stuff, we are ready to go. This week will be low-key since it is still very hot and I have run out of breathing room! Connor has school registration tomorrow and we have been given the GIANT list of school supplies to purchase this year. Saturday is Connor's last game and then Bill, Connor & I will celebrate what we have dubbed "big brother day". We are taking Connor out for arcade games and dinner in celebration of his role in the baby's life. He is very excited- for big brother day anyway. Oh and for the sleepover he gets to have at his Da & Gus' house next week.

My sister will be in town next Wednesday and we are all so excited to see her. She is coming alone this trip, Declan and Bryce will stay in Spokane. She is due November 4th, so I am sure she will appreciate the break. And yes, my birthday is next Friday, if all goes well I will be home just in time to see crow's feet appear right as I turn 35! Hey, at least I met my latest goal which was to have this child BEFORE I turn 35- so it's only 4 days! I think our big celebration will be take-out and midnight feedings!

Anyway, hope you are all staying cool.

See ya, Melinda

Stop junk mail, save some trees...

I added two links to our site. Ones that I think are very important for all of us! After you switch from plastic grocery bags to reusable canvas bags, have stopped driving so much and recycle anything you can, there is one more area to conquer- your mailbox!! Junk mail is SUCH a waste and how much do you actually look at it???

The links I have added are to stop your catalogs, coupons and flyers that get sent to you everyday. There is also a link to stop credit card offers- which may help your credit rating as well! Please click on them and STOP THE JUNK MAIL!!!!

Americans get enough junk mail every year to deforest Rocky Mountain National Park every FOUR MONTHS! Give it a try...

See ya, Melinda

Sibling Class and the firestation...

This past Saturday Connor took a "sibling preparation class" at the hospital where the baby will be born. We thought it would be a good idea since he has really no concept of what having a baby around would be like, but then again what kid does? Anyway, the class was an hour long and had all boys in it. It was also nice to see another couple with a six-year old just now having a second child, apparently we are not the only ones who waited a while!

The class was broken into two parts- the first the teacher the kids how to hold a baby, how to give a bottle and how to swaddle the baby. Connor did very well and seemed to know all the answers (well it was between him and the other 6 year old!). Then we took a kid-friendly tour of the labor and delivery floor. The best part was seeing a newborn through the glass in the nursery! The nurse brought the baby up to the glass so all the kids could see. The main comment was how "red" the baby looked. We also got to see a labor & delivery room and of course I started to feel faint at the sight of it! I am such a wimp when it comes to medical stuff. I mean having dinner at my Mom's house with my sister and brother-in-law (who is a physician) is very disturbing for me. They will actually talk about disgusting medical procedures right there over the chicken! I can barely wipe Connor's nose! Anyway, I made it through that part of the tour, even though I had to stand in the hallway through most of it.

And the end of the class all of the kids were given a surgical cap, gloves and a mask. Which of course Connor LOVED! The teacher told all of the kids to go home and take care of their Moms. Which is exactly what happened! That afternoon Dr. Connor took very good care of me, I had an ultrasound and three surgeries, right there on the couch! And Bill had a brain transplant, although Connor was worried because the new brain appeared to be "itchy". Hopefully that won't impede the man's ability to deal with the millionaires money in the future.



Connor in his surgical gear




On Sunday we were invited to our neighbor, Josh's birthday party. Josh turned 3 and he and Connor get along very well. So it was very sweet of them to invite us as well. Josh's Mom, Teri, had scheduled a tour of the local firestation- which was very cool for Connor. He is so mechanical and has to know how everything works. He loved getting up into the firetruck and touching everything they would let him touch. We also followed it up by lunch and birthday cake at the park. It was hot, but a great afternoon and Teri makes a killer chocolate birthday cake!








We have just under two weeks until our baby girl will be here! The dresser is here and my Mom has finished the bedding. We decided we needed some shelves in there as well, so hopefully that will happen this week. Other than putting away all the pink clothes, we are just about done! I have my pre-op appointment next week with my OB and barring anything unforeseen, Regan will enter the world on July 28th!

We have two more baseball games and Connor are I are trying to do some fun things together before the baby is born! Just in case we missed anybody with our mass email announcement- we have opened another email account so we could combine our address books, it is just temporary, but it will be used when we make our baby announcement. It is billmelhoward@gmail.com.

Have a good week!

See ya, Melinda

Still here...

I have gotten a few emails in the last week checking in on me, which is very sweet thank you! I guess people that I actually know are reading our blog! And for that I thank you too! So here's an update! I am doing ok, had a slight scare a few weeks ago, began having contractions so the doctor advised me to head into the hospital. I swore I would make it through this pregnancy without over-reacting to little things, but since I had never really had a contraction during Connor's pregnancy they didn't want to take any chances. They hooked me up to the monitors and everything is fine. I was just doing way too much and was dehydrated as well. Me- dehydrated? I live with a water bottle attached to me- apparently I have to drink the water too! ;-) They sent me home two hours later and all has been well since then. They baby is doing fine, although she has decided to follow her brother's lead and has been breech most of the time. Of course Connor didn't flip around until about 10 days before his due date and this one has maintained her location.

I have about 2 weeks left and it is HOT! Thank God for AC! Of course I really am scared to see our power bill in the next month! Oh I am sorry Mother Earth, I am not being a very good steward right now!

The house is mostly pristine, aside from the dog hair. And we have almost finished the nursery, the dresser is going to be delivered today and then we will put it all together. I am glad I didn't go with the completely pink room, which I know has surprised most people. I think it will look good.

Connor is doing well, he has three more baseball games left and got to have a sleepover last night at his Gus's house (that would be what he calls my Mom). He loves going over there because the cul-de-sac they live on has little kids in EVERY house, unlike our boring street. So he always has a good time. We go to school registration July 23rd and he has already started the great bedtime "moveback"- does that even make sense? Well, Connor has always been on the same sleep schedule that I have been on since he was born. He basically goes to bed at 10:30 and gets up around 8:30, which I know most people are appalled at, but it has worked amazingly for us. He has always had afternoon school, so we weren't cutting into anytime there and he is able to spend more time with Daddy because of it. Anyway, next year he will start first grade and has to be up at 7:30, so we are slowly moving him back in bedtime. Fortunately he has always been a good sleeper, so it isn't too difficult to change times on him. And I think with two children to deal with in the morning, I will need to hour and half to get everyone moving and Connor to school by nine.

Other than that, life has been going along as it should. I will try and not worry anyone in the future and post more regularly! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

See ya, Melinda