Ideas for things to do with the little Diva!!

I am in desperate need of ideas for things to do with the little Diva. We, are both getting terribly bored with our current routine. Due to her being a preemie she's lived a very sheltered life and as much as I'm ready to start changing this - I know it will have to be done in baby steps. I'm wondering if other preemie parents have a hard time breaking out into the real world. Do you feel comfortable joining mom and tot groups? Are playgrounds OK or do you consider them germ-covered mine fields? The little Diva just turned one and is incredibly active - she crawls everywhere and pulls herself up on everything. So I'm sure she'd be only too happy for other kinds of entertainment. We've started playing out in the backyard on a blanket on the grass but even that has it's appeal for only so long.

I'm thinking we need to get more of a routine going. Maybe breakfast at X-o'clock, followed by a walk, followed by a snack... etc etc. I'm wondering what other parents do to fill their days? Do you find that routines keep things flowing smoothly or are children pretty much going to call the shots anyway?

Anwho enough of that - I'll get myself googling after I'm done typing here and hopefully I come up with some ideas!

We decided to go out for breakfast this morning and even the little Diva had fun from her vantage point in her car seat on top of the table. She munched Mum-mums, chewed on teethers, threw her toys on the table and watched mom and dad eat breakfast. She was a perfect little angel and even had our waitress commenting on how well behaved she was. As long as she has interesting things to see and stuff to distract her she's happy to hang out with her folks!

Till next time, take care and I hope to hear some good ideas for things to do with little ones!!

Second-hand Caffeine keeping the Diva awake?

For about a week and a half the little Diva would not sleep through the night regardless of the tricks I tried. Cereal closer to bedtime, protein in the afternoon, bath time later etc etc. I was doing a little online research and came across an article which suggested that Mom's caffeine intake may affect a breastfeeding baby's sleep and feeding patterns.

I thought to myself, "What's a few day's of withdrawal headaches if I can get some sleep?" So I cut out all the caffeine save for a cup of tea midday. Would you believe she slept through that very night and every night since? I have to admit I am a little skeptical, maybe she was a day from sleeping through any way, who's to say FOR SURE it was the coffee? Perhaps her teeth were bothering her and finally settled down or maybe be got used to a scary shadow that was bothering her on the ceiling...

I'm finding that I like sleep a little to much to test my theory by having a cuppa joe with the good stuff still in it! I'm sure at some point in the near future I'll slip up and my theory will get tested but for now, as long as I'm breastfeeding I think I"ll have to stick with tea or wimpy decaffeinated coffee. Speaking of which, I think I'll go brew a pot while the Diva sleeps. She's not entirely herself today and I'm monitoring a slight fever - if it gets any higher after her nap I'll be giving her a dose of Tempra. It seems the three needles from yesterday have caught up with her. She's not miserable; just a little more sleepy and snugly than usual. Here's hoping she feels better after her nap.

Before I go; has anyone else had issues with Coffee and breastfeeding?

Baby Shots and Parental Trauma!!

So I had the fun mommy-job of taking the little Diva for her one year shots today. For some HORRENDOUS reason Health Canada has decided that the 12 month mark require 3 shots instead of the original 2..... one in an arm and one in each thigh. The poor little pin cushion was NOT impressed in the least.

I'm at a point where I think I'm going to start showing up an hour after the actual appointment because that seems to be the amount of time one has to wait at this office. What really bums me out is that we have to get the little Diva naked for her weight and measurements and then we get to hang out in a diaper for an hour while we wait for the Doctor. Being the paranoid mom that I am there is NO WAY I'd let her play on the floor and there's only so much shredding to be done of the paper covering the bed.. so I prance around the room like a lunatic pulling out every one of my Diva distractions! If I had my way I'd rather wait clothed for 40 minutes then do the weight etc and 10 minutes later the Dr. walks in. Maybe I"ll put a suggestion in the box... haha anywho we do love her doctor so back to the story: The visit started out well, she even smiled at her Doctor. Last time we were there she screamed hysterically from the moment her Dr entered the room - and last time she didn't even get a shot. Poor girl probably thought, "Well last time wasn't so bad maybe this Dr. Lady ain't all bad".... boy did she change her mind fast. I stood by helplessly as three of her limbs got stabbed with teeny little needles and then I got the biggest hugs. She sobbed hysterically, pulled away and glared at the doctor, did some shouting and more sobbing and within 5 minutes the horrible ordeal was over. She went back into her car seat without a peep and we went home. I figured she'd probably sleep the afternoon away. She had some milk and went down for a nap...

Then our neighbours decided it would be a GREAT time to CHOP WOOD in their garage. I'm not sure how I feel about our neighbours wielding an axe... The sound reverberated up through our house and woke the little Diva up. It wasn't too bad though because I'd realized our Tempra had expired and figured it was a good time to go pick up some more in case she started to get cranky or run a fever. I'm happy to say that we haven't needed to use it and despite the 3 pokes the little Diva was pretty much her usual wriggly self today. I have to admit I was surprised because I was anticipating at least a fever.

Anywho she is fast asleep and I'm tired too, post traumatic stress or something - I hate taking my little Diva for her shots even though I know it's for her own good and she's not likely to remember and hold it against me later on :) I think it's time to do some reading and then get some shuteye!

Night Night world - positive energy for everyone out there and especially for preemies and their parentals - hang in there things will get better.

How do you get over being a germaphobe?

The question, "How to get over being a germaphobe" has been bugging me for a few weeks now. As a preemie parent, I am used to disinfecting people... I have used so much hand-sanitizer in the last year that Purell should be paying me for the amount of advertising I've done for them. Everyone who even came close to the little Diva was asked to wash their hands and then use the sanitizer. If you didn't pass the "are you sure you're healthy" questioning phase you didn't even make it to our porch let alone through the front door!!

In the last few weeks we have cut back on our hand-sanitizer use and as a result all ended up with a cold. Luckily the little Diva just ended up with a stuffy nose that has started to clear on it's own with the use of a humidifier. The hubby and I had two days of a sore throat followed by two days of coughing and general stuffy sinus grossness. Despite our first intro into "getting sick" territory we are still not fully relaxed around other people. I about have a conniption-fit if a stranger approaches the Diva with an outstretched hand. So far my tactful "jiggle-giggle-back-away-from contaminated digit" move has worked pretty well. If they are too persistent I simply explain that she was born three months early and we're pretty careful about what we expose her immune system to. A hasty " not that I think you're covered in germs" comment is thrown toward the would be groper if they are a friend who's being offended could pose problematic to happy family relations :) And yes... I do think that they probably are covered in germs :( I have unfortunately been made all to aware of germs and other nasty bugs and it's hard to come back from seeing everyone as a germ covered entity - but I am working on it.

I haven't yet had to deploy the "crazy protective mom slap" but I can guarantee if a sniffing/coughing or otherwise ill person attempted to touch the little Diva I'd deploy it without a second thought.

I've signed the little Diva up for swimming lesson's next month and I'm trying to convince myself that it will be fine. She's a year old and I really need to ease up a little. I'd really like to know how other preemie parents get over their obsessive cleaning and overall protectiveness. I want to be able to take the little monkey to play groups and let her interact with other children but I'd probably break out in a cold sweat if one of them coughed. I know that I"m being ridiculous... but I'm working on it!

Here's to being less paranoid, more healthy and sticking to that happiness plan :)

The Little Diva's Birthday :)

I cannot believe it has been a WHOLE year since the little Diva graced us with her early - yet still wonderful arrival into our family.

I find it hard to believe that at this time last year my Hubby and I were recovering from an emergency C-section and worrying what the future would hold for our teenie - weenie incubator dwelling preemie. Thankfully the year has been a good one and things have gone well for all involved. The Diva is crawling everywhere, pulling herself up on everything and loves laughing and smiling at everyone important in her life! The important people are mostly her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins -- oh and of course those extended family members and friends who also love and adore her :D The hubby and I have also mostly lost the "sleep-deprived/deer caught in the headlights look" and look more like our "regular sleep deprived parental" peers.

I've done a fair amount of reflecting on this time last year and I am grateful for the way things turned out. This time last year we were completely out of our elements; we were scared and confused, yet still hopeful that things would work out well. Thankfully they did and along with our family and friends we can celebrate a year well spent and look forward to many, many more.

I was driving home from the garden center with the little Diva yesterday and I realized something really important. I realized that I am truly, madly and deeply in love with my life. I love my husband, my daughter, our extended family and friends, my home, the neighbourhood we live in, the country which it is in... etc ETC ETC!!! I am - at my core - truly happy - despite all the little annoying things I let get to me on a daily basis. I wish I knew why it is that we let things get to us - if I could figure that out maybe I could get past it... and be more like the duck!

There was an email going around at some point and the punchline read something to the effect of: You need to be more like a duck and let problems run off you like water off the duck. Over the years my mom has often told me to be "more like the duck" and my response has become, "and not give a F@CK? You can fill in the missing letter yourself. Despite it being a silly retort it really is GOOD advice. I hope that sometime before my daughter learns to say the punchline, I no longer need to be reminded to be duck-like.

I challenge all of you to "BE MORE LIKE THE DUCK and DON'T GIVE A F@CK!!

I'm going to go get the little Diva ready to open her presents! As soon as Daddy gets home we'll have some more partying to do!

Till next time - keep QUACKING!!

Mini road-trip :)

Whew it's 11:24pm and I am BEAT! I spent a wonderful day with the Little Diva, two of her adorable cousins and my Mommers. The Diva absolutely loved being in the backseat with her two little cousins when we took a little road-trip to a garden center. She jabbers non stop to them whenever we get together and I wonder what on earth it is she's saying to them. Whatever it is - it makes her happy and her cousins love getting the attention too! We'll call her cousins the Little Princess and Prince - they're both older than her and super excited for her to get a little more mobile. They spent some time kicking a ball around in Granny's backyard and I know that before long we'll have three little monsters galloping around the yard.

The little Princess spent some time today trying to teach the little Diva to walk and jump today which was really, really cute. She had a super attentive student but didn't quite end up with a walking, or hopping cousin at the end of it. I'm quite sure that our little bunny will be walking within a month - she's been pulling herself up on things for a while now and her latest trick is to let go and wobble in place for a while before grabbing onto something again or falling on her bum.

Seriously where has the time gone? There were moments when we were still in the hospital with her that it felt like we'd be there forever and have the school bus pulling up at the front of the hospital to take her to school... and now I look back and those days feel like they were just yesterday but in the same instant feel like they were a LIFETIME ago! All I know for sure is that she's growing up way too fast and in the moments when I realize that; I panic, and wish I had a pause button. I wish I could tell every preemie parent - you spend all that time worrying that they aren't growing fast enough - each hospital weigh in is a stressful/hopeful experience.... and then when they do start growing like weeds you wish that you could pause moments.... :) Watching my little Diva laugh and squeal at the beauty in everyday makes me happy to be alive - it doesn't get much better than that! A happy baby definitely does make a happy mommy! :D

Anywho - back to the day.. Our little road-trip took us to a garden centre where we were supposed to see a pony. We'd been home for several hours before we realized we had neither seen, nor looked for the horse!! The kiddies were too mesmerized by the bright flowers and water fountains.. Granny and I took turns carrying the little Diva and watching that we didn't lose the little Prince or Princess in the blooms!!

After a healthy dose of fresh air and the purchase of a fern and acacia tree seeds we made our way to the prince and princesses new home where their parentals were painting and cleaning up a storm! The new house is gorgeous and I can't wait for them to be all moved in so we can visit for a proper housewarming! Also it'll be super fun when the floors are clean and the little Diva can crawl around after her cousins.

Anywho I'm super sleepy so I better get my head to my pillow for some shut eye :)
I had a tonne of fun with my mommers and the little ones - here's to enjoying each and every day!!

I LOVE summer but boy do I hate my allergies!

I am hoping that I will at some point stumble across a safe, non invasive cure to my seasonal allergies. I have contemplated removing my OWN sinuses with a SPORK several times this week already. I'm still breastfeeding the little Diva though, so I'm not entirely comfortable with pumping myself full of allergy meds. Especially considering she isn't leaking like a faucet so she doesn't really need antihistamine laced milk!! hehe I'm really hoping she's dodged the sniffles that both her parents develop come summer!!

Even before I had the little Diva I had mixed results with allergy meds. One memorable allergy tablet made my heart race.... I started to freak out and after a few minutes of Google-ing discovered that "paranoia" was a common side effect... haha call me crazy but I think I'll stick with the stuffy nose!

I've had some good results with saline nose sprays, I'm a big fan of Simply Saline. But although these do help they are not a permanent solution. Hmmm maybe I could hook up a beer helmet as a permanent nasal irrigation product - Although I'd probably have to keep apologizing for the nasal runoff that ends up on peoples' feet..

I also swear by the breathe Right nasal strips to help me sleep through the night. I still think I look freaking Crazy with the strip on my nose and I'm waiting for the day the doorbell wakes me and I answer it in my PJ's, Nose strip proudly fluttering in the air-conditioning breeze because I've managed to dislodge one side of the strip in my sleep... Oh the humanity.. hehe

Anywho I'm waiting for the little Diva to wake up from her nap - I'm looking forward to taking her for a nice long stroll. She absolutely loves watching the trees and people go by on our little adventure walks :)

Till later, yours in sniffles...