Weblog
Friday, 13 November 2009
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Happy Birthday, Baby Ian!
So, we found out this morning, that my brother Jukes and sis-in-law Aileen gave birth to their son, Ian Jukes Namm. We are so thrilled and can't wait to meet him! Imanuel has been praying for his baby cousin (& baby brother) for some time now. I was happy to share the news this morning to him and he was so excited. The first thing he said was, "So I can hold him now?!" :) Hopefully there will be more details to come very soon!
Monday, 09 November 2009
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Silly Songs with Micah
I thought I'd share a couple silly songs that Micah has made up in recent times. In case you didn't know, Micah LOVES to sing. When he is happy, he bursts out in song - usually falsetto. LOL.
The first silly song that I can recall - and by silly song, I mean Micah singing his own rendition of the song - was his his take on "The Farmer in the Dell". Israel's mom bought the boys almost every Cedarmont Kids DVD and the boys love watching and singing along. On the "Pre-School Songs" DVD is where Micah learned this song. It ends with "The cheese stands alone...the cheese stands alone....hi-ho-the-dario the cheese stands alone." Well, I was sitting in the house with Micah and we were petting Chance, our orange cat. Now, this was a rare occurrence since Chance is still a bit wary of Micah. Anyway, Micah was so happy to be able to pet Chance that he starting singing,
"Chance stands alone! Chance stands alone!
Hi-ho-the-dario...Chance stands alone!"
I could not contain my laughter.
Today, he made up a song about his "puppy-jamas". Let me explain. Micah has a favorite outfit and that is his pajamas with brown puppies on them. From the time he got them, he loved wearing them because he loves puppies. He affectionately calls them his "puppy-jamas". Well, today as I was changing him out of his PJs to his regular clothes, he starting singing this song: (sung to the tune of the first line of "Sabbath is a Happy Day!)
"Puppy-Jama - Happy day! Happy Day! Happy Day!
Puppy-Jama - Happy day! Happy Day! Happy Day!"
Here's Micah wearing the bottoms of his "puppy-jamas".
Micah sings a variety of songs ranging from "Mercy Said No" to "Happy Birthday". However, his all-time favorite song for the last several months has been "Only A Boy Named David". He requests this song every worship - morning & evening - and he sings it at least a dozen times in between. Sometimes he sings it in a silly-hyper way and other times, he goes all out and tries to sing operatically. I'm still trying to get that version on video. I think his love for this song is partly what inspires him to always carry a rock or small ball in his hand almost at all times and especially if we are going out somewhere. If he doesn't have one, he'll come up to me and say, "Mama, hold it...rock" or "Mama, hold it...ball" with his hand outstretched.
*sigh* These are things I never want to forget...for they will always bring a smile to my face.
Perhaps God has great plans for Micah to be a composer or singer. But for now, we all know one thing is for sure...he is a ham! He never fails to bring joy and laughter to our family.
I read this yesterday morning from the book "Child Guidance" on page 205.
"Marked diversities of disposition and character frequently exist in the same family, for it is in the order of God that persons of varied temperament should associate together. When this is the case, each member of the household should sacredly regard the feelings and respect the right of the others. By this means mutual consideration and forbearance will be cultivated, prejudices will be softened, and rough points of character smoothed. Harmony may be secured, and the blending of the varied temperaments may be a benefit to each." Taken from the chapter titled, Study Age, Disposition, and Temperament.
We've always referred to Imanuel as our sweet boy. He cares about the feelings of others and will always defend the underdog. He is affectionate and sensitive.
Micah is our silly boy. He is our independent one who is often in his own world. He enjoys making people laugh, but is focused on his wants/goals much more so than those of others.
The other night, Israel and I were talking about our kids and wondering what our third boy will be like. It's hard to imagine, but it's always comforting to know that each child that comes into our lives is predestined by God to be a perfect match for our family. There is strength in diversity.
By God's grace, it is our hope and prayer that we will all help each other become the people God wants us to be. We are not placed in families or connected to friends by chance. However different we may be, God allows us to cross paths to bring forbearance, mutual consideration, and to smooth our characters. This will ultimately bring true unity! Let's be thankful for each one who is a part of our lives. I couldn't be more thankful for each member of my family.
Sunday, 08 November 2009
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A Morning to Remember
In the morning, Micah had been whining quietly for some time. He wasn't in a good mood. Usually we are summoned by a cheerful, "MAMA! MAAAAAAAAAMA!" This morning, it was a series of whimpers and cries. Yeah, there were a few "mamas" here and there, but he seemed so grumpy that I was hesitant to let him out thinking he may fall back asleep. I waited a while and then I decided to go get him. I knocked and he answered with a weak, "COME IN!"
As I entered, there was a horrible stench. He obviously had a messy diaper. As I neared Micah's crib, he was in the corner of his crib sitting down. Usually he is standing and waiting for me to get him. Then I noticed that there were stains all over his sheets and blanket. Then I realize that it is brown. Then I realize that there is brown stuff COVERING both hands, his clothes, and part of his face & hair. I'm not even exaggerating, it looked like he had just played in a big, gloppy mud pile. There was poop everywhere. The sheer quantity of it all was outrageous. I was beyond myself. I was in shock. I'm surprised I didn't go into labor right then and there.
I yelled to Israel for back-up. I was afraid he had ingested some too. I told Israel to take off his clothes as I ran off to started the bath water. After stripping our poor child down, I stood him in the tub and began rinsing him off. It took about 15 minutes to remove all of the brown stuff from his whole body. Then, I plugged the tub and had him sit down for a bubble bath. (Their bubble bath is scented like grapefruit so it helped the overall smell of the bathroom while at the same time, lifting his spirits.) In the meantime, Israel hand-scrubbed the poopie clothes, blankets, sheets, and mattress protector and then threw them in the washer for a pre-wash, wash, and then extra rinse.
The most pathetic part of the whole ordeal was that while I was washing him off with the warm water, he kept saying in between whimpers, "Thank you, Mama...thank you." The poor boy - I wish I would have gotten him sooner.
The moral of this story is to never feed Micah homemade soup - complete with squash, corn, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and vegetable "mandoo" - for lunch AND dinner with grapefruit for dessert. I don't know why we didn't see it coming. This was the worst disaster ever. It beats the Eucerin episode by a landslide.
Friday, 23 October 2009
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I'm on Health Reform...Officially.
A couple weeks ago, I drank my glucola that had been sitting in my fridge for a couple of weeks. Up here, you just pick up your bottle of glucola and you have from that visit to the next one (1 month) to take it and go into the lab to get blood drawn. So, when we went to go visit a church member at our hospital, I figured I'd just chug it and get it done at the same time.
Anyway, a week later, I got a call from the hospital with the results. The good news is that I don't have gestational diabetes. The bad news is that the blood work showed that I was anemic! I was so shocked. So, my doctor was going to prescribe iron pills for me. However, I was so traumatized by the iron pills I took after I had Imanuel (at UM) and how it affected my digestion (-primarily the exiting part) that I told them that I'd like to change my diet and incorporate more iron that way. They agreed that that'd be the best way.
So, for the past week, I've been downing Total Raisin Bran cereal with grapefruit in the morning, incorporating lots of broccoli, kale and spinach into dinner (with orange juice), AND, for the first time, I'm faithfully taking my pre-natal vitamin. I know, I've been so bad with that. I just detest that pill.
Anyway, if any of you have any other good suggestions for iron-rich foods/meals that are yummy and contain lots of roughage, I'd be forever grateful. I'm kind of thankful for this diagnosis because I know it's making me live a healthier lifestyle. I just hope the baby hasn't suffered because of this.
8 weeks and 3 days left!
Thursday, 15 October 2009
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The Mysterious Case of My OB
So, at church a few Sabbaths ago, I was talking with one of my friends from church, Yunis, who is a nursing student at Finlandia. She asked me who my OB was. (She wants to be an OB nurse and she does her clinicals at the same hospital.) I told her it was Dr. Smith*. Then she went on to tell me how all of the nurses there hate her and how mean and impatient she is with them. This was shocking because I always thought Dr. Smith was super-sweet. She always made me feel so comfortable and seemed like she knew what she was doing. Plus, she also has 3 little boys so I felt we had some sort of personal connection.
* * * * *
One evening while my sister was up here for the week, asked her to measure my fundal height. Anyway, she saw my c-section scar. It's not as bad as it was with Imanuel, but I still have a pretty bad keloid. So, my sister told me to ask my OB if she would close my incision with subcuticular stitches. It's not standard, but apparently it is the "nicest" way to sew someone up to leave minimal scarring. My first c-section at UofM, I was stapled. For my second, I told Dr. Smith I scared really bad with the staples, so she glued me together. For my third and final time, I was going to ask for the subcuticular sutures.
* * * * *
At my next OB appointment, I had scheduled to see a different OB, Dr. Doe*, since Dr. Smith was not available that week. I went in and ended up having to reschedule since there was an emergency and that doctor wasn't available either. As I was rescheduling, the receptionist asked if I wanted to reschedule with Dr. Warren. I told her that my actual OB was Dr. Smith and so I asked if she would be available. I have had Dr. Smith since I moved up here and she was the doctor who had delivered Micah. Then I received surprising news as the receptionist told me, "Dr. Smith no longer practices here". I was a bit taken aback because she told me so bluntly and without much emotion. So, I responded, "I guess I'll just reschedule with Dr. Doe then."
* * * * *
The next Sabbath when I saw my friend again, I told her that Dr. Smith no longer practiced there. I was wondering if maybe all of the nurses had petitioned against her and had gotten her fired. Yunis didn't hear anything about it, but said she would try to investigate.
* * * * *
So, that following week, I'm at Walmart checking out and the cashier asks me how far along I am. I tell her that I'm about 28 weeks and she tells me that she is too! (I couldn't even tell she was pregnant!) Anyway, she asked who my OB is and I told her that it was Dr. Smith, but now I have Dr. Doe. Her OB also happened to be Dr. Doe. She then goes on to tell me that she heard from the lady who works at Customer Service that Dr. Smith was fired because she had made a few ladies go sterile. She told me it may just be a rumor because she doesn't know the customer service lady very well. Anyway, that was that.
* * * * *
At my next OB visit, we discussed the date of the c-section and unless it can be done earlier it is scheduled for December 21. We're happy with that date because it is also Israel's parents' anniversary. This year, it will also be the winter solstice - how ironic for a yooper baby - it will have been winter for 2 months already! Anyway, I brought up the issue of her sewing me up with subcuticular stiches and she says that she always does that for her patients. That made me happy. Hopefully she's really good at that.
* * * * *
I googled Dr. Smith to see if I could get any beef on her. Nothing.
* * * * *
Things I learned from this experience :
1. In small country hospitals, everyone knows everyone.
2. In the country, all pregnant people are seen by the same OB or knows yours.
3. Walmart checkout is where you can hear the latest town gossip.
4. In the U.P., Dr. Smith will forever be known as the mean OB who was responsible for making people go sterile! Poor lady!
So, I have a new OB. She will be delivering our 3rd boy. That will mean that all 3 of our kids will have been delivered by 3 different doctors AND I will have been closed up 3 different ways. Hopefully this final time will be the best all around! It seems the most promising...just a little over 9 weeks left. I absolutely CANNOT wait.
*Names of OBs have been changed to protect their identity.
