Quick update

Its 10:58pm and I've given myself a 5 minute "blog fix" allowance. Not really enough time to write so I'll just throw on a few pictures. Incase you are wondering what is happening in the following scenes, here are the speedy captions:

Paige playing in a diaper box.
Paige playing with Avery.
Paige on a walk with Daddy.
Milk!
Puffs!
Paige being 8 months old today in her rocking chair.

Dang it! Its 11:06!

Slow to Blog these days

Well, it seems like Paige does something new and wonderful everyday but we just don't have time to get it all posted. I am having a hard time finding people to hang with the baby long enough for me to get serious work done on my Masters project. I don't want to burden anyone and I don't really want to be away from Paige either. I feel like its such a gift to have these summer weeks with her, I don't want to "waste" them.

Mike hasn't posted in a grillion years and it doesn't look like he'll have a chance to any time soon. He's been working hard at Medtronic during the day and working hard at being a dad all night (I get a few hours of thesis time then). NOW he's going to be working weekends too for TheTravelingPhotoBooth. He liked being in "The Wedding Business" before, So I hope he likes it again!

Short Version of Paige's most recent activities

--eats "puffs" (Yum!)
--not crawling yet...but rolls fast! (wee!)
--throws things overboard off the high chair, crib, changing table, and exersaucer for me to pick up (great)

Good eater!

We've been showing Paige how to chew while she eats (you know..."numma nums! " "mmmmm" "open up!" and the like). I think its so funny that shes chewing on oatmeal and mixed berry baby food at all! What a funny baby.

Big girl

Last night I was rolling around on the floor with Paige and got a little bit sad that she is such a big girl now. I spied a blanky and decided she needed to be wrapped up tight the way we did when she was brand new. I spread out the blanket, held down her little pencil arms and started tucking. I rolled her in there really tight, fluffed the blanket up around her face and told her what a little baby she was. I told her she couldn't play with toys, or pull hair or eat cereal cause she was just a baby and that was final. About that time Mike decided to come in and see what was going on. I think its pretty clear from the picture he took that our big girl isn't a baby anymore. Who did she get those long legs from?

Dr. J. Gonzalez, D.V.M.

Tuffy and I headed back to the Vet today for more Sub Q fluids. Since this is something Tuffy will need done occasionally for the remainder of her days, the Vet suggested I learn how to do it myself! They are sending home all the supplies (water, IV tubes, needles etc) and I'm going to play veterinarian! its $34 dollars a treatment if a vet-tech does it (obviously more than we can afford) so even though its a little intimidating it will be worth it.

In case anyone is wondering why this isn't a husband & wife practice its because Mike does NOT do needles. I had gestational diabetes with Paige and took my blood sugar 4 times a day with a teeeeeny tiiiiiny needle. Mike would scurry out of the room. Once or twice I wanted to check his blood sugar and he would start screaming like a little girl. (sorry honey, you know you did). If our infertility had required at home injectable medication, I think its safe to say Paige would still just be a twinkle in my eye. No, Mike's only participation will be to bend an old coat hanger and attach a hook to the ceiling in the laundry room for us.

Oh yeah, since this is technically a blog about Paige, I guess I should give you all an update on her too. We visited Linda (new daycare lady) today! Paige had a fun time watching all the kids, but was a little on the serious side overall. As soon as we left I thought of a million things I should have told Linda (How much Paige eats, what size her diapers are, how we know when she's tired...) As sad as I am that we've got just 4 weeks or so left together, I feel great about sending her to Linda. I guess I was expecting it to be a little more traumatic like when I went back to work after maternity leave. Actually....check back with me on this in about 4 weeks!

Hanging in there

Tuffy is hanging in there. She seems a LOT better after receiving fluids, still dehydrated though, will probably go back to the vet for more soon.

She ate her new dog food like a champ!

Right now we're just resting at home, trying to get healthy and stay comfortable.

Doggie Update

Well, Tuffy's blood work showed she has hypothyroidism (quick fix with a prescription...might even just ignore this less serious issue) and renal failure (hopefully can improve with a special diet). She also needs to be given fluids at least once more. While I know this is important, I think its yucky. Poor little thing walks around looking like she's got water balloons under her skin. Later when you pet her you can hear little bubbles popping...sort of...crunchy....gross!

Our main concern is that she is refusing to eat. I HOPE she is willing to try this new special food. I don't know that prescription formula dog food for kidney failure screams "delicious", so we'll see.

Tuffy

"Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole."

—Roger Caras, former President ASPCA

Who knew Mike was that funny!

Here is a great video of Paige laughing (HARD) at Daddy and the puppies.

Paige Tries a Pureed Pickle!

Don't worry anyone, it was just a taste. Her reaction was subtle but clear don't you think?

What a face!

Paige's new favorite way to spend time is looking at herself in the mirror. If shes lucky, one of us will hold her on the bathroom counter while she screams, squeals, and squirms at that adorable baby she sees. She also has discovered a small mirror on her exersaucer. She likes to hover just an inch or two above it for a REALLY good look. For a little variety, shes been trying some new faces. The one shes been stuck on lately is quite attractive, I've pictured it here. I should mention that this face also comes with heavy breathing. Shes so weird!

Spacebook, myface, who can keep it all straight!

I'm officially a facebooker! I really have no intention of maintaining my profile but I know I have buddies that do. I don't have the stamina to maintain more than my e-mail and this blog, so paigesuponpages will still be your one stop shop for Gonzalez family updates. I am excited to be more connected with facebook buddies though. I saw more photos of Noah (Carrie's Noah) in five minutes on facebook than I had seen his whole life! I'm glad I hopped aboard.

PS. I made Mike create a profile too, so I could decide if I wanted to commit. It was sort of against his will so don't look for tons of updates there either.

Seasonal Allergies and the Quest of the Missing Nap

I don't know about the rest of you, but something in the air this week is driving my allergies bonkers. Itchy throat and ears, watery eyes, sneezing, all things I could do without. Even Paige's eyes have been red and watery. Last night, around midnight, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to medicate. Big mistake. The medicine I took, USED to make me drowsy. I USED to be very careful about when and where I would take it (no heavy machinery for instance) because I got so tired, so fast. Post pregnancy though, my body seems to react very differently to things. I was wound up like a cheap alarm clock. Long story short, I didn't go back to bed until around 3:00am.

Speaking of USED to...Paige has been on a very predictable schedule for the last 2 months or so. Like clockwork we knew when she would eat, how much, when she would nap, how long and so on. I was counting on her 2 hour nap from 9am to 11am today. I NEEDED her to nap from 9am to 11am today. It was ESSENTIAL that she nap from 9am to 11am today. At 8:55 I popped her in her crib and she.....screamed! Hmmmm. We read a book in the rocking chair. I popped her in her crib and she.....howled! WHY?! WHY TODAY?!

We ended up playing and and eating right on through her "nap-time". Eight minutes ago I popped her in her crib and she rolled over and hugged her bun-bun. I haven't heard her since.

Good night everybody!