Lesson 39 - New bedrooms are better if you help build them yourself

We began the process of preparing Liam's new bedroom over the summer months, as Lily will be taking over his old nursery. Liam has been involved in every step of the construction process.

We decided to move our laundry room and expand an office area to create a nice sized bedroom. The laundry area had a sloping floor, so we had to even out the floor to get it ready for carpet. Liam helped clean up the area as we prepared to pour a new floor.

We also had to remove the old door to the laundry room and Sheetrock over the hole it left. Liam loved using the crowbar to help tear out the old door frame. It has become one of his favorite toys.

The old laundry room shared a wall with a bathroom, so we decided to create a door from Liam's new bedroom into the bathroom. Liam was fine with the pint-sized door, but we thought a full-size door would be prudent.

We built a set of bookshelves and cabinets into a wall space that allows for easy access to our main sewer clean out. Liam saw me use the screwdriver to attach the bookshelves, and still goes to the bookshelves anytime he is given a screwdriver to play with. This is also when the headlamp became a necessary item for any "work" he does.

Still wearing the headlamp as he cuts trim with he great-great-great-grandfather's mitre box. This mitre box has been used to cut trim for at least six generations, and was likely used to help build the church where he was baptized.

Happy boy with his headlamp still working on the bookshelves.

Liam has become very cognizant of what is needed for a project. I was working on putting the light fixture in his closet, and he brought me a handful of wire nuts without prompting. He must have seen me use them in other electrical projects.

Finishing up the trim on the built-in bookshelves/cabinets. There are a few extra dents in the trim. His fine motor skills have become very good, as he can now hit a nail repeatedly.

Liam has even become an accomplished painter. The little brush is the type you would use for watercolors. He would dip his brush very gingerly into the paint can and just paint away.

Part of the finished product. Annie bought the little workbench on the right at a garage sale. He loves it. It allows him to keep working on the room he has been helping build over the past few months. The transition to the new room was smooth and without any complaints from Liam. When asked, "Where is baby Lily's room?," he points to his old nursery. New bedrooms are better when you get to help build them yourself.

Lesson 38- The Greatest Wealth Is Our Health

On Monday, August 20th, I was teaching my block 4 English 11 AP students, when I felt a sudden and quick beating of my heart.  It's a cliche, but I felt like my heart was pounding out of my chest.  I took a few deep breaths, went to the bathroom and practiced some yoga breathing, drank a glass of water, but nothing seemed to help.  An assessment from the school nurse showed my heart rate was 160 and steady at 160.  I rested in her office until Ryan picked me up for our appointment with my OB.  The entire time I was in the backroom of Nurse Wanda's room, I was thinking to myself, please let the baby be okay.  I couldn't sleep because when I would rest on the horrible student cot, I could feel my heartbeat in every part of my body... it was a very strange feeling.  My heart was pounding in my ear, on the side of my face and hip, all the way down to my feet.  God knows I haven't worked out in months, but it was that same feeling after you do sprints or stairmaster or boxing.  But it didn't stop. 

At Dr. Carriker's office, now two hours after I first felt the elevated heart rate, the physician's assistant took my pulse with her cute little white Swatch watch.  Her eyes widened and after she was finished and I asked her what it was, she simply replied, "Yes, it's high," and quickly left the room to find the doctor. 

Now I was scared. 

So I turned to Ryan."Will you take my pulse to see what it is now?"

He smiled from across the room and said, "I have been; I've been watching your boobs move with every heartbeat." 

I looked down and sure enough, my clothing was "bouncing" with every one of the beats.  It was kind of funny.  I giggled at first, and then I became more scared. 

And, like it always does, my mind began to play tricks on me.  I had felt Lily moving and kicking all around during the morning, but couldn't remember feeling her in the last hour or so.  Had I been thinking rationally at the time, I would have realized that I never really felt her much at this time of the day.  But I thought something had gone wrong.

Just then, Dr. Carriker walked in and said that the next step was whether she should send me to Labor and Delivery or the Emergency Room.  My heart rate was now 180.

"Are we already at that step?" I asked incredulously.  I think I thought she could just do something in her office to fix this. 

"Yes, definitely," she said.  And it was decided that Labor and Delivery was more appropriate (more on that later).  I began crying quietly and they suggested that we use the back door of the office to leave by and that I walk very slowly. 

At Labor and Delivery, I became very tired.  It had been several hours at a steady 180 heart rate, so it seemed natural that I would be fatigued.  Ryan spent the next few minutes calling Hailey, the nanny watching Liam for only the second time, and calling my mom.  He told Mimi that she need not come to the hospital until he knew more and then would let her know.  Next, they put me in a wheelchair and rolled me into a room where the nurse, a lovely woman from Texas named "Fonda", said she hoped there was a heart monitor.  I changed into a lovely green-patterned hospital gown and settled into the bed when she discovered that room didn't have the right equipment.  She wheeled me down to another room, hooked me up to the heart monitors and then put the belt around my belly that would monitor Lily's heart rate as well. 

That was when I heard the most beautiful sound.  The deep thumping of Lily's heart, holding steady at a baby's mellow 140 heart rate.  She was fine.  So I had to cry some more.

Just then, Fonda told us that my parents were waiting outside and would like to come in.  It had to have been less than 30 minutes since Ryan had called Mom, but you can't stop my folks when they are worried and I was so glad to see them.  Sometimes, you just need your mom there, you know?

The next hour or so included monitoring my heart and Lily's, trying to rest, calling Becky to watch Liam (which of course she graciously got in her car and drove from St. Joe to do), and just praying that this wouldn't last much longer.   Fonda expressed concern that we weren't sent to the emergency room, but soon told us that Dr. Carriker had asked for a cardiac consult.  It sounded impressive and scary.  It turned out to be both.

Not long after, a group of people hustled into the room and introduced themselves as "The Heart Team."  Talk about an entrance.  There were four of them and they worked fast.  Things were hooked up to me and the cardiologist, Dr. Moray, tried several techniques to slow my heart down.  She pressed my ankles in weird places, she massaged the left side of my neck, she asked me to cough- but none of them worked.

She diagnosed me with "Supra Ventricular Tachycardia"- a consistent elevated heart rate that is seen sometimes in pregnant women.  The echo cardiogram showed nothing unusual about my heart, and with no history of heart trouble, she concluded this was just one of those fluky kind of things with pregnancy.  Worried it might have been the one caffeine drink I allow myself each day, I asked about that.  She said no, that wasn't it.  That we would probably never know what brought it on.  Next, she told me that they would be doing a "chemical conversion" on my heart.  She described it as the chemical way of shocking the heart back to a normal rhythm.  Suddenly Fonda looked worried and asked Dr. Moray if she thought this was the best place for this procedure.  After a minute of "discussing" it in front of me, Fonda asked to speak to the doctor outside.  It was weird.  And still scary.  I think Fonda was just concerned about liability.  But they worked it out and the conversion commenced.

They put in an IV and told me that I would feel a bit of "discomfort"for a few seconds.  The nurse held my hand, Ryan and Mom were at my side, and I was surrounded by the "Heart Team."  Next thing I knew it felt like someone was squeezing my heart as tight as they could and I guess that I grabbed the nurse's scrub pants in pain (I apologized later).  Apparently my eyes grew pretty wide and just when I was going to tell someone that I think I needed the paddles, I heard Ryan say, "See, it already worked."

My heart rate dropped to 107.

After that, things continued to move quickly.  The Heart Team told me that it shouldn't happen again, but if it did I should report to the emergency room and tell them my history.  Then Dr. Moray told me I could be discharged in the next half hour, after I walked a few laps without passing out.  I passed the test and was home within an hour, with Ryan at my side as he had been all day.  He was a rock and I felt so much better with him there.

Tuesday was spent sleeping off what felt like a marathon hangover while Mimi and Becky watched Liam, and I was back to school on Wednesday.

This pregnancy has been so different from Liam's.  I was scared frequently with Liam because I spotted about 6 times.  But nothing compares to this heart scare.  I am very happy to report that a week and a half later I have not have any more episodes.  But I haven't had a sip of caffeine since, just in case.

The greatest wealth in this world is our health.  Lesson well learned.

Lesson #37: San Francisco is a Fun Place to be!

When I was pregnant, my friends and family hosted a baby shower entitled "Have Baby, Will Travel."  And while I understood then that it would be difficult to travel with a baby, Ryan and I made a commitment to try.  I'm proud to say that in his first 17 months, Liam has been to Colorado twice and as of this most recent trip, to San Francisco three times.  It is definitely more difficult to travel with him now then when he was a tiny baby though, but it's worth it to see happy reunions like the one he had with his Aunt Amy at the airport...

After we had lunch and settled into their gorgeous place, we headed to Sports Basement to shop for Amy's birthday as well as to help fulfill Ryan's dream of hiking all around San Francisco with Liam on his back.  Amy found an awesome jacket and Ryan found the king-of-all-backpacks that is certainly fit for our prince!

I think Liam liked it...

That night, Liam tried on Uncle Michael's boots.  He's a "big monkey"!

After Liam fell asleep in the pack n' play for the night (very easily, by the way), the adults were able to really enjoy an amazing birthday dinner for Amy.  Michael worked for hours on the authentic and yummy Mexican meal...

Amy and Ryan enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail or two (I had water).

Here were just a few of the tasty dishes that Michael made.  Yes, they tasted as good as they look.

The next day after a good night's sleep for Liam, Ryan packed him up in the backpack and took a "stroll" down to Chrissy Field Beach.  It was only a few miles:)  And it was windy... can you tell?

It was time for a picnic on the beach.  Amy and I picked up some food and then headed down to meet Liam and Ryan.  Michael rode down on his motorcycle.  I love this photo of the three of them.

I think the walk tuckered Daddy out.

After lunch it was time for our little monkey to play on the beach.

I remember thinking how lucky we were while this family photo was being taken in front of Alcatraz on this gorgeous day, because it was about 107 degrees back in Kansas City!

I love this picture of our little independent guy taking off on his own.

It's fun playing with Mommy's earrings!

Look!  I got them!

Here, look up close.

Cutest "beach bum" ever!

This picture makes me smile because it was just one of those captured moments.  A quiet, zen moment between Amy and Liam.  And I can just picture them having these special times together every time they see each other.  I think they will be really close, telling each other secrets and traveling together and just loving the little things in life, like a picnic day on the beach.

Liam had a little sand for dessert.

That evening we put Liam to sleep, made sure that Tessa the babysitter (loaned to us from Cali, who lets Tessa take care of her a couple times a week) was settled in, and took off for an adults-only dinner at The House of Prime Rib.  It was fantastic!  I had, you guessed it, the prime rib.  In fact all of us did.  I mean, what else would you have?  It was a nice night out and we had some good laughs.  I even took after my mother and gnawed on the bone :)

On Friday we headed up to Muir Woods.  This was the day I was most excited for.  Muir Woods has great memories for me.  The first time I was ever there was with my sister.  We returned another time and then when Ryan and I came out to visit, we went together.  It was fitting, therefore, that we all go together for Liam's first trip.  We had a great time!

Michael was Liam's driver for most of the tour.

But Amy was the tour guide.

This tree is a lot bigger than the ones at home!

This is my favorite family shot from the trip... he's so happy in the woods!

Daddy and Liam took the term "tree hugging" to a brand new level.

Look at my guys...

Couldn't resist... this one looks like an ad for Baby REI or something.

These are my favorite shots from the day.  I love these stolen moments with Uncle Michael.  They are two peas in a pod here in the woods.  That image I wrote about earlier where I can picture Amy and Liam in the future... well, it's the same for Michael.  I think they will cook together, they will walk Cali together, and they will be buddies.  Good buddies :)

Can't you just picture the three of them together?

The afternoon wrapped up with our first trip ever to In-N-Out Burger... the satisfied look on Liam's face mirrored my own.  Yum!

That evening Amy and Michael babysat so Ryan and I could have a date.  We saw a movie and had a nice dinner at a Thai restaurant.  Liam was asleep in bed by 7:45pm and all was well.  It was a great gift that they gave us and we really appreciated it.

Our last full day in San Fran was spent riding the cable car down to the Ferry Building for market.  I had never been on one so it was especially fun.

We go to the Ferry Building every chance we get in San Fran.  Their fresh fruit samples were the hit of the day for Liam and Ryan.  Notice Liam's thoughtful pose, checking out the produce.

Later that afternoon, the Big Moment had arrived.  I got Liam all dressed in his biker outfit so he could "ride" with Michael.  We were all very excited.  

All of us, except for Liam.

Didn't he ever see Easy Rider?  Oh well, maybe next time.

That afternoon Ryan took Liam on a MAJOR walk while Amy and I were getting mani/pedis at Silk.  In the time it took to get our paws and claws done, they walked almost 6 miles through the Presidio, around the Presidio, to the edge of the Golden Gate, and up the Lion's Steps!  God, it's nice to be married to a man who likes to hike and be outside and do it all with a 30 pound toddler on his back!

Finally, as the trip came to a close, I watched Liam do what he seemed to like to do best... watch for the dog Cali.  

Sometimes he watched for her coming down the hall.  

Sometimes he watched for her coming down the street...

But mostly, he liked to just play with her.

And follow her...                                                          

And bring her the "boney" she loves...

And watch her eat.

A last night toast to a great trip had by all! (again, I had water)

I'm wrapping this entry up now, tired because I started back to school with students today.  It's been a little rough starting back this year, and looking through these pictures, I understand why.  This was an amazing trip- one of our very best.  And it represented all of the good times this summer brought with it.  Thank you, Amy and Michael and Cali, for the laughter and love, the beach and the woods, the dinners and the breaks.  We love you so much!

Now, get ready for our family of four to come out next time!  San Francisco really is a fun place to be!  Lesson well learned.