Spring Break 2015

After spending most of spring break working on the renewal process for my national board certification and catching up on housework, the girls and I headed to Spokane for the weekend.  The trip was primarily prompted by Kaleia's eye doctor appointment (a separate post coming), but it was a great excuse to spend some extra time with my aunt, uncle and cousins.  

We were able to fit in a dinner and games at Chuck E Cheese's with Erica, Ryan, Titus and Micah. The next day we celebrated Micah's first birthday with the whole crew.  He is a pretty happy kid. 

We all loved his strawberry cake!

The girls lots of fun with cousins new and old...soccer, board games, pretend.

We also got to meet our newest cousin, Corbin Leone. 

Baby snuggles are so relaxing after busy weeks, especially when you get to give them back when they cry. 

Introducing Malia!

Our newest niece/cousin! We're so excited! We just wish she lived closer.

The Mysterious Reconstitution of the Number 2 (TWO!) and the Subsequent Demise of the Frazzles

Mathematicians in Washington state are beginning to take interest in the seemingly erroneous proclamations of a Bellingham toddler. For the sake of anonymity we shall call her Little-Miss-Hyperactive-Spaghetti-Hands (LMHSH).

One expert remarked, "I'm starting to think maybe [Little-Miss-Hyperactive-Spaghetti-Hands], who's learning to count right now, is on to something. Her arithmetic is a little unconventional--one might even say radical--but I'm starting to suspect that what would seem to be mathematical folly is actually a profound truism that could drastically alter the lives of many everyday people, not just mathematicians."

If you place a group of objects in front of LMHSH and ask her how many there are she'll tell you enthusiastically that there are "TWO!" No matter if there are five or a dozen, she will assure you that there are only two. This is what the mathematicians are so interested in, and what they are beginning to believe is in fact true: the experience of two in real life is drastically different than can be forecast based on equations such as 1+1=2.

Now let me present to you a photograph that illustrates one example of the kind of sad repercussions this radical new math can have on families. As you can see there is a table set for two (But let us be clear about this number two. This table is set for the old number two, the one civilizations have come to know and love over the last several millenia, the two that is only one more than one.) The dinner looks reasonably tasty and is even accompanied by a couple glasses of wine. But that is where the predictable pleasantries and pleasant predictabilities end, for the dinner of this couple (let us call them Mr. Frazzle and his wife Exhaustina) is not occurring at a dining room table or restaurant, nor on a picnic blanket or any other commonly used eating location. The Frazzles are eating their delicious Italian feast on a card table, in a bathroom, next to the toilet.

And the dirty diaper bin.

The Frazzles are adamant that they do not prefer such an arrangement and warn that this sort of thing is a direct result of the radical new mathematical laws professed by the toddler known as Little-Miss-Hyperactive-Spaghetti-Hands. Two is not two. It is five or six or ten. Experts believe that while LMHSH has been a leading proponent of the new mathematics she is not, in fact, the cause of the rupture. After much study it has been proposed that the small being on the right hand side of the image, while extremely cute and seemingly powerless, is the TWO! prophesied by LMHSH and is therefore the primary agent of this mathematical chaos and the attendant demise of the Frazzles.

More research is yet to be done to explain how and why a second child can more than double the demands on parents' time, but until that research is complete the Frazzles will likely need to continue to find innovative solutions for preserving their sanity.

UPDATE: The Frazzles have since vacated the bathroom and resumed more normal eating habits. They are however surprisingly proud of their creative problem solving and coping tactics. They are always on the lookout for other tips and tricks and ask that any readers with insights on how to live with TWO! share them in the comments.

Family Bonding

Big Sister gets her very own baby

Learning about Babies with Mama

Reading a new Belly Button book with Papa

Pretending to be Mama in the moving bed

Getting to know Papa

Snuggling with Mama after a long first day

The Rush Girls

Introducing...

Kaleia Shalom Rush

Born 10:21 p.m. via c-section

9 lbs. 8 oz.

approximately 21 in.

9 APGAR (super healthy!)

Baby 2 Update

I won't tell the whole story now but wanted to let everyone know our current situation. After proceeding surprisingly easily to 9 cm dilation, Shan got stuck there, for hours. She has now received an epidural and we are still hoping for a vaginal birth. If she doesn't dilate all the way within a few hours it will be C-section after all.

All your prayers and well-wishes have been and will continue to be much appreciated.

Change of Plans...

I guess she was ready. Shannon went into labor. We're headed to the hospital.

Ready or Not...

Here we come!

The c-section is scheduled for 9:30 am. Prayers are appreciated. More updates--and an introduction!--soon.

*Ahem* 38 weeks, doc...not 36!

Last Friday, we had our sizing ultrasound followed by a normal check-up.

After technician squirts jelly on my belly, our little girl shows us how she is practicing breathing, swallowing and sticking out her tongue. Both of us think she looks a lot different than her sister.

Then the usual routine -- blood pressure (same), weight (same), urine test (same), baby moving? (definitely) -- everything is healthy as usual.

The nurse spins her pinwheel to calculate how far along I am and comments "July 14th is just around the corner."

Politely, I correct her. "My due date is July 4th."

I look over her shoulder as she scans my chart. Sure enough, at the top of the page it says: "Due Date: July 14, 2009"

The nurse turns back a page. That one has the heading: "Due Date: July 4, 2009"

No wonder they've been freaking out the last few visits at how big I am.

A few minutes later, my doctor enters the exam room studying the ultrasound results and exclaims, "Yowzers!" in response to the projection that baby #2 will be almost 10 pounds and in the 90+ percentile.

I quickly share with him the discovery the nurse and I made, and his tune completely changes. He'll have the ultrasound tech re-run the report, but he guesses that puts Baby #2 in the range of 70th percentile with a weight estimate of around 8 1/2 pounds.

So planning for a VBAC is a go!

Just in case, this one decides she doesn't want to come out, like her sister did, we scheduled a c-section for July 13th. The end is in sight!

We can't decide if I am bigger this time or last...

Final Countdown...#2

Here are the facts:

• My due date is July 4th, but only 4-5% of babies are born on their due date.


• The average pregnancy is 41 weeks and 1 day, which puts us at July 12th.


• Magnolia was 2 weeks late.


• I am measuring three to four weeks ahead.


• I will be full-term on June 14th.


• School is out on June 18th.


• This pregnancyI haven't had any intuitions about when she will come.


• On June 19th, we will take another peek at this "little" girl and make some decisions. Brian and I have decided though, even if she is really big and the doctor advises another c-section, we won't schedule it until after her due date.

Cast your vote! You can get more specific in the comments after voting by picking an actual date to earn more bragging rights.

Honey, I Can't Shrink My Kids!

Having added water-walking to my work out regimen, having followed a diabetic diet for over a month now, and having lost five pounds I was hoping that, at my routine check-up yesterday, I would get some good news, that all my hard work was paying off, that I would have a healthy but SMALL baby, that my chances of delivering naturally were good. 

Fat chance.

The doctor took one look at me and said "You are growing a big baby in there. I'm pretty good at figuring out someone's gestation just by looking at them across the parking lot. But if I didn't know better I would say you were full-term." 

I am not full-term for another 3+weeks.

She said I am measuring as if I were carrying twins or as if I were month further along.  

Supposedly, I am doing all the right things to keep this baby small, but I'm just genetically destined to have big babies. Her guess is that my baby is already 7 pounds, but our next ultrasound isn't for another month. She ended our appointment by adding that it looks like this baby is trying to outdo her sister. Magnolia was 9 lb, 12 oz. 

I am trying not to be too disappointed. We are both healthy. Giving up sugar is getting easier and keeping my weight down means I will have less to lose after she is born. But I see my chances for a natural birth slipping away. 

Sleepytime Poo-Poos

I don't know if the sleepiness relaxes her sphincter or what, but for the last few weeks every nap, without fail, Mags fills her rags. And when Mags fills her rags Mr. Sandman decides not to visit.

So what have we tried?

1) Leave her in her room for the allotted nap time = missed nap.

2) Change her and try to put her back down. Most of the time we've missed the window of opportunity for a nap = missed nap.

3) Try to wait until the poop happens before putting her down. Again window of opportunity gone = missed nap.

It seems like no matter what we do she misses her nap. Crabby Maggie in the evening and awake Maggie at the poopcrack of dawn = sad, tired parents.

We don't think she is ready to potty train yet and cranky-pants apparently isn't ready to drop a nap.

Ideas?

She-Who-Is-Yet-To-Be-Named

We got to have our long ultrasound today.

 

Confirmation that it is indeed a girl.

Want to compare to Magnolia's ultrasound?

Most of the time she was playing with her fingers.

She was rather quiet for both peeks, but did move a little.

The ultrasound tech did not give us an estimated birth weight, but said that Baby is in the 50th percentile. So here's hoping for a smaller girl!

Cyber Sex Party

Last time we were pregnant we threw a Sex Party.

This time with all of our sickness, school/work obligations, and planning Magnolia's 1st birthday, we decided against hosting one for this baby. Instead, we're throwing a virtual one. And this is it.  So welcome to your first--it is your first right?--Cyber Sex Party!  Let us know you were in attendance by leaving a comment.

With Magnolia, the group-think powers were without a doubt: it was going to be a girl. This time, the masses were divided, and so were we: "Its a boy...no its a girl...no boy...girl..."  The suspense has been killing us!

So we were super disappointed this morning when the OB office called to tell us their only ultrasound tech called in sick for the first time in years.  We rescheduled for next week but still went in for the rest of our monthly appointment.

While Shannon was getting weighed and peeing in a cup, Brian put on his puppy dog eyes--puppy dog mustache?--and convinced the nurse to ask if the doctor would do a quick ultrasound, just to find out the sex. 

The doctor agreed! 

It was great to see our babe and see it moving.  Shannon hasn't really felt it yet, which is odd.  But we were assured it was because the placenta is in front this time.  After briefly showing us the face and heartbeat the doctor gave us a toilets-eye view and asked, "What do you think it is?" 

We both tried to decipher the mish-mash of moving black and white patches on the screen and Brian said, "It looks like a girl."

"I think so too," said the doc.

Magnolia's going to have a sister!

Ella's Voice Mail

This is a message our adorable niece sent us about a year ago. We finally got the appropriate cord to get it off our phone and onto the computer.

If you're interested in recording your own phone messages check out these simple directions. Unfortunately, the site, which hosts people's funny, unusual, and cherished voice mails, doesn't appear to be collecting anymore.

Sex Poll

Last time we asked our friends what the sex of our baby would be there was no doubt. Over 90% somehow knew Magnolia was a girl, and 1 or 2 of the 3 votes for boy were just couples hedging their bets.

We are dying to know this time if Maggie is getting a sister or a brother. Two weeks until our ultrasound appointment but we don't wanna wait that long. That's why we're asking our friends and family, whom we now know to be collectively psychic.

So clear your mind, align your chakras, scatter your chicken bones or whatever you need to do to tell us the sex of our baby!

The poll's on the side but we'd love it if you left a comment too!

Our Year In Unpublished Pictures

We're back! Blogging got put on the back burner as we dealt with craziness this month: school closure due to flooding, Brian's January session in California, and final exams. I've been working on this post for weeks! I wanted to finish it before I went on to another post, but kept running into road blocks.

Some friends'--the Amundsons--posted their favorite picture from each month of the previous year that didn't make it to their blog. Here is my attempt at the same...

January ~ Well, I can't find any of our January pictures (roadblock). Our friends threw us a great shower, we went up to Mt. Baker for a weekend, and I know we have baby bump and nursery painting pictures somewhere, but I can't find them. This one was taken later, but it can stand in.


February ~ A month of waiting...This picture is from one of many walks on the beach trying to get my labor started.

March ~ Our Family! Our friend Meg Nelson, took this picture (and the one I used in January) as a part of a practice photo shoot.

April ~ I just think this one is funny. "I pity da foo who dudn't like my mohawk!"

May ~ Our friend, Josh took one of my all time favorite pictures of Magnolia.

June ~ It's amazing how quickly she gets over things!

July ~ The girls went to Priest Lake and Everett for some fun with the Gracey family.

Meanwhile, Brian was in California studying...wait a minute, that doesn't look like studying. His "mod" was the cool hang out 'cause he and his roommate held regular Dance! Dance! Revolution and Karaoke parties.

August ~ Magnolia and I spent a lot of time "hiking" with the dogs in the off leash area around Lake Padden.

September ~ We drove to Seattle to meet up with some special college friends that are now all around the world. Jen and Magnolia became good friends.

We also went to LaConner for lunch to celebrate my Grandma Gracey's birthday. "Hmm, do you have any green pea and tofu dishes??"

October ~ The big event in October was Dad Rush's birthday and retirement. We celebrated by getting the entire family to dress like Dad -- Plaid short-sleeved button ups, pens and spiral notepads in shirt pocket, slacks or shorts with belt, and dress socks and leather shoes. He's a trend setter.

Our niece Ella also had the brilliant idea to put red marks on our hands since his hands are always cut from working in his shop. Unfortunately, it was one of the only times Dad Rush didn't wear a short sleeved plaid shirt, but you can see some of the other Clive trademarks below.

November ~ We ended our fall cheering on Brian's volleyball team. Magnolia loved to scream (kinda sounded like a garbage disposal that someone forgot to turn off) along with the crowd while sporting her Raider colors.

The orange liquor box continued to be a favorite toy.

December ~ Bear suit clad (her third suit! Brian swears this is the only outfit she needs)Magnolia in the forest of Christmas trees!

Our little Kumquat

The first week of December, we went in for our first ob appointment for pregnancy #2. So far we are both really healthy. We got to take a peek at our then kumquat-sized baby. It made it so real!They were able to use the ultrasound to determine a due date -- July 4th! Brian is not so sure about that as a birth date for our equally Canadian child. If we end up with another large baby, they will be encouraging me to schedule another c-section. Maybe then we will split the difference between Canada Day on July 1st and the 4th of July.

Rush Baby #2 - It might actually be a teddy bear...

Thanksgiving with the Gracey's

For our second Thanksgiving of 2008, we headed to Everett to celebrate with the Gracey family, et al. We were greeted by a busy kitchen and yummy smells. After watching the cooking network for a few days, my dad prepared an elaborate menu, with the help of various family members as sous chefs. Several went down due to the newly sharpened knives!

Grandma and Grandpa recently went to a Children's Hospital auction. One of their acquisitions was a giant diaper cake for baby #2!

Whaaat?

That's what Brian said after I had plopped on our bed early one morning about a month ago and informed him, "I'm pregnant."

We weren't planning to get pregnant yet and he didn't even know I was taking a test so it was a little bit of a shock to be yanked out of a dream with the news.

I took the test because the day before my mom asked me out of the blue if I was pregnant. Assuredly I answered, "No, I am just recovering from the cold we have been fighting." But she planted a teeny seed of doubt, so, just to put it to rest, I decided to check.

Sure enough: preggers.

The first morning there were lots of mixed emotions. Ever supportive, Brian, even though he had only been in bed for a couple of hours, woke up to talk through our news before I had to head to work. We are now calling it our pleasant surprise.

It has been so different this time. With Magnolia, we had been waiting and planning for her. There was measured excitement and anticipation as the testing window approached. Then we took great pleasure planning how we would specially announce that we were pregnant to our friends and family. This time we just called or emailed family and have been nonchalantly telling friends as we see them. Sometimes we even have to remind each other that we're pregnant!

We have felt a little bad not giving this baby the same enthusiastic pre-birth introduction to the world. It's not that we're not excited; we are. We just have more going on this time. During the first trimester last time, I was on summer break. When I felt crummy I could just lay on the couch and eat whenever I needed to. This time I am working almost full-time and have a little one to care for when I get home. Most nights I barely make it through dinner and end up heading to bed with Magnolia around 7:30.

Thus the lack of blogging. We have so many posts in draft form. Check back often in the days and weeks to come as we catch up.