Winter Fun!!!

This morning, while potty training, we decided to take a break and play on the ice slide that had developed off our back porch. Emer didn't want anything to do with it, but Steve and I had a blast!

WEEEEEE!!!!!

AHHHHHHH!!!!!

Potty training was OK. She waited until after lunch to do anything. Then she went the tiniest amount, in about 3 different drips. She was excited when it started so she'd step away to look at it. I would then encourage her to sit back down and finish. On the 3rd sitting, I knew she hadn't finished, but she clearly wasn't going to (and was getting sleepy) so we went upstairs to get ready for her nap. She proceeded to COMPLETELY fill a diaper. She told me she was going peepee so I know she knew what she was doing then! We changed that diaper, read her stories, then put her down for a nap. I don't know if I want to attempt it again this afternoon. Can she get an infection from holding it for so long??? What's the deal with this chic?!

Now I think I'll slide some more, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! :)

Demitri 1997-2009

I said I was going to write a blog with pics from Christmas sometime during the second week of my holidays. However, the holidays came to a crashing halt during that time and I haven't really felt like writing much. I can't begin to describe how lonely I feel now, which to non-pet people sounds ridiculous. But I don't care what those people think, I only care about how much I miss Demitri.

Here's the brief run-down of his last week of life:

Christmas Eve - He wouldn't leave the bathroom mat unless I moved him. He did eat and was still using his litter box.
Christmas - He was better! He didn't move around and chase his toys that he got like he used to, but he was his old self anyway. He got his first shot of insulin.
December 26th - He ate and was acting normal again! We thought the insulin surely had helped him get back to normal. In the evening he tried to jump onto the chair and missed. He fell on his back. He tried to jump onto the counter and missed. Just landed on his feet.
December 27th - He was very slow again. He barely ate a thing. By evening he hadn't even eaten one full meal. We did give him his evening insulin b/c he ended up eating a little chicken and some yogurt. He jumped in the bath with Emer but didn't react, just stood there. I slept downstairs with him because I was afraid he would get hurt if he tried to jump into bed with us. This was the worst night's sleep I've had in a long time b/c at one point he jumped off the couch only to find that he couldn't stand on his back legs.
December 28th - He couldn't stand, he looked like he was swimming when he tried to move. He wouldn't eat a thing. I called my brother early and left a message. I called the emergency clinic where Scotty works. I got ready to take him in but decided not to b/c we already had set up to take him to a vet for blood work that morning. The vet at the emergency clinic was very nice and talked to me for about half an hour. Scotty called as I was getting ready to take D to the vet. He said he would have advised me to wait for the vet anyway.
-> The long and short of it is that I took him in and his blood work showed glucose levels of 700, kidney stones, gall stones, he was very dehydrated, his bowels were completely full, his heart was in arrythmia. He didn't care that he was at the vet's, he didn't even growl at all. They kept him on very aggressive fluids which helped a little. But when they backed off the fluids he got worse again. This was one of the worst days of my life. I had to go back to the vet's and make a decision to lose Demitri. I know we stopped his pain and gave him strength again. But I wish I could hold him on my lap and I'd give anything to clean up a massive pee on the floor again. It crushes me to think I'll never see Emer hug him again. I'll never have to watch out for the food left on the counter. And the other night I turned to where he used to relax on the couch to ask if he was coming to bed with me. I'd forgotten he wasn't there. It's lonely. And it sucks...

Here I Am! and Other News...

Wow, it's been nearly 2 months since I last wrote a blog entry. It hasn't really occurred to me to sit down and write something and I'm not sure why. I haven't been super busy...maybe that's it. We have just been living life without anything too exciting going on so there hasn't been anything spectacular to share. ... Except that I just checked back to see if I posted Emer's Halloween costume and I didn't! So you've missed Halloween, Thanksgiving, my birthday, and nearly Christmas. I suppose I should back up to October, then, to begin this post:
Emer was a duck for Halloween this year! We took her trick or treating to grandma's house then Grammie and Poppy's house. Later that evening she helped me hand out candy to the neighborhood kids. She liked watching the other kids and kept her costume on for most of the evening. Since you haven't seen her walking yet, check this out!

I know she's mine, but I think she's the cutest duck since Ming Ming :)
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Following Halloween was Thanksgiving. I don't have any pictures from this to share but we had a wonderful meal at Grammie and Poppy's house with Uncle Scotty, Auntie Eron, and Hayden. Someday I should just hang out with the babies with my camera poised because Hayden and Emer are so cute together! They see each other and just light up. They love to share toys, laugh at each other, and keep each other from taking their much-needed naps! Our fearless babysitter (Grammie) recently took some video of Hayden chasing Emer around the couch. Emer is pulling a little toy puppy behind her and she's so fast that she actually catches up to Hayd! They just laughed and hugged. The two of them are a wonderful example of babies hard at "work" - just playing. We should all take a lesson from them!

<-- Here's a picture of Emer racing around the island and kitchen table in our house pulling her empty golf bag. Yes, it's fuzzy, but it's only because she wouldn't stand still long enough for me to get a good picture!

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As many, if not all, of you know, my birthday follows Thanksgiving. It was a big one this year. I figured, after years of being 29 it might be time to enter the new decade. So I told my husband that he had to throw me a party. Little did I know, he had already started planning a party! On Sunday, Nov. 29th Emer and I are playing, waiting for the Colts game to start, and my friend Kelli shows up. (I knew she was coming because she was at our house when I told Steve he had to throw me a party). Next, my mother-in-law shows up. And she has a pumpkin cake (yum!) I'm thinking, "Fantastic! He actually listened to me!" Steve then asks if I want to know who else is coming and proceeds to list half the Fantasy football league and their families, my family, and other close friends with their families. Everyone brought my favorite foods (one friend made sushi, my parents brough Famous Dave's Mac N Cheese, to name a couple of things). To top off the party, the Colts won!!

This man here -->

is one good party planner. Thanks, dear husband, for the best birthday surprise party an 'old lady' could ever hope for!!

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BTW, the day before my birthday we all attended Friendsgiving, an annual Thanksgiving tradition with one of my great friends from grad school. This picture was taken at this event, which is why Em's mouth is totally full!

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To conclude this post, I'd like to share a quick update about my first baby, Demitri (he's the black one). He's nearly always been a health challenge for us - possible heart issues when he was younger, he's been on meds for years to help control irritable bowel disease, he's a compulsive over-eater. Well in the last few months or so we've noticed that he's started peeing a LOT more than usual and he's looking ragged and somewhat skinny (for him!). My brother, the super, internal-medicine-resident vet, wanted to draw blood to run some tests and find out what was going on. At first D. was a mystery - his kidneys were good, his glucose levels were high however his fructosamine (sp?) levels were normal, he had a heart worm. Gasp! Yep, I kind of freaked a little at that! We then ran a urine screen a week or so later and the glucose levels were very high. So the verdict - poor health-challenged Demitri has diabetes.

After much discussion, we have decided to start him on insulin this week. My phobia of needles will make this one of the greatest challenges of my life, but luckily I have a husband who has agreed to help. It took a little heart break on my part, and a lot of discussion with other people he knows on his part, but he finally decided there could be worse things than taking care of our oldest 'baby'...especially when he and our tiny wonder get along so well (picture in your mind Emer hugging on D.; you're smiling, aren't you?!)

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Stay tuned because after Christmas I'm going to post more pics of the family and finally get around to the blog I was talking about on facebook when I mentioned that I have too many thoughts to post in one status update. Until then:

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

The Family Keeps on Growing!

Quick, what's your first thought?

...

Nope, I'm not pregnant again, I just got a nephew today! And here are the details:

Mommy - Eron, my cool sister-in-law

Daddy - Scotty, my awesome brother

Baby - Hayden Alexander (my sweet tiny nephew!)

Length - 21 inches.

Weight - 7 lbs, 8 oz (sorry, at first typing I had 8lbs, 7 oz!, my bad.)

Date/Time - Feb. 4th, 2009/7:56am

Here is Hayden and Proud Papa :
Mommy, finally able to relax and enjoy her adorable son:

Congrats Owens' family! I love you guys!

7 lbs 4 ounces!!!

You read that right, Little Em has gained weight in the first week of her life. We left the hospital with her weighing 6 lbs 10 oz. Today we had her first doctor appointment and she weighed a stunning 7 lbs 4 oz!!! Woo hoo, you go, little girlie!

She's opening her eyes more and spending a few more minutes awake after eating than she had been before. I can't believe she's already a week old. It is true, time flies when you're having fun.

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This morning I played Annie Lebowitz and took some artistic shots of Emerson. Here's my fav. What do you think?

I just think she's the cutest thing I've ever seen! Someday, when she's a teenager, I'll have this blog saved so I can look back at what life was like during her first week on earth. I'm sure I'll be thinking, "Wasn't that just yesterday?"

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On a completely different note, today is Steve and my 10th anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Steve. I love you so much. You have proven over the past 10+ years to be the best husband a woman could ask for. I know I spent a great deal of life saying I'd never get married and I'm so glad you changed my mind.

This new adventure we're on is just showing me even more that you are amazing. I've never seen such love from someone as I've seen you show Emmy and myself this past week. You have been wonderful to me through everything as we learn how to be parents. You have gone above and beyond anything I could have asked for. Being a parent is the easiest job in the world, with you by my side.

Here's to many more happy, wonderful, and supportive years! :-X

Announcing Emerson Rachel Cripe!!!

She was born at 4:33 this afternoon and weighed 7lbs.

Check back in a few days for pics :)

The Bet

And the bet is on!

Every year I bet on the results of the Super Bowl (well, except the year the Colts were in it, of course, b/c who would bet against them!?!). This year was the first year in a long time that I won the bet. Way to go Eli!

Then my QUASH team just won an award for Best Costume at the Alzheimer's Association's scavenger hunt fund raiser. It was awesome!!!

So now I'm feeling pretty confident than I'm going to win this latest bet. First off, by winning I will get to choose where we go for our first date as parents. I already have a few ideas of what I want to do so it should be a great day/evening.

Now here's the bet:

I bet I would not "pop" until after next Tuesday. (Keep in mind that my due date is the 4th of July.)

Steve bet that I will go before Tuesday. (He's keeping in mind that I'm now basically 4 cm dilated.)

So I would like your comments and opinions on who you think will win the bet. Of course I'll let you all know who wins by posting info and pics when it does happen. I anticipate possibly posting a blog mid-labor :) Unless my doc is correct and it only takes an hour or so...hmmm...at any rate, I'll be sure and let you all know!

Wish me luck!!!

My Kitties, as Promised

Still Hanging In There...

Quick update, in case anyone was wondering how the appointment went this week:

* I'm still 3 cm and the kid is hanging in there! I've told it that it has to hang in until after Saturday b/c I really, REALLY want to QUASH!!! Go Team Scattered!

* My doctor thinks I'm crazy, actually most doctors do, b/c I am enjoying myself so much. I guess most people at this point can't wait to get it out of them. Oh well, maybe they are delusional about how it's going to be after their kids are born, but I just know that this time of carrying it around with me is the easiest it's ever going to be raising it. Plus, I love having my little friend with me at all times! :) (Yes, I'm a freak.)

* That's about it. No other updates right now. I do promise to get pics of my kitties up soon. I was going to do it this morning but I'm on the laptop and my pics are all saved on the desktop. So stay tuned...

It's a Coming...

I've been given my first restriction, my first taste of limited activity - I can no longer go to the pool. I now know what it feels like to be told not to do things and it kind of stinks!

For those of you not in the know (which is probably the majority of the readers here) I'm 3 cm dilated with my first kid! I've had the easiest 8.5 months ever - my husband is sure most pregnant women hate me. From the back, and ocassionally the front depending on the shirt I'm wearing, you would never know I'm pregnant. I love this. I love feeling like everything I thought it was going to be (easy, fun, exciting) is turning out just as I thought. And I fully believe it's b/c I am so active and have good genes. My mom never had any sickness or anything with me or my brother. She's also very active. We're workaholics and work-outaholics - I would highly recommend this when getting pregnant.

But this last week we had a small scare. I didn't know I could be starting to dilate and not know it! I also didn't know that would keep me from taking a bath or swimming. Because of the crappy storms lately I've only gotten to the pool once this summer so let's hope the kid likes to swim as much as I do so we can both go later in the summer!

That's about it for now. I've got 3 weeks until the 4th of July and do not want it to end. I love this whole experience and wish it could go on a little longer. But check back soon for updates and pics. And feel free to comment on things. I'll be happy to respond to any comments or questions! Have a wonderful summer, everyone :)