a long overdue update.

a family update...

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted! It's been a crazy past couple of weeks for numerous reasons. Ryan got sick, then Norah, then we thought Norah was better, then I got sick, then Norah got worse again, now I'm better, Norah is still sick pretty bad, and today Ryan is sick. Wow. Really?

On top of that we are working on a new website for our DJ company, and are contemplating starting another small business doing some small basic websites for other small businesses. To test the waters, I am creating a website for the Tennis Center I used to manage. They aren't paying me but are doing a "trade" for a membership. This is great because other wise I wouldn't be able to afford to play there and would miss my old tennis friends and a lot of great tennis. However, this trade is going to allow me to stay in tennis shape and get some much needed time out of my mind and on to the court. I already played last week with some very good ladies, and oohhh how much I have missed playing!

a Norah update...

to be sick or not to be...

Well. Norah got a cold almost 3 weeks ago, was mainly just really stuffy and I had to do a lot of booger sucking. She had such a hard time sleeping because she always goes to sleep with her binky and she simply couldn't breathe if she had it in her mouth. I spent a whole week of trying to get naps in by driving her to sleep, or putting her in the backpack and walking around or working out until it lulled her to sleep. She seemed to improve and almost be better, but then 5 or 6 days ago, she got worse again and this time developed a nasty little cough. We went to Dr. P because this sickness had lasted so long, he told us to start her on antibiotics if it didn't improve in 3 days, because it's likely a sinus infection. It didn't improve at all, so Friday we started her on Amoxycillin. Her mood seems to have improved but her cough, stuffy nose, and sleep are still a nightmare. I'm having to feed her more often because she isn't eating much at a time, and I'm almost always nursing her back to sleep at night when she wakes up because she just seems to be too uncomfortable to fall back asleep on her own. When she does get better I'm praying that we haven't formed some new bad habits that stick around because of all of this! Hopefully we see some drastic improvement soon or we are going back to Dr. P. On top of this when we went to see Dr. P she had to get 2 more shots (boosters for her flu shots), ick!

the dairy and soy diaries...

I have added a very small amount of goat cheese into my diet. It's so rich that I use it very minimally, but it's nice to add a creamy flavor to some dishes again! I haven't added anything else back in, but have gotten a little more liberal in my decisions. For example, I have eaten a bun at a restaurant, or breaded calamari, etc. These things I have completely stayed away from the past 6 months because of the possibility of a minute amount of milk in them.

That said, Norah has had some "interesting" looking poop lately and with the fussiness (although that is most likely due to her cold/sinus infection) we decided to do an occult blood test again to double check and make sure there is no blood. We should have results early this next week. If it's clear, I will keep eating the same way. If it's not, I will go back to super strict and no goat cheese. I have a good feeling it will be clear though!

to sleep or not to sleep...

As I said, we are not sleeping. Norah is waking up 5-6 times a night and eating 3 times/night. We were down to 2 or 3 wake ups with only 1 or 2 feedings before she got sick. We are all tired.

milestones...

Amidst all of this junk, the good news is........drum roll.........NORAH IS CRAWLING! I would say today is the first day, yesterday was the beginning, and today she really has learned it. She isn't cruising too much yet, but can definitely get from point a to point b. Her crawl, like everything with Norah, is not the run of the mill. She puts her left leg out straight and sort of pushes/catapults herself forward, it's so funny and so cute. We got some of it on video and Ryan, if feeling okay, promised to get it in the form that I can post on here later today or tomorrow!

I will say, though she is learning to crawl, she really is more interested in standing/walking. The main reason she seems to want to crawl, is to get somewhere that she can pull herself up to standing. She is so tiny to be standing there by herself (holding on still of course). It is precious, and a reminder of how incredibly fast they grow up and change at this stage of life and not to take a moment of it for granted, even a 3am moment :). I love watching her learn and I love being her mom.

Now - here are some miscellaneous pictures from the past month or so that I haven't had the chance to post, I know I owe you guys a few, so here ya go - Enjoy!

FLASHBACK - remember when she was this tiny!

Here are a few pics from a month ago of Ryan and Norah hanging out. She loves her daddy!

awww.
playing with some shoes that she grew out of before she got the chance to wear them!
she wanted to take a picture.
ha ha.


never happy with just one toy, she likes to have the whole toy box!
playing with the toy we affectionately call "uncle jason"
i turned away for one second, and she picked the whole bowl of pears up, :)
She thinks she is hilarious...and she is right.
drinking water out of a big girl cup.


more of her standing up with my girl friend emily.
some pics from the 3rd christmas i just came across.


ready for a nap.
more standing. her favorite thing.

not sure if I like these pears mom...

Doing some computer work while standing up.

sitting on papa's lap.

now hanging out with daddy.

so cute. this is her new thing, she puts a toy in her mouth and then hands it to me or ryan or tries to put it in our mouths so we can have it. Oh, such a nice little girl!

Thank You Heavenly Father for speedy healing for our little girl. Thank You so much for her. We love her more each day. Amen.