More updates to come later, but for now here is the link to our new home.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/559-Chestnut_Dubuque_IA_52001_1111146725
We purchased an old historic home in the West 11th Historic District of Dubuque. The home was built in 1890, and completey renovated in '99. It's completely different than anything we've ever lived in before! It's so charming and has so much character with original hardwood floors, built in's, and beautiful wood work. It's a federal style home with 4 floors of living space. The steps aren't ideal with a baby and we were quite bummed not to be able to find something in our price range with a garage, but we hope to make the best out of it and make this new place our home shortly. One of the best things is that it's just 2 blocks away from Loras meaning that Mat can walk to work most days and we can have easy access to go watch football, basketball, and use the college fitness center. We are set to move in on August 17th.
We're finally at "home," or at least our home for now-at my parent's house in STL. We got to sleep in this morning and are enjoying some down time in our pj's....been waaaay too long! I'll post more update and pics in the next couple days but for now it's rest time!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Another Chapter Closes...
In the past few days there has been LOTS of boxes, sweat, packing tape, bubble wrap, cleaning, lifting, loading, along with a few rolls of the eye, tears, and mixed emotions BUT the truck is loaded and we have less than 10 hours until we leave Lakeland.
Mat hits the road tomorrow in our car with the dogs. MJ and I board a plane at 9am. We'll meet up in St. Louis, rest for one day, and then leave for a short trip to Iowa to house hunt, job search (for me), and then back to St. Louis for a couple weeks of rest and introducing MJ to family and friends.
I am beyond tired. I am just ready to be done with this part and on to the next phase.
Our leave is bittersweet. We both hate to leave our home here. It's by far the nicest home we've lived in. We'll miss the Florida climate, our friends here, my brother, and of course my job. I'd be lying if I said I don't still have my moments of doubt about all this. I just hope that a year from now I'll be settled in and Mat will have finished his first year of teaching and we'll be happy and enjoying more time together as a family and then I'll know for sure that it was the right decision. I am supporting him in following his dream and hoping that it leads to more good things for me as well. That's all one can do really.
Off to bed for a little rest on our mattress on the floor. :) Pray for my sanity flying solo with baby tomorrow and for Mat as he makes a long drive on his own. We'll be updating soon!
Mat hits the road tomorrow in our car with the dogs. MJ and I board a plane at 9am. We'll meet up in St. Louis, rest for one day, and then leave for a short trip to Iowa to house hunt, job search (for me), and then back to St. Louis for a couple weeks of rest and introducing MJ to family and friends.
I am beyond tired. I am just ready to be done with this part and on to the next phase.
Our leave is bittersweet. We both hate to leave our home here. It's by far the nicest home we've lived in. We'll miss the Florida climate, our friends here, my brother, and of course my job. I'd be lying if I said I don't still have my moments of doubt about all this. I just hope that a year from now I'll be settled in and Mat will have finished his first year of teaching and we'll be happy and enjoying more time together as a family and then I'll know for sure that it was the right decision. I am supporting him in following his dream and hoping that it leads to more good things for me as well. That's all one can do really.
Off to bed for a little rest on our mattress on the floor. :) Pray for my sanity flying solo with baby tomorrow and for Mat as he makes a long drive on his own. We'll be updating soon!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Smile Son!
Here's some pictures taken from the last couple weeks. Been so busy packing and prepping for our move that I figured I'd better update them before I get too far behind. More to come later...
http://keyeswindingroad.shutterfly.com/442
http://keyeswindingroad.shutterfly.com/442
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hey Ma....Look What I Can Do!
Yep, that's right...Mathew decided to just go ahead and roll on over this morning! I knew it would happen fairly soon, but as much as he hates tummy time I wasn't holding my breath. I was doing a little packing in his room this morning so I laid him on the floor on a blanket for a few minutes. I was working in his closet and turned as I heard him grunting and out of the corner of my eye I caught him rolling over for the first time! I got down on the floor and clapped and gave him lots of praise and then of course ran for the camera!! So just like any proud mama I took a video, then a video on the phone, and then pictures! ;) He was so proud to show off his new skill over and over again. And now?....Now he's napping peacefully. All that rolling is hard work people!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Four Fabulous Months
It's hard to believe that tomorrow Mathew will be four months old! Seriously, where does time go? He visited the pediatrician this morning for this four month checkup and shots. I was nervous because, well...that's just me. I hate seeing him get shots. But he was such a trooper! Just a few tears this time. Much better than the full on death scream last time. Even mommy didn't cry! :) He weighed in at 15lbs. 15oz and is 26inches long. He's in the 75th% for weight and 85th% for his height. His weight gain seems to have tapered off a little and I think he's thinned out a tad as he's grown lengthwise. He's still a little chunker though and I just love to kiss all those rolls and chubby cheeks. The doctor thinks he seems to be developing right on track with no problems or complications due to his rough start in life. She doesn't seem to for see any complications, but encourages us to follow up with the pediatric pulmonologist and receive Synagsis shots during RSV season. He was scheduled with a PP in Tampa, but due to our move we've had to cancel. They won't see him earlier because it has to be during RSV season. So once we get to Iowa we will need to immediately begin looking for one. It will most likely mean a lengthy drive to a big city because there doesn't appear to be any near us. He'll need the shot once a month during RSV season...$1,000 a month per shot!! Holy Moly...I'd heard they were expensive but that's just crazy. TGFI! Nope, that wasn't a typo, I meant Thanks Goodness For Insurance!
So, what is little MJ doing now that he's almost 4 months old? I'm so glad you asked! In the last couple weeks he has begun slowly scooting himself in his walker. He's also begun grasping at toys and pulling them to his mouth. Sometimes he's more successful than others but he's usually pretty persistent in trying. He loves to bring his hands together and then try to squeeze both of them into his mouth. Quite humorous. He likes to chew on his fingers or even try to suck his thumb. The thumb is quite entertaining because he hasn't really figured out that when he sucks on his thumb he should fold his other fingers under. So, when he has his thumb in his mouth, the other 4 fingers are spread wide and he ends up poking his eye and scratching his face and just makes the weirdest faces. When on his belly, he pushes up and holds his head high. He hasn't rolled over yet, but I think it won't be long. He absolutely loves to stand. He has loved this since about four weeks old actually but his desire just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Forget sitting or holding him like a little baby. He wants you to hold him so he can stand up and just smile and coo at you. It's so darn cute, but I must admit I like night time when I swaddle him up and get to rock him like a little baby still. His diet still consists of just breast milk, but she said we could begin trying some foods if we felt like he was ready but there was no rush. I think we're going to start off by trying a little rice cereal once a day and see how that goes. I'm not in a big rush for him to start eating foods. He seems to be doing just fine with the milk and with us traveling a lot in the next few weeks, it would be easier not to have foods to worry about. We will just play it by ear.
I uploaded lots of pictures to try to get caught up, so here's the link for some recent pics of weeks 14&15 of little MJ's life:
http://keyeswindingroad.shutterfly.com/400
So, what is little MJ doing now that he's almost 4 months old? I'm so glad you asked! In the last couple weeks he has begun slowly scooting himself in his walker. He's also begun grasping at toys and pulling them to his mouth. Sometimes he's more successful than others but he's usually pretty persistent in trying. He loves to bring his hands together and then try to squeeze both of them into his mouth. Quite humorous. He likes to chew on his fingers or even try to suck his thumb. The thumb is quite entertaining because he hasn't really figured out that when he sucks on his thumb he should fold his other fingers under. So, when he has his thumb in his mouth, the other 4 fingers are spread wide and he ends up poking his eye and scratching his face and just makes the weirdest faces. When on his belly, he pushes up and holds his head high. He hasn't rolled over yet, but I think it won't be long. He absolutely loves to stand. He has loved this since about four weeks old actually but his desire just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Forget sitting or holding him like a little baby. He wants you to hold him so he can stand up and just smile and coo at you. It's so darn cute, but I must admit I like night time when I swaddle him up and get to rock him like a little baby still. His diet still consists of just breast milk, but she said we could begin trying some foods if we felt like he was ready but there was no rush. I think we're going to start off by trying a little rice cereal once a day and see how that goes. I'm not in a big rush for him to start eating foods. He seems to be doing just fine with the milk and with us traveling a lot in the next few weeks, it would be easier not to have foods to worry about. We will just play it by ear.
I uploaded lots of pictures to try to get caught up, so here's the link for some recent pics of weeks 14&15 of little MJ's life:
http://keyeswindingroad.shutterfly.com/400
Thursday, July 2, 2009
July 2nd
July 2nd will always be an extremely special date in my mind. One year ago today we were finally celebrating the news of a successful pregnancy test. The morning was pure torture. I'd been feeling pretty confidant that IVF had been a success, but then the morning of the blood test I woke up spotting. It was just gut wrenching. I didn't even want to go in for the blood test because I'd convinced myself the results would be too much to bear. But off we went and then it was back home to just wait for the phone to ring. We waited and waited and then finally during lunch time the phone rang and it was the best news anyone could have ever told me!
Here I sit a year later with a beautiful little boy. His conception was a miracle, not to mention his fight to survive during his first week of life and now he brings me joy each and every day. I know that as long as I'm alive, each July 2nd will bring back memories of such gratitude and elation.
The difference a year makes....
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