Merry Christmas!

6 Month Stats

Can you say "Chunky Monkey"?

My main man had his 6 month check-up with Dr. Bristol today. Holden weighed in at a whopping 20 pounds even! He's 28 inches long. That puts him in the 75th percentile for weight and 95th for length. I knew he was a big boy, but I was pretty surprised when the scale tipped 20 pounds. WOW! I went back and pulled Mae's records and at 6 month she only weighed 15 pounds 3 ounces and was 26.75 inches long.

Lucky 7

Today, Trey and I have been married for 7 years. And today, I love him more than I did back then.

Happy Anniversary, Sparky! Thanks for the best 7 years of my life. I hope we have 77 more...

I love you forever...

Happy 4th Birthday, Maison Ann!

Our sweet Maison turned 4 today. 4 going on 14... Who knew that attitude and sass would already be a part of our life as parents?

The last 4 years have flown by. It seems like only yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. When I think back over the last year, I am amazed at the progress she has made in everything from her size to the size of her vocabulary. I am amazed on a daily basis at the things she says! "Well, actually, Mom, I want fish sticks for dinner." Actually? Well, duh... excuse me. And for the record, my name is Mommy. I don't want to hear Mom come out of her 4 year old mouth again. Whenever she calls me Mom, I refuse to answer her until she gets it right.

At 4 years old, she is measuring 42 inches tall (90-95th% for her age) and weighs 37.5 pounds. Over the summer, she had such a growth spurt that I had to buy a second summer wardrobe because all of her shirts were showing her midriff! Daddy didn't like that much, so off to the store we went. I bought her new jeans in September and has to hand them down to my cousin already because Mae looked like she was waiting on a flood.

Mommy and Daddy love you, Mae. These 4 years have been the nest of our life together. Being parents to you and "Baby Holden" is not only the biggest responsibility of our life, but also the biggest honor.

4 Months Stats

Holden had his 4 month check-up and shots today. We are still fighting the ear infection. I was also concerned about his hearing. The other night, I suspected he was not hearing after Maison let out a blood curdling little girl scream and he did not flinch. So I banged a pot so hard with a wooden spoon that I broke it and he did not hear it at all. I was only about 12 inches from the back of his head and he never even moved. I talked to the pediatrician about it today and he said that Holden has so much fluid in his ears that hearing for him right now is like trying to hear underwater. We got another, stronger round of antibiotics and will see what happens.

Here are Holden's stat for this month:
16 pounds 2 ounces
25 1/2 inches long

In comparison, Mae only weighed 14 pounds 1 ounce at 4 months.

Reviving the blog...

I have not posted anything on here in a really long time. Life has just been hectic, but after a lot of “I sure miss the blog entries” and realizing I have not been capturing “those moments” for posterity, I have decided to try to get it going again.

I’m going to attempt to go back and highlight some of the major events since December. Specifically our trip to Disney, losing my Nana, finding a new home for our sweet Bama, Mae’s first dance recital, Holden's birth... So much has happened so far in 2009! I have a lot of catching up to do.

Now that we are blessed with two children, I feel like I need to rename the website. I’m not just maisonsmommy anymore and I know I don’t have the time or energy to keep up a blog for her and one for Holden. If anyone can think of a catchy title, please let me know.

Happy Birthday, Holden!

Happy Birthday, Baby Holden! We are proud to announce that our precious son entered this world today at 6:46 pm. He weighed in at 7 pounds 1 ounce and is 21 inches long. Not the linebacker everyone predicted (which is fine by Mommy!) but still almost a full pound bigger than Maison. I can’t help but wonder how big he would have been if I had made it the 2.5 more weeks until my due date...

So, here’s how it all went down...

The day started out as I expected. Doc Sams came in at about 6:30 in the morning to break my water and start the Pitocin (from this point forward known as Juice O’ the Devil) drip. Contractions commenced fairly soon after and by about 10:30 I was pretty uncomfortable. I talked to my nurse, Pam, about the epidural. I was worried that it might slow down my labor. Her feelings were that it would not and that it might actually help because it would allow me to relax. So, since the Juice O’ The Devil was getting the best of me and I was having extremely hard back labor, I decided to go ahead and have the epidural. At this point I was seriously wondering how in the world women have “natural” childbirth. If I had only known what was coming.

After lunch I was still hovering around 3 cm and was kind of frustrated. I really wanted to have the baby by lunch time like Doc Sams predicted even though I knew deep down it wasn’t going to happen. At least I was more comfortable and I spent a couple of hours e-mailing friends and chatting on Facebook. Technology sure has advanced at the hospital since Mae was born. We had wifi in the room and it was nice to stay connected with the people that could not be at the hospital.

When I was in labor with Maison, my progression really started after I gacked in a bucket. So the big joke with Holden was that I needed to stick my finger down my throat right after the doc broke my water. I hate to throw up. I mean hate it and even though I wanted to do it because I was hoping it would speed things up, I fought it for a couple of hours. Finally, it got the best of me. But this time it did not help. Pam checked me maybe around 3-ish (Everything is kind of a blur as far as what happened at what time, so I am just guessing here.) She said I was at 5cm.

Shortly after that, I started to feel some tightening across my stomach and my back and I noticed that my feet were cold. Hmmm... Why was I starting to feel my feet again? A little later, I pretty much felt as uncomfortable as I was when I had the epidural, so I buzzed Pam and told her about it. She was kind of hemming and hawing to Mom about it and I finally said, “Look, I’m a big girl... If you think this is just me freaking out, tell me, but I really think my epidural is wearing off.” Pam kind of chuckled and told us that she just thought Holden was trying to come through my pelvic bone and that once he did, I’d feel better. OK. Fine. I’m being a Drama Queen. I’ll shut up now.

More tightening, more intense back pain. I don’t give a rip if Pam or the doctor or the Good Lord Himself thinks I am being a Drama Queen, the fact is I am in pain and that darn epidural is not doing its job. I’m flopping around on the bed like a fish out of water, people. I am not imagining this!!! I asked Pam to check me again... which by the way, she is good about doing this whenever I ask. I remember last time I’d ask and they would tell me not yet. Pam seemed to understand that as much as I did not like her doing it, I wanted to know what the heck was going on! Woo Hoo! 7 cm. But call the anesthesiologist, because I am HURTING!!! He looks at me like I’m nuts when I tell him I can feel my feet and the parts I’m not really wanting to feel, but I can’t feel my legs. Says it doesn’t make sense. Well, I could care less that it doesn’t make sense. Just fix it. He tells me that I have two options. He can put a “boost” in the IV and give me a happy button to push or he can take the epidural out and try to reinsert it. I opted for the boost. I was squirming around so much that I was afraid I would not be able to be still for reinsertion and I did not want to end up paralyzed from the waist down! That fine print on the epidural release form... about possible problems... was flashing before my eyes. He gave me the boost and he and Pam left. I proceed to beat the hell out of the happy button. The happy button was not giving me anything! I buzzed her again. I know she was hating me because I kept hitting that call button, but I was paying a lot of money (well, Aetna was paying) for those drugs and they were not working. I asked her to check me again. Surely if I was 7 before I was 9, maybe pushing 10 now. Pam’s checking me and I’m staring her down with this look that says “You better have good news!” Pam’s facial expression is not good. Pam keeps poking around and had a wrinkle in her brow. Pam looks at me and is scared. I know she does not want to tell me what she has discovered. “You’re back down to 5.” WHAT?!?!?!?!? How in the holy hell do you go backwards?!?!?!? Is that even possible? She says the good news is that he came though my pelvic bone. Which I totally could have told her because I FREAKING FELT IT... But his head was pressing up against my cervix causing it to contract instead of open up. She leaves, I’m ticked. Mom and Trey are pacing the room looking at me like they think my head is about to starting spinning around and fire is going to come out of my mouth. Liz was smart and stayed in the waiting room working her crossword puzzle. I’m groaning like a demon has possessed my body. I hear Trey call his mom and tell her not to bring Maison to the hospital because she can’t see me like this. The pain is so intense, that I am starting to think that Holden is directionally challenged and is trying to make his exit through my navel. I prop up in the bed and growl at Trey “Go. Get. Pam. Don’t push the button, walk down there and drag her back.” He darts out the door. They both get back in the room right as I violently projectile vomit a la the Exorcist. If that did not open the flood gates, nothing is going to. I’m moaning and groaning and telling Pam I don’t care if you just checked me ten minutes ago, do it again! Something is happening and if I’m still at 5 you better get ready because this baby is going to be the first in history pushed out at 5cm. I can tell she is checking just to humor me. But then her facial expression shows that she is surprised. She looks at me and smiles and says the two words I have been waiting to hear all day. You’re ready! She buzzes the nurse’s station and the “Team” sweeps in. Pam says she is going to call Doc Sams and I am thinking there is no way he’s going to make it before I push Holden out of me. Mom is on one side of me and Trey is on the other. They are both tearing up. I’m still flopping like a fish. Doc Sams walks in about 6 seconds after Pam went to call him. Thank God he had come up there to check on me because as much as I wanted him to be the one to catch this kid, I was not planning on waiting for him to drive to the hospital.

I looked up at the gigantic clock hanging over Doc Sams head. All day that thing had been moving at a snail’s pace. It was exactly 6:00. I was instructed to push as each contraction started. Were they ending? I mean it just felt like one constant one to me! Trey was on my right and a nurse was on my left. I had a death grip on Trey’s hand and honestly I did not care if I broke every bone in it. I mean he got me in this mess, right? He needed to pay! I pushed. I pushed some more. Doc’s eyes get wide and he says. “Wow. This baby’s got a big head. Good thing we didn't wait two more weeks.” Seriously. Did he just say that? I look at Trey’s head and am instantly petrified. In a voice I don’t recognize, I growl at Doc Sams, “THAT is not what I need to hear from you right now.” He’s lucky I can’t reach over my big belly because if I could I would have clocked him right in the jaw! I push. I push some more. The voice I don’t recognize shouts “Get. Him. Out. Of. Me!!!!” Doc Sams calmly reminds me that I have to push him out. I not so calmly remind him that I am freaking trying!!!!! I look up at the clock again. 6:45. I muster up every last ounce of everything I have in me and push with all my might. Sams stands up, kicks his little rolling stool out of the way and BAM! There is my gorgeous baby boy. He’s got ten little fingers, ten little toys and one little... well, you know... And all of the sudden, he pees right on me with that little... well, you know... And what does Sams do? He waves him around so the pee is going all over the place and laughs saying “Pee on Mommy, Baby Boy!” I look up at Trey and he is beaming with pride. And then I laugh too because I never would have dreamed that watching my son pee all over me would be one of the two most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Anticipation

Tonight, Trey and I are checking in the hospital and will be meeting our sweet baby boy tomorrow. Hopefully, it won’t take as long as it took to bring his sister into this world. At my visit with Doc Sams yesterday, he told me my fluid level is steadily decreasing and he feels like it is best to go ahead and induce. I have mixed feelings about it. I really wanted to try to hold out and go into labor on my own, but I am so ready to hold sweet Baby Holden. And I am definitely ready to not be pregnant any more!

My emotions are bittersweet and I have to admit I am a bit nervous. I’m both excited and sad that the 3 of us will soon be the 4 of us. I’m nervous because I don’t want to go through the HOURS and HOURS of labor like I did with Maison. More so for Trey, than me, I think. I have vivid memories of seeing the nervousness on his face when I labored so long (19 hours) with her. Doc Sams assures me this one won’t take as long but I’m not holding my breath. I just hope I can get him out without a c-section.

Mom and Liz will be here shortly before we leave. They are going to take Mae to school tomorrow because I know she won’t make it all day sitting up at the hospital. We are just going to play it by ear to see when she will come up there.

Farewell

A few weeks ago, I got one of those e-mails where you are supposed to go through the list and put a check mark by all the things you have done. Skydive, been to Paris, eaten escargot. Give a eulogy... Today, I added another check mark to my list. I am posting the words I spoke here so that Maison and Holden will one day be able to go back and read about what Nana meant to all of us.

“Before I get started I’d like to thank each and every one of you for being here today. My grandmother was one of a kind and I know she touched each of your lives in a very special way.

I’d especially like to recognize our relatives, Martha and Suzie, from Chicago. Since none of the other nieces were able to make it, I can go ahead and tell you that you two were her favorite... just don’t tell the others, OK? Grandma was the last of the 6 DiMartino children and I know she is up there with Joe, Nick, John, Tony and Aunt Carm looking down and smiling that all of us cousins are together today.

I hope you will all bear with me through this as standing up here today is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. My family has always joked with me about being overly emotional and I am going to try my best to prove them wrong today!

There is so much that can be said about this feisty little Italian lady. She was full of fun, spunk and spirit. She told it like it was. Except for my cousins John and Mark, I think all of us at some point heard her say “Hey. You’re getting a little tubby!” And then she put another meatball on our plate. She used to crawl in the floor and play with us when we were kids. She spoiled us all rotten and she never missed a beat in any of our lives.

Grandma loved her God and her church with all her heart. I remember after she recovered from her heart surgery 14 years ago, she started going to Mass every morning. 7 days a week. I questioned her about it and her response was “God gave me another chance at life and I think I owe him to go to Mass every day”. Her faith could move mountains.

She dedicated her life to the people she loved. Her family was her top priority. When I look back at the significant events in my life, Grandma and my Grandpa appear in every photograph in my memory. All 7 of us grandchildren played little league baseball or softball. And I think I can speak for all of them when I say that looking back over those memories of the ball park, one of my favorite recollections is seeing Nana sitting there in her lawn chair cheering us on... and every once in a while giving the umpire a piece of her mind! She and Grandpa never missed a moment with any of us. From the trips to three different houses every Christmas morning to the first communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings and births of great grandchildren, they were both always there. I have said for many years that my cousins, sister and I are all truly blessed to have been able to share our entire childhood and a good portion of our adult lives with both of our grandparents.

Nana taught me a lot about being a great mother. I have a feeling that Liz, Jim and my mom will tell you that she meant business and never let her kids run all over her, but that they all respected her as adults because of it. She would love you and love you and love you, but she’d set you straight too. As an adult I have admired the respect, love and dedication I have seen Jim, Liz and mom give to Grandma. But I know she earned it many years ago.

My grandparents were married 67 years ago this April. Wow. That is amazing to me. My Grandpa worked so hard to build a great life for this family and my grandmother stood beside him every step of the way. I remember being 16 years old at their 50th wedding anniversary party and watching them dance together. I always dreamed that my marriage would turn out to be at least half of what theirs has been. Together, they experienced so much. War... Hardships of starting a new business and building a family, wonderful times of great success and achieving their goals in life, moments of pride in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, heartache during times of loss, lasting friendships that have crossed generations of our family with generations of other families. It has been quite a full 67 years that should be a model to us all. And I promise you, Monsignor Rohling, that this is one love story that will be told.

In our family, Grandpa is the rock. He is the patriarch that has provided for all of us over the years. But, Grandma, she was the glue. She kept us all together. She made sure everyone always knew what was going on with the others and on holidays, birthdays and just random Sundays, she broke out that spaghetti sauce pot, whipped up a feast and made sure we all showed up. There were times during my teenage years that I will admit I thought I had better things to do, but what I’d give now for just one more of her Sunday lunches...

I know that my children will know exactly who my grandmother was because I will teach them all the things she taught me. I learned so much from her... how to make pasta and that you should never turn down dessert. She taught me that the Chicago Cubs are the only team in baseball worth cheering for and that Parisian was the only place to shop. Playing in her closet, I learned how to walk in high heels. She showed me that you love your children unconditionally, but you get on to them when they need it... same goes for your husband! But most importantly, she taught me that you should go to church and love your God and your family. Without that, all the other stuff does not mean much.

I know we are all hurting today... so saddened by the thought of not being able to pick up the phone and call her or stop by her house for a visit, but I am also so happy for her. Because I know that she is not suffering any more. I know that all the ways that her body failed her have been healed and I know that she is so very happy to be reunited with her parents and her siblings. And I take great comfort in that... all because over the years I have witnessed that faith I mentioned earlier... faith that could move mountains. Today she is reaping the benefits of every rosary she ever prayed.

So, thank you Nana, thank you for loving us all and for being the glue. We know you are not gone because there is a little piece of you in every member of this family. You have just gone ahead of the rest... I’d like to think to get heaven situated to your standards before we all get there! Mom and Michelle always tell me I am going to be just like you... I sure hope they are right. Rest well. We will miss you so much, but we love you even more.”

A day I have feared for so long...

Today, a little piece of me died. On the way to take Maison to daycare, Mom called to tell me that my precious Nana is gone. I knew it was coming. I even knew it was soon. Mom and I talked about it. When they started pre-planning her funeral, I even told her that I wanted to be the one to speak at the funeral. As soon as the phone rang that early in the morning, I knew why. I thought I had prepared myself for this. The last time we were in Birmingham, I had said my peace with her. Made sure I looked her in the eye and told her I loved her. After each visit over the last few months, I knew that each time I drove away would quite possibly be the last time I saw her alive. But those words... “Melissa, she’s gone”... like a ton of bricks they hit me, sucking the air out of my lungs. I tried my best to hold it together until I got Maison into the daycare. Thank God for Denise and Paula. They saw the look on my face, scooped her up and got her in the classroom.

I got back in the car and couldn’t breathe. I was gasping for breath when I called Trey. Then my motherly instincts took over and forced myself to calm down. Holden needs me to stay calm through this. How am I going to make Maison understand this? And for that matter, how am I going to make myself understand? She was supposed to live forever...

Disney ~ Day 2 ~ Part 1 ~ Animal Kingdom

This morning, the family went to the Animal Kingdom without me. The safari was the one thing Doc Sams made me promise him I would not get on. It is so bumpy I think he was afraid I would give birth in the Jeep. So, I went to the Disney Spa and had an amazing pregnancy massage. Afterwards, I met up with everyone at the Animal Kingdom and we spent the rest of the morning there. I don't think Mae will ever tire of standing in line to meet the characters. Goofy is, by far, her favorite.

Disney ~ Day 1 ~ Epcot