Addieisms

My mom and I were talking last night about all the cute things that Addison says. My mom said that, for her, one of the best parts of being a mother was listening to her children and the things they had to say. We talked about how pictures were so wonderful to look back on (for instance, I am amazed when I look at pictures from over the summer and realize that Addison hasn't always looked like she looks right now!) and how we wished there was a way to remember everything our children said.

Then today I was catching up on some friend's blogs and my friend, Kate, had documented some adorably hilarious things her daughter had said recently.

So with that, I have decided to start documenting some (a very small sample, I'm sure) of the cute things that Addison says. As her vocabulary and language continue to develop, I'm sure there are going to be many, many things I will want to remember. So, this is the first post of "Addieisms"!

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In bed for the night (holding her baby in her arms) after a trip to Urgent Care:

A: You okay, baby?
Baby: no response
A: It's okay, baby.
A: It's okay, baby.
A: Shhh, it's okay, baby.

She then falls asleep

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Addison comes in my room while I am on bed rest and hops in bed with me:

A: Wake up, Mommy. My help you.
Me: Oh honey, Mommy has to keep resting.
A: Mommy, my help you up.
Me: Okay, sweetie
A (lifting my arm and making sounds like it weighs 500 pounds): OOOOOOOOH, dere you go Mommy.
(I sit up)
A: Good job, Mommy.
Me: Thank you, sweetie.

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Eats 9/10ths of something and says

A: No like, Mommy. It's lucky (yucky).

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Last night during bedtime prayer:

A: Dear Jesus, Thank you for blessing families, friends. You go, Mommy.
Me: Dear Lord, Thank you for blessing our families and friends and the food that we eat. Please bless all the babies in the world, including baby Chase. Thank you for keeping us healthy and happy and please watch over us tonight as we sleep. Amen. Your turn, Addison.
A: Deeeeeeeear Jesus. Deeeeeeeeear Lord. Deeeeeeeeear Santa. Amen. Mommy turn.

33 weeks

Oh how I wish the title of this blog said 36 weeks...or 37 or better yet, 38! I'd even be thrilled with 34 or 35. I know, I know...33 weeks is a big milestone (hell, every day I wake up and still have Chase snug in my belly is a milestone), but it still just seems so premature to me. And this is coming from a momma who delivered at 31 weeks in her previous pregnancy! 33 weeks is huge, when you put it that way. Just like 35 will be huge when I get there in 2 weeks! Positive thinking attracts positive outcomes. Positive thinking attracts positive outcomes! Positive thinking attracts positive outcomes!!

Say it with me. Positive thinking attracts positive outcomes!!!

Excellent, thank you!

In terms of our health, Chase and I are both doing fine. I had another NST and cervix check on Tuesday and while Chase is moving around and maintaining an excellent heart rate, I am still contracting. Nothing major and fortunately nothing that has caused my cervix to dilate, but they're still present which no one likes to see. I have another appt. next Friday, the 22nd.

I am not going to bore you with many details of bed rest - God knows I am bored enough for all of us! And yes, if you saw my facebook status, I really do wear bronzer on bed rest and indeed think it would make for an interesting book if I had the focus to write it. I get up first thing in the morning, take a shower, put on lotion, throw some gel in my hair and put on some bronzer. Then, back in the bed I go. I figure just in case I have to rush to the hospital, at least I'll be clean, soft and won't completely look like Frankenstein's bride. So, that, ladies and gents, is "Why I Wore Bronzer on Bed Rest"!

The fun/relaxation part of this gig most definitely expired after the first hour. I'm so frustrated with it that I have a hard time focusing. I have managed to do a couple of productive things. I archived 2700 email messages from my inbox (I am currently maintaining 6...isn't that awesome?!), made a shutterfly picture book, and designed 12 months of prints that I am going to iron onto onesies for Chase's "monthiversaries". I've also started on Addison's baby book (2 years later!) and have begun to better organize the thousands of pictures I have on my computer, which I am finding to be quite the task. Other than that, I am reading magazines and books (currently 3 magazines and 2 books because like I said, I can't focus on just one).

I have yet to turn on the TV, except at night once Addison goes to bed. I am not a big TV person and we don't have one in our bedroom, which is where I spend the majority of my day. I spend most of my time in the bedroom because if I am in the other parts of the house, 2 things happen. 1) I find things that could be done and am way too tempted to get up to do them...OCD, anyone? and 2) Addison demands my attention more so when she can see me.

"Stam up an' dance, Mommy!", she'll say. I'll tell her "I wish I could dance with you, baby, but Mommy has to rest." and she'll come up to me, wrap her little arms around me, shower me with kisses and say with her lips in the sweetest pout "Mommy no feel good?" It breaks my heart. Whenever I do emerge from the bedroom, she'll exclaim "Mommy woke up!" The poor thing. We've had a couple heart to hearts and I think she gets it for the most part, but it has to be so hard for her.

Yesterday, she was in major need of mommy time so she crawled into bed with me and just laid there while I played with her hair and tickled her back. After about 10 minutes, she said "Mommy, we hug more please?" (cue the tears) She ended up staying with me for awhile until deciding it was time to go back and play with my friend, Kate, who is one of the angels so kindly helping out. We've also hired a babysitter to be here 2 days a week and my mother-in-law spends a day or so here, as well. My mom is coming on weekends to give Dustin a break and in case we need to make any trips to the hospital. Addison loves all of her "caregivers" and does great with them. Such a blessing!

I am so fortunate to have so many wonderful friends and family. My Moms club has already began sign ups for meals while I am on bed rest and once Chase arrives and my best friend, Emily, has totally hooked us up with some dinners from one of those places that you go in and make yourself to take home and either eat right away or freeze for future use (though they are preparing them and delivering them to us!) Talk about generosity! Once I'm back on my feet, I owe these people. Big time!

Dustin has been working his butt off being Mr. Mom. He is juggling his job, Addison, me, cooking, cleaning, laundry, snow blowing, etc. On Tuesday, he and Addison spent an evening at the Children's Hospital Urgent Care due to Addison's foot becoming infected from her New Years Day injury. (Thankfully, the antibiotics and warm compresses seem to be taking care of the infection, but it was kind of scary and just one more thing we didn't anticipate being added to our plate of misfortunes.)

I am sure this is all starting to wear on Dustin (though he would never admit it) and the second one has yet to arrive! I feel so bad for him. If anyone knows how I can nominate him for husband of the year, please let me know. He deserves it...not even just for 2010 but for 2007 - 2009 as well. I definitely don't give him enough credit. He is just amazing.

You're amazing, honey!!! I love you!

So, with a lot of help, we're getting through this challenging time. It seems to be going by decently fast, at least. Dustin and I just keep saying that we don't want to look back and regret not doing more to help keep Chase on the inside for as long as possible, so we are doing everything we possibly can on our end. The outcome is ultimately up to God, but I trust that He is watching over us and will take care of us.
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This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
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Belly pic

A big congratulations!

Congratulations to our friends, Kristin and Joe and Addison's friend, Addison M.! They are expecting a new addition to their family in July and we couldn't be more excited. We just know that Addison M. is going to make a wonderful big sister. She is such a sweetie...I don't even know how they are going to handle all the sweetness when the next one comes along!

And we shall call him....

I thought now would be an appropriate time to share the name we have chosen for our sweet baby boy. I would ask that you keep him in your prayers and I thought it might be more personable if you have a name to go with the prayer rather than just baby boy Frazier.

So, without further ado, we have decided to name our little fella Chase Anthony Frazier. Anthony is Dustin's middle name and Chase (or actually the entire name) was at the suggestion of Dustin's mom. We love it!

We love you, sweet Chase. Your sister gives her "Baby Chase" hugs and kisses daily (almost hourly) and she loves you so much already. We all look forward to meeting you (though hopefully later than sooner, so try not to get too anxious in there)!

See you in a few weeks, little man!!!!

32 weeks

Well, I'm 32 weeks and to say that things turned at a drop of a hat is an understatement. Rather than jet setting across the country today to visit our friends in California, I am laying in bed on doctor-ordered bed rest.

Here's the story, greatly shortened for your benefit!

On Tuesday, the 5th, I went to the OB for an NST that my doctor ordered before I flew cross-country. An NST is a non-stress test that basically measures fetal heart rate and contractions. They are usually given to high-risk women, women who are overdue or those who sense baby is not moving as frequently as usual, as was my case just over 2 years ago.

I did not fall into either of these 3 categories at the time, but my doctor wanted me to have one as a precautionary measure (because he is super conservative, worries about me for no good reason other than he holds a special place in his heart for us :) and because Addison was suddenly and unexpectedly delivered at this exact time due to low fetal movement which ended up being confirmed with an NST.)

So, I went in feeling great, feeling sufficient fetal movement, having no contractions, etc. As soon as they put the belts around my abdomen, my nurse said I was contracting and asked if I could feel it. The answer was "no" but as she continued to ask me each time the machine registered one, I realized that I was feeling a lot of cramping that I wasn't associating with possible contractions - more like the sensation of having to pass gas!

After about 30 minutes of this continuing, it was decided that I should have my cervix checked and other tests performed. My cervix was closed/not dilated (whew!) but the ultrasound showed that it was a little short at 2.6cm. This isn't a huge concern as it's not really considered "too short" but it is shorter than the average 3.0-3.5cm that they'd like to see at my gestation, so it became a factor in decisions yet to be made.

On the plus side, the baby is doing GREAT, amniotic fluid is plentiful, AND he is measuring 4lb 3oz (75th %) which is amazing at just under 32 weeks! I also got to see lots of detailed pictures, including 3-D ones, of our little man which is always appreciated!

They also ran a urine culture to see if a bladder infection could be causing these contractions, but those results would not be back that day. (The test ultimately came back negative.) So, I went home and was told to take it easy and come back the next morning. Indeed, I was back the next morning registering contractions, though not as consistent, and a lot of uterus irritability.

At that point, I was tested for Fetal fibronectin (also known as fFN), which is a “glue-like” protein that bonds your developing baby to your uterus. It is detectable in vaginal secretions toward the end of pregnancy, when your body is getting ready to deliver the baby. After the 35th week of pregnancy, it begins to break down naturally, and is detectable. If your body is getting ready to give birth prematurely, fFN may be detected before week 35.

The doctors doubted I would test positive for the protein, but needed to be sure. I was then sent to Labor and Delivery for fluids, as dehydration can sometimes cause false contractions because the receptors in your brain that tell your body it's thirsty are the same exact ones that tell your uterus to contract when pregnant. Weird!

Off to L&D I went. I was there for 6 hours and won't bore you with details, but let's just say it took me over 5 hours to see the attending doctor, I was still registering a lot of uterus irritability, they unsuccessfully attempted an IV 3 times, blowing really my only good working vein (one of the tolls chemo has taken on my body) on the last attempt and leaving me with a huge golf ball sized hematoma. Wait, then they ran out of toilet paper in my room and couldn't find any so Dustin had to go get some from another room. Oh, and Dustin also had to get ice for my large battle wound (something they failed to do) along with bandaging for the lovely swollen hole in my arm that was gushing blood. I did not receive great service, let's just say that. ;)

I kept hearing how crazy everything was there and that "the roof was blowing off L&D", and because I had a wonderful experience with Addison, I am going to let this one fly.

While there, I found out that I did test positive for fFN.

Now, I am totally going to confuse you with my explanation of what a positive test result means, so brace yourselves. A positive test result means your body is leaking fetal fibronectin, a sign that your body may be getting ready to deliver. There is an increased chance that your baby is going to arrive early — but not everyone with a positive test result delivers early.

Whereas a negative test result gives you a greater than 99% assurance that you will not deliver in the next two weeks, a positive test is much less predictive. 30% of women who test positive will deliver within a week and the other 70% will deliver sometime after that and up to their due date. So, the end result is that we have no clue what will happen to me. I could deliver tomorrow, I could deliver on my scheduled c-section date of February 25th. Or, I could deliver somewhere in between.

After finding out the test result, I was admitted to the hospital. Of course I cried brokedown thinking about how I hadn't done anything to prepare for a hospital stay, hadn't finished the nursery, hadn't said goodbye to my sweet Addison, etc. Though emotionally distraught, I agreed to the situation, signed release forms, etc. My first of two steroid shots (to help develop baby's lungs in the case of premature delivery) was ordered and I was all set to be admitted. It was at this time that the IV and toilet paper saga happened and I declared to Dustin that I could not stay.

We finally had a chance to speak to the attending doctor and told her our wishes (my doctor was out of the country during all of this) and she reluctantly sent me home. I knew I was making the best decision for my baby. All the stress this was causing me certainly wasn't going to help anything and I trusted myself to be diligent enough to go back to the hospital if I had noticed even the slightest change.

So, the question is...where do we go from here? No one knows! There is no special formula for my situation, So for now, I am to take it easy and if I have the means to do so, go on indefinite bed rest. Because "take it easy" and "toddler in the home" do not mix, I am pretty much forced to go on bed rest. Fortunately I have lined up people to watch over Addison and help me out over the next few weeks. I am going to be strict about it for at least a couple of weeks and reassess with my doctors as time goes on. My goal is to make it to at least 36 weeks. 37 would be great and 39 would be wonderful! Dustin and I have been through the preemie experience and though Addison is perfect beyond measurement, we do not care to weather the difficulties and challenges that go hand in hand with a preemie if we can avoid it.

So, that's where we stand today. I am already tired of this bed rest thing, but I know that it is for the best and am trying to make good use of my time (i.e. get things done that I have been on my to-do list for ages). Unfortunately, many of those things require me up and moving, not laying horizontally. Which reminds me, eating and digesting in a horizontal position is not doing my indigestion any favors. BUT, the baby does have hair (per the ultrasound), so at least the indigestion is for something. Old wives tale, I know, but it's proved true in both of my pregnancies!

Here is my 32 week belly (and one of the only times I've stood vertically over the past couple of days!)




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Just a few more details about the baby.....
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Logan's Baptism

This sweet little man was baptized on the 2nd of January. He would be our nephew (and cousin) and Dustin's third Godson, Logan.

Congratulations, Logan. Welcome to Catholicism!

New Years Day 2010

Happy New Year! We have a lot to look forward to this year (namely, introducing a little brother to the family) and are so very blessed. Oh, and Addison has now lived in 2 different decades, which I think is cool. :)

We came home from Cleveland early on New Years Day to prepare for a small get-together we were having at our house with out-of-town friends and to watch the OSU in the Rose Bowl.

We were thrilled to have Stephen and Carrie in town from Maryland and Jonathan and Mandy from Cincinnati. (Dustin swam with the guys in college and they remain two of his best friends.) We were also to have David, Abby and Raegan over but Raegan came down with pink eye so only David made it (with some excellent Kielbasa and Sauerkraut, I must add!)

We were having a lot of fun, until the littlest one of the bunch suffered a bit of an accident. She and one of the other party-goers were having the best time playing when all of a sudden, Addison's squeals of laughter turned to screeches of horror! Daddy quickly scooped her up and she stopped crying, but then we noticed the bleeding.

I, not being one bit alarmed (because toddlers get hurt and then they get over it, especially my tough cookie of a daughter), remained in my comfy position on the couch. Then someone exclaimed that her foot was bleeding and when I looked over, I saw blood on Addison, Dustin and Jonathan. It was a lot of blood for one little sized 6 foot!

Someone brought her to me to assess the damage, but it turns out Mommy doesn't do so well when her daughter is injured, so other people had to look further into the situation (while Daddy ran to get me a glass of OJ before I passed out!)

Our little cookie hung in there and barely made a whimper. She was much stronger than myself!

Jonathan was definitely magical in making everything all better. I'm guessing Addison either sensed the paternal side of him (he has two girls 2 and under at home), knew he worked in an operating room, or thought he was just plain entertaining. Whatever it was, it did the trick and she was completely content sitting with him while I made some calls to the pediatrician and hospital trying to come up with a game plan. We even had our next door neighbor (who is an ER nurse) come over to give us her opinion!

Jon and Mandy (they clearly have plenty of experience handling an injured 2 year old!)

Another thing that definitely helped take her mind off the pain was a great gift from Stephen and Carrie. They brought her a matching game (because they couldn't just bring baby boy a gift and leave Addison out!) The game is a hit, especially since it incorporates two of her favorite books ever - "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" and "Panda Bear, Panda Bear What Do You See?". Thanks, guys!

Notice the bandaging changed from the previous pictures. She was bleeding through everything we tried! I knew it was then time to head to Urgent Care and have a professional look at it. Plus, it was nearing 6:30 and the Children's Urgent Care was only open until 7. If we missed them, we'd be stuck in the ER. No, thank you!

We were in and out of Urgent Care in 20 minutes. Addison came home with 3 stitches and an orange popsicle. She did great, except when they were giving her the shots to numb the area.

She was fine the rest of the evening, slept through the night, and though we do hear about her ouchie on a daily basis and she reminds us to "be careful" whenever putting on socks, pants, sleepers, shoes, etc., she isn't even fazed!

New Years Eve 2009

We spent a few days up in Cleveland with Julie, Josh, Noah and Bailey over the New Year. The adults went to a very exciting Cavs game on the 30th (while Noah's Aunt Heather babysat - thanks, Heather!) and to a party for a short while on the 31st (with the little ones). It was a fun way to ring in the New Year, with some of our most favorite people!

Addison loved cooking some meals in Noah's new kitchen.


One of the best parts of the trip was that Cleveland had snow - something we were without. Well, we had patches here and there, but not enough to play in. (That since has changed!)

The temps had reached the mid 30's, which is perfect for playing in the snow. Addison loved it this year, unlike her distaste for it last year.

Even the pups had a good time!

Cousin hugs are the best!

Wilson Christmas Gathering

The morning after the morning after Christmas we headed back down to Dayton. NOT KIDDING!!!!! Those 1.5 - 2 hours drives each way add up! Our destination this time was Dustin's Aunt and Uncle's house for another family gathering.

Addison was in a very merry mood.


She and Aaron had a great time playing.

Then Santa came!

Addison surprisingly went near him (though not alone). No doubt the shiny packages in his big red gift bag helped.

Addison opened her wonderful gifts.


She loves all her puzzles.

And was super giddy over the comforter and pillow that her Great Grandma Max made for her new doll bed.

Family Picture

Frazier Christmas Gathering

The morning after Christmas, we headed back up to Columbus for the Frazier Family Christmas Gathering. Addison opened more presents (I think she was starting to think this was our new daily routine) and had fun with her extended cousins. Again, I was bad about taking pictures. I was already exhausted! This is all I have to show of the 5 hour event:

Christmas at Gammy and Poppy's house

After we opened gifts at our house, we hopped in the car (Addison didn't even have time to get out of her PJ's) and headed down to Dayton. We had a nice lunch and put Addison down for a nap while I tried to re-energize for all the partying yet to be done!

After Addison's nap, some of Phil's (Poppy) siblings came by for a visit. Addison doesn't see this part of the family often but welcomed them with open arms, as usual. Her way of asking who someone is is so cute. She does it with an open question. She points and says, "This is....?" Love it! She re-learned their names quickly, sang for them and definitely put on a show.

She and Uncle Rob sported their Santa hats.

Her best buddy, Noah, arrived from Cleveland with Julie, Josh (and Bubba's best buddy, Bailey) and the party was officially ON!

We finally changed Addison out of her PJ's (at 3pm!) and more gifts were unwrapped.

Noah wanted to wear a red bow like Addies!

They could pass as twins, don't ya think?

Sadly, this is the only picture of Gammy and Addison together.

Being so busy and running from place to place, I took my photographer hat off for a while. But, we did manage to get a couple of Addison with her Grandpa S.