christmas tree

We got our tree and decorated it today! It's a six foot Noble Fir and it smells great. I put Chris into a sweater, corduroys, and a jacket that's still too big for him for the tree picking event. And, of course, I took lots of pictures of him in the sweater.

Third Trip to Florida in a Month

It has been a very busy couple of months at work. There's way too much to do in the time allotted but that doesn't mean we're not going to give it all we've got. Over the past two weeks I traveled back-and-forth to Cape Canaveral twice for the pre-launch vehicle walkdowns of the Delta IV vehicle for the WGS-3 mission (scheduled to launch 12/2). Both were hectic trips since we're working a lot of last minute changes/fixes on the fly that were installed by the already over-taxed launch site crew. I almost didn't make it home in time for Thanksgiving but it all turned out well. It helped to be down there with another propulsion guy who is a lot of fun to hang out with.

One of the cool things that I got to see while down there on the last trip was the launch of an Atlas V (my other rocket) late Sunday night. The launch was for a commercial communications satellite called Intelsat 14 (not related to the chip company). We were able to get pretty close to the launch since my CCAFS badge is good for the entire base.

Here is a picture of the rocket on the pad the night before the launch. The high intensity spotlights really light up the rocket to a dazzling display that can be seen crystal clear for miles. You can tell how humid it is since the beams are illuminated. They usually go the extra mile making the commercial missions look good.







The next night we drove back on base about a half hour before the T-Zero time and setup shop on the causeway between CCAFS and KSC. The count was delayed about an hour due to upper level winds but eventually the count resumed and we were treated to a very cool experience. Here is a picture of the rocket shortly after liftoff taken by the other propulsion guy I was down there with.







And here is a low quality video that I took with my ancient digital camera. The audio doesn't begin to do the roar justice. You can tell we're a few miles away since it takes a little while for the initial sound waves to travel the distance across the water.

Thankfully I'll get to work the Delta IV WGS-3 launch from Denver since I've already traveled to the Cape three times in the last month. The next Delta IV mission will be a NASA weather satellite in March so I'll probably be back there again in February. Our group is actively working to spread out the launch support travel so that the family impacts are minimized as much as possible. This will be especially helpful once Eiko returns to work!

thanksgiving

We hope you had a relaxing and delicious Thanksgiving! We certainly did. We spent ours with the Pennocks. We are thankful for their friendship! They continue to be our friends, despite our sharing stories such as this one: Nate invented a new variation on the gin and tonic, that we shall call the Pennock. It's gin, lime, and tap water. Not quite the same, but it will get you just as drunk.

ordered crib

we just ordered a crib online. It's the same one that the Anardis have, and they like it. It looks much nicer than our recalled crib! Hopefully it won't take too long to arrive.

storkcraft crib recall update

So. . . the storkcraft website is jammed up, and their toll free line has a continuous busy signal. And now the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission says the repair kit offered by Storkcraft is made of plastic and inadequate and recommends that consumers purchase a new, non-drop side crib.

Chris will be sleeping in the pack n play until we get a new crib.

Seeing a picture of a baby doll with its head stuck in a crib made me cry. I don't want that to happen to my precious little baby.

crib recalled. . . again.

My Storkcraft crib was recalled, again, this time for bad drop side gates which can get off track and suffocate an infant. Four babies died in these gates. Scary. Right after I bought this crib, I found out about the first recall, which involved bad crib support brackets. The replacement brackets were included with the crib. I found about this recall last night and I had a hard time sleeping worrying about Chris being in the recalled crib. There is a kit you are supposed to get to convert the drop side into a fixed side, and I'm going to request it, but I have had it with this crib. It's a piece of junk and it's dangerous. I don't want Chris sleeping in it. I have been very disappointed with this Storkcraft furniture. It's cheaply made. The front panels of the dresser drawers come off now and then. They are only held in place with cam locks. The set was cheap, so I guess this is just a case where you get what you pay for. When Doug gets back, we're going crib shopping.

toy to mouth

stroller

Here is Chris in his new big baby stroller!

monday

Today is Monday. It feels no different than any other day of the week, because as a stay at home mom, every day feels like a weekend. I run on baby time. I'm up when Chris needs me, and I sleep in as long as he will let me, which is usually about 6 am. Chris still is up at least twice a night, usually at 1 and 4 am. Sometimes more. Most days I don't get my shower in until the afternoon. I mostly live in my PJ's in the morning, and jeans and a t-shirt in the afternoon, or yoga pants if I'm feeling more casual. There's no point wearing nice clothes because they're just going to get spit up on them. Usually the only difference between a weekday and weekend is Doug being home. However, Doug has been in Florida for work the past week, so it's just been me and Chris.

The start of a new work week makes me realize that I miss working. I miss the variety of not knowing exactly how each day is going to turn out, within the structure of a working day. I miss talking to people. I miss being there for patients in a time of need. I miss thinking through problems. Granted, there are alot of things about medicine that I don't miss- the endless paperwork, dictations, and long hours. Watching elderly patients slowly decline. Psych issues. Narcotic refills.

I am ready to go back to work. I have my application in to the VA for moonlighting in the VA ER. My application is complete, so now it is just the federal government processing my application. I don't know how long that will take. But I am ready to start working now. I need to get out of the house. I feel like every day I am losing medical knowledge and becoming less able to practice medicine.

As a stay at home mom, you don't get any breaks. You are always at home. When you're working outside the home, when you come home, you are no longer at work. I haven't had a lot of breaks from taking care of Chris. I suppose I could hire a babysitter, but then, what would I do with my time? What I really need to do is to get back to working a day or two a week. Then, I would feel like I am using my education, doing something productive outside the home, and I would make some money and appreciate my time with Chris even more.

tummy time

my skinny baby- 5 months

Chris had a doctor's appointment today for followup of his poor weight gain. He was 12 lb 8.5 oz today, up 1.5 oz from last week. Babies his age should gain 1/2 to 1 ounce per day, and he is not meeting that. We saw Dr. Cain again, who is the chair of Family Medicine at Children's, and I trust his judgement. Based on history and physical exam, Chris has no problems with his GI tract or his heart that would cause poor weight gain. I think he is nursing better thanks to the tips from Marianne. The doc thinks that Chris is small but active and healthy, and reassured me. He thinks that Chris may just end up being a small child and/or a small adult. I'm small, and Doug is average size. Chris will go back for another weight check in two weeks, and if he's still not gaining weight appropriately, he will get a Pediatric Endocrinology referral. Chris' weight today was down to the 1st percentile. 99% of babies his age are heavier than he is. He is 24.5 inches long, up one inch from last month, and his head circumference is 45 cm.

car seat bundle

new cousin!

Chris is excited to have a new cousin! Welcome, baby Nick!

clearing the driveway

lefty?

Chris reaches for hanging toys more often with his left hand than his right, which makes me wonder if he's going to be a lefty. Then he would join the company of his uncles.

grandma visits

fattening up my skinny baby

I saw another lactation consultant today about Chris' poor weight gain. He was 12 lb 7 oz today, which is up from his doctor visit last month, but he hasn't gained as much weight as he should have in that time period, and he is very small for his age. She had some helpful tips including a new nursing position and giving him a bottle after every feeding. I'll be doing my best to fatten him up. He has another doctor's appointment next week.

likes shiny objects

bundled up

rolled over again

Chris rolled over again, front to back, and this time I was watching. He was doing tummy time, and arched his back, throwing his legs up in the air. He was startled when he ended up on his back and started crying. Also, a couple of days ago, he rolled over back to front and I missed it. I had left him under his play gym, and once again I went to the kitchen and missed the action! He had been making noise under the gym, and while I was eating, I noticed that he was suddenly quiet, so I went and looked at him, and there he was, under the gym, on his belly. Here's to the start of him not being where I put him down!

bisquick cookbook!

doug and chris

talking to dog toy

play gym

passed developmental assessment!

Chris had his developmental assessment today by Developmental Pathways. They did a home visit, and a case worker, nurse, and occupational therapist came by. They said that Chris is developmentally normal in all areas. Yay! He does still have head lag where his head falls backwards when pulled up from lying to sitting, but he has good functional head control- he can hold his head up when held up. The occupational therapist said to keep on doing tummy time, and try to make it fun. She will also send me a list of exercises to do with him.