another baby sickness down...

...99,000 more to go! So Grayson is completely over another sickness. I'm sure he caught this one in day care, but who knows. We thought he had something called Rosiolo, but we're not positive. The doctor said it was a virus. He ran a fever for four days and developed a rash all over his little body. The poor kid was miserable. But, we're past that now, and after another week of our sleep training program we are finally back to normal around here.

...wellllll, sort of. We had hardwood floors put in the living room yesterday. Grayson doesn't seem to notice a big difference other than the missing couches. Our new ones wont arrive until tomorrow. It's kinda funny, our living room looks like a yoga center at the moment. I don't mind! :)

This weekend was daddy's birthday. We didn't do anything big, since we've had so much going on with the house. Hooman did get to spend all Saturday with Grayson for some special bonding time.

We're going away again this weekend, and I'm just not as excited as I was for San Diego. I'm sure it's because I've been working more. We'll actually be spending the next TWO weekends in Tahoe. We'll see if I can convince Hooman to bring Grayson with one weekend??? I'll keep ya posted!

xo

my last Friday...

Tomorrow is my last Friday with Grayson. I have spent every Friday with him since he was born. When I went back to work, I continued to have Tuesdays and Fridays off with him. Going full time is not going to be easy. I still don't know how to get rid of the lump in my throat. I already feel like he barely acknowledges me. All my "mommy" books tell me he should prefer to be around me, or smile more around mommy... not the case. Hooman tells me not to take it personally, but it's hard. ...it will only get harder.

I don't want to do anything tomorrow but be with him. I think I'll take him for a nice stroll in the early morning. Just Grayson and mommy.

xo

how fast the time has gone...

So, I promised to post in the am. It is in the morning, but a few days later, sorry. Grayson continues to amaze me with all that he learns. He finally found his toes last week. I think his stiff legs kept him from finding out about his toes any earlier than now. Daddy had to watch him on Saturday, and apparently I forgot to tell him about his new "toys" so he was excited and took a ton of pictures with Grayson holding on to his feet.

I still cant get him to roll continuously from back to tummy to back, but so far this have been to my advantage. I know once he picks that up, all the other mobility tricks will be soon to follow. I still think he will crawl late, but walk early?! I know, weird.

Bottom teeth are starting to work their way up. They haven't broken the skin yet, but I know we'll see them any day now. Grayson makes the funniest face when he's chewing on his toys. Almost like it "hurts so good."

Anyways, I should get back to the boy. This is my last week to enjoy with him at home. Next week I go back to work full time... :( I'm ready to make the change, but sad at the same time. I know we will all adjust well.

till next time
xo

so much going on...

There's so much that has been going on lately. Grayson is growing so quickly I can barely keep up with him. We updated our Picasa album this evening, and it was only with July's pictures! The one's from this month look completely different, and September is right around the corner.

Hooman cut Grayson's hair on Monday evening. He looks soooo much different!!! All his dark curls are gone! Matter-of-fact, his hair looks so much lighter! It's great!

I actually have much more to post, but it's just so late. I promise to update in the am...

xo

our good little sleeper

so the sleep training program we used (The Sleep Easy Solution, by Sleepy Planet) worked out wonderfully. By the second night, Grayson was sleeping well through the night. We weened him off his night time feedings, which I swore would be impossible. He goes to bed every night by 7pm and wakes usually around 4 or 5, cries for a few minutes and sleeps until 7 am. Of course there are the nights that things don't go quite as we planned, take last night for example. He woke at 3 am, 4am, and 5am, cried for about 10-15 minutes and finally stayed awake around 6:30am. We are all still adjusting, but to sleep solid from 7am-4am is such an improvement.



Grayson had his 4 month innoculations last Monday. I wasn't able to get the morning off, so Hooman and my mom took him. He weighed in at 13lbs 15ozs and was 26.5 inches long!!! What a long skinny boy I have! Daddy said he cried for a second, and quieted as soon as he got his toy!

I just cant believe how fast he is growing. He already holds his own bottle (ok, he's got a pretty good grip, but the kid gets lazy from time to time!), he's wearing "big boy pajamas," and he's gonna go to grandma's house for the first time this weekend. That's right, we leave early Friday morning for San Diego and wont be home till Sunday. I'm excited and sad all at the same time. But I know Grayson will love his trip. I'll have to let you know how the weekend turns out!

I promise to be strong....

...it all started with a need for sleep. I knew it was a good time to start a sleep "training" program with Grayson since he was over 4 months and weighed more than 15 pounds. Of course I didn't ONLY take these factors into consideration, I knew he was ready. The poor guy wakes every 2 hours (or less!) and only falls asleep when we feed him. I don't know who has the problem. Him or me? Regardless, we started the "sleep easy solution" this evening. The "sensitive" approach to teaching your child how to be a good sleeper. Sensitive. Sensitive?

It's been longer than I can even tell you, and my little guy just wont fall asleep. If I grab him from his "crib prison" now, all the crying he has done this evening will be for nothing... I know I have to wait a bit longer, but oh the anguish. Why cant he just be a good sleeper? Why is parenting so much harder than people let on? I just wish I could take his place for a bit so he could get some sleep...

But I know we're doing the right thing. I know it will pay off for the whole family in the long run. I will wait a bit longer. I promise to be strong...

back to work, what a drag...

I finally made it back to work. Monday was my first day, and what a day it was! I had to leave work mid-morning to change my shoes. Apparently my feet didn't like that I crammed them in tiny heels after five months of relaxing flip-flops. Ouch!

Grayson had a much better day than mommy. I dropped him off with his new daycare provider, Ezat, and when I picked him up he was happy and calm. He even slept better Monday night?! I guess Ezat's schedule works better for him?

So, the torture has begun. I'll continue to work 3 days a week until Hooman wins the Lottery... guess I can kiss being a stay at home mom goodbye... darn.

What a GREAT week...

This has been a very exciting week for me. On Monday my greatest friend Liz gave birth to her first baby, William Turner Maya. He arrived quickly at 2:17pm weighing only 6lbs 15.6ozs and 20 inches long! (Needless to say the doctors guesses on birth weight was WAY off!) Liz graciously invited me to be with her during her labor, and I can definitely say it was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. I am just so happy that she too is a mommy now! Grayson will grow up with a long time family friend, which makes me smile. It's a good week!

First illness ALREADY?!?!?!

Can you believe that Grayson caught his first terrible illness already? On Wednesday morning I woke to hear him gasping for air. By mid morning he had a cough that sounded like a barking dog. After an appointment with his pediatrician, we were sure it was just a little cold, but by the end of the night when the little guy was just getting worse and worse, we decided to call Kaiser Advice line again. the lady on the phone told us Grayson could be in Respiratory Distress and to hang up and call 911!!!! 911, what?!

So, we did just that. We were rushed to the emergency room and after waiting for five hours, the doctor FINALLY came to see us. They thought it could be RSV, which is a terrible respiratory virus. We were released and spent all day Thursday wondering when he would show signs of improvement.

FINALLY we made a 'follow-up' appointment with his pediatrician who diagnosed him with Croup. A highly contagious infant virus that should clear up within a few days. Grayson was put on a single dose of steroids to help with the swelling of his esophagus. He seems to be doing better now, and we hope the worst is behind us. I still cant believe he already got sick?

Hopefully this will be his only illness for a lonnnnnng time!!

Grayson Kamran has arrived!!!

Okay, so I'm absolutley terrible at posting on this thing. I did go into labor the following day. I did most of the labor at home, and by the time we got to the hospital, I was already 7 cm dialated!!!

Grayson arrived at 4:39am on Monday March 12, 2007. He was 7lb 4oz and 20 inches long. He was born with a full head of hair and the longest eyeslashes!! He is just the cutest.

Life had definitely changed for me and Hooman. Everyone warned us about child birth, but nobody prepared us for the first two weeks of parenthood. Week one was a breeze, but by the second week I was absolutley exhausted!!!

Things are much more structured now. Hooman has finally gone back to work, and Grayson and I are getting used to days at home.

I will try to post some pictures soon. AND hopefully be a little more up-to-date with my postings.

Maybe this week??? 39 weeks 6 days

I had my Dr. appointment on Friday. I am 2cm dialated and the doctor swept my membranes. It doesn't exactly go along with our "completely natural" method, but it all happened so fast I could barely so no. Anyways... now I've lost my mucous plug and have started to have more crampy like contractions as apposed to BH. Last night every 10 minutes or so. Nothing regular, but I think we may have a baby in the next few days..

snuggly baby... 39 weeks 4 days

This baby seems as if he is pretty comfortable where he is. I think I will be closer to my March 19th due date as apposed to my March 11th EDD. Below are the "guess" dates we have so far...

9- Aunt Laura
10- dad
11- mom
15- Ali/Deanna
16- Liz
17- Matt
20- my guess
21- Hooman/Mehran/Sheida (no surprise there!)
22- Jinous

I'll keep ya posted on tomorrow's Dr. appointment.

Braxton Hicks... 39 weeks 2 days

So, the "practice contractions" have begun. Sunday I think I had more than 20 all throughout the day and evening. I've had a handful today and the same for yesterday. I can tell they're more frequent when I'm standing or walking, so I think I'll make Hooman walk with me on the trail tonight. Maybe walking will speed things a bit. Although I'm not quite sure if I'm "ready" to speed things up!! As the day approaches I have more excitement building up. I'm nervous, happy, frazzled.

Oh, and when does this nesting thing begin?? I have been so tired lately, that naps is all I look forward to during the day. I will take advantage of that luxury while I have the chance!!

Today's Doctors Appointment

Today we were to meet with another Nurse Midwife (we're hoping to meet as many as possible before the delivery), but of course Laura Warren wasn't in AGAIN, so we saw Kate Warner-Chu instead. Nothing new to find out. They did not check for dialation as I had thought, but we did finish all the appropriate Maternity Leave paperwork... boring.

So here I am... waiting till the next appointment, which is Friday March 9th with our regular MD, Dr. Z.

and the waiting game has begun...

Well, it's been a while since I posted on the blog. I figured it was only fair to update everyone on the progress of the pregnancy. I am now 38 weeks 4 days pregnant, and things seem to be going pretty smoothly. I have had a few braxton hicks contractions in the last few days, but nothing more than tightening of my uterous. I think it's all practice for the job it'll due down the road. Last night was the best I've slept in a week. Normally I toss and turn due to achy hips or back, or get up to use the restroom.... but last night was GREAT... I slept for 4 hours or so without waking up!!!! What a relief!

So, here we are... waiting for this little bugger to decide when he's ready to show the world his face. I think he may be shy already, so I'll just sit tight for the next couple of weeks!!

I'll keep everyone posted more from now on...
Shannon