Not wanting to leave maternity leave...

August has come and gone. That means that ... gulp ... fall is right around the corner. Fall means thinking about going back to work. I have never been so glad and thankful for the one year maternity leave. I’m not back until November 11 – it just seems to be creeping up that much faster. I said I wouldn't think about what I wanted to do until summer was over. September (to me) means summer is over - you wouldn't know it from our heatwave though.

While it will be nice to have some more adult human contact, I’m not that excited to go back to work. Then we’ll have to juggle the physio, doctor appointments, tests and my work schedule. And then there is the question of part time or full time? Going back to the hospital only, or apply to a college/university?

I just don’t know.

So far all the extra appointments hasn’t affected our lives that much. I just have to talk to Jenn (Katheryn’s daycare) about changing dates or times. No big deal (Jenn is an absolute Godsend!!!). But when I’m back to work I can’t just say yes I’ll take that first date. And I can’t get a consistent day off every week.

And we are doing physio once a week, OT might be in the future soon, hearing screening and whatever therapy might come from that, paediatrician appointments, urology tests, SB clinics and the SB group (something I am NOT giving up when I go back to work). Then we need to add Katheryn’s speech therapy as well. That seems like a lot, and it is not all the time, but these are just the appointments I keep thinking of when I imagine going back to work full time – and jamming all of those into my free time. Not to mention working on physio, speech and playtime at home.

No wonder I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed when I think about work!!!

I guess that is just the story of going back to work with 2 kids.

Talking about 2 kids....

Boys Clothes

I never realized how clothes-lucky I was having a girl first. Even for the first 6 months I didn't really know what other mom's were talking about when they said that the selection for boy clothes sucked.
Then I started looking for something that would fit Nickolas now, that was cute, not striped, not plaid, didn't have any weird characters or faces on the front and would go with a blue and red dress that I had for Katheryn. Simple right? Not so much.

The boy selection, which takes up the little tiny corner of the girls section that isn't being used has either stripes, plaid, faces, characters or is white. Seriously.

I've gone to multiple stores but just can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I guess that's why moms like shopping, I just wish I could find something! Not that I don't bring clothes home... The closet has lots of stripe shirts, some tigger things and a couple of plaids. I'm trying to stay away from onesies for the next little while because Nick gets too hot without the ability to pull up his shirt (Katheryn did too - but the ditropan just makes it worse).

Not only was I lucky with Katheryn with the selection of girl clothes, but my teeny, tiny little girl hardly grows out any clothes before I get bored with them. She can still fit in 6-12 month shorts!! Only now she's sprouting up and getting too big for some of her dresses - out come those shorts and we have another outfit!

I am currently refusing to buy Katheryn anything smaller than a 2. Sure it's a bit big, but now it's length we are looking at.

We don't usually grow out of anything without wearing it a LOT of times!

This is showing Katheryn's 'sad face' when we find something that doesn't fit her anymore.




Talking about sizes , I decided to pull out the big guns today when I was shopping. No little 12-18 month clothes for my 9 month old. I don't think so. We are heading straight to the 18-24 months, even a peak at 2 year old sizes.

This is how I've been trying to get away with some 12 month clothes:

OK I love the belly, I really, really do - but it might be time to put this one away.

And while I'm at it, I guess this one needs to go too

So what does 18-24 months get us? Well, first we get to skip the fight over the head and protecting the shunt. And of course all they have is more cute stripes, but here we go:

Wow a shirt that actually fits...

Lets see how long that lasts!

Photo Time!

I was looking over some of my favorite blogs - I have a bunch - and saw some naked pics taken of a 3 month old cutie - and I was inspired!
Out come the sheets, the towels, the camera and the smiles! (Not that the smiles ever go away!)

Here are some of my favorites:

Having Fun! - and look at that tooth!

Happy to be 'free'

ALL SMILES!!!

I wanted pictures that do not hide away from his scar. It is part of who he is - not that I want to showcase it. Wait a minute. I DO want to showcase it. His scar is just one testimonial of the surgeries and struggles that he has overcome in a short 9 months.

A website I've been on, I can't remember but I think it sells SB related jewelry, has a picture of her child sitting on a beach. It is a bum picture and at first you are shocked by the large scar, and then you think, wait a minute. This isn't something to hide.

So here is my baby boy! In all his glory!!!

Park Time!

We have the most wonderful park a short drive from the house. And stupid me just found it. It’s right by the lake and has a wonderful walking trail, a snack bar, huge trees, a splash pad and a great park!!!

We went and checked it out the other day and Katheryn had to be (literally) dragged away. Katheryn was running all over enjoying the slides and the ramps and the trains, the pirate ship and the bouncy things and wheels that turn, knobs that twirl and the wood chips and.... Every time she turned around it was like she found another wonderful thing to play with!

I was trying to juggle the 2 kids, watching them to make sure they were fine. It was either sit with Nick and watch Katheryn from the distance, or chase Katheryn around the park and watch Nickolas from a distance. Or carry my 25 lb 'little' baby around, fighting to keep his hat on AND chase Katheryn around the park. Pretty much I did all 3. This must be training for when both kids can be running in opposite directions and I have to watch both of them.

Nickolas thought the park was great because there was nice shady trees he could sit under. He LOVES watching the leaves blowing on the trees. Since we live in a new development we don't have grown trees for him to look at - so parks, cottages, grandparents are when he gets this treat.

But he lies under the trees, laughing and talking to himself and just having fun!

When Katheryn wanted a break from running around she wanted to 'tee-tell Nick'. Which he loved of course!

Normalcy

Things are normal, we have a rhythm. We've hit our stride. Spina bifida is not the first thing we think of everyday, or the last thing every night.
I'm not quite sure when that happened. But it happened.

We have a routine now, that part is new.
Nickolas is actually on a nap-time routine! Yay!!! And he is sleeping more than 10 minutes at a time - sometimes I can even get an hour... or (yay) 2 hours! I've probably jinxed myself now I know.
Maybe the routine is what has helped me feel more normal, that I'm able to anticipate our day. Get out in the world, enjoy the last days of summer.
Not that we stayed at home before, I was just finding I'd look around and all of a sudden it was 4pm and time to get supper ready.

Normalcy has developed. What do we do with Nickolas that we didn't do with Katheryn? Not so much. We play the same games, sing the same songs, go for the same walks, play with the same toys.
Nickolas is less mobile. He's got rolling down pat, but not enough to go to where he wants to go.

Our days are cuddling, playing, diapers, baths, eating and cooking. With some outdoor walks or parks thrown in for good measure.
Yes the diaper changing involve cathing and the eating involves medicines and outdoor time involves careful monitoring of temperatures and finding cool shady areas. Oh yeah and playtime involves physio... but shh don't tell Nickolas he's working!