My 4 Little Pickles: The little pickles

Sunday, August 12, 2007

The little pickles

Everyone knows what pickles are... But you haven't met mine. My pickles are my girls, Emma (4) and Abby (13 months). Why do I call them pickles you ask... Well, sometimes they can be sweet and sometimes they can be sour.

So here's my story: I've been a stay at home mom for the past 13 months. After Abby was born, we decided that I would stay home. We still had Emma in a pre-school. It was great.. Emma would go to "school" and it would be me and abbster.

Well, everything changed at the end of June. My husband and I decided to take Emma out of school for the summer and maybe forever... (well not forever but she would stay home with me) I was so sad to take her out. That's all she knew. Plus, she's made some awesome friends. My heart was breaking but I knew that we needed to do this. I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. I have friends that stay home and I thought if they can do it.. I totally can but was I really cut out to be a stay at home mom?

Well, its been almost 2 months and I can safely say I'm doing okay. I have my good days and bad days. I think the hardest thing is to entertain Emma. These questions run through my head... Was it a good idea to take her out of a structured environment? Am I giving her the attention she needs/wants? Is she happy being at home with me and Abby? And am I a good mom? I know all these questions and doubts are just floating around my head everyday. I think the main question in my head is... Do I go back to work and put the pickles in daycare?

I do know one thing: All I can do is my best and that's what I'm doing. I take it one day at a time and cherish every moment with my kids. I realize that life is too short to sweat the small stuff. If Emma picks out something to wear and it doesn match... At least she put her clothes on herself. If Abbister wants to go into bathroom, and plays with the toilet paper... Don't sweat it :-)

1 comment:

Christeeny said...: I love your pickles! They're cute little gerkins.; August 14, 2007 at 11:26 AM

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The Pickles

Gary - we met online back in 1998. He moved down here from Connecticut in 1999. He asked me to marry him at the Jefferson Memorial. Got married September 30, 2000. (love the year because we will always remember how many years we've been married) He's my best friend, partner in crime, loves to make me laugh and all around GREAT guy!

Emma - was born on March 20, 2003. She was 9 pounds 5 oz., 20 inches long. She was in the NICU for the first week of her life. She was showing signs of an infection. So, they decided to keep her there for a week. I felt like the worst mom ever. I know it wasn't my fault that she was in there, but I just felt helpless. She needed to be home with us. That week was the hardest week of my life. I wanted to leave the hospital with a baby.
Now she's a healthy, talkative, helpful, independent, and determined 6 year old.

Abby - was born on June 26, 2006. She was 7 pounds 8oz., 21 inches long. Her birth was completely "normal". I was scheduled for a C-Section. Of course, we decide to have her on the one day that floods DC and the doctor was late.. WAY late... She was suppose to be here at 8am... Didn't arrive until about 11:20 am. Needless to say Abbster was not happy.. She was hungry and cranky when she came out. It was funny because the nurse handed her to my husband. He didn't know what to do.. He was trying to comfort me and hold the baby at the same time. It was a totally different experience. The best thing was that my dad and mom got to see Abbster about 15 minutes after she was born. I know they will remember that for a long time. My dad still talks about that moment.

Lily - was born July 11, 2008. She was 6 pound 5 oz., 20 inches long. She was a little early. Her due date was on Gary's birthday August 1. I had been at work that day. My boss and co-workers took me out to lunch as a baby shower thing. We decided to walk the 5 blocks to the restaurant. I was good going there but on the way back I was experiencing some bad back labor. I decided to leave early. Came home called the doctor and they told me to come in. We had picked out the name but could decided on a middle name. So, when we went into the OR we had this discussion with the doctor and nurses. It was crazy. We knew we wanted to name her Lily but the middle name. I wanted Ann (my middle name) and Gary said if we did that, just call her Lillian. I'm like NO. She's not 75. Soon after that Lily was born 7/11/08 around 2 am. So, we decided on Lily Eva. (Eva from Gary's great grandma)

Tadeusz - was born June 10, 2009. He was 6 pounds 6 oz. 20 inches long. He was WAY early! He was definitely a HUGE surprise and blessing. Before we could think about having number 4, I was already pregnant with him. So, this was a totally different pregnancy from the beginning. I craved salty and spicy things. The day he was born, I was getting things ready for Abigail's 3rd birthday. Doing a little shopping. I met Gary for lunch. I noticed I was spotting a little bit in the morning. I didn't eat very much at lunch because I was SO uncomfortable. I finished my shopping and came home and was having come contractions. Gary called me to see how I was doing. I decided I should call the doctor because I was high risk and this was my 4 kid. So, they told me to come to the hospital. I called Gary and he came home. I had everything packed already. So, away we went. Still didn't have a name. Got to the hospital and I was having some contractions. The doctor decided we would go in and take him out. This was around 7 pm. Good thing Gary went to get something to eat. So, Tadeusz Joseph was born that night. Pretty quick actually. We called everyone around 9 pm. He was in the NICU for about a week. He was having some issues breathing at first.