12 Weeks

Twelve weeks ago today, my little button-puppy was borged. Yes, borged. In light of the my previous two posts, I would like to say thank you for all the support and well wishes I've received since Greta's birth. The first eight days were very scary and thankfully, we made it out of Community North. Her birth was not anything like I planned. I guess deliveries are always something different than what we expect. I suppose for me, Greta's birth was especially unexpected, considering I had the perfect pregnancies-literally. I never puked, and I always felt great. Yes, there were moments when I wanted to trade places with someone not pregnant, but those feelings usually only last a few seconds. I felt blessed and special for the ability to 1) get pregnant, and 2) carry a child for 10 months in such an easy fashion.

With her difficult delivery, it definitely changed the game. Now that she is 12 weeks old, I feel like we should be celebrating this milestone-----not that each day isn't a gift, but with Greta, I feel like it is more special. There were moments in the first few hours of her life that I ran scenarios through my head that involved wheelchairs, breathing machines, and the word"retardation." I felt incredibly guilty for thinking those things, but I am one who always tries to see the black/white of an issue. Thankfully, as the hours turned into days and her head began to heal, those fears slowly went away. While I was blessed with Greta and anything that came along with her, I was thankful that her discharge from Community North was pleasant.

Her head is the same as it was yesterday----fluid in the back of her head where there was once loose skin......again, I'm not alarmed yet. I'll worry when they tell me to worry.

People ask Dave and me what the future holds for Greta and her head trauma and we always say, "She is great, but we have no idea what that means when she is 2, or 4, or 11." She acts like a normal infant----she laughs, "talks," kicks her legs a ton, likes her light up toys, hates tummy time, and loves getting "bathies." She isn't starting to roll over, but I chalk that up to her not being ready----Does that mean she has a delay? Who knows. I pray that isn't the case, but who knows.

My friend Katie posted a link on her blog about a recent article about parenting on NPR---I definitely can relate. Parenting brings about SO many different feelings and emotions. Some good, some bad. However, I'm sure any parent you talk to out there will tell you they wouldn't trade their child/children for anything----even for tighter pelvic floor muscles, a flat stomach, and 10 hours of straight sleep. Parenting is something to get used to, just like any new endeavor. So, I just take it one day at a time.

Greta's Noggin Part II

I got a call back from the neurologist today-----We will most likely be paying Dr. O'Donnell a visit this week just to make sure things are okay. I'm frankly not too worried, but again, it isn't cool finding a fluid filled growth coming out of your child's cranium.

I'd rather spend my day celebrating poopy diapers, giggles, loud farts, and Greta making "humming" noises while she stares at her light-up star play gym thing.

Greta's Noggin

So today I had a little bit of a scare. It was a flashback/nightmare in one---nothing major, just enough to bring back some fears I had when Greta was hatched. Here's how it went down:

I usually spend the majority of my time when I'm holding Greta, inspecting her----looking at her skin, touching her fingers, petting her head, etc. I usually spend more time studying her head, especially the area where she had the most swelling...the back of her head. Today I had Greta on my lap and was just running my hands over her "ducktail" (the longest part of her mullet), and I noticed it kind of bubbled out a bit....this area had loose skin on it a few weeks ago (from where the swelling went down from delivery). Now, it feels like there is is fluid there again. While it would be impossible for blood to re-pool there, cysts are possible. It is scary because it is on her head, atop her brain, and I always worry about her development. Needless to say, I had an immediate surge of feelings similar to those following her birth. When she was born, she came out with a massive hematoma from the vacuum. Part of the hematoma was filled with cerebral fluid, and the part underneath, with blood. The fluid eventually went away and the blood did too----she has ring scars from the suction cups which her hair covers up. They aren't really noticeable, unless you are seriously looking for them. When the doctor first put her on me, she was lifeless---Her eyes were wide open, but she was completely lifeless. No breathing. No heartbeat. It was horrifying. She was eventually resuscitated and her heartbeat came back. This was not without panic, dismay, horror, tears, and screaming----I was not able to see her head because of the angle that they placed her on me, but Dave did. He kept that part from me when he came back down to my room after seeing her in the NICU----I knew there was something wrong, but I had no idea how bad her head really was, until I saw it. SO, we are now three months from that horrible experience and most of my flashbacks/nightmares have subsided. Every now and again I revisit that day (and the 7 days following), but most of the time I am celebrating Greta's strength, courage, and spirit.

I called the neurologist, left a message and then called her pediatrician to see if we could get in soon. We got in at the peds office and had the doctor look her over----her head has changed. The doctor recommended watching it until Wednesday. If it continues to change, we have to see the neurologist again and get another ultrasound. Most likely, it would be a cyst, which is not that concerning (considering what we went through in the beginning). Regardless, I am a bit worried and wish for this whole ordeal to *poof*, go away. My reality as a parent is watching her like a hawk as she navigates through her milestones. Unlike most moms, I'm looking for abnormalities-----because they could arise. Fortunately, she is a normal infant, showing normal growth and progression in all areas. But I will never forget the neonatologist and the neurologist telling us that we'd have to watch Greta very carefully as any abnormal development milestone could be an indicator of brain damage from the vacuum. NOT FUN. We should be spending this time laughing and cuddling our sweet girl, not studying her like a science experiment wondering if she will truly be "normal."

Since we've been back from the doctor, she has enjoyed her play mat, her vibrator seat, hugs from her Daddy, a feeding, and a poopy diaper. All is good in the world.

Greta got to meet her Aunty Adrienne for the first time this weekend! She initially gave her the stink eye because she was a slightly fussy, but she pulled it together and was in a great mood the rest of the weekend. Greta can't wait for Adrienne and Aaron to create an offspring for her to play with (and watch Tiger baseball with)!

Greta loved meeting her Uncle Kyle for the first time......she was so relaxed, so she kinda just let it go outside on the porch, pajamas and all. She is going to miss her Uncle Kyle very much when he goes to Iraq in December. :(

Greta and her second cousin, Eleanor, enjoying the discussion about our fragile economy and that state of our national credit score. Clearly Eleanor was taken aback to hear of the credit index losing its top position. Greta was much more collected, having heard matters discussed on Fox News earlier in the day (against her mother's wishes).

The Wheels Fell Off

We've had some technical internet issues for the last week. I am going to get back on the wagon tomorrow with a new slew of pictures from this past week. An update on Greta's stats:

She weighs 13.2 pounds! (That is almost double her birth weight!)

Puppy Push-Up

Hands

I have a small obsession with her hands. They look like her Auntie Dana's.....she seems quite dextrous with her phalanges.....they move independently, bending, straightening.....it is pretty amazing. I also enjoy her belly button, or "epicenter" as we call it. (I took this shot when she was sleeping in a mound of laundry ala' Boppy. Relaxation time.

Bumbo seat adventure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTm3qqzOuXg

Auntie Jennie's visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=583NB499yrY

Dara Torres, Watch Out!

Greta had another first today: Swimming. We were graciously invited to join Cole, Sophie, Grammie Judy, and Jamie at Judy's pool today in Indianapolis. I was very nervous. Greta was not. Yes, she was rocking a sweet Carl Spackler greenskeeper hat with her onesie. I am terrified she'll have crows feet at 31 years of age, just like her momma.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Gy_gGe5qw

The Numbers Are In............

Greta had her two month check up and here is her pre-season stat page:

Margaret Elizabeth "Greta" Norton
Age: 8 week
DOB: 6-8-11
Height: 23 inches
Weight: 12 pounds

She is in the 75th percentile in height, weight, and head circumference....she is officially ready for the NFL. Go Lions!

Flatulence

Greta had the WORST smelling farts today. I was being punished.....all day (as was Grandma Norton--her babysitter every Wednesday). It was so bad, that even Greta was commenting on her rotten tail pipe. One for the record books. (I am beginning to think it has been the avocados I've been enjoying.....) However, because Greta was the one producing the farts, I love them because they came from my daughter's little birdy behind.

What's in a Name

I've had lots of people ask me about Greta's name...Here goes:

Margaret Elizabeth "Greta" Norton

When Dave and I first learned we were "with calf," we literally stood in the kitchen and named all of our future children in two minutes. Dave is gunning for five offsprings. I told him lets get through one and see how it goes. Before we knew the gender of the baby, we had top picks for a boy and girl. Margaret was a name I'd been thinking about for years. Dave liked it too. It is my Great Grandmother Campeau's name (my dad's grandmother on his mom's side). It is also Dave's mom's middle name, my confirmation name, and a great name for women in history. It means pearl and is easily translated in several languages. I actually like several of the various ethnic variations....Marit, Marguerite, and Margareta. We were undecided if we were going to call her 'Maggie' or 'Greta.' I let Dave take that job----After her dramatic birth (a whole other blog for that), he said the first word out of his mouth when he saw her was 'Greta,' so it stuck. I also have some amazing friends with the name Margaret. I have yet to meet a Margaret I don't like.....

The middle name Elizabeth is a Monforton family name. My twin, Jennie, has the middle name Elizabeth along with my two cousins (Paige and Hazel), as well as my Grandmother Monforton (Clara Elizabeth). It is a great name-strong and classic. I liked it as a first name too, but Dave wasn't sold on the idea.

The long and short of it....we wanted to give Greta a name that was strong and timeless. A name she wouldn't be embarrassed about, and a name people would take seriously. Greta is fun loving, a bit different, but not completely out of the blue. Greta is also the German form of Margaret, which is fitting with Dave's heritage. His Grandpa Koch is first generation American. Grandpa's dad, Wilhelm, was from Germany and came over in the 40's. (Secretly, all of my children will have Von Trapp children names. Greta is pretty close to Gretl, the youngest of the Von Trapp children. Dave isn't sold on this either. Brigitta, Liesl, Marta, Louisa, Fredrich, Kurt........)

And there you have it.

Beans

Greta has quite an impact on mammals, specifically her big sissy, Beans. Beans now sleeps in Dave's closet and is SUPER needy....all the time. I should have known....When we brought Biscuit home from the puppy orphanage, we had to deal with many fits of stink eye, middle paws (fingers) and runaway notes.

Two Months

Greta is two months old! What a difference eight weeks makes!

Check out her recent "rant" after her bath with her Dadda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csaJXIFWAvc

Two Months

Greta is approaching her two month birth celebration day. What a difference 8 weeks makes.....

Detroit, What?!

Greta is rockin' her first Mitten attire, compliments of Mr. Jack Becker. Jack's momma, Kady, purchased this at the Made in Detroit store at Somerset. This company is owned and operated by Mr. Detroit, Kid Rock. Support your local Michigan economy and go buy a shirt.

I'm thinking of starting my own clothing line: Sparkly Unicorn. I will focus on all things unicorns and Michigan. I think they go well nicely together. Please, don't copy me unless you have an ounce of creativity, which I don't. P.S. Greta loves her pink booties. Uggs are for winter time.

Daddas and Grand Daddas

Phalanges

Her smushy, perfect hands.

Great Grandparents are Awesome

Dave, Great Grandpa Koch, Great Grandma Koch and Beans and Biscuit....Biscuit was making sure no one "man handled" Greta.

Great Grandma Norton and Great Grandma Koch

Great Pepe (and Justin Verlander in the background). FYI, the Tigers won 3-2.

Great Grandma Monforton

We had a wonderful trip up to Michigan to see the Great Mofo's. While Paul R. Monforton reserves the title "O.G. Pepe," Doug A. Monforton has gladly accepted his role as her Pepe.

Greta's Pepe thinks she's watching the Brickyard 400 with him, but she is really watching the fan.....that's my girl. We are surely NOT Nascar fans.