Wednesday, June 10, 2009

precious

More photos from this weekend.
Our room had the perfect view: green hills in the background for Mama and a bright construction zone just under us. Even though it was quiet for the weekend, Reuben loved staring at the colors and the pennant flags dancing in the breeze. Is truck-love already beginning? (my nephew Zander could recite--and identify--construction vehicles as soon as he could talk and I'm so looking forward to those obsessions. Did any of your children have them? I remember my brother Justin & cows, his little 3-year-old voice declaiming, "Hereford-Angus mix!" "Jersey!" as he stared out the window on family roadtrips).My friend Sherry lent me one of her slings to try this weekend, and I was so glad I had it. When R felt ill and wanted to be held, the swinging support brought comforting cuddles without the usual pressure points of bony Mama holding a wiggly sad baby, and more than once it was the only trick that brought us to this happy view: sweet slumber. A quick project for what is left of the perfect fabric, methinks. It's the ring sort, but not the bulky ring sort. Lots and lots of IV fluids to flush out the poisons bring on puffy eyes and ohsomany diaper changes. Fun body detail: one of Reuben's chemo drugs is fruit-punch red, and it's crazy how quick (like 15 minutes later) the pink shows up in his diaper. Go, kidneys! The Hawaiian shirt was hospital-awesome: button-ups are great for port access (thank you, Stephanie!). You can see in this photo, too, his wrapped tubies: he seems to want to take his poison orally, so determined he is to bite through the lines. Burp cloth and safety pins to the rescue.

A rare moment in the crib. Gorgeous quilt courtesy of Cynthia. The little sleep bench for parent use is narrow (2 1/2 feet), but exceedingly cramped for both of us. Still, squashy side sleeping beats no sleeping at all...
Nathan and Audrey gave us eye rolls and "Packrat!" accusations, but I knew I should save this placemat* from our "room service" trays. Marian immediately saw the value, and drew us a picture for our wall: a rendering of the wee playhouse at the Hershey Ronald McDonald house. C'mon--scallops! And I moved the food off really fast to avoid condensation rings... *7 more in my suitcase.

9 comments:

cfm said...

LOVE those lashes...my slings are on there way!

Mary Anne said...

Remember that sling you made for me when I was having Isaac? Well, it's funny how that thing made it's way back to me the other day. My kids' stepmom casually handed it to me, I guess out of some box since they just moved here. I almost cried, thinking of all the great memories with that simple sling. It was a miracle, and I don't know if you ever knew how much we loved it and how Isaac practically lived in it. And I loved how my back never hurt, like it did with other baby carriers. I hope to use it again someday . . .

sallyavena said...

Wow you are on a posting roll!!! Love all of the updates and pictures! Really can't wait to see you guys!

sgraham said...

Love the Hawaiian shirts, they were a great clearance buy at Old Navy. I will have some bigger sizes for you soon, as my boy is growing out of them. I love how you shoot photo's and find the beauty in everything!! You amaze me.

sallyavena said...

As for the interests: Jakob's was cars--he could name all of the symbols you could see on cars by age 3, then we started on where they were 'made', which led to a so far life long interest in geography and maps, Ethan's was trains--he could spot one a mile a way, Sophia's was bugs--it still makes me smile to see her holding a worm or some sort of bug while all the other girls are running away and Clara's so far is dogs.

me said...

I am so glad for the posts Val. I think if I ever had any more children I would use a sling. Love them.

Snippety Gibbet said...

What wonderful photos today. I especially enjoyed the one of M & R napping together. So sweet. jan

Sherry said...

I'm so glad you are getting good use out of the sling! Keep it until you get one made or something...we rarely use it since C is walking now. If you are still there Wednesday I may stop by, but I'll send an e-mail.

Sara Z said...

Oh dear, babies are so perfect. I just want to eat him up. His little sleeping face in the sling...oh dear. The cutest.