Goethe International Charter School

Olivia will be attending a German immersion, International Baccalaureate candidate school this fall, called Goethe International Charter School.  She is very excited, and I am thrilled with the principal as well as the overall educational approach.  This school is patterned after the renowned Albert Einstein Academy in San Diego.  I had heard a lot about AEA over the years, and feel so fortunate to have this "sister" school (GICS) in our neighborhood.  I actually heard about this opportunity from another homeschooling mom.  I spread the word (as I do so well) and now many of our friends' children will be attending as well.

Over the past few weeks, I have been busy working on the school uniform and hot lunch committees.  Charter school committee work definitely differs from the church committee work I am more accustomed to.  It has been pretty intense at times (many differing strongly held opinions).  I think that is to be expected from a group of parents that are passionate about innovative educational options.  I have actually learned a lot from the process. We are wrapping up the major decisions on both committees.  

Starting Monday evening, we will be attending weekly park dates to get to know our new classmates their families before school begins on September 8th.  We'll let you know how it goes.

New Jammies

I got some new nursing jammies today at The Pump Station.  I was a little over due for new lounge wear.  Mad Men has me convinced that woman need beautiful things to sleep in.  I wouldn't call these beautiful, but they will be cute and comfy and wearable around overnight guests.  I'm calling it a step in the right direction.

Conrad's First Birthday

Our sweet little man celebrated his birthday on May 6th.  Instead of blowing the candle out, he grabbed it and snuffed it out with his hand.  Instead of diving into the cake in the traditional fashion, he stuck his foot in it.  His cuteness feels overwhelming and unprecedented.  Yes, I know, I say this every time.  

Surgery Update

Short version:  

Surgery went well - no complications.  The hospital staff was lovely.  Recovery is hard.  

Long version:  

It turns out that it was safe to breastfeed Conrad at 3am.  So we sleep nursed from about 3-3:30.  I tried to get him as full as possible, so he wouldn't be starving by the seven o'clock surgery appointment.  

We arrived at St. John's Health Center at a couple minutes past 5 o'clock.  There were a lot of grim faced adults in the surgical waiting room.  I felt sad that Doug couldn't be there with us.  (It's hard to find child care for our other kids at such an early hour.)  I was pretty emotional and anxious, but tried to behave like a "normal" person.  

Conrad slept cozily in my Beco carrier through the hour in the waiting room and fifteen minutes in the pre op room.  Finally the nurse made me wake him up and change him into his hospital gown.  He played happily for some time with the tiny TV that was affixed to the hospital bed.  I met with the anesthesiologist (Dr. Rho), both surgeons (Miller and Grogan) and the OR nurse that would be with him during the procedure.  Everyone was absolutely wonderful.  I am pretty sure that the OR nurse was an angel.  She was so sweet and lovely with him.  

The pre op nurse gave him some oral sedative, and after Conrad was really relaxed we made the long walk down the hall to the surgical suite.  I was holding him, and Dr. Rho said it was time for me to hand Conrad to him.  He went into the doctor's arms completely willingly.  I kissed my baby and then went next door to the waiting room.  

I chatted with a nice lady whose husband was in for cataract surgery.  Finally (after about an hour and a half) Dr. Miller (the ENT specialist) came out and told me that things went well.  He said the hardest part of the surgery was getting the IV in his chubby little arm.  Dr. Rho couldn't do it, so Dr. Miller took over and made it happen.  Soon Dr. Grogan (the orthopedist) came out and made his report.  He said Conrad was awake and fine and that everything went great.  Now I just had to go back to the recovery room.  

When I got to recovery, Conrad was sound asleep with an oxygen mask on.  They said he had woken up, but he didn't look "awake" to me.  Sara, the incredibly sweet OR nurse, said that he didn't cry one bit as he fell asleep, and that she had never been with a sweeter baby.  He was hooked up to an IV, blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor, but they brought me a rocking chair so that I could hold him as he gradually became aware of his surroundings.  

The waking up was tough.  He was really upset and in a lot of pain.  They said it was too soon to nurse him, but after about fifteen minutes he latched on for a little bit.  He was really frustrated with all the monitors and the IV in his arm, and fought the nurses tooth and nail by continuously taking the heart rate monitor off.  After a while they gave him some morphine and he drifted back to sleep.  Poor little guy.  

At this point, I hadn't eaten or slept since 3am.  I was so relieved he was okay, but not sure how many more hours we would be in the hospital, and I was fading fast.  I really wished Doug was there with me.  

He slept in my arms for about forty five minutes, and then woke up in far less pain.  At this point he was acting almost like his normal self.  The recovery charge nurse reached her arms out to him and he went right to her and planted a big kiss on her mouth.  She thought she had died and gone to heaven.  Everyone in the recovery ward was coming by and peeking in and fawning all over him.  

Before I knew it (within the next hour) we were checked out and on the very short drive back home.   We made it home just past 11 o'clock.  

I think the morphine was still working, because he seemed okay for a little while, just really groggy.  Soon though, the pain and misery kicked in.  I gave him Tylenol throughout the day, but it's been long and pretty tough for him.  None of the normal things make him happy.  I finally just got him to sleep, hopefully I can get some rest tonight, too.  

Later in the afternoon, Kristen dropped off a beautiful healthy dinner for us, which helped out so much.  Thanks so much for all of the prayers and good wishes.  I really felt sustained, and I am so grateful that all went well.

Conrad's Surgery

Conrad turns one years old on the 6th of May.  He is taking a handful of steps on his own, just cut his top two teeth, and overall super active and independent.  It also must be noted that this kid can eat!  He like three full meals a day and a little breastmilk on the side and as needed throughout the night.  He acts absolutely like one of the big kids (and has since about eight or nine months).  He is super playful and climbing everything in sight.  We love him so much.  

He will have his first surgery tomorrow morning at 7am at St. John's Hospital.  We check in at 5am, and he supposed to have no food or drink after midnight.  It should take about an hour.  Dr. Grogan will remove the extra digits from his hand and feet, and then Dr. Miller will place tubes in his ears.  Both Doctors were referred to us by our amazing pediatrician, Dr. Robert Hamilton (Pacific Ocean Pediatrics).  I am so grateful to have such wonderful doctors in our area.

I am pretty anxious about my baby having surgery, despite the fact that logically, I realize things will be fine.  I think it is just my fear of the unknown.  This will be a learning experience, as there will be two more surgeries within the year.  In the fall, he will have the syndactyly of his left ring and middle finger "released" (meaning the fingers will be separated).  Then early next year, he will have the same procedure on his right hand.

Right now, I am just focusing on tomorrow.  Please keep him in your prayers.  I'll post an update as soon after surgery as possible.

Happy Easter!

We attended a totally epic Easter party at the Chamberlain's beautiful home in Burbank on Sunday night.  Doug (the host) set up this great shot of all the babies in attendance.  Happy to report that the group is definitely doing their part to multiply and replenish the greater LA area!

Bringing sexy back...to the one piece

As mentioned in my first swim suit post, I truly believe that the perfect one piece bathing suit is akin to the Holy Grail.  I have a broad and deep respect for the bikini in it's many incarnations.  A really well fitting bikini is a dream come true.  Even still, I have almost never seen a truly beautiful one piece bathing suit in person.  Sadly, most I have seen and experienced, seem to squash the beautiful aspects of a woman's body in a MOST unflattering fashion.  But still, the dream lived on.  Occasionally in an old film, the heroine would appear in a simple yet glamorous swimming costume leaving me to think..."There must be a way to find such suit for myself".  I longed for the elegance and power that such a suit exudes.

With no further ado, it is my great pleasure to announce that THE SEARCH IS OVER.  With my new Malia Mills Damsel suit in rich, shimmering henna, my life has been changed forever.  After trying on several different styles at the bright cozy boutique, I am now thoroughly convinced that the one piece bathing suit can be the most alluring and elegant piece in a woman's swim wardrobe.  The fit and detail of these Malia Mills suits is truly beyond compare.  Honestly, how often do you shop for swimwear and encounter the challenge of deciding between several suits that look and feel amazing?  It was not an easy decision, but a very fun one!

Special thanks to Jim, Helen, Rachel, Sarah and Diana for the thoughtful and generous birthday gifts of Malia Mills gift certificates!  What a thrill!