Adjusting

The Balvanz's are adjusting to mommy going back to work full-time.  And after 6 weeks, I am happy to report that everyone-including mommy-is just fine!  A lot has happened too...Chase started walking 2 days before his 1st birthday, we had his party, started to look for daycare/preschool centers to take the kids and of course my 1st full week at work.  After researching 3 daycares, I put each up to the challenge of meeting the needs of a firefighter family.  With Shannon only working 10-12 days a month, we do not need full-time daycare and we didn't want the children to HAVE to go full-time.  The daycare that met all our criteria was Sunshine Learning Center!  It was the first place we visited, I loved the director from the start, which was over the phone!  When you walked in it was bright, fun, and truly felt like an in-home daycare.  The teachers did NOT look overwhelmed and the children looked happy as well.  Sunshine has a Christian based curriculum (which we both felt was VERY important), there is outside play time 2x's a day (which in Colorado and with our kids is VERY important), and it was a smaller center with pre-school and pre-K teachers as well.  And the best part is they can go everyday for a 1/2 day and then when Shannon works they are there for a full day.  (It averages out to 7 full days a month!) 

The first day was hard of course, Ava was already use to going to pre-school so she couldn't wait to get off her coat and meet new friends!  And Chase was very excited to play with new toys and friends as well.  So really it was only hard on the Mommy, but isn't it always!! ; )  The week went fast, but by Friday I was overwhelmed and couldn't wait to see the kiddos for a whole 2 days! : (  So then you start to quantify the actual time you spend with them as opposed to what it use to be like (together 24/7) and then you start beating yourself up over what you did!!  The next week was a little easier on me and I stopped beating myself up and of course adjusting to working everyday again! 

Then.....it starts!  Chase-Fevers, coughing, runny noses, thinking its teething, but only to find out it is DOUBLE ear infection.  Then I really started beating myself up!  Then Ava gets sick.  I have only been at work for 4 weeks!  ....

  Now everyone is back to being healthy, thank goodness.

 A week ago I wanted to thank the kids' teachers for truly helping them adjust and get through this transition.  I just got them some gift cards to Starbucks, but wanted them to know how greatful I was to them for taking care of my babies.  I always feel good dropping them off for the day. 

 It is so fun when I pick them up to hear about Ava's day, since Chase can't exactly tell me, though he does jibber-jabber about it!  The center has weekly themes, projects, etc. Ava is always excited to talk about her many art projects!!! Chase gets a daily report with what books they read, what activity toys they worked with, and always the heart breaker for me is the art projects he gets to do too! I am starting a portfolio of the things they have done, just to remember that feeling of "the kids are just fine."

XO

Changes

I hate change.  I avoid it like the plague.  But a few months ago, I started thinking that things needed to change.  I am a good mom and I love my children so much, but I started to notice a change in me when I worked 3 days a week as opposed to none.  I was much calmer, nicer, and excited to be home when I worked more!  I know it makes no sense!!  So I fought the little voice in my head that said "what if?", until I finally talked to Shannon and said "I think it's time for me to return to the working world full time."  An opportunity came open at the company that I have been working part time for 3 yrs and had started full time with in January of 2007.  So with enthusiasm I took it and I start tomorrow.  But it has been a LONG week of trying to get the house ready and kids ready to go to daycare.  Chase can't have a bottle, pacifier, baby food, high chair or crib in the toddler 1 rm he will be in.  And Ava will have to change preshools and now will go everyday!  I really started to think is this worth it, to turn my family upside down so 1. we can have a little more income and 2. for my career?  Well it all came together today.  I finally relaxed, which relaxed the kids; I put them back on the schedule I have always had them on, they will only be at daycare for a 85 full days a yr; and I enjoyed my children for the last day as a stay at home mom.

The first time, ever, I saw your face...

Last year at this time I was preparing to go in for an induction, to make sure baby came when Grandma Rita was here to watch Ava.  I called the hospital the night of Feb 18th to see if a bed was available, and of course they were jam packed with pregos.  (This happens when a snow storm hits.)  Shannon is on his way to Denver to pick up Rita from the Airport, with Ava in a snow storm!  My friend Karen sat with me at home incase a bed opened up at the hospital later that evening.  But it would be one more night at home.  The night nurse called the next morning at 6 am to tell us we could come in whenever we wanted.  I believe Shannon dragged his feet and we finally left by 7:45 am. ; )  I was so ready to meet this little baby boy. 
As I am being hooked up to the baby monitor, we discover that in fact I started labor on my own, however we would also learn that the contractions were not producing any RESULTS!  I did not eat that morning, and I did not eat that evening in hopes that we might see a baby.  By 9 pm I was STARVING, cranky, and quite frustrated at how the doctor chose to keep the petocin levels at a minimum.  But, I had amazing nurses the whole time I was in labor.  They were angels-checking on me, getting me a sandwich, and keeping me motivated.  By 7 am on February 20th, a new nurse came on and she was tough, the kind that says lets have a baby today!!!  She made me get up and walk for an hour until the Dr. ok'd to up my petocin, no more messin' around!  9 am lots 'o petocin, 9:45 "I need an epidural, now!!!!", the contractions progressed and I rested for about an hr and a half, and at 11:30 am the nurse broke my water, 11:35 am I say to Shannon-"Ummm, I feel lots of pressure....." , he gets the nurse who checks and sees the baby's head and immediately calls the Dr. who thankfully lived only 5 minutes away.  By 11:55 am everyone was scrubbed in and ready to catch this baby boy!  12:00 pm I started the 3 sets of 3 pushes that at 12:15 pm produced a beautiful, crying baby Balvanz!!!  Now when Ava was born there was no crying, it was very quiet ..., but this little boy was mad, cold and wanted to tell us all about how he felt.  : ( 
From the moment I saw his face and held him close, my heart was taken.  I thought there was no way I could love a 2nd child like the 1st, boy was I wrong!   
Now after he was checked, cleaned, weighed/measured (7 lbs. 11 oz., 20 1/4 in. long), they ask what his name will be.  Shannon and I look at each other because the previous day I told him I was not sure about this baby being an "August" (Shannon's great-grandfather's name).  So we decided we needed to meet this baby to decide.  Well it took a phone call to let Grandma Rita and Ava know that baby Balvanz was here, to get the answer!  Rita says, "Why not Chase Lee?"  Chase was the middle name I had chosen and loved so much, August was Shannon's first choice, but we had never put Chase and Lee together!!!  Bells go off, we love it!!  This quiet, cuddly, tiny little boy now had the perfect name. 

Chase Lee, you are the peas to Ava's carrots, the yin to her yang.  What a miracle that you chose us to be your family!  We are now complete because of you. XO