It's been one of those weeks . . .

Many of you know of the uphill battles we've faced with Alli and gaining weight.  She's always been a little peanut but growing fine until last Fall when she got repeated ear infections.  She lost weight and we've been struggling ever since to get her to eat and gain.  We've been working with a team of specialists to address her low weight and had another meeting today.  In the past, the main advice we were given was to "relax" and things will get better.  Well, in the last month, we've tried to do that and thought it was working.  We could not have been more wrong.  Since her 1 year appointment on Feb. 4th, Alli has LOST 5 oz.  We thought for sure that she would be at least 18 lbs, but nope, she was less than she was 3.5 weeks ago.  I think the most frustrating part was they gave us absolutely no advice ~ just said that we're doing everything right.  Apparently NOT or she would not be losing weight!!!  I feel so helpless.  My one job as a parent (aside from loving her with my whole heart) is to feed her so she can grow and I'm failing miserably at that basic job. I have gotten as creative as I can and I am out of ideas ~ what do you do with a child that just won't eat enough?

The Air Force Does it Again . . .

What a roller coaster ride the past six months have been . . .

Last Fall, we made the decision to separate from the Air Force and move back to WA. Originally, Garrett's last day was going to be May 18, 2008 (terminal leave begins about a month and a half earlier).  Then we decided to extend until August 1, 2008 ~ typically, such a decision is no problem so long as your commander signs off on it, which Garrett's did. So we went forward under the assumption that we would be moving home sometime in Summer.  Well, the Air Force decided not to approve the extension, shocking both us and Garrett's co-workers, who attempted to file more paperwork in hopes of changing the decision.  It didn't work ~ we received two more rejections.  Garrett's Lt Col. filed one last request but Garrett was convinced it too would be rejected so he began interviewing for civilian jobs in WA, we bought a house in McCormick Woods, told Alli's school that her last day would be March 27, 2008, and we began planning our move.  This whole time, I was afraid the Air Force would suddenly come back and say "okay, we're extending you," which we no longer wanted.  Garrett was adamant that this would NEVER happen but I continued to be skeptical.  Well, as of 5 p.m. this evening, Garrett has been having to face the fact that "I WAS RIGHT"  That's right, my skepticism was very well deserved because the Air Force has now extended Garrett until August 1, 2008, which means he will not be done until sometime in June.  Ahh, the fun of having no control!!!  Good thing I was pretty convinced this would happen or I would probably be quite upset, as it is, I have said I told you so and not to ever doubt my intutition again ;-)

The Fishers are Moving HOME!!!!

That's right folks, despite all our plans to stay in the Air Force and continue moving around the country, we decided it was time to go home to WA! It's amazing how much your perspective on life and your priorities change once you have a little one


With Alli getting so many little illnesses and not being able to go to day care, we realized how much we want to be around family and friends. It's time. We so want Alli to grow up with her grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousins. We miss home and are ready to return.

That said, we have no specifics yet. Our house in MA will be going on the market next week so we are busy making sure it is ready to show (thanks Mom for coming out to help with this!!!)

Garrett will not officially be out of the Air Force until the beginning of May (he will be on terminal leave about two months prior to that). Now, we are in the process of searching for jobs in WA. We are both working with head hunters so hopefully it will not be too painful of a process! Once we have the jobs (or at least one job) lined up, we'll be heading home. Not sure yet where we will live . . . but I guess that's part of the fun We'll let you know when we have more details.

Please keep us in your prayers!

We finally have a Nordstrom in MA!!!!!

All of you on the West Coast will understand how exciting this is. For those who have never been to a Nordstrom, I assure you, it is fabulous!!! Yesterday, Nordstrom opened at the Natick Mall (about 30 minutes from our house) and Alli, Adele and I were there for the festivities (Garrett decided to skip it and go to work!).  We got there about 9 a.m. (store opened at 10) and enjoyed the hoopla.

There was coffee and tea in silver serving containers, as well as Nordstrom bottled water and donuts.

There was also a cosmetics "tailgate" party so we got lots of fun samples :) They had an orchestra playing music as well as a radio station. It was quite exciting. Right before the doors opened, the Nordstrom family made some remarks and confetti streamed down!

As the doors opened and we walked in, employees lined the store clapping and cheering for the shoppers - we felt like we were on the "red carpet" :) The media was there filming and snapping loads of pictures. Alli was given a Nordstrom balloon and many photographers hurried to take a picture of one of the "littlest Nordstrom shoppers." 

We headed straight for the Children's section, where Alli got some new headbands and another Bunny lovey.  We tried out the women's lounge so Alli could have something to eat before we went to the Cafe for lunch. 

What a great meal, and we were sitting right by the Nordstrom family, who could not get enough of Alli. 

We did not know who they were at the time, but Adele was sure that they were important folks as they looked like dignitaries.  Turns out she was right.  After lunch, we headed back to the lounge so Miss Alli could have a diaper change; we were sitting in the lounge when in walks Mrs. Nordstrom.  She was so excited to see Alli again and leaned down to play with her.  Adele commented that she looked like a dignitary and she said "my last name is Nordstrom."  She introduced herself as Jeanne Nordstrom and shook our hands.  I took a picture of her with Alli and Adele. 

Talk about a classy lady, so kind and down to earth.  She loved Alli; apparently her youngest grandbaby is already 11 years old! 

What a fun day, I highly recommend attending a Nordstrom opening should you ever get the chance . . .

Dr. Seuss for Nursing Mommies . . .

Since we're still nursing and both Alli and I love Dr. Seuss, I thought I would share . . .


Would you nurse him in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse him in the park
I would nurse him in the dark.
I'd nurse without or with a boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with a seatbelt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though he may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse him till he's full!

Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and join the group?
It makes him healthy, strong and smart,
Mommy's milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse him in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse him in the rain.

As for those who ban lactation,
I have the perfect explanation:
Mommy's milk is tailor-made;
It's the perfect food, you need no aid.


Some may scoff and some may wiggle,
avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
remind them, "Breast's the perfect food!"


I would never scoff or giggle,
roll my eyes or even wiggle.
I would not be crass or rude,
I know breast milk's the perfect food.


We make as much milk as we need.
The perfect temp for every feed.
There's no compare to milk from breast-
the perfect food, above the rest.


Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet.
Mommy's milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can't be beat.

I will nurse, in any case,
on the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.

It's not about what's good for you,
it's best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse him in my home,
I will nurse him when I roam,
leave me be, lads and ma'am.
I will nurse him, Mom I am.

Garrett Wins Another Award!!!

My fabulous hubby has done it again . . . On Friday, Garrett was recognized as the Professional Employee of the Year - Administrator by the Connecticut Federal Executive Association for Excellence in Government Awards. Alli and I are so proud!!!

Before I Was A Mom . . .

Since Alli's birth, a couple people have sent me the following and I now know how true it is so I thought I would share . . .


Before I was a Mom

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to

Put them down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I

Couldn't stop the hurt.


I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so

Important and happy.


Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every

10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Mastitis - A Blessing in Disguise

Anyone who has talked to me since Alli's birth has no doubt had to listen to me complain about breastfeeding and has heard me threaten to quit more than once. In fact, just over a week ago, I told Garrett I couldn't take it much longer and if Alli didn't get better at it I was going to quit and switch to formula. Well, the day after my little temper tantrum, I started to feel really sick - in a lot of pain and had a fever around 103. Turns out that I had Mastitis. My OB put me on antibiotics that night. Unfortunately, the antibiotics did not work. They did, however, diminish my milk supply and upset Alli's tummy so we were both miserable. Now, many of you know that I have actually had a rather unique problem of having an overabundent supply of milk and have been trying to diminish the supply so that I am not producing for twins or triplets. I did not however expect to go from having way too much to not having enough in just a matter of a couple of days. My OB switched my antibiotic but my supply still seemed very low. I was terrified! Suddenly I realized how much I really want to be able to breastfeed. All this time I have been resenting this part of motherhood. Now I realize what a gift I have been given that I am able to nurse my daughter. Fortunately, my supply has come back full force, the antibiotics have begun to work, and Alli is much happier again. Best of all, I now look forward to our feeding sessions. I am even excited to get up at 3 a.m. to feed Alli! What a blessing to be able to feed and bond with my daughter like this. While I would never wish Mastitis on anyone, for us I think it was a gift from God. I like to think that God was giving me a swift kick in the pants to remind me how blessed I am to be able to breastfeed Alli. I guess blessings come in all shapes and sizes - even painful ones! I do not know how long I will be able to nurse Alli, but I will appreciate it for as long as I can!

Renewed Faith in the System

As many of you may recall, I was in a car accident last April when I hit a semi-wheel well that was in the middle of the highway. Although my only other option was to hit another car, my insurance company reported that I was more than 50% at fault and raised our insurance rates. I appealed this with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and we heard nothing until the end of February. We received notice that a hearing was scheduled for March 5th in Plymouth (nearly 2 hours from our home!) Obviously I could not drag Alli down there so I submitted an affidavit in lieu of attending. I assumed I would lose. You know what they say about assuming :) I won!!! The MA RMV agreed with me that there was no way I was at fault and has ordered the insurance company to remove any penalty and fees. I have a renewed sense of faith in the system. YEAH!!!

Thank you Mom!

We have been so lucky to have my mom out here to help us for the past month. I am not sure how we would have adjusted to life as parents without her help! She has been amazing by taking care of the house (cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc.) without asking us what she should do - she just does it. What a huge help this has been! Her help around the house allowed us to focus on Alli. Of course, her pearls of wisdom with regard to Alli have also been very helpful. We will certainly miss having that extra help at 5 a.m. when we would like to catch another hour or so of sleep and the little one wants to play. Gram was always more than happy to take a turn entertaining Alli

Thank you so much Mom!!! We appreciate everything you have done for us and will miss you very much. We cannot wait for August!
 

Gram meeting Alli for the first time.

Alli found a very snuggly spot to sleep :)

Checking out each other.

Three generations.