Hi everyone! Check out my new blog, one designed to include all 5 Freedmans!
http://5freedmans.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Rough Summer
It hasn't been the smoothest summer here at the Freedman house. Not that it's been all bad by any means. We've had some great times visiting with friends and family and just hanging out here enjoying each other. But beginning with my bed rest this past spring and continuing up through me typing this blog post while listening to Lola and Jackson fight upstairs, there has been more stress and sadness this summer than Aaron and I usually experience .
Some of these sources of sadness and stress we've shared only with close friends and family. Others, like the passing of Aaron's grandmother Great Lola, we've shared far and wide. And some of our difficulties we don't have to share in detail. You can probably imagine some of the challenges of having a new baby and two active 3 year olds home ALL DAY EVERY DAY for 3 months. And there are still other difficulties we've kept to ourselves, not because they're particularly tragic but because we just don't feel like talking about it. I don't think either of us feel like addressing one. more. thing.
Yesterday was Labor Day, the mark of the beginning of fall. The kids had their first day of school today, punctuating the feeling that summer is over and we're moving on to a new season. And although we've had some really great times this summer, I can't say I'm sorry to see it end.
Some of these sources of sadness and stress we've shared only with close friends and family. Others, like the passing of Aaron's grandmother Great Lola, we've shared far and wide. And some of our difficulties we don't have to share in detail. You can probably imagine some of the challenges of having a new baby and two active 3 year olds home ALL DAY EVERY DAY for 3 months. And there are still other difficulties we've kept to ourselves, not because they're particularly tragic but because we just don't feel like talking about it. I don't think either of us feel like addressing one. more. thing.
Yesterday was Labor Day, the mark of the beginning of fall. The kids had their first day of school today, punctuating the feeling that summer is over and we're moving on to a new season. And although we've had some really great times this summer, I can't say I'm sorry to see it end.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Molly!!!
 |
| For those of you who don't know, Aaron has had the nickname "Big Dogg" for 15 years. Our good friends Jordan and Aimee gave the twins "I'm with Dogg" shirts when they were born. We're so thrilled we have one more little puppy to get to wear this shirt :) |
 |
| Molly is just entering the "grab everything and try to put it in her mouth" stage |
 |
| Molly spends a lot of time chatting with her giraffe. |
 |
| Trying, and failing, to catch one of Molly's many smiles on camera. |
 |
| No, it's not just the angle of the photograph. My sweet baby is quite well fed ;) |
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Quiet Saturday Afternoon
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Joy #14, Great grandmothers meeting great grandchildren
 |
| Great Lola, Allen's mother |
 |
| Ma Hood, Becky's mother |
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Freedman Resort
We might not have a country club membership but we do have access to a pretty great pool!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Molly, Mommy and Daddy's first family moment
I'm experimenting with video, working on iMovie and Quicktime and blah blah blah. I'm far from an expert but gaining proficiency. Here's a video of the first time I get to hold Molly. I haven't learned to add a soundtrack so you'll just hear the sound from the actual video. Eventually I'll learn how to play music in the background and other fancy things. :) More videos to come.
Molly Maitland Freedman
Born May 4 weighing in at 6 lb 13 oz
 |
| Daddy and Molly, Day 1 |
 |
| Daddy and Molly, Day 1 |
 | |
| Daddy and Molly, Day 5 |
 |
| Aaron thinks this outfit is hilarious. Especially the booties. I agree. |
 |
| Molly, 3 weeks old |
 |
| Molly and Lola's baby enjoying some play time together |
 |
| Molly not so much enjoying tummy time. |
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Learning from experience
I've now spent weeks depending on friends and family for, well, pretty much everything. And as I sit here in my room while our fantastic babysitter Metra colors with the kids at the kitchen table, I'm reflecting on the positive things that have come out of this experience.
Going through difficult times reminds me that our family is strong. Aaron and I make it through hardships without harsh words and bitterness. We grab hands, give each other a supportive look and lean into the rain, knowing the storm will pass and we'll still be connected when the sun come out. Knowing this gives me confidence that our family, first the 2 of us, then 4 and now 5, has what it takes to make it though the future difficulties that will inevitably come our way. Our family is strong.
We have an amazing network of friends and family who love and support us. It's an incredibly comforting thing to experience friends and family rallying to help when life gets tough. The strength of our family feels steel reinforced by all the people who have babysat, brought food, run errands, called to check in and kept us in their thoughts since I've been on bed rest.
And sitting here with the comforting understanding that our family is strong and our friends and family make us even stronger, I am finding peace amid the chaos and discomfort. When things in my life get unnervingly unpredictable I tend to grab on tighter to the small things I can control. After Katrina I did it. After the twins came home from the hospital I did it. And this time I'm trying to take things a bit lighter. The big important things are getting done. Most everything else will get done eventually. Or not. I'm learning to be content with what is, to be a source of calm rather than anxious energy. I figure I might as well work on some personal growth while I'm stuck in this chair all this time.
It's easy to dwell on the negative. My kids are sad and frustrated because I'm not available in all the ways they'd like. I can't play with or feed or bathe or dress them. I'm getting more uncomfortable by the day. The longer I lay here the less my body wants to perform it's everyday functions efficiently. And although he won't admit it I know my husband is tired and stressed and starting to drag under the weight and responsibility of managing a home and a restaurant. It sometimes feels like there's nothing I can do to help him and that's hard to deal with.
But despite all that I sit can sit here and smile, comforted by the fact that our family has weathered worse, that we are deeply loved by our friends and family and that through this process I am growing more content in my heart and soul.
Going through difficult times reminds me that our family is strong. Aaron and I make it through hardships without harsh words and bitterness. We grab hands, give each other a supportive look and lean into the rain, knowing the storm will pass and we'll still be connected when the sun come out. Knowing this gives me confidence that our family, first the 2 of us, then 4 and now 5, has what it takes to make it though the future difficulties that will inevitably come our way. Our family is strong.
We have an amazing network of friends and family who love and support us. It's an incredibly comforting thing to experience friends and family rallying to help when life gets tough. The strength of our family feels steel reinforced by all the people who have babysat, brought food, run errands, called to check in and kept us in their thoughts since I've been on bed rest.
And sitting here with the comforting understanding that our family is strong and our friends and family make us even stronger, I am finding peace amid the chaos and discomfort. When things in my life get unnervingly unpredictable I tend to grab on tighter to the small things I can control. After Katrina I did it. After the twins came home from the hospital I did it. And this time I'm trying to take things a bit lighter. The big important things are getting done. Most everything else will get done eventually. Or not. I'm learning to be content with what is, to be a source of calm rather than anxious energy. I figure I might as well work on some personal growth while I'm stuck in this chair all this time.
It's easy to dwell on the negative. My kids are sad and frustrated because I'm not available in all the ways they'd like. I can't play with or feed or bathe or dress them. I'm getting more uncomfortable by the day. The longer I lay here the less my body wants to perform it's everyday functions efficiently. And although he won't admit it I know my husband is tired and stressed and starting to drag under the weight and responsibility of managing a home and a restaurant. It sometimes feels like there's nothing I can do to help him and that's hard to deal with.
But despite all that I sit can sit here and smile, comforted by the fact that our family has weathered worse, that we are deeply loved by our friends and family and that through this process I am growing more content in my heart and soul.
Friday, April 15, 2011
May 4th
We have a birth date for Molly! If all continues to go well (as we expect it to) Molly Maitland Freedman will join us in the world outside the womb on Wednesday, May 4th around 8:30 am. I am soooooo excited about having a date set! It means that as I lay here staring at the walls I can be confident it really is only for a finite amount more time. 18 more days of laying around. That's it. 19 days from now I will be holding my beautiful baby girl in my arms, no longer in my belly.
It seems sort of unreal. I have dreamed and planned and worried and discussed and tried as best I can to prepare our family to welcome Molly as smoothly as possible. But even still, I really can't believe she's almost here!
It seems sort of unreal. I have dreamed and planned and worried and discussed and tried as best I can to prepare our family to welcome Molly as smoothly as possible. But even still, I really can't believe she's almost here!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Bedrest
Part of me knew this was coming. I'd be lying if I said I'm shocked. Disappointed that my restriction free pregnancy is over, greatly. Frustrated that the many things I wanted to do before Molly comes now won't happen, absolutely. Baffled by the logistics of bed rest with two 3 yr olds, totally. But surprised, not really, no.
When I got to my 32 wk checkup yesterday my blood pressure was 152/100. It was 160/100 when I delivered Lola and Jackson. It's supposed to be no higher than 135/85. Ugh.
The nurse tried a couple of times to get a more favorable pressure and couldn't. I sat in a lazy boy in the office for an hour and my blood pressure finally went back down to normal. Great. Fantastic. Super awesome that it went back down. But the way we got it to go back down, by sitting with my feet up in a lazy boy for an hour, well that's what I'll be doing now (at least mostly) from this point until Molly is born.
Parenting two 3 yr olds from a lazy boy... well, this ought to be no problem, right?
The good news is that my blood work is normal, meaning that no other signs of preeclampsia have shown up. The doctor felt it was necessary to deliver Lola and Jackson after my blood work showed that my liver enzymes were elevated. This isn't the case right now. So that's good news.
I have another doctor's appointment on Monday so maybe I'll know more then. Maybe I'll just know more of the same. Sit in the lazy boy as much as you can. Don't drive. Don't go up the stairs. Don't play outside with the kids. Don't cook or clean or do laundry. Don't fix yourself or your family any meals. Sure, no problem. This should be a piece of cake.
When I got to my 32 wk checkup yesterday my blood pressure was 152/100. It was 160/100 when I delivered Lola and Jackson. It's supposed to be no higher than 135/85. Ugh.
The nurse tried a couple of times to get a more favorable pressure and couldn't. I sat in a lazy boy in the office for an hour and my blood pressure finally went back down to normal. Great. Fantastic. Super awesome that it went back down. But the way we got it to go back down, by sitting with my feet up in a lazy boy for an hour, well that's what I'll be doing now (at least mostly) from this point until Molly is born.
Parenting two 3 yr olds from a lazy boy... well, this ought to be no problem, right?
The good news is that my blood work is normal, meaning that no other signs of preeclampsia have shown up. The doctor felt it was necessary to deliver Lola and Jackson after my blood work showed that my liver enzymes were elevated. This isn't the case right now. So that's good news.
I have another doctor's appointment on Monday so maybe I'll know more then. Maybe I'll just know more of the same. Sit in the lazy boy as much as you can. Don't drive. Don't go up the stairs. Don't play outside with the kids. Don't cook or clean or do laundry. Don't fix yourself or your family any meals. Sure, no problem. This should be a piece of cake.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sharing is tough
Jackson: Lola, you don't have any eggs hanging on your tree. I need to give you some of mine.
Lola: Yeah, we need to share.
J: Yeah, let's share and play nicely.
L: Yeah. Thanks. Let's do it.
Jack proceeds to give her his eggs.
Lola takes the eggs and puts them on her tree.
I try not to sprain my shoulder patting myself on the back while grabbing the camera to document this sweet sibling moment.
Jack then picks up both trees and runs out of the room while Lola cries at the injustice. I think to myself, well... it's at least a start.
Lola: Yeah, we need to share.
J: Yeah, let's share and play nicely.
L: Yeah. Thanks. Let's do it.
Jack proceeds to give her his eggs.
Lola takes the eggs and puts them on her tree.
I try not to sprain my shoulder patting myself on the back while grabbing the camera to document this sweet sibling moment.
Jack then picks up both trees and runs out of the room while Lola cries at the injustice. I think to myself, well... it's at least a start.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Fun with the Freedmans
 |
| Enjoying some Mardi Gras fun at Thoth. Lola is up in the ladder with her buddies Nicholas and Yvonne. Jackson in in the crowd on the ground with Dad. |
 |
| Dad and Jackson with Grammy at Thoth |
 |
| Mom with Belle and Fireman Jack at the Little School Mardi Gras parade. |
 |
| Getting back outside now that the weather has warmed up. Loving the fresh air! |
 |
| Spring is here. Time for popsicles! |
Friday, March 4, 2011
Nervous Enough?
I'm nervous about having enough time for everything once the baby comes. Everything including fixing meals and doing laundry and building castles and doing puzzles and learning the sounds of the alphabet and making art projects and baking muffins and cleaning the bathroom and... well, all you parents out there know that the list goes on and on. I'm nervous about taking all 3 kids to the grocery store. I'm nervous about how long it's going to take me to get all the kids in the car to get to the store. I'm nervous about the logistics of managing a family of 5.
But I'm not, at least so far, nervous about the delivery. The breastfeeding. The sleepless nights. The crying and the gas bubbles and the spit up. Thinking about all that doesn't bring up the same anxiety that I feel when I think about trying to hold (or feed or burp or calm) the new baby while Lola and Jackson are crying about their macaroni not being ready yet.
I was so worried about those things the first time around. Am I not so concerned with the difficulties of having a new baby because I've done it all once (ummm, twice?) and feel confident that I can handle it? Or have I forgotten how hard it really it all is?
At this point, with 2 months to go, I'm more nervous about handling the 3 year olds than I am the new baby. Well earned confidence of an experienced mother? Or denial that is destined to lead to shock and misery?
Stay tuned.
But I'm not, at least so far, nervous about the delivery. The breastfeeding. The sleepless nights. The crying and the gas bubbles and the spit up. Thinking about all that doesn't bring up the same anxiety that I feel when I think about trying to hold (or feed or burp or calm) the new baby while Lola and Jackson are crying about their macaroni not being ready yet.
I was so worried about those things the first time around. Am I not so concerned with the difficulties of having a new baby because I've done it all once (ummm, twice?) and feel confident that I can handle it? Or have I forgotten how hard it really it all is?
At this point, with 2 months to go, I'm more nervous about handling the 3 year olds than I am the new baby. Well earned confidence of an experienced mother? Or denial that is destined to lead to shock and misery?
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
25 weeks
I was at 25 weeks along with Lola and Jackson when the alarm was sounded. Things weren't exactly hiccup-free up until that point (chicken pox, placenta previa, and well, simply the fact that I was pregnant with twins), but it wasn't until 25 weeks that the poop really hit the fan, as a PG-rated mother of twins would say :)
Yep, I was 25 weeks along and enjoying a snowy Christmas vacation in Colorado. It was those darn contractions that forced me to go to the hospital, that darn progressing cervix that got the nurse's attention, and that gosh darn positive fetal fibronectin test that got the doctor in my room telling me to stay calm while nurses started IV drips. Watching a nervous nurse is about as calming as seeing a nervous flight attendant. Stay calm... sure, right.
Well, 25 week came and has now gone. Last week I had a fetal fibronectin test to celebrate. No alarms sounded. The nurses paid hardly any attention at all. And no one told me to stay calm while all of their body language indicated I should do otherwise. Fantastic.
For those unfamiliar with the test, a positive result indicates that your body has released the hormones necessary to begin the labor, meaning that delivery within a 2 week period is expected. A negative result indicates that your body has not released these hormones and so natural labor is not expected within 2 weeks. I'll be taking a test every 2 weeks until... well, I guess until it's time for baby girl #2 to make her appearance.
So I say good-bye to week 25. I might have even made a vulgar hand gesture at that date on my calender. It was almost as gratifying as I imagine it will be when I do the same to week 33!
Yep, I was 25 weeks along and enjoying a snowy Christmas vacation in Colorado. It was those darn contractions that forced me to go to the hospital, that darn progressing cervix that got the nurse's attention, and that gosh darn positive fetal fibronectin test that got the doctor in my room telling me to stay calm while nurses started IV drips. Watching a nervous nurse is about as calming as seeing a nervous flight attendant. Stay calm... sure, right.
Well, 25 week came and has now gone. Last week I had a fetal fibronectin test to celebrate. No alarms sounded. The nurses paid hardly any attention at all. And no one told me to stay calm while all of their body language indicated I should do otherwise. Fantastic.
For those unfamiliar with the test, a positive result indicates that your body has released the hormones necessary to begin the labor, meaning that delivery within a 2 week period is expected. A negative result indicates that your body has not released these hormones and so natural labor is not expected within 2 weeks. I'll be taking a test every 2 weeks until... well, I guess until it's time for baby girl #2 to make her appearance.
So I say good-bye to week 25. I might have even made a vulgar hand gesture at that date on my calender. It was almost as gratifying as I imagine it will be when I do the same to week 33!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
So much for deadlines.
Despite the New Year deadline having come and gone, the Joys keep coming :)
Joy #9 Finding out we're having a GIRL! We're currently discussing names. Not even a short list has been agreed upon yet.
Joy #10 Aaron having the entire weekend off this coming weekend! It's a post-Christmas miracle.
Joy #11 Jackson having major success at swim lessons today. He swam 5 ft today with his face underwater looking at the bottom of the pool! Yay for Jack!!!
Joy #12 Feeling lots of little baby kicks!
Joy #9 Finding out we're having a GIRL! We're currently discussing names. Not even a short list has been agreed upon yet.
Joy #10 Aaron having the entire weekend off this coming weekend! It's a post-Christmas miracle.
Joy #11 Jackson having major success at swim lessons today. He swam 5 ft today with his face underwater looking at the bottom of the pool! Yay for Jack!!!
Joy #12 Feeling lots of little baby kicks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
