The Thompson Chronicles

Splish Splash

2009-04-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

Selah loves her bath time, I of course don't give her one as often as I should but when she get's in there everything gets soaked. I just got her the musical dolphins at a resale event in Madison. When you hit the dolphin it makes a whistle noise. So she accidently found out one day if she blows in the bottom of the dolphin it whistles as well. We have one in her crib that she "snuggles" with as much as you can snuggle a hard plastic dolphin toy:). More pictures of our Pooka Bear in the tub!

Easter Sunday

2009-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately Luther was on call all day Saturday until 7:00am Sunday Morning. So he was spent and we didn't get to church. We did have a nice quite Easter, Selah loved her Easter basket and new baby Bible. Not to mention all the other little gifts. We had turkey my famous mashed potatoes and veggies. Here are some of her picts.

Channel

2009-04-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

So while we were in Vegas Luther bought me fake Channel sunglasses. Selah found them and liked them just as much as mommy!

Hi!!

2009-04-05T16:28:00.001-07:00

Selah has learned to say Hi, Mama, Dada, Papa, and All Done not bad for 9 months check her out on this video she LOVES to say HI to her papa:)

She Laughed

2009-04-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

When Selah Laughs it melts you heart check it out and listen carefully for the full giggle.

Selah's 7 month pics

2009-04-01T21:05:00.001-07:00

Selah's 6 month pics

2009-04-01T20:59:00.001-07:00

Vegas Baby!

2009-04-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Months ago we planned ot go to Vegas to see Luther's brother and sister-in-law. So to vegas we went. Selah and I started in Pheonix where we visited my life long friend Sascha and her 3 kids one Chloe and Tate and Zach her new twin boys. Selah loved hanging with the boys and we can't wait to go back and visit. It was so nice to get out of the cold weather and enjoy the sunshine. Selah had her first pool experience and she loves it!! She's quite the dare devil. She loves to put her head in the water she has no fear.

Luther flew in a few days later and then we drove to Vegas. We got to see the Hoover Dam it's quite magnificiant! We were able to stay in a small hotel off the strip mom and Ed paid for us to stay at there time share so we had a 3 bed 3 bath for free!! Then we moved to the Statosphere for free because we went to a time share presentation our selves. It was a really fun time but 3 hours after we started they said one week a year for $800.00 a month WHAT!!! We don't even pay that for rent. Holy cow! So it was super easy to say no to. We took all the free stuff and ran! We spent a lot of time with our family and there 4 kids. Selah was sooo happy with all the activity she cried very little and just took it all in. Her youngest cousin Iona though 2 days older was showing her all kinds of new tricks she brought home with her. I can tell they will be great friends when they get older they just have to live a little closer.
Luther and Isaac went shooting and practiced all kinds of techniques with all kinds of different guns. Luther is really excited to get a gun himself. Jen and I went shoping at Costco. I know boring but with out the babies anything is exciting. So we had a very fun trip and are already missing our family. But never fear were going home in May the 14-20. We'll be celebrating Selah's birthday a little early. So be watching for that invite.

Rewind

2009-03-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving...Luther had "the big game", every year the residence and students get together and battle it out.. well for nothing Luther would contend it;s for pride and dignaty but whatever they have a good time. Selah and I went out to cheer Papa on, but it was a little too cold so we said Hi and goodbye quickly. That night we went over for a quick meal at one of our friends who is also a residencey family. We had a great time eating too much and looking through the black Friday adds.

Chistmas....Selah's first Christmas, she was 6 months old, her favorite part was taking the paper off the gifts with the help of her Papa. Selah got a bouncey horse that makes horsey noises. She can jump around and be on her feet with out falling so she loves it! She also got a curious George stuffed animal with a Curious George book. Chistmas was quiet. We sat in-front of the fire, me in my new heating blanket and luther enjoying meat and cheese from a tray I prepared to avoid any large amount of cooking. We finished the night off with a homemade pizza. It was a nice Christmas were looking forward to many more.

2009-03-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Selah has begun to army crawl and has found a special kinship with the dogs water bowl yuck!! So I'm having to put up the bowls on my very limilted counter space. All I can say is thank God for naps. It gives me a beak from all the finding of cords, outlets and stairs. The up side is she's crying alot more because she gets caught up in things, like behind the toilet, (I know I lost my mother of the year award nomination when she fell off the bed in Arizona onto a concrete Tile floor because I was busy trying to get out a stain, but I digress.) yes behind the toilet I left her for a minute and found her in the dark bathroom behind the toilet legs just a kickin', and what wedged her in... the plunger. She bangs her head alot too, were working on bruise number 4. It's like watch out for that chair kind of thing. She's starting to realize she has to go around the end table. I began this blog literally 1 week ago and I already missed the recording of the army crawl. Selah is now offically crawling slowly, but crawling and with that the drama has died down so way less crying. She has also started pulling herslelf up. Every morning I go into her room and she is hanging on to the edge of the crib for dear life but standing up and proud of it.

Luther has been in pediactics for the last month and though finding it boring... he has been home alot which will make up for the next 28 days when he doesn't have a day off! So it's nice that we just joined the sthletic club in town. Selah loves it, it's like her play group every morning and I get my work out in do a little relaxing in the sauna and get my shower in with out having to worry about a very mobile baby.

I have just started selling Discovery Toys they are really great learning toys that help you play with your baby, while ensuring that there learning. They make me feel like a better mom. Because we are reading, building and making music together and I know she's learning. Anyway, it's been fun doing parties and making extra money for the family. Plus I get to buy lots of toys for "Selah" though Luther and I really enjoy them ourselves. Luther was brought up on these kind of toys being home schooled and is loving having them in the house. It's benefiting me by getting out of the house meeting new people and reconnecting with friends. It also fosters my inner teacher It's awsome!! Check out my website www.discoverytoyslink.com/shana

The stockings were hung ...

2008-12-18T14:35:00.001-08:00

So, even though we don't have a tree we still decorated, and it turns out we didn't have room for a tree anyway. Thanks to my mom who made the stockings and gave us the angel candle holders, and Starbucks where I got most of the other decorations for free we have a lovely little wonderland.

Christmas Tree

2008-12-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

After 2 years of living in Wisconsin we leave to go get a Christmas tree. Luther doned in his leather coat and jeans and me in my jeans and puffy winter coat. It's 10 degrees outside and were dressed as if we are in Washington. Keep in mind that when it's 10 degrees here if there is any wind it's negative degree weather. After driving over an hour trying to find the tree farm when it should have taken a half hour (awsome directions mapquest.) We stand by the fire to get warm after walking from the parking lot to the building a total on maybe 30 seconds; a family clearly from Wisconsin wizes past us in there snow suits ready for there horse drawn carrage and tree selection. Needless to say it was so cold and we were so under dressed we watch the carriage ride from afar and left after only about 15 min. So we still don't have a tree, but were hoping next year we'll have more success. Looking back it would have been difficult to cut a tree given all the snow on them, though it was beautiful and it looked like a Christmas card.

Lessons

2008-11-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

I have found even more advantages to the crying it out technique. Now that Selah goes right to bed if she cries for an exstended period of time I know there is somethings wrong. For example, a few days ago Selah cried honestly for at least 85% of the day and I kept trying to put her down for her nap and she kept waking up screaming. Come to find out she had an impacted bowel, one phone call later to her daddy MD and after a very fustrating day we fixed her right up with a baby enima. Instead of guessing if there was something wrong we knew there was something wrong and we're able to help her quickly instead of second guessing ourselves wondering "is this normal". Unfortunately for Selah when I try to change her diaper, she keeps her legs straight with a look that saids exit only please. I'm starting to see that being a good parent means doing a lot of the hard stuff that SUCKS! and makes her cry, but has to be done. A baby enima not fun, flushing her sinuses not fun, sometimes we both cry but it's what's best for Selah.

After months of secultion, depression, ellation, and being overwelmed, I'm starting to hit my stide and as I did with all my jobs before I'm making my new job of being a mom the most fun I can.
I've started to make my own baby food! Apples, grated raw not cooked, pears grated not cooked, sweet potatoes boiled and puraed, carrots boiled and puraed, bananas really ripe and smashed not cooked. I did a cost annalays and for all organic homemade baby food it's a quarter of what I'd pay for it in the store. Plus, it's easy! I made just put the mashed food into 2 ice cube trays and freeze. I shouldn't have to make any more for a couple weeks and it cost about 4 dollars. I'm excited!

My newest quest is making my own laudry soap, dishwasher soap, dish soap, body soap and muti purpose cleaner. Some will work out some wont but I think it's fun to try new things and save a buck while I'm at it. My only concern right now is the fragrance that comes with these homemade things. Even though many of them are naturally occuring ingredience they still have a smell and I'm not sure if they will get alone with our skin. We are all have very sensitive skin. I'm excited and hopful with my recipes in hand!

Another triumph, I was able to lose all the baby weight 45 pounds in total and I'm very happy to fit into my warm winter clothes for the already single diget tempuratres. The Farmer Alminac predicts tons of snow in December up to 134 inches and from December 1st to date we have had over a foot of snow. It is literally a winter wonder land.

Here puppy

2008-11-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

These are some great photos of Selah in her dog hat they have matching slippers. I got these last Christmas at Gymbore when I went shopping with my mom, before we knew if Selah was a girl or a boy. They are super cute!

Selah's 4 month pics

2008-11-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

At Selah's 4 month appointment she was 13.4lbs, and 24"long. She's in the 25%tile for her age in both hieght and wieght. So she is growing well and just a little peanut of a girl so cute! Luther and I took these photos in front of a tree outside out complex. Luther held her up while I took the photos so if she looks likes she's in a funny position that's why! :) Enjoy!

The little things

2008-11-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

Olive and Selah are co-existing better. Selah loves it when Olive licks her hands, she smiles and laughs, she however does not like when Olive is licking her face so it's just baby steps right now. Selah has become even sweeter to Olive because she's eating solids now, they end up all over her face and hands...enter Olive...Our dog has a licking neuroses so any extra food really anywhere in the house she's on it! I can tell they're going to great friends.

It's been fun feeding Selah solids she gags and spits the food out the grimaces are priceless:). She is always good for a laugh. More importantly she sleeps even longer through the night and it gives me a little more freedom since she refuses a bottle. My baby already knows what she wants, now I'm trying to find a way to persuade her that she really does like a bottle:). I think it's safe to say green peas not her favorite, and rice cereal leaves a little to be desired:) We've found the tick she loves apples and pears! Were still working on the veggies:)

It been a while...

2008-11-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Like the title saids, it's been a while since I've blogged. The last couple of months has been full of trials for us, Luther was on service or a month so he was gone a lot between 80 and 100 hours a week. Leaving me with Selah by myself more than what I think is healthy for both of us. Thank goodness that month is over!

Then, Selah was having some episodes where she would scream and scream, her eyes would shake back and forth uncontrollably, she would vomit, and once I gave her dose of IBU she would sleep for a couple of hours. So, after the second episode I took her to the Doctor and of course he had never heard of such a thing. After much debate he gave her an EEG, that's where they monitor her brain by hooking her head up to a lot of electrodes. The EEG was not fun all the marking and measuring and placing of electrodes hurt her little head, plus she's a head sweater so it was hard to keep everything on her head. Obviously she eventually calmed down when I took a chance to take some photos. It turns out her episodes are benign, they still don't know why she was having them but she's hitting all of her milestones, rolling over both ways, she grips things, she discovered her feet and she giggles on and So, we couldn't be happier that everything is just fine!

Once all that was put to rest Luther and I had to make some big decisions about vaccinations which kept me up at night for weeks. We decided not to vaccinate Selah until after she's a year old with only 2 of the vaccinations if at all. Were happy with our decision, we did some research and found this was the best choice for our family given my learning disability and Luther's autoimmune disease.

So then Selah got her first cold from Luther there were only a couple of long nights but it was very sad to see her go through that. I then got the cold from Selah bummer! We are all finally feeling better Selah is just now getting a rash from her virus, but it should be gone in about a week saids Dr. Thompson:)

Finally, I had to lay down the law with Selah. I was having to nurse her to sleep. It would take 2 hours to get her to bed it was awful! So 2 of my friends both named Jen said that Selah had my number and it was time to let her self sooth a little. So, we let Selah cry it out at night we built up from 10min to 30 min at a time before going down to comfort her. I have to tell you I cried with her it was really hard to just stand by and listen to her cry. When I'd go in to comfort her she'd lift up her little arms wanting to be picked up, but it had to be done it took 3 days once we really pushed it. My sister in law said "it's harder on us than it is on them to be a good parent, we can't be lazy." Luther was a great he held my had when I cried because she was crying, but now it's better for all of us. Luther and I have more time together at night, and Selah is getting much better and longer sleep. After almost 5 months I can say things are really coming together:).

Selah Opal is Three Months Old!

2008-09-26T22:17:00.001-07:00

New Tricks

2008-09-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Selah, Luther, Olive and I are all learning some new tricks.

Selah's new trick, she's discovered her shadow and thinks it's really cool. Putting her to sleep can be a challenge now because she prefers to watch the shadow puppets she makes with her arms than to close her eyes (I have to admit I get into the shadow puppet action because it makes her smile). She's also learning to reach and grab things, apparently she's young to be doing that so of course we think she's a genius. The trick I like the most is when she imitates me saying who who who like a little Owl. We go back and forth who who up to ten time in a row. Again making her a genius by our account. Finally not so much as a trick, but a favorite, she looooooves her mobile. It has a bunch of goofy characters on it that are bright colors, then behind them are these umbrella looking things that have a swirl of black and white, she freaks when I put her under it.

Luther's new trick is learning to stay up all night, just to turn around and help me take care of the baby all day which I appreciate. He's been on call a lot the last few weeks and there is no rest for the werry while he's at the hospital. He gets an hour of sleep here and there if he's lucky just to drag himself home where he gets a few hours of sleep, then gets up again to help me with Selah. I really appreciate how great he's been. On Monday he starts In Service for a month, then he's on OB for a month so Selah and I are going to be on our own a lot. Though Luther's the one that suffers the most, he has to leave at 6:00am and wont be home until about 7:00pm for the next 2 months. He also has to be on call 4 of the 8 weekends. So we just have to get through the next 2 months and the rest of his intern year will be a breeze.

Me... well my new trick is getting everything we need on a very tight budget. We've been living on a budget for the last few years, but now with me staying home with Selah and Luther making decent money, but not as much as our loans allowed us to live on we have really reigned it in. I have about 5 envelopes marked, household/MISC, medical, Selah, clothing, food. Anyway, I get $50 in each envelope for the month. So $25 every 2 weeks isn't much, when something is on sale for $6 you really have to think about it because that only leaves you with $19. I'm the one after lots of arguing with God told Luther he should put me on a tighter budget/allowance. I thought it would be horrible. I never realized how great it felt to know exactly how much I had to spend, even if it's only $2. The stress has melted away and though I spend a lot of time at home; I've also learned where the local library is, so I can borrow a book instead of spending $12 on one I can't return. I take walks, and work out everyday whether if it's at home or at the Y. I also have more time to blog and try and stay in contact with our loved ones. The coolest thing is the gifts we've been getting in the mail, things that would be luxuries for us that we would have not purchased. For instance we got home last night from our one night out this month and at our front door was a gift. A friend from Dominica, Nanooka had sent us a very expensive wool and fleece liner for Selah's car seat/stroller it fits inside so you can zip them up and keep them nice and warm. With the winter coming this is going to be so awesome! We also received a gift card to Old Navy so I could get some warm clothes that are 3-6months for Selah. She is such a little baby she is still in her 0-3 month clothes, I never planned that I would need warm 3-6 clothes because Luther and didn't think we'd have such a small baby. So, my new trick has left me lighter and richer than ever.

A special thank you goes out to Nanooka we are so thankful and overwhelmed by your gift it couldn't have come at a better time. We love you and miss you.

Olives new trick is learning to leave the baby alone! Selah is so tempting she always has some spit up or a stinky diaper Olive would love to get her chops on, but Selah hates to be licked so you see the problem, one love to like and the other hates to be liked.

A Minute at the Park

2008-09-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

So the title says it all. Being that our budget is tight we try and get out and do things that don't require money. So, we went to the park, it was only for a few minutes because I forgot a binky, but we still got out into the fresh air and had a great 2 minutes:).

The Lion's Roar

2008-09-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to a retreat with Luther's residency program. It was at the Dells about an hour and a half North from us. It was great to get to the check in counter and have them say your paid in full without getting out a credit card:). The retreat was at the Kalahari, it's a huge hotel and with an even bigger indoor water park. Anyway, it was great to get away, Selah did well she played all day and slept all night and long into the morning. I think the blackout curtains helped, so when I got home I stabled a sheet to the window in her room behind all the cute curtains in the hope she'll sleep long into the morning at home.:). One of Luther assignments while he was there was to come up with a skit with his fellow first years. They did a take off of the Wizard of Oz. Luther was the Lion and he did a great job he roared so loud he scared one of the kids watching. The word on the street is that it was the best skit ever. We made his costume the night before with a little material and a hot glue gun. It cost 60 cents to make and we had such a good time coming up with it together. Sometimes when Luther and I do things together I forget were married because were such great friends. I know corny but it's true. The last night we were there we took Selah on the Lazy river and into the wave pool at the water park she loved it!!! Luther held her on his chest face up so she could see all the crazy stuff on the ceiling while I directed the double inter tube. It was fun to have a family moment like that, it helped me to see pass the crying, the floppy head, and complete dependancey and see the light at the end of the tunnel where were a family doing fun things together.

Photo Shoot

2008-09-12T08:55:00.001-07:00

These are Selah's 2 month pictures. While we were in Oregon I had extra time so I look a ton of photos of her. These are all the cutiest photos.

Rocker Chic

2008-09-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

So were still working on getting her pointer finger up for a full rock on sign:). The onsie Selah has on saids, LA LA LA LA Daddy Rocks and sings to me. It's so true when I saw it of course on clearence I had to buy it for her. Luther plays his guitars and sings to her all the time. He will stop everything and sing to her if she gets upset, even if were at a restraunt, and he's in the middle of a conversation with his friends he's never too busy to sing. What a good daddy.

Oregon Coast: Part II - Blessing

2008-09-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

While we were in Oregon, Luther's dad bless or dedicate Selah. This is what Steve got from the Lord for Selah. Palms 10:18 "defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." He said she will be a great woman of mercy. She will thread the needle with a steady eye and a steady hand. Selah will be who people call when they need someone to be exact. She will be a women of precision in the natural with great hand eye coordination and in the spiritual realm she will bring order.

The Coast Part I : Answered Prayer

2008-08-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

The night before I left for Seattle, our final destination the Oregon coast, I was running around trying to make sure I had everything. Luther of course on call so he had the next day off to take me to the airport. My friend came over to help with Selah thank God! I had never traveled with an infant and I didn't want to forget anything. I sat at my computer finally getting Selah to sleep and I seriously continplated changing my flight to 4 days later so I could fly with Luther. I had a feeling of impending doom. I finally turned off the computer and went to sleep. The next day I was ready to go on time and Selah was having a great day. We got to the counter to check in and I was able to get a guess pass so Luther could go all the way to the gate. Just as a side note Southwest is a great airline to fly on esspecially with kids! Anyway, I turned around and I saw a familar face from my past. I took another look and it was indead who I thought it was. I walked up to Mary (one of my best friends from high School) and said casually are you going home? She looked up and of course with shock in her face we smiled, laughed and embraced. I couldn't believe that we had run into each other in Chicago both taking the same flight home. I knew it was an answered prayer. Mary and her husband Joel helped Selah and I all the way back to Seattle. Sitting across the isle from them made the flight go by so quickly as we chatted about our lives. Oh yeah... and Selah slept pritty much all the way home. Thanks Mary and Joel!

New York New York

2008-08-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

In May Luther graduated from Medical School. His commencement was June 6th in New York at Madison Square Gardens. I was due with Selah on June 16th. My OB originally said I would be able to go to New York. Two weeks before we were suppose to go my OB then said that I couldn't go. Apparently she forgot when I was due when she gave me the green light, and thought I was insane for even asking for the note 2 weeks before the event. So annoying!! All that to say I was unable to go to New York with Luther and his parents. Luther took my camera and his mom took lots of great pictures so I could get a feel for what they experienced. I just uploaded the pictures and it looks like they had a great time! It feels so good to be on the down hill slope of his medical career. Luther only has 3 years left of residency when we can finally move back to the West Coast. We can't wait!

The Ferry

2008-08-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Selah and I went to Seattle 4 days before Luther. So my mom had a get together for us over in Sequim at there home, you have to take a ferry to get there. Selah and I got ourselves ready and we headed for the Washington Peninsula. The weather was beautiful. I met a few ladies who were going to Forks WA. They're big fans of the Twightlight books series. Anyway, they heard you can get tours and see the town the books are set in so they were up from Utah to take the pilgramage. It just so happens that the girls in my wives group are all reading the same series so luckly I knew what they were talking about. One of the women also has a brother that lives in Janesville, Random! So, they took our photo to document Selah's first ferry ride. Ferry rides are one of my favorite things to do when I'm home. Here is Selah sporting a very fashionable Moby Wrap that I made to tote her around in. Unfortunately the only time she likes to be in it is when it is cold which it was, and when she is tired which she was, so it worked out very well! :)

Selah's Room

2008-08-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

I started on Selahs room as therepy preparing me for a little girl. I painted 4 flowers on 4 different caves to make one large art piece. I used the flowers that are found in the material on the bumper and curtains as my muse. I made the canopy over her bed, the liners for the baskets, the pillows and a few blankets. I was a sewing machine :) no pun intended. At one point my sewing machine broke because of the heavy use. Luther was able to take it apart and fix it for me. He's so good at that kind of stuff. Anyway, a friend made the bumper, skirt and quilt. I think it turned out great! Plus it can transition easily into a little girls room, it's not just for baby. The REST abover her bed is what her name means (To rest or reflect) today that proved true she slept 8 hours then, another 4 for a total of 12 hours! I went in to see if she was still there I was so suprised. I really enjoyed decorating her room. I think she really loves her room. As it turns out she is fasinated by art. If she can see one of the paintings on the wall is is mesmerized at least for a few min. That's her room it was a labor of love.

Generations

2008-08-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Seattle. I cried everyday realizing how much I miss my home. The Mountains and the water, it's overwhelming how awesome it was to live there. Of course living so far from your family isn't easy either. We took our new baby Selah home to Seattle to meet her friends and family. The most important of those family members my great grandma at 104 you never know when time might run out. Our daughter Selah Opal is named Great Great Grandma Gladys Opal Mortenson. I have a picture of me and my Great Great Grandma Reddy. I am thrilled to have the same picture for Selah. We were blessed to share that time with her grandma though it was short. It was not too soon, the day after we had the photos taken, Grandma Gladys had a stroke and passed away about a week later. Grandma had seen and done so much in her life, she will be greatly missed.