Introducing...

Eva Sophia Malone was born on Halloween night at 8:18 pm, 4 lbs. 15 oz., 18 inches long.


She spent 10 days in special care with only one complication while she was there: she had an apnic episode where she stopped breathing for 15 seconds. This is a common thing in babies born at 34 weeks, but they wanted to keep her for at least 7 days beyond the episode to insure nothing else happened.




Nothing did, and after 8 days of driving up to the hospital every 3 hours to feed her, I was so relieved when we finally got to bring her home.



Nancy was an absolute Godsend, taking care of Will just about every waking minute AND helping us cook, clean, and get the house ready for Eva's discharge.



Michael was also such an awesome help, taking Will while I was in the hospital the week before she was born. Our church also stepped in, as I mentioned before. It's times like these that you truly understand how important the community is, both as a giver and a receiver.

Because of cold and flu/RSV season, Will was not allowed in the special care nursery (all siblings/children were prohibited) and didn't meet Eva until she was discharged from the hospital. We often wondered what was going through his head as I got my coat on and rushed out the door every 3 hours. He really showed no signs of understanding what was happening and even since she's been home, he's been the same little boy. He likes to pat Eva's head gently while she eats and put his head to hers in a mini hug. He is really sweet when it comes to babies and it's no different with Eva.





The most difficult part about coming home with a preterm baby is the fact that it's cold and flu season and due to her fragile immune system she is at high risk for getting sick. Because of this we have to avoid public places for at least 3 months and limit non-family visitors. No one is allowed in the house that has even the slightest signs of having a cold or being sick. It sounds anal, but in my doctor's words "You kinda have to be paranoid. The alternative is another extended stay in the hospital. " It's already affected plans for Thanksgiving as my sister and her family were planning on coming and they can't now because Mia (my niece) currently has a cold and gets them a lot this time of year. We had a visit with Dr. Schmandt on Thursday and we talked about the risks, with RSV being the biggest. She told us that toddlers are the most common carriers (especially those in daycare) and even then it's hard to know when they have it because the symptoms are the same as a cold. Dr. Schmandt recommended Eva to our insurance co. to get the RSV vaccination but she was denied because she has to meet more criteria- Ex: born at an even earlier week or have a sibling in daycare. She also told us that Will is a big risk (he just got over an ear and sinus infection) and we need to do our best to keep him healthy. That part is going to be hardest. Needless to say, we've been hand-sanitizing nazis.

Besides all of that paranoia, she's really doing amazingly well. We get home visits from a pediatric nurse twice a week for two weeks and we had the first visit on Wednesday. According to her Eva has just been sailing along. She was impressed with how well she did at birth and in the special care nursery, not needing a feeding tube or help with breathing. What also impressed her was how well she's been nursing. She's already gained weight (she's up to 5 lbs. 2 oz.) and grown a half of an inch.

We are truly blessed despite all the possibilities. We have a healthy baby girl, even though technically she wasn't due to make an appearance for another 6 weeks. I'm feeling great and am so relieved about the success of the VBAC.

Here's a little summary of the birth: After 5 days in ante-partum after my water broke I was induced at 34 weeks. I got an epidural remembering the pain of the contractions from Pitosin with Will's birth. I have no regrets about this because those contractions came so fast and frequent (I did feel them on a much lesser scale- they just felt like menstrual cramps) that I'm sure I would have ended up with the epidural anyway. After 10 hours of resting in bed, reading, listening to music, and even watching a little tv, the contractions got more intense and I started feeling a lot of pressure. Then it all happened so fast. Within 30 minutes the baby was born. I was scared that Dr. Turner wouldn't get there in time, but she did. My recovery has been worlds better and I definitely recommend a VBAC to any woman for their second child. Of course, I realize that it could have ended in C-section, but it's so worth the attempt.



Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement, prayers, and phone calls. What an amazing feeling to be surrounded by such love and support.

In The Hospital

Many of you probably got the news, but my water broke last night around 5:30. I have been hospitalized and put on bedrest while they try to keep me pregnant until Friday. Marisa beat me to the chase and posted a pretty thorough description of what's going on, so I'll send you to her blog here so you can read about it.

We have gotten a flood of emails and phone calls with all of your concerns and well-wishes, and for that we are truly grateful. Our church is pulling together a dinner-delivery list and even a sign-up for babysitting if needed. What a blessing.

I am in fairly good spirits and am anxiously awaiting the birth of this little girl who apparently wants to be a little early on the scene. We pray for her health and our emotional stability as we approach the challenge. Thank you for being such an important part of that.

Halloween PJs

You know that phrase "this too shall pass"? Well, as trite as it may sound it's good to keep in mind on the days that I feel like the world is crashing in (i.e. the day of my last post). Because, like my dad and I talked about on the phone the other day, things could always be much worse. I know this in my head, but thanks for listening and empathizing with me when it's hard to remember (or when verbally spewing out my emotions serves a cathartic purpose more than anything else).

One answer to prayer- Laura called me and reminded me that she has two girls with crates of girl clothes that they've outgrown. I'm all for sharing and passing-on, so this is a huge answer to clothing prayers.

The contractions have seemed to slow down and I've traded them for a slight cold. I'll take the cold. Rodney and Will have been passing it around and are more miserable than me (well, Rodney anyway). Rodney's looking forward to a relaxing weekend playing soccer (homecoming) and attempting to get at least 8 hours of sleep at night. I'm cheering him on in both respects.

Will's napping has seemed to improve this week. The only exception was on Sunday when Rodney was painting his room and we put him in the pack 'n play in our room. He was quiet for a good while after I put him down so I thought he was alseep, but then I went in to get something and found him playing with my music bag (it was on a surface he could reach). After picking up a few pieces of shredded music, I moved the pack 'n play further from anything he could potentially get a hold of and shut the door. Then, after about an hour of hearing him play on the monitor, Rodney went in to get him and found him pantless, diaperless, and half shirtless (one arm out). Needless to say, he wasn't really into napping on Sunday.

I am currently in one of the most stressful times in my life.

I just started my eighth month of pregnancy and we moved into a house that needs so much work. My 16 month old needs constant activity and trips to the park are getting harder and harder (the back yard will soon have to become our "park"). I just started singing in another professional choir and have forgotten twice to go to rehearsals due to scatterbrained-absentmindedness that according to my pregnancy book is on the increase at 32 weeks. I have 5 nights in a row of Bach Society, with 2 concerts, 1 rehearsal and two recording sessions. It's a good thing I'm paid to be there. There's noone but me to clean the upstairs apartment to get it ready for Juanita and this one still needs lots of organization. Will needs winter clothes, Eva has no clothes and I'm on the verge of tears (all of this with Rodney's Africa trip in 2 weeks). This is a raw post, I know.

So, where is all this stress getting me? Apparently a visit to the hospital. I need to start by saying that everything is fine, but I definitely need to take it easy.

Some background information is needed: Last Monday at my OB check-up Dr. Turner asked if I was having contractions and I casually replied "yes." She asked about frequency and some other things and seemed concerned. I was not concerned (until she was) because I remember having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions with Will. After doing a cervical exam she determined that I was "thin" and that my cervix was at the midway point. She warned me that if I had an episode of 6 contractions in one hour that I needed to come in to the hospital. She debated whether or not I should come in the following week (instead of 2 weeks) but said that if anything happened between now and then just to come in. Fast forward to Friday night. I was singing in Alton with Bach Society and had consistent contractions throughout the concert and even well after I got home. I decided to eat, drink and sleep and go in to the hospital the next morning. They checked me and said that I'm definitely thin but not dilated, so they sent me home with some instructions to stay hydrated. I still need to speak with Dr. Turner, but it's definately shaken us up.

So, what now? After this week I don't need to go to Bach Society rehearsals because I'm not singing in the Christmas concert due to baby arrival. I've also decided that I MUST rest when Will is resting and pare down my commitments as much as possible. If this means sleeping in on Sundays and missing church, then I've decided not to feel guilty (as was the case this Sunday). I'm accepting/asking for more help from Rodney and trying not to get worked up over the "little things." I'm very grateful for the encouragement I've received from family and friends and look forward to having Nancy around in a few weeks and after that family to be around when the baby is born. I have to remind myself that I am not alone.

I said it was a raw post.

On a more positive note, Rodney was able to paint Will and Eva's room this weekend. This provided me with some tears of joy and a respite from my stress. Thank you, Rodney.

Two Posts for the Price of One

Hopefully you will consider this post a deal and not a tedious way to get you all caught up.

Post 1: Moved-In
We are now officially moved in to the 1st floor apartment of our two-family flat and I am already enjoying the perks. Tasks such as laundry and grocery shopping at this stage of my pregnancy will no longer be as difficult as they once were. Something as simple as taking a walk with Will will be that much more convenient and letting the dog in and out is a cinch! In fact, as I write Che is contentedly sleeping on the back porch. He seems to be much happier when he can come and go outside whenever he wants.

Before I share photos, I want to thank some people: First of all, I need to thank my gracious brother-in-law Michael for taking an entire day off of work to paint for us. I am certain that I would be depressed having to stare at all of the unfinished walls of this place today, but now with two of the most important rooms finished (ceilings and all) it has made all the difference in the world. Thank you so much, Michael. Also, thanks to Michael, Scott and Kyle for helping us move. What a blessing it is to have such friends and family.

Now the pictures:

Living Room, Angle 1
(sorry about the blurriness)

Living Room, Angle 2

Dining Room

Kitchen and Will's forehead

Our Bedroom, complete with peeling walls

Will and Eva's Room, Angle 1
(we haven't gotten the bedroom window treatments in yet so the blankets are serving as black-out shades)

Will and Eva's Room, Angle 2

I feel pretty good about how things are coming together as far as overall organization. Now it's just the things that make a place feel like a home that I'm anxious about. Of course painting the rest of the house will make a huge difference, and then putting up wall hangings. The kitchen (ceiling) and the bathroom will most likely not get done before Thanksgiving and all I have to say is that I feel for Rodney as I know he's so overwhelmed with the task list.

Post 2: Other Notable News
Will is going through some interesting phases right now. The biggest is with napping. He's recently decided that he hates napping and for a couple of weeks would refuse to nap just about ever other day. We decided to do Ferber for naps so that he could be getting his sleep requirements and although it's definitely helped, we've still encountered rough spots. The other day he cried (after many visits from me) for over an hour in his crib and never napped. Thankfully, he's sleeping fine at night (probably from sheer exhaustion) although he is waking up earlier and earlier in the mornings. This morning he was up at 5:50. Ugh.

The other phase he's going through right now is stranger awareness. He's never actually gone through this this phase until now, so it's been interesting to observe. It's really not that bad, he just seems much slower to warm up than he ever has.

Oh, and food. Let's just say that there are days when Will constantly asks for food. I've determined that he does it when he's bored, which apparently is quite a bit. Rodney and I have discovered that he needs A LOT of stimulation and doesn't play alone for very long. Yesterday he whined nearly continuously during the day for food and I decided to add it to my "nah/no thanks" list ("no" is reserved for dangerous behaviors- either for himself or others). The "nah" worked yesterday and we'll see if it continues to work.

Will loves his books. This is one of the only things I can count on him doing on his own for a good 15 to 20 minutes. Making you proud, Grandma Nancy!

Right now his favorite word to say is "bus" and his favorite sound to make is a whinnying sound like a horse. Call them new fetishes. Sometimes William will neigh like a horse when he wakes up from a nap or do it repeatedly while riding in the back seat of the car. He also calls any large vehicle a "bus." Rodney and I spend a lot of time laughing these days.

The pregnancy seems to be going well and Eva is moving like crazy. A week or so ago she seemed to be moving constantly to the point of annoyance (imagine something pummeling your belly non-stop). I do get tired and sore when I overdo it, but as long as I rest during the day I feel much better. The nice thing about this pregnancy is that I actually have time during the day to do that (as long as Will naps, of course=)).

I am now singing with the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus which is pretty exciting, but have yet to attend a rehearsal. They are rehearsing for two different upcoming concerts, one of which I am not singing in because it's scheduled for the week of Eva's due date and I am not required to be at those rehearsals. I am really looking forward to singing with such a high quality ensemble. I'm sure there will be no end to what I learn.

I'll close with some photos of Will and I. Sorry you can't see the belly that well, I will try to get a good belly shot soon.

At Forest Park

Zen-Yoga Master

Quint-Bongo Boy - Making Uncle Marc proud!

Updates- mostly about the house for now

It has been a very busy month around the Malone house. The most important thing that's been going on (besides FINALLY getting our internet restored after about 2 weeks- hence the length btw. posts) has been the renovation of the downstairs apartment and the renting of the upstairs.

For about 2 weeks we had a barrage of phone calls, thanks to Rodney's wonderful little blurb about the apartment on Craig's List. I was showing the apartment sometimes twice a day, which was exciting but also a bit tiring as the place was always on display, even during dinner time. We ended up signing up for the free property management program that our neighborhood assoc. runs which really is awesome. In addition to doing free background checks on potential tenants, they take care of the application process, which requires a non-refundable $30 fee for each person 18 or older applying to live in the unit. By the middle of the 2nd week of showing the place we got an applicant that was approved and we decided to accept. She came over Friday night to sign the lease and informed us that she wouldn't need to move in until the middle of October. This couldn't have been better news because we had planned on moving downstairs the very next day so that Rodney could paint the upstairs before she moved in. The reason we were both very happy to postpone this can only be understood by browsing the following pictures:

Where the drop ceiling used to be in the kitchen

That's the quarter-in. round we pulled up to finish the floors

Our plan (lest I have a heart attack) was to clean things up as much as we could and get to each project when we could, prioritizing things like floors and paint. I realize that most of the living world hires contractors, but we have chosen not to go into debt and live in a construction zone. It's definitely requiring tons of patience and faith on my part (and hard work and anxiety on Rodney's).

I'm a dork and didn't take true before and after pictures (Connie was a saint living in the place, indeed, but it didn't look exactly like this when she moved out). I do at least have some project-progression photos.

The minute Connie moved out Rodney pulled up the nasty carpet in the dining/liv. room and the equally nasty linoleum in the kitchen, hallway, 2nd bedroom, and sunroom. He then proceeded to rip out the drop ceiling in the kitchen and parts of other rooms. The next week or so was mostly dedicated to refinishing the hardwood floors, with the aid of a book from Lowe's (thanks to the Hustons), lots of advice from home depot workers, and David and Jeffrey Wood (former ACA/Paraguay students who now attend Greenville College).

Master Bedroom:
Phase-One floors

(Notice the particles in the air? I took these beginning-project photos quickly as I could hardly breathe.)

Master Bedroom:
Finished floors

(Yes, that is a kitchen cabinet in the bedroom.)

Living Room/Entry:
Phase-One Floors

Dining/Entry:
Finished Floors

Kitchen:
Ripped-Up Floors

Kitchen:
Almost Finished Linoleum

Sunroom:
Ripped-up Linoluem

Sunroom:
Almost Finished Linoluem

Updates on other aspects of our lives to follow some other day.

Black Eyes and the Fire Department

For the most part I feel like I am a good parent. Over the past few weeks, however I have had more than one moment in which I question whether or not I am the best person to be in charge of such a fragile little being. Here is the evidence.

Example A1:

Two weeks ago while we were hanging out on the deck I reached over to put a shirt on Will and at that exact moment he tripped, fell and hit his eye on the the lower beam of the deck.

It was completely healed when just two days ago this happened:

Example A2:

He fell and hit his eye (note the same one) on Rodney's childhood bike (it's made of pure metal) while we were in the garage.

My little boy looks like he belongs on a hockey team.

Example B:

In between these two mishaps, about a week ago, Will got locked in the car while we were at Walgreens in the 85 degree heat. I decided to jump in the back and change his diaper before getting on the road and as I got out and shut the door all four locks engaged (with my keys and cell phone in the front seat). I ran into the store and proceeded to declare "I just locked my 15 month old in the car." They hurriedly called the police for me and and within minutes both they and the fire department arrived. The firemen assured me that if they could not get him out speedily that they would break the window. I thought, I sure hope they don't have to do that but if they do I really don't care because I just want my child out. Luckily it took them about 60 seconds and through tears I thanked them.

All I know is that this smile brightens my day and reminds me that the rewards of being a parent far outweigh the scary moments.

Thank God for that.