Ohio -- Halloween

Ohio– Halloween 2009

We finally made it back to visit our family in Ohio in October. It was wonderful as always! For Dominic, Ellie and I – it was our first time to experience an Ohio Fall – it was picture perfect! The weather was amazing. The leaves were glowing with red, orange and bright yellow hues. The air was crisp and the food was wonderful – as always!

For Ellie – she finally got to hug her grandma and papa, Aunties, Uncles and loved ones in Ohio. She can’t wait to return!

It was so fun to celebrate the festivities of Halloween. (It was really the first year that Dominic was absolutely aware and into it – oh so much fun!) We also got to enjoy Mama Lepore’s wonderful cooking, the Ohio haircut with Dominic the barber, dancing to Dominic the Donkey, a Poland Bulldogs football game, great food and festivities with our family and Ohio friends and even a new Cleveland Indians hat for Chris! It was so nice to just be in Ohio relaxing and having fun with family and friends.

Each day was like Christmas for Dominic as he savored the showering of hugs, kisses and gifts from all of his Aunties and Ohio friends. Dominic loved playing with Jack, Maria and Gino – although he’s determined to be bigger than Gino the next time we visit. (Don’t’ tell Dominic this, but it will take him years to gain 90 more pounds so that he can be as big as Gino.)

Everyone was so wonderful to tell Dominic stories all day, every day. Linda told stories, Diane told stories, Tina told stories and Grandma told stories…. Just about anyone Dominic could pin down told him stories and sang him songs. Papa’s stories seemed to be Dominic’s favorite. He loved the stories about the octopus and the pirates. Papa made this scritch-scratching sound with his hand when he described the main characters in his stories and many of them ended with shooting someone or something. Amazingly, Dominic is now incorporating these details into his own newfound stories after Ohio.

Dominic fell in love with the gun cabinet in his bedroom. He told me, “Mommy, I get to sleep in the gun room!” And he is in awe that Papa has an Octopus gun, Crocodile gun and an elephant gun in that cabinet. Papa couldn’t find the keys to let Dominic hold those guns (phooey), but Dominic’s chomping at the bit to return so he can hold those guns and put “bull nuts” into them to shoot the Octopus.

This was the first time in the three years that Dominic has been going to Ohio that he was aware that we had to leave. He was so sad and didn’t’ understand why we couldn’t stay. (I’m secretly hoping that perhaps the pain of goodbye that we experience each time we leave our family and loved ones behind in Ohio will help Dominic and Ellie decide that they want to live in Oregon when they grow up. Maybe families leave each other every other generation as they see how painful it is to live so far away from the ones we love? We really wish we lived closer. Blame it on Chris for leaving OhioJ Oops, we never would have met had he stayed!)

As always, Ohio was a wonderful adventure and we can’t wait to return! We only wish there was a direct flight!

Blessed

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Blessed – Nov 13

Lately, when I think about our life, one word keeps coming to mind – Blessed. Each day is such a treasured gift -- we are blessed.

With too many of our close family members and friends having these "near misses" with illness this past year – each of them thankfully has walked away strong – we are blessed.

Wonderful family, incredible friends, warm home, delicious nourishment, safety and health… We are blessed.

And we are oh so very thankful!

As each day passes, our little cherubs keep growingJ Here are some glimpses at the little wiggle worms… And oh yes, we are BLESSED.

Dominic --Three At Last!

Good-bye two – hello three!!

Yes, our sweet potato is now three! He is so thrilled! But now he wants to be five! I told him he has to hold on because we are not ready for five just yet!!

He started planning his birthday back in May when he told me he wanted a” pina-yata” for his Happy Birthday. To this day, we do not know where he learned about piñatas – but it was a great idea.

We checked out a book called, Hooray, A Piñata and it fueled his adoration for piñatas even more. In the book the two characters talk about how they want to whack and smack and thump the piñata until all the candy falls out. SO for months we’ve heard about Dominic “macking and whacking” the piñata with a big stick.

As the months leading up to his birthday unfolded, Dominic would add more dimensions to his party. He told us whom he wanted to have there – absolutely every one of his friends and cousins was on the list. (Unfortunately his Ohio family couldn’t make itL.) He even wanted humpty dumpty. Next he told us that he wanted to have honey and one day when we were making cookies, after licking the sugar off his fingers, he told me, “Mommy I want to have that stuff at my happy birthday party too.”

Well, we didn’t have honey or bowls of sugar, but we had two parties, with two piñatas filled with sugary candy and treats. Dominic got to mack, whack, and thwack and thump the piñata – I would say it was everything he expected. He really loves the stick – just the sight of it makes him smile!

In the end, all of the kiddos seemed to Dominic’s piñata idea for they all got to whack the things a few times and then dive for the candy. If this third birthday is any indication, Dominic will likely host some great parties in his lifetime – to no credit of oursJ

I’ll have to take pictures of the Super “D” cape that Miss Irene made for Dominic – he LOVES it and it’s so Dominic!

Two was so much fun! We are now opening our arms to the wonderful quirks, challenges and celebrations that are three!

THE CHANGING FACES OF LITTLE MISS ELLIE

Sept. 30

Ellie is 11 weeks today and Dominic is 3! First, let’s start with Ellie. Thought I’d go ahead and share rapid growth of our sweet little girl -- she’s growing like crazy!

I hate to admit it, but those first five weeks, I was whispering in her ear to “grow, grow.” For me, those first five weeks are the hardest. They are comparable to getting in shape as a runner. In the beginning, it’s just so painful, and I can barely run, but once I get into shape, I adore my long runs and want them to last and last. When my babies arrive, I am initially overwhelmed by their wee needs – I’m a wimp! But as time passes, I get into a groove and love every minute. As for Ellie, I’m not telling her she can slow down in her growth… She’s not listeningJ For what it’s worth; I truly am cherishing every minute of it!

Ellie’s personality thus far:

She’s sleeping 6 – 7 hours straight each night – (I keep pinching myself after our first year of Dominic’s every 2.5 hour wake-ups!)

She has a smile that lights up a room

She smiles and looks when she hears Dominic’s voice

She has the sweetest little voice

She adores music – the louder the more apt it is to put her to sleep

She detests the car seat. (Funny how I forgot about that fact for Dominic. I had flash backs eventually and then Chris reminded me that it lasted the entire first year with Dominic. I’m hoping that when she becomes more aware that Dominic can entertain her in the back seat. He’s amazingly patient with the full throttle screeching that goes on beside him in the back seat. I have told him that she sounds just like he did when he was her ageJ)

She’s a wee little dream – an easy baby. I wonder if it’s that she’s so easy or that we are much more relaxed this time around? With Dominic, we were learning as we went and thus were much more nervous about things.

Perhaps it’s the sleep we get this time around, but I’m suddenly understanding of how people can have babies so close together. I remember with Dominic, at the one- year point, Chris and I were looking at each other and saying, “How do people do more than one of these?” It took us until he was almost two to know we truly wanted a second child.

Enough of my banter, let’s take a look at the changing faces of little Miss Ellie…

Catching up -- Sept. 14

Can't even believe it has been months since my last post. I wrote one on Sept. 14 but never did get to post, so let me attempt to get it out there:)

September 14, 2009

OK, time slips by way too fast! It’s been a wonderful eight plus weeks! Little Ellie is getting so big (I’m guessing close to 10 pounds already!) and her smiley little personality is emerging. It’s so much fun! Ellie’s smile lights up a room and her sweet little voice is so melodic. When she hears music, or when I hum or sing, she smiles. I love it!

Dominic adores being a big brother! He looks out for Ellie, hugs her and always wants to hold her. Through all of the challenges we have had with his adjustments to sharing mommy and daddy, he gobbles up his little sister with hugs and kisses.

Dominic is becoming so independent it’s mind-boggling. Last week he came out of his room in the morning and had his outfit for the day. (Of course it was his Ohio State jersey with Lepore on the back and his “football shorts” and socks!)

Back to Ellie -- It’s amazing how much I forgot about those first weeks of little life. Little Ellie did not let us put her down for about the first six weeks. This meant that sleep included a wee baby nestled on my chest for many nights. Of course it was mediocre sleep, I know I will yearn for these few short weeks as time continues to slip by.

She actually just started sleeping on her own in the Graco last week. We swaddle her up and she manages to get a good 4 hours on her own. (Last night, she slept from 11 – 5:30!) This much sleep makes parenting a dream!

Eliana Caroline Lepore - July 15, 2009

Little Miss Eliana has arrived!

Eliana Caroline Lepore

Born July 15 at 1:21 in the afternoon

Weight 6 lbs. 13 oz.

Length 19 inches

Absolutely PerfectJ

It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since I last wrote.  To say that a lot has happened over this past week is an understatement.  The littlest Lepore has finally joined our family.  We are all thrilled and feel absolutely blessed that she’s healthy, happy and busily growing!

Prepare for Arrival!

Ellie’s arrival was it’s own unique experience for Chris and I.  There’s something about showing up at the hospital at a set time and eventually walking yourself to an operating room.  I must admit, as we proceeded down the long, shadowy hallway, thoughts of a plan B for getting Eliana into this world whirled through my mind. How else could I get her into this world besides enduring surgery? What if I wasn’t strong enough to have a spinal tap?  Would I feel the entire procedure?  Maybe I could have them put me to sleep so that I wouldn’t wimp out.  No -- not an option because I had to be awake for her arrival… 

To be honest, my strength and resolve came from Grandma Lepore.  I knew that she was in Ohio lying in a hospital bed.  The next day, she would be undergoing open-heart surgery.  If she could undergo such a strenuous procedure at 75, certainly I could endure a simple incision in my belly.  This one’s for Grandma and Ellie!

Chris seemed a bit apprehensive about the entire experience as well.  He knew there was no way he could watch the procedure – just be there for me and baby.  I had to convince him before we departed for the operating room to take the camera – he just didn’t think he could take photos.  He was focused on not passing out…

Somehow, Chris and I found the strength to thrive through it all. 

After walking into the brightly lit, sterile operating room, the anesthesiologist and nurses had me sit up on the table with my legs dangling down and lean forward to hug my legs.  They numbed my spine with some kind of solution and then injected the medicine. 

I felt a warm wave wash through my lower body; the warmth started with my belly and rapidly worked its way to my feet.  They immediately had me help put my feet and legs up on the table before I lost sensation.  The next thing I knew, I could feel nothing from my belly down.  Mentally, I felt a dulling sense of awareness.  I certainly knew what was going on, but my sensations and focus were fuzzy – quite a strange sensation.  To be honest, this is what I don’t like about strong medication, the surrendering of control and focus…

 Once my body was numb, they put a bluish colored sheet-like curtain up that separated the lower half of my body from the top.  Chris and the anhestheologist talked to me behind our side of the curtain to discuss what was going on as the doctors worked their magic with my belly.  It was so odd listening to the doctors converse about their daily lives as they operated.  Just another day at the office.

Just ten minutes into the procedure  I heard, “Look at all that hair.”  But no sound from baby.  Where was that first breath?

I guess it takes a bit longer when a baby is gently removed from mama’s belly rather than pushed out over a period of time as happens in regular labor.  I remember Dominic’s first cry upon his arrival.   But this time was unique for us in every way. No baby cry at first.

After what seemed like minutes but was probably only seconds, Eliana let out her first little cry.  At that moment, tears swelled up in my eyes and the delightful smile of a new mama appeared on my face.  Chris leaned over and kissed me.  Joy. 

After that initial cry, Chris was beckoned behind the curtain that was separating us from Eliana. There, he helped the nurses as they washed her off a bit before giving her to me.  I got to hold her for about 10 minutes and then she and Chris were whisked away to a warmer room so that she could have her initial checks and I could be sewn back together.  Those moments belong to Chris and Eliana alone.

Eventually, I was wheeled back to join Chris and Eliana.  Once thy put Eliana in my arms, I didn’t want to let her go…

Life begins as a family…

I’ve been thinking of words to introduce this new chapter…

Delight (noun) Great pleasure. 

Joy and Delight are the only two words that even come close to describing my initial reaction upon meeting Eliana – funny, I felt the same joy upon meeting Dominic.  I must say that I worried about this bond throughout my pregnancy.  How could I love another being as much as Dominic?  Well, that intense bond of love appeared upon little Ellie’s arrival .  Wow, now I get to adore two little beings.  Blessed.

Things I love…

Holding, holding and holding my sweet baby girl and feeling her warmth…

Brushing my cheek against her soft head of fine dark hair.  Her hair feels as soft  as the fur on the underbelly of a kitten – so soft.

Those itty, bitty feet and her feminine, fragile, sinuous fingers

All variations of those cute baby squeaks

High pitched hiccups (Did Dominic have such high pitched hiccups?)

Watching her little legs kick

Cuddling with her curled little body on my chest

That sweet baby smell and her soft, warm, smooth baby skin

The warmth and sound, rise and fall of her belly as she breaths life

The way Chris cuddles and gently talks to Eliana

Watching Chris as a Daddy

Dominic’s absolute delight in “his baby “

CIRCLE (noun) a closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from a point within it called the center –

I would say at the center of the circle is life.

Throughout the past week I’ve been thinking about the circle of life its’ circular relationships.  At times the circle expands, and at other times it contracts.  A series of circles overlap representing the different sets of circles that we are a part of in our lives.

Through it all, we have one another to lean on…  For Chris, Dominic, Pogo and I, our circle just expanded.  It feels so complete.  Eliana has aso expanded the realm of our larger family circles.

But as we all know, life itself is also circular.  It can be so sweet but at the same time sad and sometimes bitter.  For what it’s worth Eliana and grandma Mary now share the birthday in our family circle.  So sweet. 

However, over this past week, the circle of our Lepore family is simultaneously celebrating the joy of Eliana’s arrival while praying for the health of Grandma Lepore (Chris’s mama).  The day after her 75^th birthday, and the day after sweet Ellie’s arrival, Grandma Mary went in for open-heart surgery.  We are still praying for her rapid, healthy recovery.  So far, things are slowly progressing forward. 

Family and friends certainly unveil the reality of the circular relationships of life.  Life receives meaning because of the way we depend on one another for our survival and the way each little piece of the circle contributes so much joy to our lives. 

It is our circle of family and friends that make us feel so alive, so complete, so absolutely blessed… We cherish this circle of our family and friends.  To borrow from Emily Dickinson, our friends (and family) are our estate.  

The birth of each of our children has made us pause and embrace the circles in our lives...

Prelude to a new chapter

4:15 – Slipped in to check on Dominic.  I draped a blanket over his sprawled out little body in hopes of ensuring a few more hours of restful sleep in his big boy bed. 

4:27 – Hear the pitter patter of little feet followed by the CREAK of floorboards.  Dominic sleepily climbs into our bed, gently stepping over my belly.  He mutters something about stitches.

A mental slideshow begins to play in my mind.  This one is complete with different colored lenses that strike a chord at the range of emotions bubbling within.

ANTICIPATION/EXCITEMENT – What is our sweet little girl going to look like?  Will she have hair?  How much will she weigh?  What kind of disposition will she have? The past few times the Doctor has listened to her heartbeat, she has commented on her calmness.  

REFLECTION – Isn’t it weird how we take an absolutely perfect, beautiful wee child with such soft skin, fresh baby smell, sweet little squeaks and dress her in a man made outfit?  How unnatural…

BLISS -- I can’t wait to cuddle her -- feel her warm, smooth skin, and inhale that sweet baby breath on my face.  I will cherish every moment…

NOSTALGIA – Oh how I love cuddling with Dominic, my little boy curled next to me.  Feeling the warmth of his little hand as he holds it up against my face.  Listening to the sleep filled giggle of whatever dream he is watching in his mind.  Feeling the rise and fall of his little belly that assures me he’s breathing and so full of life.  He’s so sweet and calm when he sleeps.  I love the way he instinctively crosses his arms up and behind his neck, cradling his head in his hands – just like he was doing when we saw him through that first 3-D ultrasound.  So amazing how some things don’t change…   

DELIGHT

(I am holding on to one last slide -- its' lens is a different color.  Perhaps I'll share later...)

-- END SLIDE SHOW --

Today is Grandma Mary’s 75^th birthday.  Happy Birthday Mama Lepore!  Our sweet baby can't wait to kiss you! Dominic is already sending hugs and kisses!  We LOVE YOU!

Let’s go forth and embrace the new littlest Lepore.

Bring this sweet little girl into the world.

Wallow in the absolute JOY that is today.

I thank you god for most this amazing day!

 

 

July 12 – 12:29 Emergency Room – Ten Simple Stitches

Dominic took a tumble…

Sunday, I was out grocery shopping.  Chris was home beginning to install some new windows we have been dreaming of replacing.  I had left Dominic less than 40 minutes prior with his Auntie Gretchen to play with his cousins Benny and Mia. 

Just as I had put my last item into the cart and was heading toward the check out stand, my cell phone rang.  It was Auntie Gretchen.

“Melinda, you need to come back.  Dominic has been hurt.  I called 9-1-1 and the paramedics are on the way… He’s going to need a plastic surgeon.”  These were the words I heard from a worried, but trying to keep her self calm Auntie Gretchen.   I could hear Dominic crying in the background.

Twelve minutes later, after leaving frantic messages for Chris to meet us at the ER, I pulled up to see crying Dominic draped in the arms of Gretchen. Benny and Mia stood nearby and paramedics had a concerned look on their faces.  I tried to pull it together as my tears started to flow. 

Stay calm– somehow I sort of managed.

I scooped Dominic into my arms and we put him into the car. Gretchen and the kids drove us to the hospital. 

By now I had peered at the gaping wound about ½ inch below his eyebrows.  It was about ¾ inches deep and bright red blood was trickling out… 

Maintain composure.  Feel sweep of absolute heat overtake me.  Baby kicking – at least she’s OK.  Ride to hospital…

A worried Chris was already there waiting.  Same reaction, shock on his face, move away from the car.  Reemerge with a composed determination to take care of his dear son.

We checked in and waited.  And waited.  As the next two and a half hours blurrily slipped by, Chris and I took turns trying to maintain perspective of the big picture.  How lucky were we that Dominic would only need stitches, it could have been so much worse. 

At the same time we couldn’t help but feel the heavy blanket of sadness settle upon us.  This was our first experience of feeling helpless – unable to protect our sweet son from the inevitable pain that life will toss his way now and then. 

When I asked Chris how he was feeling, he said, “I’m sad.” He always has such a clear, simple ways of summing things up.

The wait continued.  

After a 45-minute nap in Chris’s arms, Dominic was ready to play.  We entertained him by riding around the hospital in the wheel chair, making up our usual really bad stories about bears, cars and whatever subject requests Dominic could conjure up, and helping him dream up requests for the food or drink he craved – ice cream, French fries, orange juice, etc.  (We were not allowed to let him eat or drink as they anticipated a need to sedate him for his stitches.) 

After waiting hours for the people who had arrived before us, or truly had life threatening conditions, we eventually made it in to see the Doctors. 

Turns out, they needed to sedate Dominic. 

Dominic was his usual inquisitive self.  As he lay there on the hospital gurney, with nothing but a diaper on, they applied 7 different leads with an array of colorful cords.  With the application of each one, Dominic curiously and quietly watched.  We counted and there were seven.  I told him that one more would make him an octopus.  He then asked the nurse and doctors to please put one more on so that he could be an octopus.

6 p.m. -- After Dominic was all stitched up and eventually reemerged from the fog of sedation; we finally got to head home as an exhausted but absolutely relieved and happy family.  We survived the ordeal intactJ

Dominic got to have French fries for dinner…  We didn’t even care that there was nothing healthy about it.

To say that we are blessed is an understatement. 

As we went through the entire experience, Chris and I knew we would look back upon this incident as a drop in life’s huge ocean.  We knew that it could have been a million times worse! But for that particular “moment,” it felt like we were treading water in life’s vast ocean.   It just hurt.

Maybe we’ll be more laid back during our next surprise encounter with life’s inevitable challenges.   Hopefully we’ll be just as lucky and he’ll only need ten simple stitches!

The accident in detail... Dominic was playing on a little toy horse that stands about two feet tall.  Somehow he leaned forward and the horse toppled over.  His nose hit the wall and then the brow of his nose slammed into the sharp corner of the box floor molding.  What were the odds that he would hit just right?  Thank God he didn’t break his nose!