The life of a NICU parent

This is a NICU parent.

So is this.

Here are a few thoughts I have on being a NICU parent:

• Spend every moment you can with your baby.
• Sleep when your body makes you sleep.
• Go home to sleep and end up crying for an hour about the little one you left at the hospital.
• You meet a stranger while washing your hands to see your baby. You don't make small talk. You ask, "How early was yours born?" or "What's your baby in for?"
• Ask the nurses every question you can think of. But really, you have no idea what's going on.
• Sleep in the waiting room (Yes, I've slept on that couch where the man in the first picture is sleeping).
• Sleep when you hold your baby (until the nurse comes in).
• Sleep when they close the NICU for 1 hr and a half.
• Sleep in the McDonald charity room while a family of 10 wait in there with you.
• Sleep when you wait for food to come at a restaurant.
• Put up with any sort of restrictions you get put on you, like this:

Yes, Phoenix is in isolation. We must mask, gown, and glove before we see her. 

We can't go anywhere else in the NICU.

But there's really no complaint to be given. 

Because this is worth it:

And because your baby is not the baby that was born at 23 weeks and is in the corner fighting for their life.

And your baby is not the baby that's been in the NICU for 5 weeks.

And your baby is not taking major step backwards, like suddenly developing a diaphragm problem the day they're supposed to go home.

And you don't have other kids at home that you have to divide your time between- your newborn and your other kiddos.

But really.

This is worth it.

My BFF

Is having baby #2.

Sending happy thoughts her way tonight... happy happy thoughts.

Can't wait to become an Auntie.

Can't wait to see her on the 30th and help her out!

How This is Gonna Go Down

So a few weeks ago we broke the news on here about Spud. And while this change turns many blogs into diaries of puking, mood swings, and baby prep talk, that won't happen here. That's fine- I'm not dissing on blog styles that roll that way. Russ and I just do things a bit differently.

So while I will occasionally talk about it, I'll still talk about the other stuff that is going on in our life. Like the trip to Utah I have coming up and this professional conference I'm going to attend. And the other fun summer stuff Russ and I will do since I'm not in school for the next month and a half.

This post, is one of those little updates. Because my sister-in-law, who has had 5 kids, said she regretted never taking these kinds of pics. And because I value her advice (and could care less for the advice of people who are not my close friends or family members) here's the first pic. Russ and I are going to take one every 5 weeks, and post it on here. 

As you can see it looks like I just ate too much. And that I have bad posture. I honestly forget about Spud about 90 % of the time because I just can't see anything besides a little chub. And I'm not sick. So perhaps in 5 more weeks this will be something more to ooh and aahh at, instead of looking like the before picture in a Weight Watchers ad.

And PS: We're not finding out if it's a boy or a girl. So please, don't hold your breath for an announcement of a Wilde Baby boy or a Wilde Baby girl. : D

Until tomorrow! Happy Sunday!

The Oxford Comma

I grew up on the Oxford Comma. I think when I was in college I met people who told me the Oxford Comma wasn't necessary anymore and it was... ornamental.

I still use the Oxford Comma.

But apparently these days the Oxford Comma may become extinct like Calligraphy.

In fact, it was just dropped by the University of Oxford Style Guide. (See here)

But I ask you: fellow readers, bloggers, and users of the English grammar tools:

SAVE THE OXFORD COMMA.

Have you read this far and you don't know what an Oxford Comma is?

Well check this out. It does make a difference:

Yuck.

Spud

Hello, I am Baby Wilde.

I'm expected to arrive in early January.

So far I have learned how to wave hello.

 And I'm a really good swimmer.

Just ask my parents, Russ and Chow!

What I ♡ About Wednesdays

Wednesdays used to be the worst day of the week for me. Why? Well, because it's the middle of the week and I live apart from my husband. So Wednesday means that I haven't seen him since Monday morning and I won't see him until Friday night. Wednesday is like the bottom of my law school hole that I crawl in and out of every week. But this year I've tried to make Wednesdays a positive, and it's worked.

Over the summer I took the first of many yoga teacher training classes. To complete the training, I have to teach 8 free yoga classes. So why not teach these classes on Wednesday?

I love it. I love teaching yoga. After each class I brace myself for the participants to say, "well that was awful." But I'm pleasantly surprised that, after each class, everyone takes a big sigh of relief and thank me. It's a wonderful experience to see a group of individuals who don't know each other spend some time together and create a kind of community in just one hour.

I can't wait until I teach again! Hooah!

I think I might start posting some easy, short yoga moves on here as well. Just to spread the yoga love!

I ♡ Wednesdays!

LOST and lost

My experience with LOST began in 2006. I had just returned from my mission and, in a cliché way, I was lost.

I had just returned from my mission. If you know me, you know that I am a planner. On my mission I made it a point not to plan life after my mission. So when life after my church service began, I did not really know where to start.

Now, Russ was there. My family was there. But I was unsure of how to adjust. I am pretty sure all missionaries experience this.

Well, Russ and I went and visited Scott and Andrea (my brother and sister-in-law) in Pocatello, Idaho. After a nice dinner we wanted to watch a movie. But instead Russ, Scott, and Andrea convinced me to watch LOST.

Initially I was interested because it was filmed in my third area, Kahalu’u. So I was curious to see my old area on tv.

I think it was the second or third episode that I recalled my political science class from undergrad. I had studied John Locke in political theory. It’s hard to explain the spark that occurred. But we stayed up watching LOST until early in the morning.

I was an addict from there.

So, as I watch the end of this show tonight, I cry without saving any face. I am closing that awkward chapter in my life (I know, I know. Kind of late to close it). I look back at all the changes that have happened to me since I’ve been home. Too many to list here.

But I’m starting a new chapter in life. I am no longer the FOB missionary I once was. I’m not really a newly wed or in my early 20’s even. I’m not a first year law student.

Today, I became a certified yoga instructor. I work in a legit legal office (not some prep job for law school). Russ and I have been married over 3 years. So what I’m saying is that it’s time for LOST to end. I am ready for the next chapter.

So Thank you LOST. And Aloha.