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Small E is awfully snarky today. And he gets madder than a hornet every time I try to suck out his nose with the bulb syringe. He's sleeping now, so that's good, maybe this will all go away. I hope so, or tomorrow we are staying home.
Some Evan tidbits for your Thursday: We put him in his first newborn size outfit last night, and it wasn't too bad. It actually almost fits. He's getting to be a big boy. Now he has a whole new wardrobe to throw up on.
He's still pretty cranky, but not sleeping as much. Last night he cried for a few hours, and was almost impossible to calm. Is this a payback for my behavior as a child?
The one thing that does calm him? Running water. If we turn on the shower and take him in the bathroom, or run water from the sprayer in the kitchen sink, he shuts right up and falls asleep. Unfortunately, he wakes and begins crying about a minute after you turn off the water. I think we need to look into installing a pond with a waterfall in his bedroom.
It didn't last. Baby is wide awake, and Mommy is very sleepy.
We had a bit of a scare today, and decided to take Evan in to the pediatrician to have him checked out. He's been sleeping for long stretches the last two days (like 7 hours last night, very unusual), and refusing some feedings and drifting back to sleep. When he was awake, he was very fussy and hard to calm. He just wasn't himself, so we took him in just to be safe.
Turns out there was nothing to worry about, but better safe than sorry. He's actually going through a growth spurt. He's gained 3/4 of a pound since last week...up to 6 lbs., 6 ozs. So it's actually a good thing he's sleeping so much, it's a growth sleep. I should enjoy it while it lasts!
Small E seems to have recovered from his tummy troubles over the weekend. I still have my cold, and I feel pretty yucky, but I'm hoping it will be gone soon.
Today Cara came over with lunch and helped out for a few hours, holding E, doing dishes, straightening up, etc. It was nice to just hang out with her like old times....we even watched "Days" together. Except that this time there was a baby with us. Yikes.
E-Dog and I aren't feeling too well today. My cold has gotten worse, and my head feels full and heavy. I'm trying to rely on hot showers and nasal spray so that I don't take anything that will get into my breastmilk and hurt E. I'm okay, I'd feel a lot better if I could just sleep for a long time.
E has been projectile vomiting and pooping in massive quantities since before lunchtime. He's not running a fever, so we're just keeping a close eye on him. He had a bath around two and has been sleeping on and off since then. He did breastfeed for a little bit, but mostly I'm just letting him sleep. That seems to be the best thing.
Tomorrow I think Granny Jane and Papa are stopping to visit, as well as Aunt Cara, so hopefully we can shake this thing. I'll keep everyone posted.
When E awoke for his feeding at 2:30 am, I woke from a dream that I had found him in his crib, not breathing. I was sweating. I think I am feeling nervous about him getting sick and having trouble breathing.
I feel like I am getting a cold. I don't know how...I haven't really been out of the house in weeks and all of our visitors are carefully screened and subject to hand washing. But Mike feels the same, though he says it's due to the change in weather. Either way, I feel like crap. And I'm afraid E is going to catch something.
He didn't get his monthly RSV shot yet because the doctor didn't have it. We're waiting on a call from him so we can go get it, but until then, we're vulnerable. I have heard that this has been the worst year in a while for flu and RSV, and I fear for little E. He is healthy, sure, so healthy that I sometimes forget how fragile his lungs and immune system really are. I just don't want him to end up back in the hospital, and I'm doing my best to protect him. I hope it's enough.
Happy 2 month birthday, E-Dog! Time flies when you're having baby fun.
Today the Early Intervention people came back...the social worker, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, and OT student. They evaluated E's motor, social and language skills, and he is right on target. He scored 0 or 1 months on each test, which means he is at or better than his corrected age. He will be followed up in 6 months.
The only problem they noted was that the right side of his head is getting flat. Honestly, I hadn't noticed, but it could be that he's favoring that side when sleeping or being carried. So we have to watch that, and try to lay him on the other side for a while until things even out. I'm going to start calling him "FlatHead".
Pediatrician visit today. E is 5 lbs., 10 ozs. and is 20 inches long. Tall and lean. He also got three shots today (ouch) but seemed more traumatized by being naked than by the needles. All is well, and we don't go back until April 29th.
We also took him for a short visit to St. V's, to see Mikaele and meet his new pal Logan, born this morning. He seemed happy, and they even got their pictures taken together. So cute. The two of them will be fighting over toys before too long!
E-Dog and I went out on the town yesterday while Daddy was driving to Philly with Uncle Jer. It was a nice day, but tiring, and he and I were glad to get back home to our routine last night. Unfortunately, we came home to a broken furnace, so we're bundled up tight until Kevin gets things back in working order. Thank God for Kevin.
Interesting note: E likes Oasis. Specifically the song "Wonderwall". We were dancing around the living room watching Control Freak on MTV2, and that video came on. He immediately quieted down, and still does now if I sing it to him. Who would have thought.....but good thing we have the cd!
E-Dog's baptism is scheduled for Sunday, April 7 at 1:30 pm at St. George. We've chosen my brother Jerry and Mike's sister Jo as godparents, and hopefully they'll take their roles seriously and load him up with mad presents. Just kidding. All are welcome, we'll attend the 12:30 Mass and then stick around after for the sacrament. And after that, cake and punch! Nothing like getting a good start on your faith life with some cake.
E still doesn't have the day/night thing down yet. Just when I think he's starting to get it, he pulls an all-nighter with me, and then we end up sleeping most of the morning. Oh well, at least we slept!
We've been working at breastfeeding for quite a while now, and over the last week I've become kind of discouraged. We had several marathon nursing sessions, we were still using the breast shield, and he was needing a bottle suppliment more and more. I was getting frustrated. But in the last day or so things have improved. He's abandoned the shield for the first time and is nursing more effectively, so our hard work has paid off.
He's asleep now, so I should make better use of my time and clean or fold laundry or something. A mother's work is never done!
Today was a better day. E slept well through the night and most of the day, and I got a little bit of sleep as well. Thank goodness. I guess we just have to take things one day at a time. Thanks to all for offers of help/babysitting/food though, I appreciate it! And I'll let you know what we need as we need it!
Tonight Mike and I went to baptism class at St. George. Fairly straightforward, and now we just have to schedule for a Sunday afternoon sometime in April. The priest who married us was there, and so was the nun I had for high school CCD. They both remembered us and were anxious for news about Evan, as he had been listed as a hospitalized parish member since his birth. Everyone was glad to hear about his good progress, and promised continued prayers and support.
For now, E and I are off to bed. We are ready for a snooze.
Wow. It's gotten to the point where I'm so tired I can't see straight. E has been very cranky and upset the past two days, where he cries a lot and doesn't sleep and wants to eat every hour or so. I think he must be having a growth spurt but it's hard on Mom and Dad. But you can't get mad at him, because he's just such a cute little thing and he had it so hard at the start. So we try to make the best of things.
I've slept about two hours in the last 48, and Mike is tired too. He's been handling dinner and stuff while I tend to Evan and other household concerns. I haven't even showered today. I hope tomorrow is better than today. And if it's not, we'll still survive. He's worth it.
A family bonds with each other at 4 am, watching Law & Order and trying to figure out why exactly baby is crying and what we can do to fix it. It's kind of like being in battle together, and we have the scars to prove it. We learn that being Mom and Dad isn't always easy, but the satisfaction of a content E and a case solved is more than worth it.
Ev's been in the world almost 7 weeks now, and even though he's not due for another 2 weeks, technically, we're started to understand his patterns and cycles much better then we did when we first brought him home.
Some things we've noticed:
Evan likes to sleep during the day, and not sleep during the night. He doesn't really like being in his basinette. He'd much rather sleep with Mom and/or Dad in bed or in someone's arms. He will scream for food, be given said food, then scream at it for another 5 minutes before he realizes he's eating and calms down. He makes some funny noises when he's sleeping. He burps like a champion.
It's pretty cool to finally begin to understand him a little.
Today was a quiet day...Small E did well eating and sleeping in his bed through the day, though he did eat a little more often than usual so maybe he's going through a growth spurt. Now he's chilling with Daddy on the computer, and in a few minutes we'll head to bed to watch Ed and West Wing.
Yesterday we went to the pediatric opthamologist so E-Dog could have his eyes checked. Because he was early and on oxygen for several weeks, he is at increased risk for developing retinopathy. So at 6 and 10 weeks he needs to have his retinas checked to make sure they are properly attaching and stuff. So far they are, no problem. We've been lucky that E is so healthy.
Tomorrow the lady from Early Intervention comes to the house to check him for developmental delays. I'll let you all know how that goes. I'm sure he'll do well, he's been exercising with Daddy every day. Our little bug is getting to be such a big strong boy!
Bathing a baby is never an easy task. We've found that task is multiplied by 3 when he's a. a preemie and b. not feeling all too cooperative.
For the first time, we busted out our baby tub. We managed to trash the bathroom with towels, washclothes, soaps, cups for rinsing, etc. We got all setup, I filled the tub to a good temperature (its got a thermometer inside, how nice) and in went the baby.
I know many of you haven't seen Ev in the flesh, but let me tell you he's a little guy. Like very little. He doesn't exactly fit perfectly in the baby tub, so I held him in place, supporting him while Jennifer washed all his parts. When it was time, I flipped him over, holding him in one hand while we washed his back.
A quick hair wash and then it was rinse time. By the time the baby is full of soap, and wet, and squirmy, it makes for one very slippery baby. Luckily, there were no fumbles, but a few close calls.
After all the trauma was done, it was quickly into a bath towel (complete with hooded part), and off for a fresh outfit, socks, and into bed with Mom and Dad.
For him, warm water and washing. For Mom and Dad, the realization that we're starting to get the hang of this baby thing.
E-Dog and I are up late again. He seems to want to sleep only when he's held. As soon as I put him down in his bed he's up and screaming. And we don't want that. I think the little guy just gets lonely. So we hold and walk and sing and hope that Mommy will get some nap time tomorrow maybe.
Today we had a nice day together. E enjoyed an easy morning in bed with Mom and Dad, and spent the afternoon sleeping on Mommy's tummy while Daddy went out and ran errands. In the evening, we ate chicken fajitas and watched movies. A full day by baby standards. Hopefully tomorrow is much of the same, though Mom and Dad are still working on getting that nursery finished. Any day now!
Just back from our trip to the pediatrician, where office staff and patients alike stopped to admire our little bean. He's already a ladies man.
Good news though...he's looking healthy and making good progress according to the doctor. E is up to 4 pounds, 11 ounces, which is right on track. We go back in two weeks or so for another weight check and some shots (yikes!).
I'm relieved to hear he looks good and is gaining. That helps me to feel more at ease, having proof that he's thriving at home. It's easy to doubt yourself when everything is new and 24 hours a day are spent on this single task. But we're swimming instead of sinking, which is a great accomplishment in my book.
E-Dog is tired after his big excursion. The two of us are off to have a nap.