Crosby's first 9 weeks

My sweet boy is already 9 weeks old! He is a calm baby. He does not have colic like Hadley and he definitely does not have reflux like she did. He does spit up but it is actually spit up and not most of the feeding like with Hadley. The funny thing about that is he is in the 7% for weight. I looked up Hadley's weight at 8 weeks and she was 12 oz heavier than him. I know how many ounces he eats a day since he is at Elsa's and it is around 24-28 ounces. That is on the high end for his age. He seems content after he eats so I guess all is good!

Funny thing happened at his 8 week check-up. Our pediatrician is on maternity leave (4th child all about 2 years apart - I have NO IDEA how she does it!!!) so we had a pediatrician we had never met that is not part of the practice for his appointment. She was very nice but when she came in she started asking me questions:

1. Pediatrician: Is he sitting up? Me: Ummm no??? (dumbfounded look on my face) I mean only if I hold him in a sitting position 
2. Pediatrician: Does he roll over? Me: He has accidentally rolled over from his stomach to his back but it was not intentional (starting to think she is joking?!) 
3. Pediatrician: Does he clasp his hands Me: Yes, kinda..
4. Pediatrician: Does he pass toys from one hand to the other Me: Well, he has grabbed his paci before with both hands but again I don't think that was intentional(thinking back to when Hadley was this age and I was 100% positive she was not doing these things at this age either!)

Then she performs the neck test to see if when you pull him to sitting he holds his head at the same angle.. well he failed that one. His head was just hanging back! 

She goes through the whole appointment and seems like she is holding back from saying something, maybe like your kid is WWWAAAAYYY behind! I ask her the couple of questions I had and she answers and then leaves. The nurse comes in to give him his vaccines and while I was getting him into the car seat the pediatrician comes back in and says "You must think I am crazy!! I KNOW a 2 month old shouldn't be doing those things, I had just seen two 6 month olds and wasn't thinking he was 2 months old." Whew! I was starting to think maybe her kids are really advance! Glad to know my kid is on track, but she had his chart in front of her- scares me a little she didn't realize he was only 2 months old!!

Height: 22 1/4" (33%)
Weight: 10lbs (7%)
Head: 15 1/4" (45%) 

Anyways, he is doing well. Has a little bit of a flat spot on his head, but Hadley did too so I know once he starts sitting it will round out like hers did.

Crosby usually only cries when he is hungry. He loves LOVES LOVES his paci! He really smiles when you sing or turn on the fan. He has been sleeping in his crib since 5 weeks. He sleeps swaddled and his sleeping schedule right now is going to bed around 8/8:30, wakes up anywhere from 12:30 - 2:30 for a feeding and then back to sleep right away and then up exactly, and I mean exactly, 3 hours later after his last feeding. Last night his schedule was 7:30 to bed (we were all exhausted) up at 1:00 for a feeding and then again at 4 and then up for the day at 7:30. Hadley started sleeping through the night at this point and although she hasn't in months I sure hope he starts to soon! He did sleep 9-4 one night and I just thought we were on track to sleeping through the night and then he reverted back to waking up more often. Matt suggested last night we give him formula to see if it would hold him over longer but it didn't work!

Last weekend, he ended up in the hospital for high temp and dehydration. It turns out it was just a viral infection that the whole family ended up getting. My last week home, my mom came over on Wed to help me clean and get things in order before I went back to work. That day he was fussy and crying more - seemed odd to me. Each day after that he was more fussy and instead of just spitting up he was projectile throwing up his feedings. That Saturday after his 4 am feeding he was crying non-stop and felt warm. We took his temp and it was 100.4.  We called the pediatrician since that is what is recommended for a baby under 3 months with a temp of 100.4. We went in to the office and he was crying the whole time. Because of his age, temp and inconsolable crying he sent us to Texas Children's to be checked out and have them run some test. His temp had actually gone up to 101.5 once we arrived there. Long story short (I know I know mine are looonnnggg and drawn out - that is probably why some people just ignore me when I talk!!) they admitted him for the night and had him hooked up to IV for fluids.

They took great care of him and me that night. I am so thankful for my healthy children. I cannot imagine what parents with sick children in the hospital go through on a daily basis. We were released the next day and 2 days later he no longer had a high temp and was completely back to his content self.

Crosby is at Elsa's while I work during the day. The first day I brought him over there he smiled soo big for her! He is really easy going and because he is like that and we love Elsa it makes it so much easier to leave him there. Of course I want to be with both of my kids during the day, but at least I know he is good hands!

Now for some pictures!

Bluebonnets

We live in Texas so no doubt we have to do the cliche bluebonnet pictures! We plan on doing them every year. Crosby was too little to participate this year, but next year you better believe he will be surrounded by bluebonnets :-)

What a difference from last year!

**Notice the pink shirt and blue-jean bottoms in both years? I am going try to keep that up throughout the years - I have my first 3 drivers license pictures taken in the same shirt and sadly that was on purpose! Ha! So I won't go that far and try to make them exactly the same, I'll just keep with the color scheme!**

I wonder if she will let me take bluebonnet pictures in her teens?!?! :-)

Fun with Art

Hadley is a very creative, active, and energetic girl! She is really enjoying art projects at this age and we have lots of new paintings to frame and put up in our bedroom.

She draws on everything.. in fact right now if you ask here were the no-no drawing is she will point to the wall where she colored it purple... there also might be a few tiles with her artistic touch on them. :/ I was on a conference call while she was home sick and she was being really quiet - turns out she was creating a few masterpieces around the house!

Along with loving to draw, color and paint she LOVES (and I cannot emphasize that enough) being outside! So we combine the two activities and she is one happy girl:

Drawing on my leg and dada's truck is more fun than on the concrete!

Asking to go "Ou - Side" is her new favorite word! She doesn't always say the "t' in outside. I just love the way she talks! I want to record all of her words. I can honestly just think about her saying "bubbles" and laugh!! SO CUTE!

Lately

While there has been no activity on the blog lately that does not represent what life has been like for us. Just this week I have visited the pediatrician 3 times, spent the night in the hospital with Crosby, dealt with a stomach bug that made its way through our family, Hadley's first pink eye diagnosis, witnessed Hadley's first nap time night terror, took Koda to the vet because he ingested another pair of socks, and started back to work. It has been exhausting if I had to sum it up in one word.

I have so so so much to blog about and so many pictures to post (8 weeks worth). So for now I will leave you with some photos from my phone.

Our life may be a bit chaotic right now but these guys make it all worth it!

I stole the idea of the picture collage from http://www.kellehampton.com/ (love her blog and I can't wait to read her book.. it is on my list of want to dos!)


P.s. this very short blog post took over 3 hours to post. Here is one reason why I had to stop and start so many times :-)

The first week home

Oddly I cried when we left the hospital this time. Not when he was born or any other time in the hospital, just on the car ride home. It is weird because I was sad that part was over. Sad I was not pregnant anymore, sad that all the hype about when he was going to arrive was done. Anyone that knows me well knows I am ready to take Christmas decorations down on Christmas day once all the present opening and celebrating is over. I have been like this since I was a kid. I don't actually take it down on Christmas day, but you better believe the very next morning it is all getting packed away. I get a little depressed once it is all over that I want to start on the next thing. I guess it was the same after Crosby's birth. I love being pregnant (no I am not going to try to beat the Duggars) and all the excitement that comes with the blessing of a baby. I know his birth represents the beginning of everything but still I was just a little bit sad.

We have experienced many new things this past week and a half. Some good. Some bad challenging. Hadley has been sick.. like non stop sick basically since we brought Crosby home. Not only that she started day care the day after we brought him home. She had the residual of a cold and a cough since the week before he was born and it has lingered for weeks now. Then last Saturday when my brother and his family were going to come over so all the cousins could meet Hadley woke up from her nap with a 102.6 temp. She was laying on Matt and was really not feeling well. That was a long couple of days. Her temp would come and go depending on if the Motrin had worn off. We took her to the doctor Monday and they said she has bumps on her throat but it was not Strep and that it just had to run its course.

Since it had been over 24 hours since her fever broke and she was acting more normal she went back to school on Tuesday (she is still adjusting to school.. breaks my heart :( ). When Matt picked her up they let him know a kid went home with Hand Foot and Mouth. They were more concerned about Crosby and told Matt to go home bath her and bleach all her clothes. The joys of day care. We have been saying lots of prayers she doesn't get and Crosby doesn't get it. So far she hasn't but it can take a little bit of time to show up. She still has this terrible cough and just coughs and coughs all night long. Judy recommended Zarbee's Children Cough Syrup. It is a natural cough remedy. Matt called the pediatrician to make sure it was okay (were overly cautious about everything when it comes to meds - natural or not). They said before we give it to her to bring her in to have her lungs checked, but it would be fine. So today Crosby has his 2 week appointment at 1:30 and Hadley has a dr. appointment at 2. We ended up giving her some last night because she was coughing so much and it helped for 4 hours. I was afraid to go in there and give her more for fear she may not go back to sleep. Poor girl. This stuff is great and I am thankful for the recommendation Judy :-) We couldn't give her the nighttime kind because they don't recommend it for toddlers under 2.. I am sure it is just because of the melatonin.

Sooo because of Hadley being sick and her being exposed to Hand, Foot and Mouth - me and C have been quarantined to the master bedroom. I come out after they leave and lysol/bleach everything and then we can come out. My hands are so dry and have been cracking and bleeding from how many times I wash or germ-x them. Matt started not feeling well so he isn't even allowed in here. He has been kicked out to the loft apartment upstairs. He loves it though. He said the bed is so comfortable and he gets to sleep through the night; I am afraid he may never come back down :-) He needs his sleep big time though.

Last Wednesday, Hadley stated "school" and is having a little bit of a hard time with it. She is going through sever separation anxiety now (which she never had going to Elsa's.. in fact she cried sometimes when we picked her up to go home) and it very whiny. I am sure the combo of new environment, new baby, and being sick is not helping as well as the terrible twos :-/ Some days she is great and others she is a mess! I read a friends blog post about her daughter (who is 2 weeks older than Hadley) at the zoo and her little meltdown and honestly it made me feel better that I am not alone (thanks Melanie for sharing that awesome story!). I guess they all go through it.

So with all of that with Hadley I have had some issues with nursing. In the hospital he was a nursing champ. He even gained 3 oz while in the hospital and he was exclusively nursing. His pedi said that happens 1 out of 20 newborns. I have to say I gave myself a pat on the back and was feeling very proud. I had such a struggle with Hadley and literally struggled through it for 3 months and had to supplement with every feeding. I just knew this time was going to be different since we had such a successful start. So the second day home he decided he would only nurse on one side.. then when I forced him to nurse on the other side, after much screaming, I went to burp him he spit up blood. I was so freaked out, but knew he wasn't bleeding internally. I figured the latch must be wrong because it was so painful every time he nursed. I would find myself curling my toes and biting my lip in pain. I know it shouldn't be like that.

After talking to his pedi I tried what she recommended. It didn't help very much so I called a Lactation Consultant that had been recommended to me and she was so helpful. She taught me how to make him latch without causing me pain and also how to pump properly. I never knew you were supposed to toggle between the two different modes like 8-10 time per session. Wow what a difference that makes. So she has me on a regimen of nurse, supplement and pump at every feeding during the day and then just nurse or pump and supplement at night. She said I will probably always have to supplement and I am okay with that. I know my thyroid disease and a few other factors play a major role in why I cannot exclusively nurse. She even told me that.. After my experience with the La Leche League with Hadley I was happy to hear she wasn't going to tell me to stay in the bathtub all day and nurse my child on demand - true story of the advice I received from them. I know breast milk is best, but lets be honest a healthy thriving baby is all we want and if it comes from formula or breast milk I am perfectly fine with it. Right now he is getting 1/2 and 1/2 or 2/3 breast milk and 1/3 formula depending on the day. I know that he will start eating more and I hope with all the supplements and water and constant nursing/pumping my supply will increase. However, this time I will not beat myself up and cry all them time if it doesn't!

So that is our first few week as a family of 4. Not the easiest but once everyone is healthy things will start to improve and we can all hang out in the same room :-) We are even taking 2 cars to the pedi.. that is how paranoid we are about him getting sick. I know a little crazy, but I just cannot imagine my teeny tiny baby sick.

Happy Birthday Crosby - February 19, 2012

Here is the story of our last weekend as a family of 3 and Crosby Matthew's birthday.

Last weekend was a busy weekend to say the least..

Friday, I didn't feel well and really didn't work at all. I had stayed late at the office on Thursday and finished up some pending projects and cleared out some campaign mailings that had been sitting there way too long. I told everyone that day it would be the last time I was going to be in the office. It was miserable being there and the drive is so long to Sugar Land I just knew I wouldn't/couldn't do it anymore. Back to Friday, after resting and just answering emails all day I got a little bit of energy that night and finished sewing his bumpers for the crib. It was the last big baby room project on my list.

Saturday, Judy and Toni came over to watch Hadley so we could get the upstairs cleaned and organized. It had been a disaster while we were moving around furniture, getting baby stuff out and putting a bed up there to make it into a loft guest room. We were able to get everything in order and still had time for a date dinner. We went to Pappasitos and enjoyed a nice dinner and what would be our last date night for a long time :-)

Sunday, I woke up and felt the same as before.. tired, huge and well ready to meet this little babe! Little did I know that night I would. I was on a crazy cleaning binge and spent the morning and afternoon vacuuming, dusting, washing and folding clothes (that is odd for me - ha!). I guess you could say some last minute nesting.

About 10 a.m. I could tell something was happening. I was having some pre-labor symptoms so of course I run to my phone and Google them. I see that what was happening to me (I will spare you the exact details) could mean labor soon or in a couple of days. I was happy to know that it meant something even though it didn't tell me when this little guy would make his debut. I am not good at waiting.

Hadley and I stopped cleaning (yes Hadley cleans - we call her Hadley Helper and she loves to swiffer the floor, roll the couch to get the dog hair, and she even tried to vacuum but it was a little heavy and she kept dropping it) for a pudding break. Well she ate pudding.. I just took pictures:

Miss Independent

A little messy, but at least using a spoon..

Forget the spoon I know a better faster way to get the good stuff!

After our pudding break it was nap time and we all went and laid down. I didn't sleep long and neither did Matt, but it was nice to lay down and relax for a little bit. Not long after I woke up I started back cleaning. I was vacuuming the living room when my water broke. Now, it wasn't like when they broke my water with Hadley in the hospital so I question if that was what happened. I didn't say anything to Matt yet. Good thing because he freaked out about getting to the hospital (more on that later). I am not sure if I was in denial or what but I kept cleaning and then went and took a shower. I told Matt what happened and why I kept running to the bathroom.. but I kept saying "I'm not sure though" he finally said well either you keep peeing on yourself or your water broke - which one is it?! I guess I was use to hearing that it is more rare for your water to break not in the hospital. I know it happens, but I was so afraid of going to the hospital and them turning me away because of false labor that I was questioning it.

Soon contractions started. I guess I missed the 10 min - 5 min ones because by the time I started tracking them they were between 2-4 mins apart. Matt called his mom and we got everything ready for the hospital. Matt had put the car seat in that morning - good timing huh?! I am so use to my very calm husband, but this time I was the calm one. He was freaking out that I was going to give birth at home. He kept looking out the window yelling where is my mom.. I was laughing. I told him we had time and not to freak out. He was asking me why I was acting like it was no big deal. It was funny to say the least.. I am sure he has a different opinion.

We got to the hospital around 5 ish and luckily I had registered the previous Thursday (I know I know you are supposed to do that at 7 months - hey at least I did it before I went into labor!). They took me to the L&D room to be checked out and it was the same room Hadley was delivered in! Lucky room 8. She took some info and then checked to see if my water broke. She said the test turned blue right away (+ my water broke) and that I was 4-5 cm dilated. I was admitted to the hospital and an hour later received my epidural and was feeling much better. At that point I was 6 cms. I remember just laying there thinking life is about to be a whole lot different. In a good way of course. The nurse came and checked me around 8 and had me do one push and then told me to stop. She called the doctor because it was time! They originally said it would be in the middle of the night... little did they know Crosby was ready :-)

I had Matt take a picture of the clock and board like we had with Hadley:

Notice the time...

In the picture above no one was in the room except me and Matt. After the Doctor arrived we chatted for a few minutes. It was the on call doctor (Dr. Fogiel) so I had never met her before. They prepped me for delivery and less than 10 mins later Crosby Matthew Kannady was born!

8:34 p.m. 6lb 11oz

Lots of dark brown hair!

Holding daddy's finger

Father and Son's first picture

He was not happy about delivery and was having a little bit of a hard time catching his breath. He was breathing okay it was just rapid and because of this they went to the nursery after about 20 mins. He finially settled down and by the time they wheeled me to my room they had already given him a bath and he was just hanging out getting warm!

That is the story of Crosby's birth weekend. It was an amazing labor and delivery and I feel so blessed to have had such an easy non-eventful delivery. Now if breastfeeding was just as easy :-/ more on that adventure later.

New Year

Yep it is February and I am just now posting for the first time this year... I kid myself if I think I will have more time or be better at this in the next couple of weeks when we will have TWO kids! Wow it is crazy just typing that. We can't wait to meet blessing #2, but I am hoping to go at least another week. We need the weekend to prepare his room (although he will not be in there - I WANT IT DONE!), prep a few meals to freeze, pack our bags, get as much as possible in order and spend what little time we have left as a family of 3.

These past few weeks have been hard for us. Work is difficult, Hadley is a walking accident and has been sick, I have had a lot of pains from pregnancy - issues I didn't have with Hadley, but no Hypertension this time around, and I have had a negative out look on things. I feel like my motto these days is if you want something done right, do it yourself! I have had more trouble with people at work following through with their responsibilities all the way to my dr refilling a prescription. I feel like I have to constantly call and check up to make sure people are doing their job and it is frustrating. Just this morning, I wanted a bagel from Panera, I stopped and picked one up and asked for reduced-fat cream cheese. I get home and they gave me walnut honey cream cheese.. seriously, grrr.  And let me tell you even those small things have been bothering me. I use to be better at letting them go, but it seems it is happening all the time now! I am trying to have a better outlook and thus the lack of posting on my behalf. I don't want to be poor pitiful me and lately I have felt that way. So instead of trying to recap all the things that have happened since I last posted early December, I am going to start fresh and just leave you with silly pics of our very silly girl!

She likes to undress herself :-)

Get ready baby brother.. your sister likes to "help"

All things have not been negative in our life and I am so thankful by all the wonderful friends and family that have helped us out recently. I had a wonderful surprise baby shower dinner, friends and family over babysitting, doing laundry, wonderful donations of baby boy clothes and gifts of clothes, blankets, and baby essentials and so much more. We are truly blessed and cannot thank everyone for what they have done!!