Saturday, April 28, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Toddler + sleeping problems = no fun!
Oh where oh where did my sleeping through the night toddler go??? As I was rocking Hadley back to sleep, again, Matt and I discussed that neither one of us could remember the last time she slept through the night. We use to just lay her in the crib and leave.. not anymore. We have tried rubbing her back until she falls asleep, rocking, singing (I lost my voice so last night she just looked at me like what are you doing?!) milk, keeping her up a little later to make her extra tired and nothing works! I rubbed her back for 45 minutes last night and she would not fall asleep. After I left, she cried a minute and then was quiet. I thought maybe tonight is the night she will sleep - WRONG. She was up about an hour and half later. Thankfully it was not a night terror but she had already cried for 30 minutes straight so we both went in there. It took me rocking her, rubbing her face and back and sneaking out of the room for her to sleep. Then she was up for the day today at 4.
I have talked to the pediatrician and have done my own research and know that this can be common at this age. Along with the night terrors and crying and waking up early - Hadley and the rest of us are T.I.R.E.D.
If you don't know what a night terror is vs. a nightmare they are completely different. There is some great info about them out there on the web. It really scared me but our pediatrician and I have talked about it and I definitely feel more comfortable about the situation. It is not super common, but kids do have them and they are nothing to worry about. Witnessing a night terror is very traumatic for us. I have left her room bawling my eyes out because it upset me so much. Thankfully she has no idea she has them and no recollection of them. It basically happens when they are going from one stage of sleep to the next and their body has a little bit of a disconnect. It's not caused by any underlying issue or represent any psychological problems (which honestly I was worried about). There was one article I read that said if you feel like you need to call in a priest to perform an exorcism it's probably a night terror. I video taped it to show the doctor and Stacy watched it and was horrified. They are awful.
We don't know what to do to help her sleep better. Is it time for her to move to a toddler bed? Or will that make it worse? We just don't know.
Matt and I usually don't sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time if we are lucky and only more if one of us takes on both kids. I have no idea how single parents do it and I have no idea how you have many kids close in age (my new favorite saying - twins the hard way) when neither one of them are sleeping.
At this rate, Matt and I feel like we may never sleep again. Dramatic sounding? Yes. But is that how we truly feel? Sadly yep
I have talked to the pediatrician and have done my own research and know that this can be common at this age. Along with the night terrors and crying and waking up early - Hadley and the rest of us are T.I.R.E.D.
If you don't know what a night terror is vs. a nightmare they are completely different. There is some great info about them out there on the web. It really scared me but our pediatrician and I have talked about it and I definitely feel more comfortable about the situation. It is not super common, but kids do have them and they are nothing to worry about. Witnessing a night terror is very traumatic for us. I have left her room bawling my eyes out because it upset me so much. Thankfully she has no idea she has them and no recollection of them. It basically happens when they are going from one stage of sleep to the next and their body has a little bit of a disconnect. It's not caused by any underlying issue or represent any psychological problems (which honestly I was worried about). There was one article I read that said if you feel like you need to call in a priest to perform an exorcism it's probably a night terror. I video taped it to show the doctor and Stacy watched it and was horrified. They are awful.
We don't know what to do to help her sleep better. Is it time for her to move to a toddler bed? Or will that make it worse? We just don't know.
Matt and I usually don't sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time if we are lucky and only more if one of us takes on both kids. I have no idea how single parents do it and I have no idea how you have many kids close in age (my new favorite saying - twins the hard way) when neither one of them are sleeping.
At this rate, Matt and I feel like we may never sleep again. Dramatic sounding? Yes. But is that how we truly feel? Sadly yep
Monday, April 23, 2012
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:
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!
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:
- Pediatrician: Is he sitting up? Me: Ummm no??? (dumbfounded look on my face) I mean only if I hold him in a sitting position
- 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?!)
- Pediatrician: Does he clasp his hands Me: Yes, kinda..
- 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!)
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?!?! :-)
**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:
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!
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:
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| Drawing on my leg and dada's truck is more fun than on the concrete! |
Thursday, April 19, 2012
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.
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 :-)
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.
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| 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 :-)
Friday, March 2, 2012
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. Somebad 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.
We have experienced many new things this past week and a half. Some good. Some
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.
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