Two By Two

7 Weeks Tomorrow

Cheli On Friday, March 31, 2006

My little boy will be 7 weeks old tomorrow... where has the time gone??? We weighed him on the scale today (not the most accurate of measurements... i was holding him and subtracted my weight from the total).. he was a little over 12 lbs.. 4 1/2-5 lbs more than when he was born and we measured him and he was about 23 inches.. 3 inches more than birth.. he's getting so big! I went through the totes of clothes we've had in the storage room that we got before he was born and pulled out all his 3-6 month clothes.. I think he has at least a few weeks maybe a month or so left in the 0-3 month size.. *sniff* he's getting so big so quick! I don't suppose there is a way I could have him stay little??? It's still coming in waves that this little one is mine.. all mine.. my little boy.. forever. I find myself looking at him when I'm feeding him and losing myself in the emotions that I gave him life and I am the one giving him what he needs to sustain life and grow.. it's amazing.. he is the most beautiful special little boy in my world. I love him so much! I am so excited to see him grow, see him learn and experience, watch his firsts.. but I really dont' want him to grow to fast. A friend of mine was saying that her son stood with the help of a push toy at 5 months and walked unassisted at 8 months... 8 months!!! that's still a baby!!! I don't want my 8 month old walking!!! OMG.. that's only 6 months away.. NOOOOOOOO LOL

We are going to see my sister in law at the end of April.. she requested that my mother in law and us drive up to see her before she moves to Texas in the beginning of May. That will be the first long distance trip we'll take with the baby.. 5-6 hours.. AHHHHHH should be fun.. when you go on a trip with a little one.. where do you put them to sleep (presuming you aren't staying at a place with a crib?).

Doug goes Monday-Wednesday to get his Florida Security Guard license.. once he gets that he can start working for one of the agencies here that employes them.. from the ads in the newspaper they need people and they pay well.. some even have insurance.. I think once Doug gets working again he'll feel alot better about the situation and himself. I hope so.. We're both homesick for Knoxville.. once we find a car and save up some money we plan on making our way back up there at least for a visit.. we miss all our freaky friends :)

We might be leaving River with a babysitter tomorrow night.. just for a few hours so we can get away.. mostly so I can get away.. since River came home I have not been away from him at all.. Doug gets to have a few times a week where he goes out on his own even if its to drop Linda off at work or to run an errand.. going out just the two of us would be really nice.. the 3 of us are going out tonight to an open drum circle in Jacksonville.. I've never been to one and Doug has been wanting to go to the one here.. should be fun :) Weather is supposed to be wonderful!

Hope you and yours are doing well ;)

6 Weeks Post!

Cheli On Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Hi All,

Had my 6 week post partum today.. have lost 29 lbs since the baby was born as of today. Lots to go for me to be anywhere close to target weight but it's a start. Doctor did a quick breast exam and pelvic exam (oh the fun).. said that everything looked good and I was all healed. We talked about the coloscopy and he told me what to expect etc.. I go on the 12th for that. We waited longer for the appointment then we were in the appointment.. and I didn't even see the doctor I was supposed to. LOL.. Oh well.. I asked the doctor about bi-polar meds.. basically got told to get a different doc and ask them to get me on some or go to a psychiatrist.. nifty..

River is over tired.. he keeps doing it.. he'll take a morning nap and then no afternoon nap so that by 5 pm he's so overtired he just can't stop crying and he makes everyone (including himself) miserable. *sigh* And he just wont sleep.. *sigh*

HE SMILED!!!!

Cheli On Monday, March 27, 2006

And we caught it on CAMERA!!!!!!! Apparently he likes being called a "sexy boy" LOL

Not an Allergy

Cheli On Friday, March 24, 2006

Really tired.. spent all day and evening in the ER with my mother in law.. she's okay..

River is NOT milk protein allergic as far as the doctor can tell.. we brought her a sample this afternoon and she tested it on the spot.. negative for blood. doesn't mean he might not be sensitive to it though.. we'll retest in a week..

Started the antibiotic and the Zantac today.. immediate difference.. don't know if it's because of the meds or just because 2 days of no sleep will make a baby tired.. *shrug* seems to take him 2 days to recover so we'll see in a day or two if it's the meds that are helping.

River goes back to the doctor on the 6th for a recheck on his ears.. then the 17th fort he well baby 2 month visit. I go on the 29th for my 6 weeks *OMG 6 weeks* post partum.. and then again on the 12th for a coloscopy (I think that's the spelling)...a had an abonormal pap.. doctor said it was one of the rarer abormalities on the list (no idea) and wants to get it checked for possible cervical cancer... peachy..

Ok I need to sleep.. love to all.

to the Pediatrican.. Again

Cheli On Thursday, March 23, 2006

Back to the pediatrician....again

So as some of you know.. River has had a rough few days... 2 days ago about 6pm he started crying.. figured it was just his normal colicky time... he didnt' stop crying for more than 15 minutes every 2 hours until 10 pm last night. We called the pediatrician and she said if it didn't get better bring him in the morning.. so in we go... he's got fluid behind his ear... he's on amoxicillin for that for 10 days.. and she wants to try him on Zantac for a month to see if that helps with his tummy.. and then she said she wanted us to bring a stool sample up to her ASAP because almost all of the signs he's presenting are signs of milk protein allergy.. which she doesn't THINK it is but she wants to rule it out.. she said only about 5% of babies actually test positive for it and that very few of those 5% are breastfed babies... BUT if it is a milk protein allergy that is most definitely the end of breastfeeding as he will have to go on at the lease a soy based formula and at the most a prescription hypoallergenic formula and of course be bottle fed.. which should be interesting because he won't even take EBM in a bottle... she said she's seen 6 week olds go up to 20 hours with out eating because they want the breast but that eventually they do eat.. so basically I'll have to starve him until he gives in if it comes to that... UGHHH... so we are going to take a sample up to her in a few minutes and will know about 5 minutes later if it's an allergy.. please keep your fingers and toes crossed that it isn't

BUT in good news.... they weighed him like usual.. and at birth he was 7 lbs 7 oz, at 2 weeks he was 8 lbs 3 oz, at 1 month he was 9 lbs 15 oz and today at almost 6 weeks he is 11 lbs 4 oz! He is growing like a weed!

NO SLEEP!

Cheli On Wednesday, March 22, 2006

no sleep no sleep no sleep..

My son is possessed... no idea what happened.. 2 nights of bliss and wonderfully happy baby.. and then yesterday evening he just lost his shit and fussed every time he started to fall asleep.. he did this from 6pm last night until.. well hell he's still doing it.. Doug and I slept on the couch last night because it was the closest comfortable suface to his room... not that it mattered.. he didn't want to be held unless he was being rocked from side to side and let me tell you a 10 lb kid can weigh a ton after a while of rocking at 3am because you have to be standing to rock him...

my new mantra... 3 months, 3 months.. 99% of babies outgrow colic by 3 months...

I wonder if there is a higher insanity rate with in parents of colicky children??

Look at the difference!

Cheli On

LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE ONE MONTH CAN MAKE!!!!! Same carseat, same outfit, same baby.. one month difference....

He ROLLED OVER!!!!

Cheli On Sunday, March 19, 2006

GUESS WHAT RIVER DID!!!!!

My little boy rolled over today!!!!!! OMG

A few days ago he did it for Doug but we thought it might have been a fluke.. today he rolled over 3 times in his crib from his belly to his back.. and then screamed because he doesn't like being on his back.. LOL

5 weeks old.... he rolled over!!! He's growing up so fast.. *sniff*

Makaylee is HERE

Cheli On Friday, March 17, 2006

My friend Stacey was scheduled to be induced today :) She got there at 5 am and got everything started at 7am.. by about 4 this afternoon she was still only a 5 and the baby was WAY high and seemed to be going back with the contractions so they decided to do a c-section.. I got a call a few hours later from her... her daughter is here and happy and heathy. She named her Makaylee and she was 6 lbs 10 oz and 19 inches long. They told her they were inducing her at 38 weeks because they were afraid the baby was large.. LOL Anyway.. she sent me a picture of her through her phone.. she is SO cute.. *grin* I feel like I had another baby born in the family only I didn't have to go through the birth again :) Anyway just thought I'd share..

River is having a good day.. he has spent most of it sleeping. The last few days he's only been sleeping at night and spending most of the day screaming.. but last night we put him to bed at 10:30 and he slept until 3:30 went back to bed at 4:30 and slept until 8. And basically has been sleeping all day minus waking up for diaper changes and to eat.. he was a tired boy.

My Mother in law threw me a belated baby shower yesterday.. basically it was an office dinner where everyone brought me gifts for the baby. They talked alot about work and people I didn't know but that was okay. We went to Olive Garden. We got a bunch of clothes for the kiddo, an activity gym, a mobile, a carrier that you wear, a blanket, disposible bibs... it was nice.

My Father is back..

Cheli On Thursday, March 16, 2006

My mom called me about 9:30 tonight.. said she recieved a phone call from someone and I wouldn't believe who it was.. naturally I asked who.. apparently my father called her.. I haven't spoken to him in 5 years now.. the last I knew he had married some woman he meant on a single cruise and dropped out of the sheriff's department just years from retirement and out of our lives because SHE wanted him to. According to my mom the are getting a divorce it sounds like and he is living in a hotel. She told him about my having a baby and getting married and he gave her his number and what not and told her to give it to Kimmy (my sister) and I and have us call him because he "missed" us. She gave me the number and said that she told him it would be up to me to call him if I wanted to.

So I called him and talked about 10 minutes.. He sounds like shit. And brought up alot of horrible memories for.. which I am trying very hard not to remember or think about because I think I'd completely lose it if I do.. but naturally the harder you try NOT to think about something.. the more it's all you can think about.. *sigh* I want to drug myself and go to sleep and never wake up..

Random Ramblings

Cheli On Tuesday, March 14, 2006

The munchkin has been asleep for almost the last 5 hours.. I WOKE him at 6:15 to eat and he fell right back asleep.. I KNOW I should wake him so he sleeps tonight but I don't want to listen to him cry anymore *sigh*

We went to the doctor today for the results of his ultrasound on his hip.. everything came back good.. his hip does rotate out of socket but they said it's just positional and will correct itself with time so he doesn't have to wear a brace or be double diapered or anything.. YAY. They weighed him stark naked when we first got there.. 9 lbs 15 oz.. *grin* he's growing. And she confirmed that he does have colic (no shit). And said that 99% of the babies with it outgrow it by 3 months of age.. watch my son will be the other 1% LOL She didn't offer any advice.. *shrug* I love him so much.. I HATE seeing him in pain or discomfort that I can't fix :( We went up to the mall about 3pm this afternoon.. I decided to wear him in the snugli and he slept the ENTIRE time we were there.. never flinched when I put him back in his carrier or got him back out when we were at Linda's work or when I put him back.. he ate and went to bed in his crib.. I wish every day could be like the last 4 hours.. Yes I know.. wishful thinking.

Doug put foil on the windows in our bedroom yesterday.. nice and dark.. I love it.. We also went to the beach on Sunday.. ok so we were only actually there for about 5 minutes (I didn't want River out in the sun) but I got to see the ocean finally (it's been years). I love the ocean.. so calming. Today we were going to go by to see an old friend of Doug's.. someone from his old coven.. another member of their coven (his friend's husband) passed away last week :( Doug is upset about it... he really wanted to see him again before he passed.. but we were told that he passed quietly with no pain.. They are taking him to Fairyglen for a service.. I wish we could go.

It was 85 here today.. 85 in MARCH what the hell???? And of course the humidity was like 200 or some shit.. BLAH Florida sucks. I swear people (like me) who leave Florida and come back must have some sort of amnesia or something or else why the hell would anyone come back to this humidity?? YUCK.. it is already getting close to the point that the instant you step out your front door you want to go take a shower to get the sticky off you.. Summer is gonna suck.

All of the kittens are gone except for the one we are going to keep. We've decided to name him Akele (A-key-lee) and he already has quite a little attitude.. but he is SOOOO sweet :)

Ok I think that is all the mindless babble for one evening.

Crib Baby :)

Cheli On Sunday, March 12, 2006

My child is a crib baby :)

We have moved River to his own room in his own crib.. and it's working out MUCH better so far (it's only been 2 days). Last night we started our bedtime routine... bedtime is now officially 9pm any time he wakes up after that we don't play with him or have lights on.. just feed him, cuddle him, change him, put him back... so he went to bed at 9:30 and slept until 1:30 when I woke him up to eat.. he went back to bed at 1:45 and slept until 4:30 woke up and was WIDE awake after eating for about an hour and then went back to bed about 5:30 and he's still asleep now.. WOOO HOOOOO! I HOPE it lasts.. Last night and yesterday was the best day we've had in a LONG time.

Here is a pic of River yesterday at exactly 1 month :)

See how much he's grown in a month??? OMG!!!!!

1 Month Old

Cheli On Saturday, March 11, 2006

Thanks everyone for all the support and advice.

After reading the comments and listening to River scream for 2 1/2 hours last night I decided that it was time to try a few things. What I decided to do was pump and see how much I am producing to see if it a possiblity that I'm not making enough milk. Well when I tried.. the pump broke (or so i thought..) so we went to Wal-Mart and bought another one in a brand that someone had recommended.. got home and the stupid thing SUCKS.. it has barely any suction.. so I freaked out that I really wasn't making enough (only got 2 1/2 oz) and basically has a mini break down. I think all of this was just built up from the last week or so. Then I decided to try the other pump again and exchanged out a little valve that was on it and the thing worked wonderfully. After feeding River for 15 minutes, pumping 2 1/2 oz before hand, I was able to get another 2 oz. But I still wasn't sure. River was asleep finally so I told Doug I was going to bed.. this was at about 1.

Doug then put River in his crib in his nursery so that he could tinker with the computer.. River slept there until 5:30 when he woke up crying.. Doug fed him the milk I'd pumped and he went back to sleep.. it's now 8:15 and he's still asleep. In his crib. I think perhaps he just does better in his crib.. I've been thinking this for days because he always naps longer than he sleeps at night. Of course this could also just be rest from his screaming fit last night.

So when I woke up at 7:30 I decided to go ahead and pump and see how much I'd get.. in 20 minutes (10 on each) I got just shy of 6 oz. There is NO WAY that's not enough for a month old child. So we shall see how today goes.. I am going to keep a log of when and how much he eats, when he sleeps, when he starts screaming and how long it lasts.. etc.. hopefully we'll figure something out.

I knew he had to be getting what he needs.. we took him to the doctor yesterday for his results of the tests they did in the hospital (all of them came back negative) and they weighed him.. with a disposible diaper and a thin onesie on he weighed 9 lbs 15 oz. OMG According to percentiles he's still tiny for his age but he seems huge to me and he's gained 2 1/2 lbs since birth so that's pretty good in my book.

I'll get a pic of him later and post his 1 month pic for you all :) Can't believe it's been a month!!! WOW.

Long Night

Cheli On Friday, March 10, 2006

Long night last night.. River woke up at 1:30 and basically never went back to sleep.. he took cat naps all night but never slept more than 30 minutes at a time. And wanted to eat constantly.. I have no idea what's going on with him but I do not want another night like last night. Someone suggested that we try Gripe Water.. so we went out last night and found some.. tried it.. it calmed him down but he was WIDE awake for hours and hours.. nothing works on this kid..

We have a long day today.. River has a 10:30 follow up appointment with his pediatrician for the hospital stuff. Then he has an ultrasound for his hip at Wolfson's this afternoon. Then he goes BACK to the doctor on Monday for the follow up from the ultrasound..River is going to hate doctors before he's a year.

My baby turns 1 month tomorrow!! OMG

Trip to the ER

Cheli On Thursday, March 9, 2006

We called the pediatrician on Tuesday afternoon because River was still screaming uncontrollably and his belly looked swollen. They told us to bring him in at 4:15.. so we get there and thy weigh him.. 9 lbs 3 oz.. He's gained a lb in less than 2 weeks.. I can believe it with how much he's eating. The nurse practitioner comes in and does an exam. He's got air in his belly that she can feel, his throat was really red, and he had a fever of 100.4 which is the cut off before they start to worry. So she goes and talks to the pediatrician to figure out if they want to wait until the following day or if they want to send him to Wolfson's Children that night and get the labs run in the ER... the doctor said they better just got ahead and send him to Wolfson's to be sure.. so off we go to the pediatric ER.

Once we get there they take his temp.. it was still 100.4 so they put us in a room and the doctor comes in and does an exam on him.. and tells us that because of the symptoms he's presenting he wants to go ahead and admit him for a mandatory 48 hour watch and test him for meningitis. *sigh* During the exam River got PISSED and started screaming.. and turning purple.. the doctor freaked out and tried to get a pulse oxygen on him and couldn't find an infant size thing before he had calmed down. So then they give him an IV to start antibiotics immediately even before they have tested him incase that is what it is so they can catch it before it develops further. The doctor orders a chest x-ray because of the color change.. everything fine there.. my son just forgets to inhale when he's pissed. Then they draw blood to test for everything under the sun... and they do an in and out cath to test for stuff that way too.. then the fun part.. they need spinal fluid.. the doctor basically bragged about how easy the procedure is and should only take a moment.. 4 tries later he still can't get any fluid and River is on the verge of hysteria.. so he says he's going to get his partner to try.. she comes in and gets it on the first try.. says his fluid looks clear and she doesn't think it's meningitis but they'll send it off..

They move us up to his floor at about 10:30 and people come in and get vitals then yet another doctor comes in and does an exam.. by this point River screams when anyone touches him but us. The next morning (yesterday) a doctor comes in about 7 then another one at 9 then a whole group of them about noon.. they decide that all of his cultures are coming back negative.. they'll give him a 24 hour antibiotic and let him come home. So at 3 yesterday they release us.. the fever is gone but the antibiotics gave him diarrhea.. my poor baby. He goes back to the doctor tomorrow and back to the hospital tomorrow for his ultrasound on his hip. Then back to the doctor on Monday for the results of that.. meanwhile.. he's still screaming.. but not as bad..

We tried the catnip tea last night.. not sure that it worked.. he did quiet down but he was WIDE awake for about an hour afterward and then fell asleep and slept 3 hours at a time.. woke up this morning fussy but is quiet now..

Can I Give Him Back?

Cheli On

Can I give him back to the hospital??? While we were in the hospital the only time he cried was when someone was screwing with him.. now the only time he STOPS is when we're holding him. I fucking quit. Apparently we suck as parents. I feel bad because I'm not holding him when he cries..but the instant I pick him up he stops crying.. I'm not going to hold him 24/7 because he wants us too. I don't mind holding him sometimes but not constantly. Does that make me bad? He's been changed, he's been fed.. someone has been cuddling him most of the day... now I need a break. And he's screaming.. what the hell are we doing wrong? I want to cry

How to get him to sleep LOL

Cheli On Monday, March 6, 2006

So we figured out how to get the munchkin to sleep :)

and here is the no hands method...

He's Driving Me Insane

Cheli On Sunday, March 5, 2006

I love him but he's driving me insane..

River has been a real pain the last few days.. no idea why. He is crying ALOT lately and I am really doing everything I can NOT to pick him every time he starts even though this is never fails to quiet him.. I have taken to letting him cry it out for a few minute in the crib and usually before the 5 minutes is up he is asleep. It seems he sleeps better and longer in the crib but I just don't know if I feel safe/comfortable enough to let him sleep in the nursery yet. When he wakes up at night he sounds like he has a lot of gunk in his nose and throat but after eating for a few minutes it goes away. And the kid has gas like I have never heard before.. it seems like is tummy is constantly upset. I feel bad for him because it really upsets him and makes him uncomfortable. I want to make him better... Finally we called the pedi tonight because I just couldn't deal anymore. The pedi says everything sounds normal though and that if anything it might something I'm eating upsetting his tummy so much. The only thing I could think of was that the formula we've just recently begun supplementing him with is milk based and maybe he can't handle it as well so we switched to a soy based to see if that'll help. He's closing in a month old... OMG

Linda took me to Sears today and I got some jeans and few skirts (Doug's request).. I still need to loose alot of weight but it felt good to be able to fit in pre-pregnancy sizes again.

I don't think I've ever been so tired.. I'm really not sleeping well.. between the munchkin needing to eat every 2 to 3 hours and not going to bed until 2 am and getting up at 7:30 and the nightmares.. yeah it's wonderful. Everyone keeps saying it gets better.. I'm going to try and believe them

River's 2 week pictures

Cheli On Thursday, March 2, 2006

About a week or so before River was born I was talking with my friend Sarah and she said that after a few weeks having River in my life I wouldn't be able to remember how life was without him and wouldn't understand how I ever made it with out him.. and I have hit that point..

Today I was sitting on the couch watching TV and River was sleeping on a pillow in my lap and I looked down at him and was just in total amazement.. amazement at this little life that Doug and I have created. This little person who even at not even 3 weeks old already has his own personality and his own likes and dislikes. I just stared at him.. stroked his hair, rubbed his cheek (until he smacked my hand.. LOL) I can't get enough of him.. he's absolutely amazing.

Almost 3 weeks old now.. WOW..

So we got his picture done last week professionally and we just got them on-line.. some didn't really come out because he was starving and the stupid woman wouldn't let me take a break to feed him so he'd be cooperative.. so I walked out with him (I'm not starving my son for pictures) and she made Doug choose prints.. but here are the ones I liked best...

I got on Dep Today

Cheli On Wednesday, March 1, 2006

YAYYYYYYYYYYY

So when I went yesterday for the depo shot they weighed me.. I have lost 24 lbs.. which is ALL of my pregnancy weight plus 4 lbs.. WOOO HOOO I am still big and need to lose more weight but 24 lbs is a good start.. Here's hoping the depo doesn't make me gain it back and I can continue to lose.

River is doing good. He's still sleeping 4-5 hours at a time at night and waking up once to eat.. we're getting a good 8 hours of sleep a night.. WOO HOOO no complaints there. The pediatrician never called me with River's appointment on Monday so I called yesterday and the receptionist said it had never been made but that she'd go make it right then and call back in 15 minutes... an hour and a half later I called her and she said that she tried to make the appointment but that the place he has to be referred to so they won't take him until he is 6 weeks and said they would see him April 5th.. but the doctor doesn't want to wait that long so she called the radiologist himself because she knew they took the babies earlier than 6 weeks.. she was right.. River is scheduled for his ultrasound for March 10th.. then we'll probably go back that following Monday for the results.

We have started cloth diapering him during the day and disposible diapering at night.. I LOVE the way the cloth diapers feel on him.. even though they make him about 10 lbs heavier! Eventually maybe we'll get brave enough to try and cloth diaper him at night. I'm mostly afraid that with him sleeping 5 hours he'll leak or he won't sleep 5 hours anymore because he's wet.. ah well..

Here is a picture for you all..