Eating:  This kid does not miss a meal.  Out of habit I track all his feedings and diapers with the Baby ESP (Eat, Sleep, Poop) App, best thing ever.  I have a reminder set for every two hours, I hardly ever need it.  By the 1 hr 45 min mark he is stirring, grunting and starting to freak out.  By the 2 hr mark, his anxious little cries are filling the house.  He eats, burps and goes back to being a content little man.  So far we are still exclusively breastfeeding which I absolutely love.  Am I tired, of course, is it all consuming, yes…but I love that we aren’t forking over a ton of money for formula and clean bottles and more bottles.  For now this is working for us and I am so grateful.

Growth:  We don’t have a check up for 1 month (what?! no monthly dr visit, that’s crazy!) but I know he is growing.  All his newborn outfits are stretched to the max and I will be breaking out the next size soon.  At his two week check up he was already over nine pounds, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is 10-11 pounds now.

Sleep:  So far at night he is a good sleeper.  We get an occasional 4 hour stretch, but 2 1/2-3 hours is the norm.  After he eats he goes right back down.  Swaddled tight and on an incline is his preferred sleeping position…unless of course someone wants to hold him while he sleeps.  He is spending more and more time awake during the day so we are hoping for some longer stretches of sleep any day now.

Other Milestones:  Gazing and objects/faces, increased control over his limbs, and he will finally hold a pacifier in his mouth longer than a few seconds which of course is helpful if I can’t feed him thisveryinstant.  He is also fairly calm for bath time as long as I don’t take my time about it.

Sibling Love:  Ady really does like “”Baby!”  She gives him kisses and is becoming less jealous about people holding him and not her.  She is learning to help mommy put his clothes in the hamper or grab a diaper.  She even brought us his pacifier when it fell.

Mommy update:  For those that wonder, I am also doing fine.  Giving birth is tramatic on the body no matter which way they come out, but a c-section can be a pain to recover from.  It was much easier this time physically and of course mentally.  Being able to take my newborn out and about so soon is an awesome thing.  There are many things to stress about being a stay at home mom with two kids, but I am focusing on the positive things.  Having our experience with Adalyn first really makes me appreciate just how easy this really is.

My labor actually started the Sunday before he arrived, by the time I went in for my scheduled c-section on Tuesday (a week before his due date) I was already contracting regularly.  Nice to know he was ready.  Everything ran very smoothly, and at 1:30pm we had a healthy baby boy.  8 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 inches long.  The feeling in the room was completely opposite of Adalyn’s birth, yet I still felt myself holding my breath waiting for him to cry.  He had a bit of fluid in his lungs, but it didn’t take long before he figured out how to use them.  We were holding him within minutes and he never left our side.  We even got to keep him in recovery, which is also were I was able to breastfeed for the first time.  (Incredible for us considering Ady didn’t get her first taste of food until almost 3 weeks…and breast feeding didn’t happen until after 1 month)

The hospital staff was wonderful and I recovered much faster this time.  He was born on Tuesday and we went home Friday around noon.  While we were there, we had him screened by the NICU with a pulse ox to rule out major heart defects.  While Ady’s was minor, and we aren’t positive it is genetic, it never hurts to check.  He checked out just fine.  My mom stayed with Ady, but brought her by daily to see “Baby!”.  She is a tad jealous,  but nothing extra attention from mom and dad can’t fix.

So far he is a wonderful baby.  He eats, sleeps and poops like he should.  He rarely cries, and when he does it is usually quickly fixed by feeding him or burping him.  He enjoys being swaddled and hanging out with mom in the moby wrap.  The day after we were discharged we took him to the movies to see Hunger Games.  He has also been everywhere in Irvine, the beach in Dana Point and also to our church in LA.  All the the go-go-go is tiring for mom, but it’s nice to get out and about so soon.  I love that we don’t have to hide him away in the house for months on end.

Already breaking records he was 9 pounds 7 ounces at his two week check up!  75% ya’ll…I can’t tell you how nice it feels to be on the other end of that blasted growth chart.  We are so blessed to have such a healthy baby boy.  While he is sweet and calm now, I have no doubt his name will affect his personality eventually.  Aiden means “Little Fire”…oh my what have we gotten ourselves into!

 

 

 

The Geek and Teacher:  Our CA drivers licenses came in today, making us official California Residents woohoo!  The DMV wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated, but we have to finish registering our vehicles before our 30 day extension is up.  Geek is settled into the Irvine office and has even found time to hang out with his new co-workers.  Sometimes we can get him to sneak away and meet us at Costco for lunch, Ady loves lunch dates with her daddy.

+2:  Next Monday my mom flies in from Texas and Tuesday, March 20th, Baby Boy Taylor/+2 will make his debut.  We opted for a scheduled c-section over the VBAC so my mom could be here.  We are hoping that will help Adalyn transition as well.  We still haven’t decided on a name, but we have our list ready to go – I have a feeling once we meet him it will be a no brainer.  Comparing the preparation for him with Adalyn’s is interesting.  We didn’t set up her nursery because we weren’t home waiting for her – He will be in our room for awhile and they will share a room after that.  I didn’t prep her clothes ahead of time because we didn’t know her size or when she would be able to wear clothes – with him we have mostly hand me downs and everything has been washed already.  I am waiting on purchasing much else…diapers, bottles and the like because we just don’t know what he’ll need or want.  Thankfully we received a generous amount of gift cards that we can use as needed.  I can’t tell you how strange it is to know that next Tuesday we will have a baby, and pending any surprises, we will leave with a baby 3 days later.  I keep with with many CDH mom blogs and two of them had healthy baby boys after their firstborn CDH girls.  I am clinging to the words of their post-baby posts like a lifeline. Postpartum emotions are crazy enough, and you would think that a mother would feel nothing but joy to bring a healthy baby home.  I have witnessed many mothers fall into depression as they see what could have been with their NICU baby.  Our prayers are to stay focused on the present joy in our family and not dwell on the “missed” beginnings that come from having a NICU baby.  We will try to post pictures and updates as soon as possible next week.

Adalyn:  Last but certainly not least.  This past month I have become what I always wanted, a stay at home mom.  Now that the transition period is over and routine has set in, it feels real now.  Spending every day with her is such a blessing.  Even on the days she find every button to push, I can’t help but be joyful in my post.  When she cries non-stop because she doesn’t want to nap today/or because she didn’t have a nap today, I am thankful that her lungs are growing and strong enough to complain.  We she asks for “Up!” for the 1 millionth time, I can’t believe she is walking/climbing and almost caught up on all her milestones.  She is a miracle, a survivor.  Currently without need of medicine or therapy, if it wasn’t for her small size you would think she was like any other baby.  How awesome is that!  She eats what we eat, and in pretty good amounts.  She still gets a bottle at night, but I think she could be ready to let it go if we tried.  Her vocabulary is steadily growing.  ”Open” is her new favorite word.  She won’t eat mac and cheese unless there is broccoli with it, but loves spaghetti.  She eats the crust on bread and the peel on the apple, and her new favorite thing to do is dip food in sauce.  Our favorite thing to watch her do right now is the bedtime routine.  It’s sweet, simple and funny all at the same time.  We hope to get it on video soon.  After bath, once she is dry and in her pjs, she will dance in front of the mirror for a few minutes.  Then Greg goes into her room with her bottle and sits in the rocker,  I help her her turn off the light and gives me a kiss, tells me night night and bye bye and shuts the door.  It’s a sprint to daddy and her bottle and then she is snuggled in bed within 10 minutes.  Hopefully we can catch it on video so you can witness the cuteness.

While there are still closets to be organized and small things here and there that need to be done, we are finally settling in.  We finally got our mail key, and just in time too.  The box was packed to the brim.  JJ, our mailman was incredibly nice and walked me to our box and explained how packages are delivered.  Most importantly the dining room table is cleared off, showcasing the gorgeous flowers G got me for Valentines Day.  We had dinner at the table two nights in a row this weekend…it was awesome!

G took Ady on a bike ride to the big park down the street on Saturday (mommy found a new nail place), and then we all walked there together on Sunday.  It was so relaxing and beautiful.  The big park as smaller play structures that are more age appropriate for her.  There is also a small water/sand table that I am sure will see many hours of play this summer.  Her vocabulary continues to grow by the day.  She is repeating words more frequently and her pronunciation of most words is getting better.  Water, sock, walk, Bauer, Mckenzie, all done, milk, and ice are the ones I can think of right now.  I will try to post another video later.  In the meantime, there are some pictures for you at the end.

Last but not least, little man has his eviction date set.  To ensure that my mom is here for the birth, we went ahead an scheduled a c-section.  I still kinda wish we could have tried a vbac, but I am not the only one affected by this decision.  Besides, if he continues to grow like they are estimating…I may be glad he doesn’t come out the normal way.  Our new doctor requested we see a perinatologist – just to double check.  The scan showed everything was perfect, and that he was actually measuring about two weeks ahead of schedule.  33 weeks and 4 days, he was measuring a little over 35 weeks – at 5 pounds 9 ounces, he already weighs more than Ady did at birth.  The c-section is scheduled for March 20, which happens tp be my great great grandmothers birthday.  I of course never met her, but she was an extraordinary woman that meant the world to my grandmother/Beebs.

Here is little man…and no we aren’t withholding his name…we still haven’t decided.  Look at those cheeks!

Ady knows she has a specified place she can play in the kitchen.  Her cabinet or drawer is full her of cups and things.  She with pull them all out and put them all back.  Apparently that wasn’t enough this weekend…she needed a new challenge.

I think climbing into things is a trend…what do you think?  (it’s also a milestone, hallelujah!)

She is also developing a love for purses and bags.  She sports them like her Gran, around the neck.

On the other hand, our dining room is filled with pictures that need to be hung, and the table full of decorative items that don’t have a home. Here and there are piles of items that need a new home – a side effect of squeezing 2000 sq ft into a little under 1000. The motto of the weekend seemed to be “For now…” My mom graciously gave up her weekend to fly here with Ady and me, and then stayed a few days to help us unpack. This was a huge help because 8 months pregnant, child in tow and moving is about a tiring as it sounds. Box after box, “Where does this go….?” my response most of the time was “Uhhh put it there….for now…” We will be masters of organization after this, as every square foot it being utilized. I wish I could trade all my stuff for to Ikea…and they could come and remake the place.

Ahhh, so this is your update…for now. I’ll post more with pictures later.

here is one of Ady at the park that is seconds from our door.

3 Great things –
Ady loves the park
Picking up produce picked that morning (from the farm) for super cheap is beyond awesome

Adalyn\’s Vocabulary

Hutto House – we have buyers, inspection and appraisal done.  All we need to do now is close on the house.  That will happen next week.  The POD will be delivered next Monday and we will start packing it up.

CA apartment – We now have a place to live in California.  Geek and I put down our money to hold a place in Irvine and will sign all the paperwork after the house closes.  G’s car is already there.  We also have a doctor for me, whom I met last Monday and a pediatrician for Adalyn and little brother.

There is a gap in moving dates and we aren’t 100% what those two and half weeks will look like for G, but I will spend it with family and friends in San Antonio.  Ady and I will head out there once we have the keys to the new place. I am looking forward to that time – we are even hoping to make it to Corpus to visit cousins down there. If you want to see us before we go, this is your opportunity.  By the way, we didn’t send out Christmas cards this year, because I wanted to send out We’ve Moved cards.  So expect those sometime in February.

If anyone wants to help us move on either end, let me or G know.  I can still pack boxes – but at 30 weeks pregnant I am a worthless mover.  (I will fetch food and refreshments!)

Here are the updates from the other specialist we have seen since 16 months.

Gastroenterologist- While she will probably have issues with GERD and reflux forever, the need to see a doctor routinely is no more.  Dr. B dismissed her from GI, along with instructions for us to discontinue her relux meds (prilosec) next month.

Cardiologist – There is still a lingering issue with one of Ady’s valves – a word I cannot seem to remember.  It’s there, but a non-issue – so I don’t spend the energy to remember it.  She will need to follow up with cardio in a year, and then hopefully every 2-3 years from then on.

Pulmonology – Her lungs look and sound great – but it’s difficult to test their function.  While they fill up the space in the chest, it’s the number of avioli that truly matter…and there is no test for that.  For now Dr. S is happy with her saturation levels, and her growth.  She will follow up in a similar pattern to cardio.  She qualified for synagis again this fall – and RSV shouldn’t be as much of a risk from after this cold and flu season.

Therapy

-Occupational – dismissed.  Currently she does not has any resemblance of an oral aversion.  She eats well, manages bites, chewing and swallowing.  She tends to over stuff her mouth from time to time, which could be associated with sensory issues…or not.  We will have a true assessment of fine motor after tomorrow’s appointment.

- Pre speech – dismissed.  Her ability to community is steadily increasing.  She is a master of communicating most of her needs, and is finally starting to say some words.  Apple, banana, ball, bye bye and a variety of names – Mommy, Daddy, Ady, Meme, Papa, Zain, Beebah, Nana, Eli and even Bauer.  Her sign language is still the main source of communication – her favorite three word phrase is- Mama/Daddy, up (verbal) and please in sign.  She has a habit of combining the two methods.

Physical – dismissed.  Now that she is walking and climbing – her gross motor should be about on target.  We will know for sure tomorrow.

Dietitian/nutrition – now that she is on the growth chart (20+ pounds!) and is eating well, there is no need to see Mimi anymore.  She gave us the name of book that will continue to guide her eating, it will also be useful for Baby brother. We are still on a bottle a day, at bedtime.  Lately she drinks very little of it.  Hopefully soon she just won’t want it anymore.

i will add more tomorrow with the update from Dr. F.

We spent Christmas in San Antonio split between the families.  It felt so different from the small quiet gathering we had last year here in Hutto.  Large groups of family gathered at each house to open presents and eat great food.  Adalyn enjoyed ripping paper and watching Zain open his presents.  Her favorite gift was the small trike my parents/Santa got her.  She immediately knew that she was supposed to ride it somehow.  Even adjusted she is about an inch away from the peddles, and even then I am not sure when the coordination for peddling kicks in.  No matter, she enjoys being pushed around just as much and has already mastered getting off the bike solo.

(Need to get picture from mom)

Grow: 19 pounds 10 ounces was her weight last week at her synagis appointment. We don’t have a current length, but we will see her dietician this week so I will post it then.

Play: With some new toys (thx Schnieder Family!) Ady is playing and playing and playing. Her ability to walk anywhere makes entertainment easier these days. She loves to throw the ball to any one that will throw it back, and that includes the dogs. Watching other children play is also super enteraining for her. We go outside and “play” with the neighbor’s kids. Ady sits on the sidewalk and laughs at them while they play.

Learn: Walking is officially mastered, and she is finally standing up independently withough pulling on something. She is learning new words, both verbal and non verbal.
Verbal:
Up (uuuch…sounds german)
Mamaa (mama 2.0 emphasis on the second half of the word, is required with Up for me to pick her up)
Dadaa
Down
bye bye
uh oh (u ooooooh – adorable)
bath (baa)
Animal noises (mooo, ruff, roar)

Non-verbal (mastered words — will sign without prompting)
eat
more please
strawberry

Eat: Her eating has been on and off all month with the ear infections. Some days she eats great, and other days she is picky as a bird. She is getting better about eating meat, but has shown a really desire for sweet things.

New foods:
Carne guisada
blueberries
green beans
chocolate milk
donut (one time thing)

Favorites:
Peas
strawberries
peaches
mandrain oranges