The 1st percentile, that is! Our little Rose is still little, but she's at least made it onto the growth charts! The doctor was very happy today at her appointment, with her weighing 10 lbs 5 oz, and all of her liver enzyme levels going down. He has run just about every test imaginable on her blood, urine and poop (TMI, sorry...), and everything has come back fine. So he doesn't want to see us back for 2 months, which will be great. Nothing personal against the doctor - because he is a very nice, laid back little Polish man - but it'll be nice not to have to go to the hospital for at least a little while. Let's just cross our fingers that there are no ER visits for any of us in the meantime!
Rose otherwise is still as wonderful as ever. She is so happy and content, literally ALL the time. She cries when she's hungry and tired, and that's really just about it. She's figured out how to roll herself over and scoot her little leggies when she's on her back... so our world has become one of babyproofing again! All she wants to do is follow her brother, which I have no doubts she will be doing sooner than we think.
Preston is wonderful as well, and sort of growing out of some of that sassiness that reared it's ugly head a few months back. He's talking like crazy and learning new things every day. It just amazes me how fast such a tiny little brain (albeit inside a ginormous noggin) can absorb all that information. He is so smart, I can't wait to see what the next years bring us! Oh, and potty training is coming along...
I had a regular checkup a couple of weeks ago, too, just to make sure all my systems were good. I got a completely clean bill of health, and am getting back into the swing of things with my workouts. It feels great to be able to make myself a priority, even if it's only once or twice a week.
We've got some fun things coming up soon, with a visit from the Hanson family next weekend, and then Stephanie's 29th birthday celebration on the 25th. We'll be saving some time and money after that for a little while, in anticipation of our first trip as a family out to see Tom, Erin, Sawyer and neice-to-be at the end of September.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Time flies when you're having fun!
This summer has flown by so far like none other! I'm sure part of it has to do with the fact that we're still getting used to being a family of 4, but also not to mention that we're getting used to new living situations (meaning with the house), everything with Rose medically, and a couple of really busy weekends.
In Rose's little world, we had another appointment at the GI clinic yesterday. Turns out my little peanut is getting less peanutty, as she now weighs 9 lbs 1 oz - a 26% weight gain from 3 weeks ago! Woohoo! Apparently the fortified breastmilk, high-calorie formula recipe and olive oil are working! Also, most of the tests that came back were all negative for any type of liver or pancreas condition, so that is awesome. Some things were still out of sorts with the lab results, though, so the doctor ordered more bloodwork. It's become sort of a fishing expedition at this point, which is a little frustrating, but if it means really nailing down whatever is going on with her, then we're all for it. But for now, she's a sweet as ever. I looked over at her the other day and she was sucking on her toe, so her hand-eye (and hand-foot) coordination is obviously right on track! We also had her sitting in the Bumbo for a few minutes last night, which she loved. Looking around watching the little blonde Tazmanian Devil that is Preston is something she likes :).
Preston is great. He's pretty much your typical 2-and-a-half year-old... albeit maybe on the high end of the energy spectrum. We joked when we were up north last week that we should just put a padded full-body life jacket/suit on him, tie him out, and just let him run. He's a total nut, and he just goes and goes and goes... then he totally crashes. The boy still loves his sleep (gets that from his Daddy). We've kind of started potty-training him, and we've learned he does best just running around without any pants on at all - which is kind of hilarious since really the only big thing on his body is his... well... you get the picture. He learned once that peeing on the carpet is not an acceptable thing to do in our house! Skip and I are definitely not pushing it, even though we know we might have to sooner rather than later. I just don't want to force him if he's not ready, but I think he's just about there.
We got a little vacation up north for my cousin Jen's wedding last weekend. We stayed at Evergreen, and thanks to the wedding activities that didn't usually take place until late into the day, we still got to have our relaxing time at the lake. The wedding itself was beautiful - very woodsy, yet still classy. Jen and Neil are a great pair and we look forward to getting to know Neil in the years to come. (Sidenote: UncleMichaelEckel took some wonderful pictures of the wedding, since the official photogs [a.k.a. Hefty and Lefty, as we decided to call them...] basically sat on their asses the whole time. I fully recommend my baby brother's photography services if anyone needs them!)
We've made getting the kids room the main priority for the house now. Since we put Rose's crib together, we've realized that new little room needs to be kept organized so that it doesn't feel so cramped - which means finishing the closet more than anything. I also can't wait just to do some personalization in there for the babes.
I'm officially back at work full-time now, which is okay. I fortunately have been awarded a promotion and raise, so that makes it a hell of a lot easier justifying being back. Skip and I decided it would be best on our lives and schedules if he went back to doing primarily 3rd shifts. It's just been too hard for us to stay on the same track when he's jumping all over with his hours. We're hoping that'll bring some stability to our summer from this point forward.
That's it for now, hasta luego...
In Rose's little world, we had another appointment at the GI clinic yesterday. Turns out my little peanut is getting less peanutty, as she now weighs 9 lbs 1 oz - a 26% weight gain from 3 weeks ago! Woohoo! Apparently the fortified breastmilk, high-calorie formula recipe and olive oil are working! Also, most of the tests that came back were all negative for any type of liver or pancreas condition, so that is awesome. Some things were still out of sorts with the lab results, though, so the doctor ordered more bloodwork. It's become sort of a fishing expedition at this point, which is a little frustrating, but if it means really nailing down whatever is going on with her, then we're all for it. But for now, she's a sweet as ever. I looked over at her the other day and she was sucking on her toe, so her hand-eye (and hand-foot) coordination is obviously right on track! We also had her sitting in the Bumbo for a few minutes last night, which she loved. Looking around watching the little blonde Tazmanian Devil that is Preston is something she likes :).
Preston is great. He's pretty much your typical 2-and-a-half year-old... albeit maybe on the high end of the energy spectrum. We joked when we were up north last week that we should just put a padded full-body life jacket/suit on him, tie him out, and just let him run. He's a total nut, and he just goes and goes and goes... then he totally crashes. The boy still loves his sleep (gets that from his Daddy). We've kind of started potty-training him, and we've learned he does best just running around without any pants on at all - which is kind of hilarious since really the only big thing on his body is his... well... you get the picture. He learned once that peeing on the carpet is not an acceptable thing to do in our house! Skip and I are definitely not pushing it, even though we know we might have to sooner rather than later. I just don't want to force him if he's not ready, but I think he's just about there.
We got a little vacation up north for my cousin Jen's wedding last weekend. We stayed at Evergreen, and thanks to the wedding activities that didn't usually take place until late into the day, we still got to have our relaxing time at the lake. The wedding itself was beautiful - very woodsy, yet still classy. Jen and Neil are a great pair and we look forward to getting to know Neil in the years to come. (Sidenote: UncleMichaelEckel took some wonderful pictures of the wedding, since the official photogs [a.k.a. Hefty and Lefty, as we decided to call them...] basically sat on their asses the whole time. I fully recommend my baby brother's photography services if anyone needs them!)
We've made getting the kids room the main priority for the house now. Since we put Rose's crib together, we've realized that new little room needs to be kept organized so that it doesn't feel so cramped - which means finishing the closet more than anything. I also can't wait just to do some personalization in there for the babes.
I'm officially back at work full-time now, which is okay. I fortunately have been awarded a promotion and raise, so that makes it a hell of a lot easier justifying being back. Skip and I decided it would be best on our lives and schedules if he went back to doing primarily 3rd shifts. It's just been too hard for us to stay on the same track when he's jumping all over with his hours. We're hoping that'll bring some stability to our summer from this point forward.
That's it for now, hasta luego...
Monday, June 18, 2012
Rose update, 6/18
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| Getting an EKG - so cooperative! |
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| Completely pooped on the exam table :( |
We had our second visit to the GI clinic today, and were able to get some results from all the tests last week. Basically, all the extra tests/procedures came back negative for the liver conditions the GI doc was looking for (Alagille's Syndrome & Hemochromatosis). So that was great. We had more bloodwork done, and it came back showing that her liver enzyme levels were down, but still not within normal limits. The doctor ordered additional bloodwork this time around, as well as ordered us to collect a stool sample to bring in... I bet you've never tried to collect a stool sample from a 10-week-old. *TMI Warning* We can't scrape it directly off the inside of a disposable diaper, so we can either put her diaper on inside out, or put a piece of plastic wrap lining the diaper and collect it from there. Woohoo! I tried the inside out diaper, and she peed right out of it in about 5 minutes. So I tried to finagle a couple of cloth diapers out of some burp cloth/diapers that we have. That didn't last long. So now I'm waiting for her to poop into the plastic wrap in her diaper... Hopefully this next round of tests will give us some good answers.
Unfortunately, she had not gained much weight since her last GI appointment, which is extremely frustrating. On Friday at the Cardiologist she weighed over 8 lbs, so I was so happy (I was also happy because they didn't have to sedate her and do an Echo, thank god). But she's back down under 8 again. I told the dr. and nutritionist that she didn't get quite as much extra formula this weekend, and we're sure that's why she didn't gain the weight. So now we have to be extremely compliant with giving her milk fortified with formula, or extra formula after she nurses. Also, we will be giving her a teaspoon of vegetable oil throughout the course of the day, for extra fat and calories. Funny thing is that we can do olive oil, so I like to think that we're already giving her a good palate. Never too early. :)
I'm finally having a hard time dealing with this all - at first it was okay and we weren't stressed about it, but it caught up to me. It's just something we're dealing with and that we all have to get used to.
We also had Rose's baptism on Sunday which was very nice. It was great to visit with the family afterwards back at our house, and have such wonderful godparents for Rose - Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jim!
So for now, that's what's up with my tiny girl!
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| So happy! |
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| Hanging out on the porch with Mommy. |
Monday, June 11, 2012
Rose Update
So, I got a call back from the nurse. Most of Rose's tests came back normal (Lipase, Thyroid, CBC, Electrolytes, regular Iron, a couple others), but a couple did not. Her Liver Function tests showed elevated ALT and AST. Normal levels are 3-45 and 23-65, respectively; Rose's levels were 165 and 135. Also, her Ferritin level (stored Iron, different from the other iron level... I'm still researching that one...) was elevated to 487, 62-250 is normal. Because of these results, we were referred to the GI clinic at Children's to get some more answers.
We had her appointment at the Children's on Friday. Following that visit, no definitive answers yet. The GI doc doesn't seem to think it's hemochromatosis (something Rose's pediatrician thought it might be), but he does think there is definitely something going on. He reassured us, however, that though her levels were high for iron and liver enzymes, they weren't through the roof, so it's not as bad as we might have anticipated. But like I said, no answers yet. He ordered basically every test in the book for the next two weeks to rule things out and hopefully get some more symptoms or results to narrow down what it might be. Here's what he ordered:
> More labs - we got the blood drawn Friday, so that's done.
> Spine xray - done Friday, too. Apparently there is a liver condition that presents with odd-shaped vertebrae, so that's what this was for.
> Cardiologist then possibly an Echocardiogram - Some liver conditions have heart symptoms. Scheduled for this coming Friday.
> Eye exam - Some liver condition has a weird eye issue where a ring of gold will show around the cornea? Who knows. Waiting to hear back from the clinic to schedule this...
> Liver ultrasound. Makes the most sense why they would order this one. Scheduled for Thursday.
So we go back to the GI doc on the 18th for results. A nutrionist talked to us and gave a very specific recipe for fortifying the breast milk with formula to get a specific calorie count, as opposed to just giving her an ounce with each feeding. Otherwise, we're basically just doing what we're doing, and aren't supposed to change anything until we hear otherwise. However, a huge bonus was that she gained 5 ounces since Tuesday, so obviously the supplementing is working! The doctor was optimistic particularly about that, because it means her body can overcome whatever is going on, just needs to have enough calories coming in.
We're definitely ready for answers, but in the meantime I really do have the happiest little girl to enjoy!
We had her appointment at the Children's on Friday. Following that visit, no definitive answers yet. The GI doc doesn't seem to think it's hemochromatosis (something Rose's pediatrician thought it might be), but he does think there is definitely something going on. He reassured us, however, that though her levels were high for iron and liver enzymes, they weren't through the roof, so it's not as bad as we might have anticipated. But like I said, no answers yet. He ordered basically every test in the book for the next two weeks to rule things out and hopefully get some more symptoms or results to narrow down what it might be. Here's what he ordered:
> More labs - we got the blood drawn Friday, so that's done.
> Spine xray - done Friday, too. Apparently there is a liver condition that presents with odd-shaped vertebrae, so that's what this was for.
> Cardiologist then possibly an Echocardiogram - Some liver conditions have heart symptoms. Scheduled for this coming Friday.
> Eye exam - Some liver condition has a weird eye issue where a ring of gold will show around the cornea? Who knows. Waiting to hear back from the clinic to schedule this...
> Liver ultrasound. Makes the most sense why they would order this one. Scheduled for Thursday.
So we go back to the GI doc on the 18th for results. A nutrionist talked to us and gave a very specific recipe for fortifying the breast milk with formula to get a specific calorie count, as opposed to just giving her an ounce with each feeding. Otherwise, we're basically just doing what we're doing, and aren't supposed to change anything until we hear otherwise. However, a huge bonus was that she gained 5 ounces since Tuesday, so obviously the supplementing is working! The doctor was optimistic particularly about that, because it means her body can overcome whatever is going on, just needs to have enough calories coming in.
We're definitely ready for answers, but in the meantime I really do have the happiest little girl to enjoy!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Here we go again...
So, two and a half years ago, I was dealing with a baby whose growth was way lower than average, and we were worried something was wrong. Welp, it's happening again. And this time, it's a little more worrisome. Resources say that breastfed babies should just about double their weight by the time they are 3-4 months old, and that they should gain about 4-5 ounces per week. That would mean that since Rose came home from the hospital a little under 7 pounds, that she should have gained at least 3 or 4 pounds by now. Or not. At her 8 week appointment today, she weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces :(. The doctor didn't beat around the bush this time, and full out said she was concerned. However, she's close to 22 inches long, and her head is in the 25% for her age, so the doctor said if something systemic was wrong with her growth, that it would affect ALL of her growth, not just her weight. Also, everything else with her is perfectly on track (babbling, cooing, eye contact/tracking, head control), so the doctor is still optimistic.
I, however, was upset in the appointment (first time I ever cried in a doctor's office...), because it's my milk that's not making her gain weight. And it's surprising because Rose is a serious champ with nursing. We all joked with Preston that I produced skim milk... apparently with Rose it's super skim. The doctor wants us to give Rose an ounce of formula at each feeding, after she's done nursing, so that she gets some guaranteed calories into her system. Also, she had blood drawn at her appointment to run tests to rule out anything else that might be going on. I have to tell you, it was a rough couple of hours! I had Preston in his stroller so he was contained while I handled Rose... Well, he can stand up while buckled into the umbrella stroller, so he would stand and drag the thing behind him trying to move around (in any other setting, it would've been comical). Then, he dropped a little toy car that he had with him, and the phlebotomist almost tripped over it. Then, Rose (of course) was screaming hysterically as her blood was being drawn, and Preston was "sympathy crying" and holding his ears. I couldn't manage Preston because I was holding Rose and trying to keep her from squirming. It was pretty traumatic for all of us.
I count my blessings that being tiny is the only "issue" my children have (so far...), but it still is tough when there isn't much that I can do about it, all the while having people ask me "do they get enough to eat?" "were they preemies?" "oh, you should just do formula." I'm just crossing my fingers that there really isn't something more going on with my little girl.
In other news, I'm back at work part-time through June. It sort of sucks, but at the same time I was ready to get out of the house and into a better routine. Me and the kids were kind of playing each day by ear, and not really on a schedule, and I've realized we're not at our bests when that is the case. Preston and I get crabby at each other (he's just as stubborn as I am. I swear it's like looking into a mirror when I see those eyebrows go all furrowed...). I love my children to death, but I give serious props to full-time stay-at-home parents, as I have found out I'm not good at it. Part-time sure. Which is why I think June is going to work out really well - a good balance for all of us.
Now I'm off to get angry at the news, while I watch Wisconsin fail. Again.
I, however, was upset in the appointment (first time I ever cried in a doctor's office...), because it's my milk that's not making her gain weight. And it's surprising because Rose is a serious champ with nursing. We all joked with Preston that I produced skim milk... apparently with Rose it's super skim. The doctor wants us to give Rose an ounce of formula at each feeding, after she's done nursing, so that she gets some guaranteed calories into her system. Also, she had blood drawn at her appointment to run tests to rule out anything else that might be going on. I have to tell you, it was a rough couple of hours! I had Preston in his stroller so he was contained while I handled Rose... Well, he can stand up while buckled into the umbrella stroller, so he would stand and drag the thing behind him trying to move around (in any other setting, it would've been comical). Then, he dropped a little toy car that he had with him, and the phlebotomist almost tripped over it. Then, Rose (of course) was screaming hysterically as her blood was being drawn, and Preston was "sympathy crying" and holding his ears. I couldn't manage Preston because I was holding Rose and trying to keep her from squirming. It was pretty traumatic for all of us.
I count my blessings that being tiny is the only "issue" my children have (so far...), but it still is tough when there isn't much that I can do about it, all the while having people ask me "do they get enough to eat?" "were they preemies?" "oh, you should just do formula." I'm just crossing my fingers that there really isn't something more going on with my little girl.
In other news, I'm back at work part-time through June. It sort of sucks, but at the same time I was ready to get out of the house and into a better routine. Me and the kids were kind of playing each day by ear, and not really on a schedule, and I've realized we're not at our bests when that is the case. Preston and I get crabby at each other (he's just as stubborn as I am. I swear it's like looking into a mirror when I see those eyebrows go all furrowed...). I love my children to death, but I give serious props to full-time stay-at-home parents, as I have found out I'm not good at it. Part-time sure. Which is why I think June is going to work out really well - a good balance for all of us.
Now I'm off to get angry at the news, while I watch Wisconsin fail. Again.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
6 weeks!
6 weeks ago I was getting ready to go into the hospital to be induced - I seriously cannot believe how fast time has flown by with Rose!! She is SUCH a little sweetheart, and I am tempted to say even more laid-back than her brother was at this age. She cries of course, but really it's only when she's hungry, poopy (or worse when wet...), or just a little crabby. But she is really easily soothed just by talking to her or cuddling her. Right now she is laying on the couch next to me, just cooing and wiggling away. I never thought I would be the mom of a little girl. I always thought I'd have boys, so when Rose came out a was a little surprised (even though everyone else thought she would be a girl!). But I have realized that I am so blessed and lucky to have this little one as my daughter. Wow, still getting used to saying "daughter!"
On other fronts (not that there are many...), we got to celebrate the wedding of Shay and Tom last weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, and we were honored to share in the weekend with them. Kind of funny where the conversation goes all weekend when you have 2 lactating bridesmaids, but we had fun with it. It's pretty darn special that I've gotten to share in so many incredible milestones over the years (20+!) with the Cunningham girls. Wouldn't change it for the world.
Skip has been really enjoying his new job at Elmbrook. He's also still working at Sinai, so he's been quite busy, but since I've been home I get a lot of time with the kids before I go back to work. It's nice on the days he's off, though, because they're usually during the week and we get to spend some quality family time during the middle of the week - something I'm not used to since I work M-F. It's nice.
Preston is still my little goofy guy, albeit with a small streak of stinker in him these days... He loves his little sister, but is also testing his limits. 9 times out of 10 he's still a really good little kid - it's that 1 out of 10 that is trying. Part of me is glad that he's like that, though, so that it keeps me on my toes and I have to learn to stay one step ahead of him. Not only is he learning new things every day, but he's teaching ME new things, too!
On other fronts (not that there are many...), we got to celebrate the wedding of Shay and Tom last weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, and we were honored to share in the weekend with them. Kind of funny where the conversation goes all weekend when you have 2 lactating bridesmaids, but we had fun with it. It's pretty darn special that I've gotten to share in so many incredible milestones over the years (20+!) with the Cunningham girls. Wouldn't change it for the world.
Skip has been really enjoying his new job at Elmbrook. He's also still working at Sinai, so he's been quite busy, but since I've been home I get a lot of time with the kids before I go back to work. It's nice on the days he's off, though, because they're usually during the week and we get to spend some quality family time during the middle of the week - something I'm not used to since I work M-F. It's nice.
Preston is still my little goofy guy, albeit with a small streak of stinker in him these days... He loves his little sister, but is also testing his limits. 9 times out of 10 he's still a really good little kid - it's that 1 out of 10 that is trying. Part of me is glad that he's like that, though, so that it keeps me on my toes and I have to learn to stay one step ahead of him. Not only is he learning new things every day, but he's teaching ME new things, too!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
She's here :)
I write this with a little girl snuggling on my shoulder - best feeling in the world!
Here's the birth story:
Just like her mommy (in terms of time management...), Rose Ellen decided she would need to be forced out instead of coming on her own. All week and by the end of Thursday afternoon, I had been feeling pretty consistent contractions - some pretty strong - but they would always subside. I kept thinking to myself, "I better go to bed early tonight so that I can get some rest before the baby comes tonight,"... then I'd wake up the next morning, nothing. I didn't go to work after Monday, because the contractions were pretty distracting. So Thursday rolled around, and I had already been scheduled the week before by my doctor to be induced that night. I definitely didn't think I'd be showing up "scheduled" to have a baby - I had really wanted to go natural, but I knew this baby needed to come out, and at the rate she was going, God only knows when she would've come out (Wednesday night I put Preston down for bed, and cried the whole time, since I knew that would be the last time I put him down as my only baby. He was really sweet and hugged me the whole time..).
Skip's mom came to the house to watch Preston, so we said goodbye and headed to the hospital. By 7pm they had started the cytotec to "ripen" things... I seriously was feeling like some sort of produce whenever they said that. The nurses said a lot of people don't feel anything, and just sleep until they start pitocin. Oh guess what, I was in the percentage where the cytotec started super strong contractions. At first they were tolerable, and I was working through them, but they got to the point where I was sure I had to be significantly dilated because they were so painful (They felt like the contractions I had with Preston when I was ~7-8 cm). So they checked me: 1.5. Awesome. Another dose of cytotec coming up.
At that point, I was finding it hard to breathe through things, so the nurse gave me a couple of doses of fentanyl over the course of a couple hours. That was able to take the edge off the contractions, and allow me to relax better between them, but it was wearing off. The nurse thought again that I for sure must be dilated... only 2cm this time. I was starting to feel pretty deflated by that point, because I really didn't want to get an epidural, and for sure not that early (I had been really hesitant about even getting the IV meds, but the pain overrode that...). I just couldn't work through the contractions, though, and they were only 2 mins apart, so I was getting no rest. I gave in. Epidural please.
Turns out the epidural allowed me to breathe and relax a bit - thank god. That was at about 3:30 am. They started pitocin at ~4:15, since my own contractions weren't doing anything productive. Well... turns out that was all Rose needed to get moving. At 5:25, I all of a sudden felt a TON of pressure and couldn't find the baby on the monitors... I was just about to call the nurse when she came in on her own. She checked me and I was already 9.5, and the baby's head was right there! Went from 3 to 9.5 in an hour! I frantically got Skip to call my mom, since she and Sarah were waiting for the call to come over from the hotel. It took them about 20 mins to get there - not bad (they said they made all but one light on Bluemound :))!
The doctor (who was very surprised I went so fast) broke my water, and then 3 pushes later, out she came! What an uneventful, easy delivery after the pain of the labor! She came out with her eyes wide open, pink and perfect. The doctors and nurses couldn't have been happier about how easy the delivery went - and I knew I was very blessed and lucky that there were no complications. Rose also took to nursing right away, which was such a difference from Preston who really took a little while to catch on.
We stayed at the hospital until Sunday morning, which allowed (forced) me to rest and stay off my feet, which was fine. Not to mention the help at night was good for the first two nights. Skip was back and forth with and without Preston, and we were grateful for the help from Nana that first night, but then also Grandma (i.e. Nom-na) and Papa Eckel.
Since then, we have been settling in well at home. Rose is on a fairly strict 3-hour nursing schedule, then sleeps up to 5 hours at night already. I'm not going to comment on anything with that, lest I jinx myself with how well she's been doing!
Her brother, well, it's been an adjustment for him. Preston is so sweet with Rose, and really wants to help and hug and kiss her. He's not a big fan of Mommy or Daddy, though, which has been tough. He's been acting out a lot more, but we are trying as hard as we can to find a balance between consistent correction, but also giving him some slack considering the circumstances. We know it's just a phase... and we're making sure he gets time with each of us away from Rose, and we're making sure he knows he's still our baby, too.
For now, that's the update, more to come later!
Here's the birth story:
Just like her mommy (in terms of time management...), Rose Ellen decided she would need to be forced out instead of coming on her own. All week and by the end of Thursday afternoon, I had been feeling pretty consistent contractions - some pretty strong - but they would always subside. I kept thinking to myself, "I better go to bed early tonight so that I can get some rest before the baby comes tonight,"... then I'd wake up the next morning, nothing. I didn't go to work after Monday, because the contractions were pretty distracting. So Thursday rolled around, and I had already been scheduled the week before by my doctor to be induced that night. I definitely didn't think I'd be showing up "scheduled" to have a baby - I had really wanted to go natural, but I knew this baby needed to come out, and at the rate she was going, God only knows when she would've come out (Wednesday night I put Preston down for bed, and cried the whole time, since I knew that would be the last time I put him down as my only baby. He was really sweet and hugged me the whole time..).
Skip's mom came to the house to watch Preston, so we said goodbye and headed to the hospital. By 7pm they had started the cytotec to "ripen" things... I seriously was feeling like some sort of produce whenever they said that. The nurses said a lot of people don't feel anything, and just sleep until they start pitocin. Oh guess what, I was in the percentage where the cytotec started super strong contractions. At first they were tolerable, and I was working through them, but they got to the point where I was sure I had to be significantly dilated because they were so painful (They felt like the contractions I had with Preston when I was ~7-8 cm). So they checked me: 1.5. Awesome. Another dose of cytotec coming up.
At that point, I was finding it hard to breathe through things, so the nurse gave me a couple of doses of fentanyl over the course of a couple hours. That was able to take the edge off the contractions, and allow me to relax better between them, but it was wearing off. The nurse thought again that I for sure must be dilated... only 2cm this time. I was starting to feel pretty deflated by that point, because I really didn't want to get an epidural, and for sure not that early (I had been really hesitant about even getting the IV meds, but the pain overrode that...). I just couldn't work through the contractions, though, and they were only 2 mins apart, so I was getting no rest. I gave in. Epidural please.
Turns out the epidural allowed me to breathe and relax a bit - thank god. That was at about 3:30 am. They started pitocin at ~4:15, since my own contractions weren't doing anything productive. Well... turns out that was all Rose needed to get moving. At 5:25, I all of a sudden felt a TON of pressure and couldn't find the baby on the monitors... I was just about to call the nurse when she came in on her own. She checked me and I was already 9.5, and the baby's head was right there! Went from 3 to 9.5 in an hour! I frantically got Skip to call my mom, since she and Sarah were waiting for the call to come over from the hotel. It took them about 20 mins to get there - not bad (they said they made all but one light on Bluemound :))!
The doctor (who was very surprised I went so fast) broke my water, and then 3 pushes later, out she came! What an uneventful, easy delivery after the pain of the labor! She came out with her eyes wide open, pink and perfect. The doctors and nurses couldn't have been happier about how easy the delivery went - and I knew I was very blessed and lucky that there were no complications. Rose also took to nursing right away, which was such a difference from Preston who really took a little while to catch on.
We stayed at the hospital until Sunday morning, which allowed (forced) me to rest and stay off my feet, which was fine. Not to mention the help at night was good for the first two nights. Skip was back and forth with and without Preston, and we were grateful for the help from Nana that first night, but then also Grandma (i.e. Nom-na) and Papa Eckel.
Since then, we have been settling in well at home. Rose is on a fairly strict 3-hour nursing schedule, then sleeps up to 5 hours at night already. I'm not going to comment on anything with that, lest I jinx myself with how well she's been doing!
Her brother, well, it's been an adjustment for him. Preston is so sweet with Rose, and really wants to help and hug and kiss her. He's not a big fan of Mommy or Daddy, though, which has been tough. He's been acting out a lot more, but we are trying as hard as we can to find a balance between consistent correction, but also giving him some slack considering the circumstances. We know it's just a phase... and we're making sure he gets time with each of us away from Rose, and we're making sure he knows he's still our baby, too.
For now, that's the update, more to come later!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Thoughts at 41 weeks
Never thought I'd be writing this one! I seriously thought that by this point, we'd have a ~1-week old baby that we were getting ready to celebrate Easter with. I had plans to go out and get matching outfits for Preston and the baby if it was a boy, or a cute little dress if it was a girl. Alas, I doubt that at this rate I will even be home before Good Friday! It's funny, though, because I was born on Good Friday and came home on Easter Sunday, so it would be pretty neat if this one does the same. :)
I've been home from work since Tuesday, after my latest dr. appointment Monday afternoon. Dr. Lasser stripped my membranes (TMI), but wasn't too hopeful that it would get things really going. Which it really hasn't. I've had strong contractions here and there, but as soon as I think they are going to get more measurable, they die off. Darn. So in the meantime, I've been trying to clean up my house or just take it easy, and have actually finished 2 books in 2 weeks (The 1st two Hunger Games books - I highly recommend them!).
We have been sleeping upstairs for about 2 weeks, and it's been nice. There is definitely a lot to finish up there, but having the space now downstairs has allowed us to get things in place down there. The guest room is actually a guest room now (albeit Skip's dresser is still down there... he doesn't want to move it until we can refinish it...), but there is a sleepable mattress in that room. I got to put the new yellow quilt and shams on it, too, which have been waiting for seriously 6 months since I bought them. I was mildly excited about that one. :)
The back bedroom is now officially a playroom, and all of Preston's toys are back there. It's nice to have them out of the livingroom, since it's not big enough to have toys in plus people. I admit that I'm sure that room is going to become somewhat of a "dump spot" for stuff, but my thought is that it's contained at least. I have every intention of that space extending out into the porch when the weather gets nicer, too.
I've been really anxious, more and moreso each day I go over my due date. People have wondered if my dates were off, but I know for sure when I got PG, so the dates are spot on. My mom says this is my "Ellen" - just doing things on his/her own time. I haven't been stressing too much about the health of myself or the baby, except that I'm nervous as all hell if I have to get induced tomorrow night. The doctor doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks, although he also doesn't want to have to induce, either. I will go to see him tomorrow morning for him to try and "get things moving" again, and then wait until the evening for things to happen on their own. If not, I will be going to the Maternal Fetal Care Center/L&D to get induced... Please pray that if that does happen, that all goes smoothly. There is statistical evidence that induced labor/delivery has increased chances of ending in emergency c-section, and that's not something I want, obviously. I'm hoping this little one decides it will come tonight without any interventions.
I've been home from work since Tuesday, after my latest dr. appointment Monday afternoon. Dr. Lasser stripped my membranes (TMI), but wasn't too hopeful that it would get things really going. Which it really hasn't. I've had strong contractions here and there, but as soon as I think they are going to get more measurable, they die off. Darn. So in the meantime, I've been trying to clean up my house or just take it easy, and have actually finished 2 books in 2 weeks (The 1st two Hunger Games books - I highly recommend them!).
We have been sleeping upstairs for about 2 weeks, and it's been nice. There is definitely a lot to finish up there, but having the space now downstairs has allowed us to get things in place down there. The guest room is actually a guest room now (albeit Skip's dresser is still down there... he doesn't want to move it until we can refinish it...), but there is a sleepable mattress in that room. I got to put the new yellow quilt and shams on it, too, which have been waiting for seriously 6 months since I bought them. I was mildly excited about that one. :)
The back bedroom is now officially a playroom, and all of Preston's toys are back there. It's nice to have them out of the livingroom, since it's not big enough to have toys in plus people. I admit that I'm sure that room is going to become somewhat of a "dump spot" for stuff, but my thought is that it's contained at least. I have every intention of that space extending out into the porch when the weather gets nicer, too.
I've been really anxious, more and moreso each day I go over my due date. People have wondered if my dates were off, but I know for sure when I got PG, so the dates are spot on. My mom says this is my "Ellen" - just doing things on his/her own time. I haven't been stressing too much about the health of myself or the baby, except that I'm nervous as all hell if I have to get induced tomorrow night. The doctor doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks, although he also doesn't want to have to induce, either. I will go to see him tomorrow morning for him to try and "get things moving" again, and then wait until the evening for things to happen on their own. If not, I will be going to the Maternal Fetal Care Center/L&D to get induced... Please pray that if that does happen, that all goes smoothly. There is statistical evidence that induced labor/delivery has increased chances of ending in emergency c-section, and that's not something I want, obviously. I'm hoping this little one decides it will come tonight without any interventions.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
38 weeks
Yup, today's 38 weeks! How fast this time has flown by. Nothing really new to report, except that everything pregnancy-related is going well. Weight and blood pressure on track, baby growing (not going to be too big - thank God!), but still a little "cockeyed" inside. The doctor wants it to rearrange itself a little better before coming out, so let's cross our fingers that it settles into the right place as it drops! My appointment on Monday was in strobe lights... I had to take a sick little boy with me since he wasn't at the babysitter, and of course he found the light switches in the exam room. My dr. told me I'm going to have my hands full with a newborn and smart 2 1/2 year-old. I'm beginning to think the same thing!
I had the second two installments of my EMT refresher this past weekend (have to do it every two years), and thankfully I passed. After not running a call for a good 3 years, I really do need the "refreshing," so part of me enjoys it. It helped that my class was very friendly and my teacher was the best, but it did stink having to drive the 30 mile/35 min trip out to Stone Bank FD 4 times. I put a few miles on my car in those two weekends!
The house is the house. The floor is completely done, and most of the trim is in. We've been patching and re-sanding the little nail holes on the trim, and will touch up the paint on it this weekend. Furniture will FINALLY be going up. I've been sleeping up there anyways for the past week, which has been awesome. I can't wait to get everything settled both downstairs and upstairs, so we will be ready for Bean to make his/her grand entrance. The time is ticking...
We've been able to be outside a bunch this week, since the weather has been so ridiculously beautiful. Here are a few pics of Preston enjoying his time outside. The blue ones are what I will call "Adventures of Trying to Catch a Picture of a Two-Year-Old At a Park. i.e. Impossible!"
I had the second two installments of my EMT refresher this past weekend (have to do it every two years), and thankfully I passed. After not running a call for a good 3 years, I really do need the "refreshing," so part of me enjoys it. It helped that my class was very friendly and my teacher was the best, but it did stink having to drive the 30 mile/35 min trip out to Stone Bank FD 4 times. I put a few miles on my car in those two weekends!
The house is the house. The floor is completely done, and most of the trim is in. We've been patching and re-sanding the little nail holes on the trim, and will touch up the paint on it this weekend. Furniture will FINALLY be going up. I've been sleeping up there anyways for the past week, which has been awesome. I can't wait to get everything settled both downstairs and upstairs, so we will be ready for Bean to make his/her grand entrance. The time is ticking...
We've been able to be outside a bunch this week, since the weather has been so ridiculously beautiful. Here are a few pics of Preston enjoying his time outside. The blue ones are what I will call "Adventures of Trying to Catch a Picture of a Two-Year-Old At a Park. i.e. Impossible!"
 |
| Such a little boy, playing in the dirt. |
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| So muddy, but so fun! |
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| On his way down the slide! |
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| Hi Mommy! |
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| No time for pictures. |
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| Loves the swing! |
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| Apparently too sunny to look at the camera. |
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| Good to see that swing chains still pinch fingers. I thought that was only the case when I was a kid... |
Monday, March 5, 2012
Weekend Update.
In the year 2000.... In the year 2000!! (Delta Chi Sing 2002 anyone?)
Anyways... It was a good weekend. It really was. I'm just clouded by major pregnancy hormones these days, so sometimes I lose track of rationality.
Friday I was able to get off work a little bit early, so we took advantage of Lent and had dinner at St. Paul Fish and the Milwaukee Public Market. Despite the crazy snow, we had a really nice evening out, and totally overspent at the candy vendor at the MPM. Mmm...saltwater taffy....mmmm.
Saturday morning Preston and I went down to CL with Sarah, Steph and Owen for a little baby "sprinkle" Sarison was throwing for me. It was such a nice thing for her to do, and I really appreciated getting some time to catch up with the ladies of my family and a few close friends. We (and I) got some neat gifts, and the baby is now set to sleep with a brand new bassinet. Preston went with my dad and Andy and the little girls to get lunch while the shower was going on, and then came back and we hung at Harrisons for a little while before riding back up to Milwaukee with Mom and Dad. We stopped at the hotel so Mom and Dad could check in, then went on a wild goose chase for dinner. We ended up at Friday's at Miller Park, which was fine. After that, we swung over into Riverwest to drop the camera off for Skip, who was headlining Riverwest Follies with his band Astral/Subastral. He was very excited to have the opportunity to play for a good crowd, and apparently the show went pretty well. Mom and Dad dropped P and I at home, and we basically just went to bed.
Sunday, we all got up and sprung into action. By 10am, Andy, Jim, Nancy, Megan and Mom and Dad were at our house, ready to work. They had all volunteered to come up and really get some stuff done upstairs, which Skip and I welcomed. Andy and Jim really got cracking on getting the rest of the floor laid, while Skip worked on the electrical stuff - Nancy cleaned my ceiling fans, one of my "to dos" before the baby comes, and Mom cleaned the upstairs bathroom. Sarah, Michael and Elizabeth showed up by noon, so Dad/Nancy/MCE took PCM/MLH/EGH to the Children's Museum, while Mom and Sarah kept on with all types of cleaning. After a few hours and a Menards run, I was having a really hard time having everybody in the house, even though I appreciated the help more than I could ever say. It was just overwhelming and frustrating to not be able to do some things, and not get some of my priorities done. I just want my house back! I ended up absolutely melting down, and hid down in my basement for like a half hour... Not one of my best moments.
I finally crept back upstairs, and worked a little bit before we all ordered Mekong takeout for dinner. We devoured the food, just in time for the kiddos to all reach their limits - Preston especially. He and Megan and EGH play really well together, but after a whole day, "go away" was the coined term of the day between Megan and Preston. Mostly Megan (rightfully) telling Preston to leave her alone. All the kids got in their jammies, then Michael took the Harrisons home while Mom and Dad went back to the hotel. Preston went to bed about 20 mins after they left, and Skip and I sat up and talked for a little while before we both passed out.
As far as the house goes, however, there was a TON of progress made up there. Andy and Jim finished the floor, which looks great (and we appreciate their tolerance for continuing the herringbone pattern Skip and I decided to do in the bedrooms...). Skip was able to hook up all the rest of the electrical stuff, and then he and Andy got a ton of trim and moulding done. Mom and Sarah really got the upstairs bathroom cleaned out (it was horrible!), and Sarah got the downstairs one as well. Like I said, Nancy appeased my crazy nesting and cleaned all 5 ceiling fans in our house. Sarah and Michael cleaned off our bed upstairs and got it completely "sleepable" again, and my GOD did I forget how comfortable that bed is. The rest of the upstairs may not be quite finished, but hell, I'm finally up off the mattress on the floor downstairs, so I can't complain. I've been rationalized down by everyone enough now to realize that all the rest of the things to get done can be done one thing at a time, and that the few important things left will get there by the time Bean comes. I can't promise I won't have any more crazy pregnancy-induced meltdowns, but at least now I have a comfortable bed to escape to!
Plus, I have a full hour pregnancy massage tonight, so I will at least be loose. :)
Guess when Bean will arrive!
www.expectnet.com
Game name: beanmanning
Anyways... It was a good weekend. It really was. I'm just clouded by major pregnancy hormones these days, so sometimes I lose track of rationality.
Friday I was able to get off work a little bit early, so we took advantage of Lent and had dinner at St. Paul Fish and the Milwaukee Public Market. Despite the crazy snow, we had a really nice evening out, and totally overspent at the candy vendor at the MPM. Mmm...saltwater taffy....mmmm.
Saturday morning Preston and I went down to CL with Sarah, Steph and Owen for a little baby "sprinkle" Sarison was throwing for me. It was such a nice thing for her to do, and I really appreciated getting some time to catch up with the ladies of my family and a few close friends. We (and I) got some neat gifts, and the baby is now set to sleep with a brand new bassinet. Preston went with my dad and Andy and the little girls to get lunch while the shower was going on, and then came back and we hung at Harrisons for a little while before riding back up to Milwaukee with Mom and Dad. We stopped at the hotel so Mom and Dad could check in, then went on a wild goose chase for dinner. We ended up at Friday's at Miller Park, which was fine. After that, we swung over into Riverwest to drop the camera off for Skip, who was headlining Riverwest Follies with his band Astral/Subastral. He was very excited to have the opportunity to play for a good crowd, and apparently the show went pretty well. Mom and Dad dropped P and I at home, and we basically just went to bed.
Sunday, we all got up and sprung into action. By 10am, Andy, Jim, Nancy, Megan and Mom and Dad were at our house, ready to work. They had all volunteered to come up and really get some stuff done upstairs, which Skip and I welcomed. Andy and Jim really got cracking on getting the rest of the floor laid, while Skip worked on the electrical stuff - Nancy cleaned my ceiling fans, one of my "to dos" before the baby comes, and Mom cleaned the upstairs bathroom. Sarah, Michael and Elizabeth showed up by noon, so Dad/Nancy/MCE took PCM/MLH/EGH to the Children's Museum, while Mom and Sarah kept on with all types of cleaning. After a few hours and a Menards run, I was having a really hard time having everybody in the house, even though I appreciated the help more than I could ever say. It was just overwhelming and frustrating to not be able to do some things, and not get some of my priorities done. I just want my house back! I ended up absolutely melting down, and hid down in my basement for like a half hour... Not one of my best moments.
I finally crept back upstairs, and worked a little bit before we all ordered Mekong takeout for dinner. We devoured the food, just in time for the kiddos to all reach their limits - Preston especially. He and Megan and EGH play really well together, but after a whole day, "go away" was the coined term of the day between Megan and Preston. Mostly Megan (rightfully) telling Preston to leave her alone. All the kids got in their jammies, then Michael took the Harrisons home while Mom and Dad went back to the hotel. Preston went to bed about 20 mins after they left, and Skip and I sat up and talked for a little while before we both passed out.
As far as the house goes, however, there was a TON of progress made up there. Andy and Jim finished the floor, which looks great (and we appreciate their tolerance for continuing the herringbone pattern Skip and I decided to do in the bedrooms...). Skip was able to hook up all the rest of the electrical stuff, and then he and Andy got a ton of trim and moulding done. Mom and Sarah really got the upstairs bathroom cleaned out (it was horrible!), and Sarah got the downstairs one as well. Like I said, Nancy appeased my crazy nesting and cleaned all 5 ceiling fans in our house. Sarah and Michael cleaned off our bed upstairs and got it completely "sleepable" again, and my GOD did I forget how comfortable that bed is. The rest of the upstairs may not be quite finished, but hell, I'm finally up off the mattress on the floor downstairs, so I can't complain. I've been rationalized down by everyone enough now to realize that all the rest of the things to get done can be done one thing at a time, and that the few important things left will get there by the time Bean comes. I can't promise I won't have any more crazy pregnancy-induced meltdowns, but at least now I have a comfortable bed to escape to!
Plus, I have a full hour pregnancy massage tonight, so I will at least be loose. :)
Guess when Bean will arrive!
www.expectnet.com
Game name: beanmanning
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