Friday, September 25, 2009

Mini-Me and More

My mother chastised me for writing too much (really Mom??) and not posting enough pics :-) So in no particular order....

Little Buddy napping
K-dog waking up more and more these days!
Working on his neck muscles!
Double-chin in full effect! This guy is getting some cheeks!
Family walk on Sunday morning

BOB Duallie in full effect!

Loving brothers!

I am the big brother!
First time out in the jogger! Yes, I'm way behind in my exercise schedule. Work is just too busy right now. Hopefully I'll be able to start running after my 6 week post-partum appointment next week.
Lunch on the Portland Spirit!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Rader!
Enjoying lunch on the river!
Afternoon at the circus!
Barnum Bailey Circus at the Rose Quarter with Nana & Poppa!
Keaton slept through the whole thing!
Happy Birthday Daddy! I loved your chocolate cupcakes!

In an ironic twist of fate, I was lazy and didn't change Keaton's diaper at 3:30 am the other night. When he woke up at 8 am, I discovered him sleeping in giant pool of pee. Gross. I ripped off the sheet to wash it and discovered a horrifying fact!
SIDS research shows that babies should be on a hard mattress with no blankets to reduce the amount of air they "re-breathe". When I pulled back the sheet, I found the fluffy eggcrate pad that we had put on there for Carson once he was old enough to be beyond the risk of SIDS. We felt sorry for him to be on such a hard mattress and wanted to make him a little more comfortable. Oops!!!
AngelCare Monitor is working pretty well. Only one false alarm so far and fortunately it didn't cause me to panic. Tummy sleep is still working well!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Ahhh, Sleep . . . But Controversial Sleep

So we inadvertantly discovered that "Little Buddy" is a tummy sleeper. This is a big no-no in light of the years-old "Back to Sleep" campaign to reduce the rate of SIDS.

And if it weren't for the fact that all of us 30-something year olds slept on our tummies, I might be less inclined to do it. But when Keaton sleeps, we sleep. And when we sleep, we are all nicer to each other, less likely to go postal, and spend less money supporting Starbucks.

So yes, for the last three nights, Keaton has slept deliciously well, only waking twice each night to eat . . . on his tummy with his cute little tushie poking up in the air.

I researched SIDS, listened to the horror stories, and welcomed the emails and calls from the other moms that came out of the tummy-sleep-closet to provide support for our decision.

We bought an AngelCare Monitor to worry a little less at night. Tonight is our first night with it. Interesting contraption that requires a piece of plywood over the crib springs, then an electric mat, then the mattress. On top is the tummy sleeping baby whose every movement is tracked by the mat. If the mat doesn't sense any movement for more than 15 seconds, an alarm shrieks wildly to wake the baby and sleeping parents.

I read all the reviews and talked to a few moms who used it. Aside from an occasional false alarm, they all said it increased their comfort level.

Little Buddy is still super easy. No Mr. Murphy, I don't want to bring your wrath upon me but I'm very hopeful that we're going to get away without colic again. I'm bound and determined to prove our pediatrician wrong, a family can have two easy babies. Pulease!!!!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Murphy & Sleep

Murphy's Law stabbed me in the back for bragging about what a great sleeper Keaton has been.

That's all over. The last 4 nights have been just plain awful.

Grunting, groaning, crying, hiccuping, just plain uncomfortable.

Can't figure out what or why but we've tried everything. Even tummy sleeping which is a no-no these days. It works but last night that didn't even work.

We took turns sleeping on the couch with him so at least one of us could get a few hours of undisturbed sleep at a time in the bedroom.

I know this will end but oh my goodness sleep deprivation is tough on a family. Tempers are short, patience is gone, and coffee is brewing all day long.

I think I can, I think I can.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Major milestones!

Big Milestones this past week!

Keaton weighed in officially at 8 lbs 11 oz on Thursday. Which means two things!

1. He's gained almost 2 pounds in the last two weeks! Wow!

2. Had he been born at the same time his brother was (40 weeks 6 day), which just happens to be today, he would have weighed exactly the same!! 8 lbs 12 oz . . . interesting coincidence!

Keaton shares another fun fact with Carson . . . constipation issues.

I was giddy and bragging about how great a sleeper Keaton is. Only getting up once or twice a night. Murphy's Law kicked in and the last two nights have been awful!

I think though we pinpointed it to a poop problem. I'm down to pumping 3x/day which means Keaton is getting more formula than breastmilk and he is pooping a lot less frequently.

He does not sleep well without pooping first. Gross and sad, but true. So similar to Carson, I ran out to get a different formula yesterday. Hopefully things go better tonight.

Clothing milestone! I packed up the Newborn sized clothes and celebrated the move to "big boy" 0-3 month clothes! I'm in seventh heaven getting to dress him up like my own little doll! And of course, it is a great excuse to go SHOPPING!


Another milestone! We were able to ditch the hospital mandated car seat today! Yay! Back to our carseat. Pros and Cons to both but at least now it's easier to get him in and out of it. Still small enough to require bolsters.

Daddy and his mini-me sleeping on the couch! With each passing day, Keaton looks more and more like Jeremy!

Sleep deprivation has kicked in. This was the part I was dreading the most (aside from pumping) and am counting down the days until Keaton is sleeping through the night or at least only getting up once.
Fortunately now that I'm almost weaned off the pump, I don't have to pump and feed him at each waking at night so things go a bit faster. I can't WAIT to pack up that evil machine and be done.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I Don't Know!

So at least once a day someone asks me, "How much does Keaton weigh now?" I have no idea and we don't go in for another doctor's appointment for two more weeks so now it's driving me crazy.

Plus the competitive side of me is dying to know what he weighs since Carson weighed over 12 pounds at 4 weeks. Keaton is definitely not there since everyone still comments that he looks like a newborn . . . at what point does he switch from newborn to infant?

4 weeks ago today, Keaton popped out at 6 lbs 11 oz. This morning I popped him into the hanging veggie/fruit scale in the produce section of Winco. I prayed no employees would stop me and deliverately avoided eye contact with the other shoppers.

The results . . . nearly 9 pounds. That can't be right. Even fully clothed and with a full diaper that seems high.

I tried our antique scale at home with the old fashioned method of weighing myself and then weighing both of us.

The results . . . 8 pounds.

Can't help it. I insist on accuracy. I called our pediatrician's assistant and made an appointment for tomorrow, just to weigh Keaton. She probably thinks I'm a nut case but I don't care.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Cute Candids of K & C

I really do love blogspot and how easy it is to use. However it's been having all kinds of formatting issues lately. Too much space between paragraphs, no space between paragraphs, pictures don't drag and drop, and once in awhile, a horizontal picture refuses to upload horizontally.

So love or hate technology, the cute pic below of Keaton & Harley refuses to load horizontally. Hopefully you can just turn your laptop sideways :-) At this point, I think our giant cat weighs double our youngest son.

Our cats are not allowed on the furniture (they're rarely allowed in the main house, although it's now up to 2-3 evenings a week) but we pretended not to notice Harley sleeping cozily on the pillow next to Keaton. The cat didn't even realize a baby was next to him!


Carson's latest self-dressing ensemble . . . oh dear lord I hope we don't have to leave the house today!
Show us those awesome socks buddy!
The boys and I had a fun outing to Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Usually I just go through the drive-thru for the cup o' doughnut holes for Carson but this time we actually went inside, saw the tail end of doughnut production, and then Carson actually got to pick out a doughnut from the case. Chocolate covered original with sprinkles!
And yes, that is a sticker on his forehead and a rain coat on!
Last night we went out to our favorite local burger joint (Helvetia Tavern for the curious) and drove completely out of the parking lot and partway home before we realized that we'd left the diaper bag under the table!! It's amazing how much stuff you have to remember with a baby. Oops.
Keaton is such a easy baby! I probably shouldn't even write that down because I'll jinx it but it's so true. He only wakes up twice a night and for the most part goes right back to sleep after eating. When he is awake he just hangs out peacefully looking around and taking it all in.
He sleeps through the loudest noises a 3 year old brother can make, and miraculously, Carson can sleep through Keaton's short bursts of crying in the middle of the night as well.
Yesterday was D-Day. September 12 was Keaton's due date. All week long I've been dreading it because so many moms have told me stories of early babies morphing from calm, sleeping infants into colicky nightmares on their due dates.
No instant change yesterday and I know we're not out of the colic woods yet but I still keep hoping that since Carson didn't have it, Keaton won't either. Please keep your fingers crossed for us! We're bound and determined to prove to our pediatrician that a family can have two easy babies. He's convinced otherwise.
I'm still battling off the mastitis and trying to wean my "girls" off the pump. It's still painful, frustrating, and time consuming but since there is an end in sight, I try to focus on that. At least I was able to get back to work full time on Tuesday.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

My boys!

Thank you to all for your support and kind words from my last blog post. The new antibiotic is working much better and I am feeling much more like myself again!

Keaton, following in the footsteps of his older brother, is having a bit of a rough transition to formula. Constipation seems to be the name of the game. Since Carson is a life-long member of the Mirilax club, it just seems to make sense that Keaton will be joining him. Hopefully things start "moving" sooner than later.
Fast asleep on the couch!
Big brother was a bit jealous of the pics of Keaton (we are the awful second time around parents that aren't taking nearly as many pictures so we were trying to catch up this weekend). Carson, who normally runs from the camera, insisted on Daddy taking close-ups of him.
Happy!
Silly
Coy
Intense
Trying to get them both in the same picture




We are such terrible parents! This is Keaton's FIRST bath and he'll be 3 weeks old tomorrow. Come to think of it, Carson had a bath last night for the first time in . . . .??
And this is how he earned his first official nickname tonight, Monkey!
Saturday night Keaton met Eloise. It was love at first sight for Eloise who thought this little guy was better than any doll she could ever wish for. However, when asked if she wanted a baby sister or brother, she solemnly shook her head NO.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Down for the Count

I attended the funeral of a high school friend this weekend.

After graduating at the top of his class at Yale, he suffered for the last 12 years from a debilitating, unidentifiable lung illness. His plans to go to medical school never materialized.

He watched his college friends and his younger sister accomplish their dreams of medical school, and never complained.

He was in a lot of pain, on a ventilator, and traveled to specialists all over the US, and never complained.

When his family and friends spoke at his service, they all mentioned how he took it all in stride to the very end, and never complained.

It was so moving and a tribute to those who are able to put a smile on their face no matter what.

Sadly, I am not that person. My blog post today is about how my wonderful husband has had to listen to me complain for the last 4 days, Labor Day weekend of all times.

I am down for the count. I have hit the wall.

I didn't listen to everyone telling me to slow down, stop working, and just enjoy the first few weeks with my newborn.

I've been working crazy long hours and taking Keaton with me. Trying to do it all. Pump, sell houses, do paperwork, change diapers, do laundry, meet with clients. Because that's who I am.

Unfortunately nature has a way of telling us when we need to slow down. And in this case, nature slapped me in the face with a raging case of double mastitis.

Thursday night the pain began. Fortunately I had a two week follow up with my midwife on Friday. She took one look at me and prescribed antibiotics, rest, and double the pumping. Oh joy.

Friday night we had company (how was I supposed to know I would be sick). Sadly we had to ask them to leave after dinner because I went downhill so quickly. Fever, oh so cold, then raging hot with the sweats. Body aches, nausea, headache. And I complained the whole time.

Saturday I felt a little better but by the evening went downhill again.

Sunday, again the day wasn't too bad but by evening was a total and complete wreck. For those that know me, crying isn't really my thing but due to the extreme pain and fever and hormonal mess, I was a sobbing, complaining nightmare.

And now today, I didn't even have a "good" few hours. The whole day has been just plain awful. My boobs feel like someone used them for punching bags. My nipples are burning and itching like fireants made their home in them. And the cold to hot temperature extremes are just about to do me in. Let me tell you how fun pumping is now!

Called the clinic today and they prescribed a new antibiotic because clearly the first one is not working. And they want me to come in tomorrow for another follow-up.

This is it. This is the straw that is breaking the camel's back for me and my hate-hate relationship with pumping. I'm done. I'm SO done.

Only done pumping doesn't mean you get to pack it up and forget about it. You have to slowly wean yourself off the torturus machine. So while the end is in sight, I'm not really sure what that looks like.

And I feel so badly for all my complaining. Especially after the funeral this weekend.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Enough Writing Already! Pics to Post Finally!

I'm peeling myself away from work for 5 minutes to finally post pictures of our beautiful new baby. He is remarkably easy.

Our pediatrician even commented on it yesterday and looked incredulous when I said he really never cries, only wakes up once or twice a night, and sleeps amazingly. My only complaint is that he is a pooping machine!!

Yesterday at my office he went through 3 diapers in 3 minutes. The second I'd fasten the tab, he'd cut loose with another blast o' poo. And he used my last diaper! I had to rush through my last few "to do" items to stop by Target for more diapers before our evening appointment!

Keaton's 2 week appointment went very well. He gained 8 ounces since he was last weighed so he's right on target! However they no longer adjust for his early birth date and he is on the normal growth chart (compared to full term babies). So he is only 8th percentile for weight (now up to 6 lbs 14 oz) and 51st percentile for height (20 1/4 inches). Tall and skinny like his Daddy!

My only fear at this point is that he is going to hit September 12 (his due date) and suddenly morph into this colicky, high needs baby. Trying not to visualize that since he spends most days at my office and I'm sure my co-workers would not appreciate that.

It is remarkable how much Carson and Keaton look alike. Can you tell them apart?

Carson at 3 days old
Keaton at 1 week old



5 days old at the park in his Preemie Car Seat

Big Brother Carson! Still learning how to pedal and brake so we're sticking with the training wheels for a few more weeks.

If you read my previous post about my evil nemesis, the Breast Pump, you'll understand the irony of this picture.
Skinny little bird legs!

This is how Carson greets Keaton every morning! So sweet!
Just plain cute!

Grandpa Rader with his third grandson!
Mommy and Daddy at the zoo, relaxing while Carson played in the sandbox and Keaton slept in the Ergo.
This picture really should have gone with my previous post "Moving Day". This is Keaton on his sleeping throne in his crib.

Daddy and Keaton's favorite position.

Helpful big brother!
Great Grandpa Cliff meeting his namesake, Keaton Clifford!
Mommy and Baby!

How Old is Carson?

How Old is Keaton?