Sleep and being back to work

Sleeping through the night is a BEAUTIFUL thing.....and something I promise not to take for granted, BUT something I have enjoyed for this past week!! Way to go Grady!!

Some people have asked what it is like being back to work....and it's going well. We are awake at 5am and feed Grady then I jump in the shower (after maybe cuddling up for a few extra minutes) and get ready for work. I aim to leave the house by 6:40am. Todd is then in charge of getting both kids dressed and out the door for school/day care. I pack lunches, feed the dog and get everything ready so all he has to do is worry about clothes and getting out the door.

I am working 7-3:30pm and that schedule is going well. I work with some really great people and genuinely enjoy my job, so that has helped me going back to work. Now that Grady is allowing us some more sleep, it has made it even better.

We are all finally falling into a routine and it is going well. We seem to have a huge increase in laundry....but I try to keep up with it throughout the week so that we are not bombarded at the weekend.

Two Months

 Our little man is 2 months old already.....time sure flies by!!

 

This month's biggest challenge has been your discomfort....You have been one cranky little baby and all I wanted to do was fix it for you. SO many people offered their opinions on what they thought it was....but I am so glad I stuck to my guns, tried a few things, went to visit the pediatrician and I think we have a cure!!

 

Our pediatrician has put Grady on Zantac (0.7mL 3x a day). We started that on his 2 month birthday and noticed a slight improvement overnight. Not enough to start jumping for joy, but it was a start. By the weekend, he was not grunting, squirming and crying nearly as much. It was the best! Sunday afternoon I went to Target and bought some Dr Browns bottles. Everyone had been talking about them, so what the heck, let's go for it! And there is no going back. Now he only cries when he's hungry or drops his pacifier! I picked him up from daycare today and he actually smiled and had a slight giggle when I leaned in to kiss him while loading him into the car. It was the best! We are also using a formula pitcher to make up the bottles, in attempt to not add any air to the bottles.

 

I am so glad I stuck to my gut instinct and we didn't switch formula. That could have caused a whole lot of headaches....we will see how we continue to improve and go from there.

 

Today I bought a new play mat for Grady to enjoy. It's one of the ones that has a piano that he can kick and it will play music. Best purchase ever! He adores it which means we do to. It kept him occupied for about half and hour today--this is huge!

 

Grady is now in 3 months clothes, wears a size 1 Pampers swaddler diaper, eats 4oz at 9am, 12 noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm then will go either until 3:30am or 5am if we are lucky. Then we fumble through a 6am or 7am before Todd drops him and Tatum go to day care. Grady still loves baths, and most of all...his sister. And you know what?! I think she loves him too :)

 

 

One Month

Happy One Month to our little man Grady!!

 

There are plenty of funny out takes from this little mini session....plenty of which resulted in tears beyond your wildest dreams ; )

 

So this is where we are at one month into life with a newborn and life with two children.....

 

Grady you are the best baby. We have only had 3 rough nights with you since we have been home. Those nights typically result in you not wanting to sleep from 2-6am....at all. Last night started out to be one of those nights, and I broke my own rule and let you fall asleep on my chest in our bed. This resulted in you laying down next to me and snoozing for a good 7 hours. Holy Jesus, I had no recollection of how fabulous it was to sleep that long!! Thank you sweet baby. But, just remember that tonight....game on for the bassinet (or car seat....don't judge us)

 

You are still in newborn clothes and newborn Pampers Swaddler diapers.

 

You are learning to enjoy a nice warm bath, you love your warm bottles when it is time to eat and you enjoy being soothed with a pacifier.

 

You love your swing and you LOVE your car seat. You take the best naps there and often there have been many nights that you sleep ALL night long in that thing. We just put it in the bassinet, so mentally it's like you are sleeping in there, right?!

 

Your big sister adores you. When you are sad (getting your diaper changed) she will come stand next to you and hold your little hand and sing the ABC song. If you are still not consoled, she will move on to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I am worried for the time you squirm your way around and pee in her face. She's just at the right height for you to do that when she kneels on the chair next to the pack and play. She may never want to sing again! LOL

 

You are eating every 3 hours (3-4oz) and there are times at night we can get you to a 4 hour stretch. Last night's 7 hour stretch was a crazy fluke, I am sure.

 

We love you Grady and wish you a happy One Month Birthday!!!

Announcing...

Grady Edward Elliott

5/11/2013

6lb, 10.5oz

18 3/4 inches

3:48pm

 

I know I have been terrible at keeping up with this blog....I have been exhausted!!

 

My water broke around 4pm on Friday May 10th in the parking lot of my daughter's school when she was climbing into her car seat. Todd and I had just been to the doctor for a check up (36 week) and an ultrasound. Everything looked great and I was measuring just as I should be. Them boom! Our lives were changing in an instant. I stopped by the doctor's office on my way back across town just to be sure this was what I thought it was. I had no pains in my stomach, no contractions, nothing....just a large amount of liquid trickling down my leg. Sure enough, my doctor said I needed a mop and to head right over to the birthing center. Keep in mind I was only 35 weeks and 3 days....the hospital bag was not packed, we didn't have a car seat, etc....we still had 4 weeks!!

 

We got checked into the hospital, got Tatum straight with her Aunt Jena, Kayla and Aunt April for the night....and we got ready to hunker down and have this baby! Todd went home to pack our bags, run to Target for a car seat and come back to hag out with me through the night.

 

I was contracting about every 2-3 minutes, but had no feeling of this. I just was loosing a lot of liquid. Finally around 9-10pm I started feeling some cotractions. Then at 2am I could't stand it anymore. I was only dilated 1cm at this point so I decided it was ok to have some pain meds in my IV. That was blissful, it allowed me to get some sleep on and off and have the pain subside a little. I had some more again at 6am then I was dilated enough for the epidural at 7:30am. Then....I was in heaven.

 

Finally at 12:30 they told me we were going to start pushing. I pushed for 3 hours and nada. This baby did not want to come out. He was hung up on my pelvic bone and we thought he was face up. The mid wife called the dr on call to come in and he had to use forceps to deliver Grady. Grady came out at 3:48pm like a chanp and they made sure he was ok. Everything was great. He needed no respiratory care, no UV lights, nothing....just perfect.

 

I on the other hand had a few complications. I haemoraged, my placenta was growing into my uterus and I could literally feel the dr scraping it out with his fingers. I had a 2nd degree tear, swelling, hemorroids, etc....no one talks about this stuff and it is miserable, let me tell you!!

 

Grady ended up being hooked up to an IV due to his low glucose levels, and had an antibiotic for elevated white counts. I was discharged on Monday, but ended up being able to stay with him in the same room until he was discharged on Tuesday. (he had to stay 48 hours after the atibiotics)

 

We have been home for a little over a week now and just had his 2 week appt this morning. He's down to 6lb 4oz, so we are trying to feed a little more aggressive. He also needs some time in his diaper in the window to combat the jaundice. We go back again next Wednesday for a check up on his weight.

Grady also has a cold he inherited from his big sister Tatum and his Daddy. I have diahrrea and that could also be contributing to his weight loss. Today has been the first day I have really had much of an appetite again.

 

Tatum had adjusted well to being a big sister, and we have had a lot of help with her that we could not have been more thankful for. Tonight she is spending the night with my inlaws, and Todd and I look forward to a night with just Grady and some good feeding. :)

 

I am starting to feel human again.....the pain the first few days was a misery, but time heals. So does night hot baths!! ; )

Happy New Year--17 weeks

 

 

Size of Baby: An onion

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Back up to pre-pregnancy weight

Maternity Clothes: I'm finding that maternity clothes are much easier and much more comfotable. I love my new leggings and tunics. I also found some fabulous cords this weekend for going to work in.

Gender: It's a surprise!

Movement: I have felt a few flutters, but nothing regular

Sleep: This is improving! I still wake up a little early each morning, but mostly because I have to go potty!!

What I miss: Wine

What I am looking forward to: The next appointment on January 16th

Cravings: Fruit and chips and dip

Symptoms: The sickness has definately subsided, nothing else too major. I have had some nosebleeds, itchy tummy from time to time and I've seen a few stretch marks appear

Best Moment This Week: Really starting to show with a baby bump this week. I feel so much better to actually LOOK pregnant and not just look like I've eaten too many donuts


Happy New Year!! We went to dinner with a few friends and this was the dress that I wore. I went shopping that morning after I realized I had ZERO to wear to dinner and be happy. Unfortunately we got called home early (we had finished dinner and were getting the bill) because some people were setting off fireworks in the neighborhood and Tatum kept waking up scared. No big deal, we headed home and enjoyed some tv and fell asleep on the sofa. We woke up just before midnight, saw the New Year in and went to bed! LOL

Today was my first day back to work after 11 days off. It was hard getting back into the routine again, but thankfully it is only a 3 day week. No real New Year resolutions this year....we have a lot to be thankful for this coming year and I think we are ready to just embrace what is in store for us.

Happy 2013!!

I'm pregnant!!!

 

Surprise.....We are having a baby!

 

I am 11 weeks, and due in June 2013.

 

Size of Baby: A lime

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am down 4 pounds pre-pregnancy weight, but I am definately growing

Maternity Clothes: Not really, but I have caved and bought some maternity jeans and I LOVE them!!

Gender: Too early to tell, and I don't know that we will find out. I think we like the idea of the surprise!!

Movement: None yet, but we did some great acrobats on the ultrasound this morning :)

Sleep: Great, but I wake up every morning at 3:30am religiously. I am awake for about an hour and a half then sleep a little longer.

What I miss: Wine

 

What I am looking forward to: The next appointment on December 19th when I hope we can hear the heartbeat

Cravings: Nothing major, but I am happy with a good dip and chip session

Symptoms: I still get sick from time to time....but especially when I brush my teeth....gets me every time!!

Best Moment This Week: Our ultrasound appointment this morning. We had the NT measurement this morning and everything measured perfect. We still get the bloodwork etc... in 10 days or so but today everything looked great! We saw the heartbeat and watched the baby move around a little, which was AMAZING!! 

Setempber 19--Happy Gotcha Day

Happy Gotcha Day!!

 

 This was the moment that Tatum and her Nanny walked into the Civil Affairds office one year ago, and we first laid eyes on our beautiful little girl for the first time.

 This was the moment that I held my baby girl in my arms for the first time...I was so scared, so happy, so in love....and I think she felt the exact same way!! But....mostly scared.

 And this is all 1 year later to mark this special day.....can you believe how much a year has changed our beautiful little Ju Lin from Yiwu China?

I just love this little girl more than you know....

 

Happy Gotcha Day!

 

We love you Tatum McKenlin Elliott

xoxo