Celebration! An Afternoon Out...

I have become the quintessential homebody anymore- it's awful. I used to love getting out and checking out everything, everywhere, all the time... now? It's so much work! ha! So, fortunately, Dave made us go out yesterday, and once out- I was so glad we did. An absolutely gorgeous day, we went down to Celebration (a Disney-esque town) not far from us to grab some lunch. It was so nice to sit out on a patio and grab a bite to eat, Chase was pretty much a perfectly behaved little boy in his stroller- what a nice change of pace! They have a nature trail around the lake we got to take a stroll around after, then grabbed some ice cream at Kilwin's... YUM!

I've been battling exhaustion- and Dave mentioned/asked if I thought it'd ease off once I stopped nursing- and honestly, I'd completely forgotten that aspect of the equation. Sooo... hmmm- that's a good point- and with any luck that is the main culprit. If I wasn't being woken up nightly (yes, he's back to being himself on waking up around 3am again), and nursing, the exhaustion and weight loss would concern me more. Less than two months until his 1st birthday! We'll see how this goes ;)

Gearing up for another gorgeous day, and plans to get out in it! Have a great Sunday

Renewed Perspective

Things I've had to laugh about the past couple days to keep from crying...

• I used to complain about how expensive diapers are, but nothing gives you a new perspective like having to use 2 diapers at once (double-diapered currently)... this also goes for the whole diapering process. It was difficult enough to change him with as squirmy as he is, but now trying to hold him down long enough to change both diapers, clean everything, thread the catheter through the hole in the inside diaper, and remember to put ointment on (I keep forgetting so I have to undo both diapers and put it back on -ugh), etc... 
• On the same diaper fiasco- this kid! He poops just enough to make me think there is a bomb in there based on smell, I open up the double packaging to find a spot about the size of a dime. CRAP! So I have to change it, because it's not right to ignore it...
• Then... he waits 5 minutes after I change him (the changing process takes a full 5 minutes now I swear), and poops again! AHHHHHH
• Okay, then there's the medicine. He used to welcome the syringe of Tylenol or teething tablets... now, thanks to antibiotics and the tylenol w/codeine, he has learned to swat it- sending it flying at everyone in it's path, spit it back out, and essentially make sure at least half of it is anywhere but in his mouth... grrrr.... 
• Thanks to the meds... he now refuses to eat from me. Seriously. He won't eat anything off a spoon or that resembles baby food or anything- but he'll eat baby food if my sister feeds him. Great! So his trust is gone- just like that! 
• Sleep... woah- he has slept through the night for two nights in a row... very bizarre... this was awesome until I wake up in pain because he hasn't eaten for 12 hours... then he actually refused to nurse on the other side- who is this kid and what has he done with Chase??? I mean, I'm all about weaning him soon, but oh the pain! 
• Not being able to give him a full-fledged bath yet means he has made extra effort to smear stuff everywhere! Of course most the medicine ends up smeared across his face, in his hair, down his chest- then all the fuzz from his clothes sticks to it... then he got all sorts of food stuck in his hair- so that was fun trying to wash his hair without just throwing him in the tub. Ha! 
• Oh, did I mention he's still teething (duh) through all this, so he's cranky about that too? 

I was just sitting here this morning after changing him for the 2nd time in 15 minutes, and just had to laugh as I'm asking him why he has to be such a trouble child... on the bright side, him causing trouble makes me feel better than him being quiet and lethargic... oh BOYS!

Surgery: Part III, A Mother's Intuition

Post-op... I had no intention of having a "Part III" of this surgery business, but yesterday/today changed my mind on that. Shortly after we got home, Chase's mood started going downhill, even with the Tylenol & Codeine for pain control. He was given a caudal block during the surgery, so that helped immensely in the beginning of the day yesterday since it pretty much blocked all feeling in the groin area. He was so flushed from the atropine, and felt like he was burning up, but we had faith that the Tylenol would kick in and he'd just be passed out most the day.

WRONG.

I laid next to him (have to watch them closely the first 24 hours post-anesthesia), and he would sleep in 5-10 minute increments, waking up crying his pitiful froggy cry. I eventually gave up on him sleeping, so just held him, he was so lethargic and miserable! Had to wait again until 7pm to give him more medicine, and that was even pushing it. Basically I ended up staying up with him a majority of the night, he couldn't sleep, he was just inconsolable and in pain. I finally brought him out to the living room around 10pm to inspect his surgery area further, and noticed he was extremely swollen, and looked to have a distended abdomen/bladder- for some reason it seems he was retaining urine- which is extremely painful. I called the surgeon's office, and got the on-call doctor. He had me take pictures of the surgical site, and eventually called me back. He was slightly concerned about it, but wanted to give it the night since swelling is common after surgery. The low-grade fever, labored breathing, etc, is apparently common too.

So sleeping in the infamous recliner (I spent a large portion of the pregnancy in this thing), with Chase propped up to sleep- both for comfort around his surgical site, as well as to try to keep him slightly elevated for the breathing issues. Eventually made it back to our room in the middle of the night and got a couple hours of restless sleep- better than nothing. But this morning I noticed the swelling was just as bad, and his breathing was really worrying me. He was still in so much pain...

I started to become that crazy mom- part of me felt I was overreacting, but the other part didn't want to wait another week to see the doctor. Luckily, the surgeon's office returned my call within an hour, and agreed to have him come in. We were expected to see the on-call surgeon who I'd talked to the night before. As we pulled into the parking lot, Chase's primary surgeon was getting out of his car and walking into the building too. He came up behind us as I was waiting to check in, told the receptionist he was here to see us, and pushed the stroller himself directly to an exam room. Apparently he had just found out about my calls to the office, and came in on his day off- I must say how impressed, relieved, and grateful I was to that.

First, they noticed his cough/breathing noises- but determined his lungs themselves are clear- so that was good. Just a side effect from having the tube down his throat yesterday- just can't take chances on pneumonia. He agreed with my concerns about swelling, and as I had mentioned last night, agreed that a catheter was needed... Let me tell you, almost as soon as the catheter was put in- his mood did a complete 180 degree turn for the better. We ended up doing a quick temp check and weigh in on our way out (backwards since the doctor took us in himself), and since yesterday Chase had gained over a full pound- weighing in at 20 lbs 5oz- that's ridiculous water weight/retention- a huge red flag!

Anyhow- moral of the story- with the catheter in and a prescription for antibiotics- he's on the upswing of recovery... I just now (at 4pm) gave him his pain meds, hours after I planned on. He's been rolling around and gabbing again- which is such a relief! Sure, we still have a long way to go until he's completely himself- but nothing is as scary as seeing your baby hurt and scared and feeling helpless about it. Yay for an awesome team of physicians who took me seriously and seem to genuinely care- what a refreshing change of pace!

(I had missed this smile!)

Surgery: Part II

Well, so far we have survived the day. We are home, with his prescriptions, and attempting the naps... I managed not to shed any tears today, although it was questionable for a long period of time- especially when the surgical nurse took him from my arms to prep him. Fortunately the time before the surgery went a lot smoother than I had 3expected- largely because his curiosity overruled his hunger. Everyone there were friendly and understanding, and very supportive in my separation anxiety issues.

Everything seemed to go as smoothly as could be expected, and now we're just focusing on the post-op recovery... it's been rough already since he's exhausted, uncomfortable, and sounds horrible from the anesthesia and ventilator tube down his throat :/

Oh, and updates on his size- he's now 27" and 19 lbs, 3oz :)

But as always, trying to make light of it, and we got some laughs on his behalf of exactly how pitiful he sounds...

Glad to be over the worst of it baby boy! I love this kid!

Surgery: Part I

Anytime something happens to your child, your heart clenches and you worry... but when it's something that you have to prepare for, know you're heading to the hospital, and know that your baby will be in pain afterwards- well, the emotions snowball. We knew from the first couple days that Chase was going to have to have this surgery, not that we cared at that point because we were focusing on the bigger, more important issues- and in going home. But now that time has come that he's old enough and after a couple visits to the specialist, it's time to get it done.

*If you want to know the details of the reason and what the surgery is for, email me, for a variety of reasons I haven't felt like specifying on the blog.

But- it isn't something too serious as far as for his health, while it is necessary, so we have to do it eventually. Waiting longer is only prolonging the inevitable, and I would hate to have him remember the details of it all... especially Mom being a basketcase.

The worst part of this for me, aside from anticipating the recovery, and in preparing for the arrival - he cannot eat before because he'll be going under the anesthesia, luckily since he's exclusively breastfed, he can eat sooner than formula-fed babies- so I have to wake him at 3am tonight to feed him his last meal before the surgery tomorrow morning. The anesthesia is what concerns me... I guess I've watched/read too much from school, I am simply paranoid. Plus I know he's going to be in shock about not being able to eat, about being in a strange place, and me not being able to hold him the whole time... it's just going to break my heart to hear and see him cry and not be able to rescue him right away...

I know I'll have a bunch to say and share tomorrow, but for now I'm going to snuggle my bug and fill him up while I can!

The Sleep Sack

Since we all know I'm frugal, aka, "cheap," there was no way I was going to pay full price for one of those sleep sacks brand-new. I even looked on ebay and the cheapest I found was $5-$10... so that inspired me to check out Joann's for fabric. I was stoked when I came across a "one day sale" on the fabric remnants- an extra 75% whatever the current price was- SWEET! I only needed about 3/4 yd, so I ended up finding a few fleece remnants that turned out to be $1-$2 for each one. Add on the zipper ($1.99 each) and my coupons for 25% the total price, and.... YES! I had the makings to make each sleep sack for the grand price of $3-$4. Now, often I think the effort is too much and sometimes just worth it to spend the money, but these things consist of 3 pieces- and take hardly any time at all. 

I went ahead and made it bigger than his size since I wanted it to last through the winter at least. I used one of his long outfits as a guide for the size to make, and voila! 

It's not perfect, and a bit too big- but hey! It'll work for now :) 

November???

 Wahhhh! It's really November now? The change of weather keeps triggering memories and makes it seem like just a couple weeks ago I was pregnant and in school... insanity! We are working on tooth #5 now- well, I guess more like #6 since #5 is in (another bottom side tooth)- I daydream now about what it'll be like with Chase NOT teething for once.

The cool weather also has me scrambling for ideas on Chase's sleeping at night- even with it only getting into the 60's, he gets so cold... guess he's like me with a lower body temp (his normal temp is 97.6-ish like mine)- so the "sleep sack" was suggested- which I had completely forgotten about... so I believe that will be today's craft project since all the places want to sell them for $20+ new. Crazy! We'll see how this works :)

Our white hairs are increasing now with Nathan crawling EVERYWHERE. It's one thing with Chase rolling around, getting into everything, but because he's been doing it for months, it's not as interesting to him. But with Nathan, it's like Christmas, everything is magical and nothing is off-limits (in his mind), so it's a constant battle trying to close off areas, move things around, use things like chairs and dry-erase boards to block behind the couch, etc. Adds another project of continued baby-proofing to the weekend plans- exciting! :)

Next step is walking... oh my... boys are from another planet for sure...

As always though, at least they're cute :)