go with the flow

We’re going with the flow. I’m thankful that after being sick my flow is going back to full effect. I was down about 50% of my normal milk output and it wasn’t a good feeling. I liked this little pumping icon idea my friend posted on her blog that had a baby super hero saying “I make milk, what’s your superpower?” But while I was smiling at that, I was worried that my supply was off. I called the warm line at the hospital and they suggested that I try an industrial, hospital grade pump to get things ramped back up. They also said they could test my pump and make sure the tubing, motor, etc was up to par. My pump checked out well and the hospital pump rental was a good idea. Their other big suggestion was rest, which is hard to come by lately. Today and tomorrow we have big wig visitors at work and I start my RISD afternoon class (so I won’t miss much time with Baby AB, instead I can get out of work at 3, since it’s considered work related and paid for by them), J has two events in a row on Thurs night, and then we have a big student event on Friday. This sort of week used to be exhausting even when I used to sleep at night and I wasn’t a milk producing machine. Luckily, I have my valentine’s massage scheduled for Sat afternoon. Also, it’s already mid week and my supply seems to be creeping back to normal. I feel really lucky that it didn’t seem to effect Aiden’s eating habits. They did say that my supply was probably more temperamental with the pump, but I’m glad that he didn’t get fussy. I’m so grateful for my folks being here this past weekend to keep me company while J was away. I credit them with keeping Aiden happy with little cuddle sessions and helping me sneak in some extra bits of rest. I can’t wait until they flow back into town with Auntie Liz in a couple weeks!

love drool

J cruised back into town yesterday afternoon from Savannah just in time for a trip to Babiesrus. It's become kinda a joke that I always have a big purchase in mind, but can never actually make up my mind on what I want to get. This time it was a portable, lightweight stroller. I decided all the ones they had in stock were stink. Does anyone have any suggestions? There was a model I liked that Mc-something or other makes but it was pink. J was ready to buy it just to be done shopping.

I used their nursing room and while I was in there this mom came in with her little munchkin. She asked how old Aiden was and I said almost four months, and then she replied that her teenytiny baby was over four months. I must have gasped (because Aiden looked like a monster baby) so she went on to explain that he was 12 weeks early. She was very chatty which can be fun. I found out that little Milo had 18 pairs of shoes! Aiden is not nearly as fashionable and usually goes out in his footy pajamas to stay warm. Shoes are so out.

My folks were such a treat if only for a short visit. I honestly don't know what I would've done with our mild health traumas without them. They kept Poppop's little Cheeks McGee giggling and I kept my head together. I'll spare you all the photo of Granny covered in Aiden boof thanks to always having a camera handy. Just know that that Aiden can drool love, so he must reaaaly love you. Thank you Gran and Pops! Can't wait to see you again soon!

video

He's getting so big! 3 months, 2 weeks, and 4 days old

health update

I feel like I'm going to have to rename this blog, Our Family Health Update. I was feeling somewhat back on track this week and Aiden seemed to be avoiding any flu bug. J had an icky cold, but he stayed healthy enough to head out of town for a conference this weekend. Luckily, my folks cruised into town just in time to keep me company. Today was a big snow day around here - They even closed the mall! I couldn't shake a morning headache, but Aiden was in giggle cuddle mode which can brighten anyone's day. He was just finishing up eating and I sat him up as he giggled at me. Then I realized that he had a pool of blood coming out of his ear! My voice was shaky, but my mom helped me keep my cool as we called the doctor. They wanted us to get him checked out, which meant we were off on a big adventure through the snow. The doc said he has an ear infection in that ear but it didn't look perforated or ruptured (although it could be that it was just a tiny pop). It's still strange to me that he hasn't appeared or acted sick at all, but I guess it's best that it's all taken care of with antibiotics without him feeling miserable. We are all ready to be completely healthy again.

Flash forward through his first dose of fruity white stuff antibiotics and ear drops last night. Then this morning another dose without any trouble. He even let us drips the ear drops and he would hold still on his side for a minute afterward. Then over an hour later, he vomits, then again, then again all spaced with just enough time for three new outfits and a few giggles. He has honestly not appeared sick and continues to giggle at me when I am on the phone with the doctor. I'm betting he has an allergy and we will need to venture out in the icy snow to get a replacement. Oh, the adventures...

a complete week

We made it through a whole week! A whole week of feeling normal, being on schedule, and up to speed. I started puttering out Friday morning, but I was determined to keep going and make it through that day. It was supposed to be my complete week of normalcy. J brought me lunch and I wasn’t sure the rest of the day would go by fast enough. I made it until closing time, and felt somewhat bleh but well enough to take a deep breath and head home to my smiley boy.

Aiden did his first craft project at daycare by stamping his chubby feet on paper. There is nothing like some blue baby feet stamps to brighten up your day. I compared them to his footprints from the hospital and he sure is getting bigger. They also sent us the March calendar including which books he’ll be reading and which projects are coming up. By the end of March, he’s apparently going to be advanced enough to make a “snowy scene out of cotton balls and glue” - Hmm, I guess this kid is going to be eating glue earlier than most. I’m hoping that Miss Maria takes charge of that one. In the middle of March he’s going to be exploring with ice, which if I had a guess, he’ll have a strong preference one way or the other. I hope he likes it.

So as I’m getting giddy about the daycare craft projects and how they are teaching my kid soo much good stuff, I realized I was getting achey and I mean really achey. My whole body had the worst headache. J ran out to get some dinner and I was struggling. I barely ate my dinner and didn’t even make it to the ice cream treat he’d picked up to celebrate making it through a whole week. I end up in bed for the next 48 hours or so with a 103.3 degree temperature that hung on for a while. I deliriously fed the baby J (aka super dad) carefully delivered to me in order to ensure that he could get all the antibodies from my breast milk as possible. We’d figured he’d already been exposed to the nasty bug, so we might as well be sure he got the fresh antibodies my body was in hyper drive creating. He’s doing fine so far, and if he stays healthy that will be another big star for breast feeding. Whenever we call the doctor they are very happy that we are still exclusively breast feeding, and I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done when he was sick earlier and would only eat with me and I didn’t have a full supply. I am pretty convinced that we would sleep more if we added formula into the mix, but it just doesn’t seem like it would be fair to his developing digestive system given that both J and I had bad allergies to formulas as babies. I’ve bounced back to at least 75% thanks to a good ol dose of rest and the windy morning swept me into work today. Super Dad gets another day with playful baby boy since day care is closed and students have off today. Let’s hope he decides to rest with daddy so they both stay healthy. I’m hoping to make it through another week.

aiden's cards and onesies

Aiden was a super valentine this year. He dressed in his new velcro lots of love onesie with matching lovie aligator to give his dad a card from his "little buddy". (Special note for the nonsqueamish that may appreciate some irony: He giggled for some photos and before I could get some shots of dad holding him, he pooped out the outfit - all in less than 20 minutes):


Mommy thought he might need more then one vday themed onesie - so puppy love was on back up with matching puppy socks:
He kept sticking out his tongue and imiating mr. kissy hedgehog:

Later in the day he gave me one of my favorite cards in a long time. I'm such a sappy sap that I would like to remember this cute little message long after the sparkly card is gone, so here is where the blog comes in to document it:

Mommies make nice Valentines, and that's especially true when a mommy is as wonderful and loved as much as you!
Thank you for making all the milk for me. It is yummy. Thanks for pretending to be a choo choo. I don't know what a train is but it is still super funny. Sorry about all the poop. I love you super much! You're the best mommy in the whole world. Love, Aiden

happy valentine's day

the grab

It doesn't get much more exciting:

reaching out to celebrate 100 days

Today Aiden is 3 months, 1 week, and one day old, or a grand total of 100 days old. wowo! I went to pick Aiden up at daycare today and he was pulling on the mobile toys in his bouncey seat. Not tapping or holding after mommy puts his fingers around it, oh no folks, this was grabbing at the ring and pulling. He was holding onto it when I arrived and I had to ask the teachers if they had put it in his hand. They said, oh no he loves to do that. He would let it go, it would swing and he would grab it back again. Then he was doing it with both hands. I was so excited I couldn't help but watch him play before scooping him up into his bundle outfit.

We planned to celebrate valentine's day early (since the grouchy people in J's department planned a big talk/dinner for the 14th), so we ended up going to one of the good ol chain restaurants close by for dinner. I'm not sure if Aiden was fussy because the robotic talking moose on the wall was kinda creepy or because he doesn't like to sleep much at day care. We did manage to squeeze in dessert (it was an imitation pizza cookie that couldn't even come close to oreganos in arizona). We made it home for Aiden's real party which is a big pig-out-eat-non-stop-from-mommy fest.

Here's our little guy waving starfish man around this weekend after I stuck it in his hand. It's official that he could grab it for himself if he wants to ;)

flinching drummer boy

Daddy got a new toy and here's big boy Aiden trying it out for the first time. He seems to really like it despite the flinching. We are on our way to having a band. If only Mommy had rhythm...

giggles n gags photos

Look at those rosey cheeks:

gags and giggles

Aiden was doing better for hump day this week, and he rode the roller coaster past Wednesday straight into a sicker slump. Wednesday night was bad, Thursday night was worse. For a first time mom to hear her little one cough until he gags and then scream and squirm it is traumatic. Not to be overly dramatic, but it was making me sad that he wasn't really able to find much comfort. We'd get him comfortable bouncing with daddy on the big ball and then all of a sudden he would scream without warning (this is unusual because daddy is a master baby comforter).

Friday morning rolled around and we called the doctor repeatedly until we got through at 8:30am. They suspected an ear infection so they got us an appointment. I was glad I didn't have to beg to have him come in and I was relieved that they would check him out before the weekend. We saw a different doctor that took one look in his ears and said "he's got a double"... It took me a second to realize he wasn't talking about his double chin, but meant a double ear infection - aw, I thought, good they can take care of that with some bubble gum medicine... then he listened to his rattly chest and he went on to say, "and a case of croup"... My aw-poor-baby went into super drive aaaah-that's-a-scary word.

Croup to me is an old fashioned illness that isn't really helped by medicine and can be very, very serious. In Tucson, I volunteered with an organization called Ben's Bells - bensbells.org which was started by a family whose two year old son died of croup without warning. Volunteering with them to help make bells and spread kindness is one of the things I miss most about Tucson. So as he explains that the weezy, out of breath cough that comes straight from his pulsating tummy is croup caused by a virus. Croup narrows the air passage and he explained that when your air passage is so small in the first place it can be very disruptive. He said that they don't know why but it does get worse at night when the body slows down for rest. It is helped by humidified hot air and also cold rushes of air, but he could hear the barky weeze even at lunch time after being carried in through the cold. So he prescribed three nights worth of prednisolone, which is an anti-inflammatory.

We gave him a dose last night and he immediately vomitted three times to be sure that none of it was actually taken in. It is really rancid tasting according to J, and this kid's face of disgust was almost cute. He was throwing up and then giggling, so at least he was in good spirits. We called to ask if we should try to give him another dose. They said to try again in small doses or hide it in food. Since it is impossible to hide it without giving him a bottle (which he wasn't excited to take), we ended up giving him 1/4 teaspoons at a time with a good dose of num nums in between. He got it all down and it was a magic drug! It can make kids restless, but instead it comforted him, squelched his cough, and he slept from 10pm to 3am. He woke up and ate well from both sides and slept again until 7am! (That is the most sleep I've had in at least five months!) He didn't cough much at all until this morning when he was working on all the ear infection drainage (ick). His cough now sounds effective and not as croupy and weezy. The antibiotics will really start doing the trick soon, and we will really have our healthy happy hippo lover back on track. I'm hoping that this will be the worse of the new daycare illness for a while.

I'm just glad that Aiden kept his giggle puss going. He wasn't all that excited to go to the doctor and was fussing as we got through the door. It helps to talk to him while he fusses because then instead of shrieks he will start talking to you. He really sounds like he has a point and he will goo and gaa in response to you. He started doing this as I was checking out at the front counter. I held him up to the window and he had a talk with the woman behind the desk. I think he was thanking her for getting him an appointment at the last minute. He talked as we made our way to the car and as we cruised up to the CVS drivethru (best shopping innovation i'd never used), then he promptly fell asleep. Thank goodness for the good ol car rumble comfort.

land of normal

We are now settled in a new land of normal. Aiden was out sick for his first two official days in the new daycare, but he is back on track and made it through his first day with a giggle and rosey cheeks. His "Highlights of the Day" section on his "Infant Daily Activity Report" sheet said, "Aiden had a great first day! He enjoyed floor time and bouncing in the chair looking at himself. :)" I am thoroughly amused that they gave the kid a mirror to keep him occupied.

permit

It was time for our big boy to get his permit:


Thanks to Great Aunt Hev who gave us this idea a while back...

3 months!

Dear Aiden,

Yup, mommy's going to try to write you a note every month. Even if you are embarrassed or bored by them, I hope that if you have your own kids you can read back over them while cuddling your own little cuddle bug. As I write this, you and dad are snuggling up and watching the Super Bowl - the one where the Patriots may make history with a perfect season. I remember when I was pregnant I wanted you to be a World Series baby. The Red Sox did make it a good season (capped off with World Series win) and kept us occupied in those tired nights when I laid in bed with my belly wedged between five pillows.

We went to a party when I was around 8 months pregnant and some confused guy said that it looks like I could have a baby during the Super Bowl... my tired back and achey pelvis screamed - no way, we want to meet this kid well before then. I couldn't imagine waiting that long to meet you (and that was when I loved being pregnant). So, now the Super Bowl is really here and we really know you now. I figure I've known you for about six months of awake time due to all our late night cuddling.

You're beginning to sleep in longer and longer stretches. In the past couple of weeks, you've developed a reputation for being a 4am party animal. You are usually up to eat around 1-2am and then you will drift off into a sweet slumber. Then right around 4am you wake up not really interested in eating, but instead you want to play. Just the other night was your dream come true. You were having trouble with your cough and boofy illness, so Daddy and I took you into the bathroom and turned up the hot shower (to get some muggy humid air into your sad lungs). We danced and sang and you were super excited that we finally got with the program. You really are the best spirited sick kid with big smiles after you cough.

It's hard to believe that you are 3 months old. I feel like I'm frequently saying I just can't believe how time flies and how much can change in such a short amount of time. I was going back through all of your videos which seem like a documentary of cheek growth. You seem to grow cheek chub one week and then stretch to grow into them the next week... and then repeat. You have really grown a nice little chub suit compared to those first few weeks.

One of my favorite things is how you like to use one little finger to hang on to the table on your swing... or to point at your lips like a little thinker. You started this a long time ago, even in those first few days (there is even a photo in your birth announcement with you pointing at your cheek). It's only just recently that you've started grabbing onto us when we hold you and stretching out those little fingers as you snag our shirt collars.

I just paused in writing this to feed you and the pats were winning. I thought for sure that daddy would be dancing soon. Sometimes when he dances you mimic him with your bouncey legs. But instead the pats just let it slip, which just goes along with the theme of our rough week. Oh well, you are still smiling through your struggling cough... gotta just keep on, keeping on... Love, Your First Time Mommy

quick checkup

Yesterday we called over to the doc to check on Aiden's cough (mainly because online it said that a cough in a three month old is rare and could be serious... and oh yeah, that first time parents syndrome we are proud to live by lately). She asked whether it was disrupting his sleep or whether he was eating, both of which seem fine. She said it would be better to come in to rule out anything serious and that is is probably just a little virus. So we trucked him over there in the icky sludgy rain, and he showed off his cough on the way in the door and gave a good choking cough for the nurse. But after having his temp taken (which was normal), he turned into flirty, smiley baby. He had the hiccups for the doc but woudn't show off his cough for her. It looked like he was just there to coo and kick for the doctor. They checked on his weight and reassured us that he isn't getting off track. He's right on the 75 percentile still for a 3 month old at 14.5 lbs. I have a feeling that the five uncles over 6 feet tall genes are going to have some influence on this kid. We left the doctor with a dry cough baby, but last night he evolved into a stuffed up spit up baby. We learned quickly the power of the saline baby spray and Aiden was super excited to have his 4am party in the muggy bathroom with the hot shower going. I think we're all ready for a calm weekend.

so right

Aiden and I went for a dry run at the new center this morning and it was just so right. Aiden was immediately scooped up and he was smiling and cooing at his assigned caregiver, Miss Maria. They already had his crib out and cleaned up all shiny and new for him. We were able to stay for a play date with the other 8 month old that will be in Aiden's group of three, Jillian. He was talking, showing off how he can push with his legs to stand up, and cheerfully staring at the bright lights (which he just loves wherever we go). Then he fell fast asleep, happy as a clam, while I signed the final enrollment contract. I really feel like we will click into a routine after Monday and I'm relieved just thinking about it.

maaama

Focusing back in on the fun-o-rama with our little bundle of boy:  Our big boy is being pretty vocal lately. It is crazy but there are times when it really sounds like he's distinctly saying/yelling for mama. It was so distinct today that I ran to get the camera, which is the fool proof way to get him to clam up. Not sure why he gets camera shy, but I'll catch him eventually. He will gibber gabber with you if you respond to his coos, he'll respond back. He likes the highest pitched eeeing. His favorite is when daddy reads him the fluffy chick book. It's a soft book that daddy smudges against his face every once in a while. He normally tries to bite or kiss at the book. We hope it's just as much fun for him as it is for us to catch his squeals.

just done

We're all just done with this week.  Aiden's ready to be done with this little cough and hot box syndrome.  Mom and Dad are just done worrying about his care.  After J calling and leaving everything on good terms with a good ol - It's not you, it's us - the care lady showed up at our house last night while J was away.  She was nice enough to bring back all of the stuff we had left there (extra diapers, wipes, and my liquid gold frozen breast milk) and to give me a nice dose of condescending-you-sure-are-a-first-time-mom when I finally found my voice to tell her that I'm not comfortable having a blanket full of spit up wrapped around my sleeping baby's head.  Oh, well some parents ask for no blankets and some don't care, and you know you can get them tested for SIDS (!? besides the point!) was her response.  Well, ok, I just don't feel like we have the same style and I don't want to have to be the demanding mom, so sorry.  She insisted that I come to her mommy night in February (because "I have a lot to learn" - uh ok), and I just tried to say I'd feel awkward, but thanks.  This woman just doesn't listen to me, but I am listening to my gut. My gut says this should just be done already.