JACK SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT! in his pack and play and then last night ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT. No 3am whimpers that have to be ignored. Todd actually had to go in and check on Jack this morning to make sure he was okay. Jack woke up a happy guy to daddy's face.
I figured out the secret to getting babies to sleep in pack and plays. This has been a problem since Jack was a newborn. Well, not quite. He did successfully sleep in the bassinet but we quickly moved him to his crib. Anyway. The trick is to put Mommy's pillowcase under the soon to be sleeping baby. Jack slept through the night all three nights that we were at my in-laws house. We were incredibly impressed.
I will upload pictures of Jack's THIRD first birthday party later. They're not transferred to the computer yet. He had a blast and loves every one of his gifts.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
New Things
Since Jack's first birthday, I've noticed some serious cognitive changes in him. He is more balanced, has better hand-eye coordination and is becoming more clear in making sure we know what he wants.
He's also started throwing temper tantrums. They are mostly funny (and I do laugh) but I feel too terrible to take a video of it to post.
Most of all, his little personality is really starting to show through. He loves to dance and when daddy plays music videos and dances crazy, Jack seriously tries to mimic him. Today, Todd started waving his hands up in the air while running around in circles and Jack tried to copy him and succeeded in waving his hands and stomping his feet.
Jack also gets very, very angry with his toys when they refuse to cooperate with him. Mostly this happens when he tries to get the big heavy toys out of the toybox and he can't quite lift them. He will throw the surrounding toys across the room in a fit of anger and scream at his toybox. This, also, is quite entertaining and I desperately try to not encourage the problem by laughing.
Today, Jack learned two new things. He learned that he can bring something to me to open (he would just get mad before) and he learned how to climb in and out of a laundry basket.
Enjoy the videos!
He's also started throwing temper tantrums. They are mostly funny (and I do laugh) but I feel too terrible to take a video of it to post.
Most of all, his little personality is really starting to show through. He loves to dance and when daddy plays music videos and dances crazy, Jack seriously tries to mimic him. Today, Todd started waving his hands up in the air while running around in circles and Jack tried to copy him and succeeded in waving his hands and stomping his feet.
Jack also gets very, very angry with his toys when they refuse to cooperate with him. Mostly this happens when he tries to get the big heavy toys out of the toybox and he can't quite lift them. He will throw the surrounding toys across the room in a fit of anger and scream at his toybox. This, also, is quite entertaining and I desperately try to not encourage the problem by laughing.
Today, Jack learned two new things. He learned that he can bring something to me to open (he would just get mad before) and he learned how to climb in and out of a laundry basket.
(I hope the video works. I don't usually have to edit in HTML)
I'm so very proud of him and cannot wait until his language skills further develop. As of today, he is up to: Mama, dada, kitty, what'sthat (wuzzat while pointing), Zelda, hello, and nana.
Enjoy the videos!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Healing
Well, my belly is healing and I'm left with three little scars to show for what I've lost. Which is a tube. Nothing else. However, the question was raised today about future complications.
No.
There are no complications from this surgery. Not from this tube. However, the odds that we can have another ectopic pregnancy are now higher. About 1 in 10. This jumps from originally 1 in 100 pregnancies. My doctor said it's not a problem, we have to monitor from very early in the pregnancy and if it results in another ectopic then we take care of it. I am still shocked that with all the medical intervention we have these days that doctors can't take a fertilized embryo from a tube and place it into the uterus but whatever.
My hCG levels are properly going down. The doctor wasn't quite sure he got all the...shrapnel (I'm sorry, I can't think of a more appropriate term at the moment. But, I guess this is appropriate as my tube did actually burst) so I've been going in for blood draws. I have one more to confirm that everything is gone and then we have to wait at least 4 months before "trying" for another baby.
We weren't trying in the first place. This whole thing started because we were dumb in the middle of my cycle. It's cool, I said before that we were really excited to find out that we were actually compatible and could get pregnant on our own. Driving to the hospital I joked "wouldn't it be funny if we were pregnant and I was really in labor and we ended up on that show 'I didn't know I was pregnant'?" We laughed through my pain and it helped me deal with the bumps.
What? When I'm under pressure I make bad jokes. I told the nurse "gee I'm sure glad I came in on mah bathin' day" with a horrible redneck accent and all. Oh wait, this is after they administered the dilaudid. Let me tell you: if you are in extreme pain, this makes it go away. Fast. It also makes you INSANE. Whenever I take narcotic pain medications (the whole three or four times in my life) I always have to wonder how drug addicts live like that. I don't like the feeling of being out of control of my body and this certainly did it. Of course, this was about 20 minutes after they gave me morphine that didn't work. I couldn't focus my eyes on anything and my arms felt like lead while the rest of me felt like air. It was possibly the weirdest I have ever felt.
I think I was most funny coming out of the anesthesia. I have to tell this story properly. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, I was 14. This was because I had to have jaw surgery the following year and they wanted my mouth to be all settled where it should be so that they could correct my bite. I guess I have bad dreams when under and upon coming out of the anesthesia, I was crying. I remember trying to wipe away my tears and the nurse grabbed my arm so that I would hurt myself and I smacked her.
This is not the last time I will hit a nurse. Or the funniest part of my story.
So, a year later, I go in to have my jaw surgery. The nurses ask a few basic questions I guess, like my name and whatever. Then they ask me what my mom's name is. Neither of us can remember what I imagined her name was, but it certainly wasn't her proper name. For about 45 minutes, the nurse kept walking out into the waiting room calling for *imaginary mother* until I was coherent enough to tell them her actual name. Scared the bejeezus out of her :)
Sometime in high school I had surgery to remove a cyst from my cheek. Once again, I came out crying and wiped away my tears. This nurse was persistent that I was going to rip my stitches out I guess and kept forcefully snatching my hand from my face. I hit her multiple times before she figured out what was going one.
So, prior to going in for surgery, I warned my nurses that a) I cannot be relied upon to provide proper information about myself or my life and b) I have a tendency to hit people after waking up. I had a great nursing staff this time and everything turned out to be fine going under and coming out. Except my oxygen levels kept dropping and apparently I kept forgetting to breath when I fell asleep and the nurses and Todd kept telling me to keep breathing. I was in the ICU and they let Todd stay with me until I moved to my final room.
I had a good experience with my nurses and doctors and I think that helped make my experience that much less stressful and emotional. No one referred to my condition as a pregnancy, no one called the exploded tube a baby and for the most part, it was treated just as an unusual occurrence. I have said before and still feel that I don't feel like I lost a baby or a pregnancy or had an abortion or any other negative connotation that could be applied to this situation. Honestly, I suppose I feel the same way as if they had simply taken my appendix. I can't possibly know this as I still have my appendix, but whatever.
The last week has been rough. Well, the last 3 days (thank god I don't have to cook-I am so appreciative of my fellow MOMs Club mommies-THANK YOU AGAIN!) I have been alone with Jack and I'm still tender. He will kick me at an odd angle and I double over in pain that feels like I am going to die. I'm struggling to keep him happy and satisfied and feel horrible when he cries because I can't hold him the way he wants. I want to be able to get down on the floor and roughhouse with my baby again. I want to be able to pick him up and toss him in the air and listen to his giggle. Today was good. Hard, but good. We watched Up and he snuggled me as I cried through the montage (gets me every single time I watch this movie.) He was very worried and toddled over to me to hug me and plant big kisses on my chin to cheer me up.
No.
There are no complications from this surgery. Not from this tube. However, the odds that we can have another ectopic pregnancy are now higher. About 1 in 10. This jumps from originally 1 in 100 pregnancies. My doctor said it's not a problem, we have to monitor from very early in the pregnancy and if it results in another ectopic then we take care of it. I am still shocked that with all the medical intervention we have these days that doctors can't take a fertilized embryo from a tube and place it into the uterus but whatever.
My hCG levels are properly going down. The doctor wasn't quite sure he got all the...shrapnel (I'm sorry, I can't think of a more appropriate term at the moment. But, I guess this is appropriate as my tube did actually burst) so I've been going in for blood draws. I have one more to confirm that everything is gone and then we have to wait at least 4 months before "trying" for another baby.
We weren't trying in the first place. This whole thing started because we were dumb in the middle of my cycle. It's cool, I said before that we were really excited to find out that we were actually compatible and could get pregnant on our own. Driving to the hospital I joked "wouldn't it be funny if we were pregnant and I was really in labor and we ended up on that show 'I didn't know I was pregnant'?" We laughed through my pain and it helped me deal with the bumps.
What? When I'm under pressure I make bad jokes. I told the nurse "gee I'm sure glad I came in on mah bathin' day" with a horrible redneck accent and all. Oh wait, this is after they administered the dilaudid. Let me tell you: if you are in extreme pain, this makes it go away. Fast. It also makes you INSANE. Whenever I take narcotic pain medications (the whole three or four times in my life) I always have to wonder how drug addicts live like that. I don't like the feeling of being out of control of my body and this certainly did it. Of course, this was about 20 minutes after they gave me morphine that didn't work. I couldn't focus my eyes on anything and my arms felt like lead while the rest of me felt like air. It was possibly the weirdest I have ever felt.
I think I was most funny coming out of the anesthesia. I have to tell this story properly. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, I was 14. This was because I had to have jaw surgery the following year and they wanted my mouth to be all settled where it should be so that they could correct my bite. I guess I have bad dreams when under and upon coming out of the anesthesia, I was crying. I remember trying to wipe away my tears and the nurse grabbed my arm so that I would hurt myself and I smacked her.
This is not the last time I will hit a nurse. Or the funniest part of my story.
So, a year later, I go in to have my jaw surgery. The nurses ask a few basic questions I guess, like my name and whatever. Then they ask me what my mom's name is. Neither of us can remember what I imagined her name was, but it certainly wasn't her proper name. For about 45 minutes, the nurse kept walking out into the waiting room calling for *imaginary mother* until I was coherent enough to tell them her actual name. Scared the bejeezus out of her :)
Sometime in high school I had surgery to remove a cyst from my cheek. Once again, I came out crying and wiped away my tears. This nurse was persistent that I was going to rip my stitches out I guess and kept forcefully snatching my hand from my face. I hit her multiple times before she figured out what was going one.
So, prior to going in for surgery, I warned my nurses that a) I cannot be relied upon to provide proper information about myself or my life and b) I have a tendency to hit people after waking up. I had a great nursing staff this time and everything turned out to be fine going under and coming out. Except my oxygen levels kept dropping and apparently I kept forgetting to breath when I fell asleep and the nurses and Todd kept telling me to keep breathing. I was in the ICU and they let Todd stay with me until I moved to my final room.
I had a good experience with my nurses and doctors and I think that helped make my experience that much less stressful and emotional. No one referred to my condition as a pregnancy, no one called the exploded tube a baby and for the most part, it was treated just as an unusual occurrence. I have said before and still feel that I don't feel like I lost a baby or a pregnancy or had an abortion or any other negative connotation that could be applied to this situation. Honestly, I suppose I feel the same way as if they had simply taken my appendix. I can't possibly know this as I still have my appendix, but whatever.
The last week has been rough. Well, the last 3 days (thank god I don't have to cook-I am so appreciative of my fellow MOMs Club mommies-THANK YOU AGAIN!) I have been alone with Jack and I'm still tender. He will kick me at an odd angle and I double over in pain that feels like I am going to die. I'm struggling to keep him happy and satisfied and feel horrible when he cries because I can't hold him the way he wants. I want to be able to get down on the floor and roughhouse with my baby again. I want to be able to pick him up and toss him in the air and listen to his giggle. Today was good. Hard, but good. We watched Up and he snuggled me as I cried through the montage (gets me every single time I watch this movie.) He was very worried and toddled over to me to hug me and plant big kisses on my chin to cheer me up.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Surgery and other losses
I did edit this and then Blogger kind of...crashed. I will reedit with the edits in italics. Let's hope it sticks this time :)
I need to write about what happened so bad that I'm on my iPhone doing so!
Yesterday I began having little twinges on my lower left right side and said at one point: I feel like I'm ovulating. Little did I know, I wasn't far off...
Around 6:30 I really had to go to the bathroom so I put a screaming Jack into his crib and never left the toilet. I couldn't move; it felt like my insides were stabbing each other and we thougt it mint might be my appendix. Todd called Jen and Woody to see if they could take Jack and we ran to the ER. After some preliminary tests, we went in for an ultrasound to rule out pregnancy. While in there, Todd and I found out that my urine pregnancy test came back positive.
For about 5 minutes we were actually excited. However,our excitement was short lived when the tech couldn't find anything in my uterus. Turns out I was 6 weeks along and the pregnancy was ectopic. We were devastated but happy in the knowledge that we are able to get pregnant on our own.
Last night they did surgery and removed my right Fallopian tube but my ovary is still intact. I am glad this all happened so fast so that I couldn't get attached to the feta. This should obviously be "fetus" but apparently the iPhone doesn't recognize that as a term that one would used. There needs to be a smarter word selector that takes context into consideration. Really, I wasn't attached to FETA? I love feta. I don't feel like I suffered a loss. I am not upset that I am losing a tube. I am thankful that we caught it in time and that I have my life. I am thankful that I got to hold Jack before my surgery but mostly I am thankful for Jack.
He was such a good boy at Jen's and then at Amy's. I love him so much and can't wait to see his loving smiling face. He is my miracle baby and I'm fine if it's just him in our lives for now. My husband has also been amazing. He has been supportive and I am glad he was able to go home and get some sleep last night.
I will probably come back and edit this later when I get home. I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors!!
I need to write about what happened so bad that I'm on my iPhone doing so!
Yesterday I began having little twinges on my lower left right side and said at one point: I feel like I'm ovulating. Little did I know, I wasn't far off...
Around 6:30 I really had to go to the bathroom so I put a screaming Jack into his crib and never left the toilet. I couldn't move; it felt like my insides were stabbing each other and we thougt it mint might be my appendix. Todd called Jen and Woody to see if they could take Jack and we ran to the ER. After some preliminary tests, we went in for an ultrasound to rule out pregnancy. While in there, Todd and I found out that my urine pregnancy test came back positive.
For about 5 minutes we were actually excited. However,our excitement was short lived when the tech couldn't find anything in my uterus. Turns out I was 6 weeks along and the pregnancy was ectopic. We were devastated but happy in the knowledge that we are able to get pregnant on our own.
Last night they did surgery and removed my right Fallopian tube but my ovary is still intact. I am glad this all happened so fast so that I couldn't get attached to the feta. This should obviously be "fetus" but apparently the iPhone doesn't recognize that as a term that one would used. There needs to be a smarter word selector that takes context into consideration. Really, I wasn't attached to FETA? I love feta. I don't feel like I suffered a loss. I am not upset that I am losing a tube. I am thankful that we caught it in time and that I have my life. I am thankful that I got to hold Jack before my surgery but mostly I am thankful for Jack.
He was such a good boy at Jen's and then at Amy's. I love him so much and can't wait to see his loving smiling face. He is my miracle baby and I'm fine if it's just him in our lives for now. My husband has also been amazing. He has been supportive and I am glad he was able to go home and get some sleep last night.
I will probably come back and edit this later when I get home. I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
planes and ears and strep throat, oh MY!
The past 10 days have been incredibly interesting.
Our trip started out rocky. Jack was diagnosed with his first ear infection the week before we left and was mistreated with only 7 days of antibiotics instead of 10. I wasn't worried about his ears because he seemed to be doing fine. I wasn't surprised that Jack did very well on the plane, despite having just got over his first ear infection.
We were stuck in the VERY LAST row of the plane. These are the smallest three seats on the plane due to the bulkhead (hehe dirty) and the plane was full. Packed. We got seated with a pretty cool guy that was about the same size as Todd. Surprisingly, Todd says it was one of the most enjoyable flights he's had in a long time. It was bumpy, I forgot Nosey Bear and I swear, I will never fly without him. Ever. Every flight we've had without him has been terrible.
Anyway.
We got grounded in Chicago and this is a good thing because right after we eventually took off, a tornado touched down in St. Louis. Apparently we would have been right there had the FAA not had the foresight to stop takeoffs. We ended up being about an hour and a half late to land but we were safe.
Jack's first Easter was egg-cellent :) He nearly slept through the egg hunt until I woke him up to come play with us. He was a little groggy but eventually returned to his happy self. We put him down in the grass, much to his displeasure, but he finally got over the weird feeling and crawled around everywhere. I believe it was during this time that Jack became inseparable from my nephew Tanner and found a new best friend (sorry Calvin!) He really enjoyed playing with the eggs and his prizes that he got and began warming up to his large extended family.
Thursday morning Todd woke me up with a fever. He got Strep, too. So, I called our doctor in MA and she faxed over some prescriptions for Todd and myself for Strep. Joy of joys. We were so worried that Todd wouldn't be well enough for the party on Sunday. Miraculously, he woke up Sunday morning feeling much better. I'm not sure how miraculous it really was since he was on antibiotics for two days, but whatever.
Jack's party was awesome! We ordered a cake from the Target bakery (I wish we had Super Target near us) and it turned out gorgeous. The weather was beautiful: windy, but nice in the sun. Most everyone was able to come and Jack really enjoyed his birthday song and LOVED being able to smash his jumbo cupcake into the counter and his face. He was more excited about the frosting than the cake, though.
Monday we left. The return flight home was mostly uneventful. Except for the poop. Oh! Don't quit reading now!! This is a funny story, not a gross one. Apparently, when a baby is placed on back-to-back antibiotics it messes with their natural flora and can cause the squirts (see, funnier than "diarrhea") and the specific antibiotic that Jack is on turns his poo a reddish color. Well, he pooped at the Chicago airport and we didn't expect him to go again until we were at least home. We were wrong. Before we even reached cruising altitude, not only did Jack poop, but he leaked out of his diaper onto the Boppy cover and Todd's pants. AWESOME! I told you it was funny! So, I ran him (literally ran) up the aisle to the front bathroom (it has the changing table) and quickly changed his diaper. I noticed we were running out of wipes so I got back to our seat and told Todd this. Both of us agreed that this had to be it. He wouldn't poop again until we were at least to Boston. We couldn't be more wrong.
I had one wipe.
Murphy's law says: HE WILL POOP AGAIN. AND IT WILL BE GROSS.
We hit horrible turbulence.
I couldn't go to the bathroom.
I changed his runny diaper ON MY LAP. For some reason his poop hasn't been smelling, so this wasn't a problem. I was so proud of myself. ONE WIPE! We decided that he could not poop anymore. He didn't and slept the remainder of the flight.
We are home now. I picked up my cap and gown and tassel today and I graduate May 19th. I'm so excited! This weekend we have Jack's second of three birthday parties. I'm sure he will be as charming at the next two parties as he was at his first. Even throughout his separation anxiety, he is always so pleasant and adorable :)
Love you baby!
Our trip started out rocky. Jack was diagnosed with his first ear infection the week before we left and was mistreated with only 7 days of antibiotics instead of 10. I wasn't worried about his ears because he seemed to be doing fine. I wasn't surprised that Jack did very well on the plane, despite having just got over his first ear infection.
 |
| Back row of the plane |
Anyway.
We got grounded in Chicago and this is a good thing because right after we eventually took off, a tornado touched down in St. Louis. Apparently we would have been right there had the FAA not had the foresight to stop takeoffs. We ended up being about an hour and a half late to land but we were safe.
 |
| finally enjoying the grass |
 |
| Dying eggs with a sleeping baby! |
 |
| Playing with his Easter basket |
 |
| Sleepy baby! |
Fast forward a few days. Jack begins to walk EVERYWHERE. This is so cool! He falls down a lot and ends up with a rug burn on his forehead: see photos However, Tuesday, my other nephew came down with a sore throat and was diagnosed with Strep throat. We were concerned about Jack, but didn't seriously worry until the next morning when he came down with a fever. We took him to the doctor despite not seeming sick and he was positive for Strep and his ear infection never went away! Not only that, but it came back in full force on BOTH EARS! The poor little guy. Thus began his second round of antibiotics.
 |
| WALKING! |
 |
| CHEESE! |
 |
| MMM! Frosting! |
I had one wipe.
Murphy's law says: HE WILL POOP AGAIN. AND IT WILL BE GROSS.
We hit horrible turbulence.
I couldn't go to the bathroom.
I changed his runny diaper ON MY LAP. For some reason his poop hasn't been smelling, so this wasn't a problem. I was so proud of myself. ONE WIPE! We decided that he could not poop anymore. He didn't and slept the remainder of the flight.
We are home now. I picked up my cap and gown and tassel today and I graduate May 19th. I'm so excited! This weekend we have Jack's second of three birthday parties. I'm sure he will be as charming at the next two parties as he was at his first. Even throughout his separation anxiety, he is always so pleasant and adorable :)
Love you baby!
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