9 and 10 weeks

Week 9 slipped past us and I cannot believe it is the beginning of Week 10. Carter is such a happy baby and smiles at everyone he sees. He is still very mellow and just loves being held and talked to. He HATES the car and cries the whole time you are driving unless he is already asleep when you put him in. He is figuring out how to use his hands and kicks his feet and smiles when he gets enough coordination to get his little fists into his mouth. He tries desperately to get his fingers in there to suck on. He has decided this week that he doesn't care for the pacifier anymore. I knew it was too good to be true. I hope to keep up to date on these weekly updates on Carter for the first year of his life and make them into a book for him when he turns one. I kept baby books for Connor and Jaxson but regret that I didn't keep a journal of their weekly developments. Connor fed Carter his first bottle this week and I was so proud of him for being so kind and talking to Carter while he was eating. He made sure to press all the air out of the bottle before giving it to him. Jaxson is still very concerned about where his little brother is at all times. If he is in his crib sleeping, Jaxson likes to peek in and make sure he is ok. We are all relishing this time with Carter that he is still so new and perfect.

8 weeks

Carter has become a happy, smiling baby. He loves being held and sleeping in his swing. He is the only one to take a pacifier and hasn't shown any preference for a blanket yet. He is still sleeping through the night and doesn't cry loud too often. He gets mad and just growls a little bit. He is a very pleasant little guy who is easy to please. We love him so much.

Hospital

I haven't been feeling 100% since having Carter. I had a cold three weeks ago and thought I was better. On Monday I had some body aches and thought I just needed some vitamins and rest. Tuesday morning was a little worse. I was sitting on the couch feeding Carter and I got this horrible pain in my left arm, shoulder, back, and chest. I ignored it at first. Then it got hard and painful to breathe. I started getting panicked because I thought I might have a blood clot. I waited for the pain to go away and it didn't. So, I called 911. My first ride in an ambulance. I spend hours in the emergency department. Had MANY tests done and found out I had pneumonia and pleurisy. I spent 3 nights in the hospital with IV meds. I am feeling a little bit better. Some things I learned for better nursing skills:
Dont let my patients suffer in pain. If they say they are in pain, do something
Answer the call light within a 10 minute frame. Not 1 hour
Heparin shots.....HURT! Those small needles injected in the stomach sure burn!
Zithromax running through an IV really hurts! Especially if it runs too fast. It it better to run it over a long period of time and not have the patient feel like their arm in on fire.
Patients get more rest at home at night than in the hospital. They like to take vital signs and draw blood when you are sleeping at night!
I should invent a comfortable hospital bed. I needed one with a memory foam. If I ever have to spend a long period of time in the hospital I want a memory foam.

I got my pre-auth letter from the insurance company today. I had been approved for 7 days. I wanted to take the letter back to the hospital and tell them I was coming back for the other days I was approved for. Baby was fussy today and the other boys are in summer wild mode. It is exhausting.

Had a bad day

Lately the weather has been beautiful. Yesterday we headed to Baja Fresh and the park. The boys enjoy playing outside until the sun has completely gone down. They are both counting down the days until summer vacation. I am not looking forward to entertaining them. They refuse to go into the backyard still because of the snake. Even though I tell them the snake is long gone.

my mom

1978

2000

Really miss my family and friends right now. Being in New Jersey has become very difficult. Baby blues?? Could be. I think about going home but a 4 day drive doesn't sound like fun. In fact, I would rather have all my toe nails pulled out. Even a 4 hour flight sounds like cruel torture with a 6 week old and a 4 year year old. I can feel the cloud sitting above my head and I know I need to do something to push it away before it starts raining. I have had post pardum depression with all my kids and this is the first one that I have decided NOT to use medication with....I just keep reminding myself...I can do this. I say this chant, "I will not become Brittney Spears, I will not become Brittney Spears" I would not look good bald. But I would look more like Carter.

Carter 6 weeks

I can't believe it has been 6 weeks. Time flies when you are having fun. Carter is growing so big! I love pinching him all over his chunky little body. He really tries hard to look at your face now and when he tries to focus on you, his little eyes cross. The dog has finally lost interest in Carter and all his baby stuff. Jaxson is still very concerned about his little brother and LOVES to show him off. He shows up with a neighbor or stranger from outside at least once a day to show him off. This morning I was sitting on the couch and Jaxson was sitting next to me. My stomach growled REALLY loud (it was crying out for more cake) and Jaxson looked horrified and said, "MOM!! Where is Carter? Are you sitting on him? He is making noise to get out!" LOL, I had to stand up to make him calm down. He had to be sure his brother was not under me.

Carter still likes his pacifier and being held. I have become an expert in feeding him while feeding myself. He has given me some half smiles and I expect the big smile to come anyday. I can't wait to hear him giggle. He LOVES bath time. He only cries when it is time to get out. He must have liked those months inside when he was in water all the time. He sleeps from 9:30 PM until 4:30 AM. He will eat and go back to sleep until 7 AM. He is still peeing on me when I am not fast enough changing his diaper. He is such a joy for this family.

My day today has been long. My morning went like this:
7 AM-baby awake-nurse Carter
8AM-finish getting the boys ready for school-nurse Carter
9AM-nurse....you can guess who
10AM-WHAT??? Nursing again.....what is going on?? Wait, let me count...1,2,3,4,5....Oh, 6 weeks. We are at the 6 week growth spurt.Ok, it's going to be a long day.
11AM-Nursing while watching dumb people on Price is Right. I wouldn't kiss Drew Carey.
11:30-Time to go for a drive. Baby needs to go to sleep.

I have a quiz for you.....
I ate a whole cake today. Did I do it because.....
A. post baby depression
B. I want to play The Biggest Loser
C. I have no self control

And to close I have a funny story about Connor. I heard frantic banging on the front door on Friday.I opened it and Connor and his friend Gio came running in screaming "SNAKE!!!!!!!!!" There was a snake in the backyard. Just a small black one but I heard then talking later and saying, "It was a black mamba." "I saw it's teeth. It had fangs" LOL

Falling Asleep


Took his pacifier. He didn't like that.



Gave it back and all is well again

Jaxson always wants to help with Carter. He wanted to feed him his bottle on Monday morning. He tries so hard to help. Today I was making him a sandwich in the kitchen and Carter started crying in the living room. He was still in his car seat because we had just arrived home and I went into the living room and Jaxson was sitting next to the seat rocking it. He is such a loving kid. At four he already has so much compassion. Whenever he does something wrong he immediately says, "I'm sorry". And will follow it with a big kiss and hug. Yesterday he did something, I can't even remember what, but it was something bad and he said to me,"Mom, is that my last chance?" I guess I can't use that one anymore.....