8 months old

Eight months old already! Time is going by so fast. Carter got his first tooth on December 6th. I finally held him down and got a picture of it for the records. He likes to hide it with his tongue. He likes to chew on everything and anything. He is really interested in eating now and watches your mouth very carefully when you are eating trying to figure the whole chewing action out. He is crawling on all fours now and is VERY fast. Especially when you are walking away from him and he is chasing after you or going after Dallas the dog. He likes to get into everything and as I type this he is playing with all the buttons on the stereo system. He recently learned how to pull himself to a standing position at the furniture so he practices his new skill all day. He is the youngest one out of the three boys to pull himself to a standing position. I predict he will be the earliest walker but only time will tell. He has the prettiest green eyes and the biggest smile. You can't help but smile back at him.

Pre Christmas 2010

Carter 7 months

Seven months is so much fun! Carter is scooting all over the floor and getting up on his hands and knees making attempts to crawl on all fours. He says "dada" and "mama" and likes to make alot of noises. He is still very happy and smiles at everyone but now he sticks his tongue out when he smiles. He loves to eat carrots and still hates fruits. He makes a sour face when you feed him anything sweet. He loves Elmo and gets really excited when he sees his Elmo doll. He got his first cold and ear infection this month and his bottom teeth are on the verge of breaking through. He can sit on his own and still sleeps through the night. He loves being held and likes to rest his head on your shoulder and snuggle. He made a decision this month to resist the pacifier and my hopes of having one baby that took a pacifier are dashed. He is still a very pleasant little guy who always has a smile and brings joy to the lives of those who love him.

Carter

We made it to six months. In fact we are soooo close to seven months. Carter is still just a happy little baby. He always has this big smile when he sees you. He is rolling, scooting, and wiggling all over the place. He is a determined little guy and gets where he needs to go. He has started on baby food but only likes to eat carrots and sweet potatoes. He is my first baby to dislike fruits. He just had his six month check up and he is almost 17 lbs and 27 inches long. He is finally starting to grow some hair and he will need it for winter. He has been teething for the past TWO months and we are waiting for his teeth to show up anyday now. He loves when his older brother Connor holds him and plays with him. He really likes when he is fast enough and sneaks up on the Dallas the dog. He loves grabbing fistfuls of that soft fur. Carter continues to be just a happy, beautiful baby.

September 2010

Trying to get three boys to look at the camera all at the same time and smile is getting impossible.

Connor age 7 Jaxson age 4 Carter 5 months

Carter

September 2010

Three reasons to smile everyday

I'm back

I took a break from blogging for a little bit but I am back. I took a stumble in life and I am picking myself up, brushing off my bruised knees, and taking steps forward. No reason to stay down on the ground. (this brings back memories of the time my grandma feel down at the movie theater and stayed on the ground because she was so embarrassed, I have felt that way too)

Connor started soccer this week. He is so excited to get out there and play. He is growing up so fast and I can hardly believe that he will be starting 2nd grade. He is so responsible for his age and tries so hard to act older. I want him to slow down and not grow up so fast. I would give anything to go back to the summer of 2003 when he was a chunky baby that liked to lay in my arms.

Jaxson is like the tornado of the family. He NEVER stops moving. He is so loud and powerful. He comes in the room and you know he is there. He is loud, can't stop moving, and sometimes grates on the nerves but will be the first one to tell you he loves you when you need it the most. I took Carter for pictures today and Jaxson drove me crazy running through the photo studio but I forgot all about it when he told me on the drive home, "Mom, I love you" Just out of no where and just when I really needed to hear those words. He is the first one to walk up to a stranger and say, "What is your name? My name is Jaxson." When they tell him their name, he promptly hugs them and frequently gives them a kiss. Even strangers! Sometimes it is embarrassing when he is hugging and kissing people in Walmart but I love how kind he is. He has so much compassion.

Carter is such a happy baby. He smiles at everyone and giggles when you tickle him by his arms. He loves to watch his brothers wrestle on the floor and doesn't seemed fazed by the madhouse his brothers create. I think he will fit right in when he is old enough to get on the floor with them. He weighs 14 lbs now and still has NO hair! His nickname this month is Slimer because he is drooling so much! I expect teeth to appear soon.

I will post some pictures soon of all the boys. We are sad to see summer winding to a close but happy in our own way to put it behind us.

This morning was filled with laughter and silly play with three little boys. Summer vacation means lounging around in PJ's and living easy. Just enjoying the moments. We have made strawberry Popsicle's and played at the park. Watched movies and taken afternoon naps. I love watching my kids play in the summer heat and the memories of my childhood summers spent with neighborhood friends.

I have learned so much over the past few months about love. I never imagined that at my age I would still be learning life lessons but they come daily. The basics are taught when children are little and then it seems that life steps in and teaches the harder lessons. I look at my little children and I love them so much and I see so much greatness in all of them. I have never taken the easy way in my life. My mom and dad taught me the difference between right and wrong and I listened but always had to challenge it. It was never enough to just have them tell me, I had to experience it. A month ago I told Jaxson not to touch the pan on the counter because it was hot and would hurt him. I turned around and while I was not looking, he touched it. He cried and I attended to his finger which was red but not damaged. I have reflected on that over and over again because I realized that day the love for a parent and a child. I gave Jaxson the lesson and told him why he shouldn't touch the pan but he did and it hurt him. And I love him so I was there to love him and try to soothe his pain. Then gently remind him that I tried to teach him before he had to experience the pain. And in this point in my life, I realize that as an adult, I am still touching the pan and that love, when it is true unselfish love, never goes away.

****Had to add something I forgot. I went to see Eclipse at midnight opening night and LOVED it. Best movie of the series so far! I wish I could have been in Utah with my Utah Twilight nerds but I am grateful for my Jersey Twilight nerds! Was harder this time to go at midnight since I have a baby that likes to stay up late and wake up early but worth it***********************

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.....

Today I do not like:
humidity
angel wings
songs on the radio that I liked at one time and now hate to listen to
hamburgers that are too big
crying
the 15 minutes before bedtime when suddenly the kids are starving and remember they have homework to finish before tomorrow
dreaming

I do like:
my memory foam waiting to cradle me to sleep tonight

Grandma

This weekend would have been my grandma's birthday. I thought about and missed her today. She is still the greatest woman I have ever met. I learned so much from my grandmother growing up. She was an example of long suffering, patience, and unconditional love. Grandma loved all of us despite our weaknesses. I cannot imagine how hard it must have been for her to have three small children at home, an husband who was an alcoholic, and being responsible for being the sole provider for the family. I never heard her complain or even talk bad about the situation she lived in. She was so much fun. I spend many weekends sleeping over at grandma's house with my cousins. Grandma would buy us cookies, soda, and candy and let us eat as much as we liked. She would play games with us, ride bikes with us, and she NEVER said no. I'm not kidding when I say that she never said no. She let her grandkids do anything. I even remember her letting us drive her car before we had licenses. My grandparents had cement flooring in their basement and me and Skyler decided to turn the basement into a skating rink. Grandma let us spray paint all over the walls and hang up a disco ball.

My grandma was at my high school graduation and she urged me to continue on with my education. Two years later she was at my first college graduation. She attended my first wedding and a year later hugged me as I filed for divorce and told me I was destined for better. She was there for the birth and death of my first son and that was the first time I saw my grandma cry. She hugged me and promised me that one day I would have another child. Four years later she held my newborn son Connor.

I miss having her here for all my milestones now. I wish she could have been here to see me graduate from nursing school as she was the one who told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. She died when I was pregnant with Jaxson and I feel sorrow when I look at my boys, I wish that they could have known her. She was such a light in my life and I will always remember her cheerful laugh.

Back from the doctors and I am sore. Two spots removed and sutured up. Both of them on my left side.....makes nursing very uncomfortable. I go back in two weeks and will possibly have the other spots removed. The one spot was high enough I could see everything they were doing. At one point I looked down and there was a hole in me! A nice round hole where my flesh had been removed. That is the point I started shaking and sweating. I am such a baby. I would love to watch the process on someone else...not me. When they loaded the needle to numb me and came towards my chest with it, I got nervous. Sharp objects near my breasts make me nervous. (haha)

Carter or Jaxson

Which baby is Jaxson and which one is Carter??? Everyone comments about how much Carter looks like Jaxson. I thought it would be fun to compare pictures at the same age.

5 weeks

We made it to 5 weeks. Carter is growing bigger and bigger everyday. He is starting to feel like a 10 lb bag of rice when you pick him up because he is so squishy. We had a really bad day yesterday.....he seems to have one about once a week. He just cries and fusses all day. I would cry too if I had to live in that little body that doesn't work the way he wants it to yet.

I have been feeling guilty lately for neglecting the other two kids. Connor is easy to please, I buy him pokemon cards every week at the grocery store and he is satisfied. Jaxson, he is a little harder. Today I loaded Carter and Jaxson in the car and we headed to McDonalds. Not just for food but I gave Jaxson an hour of play time on the playset. He was in heaven. I felt he deserved it because I dragged him to my work before and he was so patient waiting for me to talk with the bosses. He was so kind and loving to all the seniors and even gave my favorite little lady Ruth a kiss on the cheek. He was so excited and cute making everyone look at his new little brother. I can't wait to tell Carter one day how excited his older brother Jaxson was to show him off.

Memorial Weekend will be filled with appointments, moves, and hopefully some relaxing. I am going back to the specialist tomorrow about my skin. I hope this one will have some answers for me and I am going to insist on a biopsy on at least one of the spots. I have found two more areas with a total now of 6. Scary since the first doctor I went to was concerned because I had two.

As promised, a photo from one month. I did not get the pictures I had taken because they were not ready when I went on Friday to pick them up. I was very upset!

Carter had his one month check up today. He missed getting his shots because I forgot to add him to the insurance policy so he was not insured. He got a full check from the doctor and is a healthy little boy. Only concern they have is they suspect he has reflux. They gave me the referral to get a milk scan done but I think I will wait it out another month. He is now 10 lbs 5 oz and 21 inches long. His head and chest measure in the 50th percentile. He is perfect.

Coming home from church yesterday Connor said to Carter, "Carter, you have big brains" I guess that is a brothers way of saying....you have a big head.

We made it to one month! And what a month it has been. Carter is a man of schedules. He sleeps and eats at the same times every day. He does not sleep through the night anymore. He must be a Rob Thomas fan because at 3 AM he screams for me. He must be lonely. HAHAHAHA

Tomorrow night is the annual father son camp out. This will be Jaxson's first year going. He is so excited. I hope Jade doesn't lose him.

Tomorrow night will be a mom and Carter night. He can't wait to sleep in that big, soft bed with me all night.

I get the photos back tomorrow that I got taken a week ago. I will post them when I get them. I will also post Carter's 4 week old photo soon. Until then, enjoy this one. He looks like he is going to punch me. He really does love bath time.

Carter 3 weeks old

I don't get to blog as often as I would like anymore. In fact, I don't get to shower as often as I would like anymore. Or eat.......or sleep.......but it is so much fun holding my little baby. And when he is awake and going cross eyed from trying so hard to focus on my face, it makes it all worth it.

Connor is still busy playing hockey. He had two games this weekend and unfortunately his team lost both of them. Not because of his lack of skills. He has a natural talent for hockey and soccer. It is so much fun watching him play.

Jaxson will be our actor. I am still making that prediction. He has NO interest in sports at all. He prefers watching shows and memorizing the theme songs and singing them. He likes to change his voice tone to match how he is feeling and likes being the center of attention. He has to make sure everyone notices him. His new favorite excuse for EVERYTHING...."I'm too sick mom! I can't do it" He is currently trying to convince me as I type this that his shirt which says The Rolling Stones.....does not say that but instead it says....Buy me donuts. He loves showing everyone his baby brother Carter. He made sure everyone at stake conference today got a glimpse of his brother.

And Dallas the dog is a pain in the butt. He has ripped up more diapers and pacifiers than I even care to admit. (because I am the one that usually forgets about them and leaves them within reach)

We have been on an Arrested Development kick since having Carter. We spend most of our time sitting at home watching all the episodes on netflix. I cannot believe they canceled that show. I want to start a petition to bring Arrested Development back. It was a great show.

I took Carter this week to get his first picture taken. It didn't go so well. He woke up when we got there and did not want to sit still. He was twisting, turning, and trying to eat everything. The photographer convinced me to get in the photo with him promising not to get any of my post baby fat in the picture....she was a liar. I will post the pictures when I get them back. I am taking him somewhere else in the next two weeks. I wasn't happy with these pictures and I forgot the hat for his blessing outfit.

3 weeks old

My first week alone and things have gone smoothly. Carter is no longer sleeping through the night. That has been rough. He is so similar to Connor as a newborn and demands to be held all the time. (even when sleeping) He has the ability to tell when he has been laid down. It makes for long nights. Mothers Day had a whole new meaning this year. It was so special to have such a new spirit this Mothers Day. I am so happy to have three little boys.

2 weeks old

Carter is two weeks old. I can't believe how time flies. It has been easy because I had my mom and sister the first week to help me and Jade was home all this week. I'm all alone next week and afraid I will be screaming to take mental health days but they have all been used up. Haha. Here are some of Carter's two week highlights.

Bedtime: He falls asleep at 10 PM and sleeps until 5 AM. I pray everynight that this pattern of rest does NOT stop.

Favorite time of the day: Bathtime. He LOVES to be in the bath. He never cries. I have pictures of both Connor and Jaxson screaming in the bath water and Carter is just content.

Because he is such a good sleeper at night, he misses some of his feedings and makes up for them during the day. He wants to nurse every 2 hours during the day. Sometimes every hour. When I look at the rolls of fat developing on his arms and legs, it makes it worth it.

He cries in the car. He does not seem to like being in his swing, car seat, or bouncy chair. He prefers to be held in mommy or daddy's arms.

He has a reddish tint to his scarce hair and his eyes are still blue but may be changing? I have my money on blue and Jade is convinced they will turn brown. I predict he will be bald in 2 more weeks. The hair line is moving back more and more everyday.

He still has the plugged tear ducts. His eyes always water and occasionally have to be wiped out with a cotton ball because they drain mucous. The doctor told us it can take up to 6 months to resolve.

He tries hard to cry REALLY loud but just doesn't seem to have the lung power yet. (small blessings from God)

I have to document that a true miracle occured in the Borowski home last night. Carter slept from 10 PM until 7 AM. A full night of sleep for me! I am not getting too excited as I expect to be up with him tonight but it was so sweet last night.

Dear Underwood Hospital,
I regret to inform you that I believe an error was made. On April 21, 2010 I gave birth to a calm, beautiful baby boy. While the boy that I took home with me on April 23, 2010 is still beautiful, he does not match the description of calm anymore. I believe an error has been made. If by chance (and I know it is a slim chance) another mother contacts you wondering where her beautiful, fussy baby went then please direct her my way. In the meanwhile, I will continue to care for and love this child despite his frustrated screams.


Thank you
Shannon Borowski

Wow, remember all those posts of me complaining of the pains of pregnancy??? Well, I forgot how much your body hurts after labor. OUCH! I feel like I was picked up by a tornado and every muscle in my body was twisted and pulled. I wonder if they would give me my epideral now if I went back to the hospital?

We have had our first diaper casualty. We attended Connor's hockey game last night and came home to find a diaper eaten and destroyed by Dallas. I refuse to let that dog lick me or breathe on me now.

The demands of motherhood have returned to my memory. I so wish for the time when it was my first baby and I could get away with just nursing and laying in bed with him all day. Don't get me wrong, I love Connor and Jaxson VERY much and that is the hardest part. I miss spending time with them right now. Newborns are very demanding. I do enjoy this time getting to know my new son. It is just feels like trying to do a juggling act right now with one arm and 5 eggs.

Carter