Friday, March 23, 2012
Greatest week ever... Well sorta
Shane came home!!!! Hooray! He got in Sunday at 1ish. I was overjoyed to see him. He woke Ava up the next morning with donuts and Olivia was excited to see him too. We all were. Ava told everyone at church "Daddy back", she was so proud to show him off! Shane took the week off to catch up with us and relax. Well that was the plan anyway. Monday we relaxed, Tuesday was date night and then Wednesday came... I started the morning off with a scratchy throat and thought it must be allergies (which don't affect me usually) and went along with my day. Ugh, by Wednesday night I had a 102 fever and had chills, then I was burning up. That would be the night Olivia woke up what seemed like every hour on the hour. She didn't sleep a well as she usually does. The next day I pretty much stayed in bed all day after going to the doctor. He said my swabs for flu and strep came back negative but he thought it looked like strep and gave me an antibiotic just in case. I could tell when Olivia nursed I didn't have a let down at all. I know she was hungry but I guess since I was in pain and couldn't relax nothing was coming out. So Shane fed her a bottle of breast milk I had in the freezer (that I thought she'd never drink!) and she took it like a champ!!! So I nursed a little (not what I usually do) and Shane gave bottles when I was sleeping. I was so upset about not being able to feed her. So I thought I was done with breastfeeding because I thought I dried up... Oh I was wrong! I was so full this morning that I fed her and then she ate breakfast took her morning nap. I went grocery shopping and she didn't eat again until 4 hours later. I did give her a bottle after her afternoon nap but nursed her too and then a bottle at bed and nursed her after too. Hopefully tomorrow back to no bottles. I'm glad she can take one because that's been an issue for SEVERAL months! But I still want to give her what's best. I told Shane I felt so guilty that I started down the road of weaning her only to discover I don't have to. I really hope going 2 days not nursing normally won't mess anything up permantely, I'm hoping for a slight bump in the road or maybe even a smooth curve! Wish me luck!!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
It's been awhile, don't judge.
I am writing now while my precious and wonderful children are asleep! Yes, drumroll please... at the SAME TIME! I thought this day would never come, literaly, I've dreamt of what it would be like and now I'm basking in the glow of happiness and silence!
My lovely mother came to my house on Wednesday for our first night of using The Ferber Method. I must say we were both very nervous and didn't know what to expect. I used Dr. Ferber's method with Ava and it took about a week of crying and frustration but after that she sleeps like a champ. In her own bed, and we put her down awake. Ava was 5 or 6 months when we did it and she was on formula then so I knew she wasn't hungry. Olivia, OG as we like to call her, is still breastfed and I really didn't know how this was all going to go down.
First night, I set the timer for 5 minutes, after it was up I went in there rubbed her back and said "I love you and it's night night time" walked out and set the timer for 7 minutes. Did the same thing after 7 minutes, the third time I set the timer for 10 minutes. Repeat. Then after the 10 minutes was up I wanted to give up but I pushed through and reset the timer for 10 minutes. I did the 10 minute intervals for about 2 hours. She finally gave up and fell asleep.
Second night, I set the timer for 7 minutes, did the rub of the back, I love you bit and then set timer for 10 minutes. She had fallen asleep by 8 minutes and slept until 2:30AM at that point I nursed her and she fell asleep again and slept until 6:30 with a short feed and slept until 7:30.
Tonight, I set timer for 10 minutes, she was asleep with in 5 minutes. AWESOME!!!!
I'm also working on stretching out her feedings because I was just nursing on demand and wasn't keeping track of how often at all. This has created a monster! I wrote our schedule down yesterday and she was nursing every 2 hours, which she had been for a while. Usually she would only want one side or both before naps or a snack.
I also haven't introduced solids on a regular basis because she doesn't seem interested at all. This next week is about to CHANGE!
I will be stretching out feeds for 3 hours, introducing solids for morning. The next week I will be stretching out feeds for 4 hours, because that's how often she's supposed to be eating, and giving her solids for breakfast and lunch. I really hope all goes well and we can get a routine going before Shane gets home.
Ok, enough with that, let's chat about Shane's trip. He's been gone since January 2nd and it's been a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Bedtime is awful because the girls go to sleep around the same time and it's a two person job! I suspect when they can bathe together it will be MUCH easier but we're not there yet. It's a two person job for sure! When it's just me, OG is left to cry while I read bedtime stories and get Ava down for the night. It breaks my heart and throws her off on her bedtime too. My mom has been a huge help through all of this. She comes over every night after she gets off and helps me get them to bed. Life saver! I miss my darling husband so much it's unreal. I knew I would miss him, that was a given but, WOW he is my support when things get hairy around here and I feel on the verge of a melt down myself. He is my best friend and sometimes the only adult interaction for days. I miss how we laugh about funny stuff the girls do or his stories from his day and telling him about my day. Unwinding with him is so much fun! I really miss that. I miss him kissing me goodbye before he leaves in the morning for work. Oddly enough I miss cooking for him. If he's not here I throw together crap meals for myself, quick and simple is what I'm about with two babies under my feet trying to get it made. I like that he takes the girls for a walk or they play in Ava's room for a bit so I can get it made. I miss sitting at the table as a family around a good meal. I miss that he's the last person I see at night and the first one I see when I wake up. I miss him doing all the guy stuff, like mow the grass (which our backyard is a jungle) or take my car to get the oil changed and washed (I hate doing that) and changing out the cat box (vomit). I need him more than I thought before he left. I never knew that because we've never been apart this long. He would go on work trips at the most 2 weeks at a time but never 10 weeks!
IT BLOWS NOT HAVING HIM HERE!
On to my next topic.
Ava Mack, this girl is growing up so fast! She is picking up new words everyday, stringing words together to make partial sentences and she is a good big sister! She said "Thank you momma" the other day out of no where and her favorite saying has been "Yay, did it!" very loudly! We are working on counting to 20. She can count to 12 right now so it won't be long before she's doing it by herself. She can throw her own trash away and is very proud to do it. We are working on her saying No Ma'am instead of nope. I've created a monster saying nope around her. She loves Logan, our boxer. She loves letting him outside, she can open doors now, so he can "potty". She LOVES playing outside! It's her favorite thing! She doesn't watch Yo Gabba Gabba anymore, we've moved onto Bubble Guppies. She has started calling my Mom, Granny instead of Gran. It's pretty cute! I'm trying to think of other things she does now... it will probably all come to me when I'm trying to fall asleep tonight!
Olivia, OG, is rolling both ways. Said Dada first and a couple of days later said Momma. She can pull herself onto her knees and rock back and forth but hasn't moved her hands to go anywhere. Instead she launches backwards! It's really cute to watch. Still breastfeeding, she is now doing better sleep wise (THANK YOU TO THE BIG MAN UPSTAIRS!) and she is a lot of fun! I suspect by the time Shane comes home she will be crawling!
That's all that's going on around here!
My lovely mother came to my house on Wednesday for our first night of using The Ferber Method. I must say we were both very nervous and didn't know what to expect. I used Dr. Ferber's method with Ava and it took about a week of crying and frustration but after that she sleeps like a champ. In her own bed, and we put her down awake. Ava was 5 or 6 months when we did it and she was on formula then so I knew she wasn't hungry. Olivia, OG as we like to call her, is still breastfed and I really didn't know how this was all going to go down.
First night, I set the timer for 5 minutes, after it was up I went in there rubbed her back and said "I love you and it's night night time" walked out and set the timer for 7 minutes. Did the same thing after 7 minutes, the third time I set the timer for 10 minutes. Repeat. Then after the 10 minutes was up I wanted to give up but I pushed through and reset the timer for 10 minutes. I did the 10 minute intervals for about 2 hours. She finally gave up and fell asleep.
Second night, I set the timer for 7 minutes, did the rub of the back, I love you bit and then set timer for 10 minutes. She had fallen asleep by 8 minutes and slept until 2:30AM at that point I nursed her and she fell asleep again and slept until 6:30 with a short feed and slept until 7:30.
Tonight, I set timer for 10 minutes, she was asleep with in 5 minutes. AWESOME!!!!
I'm also working on stretching out her feedings because I was just nursing on demand and wasn't keeping track of how often at all. This has created a monster! I wrote our schedule down yesterday and she was nursing every 2 hours, which she had been for a while. Usually she would only want one side or both before naps or a snack.
I also haven't introduced solids on a regular basis because she doesn't seem interested at all. This next week is about to CHANGE!
I will be stretching out feeds for 3 hours, introducing solids for morning. The next week I will be stretching out feeds for 4 hours, because that's how often she's supposed to be eating, and giving her solids for breakfast and lunch. I really hope all goes well and we can get a routine going before Shane gets home.
Ok, enough with that, let's chat about Shane's trip. He's been gone since January 2nd and it's been a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Bedtime is awful because the girls go to sleep around the same time and it's a two person job! I suspect when they can bathe together it will be MUCH easier but we're not there yet. It's a two person job for sure! When it's just me, OG is left to cry while I read bedtime stories and get Ava down for the night. It breaks my heart and throws her off on her bedtime too. My mom has been a huge help through all of this. She comes over every night after she gets off and helps me get them to bed. Life saver! I miss my darling husband so much it's unreal. I knew I would miss him, that was a given but, WOW he is my support when things get hairy around here and I feel on the verge of a melt down myself. He is my best friend and sometimes the only adult interaction for days. I miss how we laugh about funny stuff the girls do or his stories from his day and telling him about my day. Unwinding with him is so much fun! I really miss that. I miss him kissing me goodbye before he leaves in the morning for work. Oddly enough I miss cooking for him. If he's not here I throw together crap meals for myself, quick and simple is what I'm about with two babies under my feet trying to get it made. I like that he takes the girls for a walk or they play in Ava's room for a bit so I can get it made. I miss sitting at the table as a family around a good meal. I miss that he's the last person I see at night and the first one I see when I wake up. I miss him doing all the guy stuff, like mow the grass (which our backyard is a jungle) or take my car to get the oil changed and washed (I hate doing that) and changing out the cat box (vomit). I need him more than I thought before he left. I never knew that because we've never been apart this long. He would go on work trips at the most 2 weeks at a time but never 10 weeks!
IT BLOWS NOT HAVING HIM HERE!
On to my next topic.
Ava Mack, this girl is growing up so fast! She is picking up new words everyday, stringing words together to make partial sentences and she is a good big sister! She said "Thank you momma" the other day out of no where and her favorite saying has been "Yay, did it!" very loudly! We are working on counting to 20. She can count to 12 right now so it won't be long before she's doing it by herself. She can throw her own trash away and is very proud to do it. We are working on her saying No Ma'am instead of nope. I've created a monster saying nope around her. She loves Logan, our boxer. She loves letting him outside, she can open doors now, so he can "potty". She LOVES playing outside! It's her favorite thing! She doesn't watch Yo Gabba Gabba anymore, we've moved onto Bubble Guppies. She has started calling my Mom, Granny instead of Gran. It's pretty cute! I'm trying to think of other things she does now... it will probably all come to me when I'm trying to fall asleep tonight!
Olivia, OG, is rolling both ways. Said Dada first and a couple of days later said Momma. She can pull herself onto her knees and rock back and forth but hasn't moved her hands to go anywhere. Instead she launches backwards! It's really cute to watch. Still breastfeeding, she is now doing better sleep wise (THANK YOU TO THE BIG MAN UPSTAIRS!) and she is a lot of fun! I suspect by the time Shane comes home she will be crawling!
That's all that's going on around here!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
This Momma is tired!!!
Ok update on the children.
Ava is 20 months and knows colors (blue, pink, red, white, purple, orange (ernge) and green). She can count to 10 by herself. She can say the ABC's with a little help. Knows more, please, thank you, kiss, sorry, baby, cereal, drink and milk in sign language. We will be working on counting to 10 in Spanish. She can say nearly all the words as she's signing them. She still carries pig and duck around and they must be with her when she naps. She is picking up new words everyday. She is a little sponge!!! Her new favorite thing is playing outside. She hates when I tell her to come inside. Says no an pitches a fit! Terrible 2's? I think so!
Olivia is 4 almost 5 months. She rolls from front to back and can roll with very little help from back to front. Still doesn't take a bottle or pacifier. She loves her activity chair/seat thing. She plays with the toys that hang down. She wakes more at night when she rolls over and so I'm having to go in there more than I was a few weeks ago. Still trying to get a solid nap schedule down. It's difficult when you have a toddler, you can't just leave them to watch tv or play in their room for a few minutes. So Olivia doesn't sleep much in the mornings. If I go to the gym she will nap but only for 20 minutes. She is such a good baby. We will be doing rice cereal next month. I'm nervous about how that will go. When I started Ava on solids my milk production decreased and I dried up within a month. With Olivia not wanting to take a bottle regularly I'm really nervous. I am going to see what the ladies at the La Leche meeting have to say.
With Shane being gone for 10 weeks it's been stressful. His parents and my parents are really helping a ton! As well as friends. That saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is SO true! He will be home mid-March and I can't wait!!!
That's all for now!
Ava is 20 months and knows colors (blue, pink, red, white, purple, orange (ernge) and green). She can count to 10 by herself. She can say the ABC's with a little help. Knows more, please, thank you, kiss, sorry, baby, cereal, drink and milk in sign language. We will be working on counting to 10 in Spanish. She can say nearly all the words as she's signing them. She still carries pig and duck around and they must be with her when she naps. She is picking up new words everyday. She is a little sponge!!! Her new favorite thing is playing outside. She hates when I tell her to come inside. Says no an pitches a fit! Terrible 2's? I think so!
Olivia is 4 almost 5 months. She rolls from front to back and can roll with very little help from back to front. Still doesn't take a bottle or pacifier. She loves her activity chair/seat thing. She plays with the toys that hang down. She wakes more at night when she rolls over and so I'm having to go in there more than I was a few weeks ago. Still trying to get a solid nap schedule down. It's difficult when you have a toddler, you can't just leave them to watch tv or play in their room for a few minutes. So Olivia doesn't sleep much in the mornings. If I go to the gym she will nap but only for 20 minutes. She is such a good baby. We will be doing rice cereal next month. I'm nervous about how that will go. When I started Ava on solids my milk production decreased and I dried up within a month. With Olivia not wanting to take a bottle regularly I'm really nervous. I am going to see what the ladies at the La Leche meeting have to say.
With Shane being gone for 10 weeks it's been stressful. His parents and my parents are really helping a ton! As well as friends. That saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is SO true! He will be home mid-March and I can't wait!!!
That's all for now!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Falling down on the job...
I really did say I was going to keep up with it but I've failed miserably.
Update on Ava: she is 19 months old, 25.6 pounds and growing up WAY too fast. She has quite the vocabulary and her favorite words are "No" and "buggle gubbie" (Yo gabba gabba). She is so much fun and gets into everything!
She loves to swing, play with chalk outside, her duck and pig go every where with her. If it were up to her she would eat hot dogs and catsup at every meal. She loves vegetables and macaroni and cheese. She is a huge fan of milk and has 2 glasses every morning. She still gets a sippy cup of milk before she goes to sleep but I think I'm going to start phasing that one out. She loves to help brush her teeth after her milk. Her toothbrush lights up and it's fun! Her favorite shoes are her camo boots. She does like her tiny ponytail but if she sees the bow in the mirror it will come out. She likes to "help" get her sister up in the morning, and wants to hold her occasionally. She is NOT a fan of Liv playing with her toys. We had a major meltdown while trying to teach the concept of sharing. My words were falling on deaf ears and I was foolish not to know that the world was ending because Liv was playing with her monkey.
Olivia: she is 3 months old, 15 pounds, and also growing way too fast. She is holding her head up while on her tummy. Enjoys lounging in her swing, laughing at her dorky parents, and eating. She is exclusively breastfed, very proud of that, and is sleeping about 10-14 hours at night. Pretty awesome. Ava woke up at least once to eat at that age and was getting a 4 ounce bottle if formula. If I only knew then what I know now, I could've breastfed longer with Ava. I digress. Liv is such a happy baby, she has laughed out loud and smiles a lot. She does not like taking a bottle. It has to be on her terms and usually it's a process! She doesn't take a pacifier either. She did when we first came home from the hospital and at the hospital but since about 6 weeks she hasn't wanted it. She gags everytime you put it in her mouth. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
I'll be back tomorrow to post pictures of my babies.
Update on Ava: she is 19 months old, 25.6 pounds and growing up WAY too fast. She has quite the vocabulary and her favorite words are "No" and "buggle gubbie" (Yo gabba gabba). She is so much fun and gets into everything!
She loves to swing, play with chalk outside, her duck and pig go every where with her. If it were up to her she would eat hot dogs and catsup at every meal. She loves vegetables and macaroni and cheese. She is a huge fan of milk and has 2 glasses every morning. She still gets a sippy cup of milk before she goes to sleep but I think I'm going to start phasing that one out. She loves to help brush her teeth after her milk. Her toothbrush lights up and it's fun! Her favorite shoes are her camo boots. She does like her tiny ponytail but if she sees the bow in the mirror it will come out. She likes to "help" get her sister up in the morning, and wants to hold her occasionally. She is NOT a fan of Liv playing with her toys. We had a major meltdown while trying to teach the concept of sharing. My words were falling on deaf ears and I was foolish not to know that the world was ending because Liv was playing with her monkey.
Olivia: she is 3 months old, 15 pounds, and also growing way too fast. She is holding her head up while on her tummy. Enjoys lounging in her swing, laughing at her dorky parents, and eating. She is exclusively breastfed, very proud of that, and is sleeping about 10-14 hours at night. Pretty awesome. Ava woke up at least once to eat at that age and was getting a 4 ounce bottle if formula. If I only knew then what I know now, I could've breastfed longer with Ava. I digress. Liv is such a happy baby, she has laughed out loud and smiles a lot. She does not like taking a bottle. It has to be on her terms and usually it's a process! She doesn't take a pacifier either. She did when we first came home from the hospital and at the hospital but since about 6 weeks she hasn't wanted it. She gags everytime you put it in her mouth. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
I'll be back tomorrow to post pictures of my babies.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Having two children.
I certainly couldn't do anything without Shane's help! He takes care of Ava and I take care of Olivia and we swap out in the afternoons/evenings to play with the other child.
I had a scheduled c-section with Olivia and I must say it was way better than the first! Being in labor for 29 hours and then having a c-section, no thanks. It was surreal to walk in and have a baby. Recovery was faster, discharge from the hospital was faster, my milk came in faster. Everything was faster and EASIER! Downside of having a repeat c-section was not being able to pick up and hold Ava for 2 weeks. She didn't understand why I couldn't pick her up and it was harder (emotionally) for me too!
My two week check up went well. I am 4 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight and my incision is smaller this time (I only have one incision not two!) and Olivia's two week check up showed she's back at birth weight (she had dropped a pound when we went home) and she slept through her PKU test and I was amazed! Ava screamed through hers!
These past three weeks has been great with my babies! I stopped taking pain meds around a week and a half and was able to get on the floor to play with Ava and read books, eat lunch with her, change her diaper and I actually felt like a parent to her! That first week was hell. I was hormonal, I admit, but I felt like Ava didn't need me and that was an eye opener for me because I'm a control freak. If it's not done my way it's not done right, but I think that is every new mom's thought process. That week and a half I wasn't able to do anything with her was a great bonding time with Shane. Shane and her are big buddies now, not that they weren't before but they are definitely closer now. He is a great Dad!
I'm more relaxed with Olivia (and Ava too for that matter). In turn she's more relaxed. Breastfeeding has been super easy this time around, I think because I know it's normal for her to have cluster feedings, poop after every feed, and many other things no one filled me in about with my first!
I had my first experience being by myself last Saturday. It was scary and I was really nervous but it went well. Olivia was awake the entire time which she usually is asleep and Ava was easy. It was difficult at breakfast though. Olivia screamed the entire time I was making breakfast for Ava and I and Ava was crying, signing 'milk' and banging on the refridgerator. Talk about pull my hair out! So in between stiring oatmeal on the stove, pouring milk intoo a sippy cup and trying to keep Ava from pushing Olivia out of the swing I'm saying to myself... "I got this under control, I can do this!" and I did get through it. I got Ava's milk to her and picked Olivia up and finished the oatmeal and made myself some chocolate milk and then put Olivia back in the swing and grabbed Ava and we at oatmeal while Olivia sucked on her hands. I felt guilty but what else was I going to do!? After breakfast, Olivia decided to cluster feed from 10am to 12pm (CRAZY, I know!) and so we sat in Ava's room and Olivia nursed and Ava and I read books, played with blocks. Then Olivia finally went to sleep so I put her in her bed and then fed Ava lunch and put her down for a nap. I got about 15 minutes of time to myself and Olivia woke back up because she had a dirty diaper. Then Shane came home and I said "Um, I know you just walked in BUT I really need a shower so here! She's got a clean diaper!"
Anyway, that's all for now. I'm certain I will have more funny stories about having two children and I'll try to keep up better with this blog! Wish me luck :)
Jackie
I had a scheduled c-section with Olivia and I must say it was way better than the first! Being in labor for 29 hours and then having a c-section, no thanks. It was surreal to walk in and have a baby. Recovery was faster, discharge from the hospital was faster, my milk came in faster. Everything was faster and EASIER! Downside of having a repeat c-section was not being able to pick up and hold Ava for 2 weeks. She didn't understand why I couldn't pick her up and it was harder (emotionally) for me too!
My two week check up went well. I am 4 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight and my incision is smaller this time (I only have one incision not two!) and Olivia's two week check up showed she's back at birth weight (she had dropped a pound when we went home) and she slept through her PKU test and I was amazed! Ava screamed through hers!
These past three weeks has been great with my babies! I stopped taking pain meds around a week and a half and was able to get on the floor to play with Ava and read books, eat lunch with her, change her diaper and I actually felt like a parent to her! That first week was hell. I was hormonal, I admit, but I felt like Ava didn't need me and that was an eye opener for me because I'm a control freak. If it's not done my way it's not done right, but I think that is every new mom's thought process. That week and a half I wasn't able to do anything with her was a great bonding time with Shane. Shane and her are big buddies now, not that they weren't before but they are definitely closer now. He is a great Dad!
I'm more relaxed with Olivia (and Ava too for that matter). In turn she's more relaxed. Breastfeeding has been super easy this time around, I think because I know it's normal for her to have cluster feedings, poop after every feed, and many other things no one filled me in about with my first!
I had my first experience being by myself last Saturday. It was scary and I was really nervous but it went well. Olivia was awake the entire time which she usually is asleep and Ava was easy. It was difficult at breakfast though. Olivia screamed the entire time I was making breakfast for Ava and I and Ava was crying, signing 'milk' and banging on the refridgerator. Talk about pull my hair out! So in between stiring oatmeal on the stove, pouring milk intoo a sippy cup and trying to keep Ava from pushing Olivia out of the swing I'm saying to myself... "I got this under control, I can do this!" and I did get through it. I got Ava's milk to her and picked Olivia up and finished the oatmeal and made myself some chocolate milk and then put Olivia back in the swing and grabbed Ava and we at oatmeal while Olivia sucked on her hands. I felt guilty but what else was I going to do!? After breakfast, Olivia decided to cluster feed from 10am to 12pm (CRAZY, I know!) and so we sat in Ava's room and Olivia nursed and Ava and I read books, played with blocks. Then Olivia finally went to sleep so I put her in her bed and then fed Ava lunch and put her down for a nap. I got about 15 minutes of time to myself and Olivia woke back up because she had a dirty diaper. Then Shane came home and I said "Um, I know you just walked in BUT I really need a shower so here! She's got a clean diaper!"
Anyway, that's all for now. I'm certain I will have more funny stories about having two children and I'll try to keep up better with this blog! Wish me luck :)
Jackie
Welcome Olivia Grace Bush!
Welcome Olivia! 7 pounds 12 ounces! She is a beautiful and healthy baby. Very calm and doesn't cry a lot! Maybe because Momma is relaxed this go around!
Maternity Session 8/29/11
We used Kristy Hamiliton with Vintage Charm Photography to do our maternity pictures. She did a great job and even got some good ones of Ava. Ava doesn't take pictures well anymore, she has the attention span of a gnat!
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