First Bath

BB did really well with her first bath. It woke her up and kept her awake for about 2 hours. That in turn makes momma and daddy very happy! The more she's awake during the day, the more I get to sleep at night! Good Girl!

Week 2

Week two has been less eventful then week one. We only had to go to the lab 3 times instead of everyday. Baby Bear had her last blood test done on Sunday, and even though her levels are still higher then they'd like, the doctor decreed no more blood tests! Thank GOD! My poor baby's feet have become callused due to being pricked practically everyday she's been out in the world. Dam Ma came and went. She was here just over 2 weeks, but not with us the entire time. Next she is off to San Deigo for 6 months for work. We're hoping she can fly here for a weekend visit to see the kids.

My father and L. will be here today. I'm not sure how long they are staying, but we are happy to have them here.

LB has been acting out. Time Out has been insituted in our home as of late. This morning, while snuggling with me and the baby watching Seasame Street, he decided it was a good idea to try to kick the baby. Thank god he's cute. I could have whooped his little butt. He loves to talk to her and kiss her, but he is not too happy to share right now. He'll get over it. All of us older sibilings do!

In other family news, my neice was born on May 18th, the day she was due, and Baby Bear was due! We got the cousins together yesterday for dinner. They have much in common these days. Sleeping, eating, and going through 20+ diapers a day. I meant to take pictures. But as with a lot of things these days, I forgot!

We're supposed to get together with my brother-in-law and his family again this weekend. Hopefully we'll remember to take some pictures then!

Picture of the Day

Here is my cutie girl. She has actually done so much better today getting back on the boob! She nursed 3 times for a good 10 minutes at a time. I think the secret to her right now, is get her when she isn't starving. She's more likely to latch after she's had an ounce or two from the bottle.

Woohoo...

We are off the Billy Blanket!!!!!! Baby Bear's billy rubin count was at 11.7, her weight was back up to 7 lbs 10 ozs, AND she even grew 1/2 an inch, putting her up to 20 inches long.
This of course ONLY took a week, but that's ok. She is healthy and we are ecsatic!

Dinner time sheniagans

Little Bear was enjoying one of his favorite dinners the other night, spaghetti. You may have heard the phrase, "It tasted so good I could take a bath in it". Well my son proved that sometimes it is soooooo good you have to rub it all over your face. That was done with the sause. I offered him his applesause, and left the room for the bathroom. I came back to find my son looking like an OompaLoompa. While I was gone, he appartently decided that applesause tastes better after being rubbed in your hair several times... hhhmmmm... And my husband was laughing and taking video of this... As long as he doesn't do this in a restaurant we'll be ok!

Jaundice Sucks

Well, my Baby Bear's level of Billy Rubin apartently has gone down then up again. We started at 18.5, went to 19, went down to 16.2, and now we are back up at 17. At this point it would have been cheaper for us to be put in the NICU, not good for the family mind you, but easier for us monetarily. So I have to continue keeping BB on the bottle so we can see the amount of fluid she is recieving, along with TRYING to breast feed. She spent 20 minutes hollering at me last night, and 20 minutes this morning screaming at me when I offered her boobs. Of course the Baby Blues are starting up and I'm trying VERY hard to keep it together when she fights me. I just go and cry when I pump. At least right now, I'm 2 feedings ahead of her so if she won't take momma, she at least eats from momma. I guess if I just have to pump and feed her that way, I will, but I really wanted to be more successful with breast feeding this time. I just can't get her to latch anymore. Maybe I'll have better luck this afternoon.

First 6 Days

What a whirl wind of activity here in Northern Virginia. After making myself sick with LB the first week home from the hospital, I vowed NOT to run around, go to Target or the mall, and to just be still. Well folks, life doesn't work that way. The ONLY days I have stayed home to rest is half a day Sunday, for Mother's Day, and Monday. Tuesday, we had our 5 day check up, plus LB's ENT follow up. LB's Tubes are great. Baby Bear however has jaundice. SO, instead of having to take her back to the hospital, they sent us a nurse and what is called a Billie Blanket to get rid of the jaundice. Baby Bear has to lay on this UV lighted pad, 24/7 unless we are at Kaiser getting blood drawn. She also lost enough weight that we have to have a weight check on Friday to make sure she is getting enough. She was 7.2 pounds on Tuesday. I've had to start supplementing just to make sure she is hydrated and getting enough fluid. Now of course since BB has had expressed milk and formula, she is liking the bottle, because it's EASIER! She's started to fight me when I want to breast feed her. After I'm sure we've gotten her weight off, she and I are going to have a little converstation about feeding only from Momma for awhile!

Other than Doctor's appointments, sleeping with a blue night light on my baby, everything else has been going well. Little Bear has been very attentive to his little sister. He calls her "Ba-be" and kisses her head. He's also been seen trying to give her a pacifer, and rocking her bouncy seat up and down. That is of course, when he isn't trying to crawl into it himself!! I've found him in her swing, trying to crawl into her bassinet, and lying underneath her baby gym. He has also been having a wonderful time with his Nana. Dam-Ma (my mom) comes back on Friday.

She is very sweet and because of the jaundice, sleeps all the time. When she is awake and alert she enjoys looking up at her mother and eating. All good pasttimes for a 6 day old.

With this C-section, I was much smarter, and filled my prescription for my drugs. I'm not being a martyr this time and I'm feeling much better because of it!

I'll fill in more news as I have time. Right now, I need a percocet and a nap!

Vivian Ann is here!

Hello, this is Daddy Bear, Mama Bear asked me to post onto her blog. Vivian was born yesterday morning, and clocks in at 7lbs 14 ounces... a petite flower when compared to her big brother. Mama and baby are both doing fine, and "Booger" has successfully latched on already! Please enjoy the attached pictures. I'll let Mama Bear fill you in on the other details later...

Sibling Rivalry already?

LB found one of Fetal Bears new blankets and decided it was one he wanted to snuggle with before bed last night. It is also great for playing peek-a-boo!

Mighty big shoes to fill

Pictures

Here are some shots from last week. Mike spent some time buliding a small shade garden in the backyard for me. LB helped break up the clumps of dirt so we can get planting!

On the way to school...

LB noticed the infant carrier installed next to him. He was a little confused.

Momma? Was 'at?

That's the baby's seat.

Babe sit?

Yes my love. That seat is for the baby.

He began to understand a little bit. At least he spoke about it the entire 30 minute ride to school! Too cute!

A few days to myself

I've been enjoying a few hours a day to myself. I've made a Target run, Trader Joe's run, Giant run. I've vacuumed out my car. I even had time to get a pedi & mani. Unfortunately, I'm so damn tired, I don't have the energy to clean my house. Mom and Nana are on their way tomorrow, (Yeah for the calvary!) and I need clean bathrooms. At least the sheets are clean on the bed and the pullout. I just need to finish dusting and cleaning. That is what is on the list today. Luckily, my husband is planning on helping out. And he has helped a lot already this week. He has been very diligently crossing things off his Honey-Do list! Thanks honey!

Last Day

It is my official last day of work. This means that I am giving up complete control to other people. Any of my other teacher friends may relate to the fact that all of us in some way are control freaks, and the thought of giving up complete control of our classrooms to ANYONE is nerve wracking. I'm looking forward to having time with my expanding family, but I am nervous about what my students will be doing or won't be doing for the rest of the year. I'm sure after Fetal Bear gets here, I'll soon forget about my worries, afterall, I'm gonna be busy!

Week 38

No progress. No movement. My children like to stay put. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, except when you are anxious to meet them!

And they're done...

The tubes that is. THANK GOD! LB did really well through out his surgery. The only problem he had was in the recovery. He awoke and cried for quite awhile. I think it was a matter of being hungry, confused, and thirsty. As soon as we left Kaiser, he was fine. No more tears. We took him to get pancakes and you'd have never known that he has just been under general anesthesia just an hour or so before!
Next... Fetal Bear's turn to get out!