JenaW
12-15-2006, 03:43 PM
Natalie is doing great. She unfortunately is back on oxygen right now because of a cold, but hopefully it will be short-lived. We just started oral steroids and increased her inhaled meds, and she usually responds pretty quickly to them. It is alawys a bit scary when she gets sick, and I have no clue how we would handle a hospitalization with a newborn if it came to that, so I am happy this doesn't seem too serious. Her reflux is finally well controlled on the meds, and she is really starting to eat AND more importantly enjoys it. Even though she only has 1 1/2 teeth on the bottom, she wants ANYTHING she can get her hands on. At the ped last week she weighed in at a whopping 16 pounds 13 oz - ok, so not alot for a 15 month old, but she has come a long way from the 1 lb 12 oz at birth!! She isn't walking yet, but manages to get anywhere she wants to with crawling. Her OT has recently starting working on standing, and she is amazed by how determined she is. You show her something once and she tries and tries until she figures out how to do it again! She loves Carter and Maddie, and tolerates Alexa. We are having some MAJOR stranger anxiety issues, which makes it very hard for me to do anything, as simply leaving the room she is in (even at home if anyone else is there) sets off a screaming fit. I am hoping that as she gets older and more comfortable around others, it will lessen somewhat.
I can't believe Alexa is alraedy 6 weeks old (today!). At times, it seems like only yesterday I was still pregnant, but then it seems like she has been with us forever. THANK GOD she is an easy baby. She still sleeps very long stretches (well, during the night, not quite as long at night, of course), and only cries when wet or hungry. I actualy enjoy our nighttime nursing sessions, because they are the rare times that I can sit and snuggle with her. I worry that she is not getting alot of one-on-one time, but I guess as long as her needs are met, she will be fine. She weighed 6lbs 12oz at birth, and was already 8lbs 15oz at her one month check-up. Tell that to the doctor that said my breastmilk was not "high calorie" enough!!! At this rate, she will be bigger than Natalie soon.
Carter and Maddie are the same as always...typical toddlers that I love one minute and want to strangle the next (NOT LITERALLY!). We are having some issues with C and the potty. He has been trained since school started, but he constantly has "accidents" since Alexa's birth. I know it is an attention issue, and I am not sure how to handle it. I have several things, none of which seem to be working. When I ask him why he does it, he replies "well sometimes I feel like going in the potty, sometimes I don't." Not sure what to make of that. If it were an accident, I wouldn't get so upset. I know he is only 3 1/2, and he still needs mommy time and I try to make sure he gets some each day, but it is hard with 4. I still do not have help. We found a college girl on Craigslist, and I was very excited for her to start. She seemed great with the kids when she came out to meet them, but then I got an email from her saying her sister's car was in an accident and she could not help me. Not sure if we scared her away or what. None of my emails/voicemails have been answered. Out of 15+ emails to ads on craigslist, she was the only response I got. I am still trying. We did get the name of someone who will come and clean the house, do laundry, etc. We'll see if that helps. I think she will start after Christmas, so at least that will free up some of my time to spend more with the kids. Right now, I try to use the time when they are sleeping to get chores done, but I really need to be able to nap, so I can get up earlier in the mornings. I have been sleeping in in the mornings until 7 - C and M are usually up by 5:30-6. Most of hte time they just go downstairs and watch TV (I know, not the best thing in the world), but occasionally (like today) I wake up to find them sitting on the living room floor sharing a bucket of ice cream. (At least they were sharing and not fighting :). But I am sure it is only a matter of time before something happens. Even though I like to think our house is safe, and it is small enough that I would hear if anything happened, I am worried it is only a matter of time before something bad does happen. After all, they are 2 and 3 1/2...not exactly old enough to be "watching" themselves. Between N and A, I do not get alot of sleep, and never more than an hour uninterrupted, so I need to figure something out.
Well, C is awake, so there goes my "free" time. Someday I will get a chance to get online and actually spend some time here. I miss reading about how everyone is doing.
Jera
Mom to Carter ~ 05.13.03
Madigan ~ 09.28.04
Natalie ~ 09.17.05 (born at 25 weeks!!)
Alexa ~ 11.03.06
I can't believe Alexa is alraedy 6 weeks old (today!). At times, it seems like only yesterday I was still pregnant, but then it seems like she has been with us forever. THANK GOD she is an easy baby. She still sleeps very long stretches (well, during the night, not quite as long at night, of course), and only cries when wet or hungry. I actualy enjoy our nighttime nursing sessions, because they are the rare times that I can sit and snuggle with her. I worry that she is not getting alot of one-on-one time, but I guess as long as her needs are met, she will be fine. She weighed 6lbs 12oz at birth, and was already 8lbs 15oz at her one month check-up. Tell that to the doctor that said my breastmilk was not "high calorie" enough!!! At this rate, she will be bigger than Natalie soon.
Carter and Maddie are the same as always...typical toddlers that I love one minute and want to strangle the next (NOT LITERALLY!). We are having some issues with C and the potty. He has been trained since school started, but he constantly has "accidents" since Alexa's birth. I know it is an attention issue, and I am not sure how to handle it. I have several things, none of which seem to be working. When I ask him why he does it, he replies "well sometimes I feel like going in the potty, sometimes I don't." Not sure what to make of that. If it were an accident, I wouldn't get so upset. I know he is only 3 1/2, and he still needs mommy time and I try to make sure he gets some each day, but it is hard with 4. I still do not have help. We found a college girl on Craigslist, and I was very excited for her to start. She seemed great with the kids when she came out to meet them, but then I got an email from her saying her sister's car was in an accident and she could not help me. Not sure if we scared her away or what. None of my emails/voicemails have been answered. Out of 15+ emails to ads on craigslist, she was the only response I got. I am still trying. We did get the name of someone who will come and clean the house, do laundry, etc. We'll see if that helps. I think she will start after Christmas, so at least that will free up some of my time to spend more with the kids. Right now, I try to use the time when they are sleeping to get chores done, but I really need to be able to nap, so I can get up earlier in the mornings. I have been sleeping in in the mornings until 7 - C and M are usually up by 5:30-6. Most of hte time they just go downstairs and watch TV (I know, not the best thing in the world), but occasionally (like today) I wake up to find them sitting on the living room floor sharing a bucket of ice cream. (At least they were sharing and not fighting :). But I am sure it is only a matter of time before something happens. Even though I like to think our house is safe, and it is small enough that I would hear if anything happened, I am worried it is only a matter of time before something bad does happen. After all, they are 2 and 3 1/2...not exactly old enough to be "watching" themselves. Between N and A, I do not get alot of sleep, and never more than an hour uninterrupted, so I need to figure something out.
Well, C is awake, so there goes my "free" time. Someday I will get a chance to get online and actually spend some time here. I miss reading about how everyone is doing.
Jera
Mom to Carter ~ 05.13.03
Madigan ~ 09.28.04
Natalie ~ 09.17.05 (born at 25 weeks!!)
Alexa ~ 11.03.06