Wow! Kolton is 3 weeks old today. I don't even know what day it is since the fact I am losing sleep and trying to keep up with him.
Andrew returned to work for 6 days on Tuesday and I think Kolton knows his daddy isn't here. The last few days, K.C wouldn't do his normal napping hours of 3-4 hours between feedings but more like an hour to an hour and half. Plus he is constantly hungry. I have read that he is now at a growth spurt since he is 3 weeks old so that could be the problem. With this new sleeping pattern, I am not really able to take a shower or much less fix meals for myself as he does not like to be put down while he is napping. I hope he does not get into the habit of being picked up. I wait till he is basically red and screaming so much that he is getting to the point where he can't breathe. I'm not doing it to torture him, its just that he starts out with his fake crying and I'm in the middle of something trying to hurry up and finish before he reaches his climax.
Andrew did come home last night to get a few things and helped out what he could but now he is gone again. He won't be home again till Monday night. Speaking of work, I confirmed that my short term disability was approved till June 18 while my FMLA was approved to July 1. Well, money is important so that just means that as of June 21, I'll be returning to work. So sad but I have been off for almost 2 months. Can't believe its been that long. My boy will be 6 weeks old by then. A friend of ours, Jenn, has offered to watch him while both Andrew and I are working. This is great so I do not have to change shifts since I'm getting the differential on my shift. Andrew has also asked for me to look for a backup plan just in case and I have found two other mother's who are state certified for childcare and could work around my schedule (since I wouldn't be able to pick him up till 12:15 or 12:20 at the latest). If I was to change shifts, I'd probably first see about getting on the latest day shift which I think is from 10AM - 7PM but I don't want to look into that right now. Andrew is going to try to request to the local units in September.
As we end May, I know I need to get out more. Poor K.C, he is so pasty white that I know people would not think he is my child. We are also down to just Toby (I do miss Abby but she needed a family who could spend more time with her and play with her) and I know he is getting depressed as well. He does have his appointment here shortly for his annual shots and I may also request them to look at his ears. I know he has bad allergies and they flare up once or twice a month. He also needs to be bathed really well and walked.
Gosh, so much I need to get into and I hope to get on some kind of routine as well. I got one of my goals done which was to arrange K.C's room a bit. We are still needing some shelves and I want to get the wooden letters to spell his name but the major things are done. Now I need to get the rest of the house in order before I return to work but I just do not have the energy. I want to start losing weight but I have froze our gym memberships at this time till I return to work and figure out a schedule. I'm hoping that next month or by July, Andrew will allow me to purchase the Wii so maybe I can do somethings at home while K.C naps. We also need to save money so we can make a trip up to Ohio to see K.C's other half of the family. I was hoping to get to do it while he is still young but we might not be able to do that till maybe August or little later. Maybe it would be best while he is a little older to make a trip like that.
As for me, I am just lacking some sleep but I'm still up and moving around. I have only gotten stressed out once since we've been on our own and it was not a full blow up. I'm still kind of watching signs if I ever do go more into post partum depression but I feel fine. Just trying to get things done, relax, and make sure my school work is caught up. I do need to get on those letters and send the pictures to family members so I better get that done. Sorry they are so late, things are just busy and I'm trying to organize myself but its not working. More updates to come when they do....
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 12....
Today, Kolton is 12 days old. I still can't believe that Andrew and I created him and he is ours. There are times I still do not believe that I have a child, but when I look at him I know there is nobody else in the world I would love. Then I would look at my insurance claims and its still something to help me remember that day. Sorry that may sound bad but a $16K hospital bill does open an eye since I have never had a bill like that in my life.
I may as well replay how the day May 7th occured. Figured I might as well since it is still slightly fresh in my mind and I would like to come back and remind myself of that day. Andrew and I woke up at 4:30AM. He was able to get some sleep but I had trouble all night due to my nerves. Its amazing what nerves could overcome when you take a sleeping pill and drank a little of a margarita (doctor's orders, seriously). I was debating if I should take a shower or not but in the long run, I just did not have the energy to do it. We loaded up and drove to Regional about 5:15AM to be there and checked in by 5:30AM. I have to say that the IV they had to put in was a killer since she had to stab me twice. The doctor didn't show up till around 7AM and they rolled me down to the OR by 7:30AM. I was way to anxious before than that I was about to walk myself down to the room to get it done and over with.
When we got there, the anesthesiologist did a spinal tap and I have to say that hurt like a b**** as well because he kept pressing on the bone of my spine that tends to rotate and it is very tender in that area. I fought the pain and I have to say the numb feeling that you start to feel is very uncomfortable. Also didn't help that the anxiety was building even more. Andrew came in before the doctor started the c-section but they took my glasses away. I cannot see without my glasses and I know Andrew was getting nervous as well. He mentioned it looked like they were playing tug of war on my belly but I really did not feel anything. I just hated the feeling when they had to press Kolton down to get out and the feel of the anesthesia was weighing down on my chest that sometimes it was hard to breath. After about 5 minutes, we heard the cries. They pulled the drap down so we can see but again, I did not have my glasses on so I really could not see him that well. Just a blueish, reddish blog with dark top. Andrew went over to cut the cord and got to see him and hold him first (punk). He brought him over to show me him but still really could not see him that well.
Andrew followed Kolton over to the nursery while the doctors finished up with me and rolled me over to the recovery room. Andrew mentioned that he got to change Kolton's first diaper because he made the accident as soon as he got to the nursery. Andrew showed him off to the grandparents and saw tears in the grandmother's eyes. It wasn't till I was in recovery that I got to finally see and hold him.
It took like another 45min-1 hour till I was actually in my room and could finally see my family. I just know that I was glad the hard part was over with and that we could finally start the new chapter in our lives.
Andrew cannot wait till Kolton is a little older and stronger so he could play with him but till then he must be patient. I do not know what to do when his nonna (Andrew's mother) leaves on Monday to return to Florida but I figured I can handle it. Andrew is going to try to get additional time off to help around and get a routine going for me started since once he returns to work, he'll be gone for 6 days and it will be just Kolton and I.
I am down to the final 2 weeks of this term for school and will have a week off before starting the next term. Part of me wants to pull back from school just till I return back to work and we get back on our feet financially but I am afraid I might not return for a while if I do that. I am still clueless on what to do about school but hopefully something will come through.
Well, this is all I can think of at this moment. Trust me, I'm trying to update all on our newest addition and taking as many pictures as I can.
I may as well replay how the day May 7th occured. Figured I might as well since it is still slightly fresh in my mind and I would like to come back and remind myself of that day. Andrew and I woke up at 4:30AM. He was able to get some sleep but I had trouble all night due to my nerves. Its amazing what nerves could overcome when you take a sleeping pill and drank a little of a margarita (doctor's orders, seriously). I was debating if I should take a shower or not but in the long run, I just did not have the energy to do it. We loaded up and drove to Regional about 5:15AM to be there and checked in by 5:30AM. I have to say that the IV they had to put in was a killer since she had to stab me twice. The doctor didn't show up till around 7AM and they rolled me down to the OR by 7:30AM. I was way to anxious before than that I was about to walk myself down to the room to get it done and over with.
When we got there, the anesthesiologist did a spinal tap and I have to say that hurt like a b**** as well because he kept pressing on the bone of my spine that tends to rotate and it is very tender in that area. I fought the pain and I have to say the numb feeling that you start to feel is very uncomfortable. Also didn't help that the anxiety was building even more. Andrew came in before the doctor started the c-section but they took my glasses away. I cannot see without my glasses and I know Andrew was getting nervous as well. He mentioned it looked like they were playing tug of war on my belly but I really did not feel anything. I just hated the feeling when they had to press Kolton down to get out and the feel of the anesthesia was weighing down on my chest that sometimes it was hard to breath. After about 5 minutes, we heard the cries. They pulled the drap down so we can see but again, I did not have my glasses on so I really could not see him that well. Just a blueish, reddish blog with dark top. Andrew went over to cut the cord and got to see him and hold him first (punk). He brought him over to show me him but still really could not see him that well.
Andrew followed Kolton over to the nursery while the doctors finished up with me and rolled me over to the recovery room. Andrew mentioned that he got to change Kolton's first diaper because he made the accident as soon as he got to the nursery. Andrew showed him off to the grandparents and saw tears in the grandmother's eyes. It wasn't till I was in recovery that I got to finally see and hold him.
It took like another 45min-1 hour till I was actually in my room and could finally see my family. I just know that I was glad the hard part was over with and that we could finally start the new chapter in our lives.
Andrew cannot wait till Kolton is a little older and stronger so he could play with him but till then he must be patient. I do not know what to do when his nonna (Andrew's mother) leaves on Monday to return to Florida but I figured I can handle it. Andrew is going to try to get additional time off to help around and get a routine going for me started since once he returns to work, he'll be gone for 6 days and it will be just Kolton and I.
I am down to the final 2 weeks of this term for school and will have a week off before starting the next term. Part of me wants to pull back from school just till I return back to work and we get back on our feet financially but I am afraid I might not return for a while if I do that. I am still clueless on what to do about school but hopefully something will come through.
Well, this is all I can think of at this moment. Trust me, I'm trying to update all on our newest addition and taking as many pictures as I can.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Week 1
Well, in a few short hours Kolton Craig will be a week old. I can't believe we have survived our first week with a baby. Today we had to take the cat nap with him after his 9AM feeding. We ended up waking up at 1PM so I can go to my appointment to get the staples taken out. Doctor is amazed I can move around easily. Well, I can't stand sitting down alot. It drives me insane. The only thing now is to work on the weight and hopefully that will help control my blood pressure as well. It is still borderline.
As time is starting to go by, I cannot stop thinking about finances. I know my next week's paycheck is only going to be a few days. Short term disability does not kick in till next week, so I won't see a decent paycheck till June. I have been approved off till July but just looking at bills it still has me worried. I want to be able to still provide enough for us and be able to do what we can for Kolton. We are already dipping into our savings which was approximately a month's worth in there. I just hate the thought but I keep telling myself we will be ok and soon I'll be back at work to help cover the loss. Andrew should be getting a raise here shortly as well to help out just a bit but that will not matter as when open enrollment comes around we are going to add Kolton on. We did not do it now because the fact I was out on maternity leave and will not be making the same at this moment. But come September, Kolton should be covered by both of our insurance to help out.
To think about insurance, that is another fact I'm worried about. The cost of having him. I know they will work with me, but I just hate having bills now but to think about it in the long run it was worth it. As I fold his clothes, I thank not only God for this precious little guy but my grandma. She selected the cutest baby for us. Stay tune for all the pictures we will be taking, just like the other parents. I draw this to a close as just sitting here, I end up getting dizzy so my blood pressure seems to be going on a rollercoaster. Don't worry, I am taking it easy.
As time is starting to go by, I cannot stop thinking about finances. I know my next week's paycheck is only going to be a few days. Short term disability does not kick in till next week, so I won't see a decent paycheck till June. I have been approved off till July but just looking at bills it still has me worried. I want to be able to still provide enough for us and be able to do what we can for Kolton. We are already dipping into our savings which was approximately a month's worth in there. I just hate the thought but I keep telling myself we will be ok and soon I'll be back at work to help cover the loss. Andrew should be getting a raise here shortly as well to help out just a bit but that will not matter as when open enrollment comes around we are going to add Kolton on. We did not do it now because the fact I was out on maternity leave and will not be making the same at this moment. But come September, Kolton should be covered by both of our insurance to help out.
To think about insurance, that is another fact I'm worried about. The cost of having him. I know they will work with me, but I just hate having bills now but to think about it in the long run it was worth it. As I fold his clothes, I thank not only God for this precious little guy but my grandma. She selected the cutest baby for us. Stay tune for all the pictures we will be taking, just like the other parents. I draw this to a close as just sitting here, I end up getting dizzy so my blood pressure seems to be going on a rollercoaster. Don't worry, I am taking it easy.
My life has changed for the better
As I decided to update this, I want to inform you that I now have a 6 day old son. Kolton Craig was born on May 7 at 7:52AM. He was 7lbs 13oz and 21 inches long. As I look at those numbers, the #7 is mentioned quite a bit. Maybe that would be his lucky number. He is such the cutest thing I have ever seen and I am now starting to see the effects my other friends who are mothers have been mentioning.
I do have to say that having my son, I have noticed a change in both Andrew and mine's attitude. He is showing more of a personality that he is loving being a father. Just watching him handle Kolton is amazing and everyday I am loving both my boys more and more. Andrew also has been helping me quite a bit as well due to the fact that I had to have Kolton by c-section.
Reasons for the c-section was due to the fact my blood pressure was borderline hypertention during the last few visits to my doctor, even at 39 weeks along my cervix was not open, the baby was sitting up still quite high so not safely to induce, plus during my 38 week appointment there was protein in my urine and my swelling was not going down. I was showing signs that I could develop toxemia (or preeclampsia) therefore my doctor felt it was safe to just do the c-section.
We reported to Regional Friday morning at 5:30AM. By 7:20AM, I could no longer keep my nerves steady. I was about to go crazy as I wanted to get it over and done with and see my baby boy. Andrew came with me to the OR and got to cut the cord.
Andrew has to return to work on Sunday but it would be a for few days. His mother came to visit on May 5 and will be here till the 24th. We do appreciate the help and glad she got to see her first blood grandchild in person. We will have to make a trip to Ohio sometimes this year so Kolton can see the other half of his family. He is truely a blessing. Andrew course questions if Kolton is really his.....he is joking of course. The one person who I wished was here to see him would be my grandmother. She passed away last year on June 30 and we are closing up to one year for her. I might make a trip later on this month (or next) to see her grave and at least have them meet (even though its just a grave marker). I plan to let Kolton know how truely a great woman she was and I still believe without her, he may not have been here.
I will try to keep this updated more often now since I have more to talk about. Just be patient as we deal with a newborn for a while and find a routine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)