Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sleep Update
A couple weeks ago I blogged about Justin's sleep issues. Well, here's where we're at. Justin may cry for half a minute (but usually no longer) when we put him down. The amount of crying is greatly reduced if there is an exciting toy in the crib that he can play with until he wants to sleep. Lately, the favorite toy has been this plastic school bus that makes sounds when you press various buttons. He still won't sleep through the night. Out of his 10.5 months of life, he has only slept through the night for about a month (if I remember correctly). Usually he just wakes up once, but this depends on teething pains, sickness, extra hungriness during growth spurts, etc. After I feed him, he easily goes back to sleep. Getting him to sleep longer in the morning has been MUCH easier due to the fact that it is super dark at 6AM. Maybe I'll get some of those light blocking curtains for the spring. We no longer need to do daily baths (yay!), but he's on a nightly nebulizer (since the doc thinks he has asthma), so that gives him the same calming effect. He's definitely not great sleeping in strange places, but if we bring his space heater that helps a lot. Then we can get things to his comfortable temperature and the white noise is a MUST for this boy. We also had a lot of luck putting him to sleep in his sleep sack, but have started getting away from this, since now he trips on it trying to walk around his crib and bashes his head on the crib walls. Yikes! The warmed, footed pajamas are a nice replacement though. Things are still going relatively well!
Sharp Teeth
When my friend Kerry and I were little kids, our families went to the circus together. We kept pointing at the elephants and tigers, exclaiming "Sharp Teeth!" And that's about all I remember.
Now, Justin's 1st sharp tooth is emerging! Yes, up until now he was still a muppet baby. But, a couple days ago we felt the first little sharp point had broken through on the bottom and it's fun to watch it slowly turn into an actual tooth. Justin has also become much happier, now that it's broken through the skin. We thought for months he was going to get a tooth any day with all the drooling, chewing on anything, and wines of pain. Little did we know it wouldn't come till now (at 10.5 months old)! Poor Dad has been empathizing, as his wisdom teeth have been acting up. Bill actually took Justin's Baby Orajel in a moment of desperation and accidentally poured a little too much in his mouth, numbing the whole thing. Needless to say, there was a lot of poking fun at the big, bad football dude with the crazy lisp. :-)
Now, Justin's 1st sharp tooth is emerging! Yes, up until now he was still a muppet baby. But, a couple days ago we felt the first little sharp point had broken through on the bottom and it's fun to watch it slowly turn into an actual tooth. Justin has also become much happier, now that it's broken through the skin. We thought for months he was going to get a tooth any day with all the drooling, chewing on anything, and wines of pain. Little did we know it wouldn't come till now (at 10.5 months old)! Poor Dad has been empathizing, as his wisdom teeth have been acting up. Bill actually took Justin's Baby Orajel in a moment of desperation and accidentally poured a little too much in his mouth, numbing the whole thing. Needless to say, there was a lot of poking fun at the big, bad football dude with the crazy lisp. :-)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Finally Healthy...Again
One of the most heartbreaking things as a parent is to see your child suffer. Justin came down with pneumonia 2 weeks ago and boy did it come on fast! Monday he woke up with a slight cough that you wouldn't think much of. But, since I have asthma and Justin had bronchiolitis a few months ago, I had fears the cough would go into his lungs. The next day I was unfortunately right, and that night we ended up at an Immediate Care facility after he puked like he'd never puked before…at the AT&T store. :-) Good thing everything ended up on me, and not their brand new carpet or that would have been pretty embarrassing! After a chest x-ray and an RSV nose-swap (that was negative), they made the bacterial pneumonia diagnosis and had to give him simultaneous shots in both legs. Supposedly, it is a very painful shot and stings when entering the blood stream. I've never seen him scream so hard, and that was my first piercing of the heart. Over the next week I saw my usually happy, energetic boy start constantly wimpering in pain, turn sluggish, and was covered multiple times a day in every bodily fluid. His fever rarely dropped below 102, unless we gave him Motrin which he would immediate throw up. And the coughing would shake his whole body anytime he moved. The worst part was that he wasn't getting any better and the doctors disagreed on what the actual sickness was! But, a week later his fever just disappeared and we started him back on the nebulizer treatments for his lungs. A week after that he could finally breathe well (no more congestion or fluid in the lungs), could hold down food, and wasn't continuously filling his diaper! Yay! My wonderful mom watched him during that second week (since he wasn't allowed to go back to daycare yet), held him down to give him his nebulizer treatments, helped clean my house when he was napping, and even brought us dinners. What a huge help! Bill's parents were also wonderful in giving us breaks, especially when I had to work evenings and weekends to make up hours. It is soooooooo hard to go to work when you know you have a sick baby at home. It's hard even when he's healthy, but when he's sick and I can't be there to hold him and pretend that my love is going to make him better…that's the worst.
Now that those LONG 2 weeks are over, he's back to his regular self! His personality has returned, as well as his energy and he's as determined as ever to start walking. It's like he's trying to make up for lost time. He pulls himself up on my fingers and immediately starts taking steps…and then gets mad when I stop to give my back a break. :-)
Now that those LONG 2 weeks are over, he's back to his regular self! His personality has returned, as well as his energy and he's as determined as ever to start walking. It's like he's trying to make up for lost time. He pulls himself up on my fingers and immediately starts taking steps…and then gets mad when I stop to give my back a break. :-)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Favorite Baby Items
There are so many baby items I've been thankful for over the past 9 months, and I just wanted to list some of my favorites for the other parents out there or for people looking to buy baby shower presents. Here they are!
1) Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier: www.babybjorn.com
This carrier is a life saver in airports, crowded areas (like museums and festivals), and stores with cramped aisles.
2) Kiddopotamus Bibbity Rinse and Roll Bib: http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_bib.php
Less laundry! Yay! This bib is made out of BPA-free plastic that can be easily rinsed clean in between feedings.
3) Evenflo 3-in-1 Exersaucer: http://www.evenflo.com/product.aspx?id=181&pfid=92
This exersaucer has entertained Justin for months. It transforms from tummy time, to before a child can stand on their own, to the walking stage.
4) Baby Einstein Seek & Discover Activity Gym: http://www.babyeinstein.com/en/products/product_explorer/?state=category
This is another item that has entertained Justin for months. It has bright, contrasting colors, a mirror, lights synchronized to music, a rattle, etc.
5) Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe: http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php
This swaddler got us through Justin's first week home from the hospital. He wouldn't sleep unless he was swaddled tightly in this. It is made of soft fleece and is easily secured with velcro.
6) JJ Cole BundleMe: http://www.jjcoleusa.com/
This can be used until a child is 1 year old and easily straps onto an infant car seat. It acts as a jacket, so you don't have to go through the hassle of a real jacket.
7) Happy Heinys One Size Cloth Diapers: http://www.happyheinys.com/
I've posted about these before. A great money saver and easy to use and launder!
8) Nuby Nibbler: http://www.nuby.com/products/tableware/5360.aspx
This is great for food that may pose a choking hazard if eaten alone. You just put it inside the sock-like thing and it acts as a seive, so the baby only gets bite-sized pieces. Bananas and mangos are Justin's current favorites to eat in his Nibbler.
9) Sassy Aquatic Bobber: http://www.sassybaby.com/category?cattype=category&catid=23&productid=11&product=Aquatic%20Bobbers
These bath toys are so clever! They float, but if you push them down in the water they bubble. Then, when you lift them out of the water, it rains out of them. Justin also loves using the edges to teeth on, since they are made of a soft BPA-free plastic. They are also fun to shake, because they little animal in the middle is on a spring and jiggles.
10) Medela Advanced Pump In Style Breast Pump: www.medela.com
This extremely well made pump has allowed me to keep breastfeeding. This is not only wonderful for my son's health, but a huge money saver. Plus, the Medela bottles can attach to the pump so you can pump directly into them. So easy! Since I bought this pump, Medela came out with a new one...the Medela Freestyle. It costs a bit more than mine, but looks amazing.
11) Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags: http://www.lansinoh.com/index.php?src=directory&srctype=display&id=23&view=Products_detail
The Medela breastmilk bags are nice because you can pump directly into them. However, these Lansinoh bags are still my favorite! You can lay the bags flat in the freezer so they take up so much less space! And, they have a double zipper to protect your milk.
12) BabyTrend Snap N' Go: http://www.babytrend.com/products.php?CategoryID=0002.0004.0000.0000
This stroller is to be used with an infant car seat. The car seat snaps directly onto the stroller frame, which is super lightweight and takes up sooooo much less space than the regular strollers! It makes running errands with an infant a piece of cake.
13) Graco Jumpster Doorway Jumper: http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=8740JJB&subCatId=142
I think this has been Justin's absolute favorite toy! He's huge into jumping, and this jumper is easily to take off and put on.
14) Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Booster-Seat/dp/B0000DEW8N
We take this thing everywhere! Thanksgiving dinners, restaurants, etc. We know it's clean (well, at least we know who's been slobbering on it) and know Justin will have somewhere to sit while he eats.
Just a quick note...many of these items we bought used on Craigslist or Ebay and have still been thrilled with them. For example, the exersaucer costs over $120 brand new, but we were able to buy it for $30! It looked like it had barely been used, even though we found out 2 kids had grown out of it.
1) Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier: www.babybjorn.com
This carrier is a life saver in airports, crowded areas (like museums and festivals), and stores with cramped aisles.
2) Kiddopotamus Bibbity Rinse and Roll Bib: http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_bib.php
Less laundry! Yay! This bib is made out of BPA-free plastic that can be easily rinsed clean in between feedings.
3) Evenflo 3-in-1 Exersaucer: http://www.evenflo.com/product.aspx?id=181&pfid=92
This exersaucer has entertained Justin for months. It transforms from tummy time, to before a child can stand on their own, to the walking stage.
4) Baby Einstein Seek & Discover Activity Gym: http://www.babyeinstein.com/en/products/product_explorer/?state=category
This is another item that has entertained Justin for months. It has bright, contrasting colors, a mirror, lights synchronized to music, a rattle, etc.
5) Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe: http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php
This swaddler got us through Justin's first week home from the hospital. He wouldn't sleep unless he was swaddled tightly in this. It is made of soft fleece and is easily secured with velcro.
6) JJ Cole BundleMe: http://www.jjcoleusa.com/
This can be used until a child is 1 year old and easily straps onto an infant car seat. It acts as a jacket, so you don't have to go through the hassle of a real jacket.
7) Happy Heinys One Size Cloth Diapers: http://www.happyheinys.com/
I've posted about these before. A great money saver and easy to use and launder!
8) Nuby Nibbler: http://www.nuby.com/products/tableware/5360.aspx
This is great for food that may pose a choking hazard if eaten alone. You just put it inside the sock-like thing and it acts as a seive, so the baby only gets bite-sized pieces. Bananas and mangos are Justin's current favorites to eat in his Nibbler.
9) Sassy Aquatic Bobber: http://www.sassybaby.com/category?cattype=category&catid=23&productid=11&product=Aquatic%20Bobbers
These bath toys are so clever! They float, but if you push them down in the water they bubble. Then, when you lift them out of the water, it rains out of them. Justin also loves using the edges to teeth on, since they are made of a soft BPA-free plastic. They are also fun to shake, because they little animal in the middle is on a spring and jiggles.
10) Medela Advanced Pump In Style Breast Pump: www.medela.com
This extremely well made pump has allowed me to keep breastfeeding. This is not only wonderful for my son's health, but a huge money saver. Plus, the Medela bottles can attach to the pump so you can pump directly into them. So easy! Since I bought this pump, Medela came out with a new one...the Medela Freestyle. It costs a bit more than mine, but looks amazing.
11) Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags: http://www.lansinoh.com/index.php?src=directory&srctype=display&id=23&view=Products_detail
The Medela breastmilk bags are nice because you can pump directly into them. However, these Lansinoh bags are still my favorite! You can lay the bags flat in the freezer so they take up so much less space! And, they have a double zipper to protect your milk.
12) BabyTrend Snap N' Go: http://www.babytrend.com/products.php?CategoryID=0002.0004.0000.0000
This stroller is to be used with an infant car seat. The car seat snaps directly onto the stroller frame, which is super lightweight and takes up sooooo much less space than the regular strollers! It makes running errands with an infant a piece of cake.
13) Graco Jumpster Doorway Jumper: http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=8740JJB&subCatId=142
I think this has been Justin's absolute favorite toy! He's huge into jumping, and this jumper is easily to take off and put on.
14) Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Booster-Seat/dp/B0000DEW8N
We take this thing everywhere! Thanksgiving dinners, restaurants, etc. We know it's clean (well, at least we know who's been slobbering on it) and know Justin will have somewhere to sit while he eats.
Just a quick note...many of these items we bought used on Craigslist or Ebay and have still been thrilled with them. For example, the exersaucer costs over $120 brand new, but we were able to buy it for $30! It looked like it had barely been used, even though we found out 2 kids had grown out of it.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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