What a MOOSE!

James' official 2 month stats are in ... he was 15 lbs 5 oz and 25'' tall at 2 months of age. Joshua, our original moose, was only 13 lbs 13 oz and 24 1/4'' tall at 2 months old (and look at him now). James is so far off the charts that I'm a little worried ...

Updates

James got his 2 month immunizations today (2 in each leg) and weighed in at a whopping 15 lbs 5 oz ... more than a pound heavier than Joshua at this age!!

Joshua was awake 4 times during the night, wanting to cuddle with his Mommy. We figured he was coming down with something because he was very clingy and cuddly yesterday (thanks for holding his all through church, Myn). It was a VERY exhausting night, up with Joshua 4 times and James twice. My wonderful husband got up early for work and fed James for his 6am feeding, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU honey! I desperately needed the sleep!!

James has always been a very gaseous little boy (:P) but today he won't stop crying and his belly is so hard ... I don't know what to do ... we never had this problem with Joshua. He is spitting up everything I try to feed him and is just crying and crying ... help! (The doctor just called me back and suggested Ovol but even that is not working.) :(

Any suggestions?!?

Great News!

One of my best and oldest friends just told me some amazing news! (We've been friends for about 17 years ... since she and Steph were in the same grade 2 class together.)

She sent me the above picture on MSN Messenger and then told me their third baby is due in September!! :)

Congratulations Mike, Lyndsay, Bayleigh and Carter!! We can't wait to meet the new baby!

Just Call Him, 'The Nebulizer'

As many of you know, James was admitted to the hospital last Friday morning because of his RSV (a common respiratory virus) and bronchiolitis which caused him to suffer from some fairly severe dehydration. He was having a lot of trouble breathing and coughed almost constantly.

The pediatrician put him on oral steroids and ventolin (through a mask) for his lungs. RSV, when contracted by babies less than 3 months old, causes their bronchioles and alveoli (lungs) to swell, thus preventing them from breathing. The ventolin is a bronchodilator which means it expands the airways for a short period of time (usually about 4 hours), allowing the baby to breathe. While the medication did not help him to get better, it did help him to breathe so he was able to eat and get re-hydrated. So after 3 long days and 2 even longer nights we were allowed to take him back home on Sunday.

I stayed with James the first night (Friday night) but there were 2 other babies in the room who took turns screaming all night long. Joe was really sweet and offered to stay the second night so I could get some sleep and I quickly took him up on his offer (even though I felt guilty for leaving the baby)! The RSV virus is extremely contagious so we were all put in isolation which meant the babies could not leave the room nor get within a metre of eachother and us parents were supposed to put on gowns, masks, and rubber gloves every time we left the room. All visitors, doctors, and nurses also had to wear protective gowns, gloves and masks whenever they entered the room ... nothing like making us feel like we had the plague! :P

We came home Sunday afternoon with a prescription for Ventolin and a rented nebulizer. (It gives the medication in a vapour form which is more effective than a regular 'puffer' chamber). By Tuesday morning, though, James had started experiencing apnic episodes where he would briefly stop breathing (for maybe 10 seconds at a time) and then start again on his own. I was worried but sleep apnea is a complication of RSV so I figured we would be okay. I held him most of that morning so that I could keep an eye on him but then needed a shower so put him into his swing, hoping that if he did stop breathing the rocking motion might remind him to inhale.

Well, I emerged from the shower about 15 minutes later to find my little baby in the swing - limp, not breathing, and blue around the lips. I freaked out!! I immediately picked him up and shook him and then called our family doctor, crying. He advised to me call the ambulance and so there we were on our way back to the hospital for the second time in one week. We had to wait in Emergency for over 5 hours before they finally admitted James and moved us up to Pediatrics for yet another stay in isolation. We were in a different room, again with 2 babies, but they just happened to be 2 families we had stayed with last time. One was still in there and the other had been discharged Monday and was back on Tuesday, just like us. Apparently RSV can get better and then worsen again many times in the 6 weeks it usually takes to go away in small infants. We stayed another 2 long nights (this time Joe was at work so I had to stay both nights) and now we are home, extremely exhausted yet feeling lucky to be out of that room!! James' pediatrician has advised me to watch him closely for the next several days for apnic episodes. I am not sure why we were released from the hospital already when James has suffered from 10 episodes in the past 36 hours, the most recent being 2 of them overnight last night but here we are at home.

I am ready to stare at his chest for the next week, if I have to, to make sure he's going to be okay ...

James' First Visit to the Emergency Room

Steph and I had to take James to the emergency room today while Mom and Rick watched Joshua. The baby was coughing and having trouble breathing and then he lost his voice. It was so cute to see him crying but not hear any noise. Cute but also a little scary!

The doctors were so nice. They gave him some steroids through a mask and then took a chest x-ray and tested him for the RSV virus. The x-rays were good but he tested positive for RSV (a completely normal virus that is only especially harmful in small infants). So he is now on a baby inhaler and we have to watch him for the next 10-12 days in case it gets worse.

Joshua has a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon as he has been very whiney and clingy lately, even waking up a few times a night. It's probably just anothe ear infection resulting from his cold, though. So he should be better in a little while.

I will hopefully be getting my normal nights back soon enough (where I only have to wake up twice with the baby, not with Joshua as well!!) Life sure is more hectic with 2 than 1!!

James Comes to Church

Today was James' welcome to the church (after a 40 day rest for both me and the baby). The ceremony is called being 'churched' where he was officially welcomed in with prayers for him as well as myself. I have several photos of the ceremony thanks to Amy Lanteigne. :)

Life Expectancy Calculator

Joe found this site on the internet and it's kind of cool. You input all the information and it gives you an estimate on how long you will live. Mine said 89.96 years while Joe's was 85.6. Joshua got about 62 years and James' was 56 ... I think the program thought my babies were "little people", thus shortening their life spans?!? :P

http://gosset.wharton.upenn.edu/mortality/perl/CalcForm.html

Joe's first attempt said he would only live to be just over 28 (another 13 months) but he went back and realized he'd accidentally input that he had Aids and was not receiving any treatment for it ... OOPS! ;)

James' 1st Photo Shoot

We had our first 'family of 4' photo shoot in early December (Joshua was 18 months old and James was 12 days old) with Clay and Jeannine of Custom Concept Photography. It was actually a lot of fun and they got some great shots. Here are some of my favorites of James.

Check out Joshua's blog for pictures of the 2 boys together.

Family Photos

Adjustments

Today was the St Nicholas party at our church. We packed up both kids and headed out (getting there only about an hour late). :P

Joshua was really good, as he has been lately. Although, I didn't see him very much as he was hanging out with the older kids and stealing candy off the gingerbread houses. James slept through most of the party but kept waking up starving and then falling asleep almost as soon as he started nursing. It was not fun because I had to feed him alone in the washrooom as all the other rooms were being used, the car was too cold, and he's not yet good enough to nurse in public. :P

We stayed at the party for a few hours, visiting with friends, and then decided to go visit Joe's family on the way home. By that time Joshua and I were exhausted but we stayed there for about 2 hours before I had to get home and take a nap.

This evening Joshua is being HORRIBLE! Despite a 3 hour nap he is running around the house, getting into everything and refusing to listen to his Daddy or me. I don't know what to do!! He has been so good since we brought James home and now today it's like he has run out of patience and tolerance. As I type this he is trying to get at the key
b
oa
r
d .
and screaming.

*grrr*

(That was typed with some help from Joshua).

His Mommy is running out of patience too.

It's a Boy!

James David Michael Parson was born at 7:22 am on Tuesday, November 28. He weighed 8 lbs 8oz and was just under 20 inches long (4 oz. and 2.5'' less than Joshua!).

I was not expecting to go into labour for at least another week because I had convinced myself the baby would be late so, even when I was having horrible contractions, I thought they were false or pre-labour. The contractions started at 4pm Sunday and by 3am we had to go to the hospital for medication for the pain. At that point I was only 2 cms (out of 10) so they gave me morphine and sent me home, saying it could be another few days. By 6am I had Joe call the hospital and ask what else I could do because I could not cope and the morphine was not working. They said to have a bath which definitely did not work! We drove back to the hospital and got there at 630 am. When they checked me I was almost 10 cms and ready to push. I was shocked and screaming for an epidural but there was no time. We waited the 15 minutes it took the doctor to get there from home and then 12 minutes of pushing and he was out (large head and all). ;)

It was extremely painful but I'm definitely in better shape post-birth than I was with Joshua.

Joe has the next 2 weeks off and we are home and adjusting to our new family so if anyone wants to stop over for a visit, please feel free to give us a call!

Some Pregnancy Photos

We had our pregnancy photos taken at Custom Concepts Photography on the long weekend in November. We won't officially get the pictures back until we have the newborn and Christmas family ones taken but here are a few that Clay and Jeannine posted on their blog (http://beta.blogger.com/profile/04846761507711289867). I hope they don't mind that I stole these. ;)

Joshua was only happy and cooperative when he was being given smarties or playing with the hockey equipment ... thus, in the first picture he's holding a hockey stick and in the last one is eating a smartie. His new favorite word and game is "hockey". *L*

39 Week Update

I had my 39 week doctor appointment with Dr. Kornelson today. I have only met him once before, when he was breaking my water and giving me an epidural with Joshua (18 months ago), but he somehow remembered me! He has an amazing bedside manner, I must say!

The baby is measuring at just over 41 weeks, which is apparently the same as Joshua did at this stage. The heart rate is 130 and my weight is UP (a lot).

The doctor took the extra time to feel around my stomach and tell me exactly how the baby is positioned and which direction it is facing, etc ... A nice change!

My appointment was for 130 this afternoon but Dr. K was delivering a baby and would "be back any minute" so I waited around for a long time and finally got in to see him at 4pm. Thank goodness I had left Joshua with his Grandma and Grandpa during the appointment!! Thus, when Dr. K offered to check my cervix and sweep my membranes (which induces labour) I did not even realize my mouth was open until I heard myself say, "That's okay, you are running so far behind and don't really have time to do that today. We can wait until next week". Am I crazy?!? I regretted the words the minute they were out of my mouth but it was too late ... he agreed with me and said he'd see me next week, if not before ... I am such a dumb girl! :P

Thoughts 2

Our visits with Sarah always make me feel better. I now know that I can handle the labour, delivery and new baby any time he or she chooses to arrive. Even if it is sooner rather than later. ;)

Some Thoughts

There is now less than 6 days until my due date and yet it feels so far away! I was more prepared and ready for this new baby 2 weeks ago than I am today. In fact, the closer it gets, the further away it seems. Hopefully my thoughts will change before the day of delivery!

Matushka Sarah is coming over tonight to meet with us and go over birthing plans so maybe that will help me become better prepared and feel more ready ...

38 Week Appointment

I had my 38 week prenatal appointment today with Dr. Driedger. He had 2 women in labour at the hospital (one was already pushing) so he was in a bit of a hurry but he did manage to check all our vitals and tell me the baby is still healthy and growing with a heart rate of 150 bpm. Also, he said they will usually induce 7-10 days after the official due date (usually 7) so I won't still be pregnant at Christmastime, as I feared. :P

One way or another this baby will be on it's way by December 9!! :)

My Little Slug ... Oh, the memories!

It's amazing the things you find when you look back through the computer ... here is a picture of Joshua, taken at 2 weeks old, that only a mother could find cute! *L* (He looks like a slug!)

Yesterday

Yesterday was a good day. Joshua and I watched Joe play hockey with the Goads (our Church's team) and then we came home and had our pregnancy pictures taken (some with Joshua are SO cute!)

I started getting some fairly painful contractions at about 4pm and by the time we were at our photo appointment at 7pm, I could barely walk or breathe through them. Joe and I came back home, had dinner and headed to the hospital at 9pm just to be checked out since by then the contractions were (again) 3-4 minutes apart. Of course, I had my last contraction as I was checking in at emergency and then we got to sit on the non-stress test machine for 30 minutes watching the baby move, with no contractions in sight. *grrr*

This baby just wants to torment me! ;)

So, now everything is back to normal and I'm counting on carrying this baby for at least another 2 weeks ... then (hopefully) I won't get my hopes up for no reason, again.

What a Night!

Last night was horrible! I had incredibly painful contractions that started in my lower abdomen and spread all over and into my back all night long. I was able to fall asleep with them at around 11 but then Joshua woke up for a bottle at 230 (as has become his custom over the past 3 nights) and I was having such painful contractions every 5-6 minutes that I couldn't go back to sleep.

Poor Joe! I tossed and turned and complained for over an hour before I decided to get up and have a bath. The contractions continued for the next few hours while I had a shower, walked around the house, drank water, ate some cereal and laid on the couch. I didn't want to wake Joe up and head to the hospital because I was paranoid they'd send me home and he has a church hockey game to play in today that I didn't want him to miss ... it sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!

Finally, at about 530 I decided that I knew how far apart the contractions were (every 3-4 minutes by this time) but not how long each one lasted so I got out a stop watch and started to time them. I figured I would time 4 and then call the hospital to see that to do. They were 50 to 60 seconds in duration but I had only 4 more contractions and then they stopped! All that incredible pain for nothing! *Grrr*

At least I was able to go back to sleep until Joshua woke up at 10. :)

37 Week Visit

I had my 37 week appointment with Dr. Driedger yesterday and everything is good. The baby's heart rate really jumps around and was 140 bpm this week. It's been as low as 130 and as high as 170. Hmmm ...

Hopefully we have less than 3 weeks to go! :)