Birth to Three visit

Sorry for not posting yesterday. It was just a long day.

Colby is doing pretty good. He pooped yesterday and it seems that whenever he poops, he gets very cranky afterward. I think that as things are moving down it's uncomfortable for him. Poor guy.

His head is also a bit larger. It was 38 1/2 cm's the other day, now it's 39. The doctor said to watch for any marked increases in his head circumference. So we're measuring him daily to make sure his hydrocephalus isn't causing trouble again.

Apart from that....just parenting as usual. Tracey has been simply wonderful and what a trooper over the last couple days. She's allowed me to focus on my work which is what I need to do right now. But we do what we can to work together and strike a balance. I'll watch Colby 100% on the days that she's working. It's also important that we each still have lives outside of parenting. She's heading out to go to Yoga with a couple friends tonight. I'm having a friend over tomorrow night to play the guitars a bit. It's all about balance. Sometimes things do get out of whack, but it's not forever if you work to bring things back the way they need to be.

Birth to Three came this morning for their first visit ( I know, I said they were coming yesterday and I got my days mixed up). It was a great visit. They were pleased with Colby's progress and overall he scored just a little low. His eye contact and head movement was a little behind. But all else...muscle tone, eating, grasping, alertness, etc was good. So we're really pleased at this!

I was able to be home when they came. I try my best to juggle things and it just so happened that my first client appointment today was at 11:30, so I was able to be home when they came. We're very fortunate that our schedules are the way they are. Way back when we started to try to get pregnant, we started to try to structure things as best we could to allow us this flexibility.

Keep those pictures coming. I'd say I have pictures from at least 10 people so far.

Quick update

(I came across this picture today. I had forgotten about it. It's obviously Hamilton looking just thrilled that we decided to put a Santa hat on him last year! Hamilton says "Mewwwwy Chwistmas....now will you put dat cwyin ting down and pet me?". We always give Hamilton Scooby-Do voice.)

Colby is just one once shy of 7 lbs. The visiting nurse came today and said everything is looking good. She said she was going to ask the pediatrician if he felt she needed to continue to visit. We took that as a very good thing.

Tomorrow Colby has his first birth to three visit. They come right to the house. I would love to be here, but it's getting too hard to juggle all his doctors visits, my work and still block off time to watch him when Tracey's working. So I've decided that on the days that I need to work...it's just that, I need to work. If there's a monumental appointment, then certainly I'll plan around that, but I have clients to tend to and I need to keep paying the bills. Aren't finances great??!!

Tracey took some really great pictures of Colby today. Honestly, I'm just too tired to load them and post them. I got home from the office around 9pm, then helped around the house and now I have nothing in my head other than first...update the blog..then, go to bed! See, I've got my priorities straight!! haha

Thank all of you who have sent me pictures. They're adorable!!! It's also great to put a face to the name for many of you. I plan on posting them either Thursday or Friday. Actually, it'll probably be Friday as that's my day home with Colby and I'll simply have the time to do it. For those of you who haven't yet sent in your pictures, please e-mail them to me and then come Friday I'll do a posting of Colby's friends.

And I really like getting the comments and the e-mails about how all of you have gotten through the whole sleeping thing and other topics that I post. I really enjoy how the blog has allowed us to share our experiences. I do find it very interesting though that the posts and e-mails are ALL from women/mom's. I talk to Tracey about this a lot...that guys just don't seem to express themselves the same way that women do. We joke that if this was a blog about sports or bikinis, that I'd all of the sudden have guys commenting. So I ask you if your significant other watches the blog too or if it appeals more to you. Before I get slammed from the guys out there, I do recognise that there are some guys reading the blog. But maybe this will provoke some dialog.

Anyway, I'm tired and that's probably why I'm going off on a tangent here......

Video of our boy who's one month old (adjusted) today

Today Colby is one month old with his adjusted age. This simply means that although he's been with us for over 4 months, his due date was December 5th his time since normal delivery date is one month as of today. Tracey was reading the "What to expect the first year" (Thank you for the book Liz!) and it said that at this point, he should be tearing up to cry, making eye contact, etc. And he's right on task!

He had a decent night last night. He was grunting and groaning in his sleep quite a bit and that tends to wake me. But other than that, he did well. For those of you who have had children, where did the baby stay? In your room? In his/her room? Did you sleep in a different room with him/her?
My mom came to visit yesterday and then my dad and stepmom came to visit today. So Colby got to visit with his family a bit. That was really nice.
My aunt Kate gave us a boppy pillow and we just love it. What a great invention! We call it his big boy seat because we put it on the couch beside us and prop him up in it. It looks like he's sitting there watching the world go by.
I don't have too many words today as I'm tired. One more night and then it's Tracey turn....mmmmm, sleep.

Thank you to all of you who have already sent me pictures! I'll probably wait until mid next week to post them in order to allow everyone who wants to send in pics the time to do so.

Colby's Friends

Some of you have been sending pictures of your babies or families and I would like to post an entry maybe next week showcasing Colby's friends. So please e-mail me (scott4172@sbcglobal.net) a picture of you, your family or whatever picture you feel comfortable. If you could include your names and where you're from. If I get a couple of them, I'll post them one day next week. It will just be nice to put a face to the name.
So come on and send in your pics!!

2am postings......

Hmmm, there's not much on TV at 2am.
I usually try to get right back to sleep after I'm done giving Colby his bottle, but I couldn't sleep this time around. Hopefully in 1/2 an hour or so I'll get sleepy again.
Colby ended up sleeping very well last night. He was just fussy in the beginning. He continues to progress and grow now that he's home. I'm enjoying bumping into people who last heard that he was still in the NICU and updating him that our boy is home and is doing well. It's been a long couple months, there's no way to sugar coat that. But it just goes to show you what I've said all along....keep your head up and a good outlook and things will change for the better. It's just a matter of time.
Colby is eating Pregestimil. Some of you have mentioned to check insurance to see if they'll cover it. We did....and they don't. I've also been told to check out WIC and we will look into that. We thought we'd be able to get pregestimil at any Babies R Us, CVS or where ever, but boy that's not the case. I had quite the time trying to find it and ended up calling the manufacturer and asking them where they've shipped it. I had to go into the office after Tracey got home from work today and after I wrapped up there, I went to hunt down a couple cans. I found them for about $30 each. Not bad considering I saw them online for much more. Colby has been home a little over a week thus far and has gone through 2 cans. I assume over time they'll up his amounts. So hopefully before long he'll graduate to a more "normal" formula which won't be so costly.
My mom came to visit with Colby today. Then my dad and stepmom are coming tomorrow. What a neat thing to be able to have my parents come visit their grandson. I'm a big dreamer and I always wondered what it would be like when this day came....and it's wonderful.
Well, I suppose I should at least try to get back to bed and get some rest. I'll probably post some pics and maybe the video later today.

Looking like a long night.....

(ahhh yes, formula always tastes better if it's stored in a Dave Matthews jug in the fridge. And thanks for the Dr Browns bottle recommendation Gayle, it seems to be working well!)
(Haha..he swims in his crib. He'll grow into it over time. He'll sleep in the co-sleeper until he gets a bit bigger)

Not too much to report today. Tracey stayed home with him this morning while I ran some errands and went into the office for a bit. Then we switched while she went shopping.

Colby is doing well. The visiting nurse saw him this morning and he's up to 6lbs and 12 ounces. He's a growing boy.

Tracey is working tomorrow though Sunday....so that means I have Colby-care tonight through Sunday. You see....all through the years I've been they type that needs my sleep. Tracey on the other hand can pull close to an all nighter and still get up and go to work in the morning. By Sunday I imagine I'll be a real peach to be around. haha I'm doing my best to adjust...it'll just take time. I used to love naps on the couch in the afternoon. But when I want to South America, they didn't really do that. And my room didn't have heat and I had a host brother who would keep me up. So I pretty much lost my love for napping and haven't really been able to regain it back. Maybe this whole baby thing will help me start napping again.

Ow, I started taking some video today. Nothing all that exciting, but you'll at least get to see our boy move around a bit and hear him. Hopefully in the next day or so I'll post it.

Well......I started this blog a good hour or so ago. Colby woke up and I thought he was just hungry, but nothing seemed to sooth him. Just loud crying with flying feet and arms. I tried changing him, took his temp and all was normal, swaddled him, walked around with him...nothing. Then just as quickly as it all started....he calmed down, took his bottle and now he's out cold. 2 hours 59 minutes....58 minutes....57 minutes....Can you hear that? That's the countdown until he wakes up again! I'd better sign off and try to get some rest.

LOL...he's now crying again...seriously. gotta go.

A road trip, a smile, some tears and somethin' stinky

(Zonked out in his carseat)
(I have to laugh at this picture....out cold...binky in one hand....hat having been messed up and pulled down over his eyes....but he doesn't mind a bit.)
(Well hello there young man...)(All tuckered out from a long day. Tina....Colby loves his bear. We put it on almost every night for him. Thank you!)

Wow, lots to report....

Colby's appointment with the neurosurgeon went well today. I was somewhat surprised at how quickly the consult went. The doctor and his assistant came in and were very pleased at the softness of Colby's fontanel. He also remarked that the gaps between the plates in Colby's skull fell 100% better than they did. In other words, Colby's hydrocephalus was pushing the plates apart and thus leaving gaps in between then. After his spinal tap, the pressure was relieved and thus the plates have gradually come back together. He said he wanted to follow up with us in about 2 weeks and take things from there. So I was very pleased to hear this.

Today's outing was the first time I brought Colby out by myself....or any baby for that matter. I wasn't nervous...more interested in what kind of an adventure it might become. But all in all it was uneventful. The only issue was in the waiting room when I was trying to fill out he 5 pages of questions about Colby, his doctors, medications, surgery history, etc and he started to cry pretty loudly. I had his car seat on the floor, his binky held in his mount with my left hand, my foot under the corner of the carseat rocking it and trying to flip through and complete paperwork with my right hand. I know...I know...all you seasoned parents out there are scoffing and probably saying "Welcome to parenthood!". But hey, it's all new to me.

The trip also allowed me the change to introduce Colby to Dave Matthews! I think he really liked it because he went right to sleep. haha Yup, a little Dave fan in the making.

All in all, I really enjoyed the trip. I love the whole minivan thing too! I guess I'm just loving being a dad to a newborn son and that's a good thing!

We've seen some changes in Colby in the past couple days. First of all, when he's really upset, he his eyes will get all teary. On the opposite side of the spectrum...smiles. Thus far, he's been smiling out of the blue. They're not sustained nor directed at anything in particular. However both Tracey and I noticed that he's crack a smile now when we're playing with him. What a warm feeling that gives me to watch this!

Hamilton seems to be warming up to his little brother. He was never nasty towards Colby. Just confused why we were talking to this little "alien" in the voice that we usually talk to him with. We would ask Colby if he was hungry and poor Hamilton would pop up and look at us thinking it was time for him to eat. He still looks our way when we talk with Colby, but I often find him sleeping near wherever Colby is. We've tried to give Hamilton some time too and that's made a difference.

Evan is also doing very well with Colby. He wants to be involved, but is also your usual 14 year old and wants his space too. So it's worked out well. I think if Colby would have came a couple years ago, Evan might have had a harder time with the sharing of attention and all. But it's funny how things work out.

I've been keeping you up to speed with Colby's BM situation and I thank you for all the comments and e-mails with suggestions. We finally had some movement. So maybe that'll just be his pattern.