Addison Kissing Jack

Time and Time Outs with Addison

I've been spending lots of one on one time with Addison when I can. She loves to be outside and recently has taken a big interest in her bike! She wants to ride it all the time and is getting better at "walking" on it. Yesterday, she told me she needed sunglasses. I was shocked she even knew what they were. She said "It's bright! I need sunglasses." I can't believe what a big personality she has already.

Addison has needed several "time outs" over the past weekend. She is definitely pushing the terrible twos. I'm not sure if it's because she has a new baby brother or is trying to show her independence, but she likes to see if we will follow through on consequences. Many of her time outs are due to her hitting me or Jack. She knows she isn't suppose to... in fact she looks at me and says "Hit, hurt?" and then taps Jack on the head. This is usually after Paul or I have told her to be gentle. However, after her time outs this weekend she has not hit Jack. Most of the time she wants to kiss Jack. Anytime she sees him she says "I kissy Jack!" and pets him and tries to talk to him. She loves to say "I talk to baby Jack." and then speaks jibberish in a high voice and smiles and laughs. It is obvious she loves him. I think she is just having a difficult time sharing mommy and daddy right away!

Jack's Two Week Doctor Appointment

Jack went to his two week doctor's appointment on Monday. He gained a pound since the last doctor's appointment and now weighs 7 pounds 6 ounces and is 19.5 inches long. I can't believe how FAST he is growing! The doctor thinks he looks great! He had to have his heel pricked for blood samples and he did wonderfully and only cried a little. Here's a picture of him at two weeks.

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Jack is a Happy Baby

Life with Two Little Ones

Jack is now over a week old and I can say that the second time around has been much easier than the first. Not that Addie was a "bad" baby or anything! Addison was great, but adjusting to a new life of going from no kids to a newborn was tough! Friday nights at the Alamo Drafthouse, hanging with friends, and having absolutely no plan about the weekend much less the next few hours ... was met with a swift punch in the face called a newborn! This time around we know what to expect. I've changed a few diapers over the past two years, and have seen a lot of the "tripple P" (pee, poop, puke). We have done a much better job of working as a team, sleeping when we can, and not freaking out about every little sound or movement Jack makes.

Jack is a great baby. He eats about every two to three hours, loves to be swaddled and held, and is generally laid back. He is a quiet sleeper and rarely cries ... yet ...

He fusses when he needs to burp or eat but other than that keeps pretty quiet. I now believe that Addison must have really had more digestion issues than the average baby! She was an extremely loud sleeper and that poor little girl had a very hard time with gas if you remember. Addison has been doing very well with the transition to big sister. She is loving, kisses Jack, hugs him and pets him. She is a good helper and really loves her little brother. Addison shares her BELOVED blanket with Jack and loves to check in on him while he sleeps. When I pick her up from daycare she asks to go home and see Daddy and "baby" Jack ... it is very cute.

Addison has always been a "Mommy's girl," but I must say that she has been attached at my hip ever since Jack's arrival. Paul and I have pretty much figured out a "man on man defense" ... I cover Addie and Paul covers Jack. That is one transition that has been tough for Addison. She wants me to do everything with her. If Paul tries to take her outside or do anything with her she will yell "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" until I come to help or Paul can distract her. I do think that she will need some time to get used to sharing me with her little brother. I love spending the extra time with Addison though, and she has been extra "lovey" with me which is great. I really can't wait for Jack to be old enough so that they can interact with each other more. I truly hope and pray that they have a close sister and brother relationship and get along very well!

Addie and Jack Watching Signing Time

Quick Update

We are home! Yay! I haven't had too much time to update but wanted to write a quick note. Jack is doing well. He went to the doctor yesterday and they found that his billi ... (? not sure if that is right) ... jaundice level was high. So, he had to go back to the doctor today. The level was still high but has come down from yesterday. He also gained an ounce and a half in one day which is great! The doctor wants us to keep feeding him every 2 to 3 hours and bring him out in indirect sunlight to help with the jaundice.

Jack has been a great baby. He eats, sleeps, and poops. I'm not sure if this is still new baby slumber or if he is just a very good baby but... he hasn't been much of a fusser. I hope that stays true! Paul and I have been doing a good job of switching off on feeding him at night and also keeping Addison entertained during the day. Addie loves her baby brother already. She definitely wants attention from Paul and me, but wants to hold and kiss Jack often. She is doing pretty well with the transition. We will see how this weekend goes when she is home all day long with Jack. She is already wanting to be a helper and gets diapers and wipes for Jack when I ask her.

I am doing very well after the delivery. I feel better now after having Jack than I did in the several weeks before having him! The doctor put me on some blood pressure medicine and that has seemed to help. Also, my swelling has gone down... although it has not completely gone away. My feet and ankles are still a little swollen and I still have numbness in my finger tips from my hands being so swollen. In the next couple of weeks I'm sure that will get better. All of the swelling is SO worth our new baby Jack.

Here are some recent pictures that I haven't been able to post yet!

Addison Gives Jack Kisses

Mama and Jack

Daddy with Jack

Jack is doing well. Paul has been juggling home and hospital and being proud daddy to Addie and Jack.

A Little Scary

About two hours ago, Jack spit up and choked. He started to turn blue and couldn't catch his breath right away. Luckily, my friends Julie and Shannon were here and ran and got help. Paul went home to help with Addison so it was nice to have some support there when this happened! The nurses came in and got him, suctioned his nose, mouth and throat and made sure he was breathing.

They called the pediatrician and she came to check on him. She took X-rays of his lungs and put him on monitors. The doctor said he had a little fluid in his lungs but that he looked pretty good. Right now, they are just waiting for blood test results and wanted to monitor him a little longer. It was scary, but he seems to be doing well now.

Rest Everyone

Paul, Jack and I are doing great. Addison came by this morning to see her new baby brother and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. She seems pretty excited but also wants me to hold her when I have Jack in the bed. She likes to watch him sleep and is gentle with him. I think she is just generally excited about all of the people and attention. It has been an exciting day for sure!

Right now I am listening to Jack coo and sing while sleeping. I think he looks a lot like Addie did when she was born! His poor little nose was bruised because he came so fast, but other than that he is doing perfectly. Visitors have come and gone this morning. Many of you already know that Kelly and Tracy's commitment ceremony or wedding is today! I am so sad that I can't make it there today but at least Jack can share a very special day with them. Also, it means that my brother, Nick and his wife Jana, as well as some other outside family and friends, are here to attend the wedding and now see Jack!

The labor and delivery went really well. My water broke on it's own, I didn't need pitocin and Jack was born after about 20 or 30 minutes of pushing. We are now all just very tired and napping today. I think we may be here until Wednesday because Jack is a "little guy" (which is the technical term) and they want to make sure he is eating well. He has had two feedings early this morning but now just seems like he wants to sleep. I think we may need to get him up soon to try and feed again. This feeding experience has already been so different from Addie! She was up and ready to eat almost every 2 hours after she was born. Every person and experience is different isn't it!

We will get more pictures up soon... Sleep sleep sleep now.

Jack is here!

Jackson Philip Young was born at 12:04 AM! Weight 6 lbs 3 oz, length 18 inches.

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Fast

Contractions are about a minute apart now! Mandy is almost fully
dialated and it should be very very soon!

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Trouble with the sensors

Mandy has to lay on her side to keep her blood pressure down.
Unfortunately that messes with the sensor that measures her
contractions. She knows she is having them but they aren't
registering very well.

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Coming fast!

Mandy has her epidural now and is at about 4cm. Contractions are much
more frequent. Post your baby predictions here! I say 2:30am!

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Waiting game...

We are in a holding pattern. Some minor contractions. Mandy grabbed
a bite to eat and is resting comfortably.

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Holy holes!

They're poking Mandy full of holes for IV's, but having trouble
finding a vein. We are now on try #3 <sad face>.

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Minor contractions

Mandy is having some minor contractions, but we may be here awhile.
Second baby comes faster, right? :)

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It's time....!

Mandy's water just broke and we are at Cedar Park Regional Medical
Center for delivery. Looks like it's going to be labor on Labor Day!

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Doctor's Orders... Bed Rest at Almost 36 Weeks

My doctor decided to put me on bed rest for the next week in order to help me safely get to 37 weeks and deliver Jack. Since my symptoms of mild preeclampsia, my doctor has asked me to do blood tests twice a week and another 24 hour urine test. I go to see the doctor twice a week and today's appointment started off like all of the others. The ultrasound of Jack looked good and the doctor was just waiting on the results of my blood/urine tests.

This afternoon my doctor called to let me know that my test results were not getting better. The protein in my urine (one indicator of preeclampsia) jumped from 450 to over 3,000. The doctor told me that anything above 300 is not normal and anything above 5,000 can be dangerous. She also told me that my blood numbers were not looking good either... however, the numbers are not bad enough to induce me right away. She decided to put me on bed rest for the next week, which made today my last day at work before my maternity leave! This was awesome, but also stressful news (just because I wanted to wrap some things up before leaving). I am very happy to be on bed rest because by the end of the day I am really not feeling well. Last week I started getting headaches and just feeling sick to my stomach and weak. I am extremely lucky to have my family close by to help out with Addison while Paul is out of town because of work. Their help last week helped immensely!

Now the countdown begins... a little over one week before Jack is here. We have moved Addison into her "big girl" room, but poor little Jack's nursery is not done. In fact it still looks pretty girly with rose curtains and the flowery tree and bird sticker mural on the wall. It's amazing how fast time flew this pregnancy compared to last! It seems like sometimes I'm stuck in that Adam Sandler movie "Click" and my life switches into "fast forward" before I know it! Even though I feel like this pregnancy slipped by quickly, I do feel more prepared mentally for this baby. I know you can never predict what kind of kid you will get, but at least I have an idea of how tough the first few months can be! It will be difficult, but I know I can lean on my family for help and that makes a big difference. I will just pray that Jack comes out potty trained, sleeping through the night, with all of his teeth, and extremely compliant. I wonder if a symptom of preeclampsia is delusional expectations?

Addie Update

Addison is growing...as "they" say.... like a weed. She can now say her ABCs and count up to 10 (with help). She loves the word "No" and will tell you exactly what she wants and when she wants it. My most favorite new gesture she has picked up is lifting her shoulders and hands up when I ask her a question and saying "Ummm" and really thinking before answering. It really is too cute.

Addison is also very tall for her age. We went to a birthday party recently and she was about as big as many of the three year olds. Right now she fits into a size 4T and 8 or 9 shoe. I am surprised by how agile she us becoming! Addie has definitely started talking much more, but she can still be difficult to understand. I believe she may be a little tongue tied, and am going to ask the doctor at her next appointment to look at the connection under her tongue.

Addison seems to be very girly. She demanded to wear a dress this morning and chooses pretty sandals and skirts to wear over anything else. She loves to look at herself in the mirror and make faces (she especially does this when throwing a temper tantrum... Which always makes me laugh). Addison also likes to dance and listen to music. I think her favorite music right now is Raffi's rendition of "Wheels on the Bus.". Right now I'm thinking she will have a career in theater, dance, or some kind of acting or drama!

Addie's favorite toys right now seem to be baby strollers and books. She also loves anything she can ride or push, makes music, or has to do with fire trucks or cars. Addison loves to eat rice, pasta, fruit, and anything sweet. If she doesn't eat when she needs to ... Wow... Watch out because she turns into a category 5 red alert tantrum (hmmmm just like me).

I hope Addison is ready to be a big sister! She points to my belly when someone asks where her baby brother is. I have been talking to her about being a big sister and helper and she seems to get it somewhat. I plan on getting her a "big sister" t-shirt and continue to make sure she knows how much we love her!