Nolan: 20 Weeks

Geez: something about being 20 weeks old has really hit me this week.  I get all teary eyed thinking about how fast he is growing up and getting so big. I get teary eyed really easily, but still; it's TOO fast!

Nolan is doing so much better healthwise.  It's amazing what just one week at home has done for him.  We have only had to do his breathing treatments twice a day this week, and he seems to be responding to his decreased dosage really well.

He is such a little chatterbox, and wiggle worm.  Changing his diaper is becoming increasingly difficult :)  He still eats his hands like it's his job, so I think teething is right around the corner.  His sleep has been pretty haphazard lately, but I don't mind.  I will miss those days when we don't have our quiet time alone at night.  He just gets up to eat, and falls asleep in 0.2 seconds, so he doesn't stay awake for very long.  We have made our best effort to not let him sleep in our bed, and save the weeks he was very sick, do quite a decent job at it.  But it's SO hard to lay him back down in his bassinet when he falls asleep on your shoulder - I could sit like that for years.

His Uncle Angel is coming into town this weekend, and it will be their first time meeting each other, so lots of fun is in store.  We are also taking him to the aquarium for the first time, so we shall see if he even notices anything :)  I see lots of bruised toes of people in the path of our giant stroller...

I forgot to take his picture on the chair, but have lots of other cute ones instead:

 

 This is his "Superman" stance...cracks me up!

Check out those cheeks!

 



 

Typical for our house: Anthony playing with Nolan, and I am on phone and trying to get a picture of it all...chaos I tell you, chaos :)

 

N = (Now weighs) 15 lbs. 4 oz.

O = (Oomph!)  Little man can fill up a diaper QUICK.  It's lovely when I get him changed, sit down to feed him, and then hear it rip...haha.

L = (Loves) Us talking to him, a little plush toy my cousin Ashley got him, and listening to music with me while I sing to him.

A = (About this week)  He is babbling more and more and will make good movements with his mouth.  He particularly likes making the "O" noise and face; and loves it when you make it back to him - it's like he thinks we are really having a conversation; so cute.  He can hold his head up for a good long time while laying on his stomach, and rolls from his stomach to his back well now too.

N = (Not a fan of) Letting me clean his ears out after his bath.

Nolan's First Valentine's Day!

I was so excited this year for Valentine's Day to celebrate with our little guy!  I don't know why, but celebrating little holidays is so much more fun with a baby.  He won't remember a bit about it, but I will - haha.

I actually had to go back to work from our "snowcation" that day, and Anthony stayed at home with Nolan because he began to develop a serious stuffy nose over the past couple of days, and we didn't want him at daycare.  We scheduled a doctor's appointment for him to go in and see what was going on this time, and learned that his RSV has flared back up.  Goodness gracious!

So, poor little guy was sick on Valentine's Day, and we were told to do his breathing treatments every 4 hours AROUND the clock - even throughout the night for the next four nights.  It was good that this happened on a Friday and I was off on Monday so that we wouldn't be so exhausted.

We still exchanged our gifts, and had a sweet quiet night at home (that ended with Nolan throwing up ALL OVER the place around 11:00 - ha).  His medicine didn't quite agree with him, and he let us know it :)

 

 His little basket of goodies - no chocolate yet!

 

 His "eligible bachelor" shirt...so cute!

 

Gifts I made for his teachers at daycare - they are Valentine's kitchen towels with cookie cutters around them...

Around the House - Picture Dump!

If he isn't his Daddy's boy...

Still can't tell what color those eyes are going to be - it varies depending on what he is wearing.

He fell asleep on my shoulder - this is exactly what he does every night when I put him to bed.  Melts my heart...

Nolan: 19 Weeks

Oh my goodness I am so in love with this little boy.  Each day of course brings its own challenges, but I find myself melting a little more each day with every thing he does and learns.  Part of me is sad that he is getting so big, but the other part of me is thrilled when he learns and discovers something new.

He has discovered how to blow raspberries out of his mouth, and he does it all the time (now if he could learn how to do it without spitting in my face each time, we are golden!)  It's so cute - you can tell that he now knows how to actually do it, rather than it being some spontaneous action he does.  And he LOVES it when you do it back to him, or laugh out loud.  We are super close to a real laugh, and I can't wait!

We made it through the weekend doing his breathing treatments around the clock, and I have to say I am glad that is over.  I hated to get him out of bed when he was actually sleeping, and that has done nothing for his sleep schedule.  Even though he wouldn't usually wake up during his treatment, it's still something being done to him and I am sure it actually does disrupt his sleep.

I forgot to take his weekly picture this week, but here are a couple of cute ones anyway!  I can't tell any leaps or bounds as far as weight/length gain go, but I am sure we are inching onwards and upwards!

 Practicing his rolling skills - Rollin' with Nolan!

N = (Now weighs)  15 lbs. 1 oz.

O = (Oomph!)  Can't think of a lot of these this week; I just want to focus on positivity of him getting better soon!

L = (Loves) Making more and more noises, and chewing on lots of toys.

A = (About this week)  He is sitting in his Bumbo chair now, which is adorable.  It cracks me up, and he loves to sit there and play with the toys on his activity mat.  It's so weird seeing him "sitting up" on his own!  Here is a picture Anthony took of him one day...

 

N = (Not a fan of) Sittin' still - ha!

 

Nolan's Four Month Doctor's Appointment - And Some Big News

It was odd to go to the doctor's office for a "routine" visit this time, since we have been to the doctor FIVE times in the last 5 weeks, but we still had to go today for Nolan's four month appointment.  I was actually glad that we got to go today, because Nolan's RSV has flared back up, and we wanted to get him re-checked after his visit last Friday.

We met with Dr. Wolfe, who is the same doctor that we have seen since Nolan's newborn visit for all of his "Well Child" appointments.  I love her, and she is very reassuring and thorough.  Anthony and I have been struggling many emotions and questions since Nolan has been so sick for so long, that I was looking forward to talking with her and getting her opinion.

The appointment started off normally with his general measurements.  He is still right on track with everything.

She decided to only give Nolan his injectible shots today, since the oral vaccine they give him is a live virus, she didn't want to do anything else to him that could make him sicker.  Bless his heart - I don't know if watching him get shots will get any easier with time!  He screamed that can't-catch-my-breath-because-I-am-crying-too-hard scream that just kills me.  Luckily, it was over in three seconds and Anthony scooped him up and he calmed down quickly.

Then Anthony and I voiced our concerns about Nolan's health and lungs and the fact that we just didn't seem to be getting anywhere with him getting better.  Neither of us have liked the idea of sending him to daycare from the start, and this only compounded my guilt now that he was so sick.  She assured us that we could never have known that Nolan would be the "unlucky" one and catch this sickness at such a young age, and that we are doing everything we could possibly do for him.

Sadly, since he caught this so early, his chances for some adverse complications in the future have greatly increased (mainly wheezing and asthma like symptoms).  She said that if he caught another cold that ended up with wheezing like this time, that he would have to be placed on an inhaled steriod, twice a day, for who knows how long (we are talking months here).  That caught the air right in my chest, and I just started to cry.  It's so painful to see your baby sick, and then even worse to think that this sickness may keep him from being an active little boy when he gets older.  Just dreadful.  I know God has a plan for him, and my fervent prayers are that we can get him over this and he will not suffer anything adverse from it.

Then Dr. Wolfe gave us her honest opinion - take him out of daycare and find alternative care for him.  And she was the second doctor at this practice to recommend that for him.  Wow.  Alternative care when we have NO family in Georgia (save Brad and Danielle, but they have their hands full with their own little girls!)  Alternative care when nannies here cost around $700 a WEEK?  Oh my.

We left there reeling, trying to digest what we had just learned - about Nolan's health and the huge lifestyle change we were facing.  But I knew one thing - no more daycare for a while...

 

Nolan: 18 Weeks

We had another glorious "snow day," but this time no one was stranded for hours in their cars, and we were all at home snug and warm.  Nolan still hasn't had a chance to get outside and experience this beautiful white stuff, but I took some pictures so we could prove to him that it actually does snow in Georgia :)

This is the view from our back porch; luckily, our swans and ducks survived!

 

I still don't know if Nolan is completely over his RSV, and we are still giving him breathing treatments, although we are starting to wean him off of them.  We were told to do 4 treatments daily for 4 days, then 3 treatments for 4 days, then 2 treatments for 4 days.  It's insane that it takes almost 2 weeks to wean him off of this stuff - I hate medicine and that just freaks me out!  But, we will do that we need to do; I just hope it works this time!

In other news, Nolan has made so many advancements with his movements and sound development.  For a while there, it seemed like we stalled a bit, and then all of a sudden he is a totally different baby!  It's amazing how they pick things up.  His newest trick is ROLLING!  He hasn't done it a whole lot yet, but I know that is just around the corner and that means semi-mobile baby - watch out!

N = (Now weighs)  Probably inching towards 15 pounds - we will know more at his 4 month appointment next week (which was rescheduled due to the snow).

O = (Oomph!)  This kids drools - a lot :)  I am guessing teething and that fun process is just around the corner.

L = (Loves) Eating his hands (hence the drooling).

A = (About this week)  He likes to look in the mirror now, although he doesn't quite get that he is looking at himself yet.

N = (Not a fan of) Being sick - still.  I don't blame him!

Nolan: Four Months Old

Little guys is four months old today!  I can't believe it; he is a third of the way through his first year.  He is such a joy to our lives.  Throughout all of this time of him being so sick, he never had crying fits or long periods of crankiness.  He just likes to be held, snuggle, and eat. 

Anthony and I know we are just simply blessed by this little guy, and I find myself quite often just saying, "I am so glad he is mine, and I never have to be without him!"  I love being at home with my two "boys;" we have gotten down an awesome schedule and that helps all of us.  Granted, our sleep schedule has been quite messed up for the last few weeks, but somehow we have managed to keep it together and the house hasn't fallen apart yet, so I think we are doing great!

Nolan is still growing like a weed, even though he had a week or so where he didn't gain any weight since he was sick.  He is still in his 3-6 month clothing, and I think we can keep him in those for a couple more weeks at least.  His size 2 diapers are still fitting pretty well too, and it says the weight limit on those is I think 16 or 18 pounds, so I hope those go for a while longer too!

We are expecting another "winter weather event" over the next few days.  I have no idea if this will turn out as bad as the last one, but we are prepared and have plenty of things to do around the house should we be snow/icebound for a few days.

Nolan's "G" visited with us this past weekend, and it was so wonderful to have her here with us.  It makes things so much easier whenever even an extra pair of hands is involved!  Nolan loves his G and spent lots of good snuggle time with her.  Of course, she wasn't here long enough, but I will take whatever time I can get! 

She even took care of Nolan while Anthony and I had our FIRST date since he was born!  It was exciting getting dressed up and having a nice dinner out with the hubby.  We have taken Nolan out to a few quick meals here and there, but nothing very extravagant or anything that takes that long.  He usually behaves pretty well, but it's still hard to tote along all that comes with him and try to eat at the same time.  We went to one of our favorite places, Orient Express, and had a great meal.  Of course, we spent most of the time talking about Nolan, but I was fine with that :)  It was pretty cute; Anthony was so nervous to leave him, you could tell!  And it wasn't because he was with G - it's just because he hates to leave him anywhere.  He is such a worry wart :)

Not a great picture, but you get the idea!

 

His Wolfpack outfit from Ollie

 

 

Update: I wrote this blog post during the day, and hadn't seen Nolan since I took him to daycare that morning.  I was talking to one of his teachers when I picked him up in the afternoon, and she was telling me how he likes to roll over and sleep on his belly as soon as she puts him in his crib to sleep.  I was like no way - we haven't seen him roll all the way over yet!

 

Well, wouldn't you know it; we got home and I put him on his mat on the floor to see if he would roll over.  He got SO close a couple of times while I was trying to record it, but never fully got his arm out of the way.  Amazingly, Anthony got home a couple minutes later, and then he did it!  He rolled over right in front of both of us!  It was so exciting to watch him meet this milestone - and do it all together.  So excited and thankful...

 



Nolan: 17 Weeks

I feel like we have finally rounded a corner with Nolan's RSV!  He is back to his normal happy adorable self.  He has become such a wiggle worm, and is making lots of noises and "coos" now.  Anthony has almost gotten him to laugh on numerous occasions, so I know it's only a matter of time before we get those adorable giggles!  He still has the widest mouth smile, and will put anything he can into his mouth.  He is getting better at holding toys and doing this, so I try to have a teether ring or something in his hands to keep him from putting his hands in his mouth.

We had another doctor "re-check" last Saturday, which ended up with us going to the hospital to have a chest X-ray done for Nolan to make sure he didn't have pnuemonia because he wasn't sounding a whole lot better.  This was quite the experience with such a little guy; the "device" they put him in to get a good shot of his lungs looks like a torture device, but that's what we had to do.  I was the lucky one that got to hold his hands above his head, but it only took a couple of minutes and as soon as he was out of the holder he stopped crying.  But can you blame him?!

He basically hung on this little bicycle looking seat, and then they clamped him in to the tube - it was nuts!  I was there by myself or else I would have taken a picture of him in it.

We got the great call later that day that he didn't have pneumonia, and that we should up his dose of Albuterol to a full vial to see if that helped.  I am starting to see the difference, and he goes back today for another check up to see how his lungs are sounding.

I feel like that is all we have had to report for the last few weeks, but my little man has had a time of it!  We are starting to get back to normal (although not a normal sleep schedule -oomph), and I am so happy that he is feeling better.

This picture cracks me up: Heeyyy, ladies!

 

N = (Now weighs) 14 lbs. 10 oz.

O = (Oomph!)  I need a penny for every minute I am at the sink washing something :)  From bottles, pumping equipment, and the breathing treatment stuff, I am at the sink all.the.time!

L = (Loves) His Daddy, and now finally, his Mamaroo!

A = (About this week)  He is doing great with his neck control, and basically tries to "army crawl" up us when he is laying on our chests if he is awake.  He can roll to either side, just not all the way to his stomach yet.

N = (Not a fan of) His breathing treatments.  If we can catch him while he is asleep, he will sleep through it.  But, if he is awake, he will usually put up a big fight for the first several minutes, then fall asleep.