Nolan: 28 Weeks

Thankfully, this past week was much smoother than the week before!  We are all much healthier and happier now that the stomach bug has moved on.  Unfortunately, it ended up spreading to Anthony on Saturday night, then Ollie on Sunday, and then G on Monday.

Daddy missed Nolan's first Easter at Church, but Ollie, G, and I all made it with Nolan in his adorable Easter outfit!  It was a privilege to be able to take Nolan to Church for the first time on Easter, and I hope to continue this every weekend.  He did very well during the service, and ended up falling asleep in G's arms and slept the rest of the way through.  I suppose, however, that he didn't like his Easter outfit too much, because he pooped all over it by the time we got home.  At least I got pictures first - ha!

Daddy was feeling a bit better by the time we made it back home, so at least he was able to join us for our Easter brunch.

(He sits up in the bath tub now, and loves it!)

N = (Now weighs)  Same thing; about 16 pounds.

O = (Oomph!) We sure missed Daddy at Church, and I felt awful knowing that we (Nolan and I) infected everyone in the house!  I guess the family that gets sick together, stays together...

L = (Loves) Grabbing my face (or G's face) and trying to eat it.  I can't tell if he only does it when he's hungry, or is just exciting and wants to gnaw on something...he doesn't do it to Anthony's face, and I guess that's because of the beard!

A = (About this week)  We started him on his first non-cereal food - Avocado!  He doesn't quite know what to make of it yet.  We got a few good bites in him, but I can tell he would like it better if it was in some guacamole :)  We started with avocado because it was easy to prepare, and it has lots of antioxidants and healthy fats.  I read somewhere that you could survive on avocados alone, but I don't propose we try that with Mr. Nolan...

N = (Not a fan of) Food - so far!  Sometimes I think he will be breastfeeding forever...

First Easter!

Nolan's first Easter was definitely something to remember!  With all of us being sick the week before, I was so thankful that a handful of us were healthy enough to get ready and make it to Church.  He behaved very well, and ended up sleeping through the majority of the sermon.

His little outfit was adorable, even though he just looks confused about it :)

 We had a yummy brunch, complete with mashed up avocados...

 

Nolan: 27 Weeks

Well, we did it!  We are officially residents of North Carolina!  The past several days have been a whirlwind, and not all that enjoyable to be perfectly honest :(

We blew out of the house last Friday, and Mom, Nolan and I drove home that day.  Poor Anthony stayed behind to continue to load up the U-Haul trailer and clean out the condo.  He spent the night on Friday and then drove home on Saturday after doing one last walk thru on the condo.

I suppose it was a blessing that I was so stressed out and so tired trying to get out of the condo that I didn't have that much time to be sad/sentimental.  I did, however, get really emotional the last time I fed Nolan in his room (sitting on a porch chair, no less), and realized that this was his first "home" and the only place he has ever rested his head.  We took one last walk around each room, and said goodbye to the place Anthony and I shared SO many memories in.

Our condo was our first home: It's where Anthony proposed, where we lived when we got married, and most of all, started our family.  It was such a wonderful "starter" home for us, and I will miss it dearly.

We had to stop quite a few times on the drive home, and the total drive ended up taking us about 8 hours - we were exhausted by the time we arrived, but so glad to be home!  Our excitement didn't last too long though, as Nolan became sick (surprise) and we had to make a visit to the urgent care place on Saturday, only to discover he had another ear infection and had to go back on breathing treatments.  This poor little boy has been on the stupid nebulizer for more than HALF of his life...I hate it, I hate it.  I know it's for the best, but it's just so draining...I hate seeing him sick.

He got an antibiotic and was well enough by Monday for his first day of daycare here.  We took another shot at daycare, and prayed that this place would be better for him and that we would finally have a place that we felt comfortable taking him.  We let him go on Monday, since I was off of work still and would be close by doing the home inspection on our new house, and trying to get ready for my first day of work too!

He ended up doing really well, and I was pleased with the school, which made it easier for having to leave him on Tuesday for my first day of work.

My first day of work went really well, and I am really happy with my choice and really like everyone that I met so far.  I have quite the commute compared to Atlanta, but I drive twice as far in the same amount of time (sometimes less), so it's a wash!  It isn't nearly as stressful as driving in Atlanta, so that is nice all around.  From our new house, my job will be about 23 miles away, but daycare is right on the way so all I have to get used to now is filling up my gas tank more than once a week!

Sadly, my second day (and third day) of work never happened.  I ended up getting a really bad stomachache Tuesday night, and it lasted all night.  I awoke the next morning super sick, and feared food poisoning.  It wasn't until Nolan threw up that morning as well that I got worried and both of us went BACK to the urgent care place (Yes, two visits mere days after my last day of health coverage...lovely).  I couldn't even get him ready without running to the bathroom, so Ollie had to step in and help me and take us to the doctor (Mom was out of town and Anthony was at work).  I have never felt so bad with a stomach bug in my life - it was like having the flu and being sick to your stomach.

Nolan seemed well enough to still go to daycare, so Ollie dropped him off and I went home and collapsed and didn't get out of bed until Anthony got home with Nolan around 6:15 p.m.  I still felt awful, so Anthony stepped in a got Nolan ready to go to bed and school the next day.  Little did I know, but Nolan ended up throwing up all night, so I missed my third day of work because he couldn't go to daycare and I still felt terrible...

N = (Now weighs) He still weighs around 16 pounds, according to the urgent care place. It may not be totally exact, as they weighed me first, then had me hold him on the scale and subtracted the amount (Apparently, they don't get a lot of infants there!)

O = (Oomph!) We definitely started out our relocation to NC with a bang...we are trying very hard to keep our spirits up and focus on the positive...

L = (Loves) Being cuddled right now that he is sick (or most of the time for that matter!)

A = (About this week)  He is getting better and better at sitting on his own, and will only fall over if he reaches too far for something he wants.  He is also getting super quick and will grab for anything (especially your face where he will grab it and lean in with a big wet open-mouthed kiss...it's precious).  He is also showing lots of interest in the things we are eating and drinking now.

N = (Not a fan of) Amoxicillin - it's a struggle to get medicine in that boy!

What Is This "Food" Stuff?!

We knew that we would get Nolan started on solid foods once we moved and got settled in, so we wasted no time once we were at Ollie and G's house!

We decided to start him on oatmeal cereal first, mixed with some milk.  It was quite the production as you can see, and Nolan did pretty well with it.  You could tell he was very interested in the spoon and the idea of eating, but didn't seem too impressed once he tasted it!

 In his highchair with his fancy plastic bib...

 

A Letter To My Son: Nolan at 6 Months

Nolan,

I cannot believe you are SIX months old already!  I know I say it in almost every blog post, but these past six months have just flown by.  Now I can totally see how other parents will tell you that these moments pass in the blink of an eye. 

You have taught me so many things in your short and beautiful little life so far.  Patience, letting go, and living in the moment are just a few of them.  I have never been a very patient person (just ask your Daddy), but I pray for patience everyday.  My prayer is that you see me as your Mommy - someone that you can run to when you need anything; I never want my lack of patience to make you feel like you don't matter, or make you fearful of doing anything around me, so I pray that I always greet you with patience and love.

Your health issues over the past couple of months and just you growing up have given me more faith than I could have imagined.  I no longer read blogs or articles about what you "should" be doing developmentally or what "might" happen to you as a result of your RSV.  I am learning everyday to just Let Go and Let God.  HE made you exactly how you were meant to be, so that is just perfect with me.  I know that whatever comes along in your life, that you are beautifully and perfectly made, and that no chart, test, or comparison will ever trump that.  And thankfully, besides your bouts with RSV, you are growing strong and right on "track."

Lately, with all that we have going on, it could be easy to become stressed out and worry about all of the things we have to get done each day.  But somehow, your little self makes all of that melt away.  I don't want to rush home and tackle my to-do list, and I don't want to rush the end of the day until your bedtime. I want to live in each little moment that I have with you.  I cherish the few hours in the day that I get to spend with you after work and before bed.  I love giving you your bath and talking and cooing to you on your changing table.  And nothing, nothing, is as sweet as when we climb into bed at night - you smelling all clean and yummy - and we turn on your music with the stars that shine onto the ceiling and I feed you and you go to sleep.  This is the most lovely part of my day - our quiet time together where I can just be still and watch you and hold you. I tell you, there is nothing in my life (nor will there ever be), that will make me happy to sit still like I do when I am with you.

Your little personality is beginning to blossom, and you are very happy and laid back.  You never fuss all that much, unless you are hungry or tired.  I can always tell when you are tired because you will begin to rub your eyes and sort of "hum" like your dad does.  When we bounce you to put you to sleep for naps, you will make noises until you fall asleep.

Your eyes are big and beautiful, but we still cannot tell what color they are.  Sometimes they are brown, and sometimes they look green/hazel.  They are a big beautiful almond shape, and you have the most gorgeous eyelashes I have ever seen (sorry, son, for using the word "beautiful" so much, but you just are).  When you sleep your little lips fold in on each other, and when you get focused on something your little top lip sticks out just like your Dads.  I am constantly amazed when I look at you and see so many things that remind me of your Daddy, and then I see pieces of myself in there too.  It will never cease to be a wonder how God blends two people together to make one tiny little being.

While you cannot speak "words" yet, you love to babble and have the cutest little voice.  Some days, I feel like we have a little parakeet in the house, because you will squawk and squeal to your hearts content.  You are also starting to put consonants together, and get so excited when you learn a new one.  I believe by default your first real word will be "Dada," and I am okay with that.  I know your Daddy will be thrilled, and it warms my heart to think of how it will sound will you call him that and truly know what you are saying.

You never ever stop moving, but aren't quite mobile yet and I am thankful for that!  I need to be able to keep you "contained" for just a bit longer...However, you roll all over the place, but still are not all that interested in spending time on your stomach.  Your Daddy and I think you will go straight to walking before you crawl, but I could be totally wrong about that.  You have very strong little legs, and can easily stand up while we hold you (now you can do it with just one hand on you).  There is nothing cuter than your little chubby legs, and your "elephant knees" as I call them.

I guess by the time you are three you will finally have a toenail on your little pinky toe.  There is just a pip of one there now, you can barely see it!  Your big toenails are another story - they are such a funky shape, and cutting them reminds me of Edward Scissorhands :)  I can't wait to have you barefoot all the time during the summer - right now, you yank all of your socks off except for one specific kind, and you love to eat your socks.

All in all, your are a wonderful, precious little boy, and I know the next 6 months with you will bring so many more discoveries and sweet moments with you, and your Daddy and I cannot wait...

 

Not a Fun Story...

Just a quick recap of a scary night for me...

The day after my last day of work, I took Nolan for his 6-month photos.  Everything was fine, and I felt great.  Later that night, around 4:00 a.m., I awoke with this horrible pain on my back left side and into my groin area.  I was hoping it was just a cramp or something, so I got up and quietly went to the bathroom.

A little while later, I just couldn't get the pain to go away, so I woke Anthony up.  I was taking turns going from the couch with the heating pad to the bathroom, and he was alarmed.  I was in SO much pain, but I just couldn't figure out what was going on.  I didn't want to go to the ER, since it was after my last day of work and [I thought] my insurance coverage was gone.  Plus, with the high deductible our firm had, I didn't want to add ANOTHER medical bill to the stack!

About 30 minutes later, however, I couldn't take the pain and felt like I was going to pass out.  I still had no idea how we were going to get all three of us ready and to the ER, but I felt like I needed to go, and soon.  Anthony got Nolan up, and was just about to put him into his car seat, when he threw up all over the place.  I was still in the bathroom at this time, and I just said to call 911 since I was feeling dizzy and was hurting so bad.

Soon after, the ambulance arrive (SO embarrassing), and about 6 people were in our house!  They said they had to take me to the ER since we called, and I decided to go alone since we didn't want Nolan around all of the germs.  I have never been in am ambulance before, and all I kept thinking was "Oh this hurts," "Oh we have too much going on right now for this," and "Oh how will be pay for this!?"  It was terrible, I have to be honest.

I felt so alone, but knew that I didn't want Nolan anywhere near the hospital, so that's just how it goes.  I took a low-level (supposedly safe-for-nursing) pain killer, but that didn't help at all. I wanted to stick it out so bad, because I didn't want to have to use up our freezer stash just so I could take some pain meds.  However, after I had my CT scan and they told me I had a kidney stone, I decided to take something for the pain, since it really just wasn't going away.  They assured me I could nurse him after about 12 hours, so I conceded.  That medicine took the edge off, and luckily the stone had made it to my bladder by the time Anthony picked me up, so most of the pain had gone by then.

We made it home and I slept for about 4 hours, then got back up and tried to continue packing and getting on with the day!  I never knew exactly when the stone actually passed (unless it happened while I was still on the pain meds), but I can assure you I was terrified every time I went to the bathroom for the next day or so :)

Needless to say, I hope I never have to do that again.  Or, at least if I do, I can get a ride to the hospital instead of making such a spectacle!

Nolan: 25 Weeks

Little guy has been hanging in there, considering how nuts things have been lately!  We decided (very last minute) to list our house for sale this past Monday (March 31st).  We decided to do this just to get a "jump" ahead of any other houses that were going on the market, and to give ourselves a better chance of selling the house before we closed on our new one in May.

Needless to say, getting the house ready to go on the market was not fun, but we managed to get everything done and had a call for a showing the very first day!  We look like we live out of our cars, however, because everything that doesn't have an exact "place" in the house ended up in our cars for the time being.

Nolan is also sleeping with us (terrible habit, I know), because we have his pack and play packed up for showings, and it's just easier.  I suppose one day we will get him into his crib, but not anytime soon with the move coming up and everything else...

He has his 6-month check up scheduled for Wednesday (my LAST day of work), just to get it in before my benefits end and we move.  More shots are on the horizon, but hopefully he will not have any reactions like the last couple of times.

N = (Now weighs)  I still don't think he is gaining a whole lot of weight...probably still at 16 pounds or so.

O = (Oomph!)  Having a house on the market is NUTS - especially with a baby!

L = (Loves) Just being a little boy - he is a mess!

A = (About this week)  We are working towards starting on solids - we will do that once we get settled in at my parents house so we can keep him on a good schedule.

N = (Not a fan of) Shots at the doctor!  Thankfully, he only cries for a few seconds and then calms down.