Sydney's Baptism (4 weeks and 20 months)

The weekend of Sydney's Baptism was a little crazy.  Brian got home from his business trip on Thursday.  So we were still recovering from that.  Then we had about 20 people coming to our house on Sunday for the Baptism.  Our house is not that big.  We were hoping to have it outside like we did for Austin's however the weather did not cooperate for that.  We had to set up our house inside for all of our guests.

Our house is not really ever dirty, but it can get cluttered and messy because of Austin.  We have a lot of toys!! And Austin is always finding something and playing with it and leaving it somewhere.  Brian and I spent most of Saturday de-cluttering our house.  We moved toys so they were out of the way.  When we were finished our house looked nice.  It was weird seeing our house basically like it was back in our pre-kid days.

Sunday morning was again crazy.  Austin and I went to pick up a deli tray.  When I got it, it appeared small to me.  So I ran to another store and got a big can of chili.  My biggest fear with guests is running out of food.  I made sure that did not happen.  While driving to the other store, Brian called me to let me know I left my credit card at the previous store and they had called him.  I was not happy.  I really did not have time for this.  So we had to go pick up my credit card too!

Once we got home, I really wanted Austin to take a nap.  It was going to be a busy day for him so a nap was much needed.  We fed him lunch and put him down for his nap by 11:30am.  Mass was at noon.  Brian stayed at home with Austin and I took Sydney to church.  Once we got to church Sydney decided she was not happy.  We ended up in the cry room throughout Mass.  Finally she fell asleep.

The Baptism was very nice.  Melissa was Sydney's godmother and Dean her godfather.  It was very nice of them to come up for this.  Many family members attended which made it special.  It was so nice to see everyone that we don't get to see regularly. Sydney really did not wake up throughout the ceremony.  After it was over, everyone came to our house for lunch.

Again everything turned out really nice.  We had enough food.  Thank goodness!   Lauren made Sydney's cake and it was wonderful!  People seemed to enjoy themselves.  All of our hard work to get our house ready paid off.  We were so grateful that so many people attended Sydney's special day.

Dean stayed in town until Wednesday.  It was great spending more time with him.  He came up on Monday and spent the day with me.  With both kids, I don't get out of the house that much.  It's not like I don't leave the house but it is much more challenging to do it so I usually don't.  When I have visitors, it is wonderful.  Dean and Austin played all day long.  Austin had so much fun with Uncle Dean!  It is nice for Austin to have someone else to play with.

It is hard to believe that Sydney is a month old already.  Everything is going pretty well and we are so grateful.  Austin loves his baby sister.  He likes to help take care of her.  It is really sweet!

Brian Sick Again and Travels (19 months and 3 weeks)

The weekend before Brian was to travel for work, he got sick again!  On Friday night, we went to a children's consignment sale.  That is when Brian started to feel funny.  Once we got home, he noticed he had a fever and went to bed early.  We were hoping he would be better in the morning.  On Saturday morning, he was worse.  In the morning, he decided to go to Minute Clinic to be checked out.  He had white spots on his throat.  We thought he had strep throat.  That morning we decided to take Austin back to the doctors too.

Austin has been sick for over a month.  He has a terrible cough.  The cough is so bad that he vomits.  Since we were convinced Brian had strep throat we thought we needed to get Austin checked out too. Brian got sick from Austin.  I ended up taking Austin to the doctors while Brian was at the Minute Clinic.  It was crazy because I had vomit all over me so I needed to shower and get both kids ready within a half hour for the doctors appointment.  I was not thrilled about going by myself but that is what needed to be done.  Luckily Austin was really good and the trip was uneventful.  The doctor checked Austin out and said that he was completely fine.  He does not sound fine but that is what he said.  Brian's strep test was negative so they said he had a virus and he was fine.

Brian was so sick he basically stayed in bed all weekend (he slept 18 hours in a 22 hour span Friday into Saturday).  When he was up, he stayed quarantined in our room to avoid getting the kids sick.  That made me like a single mom sooner than I was expecting.  Saturday night Austin went and spent the night at Grandma and Papa's.  It was a lot of work for me to get him packed up but I thought it would be better for him to have some more special attention.  It worked out because they had a great time and I got a little more sleep than usual.  Sydney and I hung out for the evening and night.

Sunday Brian went grocery shopping for me so I did not have to with the kids.  It was very nice of him.  I really did not know how I was going to do that.  I went and picked Austin up on Sunday morning.   Brian was still sick with a fever of 102.  Brian even went back to Minute Clinic for another strep test, but it was again negative.  This was a mess!  Sunday night we packed Brian for his trip.  We did not know if he should still go but we got everything ready.

Brian was still pretty sick overnight, but his fever peaked around 5am.  Around 8am he got up to go to the airport.  His fever was gone however he still did not feel well.  I was busy with the kids because they were also a little sick.  Austin was still coughing and vomiting.  Sydney has a little cough and stuffy nose.  Plus she is so little she needs a lot of attention.  She still needs to eat every 2-3 hours.  So I felt bad for Brian but I was not much help to him.  I needed to take care of Austin and Sydney.  Luckily Melissa came over in the morning.  She just got in town for the week.  Brian decided he would just go to California.  Melissa took Brian to the airport.  I was sad that he was leaving.

When Melissa got back from the airport, she cleaned and sanitized our house.  It was very nice of her.  She told me I don't look as bad as I did after Austin.  That was comforting.  I think that I am doing much better now than I did after Austin.  I basically have things figured out.  I still have my challenges but at least we are not completely clueless.  Melissa spent the afternoon with us.  She left before dinner.

Monday evening I was on my own.  The evenings have always been the busiest and hardest part of the day.  Now I am alone.  Plus Brian always puts Austin to bed.  I have put him to bed on occasion but usually Brian handles it.  Melissa got us soup for lunch so Austin and I just ate that for dinner too.  I was not eager to cook a meal.  After dinner, I fed Sydney.  Then we went for our nightly walk.  The double stroller is harder to push than our Jeep stroller but I made it.  After our walk I put Austin to bed.  Of course during the bedtime routine, Sydney needed to eat too.  I breastfed her while reading books to Austin.  I am learning to multitask as a mom of two.  When Austin was brushing his teeth and I was putting him to bed Sydney was crying.  I felt bad.  I don't like it when they cry but I knew once I got Austin to bed, Sydney would have all my attention.  Austin went to sleep without any difficulty.

The nights are long.  I fed Sydney and got her to sleep.  Then I had to clean up the house.  It was only me here so if I did not do it, it would not get done.  Finally around 10pm, I could try and get some sleep.  Of course soon after I went to sleep, Sydney got up.  I was not going to get much sleep so I learned to accept that.

On Tuesday Austin went to daycare.  I had to get him ready for school.  Plus I had to get Sydney ready to leave the house.  It took me about an hour and half but we finally made it to school.  I was proud that I was handling everything pretty well.  Then I went to my breast feeding support group.  I found out Sydney weights 8lb 12 oz.  She is growing so fast already.  Tuesday night was yet another night of craziness.  During our walk on Tuesday, we got rained on.  It was not bad but I don't like having Sydney out in the rain.  Then Tuesday night I decided to give both kids a bath.  I was not sure if I should have Austin help give Sydney a bath but I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed too.  So Sydney got a bath first and Austin was very helpful in the process.  Austin did not care the Sydney was in his bathtub.  Then after she was done (less than 5 minutes), I  gave Austin a bath.  He loves baths and his are usually at least a half hour.  I cut it a little short.  He still enjoyed it.  Again I had to feed Sydney while reading to Austin but I got them both to bed before 9pm.

On Wednesday, my parents came over to help.  Also since Austin vomited all over the living room carpet they brought their carpet cleaner.  I was glad to have my carpet cleaned.  Austin has so much fun with Grandma and Papa.  It is great.  I was able to get some things done.  It seems like my chores are never done.  I do laundry everyday.  Plus there are dishes and cooking to do.  Then the weekly stuff like cleaning the bathroom, sweeping, and dusting.  It is never ending.  I am better at not going crazy if things don't get done but I still don't let it go too long.  Wednesday night was busy again but I knew it was my last night alone. Brian would be home tomorrow.  Yay!!!!

On Thursday, Melissa picked Brian up at the airport.  I was so glad he was home.  The best part was he was basically all better.  Yay!  Dean came into town on Thursday too for Sydney's Baptism.  I was so happy he came up.  We had dinner at our house on Thursday night.  It was weird because Austin and I had dinner alone all week and now there were 6 of us.  It was great.

This weekend is going to be busy because Sydney is getting baptized.

Week Two

When we took Sydney back to the doctor's last Friday, she weighed 7lb and 13 oz.  Yay!  She is past her birth weight.  The doctor was happy however I still have to wake her up every 2-3 hours to feed her.  Sometimes that is really hard to do.  She loves to sleep and will not wake up especially during the day.  But we keep trying.

This week my mother in law came up to visit with the kids.  It was great having her here.  I am enjoying all the help I can get right now.  With Austin, I felt I needed to do everything myself.  This time if someone wants to help, I gladly let them.  Grandma B (right now both Grandma's are called Grandma so I will add there last initial so it's not confusing) and Austin made chocolate chip cookies for Brian.  Austin really enjoyed helping make cookies.  Austin loves to be a little helper.

On Wednesday, Grandma B, Austin, Sydney, and I all went to the zoo.  It was a beautiful day so I figured we should get out of the house.  Leaving in the morning was quite a challenge.  Austin wanted to pee on the potty (which he still has not done but loves to take off his diaper and run around naked).  He went into our bedroom and peed on the floor.  I was not too happy.  I am going to read a potty training book because I am not sure I am ready for this.  Then Sydney pooped though her outfit and needed fed several times and of course spit up on her new outfit.  Finally after all the kids needs were taken care of we left for the zoo.  We were there for a couple hours.  We had a nice time.  Austin enjoyed seeing the animals.  Sydney enjoyed napping in the stroller.

On Thursday, Grandma B had to go home.  Austin went to daycare.  Brian has been going to work early so he can get home early.  So in the mornings, I get Austin ready for school.  That is more challenging than it sounds but we have been doing very well.  I am getting better at feeding Sydney while helping Austin get his breakfast.  Austin is doing well with Sydney.  This morning he even tried to help me get Sydney into the car seat.  After she was in the car seat, he went and got her blanket and put it on top of her.

My parents have also been extremely helpful.  If I am going to be home all day by myself with both kids they come up to help me.  Again I am so grateful for all the help.  It is making the transition to two kids so much easier.

Next week, Brian has to go to California for a work conference.  This is not ideal but has to happen so we will see how I do being a single mom.  Luckily my parents are going to help and Melissa is also coming up for the week.  I am looking forward to Melissa's visit.  It has been a while since we have seen her.  Hopefully I will not traumatize her too much like I did when Austin was first born.

I am still solely breastfeeding Sydney.  That is going well.  My right breast is still cracked but the left is fine.  I go to a breastfeeding support group on Tuesdays.  It works out because Austin is in daycare on Tuesdays.  I really enjoy going.  This Tuesday, Sydney weighed 8lb 3 oz.  She is getting to be a big girl!  Talking to other moms about breastfeeding is great.  Breastfeeding is a challenge!  I am glad that I do it for my kids but formula is definitely easier.  My goal is to breastfeed Sydney for 6 months just like I did Austin.  Then she will get formula for 6 months.  We will see how it goes.

Wish me luck for next week!  Austin is going to miss Brian terribly!

We did a little photoshoot in the backyard with the kids in Austin's red car.  Some photos appear below:

Week One into Labor Day Weekend

Our first night home went well.  Sydney likes to sleep so that makes things a little easier.  However I still needed to wake her up every 3 hours.  Brian and I have learned that we don't stay up together.  Brian gets baby duty the first half of the night until midnight or so and I get the rest of the night.  This way we both get some sleep.  Sydney sleeps in her crib at night.  It is so weird not to see her moving around like Austin does in his crib.  She just lays there nice and content.

We came home on Tuesday and we had to take Sydney back to the doctor on Wednesday for weight and jaundice check.  She weighed 7lb 3 oz and still had some jaundice but he was not too concerned.  We had another appointment on Friday and by then she was up to 7lb 5 oz.  The jaundice was better.  We had until next Friday to get her back to birth weight (7lb 11 oz).

It was nice because the first weekend home it was Labor Day weekend.  Brian was off for the 3 days.  It was great having him home.  On Saturday, we took Austin swimming at the rec center.  Austin still loves swimming.  Then on Sunday, Brian took Austin to the airshow.  It was weird staying home but we knew that Sydney could not take the loud noises so I had to stay home with her.  Brian had Austin on his shoulders most of the time while at the airshow.  At one point there was a very loud plane that flew directly over them and Austin was on Brian's shoulders.  Austin was crying but pointing at the same time at the plane.  Brian would have loved to see Austin's face during it.  Brian bought Austin's ear protection and after that plane Austin gladly wore them.

Once they got home from the airshow, we decided to all go to the Taste of Hudson.  We have went for the past 3 years and it's always fun.  We got some dinner and ate it on the grass.  Then we took Austin to the play area so he could play.  He enjoyed the cars.  It was a nice evening out.  Sydney did not realize that we left the house since she never woke up.

On Monday, we did are usual grocery shopping.  At first we had two carts but then at another store decided to get a big cart where Austin could drive the cart and place Sydney on top in her carrier.  We have always grocery shopped with Austin.  Now we do it with Austin and Sydney.  We had a great weekend together as our new family.

Austin is a great big brother.  He brings Sydney her blanket and turns on the swing's music for her.  Other than that he does not interact much with her.  Sydney likes to sleep.  When she is awake, its a treat for us.  She is not nearly as busy as Austin right now.  But that is okay while we try to figure out life with two kids.  The biggest challenge I face right now is how to feed Sydney while entertaining Austin.  Austin is not one that just sits still.  He is always into something.  Luckily breast feeding is going well so if I am by myself I just feed Sydney while walking all around the house with Austin.  Hopefully things will continue to go smoothly!

Post Postpartum at the Hospital

Luckily my first night in the hospital, I had an excellent nurse.  She helped me with whatever I needed and took Sydney to the nursery when I requested it.  The hospitals now have a "Room In" policy which basically means that they want the baby in your room with you at all times.  It was fine with Austin because it did help us prepare for when we took him home.  This time I already know what I am doing and after labor I need some sleep.  Brian had to go home with Austin anyway (plus he was still sick and coughing).  Sydney was with me all for except for 3 hours in the middle of the night when I was able to get some sleep.  Sleeping in a hospital is almost impossible.  Someone is always coming into your room for something which wakes you up.  I got about 4 hours of sleep that first night.

My plan is to exclusively breast feed Sydney for 6 months (just like I did Austin).  With Austin, I said that breast feeding was worse than labor and, with him, it really was.  Austin did not latch well.  We did not do well with breast feeding.  So I went to only pumping so he only had breast milk.  That was A LOT of work.  I had to take time to pump and still fed him.  This time I am hoping for a better solution.  Sydney has been able to latch on since night one.  She nurses very well.  The only problem is my nipples are so sore.  They are cracked and bleeding.  That is to be expected a little bit.  It should get better with time.  Right now because of Sydney's weight I have to nurse her every two hours in the day and every 3 hours at night.  The issue right now is my milk is not in yet.  I have some colostrum (very little high fat breast milk) but that's it.  She doesn't seem to mind too much though.  Hopefully my milk will come in soon.

In the morning, Brian, Austin, and my parents came to the hospital to see us.  Austin did not know what to think.  He does not understand that he has a sister.  He was not too interested in her at all.  Everything else in the hospital room was much more exciting.  We got Austin a toy plane that was from Sydney.  He seemed to like that.  It was great to see Austin.  He looked so big compared to Sydney.  It's sad because I really don't remember Austin that small and it's only been an year and half.  When it was time for Austin to go home for nap, he was sad.  I was sad too because he wanted me to come home and I could not.  Brian walked him out to the car and he was very happy with that.

It was so nice of my parents to take care of Austin for all the time we were in the hospital.  They had been on stand by for a few weeks since we did not know when she was going to arrive.  Austin likes playing with them and they enjoy it too.

Brian stayed the afternoon with me and Sydney.  After dinner he went back home to be with Austin.  Brian always puts Austin to bed so it was good that he could do that.  When Brian got home that night my parents said Austin had been a little cranky.  Brian did not think too much of it.  They had to run to the store to get some newborn diapers (we did not know her size so we did only bought size 1 diapers not any newborn).  Since she is so little we needed some newborn diapers.  After the store, they went for a walk around the block.   We walk every night so when people did not see me they wanted to talk to Brian about the baby.  Finally Brian and Austin got home and Austin got his bath.  Right before bed, Brian took Austin's temperature and it was 102 degrees.  No wonder he was a little cranky!  Brian gave him some medication and put him to bed.

In the morning, when the pediatrician visited I told her about Austin.  Her suggestion was to keep them separate.   They live in the same house, but since Sydney does not move it is easy to keep them apart.  Plus Austin is not really that interested in her yet.  Sydney's bilirubin level was still a little high so the doctor wanted us to come in for an appointment the next day to check her jaundice and weight.  She was down to 7lb 3 ounces.  Austin's fever was down in the morning so Brian took him to daycare so he could come up and bring us home.

We went home after lunch.  It was much different this time bringing Sydney home.  With Austin, we were scared but now we were ready to go home.  When we got home we got a few things organized before going to pick up Austin.  I went to get Austin since I had not seen him much over the past 2 days. I was happy to see Austin and he was glad to see me.  We came home and ate dinner together like we normally would except now Sydney was in the living room on the Boppy Pillow sleeping.

We even went for our nightly walk together.  We now have a double stroller.  Austin gets to sit up front and Sydney is in her carrier.  Austin likes his new stroller.  He really likes that all the neighbors stop and talk to us.  Of course Austin thinks they are stopping to talk to him.  After our walk we put Austin to bed and waited to see how Sydney's first night at home would be.