Monday, February 9, 2009
Reality Calling
Ready or not, we are back to reality this week. It has been so nice to have Seth home so much to help out, especially with all of the kids being sick and onery (sorry that wasn't much of a break for you sweetie!), but this week he is back to work and studying for a test. Despite the challenges of 3 kids and one parent that will inevitably manifest themselves this week, it is kind of nice to get back in the groove of normal life. The rest and break from responsibilities is really nice, but I am one of those people that finds comfort and happiness in routines. I am excited about the meals I have planned to cook this week, the responsibilities I have for the young women's activity on Wednesday, getting Valentines ready for Morgan's preschool class, being in charge of the snack basket, and getting the Valentine's decorations out! This morning I even took the girls grocery shopping with me while Morgan was at school and it was not horrible at all! I know this probably sounds crazy, but it is nice to be back to normal life.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Getting Better...
at least on the inside. Brynn's lungs and oxygen saturation were very good today, so it looks like we will be able to avoid the hospital and oxygen machine. This is very good news, except that it leaves Seth and I nursing her through the worst part - lots of drainage and difficulty sleeping, eating and breathing. We are getting through it and it should start getting better soon, but we are so glad thar our little Brynnie is okay!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Doctor Day
Today was Brynn's 2 week checkup. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. (yes, that is an increase of more than a pound in just over a week - she is certainly growing fine despite her "diet") and measured 19 inches in height. That puts her in the 8th percentile for height and the 25th for weight - such strange numbers for me to get used to - I thought the high 70's were low!
That was the good news, and then came the bad...
Chloe and Brynn both have RSV (and probably Morgan too since he has similar symptoms, but I didn't have him with me to get checked). Brynn also has an eye infection and reflux (which we already knew, but now we have perscriptions to treat them). Since Brynn is so young, she is highly at risk of reaching the stage of RSV called "hypoxia" which would result in hospitalization and oxygen - yipee! So, we will be back to the doctor's office again on Friday to see how she is progressing.
In the meantime, I am feeling socially deprived from not leaving the house and a little like pulling my hair out dealing with 3 very onery and sick kids while still adjusting to being outnumbered by needy children and feeling a little under the weather myself. Even more depressing were the numerous offers and arrangements for help with the kids that I have had to turn down or cancel despite really needing a break! In a nutshell, it was probably the worst doctor day that I have experienced thus far as a mother - I couldn't help feeling like an irresponsible parent as we discussed the long list of ailments and treatments, even though there was nothing I could have done to prevent it. Thankfully, I have been extremely lucky thus far to have had such healthy kids. Hopefully, this is just a fluke and we will be back to clean bills of health soon!
That was the good news, and then came the bad...
Chloe and Brynn both have RSV (and probably Morgan too since he has similar symptoms, but I didn't have him with me to get checked). Brynn also has an eye infection and reflux (which we already knew, but now we have perscriptions to treat them). Since Brynn is so young, she is highly at risk of reaching the stage of RSV called "hypoxia" which would result in hospitalization and oxygen - yipee! So, we will be back to the doctor's office again on Friday to see how she is progressing.
In the meantime, I am feeling socially deprived from not leaving the house and a little like pulling my hair out dealing with 3 very onery and sick kids while still adjusting to being outnumbered by needy children and feeling a little under the weather myself. Even more depressing were the numerous offers and arrangements for help with the kids that I have had to turn down or cancel despite really needing a break! In a nutshell, it was probably the worst doctor day that I have experienced thus far as a mother - I couldn't help feeling like an irresponsible parent as we discussed the long list of ailments and treatments, even though there was nothing I could have done to prevent it. Thankfully, I have been extremely lucky thus far to have had such healthy kids. Hopefully, this is just a fluke and we will be back to clean bills of health soon!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Dieting
Friday night was a very long night. Brynn was up all night long (literally) eating, burping, pooping and getting her diaper changed. That meant that I was up all night long too. In the wee hours of morning I asked myself how I could possibly have forgotten about this phase of motherhood. I remember being tired and doing midnight feedings, but I don't remember ever being up all night long! What it all comes down to is this - I didn't forget, my other kids were not like this, probably because I didn't allow it (even when they were only 1 week old). I think I am getting to be a softie parent in my old age. ;)
So, I decided to put Brynnie on a diet! Not a counting calories or limiting intake diet, in fact, it is more of a feeding schedule, if you will. She now eats every 2 hours or so during the day with an extra feeding before bed. Then during the night she goes almost 4 hours between feedings. What used to be an hour and a half feeding is down to a maximum of 20 minutes. I am still feeling sleep deprived, but this is the deprivation that I remember...and the good part about remembering is knowing that you have gotten through it before and you can do it again!
So, I decided to put Brynnie on a diet! Not a counting calories or limiting intake diet, in fact, it is more of a feeding schedule, if you will. She now eats every 2 hours or so during the day with an extra feeding before bed. Then during the night she goes almost 4 hours between feedings. What used to be an hour and a half feeding is down to a maximum of 20 minutes. I am still feeling sleep deprived, but this is the deprivation that I remember...and the good part about remembering is knowing that you have gotten through it before and you can do it again!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sweet Sisters
Since Chloe had a cold, all the Tate girls stayed home yesterday while the boys went to church.
I had Brynn in the bathroom with me so I could keep an eye on her while I did my hair, and Chloe made sure she had lots of toys to "play" with. She is really quite good at sharing - as long as it is her idea!
Then, After we gave Brynn a bath and got her dressed, Chloe wanted to hold her, but she didn't want to put down her cell phone or her other baby. She is learning to muti-task already. My favorite part was when she said to Brynn, "Say cheese!" and then pushed the button on her cell phone to "take a picture". I think it is safe to assume that her aunts and uncles have taken a sufficient number of pictures of their nieces with their cell phones!
Then, After we gave Brynn a bath and got her dressed, Chloe wanted to hold her, but she didn't want to put down her cell phone or her other baby. She is learning to muti-task already. My favorite part was when she said to Brynn, "Say cheese!" and then pushed the button on her cell phone to "take a picture". I think it is safe to assume that her aunts and uncles have taken a sufficient number of pictures of their nieces with their cell phones!
Such sweet sisters...they really are so lucky to have each other!
I am so proud of Chloe for being such a good big sister! I was worried that she would really struggle with the transition, but she surprises me every day with the ways she shows her baby sister how much she cares!
We Need A Lot More of This Around Here!
How I can forget about the lack of sleep that comes with a newborn is beyond me.
I should have this figured out by now - I have done it 3 times in less than 4 years!
"Six weeks," I keep telling myself, "Six weeks to sleeping through the night."
I know it's optimistic, but I did it with Chloe, and I can do it with Brynn - at least I hope I can!
What's In A Name?
I can finally say that I am used to Brynn's name. Even though I knew that she was a Brynn when I was holding her in the hospital, I have had the hardest time adjusting to calling her Brynn instead of "Baby Sister", as she was known for 9 months in my tummy. Up until a few days ago, when people would ask me what we named her, I would suddenly draw a complete blank and often had to turn to Seth and ask him what we named her (as many of you can attest since you witnessed it first hand). So, happy day, I finally know my child's name!
Part of my problem has been her many nicknames. For being a mere 12 days old, she sure has a lot of them.
Brynnie
Baby Sister
Brynnie Bean
Beaner (This was also my nickname as a baby - like mother, like daughter!)
Beanie
Bean
Peanut
B-nut
But, really, however you say it, we love her just the same!
One last quote from Morgan in the hospital as we were getting ready to check out...
"Mom, how do you spell Brynn?" After I told him he said, "Can we go home and write her name?" I thought it was so cute that he wanted to be able to write her name!
Part of my problem has been her many nicknames. For being a mere 12 days old, she sure has a lot of them.
Brynnie
Baby Sister
Brynnie Bean
Beaner (This was also my nickname as a baby - like mother, like daughter!)
Beanie
Bean
Peanut
B-nut
But, really, however you say it, we love her just the same!
One last quote from Morgan in the hospital as we were getting ready to check out...
"Mom, how do you spell Brynn?" After I told him he said, "Can we go home and write her name?" I thought it was so cute that he wanted to be able to write her name!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Quotes, Happenings and Milestones
I've been meaning to post some of the funny things the kids have been saying and haven't gotten around to it, so lest I forget, here are some of the latest funny happenings and quotes from the kiddos.
The Saturday before we had Brynn, we took the kids to the hospital to see the babies in the nursery so they knew what to expect. On our way there Morgan said, "We are on our way to pick out our baby sister." We had to explain that we just get the baby that comes out of Mommy's tummy - though I wouldn't have minded skipping the delivery and just picking a baby out of the nursery!
When I was in labor with Brynn, my Mom watched the kids. Instead of moving the car seats into her car, we had her take the Sequoia. Morgan wanted to watch a movie in the car, so my mom tried to help him get it working and couldn't figure it out. She told him that she couldn't get it to work and he told her he could do it. Then he said, "Just give me a minute, I need to focus!"
When the kids came to visit me in the hospital after Brynn was born, I told them that we had to go get her from the nursery. When we got to the nursery I told them I would be right back with Brynn and Morgan said, "No, Mom, I want to go to nursery with Brynn." He is only familiar with one kind of nursery - the one at church with toys and snacks!
Every time we go to my Mom's house, Chloe puts her babies down for a nap - in a decorative basket that holds a beautiful quilt by the living room couch. Chloe moves the blanket, puts the babies in the basket and covers them with the quilt. Then she tells everyone, "Shhh, the babies are sleeping!"
Uncle Michael introduced Morgan and Chloe to StarWars - it was bound to happen at some point! Chloe is particularly fond of Yoda. Michael has a bunch of star wars figurines and toys, and Chloe separates out all the Yodas and plays with them like babies. She puts them down for naps and gives them loves. Today when we were at my Mom's house, she told us she was poopy and as she was getting her diaper changed, told my mom that "Yoda poopy too." Morgan thinks Star Wars is pretty cool too. He told Sarah that "On Star Wars there are big airplanes" - apparently we have a bit to learn about space!
And here are a couple of milestones...
Brynn lost her umbilical stump Friday night.
Brynn is too tall for her premie clothes, but still way too small for the newborn size - is there a size between the two?
Chloe has decided she is a big girl and doesn't need a high chair anymore. She is also ready to be potty trained, but I haven't been ready to do it yet - I am giving it 2 more weeks and then we will have our potty party. Every time we change her diaper she wants to sit on the potty. Sometimes she even enlists Morgan's help to get her pants off and get up onto the potty.
The Saturday before we had Brynn, we took the kids to the hospital to see the babies in the nursery so they knew what to expect. On our way there Morgan said, "We are on our way to pick out our baby sister." We had to explain that we just get the baby that comes out of Mommy's tummy - though I wouldn't have minded skipping the delivery and just picking a baby out of the nursery!
When I was in labor with Brynn, my Mom watched the kids. Instead of moving the car seats into her car, we had her take the Sequoia. Morgan wanted to watch a movie in the car, so my mom tried to help him get it working and couldn't figure it out. She told him that she couldn't get it to work and he told her he could do it. Then he said, "Just give me a minute, I need to focus!"
When the kids came to visit me in the hospital after Brynn was born, I told them that we had to go get her from the nursery. When we got to the nursery I told them I would be right back with Brynn and Morgan said, "No, Mom, I want to go to nursery with Brynn." He is only familiar with one kind of nursery - the one at church with toys and snacks!
Every time we go to my Mom's house, Chloe puts her babies down for a nap - in a decorative basket that holds a beautiful quilt by the living room couch. Chloe moves the blanket, puts the babies in the basket and covers them with the quilt. Then she tells everyone, "Shhh, the babies are sleeping!"
Uncle Michael introduced Morgan and Chloe to StarWars - it was bound to happen at some point! Chloe is particularly fond of Yoda. Michael has a bunch of star wars figurines and toys, and Chloe separates out all the Yodas and plays with them like babies. She puts them down for naps and gives them loves. Today when we were at my Mom's house, she told us she was poopy and as she was getting her diaper changed, told my mom that "Yoda poopy too." Morgan thinks Star Wars is pretty cool too. He told Sarah that "On Star Wars there are big airplanes" - apparently we have a bit to learn about space!
And here are a couple of milestones...
Brynn lost her umbilical stump Friday night.
Brynn is too tall for her premie clothes, but still way too small for the newborn size - is there a size between the two?
Chloe has decided she is a big girl and doesn't need a high chair anymore. She is also ready to be potty trained, but I haven't been ready to do it yet - I am giving it 2 more weeks and then we will have our potty party. Every time we change her diaper she wants to sit on the potty. Sometimes she even enlists Morgan's help to get her pants off and get up onto the potty.
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