More Nicholas News...

So... now they (my doc office) think my boy has a hernia. Well, actually, they're sure he does. Next step... we've got to go to Children's yet again for another consult. Our insurance company is going to hate us what with all the bills we're racking up for this kiddo!

Friday is his ear appt so the nurse was going to try to have it scheduled for the same day. I'm hoping they call soon to get it set up. I hate to think of him being in pain (although he doesn't really seem to be?!!?) We're looking at outpatient surgery to repair it, I think.

On another note, they weighed him today because he had to get his monthly synagist shot (to help prevent rsv). And he is up to 7 lbs 1.5 oz. Still under Jenna's weight at birth! Also, I am now officially past my original due date of Nov. 24. It's weird to think that Nicholas should be less than a week old! He's almost 7 weeks!

Some not-so-good news...

So, in the hospital, Nicholas did not pass the hearing screening in one of his ears. The other ear passed both times they did it. I figured, not a big deal. We'd just have him rescreened and everything would be fine.

Yesterday, I took him to our local children's hospital to be re-screened. He failed in both ears this time.

The next step is to go for diagnostic testing next Friday. They are going to try and pinpoint how much hearing loss he has (if any) and then we'll from there.

Hubby is taking this all reallllllllllllllllllllly hard. I am too but not to the extent that he is. I'm more in the "ok, let's figure out what the problem is and deal with it" mode. He is in the "woe is me... why is this happening..." mode.

Since we knew he didn't pass one ear in the hospital, we've been paying attention to how he reacts to sounds. And unless it's pretty loud, he doesn't even flinch most of the time. I cannot remember when it is that newborns start really reacting to things on a consistent basis. And being that his due date is still two days away, he is technically still a very new newborn.


Anyways... just wanted to share and ask for some prayers for our little one. The next week is going to be very trying for Hubby and me until we can get him in for further testing. So if you can say some extra prayers that we both don't go nuts waiting (and that Hubby doesn't go into more of a tailspin!), I'd appreciate it.

Making Some Progress

In two areas of our household....

First off, Nicholas has been sleeping in his crib for at least a couple hours each night. Which means I'm not having to spend the entire night on the couch with him on top of me! Not that I don't love the snuggling of course. But it's nice to have a few hours of shut eye in a bed!

Second, my almost three year old is on the way to being potty trained!!!!!!! WOO FREAKIN HOO!!! This is a big deal!! We've been struggling with her for several months now and finally, as of a couple days ago, it's starting to click. She made it through today with only one accident. We've been promising her that once she was wearing panties, Mommy would buy her a Bratz doll (big sister just got two so of course that's what little sister had to have to). So today, while I was at the store (and after Daddy had let her call me twice to tell me she'd gone potty while I was gone!), I picked her up a Hollywood Bratz doll. She was so excited! And of course, we had to call Grandma to tell her the big news. Turns out Grandma (who incidently spoils my kiddos like crazy!) had picked up a Bratz doll for her too. So she'll get that probably on Thanksgiving.

I am so happy that we are finally to this point. I was beginning to think C was going to go to kindergarten in pull ups!

A Night Off

Nicholas will be a month old tomorrow. Already. And ironically, he's still not even due for two more weeks.

Tonight, my dear hubby is taking baby duty. Which means that I get to sleep a full night without having to get up and do middle of the night feedings. Hallelujah! The past couple nights, my sweet little newborn has decided that he prefers sleeping with Momma to being in his lonely bassinet. Every time I put him in it (no matter how asleep he is), within a few minutes, he is crying out and grunting. Not a huge loud oh-my-gosh-I'm-dying-here cry but enough that I cannot go back to sleep. And being that I also have a 3 year old and a 5 year old to take care of all day long, not sleeping is not an option I like to choose. Not to mention, hubby has to get up and work a full workday so he needs his sleep too.

So begrudgingly, I pick Nicholas up, lie back down on the couch on my back, and awkwardly manage to go back to sleep until he wakes for his next feeding. After he finishes the bottle, I again attempt the bassinet. No such luck. I try the swing. No such luck. I imagine you can guess where he ends up?

I KNOW this is a dangerous habit to start. I know I'm creating a little monster that will not want to sleep by himself. But that doesn't stop me from taking the easy way out so I can get a few hours of sleep. And I have to admit... his sweet little self all curled up warm and toasty on my chest is a bit hard to resist. **In case you're freakin out thinking I'm going to roll over on him... rest assured... I'm a pretty light sleeper and don't move around a lot...**

SOOOOO anyways... this evening, hubby and I tried keeping him awake for a while hoping that he'll sleep well tonight. By himself, in his bassinet. We've both gotten pretty good at swaddling him tightly so he cannot flail his arms about. But if he moves and grunts enough, those arms eventually come free.

He does sleep on his own during the day... hopefully we'll get these nights figured out soon...

Naming Rights...

Does this melt your heart or what!??!



You may remember... my oldest daughter (the one above) is the one who was praying for a baby brother. She just adores him to pieces. Always wants to love on him...

As soon as we found out we were having a boy back in July, my husband claimed naming rights. I gave in and let him have them (as long as he chose a name I liked! LOL). He went back and forth between Jake and Nicholas. Jake was usually the frontrunner. Jenna did not want him to be named Jake. Not sure why but she was adamant that Jake wouldn't/shouldn't be his name. I just kept telling her it was up to Daddy.

The night before our little boy was born, Jenna was understandably a bit upset. She knew that Mommy was sick and in the hospital and that her baby brother was going to be born earlier than expected. Hubby finally got her to bed. But a few minutes later she came out with big tears in her eyes... and she told him she had one more question before she could go to sleep.

She wanted to name the baby. How could he tell her no?!?!

She chose Nicholas.

Daddy did end up getting to choose the middle name.

Maybe we'll have to get a dog one day and let Daddy name him Jake.