Dillon's First Christmas

Well, Dillon's First Christmas didn't go exactly as we would have liked. Monday of Christmas week, I took him to the doc because of a nasty cough and a runny nose. My mom had noticed he was putting his hand by his ear too on Sunday. The NP who saw him said it was just a cold. Christmas Eve, we went to church and Dillon was VERY fussy! That's not at all like my son! He slept through all of the Christmas Eve party at my mom's house. Autumn opened all his presents...he made out like a bandit! Autumn got a bike too which she LOVED! We went home, put out the cookies and carrots (my animal lover daughter had to remember the reindeer!) and went to bed. In the morning, we did presents and such. After presents, Dillon was still fussy but we weren't sure what was the matter. After a few hours, Shane noticed he was hot and took his temperature. He had a fever of 101.4!! So we gave him some infant Tylenol and called his pediatrician's on call number. The nurse told us how to treat his fever at home. We called Aunt Donna and said we won't make Christmas Dinner and Shane took Autumn to her mom's house. We knew we weren't going to be very fun with such a sick baby. His fever went up and down for a bit (thankfully not ever as high again) and after a while, he wouldn't eat at all! not a bottle or from me (we're still doing really well at exclusive breastfeeding)! At that point, we knew it was bad. We called the on call nurse again but when it took a while for her to call back, we hopped in the car and headed to Urgent Care. We were the only ones there so didn't really have to wait. The Urgent Care doc said he had a double ear infection!! So we went and got his Rx antibiotic filled (thank goodness Walgreens was open!) and went home. My sis came and hung (hanged?) out later in the evening for a bit and then we went to bed! The next week, the ear infection was still around so my mom took him to the doctor for me and got a longer Rx. He LOVED that antibiotic. And he was all better about 12 days later. It was definitely a memorable first Christmas but not at all what we had hoped for! This is what Santa got for Dillon...still loves it a month and a half later!

2 Months!

Dillon is just over 9 weeks old and just 5 days past 2 months old! He had his 2 month checkup today. He is now a little over 15 pounds (which is 97%-97% of all boys Dillon's age are smaller than that!), 24.5 inches (90%), and his head was 13 something I think?(50%). He is healthy as can be and doing all the things he's supposed to be! He had to get 2 shots in each leg, too. He screamed and Mommy cried! He's doing well after though with no fever and really no change in behaviour. All in all, it was a good doctor visit (other than those awful shots!).

We also went to the museum holiday open house this last weekend. It's an annual tradition for our family. We took both kids to see Santa. All of it was still mostly for Autumn since Dillon slept through everything but one feeding, one diaper change, and seeing Santa. Here are some pics:

Autumn tried on an old timey hat in the Pioneer Town part of the museum.

The Honeymoon is Over

Yep, that's right. Mine and Dillon's beautiful 8 weeks of just the two of us is over. On Monday (Dec 1), I went back to work and Dillon started daycare.

Work is crazy and busy. I'm exhausted by the end of the day. But I'm sure that if it wasn't the busiest time of the year, I would be thinking a lot more about my baby who I really would rather be with! Dec-Mar is the busiest time of year in my job. So I hit the timing perfectly!

Dillon seems to be adjusting OK to daycare. It's hard to tell as we think he might be coming down with his first cold. Daddy and I both are feeling a bit under the weather and Dillon isn't eating as much at daycare and seems to be a bit more listless at times. He's not running a fever though and he hasn't been so down that we feel he needs to go to the doctor. Dillon's daycare is supposed to be one of the best if not the best in town (according to his pediatrician!). They seem to be efficient and care about the kids. They remember all the kids' names and remember me and Dillon already. I hate leaving him there, though. There are about 10 kids in Dillon's class...of which Dillon is the youngest and the oldest is 6 months. There are 2 workers for these 10 kids. That's what the state of Texas requires. But that means that there may be 2 or 3 kids crying for something while they're tending to one child. I understand there's only so much they can do about that and I don't want to pay even more money than we're already paying but it still hurts to think of my baby laying there crying with no one coming to him! I go during lunch for now to nurse him so I do see him during the day. The separation is definitely taking its toll on Mommy, though!

Otherwise, Dillon is doing well. He is mostly still smiley and mellow! I am definitely blessed with this kid!

We are going to the museum's holiday open house this weekend...a family tradition. We are hoping to get both kids' pictures taken with Santa...it's much cheaper than the mall! Autumn is super excited about the museum and I'm excited about introducing this tradition to Dillon. Our house is all decorated but for the tree. We may go buy a tree this weekend and Autumn and I have talked about making some homemade decorations too. This will be our last year for a while to not worry about someone grabbing the bottom decorations. I love the holidays and I know I'll be SO ready for a few days home with my baby again!!

My Big Girl!

I intend for this blog to keep family and friends updated on BOTH of my kids. It's easy to get caught up in all that's new for my baby but I've got a little girl who is not so little anymore too!! Autumn turned 7 on Nov. 7. We went to Aunt Molly's and had a family party there to celebrate. She is absolutely in love with her baby brother right now! She helps me a lot and is mature enough I'm not afraid to leave the room while she's watching him. In fact, she's very good about coming and telling me that "he's starting to fuss." Here are some pics from her bday and from Halloween.

Firsts

Dillon is doing great! He's a very mellow baby and doesn't cry much at all. He's holding his head up very well and staying awake for longer periods of time. He's growing like a weed too! By our scale at home, he's up to 14 lbs! He just turned 7 weeks on Saturday. Since he's so young, he'll of course have many "firsts" this year. I thought I'd post some pics of some so far. Enjoy!

First bath


First Bottle


First Voting day and first trip to the mall (they had early voting at the mall) AND first time using his stroller


First Halloween




First trip to Aunt Molly's house and meeting Daddy's family

DILLON CHAS HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Ok I'm a little late in getting this up but Dillon has arrived! I'm hoping to get something a little more detailed (no, not TOO detailed) up soon but for now here is the basic info:
Dillon Chas was born October 04, 2008 at 9:04 PM via C-Section. He weighed 8 lb 10 oz and was 20.5 in long. We went in to be induced on Friday (10/3) afternoon and I was in labor for 28 hours until my doc finally recommended a C-Section for many reasons. Dillon is beautiful and perfect! We came home from the hospital on Tuesday morning (10/07). I am recovering well I think. Dillon is eating all the time and putting on weight and doing all the things a baby should do! He's actually pretty laid back and really only cries to eat. We're thrilled and in love with our new baby boy!!!

Finish Line

I'm hoping the finish line is in sight!! I am due 2 weeks from tomorrow. My doc won't let me go more than one week after my due date so we should have a baby in 3 weeks or less! Shane and I have been trying to get plenty of walking in to get him on his way but so far, it's not working!! It doesn't help that Shane gave me his cold so I haven't wanted to walk that much. The cold has made me more ready than ever to have him OUT! Also, we went on our hospital tour last Friday and then to Autumn's sibling class on Saturday. Those two visits to the hospital made us both (especially Shane!) antsy to bring home our little guy! As of my last doctor visit, I'm not making any progress toward having him. But I keep holding to that even if I'm making no progress RIGHT now, he'll be here in 3 weeks or less! Keep an eye out for my blog announcing his arrival! Although most (if not all) of you will hear about it via phone, text, or email before I manage to get a post up here!

Nursery pics

Well, after much work, anticipation, and gifts....the nursery is done! Shane refuses to put up my little shelf and I got my way on everything else so we're calling it done! Here are some pictures! I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

Autumn's room

We finished re-doing Autumn's room...it turned out SO cute!! Enjoy!

Dropped?

I think I dropped. For those that don't speak pregnant, that means the baby has made his way down and nuzzled his head into the pelvic area in preparation for birth. I've been feeling LOTS of pressure and I think the belly looks lower. We made a belly cast this weekend (I will post pics when it's painted and finished) and I tried to hold it up to me today and if the belly is in place, it's not high enough for the rest of it (my chest) to match me. So I'm pretty sure I must have dropped. I realize it means nothing in the scheme of when Dillon is coming but it's nice to know my body knows what to do!! Here's a pic of me today at 37w-Full term!

Belly Pic

Ok, here I am at 35 weeks and 4 days! I'm starting to be just huge!! My sweet friend Jenifer said she didn't see a difference between me like 2 days ago and me at my baby shower! I looked at the last picture and the picture today and she's wrong (though I appreciate her saying it anyway!)!!

T.I.S.

Torturous Itchy Syndrome-otherwise known as PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy). My sister, Lisa, and I like TIS better. Anyway, by any name, I've got it. Apparently it's a pregnancy rash that is more common in first time pregnancies (and now I'm less likely to have it in subsequent pregnancies) and in those resulting in a male child. It's no fun, though! I told my doc about it last Monday and by the weekend my lower legs were covered in a red, bumpy, itchy rash that I kept scratching open. It was horrible! My doctor recommended a lotion (because there's no "cure" other than having the baby!) that Shane and I bought and it was my only relief. Thankfully, a friend of mine online recommended a PUPPP relief soap. I found it online (http://www.rainiersoapworks.com/puppp_relief.htm if you're interested) and bought 2 bars. They came in the mail last Thursday and WOW!! I'm now using it once or twice a day and the rash and bumps and scabs have finally started to heal!! I think this and the morning sickness have been the two worst parts of this pregnancy!!

In other news, I'm now getting the belly ocean wave movement I've always heard about! It's so fun to just watch my belly move! He's running out of room in there with only about 4 weeks left till my due date!!!

I'm starting to feel ready to have this baby on the OUTside! I'm ready to see what he looks like and who he is and what kind of personality he has! I'm still enjoying feeling him move though and we still have several things to buy for him (no car seat yet!!), too. So 4 weeks seems like a pretty good amount of time...though check back with me in 2 weeks and we'll see!

Shower and Nursery

I had my baby shower this weekend. My friend Jocelyn generously had it at her house. My friend Jenifer, my sister Lisa, and my cousin Paula were the other hostesses. I can't express just how much I appreciate all that all of them did for me. They put a lot of hard work into it and I appreciate it so much! My shower was beautiful, the food was yummy, and I had a great time! Shane and I feel so blessed to have so many generous, kind friends who are helping us get ready for this little guy! We really were amazed by people's generosity!

We have been working on setting up our nursery. Shane painted it light green, installed some trim, painted the ceiling, painted the closet doors (we have horrid closet doors throughout the house), and just generally redid the room. Of course he refinished the floors all through the house several weeks ago with his best friend.

Shane, Autumn, and I put together his crib last weekend...she is so excited about her baby brother!

After the shower yesterday, Shane and I have been able to get the nursery a lot more put together! My mom made INCREDIBLE bedding, curtains, cushions for our rocker, and a lamp! She has decided she is also going to make a diaper stacker. Shane and I spent our afternoon putting together the stuff that we got at the shower that required assembly. I have to say it's crazy having a baby swing in the living room (not to mention the bassinet in my bedroom)!! I can't believe we're finally here...that we're really planning on bringing a baby boy into this house to live in just a few short months!! I'll get some pictures online once I finish getting things more organized in there.