Great night!

Brooke was SO good last night! She only got fussy when she was hungry. She WAS eating like every hour, but she ate kinda crappy all day yesterday, so I think she was just making up for it. I also think she might be going through another growth spurt because she's been eating like a pig today, too. Between eating last night, she would just lay on the couch beside us and hang out. It was great. Then she went to sleep at 11 and slept until 5:15! Drank her bottle and was sleeping again before 6! YAY! I went back to sleep and when Ryan woke up around 7, he came in and climbed up on the bed and I put cartoons on for him and slept until a little after 8 when Brooke woke up. I'm feeling pretty rested today : ).

We had a bit of a scare yesterday. Let me rewind a little bit. On Monday, I went up to get the urine bag for the sample for Brooke and the doctor said he wanted bloodwork instead because it would tell him more. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read - or reread - my last entry : ). So I took her for bloodwork that afternoon. It was hell. They did a heel stick and she SCREAMED for 5 minutes straight until she passed out asleep. It took over 10 minutes for her to get all the blood she needed. That night we had dinner at my mom and dad's...I had spent the day over there and Doug came over after work. While he was at home getting changed before heading over, the lab called and said something was wrong with one of the tubes of blood....Doug couldn't remember exactly what they said, but he said the word started with an "h"....and we had to take her in again. GRRRR. I was NOT happy about that. I planned on taking her back yesterday afternoon when Doug got home.

So Doug gets home from work yesterday and right then the phone rang. It was a nurse from the ped.'s office saying we had to take Brooke for repeat bloodwork RIGHT AWAY because her potassium levels were super high. I asked the nurse what that could mean and she said she had no idea @@. She said to take her and the doctor would be in touch. Doug took her right up (I hadn't showered yet, plus I really didn't want to go through that with her again.). This time, they took it from her arm and it went much smoother. So we waited and waited and waited for the doctor to call and he never did. A couple friends on my email loops told me a family member had had a similar experience with bloodwork and high potassium levels and that the results were just skewed and it was a false alarm, so we started thinking that was probably it.

This morning I called the ped.'s office and the results still weren't in. The receptionist said if something was wrong, the doctor would have called. (It's 2:30pm and I still haven't heard anything, so I'm assuming no news is good news.) I finally decided to try looking some info up on the internet (I was too scared last night...didn't want to freak myself out, not knowing exactly what was going on) and found that when the blood from a specimen is hemolyzed (there's that "h" word!), which means thick in some spots, it can create false results like high potassium levels. So that must be all it was, especially since we still haven't heard anything @@. I'll probably be calling there soon just to double check.

I actually have an appointment scheduled for Brooke tomorrow for her reflux. I think her Zantac needs increased (due to weight gain) because she's starting to have those painful episodes again like she was having before she went on it. I can't wait to see how much she weighs!

Early Intervention also came on Monday to evaluate Brooke for delays. Developmentally, they expect her to at least be at a 1 month level (her adjusted age). Overall, she scored at 3 months! So she's only 1 month behind her actual age, which is freaking awesome! She didn't qualify for services (obviously), just tracking which we're going to do every 3 months for now. One of the things that placed her at a 3 month level was that she wasn't smiling or cooing yet. Well, Monday night she started smiling! She's also starting to make some little cooing noises. I love it : ). She's not smiling too often yet, but I know it's coming! I haven't gotten a picture of a smile yet, but I did get it on video.

That's all for now! I have some pics to post soon! And here's that video:
http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk178/JenDZR99/?action=view&current=Aug4BrookeBouncer2.flv
The smile is right at the beginning. And please excuse mine and my mom's excitedness. LOL.

Jinxed

I must have jinxed it when I said in my last entry that the nights were getting easier. She was just tricking us apparently. We've had some rough ones since then and we're also having a bit of trouble getting her to go to sleep and stay asleep come "bedtime". There for awhile she'd by out by 11. Now she sometimes still is, but then is awake 10 minutes after laying her down. Very, very frustrating. I really hope this whole nighttime business gets easier as she gets older!

Some good news! I called the ped's office Tuesday to get a refill for her diuretic called in. The nurse called me back to see what the medicine was and why she was on it @@ (<--eyeroll). I told her and she asked if she was supposed to be on it longterm and I told her the NICU said her pediatrician would take her off of it (which I asked him about it at her first visit and he never gave me an answer @@). So she said she'd talk to the doctor and call me back. She called back and put him on the phone. He said to take her off it and see how she does. Make sure her eyelids, hands, feet, etc. aren't puffy, especially in the mornings and that she's not having shortness of breath, but she probably doesn't need it anymore. So her last dose was Tuesday morning and so far, so good! He did say about getting a urine sample just to be sure and we still have to do that. But I think she's good to go : ).

Okay, I actually have some pictures to post!

We finally got him some clip on shades for his glasses!

Action shot!

Pretty sure this is a "gas" smile...

Yeah...definitely gas. LOL! J/K..sorta. She is starting to smile a little here and there, I think, though!

Pretty much sums up our evenings around here...

She loves looking at this butterfly! The back of the wings are black and white pattern, which really holds her attention.

Biggie girl with her Taggies doll. She loves sitting up on the couch like this! She's like right in between 2 "cushions" so it helps hold her in place.

Here she is 3 months ago with the same doll!

A very nice mom on the cloth diaper message board sent me this shirt (along with some other neat stuff) while I was still pregnant with Brooke! You should check out her site: http://www.punkrockpadding.com/ : )

4 months old!!

Brooke turned 4 months old yesterday!

He'll almost always cooperate for a picture with Brooke! Brooke, however, had had enough of the camera. LOL.

You can see her 3 month picture here (scroll down).

And a few other random pics...

Her first shades! Ryan had a pair when he was about this size. His fit better because he had a bigger head! : X LOL.

I think we need to get this kid in gymnastics! LOL.

:::knock on wood::: But ever since Wednesday night, Brooke hasn't been so cranky in the evenings. She still has her moments, but it's not constant and it's easier to calm her down. Hopefully this phase will be totally passed soon!

Better night!

Last night was the best night in a long time! Brooke was a tiny bit fussy between 6:30 and 7:30. Then she pretty much good up until about 9:00. She never got inconsolable like she normally does. Hopefully that's start to pass....please?! LOL. Even if it was just a fluke thing, it was still nice to get a break! Doug's mom is keeping Ryan and Brooke tomorrow night so we can go play Bingo with my mom and dad. I hope Brooke is good like last night.

She ended up going to sleep about a quarter to 11 and slept until 3. Then she drank her bottle and went right back to sleep! Hallelujah! She woke up fussing at 5 and I put her in bed with me (this happens way more than it ever did with Ryan) until she woke again about a quarter to 7 because she was hungry. Ryan was up, too. Now Brooke's being a fussbutt today.

Here's a funny I've been meaning to post. This is one smart baby (I know, who *doesn't say that about their kids, lol?). When she's fussing, a lot of times I'll try giving her the binky to see if she attacks it because she's hungry. Most of the time anymore, she won't because she knows what it is. But if I take her and lay her back in my arms and stick the burp cloth under her chin like I'm about to feed her, *then she'll attack the pacifier (if she's actually hungry). It's so funny and makes me laugh every time!

Update time

Sorry I haven't posted in so long! It seems these days a lot of times when I'm sitting at the computer, I'm holding a fussy, squirmy baby. I'm behind on emails and everything. I'm really sorry I haven't gotten any new pictures up yet! I have some to post now. I'm going to TRY to be better!

On to the kids. Brooke is still eating like a little piggy. I honestly can't even remember if I posted her last weight (and don't feel like going to look), but last Wednesday the home health nurse made her last visit and she was 8lbs. 4oz. I know she's pushing 9lbs. now! And starting to get some chub on her, which I LOVE ; ). She is driving us absolutely insane in the evenings, usually between 8 and 10, but sometimes she starts sooner. I don't know of it's colic or gas or what, but it SUCKS. It's hard to get her calmed down at times and even if we are able to, it doesn't usually last long. She's been asleep by 11 most nights, but the past few mornings has not wanted to go back to sleep after drinking her early morning bottle. This morning she was up from 3:30 to almost 5:30. :::yawn:::

Ryan had a dentist appointment yesterday. It was his 3rd time going. The first time, I was allowed back with him and the dentist just looked in his mouth quick. Ryan screamed. The last time, in January, he went back by himself and it was just a quick look and I believe they brushed his teeth. He screamed again. Yesterday he had his first cleaning, fluoride, and exam and he did awesome! Cooperated so well and didn't make a peep : ). I was/am SO proud of him! He got a good report from the dentist. I always worry a little because his teeth *are discolored from being a preemie. It's funny, though...his front teeth especially have actually gotten LESS yellow the older he gets : ). Hopefully his permanent teeth weren't affected, but we won't know until they come in.

He asks to go to school nearly EVERY day. I found out yesterday that his first day back is August 19th, the day before his birthday! He also asks nearly every day to "go to Ryan's birthday party". LOL. He is so excited for that! He's already telling people he's 5. LOL!

Okay, here's some pictures! I have more (older ones) that I'll hopefully get up tomorrow!

I LOVE this outfit.

Taking a bath is sometimes the ONLY thing that will calm her down (for a little while) in the evenings.

She outgrew her newborn Proraps! She now fits in to the smalls!

Dressed for church. We went for the first time in 4 years on Sunday!

Sacked out on the chair the other night.

In one of my many baby carriers, the Beco Obi.

Ryan playing basketball on my mom and dad's deck. I have NO idea what gave him the idea to stand in the clothes basket. LOL.

Hanging out on my mom and dad's couch yesterday.

Getting some nakie time today. Look at the chub she's getting : ).

6 hours and 40 minutes

That's roughly how long Brooke slept last night! Her longest stretch yet! Up until now the longest she went was about 5 hours and that was only once (normally she's up after 4-4.5). Only down side was she woke just before 6 to eat and no point in going back to bed after that, but I got almost 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep....woohoo! I don't expect her to do that every night or even every other night, but even every once in awhile will be awesome!

We're home!

Well, we've been home since Sunday, but I haven't really had time to post until now. Probably in another 30 seconds, Brooke will start screaming, though...just like she's done almost every other time today that I've gone to do something : /.

Our trip was fun! The ride down went great...very little traffic, which always puts me more at ease. We stopped for a pee break once and got to Bev's just in time for Brooke to eat. It took us just under 3 hours to get there. In a nutshell, this was our weekend:

Thursday night, Doug, my sister, and I went to the mall after supper. My sister and I split up from Doug pretty fast (he hates shopping with me, lol...not that I really bought anything). We took separate vehicles so we just met back at the house later. I ended up getting Ryan a new hat from The Children's Place for $2.97...can't beat that : ). Then we hit Babies'R'Us and I got Brooke a couple outfits for next summer in size 12 months (hopefully they fit) and a sleep positioner for her to sleep on that would keep her on a slight incline (she ended up sliding right down off of it all night and we took it back the next day).

Friday we went to Hands-On House in the early afternoon. There was a pretty big group of us....Me, Doug, Ryan, my parents, my sister, Bev, and Bev's ex-daughter-in-law and her daughter (who I think is 6.5?) and 2 year old son. It was a lot of fun! Pics coming later. Late afternoon, Diane and I headed back over to the mall for her to return some lip rings she bought and then to Babies'R'Us so I could return the sleep positioner. I also got Brooke 2 more outfits. Friday night, we went to play mini-golf. I almost didn't go because Brooke was sooo fussy (the story of our evenings lately), but I was talked in to it. I put her in the sling and she was good for awhile, but I ended up leaving halfway through to go feed her. Ryan had a blast and has been asking to go play again ever since : ).

Saturday was mostly a "lazy" day. Except about 3:30, Doug, my sister, and I went to Target. We got Ryan a couple pairs of shorts (one camo pair, like his daddy always wears) and a pair of jeans for school and Brooke a couple sleepers. I also got another pair of flip flops exactly like the pair I got there last year that were now shot. YAY : ). On the way back, we stopped at Sonic and Ryan and I got Cream Slushes and Doug and Diane got Sonic Blasts. We don't have a Sonic! Not even in Altoona (an hour away) where a lot of the stores/restaurants we don't have are (KMart, Target, Olive Garden, etc.). That night, Bev had a cookout and had some other people over. We ended up making a run to Rita's (another place we don't have) for Italian ice (I got a gelati....yum) and Dairy Queen.

Sunday was the day we left to come home. We got a later start than planned because we were waiting for Brooke to finish eating. Then we got lost on our way to get on to the turnpike and that added an extra 40 minutes or so to our trip. Not long after getting on to the turnpike, it started raining. More like pouring...buckets. And it was SO freaking windy. We had to cross a bridge over the Susquehanna River. It was so windy that the car kept getting blown. Doug said, "What the heck is this? A tornado?" and I yelled at him to shut up, lol. (My dad said later that he pretty much said the same thing to my mom and told her to keep an eye out.) I was SO, SO scared. And we couldn't pull over while on the bridge. Right after crossing the bridge, the driver's side wiper blade SNAPPED! Thank God there was an underpass right ahead that Doug was able to pull under and thank God he was able to switch the passenger's side blade over to the driver's side so he could see to drive. It didn't rain too much longer after that. By the time we'd been driving about 2.5 hours, Brooke was ready to eat again. We stopped at a rest stop and took a pee break and fed her and then it was a straight shot home. We got home about 20 'til 8. It's good to be home, but I miss everyone already! Ryan has been asking to go back before we even got home. LOL. He had a blast.

I guess that wasn't really a nutshell, but oh well! I'll try to get pics up soon.

P.S. We now have an 8lb. (2oz.) baby, as of yesterday!!

More later.