Daddy Home, 1st Vacation, and Three Months Old!

Holy Cow! A lot has certainly happened since Jude's two month check-up. 

First Up = Brian came home! He was finally able to meet Jude in person! We were so excited to pick him up at the airport and thankful to another passenger who took pictures and texted them to me afterward! We had a few days back that included a quick check-in at base, a thrown together welcome home ceremony, and finally a welcome home party at our house. We then enjoyed a little bit of my first mother's day and decided to head out that night for our vacation.

Vacation = We drove through the night (which turned out to be a GREAT idea with Jude & the girls) and arrived Monday morning in Tinley Park. We were able to have lunch with my mom that day, head to Gibson the next day for a quick "Hello" and then flew to WA on Wednesday. We really loved and enjoyed our trip to WA and miss it more and more every day. While we were there we saw friends, went to Olympia Farmer's Market, went to some favorite restaurants, went to Pike's Place Market, and checked in on our house. When we returned to IL we spent a few days in Tinley Park (transitioning time zones again), a week in Gibson, and then a week in Tinley Park. Jude was able to meet most of his family members and we were able to welcome home Brian many times over. 

3 Months Old = While on vacation Jude turned 3 months old and will soon (one week) be 4 months old and we will be going to his 4 month appointment on our anniversary (the 25th). Not looking forward to the second round of vaccinations, but will be taking advantage of his sleepiness by going out for an anniversary lunch. 

We were so glad to see all of our family, but thrilled to be home and start some normalcy (as much as the Army & ED provide that is). 

Also, before we left for vacation... we got a new car!! Plenty of room for the whole family!! :D 

2 Month Check-Up

Today was Jude's 2 month check-up (only 10 days after he turned 2 months old... oh well...). He is doing well and is in the 80th percentile in his height, weight, and head circumference. He passed all his milestones, the doctor is impressed by his muscle tone & curiosity, and he got his first real set of immunizations. He got three shots and an oral vaccine and I surprised myself by not crying (though I did tear up a little bit). Poor Jude was so upset and it just broke my heart. He got over it rather quickly and we spent our 15-20 min wait to make sure he didn't have a reaction visiting the nurses at the ED and then the offices. Since being home he has been doing well, eating, and is just snoozing on the couch currently.

In the past few days we have also made movements to my sweet boy growing up. I have finally taken apart his little crib that he was still taking some naps in, boxed up all of his 0-3 month clothes, and he is really moving along on his checklist for milestones. I am so proud of my little boy!

In approximately a week (in the military we are never sure of an exact date) Brian will be home and finally able to meet his son! I am so excited and cannot wait to see them together. I plan to take lots of photos and maybe some video! Soon after that we will be headed to Illinois and Seattle. SO EXCITED!! I'm glad this 8 months is finally coming to a close! :)

Doctor Visits

Over the last 7 weeks of Jude's life we have been going to doctor appointments outside the normal 2 week and 2 month appointment. The first extra appointment was a one month check up. The reason for this was that Jude had some overlapping of his skull plates since birth (this is not normal especially not for a planned c-section baby). At this appointment it was determined that his head looked a little better, but he was being referred to a neuro-surgeon. Also at this appointment they tested his hearing again in the office (when born he didn't pass in one of his ears). In the office he failed again in one ear and thus was also referred to an Audiologist for an in-depth hearing test. 

Fast forward to this past week. Tuesday we had an appointment at the Audiologist and Thursday with the Neuro-Surgeon. The audiologist needed Jude to be asleep during the procedure (which could take 30 min. - 3 hours) so I was told to keep him awake and not feed him until I was at the hospital for the test. So, the morning was LOTS of fun trying to keep Jude awake (he was not a fan..)

 All in all the hearing test went well. He stayed asleep most of the time and although it took 3 hours we got positive results! Jude can hear very well out of both ears, has no fluid and great eardrum movement! YAY!! This marked his first electrodes squished on his head....

Next was the Neuro-Surgeon. We went in and first saw the PA who said it looked okay and his spine looked well, but we needed to have an x-ray done to rule out craniosynostosis (is a condition in which one or more of the fibrous sutures in an infant skull prematurely fuses by turning into bone thereby changing the growth pattern of the skull). So, we went across the street and Jude had his first x-ray.

He did fabulous and we got the images we needed on the first try. We went back to the doctor's office and the doctor gave him the all clear. We just need to wash him for any facial abnormalities or orbital socket abnormalities in the very off chance the plates did fuse. 

Following all these doctor visits and good news we (my mom & I) went to go see the Easter bunny for Jude's first Easter photos. Here is one of just him right after the Easter Bunny. 

SO STINKING CUTE!!!

Brian and I are thrilled that Jude is doing well and has been cleared by all his doctors. No more doctor appointments for Jude until his 2 month appointment (which is a little later then 8 weeks). This one will be his first immunizations (aside from the 2 he got when he was first born). I hope I can make it through this without crying myself. HA HA HA!! :(

6 Weeks Old!

Today our little man turned 6 weeks old! I cannot believe that he is a month and a half old already! He is such a precious little boy and we are so proud of all the changes he has gone through and how big he is getting! We love him to pieces!!!!

One Month Old...

So, last week our little bundle of joy turned one month old and then two days later he passed the 30 day mark. (The 30 day mark was a big deal for Brian, because beyond that date he would no longer need a spinal tap for every fever that takes him the ED). We had a doctor appointment and learned that our "little" boy is not so little. He weighed in at 11 pounds 1 ounce! Wow! I am telling you this little boy will be the best for toning my arms and building some muscle. He did very well in the doctor office and was so calm. I hope that his two month appointment will be the same, but I know it won't since that is when he will be getting all his immunizations. Ugh! I may need to bring someone with me to that appointment incase I don't hold it together when my poor baby cries in pain. 

Then on Friday I had my post-op appointment and it went rather well. I am only 3 lbs. above my pre-pregnancy weight so my goal of being back to weight by the time Brian comes home should be no problem. Now I just need to tone up my pouch, but I think I want to give that a little more time so that I know I am fully healed. I go back to the doctor the 11th for my birth control and I'm thrilled we can get it done and underway before Brian is home! 

Now, I am just waiting for Brian's parents to arrive (should be here in about an hour) and looking forward to a week with them. Everyone is sleeping so soundly right now it really is sweet. I guess I should get done whatever I need to do still while the house is quiet. 

Single Parent...

So, today was my second day as a single parent (not to say I don't have support from my husband, but meaning I am taking care of Jude alone). It has been a slight adjustment, but luckily for me I tried to take on most of the work of caring for Jude while my mom was still here. I feel like I am being torn in a million different directions and that I have fully changed into a mom. 

I am trying to spread love on the girls as well as Jude, keep the house looking decent, feed myself, and trying to do tummy time with Jude and doing everything I can to help him continue to grow and learn. I have turned into a mom in the aspect that I go to bed (or at least upstairs) at 9 or 10pm and I eat dinner at 5 or 6pm. Oh how our lives have changed since this sweet little one has joined our family. I cannot believe that in two days Jude will be 3 weeks old! HOLY COW! Time is really starting to fly with Jude around and I am hoping that before I know it Brian will be home and our little family will be complete. 

Loving my life, loving the warm weather, and loving that I can get stuff done while my little one snoozes! I just hope all this snoozing today doesn't mean a rough night ahead... 

"WE MARCH AT DAWN!"

And then there were 5!

Sorry I have been MIA for so long, but I was busy having my sweet little baby boy Jude! :D 

On Wednesday, February 19th at 1810 Jude was born! It was a planned c-section that was delayed from 0730 to about 1730. So, it left me with a full day at the hospital just waiting for my baby boy to be born. This made for some stress, because I was trying to keep Brian up to date so that I could talk to him before and after the c-section. The actual procedure went rather well with little complications. Our little boy entered the world with a loud shrieking scream and was measured, weighed, given shots, and cleaned all before I was out of surgery myself. I was finally introduced to Jude and quickly called Brian to share the news and introduce him to our sweet baby! That night I was transferred into the Mother Baby Unit and was up walking around by 0300 that night.

The recovery process in the hospital went well though I wish I wouldn't have relied so much on the hospital bed my last day at the hospital, because when I got home I received a rude awakening when trying to move in & out of my bed. We were released by 1515 on Friday, February 21st and headed home to start our new lives. 

Through the days up until now it has been a great journey and we are doing exceptionally well. I have been extremely thankful to my mom who has been with me and I will be beyond sad to see her go on Sunday. 

Some other milestones we have had include my staple removal a week after being discharged (it really wasn't as bad as I anticipated). The scar looks good according to everyone and now I am just left with some lingering tape residue that is slowly dissipating. Also, yesterday was Jude's 2 week check-up. Everything went well and he grew and gained his weight back from birth. He is a healthy, alert, strong, and wiggly little boy and the doctor couldn't be happier. We will have another appointment in two weeks to check on his continued growing and then not another appointment until 2 months where he will get... GULP... shots! 

More news... as I say good-bye to my mom tomorrow (BOO!) I will begin getting ready for more visitors as Brian's parents are scheduled to visit in about 2 weeks! I am loving the visitors and loving even more that I am able to get ready for them with little to no pain! Now if my demanding little man will just let me do the chores without wanting cuddles! :) 

Oh, I also forgot that the pup-dogs LOVE their baby brother so very much!