"Best Baby on the Block"

First I would like to start by saying "Thank You" to my friend Heather who introduced me to Dr. Karp, author of Best Baby on the Block. Dr. Karp teaches the 5 S's. Swaddle, Swing, Shush, Suckle, & Side. The best technique for us is the Shush! This stuff really works. If your baby is upset and crying (and you've done everything like feed, change, burp, etc.) bust out the 5 S's and wa-la...you have the best baby on the block. So thank you Heather.

Baby "A" (that's what Robby calls him) loves to be swaddled!

GROWING LIKE WEEDS:
Anthony Ellis is growing so so so fast...we can't keep up with him. His newborn sleepers are getting too tight, we've already had to adjust the straps in his carseat, and most of his beanies won't stay on his head. He is growing like the weeds (or grass) in our front yard! Seriously...check out this picture of our grass growing into our flower beds. Robby won't do anything to the yard in the winter. This is actually a picture of our flower bed but you can't see the stone that lines it because the grass is crazy. Everyone else around here is mowing and still taking care of their lawn, but not us!!! It will be a sad day over spring break when we get out their and beautify our yard...Good Luck Rob!!!


A couple of weeks ago my Mimi and Aunt Diana (from Atlanta) and some other cousins came by and brought me lunch. They stayed awhile and chatted. It is nice to have that adult interaction now and then. My parents are coming this Sunday...and I can't wait! My dad hasn't seen Anthony since the hospital. They are staying all week, so that will be nice.
Mimi (great grandma) and Anthony

HOLY MAN:
Anthony has been to church 4 times now. He is so good when we go. Of course I feed him before we leave so he will sleep the whole time. I do fear during the service that he will have one of his "explosive" poops. They are so loud and he grunts as he's doing it. They really are scary...Robby and I jump every time..and then laugh :) They are pretty funny. Here are some pictures of us leaving for church.

This was last Sunday (well Saturday..we go to church on Saturday nights. 1-18-09


This was two Sunday's ago 1-11-09


Doesn't Dad look excited about having his picture taken? Man...I really need some curtains on those windows!

Ok, I tried to take some pictures of Anthony (like I was a professional photographer or something) so I could get my birth announcements ordered and sent out. Here is how they turned out. EMILY...I need your help!!!







Anthony is 6 weeks old TODAY! Below is a picture of his 1 month old picture. I forgot to put a sign next to him that said 1 month (EMILY's great idea that she did with Bella every month). Oh well, this is his one month old picture.
Be good for Mama!


This is how he really felt about it!!!

This has been a really busy week. Robby was home Monday for MLK day, so we packed up and went shopping to Academy, James Avery, Dillards, and a couple other places. We also went to eat at BJ's on Bay Area (pretty good). I took a bottle and fed Anthony at the table. He was so good all day. And I packed a nipple this time! [Last Sat. night we went to eat at Mario's and I packed a bottle but forgot to pack a nipple...needless to say, we were getting our food to go and speeding home with a screaming baby on board]. I will never forget nipples again. Wish I could have just breastfed him there at the table, but that is another story! Tuesday we stayed home and watch the Obamaration all day. Wednesday I had my 6 week follow up with Dr. Nesbit. Robby's Mimi went with me to help since it was my first time out with Anthony without Robby (Robby is SuperDAD). She was very helpful. Took a nipple with me...so it was a good day:) We discussed getting pregnant again (whole other story...won't get into that now). No, I am not pregnant again...yet. Got to take a picture of Anthony with Dr. Nesbit (since we didn't get to at the hospital).
Dr. Nesbit and Anthony


Today I have an appointment with a lactation consultant. Anthony and I have been a little confussed lately with the breastfeeding, so we are going for help. I have been pumping and bottle feeding him, which works well, but really want to get this breastfeeding down. So we will be doing that today.

Here are some more pictures of his bath time. These are last night. He LOVES taking a bath! Beware...nude pics!




Our sweet little boy!

Sleepless Nights

Well, this is a much needed update on Anthony. I know everyone's been waiting patiently for me to blog! Sorry it's taken soooo long to do so. This being-a-mom thing is a lot of work! There have been many sleepless night around this house...but lots of help, which I'm very thankful for!

As most of you know, Anthony was born on December 11th (a scheduled c-section). He was born at 7:19 am, and was 6 lbs - 2 oz and 18 in long. Yes, he was a little thing, but was also 3 1/2 weeks early too. His actually due date was just this Monday, the 5th of January...and I bet he's just about 8 lbs now. Dad, Robby, was of course in the room during the procedure and enjoyed watching the docs cut and push and pull on me (he loves all that bloody stuff). He was amazed by all the layers they went through and how they just yanked them back to get to the next layer. At one point I asked Robby if they had started yet and his response was "Oh yeah, you are already cut wide open". Then I quickly told him to shut up and not talk like that again, as I started breathing very fast to keep myself from fainting. Getting the epidural and getting the baby out was the fast part. Putting me back together is what took so long. As they finished sewing me back up, Robby went with Anthony to the transitional nursery to watch him and to see if he needed to be admitted to the NICU. They kept him in there all day (until about 5 pm) to give him a chance to correct some breathing patterns on his own, but then decided to go ahead and send him on to the NICU. Of course when they came and told me, I cried...even though I knew that was probably going to happen before he was born. I was still in the prep room until late that night because there were so many mom's in the hospital that they didn't have any rooms available. Finally one came open and they moved me to a regular room. As they took me on the gurney to my room, they stopped off at the NICU and strolled me in to see Anthony. He was so precious! Just this sweet little boy lying there with oxygen over his face and breathing so fast. His little immature lungs had just not developed all the way yet.

So to make a very very long story (11 days worth) shorter:

Anthony stayed in the NICU for 11 days. He had to overcome many obstacles including: keeping his temp on his own, deep breathing instead of shallow breaths, to come off the oxygen, food intake up and keeping it down. He was on a feeding tube at first, but came off that pretty quick. Robby and I went to see him everyday after I was discharged from the hospital. That was the hardest thing to do - leave the hospital without my baby. I cried a lot those 11 days. We would wake up every morning at 3 am to get dressed and go see him in the NICU and to be there for the 5 am feeding. Then my mom and I would go see him again around noon, then Robby and I again around 5 pm. I felt like the hospital was my second home :(

Ok, I have to say this...even though Rob always tells me there are some things you just don't say!!! Every morning that we went to the NICU at 4 am, you had to go through the ER because the front doors don't open til 6 am. This still haunts me to this day!!! Every morning as Robby and I walked through the ER, someone...and I mean someone would say to me, "Oh, it's about that time, isn't it?" or "Are you ready to have that baby?" or as I would leave, "oh, was it a false alarm?" I would be so self-conscious, it would take me 10 minutes in the morning to find something in my closet that would make me look a little less pregnant. Not only the workers in the ER said something, but a few friends (that didn't know I had had the baby actually said something as well, like "Not yet?!" Man, I couldn't believe I looked so pregnant after I had the baby. My tummy was actually round and hard. It looked like I was 5 months. But it's gone now! Now it's just flabby.

Ok, this is the good part! On December 23rd, two days before Christmas, we got to bring Anthony home from the NICU. It was the best Christmas present Robby and I could have ever asked for! We were so blessed to have him with us and our family during those special days. Anthony went to Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve (his very first church service) and again to Mass that very next Saturday. Everyone at church just thought he was so cute. We took lots of pictures over Christmas (which you will get to enjoy below).

I have had lots of help from my mom and mother-n-law, Cindy. Cindy, stayed for 3 nights and got up with me for each feeding and changed his diaper and rocked him back to sleep so I could get as much sleep as possible...which was awesome! Thanks Cindy. And then my mother came for a week (just left yesterday) and cooked dinner for us every night and cleaned my house...thanks mom! Yes, Anthony has his days and nights mixed up (I'll accept any advice you have to fix it). We are working on that right now. I can't wait til he sleeps 8 hours! When does that happen??????????????? Anthony loves to be held (oops) that could be a bad habit I think...but it's hard to put him down. And he sleeps so good in my arms. He'll probably sleep with us til he's 18! And he loves his baths. The warm water actually calms him. I haven't gotten a chance to give him a bath yet..Rob loves to do it. I won't even go there with the diaper changing experiences...just put it this way, I hold the record of using 5 clean diapers in one changing! Go Me!!! Rob's just at 4! Oh, and when you see me, I might MOO at you...so watch out. I am a cow now and milk my breast all day long. You should see me hooked up to the boob machine, it's pretty funny looking, but I promise I won't post a picture of it!

Well, it has officially taken me about 4 hours to type this blog and I haven't even uploaded the pictures yet (which will take another 4 hours I'm sure). I don't get to sit at the computer for long periods of time anymore because I'm feeding or changing a diaper or letting the dogs in and out. Which, by the way, Holly is Mommy #2. Brady is interested in Anthony but just looks at him and walks away. Holly will actually block me and Robby from coming to get Anthony (like it's her baby)! She just can't get enough of him. She gives him several kisses a day and sleeps by his side all day. Anthony and Holly will be the bestest friends ever! Ok, now I want to cry because of "Marley and Me". If you haven't seen the movie you must go see it this weekend, well that's if you are a dog person! First movie Robby's ever cried in...my gosh, he'd kill me if he knew I told y'all that! Don't say anything. He doesn't read my blogs...I don't think! Everyone told Robby and me that Holly and Brady would be put on the back burner and left outside after the baby comes...but they really are part of our family and NOTHING has changed, especially after watching "Marley and Me". The one and only thing that bothers me about the dogs is their hair. I have pulled several dog hairs out of Anthony's mouth during a feeding...soon he'll cough up a hair ball!
Ok, enough for now. Enjoy the pictures!


The night before Anthony came...it snowed! What a miracle!


On our way to the hospital to have our baby boy! Dec. 11th, 2008

Getting prepared for delivery!

Robby in his scrubs! He sure would make a cute doctor!


Epidural is in and curtain is up!


7:19 am, our little boy is born.


First Family Photo


Isn't that a pretty smile?


Just arrived to the NICU


The Grandma's eating my yummy hospital food!


Those early morning feedings...don't we look tired?


Nanny Ginger


Daddy and Anthony


Dec. 23rd...going home!


Proud Mommy getting to take my baby home!

December 11, 2008

Anthony's birthday will be December 11, 2008...so mark your calendars!!! He will be born around 7 am that Thursday morning. Yesterday, Monday, I went back to the doctor...remember we were going to see if we could have the c-section moved to the 15th. That didn't seem to work out with any of the doctors, so they kept the c-section scheduled for the 11th. We are both fine with that and believe that Anthony will be just fine! We could use all the prayers you can send our way - in hopes that Anthony's lungs will be fine and he will only need minimal help. He will be born at 36 1/2 weeks that Thursday. We are very excited about having a little Christmas baby, and having him early will give me a few more weeks (with pay :) to stay home with him. I have pre-op the 10th (Wednesday) so my last day of work will be that Tuesday...one week from today. I still haven't finished all my long-term sub plans so I have a lot to do in one week. Still a little more Christmas shopping, but did get most of that done over the Thanksgiving break. Anthony's room is ready (as you can see from the pictures). And my belly feels (and looks) ready too! I feel like I'm carrying a very heavy basketball around. I just can't believe how big he's gotten...and I'm delivering 3 1/2 weeks early.

I will be making sure that LOTS of pictures get taken at the hospital so I can post them on my blog when I get home. Wish me luck...and prayers for the baby and my recovery.

Oh, I have my school shower on the 4th and a coaches shower on the 6th...so more pics to come this weekend :)



Couldn't pass up all the cute Christmas outfits: one for Christmas eve eve, one for Christmas eve, one for Mass, and one for Christmas day :)


Anthony's bedroom


Another picture of his bedroom


Here's that heavy basketball!


It's not that bad...really!

Anthony is coming sooner than we thought!!!

First off...THANK GOD FOR A WEEK OFF!!! I was really starting to struggle around the school this past week. Man, when the kids go home at 3, I am DONE for the day. Anthony is getting so heavy and weighing me down...and my bladder! I can't believe it is already Wednesday and I only have 4 more days before I have to go back to work and stand on my feet all day.

Well, Monday Robby and I went to see both doctors, first to Dr. Rowe. We looked at the placenta and of course it was still there...in the way. He has been SOOOOO optimistic all these visits, but this time he got realistic on us. He said that he WOULD NOT go one day after 37 weeks of pregnancy to take the baby for my health and the baby's. It gets too risky past 37 weeks with bleeding and then having a big mess on your hands (or his hands :). However, taking the baby that soon would cause some lung complications. White males seem to develop their lungs later than females. So he might have to get some oxygen treatments because of what he called "wet lungs". We were a little shocked (thinking he would say more like 38 weeks) but he assured us that this was the best way to go and the baby would be fine. He already weighs 5 lbs. 7 oz., so with a few more weeks (and gaining 1/2 lb a week) he should be around 7 lbs. Dr. Rowes window was between 36 weeks (Dec. 8th) and 37 weeks (Dec. 15th) for the c-section and that my OBGYN (now Dr. Nisbet) would schedule the appt and let us know what the date would be. We made it pretty clear that we would like to have him at 37 weeks so his lungs could have another week to develop.

After Doctor Rowes appt, we went across the hall to Dr. Nisbet. She agreed with Rowe and said she would set up the c-section and let us know the next day when it would be. She talked to us a little about the procedure (or major surgery that is) and wants to see me every week until the surgery.

Well, we were out and about doing some Christmas shopping yesterday and getting last minute baby stuff done, when we got the phone call. Dr. Nisbet had scheduled the appt for Dec. 11th (Thursday) at 7 am. We were a little concerned about that date and put a call back in to the Dr. about moving it to the 37th week. Dr. Nisbet did call us back and discussed she would be out of town the next week and said she would try to see if Dr. Files and Rowe could do it. At this point we really don't care who delivers the baby since Phillips was suppose to and is no longer working there. Dr. Rowe is the closest doctor to us and we would really feel much more confortable if he could be the one doing it. They have expressed their concern about having 2 doctors during the surgery because of where the placenta is placed low and in front. If they cut into the placenta there will be a "bloody mess" on their hands. That is what they said. YIKES...I hope I make it ok. The baby will be fine because they will take him first then deal with me. I think I'd like 2 docs too!!!

Well, we will let you know if that date changes. But looks like baby A will be here in a couple weeks. Below are some pictures of my Texas City shower that I had on Nov 15th. It was a huge shower and we got LOTS of stuff. Thanks to Tootie, Michelle, Liz, Jennie, Janet, Kayla, Jane, and Carol for giving me the shower. It was beautiful!!!



Here are the letters I made using the sports theme for Anthony's name. It hangs right above his crib.


This is about 3/4ths of the gifts we got at the shower (the big stuff is in the garage)...we had a lot to go through!


Thanks to all my wonderful Hostesses!!!


My Aunt Lil made this blanket with a wedding picture of me and Rob in the middle...what an awesome keepsake!!!


This had to be one of my FAVORITE gifts...an SFA jersey! Thanks Emily. Oh, and her mom, Susan got me a Coach diaper bag and is making me a puppy dog quilt...you're the best Susan!!!


Sis-n-law, Michelle, and me. Thanks Michi for taking all the notes!


Shout out to Michi and cousin Lauren for helping at the shower. Lauren took all the pictures!

Placenta Update

Went to Dr. Rowe about a week ago and of course the placenta has not shifted at all. It looks like it is still in the same spot. The tech that was doing my ultrasound said it would probably stay that way and C-section would be in my future...however when Dr. Rowe arrived, he is soooo optimistic, he said we still have time for it to move out of the way. I told him about going into the hospital and his advice for me was to take it easy and STAY AWAY FROM SICK PEOPLE!!! I sorta laughed because well..I teach 1st grade and staying away from sick people (kids) is not possible. Just this week I've been sneezed and coughed on numerous times. I asked (kinda in a joking way and kinda not) if that meant I needed to go on bed rest. He said no and we'd discuss it more on my next visit. As long as I'm not bleeding or having early signs of labor I'm fine to keep working for now.

Oh my...during the ultrasound I just couldn't believe how big and developed he was. I said "I can't imagine what a 3-D ultrasound would look like". And before I knew it the tech switched wands and there he was ... in 3-D. He was beautiful! His nose and lips were so cute. We got to see him frown and smile...it was wild! I did get a few pictures of it and wish I could upload them to my computer but don't have a scanner. Maybe I'll try taking them to school to see if I can scan them in there.

Yesterday I went to my 2 week checkup with my OB and find out that she no longer works there! She is pregnant too and started having early labor so went on bed rest. But she won't be coming back after the baby...so looks like I'll be finding a new doc. One of the other doctors there in the office will be delivering me and I'm fine with that...as long as Anthony comes out fine. As for the weight gaining...whoops, that 1 pound that I was suppose to gain turned in to 5 pounds :(
That makes my weight 155. Prepregnancy I was 127, so that is a total of 28 pounds. So now I need to slow it down a little and really just stick to about 1 pound every 2 weeks. As of yesterday (Monday) I am 32 weeks and have 7 weeks left until the C-section (at 39 weeks) unless they move it up more. Dr. Rowe makes that decision. I go back to see him over the Thanksgiving break and then probably 2 more times after that.

Well, sadly I am leaving my 20's thursday. Yes that is right - I turn 30 on the 13th! Robby and I thought we'd be done having kids by our 30's but it doesn't always turn out the way you dreamed. We are just happy that kids are in our future!!! Thank GOD. Anthony is a miracle baby and we just can't wait to meet him. My parents are coming into town this week to celebrate my birthday, go to my BIG baby shower, and to Robby's playoff game. We have a very busy weekend ahead (so you know I probably won't blog until next week (if you're lucky):)

As much as I would like football season to be over so I can have my husband back, I am very happy for him and for the Kempner Football team that they made it to the playoffs. We play Clear Lake this weekend and I think we can beat them...but we'll see. WAY TO GO COUGARS!!!

Kelly