7 weeks...

I will not get into the habit of posting baby Jack's weekly milestones (because sometimes it's not all that interesting), but his 7 week birthday was EVENTFUL!!!
As you saw below-(down 3 posts "I wish someone would have told me"), things were going good. I wasn't getting much out of him for naps, but he was sleeping SO good at night! I was loving it!

As of Friday or Saturday, I started to hear a new cry from our handsome man. A sad & whiny cry. He cried when he stopped eating, he cried when I changed his diaper, he was just sad. That was hard to hear. But then on Sunday morning he wouldn't go back to sleep in his crib so we ended up on the couch. He let me sleep until 10:30 AM, which means he was sleeping until 10:30 AM. We got up to have breakfast with Dan and to relax and he was so lethargic. He just laid on my shoulder and would cry whenever I pulled him away. For a kid who does not nap, this was not usual.

We took his temperature under is arm-99.1* (add a degree and that's 100.1) After some discussion, we called the on call Dr. (who was my pediatrician growing up-Jack's pediatrician's dad) and he said that we needed to get over to the Emergency room (after I took a rectal temp and it was 100.1 and still calculating-not going to lie I had no idea what I was doing!!!) Babies under 8 weeks/2 months needed to be checked for a bacterial infection. He said most likely he had what Dan had earlier in the week, but we needed to be sure.

We took him to the ER. We were checked in 2 little triage rooms and each time he had a wet diaper. Of all times NOT to be prepared, I had only 1 diaper! I usually have like 4 in the diaper bag! Luckily the hospital let us have as many as we wanted (I took 2, but we ended up needing more during our 5 hour stay!)

After a blood test (via an IV so they could give him fluids, which they didn't end up needing to do because he was still eating & peeing), a urine test (they do a little catheter-very sad) and a spinal tap (which we left the room for-I cried through the blood test/IV, I don't think I could have handled this) they concluded it was a viral infection not bacterial. They sent us home.
**I am really sad I did not have my camera- I brought it out to take pictures in the morning and it never made it back in the bag. We put him in the cutest little hospital gown. We-I considered taking it home just to get a picture of it and then we could return it.**

We went to see our pediatrician on Monday and Jack was happy and doing much better, still a fever but everything checked out to be fine. We just have to give him extra love and cut him a little slack. That is not too hard, and I am enjoying the extra cuddle time. While we were there I asked the Dr. about Jack's lack of napping and he said I may only get 30 min. twice a day, which is fine. He said that getting him on a routine during the day will help him nap too-but we should hold off until he is feeling better.
Do you like his Goofy Sticker? I figured he deserved a sticker (we actually take one at each appt. I guess they don't give them to babies...)

Today was a much better day. We had smiles this morning, a nap or two during the day and he even survived a shopping trip with me and Grandma Cindy!

For the record: 7 weeks & 1 day... 11 lbs. 11 oz.!

6 weeks!!!

Sunday, March 29th was Jack's 6 week birthday. At our last appointment (March 17th) Jack weighed in at 10 lbs. 5.5 oz. He was 22 1/4 inches long. (75% for everything!) What he weighs at 6 weeks, no idea... He is definitely gaining!

My day started with a sweet smile from our baby. We have seen smiles before, but only when he is sleeping and letting out a little air. This was for REAL!!! I was very excited! (Dan's day started with snow-blowing the driveway... We got about 5 inches overnight!)

Jack was blessed at church. Dan did the blessing along with many of our close friends and family. It was wonderful! I wish we had a really great family picture from Sunday- I actually made time to do my hair & makeup, but Dan was not feeling well and immediately after church retired to a quiet, dark room at my parents house... We will have to recreate the day and get all dressed up again.

All of my sisters were in town (except Miriam- she is due to have a baby girl in less than a month!) and Dan's mom made it also! It was a very special day for our baby!


In addition to all of the company, and to add to all of the excitement...
It was our last day in the West Allis 2nd Ward with many of our friends. Our wards were split on Sunday, and my dad was released as Bishop. We are now in the West Allis Ward (based on where they live, some of our friends are now in the Oak Creek or Muskego Lakes Ward.) It was all very exciting!

My Cousins

I must be the luckiest kid around...

My cousins came to visit for my blessing on Sunday. They took such good care of me- held me while I slept and even read me stories.

I think they might be practicing for a new baby brother or sister...

I wish someone would have told me...

Nap when your baby is sleeping... because at some point HE WON'T NAP!!! What does a mom do??? I figure out a way to do everything with him strapped to me, in the swing, in the bouncer or just lying around. This gets tiring day in and day out-especially when it should not be too much to ask! Just 1 hour- that's all I ask!

If anyone has a magic secret to getting baby Jack to nap, please share. I am getting desperate! I have resorted to snuggling him until he falls asleep and then I lay him down, and that only lasts 15 minutes. My days are becoming very unproductive...

But then I start to think... Should I complain???

I have had 3 nights in a row with a 7+ hour stretch.

(I should have posted this on Saturday when I wrote it... Things always change.)

I'm going to be a rock star...

Just like my cousins...

And my Dad...
My mom gets in on the action once in a while too.

Baby Jack Plays!

If baby Jack had a fussy time, it would be from 7-9:30 PM. He doesn't want to sit still, cries/whines like his mom, and just wants to be fed or held the whole time. He is not unbearable, just not his usual content self.

Tonight, a special treat!

This only lasted maybe 10-15 minutes, but it was so fun to watch!

How do you reward an infant?

We had a busy, busy weekend...

Dan and I were invited to a wedding, and after surveying friends, we decided it would be ok to take the baby. He is only 4 weeks old, people would understand.

We started with the ceremony and Jack was SO good, slept through the whole thing, not a peep out of him! We thought that one of us would for sure be out in the hall with Jack for the majority of the reception (dinner and dancing) but Jack was WONDERFUL! He slept in his carseat during dinner and the beginning of the dancing. After he woke up, we fed him a bottle. (He was a little slow, but didn't spit up at all.) And then went right back to sleep so some of Dan's friends could hold him. It was so good, we were a little nervous- tried to plan ahead for feeding him, backup clothes for if he leaked, everything. He's a good kid.

So, how do you reward him? I figure the least I can do is get up with him and smile... how often can he really get up in 7 hours? Well 2, 3, & 6 A.M., and then he never went back to bed. Jack and I just hung out, he followed me around the house as I got things ready for church, cleaned up a little, etc. He's a trooper. We are pretty lucky!


And just to remind me that no matter how little sleep I get, we can still have a little fun... We are driving to church on Sunday morning and I had the song "The Eye of the Tiger" in my head. Not quite sure why, but I'm singing along, making up words, etc. Out of no where, Dan says "I like it better in Spanish" and continues to sing the phrase "Ojo de Tigre" again and again. You may have had to be there, but I laughed...