It's Cold Outside

Yesturday Gavin and I went for a short walk around the block, mainly becasue Tater needed the exercise and attention. So I prepared Gavin for the bitter 47 degree weather. You would think I was prepared for it to start snowing, but I wanted to make sure he didn't get cold and since he is unable to tell me if he is cold I assume he is cold when I am.

He can Sleep

Josh and I have been working on a routine for Gavin to help him start sleeping through the night. On Monday night we bathed him at 7pm then let him take a little cat nap then gave him his bottle around 9pm the I read him a book and we said our prayers then put him to bed. I've heard to put him to bed sleepy but awake, but that does not work for us because he has to be upright for 30 min after feedings to help with reflux and by the end of 15 min he is asleep. Josh and I also put a pillow under the head of his head to raise it up so that the food will stay down when he is asleep. He slept from 10pm to 3:30 am. WOW!! We thought that was an improvement. He then slept from 4:30 to 6:30 and then ate and then slept from 7:30 to 9:30. So it was a good night. During the day however he would only sleep for an hour here and there. So no real good naps. Josh and I were hoping that last night went as well as monday night and it went as follows. Last night we dressed him for bed around 8pm then fed him around 9:30pm. He slept from 10:30 to 6 am. WOW!!!!! I woke up at 4am and had to go check on him since he hadn't woke up yet. Then when Josh got up at 5:30 he was worried because Gavin had not woke up yet. Of course he was fine. So lets hope that he is beginning to have a good routine at night where he is sleeping almost all the way through.

A few pictures of how big he is getting.

This past Sunday we also went to the auto show. It is always fun to see the changes in the new cars. Gavin decided he needed to test drive Uncle Allen's future car. Gavin says he likes it and that Uncle Allen showed proceed with purchase. He even thinks Uncle Allen should get the 2010 model.

Cooing Video

Here is a video of Gavin trying to coo so make sure to turn on the volume. I also added a music playlist to the blog so that everytime you open the blog some songs play. To enjoy just make sure your computer volume is on. The pictures I added are from this past saturday when Josh, Gavin and I went to go visit cousin Sophie. She seems so small compared to Gavin. She was born Jan 4th and weighed 8lbs even and was 20 inches. The day we went to see her she weighed 8 1/2 lbs. Its hard to believe Gavin was ever that small. Look how he has almost outgrown his coming home outfit. I also added a picture of our little "tax deduction". HaHa. Also wanted to thank Aunt Mar for the cute overalls. He looks like a handsome little man.

Reflux

Gavin has been battling reflux since his birth. This is were his food and stomach acid comes back up into his esphogus. It not only causes him to spit up alot but it has also been causing him pain. We first went to the doctor on Dec 30th when it seemed that he was trowing up half of his feedings and he was also arching his backing and was fussy. We then switched his formula to Enfamil AR which has a rice starch in it. Then seemed to help although he seemed to have trouble sucking it out of the original nipples. So we tried this for 2 weeks as the doctor ordered. Then this last friday I called the doctor to discuss with them that although he spitting up less he still seems to be in pain and be arching his back. They prescribed his Zantac (similiar to Prevacid). He started it Friday night and already it seemed to make a difference. We hope it continues to help. On friday we also switched Gavin from sleeping in our room in the cradle to sleeping in his room in his crib. This has been hard for me. Even with the video monitor I have slept less and more softly then when he was in the room with us. I am slowly becoming ok with it. I hope each night gets better. We will see. So far he is still sleeping the same and not any longer as we were hoping. With time I hope this changes. His night schedule goes as is. We feed him a bottle around 9pm then put him to bed in his crib. He then wakes up at 12, 3, and 6 like clockwork. He definantly has his nights and days figured out because he slepts well at night but will only sleep for 30 min to an hour during the day. He is also awake more during the day. He is cooing more and smiling more each day. Wow how he is growing up to fast.

Good News to Share

Ok so some of you have noticed that I back tracked my posting dates. To those who question this of having some comment, then to you I say have a baby and you will understand. HAHA. Anyways I wanted to share in some good news. I fed Gavin last night at 10:30 pm and he did not wake up until 4:50 am for his next feeding. This was very exciting for me. I know this could just be a fluke but one can only hope for a repeat. Right? Also tonight I once again realized how much my baby is growing in size and personality. He smiles back at me and he is beginning to coo. Tonight it seemed as though he was trying to repeat the same coos I was making at him. It was so sweet and cute. Each day he is making more and more coos instead of just crying. It is so funny because sometimes he has to kick his legs and move his arms frantically just to make one small sound. Sometimes he trys so hard that he frowns then makes the sound then smiles. It is amazing. Right now we are working on increasing his tummy time, and stretching his neck. He turns it to his right very well but seems to have trouble turning it to his left. This is common with babies who have reflux. I called the Occupational Therapist that I work with in the NICU to ask for advice and she told us to just get his to stretch his neck to the left to help. I am so grateful for all the help and advice that comes along with working in the NICU. I am including pictures to show how much Gavin has grown not only in weight but in looks also.

These are from when he was 1 day old.


These are from Today. WOW!!

One Month Old

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Gavin is One Month old today. WOW!! I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. It is kind of sad to think a month of his life has already gone by. At the same time it is so fun watching him grow. In fact each day is more fun since he starting to smile and interact more with us. Each smile just melts my heart. (Even when he is awake at 3AM) Josh and I are adjusting to the lack of sleep. I feel bad for Josh since he has to get up and go to work in the morning. I atleast can get up later and take naps. Coffee has become one of our best friends and greatest help. Our schedule goes as is. Gavin eats about 3-4oz every 3 hours or so. Sometimes during the day he wants to eat at 2 hour intervals. Then at night he sleeps for atleast 3 hours and sometimes 4 hours. Since Josh has to work I get up and feed him and let Josh sleep. The 3 am feeding is not so bad. It's the 5-6 am feeding that is hard for me to get up to. I am not a morning person. I am slowly getting things done around the house. We are finally getting the feedings under control. Since his birth there has been issues. We started with the breastfeeding, but I do not make enough milk. (I mean VERY little) So we have turned to formula. Also Gavin has reflux and so we have changed formula. He is spitting up less but he still seems uncomfortable at times. We will be discussing this with his pedi soon and hope to get a solution. The only unplanned cost has come to buying formula. I knew diapers were expensive but I had no idea how expensive formula is. Overall the last month has been great. We had grandparents help the first 2 weeks. THANK GOD for our family. Then came christmas and then came today. Gavin is growing fast. I do not know his current weight and length but he has outgrown his newborn size clothes and his last weight on 12/30 was 9lb 12oz. His next pedi visit is for his 2 month check up when he will get his immunizations. I am not looking foreward to that.