Santa Train

Santa Sighting #1...

While Davis & I were in the ER, Sean and Carter went to see Santa at the Railroad Museum. We were planning to go as a family, but Davis had other ideas. Sean said Carter did really well and loved seeing the trains. No surprise!

Playing with the coal door.

Check out this HUGE train!

I forget what Sean told me about this train, but it sure looks impressive! I'll have to ask him to fill in the gaps for our train-enthusiast readers. :-)

ER visit #2

After over two years with no ER visits for Carter, we have had our second visit in one week! Not the kind of stats I am proud to report. On Saturday morning, I noticed blood in Davis's diaper & called the pediatrician. Since they don't have office hours on the weekend, I spoke to the triage nurse who wanted me to take him to the ER right away. I was happy to wait & see if it would happen again because he was eating fine, peeing fine and acting fine. There was nothing of concern to me other than the blood. When it happened again, I knew we had to take him in just to make sure it wasn't something serious.

After three hours in the ER and some lab tests, it was determined that Davis has a milk protein allergy. We put him on soy formula to see if that would take care of it. However, a large percentage of kiddos who have a milk protein allergy are also allergic to soy. If that happens with Davis, he will need to be started on a milk & soy-free formula that is EXPENSIVE!!! Hopefully, that is not the case. So far, he seems to be tolerating the soy ok. We are going in for follow-up on Friday so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

3's

Before I became a nurse, I never really considered myself to be a superstitious person. That's all changed now. Now I know that: 1) working when there's a full moon means you're in for a CRAZY night, 2) saying it's a "slow" or "quiet" shift jinxes you and you need to be prepared for an onslaught of patients and 3)bad things come in threes. It's all true.

Within the past week we have had our run of threes in bad luck. Last Friday, our washer broke with a full load of whites during the rinse cycle. Off to Home Depot we went! Also last Friday, I found out that my FMLA from work was approved (which I already knew) but that my job was only "protected" for the first four weeks (stupid broken arm last year). Long story short, I am probably going to have to go back to work after eight weeks of maternity leave instead of the 12 weeks I was planning on. BIG bummer! Really big.

And for our third luck-buster, I took Carter to the ER at Children's on Sunday for a "raging" ear infection, according to the pediatrician. He had been running a fever for three days and was clearly in a lot of pain. I am happy to say that after several days of amoxicillin and TLC, he is feeling MUCH better! Poor boy!

So, the Beilman family is closed to bad luck business. We have reached our quota!

two week check-up

On Monday I took Davis to his two-week doctor's visit. He is doing well & thriving. His weight was 8# 12 oz, so not quite back up to birth weight, but he is getting close. They were not concerned since he is gaining, but we are going back in another two weeks just to make sure he is still on the right track. AND, his jaundice is totally resolved now--yea!! His circumcision is completely healed & his cord just fell off this morning. That makes diaper changes & bathtime SO much easier! Keep your fingers crossed for good weight gain over the next two weeks...

Handsome boy!

Oh, mom!!!

big brother

Can't remember if I blogged this already or not, but Carter refers to Davis as "big brother". I think this is because we had been reading the book "I'm a Big Brother Now" to him during my pregnancy. So far he hasn't understood that he's the big brother, although he does realize Davis is a baby. Anyway, it is pretty cute nonetheless.
After bathtime, Davis was snug & warm in his little seat.

Check out the fuzzy "do"!

Not sure what to think of all this...

I'll hold him, but I'm not happy about it!

first bath

Davis finally got his first bath the other day. Surprising what things get away from you with baby #2. Davis was probably starting to feel a little ripe, so I was happy to see he tolerated the bath well and seemed pretty happy afterwards.




He has a bad case of newborn rash. Hopefully it clears up before family photos next week!

Giving mommy the evil eye for making him wait so long for a bath...

To my dear husband...

I just wanted to take a moment to share my appreciation for my sweet husband. Sean has been so supportive and helpful throughout the pregnancy and since I've come home from the hospital. He is very hands-on with both boys and does the 3 am feedings and diaper-changes without a single complaint. I feel so fortunate to be on this journey with him (I cannot imagine being a single mom--yikes!) and am so glad that our boys will have Sean as a role model to look up to. He is patient and fair and just a wonderful father. Thank you, honey, for all that you do for our family every day. We love you!

Here are the flowers Sean had waiting for me when I came home from the hospital. (They still look good even a week later!) He also had gotten "brother" cards for both boys (very sweet--how many guys would have thought of that?!) and surprised me with a gift certificate to a local spa so I could pamper myself once things settle down around here. I'm super excited to use it!

Our first photo as a family of four. Maybe the next one will have both boys looking at the camera...I'm not holding my breath!

missing Mimi

There are times in life when a girl just needs her mom. We were fortunate enough to have my mom (Mimi) here for 10 days to help us with Carter while I was in the hospital and then with both boys after we brought Davis home. There is nobody else I would feel comfortable with doing my laundry (even if I asked her not to) or dealing with my hormonal post-partum mood swings. Mom took it all in stride and was there doing things for us before we even had a chance to ask. She tolerated the 5:30 am wake-up calls (courtesy of Carter), the constant chaos and the never-ending dirty dishes & laundry with a smile. She even made a yummy Thanksgiving dinner for us (with a little help from Super Target) the day after Davis & I came home!
There are probably a million other things that I can't even remember right now because we are all so sleep-deprived. It doesn't seem like enough, but I just wanted to say "thank you" to my wonderful mother for all of your help, your patience and your never-ending love of my boys (all three of them!). You are a blessing to us and we couldn't have done it without you! We love you, Mimi!

The flowers mom brought to me in the hospital.
Me, Davis, Mimi & Carter in front of the tree

Mimi brought Carter this cool t-shirt!

Mimi & Davis

Mimi & her two favorite boys! When we came home from dropping Mimi off at the airport last night, Carter said "Go inside to see Mimi?" He misses you already, Mom!

Snuggling with Davis

zoo lights

This evening we bundled up and headed over to Zoo Lights. Davis slept the entire time! Carter enjoyed seeing the animals and all the other sights. Plus, he discovered kettle corn. Yum!
Sitting on Daddy's shoulders to watch the "fire dancer". Pretty cool!

Aunt Debbie, Mimi, Carter & Taylor on the train.

Riding the carousel with Daddy.

Sean's idea of a family photo...

brothers

Carter has been adjusting to the idea of having a little brother fairly well. Some interactions have been better than others. This was a sweet moment so I was happy we were able to capture it. Yesterday, Carter hit his brother in the face before Sean or I could stop him. That bought him a time-out, but I'm sure it is only the beginning!

We're home!

These are some pics of Davis I took before we left the hospital on Wednesday. The swelling around his eyes has gone down considerably so now you can see his beautiful peepers!

Carter was not quite sure what to think when we brought baby brother home. He was excited at first, then kind of apprehensive, then very easily distracted by the new remote-controlled car that Davis brought him. (Sean & I knew the car would be a sure-thing we could fall back on if things got dicey.)

We have been to the doctor twice to check Davis's bilirubin levels since coming home on Wednesday. I am happy to report that his levels are improving and, at this point, we will not need to do phototherapy at home. He is gaining back some of the weight that he lost and his appetite is great! So, things are looking up!

hoping to go home...

We are hoping to be discharged from the hospital later today.  One setback from yesterday is that Davis is in the nursery under the phototherapy lights.  His bilirubin levels were again elevated yesterday and our pediatrician wanted to start him under the lights last night in hopes that we would then not have to do phototherapy at home.  I am able to bring him into my room for feedings but he really isn't supposed to be out for longer than 30 min.  Nothing to worry about, but it could delay our release home which was a big bummer for me.  We will find out if his bili levels have improved later this morning.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the phototherapy is working as I am anxious to get home to see Carter and start our lives as a family of four!  

Announcing...

Davis Henry Beilman!  Sean and I finally agreed on his name this evening.  Whew!  I was tired of telling people that he didn't have a name and was starting to get nervous that we would never be able to narrow down our choices.  We are happy to report that Davis is continuing to do well and passed his newborn hearing screening today.  He is a good baby and we are anxious to take him home on Wednesday to meet Carter. 

Davis & I had some new visitors this evening.  Cousin Kelsie, Aunt Debbie & Cousin Taylor took turns snuggling him...

Aunt Debbie & Mimi with Davis this afternoon. 

bouncing baby boy!

We are proud to announce the birth of our new son, yet to be named, yesterday at 8:08 am.  He weighed 8lbs 14 oz and is 20 inches long.  We had a little bit of a scare initially in that he was holding his breath for a minute or so and turned blue on the warmer in the OR.  I could tell something was wrong because he wasn't crying and two nurses came to help the nurse practitioner who was working on the baby.  His heart rate dropped but quickly recovered when they gave him some bag/mask ventilation.  Once I could see he was pinking up I was able to relax, but it seemed like it took forever to hear him cry. 

Once he was in the transition nursery, he had a couple of low blood sugars & the nursery RN had to supplement him with some formula to get his sugars up while I was in the recovery room.  After that initial feeding I was able to nurse him and his sugars steadily improved after that.  We haven't had any problems since!  He is a healthy, happy baby and very mellow. 

We are still stuggling with a name but should be ready to finalize it soon.  Keep checking back!

Look at those chubby cheeks & double chin!!  What a sweet boy we have!

when there were three...

We picked up my mom (Mimi) from the airport on Saturday evening & headed to Olive Garden for a "last meal" before my c-section on Sunday morning. We are happy that mom is able to be here for 10 days while we transition from a family of three to a family of four! Carter loves his Mimi and will probably not even realize I'm gone for three days.

Last family photo before the big day!

Last belly pic before heading to the hospital yesterday...

Sean & I at the hospital getting registered. Can you tell we are ready to meet this boy?!

38 weeks

This morning was my last doctor's appointment before our c/section on Sunday.  I am ready to have this baby!!  I had no weight gain this week (thank goodness) and my blood pressure is still great.  I am pretty huge these days and am hoping that this boy weighs more than Carter did (8 1/2 lbs) since I will be four days farther along when I deliver.  They did note on the ultrasound last week that I had a lot of amniotic fluid , so that is instant weight loss waiting to happen!  Yippee! 

I was feeling pretty good about myself until the past 24 hours.  Yesterday at lunch I had to switch from a booth to a table because I literally couldn't fit into the booth.  My belly was getting squished against the table.  Kind of humiliating, kind of funny.  Then today (also at lunch) a woman looked at me and said "Sooooo, obviously you're having twins, right?"  When I said "no" and gave her a look that dared her to say anything more, she tried to dig herself out of the hole by telling me that I didn't look pregnant from behind.  I was proud of myself for cracking a smile.  As Sean would tell you, that could have gone badly.  At this stage in the game, my politeness factor is sorely lacking.  Thankfully, we only have a few days left of useless contractions and getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night.  I am anxious to meet this little boy & bring him home to introduce him to Carter!

lucky baby

Over the weekend, I received several baby gifts from girls at work.  I was kind of taken by surprise because it is our second baby, after all.  I was so touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness of my friends/co-workers.  We received several baby outfits, blankets, a baby carrier and hand-made quilt.  Thanks everyone!

fresh coat of paint

I finally got around to taking some photos of the new look in our Living Room.  I posted the "before & after" photos because I think it is pretty dramatic.  Sean told me after the fact that he felt like he was living inside a McDonalds with the yellow walls and red curtains we had before...nice that he never mentioned it at the time!  Anyway, Sean did a great job painting and it looks SO much better!  Thanks, honey.