Baby J - Woo hoo we've made it a semester

It's Official!  Baby J and I have made it to the end of the semester.  I think this year has brought the biggest changes of my life and all at once...and we are living through it.   I'm so excited to finally get to spend some time with my baby and some time at my apartment to arrange things.   If you don't remember, I brought home baby and moved into my apartment a couple weeks after starting my new job and the same week I started a show.  It has been a crazy awesome ride this last half of the year and I have loved it all.   I'm so lucky to have such a supportive family that has helped me out so I can be a full time working single mother.   And I'm so lucky and blessed to be a mother to a beautiful adorable baby.

I can't believe that my first semester at my new job is over.  And I got a couple really nice cards/christmas gifts from students that had the nicest comments on them.  I've been so very fortunate to start at a new job where for the most part the kids have accepted me or at least make an effort to work with me.  Stepping into an arts program is hard, especially if the teacher before has been there for any amount of time and this time around it has gone rather smoothly...not that there haven't been a few bumps in the road, but over all it's been a fantastic job and I love being at the school I'm at.   So much better than the situation at my last job.  

Baby J is growing so fast and starting to do new things each day.  She still refuses to roll from back to tummy (and yes I can say refuses...she doesn't even want to try)....but she now tries to sit up, sits very well assisted, and laughs all the time.  She makes lots of noises- especially when talking to Grandma. We even brought her bouncer out and while she's still trying to completely figure it out...she loves it.  However she is to small to reach the ground so we have improvised and set it up so she can touch something.  She is getting pretty good at making it bounce some.

We have also finally started to get some of the spit up under control.  The doctor said we had to wait on food for a couple weeks, but Baby J shows all the signs of readiness and so we have tried Cereal now and green beans.  She eats very little, but is able to do so.   We have also started to put some cereal in her bottles...very little, but it has helped in making her feel full and has lessoned the spit up.  She has even gone full days in the last week where she wore the same outfit all day.   That is a huge deal!  Her meds were increased and that seems to be helping a lot too.

Speaking of which-insurance is horrible and confusing.  And unfortunately for some really stupid reason, my deductibles run Jan-Dec, even though my insurance runs Dec - Nov.   ACK.   Synygis is expensive and we are paying a lot out of pocket, but I feel like she really needs to stay on it.   Unfortunately she will not be getting this months on time due to insurance switching over.   Feel free to continue to use my amazon link- all of the proceeds still go towards the adoption costs I still owe---it's on the right of this blog.

Poor baby has a cold again.  It doesn't seem to be as bad as the last one..but it's still sad to see her sick.  Thankfully she is still mostly happy.  Baby J is all smiley and laughs a lot.  It's so cute.  I'm so excited to get to spend two weeks with her.   Last week we went and saw Santa and tried to sell Jewelry at a craft show.  Baby J dressed up for the occasion.  It was fun, but it was a little to long of a day for her.   Oops.

Tonight we have made a big change.  Baby J is currently asleep in her crib.  I never intended to be a parent that slept in the same room as the baby...but she has either slept in a rock and play or the bassinet in my room since she came home.   A lot changes when you don't have the healthiest baby in the world and at first it was because she choked still.   Then it just became habit..but it's time she started to sleep in the crib...plus I really need to move her out of the rock and play a lot more and just use that for travel.  My plan is to move the basinet downstairs for use with Grandma.  She went to sleep with me holding her hand....but she was laying in the bed.  Hopefully she will make it most of the night...she has been getting up more to eat while she's been sick.

Christmas is next week, and I'm so excited to spend it with family and my little one.   May all of you have a wonderful Christmas, Hannakuh, Kwanza, or what ever holiday you may celebrate.   Most of all that you have time to spend with family.

Baby J- 6 months

Happy 6 month's Baby J.  It's hard to believe that Baby J is now 6 months.  Current weight 10 lb 3 oz (only 3% for a 3month old- but hey she's growing quite nicely and she's still on the charts)  Height 23 inch (26 %) That's a 2.5 inch growth in 2 months. And a head circumference of 38cm (12%).

Baby J is starting to babble constantly, be awake more during the day (pretty much narrowing it down to about 2 naps on average) and sleeping well at night.  She LOVES music, can sit assisted, and is grabbing toys now.   She is following and focusing really well with her eyes.   She loves to talk with Herbie and he has become closer to her.   Baby J is also working on fine tuning the art of manipulation and I believe has it down very well with Grandma.    :-)

Overall healthy and happy.  I think the Doctor is still a little impressed by how well she is doing. She asked 4month visit questions today (since Baby J is 3 months adjusted) and she is doing all of them.   The doctor did say we need to wait another month before starting food.

Today was the first time I really got overwhelmed by the cost of a baby.  Dr. prescribed a new medicine for reflux and to help stop the spitting up.  Went to the pharmacy and because Baby J is now on my insurance I got the sticker shock price of $275.   A little out of my price range for an acid reflux med.   While baby J is spitting up still, her current medicine has stopped it from hurting her and she is still gaining weight.   Apparently despite the fact that I now pay over $700 for insurance every month, I still have extremely large deductibles.  I will NEVER understand insurance and the medical stuff- but it does remind one why so many people struggle in the states.   After having a little mini breakdown over this (especially knowing that I now will have to probably pay full price for her synagis shot (the one for RSV), the doctor called and we have changed our approach at least for the acid reflux.  She is going to up her current medicine until Baby J does start eating regularly and then I can do OTC Prilosec and just break the capsules and give her part.  WAY WAY cheaper.   Of course when I have to pay full price for the synagis this will all have been in vain.  And I am fully aware how blessed we are that this is the only health thing we are dealing with.  And I know I shouldn't  complain.

Part of the problem is my insurance runs December through November...but my deductible runs the calendar year.  Yes this makes absolutely no sense.  But for today, the problem is solved.   Poor Baby J has been sleeping since we got home.  She got 4 shots today.  :-(  Not fun.  And she was asleep when they were given so that was a shock to her.  I tried to wake her up before hand, but she was so tired.

 
On Saturday, my friend took pictures of her and I  so  I had a few decent pics.  I then came home and took 6 month/christmas pics of Baby J.   She is adorable and I'm so lucky to be her mommy.  She is the best thing ever and even with the financial stuff- I love her to pieces and I'm so glad she is in my life.   I am looking forward to the Christmas season with a child.  I learned a few years ago how different Christmas season is with a kid and it is so much more fun.   While this year it won't phase her much, we have many more years to look forward to and that is awesome.

 
 

 

Baby J- We've Survived

I'm sure after the long, freezing, wet Thanksgiving weekend everyone is on the edges of their seats...Did they survive?  How was actually being with your baby for 5 whole days?  Did you drive each other insane?   Did you get cabin fever?

Well I'm happy to say everyone is alive and well.  I loved being home with baby girl all weekend...though not necessarily really being home...the weather pretty much kept us in all weekend. However...my nephews showed up with my brother in Kansas and they spent a night with me.  So one night I had 4 children to myself and we did wonderfully.   It was awesome and totally unexpected that they came to visit.   I'm glad my parents were willing to give them up for one of their nights here. It was also the first time all the littles (my nephews, cousin's kids and mine) were all together and that was a lot of fun for our family Thanksgiving...and a little loud.  Baby J loved being around all the kids.

Before swimming

After Swimming

 We also went swimming for the first time.  She enjoyed it and we stayed in the water for almost an hour---till she was getting to cold.  

Baby J is starting to eat more and do more.  Today we started feeding her 6oz at a time and she spits up about as much as she does with 4, but seems more satisfied.  Ok well maybe a little more....perhaps we should do 5 tomorrow instead. She has been eating pretty nonstop lately.  She is grabbing toys and has even switched toys from hand to hand some.   In the past few days she has been awake a LOT more during the day and is basically down to 2 big naps.   She is still pretty much sleeping through the night.  Especially if we play on my bed for awhile before I put her in her bed.  She then drifts off to sleep before the first song on her bear is done.   The early childhood person said she was falling right where she should with everything...some closer to the 6 month mark and some closer to her adjusted age...but she is basically where she should be for all adjusted or better.   Baby J loves to sit up and tries to do it without help...we are not there yet though...She also likes to stand.   Tonight I got to show her off at my work christmas party (yea a job that has a christmas party---and socialization).  

Tonight I was just messing around trying to take cute christmas photos...it failed.   These are some of the most hilarious after shots.  Enjoy.  PS yes I know these are not 'good' pics.

Mid spit up.  Herbie's look is hilarious

Sebastian decided he did NOT like Herbie's outfit

So he helped him take it off...They had it off pretty fast.

Baby J's First Thanksgiving

 It's baby J's first Thanksgiving and we spent it with my parents and brother (well for as much as he could be off work---don't shop retail on Thanksgiving people).....They all came to my apartment so that baby J did not have to go out...which was awesome since it has been raining and sleeting all day...in fact the yard in the back of my apartment is completely flooded and the only thing that's going to change is that it is slowly turning to sleet to ice.
I have so much to be thankful for this year.  These are in no particular order and probably don't truly express how thankful I am.
   I have a wonderful new job, while still stressful at times, is nothing like the horrible job I came from.  I have bosses who are kind and supportive instead of hateful and abusive.  I'm thankful that even though I know the kids are having to adapt to a new teacher they have mostly done it with respect and made the transition easier than I expected.   Though there have been some bumps I am thankful that we have overcome them.  I'm thankful I have a job that pays my bills.  Financially I'm very tight right now and barely making it...but I am making it and I'm so lucky that I am.  

I'm also thankful to all the people who have reached out and show support through prayer, gifts, kind words throughout this adoption process.   I could not have accomplished a lot that has happened without that support.  Please know that every little kind thought, gift, and prayer was /has been so appreciated.   Not only has it helped Baby J, but it has shown me that the world still has great people and kindness and hope.  

I am thankful for my friends and family.  They have been my rock during so much in my life.  They have supported me from day 1 of starting foster care and not one of them made me doubt adopting a very sick preemie was a bad decision.  I'm especially thankful for my parents, brother, Aunt, and cousin who have helped me out with Baby J so that I can survive as a working, single mom.  I know it's hard being a single mom, but they have made it so much easier.  I'm especially thankful for my Mom who has given up her weekdays to care for Baby J.  I'm so glad that she doesn't have to go to daycare right now.   My job takes a lot of time and I'm glad she gets one on one time with someone who loves her.  I could go on and on about how appreciative I am of my friends and family....hopefully they already know how thankful I am.  
I'm thankful for doctors and nurses who kept baby J alive and sent her home a healthy little girl.  I'm thankful for her health and for mine.   There are so many other scenarios that could occur with preemies (or any baby) and I do not for one second take for granted how lucky/blessed we are that baby girl is overall healthy and doing pretty darn good.    And I'm very thankful she is now sleeping through the night.
I'm thankful for a break.  On Aug 22, I quickly threw some stuff into this apartment and then headed to spend the weekend with baby girl in Topeka, she came home a couple days later and I have been going non stop.  I didn't get any time off from work.  I'm so thankful for a break and for getting to spend the weekend with baby girl.  This is the longest I've gotten to spend with her since she came home and I love it and will be sad to go back to work.

I'm thankful for my puppies who have been great with Baby J.  Herbie loves her and I'm so glad of that.  they are going to be so cute together as they grow up.
The biggest thing I'm grateful for this year is Baby J.   Being a mom has always been something I have wanted and for whatever reason  family by normal means did not seem to be in the plans.  I NEVER intended to be single or familyless.   But for whatever reason I am.  Baby J has been the biggest blessing of my life and I am so very lucky to call her mine.  When this teeny tiny baby came into my life, she filled a big part of my heart.   We've already conquered so much together and I can't imagine life without her.  If you had asked me if I ever thought I would spend almost 3 months in a NICU hospital waiting to bring home a less than 2 lb baby I would have laughed.   Being matched with Baby J has changed my life.   I love this little girl and am so very very thankful for her.

This is how I get ready now.  ha ha

A little update on Baby J.   She has started to grab toys a little more and hold onto them.   She has reached a stage where she thinks she should be sitting up and struggles to try to get herself there...no she can't actually get there but that doesn't stop her from trying.  She is now sleeping at least 8-10 hrs a night...which I love.   In the past few days I have figured out that she loves to play on my bed...so we go upstairs and play for about an hour till she rubs her little eyes and then I put her in her bassinet and she goes to sleep pretty fast.   I'm considering starting to move her to her crib in the other room, but she does so well in the bassinet.  Tonight I laid her down and went downstairs.   I only heard her once and when I came to check she was asleep.   Yea!

I hope everyone had a very nice and safe Thanksgiving.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend and seeing the rest of my family.  

Baby J will sit her and talk to Herbie as long as he stays there

After Thanksgiving naps with everyone!

Baby J- Winter's Coming

Winter is quickly coming and you can definitely feel it in the air.   The temperature has started to drop and the storms are cold.   Poor western Kansas has had tornadoes and snow storms this week.  We have not seen snow here yet, but I'm sure it won't be long.    In the mean time we are trying to avoid any more illness in our home.  The cold was enough for Baby J.   She is finally over her cold, though at times she still sounds a little stuffed up.  I sometimes think that's because my apartment is stuffy though.   You can tell she is feeling a lot better.   She smiles most of the time.  

We are preparing for the cold by trying to stay in more.  My family is awesome and this is my really busy long long days at work and they have been helping keep Baby J at home all day.   It not only keeps her away from my germ infested students, but it has been helping focus on the show.   My days this week are about 13-15hrs and it has not been fun to be away from Baby J so much, but I'm very glad she has awesome family.  Yesterday Baby J received her first booster of Synagis   This is something she will get every month until March to help combat RSV.  RSV is a respiratory infection that could actually be deadly for Baby J if she gets it and guarantees a revisit to the hospital.  Hopefully this booster will help her avoid getting it or keeping it very mild.   Everyone can get RSV, but it's very dangerous for small babies.  She qualified because of her birth weight.  The nice thing is that she is now getting weighed monthly and it's done by home health so we don't go somewhere to get it.  Yesterday she weighed in at a whopping 9lb 5oz.   She's getting quite big now.   

 

I finally received some paperwork with Birth Mom's genetic information.  It didn't have a lot of information...but I learned that Baby J was actually 1 lb 13.7 oz at birth not the 1 lb 15 oz we were told.  That apparently was her weight at the hospital she was flown to.   So she has come even further.  It's not a lot of weight difference unless you are that size.   

In other good news, Baby J is sleeping through the night.  She started late this past.  So at 10.5 weeks adjusted (5 months) Baby girl is sleeping at least 7-8hrs and up to 9.  She usually tries to wake up at 4am but I can usually get her to go right back to sleep and if not feed her and then she goes back to sleep.   She is also sleeping in her bassinet instead of the rock and play at night.   I could move her to her crib now since she's sleeping so well, but she's still so tiny and not rolling both directions so I'm not to worried about the bassinet.