Showing posts with label Keagan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keagan. Show all posts
October 19, 2010
February 2, 2010
Mission Accomplished!
(edit: previous post had omitted photos for some reason. oops!) Yay! He likes it! He made me fish (playdoh blue shark cutouts, to be exact) and electric spaghetti. We love to use the playdoh kits he got for Christmas.
Sent from my iPhone
We managed to capture Keagan's 3-month hand and footprints. It was not easy. I'm excited to see how they turn out when dried. If it works well, we may try this Crayola air dry clay again.
Didn't manage to get photos taken yet. I'm hoping to try tomorrow. I have a really cute outfit picked out. Keagan is only 3 months old, but he's wearing 6 month sized clothing! He is such a little stomper!
He is making the cutest noises attempting to talk. He "howls" like a Husky. It's so adorable and I'm hoping to capture a recording sometime. More fun tomorrow, and I hope we're all recuperating some more. TheMacMommySent from my iPhone
Silly Things We Do For Our Kids
Turns out I get a bit of cabin fever when I'm sick and forced to stay in, take it easy and rest. Um. Yeah. about that... During Keagan's nap I had fun with masking tape, sharpie markers, a box cutter, and some cardboard diaper boxes and made this little stove and microwave for Lucian. He loves to "cook like Daddy." Lucian is feeling a bit under the weather now and he's taking a nap. I'm hoping this will make him feel better. I can't wait for him to see it!
I think it's pretty darn cool if I must say so myself!!
Sent from my iPhone
In the meantime, I've got Daddy doin my dirty work! ;) Next project is to try to make handprints with Keagan. We'll see how that turns out! I can not believe he is three months old today!!
I'm hoping to snap some three-month photos of the Keagster later today so stay tuned :)
I think it's pretty darn cool if I must say so myself!!
What crazy crafts do you do with your kids?
TheMacMommySent from my iPhone
January 21, 2010
January 8, 2010
January 1, 2010
December 24, 2009
Sending You Some Snuggles
Hope your Christmas Eve Day is as snuggly as ours! Wishing you togetherness this Holiday Season.
Watching Sid the Science Kid together.
Love,
Lucian & Keagan
December 19, 2009
Infant Art Appreciation
I recently built for my family a Mac Media Center. It took us some time to save up for this project, but it's finally put together and working out well. (I'll never say it's complete because I'm always tweaking things about it!) Sometime soon I will document all of the components and how I set it up, but here is a preview of just one of the many ways I'm putting it to use here in our home.
In this example is Keagan at 6 weeks old enjoying some artwork I created for him in the form of a screensaver set to music that plays on the TV. I lay him on the bed in different directions so he learns to turn his head and look from different sides. (Sometimes he favors turning his head to the same side, so this helps with that.) I also roll him over or prop him up on his boppy pillow (with supervision of course) for tummy time to watch this engaging screen saver. Research has shown that the combination of high-contrast patterns in black, white and red, and classical music help to stimulate babies' brains and visual recognition. Keagan is just beginning to find visual stimuli very interesting so I'm trying to foster that.
My Mac media center is basically a MacBook Pro hooked up to a flat-screen TV using HDMI among other cables. All the wires and hardware is neatly tucked away inside of a computer armoire. I control it all using the TV remote, my iPhone and sometimes a bluetooth keyboard. (Reviews are in the works for these products, so stay tuned!) I use the MobileAirMouse app on the iPhone and iPod Touch which turns these devices into a wireless remote.
I created this artwork of basic shapes in black, white, and red using iWork Pages. I used the shapes tool and designed high-contrast patterns on twenty four 8 x 11 pages. Next, I exported the document as a PDF, "printed" it to iPhoto and then exported the images in JPG format to my Pictures folder. Then I set the System Preferences Screen Saver to play a slideshow of the images from that folder. Alternatively you could set System Preferences to use an iPhoto Event as your images source.
An iTunes playlist comprised of sample selections of music courtesy of babytraxaudio.com provides the slideshow soundtrack. (Working on a review for this product too!)
Keagan really enjoys this and it helps calm him when he is fussy. Maybe your baby would like this hi-tech toy as well? I know we do!
Keagan really enjoys this and it helps calm him when he is fussy. Maybe your baby would like this hi-tech toy as well? I know we do!
Here is a video slideshow I've uploaded of my artwork so you can see what it looks like. You can even view it in HD on a full screen. Just put on your favorite classical iTunes playlist, sit back and relax :)
Enjoy!
December 16, 2009
December 14, 2009
Strike A Pose - 6 Weeks
Nurse. Sleep. Poop and Pee.
Repeat.
Growing strong and mighty. Developing social skills like smiling and foaming at the mouth. (ok, well, little suds bubbles anyhow.)
Chick magnet when worn in a Baby Bjorn on front of Daddy.
Daddy likey.
Wish I had more time to do other things, but sleep is still so overrated these days.
I asked Lucian if we could keep him or if we had to send him back. Lucian said we can keep him. You're all my witnesses!
Just about over my head cold. Little nagging cough left, but feeling better, just tired and joint pains still. Keagan's diaper rash is healing but it doesn't keep him from launching missile attacks on us come diaper changing time.
He giggles a lot in his sleep and sometimes smiles at us when he's conscious which is becoming more and more each day.
It all goes so fast except when I'm waiting for my turn to snooze!
Love,
Keagan & Mommy
December 2, 2009
November 29, 2009
Week 3 Update
I can't believe Keagan will soon be a month old. Time flies! One day kind of just turns into the next. There isn't really much of a today or tomorrow right now. Many times I just love to watch him sleep. You would think with all the sleeping he does that I'd be getting more sleep! Well, he sleeps a lot, but it's only for 2 to 3 hour increments each time. Sometimes Nate gives him a bottle and lets me sleep so I can get closer to a 4 hour nap but it doesn't happen much. My mother-in-law has been a godsend coming over during the week and helping out. I don't know what I'd do without her. I'm so grateful for her help and so happy Lucian has such a great relationship with his grandmother. It reminds me of my relationship with my own Grandmom.
Right now both Nate and I have head colds. I've since lost my voice and I squeak when I talk. It sounds funny. It's not so funny when I'm trying to give a distracted 3 year old instructions however. We're trying to recover but it's extra hard when we're both sick at the same time on top of having a new baby to care for on top of keeping a 3 year old from feeling left out. Lucian has a sore throat and runny nose but he doesn't act like he's sick. We're debating keeping him home from school on Monday. Keagan is stuffy and has a severe diaper rash from yeast. We went to an urgent care on Friday and got prescription Nystatin for it. I hope it helps because he is really uncomfortable and fussy because of the diaper rash. I would go to sleep but he keeps fussing and then falling back to sleep and I fear the moment I pass out he'll really wake up.
Yesterday, Lucian started playing with a little baby Cabbage Patch Kid doll (it's mine from childhood — a little boy infant named Ian) and it's been so adorable watching him interact with "his baby" and all the pretending and mimicking he's been doing. Today we gave the babies a bath. He puts his baby doll in Keagan's car seat and drags him all around the house taking him "places" like the "kleenex" — which in Lucian Language means "clinic" as in doctor or hospital. He also has one of those Fisher Price doctor kits he likes to play with. It's all so cute. Lucian is a really great big brother and he loves Keagan, but he also likes to pester the baby which can get annoying. I know it's hard for him to contain his excitement and it's even harder to be patient waiting for his little brother to get big enough for him to play with. He's doing a little bit of regressing when it comes to potty training which we were told by many to expect. It's not so bad and we're dealing with it. We try our best to make sure Lucian doesn't feel left out. I try to spend time with just him whenever I can. I keep reminding him how he is the little boy of my dreams.
Nursing is getting a little better except for the yeast diaper rash on Keagan now. He doesn't have thrush luckily. I'm still experiencing some soreness but it's mostly manageable now. Sometimes the pain really curls my toes but I know it won't last forever. The engorgement is better under control now too. Now comes the fun part of trying to figure out what's best for me to eat and what to avoid so it doesn't irritate him. Dairy is going to be hard to cut down, but that's the first culprit I suspect. I've been through this all before but it's amazing what you have to relearn 3 years later. Also there is new information so I'll be doing some research! I've also gone to a breast feeding support group twice now and I really like it and hope I can keep going. It's hard taking Lucian but we'll see how it goes. Even a "seasoned breastfeeder" like myself has much to learn and I've gotten a lot of helpful tips and information. It also feels so good to share my experiences with others in hopes I can help another mom out.
Here are some recent snapshots and notes. I LOVE using my iPhone to snap pics of Keagan. I also love making little movie clips. I wish I had more time to post what I've accumulated. They say the second-born doesn't get much in the way of photos or documentation compared to the first-born. I'm trying to not go overboard, but I also don't want Keagan to feel left out later on. Doing pretty good about that so far. I wish the movies were better quality though. I'm in the process of researching digital cameras. We got a new one we really like but there are just a few things that make me want to take it back and get an upgraded model.
Anyhow....just wanted this to be a quickie update...here are the latest snapshots!
Chillin on my Boppy. It's so luxurious and comfy with this 2-sided cover. Each side is a different fabric and this brown fabric is soooo soft! Mommy and I just love it! It helps make nursing more comfy and snuggly. (Thanks Najeeb! This is something we got with your gift certificate. You're the best!)
ahhhh. so snuggly on my boppy. Mommy just loves to watch me sleep.
Dooood! Wassup?
I just work here.
I'm getting so big! 10 lbs. 2 oz now :) woohoo!
mmmmmm booooobeeee juice. peeing on everyone who dares change my diaper. he he he he
yawn
stretch!
Got milk? I had some issues with plugged ducts the first 2 weeks my milk came in and so I had to pump often to keep the engorgement down otherwise Keagan couldn't latch on and it was next to impossible to sleep with these milk jugs!
Pretty proud of my stash, but I really didn't expect to end up with this surplus. There is close to a half gallon of milk in our freezer now. Luckily I'm doing better and not having to pump much any more. I probably over-stimulated myself in the process but I was terrified of getting mastitis from being backed up so I kept pumping. Things have calmed down a little more now. Moooooooo!!!
P.S.
Please don't tell Ben & Jerry about this!
November 23, 2009
My Boys
Just got the boys' photos back from processing this past Friday. The first school portrait and newborn hospital photo are quite a reality check — but it's a welcomed one. I'm a proud Mama!
Lucian
3 years old
1st School Photo
(Preschool)
Keagan Rowan Davis
Monday, November 2, 2009
6:28 am
8 lbs., 6 oz.
19 inches long
(hospital photo)
Quickie Update
Lucian is loving being a big brother and he is very proud. He's still adjusting, but he's happy for the most part. He really loves his baby brother and gets excited whenever he wakes up. Keagan, of course, still sleeps a lot. When he isn't sleeping, he's eating or making dirty diapers. There isn't a whole lot of awake time just yet, but it's coming. I'm trying so hard to savor these moments while he's so little yet because I now know just how very fast it all goes by. Sometimes it's hard to sleep because I just want to hold him, stare at him and watch him sleep and grow.
Nursing has been a challenge but I know we will make it. It was harder the first time around and we got through it. This time it's just frustrating and when I'm in pain, my patience runs thin. These last two weeks I have been exhausted and had to go to the doctor to be treated for it. I'm still not getting the ideal amount of sleep, but at least I'm getting better at trying to grab it when I can. My goal is to get at least one four-hour nap in each day. So far I've only accomplished it a couple of times, but it's better than none. I think I'm getting a little bit better at managing my milk supply which is one of the issues that has been keeping me from sleeping. Most of it is from anxiety. I have a hard time asking for help and relaxing. My joints stiffen up while I sleep and I always wake up in excruciating pain so I get anxious about waking up before I even fall asleep because I don't look forward to the pain.
When I nursed Lucian, my milk supply was average. I had just enough and was always feeling like I had to work to keep my supply up. I felt especially threatened when I went back to work full time. This time, it's completely different. I'm staying home, so I'm at least relaxed about that part, but this time, I'm actually overproducing and overwhelmed by it. I sort of got myself into a little trouble because I was pumping too much and didn't realize it. I was just doing what the lactation consultant told me to do, but I don't think she realized just how much milk I was producing! I was so paranoid about getting mastitis like I had last time so I kept pumping to drain myself. I kept getting backed up, so I kept pumping and ended up with a huge surplus of milk now stashed in the freezer. I'm not exactly complaining, but I just think back now and probably could have handled it a little differently. I guess I just went into autopilot mode and did what I knew to do from the last time which was keep pumping — keep the milk moving. I never expected to be able to produce so much and now I'm working on trying to scale it all back a bit. The tricky part is trying to do it without getting backed up so much, which is very painful and makes it hard to sleep.
Needless to say, Keagan has checked out very well with his first two pediatrician checkups. He's gained one pound and grown an inch in just one week's time! He's now 9 lbs., 10 oz, and 20 inches long.
I miss blogging and socializing, but I need to lay low for a bit longer so I can fit in time for resting and healing. I still have lots of projects and podcasting planned so I have much to look forward to. I do need to socialize from time to time and keeping in touch with friends and family through facebook and other social outlets has been really good for me. We've been out of the house a couple of times besides doctor appointments, but I realize it's easy to overdo it this early on.
I've been cleared to drive short distances, but still don't feel all that comfortable with it just yet. I still have some painkillers I take occasionally when the pain is too much, but I try to watch it. I know I shouldn't be on the road without sufficient sleep. Walking and standing for long periods is still painful, but I'm working on it.
Overall, I'm happy with the progress I'm making because it's been better compared to the first time, but it's still frustrating how long it takes to recover from a Cesarian Section at my age and for how out of shape I am. I do feel a lot more prepared this time around and have some better coping mechanisms in place.
For now though, the top priority is sleep, so good night!
November 18, 2009
November 12, 2009
Hush Little Baby
My boys. Kinda surreal to use plural form now. Feels good. :) Something tells me this might make for a good blackmail video later in life -- proof that there was a time when they didn't want to beat the snot out of each other? Saving this one for posterity!
November 9, 2009
Diaper Rash Sucks :(
Poor Keagan has some pretty nasty diaper rash so I've been letting him "air out" on a towel on the floor. Tonight we had a "picnic" in Mommy & Daddy's bedroom on a blanket on the floor so we could all hang out with Keagan while eating dinner together. (well, at least Keagan was literally hanging out!) He has been such a trooper through it all. He only cries for diaper changes, hunger and attention...the usual.
He is such a great baby! I can't get enough of kissing him and running my lips over his peach fuzz. Every time I look at Lucian, I'm reminded just how fast time goes and how quickly they grow up so I'm trying to savor this time even through the sleep deprivation, engorgement and incision pain. (Percoset is a great Mother's Little Helper right now, but it's soon time to start weaning myself off of it.)
The good thing is, it's all just temporary.
The bad thing is, it's all just temporary.
I know can't stop time, and wouldn't want to necessarily, but at least I can make memories of moments in time that will hopefully last forever :)
These are little reminders that life is tough, but we get by.
"This is so NOT the spa experience I was hoping for!"
(airing out diaper rash)
"I'd rather have a bikini wax right about now instead of this diaper rash!"
Happier Moments
I can't get enough of his peach fuzz!
November 5, 2009
The Arrival of Keagan Rowan Davis
Here are some photos taken over the past few days documenting the arrival of our newest son, Keagan Rowan.(see slideshow — if your browser lets it load — or click on the link to the online album.)
Keagan was born on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 am via Cesarian Section performed at TMC in Tucson, Arizona.
Keagan weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and measured 19 in. long. He latched on and nursed soon after delivery.
The surgery went very well despite large amounts of scar tissue from the previous C-section that made it take a little longer to get him out. That made it a little stressful for me, but luckily this time, the warming bed where they were getting Keagan cleaned up was within my view from the operating table and watching my baby helped to keep me a little distracted from the surgery and all of the movement. It was nice watching Nate get to cut the cord and be there to greet our new son and talk to him. One thing I loved was that I was able to touch my baby and kiss him and see more of his body this time around. (Last time all I got was a burrito baby shoved in my face and all I could see was Lucian's nose!) My arms weren't strapped down this time, so I could actually raise my hand and touch him. That made me very happy.
There was lots of laughing going on around the warming table because it turns out, Keagan peed FIVE times during the time he was there in the OR! When he was taken back to the recovery room for the APGAR test, (he scored 8/9) he then proceeded to poop as well. So, we were well assured that all his plumbing was in proper working order right from the start.
I found the surgery to be somewhat less traumatic this time around. I was still scared because I knew what to expect and wasn't looking forward to it. I was a bit more relaxed and felt like I was in good hands. My anesthesiologist was extremely nice and talked with me throughout and answered any questions I had. He was super great about putting the epidural in and I was very proud of myself for staying still while the needle went in. There was one part of the surgery where I began to panic. The numbing sensation was climbing up into my lungs and I felt like I couldn't breathe. My tongue felt like it was swelling and I couldn't feel my throat when I attempted to swallow. The anesthesiologist gave me two puffs of my Albuterol and that seemed to help. I was able to calm down a little more but still got the shakes really bad. Later, after surgery, one of the side effects from the drugs is that it makes you itch like crazy. I accidently pulled some of the skin off my nose from itching it so much. It's healing along with all the other boo boos I've since received during my time here. As usual, my veins alway present an issue and one attempt to start an IV left a very colorful mark.
What should I name it?
One of the worst parts of recovery was dealing with the IV. I was hooked up to a monitor that had alarms on it for my oxygen, heart rate and IV fluid intake. They had to put the IV in near my right elbow, so every time I used my arm, the alarm would sound. Trying to nurse and get in and out of bed set it off constantly. I was ready to throw it out the window and so was Nate. Luckily I didn't have to deal with it for too long, but unfortunately, I think I may be suffering from some nipple trauma because of the difficulty of the cords in the way during nursing sessions. I'm really, really sore right now and many different parts are extremely raw and sensitive.
I'm looking forward to being discharged tomorrow (Thursday) after getting my staples from my incision removed. Today was a pretty decent day getting around. I'm on a regimen of pain killers and Motrin to manage the pain. Sleeping is next to impossible here at the hospital and if and when I do manage to get sleep, it's a nap for about 2 hours max.
I really miss my Lucian and can not wait to see him at home. Nate and I were heartbroken when we found out Lucian would not be allowed to visit at the hospital because of the flu season. (No kids under 12). So, we're really looking forward to getting home so the boys can meet each other! They have presents to give each other :)
This whole experience is still very surreal yet and I'm sure it will be for quite a while. Keagan looks so much like Lucian in the face, it's like I just had a cloned baby! Keagan has white-blond hair and blue eyes, so that's the main difference. He's also a tad smaller than Lucian was as well. Sometimes I have to take off his little cap just to be reminded this is Keagan and not Lucian! Of course, Nate and I have already called Keagan by his big brother's name instead several times now.
Now that the pain meds are kicking in and Keagan has been fed, I'm going to try and snooze. Sorry if there are lots of typos. My eyes are failing to focus now and my ears are ringing so it's time to take a break and nap.
Thanks to everyone who has written me. I wish I could respond back to everyone, but just know that it all means so much to me. Your feedback, prayers, encouragement and advise has really helped me to begin recovering so much faster!
Hope you all enjoy the photos and I'll try to update and write more later. I also have a couple of cute movies I'll want to post later.
November 2, 2009
Say Hello To Keagan
Daddy & Mommy are FINALLY going to try and rest now that Keagan has finally nursed again. He's great at it, just very lethargic at times.
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