13 weeks...

Today is 13 weeks, we had our normal every other week doctor appointment, everything is great, blood pressure is good, heard the heartbeat very quickly this time.  That's a great thing since last time it took quite awhile to hear it!  I finally gained some weight...2.5lbs - I figured that must be because of Thanksgiving but I could barely eat that night because I was so full from lunch!  Though I am through the first trimester now, I'm still having some nauseous feelings...ugh.  Sometimes I think it would be better to just puke...who knows.  Overall, with both Jack and this little one, I've had pretty easy first trimesters...more nauseous and exhausted this time but I think some of that is because I have Jack to care for and boy is he a busy body!!  Overall, we are happy things are going well and just trying to take care of both my little ones!

Goal Date...

In early October we were hit with some very surprising news, Jack is going to be a big brother!  This was surprising because we were not planning on this to happen for a least another year or so.  We are nervous and excited at the same time - nervous because I am now considered high risk because of my problems with Jack and excited because we will have 2 little ones close in age to each other and hopefully be good friends.  So far things are going well, we are going to see the OB every other week until about week 20 and at that point we will have weekly appointments.  I am checking my blood pressure daily and watching my sodium intake.  We had an ultrasound at 7 weeks which set our due date at June 7.  We have heard the little peanut's heartbeat 2 times so far, first time at 9 weeks then at 11 weeks.  I am practically already only able to wear maternity clothes! 

Goal Date:  Well, I have set a goal date of which I would LOVE to reach - May 17...my reasoning for this is simple, that is the 37 week mark which makes this little one considered full term.  Jack was born at 26 weeks due to severe preecclampsia and we are hoping to make it to full-term with this pregnancy.  We are more knowledgeable regarding my previous condition and are taking as many precautions as we can early on - checking blood pressure, watching sodium, limiting strenuous activity (I had to quit my weekend job at the hospital) and elevating my feet when able.  Our goal is to make it into the 3rd trimester and full-term! 

Thankfulness...

This Thanksgiving I am very thankful for many things.  First and foremost, my special, amazing son, Jack.  This time last year, we were spending time between the NICU and home, Jack was 1 month old but as you all know, he came 14 weeks early, so he still needed to grow before coming home.  This year is very special because he is home with us, he is catching up to his actual age.  I know every baby is a miracle but he is definitely more of a miracle than most normal babies.  Secondly, Baby Albright #2, who is just a little over 12 weeks along - so far, everything is going great and we are monitoring my blood pressure closely and hoping for a long 36+ week pregnancy this time.  Thirdly, my husband, who is an amazing father and I wouldn't be able to do any of this without him.  Finally, Jack's wonderful grandparents.  His grandmas babysit him every week and their time is greatly appreciated.  His grandpas love seeing him and spoiling him as much as possible!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

Escaping...

Here's my sweet Jack...naked baby...trying to escape!  Too bad he doesn't know how cold it is out!  He stayed nice and warm inside and is now dressed and snuggled in...sleeping on me!!  He's starting to be too big for this, but I love it anyways!

Update...

Things are going well in the Albright household.  Jack is over his double ear and sinus infection, though his reflux seems to be a little worse right now.  He is eating much better - taking good amounts of food for 2 of 3 meals each day!  We are very happy about how well he is doing.  He LOVES mashed bananas and mac n cheese, along with his still favorite, pancakes.  We are trying to incorporate vegetables into the mix, had a few peas last night.  He did pretty well with applesauce and loves his banana yogurt that I started feeding him for breakfast.  He'll eat half a container without thinking about it!

He's crawling for real now - it's much easier on carper than the wood floors but he's doing pretty well.  He's found the door stops and loves playing with those.  We are working on teaching him the word 'NO', he'll stop and look at us when we say it, it takes a few times for him to understand that we don't want him doing what he is doing.  Some times it's just easier to tell him 'NO' and move him away from the problem.  Hopefully it'll sink in soon.  It is fun to see how busy he has become and how curious he is.  We are exhausted once he goes to bed!

Daylight Savings Time...

So, this weekend we turned our clocks back 1 hour...we went through the spring forward with Jack and it wasn't a big deal but this falling back has kicked the little guy's butt!  He's close to being over his terrible double ear infection and back to eating rather normally now (thankfully!!) but he's so exhausted at night that he's falling asleep early!  Here is a picture of him at dinner tonight...poor little guy!!

He barely woke up for his bottle and the only reason he woke up is because he ended up with diaper rash today and it hurt sooo bad to wipe him while changing his diaper tonight.  Hopefully that will feel better tomorrow...we are keeping it well covered in desitin/butt paste to get rid of it quickly!

Sick Jackers...

My poor little man has been fighting illness for a little over a week.  We took him to the immediate care last friday night and they said his ears, throat, and lungs all looked/sounded good and it was just a virus.  Well, 4 days later, he isn't much better - still stuffy, lots of ugly looking gunk coming out of his nose, coughing, and really pretty fussy and abnormal for him.  I called the ped this morning to get him in...thankfully I did.  He has a combination ear and sinus infection.  Poor baby!  No wonder he's fussy - he's got to be in pain!  We started him on medication tonight, hopefully he'll start getting better rather soon.  We also got his first synagis(RSV) shot for the season and likely will get those up until April.  He hasn't been wanting too many solids lately because of being sick but at least he's been taking his bottles consistently and he got weighed again today and he's now up to 16lb 9oz - a whole pound bigger than he was just over a month ago!  I think at this point a pound a month is pretty good! :)  We'll at least get a weight check each month now because of the synagis shot, so we'll have a good consistent scale to go off of.  On a sad note, our fantastic ped is leaving the practice to specialize in kids with ADHD, so we are switching to one of the other docs in the practice. 

Keep thinking good thoughts for Jack to get better soon!!!