Burdens of Parenting

We have been very busy with kids and colds. First it was Evelyn who sticks just about anything in her mouth. Well she got this cold. It was really bad. After a few days it seemed to go away but then one of her eyes got red. It was something close to pink eye but not. Then the cold came back more aggressive than at first. We had to take her to the Dr. who prescribed antibiotics for the eye and mouth. That caused a real poop mess. By then mom got the cold and the red eye thingy. Z was miserable and tired. I had to pull a few night shifts to help out with nursing Silas. Then Silas gets a cold and he’s only two weeks old.

With all this going on, Evelyn got the worst diaper rash I had ever seen. There were some very red irregular bumps and mild superficial bleeding. She screamed something awful when we changed her. We were worried. We had been keeping her clean. Found out that it had something to do with the bowel discharge as a result of her taking the antibiotics. The whole thing cleared up in about a week but we had to be diligent in keeping her bottom dry and re-applying diaper rash cream.

By this time Z’s cold is in full swing and she is on antibiotics. To make matters worst, Silas’s cold that had seemed to be leaving was starting to get worst. He's only three and half weeks old at this point. He gets over the first hurdle then a relapse because of the cold from Evelyn and Z. Double jeopardy. We've had to elevate Silas’s mattress to help with his nose drainage, apply regular saline/bulb cleaning and we added a humidifier to both of the kid’s rooms.

Evelyn ended up taking two rounds of antibiotics to clear-up her cold. She is her same old funny self now. Poor Silas struggled through the cold without any medicine. He's such a fighter. Dr says for him to “tough it out.” As long as he's eating they don't prescribe medicine. So now Silas is six weeks old. He's finally breathing better and just about completely over the cold. Still a lingering cough occasionally that sounds horrible but we recognize that as the tail end of a bad cold.

Whew!!!

So I started consulting again but this time on the side. I kept my day job. I have very little time. Z has the kids all day so I take over after 5pm. She goes to the gym and I usually put Evelyn to bed around 7pm. Evelyn still sleeps from 7 to 7. Silas is different story. He can go about 4 hours straight at night. He’s gained a lot of weight. He’s over 13lbs and very strong.

Taylor is with us for the Holidays. You can find out just how her life is going by visiting her blog. She has a new look...and it looks good on her.

Evelyn continues to add to her vocabulary. Dog, more, hi, and hot are some of her favorite choice words. Although she gets them a little confused. For instance, hot refers not only to things that are hot in temperature but also those things that taste bad. Also, she points to Silas and says “Dog.” Her pronounciation is off a little too. She says dahawg for dog.

Anyway, we are all doing fine and wish everybody a Merry Christmas. We expect to be down south sometime in late January 2008.

Life Goes On

All is well. We are getting into a routine with Silas. He was really fussy at first. Refusing to sleep and just all out miserable. But now that he's gained weight (10lbs), eats plenty (5oz a feeding) and on a schedule, he's more cooperative. We don't take him outside much. He has already had a cold. Thankfully, it wasn't too awful. He makes a lot of strange and loud noises at night. We had to move him out of our bed room into his crib in another room .. I think he has bad allergies (it runs in the family) He completely skipped the co-sleeper. Evelyn stayed in our room for 6 mos before we moved her out and when we did it was because WE made too much noise for her.

Evelyn continues to grow and learn. She is going to a nursery hour at the library on Saturdays. She tries to sing the songs and participate. She loves to read books or have them read to her. She's quite a handful as she gets into almost everything.

Baby Boy is HERE!

Quick note...

We have a baby Boy!!!!

Mom and baby are fine and resting at hospital...I'm home with Evelyn.

Check Taylor's Blog (a.k.a. Rozies Universe) for all the details and future updates.

Still Waiting

OKay...last night Z had really strong contractions but they tappered off after an hour or so.

NEW POLL

OK so looks like Silas Frederick McAdams won!!! We still were thinking about adding John though... Let's take another poll.

Vote on the name John Silas Frederick McAdams

OVER DUE

Day one of being overdue. Braxton hicks contraction last night. Nothing too intense. Some today but just uncomfortable. This week we will be working hard at doing things to try to stimulate labor. We had spicy shrimp yesterday and Bang Bang Chicken today from the Cheesecake factory. Yeah!! Z started long walks again. We are going to do all the things the drs suggested. We are getting the right signs but no decisive movement.

We all have colds. Evelyn gave it to us. She's been quite the snotty one for the last few days. She dares us to wipe her nose and howls if we spray saline up her nose. All in all, she's happy and playful and we are all fine.

DUE DATE

Okay...we are officially due today. Z went to the Dr. today and they poked around to help start the labor. There has been no change. We are 2cm dilated but not effaced. This is the same as last Friday. The Drs have scheduled an induction next Friday. We are ambivalent about it. Z was in Labor 13 hrs with Evelyn. The last 8 were the hardest because she was very uncomfortable and could not get relief. However, amazingly she was on her feet with lots of energy just 10 hrs after the birth. I had to caution her to slow down. She even wanted to go to the gym. Now that they're talking about induction/drugs we're kinda thinking a less than desirable recovery. I know Z doesn't want to hang around the hospital and this sort of thing almost guarantees a longer hospital stay. However, our main prayer right now is for an uneventful delivery, a renewed mother, and a healthy baby.

I can see it in Z's eyes already. She wants herself back. The last time I saw this desire in her, Z lost so much weight by being active and breast feeding (lots of calories lost here). She went to the gym almost every day and within 3 months she was smaller than she was before she got pregnant. However, this time I kinda think she knows what she can do and isn't worried about the weight.

It's getting creepy!!!

Z is having painful braxton contractions...last time she was like this, Evelyn showed up a day later. The mucus plug has started to dissolve. I've gotten everything ready and put it by the door. We have already done the Hospital orientation thing so we are set. It takes 15 minutes to get to the hospital. There is limited to no parking spaces...so that's a concern. But they told us we could park in front and come back later to park. The Hospital is fairly new and still under construction - thus the reason for the parking issue. The rooms they showed us during the orientation were only about 3yrs old. They are also building a new wing so I don't know whether we will be in the new wing or old. Doesn't matter, they are single bed rooms the size of a hotel room. There is a window bench about 6ft long that I can sleep on if necessary. They can do everything in the room. There is a little stand for the baby once he's born. They will allow almost anything in the birth plan except open fire (CANDLES LaShawn LOL!) and bath births- they don't have a bathtub. We expect to be there over night even if all goes well. Seems it has more to do with the hospital doctors than anything else. We have a Douala to help us out. She will watch Evelyn instead of being at the hospital. I was planning to bring snacks but don't think I'll have time for that if it's anything like the last time. Neither of us are worried just a bit anxious.

Evelyn had a good Halloween although she was clueless. She kept trying to eat the candy through the wrapper. She also offered the slobbery candy to the trick-or-treaters. They politely declined.

We're REAL Close....

Okay...Z is about ready to have the baby. So far we believe it is a boy by the heart beat and the ultrasound. We thought we had a name until we realized that it had been used in the family already. So there has been a mad rush at the end here to come up with alternative. My favorite name is John Frederick McAdams. My dad's first name and Z's dad's first name. But John has already been used. We also want one name (first or middle) to be biblical so naming the baby John would kill two birds with one stone...so to speak.

Anyway, we still want to keep an open mind on this. So, on the right of this page you will find a selection of names we could live with but can't decide on one. So help us out. Tell us which name you like the best by voting.

Halloween Goldfish

My daughter loved being a goldfish for halloween so much...we had to chase her down to get her out of the costume.

Halloween

It's Halloween time!!! Just the excuse I need to go buy lots of candy or...maybe eat some of the lovely treats my wife baked!!! Yeah!

The Start of a Strange Quest!

Ok, first of all I see no reason to blog. I find the whole concept rather strange. Like…who really cares what you have to say. If I want to talk, it seems fitting to just pick up the phone or send an email. However, I'm at this juncture because my niece seems to think it’s a cool thing to do and a great way to keep in touch with the family.

Okay, for the moment...but I have to tell you that if you want to know how my life is going on a day-by-day basis, I’d have to tell you to get a life!

Anyway, I have another website that I post pictures of the family to regularly...eUpdate