Sunday, April 18, 2010
Great Visit
Today Brock got some snuggles from his Great Aunt Wendy and his Great Uncle Moe. What a lucky guy!
Brock - two weeks old
A few pictures of the Brockstar's week...
Mmm. Did someone say milk?
Meeting my Aunties Shannon and Halle
The largest balloon from Aunties Purnima and Crystal
Look at me in my crib...
It's been a rough week. I'm exhausted!
Mmm. Did someone say milk?
The largest balloon from Aunties Purnima and Crystal
Look at me in my crib...
It's been a rough week. I'm exhausted!
Unhappiest Baby on the Block
For the most part, Brock is a great baby but he definitely has his moments. Those moments usually occur between the hours of 1 am and 6 am.
Our friends loaned us a video called The Happiest Baby on the Block. We decided to try the five "S" techniques suggested in the DVD. Let's just say that Brock will NOT be the happiest baby on our block.
Here are the five techniques:
1. Swaddle. Brock HATES being swaddled. He fusses and fusses until he breaks free from his confined blanket. He literally kicks off his blanket and sleeps fully stretched out. Yep. H-A-T-E-S the swaddle.
2. Shhh. You are supposed to hold a long shhhh sound near the baby's ear to calm them. He just looks at us like we're crazy. And while it doesn't calm him, it also doesn't really do anything for him. He remains status quo.
3. Side sway. Placing him looking out and swaying back and forth, Brock, in theory, should calm down. Nope. Instead, he thinks we are playing and this gives him energy. Or, if he's not in the mood to play, this will set him off into a crying spell. He loves to be cuddled on the chest, not swayed from the hip.
4. Shake. Okay, do not shake your baby until his brain explodes but a gentle shake is supposed to be soothing. For Brock, however, the same effect as step #3 occurs.
5. Sooth. Basically throw a pacifier in the baby's mouth to calm them. To be fair, I am avoiding this step for a bit longer until we have the whole breast feeding thing locked down (this is another discussion for another time but I'm having a terrible time breast feeding and have been pumping/bottle feeding most of the time so he doesn't starve and I can heal from his vicious boob attacks). When Brock was in the NICU, they gave him a pacifier before he even breast fed. I am convinced this is one of the reasons breast feeding has been so challenging for me. Can we say nipple confusion?
Anywhoo...our kid wasn't meant to be the best student in the class apparently. But he is definitely the cutest!
Swaddle Schmaddle. Let me be free!
Our friends loaned us a video called The Happiest Baby on the Block. We decided to try the five "S" techniques suggested in the DVD. Let's just say that Brock will NOT be the happiest baby on our block.
Here are the five techniques:
1. Swaddle. Brock HATES being swaddled. He fusses and fusses until he breaks free from his confined blanket. He literally kicks off his blanket and sleeps fully stretched out. Yep. H-A-T-E-S the swaddle.
2. Shhh. You are supposed to hold a long shhhh sound near the baby's ear to calm them. He just looks at us like we're crazy. And while it doesn't calm him, it also doesn't really do anything for him. He remains status quo.
3. Side sway. Placing him looking out and swaying back and forth, Brock, in theory, should calm down. Nope. Instead, he thinks we are playing and this gives him energy. Or, if he's not in the mood to play, this will set him off into a crying spell. He loves to be cuddled on the chest, not swayed from the hip.
4. Shake. Okay, do not shake your baby until his brain explodes but a gentle shake is supposed to be soothing. For Brock, however, the same effect as step #3 occurs.
5. Sooth. Basically throw a pacifier in the baby's mouth to calm them. To be fair, I am avoiding this step for a bit longer until we have the whole breast feeding thing locked down (this is another discussion for another time but I'm having a terrible time breast feeding and have been pumping/bottle feeding most of the time so he doesn't starve and I can heal from his vicious boob attacks). When Brock was in the NICU, they gave him a pacifier before he even breast fed. I am convinced this is one of the reasons breast feeding has been so challenging for me. Can we say nipple confusion?
Anywhoo...our kid wasn't meant to be the best student in the class apparently. But he is definitely the cutest!
Swaddle Schmaddle. Let me be free!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Brock meets Papa McCormick
Brock had the chance to meet his grandfather, "Papa" McCormick. Papa and Bev came into town for lunch and a visit. It was so fun for us to see them holding Brock and cuddling with him. This is Papa's 11th grandchild.
Papa also delivered a hand knit blanket from Brian's Uncle Dante and Aunt Beth. The blanket is gorgeous and we already cuddled Brock up in it. He loved it, as he fell fast asleep in it.
Papa also delivered a hand knit blanket from Brian's Uncle Dante and Aunt Beth. The blanket is gorgeous and we already cuddled Brock up in it. He loved it, as he fell fast asleep in it.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Brock's first outing
During my entire pregnancy I really missed eating sushi. We try to hit our favorite sushi restaurant Kiku Sushi weekly with our friends the Kopeck's and during my pregnancy I had to modify my orders. It was determined early on that as soon as the baby was born, our first outing would be to Kiku.
Uncle Kevin hangs out with the Brockstar
My brother, Kevin, visited over the weekend and had the chance to see Brock for the first time outside of the NICU. They got along famously. Can we say future babysitter?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Evolution of the baby bump
I've been reflecting on this entire journey to parenthood. It was a long, painful process; and worth every minute of it. It all started in early 2007 and now, early March 2010, our dream came true. Brock truly is a miracle and we are so thankful.
At the time I thought it was weird for Brian to want to take pictures of my expanding baby bump but I'm glad he did. It's weird watching your body morph into this robust vessel that carries life. What an incredibly rewarding experience.
This is my belly after 4 weeks recovery from IVF injections AND four weeks pregnant!! We started 11 with viable eggs. Two survived fertilization and eventually one embryo survived. That survivor is BROCK!
17 weeks. Ha, I thought my belly was sooooo big!
6 months
8 months
At the time I thought it was weird for Brian to want to take pictures of my expanding baby bump but I'm glad he did. It's weird watching your body morph into this robust vessel that carries life. What an incredibly rewarding experience.
This is my belly after 4 weeks recovery from IVF injections AND four weeks pregnant!! We started 11 with viable eggs. Two survived fertilization and eventually one embryo survived. That survivor is BROCK!
12 weeks.
17 weeks. Ha, I thought my belly was sooooo big!
6 months
8 months
9 months
18 days before the due date
Any day now...(40 weeks, 1 day)
41 weeks...really?
Baby Brock has made his appearance!
What an AMAZING journey...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Brock - one week home
And what a week it's been. We've had so much fun watching his every move. He makes funny noises and hysterical faces. Here are just a few of Brock's faces.
Friday, April 2, 2010
It's a BOY!
Brock Logan McCormick entered the world on Saturday, March 27th at 12:20 am. He is 21 inches long and weighs 7 lbs., 5 oz. and is absolutely adorable.
Brock's story
We entered the hospital on Friday morning to be induced. Some time during the 16 hour induction/labor, I started to run a fever and acquired an infection that required antibiotics. So, we needed an unplanned, emergency Cesarean section. About 45 minutes after being carted into surgery, Brock was born. I was so drugged and numb that I don't really remember the experience but I do remember two important things:
1. Brian saying, "It's a Boy!"
2. Someone bringing Brock to my side. I said, "hi" and he looked in my direction. Then he was carried away. That would be the last time I saw him until Sunday evening - almost 18 hours after he was born.
Brock was sent immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where a series of IV's, antibiotics, and tests were performed. They said this was routine for deliveries when the mother caught a fever and/or infection. It was supposed to be a 24 hour observation.
Poor little Brock had an IV in his arm and his foot. But grandma got to hold him which made him very happy.
In the end, he was in the NICU for two nights and three days. In addition to the general 24 hour observation, they thought he might have a heart condition, for lack of better explanation. Needless to say, Brian and I were emotional, exhausted, and scared. And during this time, I was trying to heal from major surgery. Every two hours I was wheel chaired into the NICU from the maternity ward so I could attempt to feed him and bond. It was devastating to see your brand new baby attached to tubes and machines. Our visits were short and emotionally and physically draining.
On Monday night, Brock was finally discharged from the NICU, after being cleared of any heart condition or infection. We finally had our boy! That was the best night, ever. We just held him in our arms and cuddled to make up for lost time.
Tuesday, Brock had another medical trauma - the circumcision. Granted, he won't remember a thing but Brian attended the procedure and is forever scarred by it. He said we better have a girl next time...
Wednesday we took our baby and ourselves home from the hospital to start our lives together. I am not going to lie and say it's all been grand. There have been a lot of growing pains trying to figure out how to care for this beautiful creature and also me trying to recover from surgery. I can't lift him or anything which is a struggle. I've been told it will take several weeks until I can engage my core muscles again so I've had to rely on help for everything. Thankfully my Mom has been here to help; otherwise I don't know what I would do.
Thank you, Grandma!!!
Brock's story
We entered the hospital on Friday morning to be induced. Some time during the 16 hour induction/labor, I started to run a fever and acquired an infection that required antibiotics. So, we needed an unplanned, emergency Cesarean section. About 45 minutes after being carted into surgery, Brock was born. I was so drugged and numb that I don't really remember the experience but I do remember two important things:
1. Brian saying, "It's a Boy!"
2. Someone bringing Brock to my side. I said, "hi" and he looked in my direction. Then he was carried away. That would be the last time I saw him until Sunday evening - almost 18 hours after he was born.
Brock was sent immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where a series of IV's, antibiotics, and tests were performed. They said this was routine for deliveries when the mother caught a fever and/or infection. It was supposed to be a 24 hour observation.
Poor little Brock had an IV in his arm and his foot. But grandma got to hold him which made him very happy.
In the end, he was in the NICU for two nights and three days. In addition to the general 24 hour observation, they thought he might have a heart condition, for lack of better explanation. Needless to say, Brian and I were emotional, exhausted, and scared. And during this time, I was trying to heal from major surgery. Every two hours I was wheel chaired into the NICU from the maternity ward so I could attempt to feed him and bond. It was devastating to see your brand new baby attached to tubes and machines. Our visits were short and emotionally and physically draining.
On Monday night, Brock was finally discharged from the NICU, after being cleared of any heart condition or infection. We finally had our boy! That was the best night, ever. We just held him in our arms and cuddled to make up for lost time.
Tuesday, Brock had another medical trauma - the circumcision. Granted, he won't remember a thing but Brian attended the procedure and is forever scarred by it. He said we better have a girl next time...
Wednesday we took our baby and ourselves home from the hospital to start our lives together. I am not going to lie and say it's all been grand. There have been a lot of growing pains trying to figure out how to care for this beautiful creature and also me trying to recover from surgery. I can't lift him or anything which is a struggle. I've been told it will take several weeks until I can engage my core muscles again so I've had to rely on help for everything. Thankfully my Mom has been here to help; otherwise I don't know what I would do.
Thank you, Grandma!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)