5 Months!

Yesterday...

11lbs 12oz ~ 24inches

Christmas Tree

Yesterday we went to Erway Farms to pick out our Christmas tree! We bundled Carter up, and had a great time. There was a wagon ride out to the trees, and after we picked out the "perfect" tree we went to see the zebra, deer, and elk. Besides losing the tree off the top of the van on the way home - it was a successful trip! Hopefully we will get it put up and decorated today or tomorrow. Also...Carter is 5 months old today!!! Check back later for his 5 month pictures!

Holiday Request

Sorry - no pictures today. We took a bunch more Christmas photos, but I can't share them yet. Please continue reading anyways!

With the holidays quickly approaching, Mike, Carter & I are looking forward to seeing all of our family and friends (especially since we haven't seen some of you since Carter's arrival!). However, we still have to be extremely cautious about sickness and germs.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you have any sort of illness AT ALL (i.e. a cold, but not sick enough to stay home from holiday gatherings) and are planning to attend a gathering that we are also supposed to attend, let us know so that we do not bring Carter. We certainly do not want to interfere with anyone else's holiday plans, and as much as we want to see everyone, his health is most important right now. Getting him through this first cold/flu season without any major illnesses is our top priority. Unfortunately, if that means spending the holidays with just our own little "family", we are prepared to do so.

I really wish I could tie a bottle of Purell around his neck...but due to his new LOVE of chewing on his hands, and everything else he can get his hands on, I can't do that...(not to mention that he's a baby so I wouldn't tie anything around his neck)...

Christmas Preview

Yesterday I took Carter's Christmas pictures. I got some really cute ones! Unfortunately, I can't show them to you because then it wouldn't be a surprise! Okay okay, here are a few just to preview....

On another note, I don't think I ever updated after Carter's 4 month check-up last week. Overall he's doing GREAT! He's 10lbs 4oz and 23.5 inches long with a head circumference of 39.5cm. He's still not on the charts yet for his actual age - and at the very low end of the charts for his adjusted age...but growing great on his own curve. The doctor is very pleased. He also told me that I could start solids anytime now but Carter isn't even 3 months adjusted, and nowhere near the 14lb weight they suggest for starting solids. He also only eats 20-24oz per day, much under the limit of 34oz. So sorry Carter, no peas for you this Thanksgiving!

Prematurity Awareness Day

I know that many of you have already read the story of Carter's birth, and have followed his progress religiously through this blog - but today is Prematurity Awareness Day, and although I'm writing this at 10pm, I think it is important to remember the journey we have taken and that which is still to come.

Overall, I remember my pregnancy as being great! We found out shortly before Christmas 2008 that we were expecting - which made for perfect Christmas present ideas for the entire family! Besides being quite nauseous, I really didn't have any problems early on. We had several ultrasounds to see baby's heart beating, measure his progress, etc. and everything was perfect. According to the dating ultrasound, he was due to arrive August 26, 2009 (just 4 days later than I had thought).

I think my "luck" turned bad, or perhaps it was actually good - when I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. If it hadn't been for my appointment with the nutritionist, I may have never gone to the hospital for my first stay June 24th (due to swelling and high bp, she sent me to Labor & Delivery at RGH). During my 4 days there, I received steroid shots to help Carter's lungs in case he had to be delivered early. All test results came back normal - and I was discharged on blood pressure meds and partial bed rest Saturday June 27th. That was also the day that we moved!

After that, I checked not only my blood sugar but also blood pressure several times a day. On Sunday, July 12th, I attended my now sister in law's bridal shower. I ate cheesecake. My sister commented "if you eat that, you're going to have that baby today!" I replied "No, but I might if I drink some of your wine punch." (which I did NOT drink..and for the record..eating the cheesecake had nothing to do with Carter's early arrival..my blood sugar was just fine!). I felt fine all day, but when I tested my blood pressure that night it was very high. I took my meds, and listened to my parents who told me NOT to go to bed until my BP went down. Well...it went up. So off to the hospital I went (a different one and a doctor I had never met, since we had moved). After an ultrasound and some blood tests, the doctor came back in with a smile on his face. I figured I was going home, possibly on bed rest.....WRONG....he announced that I would be delivering the baby via c-section within the hour. Umm..what?!? All of a sudden a herd of nurses came in and started prepping me for surgery.

At 5:43am Carter Michael Kennedy was rudely taken from his warm sleeping place. He arrived screaming (which was music to my ears, despite all the pain I was in) and weighed in at 3lbs 10oz. He was on a ventilator for about an hour or two, but then was able to breathe on his own. The hardest part was that, besides seeing him for about 10 seconds in the incubator on his way to the NICU, I did not get to see my baby boy for about 33 hours. I did not feel like a mommy. There was this baby upstairs, that I knew I had just delivered, and I knew I loved, but it didn't feel real. It didn't feel like he was mine.

Carter spent his first 20 days at Sister's Hospital. He was poked and prodded more than any baby should be. At first he had not only monitors, but IVs and a feeding tube. He spent a few days under the lights due to jaundice. Mike and I prepared ourselves for ups and downs. Luckily for us, there really were no "downs". Carter did GREAT, and all of the nurses thought he was such an easy baby. New parents should never have to be so thankful to be able to hold their baby for ONE hour a day. That was total time...so many days Mike let me do all the cuddling because he knew I really needed it as much as Carter did (and I think Mike was afraid he might break our tiny baby). It was a long 20 days for us, but not nearly as long as some of the other babies in the NICU, or some of the babies of moms I have gotten to know through an online preemie support group.

Although the NICU was hard, it was safe. Now that we are home I feel like I have just as much to worry about. "Did you wash your hands?" Yes, that is probably the most common phrase I say. I know that we may have offended some people by not attending various events, or by asking them not to come visit when they were sick - but it's all about Carter's health now. If he catches a "cold" - he could end up back in the hospital. I hide in our room every time someone here gets sick (which has happened several times now, between living with a kindergartener and preschooler). I wish I could take Carter everywhere, to the mall, out to eat, to Joshua's soccer games, and not worry. But we can't. I'm hoping to be able to spend the holidays with our families, but I'm completely prepared to spend them with just Carter and Mike if anyone else is sick.

Sure, he looks like a normal, yet tiny, 4 month old baby (weighing in at 9lbs 12oz) - but we have to remember that he is/was a preemie. Prematurity doesn't go away just because the baby comes home or is past their "due date". I pray every day that Carter continues to grow and flourish without any problems. It is easy to feel sorry for myself, remembering that I never got any last "belly pictures" or even got THAT huge, or that Carter was a week old for one of my baby showers and the other one had to be cancelled. That I never got to feel what it is like to go into labor. Instead of being so excited, I was scared. Instead, I try to constantly remind myself of how blessed we were/are that things went so "well" and that things always happen for a reason. I don't want anyone else to feel bad for us either - because it was/is all worth it for our beautiful little boy, but just try to understand and pray that some day, through the help of organizations such as the March of Dimes, that all babies will be born healthy and full term!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE...

a few months makes!

1 month

Almost 4 months!!

Carter has been doing very well lately! He sleeps 6-11 hours straight in his crib every night, which means mommy and daddy are much more rested. Now we are just working on naps. He still seems to wake up every time we lay him down, though it's gotten a little better since I started swaddling him for his naps. The only problem is, he likes to take his longest nap from about 5-7pm (I've had to wake him up at 7pm few times!) then he goes down for the night between 8:30-10pm.

Joshua & Justin really enjoy helping to take care of Carter - feeding him and making silly faces to make him laugh! Oh yeah, and Carter rolled back to belly the other day! I put him down on his blanket (on his back) and left the room for about 30 seconds to help Justin. When I came back - he was on his belly!!! After that he kept going back to side, but not to the belly again yet, though he is getting better/faster at belly to back. During the night he scoots all around his crib. I start him in the middle near the "top"...and by morning he is often either turned 90 degrees, or all the way down in the bottom corner!

Carter's favorite toy (okay, the ONLY toy he will really play with) is the "O-Ball". It is really easy for him to grab, and he tries to get it up to his mouth to chew on. Just watch out - he throws it across the room pretty good too and likes to kick it with his feet!

More Fall & Halloween Pictures

Happy Halloween!!!

Okay, so I'm a day early, but was excited to share pictures of Carter with his pumpkin and wearing his giraffe costume! I'm sure I will post more pictures after Halloween!

But before I continue...Mike and I felt it was very important for us to get the flu vaccine (especially since I will pass the antibodies on to Carter) - but unfortunately most of the flu clinics in the area have been cancelled due to shortages. Mike called his doctor Tuesday morning to try to schedule an appointment for early morning later in the week (so as not to miss work). They told him that it was the last day they were offering the vaccine and would likely be out by the end of the day. I quickly called my doctor, made an appointment, and we hopped in the car (with Carter) to head to Rochester. Unfortunately we didn't make it quite in time, so Mike had to wait until after the lunch break to get his shot - and ended up calling in "sick" to work. So we stayed in Rochester for the afternoon, visited with Minda, then had some dinner with Mike's mom and Frank.

We were hoping to get the H1N1 vaccine on November 21st at Starpoint, but now I hear that only children will be able to get it due to shortages. So if anyone hears of a clinic offering the H1N1 vaccine - please let me know!

Back to Halloween...Wednesday we decided to carve Carter's pumpkin! Little did I know that Mike had NEVER carved a pumpkin before! I cut it open and cleaned it out (the dirty work)..and Mike did a GREAT job doing the actual carving. We then tortured Carter to get some pictures of him with his pumpkin and in his costume.

He Rolled!!!

Carter rolled belly to back today!!! He's been looking like he wanted to for a LONG time...but he finally got his head up high enough today to get enough force to push himself over! Oh, and he did it about 5 or 6 times!

Watch the video!

Baptism

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Carter's Baptism on Sunday, both here and from afar. We are so thankful for all the good wishes and blessings. We missed those of you who were unable to join us (many due to illness).

Sleep!

Sorry - there are no pictures to go with this blog entry...because the "nursery" is too dark!

I had heard about the Homedics SoundSpa Lullabye, which is a little machine that plays different sounds (heartbeat, ocean, rain, and 3 songs) and has 3 different light shows. I really doubted it's capabilities because Carter would NOT go to sleep without being held, much less lay in his crib without waking up crying. Well, we decided to use a gift card and purchase it. If it means the possibility of more sleep...I'm willing to spend $15!

The first few nights, Carter wasn't very interested. Not to mention the light show part broke (stopped rotating, so it was just a still picture shining on the ceiling) after the first hour or so. We returned it for a new one, and after being at my wits end trying to get him to sleep without being held all night - I put Carter in his crib swaddled and ALMOST asleep at 9:30 Tuesday night. He didn't seem to be watching the light show, but he laid there quietly. I asked my dad "What's your bet - will he start crying, or put himself to sleep?" Dad replied "Definitely start crying." For the next hour I waited while Carter made little sounds...and eventually...he was silent. 10:30pm - sleeping...ON HIS OWN!!! He slept until 4:30am. 6 hours...not bad.

Wednesday night we had a repeat. 9:30pm went in his crib, asleep about 10:30pm. Slept til about 4am. Thursday he ended up a little bit cranky (I think he just wanted to watch Grey's Anatomy with me)...so he didn't quite put himself to sleep...but when I laid him down already asleep, he stayed that way (til 3:45am). And alas, tonight, it took a couple of tries, but he again put himself to sleep around 10pm. We are finally starting to get a little routine going. Hope I didn't just jinx myself!

Just a quick reminder: Carter's Baptism is this Sunday after the 10am Mass (so about 11:15am) at St. Mary's in Lockport. You can get to it from Rt. 31...so it's really simple! We will be having a lunch reception at our/my parents' house immediately following. If you need any directions, let me know! Of course, if you are not feeling completely well, Carter asks that you come see him another time.

3 Months!