Who would've guessed????

Colin has an announcement to make:

I found a cute little wedding chapel that is both nice and cheap. :) We decided last week that we should just go ahead and get married - mostly everyone assumes we are anyway. It'll be June 20th @ 8:30pm - two days before Colin's Baptism. We figure what the hell we're staying together anyway - let's get it all done when everyone is here :) Both sets of parents will be here for the Baptism and we have no idea when everyone may be here again at the same time so it's both convenient and affordable - two things Jim and I love almost as much as each other...plus there's the "love each other forever" crap, lol.

Here's some bonus Colin pictures - just cause he's so damn cute....

From the Mulvey's (I really didn't buy this!)

and I hate baths

But I love my bouncer

Day 23 in the life

We had our weight check yesterday at 3 weeks and he's still not back up to birthweight.
He was 7 at birth
6lbs, 7 oz when we brought him home (48 hours)
at two weeks he was at 6, 14
and 3 weeks -yesterday 6, 12.

He eats fine, doesnt' fall asleep, no spit up and plenty of wet/muddy diapers - he just REFUSES to gain.He eats plenty...2-4 oz BM every 3-4 hours. I'm back to pumping for the next week so I can write down every darn oz he eats and "prove" to myself and the docs that I have more than enough milk. I have like 12 oz in the freezer and 10 in the fridge that he hasnt' eaten yet. So now I have to supplement an ounce or two of formula after every friggin feeding. And wake him if he's sleeping to eat. - yeah how much do I hate waking a sleeping content baby????!!!!!

it's tough i was in tears leaving the doc yesterday. At least he's eating mine first then taking the formula about 1/2 hour later - we have to FORCE him to eat that though.

He's 19 days old!

And he finally latched no problem!!!!!!!!

After a really rough two days with gassiness and cranky-pantsness I decided at 3 am that this kid was going to get my milk from the tap not from the pump. He went for it! so far he's eaten 3-4 times off the source today with no problems and very little pain on my part.

The first week when I was exclusively breastfeeding he KILLED me - I was in tears he was in tears it was awful. That's when I went to the pump - now my nips are healed (yeah I'm still an oversharer) and he's figured it out and it doesn't hurt bad at all. A little twinge when he first latches but as soon as letdown happens we're all good - no toe curling or anything!

Gas has been less of an issue today as well - I think he was just eating too fast and filling his little belly up with air. So after he eats I pump to get the rest out and I'm starting to finally have some backup milk in the fridge. When Jimmy gets home tonight I'll put it into the freezer bags so it'll last longer and we'll ahve it if we need it OR if we want to go out for the night they'll be some here for him and he won't have to go to formula!

Ok going to try to nap b/c the little man is sleeping.

• So Colin is still not thrilled with breastfeeding but he'll latch everyonce in a while so we're still working on it.
• I'm pumping between 3 and 4 ounces now every 3-4 hours so I know he's getting enought to eat and it's my milk so I'm not going to get neurotic about it.
• He sleeps about 4- 5 hours at night, eats and goes back to sleep for another 3 hours so I'm getting way more sleep than when I was preggo.
• At his 2 week checkup he was almost back to birth weight (7 lbs.) wieghing in a 6, 14 BUT the hospital scale is digital and the peds one is old school so we'll see how he is at weight check this Friday.

Everything else is pretty perfect - the doctor was pleasantly surprised how strong his arms and neck are for such a little guy and after I told him that this is not a 20 hour a day sleeper and he's really active he figured that's maybe why he's slower to gain weight. He just works it off! One small thing was Colin has a clogged tear duct - but now after 2 days of eye cream it's gone - it was just so sad looking all gooky and yucko but the doctor said it's normal and happens to most babies. And to hold onto the cream b/c it'll probably happen again.

My mom went home today so I'll officially be on my own after today because Jim has to go to work whether he wants to or not. I'm a bit scared but I know I can do it - just need to figure out the schedule for laundry and dishes and everything else.

On the me front - at the 12 day mark I was down 25 of the 30 pounds I gained and the swelling disappered! Now I just need to get rid of the last 5 + 30 lbs/ I've gained over the last 5 years and I'll be back where I belong. I have feet and real ankles again - it's completely freaking awesome. I feel pretty good 2+ weeks after the C and I just hav eto remember to take it easy and not push myself too much.Congrats to everyone who's had their LO's!!!

Colin James Morris-the birth story

Colin James Morris
Thursday, 5/1/08, 8:03 am
7 pounds even, 21 inches long
born by C-Section at 40 weeks

My birth story isn't that exciting b/c of the scheduled c-section, the worst part was the catheter insertion b/c this hospital does it BEFORE you go to the OR and get your spinal. But not the worst thing that's ever happened to me.

After I got semi-prepped I walked down to the l&D OR and hopped up on the operating table, the anesthesiologist come in and gave me the spinal while my nurse Michelle hugged me then i got to lay down. My arms got strapped down, they put the sheet up, cleaned my belly and then Jim came in to sit by my head.

The doctors said "you ready? let's go" and started the c/s. I felt some tugging but it was painless and pretty darn cool. Colin was engaged and I apparently was ready to go into labor on my own so there was some pulling to get him out and the 2 docs were joking with me that he was stuck and to just hold on, lol. Then they dis-engaged him and he came out yelling! Dr., Burk started to sing "baby face" to him while the nurse wrapped him up and brought him to our side of the sheet so we could see him. HE was so gorgeous even covered in all kinds of yuck and my heart just stopped with the overwhelming love that filled it for both Colin and Jim.

While they were putting me back together Jim went to the "other side" to watch them measure, weigh and clean Colin up. He was allowed to take pictures at that point which I'm really thrilled about b/c we got him being weighed and such. They gave Jim the tape measure and then he made the mistake of turning around....let's just say there was alot more of me showing then he (or anyone other than a surgeon) should ever see, lol. They brought our still screaming little man back over so I could see him all clean and let me give him a kiss then asked if it was ok to take him to the nursery.


So off Jim and Colin went to the nursery for al the things they do there. I was taken out of the OR about 25 feet to recovery where my nurse Michelle took care of me until Jim came back. Once i was in there for about an hour they brought Colin in along with my mom, dad and sister so I could really meet him. I (other than the professionals) got to be the first one to hold him - they wouldn't let Jim even before I could. Everyone but Jim left and the nursery nurse came in to help me feed him for the first time. He latched on pretty good but I apparently have flat nips so it's a battle we're still fighting.

After another hour or so I could move my legs and toes so I was taken to my real room to settle in for the duration of my stay. They brought me "lunch" of all clears but it was jello and water ice which I promptly threw up. I have reflux (which I've mentioned to death) and I needed bread or something NOT sugary but it would be Friday mornign before the hospital ok'd that. Jim went out and got me a cinnamon bun from Wawa around 8 that night which I scarfed and kept down so they gave in the next morning on the food thing. I spent the day amazed at this little boy we made together and trying to bf then everyone came back later to visit after Colin and I had a chance to rest after our big morning.

Friday at 6 they took the cath out and I started walking around no problem (kinda shocked the nurses) the LC came in a bit later and that's when we found out his left latch was not good and that's why I was hurting. By Saturday morning I was pacing the halls and begging for the doc to come in for rounds so I could go home. :) Around 3 she finally showed and said there was no reason for me or Colin to stay so we could go as soon as the discharge instruction for me and him were given. We got home about 5pm and went right to the couch to great Finnegan and Pooka - who wanted NOTHING to do with the "creature that makes noise".

I had an easy delivery b/c of the section and I'm getting around no problem, get tired but it's to be expected, and I have to say a c-section is WAY easier than knee surgery. I'm almost completely off the pain meds - the only time I take one is if my hip of knee acts up.
So today is his 14th day on earth and he'll be 2 weeks old tomorrow! I know I'm not going to want to go back to work on July 28th but I think I just found a great in home daycare that we may actually be able to afford. It's close enough to work 8-10 minutes that I can go over at my lunch to feed him and hang out with him for a little during the day.

We're pretty much a breastmilk only baby, Colin has had formula a few times b/c I just didn't have enough to fill him (at least we didn't think so) and I'm pumping mainly b/c he had a crappy latch that wasn't corrected before the left balloon got a bit tramutized. He still eats great on the right so I don't think he'll have any confusion once I heal enough to handle the "pain". As long as he's getting it some way I'm happy and we'll keep working until we get it right.

Colin sleeps about 5 hours at night and is a pretty content little guy. He loves to be held (who doesn't?) and really likes his bouncy and a toy giraffe daddy bought him. Mom's here until this Sunday and then I'll be on my own but I think I can handle it. We've been aout a few times now and he's an angel - I really couldn't have prayed for a better behaved baby!

We went and had Sears pictures done on Sunday so here's a few of them!

This is the one I used for his birth announcement


Mommy, Daddy & Colin


Colin and his giraffe, Geffrey


I'm ready for this whole picture thing to be over