Work

Well, on Monday I go back to work. Before I had Misael I decided to only take 10 weeks off just so I could save my PTO.  I am blessed that in my current job I get 272 hours of PTO each year front loaded in January.  I love this little perk.  But this week I am starting to have doubts.

I thought all this time, I am ready to go back. I am ready for my routine back. I am not going to cry. I have done this before with Ipolito.  Well, guess what?! I was wrong. All of a sudden on Monday I was starting to feel apprehensive. What am I going to do without my little guy all of the time?! Will he eat for others? Will he sleep well? Will I ever get sleep? How in the world am I going to get everyone ready and out the door in time?

At least I don't have to be at work at a specific time. But I have come to realize that I need at least an hour just to get myself ready. This just includes showering and pumping.  Then I need another 30-45 minutes to get the baby fed and dressed. This doesn't include spit ups or poops everywhere.  I also need about 10-15 minutes to get Ipolito ready as well. Then I have to drop the boys off at my mom's or the sitters.  Ughhh...I would like to be at work by 0630 so that means I need to wake up at like 330 or 4!!! I am tired just thinking about all of this!! How in the world will all of this get done?! I know it will all work out and that is what I keep telling myself.

Here is our schedule for the weeks to come:

Monday & Tuesday- Papi takes care of Misael & takes Ipo to sitter
Wednesday- Mama takes the boys to Grandma's house
Thursday - Mama takes the boys to Shari's house
Friday - Mama is off and takes care of Misael and Ipo goes to the sitter.

Then every other Friday Ipo spends the night with Grandma so Papi can sleep the next day.

I hope everyone is ready for this crazy train this week.

Does he really love me?!

Does he really love me?!! Ipolito that is. Sometimes here lately I have been wondering.  He has not been wanting kisses or snuggle time with me as he always has in the past.  He is normally a very affectionate little boy.  Lately, not so much. He doesn't want me to kiss him. If I do he wipes it off. In fact he will lick his hand and THEN wipe it off. He is always talking about how he doesn't like girls either. It is always him and his Papi he says.

Jose says this is just a phase and that it is probably stemming from jealousy. Jealousy over the baby and all of the time I spend with him, hold him, etc.  Well...I hope that is it and it passes. FAST. I do not like it. I know it shouldn't but it hurts my feelings.  I wonder how can I be a better mom? How can I be nicer?

I know at times I am a little short with him especially when both boys are crying, it's late, time for bed, etc.  But I do love my Ipolito. I love him so much.  I told Jose he needs to teach Ipolito how to treat a lady, especially his mother and he has been trying.  He tells him we don't talk to Mama like that, Mama is our queen, etc.  I just hope this works and it passes. FAST.

My little ninja turtle....with my blue headband on

TWO Months

Misael is two months old today!! I can't believe it. He is truly a joy to have.  We went to the doctor today for his two-month check-up. He got three shots and did not like them one bit. I can't blame him though. The doctor also said more than likely he will have to have his hernia fixed when he is 4 or 5 because of all the extra skin he has around the actual hernia and in her experience these have to be fixed.

Mama & Misael snuggling

A couple of minutes later we were talking about his head and she said it was "significantly worse". Great. I thought so too but I was trying to be optimistic. I have been working so hard with him too. I have been doing exercises and bought him a head positioner. Grr.  I feel so defeated because I have been doing so much and it seems for naught. I got a pamphlet from her for a place that does the evaluations and helmet placements. I guess my little guy will have a helmet for his plagiocephaly. I know in the long run this is for the best. It won't be for long (I hope). I was shown the progression of what we are looking at if he doesn't get a helmet and let me tell you it isn't pretty. I don't want my child with a deformed face. The problem is insurance doesn't cover these and they are expensive ($2000 at least). If he needs multiple then that is more money. I guess this is why we have good jobs.

Of course I worry about what people will say if we don't do the helmet but I also worry about what they will say once we do. I don't want them to think he is "special" in a not so special kind of way. I won't but most people are ignorant and uneducated. Most of our family don't even see the flatness but it is there.  Grrr. I know that in the long run we are doing what is best for Misael. I told Jose that Misael is trying to make sure we have no more children. This child is super expensive.

Mr. Cool

Misaelisms at two months:

• Weight: 10 lbs. 10.7 oz
• Length: 21 inches
• Clothes: 0-3 & 3 months
• Diapers: Size 1
• Sleeping: goes to bed 9-10ish and sleeps 4-5 hours (mainly about 5 hrs) then another 4 hours. We try to keep him awake as much as possible during the day. 
• Smiles-mainly at Papi
• Kicks and plays with his activity mat
• Started sitting in the Bumbo

Two Months

Not feeling the two month pics

Watching big brother take a bath

Playing on his activity mat

I love being a Mama again and I wouldn't trade this for anything.  I know some aspects this time around are easier and some are harder but all in all we will get through it. I love you Misael & Ipolito. 

Week 8

Misael is 8 weeks old today. I cannot believe it! It seems like just yesterday I went into labor and then brought him home from the NICU.

The past week has been okay. We have settled into somewhat of a routine.  I say somewhat because some days it works and some days it doesn't but mostly it does. Misael is awake off and on during the day until about 5 or 6 and then he is wide awake until his 9 or 10 feeding. He then sleeps 4-5 hours and then wakes up once more about 6 or 7 and then is somewhat awake for about 30-40 minutes and then is out again. Sometimes for another 3 hours sometimes for about 1.5-2 hours.

He is so cute. Misael is short and chunky whereas Ipolito was long and skinny.  They look so much alike but yet so different. It is amazing. They have totally different pout about to cry faces though.

Misael is still spitting up but sometimes not as often and not with each feed as was before he started telling us when he had enough.  His hernia is still large and in charge. It still squishes and it is still creepy. I tell him, can you make that thing be quiet?!

Ipolito is adjusting to having baby brother around and he is so sweet and helpful! I am more patient with him and I thank God for that.  I was worried there for awhile because I felt so bad that I was so short tempered. I was wondering if it would ever go away or if I was going to be like that forever. I am usually not like that.

I go back to work in two weeks. We found out yesterday our sitter, the one we have used the past 4 years is not going to take Misael. In short she wants us to take him full time and is saying that she no longer does drop-ins, which is what we want to do. We just need one day a week of child care for Misael.  I am so pissed off and stressed.  We will revisit this with her next Monday and if we can't come to an agreement we will just use the day care at my work for Misael that one day a week.

Here are some pictures of my guys:

Wearing Papi's shirt from when he was a baby

My boys and I

Ipolito helping change a diaper

I love this picture

Our first family of 4 photo!

Cutie barely awake

Mama & the boys 

Mama & Misael snuggling

My cuties

Per Jose: who tooted?!

My Valentine doing a little smile

So cute!

Finally grabbing on to the play mat toys.

2.13.12

One year ago today, Jose and I were told the chances of us ever having another child naturally were almost impossible. In fact, we were told the fact we had Ipolito naturally was a miracle. The doctor said our best chances of having another child was to do IVF (not even starting with drugs only) pretty quickly. We decided to wait until the end of May to make our decision since I still had another set of boards to take and had just started a new job. Understandably we were devastated. Every night we prayed individually and together as a family (all 3 of us) that we would be blessed with another child. At the beginning of May I found out I was pregnant (naturally). Today we have an almost 8 week old little boy!! We are truly blessed! Never give up on the power of prayer and believe in miracles. I have two.

Week 7

Misael turns 7 weeks this Thursday. Where has the time gone?! I go back to work in 3 weeks and I am scared! Will I be able to do it?! I am especially scared for the days Jose goes to work because it is just me. All. By. Myself. With. Two. Boy. I decided to only take 10 weeks off so I could save more then two weeks of PTO for the rest of the year.

This week Misael continues with his congestion. It isn't bad and it actually so much better than late last week when he and I got sick. He is also 10.4 pounds (based on our home scale). Wow. Just three weeks ago he was 8 lbs 1 oz! It seems like overnight he out grew his newborn clothes. He is now wearing 0-3 months. He still has some room in his clothes, especially height wise. He is our short & chunky little guy.

Our sleep schedule is a little off this week due to his congestion & a growth spurt. He has been sleeping at night after his 9-10 feeding then waking up an hour later all cranky until he eats again then he sleeps in 3-4 hour stretches. Hopefully it improves and he sleeps in longer stretches.

Misael has also started in the past few days to let us know without a doubt when he wants no more to eat. I used to be able to coerce him but not now. He will move his head back and forth fast, spit out the milk, or swat the bottle away with his hand. He also goes from asleep to hungry in 1 second flat. His eyelashes are also longer, fuller, & darker.

The hernia is also super large & in charge it also squeaks. Poor thing. That hernia is like another boy part.  I actually had to call the doctor because it has grown quite a bit in the past two 3 weeks.  I wanted to make sure that and the squishing/squeaking were normal.  It is.  I was told the hernia looks so big now because he is so small and as he grows taller it will appear smaller.  I sure hope so.  I don't mind it though. We kind of like freaking people out by showing it to them.  If the hernia has not gone away by the time Misael is 3-4 it will be surgically repaired.

Misael is also battling a case of the flatheads.  He prefers to turn his head to the left and about 3 weeks of age I noticed his head was starting to get flat and that I never saw him sleep with his head turned the other way.  I noticed he turned his head right but never while he was sleeping. Considering the majority of his time is spent sleeping at that point of course his head started getting flat. The doc told us to do exercises and try to make him turn his head the other way as much as possible. We also were told to get him an aquarium for the crib so he would have incentive to turn his head the other way.  I have been working with him and working with him, to no avail. That left side is getting pretty flat. We put him side lying during the day and put him down with his head to the right but within minutes it is turned to the left.  If his head continues to be flat on that side he will have to wear one of those helmets to correct it.  Grrr....I really don't want that.  Today I bought one of those positioners for the car seat, stroller, etc and we will see how he does with that. That should make him keep his head straight on instead of to the side.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Well, that is all for now.

Guess what I can do!

Mr. Misael is rolling over from his tummy to his back!

I was so excited. I was sure it was a fluke but he kept doing it over and over.  As soon as I can figure out how to upload a video I will.

In other news, Misael & I have been sick with a cold. Mine has been mainly sinus pain, pressure, & congestion. Misael has been congested but I think we are on the mend.

On the sleeping front he is more awake during the day (except when he has been sick). At night he sleeps in about 4 hour stretches x 2. Then he is awake for about an hour to hour and a half after that feed which is anywhere from 4 to 5 am. It isn't perfect but it is way better than Ipolito was doing.

Well, that is all for now.

~Mamá