Inside Addition

Its come to an end....

I won't be updating this website anymore.... I've decided to combine Porters blog with mine, and have renamed it.  You can still read all about Porter and see lots of cute pictures on the new, improved blog- Life As We Know It.  It'll be so much easier to have it all in one place.  Adios!

Mommy brain has struck....

I was freaking out today thinking my kid has an eating problem.  Ok, so sometimes it doesn't pay to know all about the different disabilities associated with teaching in Special Ed.  I was freaked Porter had Prader Willi Syndrome- a type of disability somewhat associated with autism but the person with PW has an obsession with food.  So here's the story--

Ryan and I write down all of Porter's feedings, and how much he's eating at each.  If we didn't, we'd never remember when we fed him last etc... (same goes for all my meds... I have to keep track of it by writing it down or I don't remember when I last took them).  Anyway, I have felt like I'm constantly warming up a bottle for him, and I feel like he's eating ALL the time.  Now, he eats every 2-4 hours, depending on if he sleeps a long time or not.  Each feeding he gets about 2-3 oz, which varies depending on what he decides to eat.  So, I go back to our list from the last few days and count up the feedings for one day (err... what I thought was one day) and I counted 18 feedings!  I thought- that is NUTS!  So I looked at the booklet that the hospital sent home and there's a section on bottle feeding etc.  and it says most 1-3 week olds eat 6-8 feedings a day of 2-3 ounces, and they typically need to eat 2oz of formula per pound of body weight (7lb baby would need approx. 14oz a day).  I thought- WHAT THE HECK! My kid is eating THREE TIMES that amount!  I added up 40oz of formula in one day.  So I called the pediatrician and left a message with the receptionist to ask the doctor if 18 feedings a day is rediculous, and she asked how much he gets at each feeding (2-3oz) and how often (2-3 hours apart).  She says to call back in an hour.  My aunt was over and we're talking about this issue, and I stop and think... hmmm 8 feedings a day is every 3 hours, which is about what he's eating, right?  So I look back at my list and realize I'd counted for TWO days (4:45pm on Fri. to 4:45pm on Sun) and my aunt and I started to crack up... turns out he is only eating 9 times a day, which seems very much normal.  He is eating about 20oz of formula, though, but he's not spitting up much so I'm not going to worry.  Well, Aunt Dawn and I had a great laugh over that... I feel like an idiot calling the doctor about him eating 18 times a day... DUH that'd be about every darn hour.  So, I'm sure they're thinking I'm a moron who can't do math. 

New pictures!!

I did another little shoot with P today- again he was wide awake and being nosy.  Of course I wouldn't have a newborn who actually SLEPT  through a photo shoot to do cute pictures...  oh well.  I love him anyway.  Here's a sneak peek of a few... check out this ALBUM for more...

help

anyone know how to fix the preview picture for those two photo albums on the right sidebar (the First Mini Shoot and Porter's First Days). The pic is rectangular not square like my other albums...

Photos

Quick update- feeling much better.  Got another shot of Demorol and Dekadron (sp?) today at the docs as well as prescrips for Maxaalt, Vicodin and Darvocet to combat the migrane.  Its going away YAY!

I did a quick shoot with Porter today, he was a bit fussy so not many great pics.  I did create an album on the side bar, as well as an album for his few days.  I haven't had time to edit many pics (I've already got more than 200 of him YIKES) so I'll be adding to the albums slowly.  Keep checking back for more.

Porter saw the doctor today, well the nurse practicioner (ok I can NOT spell) Sue, and he's gained I think an ounce or two ( his weight was either 6.13 or 6.14)  and he has a cold- go figure.  So we have some Little Noses salene drops to give him and keep suckin out the gunk.  Poor baby.  Other than that, his visit was great.

Thank GOD for mothers...

I'm not talking about Porter's mother... I've been pretty useless.  My mother- what a god-send.  She has been SO much help to us- I don't know how we'd have done it if she weren't here.  I've been in horrible pain day after day- nothing seems to be subsiding.  When one ache/pain gets a little better, something else hits me. First labor, then entire body aches from pushing for 2 hours, then the sore bottom (won't go into detail for the guys who read...), then the migranes, then pumping is so painful, then migranes hit, now my milk came in and I stopped nursing/pumping and my boobs feel like 50lb rocks in my chest... now my upper back is killing (ok, so remember the migrane is still there throughout it all).  My mom has been taking care of Porter during the night (except Sat. night Ryan and I were here alone- rough night.  Head killed).  I ended up taking a vicodin last night to knock me out. I was in so much pain everywhere.  And frustrated.  I want to feel good again- like myself.  I want to feel well enough to enjoy taking care of my son.  I want to enjoy his freakin first week home and I haven't.  I didn't enjoy the first moments after he was born because I was being stitched up and had the doc shoving on my stomach and about his arm up in my uterus b/c I wouldn't stop bleeding.  Painful.  Now I'm not enjoying his first week home.  He's grown SO much in the last 6 days and it makes me so sad.  I haven't even had time to take any good pictures of him. Yeah, we have snapshots but I had wanted to do my own photoshoot with him but I haven't been able to. 

Tomorrow-- err today-- Porter goes to see his doctor and I'm going to see my doctor about my migranes.  Like I said earlier- my milk is on its way to drying up. I'm not going to nurse anymore.  I think part or most of my migrane has to do with the strain of my breasts on my upper back/neck and that is causing some of the head pain too.  When I put a hot compress on my neck/head it starts to make my migrane go away.  I'm anxious to see how much Porter weighs tomorrow- he's eating like a champ.  2 ounces each feeding, about every 2-3 hours.  I'll probably cry because he'll be getting so big before I know it.  But I keep thinking that even though he is going to be growing up there'll be tons of milestones to look forward to, and I should look behind us so much as look forward to what is to come. 

I am probably going to be put on my daily bloodpressure meds again to control my migranes, and maybe that'll help. Who knows.  Anyone want to donate a new head/brain my way?

Home... again...

It has been a rough week.  I was readmitted to the hospital Friday night for my migranes and I just got home a little bit ago.  It was so hard to leave my 4 day old son at home and be away from him.  I have a few minutes while Porter is being entertained by nana and papa Barczak, so hopefully I can get all the scoop updated on his website..

Going to the hospital

Early Tueaday morning I started having contractions around 1:30 am.  They were 4-6 minutes apart and continued until about 6am.  I told Ryan to go ahead and go to work, the contractions weren't painful and I had a doctors appt at 8:45.  I literally had about an hour of sleep that night.  I went to my appointment, where I was nearly in tears because I was so uncomfortable and sick of being pregnant.  Tracy said she could have me induced the following day if I wanted, and she'd check my cervix to see if I was dialated.  Turns out I was already 3-4cm dialated so she sent me to Labor and Delivery.  The doctor broke my water at 9:50 and I was admitted to L&D.  I got my epidural around noon (thank god- that is a wonder drug!) and at 2:30 I was dialated to 6cm, and just half an hour later at 3 I was already 9cm.  By 3:30 I started pushing, and Porter was born at 5:24pm.  What a workout.  It was utterly the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life.  Afterwards, the doctor couldn't get me to stop bleeding and he thought part of the placenta was still inside me.  I went through some excruciating moments of having my stomach shoved on and an arm up in my uterus.  That was about as painful as giving birth.

Anyway, Porter came out a happy little guy- he cooed and babbled for 3 hours after he was born, just chattering to people.  Seriously- I'm not making it up.  He loves to be talked to and he is so alert and looks right at you and studies your face.  I love him to pieces! 

The hospital stay was fine, nursing isn't/wasn't going well so we started supplementing with formula because his biliruben count was a little high.  So, he's been on formula/some pumped breast milk up until now.  We came home Thursday morning, and I started to develop a headache.  By Thursday evening I knew it was a migrane.  Thank god my mom stayed the night with us. I couldn't even get up to take care of Porter because my head was pounding and spinning so bad.  So, my mom was up with him most of Thursday night.  Friday my migrane wasn't much better, so I called the OB office and they prescribed me Midrin.  It didn't help, so I called my regular doctor, who had dealt with my migranes before.  Ryan took me in and he gave me a shot of Demorol and put me on bedrest for 3 days. Oh sure..  By Friday night my migrane wasn't any better so we called the doc back and he admitted me to the hospital overnight.  Horrible. It was so hard to leave Porter.  I knew he was in good hands, but it killed me to have to let other people take care of him when all I wanted to do was take care of my son.  So I spent Friday night in the hospital, had multiple shots of Demorol and this morning I met with a neurologist, the anesthesiologist and my doctor.  We ruled out the chances of it being a spinal headache from the epi, and figure its just a migrane.  I had a CAT scan just to rule out the possiblity of a stroke or blood clot.  The CT scan came back fine.  They gave me one last shot of Demorol, a Corgard and Maxaalt before I left the hospital. Hopefully my migrane is gone. 

So, we are all home now and enjoying every minute with our little guy.  He is so so precious!  I'll try to update soon with more pictures. 

Update from mommy..

This is going to be quick- I just wanted to let everyone know we're doing fine.  We got home today around 12:30pm.  I have a serious headache/borderline migrane, so I can't really think straight right now. My head is pounding. I wanted to post a picture for everyone though.  Porter is a great baby- of course he's slept most of the time and he's so easy to soothe (so far... give it a week or two and I'm sure his real personality is going to come out LOL).  Nursing is not going so great, he won't latch on.  However, we're determined to make it work, so we're going to trudge through the frustration and hopefully conquer it. 

BTW: I won the ExpectNet Game HAHA!  Check the link for point totals (the game scores it for you)

Porter is here!

Porter arrived at 5:24 this evening.

He weighed in at 6lbs, 12oz...and is 20 inches long.

Both mom and baby are recovering well!

ExpectNet Poll....

I finally figured out how to post the ExpectNet Poll on here so everyone can see the guesses..

Player Name	Guess				From	Who I Am
	Gender	Weight	Length	Birthday
Judy Main	boy	6 lbs 10 ozs	18 in	Feb 14, 2:09 am	Jackson MI	Nicole's Grandma; Porter's Great Grandmother
Aunt Dawn	boy	7 lbs 1 ozs	19 in	Feb 18, 12:00 am	Cement City MI	Nic's Aunt, Porter's Great Aunt
Nicole	boy	6 lbs 12 ozs	19 in	Feb 18, 8:30 pm	Jackson MI	Porter's Mommy
Melissa BeVier	boy	7 lbs 9 ozs	19 in	Feb 25, 4:38 am	Jackson MI	Aunt (whose hoping Porter is born on my birthday!)
Laura McCombs	boy	6 lbs 3 ozs	18 in	Feb 25, 10:20 pm	Hubert NC	Nic's Mom/Porter's Grandma/Ry's Mom-in law
Aunt Lori	boy	6 lbs 15 ozs	19 in	Feb 26, 10:45 pm	Dearborn MI
Great Uncle David	boy	6 lbs 2 ozs	20 in	Feb 28, 3:07 am	East Lansing MI	Brother of Grandma Barczak
Lisa Warner	boy	7 lbs 12 ozs	21 in	Mar 1, 3:12 am	Jackson MI	High School Friend
Angelique Bookman	boy	7 lbs 1 ozs	19 in	Mar 1, 4:00 am	Draper UT	blog friend
Ryan	boy	9 lbs 3 ozs	21 in	Mar 2, 7:42 am	Jackson MI	Porter's Dad
Susie Clark	boy	7 lbs 11 ozs	20 in	Mar 3, 12:00 am	Jerome MI	Friend
Jessica Porter	boy	7 lbs 9 ozs	20 in	Mar 4, 10:30 am	Kingsland GA	Friend
Jennifer Kelly	boy	7 lbs 2 ozs	20 in	Mar 5, 3:31 am	Dearborn Height MI	Ryan's cousin.
Barbie Hodgson	boy	8 lbs 9 ozs	21 in	Mar 5, 8:00 pm	Pleasant Lake MI	Friend
Mom & Dad B	boy	6 lbs 10 ozs	19 in	Mar 6, 8:35 pm	jackson MI	Grandma & Grandpa Barczak
Kelly Gretz	boy	8 lbs 2 ozs	19 in	Mar 7, 8:20 pm	Concord MI	friend
Uncle Don	boy	8 lbs 12 ozs	21 in	Mar 9, 6:30 pm	Dearborn MI	married to Aunt Lori
Sort guesses: order entered | gender | weight | length | birthday | player name

What's he going to look like?

I've been meaning to do this for quite awhile, and finally remembered today.  I scanned in some pictures of Ryan and I when we were babies/toddlers.  I always try to picture what Porter is going to look like... I guess we'll see soon!

 

Nothing yet....

Well, it looks like my ExpectNet guessed birthdate for Porter is going to come and go without a baby.  I guessed Feb 18 (so did Aunt Dawn) and I have not an inkling of feeling that I'll go into labor tonight.  Bleh. By the way- those of you who guessed later in March- you suck LOL.  I already spoke to the doctor about induction if he's not born by our due date (which is really March 1) and I'm all for it. 

I haven't updated lately because there isn't much to say thats nice... the last 2 weeks of pregnancy suck.  I'd rather have morning sickness 24/7.  Really.  For the past 2 weeks I've woken up numerous times in the middle of the night in tears because my child thinks its great to try to stretch out in my short torso.  The pain is horrible. It feels  like my insides are being shredded with a dull serrated knive, and my ribs feel like they're going to break.   The skin on the top of my stomach is raw from my boobs/bra being against it.  My skin feels like its on fire and it feels so stretched out that it might just split open.   I have heartburn if I forget to take a Pepcid before I eat.  My upper back is killing me- it feels like I have a huge knot in my muscle.  I have to pee every 2 hours throughout the night and its hell trying to get comfortable enough to get back to sleep.  My mind will not stop racing when I do try to sleep- a million things are going through my brain.  Thats my bitching for this pregnancy.  I tried really hard to not be negative about the downsides of pregnancy.  I tried to not ever take being pregnant for granted, because it is truly a blessing, but at this point I am SO ready to have this kid. 

On a positive note, the highlights of my day are when Porter pokes his feet and hands/elbows out and I can practically hang onto them and move them around.  I love thinking that I might just be holding his little hand or tickling his feet, even though my skin is between us.  Hopefully in the next 12 days I'll get to see his little feet and hands in person. 

37 Week Appointment

Yesterday morning I had my 37 week appointment.  This was the first appointment Ryan missed, only because I scheduled it in the morning and he obviously had to work.  It was pretty ho-hum anyway.  I had to do a swab to be tested for Strep-B, a bacteria that, from what I was told, 10-30% of women carry and it can be passed to the baby through delivery.  If I test positive, I just have to have an antibiotic before I deliver- nothing serious.

I've gained another 5lbs, for a total so far of 40lbs. Yikes.  A little scary, but I just think of this time as my time to be heavier.  I can worry about losing the weight later.  I'm already huge feeling, so a few extra pounds right now don't really matter to me.  Bring it on baby!  LOL.  It could have been that whole chocolate cake I ate in the last week.  A piece here, a piece there... and my hubby didn't help me out at all...

I measured at 36 weeks, which the doctor said I've measured a week smaller at each appointment, but he isn't concerned because its been consistant and I've had consistant growth.  Porter's heartrate was in the 130's which is perfectly fine.  My bloodpressure was normal, as it has been.  Hmm what else... not much new- kind of a boring doctors appointment.  He asked if I wanted my cervix checked to see if there was any progress, but said it wouldn't change anything they do for me either way, so I told him I could wait until the next appointment.  Save myself some privacy for as long as I can LOL.  Pretty soon I'm sure the whole staff will have seen my netherregions.  I'll hold off for a bit while I can.

Our next appointment isn't until the 21st.  We're supposed to go every week now, but they don't have any appointments open next week.  Its been a pretty normal, uneventful pregnancy so far so its not a big deal.  I know the signs and symptoms to call them about, or head to L&D for, so I'm not too worried.  Once we get to our appt. on the 21st it'll be 9 days before Due Date!  Although I'm pressing for either the 18th or 26th- something about those two dates seem good.  Maybe one of them will be his birthday!

What a lucky little guy Porter is

He already has little buddy in Canada.  I met Kim through Scrapjazz on the message boards, and she has a little boy named Morgan, who was born in September.  Well, Kim and Morgan sent Porter the cutest little shoes from Jack and Lily along with a sweet scrapbooked card.  Aren't these shoes just so cute?  They're really soft too!  Thank you Morgan and Kim!

And, another Scrapjazz friend, Amy, mailed us 3 license plates for Porter's wall.  She has a little boy, Charlie, who is going to be 1 soon.  Charlie's room is decorated really neat- kind of along the lines of Porter's room, but he has a super neat headboard made of license plates.  Thank you Amy and Charlie for the license plates.  They look soo cool on his wall. 

It pays to watch Bringing Home Baby....

Nope, not for all the scenarios and tips and tricks I should be trying to learn from.  It pays to watch because I found the most fabulous mobile for Porter's room from that show.  One couple had done their son's nursery in a theme of things you can ride, drive, sail and fly.  Over the baby's bed was this moblie with little miniature model airplanes.  So I decided I could probably find that somewhere online, and I sure did!  This online store, Tailwinds, has it.  I just might have to get in a few extra hours scrapbooking or something so I can buy it.  I think it'd be perfect for his room...

Almost time!

I haven't really done an update on how Porter has been lately, or a basic pregnancy update either.  So, I guess its time.   

Porter is doing great, as far as I know.  He's been really active and moves around all the time.  I am able to get him kicking and moving by poking at him and he kicks right back or shifts around.  I am SO freakin excited to meet this baby!  I have just started to realize that we are SO CLOSE to finally getting to meet him in person.  Its scary, really, the thought of being responsible for keeping another human alive and safe, but we're so ready and so excited.  I keep trying to picture what he's going to look like or what kind of personality he'll have.  I know I'm going to just want to sit and stare at him all darn day.  I'm amazed at the thought that he'll be here and be OURS so soon. 

I'm getting to the uncomfortable part of my pregnancy, although its still bearable.  In the past month I've finally started waking up once a night to go pee.  My bladder just can't take it anymore.  I was doing so good for awhile.  Last night I didn't sleep well at all.  I wake up around 3 each morning and am in pain from my bladder being so full.  Its hard to get sitting up when your bladder hurts so bad.  Then I have to figure out how to roll out of bed and hobble to the bathroom, all to relieve what is actually about a tablespoon of pee.  Lovely.  Then trying to get comfortable again is not so easy... it seems like whatever side I try to lay on Porter thinks he should shift around and get in the most uncomfortable position possible for me to lay.  I have been waking up on my back a lot, which seems to be the most comfortable way to sleep lately.  And THEN my sweet wonderful husband begins snoring. And I can't fall back asleep.  Well, remember how he was so upset that I was sleeping in the guest room for awhile because of his snoring and he told me to "kick him and hit him" to stop him from snoring?  Well I nudged him a few times and told him 2 or 3 times to roll over and quit snoring.  What does he do?  He says, in a really annoyed tone "Would you leave me ALONE?" Oh, well, I SOOO left him alone.  Really alone in that bed.  I rolled my ass out of bed, grabbed my pillows and headed on over to the guest room.

My appetite has dropped a ton- I feel full on the littlest things.  And it seems like every darn night, no matter what I eat, I end up with heartburn.  Nothing horrible, just a little irritating. 

My belly button is one no longer... its popped out and spread pretty thin.  Its quite humorous, I think.  I need to get a good picture of it. Must be the baby's almost done cookin....

Porter's room is completely done (well, except for the blinds... I swear I'm working on that) and ready for him to move in.  We've got everything we need (at least we think so) and Porter's bag for the hospital is packed.  Ryan and my bag is underway... there are a few things we can't pack until its time, since we use them daily.  I bought a new pair of slippers to take to the hospital- a pair I can't wear until I'm admitted. Want to know why?  Because my feet stink.  Ryan said I needed a brand new pair of slippers so I don't gross anyone out by taking my smelly ones. HAHA!  Oh well. 

We found a pediatrician, Dr. VanWagnen, and we finished our "childbirth" classes last week.  They were pretty good- most of the stuff I was familiar with, but it was nice to know what our particular hospital procedures were.  And I'm sure a lot of the information was new to Ryan.  Last night he took his "Baby 101" class for dads.  I had thought he'd go and there'd be other new dads there for him to meet, and he'd have a great time.  Well, he gets home and I asked how it went.  Guess what he said?  He was the ONLY guy there.  LOL.  So it was just him and the guy teaching the class.  I about peed my pants (which probably wouldn't be too hard to make me do) thinking about him and the instructor all alone in the conference room.  Did they just sit and chat for the 2 hours or did the guy actually conduct the class as if there were 20 men in the room.... you know teacher up front and student at the desk. HAHA.  Well, Ryan seemed pretty interested in the stuff they chatted about and he had lots of information to bring back to me.  I think he enjoyed it. I give him credit- love him for it. I'd have excused myself to the bathroom and hit the road before sitting one on one with some stranger! 

So, now I suppose we just play the waiting game for the next 4 weeks!

*MORE* Nursery Pictures...

I had to take another picture of Porter's room with the rocker and rug in it.  I FINALLY found a rug I loved at Walmart, of all places.  And it was pretty cheap!  Its navy blue (it matches the blue stripe on the wall perfectly!) and has kind of longer shaggy like fibers ...

OH! And Amy Stultz (from Scrapjazz) sent me 3 old license plates for his wall that has the white shelf on it.  I don't have pictures of it yet, but it looks great!  Thank you Amy!!

Babyshower Aftermath!

We had both our showers in the last week, and they were awesome!  I had a great time seeing everyone and we got a ton of great gifts! (thank you!!).  Here are a few pictures from the shower and at home afterwards..

Whew! I'm getting quite the double chin!

Ok, no idea whats up with the queer faces.

The Aftermath... YIKES!

 

Early present...

My mom and grandma stopped by this evening to drop off our shower gift early.  They bought us the Glider and Ottoman for the nursery!  They didn't want to drag it all the way to the restaurant and then us have to haul it back home, and besides its just the cardboard box that everyone would see. So, we put it together tonight (super easy!) and it looks and fits great in the corner of his room by the windows.  I'll have to take pictures of his room again to show you all what it looks like. 

Anyway, here's the glider and ottoman...

35 Week Doctors Appt

We had our doctors appointment today and things are going fine.  Pretty uneventful appointment.  I actually LOST 1 pound in the last 2 weeks. I was scared that I had gained 10lbs or something!  We measured on schedule and his heartrate was in the 140's and sounded great.  Our next doctor's appointment is February 7th, and after that I start going every week.  We're in the homestretch!!!

I was really freaking out last night thinking... ok, so really as of 37 weeks he could come ANY time... thats pretty normal.  I read somewhere that 60% of babies come early.  So really I have approximately 2 weeks to get stuff together and be ready... 2 weeks and he could be here anytime.. I'll be waiting that last 3 weeks on pins and needles!! That is soooo not very long.