mackey update

Mackey is 5 days old today and is still in the NICU. He just needs to grow and learn to eat and soon he will be home w/ us! He has lost 10% of his birth weight which is within the normal range and he should start to gain weight in the next few days. He is no longer on any meds or IV's - but he still has the tube down his nose to help w/ his feedings, what he doesn't take from a bottle they have to tube feed him. Right now he is not very good at sucking from a bottle - but everyone assures us that that will just click on one day and then we wont have any issues. I hope that day is soon.

Welcome to the World Mackey!!

Mackey Vincent Pope was born on August 15, 2010 at 9:40am. At 33 weeks gestation, he weighed 4lb 14oz and was 19 inches long. He is still in the NICU and will probably be there for another week or two but is doing as well as expected. He looks just like his big brother - complete w/ the blonde hair that we have no idea where it comes from. My pregnancy was difficult but had a pretty easy labor and painless delivery. He came out kicking and screaming and scored 9 and 9 on his apgars. He is very very long and has giant feet - they look funny connected to his mini body! All the nurses think is an exceptionally cute newborn preemie and I am not going to disagree w/ them.

names names names

why is it impossible for me to name this child? i need help - i feel like i am constantly searching for "the" name, i read credits of movies and tv shows, billboards, new stories, listen to what parents call thier kids at the playground - and still i cannot decide on a name or really even a list of names.

I feel like I am looking for something that just doesn't exist. I want a name that gives off a vibe that I cannot even describe - something cool, yet understated. I don't want it to seem as thought we tried to give him a "cre8tive" name - i just want something different. I want the name to reflect a free spirit but not really a hippie. I want a name that will not limit him but that will allow him to stand out or blend in, whatever he chooses. i think i am just thinking too hard.

 For some reason all the names we kind of like are mostly one syllable names - i dont know why bc they sound kind of funny with our one syllable last name but I am willing to give up flow for that perfect name.
i need ideas --- can anyone help??

July - already!

I cannot believe it is already July! This year is going way too fast and I am not sure I am ready for all the chnages that are going to be happening so soon. I am almost 28 weeks pregnant and am on modified bedrest which doesn't mean much w/ a toddler running around. We are both adjusting to our days spent in the living room instead of outside at the park but I am hoping we both survive.

Preterm Labor has offical started - my cervix has shortened and I am starting to dialate so now we are just trying to keep the contractions under control to prevent any more changes to my cervix. Our goal right now is 30 weeks - only 2 weeks, but I am determined to keep this baby in longer bc there is no way I am ready to have a new baby in only 2 weeks..way too soon!! I am hoping to make it to September - 2 months to go!

Dash still has no idea what is going on -- we have been talking about babies a lot and his new baby but I just dont think he will understand it until the baby is really here! I hope the adjustment will be okay - he is really attached to me and I dont know how he will feel about sharing the attention. We still have no name for this little dude - our list keeps on changing so even if he is born in 2 weeks, he probably will not have a name!

contraction action...

ugh - i am only almost 22 weeks and they are happening all the time. I have meds to take when I have more than 5 an hour but it is still scary to think about all the time that still has to pass before we are in a 'safe' zone. I am scard of bedrest and nervous for all the trips to L&D that are likely to come -what am I going to do w/ Dashy? why can't I just have a normal pregnancy - where labor starts when it is supposed to start not at the halfway point. The weekly u/s are nice to be able to get a peak at the little guy and watch him grow - he is getting so much bigger. The u/s tech turned the 3D on last week and he was kind of scary looking - he needs to get some fat on his face before I would call him cute! He is moving a lot more and his kicks are getting stronger. My appetite returned this week and I have been eating like non stop. I hate it and I hope it regulates soon because I really am not a food person and the thought of all I am eating kind of makes me sick. 

Besides the contractions everything is looking good - i cant wait until I am 24 weeks and the baby is at least considered viable but won't really feel confortable until 30 weeks. I know the summer will probably go by fast and this little guy will be here before we know it.

Half Way!!

20 weeks!! halfway done - it is so hard to believe that it is halfway over already! In 20 weeks (probably less) this little guy will be here --- i guess we should start getting ready sometime soon but i feel like I will jinx myself if I do anything too early. dash has no idea what is going on so he is going to be in for a big surprise!

1 1/2

Dearest Dashman,

You are one and a half and are a crazy little man. You are our monkey - always finding the most dangerous thing to try to climb up. If we leave you alone for a minute - you end up on top of the kitchen table or in the bathroom sink. You love to run, run, run and you are fast. Your crazy blonde hair is long and I cannot bear the thought to cut it off so we just trim it out of your eyes. You love the water and to go swimming - we put on your life jacket and off you go, jumping in the pool w/o even caring if there is anyone to catch you. You still aren't really talking - your favorite phrase is "all done" and "uh-oh" whenever something is going on that you don't like. We are starting speech therapy next week - but I am sure you will be talking soon enough. You love to sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and all the motions that go along with it!! Headbutting and biting are some of the painful ways you show affection. You are hiliarious and we love you!!