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Friday, August 15, 2014

Bode's 1/2

I am so bad at updating this blog. I was religious posting every month on Hayden... poor second child. Anywho, I just got Bode's six month pics and thought I would take the time to record about the little man.

Mr. B: Bode at his six month weigh in was 13lbs 7oz. At Bode's five month check-up, he landed in the .5 percentile so the doctor was a smidge worried. I wasn't too worried. Bode is basically on the same track as Hayden, slow and steady. The doctor wanted us to come in every two weeks to get him weighed just to keep an eye on it. He also wanted Bode to eat more which means nursing longer and supplementing formula. Since doing those two things, Bode has moved up in weight and the percentile! He actually is a whole whopping two ounces more than Hayd was at that age. Speaking of breastfeeding and formula, I made it to my six month mark. I am not the biggest fan of breastfeeding, and since my babies are small, I keep feeling like my milk sucks which doesn't help to motivate me to nurse longer. I kinda was hoping to nurse a little longer just because it has been an overall better experience with Bode, but alas, my milk sucks, and lefty is giving up the fight and righty isn't too far behind. At the moment Bode is getting boob and bottle but soon bottle will be the only source of life. I always feel gilt for not breastfeeding but Bode is so much happier when he has a bottle, and I was formula fed from the beginning and I turned out pretty darn awesome. Also in the food department, Bode hates food. He seemed to like bananas and sweet potatoes for a few days but now hates everything. I decided to make all of the baby food so when he wasn't eating, we decided to try store bought baby food to see if he liked that, but he doesn't. I force feed him a few bites hoping one day he'll decided to love it. In the sleeping department, Bode is doing pretty good. He's no Hayden (dang it), but we are to the point where he only wakes up once and usually between 5:30-7:45. I think if I wasn't so worried about Bode waking up Hayd, he could probably always make it to 7:45. Developmentally he has rolled over both ways but doesn't like laying down so doesn't really do it. He loves to sit and is excellent at it. Not a whole lot of babbling, just yelling. He is the stinkiest baby EVER! Like, seriously, he has a rotten tuckus. His favorite toys are not toys, he can only stand his exersaucer for maybe two minutes, he still loves his swing, he hates being left and being ignored, he finds his older brother hilarious, and he already loves electronics. He is all boy, all cute, and we love him.


Love his eyes! His tongue is usually sticking out or his hands are in his mouth

Toe head




Goodness, too cute



Love this crazy lad




A dog and his baby




Mr. H: Hayden is full on kid now. The day after the 4th of July, Todd decided to potty train. I was against it so I told Todd he had to do all the work for the weekend. Todd's methods were not my favorite but after three pee accidents, we have not had one since. Number two is a different story but we are going on, I think, two weeks strong with that. He is talking like crazy, like never stops. Love him, love that he is learning, but man oh man, give the ears a break kid. He loves singing (its pretty hilarious and sometimes annoying), all sports, his "kids", his "gurfriends", reading, doing it "mineself", and jumping on everything. He is counting so well these days, and is finally learning his letters. It actually amazes me what he knows; smart boy. He loves Bode and is still the best big brother ever.

We love our little men!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Bode is Two Months

Two Month Facts for Bode:

-10lbs 14.5oz (at 10 weeks)
-Size 1 diapers and 0-3m clothes
-Sleeping about 7hours straight at night (we give him a dreamfeed before we go to bed and he wakes up once in a 12hour period)
-Still is taking three naps during the day
-Starting to talk a lot more
-Still has two facial expressions, serious and smiley
-Neck is getting stronger
-Is starting to get a flat spot on his left side of his head
-Has maybe 5 long hairs on the top of his head while everything else is peach fuzz, oh and his mullet in back
-He is about the same size as Hayd was at 2months but he is for sure chunkier (but we are comparing him to a baby that had no chub at all)
-Still loves to be swaddled at night and during naps
-Poops a lot!
-Feedings are down to 15-20min!!
-Starting to giggle. He is ticklish under his chin
-Very content and happy baby unless he is hungry or sleepy (or needs to burp). He serious is like Jekyll and Hyde, smiling and a second later, screaming bloody murder. Luckily, it usually is pretty easy to return him to his happy self.
We love him! I pretty much think he is the cutest thing ever… along with my two year old.

Boy do we love Hayden, attitude and all. He is so full of life and energy. He asks for “toast” every morning, which is French Toast, and “chocit moop” (aka chocolate milk) everyday. He loves racing cars, chasing Gus, and watching “Let it Go” or “Froniz” (aka “Frozen”) to no end. We have also made the big transition to no crib. I was seriously so nervous for this transition to come. My saying is “ if it’s not broke don’t fix it.” Todd finally went ahead, against my will, and took off the side of the crib. To my shock, he did great. He did fall out of the crib the first couple nights, but I finally put a blanket under his sheet to prevent it.  We decided to switch his bed, which again, I was nervous about. I thought he would get very possessive of this crib but he didn’t. He was so excited to get a new bed and kept calling the crib “Bode’s bed.” He is doing great in his new bed. I do hear him playing with toys a lot more, but as long as he is quiet and staying in his room, I don’t care. He does have quite the attitude but his cuteness definitely outweighs the occasional “moners”  (monster) that he is. He is also still an amazing big brother. Hayden is always worried about Bode, asks to hold him, lays by Bode when he is on the playmat, and is always there with a binkie when Bode is “whiney."  Other Haydenisms: "grammer" for grandma, “no not”, “save me” and tends to speak in third person by referering to himself as ""Haydy".


We sure got lucky in the kid department.








Todd keeps telling me "I love our kids!" Me too Todd!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Bode's 1Month

Mr. B turned a month last week. It seriously has been a long/fast month. Even though I'm still trying to get the hang of this two kid thing, I feel like Bode has always been with us. He is such a sweet little boy and we love him to pieces.

Bode facts:
-He has smiled since the beginning. Granted a lot of those smiles probably came from gas, but we can make him smile all the time. He is so happy and content, unless he is hungry or cold.
-He hates being cold!!! He enjoys the bath but as soon as you pull him out, he screams bloody murder. You would think we are actually torturing the poor guy from the sounds and faces he makes.
-He is a pretty good sleeper. Todd complains that he is not to Hayden's standards, but I keep reminding him it could be soooo much worse. He takes great naps during the day, and at night he usually sleeps from 8-2ish and then to 5ish and finally wakes up around 8 or 8:30. One night we got lucky and he woke up only once. I think Todd finds it bad because he is a great husband and takes the first feeding. He is hoping he won't have to wake up during the night soon. I am too but I'm thankful for what we have right now.
-He is still in newborn clothes and diapers but I am ready to move him to 0-3 because he has such cute clothes. They drown him though.
-Eating is our biggest issue. He is basically exactly like Hayden, eating for 30+ minutes but this time around, I have Hayden to worry about. We are making it work and I'm starting to not feel like a 24 hour wet bar.
-Hayden- He is an awesome big brother. He is such a good little helper and constantly wants to give Bode and I hugs. He is sick with a cough right now and he is having a hard time not being around Bode or helping out. I love him. He is also quite hilarious! He is very smart too. He knows a red, blue, green, white, and yellow. Can count to 5 sometimes but likes to count "1, 2, 3, 8,10." Knows lots of animals and their sounds, and ABC is coming together slowly but surely. His vocabulary is growing but his pronunciation is a work in progress. "Moop" is "milk" and "blankets" is "breaden." I guess he has issues with "k". He also is mastering his pouty face and Todd and I find it very hilarous.

I'm still struggling to find balance in this new life. I still feel like I am not giving enough time and attention to each boy. I feel like I'm missing out on crazy toddler stuff and teaching him everything he needs to know, and enjoying these cute newborn times while making sure he gets in his tummy time. I also am trying to figure out how to get "me" time in the midst of all these feedings and playing time. I hope I figure it out soon, but for now I guess tv and hair in a ponytail will have to do.

I love my boys! Glad they are mine!

Brotherly Love


Love his wrinkle forhead

 We were able to bless Bode on March 2! So grateful to be near family and friends.
He is either smiling or has a very concerened look on his face

Hayden did have a cute outfit on at the beginning of the day




Thursday, February 13, 2014

Bode's Story

Baby boy number 2 was due on January 25th; it came and went with no baby. My doctor didn’t want me to induce because I wasn’t really progressing. I was okay with the no induction because I was not a huge fan of the last induction. I, however, was not okay with the fact that I was not progressing. On January 27th I had a doctors appointment that I was not excited to go to. I was afraid the doctor would say the same thing he had said for the last month. Luckily, he said I was dilated to a 3 and then said “Want to have a baby tomorrow?” I still didn’t want to induce but I felt being induced at 3 would be a whole lot better then being induced at a 1. We said “yes” and he told us to show up at the hospital the next day at 7am. The rest of the day was spent with my two favorite boys, just enjoying our last day as a family of 3. I only cried a little putting Hayd to bed. On the 28th, I woke up at 4:30am with contractions. I had three before Todd woke up and once he did wake up, we started to get ready to go to the hospital. Side note… I took a shower and was hoping to do my hair. When I went to dry my hair, my blow dryer wouldn’t start… needless to say I did not get to do my hair. As soon as I started having contractions they were consistently at five minutes apart and about 30-60 seconds. We called my parents to come on out, and left our place a bit before 7. By the time they got me into my room, I was a 4 so I ordered the epidural. I didn’t get the epidural till 8:30am. I must say, labor sucks, but non-inducing labor is sooooo much better. Life in general was so much better once that wonderful epidural started working. At first only my right side went numb, but thank the epidural Gods, both sides finally became fully numb. Labor progressed fast after that. The baby’s heartbeat kept dropping so I was put on oxygen till he came out. At 11ish I told Todd that I felt like I wet myself. When the nurse came in she said my water had indeed broke and I was at an 8. She also said that he basically was coming out. She told me not to push or do anything, and they prepared the room for the baby. My doctor was actually in a surgery but the nurse told him he had to come now. Once he got into the room I started pushing. They kept telling me to take quick deep breaths and keep pushing. Apparently the baby’s heartbeat kept dropping so they wanted me to get him out fast. Three minutes of pushing later, out came a new baby. Todd said he basically shot out and everyone in the room kind of gasped at how fast he came. Apparently I’m an excellent pusher. Bode Grant Altom was born at 11:25 am, weighing 7 lbs 4 oz and 21.5 in long. They put him on my chest and I immediately noticed he was bluish in color. He was crying but you could tell fluid was getting in the way. They quickly took him away from me to try and clear out liquid and put him on oxygen. Vitals still weren’t picking up so the nursery nurse called the NICU team. In a flash my room was filled with people and even faster my room was completely empty. Todd went with the NICU team, my doctor went back up to surgery, and I was left alone. It was an extremely odd and scary feeling.
            Bode in fact had some fluid build up in his lungs (there’s some medical term but heck if I remember it). After my epidural wore off, the nurse moved us to my recovery room. Our first stop was to the NICU where I finally got to see my baby for more than 30 seconds. He was all hooked up to all these tubes. His breathing was under control with the help of oxygen, which allowed me to hold him for the first time. I remember asking Todd before Mr. B came, “Will I love this baby as much as Hayden?” The answer is YES. I am so in love with this little man. I was so happy to finally get to hold him, but so sad he was in the NICU. They told us that they did some blood work to check for infection. We were told that one test would take at least 48 hours to get back, so Bode would for sure be in the hospital for 48 hours. With adults, doctors wait to get test results back to figure out what plan of action they should take. With babies, they just assume they are sick and start treating them immediately. That being sad, they started Bode on antibiotics. We were told that these test results would tell us if we could go home after 48 hours or if Bode would have to stay for 7 days.  I had to finally leave him and they wheeled me back to my room. I love the time in the hospital after you have a baby; this one was very different. By the time we were able to go back to the NICU, Bode had moved to the back of the NICU, which is a good thing. Todd was able to hold him for the first time and I was able to try breastfeeding him.
            The rest of our hospital stay was spent in our room, visiting the NICU, and asking a lot of questions. We felt like no one was really giving us good information. What we learned two days after Bode was born, was: Bode had to be off of oxygen for 24 hours before he went home, after those 24 hours he had to pass his 90-minute car seat test, a daily blood test showed that some level was a little high (it had to be less then 5, it was at 6) which meant that no matter what, he had to have 7 days of antibiotics (when we finally got the 48-hour test results back, it didn’t really matter. They were negative, which was a good, but he had to stay anyway.)
            Todd left me Thursday morning to go take care of Hayden. I spent the rest of the day basically in the NICU with Bode. That was probably one of the hardest days of the week. I felt so lonely and so hopeless. There was nothing I could do to make this situation better. When I was back in my room, nurses kept coming and checking on me, a lot more then they did the previous days. Apparently I looked like I was having a rough time. I also had to fill out a depression test and talk to the NICU social worker, fun times. After Bode’s 5 o’clock feeding, I finally checked out of the hospital with two of my three boys. It felt extremely odd walking out of the hospital without a car seat.
            The rest of Bode’s stay consisted of a bunch of trips back and forth from the hospital. I kept telling Todd that I felt like I was living two separate lives. At home, things basically felt normal, but then I was off to the hospital to live my other life. Every night I left the hospital, I cried and prayed he could come home Tuesday. On Saturday they tried taking him off of his oxygen but they had to put him back on later that night. This made me feel like we were never going to be able to take him home. Monday morning, Todd dropped off some breast milk at the hospital and texted me that they had taken him oxygen once again and was doing well. Every time I went into the hospital I got worried he would be back on his oxygen. If he had to go back on, he wasn’t coming home Tuesday. Tuesday morning, Todd went back up to the hospital and found out that he had made it his 24 hours and had past his car seat test; we were 99% sure he was coming home that day. Around 9:30am, I got the call from the nurse that Bode was for sure coming home!
            A week later, Hayden finally got to meet his little brother. When he first walked into the room, Bode was sleeping in his car seat. Hayden immediately pointed and said “Baby!” He walked over to him and we said it was “Bode”. Hayden then saw the present Bode gave him, which was bubbles, and Bode became an after thought. After he played with bubbles for a bit, Hayden did hold Bode and gave him a kiss. Hayden has done so well with Bode. He loves to help in anyway possible, pats his head, and is constantly asking where he is if he can see him. I thought Hayd would want nothing to do with B, but it turns out he just might be an awesome big brother.
            The first week home has been a bit crazy. Todd left us Thursday-Saturday for a work thing. As soon as Todd left, Hayden woke up with a fever! My newborn (who only has woken up twice in the middle of the night) was not the one keeping me up that night. Poor Hayden threw up and could not get comfortable enough to fall asleep. That night and the next day were spent going back and forth from our room to the living room. We made it through those couple of days and then Todd came back to us!
            We are getting into the swing of things with two kids. It is a lot easier dealing with two when there are two parents present. Bode is so far a great baby. He hates getting his diaper changed, getting bathed, and getting clothes on, but other then that, he is a pretty content little guy. He does take forever to eat but we’re working on it.

            Its crazy how your love can grow. Not just for this new, little sweet boy, but my love has grown so much for Hayden and Todd. I love seeing how awesome Hayden is at being a brother. I’m just so amazed at the sweet, bigger boy we have raised. He truly has a compassionate heart and I am enjoying watching him grow. Todd is the best daddy and hubby ever. I don’t know what I would do without him… wait… I do, he did leave me for a few days and it wasn’t the most pleasant of times. I am so thankful he is so hands on, helpful around the house, and still willing to wake up for a feeding at night even though he has gone back for work. I wish he could be retired.  I just love all my boys. I am one lucky girl! I am so thankful for all the thoughts and prayers on our behalf these last couple of weeks. At times I didn’t know if I was going to be able to hold it together but I could feel all the support from others and especially my Heavenly Father. We are indeed blessed and I am excited what adventures these little boys are going to take us on… I just hope we can stay out of the hospital and sick-free for a bit… or a long time…