999
Finlay's had an interesting couple of days. He was a bit off colour the last few days, and on Wednesday evening developed a cough. Just after his midnight feed, he started coughing again, so we called NHS Direct. As we put down the phone, he started coughing again.. and then started choking, and went grey and unresponsive and floppy. Very very scary, but luckily we got through on 999 very fast, who talked us through keeping him going until the rapid-response paramedic arrived (very fast, as he was in the same town), who put him on oxygen. Thankfully the Health Visitor had gone through Baby Recuss just that day, which meant I didn't lose it completely, and David did a great job holding him and keeping his airway open.
The ambulance people were so fantastic, and managed to drive from Abingdon in just 10 minutes - they both thought Finlay was gorgeous!! It was a rattly journey to the JR, and we didn't spend too much time in A&E before being taken up to the ward. He was put on a monitor, and later that morning had another floppy episode, luckily witnessed by a nurse. They decided because of that to keep him in another night, during which his heart raced a bit, so they didn't let us go until they'd done an ECG, which was all good. All the docs and nurses were fantastic - the nurses were especially wonderful, really cheery and kind.
So he's now back home - thank goodness - still very gurgly, snotty and sleepy, but not doing the non-breathing trick any more, which is good. He's gone back to feeding every 2 hours rather than every 4, which is tiring, but at least he's eating properly, and hopefully on the mend. A quiet weekend ahead, with all visitors cancelled so we can get him back on track and up to speed. We were on the kids' oncology ward, so seeing so many really sick kids with cancer means I feel very very lucky that we got to take him home so soon, and that nothing was very seriously wrong.
Posted by jen at 06:27 PM | Comments (2)
8 Weeks
It's been a bit quiet on here lately (apart from the photos, which I have enjoyed taking). Finlay has been very busy, and very grumpy! I am certain those two things are linked somehow.. we seem to get into a routine, then it's disturbed and he gets overtired, and it takes a while to get back into the swing of things. It's 3.30pm and he's just gone to sleep - the first proper sleep since he woke at 7am this morning!! We're both suffering from snotty colds, and I am trying hard not to blow my nose too loudly or risk waking him up.
Today he weighed in at 10lb 3oz, a 1lb 2oz gain in the last fortnight. He has been a bit of a guzzle guts, except for the weekend when he was a really grumpy beast, and wouldn't feed and/or kept possetting, we weren't sure he kept anything down, and he certainly didn't sleep. Probably due to the onset of this cold. He turns on the charm when you're trying to get him down, which makes it hard!!
Finlay's now got very interested in his toys properly... he has a little mirror that he gazes into, and a dog in the car he smiles at. He's fascinated by windows, and stares out of them - I'm not sure what he sees, as his focal length isn't too far, though his focus on near objects (like people) is excellent. David played him some guitar last night, and he absolutely loved that (especially Crowded House, of course!!). He's smiling on demand now, especially for Daddy!
He's been busy - we had a few lunch/dinner/coffees with the other NCT girls, all of whom have had their babies (see photo posted a couple of days ago). They are all growing so fast.. hard to imagine he's already 8weeks old, time flies so fast it's scary. I can't imagine him being as small as he was when he was born, especially when I hold babies that size. He changes so fast it's hard to keep up.
Posted by jen at 03:44 PM | Comments (3)
Photo Update
Photos from the last few weeks here... hasn't Finlay grown!
Posted by jen at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
6 Week Check
Finlay had his 6 week check today at the GP. All was hunkydory, a small query about his left eye but apparently that will resolve. He's now 9lb 1oz, and growing fast! He flirted dreadfully with the doctor, smiling and gurgling and waving his arms and legs around. He even had the courtesy to wait til his nappy was back on to poo everywhere!! Wish he'd do that for us ;) I got the go-ahead to drive, so was able to join the NCT girls yesterday for a cuppa, which was nice.
On Monday, Finlay went to his first music group, which he really enjoyed. We had a visit from H & Anne at the weekend, and Finlay loved being played to by H on the piano. Sometimes the only thing that stops him crying is singing very badly out of tune, in the style of a Moog synthesizer!
Unfortunately Finlay has also suddenly developed a left-boob phobia, and bad colic. We've managed to fool him into still drinking off to the left boob by changing the position, but the colic has caused many sleepless nights. Of course when we took him to the health visitor, he behaved impeccably and drank perfectly.. guh! It's now luck of the draw as to whether he will eat properly or gulp-cry-gulp-cry, which is frustrating for us and him! Hopefully he will settle down soon.
Posted by jen at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)
Growth Spurt @ 5.5 weeks
It's been a busy few days. The NCT girls came round yesterday with the babies born so far - Maddy, Amy, and Eliot - and Louise had Liberty on Thursday. They are all so different.. despite being born within weeks of each other. Shows how fast they develop at that age.
From the time the girls left in the afternoon, Finlay ate. And ate. And ate. And ate. Every two hours, through the night and today. Exhausting. It took David and I an hour to get him to sleep tonight, as he was so overtired from eating and not sleeping. Hopefully he will eat his dreamfeed and let us have a break tonight!
Despite the feeding frenzy, we managed to pop down to the local Coleshill Food Festival - a 'model farm' on the local National Trust property. There were lovely organic beef burgers (yummy), and salads, as well as organic veggies and icecream and honey. Am sure Finlay will enjoy his dinner tonight with all that goodness in us.. the fennel we had for dinner was just so fresh and tasty!! Hopefully it will keep him quiet as well ;)
Posted by jen at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)
Weigh-in
Just a quick entry, as Finlay is being a little tinker and refusing to go to bed! Life is too exciting I guess. Anyway, we went to our first postnatal class today, and had the opportunity to get him weighed (as the health visitor doesn't visit any more). He's now a storming 8lb 7oz!! That's a pound heavier than 10 days ago.. what a guzzle guts! He behaved himself very well, even though the pavement was very bumpy on the walk over, and only screeched once we weighed him.
Posted by jen at 06:40 PM | Comments (0)
Real Smiles
When Finlay woke us up this morning with a bit of screeching, we went to see him in his cot, and got rewarded by the biggest, gummiest smile you have ever seen. No wind in sight, just pleased to see his mummy and daddy.
I think he was preparing me for a day of 2-hour snacking, so that I would forgive him my lack of breakfast and lunch ;) I forgive him, as he did sleep 5.5 hours last night - luxury!
Posted by jen at 03:41 PM | Comments (1)
Finlay 050905.jpg
Wearing a cute outfit from Mavis & Wal, looking a bit grumpy after a sleep! (every time I tried to take a proper pic of him in this outfit he wasn't having any of it!)
Posted by jen at 03:36 PM | Comments (1)
One Month
Finlay turns 1 month old today! He's developing and growing so fast it's almost impossible to keep track. He's filled out his skinny little frame, and has chubby cheeks and a cute little double chin. When he's full and asleep, he sticks his tongue out a little. His legs are getting podgier, and has almost grown out of the newborn size nappies - the tabs no longer meet in the middle.
He's a very easy baby. He cries when he is hungry, and little will placate him until he gets a boob or bottle in his mouth (little other than Granny D's Moog Synthesizer impression, anyway). He pouts when he has wind, and sticks his bottom lip out when he doesn't want any more. He gets grumpy when he has a full nappy, and when he wants to play with toys and we want him to sleep. But he doesn't cry for no reason, and is a good sleeper (especially when he's swaddled up). He is very alert and loves to see what is going on. He spat the dummy the first time we tried one, and prefers suck (very noisily) on his fingers instead - usually when he is hungry. He did try comfort feeding, but tends not to do it on the bottle - just the boob.
His head control was always very good, but now (apart from when he's very sleepy), he can hold his head up himself all the time. Once he's grabbed hold of your hand with his fingers, you can't let go, and if he doesn't want to move his arm or leg of his own accord, there's nothing short of a nuclear detonation will move it - his strength is amazing in such a small baby. He is still trying to climb up Daddy's chest given half a chance, and we have to watch him on the changing mat as he wriggles around like a caterpillar and is in danger of falling off.
Finlay's coordination is getting very good, his activity arch is a favourite, and his legs and arms at first go wild with excitement, then he slows down and studies each object (rattle ball, crinkly book and teddy) with intense concentration, reaching up and batting them with his hands. Even when he's asleep he is busy, with arms reaching out and his facial expressions changing every few seconds. He stares intently at people too, studying their hair, and especially interested in glasses and goatees - Uncle Emile is a very interesting face to look at!
He's also had his first taste of formula milk - not through choice I must add, but due to the stupidity of the NHS (they didn't give us any prior notice that breastmilk must be dumped for 48hrs after an MRI with contrast, which I had yesterday). He seems to have taken to it ok, but Daddy is feeding it so he doesn't associate it with me, and his nappies are pretty reeky. Fingers tightly crossed he goes back to the boob ok - I am expressing for England but hope I can keep up. It's heartbreaking having to pour the stuff down the sink.
He's now on about 150ml per feed, which is astounding for a little boy on 50ml per feed only 2 weeks ago. He can sleep for about 4 hours at a stretch sometimes, and goes to bed very well at night. During the day, life is just too exciting to fall asleep. He is sleeping 15-18 hours a day, depending on how excited he is and overtired.. sometimes it's a struggle to get him down in the day. He's very noisy, even when asleep - snoring nearly as loudly as Bailey!
He's been a busy bee - yesterday he visited two hospitals, and had about 7 new visitors to cuddle - but he's so good when he's handed round, and cuddles up to people with no problems. He also went to the hairdresser yesterday (but not for a haircut!), and visited our favourite Thai food shop in Shepherds Bush. We bought lots of ingredients, so I will take advantage of dumping my boob milk to eat strange food and drink New Zealand beer ;) Today he's off to a party at Daddy's work, so even more cuddles!
Hopefully we'll get ourselves together enough to take a photo of him later today :D I'd love to weigh him, but getting him onto the scales is a struggle now and I may have to wait til Wednesday's visit to the first postnatal class - a big outing as I will have to walk him there with the buggy. Lifting him is now noticably harder, so he must be piling on the ounces! Thank goodness for such a cool pushchair!
Happy One Month Birthday, Finlay! We love you so much, Pumpkin!
Posted by jen at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)