Berklee's NICU Story: One Bow At A Time

Berklee spent 32 days in the NICU before coming home.  Because I couldn't dress her up at home in all of her cute outfits, I settled for the next best thing, dressing her up with a different bow each day in the NICU.  I missed the first few days of her stay because we weren't really allowed to touch or hold her.  However, we made it up for it with more than one bow on a few days.  It really became a highlight for me to pick out a different bow and take her picture.

Benson

Oh Benson!  He is so funny and always going a mile a minute!  I don't think he ever stops talking or running around.  He finally moved past being obsessed with Harry Potter and after moving past Stars Wars he is now completely obsessed with Batman.  We spend our days EVERY. DAY. ALL. DAY. LONG. PLAYING. BATMAN! He wears the same Batman pajama's to bed every night and I mean every night.  He then wears them all during the day.  He cries if he has to take them off so I can wash them.  Literally, he acts as though the world is ending when he has to take them off.


Ignore that his hair isn't done, he had just woken up :)


Easter Sunday

2 weeks ago

I took this picture 2 weeks ago.  It's fun to see Berklee awake more and seeing and experiencing things around her.

How Much She's Grown!

I was looking at pictures of Berklee and came across these two pictures.  She has grown so much in almost 2 months.  This purple bow was gigantic on her when she was 1 week old but fits her perfectly now.  It doesn't swallow her head completely now!

                                           1 week old

First Sunday dress, thanks Grandma! This is one of those dresses that is so hideous that it's adorable.  One that your mother made you wear as a child and you swore you'd never put your daughter in .... but then you do because she looks so dang cute even when screaming! (Obviously not very happy to have her picture taken)

WE ARE ALIVE AND HOME

Every time I get onto the internet and look at other blogs I think ... Maybe I should update our blog... but I don't.  I did notice our last post was right after Berklee was born though so I thought I would finally post again to let everyone know how we're are doing. 

We are home and doing good.  Berklee spend 32 days in the NICU before coming home.  She is doing really.  She is a really good eater and getting bigger everyday!  Benson has been really good with her and I think really likes being a big brother.  I am on maternity leave until July so we'll see how Benson does when I go back to work.  We are just trying to adjust to life with a newborn again and how to survive on less sleep!  I forgot how exhausting getting up in the night to feed a little one was!  And I'm a person who needs her sleep!  When I don't get sleep I'm not a happy camper. 

I've been meaning to post a bunch of pictures of Berklee but just haven't found the time.  To deal with her being in the NICU and not getting to dress her up I started what I called Berklee's "Bow of the Day" picture.  Everyday I took a different bow and put it on her and took a picture.  Yes, my Mom and I got a little carried away on buying bows.  Lets just say we had lots of bows to spare and Berklee was there 32 days. 

Berklee Elizabeth Cole

Berklee decided to make her grand entrance into the world on Saturday night.  She was born by c-section on Saturday, April 9th, around 11:00 p.m.  She's just a little girl, weighing 3 pounds 9 ounces & 16.75 inches long.  She is doing really good for being almost 8 weeks early.  She is in the NICU and will be for several weeks but that is expected with being such a preemie.  I am home and recovering well.  Michael, Benson and Georgia are doing good as well.  We will try and post sometime later this week and give everyone a more detailed update on Berklee but for now we are doing well, trying to rest and learning a lot about what being a preemie baby means! 

We Are Doing Good!

Good news to report!  I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday and pregnancy wise things are looking really good.  I've been given the ok to go back to work part-time with restrictions.  No stairs, no lifting and frequent resting throughout the day.  Yeah for no more bedrest!  More than 3 weeks is a long time!  Although I will admit I did go to the store 3 different times while on "bedrest."  All three times were very brief and a much needed trip outside to see the sunlight.  It was funny though because I felt like a teenager who was doing something wrong and that my Mom was going to catch me and I was going to be in trouble. :) 

Michael is doing good.  He has been great while I've been on bedrest!  Taking care of me, Benson, Georgia and the house.  He's also started a new job which is he is really enjoying.

Benson is as funny as ever and growing so much!  He really is as he says "a big boy" or "little kid" but not a baby (unless it's really convenient for him to be, like when it comes to cleaning up his room).  I think he is excited for the baby to come although I'm sure he'll go through an adjustment phase where he's not that happy.  We'll see how that goes!

My official due date is not until May 31st but it's really unlikely I will make it that far.  If I do that would obviously be great for the baby but with my history and how this pregnancy has been going not really likely.  I am almost 33 weeks and my doctor thinks I will probably deliver around 35-36 weeks.  We are shooting for 36-37 and anything past 36 would be great!  Benson was born at 37 weeks and was a good size, healthy baby so we're hoping the same for this baby if she does come early.  We just don't want her too early, although I am ready to be done being pregnant.

We are still deciding on a name.  As of today (it changes every few days) we are considering Berkley (Benson's favorite I think), Libby and Sydney.  Any other good names to suggest?   

Update ... Still on Bedrest

Things are going good for our little girl.  I had a doctor's appointment last week and things are looking a lot better which is great.  The bedrest is really helping.  I'm still on bedrest although I was given the ok to do a little more at home.  So, I don't feel bad about taking a shower or sitting up to watch television or fold laundry.   

Benson is still being really good.  I think he is enjoying me being home during the day even if I spend most of the day on the couch.  Michael is still doing great, basically doing everything.  He's taking care of me, Benson, Georgia and our house. 

My next doctor's appointment is April 6th so hopefully we will have more good news then. 

I Can Do Hard Things!

This is my moto for the next 7+ weeks.  Bedrest is not going to be fun!  I am officially on bedrest until I deliver our little girl because she is trying to make her grand entrance into this world too early.

I have had a few hiccups with this pregnancy, not unlike I did with Benson, preterm labor.  Benson came 3 weeks early but weighed in at a healthy 6 pounds and didn't have any problems that a 3 week premature baby could have had.  However, this little girl is a little more anxious to come and 29 weeks is too early.

So, after a scare on Wednesday night where I ended up at the hospital with contractions and pain I am on strict bedrest.  We are shooting for 36 weeks but I'm not sure how realistic that really is.  If I can make it to 36 weeks that would be about 7 weeks of bedrest.  So, I just keep telling myself I can do hard things!

It has been 2 days and I guess that is 2 days down and 2 more days she is growing and getting bigger.  If you have any ideas of what I can do on bedrest let me know!  I'm open to suggestions!

Baby Name

We are still sorting through names we like for the baby.  Anyone have any suggestions?  We have a few names we like but nothing has really struck me.  With Benson as soon as my Mom suggested it I knew that was the name I wanted.  Not so much this time, nothing has really struck me.  We like Grace, Charlotte and Berkley.  I really like all 3 but still can't decide.  Let me know if you have any good names!

It's Still a Girl

We had our "official" ultrasound yesterday and were happy to find out we are having a girl.  I've had several ultrasounds already and at the last one we were told it looked like a girl so we kinda already knew.  I guess it was meant to be a girl because Benson has referred to the baby as a girl or his sister since we told him about the baby.  We have several names we like, some liked by our family members more than others.  I'm having a hard time imagining myself dressing a little girl though.  I was tom boy and never really into the color pink or bows, unless forced to be worn by my mother.  I guess I just have to get use to the fact that pretty much all girl clothes have some pink and bows are adorable on little baby girls.   

WE ARE STILL ALIVE!

I use to update this blog quite often.  Sorry to those who use to follow it and were interested in what we were up to but life has been so buy and hectic for us, I guess for the last year and a half!   

I am still working at the prosecutor's office and Michael is working for the local newspaper as a sports writer.  Benson just turned 3 and is the funnest little guy in the world.  He is absolutely in love with anything and everything Harry Potter!  He was Harry Potter for Halloween and just had a Harry Potter birthday party.  Someday I will get around to posting pictures from Halloween.  He was the most adorable Harry Potter!

We are expecting Baby #2 in May and will find out soon whether it's a girl or boy.  We've actually already had a few ultrasounds all ready and they haven't seen anything that would indicate it's a boy.  However, we have our "official" ultrasound next week so hopefully we'll have a definite answer then.

I really am going to try and update our blog more often, although I can't promise anything!   

Boise Zoo