Week 5- December 29th, 2018

Today I am 5 weeks old. Mommy keeps telling time to slow down. All I know is that I am growing and becoming more passionate when I need something! I am eating a lot more and still up every 3 hours at night to eat.

This week we celebrated Christmas... much of which I slept through. We went to Laguna for the Christmas Eve service and then Christmas Day had lunch with Grampa and Gramma Czerniak.

 After christmas... Mommy must have eaten something that didn't agree with either one of us! It was a low key morning at home before we went out looking for after Christmas deals!

 On Thursday we went on a family outing for Chinese food at PF Chang's and to the Chinese lantern festival. It was a rather chilly evening so I stayed wrapped up in my stroller. Afterwards we went and met up with a friend of daddy's for hot cocoa before heading home. Mommy and daddy love the fact that I do such a great job in my car seat for car trips!

The last couple of days of the week we stayed at home. I got on a schedule of naps whole mommy caught up on laundry and cleaning the house. It has been so nice to have mommy and daddy at home.

Week 4

This week has been spent visiting with lots of people that know mommy and daddy and wanted to meet me. We visited friends at mommy's work in Laguna and daddy's work in Norco. Don't have any pictures of that. Met up with a friend of mommy's at Downtown Disney for dinner.

 Afterwards we walked over to the Grand Californian to see the giant gingerbread house and I was introduced to a jolly old man with a white beard that held me and serenaded me with Christmas music. 

The fur brother is getting used to me and like snuggling with me. He did get his cone of shame off this week and was super excited about That! 

I love being on my tummy especially when it means snuggling with mommy or daddy!

This yellow blanket was made by my On a when she was pregnant with my mommy... now it is one of my favorite blankets.

It has been rather chilly around here lately and I am living all of my wintry outfits. Got to try out my fur lined boots and even though everyone thought they were cute... they didn't stay on very long!

The other venture we started was cloth diapering. Mommy is still trying to figure out everything so we are being patient.

Week 3

It has been an eventful week around the Czerniak household...

-Oma and grampa left on Tuesday

-we went and had my first college tour at University of Laverne to meet those that daddy used to work with

-another doctors appt... finally up past my birth weight but not by much. I am at 9 lbs 8.5 ounces and 21 inches in length

-i am already eating mommy and daddy out of house and home.. I nurse for a long time and then demand a bottle. Ultimately eating 4-5 ounces every 2-3 hours and not spitting any Up!

-I helped mommy finish her last 2 admin classes this week. So glad she is done so that we can go on more adventures.

-i did go to a Christmas party with mommy this week and we took Christmas gifts to all the staff at the hospital where I was born.

-My fur brother had an eventful week of being neutered, treated for an infection, and nail tips put on. He gets to wear the cone of shame and is not enjoying it.

Other important things this week...

-My umbilical cord came off on Sunday

-I prefer tummy time instead of being on my back

-Daddy and mommy tag team at night so that everyone gets a bit of rest

-i also like dance parties and car rides!

Week 2

 I am 2 weeks old already! I have spent most of my time this week sleeping and trying to grow.

Events of the week... 

- I was circumcised at 10 days old.  Not back up to birth weight yet so doctors told mommy to feed me as much as I want and supplement as needed.  I was at 9lbs 4oz at my Drs appt on Tuesday...

 - I went with mommy on Thursday and Friday to deliver Christmas presents to all that helped get me into the world safely. Also with the help of grandma... we got all the Christmas cards ready for the mail. Little later that usual just because we have been a bit preoccupied!

-i enjoy my sponge baths and being read to... not a huge fan of diaper changes but mommy says it has to be done!

- I am a cuddler and snuggler.  I love it when grandpa holds me and sings to me. I fall asleep almost instantly!

 - The fur baby is slowly warming up to me being in the house. He us not a big fan of me taking all of mommy's time.

 Adventures of the week...
-we went on a family adventure to Rancho Cucamonga to look at Christmas lights while grandma and grandpa were here. I am told they were pretty... I slept through it all snuggled up to mommy.

-we also went to the La Brea tar pits with grandma and grandpa.  It was a bright sunny day after a couple of days of rain this week. 

-for the most part I like car rides. I have my fussy moments when I get hungry or my diaper need a to be changed. Otherwise I just cruise.

Week 1

Saturday, December 1st

One week old
Stats for the week...
9lbs 1 oz... lost a little weight but nursing well... still 20.5 inches in length... I also take a bottle so that daddy or grandparents can feed me!

Highlights of week 1 of this adventure in life...
-Grandma and Grandpa Calhoun from NC came to visit on Thursday for 10 days
-I like to sleep in someone's arms rather than by myself in my bassinet. It is cold and lonely unlike my previous accommodations.
-Hiccups are a common occurrence which supposedly means I am growing.
-I had my first pediatrician appointment on Wednesday. Everything looks good.
-I only cry when getting my diaper changed as it really hurts due to the antibiotic induced diaper rash.
-I love being read to, snuggled with, and sang to.
-I have started to mimic facial expressions and I am able to focus on things close to me.

Firsts for the week...
-since being home... I have had 2 sponge baths... I am getting mommy on a feeding schedule (thanks to NICU he has been trained to eat every 3 hours almost like clockwork).
-almost outgrown newborn clothes and diapers ... graduating to the next size!

With the reminders of daddy... mommy is getting some rest to heal. We have gotten a lot of well wishes for which we are very thankful and a few visitors. Dinner has been dropped off by friends from church/Bible Study and we are very appreciative for the extra help as we settle in As a family of 3!

Long overdue... Dillion's birth story

Every child's story coming into this world is an individual story.

First and foremost, we would like to introduce you to Dillion (Pronounced dill-on... Celtic for faithful) Spencer Czerniak. He arrived November 24th, 2018 at 3:30am weighing in a 9 lbs 7oz and 20.5 inches long. We are so blessed to have a 3rd member of our adventure team!

Now let how he came into the world begin...

After several weeks of on and off contractions, a "trial" run to the hospital,  lots of "natural" inducers. and numerous doctors appointments, it was determined that our little guy was too comfortable with his womb service and was scheduled to be evicted a week after his due date.

So on Black Friday at 6am ...we headed to Rancho Springs Medical Center to check in.  We took our time getting settled in knowing an induction could take hours if not days.  They started me on a pill that was just supposed to thin me out so that they could start me on pitocin. Each round took 4 hours and after 3 rounds I had thinned out some but even with the contractions had not dilated past a two ... ( I had been dilated at a 2 for almost 2 weeks!). At this point, the decision was made to start pitocin...almost 15 hours after being at the hospital.  Within an hour or so, the back contractions were getting pretty bad so a round of pain meds via IV were ordered. Due to sensitivity to pain meds this made me start throwing up but did not change my progress of thinning out or dilation. I was exhausted and in a lot of pain... no feeling light headed and queasy.

The next bit is blurry but basically they wanted me to rest so I could prepare to get baby out so they called the anesthesiologist for an epidural. When they started that baby's heart rate delayed and they started prepping me for an emergency c-section. By this point it is a bit after 2 am. At 3am I was wheeled in to the OR with my amazing husband by my side. After a tramatic c-section of pushing, pulling, and having to vacuum baby out of his stuck position, the anesthesiologist knocked me out completely. Dont remeber much after that! When I came to, Justin was holding a beautiful baby boy.

Within an hour after delivery, due to all the force and energy it took getting out, Dillion's temperature and glucose levels were really low. They took him to the nursery with Justin by his side to try to get those solved while I was taken to what would be my home for the next 4 days.

Dillion is such a trooper! He was super close Saturday morning to being admitted to the NICU but pulled through and stabilized enough to be with Justin and I in our room. We worked on breast feeding and skin on skin contact while bonding with our newest addition!

It wasn't until Sunday mid day that our nurse came rushing in... I have bad news ... Dillion has an infection and needs to be admitted to NICU. Scared this mommas heart! Overall it was rough and I am in tears just thinking about the events surrounding it... so we will write about that at  later time when I am looking at it from the other side.

I am doing ok. Still a lot of pain but all things considered... I am up walking and showering. I have been able to breastfeed as my milk has come in after only 2 days. Huge answer to prayer as normally it takes 3 to 5 days! My staples look good or so the Drs say... I can't see them!

I am getting discharged tomorrow. We are praying Dillion also gets discharged from NICU tomorrow so we can go home as a fanily of 3. We shall see what miracles are in store for tomorrow!

ETA: 1 WEEK! EEK!

Today marks 39 weeks... 1 WEEK until the official due date and 2 weeks before official eviction of little guy if he has not made his appearance.

 Thought it was appropriate that he is the size of a pumpkin this week... which pumpkin is really hard to say as he is all curled up taking up every inch between my ribs and pelvis. (Going on Monday to see if we can get an idea of how big of a child I will have!)

This week has been filled with some ups and downs. The friends that introduced Justin and I were visiting from Egypt. They spent Monday and Tuesday with us. So wish they loved closer! We love hanging out with them!

Wednesday I was up most of the night due to acid reflux and throwing up. G rr! Thursday and Friday were very opposite days. Thursday I was exhausted and did very little except sit in the recliner and work on papers and projects for my 2 admin classes. Them had my regular NST/AFI appointment where everything looked good for little guy. Friday I woke up before 6am feeling well rested and hit the ground running when Justin left for work. (Normally I have been going back to sleep!) I had a OB appt to check little guys status.... we have progressed a bit which is good and talked through what all info was needed for the next couple of weeks. Came home and got laundry done and folded... dishes done... shoeboxes put together... organized some of the little guys belongings... and pulled ingredients to make soup for dinner.

Have no fear... I did take a nap which felt amazing but it was glorious to be up and about with energy to do some things!

Stick a fork in me... I'm DONE!

Ok... maybe not really... don't want to be stabbed by a fork and it is not my decision to be "ready" ... it is the little guy calling the shots at this point.

As I was reminded today at the doctors... we are in a wait and see situation as there is nothing out of the ordinary to try to get little guy out before his due date. For that I am very thankful... blood pressure is good... amniotic fluid levels are stable which is good considering his kidneys are measuring larger than they should be at this point... my weight is staying consistent... and little guy is very active.

On the flipside... personally my body aches and is tired... hips feel like they are being torn apart... and the acid reflux that is coming up is not so much fun. The contractions have gone from non painful braxton hicks to somewhat uncomfortable to painful at times. They are not regular enough to go to the doctor.

At this moment, they won't let little guy stay in there forever. He will be evicted around thanksgiving if he doesn't come out sooner due to the fact that we will be at 41 weeks at that point.   He is very long so the myth of my heart burn, acid reflux, and congestion will go away when he drops... is just that and he has already dropped. Guess those symptoms will go away when he is officially out.

It is a good thing and I will count my blessings that he is happy and healthy inside and that the doctors are fine with him staying put until he is ready.   Can't wait to meet this little guy! (And yes we have almost 100% settled on a name ... other than little guy... but it won't be revealed until after we meet him!)

Time well spent

The last 3 weeks have been a blur of activity... and moving at a much slower pace than I am used to. This little guy has been sleep training us for quite a while and the sleeping in two hour increments is definitely preparing me to be up feeding around the clock. It is however making it difficult to get up at 5am... commute an hour and a half to work... work an 8 hour day... commute home

.. and then try to get dinner on the table... and time to sit down to work on my admin classes without dozing.  

I am being forced to take a few more breaks to lick my feet up and Gandalf definitely assists in holding me down! LOL!

As for Drs appointments, we are currently at 2-3 per week. Lots of time sitting... getting checked to make sure little guy is doing well.

The CCCLH and CCP shower

Due to everything going on... I am a bit behind on blogging.... so as long as my eyes stay open a bit longer we will try to catch up on the last 3 weeks or so...

On October 13th, the church/school where I spend most of my days had a shower to bless little guy... and boy were we blessed by those that came to the shower and those that sent well wishes.

Also this particular weekend happened to cool off a great deal hence the long sleeves and boots and it rained! This has not happened in quite a whole and even though it caused us to cancel our maternity shoot it made for very comfortable weather!

After the shower I was starting to have more BH contractions and was exhausted. We headed the hour + home where my darling man unloaded the car and brought everything into the house. If growing a small human has taught me anything... you need a good partner by yourside that is willing to hang out with a bunch of ladies he really doesn't know and one that sees there is a need before it is even spoken! I have an absolutely amazing partner by my side that has made this entire experience very memorable!