Sleep Deprivation

Now I have gone without sleep before... especially in college. We would have a big project due the next day so an all nighter would be pulled in the photo labs (pays to know the people that work there ;~). It was great... we would order pizza as late as we could... smoke out the windows on the fourth floor... work on our projects and generally have a great time. The next day I would be framing my project as the prof walked in, give a flawless speech about the artwork, wait as everyone else did the same, go to work after class and sleep that night as if nothing ever happened. Better still, back at Anne Arundel, Jaime and I would go to a specific bar on Monday nights because the bartender liked us and drinks were flowing. We would have a great time, head home late in the night and crash. Then be up for class at 8 the next morning. I am sure we weren't ready for Ms. America but we still looked good and managed to get to class and retain knowledge (at least until the final exam ;~).

I was at least 10 years younger then and they were, at any given time, one night occurrences. Sleep deprivation for over a week at a time and at my age has a distinctly different effect on me now. Look at me, I am growing up ;~)

Anyway, hopefully the bulk of the sleep deprivation is over... at least for prolonged nights. Chase has started sleeping for 3-4 hours at a time again and has even slept in his bouncy chair, on his own, a couple times! Thank the Lord! For a time he was only sleeping on me and when he wasn't sleeping, he was eating and when he wasn't eating or sleeping, he was staring at me begging to be stimulated... all of this resulted in my butt growing roots to our couch. But as I said, things are starting to improve which means I have time for laundry, dishes and general housekeeping tasks... not to mention time for a shower! I am just prayerful that this keeps up and we can start to have a regular routine again!

This weekend will be interesting as I think that Adam and I will be traveling to NY. My dad's mother passed away yesterday and we are going to try to make it to the funeral events. Adam's grandmother is also having a funeral service but hers is on Thursday. Adam's grandmother actually passed away in Dec of last year but her ashes are being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, due to her husbands decorated time in WWII. It's a pretty big deal and many G's are flying in from all over the country. So Adam and I will be juggling that service with my dad's mother's service in NY. Please keep your prayers out for the 2 families as one is dealing with a recent loss and the other will be dealing with emotions from past loss.

Not to end on a sour note, I will just say this... Watching all the loss around me now and having the pain of experiencing loss in the past makes me very thankful and grateful for the life that I have right now. I mourn for those that are passed but I am ever mindful to not take what I have for granted.

Another miracle!

Congrats to Scott and Carrie Shippy!!! They welcomed Tyler Scott into the world on Nov 25.





This is one loved little man already!

First Thanksgiving

What a nice relaxing day Thanksgiving was... sitting around with friends and family, everyone telling me how cute my son is... it was great! Here are a few pictures from the day...


Uncle Jimmy imitating Chase


Grandma Sandy soaking up Chase's cuteness


Family portrait!


Boys being boys in the bar room


Uncle Logan loving on his nephew


Logan carving the turkey


Chase's first visit to Starbucks


Adam introducing Chase to his mecca ;~)

It's been a great weekend... having Adam home for 4 days was a lot of fun! I am sad he has to go back to work tomorrow ;~( We (Chase and I) have a busy week coming up... Doctors appointment, hair appointment, Grandma G's funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery and this Friday we are heading to Hagerstown for the weekend for the first time since Chase was born!

With Thanksgiving comes a list of things that I am thankful for... 1. my husband, 2. my son, 3. my family, 4. good friends, 5. a God that meets my needs, 6. my apartment (I love it here), 7. Tivo, 8. my health, 9. my awesome dog, 10. Coffee Toffee Heath Bar Crunch. I am sure there are many more things but that is what came to mind right off the bat ;~)

I hope everyone out there had a great thanksgiving!

Update

Consensus is in... Chase is suffering from Acid Reflux. The doctor wrote him a prescription for Axid which is basically the same as Zantac without the alcohol content. Unfortunately the doctor said it could take 7 days for the medicine to take effect but I am holding out hope that it will start to work sooner. He looks so uncomfortable most of the time and he is so tired all the time from not sleeping properly. He tends to sleep better when he sleeps next to me... which I am not a huge fan of because of the thought of rolling on him but I am being very careful and positioning him just right... he sleeps better but needless to say, my nights are not all that restful ;~) Anyway, please continue with prayers that this will work and both of us will be happier!

In other news... Chase is 9 lbs. 1 oz!!!! Freakin' huge! This was great news to me because it means that he is eating just fine and gaining weight appropriately! We have had some trouble learning breastfeeding so knowing that he is getting what he needs is music to my ears!

On Saturday Craig and Ali came down to meet Chase (and they brought dinner which if you know Ali, you know that is a total treat!) In preparation for them coming over I wanted to vacuum the apartment but Chase did not want to be put down so this is what ended up happening...


And here is Chase in one of his favorite sleeping positions...


and a close up...


This kid is so awesome.

One month old!

Wow, it's been a while since I posted... sorry about that. Every day I think about posting a picture or writing something up but unfortch it hasn't been a great past week here in the G household so spare time has been spent catching some zzz's.

Chase started off life with a pretty good sleeping schedule but last week he started waking every hour to hour and half. Needless to say, I wasn't getting much sleep and neither was Chase so together we were very tired and emotional. There were several joint crying sessions.
And unfortunately sleep deprivation plays into every other facet of life... it determines how much I get done around the house, how much I can do outside of the house, how feeding goes (we are both still learning how to breastfeed), if I get a shower that day, ect... not to mention the havoc it reeks on my mind. So like I said, it's been a rough week. He still isn't sleeping enough so any prayers that you guys might want to toss out there would be greatly appreciated.

Here are a few pictures of the little man... I can already see changes in him. I think he is fattening up a little although he is still pounds behind some of his friends!


Chase showing off his "I Love Daddy" onesie... still a little big but cute nonetheless!

This is Chase in his carseat getting ready to go out... I just love the look that Adam captured!

Adam and I actually made it out this past Friday to the Bay Area Golden Globes where our church awarded those that volunteer and serve... a small thank you for all they do. This is Seth with his award! Congrats Seth!

Family shot! Chase didn't adhere to the 'black tie optional' and wore his CK sweat suit!

Seriously, how Guido does he look... I love it!

So, I started this post a couple days ago and I have an update... I just spoke to Chase's pediatrician because I was becoming very concerned about his fussiness and not sleeping... she thinks that he has baby acid reflux. He has a lot of the symptoms and this is about the age that it surfaces. We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon and hopefully we will be starting medicine. Please keep us in your prayers that this is it and we can get some relief!

Almost 3 weeks old!

I can't believe Chase has been here for almost 3 weeks. Adam and I are still in amazement that we have a son... it still seems very surreal that he is all ours!

Life is settling into a little more of a routine lately. I have been working on breaking Chase's schedule so that he sleeps more and longer at night and less and shorter during the day. If last night was any indication, things are going well. I actually slept from midnight to 20 of 5! Breastfeeding has been going better and I think both Chase and I are finally getting the hang of it. The best part is that the baby blues have subsided. Just about on time too... all the websites I read say they show up 3-4 days after the baby is born and go away in about 2-3 weeks so I am in good shape!

I have learned that there are 3 types of tasks that I can accomplish when little man is down for a nap. I can either 1. sleep, 2. get stuff done around the house or 3. run errands in the outside world. Generally 1 and 2 are my defaults but either today or tomorrow I am going to attempt to run an errand during one of his naps... fingers crossed!

Here are a few more recent pictures of little man. I try and take some each day but that doesn't always happen ;~)


This would be Chase mistaking Adam's nose for something that dispenses milk! We laughed for a long time about this one ;~)


This is the 'breastmilk drunk' that we look for when he is done feeding... he is seriously sleeping while being propped up like that. He is his father's son!


Chase is popular already... caught him chatting on daddy's phone!


I love this onesie.... it's on loan to us from the Tomassoni's! Thanks guys!


Best onesie ever.


This kid makes some of the BEST faces!


Here is the silly smiley face I mentioned in the previous post... it cracks me up every time!


I am so in love with this little guy!

Still here...

Just extremely tired ;~)

Just wanted to pop in and say hello to everyone. As most of you are aware, I am still adjusting to life with a newborn. Sleep is difficult to come across and the demands on my body are tough... throw in some baby blues and extra pregnancy hormones and lets just say its been a long 2 weeks.

I think the baby blues have been the worst part. Adam generally only sees me at night and that is when they strike. I get weepy and mopey for no real good reason. I can actually be crying and wondering what I am crying for at the same time. It's enough to make a girl feel insane. Then, the next morning I wake up and feel like I am ready to take on the world. It's quite a cycle. To those of you that I promised to call... I swear I want to, I just never feel 'well' enough to call at night and I am pretty sure most of you are busy during the day (if I am not napping with Chase ;~)

Having Chase here is absolutely amazing though. I love to look at him and watch the faces that he makes... actually that has now become a pastime of Adam and I's... just watching to see what face he morphs into next. He makes this silly smiley face that absolutely cracks me up... I am working on getting it on video or in a picture.

Anyway, I hope all is well out there with all my friends. I miss you guys and hopefully will be back in the swing of things soon enough! Here are a few recent pictures of little man...


Sleeping peacefully


Kristen and Ava Grace came for a visit on Tuesday... Ava is 4 months old now!


John, April and Dante brought Adam and I dinner on Tuesday night... Dante is 2 and a half months old and meeting his new playmate for the first time!


Freshly bathed Chase... love the fro he gets when his hair is just dried and this look is just too funny.


Daddy and his little man. Adam is absolutely loving fatherhood!