Just when you think you've got it all figured out...

Reality hits, and gives you a wake up call!  Newborns just don't like routine, so don't try to force it upon them!  Unfortunately I am the type that hates to be out of control of any situation (type A? maybe.) and I have been so out of control since Keagan was born.  Nothing has been my way!  Now, this isn't all bad, it just is what it is.  And seriously, just when you think you've got it all figured out something changes!  Keagan is doing well with only waking up once in the night and getting back down to sleep after his feeding (for the most part).  We have had some scary nights (what new parents don't?) where I felt like our grip on the reality of the situation was being lost!  But, Tomorrow is Another Day.  The latest:  I am nearly 100% positive that Keagan has reflux.  In talking with my mommy-friends, reading stuff on the internet and in my nursing books, and talking to the nurse at the pediatrician's office, this has all but been confirmed.  Keagan was prescribed Zantac this evening, we are keeping our fingers crossed that this helps.  I am not as concerned about the spitting up as I am the serious fussiness in between feedings (boy, he gets downright angry!) and the obvious discomfort that he is in.  I hate that he can't tell me what hurts and that I can't help him.  So, hopefully this will help him out (and us, in return).  He used to love tummy time, actually participating in turning his head and looking at things...now he just cries or sleeps!  (what gives?) When he isn't fussing, Keagan is quite the ham and loves to make an "oooooh" face to anyone who will look at him.  He is most awake at 3am...and this cracks me up because he really wants to lock eyes with me and "play."  He is definitely my snuggly boy and I love this!  While Keagan's "routine" is all about being unpredictable, there are two sure things: 1) he still hates diaper changes (will this change?) and 2) he still likes baths!  And he had his first big boy bath at 4 weeks...it was fun for all involved!! 

Oooooooh Face!

Stare down with daddy

First Big-Boy bath!

This past weekend was Josh's grandma's 90th birthday (we affectionately call her Bama...with a long "a" as in "bomma").  It was neat to see her reaction to meeting her newest great-grandson for the first time!  I also got some generation pics this weekend! 

Three Generations of Owens Men

Maternal generation picture (with Granny and Papa Williams)

Happy 90th Birthday Bama!!

Owens Family- 4 generations

So, like most new parents we have been trying to figure out what Keagan "got" from each of us.  While we have yet to figure out what traits he inherited from me (stubbornness? impatience? possibly hair color...), there are two very distinct traits that Keagan inherited from his daddy: his fingers and toes.  This was evident from day 1!  Take a look-see:

Curved pinky finger

Curved second and pinky toes

OK, so the other day I ventured out to Paducah to run some errands.  At my first stop, Keagan had a serious melt down (he was fine until we walked into the store!), and it took me about 5 very stressful minutes to get him calmed down.  Just as I got him calm a lady rounded the corner and squealed "A baby!!!" and proceeded to ask me about Keagan's weight, age, etc.  Once she apparently felt like we were BFFs, she asked me could she hold him!  Obviously the look on my face was sheer terror mixed with a bit of flabbergast so she added that she would stand right by my side!  Can you believe this?  Obviously, I said no and then gave the lame "NICU" excuse as if she needed to hear an excuse.  All I can say is WOW.  When I was pregnant I expected the unwelcomed questions from strangers about my weight gain and idle conversation that followed about their weight gain during pregnancies.  But to have a perfect stranger (stalker?) ask to hold my brand new baby?  Um, no thank you. 

Final note:  Oscar is doing much, much better.  Thank you to all who asked.  We can't imagine our family without him and truly consider him our first child. 

Happy 1 Month Birthday!!

One month ago, my beautiful son was born!  It has been a roller coaster ride, but we are still hanging on!  And every day that passes our grip gets stronger and we get better at our new role as parents!  This past week my parents left and I had a momentary reality check that scared me!  But Josh has been a huge help and our parenting skills complement each other to where in areas I am uncertain he has an answer, and vice versa.  If there was a road block to traverse, I feel as if we've been there (no pity-parties here, just the facts).  Nursing has been a challenge (when isn't it though?) but we're getting better each day.  Our child care fell through right after getting home from the hospital and we are again looking for someone special to keep Keagan.  On top of it all, Oscar gave us a huge scare last friday and we thought we had lost our first "baby"...the vet thinks a seizure but isn't sure, couldn't find anything wrong with blood work.  He is back to normal after several days of close observation on our part and we thank God that Oscar pulled through. 
While the last month has been difficult and we've grown up a lot, it has also been the most awe-inspiring month as we learn about this tiny human being.  We are so thankful for the friends and family who have spent time with us, brought us food, given us priceless advice...etc.

Happy 1-Month Birthday, baby boy!

Keagan-isms at 1 month:
Pacifiers really aren't his style, he prefers the real thing only.
Speaking of the real thing, if he doesn't get it NOW he gets fighting mad.
He sucker-fishes anything in mouth's reach when he's hungry--I affectionately call this "kissing."
Like his parents, he is quite gassy.  It's funny!
He still absolutely hates diaper changes!
He enjoys snuggling mommy and hanging out with daddy.
He isn't quite sure of his puppy-brother yet; the feeling is mutual.
The hair-do changes depending on his mood (mo-hawk, comb-over, sophisticated messy, front-wisp..).
He does quite well with tummy time (much to his physical-therapist-mommy's delight).
We still aren't sure who he favors yet, but think he's the perfect blend of us both.
Spit-up is the norm now, and while he's a "happy hurler" he drenches outfits in one feeding.
It is hard to tell he spent time in the NICU, and we are oh-so-thankful for this!

Talking to his giraffe

Enjoying a new friend, Ashley

A friend of mine from way-back-when in middle school sent us this adorable hat...I think she made it! (did you?)  It is precious and Keagan enjoyed wearing it!  Check out her blog here, and her beautiful daughter!  Thank you, Crystal!  You are so sweet...wish you lived closer, would love to get these kiddos together and reconnect as adults! ;)

Growing Growing Growing

Yesterday, Keagan had another pediatrician appointment:  he has grown 11 ounces in a week!  He now weighs 6 lbs 10 ounces and is 3 weeks old!  We are thrilled!  My OB had told me that Keagan would grow so much faster once he was born and outside the womb...he said growth-restricted babies tend to do this.  Boy was he right!  Not only is Keagan growing like a weed, but he is getting stronger too!  He is enjoying tummy-time more and more each day and can now pick his head up and turn it from side to side!  It's pretty awesome to watch and we were just as excited the sixth time he did this as we were the first.  He also has longer periods of awake time during the day and is sleeping pretty soundly at night (I have to wake him at least once to feed him).  He is focusing more and more and loves to look at faces!  He smiles a lot, but nothing purposeful yet!  All in all, you would never know by watching him that Keagan had spent any time in the NICU.  The weird thing is, he is technically not supposed to even be born yet!!

Meeting his Geez for the first time--I think they were equally enamored!

Keagan LOVES his Aunt Hannah

Uncle Wesley thinks Keagan's a pretty cool kid

Face to face with his favorite Geez

On a family walk

Hanging out with Mommy and Daddy, and Oscar too!

So sleepy...

Has it been 2 weeks already??

Yesterday marked Keagan's 2-week birthday!  We celebrated with a trip to his pediatrician and he was so good!  Keagan has gained 5 ounces and is above his birthweight at 5lbs 15 ounces....and he is now measuring at 19.25 inches!  It's the moo-juice, I know it is!  He is a big eater, albeit slow and sleepy, and a good sleeper for the most part.  He does okay with tummy time but prefers playing on his back.  He LOVES his daddy and likes to study his face.  He is getting to know his furry brother, although we are fairly certain Oscar would like for Keagan to go back to where he came from (typical first child!).  Oscar is very good around Keagan and likes to be where ever he is...slightly protective with a woe-is-me attitude!  It's amazing how much this has affected Oscar...but we are going above and beyond to remind him how loved he is.  My mom has been a huge help and Keagan really enjoys his Grandma's rocking and snuggling.