Chase did very well today when he got his first set of immunizations today at the doctor's. Here he is donning his Curious George band-aids.

Gassy, Fussy, and No Sleep

Monday, 27 August 2007

Last week was a long week, hence no posts. Chase was super gassy and inconsolable at night, so I got little sleep for days. Perhaps I need to change my diet. But, Dr. Sia did tell us he's a gassy baby and that he will be fussy. I now nurse him so he's sitting upright on my lap. He doesn't spit up as much, but he's still a spitter. I'm getting used to spit up on my arm and down my shirt. I'm always prepared with extra clothes and lots of burp cloths, as well noticing that he often spits up after his eyes go a little cross-eyed and his body squirms a lot. He only poops an explosive-five wipes-almost out the backside diaper every three or four days now too. I am trying to watch what I eat. The 48 hours after I ate broccoli was not so good. He and I were up all night. So out goes broccoli, garlic, onions, spicy food, etc. Geez, that's everything I love! We tried using anti-gas drops, but they don't seem to work. Might try other supplements from the health food store, as suggested by my friend in Seattle.

I use a nursing cover now, and that makes it so much easier to breastfeed in public and in restaurants. I was in the Neiman Marcus bathroom and people kept asking me if I was in line for the bathroom. One woman asked if I was okay. She thought I was sick and covering myself with a blanket. I had to show her little Chase's feet and tell her that I was nursing. She was so surprised! After that, I exposed his feet a little so that people would stop giving me strange looks, wondering what I was doing sitting in the bathroom.

Although I was weary-eyed and pulling my hair out last week, we still managed to go out on the weekend. Although I spent most of the time searching for a bathroom to change Chase and nurse, we went to Ala Moana shopping center on Saturday. Yesterday, the ALS Support Group threw me and Chase a WELCOME BABY CHASE party. It was a potluck pool party, and we had fun swimming, eating, and just being outside. As the kamani nuts fell from the tree above and hit the pavement. Chase slept most of the time in the Beco carrier.

We went to visit Taiga, now that he is doing much better after being in the ICU for over a month. He was quite curious about baby Chase, but started to get jealous after his mommy was holding him for so long.

The New Look

Friday, 17 August 2007

Today was a state holiday, Admissions Day, so I was able to have Auntie Stevi watch Chase this afternoon so I could go get my haircut. She was amazed that he eats so much, and he was nearly awake the entire time. It felt so good to finally cut my hair in almost a year (the last time I had my hair cut was in October of last year in Seattle). I chopped it all off (and although Chris was leary about me losing my long locks, he likes the new do), and it's healthy again, and a fun new cut. I decided to go back, after Chris got off of work, so he could carry Chase around the mall (He tried the Baby Bjorn for the first time, but it was a bit of a chore getting the sleeping Chase in and out of the carrier, and he's so little that Chris said he got some strange stares from onlookers...perhaps wondering if there really was a baby in there). I got my eyebrows waxed (again probably the first time in a year), and the gal was a perfectionist, fixing my strays even as I was paying for my bill at the counter.

Now all I have to do is get my nails done and I'll be all styled up and ready to go. Go for what, I'm not sure. But, it feels good to have a new look, especially after being holed up in the house on bedrest for 7 weeks, and being home a lot more with Chase attached to me now. A new mommy always needs a new look.

Uncle Vince, Chris' best friend, comes over to the house to visit baby Chase, just 2 weeks old.

Chase is so tiny when you look at Chris' thumb!

Making Bigger Steps

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Today was definitely a day for making big steps. We took Chase to the doctor today to have the pediatrician examine him for reflux. He agreed Chase's spitting up is probably an issue, but nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that would require major intervention. He is a gassy baby, which is probably contributing to a lot of his fussiness. The most exciting thing was that he weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz., so he's doubled his weight since birth! Dr. Sia was rather surprised and happy (saying he's already going off the charts for a normal baby's growth, so he's not even going to adjust it for his premature age), confirming even more so that his reflux is nothing to be worried about. We'll just have to keep burp cloths handy and keep doing laundry everyday and watch out for those projectile vomits! He gave us some advice on what we can do to help with his gas, but other than that he's doing great, and we'll see him again in a couple of weeks for his two month checkup.

Because I was so happy and thought Chase and I deserved a treat (we must be treating ourselves a lot lately because we just received our brand new 20 inch IMac in the mail yesterday as well!), I went to the Baby AWEARness store in Manoa Marketplace and bought a Beco baby carrier for us. Yes, after my weeks of research on the internet and local baby stores and talking to a mom/salesperson today in the store (who said she owns the Ergo baby carrier, ring slings, and pouches, but likes the Beco the best), I decided to go ahead with the Beco. The clincher was when (after nursing him in the store), she suggested I try him in the Beco, and seconds after putting him in a front carry, he immediately fell asleep! That never happens in the carseat or the bassinet for sure! And this carrier can last from newborn to toddler, for front, hip, or back carrying.

Once I got home, I was going to do a load of laundry, but I put him in the Beco again to try it on, and he fell asleep again! Now I can walk around the house, hands-free, and I can even type with two hands! Very nice! I'm happy with my purchase (which was actually purchased by using gift money, so thanks Aunty Shelley and Popo...I'll put a picture up soon so you can see what you bought me!) Besides, it looks really cute too! Chris will be amazed that I finally bought something after talking about it for so long.

Now I can finally take bigger steps up and down our 85 stairs, with baby and all!

BBQ at Kapi'olani Park

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Chase is having a lot of firsts, and today, was his first trip to Kapi'olani Park (after sleeping in because he was fussy and awake from 3 - 8:30 am)to celebrate my friend Linh's son Jordan's 16th birthday. They had lots of food for the barbeque, and although it drizzled at times, we missed the downpour in the evening and others set up a tent to cover us. Aunty Stevie's little bouncer/sunshade things worked perfectly for an outing to the park as Chase could sleep and not get bug bitten. Everyone adored baby Chase, taking turns holding him. I nursed him probably about 3 or 4 times (nearly an hour each time) while we were there from 1 - 7 pm. It was a fun day, nice to get some fresh air and be out of the house. Chase slept well and ate well too. It would have been nice to have a sling today to carry Chase in (yes, I will buy one soon!).

We made popcorn and watched a movie at home this evening, but Chase and I both fell asleep on the couch of course!

Tomorrow night, Chris' mom has offered to watch Chase so that Chris and I can have a date night and go see "The Simpsons" movie that Chris has been dying to see. We weighed Chase using our own method, and by our calculations, he weighs about 8 1/3 pounds.

Little Squirt

Friday, 10 August 2007

Brought Chase to school this morning so that I could help organize stuff in the classroom (it's still a mess and not how I would like it after the big move) and help orient Christina (my long-term sub) in person (rather than by cell phone, which we've been doing). We were there for a few hours, and of course he was stuck to the boob most of the time). Finally left at 1 pm so that I could go eat some lunch for myself at home.

But left right after at 1:45 pm because I realized that I had misplaced my cell phone. Now, see, this is when living down 85 stairs is not the ideal thing. Because now, I had to nurse Chase until he was a little bit sleepy so that I could successfully strap him back into the infant car seat without him crying too much (he hates being messed with and strapped into that thing), then carry him, his diaper bag, my Nalgene bottle, and everything else I just brought down 85 stairs, right back up 85 stairs, just to see if my cell phone was upstairs.

Sure enough (thank goodness), my phone was tucked under his carseat base in the car. So...since I brought everything up all 85 stairs, I figured we might as well make an excursion out of our little journey and go somewhere. So, I brought him to another baby boutique for more sling shopping (Now, you have to understand that Chris gives me a hard time for sling shopping, because I've merely been window shopping online and in stores for weeks now, but haven't yet bought one!). The owner was really helpful in showing my slings and carriers. She suggested that I get a ring sling instead of a carrier right now because if I used a carrier, I'd have to use an infant insert so that he'd fit, and it's way too hot here for all that material. But, I still didn't buy one. I'm getting closer though...A little more research, and I'll be ready! Ha!

Chase got hungry and she offered that I nurse him in a dressing room, so I did, and then she gave me a teacher discount for a purchase I made. She was really helpful and I'll probably go there again to buy things.

Went to the post office to mail a baby swaddle blanket to Christina, then headed to the mall. And, of course, as soon as I get parked and inside, Chase is hungry again. So, I went up to the Macy's bathroom to change him and nurse. Everyone kept commenting that they heard a tiny baby (with his little cries that sound like a bird) and would come around the corner to ask me how old he is.

Chris met me at the mall after he got off of work. We ran into his parents eating Chinese food, so we joined them to get some dinner as well, and then they fed him a bottle while we ate. Walking back through the mall, we ran into Uncle Gary and Auntie Stevie, and then a few seconds later, ran into friend Suzette and her little baby Lili (who was born a week before Chase and is about 2 times his size...but she was past her due date and was a big baby at birth with a full head of hair!) I nursed Chase again at Barnes & Nobles, then after we headed home at 7:30 pm, nursed him again while I searched the internet for slings.

Chris and I changed and sponge bathed Chase. I told Chris to keep the little washcloth over his peepee, then all of a sudden I see this fountain spray that nearly got me right in the eye and hit the wall. I screamed and laughed simultaneously. It was quite funny, though I'm always giving Chris a hard time for not covering the peepee. Appropriately, we dressed in his little whale outfit that says "Little Squirt".

Despite his squirtings, Chase is still cute at 6 weeks. After I nurse him to sleep, I sing my favorite kindergarten book/song "Baby Beluga", and he smiles. It calms him down when he's fussy, and his smiles are very endearing.

Finally....Getting Out And About

Thursday, 9 August 2007

After a day of non-stop feeding (nearly every hour!), we FINALLY left the hot house after Chris got home from work, and after giving Chase a bath. We went to Kahala Mall, and as I was checking out slings at a baby store there, we ran into friends Kai and Jason. We decided to have dinner together at Zippy's and talked about their new townhouse they just bought (as well as Apples - computers that is). Nursed Chase during dinner as he has just been hungry all day long! It was nice to be out and meet up with friends!

Checkups

Wednesday, 8 August 2007

Brought Chase to my dentist appointment this morning so that my Uncle Bobby and Aunty Leo and the office gang, Ann, and my dental hygenist Jan could see baby Chase. Uncle Bobby is my dad's close friend since college days. My brother and I used to take turns bringing my dad to the office for checkups (as we needed to transfer him to and from the wheelchair). They gave us a package of diapers and a cute little outfit (which he'll have to grow into for sure!). After some catching up and some teeth cleaning, I dropped Chase off at my in-laws so that I could go to my checkup with the OB/Gyn. Everything went fine there. I got the okay to exercise, so I'll have to figure out when I can put Bikram yoga back into my daily routine.

I stopped at some baby stores to look at some slings (in my quest to find the right carrier for baby wearing), then grabbed some lunch on the way back to the Halsall's. Hung out a bit there and fed Chase before heading home. I think he is going through a growth sput because he sure is drinking a lot. He is smiling and laughing too, which is really cute.

A Growing Boy

Monday, 6 August 2007

Chris and I are trying to coordinate outings to get out of the hot house. Each time we go out, we usually forget something, like a pacifier (just in case) or extra diapers. We'll get it right sometime in the future.

Yesterday, we window shopped at baby stores, but didn't buy anything. I am still looking for a sling to carry baby in. I nursed him in a restaurant during a late lunch, and then again at an outdoor table at Manoa Marketplace, and then again in Hawai'i Kai at my friend's retail store. Chase eats pretty often, and is still not on a regular schedule or anything, so I have to be ready anytime, anywhere.

Chase has grown out of preemie diapers and preemie clothes. We tried to put on his cute monkey pj's last night and his legs were too long for them!

Erica gave me a cute top that I can use for nursing as we stopped by her store, Split Obsession, yesterday. Then, we went to Chris' parents for dinner (and enjoyed mochi ice cream from Bubbies for dessert!). I took some really cute pictures of Chase with his grandparents. The other day, my mother-in-law Audrey and I bathed him in the kitchen sink. He was really good and didn't cry at all.

I'm finally getting more sleep in at night. He still wakes up a couple times in the night, but after I feed him, I put him on my chest to sleep and we both get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Audrey bought us a couple of mobiles. We're still trying to figure out if he can see patterns and shapes.

Finally, some more good news. Miya called me to tell me that they brought Taiga home on Thursday, after being in the hospital for over a month. He is still re-learning how to walk and how to do things independently after being in an induced coma while they tried to figure out what was wrong with him. He gets OT, PT, and speech therapy now and is on the road to recovery, so that's a happy ending to a scary beginning.

And, my good friend Christina (in Seattle) was induced on August 1st (Her original due date was on the 5th, a few days after mine.) and had a 7 pound baby boy, Tyler John, who joins his older brother Max (and I'm told baby Ty looks just like him!).

So, great, wonderful news all around!

Eating Like A Mau

Friday, 27 July 2007

Chase is a Mau boy for sure, as today's one month pediatrician visit shows that, with his hefty appetite, Chase is healthy, strong, and growing! In just 4 weeks, Chase has gained over two pounds, and he has grown an inch and a half. Currently, he is 6 lbs. 10 oz. and measures 19 1/4 inches long. If I had carried him to my due date (which would have been next week Thursday), the doctor said he probably would have been a 7 pounder.

Although Chase hated being naked during the exam and cried and cried as he usually does when we take his clothes off (but he got back at the doctor by peeing on him during the exam), he showed the doctor that he is a strong boy by lifting his head and neck and torso up when the doctor pulled him up from reclining position by his hands. He's so strong, that the doctor is betting Chase will walk early around 9 months of age. It already looks like he is trying to crawl when he's on tummy time!

It was a great doctor's visit (and as soon as we walked out the door, Chase stopped being fussy... he he). We asked the doctor all of our questions, and realized we have a great, thorough pediatrician with a sense of humor. After visiting the nurses at my OB's office, visiting Taiga downstairs, and then nursing Chase in the hospital parking garage, we met Chris for lunch before he went back to work.

When I got home, I thanked Dad for watching over him and keeping him healthy and strong. Looks like we have a fiesty one on our hands (as the doctor put it, and I'd have to agree...He'll be keeping us on our toes for sure).

Cleaning and Moving

Thursday, 26 July 2007

Today is the first official teacher work day for the new school year. Still seems like summer, but since Hawai'i is on a year-round school schedule, our summer is always short. The kids come next week, and my room is hardly ready! Been busy this week going into my classroom at school and physically moving boxes and books from one classroom to the other. I'm moving to a bigger classroom, but it is already storage for band and P.E. equipment, so it's not quite a whole size classroom. Plus, there are big sized desks and furniture in disarray. Also, it used to be a 6th grade classroom, and there are still books in there from my very own 6th grade teacher! Yikes! Needless to say, it is quite a feat. I hate moving.

My mother-in-law and Auntie Stevie have both watched Chase this week so that I can go in and get stuff done. I've been working on report cards and need to orient my long-term sub Christina with stuff so that she's ready to go. I'll probably just go in for meetings tomorrow and Monday, then use my sick leave and take Leave of Absence for the rest of the semester. I plan on returning to half-time teaching ELL (English Language Learners) after Winter Break in January.

Tomorrow, we have a pediatrician checkup as he'll be one month old! We'll see how much weight he's gained since he was born, but from our calculations (Chris weighing himself on the scale, then weighing himself and baby on the scale), we think Chase is about 6 pounds. He's eating often and pooping often, that's for sure!

Well, gotta try and get a cat nap in before he wakes up.

Here's a very nice update from my friends Miya and Junji on their son Taiga.

"Aloha Everyone,

First of all, thank you for the overwhelming show of support that you have all shown us during this challenging time. We have no doubt that your prayers and positive thoughts have helped Taiga (and our family) get through this.

We are currently in the midst of our sixth week in the hospital, and I am excited to report that Taiga is doing well. He was recently released from the pediatric ICU and is now in the regular pediatric ward in the Carter unit at Kapiolani (on the second floor). We is alert, awake, and off of the breathing machine!

His muscles are weak from being asleep for over a month, but he is slowly regaining his strength. He is currently undergoing daily PT & OT to re-develop the use of muscles and coordination skills. He is talking and is getting better with each passing day. They just shut off his feeding tube, and he is now starting to eat pureed and soft foods like yogurt and mash potatoes. He is still slowly being weened off of his medication, and we are very hopefully that by this time next week, we will be back at home and resuming our everyday lives (as much as possible).

The doctors haven't identified the underlying cause of his illness, but they are working endlessly to figure it out. They will continue to treat him and run tests once we get out, and he will need to have immune/blood treatment consistently for the next several months as they determine the main cause of everything. They are leaning towards some sort of immune system abnormality, but it will take some time as they continue to monitor his progress. We are certain that the doctors will be able to do their thing to make Taiga even better than before. Overall, we are just grateful that things have turned out well and that we will be going home soon.

Thank you again to you all. We could not have gotten through all of this without your support. We really appreciate it."

Thank you and god bless,

Miya and Martin/Junji

What Day Is It? Or Is It Night?

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Okay, I had to look at a calendar to figure out what day it is today. Chase finally went down for a nap. I know for sure because his grunting and twitching have subsided, and he has assumed position by laying on his left side. And, after only about 2 hours of sleep last night, I'm about ready to assume my sleeping position (and thank goodness I can now sleep on my back after all these months!). I used to think I was such a night owl, but now I take that back. I wish I could ACTUALLY sleep at night.

I think the kid has gotten his days and nights mixed up. The last couple of nights have been pretty restless ones for us. Thank goodness Auntie Steve/Uncle Gary/Lauren brought lunch for me yesterday and Chris' parents had us over for dinner last night. I have had absolutely no time or energy to cook! My first meal today was a bowl of cereal at 11 am, and I'll be lucky if I have time to eat something for lunch. Or was THAT lunch?! Nowadays, I count the hours before Chris comes home from work so that I can take a shower (this humidity and heat of summer makes the house an oven!) and he can take over cooking and feeding so that I can sleep (too bad he doesn't have the boobs!).

Speaking of which, the pumping has definitely laxed, as I just have no energy to pump as often as I was before. Hopefully that doesn't affect my milk production, as they say you produce more when you pump immediately after feeding. But I just can't do it in the middle of the night when I'm looking at the clock, knowing that I might MAYBE get an hour of sleep in between feedings. Besides, I think I've been overfeeding Chase, as he's been spitting up a lot after each feeding, and we need to change his sheets and clothes each time. I'm all about him getting big and fat and healthy, but when you see milk come out of his nose and mouth, it's a bit disconcerting.

So, is it day or is it night?! I'm not sure anymore. Yesterday, Chase and I passed out (as he was lying on me) for about three hours in the afternoon. These days, if I'm not standing over his bassinet making sure he is still breathing while he IS asleep, I'm staring at his big blue eyes asking him WHY he isn't asleep.

Who needs to change out of the pj's? Back to bed I go...

Drive To The North Shore

Thursday, 12 July 2007

Today, Chris and I took Dave (Chris' friend from New Hampshire - AKA "Missing Groomsman At Our Wedding") and Chase to the North Shore. Chase slept all the way through his first (noisy) dining experience at Kua'Aina Burgers. I thought we might get scolded by the NICU nurse (as we had Chase "out in public") who we recognized was also dining there with her family. But I don't think she recognized us.

I slept most of the way to and from the North Shore. Chase, when he wasn't fussy (our first experience with what to do with a crying baby in a moving car when you have no pacifier), slept as well.

It was nice to get out of the house for sure. And, the air-conditioned car was pretty nice too. Thanks for the fun and burgers, Uncle Dave!

Baby Chase on YouTube

Wednesday, 11 July 2007

My mom left for California this morning. She was such a big help in getting the house in order and helping us take care of Chase. It was sad to see her go. We'll have to make a family visit to California soon so Chase can meet all his other relatives.

I dropped Chase off at Chris' parents so that I could go to my OB checkup. Everything went fine. I've lost nearly 20 pounds since delivery, am healing fine, and I need to hold off on exercise for about 4 more weeks. I visited Taiga afterwards. Looks like he is doing better. Although he is still fighting pneumonia and they still do not know the root cause of his illness, he is on a regular ventilator, and he was awake when I was there. I held his hands (as he tried to pull the tubes and cords out) as Miya cut his fingernails and we caught up on life with our babies over the past week.

Did some errands before heading back to the Halsalls to hang out and change Chase before bringing him home. They didn't want to give him back! I'm starting to feed on demand more rather than following a schedule, though Chase still eats every three hours or so.

Watch this cute impromptu video of Chase and daddy Chris singing. We're always looking at his cute little hands and feet. Daddy had fun playing with him. The lighting is bad because we were trying to put him to sleep, but Chase's expressions are priceless! And the singing...well, you'll just have to judge for yourself.

And The Adventure Begins....

Thursday, 5 July 2007

After a restless night of diaper changing, outfit changing (from leakage of the diapers), nursing, and pumping, I was exhausted by the time we made Chase's first visit to the pediatrician's this morning. The doctor's visit went well. Dr. Sia commented that Chase has a good temperment, has gained 1 ounce since being discharged yesterday, and his jaundice is clinically stable. He talked to me about feeding on demand rather than feeling like I need to feed him on the "every 3 hour schedule" like they did in the hospital. We talked about things like body temperature and such and then a clinician collected a blood sample from his foot to check his jaundice levels. It took awhile as he was cold and so it took awhile to get a sample out. She had to poke him twice. But he wasn't too fussy. He was more fussy I think from just being cold. I'll come back at the end of the month to get another checkup and they'll give me a baby book to keep all of his records in file.

My mom and I went took Chase grocery shopping, by which time I was famished and engorged. After we got home in the early afternoon, I ate, nursed, pumped, and then passed out for a couple of hours when Chase napped.

Thank goodness Mom cooked dinner, did laundry, and vacuumed the house today. We may have some visitors this evening, and then the routine starts all over again. It's nice to have Chase home and to see all of his smiles (which I know is probably just gas).

Independence Day

Wednesday, 4 July 2007

After an exhausting night of nursing and pumping and nursing and pumping, I just didn't want to get out of bed this morning, but engorgement often wakes me up and forces me to pump. We headed to the hospital for Chase's 11:00 feeding. The nurse, Darla, went over teaching things, reviewing bathing, feeding, giving Chase his daily iron supplement for anemia (a common premmie issue), and fitting Chase in the car seat. We got my thirty bottles full of milk (fresh and frozen) that I had brought in, and then after changing him into a going home outfit and then taking pictures, Darla escorted us out to the car and gave us a hug goodbye.

The hospital nurses were really informative and helpful on making sure we knew what to do once we got home. (And, if not, Darla told us that her shift didn't end until 7:30 pm this evening, so that we could give her a call if we needed to.) We headed home with Chase wrapped up in his blue and chocolate brown polka dotted blanket from Auntie Steph and he kinda looked around the whole time.

This Independence Day has a whole new meaning for us this year. Chase is "free" from the hospital after a week's stay. And, we're officially parents. My mom, Jay, and Shelly were all at home, and Auntie Stevie and Geoff were excited to come see the baby. We got into a routine of things by the evening, with Chris helping to wash my pump stuff when I'm nursing, then getting a bottle ready to feed him, while I go off and pump. We shared duties in changing his poopy diapers, and after one episode of crying and trying to figure out what was wrong, we finally figured out that he was hungry and just wanted to be swaddled. His grandparents (Chris' mom and dad) visited and we got him all swaddled up and washed his face. He's all snug as a bug in a rug. We're not quite used to having the hospital monitors gone though. So, we keep going over to check him, to make sure he is breathing.

As the smoke fills Palolo Valley from all the fireworks this evening, the house is just quiet and calm, with my mom with some friends and my brother and his girlfriend out with friends to celebrate the 4th. For Chris and I, we relish the quietness. We're getting the routine down, and although it's been exhausting and stressful at times, it's nice to know that this little being is here with us. I better get my nap in now because, in just an hour, I'll just have to wake him up to eat again.

It's Official!...

Tuesday, 3 July 2007

I turned in the name papers today at the hospital (after consulting my family friends and friends knowledgeable about Hawaiian language).....

Chase Kamaalohaonanalu Mau Halsall

is his entire name. His Hawaiian name means "The cherished child of the waves/ocean or "The cherished child of reflection", and is meant to capture the essence of my father, who not only loved to fish, kayak, and be outdoors, but carried a laid-back attitude towards life and lived by 'going with the flow', just like the waves of the ocean. We just gave consent for him to be circumsized this afternoon, my mom and I are doing mass cleaning after I nursed him around lunch. The refrigerator at the hospital is overflowing with my milk. They may have to freeze some as I have so much. I'll focus on cleaning tonight, and hopefully we'll take him home tomorrow. They are moving him from the incubator to an open bassinet, which shows that he was able to regulate his temperature better today.

Soon, the adventure begins...