Round and Round

One of the thinges that we were told in our very first meeting with the CF team back in November was to keep everything we got from our insurance company. I'm so glad that I listened! In the last few months our claims have been rolling in in buckets. That's to be expected, I guess, as we have had more doctor's appointments, lab tests, and specialist visits than I can count. But what I didn't expect was the complete incompetence of the billing departments involved. I have spent HOURS on the phone over the last month trying to get everything straightened out, and just when I was hopeful that things were going to be ok, we get another bill today indicating that not only are things not ok, but that my hours might have just been wasted. Unfortunately, it's Friday night so I can't make any calls. And we have a clinic visit early Monday morning, so I won't be able to call until Monday afternoon. Frankly, these bills are starting to make me nervous about visiting the doctor. Things are so messed up that our insurance company has told me not to pay any bills until they can review everything, and the bills are starting to grow in number. Granted, they are ALL wrong and 50% of them we probably won't have to pay, but just going to a doctor's visit when there are people there that think you owe them money makes me uncomfortable. Uggghhhhh......I'm really frustrated!! I don't normally vent this kind of stuff in a forum like this, but I needed to tonight. Maybe if I vent enough before Monday afternoon, I won't take anyone's head off. Maybe.

Proud of Myself

One of my favorite things about our house is the kitchen and our pantry. Really, if you haven't seen it, you're definitely missing out. We have the largest pantry ever! It's fabulous. But lately, the pantry has been driving me a bit crazy. The organization had disappeared and everything was a mess. That is, until Monday. First thing Monday morning, Kai and I began to empty the pantry. We took everything out. After that I wiped down the shelves, vacuumed the floor, and then put everything back in an orderly fashion. All week I've seen the pantry and have been very proud of myself--and Kai. It was a long process and he was very helpful and well behaved for the most part. I think my nearly 3 hours of work is worth showing off!!

Before: emptying the shelves with Kai

After: It may not look that different in the pictures,
but I promise that it looks a whole lot better.

Kai entertaining Finn during lunch

I was wrong

At 11:30 last night Finn figured out how to roll over without being swaddled. It was another long night. I'm unsure what to do now. I'm hoping that with a little practice he'll get better at rolling back to his back and/or used to sleeping on his tummy. I so wasn't prepared for this!! The minute Kai learned to roll to his tummy he started sleeping through the night, so I was expecting the same thing I guess. Obviously Finn is not a fan of sleeping on his tummy like his big brother. Managia mia!!!

He Did It!

Just a short time ago, I took away Finn's sleep positioner. We had been using it since he was itty-bitty to position him on his side (his favorite sleeping position since day 1). He was starting to get frustrated by being constrained to one side and I had noticed that he was repeatedly turning his head to the right and trying to move that direction. As soon as I took the positioner away, he started rolling up onto that right side.

In the weeks since that positioner was removed, Finn has grown increasingly closer to not just rolling up onto his right side, but actually rolling all the way over. And he was doing it while his right arm was swaddled up tight against his side. Well, last night/this morning a little after 3:30am (the prime hour to attempt any new skill!) he actually did go all the way over to his tummy. I'm so tired this morning that I can't remember if I actually saw it happen or if I just saw him on his tummy in the monitor. Either way, he was upset and I went to his rescue. I settled him down, put him back to sleep, headed back to my room, and was called back a minute later. I decided to try and feed him his bottle a little early and left him fussing in his crib while I got his medication ready. When I went to get him, he was on his tummy--again! Let's just say it became a long morning, and I ended up sleeping with him in the recliner.

Finn on his tummy. Poor thing hasn't figured out how to get
his binky just yet. Here's to hoping that's his next new trick!

Morning naps went much the same. Before noon today he had made his way to his tummy four times, disrupting his sleep each and every time. I started to worry that the swaddling was getting dangerous as he did not have the use of one of his arms when he made it to his tummy, so for his afternoon nap we said a fond farewell to swaddling. He fussed and cried for a good 15 minutes on his back before he realized that he could still roll without the swaddle. And before I knew it, he had rolled up on his right side and gone to sleep. And this time, because he had an arm in his way, he stayed on his side. So, for maybe another day or two I may get some sleep. I have no idea what we'll do once he starts going all the way over again. Here's to hoping that he starts liking tummy sleep soon!

Four months

Finn had his 4 month check-up on Friday.  According to our pediatrician here are his stats:

Height-24.5 inches  (20-25th percentile)
Weight--12 pounds 5 ounces (10th percentile)

Now, I'll admit I don't know what to think.  Just 18 days prior (on February 1st) at his clinic appointment he weighed 11 pounds 1 ounce and was 22.5 inches long.  So in 18 days, he grew 2 inches???  As for the weight, there seems to be a trend that when he gets weighed at the pediatrician I get excited about how much he's gained, but when we go to clinic I get disappointed about his weight gain slowing down.  So, I've already decided that these scales are off. I don't know by how much, or which one is correct, but one of these scales is wrong.  The jury is still out for me on the rulers, though.  Really people, you'd think that you couldn't mess up a ruler that much, could you?  A scale I kind of get.  The ruler I don't understand.  Anyway, his pediatrician was super excited.  I'm half-way excited.  If the height is correct, he would be the same height that Kai was at 4 months.  That'd be good.  However, Kai weighed 2 pounds more.  Wow!

Other than his vital stats, there are a few other items of note about our little "happy bug".

• Finn does not like to lay down much.  He LOVES to stand.  LOVES IT.  If he's not standing, his other happy spot is perched on my shoulder looking out backwards.
• Finn consistently goes to bed before 7:30pm every night.  There have been a couple of nights that he has slept over 6 hours, but for the most part he wakes up around 12:30 for a bottle, will sleep 3-4 more hours, get up for another bottle, and then I start praying for 2 more hours.  I haven't gotten it yet.  He normally has tummy problems/poopy diaper problems between 5 and 6am.
• Normally he takes one 2+ hour nap a day.  The rest are hit and miss.  He takes a total of 4 naps, it's just the length that has no consistency.
• He is slowly learning to settle himself back to sleep by rolling up on his right side.  It's funny to watch him in the monitor as he has managed to work his way in circles by arching his back and trying to roll onto his side.  I can't imagine the screaming that's going to follow the first time he goes all the way over onto his tummy.
• He loves his daddy and saves almost all his giggles and laughs for him.  For me, he gives the super-duper smiles, but the laughs are for daddy only.
• He loves his toys, especially the baby gym.  We call it his happy mat.  He also loves his bouncer and can make the parrot spin with the best of them.  And of course, one of his favorite toys is big brother Kai.

 We love our little guy and are so happy that he's a part of our family.  Here's to many, many more memories together!

Roly Poly

On Thursday morning, Finn rolled again. I grabbed the camera, waiting to see if he'd do it again. And, he did! Here's what I was lucky enough to catch. I promise he did start flat on his tummy. I managed to turn the video off right before the surprised little guy started screaming and crying. He hasn't rolled since....it still scares him.

Finn in the high chair

On Sunday we pulled out the high chair so that Finn could have a place to sit while we all try to eat.  It works for about 5 minutes before he gets upset and wants out.  But it's fun for those 5 minutes!