Edward is four months old today. We couldn't manage a 4-month shot with a smile. Our camera takes a second or two between when you push the button and when the picture actually snaps, and that's long enough to go from smiling to vacant stare. We'll have to practice longer smiles!

He's able to hold his head pretty steady on his own these days and is learning to sit up. Obviously it will be a while yet before he can do that on his own, but all we've got is time. He also is going to town batting at the toys that hang down from his playmat. Sometimes it seems to me that he's swinging his arm hard enough to roll himself over, but not quite. He doesn't have much incentive for that since he hates being on his tummy. His usual reaction is to spit up within minutes of being placed face down. That is, unless he's sleeping. Then he's very comfy laying tummy-to-tummy with John--a new favorite weekend activity. I'm guessing this will be employed to on Saturday afternoon after the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. Thanks again to everyone who is planning to walk with us and/or has sponsored our walk. John and I have raised more than $600--fantastic!!

Thanks to everyone who inquired about our well-being after Thursday's storm. It wasn't until Friday evening when we went downtown to get something to eat and to see some of the damage that we realized just how close the storm came to us. Mature trees had been ripped from the ground just four or five blocks away. That's a little close for comfort. We had no damage, not even any more branches off our trees than usual. As further evidence of how well that night went vs. what could have been, here was Ed's reaction after we came out of the basement:

We went to Des Moines for Easter and had the chance to see Ed's grandparents, great-grandparents and several other family members. He also had the chance to meet his new second cousin, Bailey, who shared some quality time with Ed on his blanket:

Ed got into the spirit of the holiday as well:

Happy Easter

Iowa City is in the news this morning after tornadoes ripped through last night. The Kenyons were unscathed, but others around here were not so lucky. The church with no roof that they're showing on national news is just a block from Edward's daycare. Though the daycare building was not damaged it is closed today in cooperation with the call to keep people away from downtown. The University of Iowa canceled classes for the first time in all the years I've been connected to it--almost 15 now!

Even though university classes were canceled, staff were supposed to report to work. However, with Edward's daycare closed and my office in the heart of the downtown destruction, I opted to stay home today, with the endorsement of my boss. It sounds like the best thing will be to stay out of the way and let the clean up crews do their work.

We were huddled in our basement for about an hour starting around 8:30 last night as the sirens blared and radio reports alerted us to possible funnel cloud sightings. The power went out before 9 p.m. and stayed out until about 4:30 this morning. Twice I thought I heard the "freight train" sound associated with tornadoes, but as if it were a few miles away. Turns out, it was only blocks from us. A sorority house was destroyed about eight blocks from here, trees were uprooted and roofs blown off. However, our neighborhood appears to have escaped damage. There's some insulation in our alley, and small branches down from trees. I imaging we'd see leaves down if it were a few weeks from now, but the trees are only just starting to bud.

Edward slept through the whole ordeal. We strapped him into his carseat when we went to the basement, figuring that would be a cozy and secure place for him. Once the lights went out I just rocked the seat a bit and soon enough he was snoring. I sort of wished I'd changed him before that happened, but as it turned out he mostly slept through a diaper change once the danger had passed and went right back to a sound sleep in his crib. That meant he missed his final meal of the evening though, so he was up around 5:30 this morning complaining of an empty stomach.

I've lived in the Midwest all my life and this is really the closest I've ever come to the path of a tornado. I'll be happy to wait another 32 years for my next encounter!

It was face painting day at school today. And note the short sleeves--another 70-plus degree day in Iowa!

This is what Edward was supposed to wear for his first "school picture day" today. (Feel free to laugh...this seems to be the universal reaction to the notion of a school picture for a three-and-a-half month old!) Note that I say "supposed to wear." I considered not having him wear it when I learned the forecast called for 70 degrees and sunny today. A turtleneck and flannel overalls seemed a bit excessive. But it's such a cute outfit I couldn't resist and figured he could change when we got home at noon. He didn't even make it to 7:15 in this. John was holding him while I went to finish getting dressed for work. I never put my work clothes on until right before we're leaving, knowing Edward's propensity for liquid gifts, including this morning when he peed on me while I was changing him. But no problem...I was still wearing my t-shirt.

Anyway, while I was getting dressed, I heard "Bleh" followed immediately by "Woah!" The former, as you might guess, was Edward, and the latter, of course, was John. Edward had spit up on his own shoulder. No problem...he has two red shirts so we changed to the second one. Then I said, "Hey, we should probably take his picture at home in case he doesn't make it all the way to picture time in this outfit." Then we took this picture. Then I sat down to try to feed him one more time before leaving, since he'd decided 5 a.m. was a good time to wake up today. While we were getting settled, another "Bleh" spewed forth, this time landing on the sleeve of his shirt, the front of his overalls, my shirt sleeve and my pants leg.

So then we both had to change. So much for the 5 a.m. wake up call giving us plenty of time for a leisurely morning. Luckily, I had ironed four shirts yesterday having "rediscovered" them in my closet. Two were shirts I honestly had forgotten that I owned because they were new last year and I only got to wear them a few times before they were no longer size appropriate.

I think the spit up is because he's been falling asleep while eating and then I can't get him to burp afterward. I hesitate to wake him just to burp, but it may come to that. He's napping now after eating (and burping!) when we got home from school. When he wakes up, we're headed out with the stroller to enjoy that 70-degree sunshine. Welcome spring!!

On Friday afternoon Edward was acting fussy, wiggling around, stretching his legs and arching his back. After trying all the usual calming methods, it finally occurred to me to change his clothes. Perhaps the outfit was just too tight. Eureka! The end of the 0-3 month era was upon us. He graduated to the 3-6 month size and was much more comfortable. Lucky for him, he has almost as many choices in this size as he did in the last, none of which were purchased by his parents. Truly, there was never a baby more lavished with gifts than Edward Kenyon!

I got a storage container for the outgrown clothes and ran across his penguin hat as I was putting things away. We thought we'd take one last picture of this piece of his early life just to show how far he's come.

Many people have been asking about how he's sleeping. I've hesitated to post anything about his overnight sleep patterns on the blog, because in the past this has been the surest way to ensure that he abandoned whatever pattern of behavior I was describing. He never seems to do it twice the same way, but for the most part I think it's safe to say that Edward is sleeping through the night. He can go six to eight hours at a stretch, so depending on what time he falls asleep for the night, I sometimes get away without a middle of the night feeding. For instance, if he gets changed and fed around 9 p.m. he will then sleep until sometime between 5 and 6 a.m. On a work day, this is a good time for me to get up and start the day. On a weekend, not so much, but we can adapt. However, if he falls asleep earlier than 9 p.m. then he sometimes wakes up hungry around 4 a.m. or so. When this happens I usually try to grab one last hour of sleep after feeding him and before the dreaded alarm clock. Sometimes I think it's not worth it, as it's so hard to get back up after that hour. But I know that every hour counts so I should take them where I can get them. And really, I'm in no position to complain given that I get seven- to eight-hour blocks of sleep somewhat regularly.

I posted Sunday about March of Dimes and by Tuesday afternoon I'd met my fundraising goal of $250--amazing! John also has now registered as a Team Kenyon walker and set a fundraising goal. Since we've met our first goal, we'll see how much we can add. It's a little confusing that he has to have his own page, but that's just how it's set up online. Each walker has his/her own page even if walking with a team like ours. Some teams set collective goals, but since our team is still assembling as we determine who will be able to come to the walk, we'll just be happy to get together on April 29 and celebrate whatever amount we're able to contribute to the important work of the March of Dimes.

As you see from his pictures and video, Edward is strong and healthy. However it is important to remember that his birth, like Will's, was premature. Of course there is an incredible difference between being born five weeks early and being born 15 and a half weeks early. In our case, it's a difference of life and death.

But it only strengthens our resolve to support the work of the March of Dimes, including joining WalkAmerica in Iowa City on Saturday, April 29. We have created a website for Team Kenyon and invite you to join us in whatever way you can--physically (by walking with us or in your own hometown), financially (by making an online pledge toward our fundraising goal) or morally (by encouraging us to get up and get moving in preparation for the 10K walk.)

Clicking on the Team Kenyon link above will take you to our team website where, if you scroll to the bottom, you'll find links to donate and/or to register to walk with us or in your local WalkAmerica event.

We have always been lucky to be surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends, but never has that circle been more vital than in the last year and a half. We can never thank everyone enough for all that you've done and continue to do for us. Participating in WalkAmerica is a way for us to share these blessings.

Today is Edward's three-month birthday, and so we document another month of Ed's life (and eating) with a photo. To compare, here he is at one month and at two months.




I also tried another video, this time taking advantage of better light and the gizmos that came with our new computer. Enjoy, as Edward wakes up from a nice birthday nap.

John and Edward can't believe Duke lost! Too bad John picked them in his bracket. I'm still alive in mine, though I lose points as I had Duke in the Final Four. Oh well...

We're received some good-natured ribbing from people about our St. Patrick's Day photo of Edward, the suggestion being that if given the choice, he probably wouldn't have opted for a shot that showed off so much of his chubby legs. Duly noted. To compensate, here's a photo with which no one could argue. It's my favorite thus far, in no small part because it captures a happy moment between my two favorite people.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2006!

I went back to work today and Edward started daycare. I think we both did OK. It was hard to leave him, but John and I feel that the daycare is a loving and stimulating environment for him and that makes us comfortable. We have friends who have been taking their daughter there since last fall so Edward even has a friend in the room with him and we can check up on each others' kids when we're there.

My supervisors agreed to let me work part time for the next year, 20 hours per week. For now it will be 8 a.m. to noon daily and we'll see how/if that works. I am lucky to have such flexible and cooperative coworkers and doubly lucky that the university provides benefits to part time workers. The key is health insurance--with John working for a small start-up it would be way too expensive to handle on our own!

It was weird to be back. I'd forgotten all my passwords and some of the function of my work computer (a Mac--we have a PC at home) but it slowly came back to me. I already have two projects to work on before the end of the week, so there won't be any problem staying busy!

Edward did fine at daycare, his teachers reported. The only problem is that he doesn't sleep well in a crib during the day, which is weird because he sleeps fine there at night. But daytime he sleeps best in his carseat, bouncy chair, or being held. The daycare has a policy that babies must sleep in cribs-for SIDS protection. So every time he fell asleep today in his bouncy chair, or in his teacher's arms after eating, they put him in the crib where he only lasted 15-20 minutes before waking up and wanting out. We may sign a waiver and get his doctor to write a note saying it's OK for him to sleep in his carseat. We'll have to see how things go for the next few days. He basically fell asleep before I even got him to the car and stayed asleep after we got home until about 2:30. He might have slept longer, but I heard some gastrointestinal production and decided to take him out to change him. Then he realized he hadn't eaten since 11 a.m. and totally chowed down.

All in all, a good day. We hope for many more like it!

Here is an experiment that will help us to share more video of Edward. Just click on the arrow in the middle of the box below, and it'll play a video of Edward playing on his playmat tonight.

Edward slept through the night last night--10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.! I am trying not to get too excited until he demonstrates that he can repeat this trick, but it was quite a treat to get that much sleep all at once. Actually, I must admit I got up to check on him at about 4 a.m.

Perhaps he was just exhausted from a busy weekend. On Saturday he was baptized and we were lucky to have many family members with us to celebrate. My sister Nora and brother Joe are his godparents and both were able to be here, traveling from Michigan and Tennessee, respectively. Also my sister Ann and her husband and daughter came from Milwaukee. And of course all four grandparents wouldn't miss Ed's big day. Our group gathered Saturday morning at the church for the sacrament. Edward slept through the whole event, including having water poured over his head. He also slept most of the afternoon as he was passed from one adoring relative to another. We have plenty of pictures to document the day though. We'll have to fill him in later.

We've had a busy week since the last update. I felt like Edward was still having eating/stomach problems and discomfort on Thursday so we went back to the doctor where they suggested he might have a touch of reflux. However, they did not feel it was serious enough to medicate given that he didn't have the primary symptom, which is weight loss or lack of weight gain. He had gained another three ounces since his Tuesday appt! They recommended holding him more upright for eating and then for 30 minutes afterward. That seems to be working as he has much less spit up now and seems to be more comfortable.

But before I get too confident that I have him figured out, I must remind myself that I left notes for Edward's first non-family babysitter Monday night that claimed that "evening is his most predictable time." He almost always eats around 6, has some awake time then sleeps a bit and wakes up to eat between 9 and 10 for his final pre-bedtime meal. John and I had separate obligations so he was home feeding Ed when the babysitter arrived (the daughter of a friend, neighbor and coworker) and I was expecting to be home by 8:30 or so. We didn't think she'd have to feed him, but left a bottle just in case. Well, he apparently got hungry early and was screaming when I got home at 8:40. I'm not sure how long he'd been this way. She said "just a little while" but definitely was not eager to linger. I hope we didn't scare her away! He ate, calmed down and went to bed.

But then last night (Tuesday) he had a similar evening pattern. I went to visit a friend in the hospital and then a quick trip to the mall for some clothes for going back to work next week. I called John on my way home at 8:30 and Ed was screaming again and had been for most of the time I was away, John reported. He wasn't burping after eating, which probably led to his discomfort, but John tried every position and tons of back patting and rubbing and still Ed would not burp. It's so hard when he's uncomfortable and you can't do anything to fix it! I fed him when I got home and after about five minutes sat him up and he let out two shockingly loud burps. Sometimes when Ed burps it actually startles me, even though I'm sitting there patting him and should be expecting it!

So we hope this is not a new pattern of evening fussiness and discomfort. That would be bad for all of us, but especially Ed. We'll see. We just need to stop expecting any two days to be alike!

He had very little fussiness and was in excellent spirits for our weekend trip to Evanston to visit family and friends. He slept the whole time in the car both ways. We stopped at about the three-hour point each way to feed him (and ourselves) and he woke right up, ate, got changed and went back to sleep once the car got going again. What a great traveler! Friday night he got to meet three grand-aunts and -uncles, four of my first cousins, and one of his first cousins. He'd already met his Aunt Ann, who was also there. That's a lot of family!

Then on Saturday, the moment we thought might never happen--he got to meet my Grandma Ganey. She has been in a nursing home for a while now following a stroke, and in December there was good reason to believe she would not live to see 2006. But she rallied and though she is still approaching the end of her life, she has been waiting patiently to meet Edward, having had his picture posted next to her bed since he was born. It was a great visit! We didn't know what to expect from her or from Ed, but both were at the top of their games. He was awake long enough for her to see his eyes and his animation but then also asleep and still enough that she could hold him for quite a long time in her lap. She can't speak very well, but kept waving us away saying she'd babysit him. At one point while he was awake, I opened his suit so she could touch his foot and see his fat little leg. She loved that but then she got worried that he'd get cold so she had me button him back up. As if anyone could get cold there! Now we have pictures and memories to cherish forever.

When we got home we had the greatest surprise waiting for us--my sister Bridget came home from school for the weekend! She didn't tell anyone she was coming and it took waking up at the crack of dawn and then I think three van/bus connections and a train to get her there. We were all floored but so excited to see her.

In the afternoon many of our Chicago-area friends and friends of my parents came to meet Edward, which was a lot of fun. Of course we wished we had more time to catch up with everyone, but babies and long conversations don't mix very well, so we'll just have to save that for the next trip. Gram and PopPop are eager babysitters so we'll have opportunities to go out with those friends when we visit again. Actually, they babysat that night while John and I went to a movie. We hadn't been since Christmas Eve when we unknowingly went on our final pre-parenthood date to lunch and a matinee (Good Night and Good Luck.) This time we saw Capote, which was excellent, though quiet enough at points that I had to fight my nodding head and drooping eyes. There's just no such thing as enough sleep when you're caring for an infant I guess!

Good report from today's two-month check up. Edward is up to the 20th percentile in weight (pretty good considering he started in the 6th!) His official two-month weight is 10.5 lbs. This is lower than his ER weight from Saturday night, but there they weighed him in his clothes and, more significantly, his diaper, which can get quite heavy.

Also, he's still not up to his full pre-sickness eating habits so he probably hasn't gained his usual amount of weight the last few days. Each day he's had one or two episodes of spitting/throwing up so we've been limiting his intake by giving him his milk in a bottle. This means the whole feeding process takes longer for me since I have to pump milk after he eats to keep the supply going, but it's worth it to be able to ease him back up to full feeding. The doctor said this was expected after having a stomach virus because his digestive system needs time to recover. Sometimes when food hits it just isn't getting digested so then it comes back up later. He should be fine in another few days.

He had three shots at this appointment and I can report that he will not be eager for more. He really wailed and actually held his breath for what seemed like forever but was probably just a few seconds. After all this he slept most of the afternoon and I hope he'll sleep more tonight. He can have Tylenol if it seems like he needs it.

On Friday I thought I was going to post an exuberant message about how Edward slept through the night for the first time--10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. As the day wore on though, it became clear that any celebration was probably premature. It's more likely that he stored up on sleep as a way of fighting a little virus he picked up. He slept most of the morning as well, but by noon on Friday I was on the phone to the doctor to ask what to do about a two-month old who is throwing up.

The answer turned out to be replacing his breastmilk diet with an electrolyte solution until he could keep the clear liquid down. Half an ounce every half an hour at first and then gradually increasing as he tolerated it. I called John at work and asked him to go get the drink and come home. He made record time between the office and home with a stop at Walgreens in between to pick up a four-pack of Gerber LiquiLytes. I am so glad John worked so hard to get him to take a bottle. I'm not sure what we would have done if he didn't know how to drink this way. We measured out half an ounce using the syringe that was once Edward's main food delivery method and he sucked it right down. It came back shortly after that, but gradually he was able to tolerate this and we increased the dose through the evening to two ounces. A quick call back to the 24-hour nurse line led to the advice to let him sleep until he woke up on his own through the night. He ended up waking about every three hours for a little more LiquiLyte drink.

Saturday we thought he was tolerating that well enough to alternate between breastfeeding and LiquiLyte each time, but limit the breastfeeding to about 5 minutes so he wouldn't overwhelm his delicate tummy. Well, that sort of worked, but by evening he was retching again and I decided to call back for more nurse advice. When I got through she said that given his age and the fact that this had continued well past 24 hours we should take him to see the doctor. We don't have any Urgent Care sites here, so that meant a trip to the ER. Luckily it was only about 8:30 p.m. when we got there--well before the rowdy late-night college crowd trickles in with various injuries. It did not take long to see the doctor and once we did he listened to all we'd been doing, checked Edward from head to toe and determined that we just needed to continue with the LiquiLytes overnight and then if he tolerated that resume breastfeeding today. Kind of a lot of hassle just to be told to keep doing what you're doing, but it was reassuring. Edward did great through the waiting and the poking and prodding. Of course he was declared adorable by several new people.

Oh, he also got weighed, so on his two-month birthday and three days in advance of his official two-month checkup, which is on Tuesday, I can report that he weighed in 11 lbs. 5 oz. We knew those cheeks and chins must be adding up to something substantial!

So today he's still a little droopy and crabby, happiest when being held, which we are happy to oblige. He's eating pretty well. I might have overdone it at his last feed--need to remember to stop him at about 10-15 minutes. He's still not fully better, but definitely on the road to recovery.

I was surprised at how sad I was watching him be sick on Friday. Even when he was just sleeping, I could tell it was a "sick sleep" and I just felt so bad at not being able to wave a magic wand to make him feel better. It brought back a lot of the same emotion I felt watching Will in the hospital day after day and feeling helpless. On the other hand, since he obviously had to get sick at some point in his young life, I must admit I'm relieved it happened before I went back to work leaving him in day care. Thinking about polluting his little system with the germs of half a dozen other little kids just compounds the guilt. This way I've seen that even safe at home with me the little buggers can get through.

As mentioned in the last post, Edward and I have not left the house much lately. We did manage an excursion to the grocery store today though and it led to a startling discovery--he has outgrown the penguin hat! Luckily a new hat arrived today in the mail, representing a second generation of cousin clothes-swapping. My cousin B in Seattle sent a whole box of stuff her son has outgrown, including this sweet dino-hat. My aunt used to send me boxes of B's clothes when we were kids, and I always thought her things were SO cool. Once there was a winter jacket with zip off sleeves so you could wear it as a vest or a jacket--wow! Well, it was the 80s after all.

We're feeling a bit cabin feverish here in Iowa. Tuesday was magnificent--63 degrees and sunny. Edward and I took a long walk to get the remaining ingredients for our Valentine's dinner and then since he was still sleeping in the stroller when we got home I took off my sweatshirt (yes, it was THAT warm) and went to work untangling my Christmas lights from the bushes out front. It should be noted that these lights have not been lit since early January, but I always wait for a decent day to take them down. No sense standing out in the cold. This was way more than a decent day for light removal. I got all six strings off the two bushes and Edward was still sleeping, so I grabbed my book and sat on the stoop reading until he woke up to eat.

My back was a little sore that day, but I figured it was just a factor of too much sitting around and thought the walk would do me good. I guess it was more than just inactivity because Wednesday and Thursday I could hardly move. Severe tightness in my lower back made life pretty darn uncomfortable. Ibuprofen and heatwraps got me through, but just barely. So obviously we didn't go anywhere those two days. Thursday we also had a winter storm that brought little snow, but was followed by arctic air that froze the snow into something resembling white concrete. Friday and Saturday saw highs in the single digits. Now I know why they say Eskimos have 500 words for snow. I've never seen anything like this. I didn't actually experience it until Saturday, my first venture out of the house, when I went out to see if my car would start. It did and I ran it for a while to warm up so I could chip the "concrete snow" off.

Based on this experience I am happy to report that Lands End does not lie when it claims its Hooded Sport Squall Jacket will keep you warm even in -10 degree weather. I got this in November to replace a Lands End jacket with a broken zipper (what a great company--products guaranteed for life!) but didn't wear it until January (for obvious reasons!) and really hadn't tested it in true Iowa winter weather until yesterday. It took almost half an hour to clear off my car even after it had warmed for 15-20 minutes and I was not cold.

Edward, meanwhile, has been inside since Tuesday afternoon. I don't think he cares too much. He definitely likes being warm. Here's a cozy pre-bedtime image. He hasn't been sleeping in a hat for a few weeks now because we thought that might be contributing to some skin blemishes, but this weekend it was definitely cold enough for a sleeping cap.

In other exciting news, John hooked up our new computer this weekend. Our old one was chugging along at dial-up speed despite our high-speed connection. We were just asking for too much from a five-year-old machine. Installing iTunes last year about this time was the final nail in the coffin, but we pushed it through the summer and fall. Our plan was that the new computer would be our Christmas present for each other, but we got a much better present in Edward. His arrival moved computer shopping a little lower on the priority list. What a difference though--no more going to the kitchen to make a snack while waiting for a program to start up or for pictures to download.

Maybe that will lead to more pictures posted here, but no promises. This computer is great, but it does not have a feature that adds hours to the day!

Our friends B & M welcomed their second child last week and we could not be happier for them. It will be great to have kids the same age...at least until they get to the "cootie" stage (their baby is a girl, their second daughter.) But it was funny that one of their first comments was "I forgot how much they sleep!" They are of course accustomed to the schedule of their two-and-a-half year old. Sometimes I still can't believe how much Edward sleeps, though I know it's contributing to his healthy growth. A couple of times recently he has gone slightly more than five hours overnight. The first time I woke in a panic thinking I'd missed his call. But no, he was still sleeping. Oh to have that consistently...or maybe even six or seven hours? Dare to dream!

This photo is from a Saturday nap. It was his first time in a pants outfit rather than a one-piece footie sleeper. We thought it was endlessly entertaining that his pants had to be pulled up "old man style" almost to his arm pits. When you don't have a waist it's tough to wear them any other way! You'll also note that despite the last post bemoaning his refusal of the pacifier, he's sucking away here. We found a pacifier of the same brand as the bottle and thought it was worth a try. He doesn't take it immediately, but sometimes if we hold it there for a bit and let him work it around with his tongue he'll take it and start sucking.

He also sleeps well in this carrier generously on loan from our friends J & S. S swears by the BabyBjorn, saying both their kids practically lived in it! It's very cozy and leaves my hands free while he sleeps all snug and close.

We're finding that it takes a lot more time to meet the basic needs of three people rather than just two. John downloaded pictures from the camera last night and there were 40 new ones since our last download. Guess it had been awhile. We're not so far down the "crazy parents" track to think that posting all 40 would be appropriate, but here are a few to make up for lost time. They give an idea of what Edward has been up to in the last few weeks.

His first trip to see Grandma and Grandpa Kenyon in Des Moines was a success. We made it there and back with no major melt-downs--by any of us! The timing didn't quite work as we'd planned--travel seemed to make him hungrier than usual so he spent a lot of his time there eating. Not very sociable.

Last Wednesday he went with me to my six-week postpartum check-up where we learned that Dr. Kennedy is leaving general OB practice to head a specialized clinic at University Hospitals. We're trying to be happy for her, but it's hard to think about going to another doctor. I never understood why some people were willing to pay a much higher insurance premium in order to have unrestricted choice of doctors. Now I know about being attached to a doctor. Small consolation in knowing that she'll still be around and able to consult with whichever of her colleagues draws the short straw and winds up with my case.

That same day Ed met his Uncle PJ for the first time--fresh off the plane from Phoenix via Chicago. We even ordered up a 50-degree February day just so he wouldn't feel too much of a shock to the system.

Then on Friday Aunt Nora came back for her second check in. Edward has changed a lot since she last saw him the day after he was born. She noted "serious cheekage and chinage" in this photo.




No doubt that will continue to be the case as he learns to eat from a bottle. He did not take to it right away, but patience and perseverance on John's part have made this part of their daily routine.

When he can't get the bottle or "the real thing" he will often settle for a finger to suck on, though he consistently rejects the pacifier. Here he's decided that after Mom and Dad got to pig out at a Superbowl party he should be able to do the same and is waiting for me to get the hint.

We have heard the complaints about the lack of new Edward pictures on the blog, but not until Edward himself staked out a position in front of the computer hoping a new photo of himself would magically appear did we realize something needed to be done. So, we hope to get some new pictures of Ed up soon. He's doing well, eating like crazy and sleeping like he should.

Edward reached his one-month birthday today, a day before his original due date. Even though leaving the womb early meant he had to do some extra work, we're glad we got to watch him grow for the last month. Look closely--he doesn't need his sleeves rolled up anymore!

Edward never misses a meal. I might prefer to sleep through one or two of them, particularly those pre-dawn calls, but he lets me know when the tank has reached empty again, never more than about three hours after the last meal. But that's pretty much all he's supposed to do at this stage--eat and sleep to facilitate growth. And boy is it working!

At today's one month checkup, Edward weighed in at a whopping 7.5 pounds! He also gained about an inch in height (length?) and in head circumference. He's not topping the charts or anything, but he's definitely on his way to catching up from his early entry to the world. This week was his original due date so I guess it's not surprising that he's reached the size of a fairly average full-term baby. His doctor was very impressed. She said his weight gain averages out to about 50 grams (almost two ounces) per day, about double what she would expect from a breastfed baby. He now has great chubby cheeks and is getting some rolls in the thigh area. She also noted that he has "elbow dimples."

Here he's sitting in his aquarium chair (minus the aquarium activity bar) flanked by the special blanket sent by our friends the Rubins. (We had to adjust the straps on the chair and in his carseat to accommodate his expanding waistline.) He's spending more time awake these days--usually a good two hours in the afternoon and then also some time in the evening. Lucky for us he hasn't made 3 a.m. his wide awake time! He makes lots of faces and waves his arms and hands in front of his face. It's funny to think that as he sees this object wave by he has no idea that it's attached to him or that he controls its movement. Lots to learn in the weeks and months ahead!

Bathtime has become routine for Edward, and he actually seems to like it a bit. Tonight he decided to take matters into his own hands, literally, by taking the washcloth from his mother. His method of cleaning, which involved clutching the cloth tightly against his chest (for warmth, one assumes) wasn't very effective, so this part of the bath didn't last long.














Once the bath was over, we toweled him off with a gift from our neighbor, Clara. I'm a sucker for hats, hoods and other baby headgear, and perhaps enjoyed this more than Ed did if his expression is any indication. I think he was more upset with the constant flash than with his lion-hooded attire, as his mood lightened considerably when the camera was put away and he realized he was swaddled in a nice warm terry cloth bath towel.

The top of this page says "family news," which does not confine itself just to Edward. So here's something a little different:

Congratulations to my brother Joe and his fiancee Brenda who got engaged last night! John is eager to add more in-laws to the insanity that is the Geraghty family. I think he's hoping they can band together to bring some sort of balance to our gatherings. Ha! But seriously, we could not be happier to welcome Brenda to the family.

It didn't take Edward long to find my iPod and make it his own, though I think earbuds are more his speed when it comes to headgear. Lucky for me, he doesn't know about the video iPods yet. Looks like it's time for Dad to upgrade and give Ed the hand-me-down.

Quiz -- What's Edward listening to?
A: The Babys
B: The Blake Babies
C: Babes in Toyland

Trick question. It's "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes. Ed's a sucker for Phil Spector's Wall of Sound production.

The many moods of Edward in the moments between a bath and pre-bedtime meal:

Concerned about the delay, but generally enthused.














Expectant; perhaps bordering on over-eager.














Gives up, starts eating own hand.

Today was the first day since we brought him home that the mail has contained neither card nor package for Edward. His arrival has stirred an outpouring of generosity from family and friends. He also has inspired some unusual behavior, including the following phrase uttered by my mother for possibly the first time in her life: "I want to go to the mall." She said this on their way out of the hospital for lunch the day after Edward was born. Those who know me will not be surprised to learn that I come by my shopping aversion naturally. However, that day Gram knew that Edward's hat needs were not being met by the knit caps provided by the hospital. They just didn't seem to stay on his head, and he needed a solid layer up there to help maintain body heat. From this aforementioned trip to the mall came the blue penguin hat seen in most of Edward's first pictures. It's possible that some friends of Edward thought he needed more variety in his wardrobe because over the last two weeks many more hats have arrived.

So here for your entertainment is Edward's Parade of Hats:

Crochet hat and blanket by Jenny G., my cousin Todd's wife












Knit cap by Tarah C.











Knit hat by Amy S.











Knotted cap from Anne R.











Cozy sleeping cap from Aunt Diana












Road trip hat from the Shipleys











"I love my daddy" hat from Grandma and Grandpa Kenyon's first trip to the Carters outlet store (he may have been getting tired of this little photo session at this point)








And finally, the Winnie the Pooh hat I picked out before he was born, knowing he'd need a coming home hat. Luckily he didn't have to wear this since it clearly doesn't fit. He also needs a few more pounds and inches before the sleeper that goes with it will fit.

If Edward were a major league baseball player, they'd start an investigation into his training activities: At the doctor today he weighed in at 6 pounds. That's a half-pound more than just a week ago, for a gain of about 9 percent of his body weight. No steroids needed here, however, just breastmilk administered every two hours, awake or asleep, day or night. The good news is that this weight gain, coupled with a distinct lessening of his jaundice, means we can shift to feeding him every three hours. That might not sound like much of a change, but as Mary points out, that's four fewer feedings per day. For overnight it means feeding at 9 p.m., midnight, 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., instead of 10, midnight, 2, 4 and 6, which means longer periods of fairly uninterrupted sleep.

The rest of his check-up was equally glowing, so his next doctor's appointment isn't until his one-month (!) check-up in two weeks.

My sister Nora reports that I am not keeping up with the insatiable picture appetite of Edward's fans. In the same email, she described how exhausted she was after a night with her best friend, a day of interviews for next year's internship, and a long airport wait for the flight to today's interviews. Then she chastised herself for complaining about sleep deprivation to someone who has to feed a baby every two hours.

We are used to the schedule now, and it works pretty smoothly but leaves little time for things like taking, downloading, cropping, sizing, and emailing or posting pictures. However, John got home early from work today so that gave us a chance for some play time. Edward's umbilical cord fell off yesterday so he's ready to start "tummy time." This fantastic blanket came with love from my Aunt Janet in Olympia, WA. It is so warm and soft that even in January in Iowa the floor is a good place to play. Plus it's a great reminder that there is Geraghty blood in those Kenyon veins!

Edward got a (mostly) glowing report at yesterday's check-up. He's back up a little over birth weight at 5 lbs. 8 oz. and he's eating and pooping exactly as needed to ward off further jaundice. But he's not over it yet, so the every-two-hour feeding schedule will continue at least until next week's check-up, Monday morning.

So far we've got a pretty good routine going that allows at least a three hour block of sleep each night plus shorter blocks (1-2 hours) for each of us. Since Edward still won't nurse exclusively (probably because he's not hungry enough to want to do the work!) we can alternate middle-of-the-night feedings, so I feed at 2 a.m. and John takes the 4 a.m. shift, feeding pumped breastmilk through a syringe. John is back to work now so we'll see how this holds up. We may need further refinement if he can't function through the day or if this continues beyond Monday.

Otherwise, all is well. Edward is in very low percentiles for weight, length and head circumference, but that's because he's being compared to babies born at full term. He has plenty of time to eat, grow and catch up. The doctor said regaining birth weight is a goal to reach within the first two weeks for breastfed babies, and Edward managed it in just 9 days, so that's a good start.

Edward slept through his first thunderstorm overnight. It started just before the 2 a.m. feeding and the last rumbles were rolling away as he was giving a satisfied burp around 6:30 (two feedings and many burps later.) That's a pretty good storm, especially for January. It's hard to believe that a baby born on Christmas in Iowa would experience a thunderstorm before a blizzard, but then again, about the only thing you can count on with Iowa weather is that it will not conform to expectations. It looks like the rain melted the last of our December snow. Not sorry to see it go, though I know it will be replaced soon!

He also had a great visit Sunday with my parents, who are known to all their grandchildren as Gram and PopPop. Don't ask why. It just is what it is. We always called my dad's parents Grandma and Boppa...so it must be a Geraghty thing. It does help the kids to distinguish between two sets of grandparents. Anyway, Gram and PopPop even mastered the fine art of feeding Edward with the syringe so that Mom and Dad could get some extra sleep after dinner. With all these feedings, it's too much work for Edward to always take it directly, so I've been pumping breastmilk for times when he's too tired or not hungry enough to latch on. (Sorry if that's too much information--too personal--for some readers!)

We're ready to quietly usher in 2006, with the one member of our family who wasn't even supposed to arrive until the calendar flipped being the only one assured of being awake when the clock strikes midnight. Edward's internal clock is stuck in some sort of bizzaro world where daytime is for sleeping, and nighttime is for fully alert wakefulness. We're slowly getting the hang of things, and Edward is being very patient with us as we do. Days and nights have been filled with sleeping, eating and that other thing that babies do so well. Still, we found time for a nice visit with my folks today and will see Mary's folks on Sunday. Meanwhile, we rest up to see what the next day -- and year -- with our cute little guy will bring. 2005 hasn't been the easiest year for us, but I can't imagine a better way for it to end. Or for 2006 to begin.

Our follow-up appointment went well this morning. We even managed to get there almost on time at 8:30. The instructions are to feed Edward every 2 hours continuously until our next appointment--his one-week check on Tuesday (two days after his one-week bday, because of the holiday clinic schedule.) This means he and I will do little but sleep and eat from now until Tuesday. This should keep the jaundice at bay as well as prevent further weight loss, allowing him to bulk back up to his birthweight by next week.

I am eager to chat with so many friends and family, or at least to respond to the dozens of emails. But that will have to wait while Edward eats.

Edward was very demure and Kenyon-like during most of his stay at UI Hospitals, but Wednesday night, thanks to some lax diaper fitting by his Dad, he had an accident that required a change of clothes. We're not sure if Jerry Garcia or Jimi Hendrix once had a child at UIHC and left some things behind, but suffice to say that Edward was a very colorful, but mellow baby until checkout. He took what they had available at the late hour and wore it well.

He changed into something a bit more fitting of his buttoned-down style for the trip home, and is now sleeping comfortably in his own cradle in his own home. We're thrilled to have him here. Both he and Mary got a clean bill of health and we headed home around noon. He'll head back Friday for a check to make sure his weight is headed in the right direction; otherwise, he's home for good.

We stopped by the NICU on our way out to introduce Edward to some of the people who took such good care of his big brother while he was there. They were happy to see him only in passing rather than as a patient, and noted the strong resemblance to Will (they're both very cute, we're told, and who are we to argue?).

So, now it's time for a little nesting and some well-deserved rest all around.

Edward had a good third day today as we figured out a few things about what makes him tick. We learned that 35-weekers often fall asleep while feeding, for instance, so a little supplemental formula helps to fill him up. We learned that he's small enough that he needs a few extra layers to stay warm, so a double layer of sleepers and an extra blanket or two keep him toasty and warm. With these things figured out, everything seems to be working as it should. After losing a bit of weight his first two days -- something that is entirely expected -- he put a few ounces back on today and should have no trouble regaining his birth weight by the end of his first week.

Mary also is doing well, and is feeling good. She'll be discharged tomorrow, and Edward should come home with us at that time. On the off chance they want to keep him around to watch his weight or temperature, he might stay an extra day or two. By the end of the week, however, the three of us should be home and getting settled in together.

Here is our first family portrait, taken Monday in Mary's room at UI Hospitals. Edward is stylish in his new penguin stocking cap while Mom and Dad look much more alert than they would be day's end.

Here is the first of what promises to be many photos of Edward. Here he's hanging out with me in his Mom's room on Monday. We keep him bundled up tight to keep him warm.

He's doing fine today, as is Mary. He still isn't convinced that nighttime is the right time for sleeping, but otherwise we're all getting along great.

Day two for Edward has been good. He's had the chance to meet all of his grandparents as well as two aunts and an uncle. He held up well under the flashbulb barrage that accompanied these visits, and once I'm able to get our camera hooked up to a computer, you'll be able to see those cute poses. His biggest challenge thus far has been staying warm, but a double layer of blankets seems to be doing the job and he has comfortably slept most of the day.

Mary also is doing well. They had her up already to see how she would do, and she defied expectations by taking a couple of laps around the wing. We're all pretty exhausted at this point, so a Kenyon family nap is on the schedule.

We had quite a Christmas today with the birth of our son, Edward Jesse Kenyon. Edward is 5 pounds, 7 ounces, and, if the cries he has let out so far are any indication, has very healthy lungs. Mary is doing well after the surgery, and we're just moment away from her being able to hold him for the first time. It's safe to say this has been our best ever Christmas.

Good thing no one started obsessing yesterday, because it was definitely TSTO. My blood pressure was better today--still not perfect at 114/87, but good enough to be sent home to wait for the lab results. Dr. Kennedy called later with the results which were also in the acceptable range so for now we're in the clear. I will go in on Sunday at some point for a blood pressure check and non-stress test, possibly repeat the labs, and see where things stand. If we stay on an even keel, I'll be checked again at my regular Wednesday morning appointment next week. If anything changes between now and Sunday or between Sunday and Wednesday in terms of how I feel, I will not wait for those scheduled times. Basically, I'm on the verge of preeclampsia and there's no way to tell how or when it will escalate. Dr. Kennedy did say not to expect to go all the way to Jan. 6. John and I had thought even before this that it was a little unrealistic to believe that we could actually plan and control on some level. We should know better!

Yesterday and today they gave me the two steroid shots that will help the baby's lung maturity. And at 35 weeks tomorrow, it's safe to assume this baby will be strong enough to face the world whenever the time comes. And we can't wait to meet you Pele! In the meantime, keep kicking...

In my family we have an expression: TSTO. It stands for Too Soon To Obsess. My sisters and I invented it for my mom but admit that it often applies to us in equal measure--we all tend toward advance planning and contingency planning (a.k.a. worrying.)

So let's just start by putting everyone on TSTO alert and then admitting that my blood pressure was a little high today--130/97. The non-stress test was perfect so the baby is just fine, and at nearly 35 weeks now, would be fine outside the womb if that becomes necessary. After the blood pressure alert, they ran some labs, which came back normal. So they sent me home and will have me back tomorrow to repeat the tests and re-check blood pressure. Sorry to leave you in suspense, but there really isn't more to say at this point. It's a wait-and-see day. But again, TSTO. Stay calm and I'll report back tomorrow afternoon.

All's well that ends well.

Today's non-stress test was not the snap that the first two had been. After kicking vigorously for the half hour I waited to be called in for the test, the baby was apparently worn out or feeling some performance anxiety due to being the third of three babies being monitored simultaneously. The goal of the test is to see the heartrate "accelerate" from the baseline and stay that way for about 15 seconds twice in 20 minutes. Starting from a baseline of about 140, they wanted to see an acceleration of at least 160. Pele thought it was halftime and just hovered between 140-150 beats per minute for almost an hour. The steady heartrate was good, but not the performance required for Dr. Kennedy to sign off on the test, so she ordered a "biophysical profile," a type of ultrasound that also measures movement and general baby well-being. That came out perfect, so nothing to worry about.

I think the external conditions just weren't ideal for the non-stress test. The room was noisy with two other moms--one of whom had a two-year-old with her who was being entertained by a VeggieTales video (ugh!) and the other who had the radio on to stimulate her baby. Our baby likes it quiet--most active moments are while I'm trying to fall asleep at night.

On the plus side, I got another "picture" of the baby. The first time she brought a full-front face shot up on the screen we saw the baby jam a hand fully in his/her mouth. Pretty funny. Then she took a profile shot, and you can actually tell it's the face--outline of the nose and lips and a little hand waving off to the side. Usually those ultrasound pictures are so hard to make heads or tails of.

In other news, my blood pressure was fine, 102/70 and we scheduled the C-section for January 6 at 10 a.m.

Two posts in one day?! Unprecedented, but I thought I should practice posting photos so we're ready to show off come January. So here, for those who care about such things, are the before and after shots of our bathroom.

You'll notice the lovely 60s-era harvest gold fixtures. I hear these are retro-chic now. I've never been chic and don't need to start in my bathroom. This photo shows the two primary reasons for the project beyond just plain ugliness: the floor tiles peeling back next to the tub and the makeshift shower.




We still need to chose a paint color and paint the walls that haven't been tiled (not really visible in this picture.) And the light fixture arrived the day after the workers left, so it will wait until they return for the final touch-ups next week. Other than that we're done. Very glad to be out of our temporary bathing quarters in the (unfinished) basement.

Another week, another all-clear. I'm fine (BP 110/72) and so is the baby, whose heartrate ranged from the high 130s to low 160s during the non-stress test. Interestingly, the physical exam revealed that the baby is laying crosswise (I believe the official OB term is "transverse"), which would be a concern if were not already planning a C-section. Having the baby in this position at this point in the pregnancy would likely mean a vaginal birth would not be possible--the head should be down by now for that to work. But since that's not in the cards for me anyway, it's just sort of an interesting thing to know--explains the side-to-side kicking pattern.

Now it's time to vote on birthdays for Baby Kenyon. Target is first week of January. January 1 is out (if you have a choice, why pick a holiday?) as is January 7 (Holly's birthday--everyone should have his/her own day!) So if anyone has any "good vibes" or knows something about numerology that would point to anything between 1/2 and 1/6, share now.

I ordered a stroller, car seat and car seat bunting (to be used instead of a snowsuit) online and all arrived simultaneously today along with 2/3 of John's birthday presents. (Talk about eleventh hour! Lucky I get home before he does so I had time for a quick wrap job so I wasn't quite the slacker wife I thought I was going to be as I watched nothing happening on package tracking for the last week!) Our porch looked like a mail room!

Now I have conflicting urges to tear into the boxes to see and touch and assemble it all, but at the same time wanting to keep it all packaged so it could easily be sent back. The logical part of my brain knows that even if the baby came now, starting life at 32 weeks is a world away from starting at 24. There would still be some NICU time, but nothing like what Will went through. But emotionally, I can't let go of the fear. I guess I probably won't until I'm holding the baby in my arms. Even then, I'm sure there's a whole new set of fears waiting in the wings, but I'm hoping that unadulterated joy will be the antidote.