All about Aaron

Aaron is fondly referred to in our house as Captain Furious. He often goes from the above picture to the below picture in the blink of an eye!

He is getting better and more forgiving of our slowness relative to his needs. He spends less time fussing/screaming/sleeping/screaming, and more time sleeping/happily awake/mildly fussing/eating, etc. I am finding it easier to figure him out, and he's seemingly feeling better. We added another medication to his reflux cocktail and it has made his breathing much better. He's less wheezy and tachypneic and seems more comfortable after feeds. I also changed his formula and he is having less gas issues.

I keep telling him that it's a good thing he's cute...he is so cute, but he seemed so unhappy for so long that it was really hard to enjoy him...now that things are going better, I go back to work...go figure!

He's a keeper though! Look at the rolls he's getting!

Aaron's first trip to Waterloo!

First, a fun picture of Charlie's toys. I asked him to pack some cars to bring to Waterloo with us (Waterloo is where Alex's mom's side of the family lives)...this is what he did. Lined them up in a bag that a gift came in (it's a cars bag that lights up and he is now obsessed with it). It was hard to explain why this method of "packing" was less than ideal!
So on to our trip. It went pretty smoothly. It's almost exactly 300 miles and we had our portable DVD player set up in the back for the first time for Charlie. Worked like a charm! He watched two movies each way and thought it was the best thing ever! We made it up in 6 hours, stayed at the Microtel and all slept decently considering Aaron sleeps for only 3-4 hours at a time. Both boys were well behaved considering the circumstances. It was also very hot up there and there were lots of people at Aunt Hilda's house so Aaron was pretty uncomfortable Saturday and was pretty fussy.

Here he is in a milk coma...resting comfortably thank goodness!

Telling Aunt Hilda about the trip up to see her...

Charlie with cousin Dave who came from Buffalo to see us. They spent alot of time down by the creek (or cricket as Charlie called it!)

Aislin, Trish, cousin Dave and Charlie

My favorite picture...I love shots like these!

Aaron telling Aunt Louisa why he also hates rotten stinkin Walmart (you have to know the back story...but it's a funny one!)

Charlie and Aunt Hilda who keeps him well stocked with super cool cars that make all kinds of strange noises!

Charlie and Aunt Hilda's dog, Little Bit...Aunt Hilda is the sweetheart who bought Sidney puppy for us!

At the Microtel with his new cars, ready for the ride home.

We made it home Sunday evening in about 6 hours as well. It was great to be back home and it's really amazing how much harder a second child makes everything! We love them both though and love that Charlie is always proclaiming his love for baby Aaron.

Eating like a champ!

Yesterday, between the hours of 3pm and 9pm, this guy took in 14oz of food (breastmilk and formula combined). If that sounds like alot, it is! He kept rooting and crying and ascting hungry and with nothing else to do, I kept feeding him. I was also waiting for it to come back up when he realized that his stomach couldn't possibly hold this much at once. It didn't come back up and when he was weighed at his doctor's appointment this morning he weighed 10lbs 7oz! Wow! The above picture is him sleeping and looking so big to me last night before bed. He also started smiling purposefully last night at me...melts my heart! He's also cooing and making noises other than screaming!

More weekend pics

Charlie and his cousin Ethan, hamming it up for the camera.

Me with my little sis and peanut Aaron.

"Gampa" and his newest little guy

Charlie being a total goofball.

Family Zoo Day!

Saturday was a beautiful day here on the east coast. 78 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We took full advantage and headed to the zoo where we have a membership. My mom, dad, Christy and Bode met us there...and we also ran into Alex's brother's family and our friends, the Browns. It was great! Above is Bode testing out the wagon that my parents brought. He had a lot of fun but spent most of the day trying to get away from my poor sister. He's fast too!

Don't let him fool you. The few times he sat still (like above) he was thinking of how best to escape the whole time!


Bode trying very hard to climb into the enclosure...he's more monkey material than leopard material though!

Aaron snoozed through much of the day...although he did spend some time in to Bjorn with me. He really likes it and I can cook dinner, fold laundry, do dishes, and even eat with him in it when he's particularly fussy and just wants to be close!

Trying to get Bode to pose for a picture with me!

Charlie and his cousin Ethan. They are best buddies now (now that they are both developmentally in a similar place, playwise). Ethan is 10 months older and Charlie thinks he's so great!

Just before their carousel ride

It was a wonderful day! Thanks mom and dad for the helping hands throughout the day, it's always nice to have the grandparents around!

Aaron wearing his first pair of jeans!

"Life is Good", especially when daddy snuggles with his little man so mommy can get some stuff done!

Aaron in going on 7 weeks old now. He's getting bigger, and getting a little easier. His zantac (med for reflux) dose was increased but he still obviously has reflux symptoms. He snores alot, wheezes, and sounds very congested, although his lungs are clear. It's all upper airway noise from milk that comes up after, and while, he's eating. He's adorable, and sweet, but a much fussier baby than Charlie. He screams, for seemingly no reason, but it's obvious to me that he hurts. He arches his back, his stomach is stiff as a board, and he could be sound asleep and then scream all of a sudden. We are hoping it gets better over time. He goes back to the doc on Thursday for another dose of Synagis so we'll see what he says then.

The last two nights have been better or me. He's asleep around 10pm, and then is up at 2am and 6am. He eats at those times and goes right back to sleep. And his feeds only take 20 minutes rather than 40 minutes. He also sleeps soundly in between, no random screaming that has me jumping out of bed every 1/2 hour or so. SO I have been better rested the last two days and in a better mood all around!

Hope everyone enjoyed the nice weather we had this weekend!

Picture post!

Cohen Family portrait, from the eyes of Charlie CohenCharlie's artwork is steadily progressing (in normal developmental patterns, but still fun to see changes every day!). He started making faces with eyes a few weeks ago. He then started giving the faces mouths about a week ago. As of this weekend, the faces have legs. Now he has started drawing specific people. Above is our family. He says that the people are (from L to R): Daddy, Charlie, Mommy, Baby Aaron (the cyclops) and Sidney is up front. I absolutely fell in love with this and was almost in tears when I saw it. I feel stupid saying that but it's so amazing to me to watch him develop and change and start describing the world around him!
Giving baby brother a kiss

We went to my parents' this weekend for Easter and above is my absolute favorite picture. "Gampa" and Aaron. He was so alert this weekend and really took it all in.

Chilling while the older boys decorated easter eggs. My lucky Jewish boys have Catholic grandparents (on my side) and a mom who cannot give up her childhood traditions. They get to have it all!

Charlie and me coloring eggs with Christy and Bode...Bode took it upon himself to color his hands and then dump a whole bowl of color all over the table! I give my sis big props for being brave enough to try this with a one year old and my mom for letting it happen in her kitchen!

Bode in his tye-died state with Aaron (waving hello!)

Uncle Mike and Charlie zoning out to some cartoon...eating popcorn...some life!

The boys getting a much needed bath from "Gampa"

All of the boys!

Charlie with his Easter bucket (it had a train on it! thanks Tutu), getting ready to search for eggs and treats...

Our Easter bunny his some fun treats for the boys as well. Charlie got some LIghtning McQueen crocs and a Thomas umbrella (he calls it a cumbrella...don't know why, and I can't seem to break him of it!). He got some eggs filled with monies (change from the Easter Bunny's wallet), jelly beans, and teddy grahams. He also found the eggs that he colored the day before! How fun. We've never done Easter eggs with him before so this was a fun day for him!

Charlie keeping his brother quiet...

He loves his baby brother!

And here's my little chunkster! He went to the doctor's yesterday for his belated one month check up...he weighs 9lb 4oz! Look at those cheeks! iI'll write more about the visit after another appointment we have today.

mommy and her boys!

Happy Due Date to Me and Aaron!

We're home!!!!!!!!!!

Napping in his bassinet on Friday 4/3...this is the day he really started acting like he had reflux and when he stopped eating much at all...but still very cute!
Hanging with his big brother on his one month birthday. Charlie loves holding his hands...so cute!

At the zoo on Sunday. Here is a baby turtle that I fell in love with...I LOVE turtles and thought this little guy was just the cutest!

Charlie being cute in the zoo's treehouse

Me forcing Charlie to pose with me for a picture...

Running away from me and the camera

Trying to convince me that he couldn't leave the treehouse because he wasn't done hatching...that's my boy!

A promise of a carousel ride is the only way he left the treehouse...

Hanging out with cousin Ethan at Bubby and Zayda's house Sunday night...

In the hospital... this is when he was having the pneumogram and pH probe study done. The pH probe cut his poor little nostril so he's got a little scab from it. He's still very cute though! We found out that he's just a bit over 8 pounds now. Big boy! We missed his one month check up (was supposed to be Thursday morning but we didn't get discharged from CHOP until 8pm Thursday) so Monday we will go and have him seen for his one month check and well visit!

Talking to Mr. Giraffe once he was more alert and feeling better, asking him why he was in a crazy metal crib and why his mommy looked like hell all week!

Some artwork that Charlie sent over with daddy...he was very worried about baby Aaron and told me this morning that next time, daddy gets to stay in the hospital with his brother and I get to stay at home...hahaha.

Grandpa (my dad) holding Aaron during a visit (they relieved me so I could go home and shower...so essential!)

And he is now home and had a great night last night and a good day today. They concluded that he likely had a virus and terrible reflux (as evidenced by the milk scan). He's home, still on his apnea monitor and also on some meds for reflux. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers and well wishes. We are certain that it made a huge difference for our little man!