The MacLeodZoo

Carolynn came toinght to check up on Dylan - he's doing great, as we knew ;) He lost his belly button cord on Monday, as well as had his first bath which he didn't enjoy at all! He also went on his first dinner with Mommy and friends downtown to Jack Astors and was such an angel there!! His skin is still super dry, and he's getting olive oil treatments a few times a day. Breastfeeding is getting easier, still have some rough feeds - but we're working through them. Some days I'm glad I pump milk too!! Dylan was also weighed, at birth he was 6 pounds, 5 ounces - I was thinking he'd maybe be 6 pounds even, or around that, nope - 6 pounds, 10 ounces!!! He's almost the size his brothers were at a month old, no wonder he doesn't wear many of their newborn outfits. Don't forget to check out his photos, the link is right below his birthday counter and I also added a link to our midwives clinic under links, check it out!

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Sorry I haven't updated - I was gently reminded that I should post some sort of an update for Dylan's fan club! LOL Things are going really great. Dylan is a super easy going baby, sleeps a lot and is content just to sit and look around when he's awake. He loves to snuggle and generally never cries unless he's hungry. The boys have taken quite well to the new baby, helping me as much as they can and they love to hold him! I was worried about how Ryan would take being replaced in the "baby" role but he thinks the world of his brother. He's been checked over a few times by our midwife and is just fine. He had his PKU heel prick yesterday and nursed right through it. Breastfeeding is getting better, we just got off to a rocky start - I'm having to pump off the left side which isn't very fun :( Will update more later... someone is awake!

Ava Marie was due right around the same time as Dylan, her Mom, Karla and I posted on a message board together. I looked forward to Karla's many blog entries, that kept me in stitches for the last few months, I was in awe of how her tiny figure grew such a beautiful perfectly round baby belly. I logged on this afternoon to see if Ava had arrived as well - I was met with the entry that Ava was born, and had passed away Thursday afternoon. It brought back memories of James who would turn 4 this fall. It's amazing how you feel, when something horrible happens to a family that you have never met, yet feel great sadness for and wish somehow you could make it all better. We'll be letting off white balloons today for Ava, praying for their strength to get through the healing - and knowing she'll never be forgotten.

I'll start off by saying, I got the natural birth I had planned on all along!! I was so sure I'd go overdue and end up being induced - I guess I scared him out of me!! Towards the end, it became quite rushed ;) I'd been having regular bouts of contractions for weeks now, so Monday didn't start out any different. I began my morning with my Red Raspberry Leaf tea and then we went shopping at Walmart in the morning, getting the boys sand toys that I had been promising them for weeks and then to McD's for breakfast. We got home, had two more cups of tea and then did some cleaning. Around lunch, I realized these contractions were not only getting more regular, but were beginning to move down into my back - so I timed them and they were about 7-10 minutes apart lasting 30 seconds or so, not painful at all - very early labour. I called the midwife at 2pm and let her know, we agreed to me having a bath and seeing how I felt afterwards. We touched base again at about 3pm, wh...

He arrived this evening, April 18th at 7:58pm weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces and 20.5 inches long. We're both home now, and doing GREAT, he's soo quiet, nothing like his big brothers, I don't think he's been awake for more than 20 minutes at a time. I will share the birth story tomorrow as I'm WIPED out and am heading to get some much needed rest - we arrived at the hospital at 7:45pm, a whopping 13 minutes before he was born!! LOL He looks just like big brother Kevin, who was at the birth and who proudly cut the umbilical cord and held him second!! I'll add more photos in the morning when Ryan gets up to see his new torture victim, er, brother!!! http://www.picturetrail.com/Dylanjacobnathan Leanne & Gary

Most of my Due in April friends have given birth *sigh* Dylan continues to be snug as a bug and staying put for now!! I saw the midwife again this morning, and baby's great however my blood pressure is a little higher than normal, so I'm to take it easy this weekend and get some rest. I've had a couple dizzy spells which made me think my BP was on the rise again :( Anyways, I see the midwife again on Monday morning - hoping everything will be better after some R&R.

Dylan's pretty comfy in his oven, silly boy must learn it's more fun out here!! I've been having tons and tons of contractions over the last few days, today they range from 5 to 12 minutes apart but not lasting long at all, and no regular pattern :( Today I laid down for a nap, but had to wake and work/breathe through the contractions, so I think it may be sooner rather than later - of course, Gary's scheduled to work tonight and tomorrow night, lol. I'm going to have a few cups of tea tonight and maybe go for a walk to see if I can get things closer together!! I saw the midwife on Thursday and he's perfect - heart rate is great, he's well engaged and my blood pressure continues to be normal - figure that one out ;) I see her again on Friday and then hopefully not again until it's Birth time!!! I'm more than ready for him now... the boys are loving spring and play outside all day long, means at dinner I come in, feed them, they have a bath and then b...