Poor little Sienna

May 10th, 2013 by alex

Sienna started getting fussy last night, we took her temp and it was 101. Fevers in newborns are not a good thing so we headed to the doctor this AM. She was 101.8 after we arrived so we were told to head to the ER for tests, blood work, X-rays, and a spinal tap. She has been through the ringer today.

We will stay at the hospital for a minimum of 2 days to figure out what is wrong. Hopefully it’s just a viral infection, but we will know more soon. Grandma Sam arrived this evening, just in time for some much needed help.

Update #1 – Day #2(Brendan):

Sienna had an extended stomach and they have put a tube down through her nose to relieve the pressure. The surgeon has said that they don’t need to operate on her stomach as it is ok.

She is off food for now, with an IV of dextrose and salts. Tomorrow she may be able to be back on milk.

Tomorrow we will hopefully be able to take her home if the stomach issues have gone down and she starts eating.

Update #2 – Day #2(Alex):

I am able to hold Sienna now, her fever is up and down and down again now. She is getting less fussy if I holder. She only cries every 10 minutes rather than every minute. Fingers crossed she keeps getting better.

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Update #3 – Day #3( Brendan):

I just fed Sienna a full bottle of mother’s milk. Now she is sleeping on my shoulder.

Update #4 – Day #3 (Alex)

We have moved out of ICU and back to Pediatrics which is good. She still has a fever which means the antibiotics aren’t working which means she is most likely fighting a virus. What kind of virus, we don’t know. So now we wait until the fever goes down to 98 degrees for at least 24 hours before she can go home, but its still too high. But she is much better, stomach tube removed from her nose, stomach is soft, skin color is less mottled, her appetite is back and she no longer cries when touched or moved. The rest of us are doing well, too. Between GG, Brendan and I, we are splitting shifts so we can all try to get some rest. Page is loving having GG here, thank goodness for the help, it would have been very hard without her.

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Update #5 – Day 4 (alex):

We are still in Pediatrics. Sienna is doing much better, sleeping, eating. Just a little irritable when moved, but we are able to calm her. We are waiting on the Dr to arrive this morning to see what is next. Hopefully home!

Update #6 – Doc just gave us approval to go home this afternoon! Nothing has come up on the cultures so most likely this was some random virus that took havoc on her immune system and her system just didn’t have the ability to fight it off on its own. I will definitely think twice about taking her out in the coming weeks as her little body will still not be strong enough to fight off infections. Once newborns turn 2 months they are stronger, but WOW, I just may be that annoying helicopter Mom that keeps my baby away from anything and everything for the next few weeks. That was the most nerve-wracking 4 days of my life. Dad is pretty excited, baby is coming home!

 

  1. We are thinking of you all. I hope the news gets better.

    Comment by Grandma Anne — May 11, 2013 @ 3:59 am

  2. Oh the poor little thing:( Aunty Jodie and Uncle Martin are sending big hugs. Let us know how everything goes – we’re thinking of you. x

    Comment by Jodie — May 11, 2013 @ 3:29 pm

  3. Oh Sienna darlin’. I hope you feel better soon. Much love.

    Comment by Ayla — May 12, 2013 @ 2:24 pm

  4. Poor baby. Poor mum and dad. Thoughts and prayers with you all 🙁

    Comment by Anita — May 13, 2013 @ 12:59 pm

  5. I am so pleased that the little one will be coming home.

    Comment by Grandma Anne — May 13, 2013 @ 5:42 pm

  6. So very happy and relieved

    Comment by Craig — May 13, 2013 @ 8:28 pm

  7. Good news. \Come that 2 months. Thinking of you all.

    Comment by Ayla — May 15, 2013 @ 4:01 pm

What I want to be when I grow up

May 10th, 2013 by brendan

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  1. How about a kite?

    Comment by Grandma Anne — May 10, 2013 @ 6:38 pm

  2. I read ‘Fly Things’ but now see it is ‘Fix Things’. Maybe you need to fix my eyes.

    Comment by Grandma Anne — May 12, 2013 @ 2:20 pm

  3. What a great thing to want to do Page. Go for it!

    Comment by Ayla — May 12, 2013 @ 2:48 pm

My little Pixie

May 6th, 2013 by alex

Sienna is more and more alert and awake everyday, probably up to 5 hours a day. Brendan and I took her to see the movie MUD this morning, she didn’t make a squeak (and a great movie!).

Here is my little pixie this arvo soaking in the sun – and a comparison photo of Page at the same age here.

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  1. She is different – eyes, face shape. But they still look similar.

    Comment by Grandma Anne — May 7, 2013 @ 1:05 am

  2. Almond shaped eyes!
    I can actually see her eyebrows and eyelashes.
    I agree with Ann – different but similar.
    I can’t wait to meet her soon along with my precious Page.

    Comment by GG — May 7, 2013 @ 7:45 am

  3. Intent

    Comment by Craig — May 9, 2013 @ 2:35 am

Page’s first Art Show

May 5th, 2013 by alex

Page’s school puts on a spectacular Art Show for all the kids every spring. Every room in the school was transformed into a gallery to display works by each of the age groups. Here are just a few pieces that Page either made or had a part in the making of…

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  1. An artist already. Very good

    Comment by Craig — May 9, 2013 @ 2:32 am

Go Daddy!

May 5th, 2013 by alex

Brendan did the Gatos Hill Crit on Saturday and did pretty well for his first time. The course was 14 laps around one of the more beautiful neighborhoods in Los Gatos and included a brutal 22% climb. Page had so much fun dressing up in her biking outfit and ringing her bell to cheer in Daddy! According to Page, her and Dad were BFF’s that day because they had matching outfits.

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  1. Such a cute pix of Daddy with his girls.

    Comment by GG — May 5, 2013 @ 8:14 am

  2. How did you go?

    Comment by Peter — May 5, 2013 @ 3:58 pm

  3. I finished in 8th. I was with the front group, just didn’t push past at the end. It was a race if attrition with the hill. No breakaways.

    Comment by brendan — May 6, 2013 @ 6:29 pm

Bedtime shenanigans

May 3rd, 2013 by alex

We are bringing Sienna into the bedtime routine. A few books in bed, a few snuggles, some monkey business and then hopefully sleep…

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  1. Carson’s teachers used to be amazed when she was 2 1/2 and was able to do that. None of the other kids could.

    What is with the hat?

    Precious of the two looking at each other.

    Comment by GG — May 4, 2013 @ 4:57 am

  2. I recognise that beanie, personally delivered from me to Brendan on behalf of grandma rely, hehe

    Comment by Anita — May 8, 2013 @ 12:15 pm

Why did we choose the name Sienna?

May 3rd, 2013 by alex

While in between contractions we passed the time making some silly videos. Here I am trying to explain why we chose the name Sienna Belle. We thought long and hard about this one. There were a few contenders but this name seemed to fit the best.

  1. Well done. And I was just using my Raw Sienna in a watercolour, when I heard the new name! I thought you might have seen me (!!!) and seeing as you skipped the name Ayla … well…

    Comment by Ayla — May 20, 2013 @ 4:28 pm

Sienna’s first hike – one week old

May 3rd, 2013 by alex

While Page was at school today Brendan and I took advantage of some alone time with Sienna. She has much more alert today and spent from 9-11 this morning taking in her surroundings. Today I am feeling great and decided it would be a good time to venture out on the trails. The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous. We took Sienna on the Sanborn trail just above our house. Its an easy 4 mile hike to the lake and back.  Afterwards we headed to Saratoga and enjoyed a nice lunch on the patio at a main street bistro. I am going to really miss it when Brendan has to go back to work!

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  1. She is beyond gorgeous!
    Alex, you are amazing – hiking already.
    So fun to have Brendan (the best father in the world) around.

    Comment by GG — May 4, 2013 @ 4:50 am

The artist and the sleeper

April 30th, 2013 by alex

We are easing into life as a family of four. The recovery process has been much easier this time around and Sienna is letting me get lots of sleep – 6 hours last night! So far she is a no fuss baby. Brendan has been running around getting the house and cars in tip-top baby shape and hopefully his allergies will go away soon so he can get in some long paternity rides.

Page has been a wonderful big sister, always helping Mom get the wipes ready for a diaper change and eager to help sort out little sister’s outfit for the day. She is very into her art projects so we bought her this fun easel to go crazy with. This piece is called “Fireworks”.

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Sienna is so sweet. Her face was pretty swollen in the days after birth, but today her eyelashes popped out and they are so dark and curly, just like Grandma Belle’s. Her eyes are a beautiful color blue, not sure if the color will stay, but it sure is fun to get a good look when she manages to stay awake which is not very long at all. Here she is doing what she does best.

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  1. Are those socks? Very cute.
    She is getting prettier every day! Great color for her.

    Comment by GG — May 1, 2013 @ 11:56 am

  2. And it does look like great fireworks, Page

    What a contented Sienna.

    Comment by Grandma Anne — May 1, 2013 @ 10:24 pm

  3. You must be very proud of your offspring A & B. They are beautiful.

    Comment by Ayla — May 12, 2013 @ 2:51 pm

Four on the couch

April 28th, 2013 by brendan

Page and I picked up Alex and Sienna from hospital at lunchtime yesterday and brought them back to the nest.

Sienna is very well behaved little girl. Even when her big sister pulls her hair. “Gently Page”

After some baked salmon we all sat on the couch together to watch Hunger Games.