Zak's life

Jabs went ok, was asleep when we went in and woke up crying with the first one in his right leg - didn't help that I had to turn him around for another one in his left leg. He had stopped crying by the time we had left the doctors, was a little bit sick but generally seemed ok. 
Zak spent Thursday morning with his Aunty Donna, whilst mammy did the food shopping and attended the doctors. Had a peaceful night, and continuing to sleep through.
On Friday we picked his brother and sister up from school for tea and to stay. Oscar wasn't very well, didnt eat all of his tea (which is very unusual) and went to sleep for half an hour on the couch. Teg was her normal helpful self, she's very good with Zak and helps a lot.
Mammy had a day off on Saturday and went to a spa with Aunty Donna, Aunty Sue and Aunty Ali. Whilst she was out Zak was taken to Northallerton by Grandpa and Grandma. Teg and Oscar went with Nan and was taken out for dinner. Worry for the day - Zak hasn't had a bowel movement since Wednesday. Think its the change of milk but a worry all the same. Tried some of the baby massage techniques as shown by the health visitor. Thankfully it worked and within an hour he had a movement. Need to get advice on how to help him more.
Zak slept til 8.30 this morning. And today we've been looking at some cars, Daddy's car isnt big enough for the 3 children and with it only being 3 doors its a struggle. No decisions made yet but seen some nice ones. Visited Tom and Marie's as we hadn't been for a while. was nice to see them and the kids. 
Bye for now  

Sunday was my first Mothers Day, very strange being on the receiving end rather than the organising end. Aunty Sue had planned lunch out at a pub near hers so we travelled up there with Grandma and Grandpa - Zak slept all the way as he likes travelling in the car. He slept all the way through the main meal then woke for his bottle at dessert. Still having problems with diarhoea and a full clothes change was needed at Aunty Sue's.
Monday Zak stayed with Grandma whilst I attended my hospital appointment to get discharged. Took advantage of some free time to do some running about whilst Zak was enjoying his baby gym. Snow started falling during the day and is forecast for next few days. Spoke to health visitor who is going to look into whether Zak could be lactose or cows milk intolerant. Put in stool sample to be analysed so we could confirm he didnt have a bug. Spoke to Cow & Gate helpline who have said that it is a common side effect of the milk he is on and recommended putting him back on their Premuim range but in cartons as made differently. Started it with his last bottle, with the new anti colic teats.

Tomorrow is his first immunisation - not looking forward to it but Daddy has managed to ge the afternoon off so we can share the pain
Bye for now.

Went into Sunderland yesterday shopping, for Zak a cot mobile, to exchange some clothes that he has already grew out of and present for Dan who had a 16th birthday. Managed to get everything, and a lovely cot mobile with a remote control - handy for restarting again from the doorway.
Took Zak out to his first visit to an Italian restaurant last night, with Teg and Oscar for Daniel's 16th birthday celebration. Not a good idea, as Zak had wind and was still unsettled. Spent a few hours pacing the floor, rocking him in his pram and generally being worried I was spoiling everything for other people there. Regardless of that he slept well and didn't wake til 5.45am.
Decided to take Zak to the community hosptial with my dad today at lunch time as his feeds were going right through him again. Doctor examined him and apart from his stomach being bloated with wind she wasn't concerned. She showed me how to move his legs to relieve it and agreed that his poo needed analysing as she think he may be allergic to the formula. He's out now with his Grandpa for a walk, giving me an hour to run around the house and having a tidy.
Bye for now

Zak sleep not as good last night, went til 4.30 then back off to 8.30 - so not too bad really. Spent the morning with Nan, shopping for a cot mobile. There is so many to choose from and although I had done my research we came back empty handed. Wanted to hear them play but Mothercare seemed to have run out of batteries! Saw what they looked like up close though which will help.

Health visitor, Eileen, came this afternoon. Weighed Zak and he's now 13lb and 8oz, he's put on 2lb and 1oz in 2 weeks!!! Following his line on the birth chart and not worried about him at all. She then gave me a demonstration on some baby massage to help with his colic and wind problems.

My friend Alison then visited with her 3 year old son Harry. He was lovely with Zak, wanting to know everything, why he was crying, moving, sneezing! That new picture is of the two of them.

He hasn't settled well tonight, crying every 20 mins with wind pains but gone off for last hour.

Thats it for now - bye

Didn't manage to post yesterday as got back in from the match late so playing catch up already!

Started yesterday off with a visit to the doctors, and wasn't very impressed. Learnt more online and speaking to NHS direct than the local doctors. Zak's had the runs for more than a week, and had been following advice from the health visitor which had been working but was worried that it had been going on too long. He didn't show any signs of being dehydrated but decided to get him checked out. The doctor recommended giving Zak his feed over a few sessions rather than all at once! How hard is that? He last weighed in at 11 lb 7oz and growing - he creates when you stop to wind him!!! Anyway we didnt have any sloppy poos yesterday and he seemed more settled. Spent the rest of the day at Grandmas. She has a card class up her house, with my godmother Aunty Vera, Rita and Liz were present. They all cooed over him, and I got to have my dinner made, a treat as Zak had been so clingy.
Steven and I had tickets to go to the Sunderland game last night, and my mam is a season ticket holder there so Grandpa was babysitting, solo for the first time. Nothing phases him though, and he brought Jake the springer spaniel down for company - not that it was needed. Mediocre game, and Zak had only had 2 half hour naps in the time we were gone. Exhausting as parents know. The lotty ladybird had been out, as well as his other toys but I think they had fun. He was awake when we came in at 10.30pm and showed no signs of sleeping. Out of exhaustion at 11.30 I put him down in his cot bed and left him with his singing toy - not expecting him to go to sleep. To both our surprise he did, and didn't wake up until 7am!!! I still didnt sleep properly as always have one ear open for him crying.

Today we had an outing planned with Grandma, and decided to go to Teeside retail park. As we were up early we were out of the house just after 9am and got an early start. We were shopping for a toy to go across Zak's pram and bouncy chair - to keep him entertained. We didnt manage to find a suitable one even though we went to Mamas and Papas, Mothercare, Boots, and Toys R Us. Even though Zak had a great sleep he fell asleep in the car and had to be woken up in M&S cafe for his dinner. A quick drop off at Grandmas with a cuddle from Sarah (her lady who does her nails) then home. He had cat napped all afternoon, and woke soon after being unwrapped from his car seat. He got in the bath with Daddy, which he loves then had his tea - given by Daddy as a treat as he got finished from work early. He's asleep again now so taking advantage of the time and catching up then hopefully eating before his next feed.

Thats all for now - bye

Firstly realise that I was never introduced properly - my other name is Karen, living with partner (if thats the current pc term) Steven. Been together for nearly 3 years and have a 7 week son, Zak. Steven has 2 children from a previous marriage, Tegwyn who is 6 and Oscar 5. We live in a seaside town in Durham. When I'm not on maternity leave I'm a bank manager and Steven is a cook.

Zak's upset stomach seemed to reach its peak today, 2 out of his 3 bottles have gone straight through him - been surrounded by poo and sick all day!!! We had a visit from Jen, who i used to work with this morning, and was reminded how lucky I am having a lovely little boy - she bought him a lovely little outfit of blue checky dungarees and tee. After she had gone, I bundled him up and went for a walk - it was the only time today that he actually went to sleep. As I said in the title, he has been very clingy and whingy all day, needing constant comfort and reassurance. He's got it but it was so tiring. Got so worried about him that I've made an appointment to see the doctor in the morning and even rang the NHS direct tonight - they think its either a gastric infection or his reaction to me changing his formula. I put him on Cow and Gate comfort 2 weeks ago to try to help with his colic.

Anyway, he's slept for one hour tonight before his last feed and has gone straight back off to sleep. I know that i'll not sleep well, and still worried even though I was reassured by a nurse adviser on the phone. We'll see what the doctor says tomorrow and update this then.

Thats it for now - bye

Put Zak to sleep in his own room last night, although he is only 7 weeks old he is really long and won't fit in his moses basket for much longer so we decided to bite the bullet and put him into his cot bed. He looked so little in it though. Had to remake it so he slept foot to foot but he seemed ok, still woke at 3.30am for his next feed then at 7.30 promptly. Daddy had to do the first feed and I got up with him this morning.

Had an active morning, very bright and alert - not sleeping for more than 10 minutes at a time. By the time Daddy got up Zak had been on his Lotty Ladybird twice, and had mammy worn out.

After his dinner I bundled him up and put him into his pram to walk up to his grandparents. Daddy decided to stay in and watch the football. Called into see his favourite cousin, Carly on the way, where he had a massive pump and a very smelly nappy - urgh. Got to his grandparents to find they had no electricity, with workman busy trying to put it right. Tried out a new baby gym which he liked as it played music and had flashing lights, as well as a baby sling. Grandpa already has an outing to beach and into the countryside planned with him in it.

Daddy picked us up as was getting dark and Zak eventually fell asleep - and he still is. Time for mammy and daddy to have their tea before entertaining him again.

Loaded a photo which was taken by his sister on Saturday.

Thats all for now folks - bye

Eventually got around to starting this - did plan to do it from the moment I found out I was pregnant then life got in the way, as normal. Never mind only 10 months late but got there eventually.
Zak was born on 18 January 2007, at 20.08 at Sunderland Royal Hospital. He was induced after 36 hours of my waters breaking. A bouncing 9lb 1oz. A happy healthy boy that caused a few delivery problems but got here never the less.
Today
I had drawn the short straw and had to do the 3am feed, never a good time apart from rolling in from the nightclub (distant memory now). He fell asleep whilst feeding and we were both back in bed by 4am. Daddy got up for the next one at 7.30, and his sister Teg and brother Oscar were already awake. Mammy got a lie in and didnt surface til 10am. Everyone fine, Oscar on PS2, Teg on pc and Zak just stirring.
Zak ready for his next bottle at 11am, followed by some play time on his new lotty ladybird play mat. It only arrived yesterday and everyone loves it, has dangly cuddly toys that have been named and sounds on each leg.
He eventually fell asleep in time for the rest of us to have dinner, its normally done in shifts but the timings were on today. Had to tidy out the cupboard under the stairs for his new toy, baby's seem to take over the place!!!
After lunch everyone arrived together, his Aunty Sue and Uncle Grant first followed by Grandma and Grandpa - my family is besotted with him as its the first grandchild. He was asleep but soon woke up with the noise. Was cuddled by Aunty Sue and Grandpa before having his dinner by Aunty Sue. Grandpa and Grandma left with Teg and Oscar to take the dog Jake for a walk before being took back to mammy's house.
Zak's had a viral infection this week, which has resulted in huge pumps and runny poos, very smelly! It also means he wakes with wind pains and has only slept for 10 minutes at a time today.
Its nearly 6pm now, and his mammy has got one hour before the next feed time, for herself for a change.
Bye for now.