"Mac-a-RONAN and Cheese"

"Ahh! Salam and good evening to you worthy friend(s)..." Seems like every time I post something, I'm apologizing for a lack of updates. What I thought would be a daily update has turned into a, "oh man he's sleeping! Time to get (chore) done!" So because I'm not going to say I'm sorry for the lack of updates...

I didn't update anything this week. Too bad so sad! hehehe

From Ronan Patrick Shields

What did Ronan do this week? Well he's getting into a little bit better sleep habit. He usually wakes around 2:30am to 3:30am for a diaper and a mama-milk bottle. Then usually around 5am when I have to get up for work. So pretty nice.

From Ronan Patrick Shields

Ronan's weight is back on track. He visited Dr Schroeder on Thursday and everything is looking great. I never thought he'd go to the bathroom as much as he does. The best part was when he pooped on my hand the other day when his diaper was off! Thankfully there hasn't been any more wiz on mommy and daddy incidents.

The rest of Ronan's cord fell off today, right before his first bath at home! He did amazingly well until we exposed his unmentionables, then he was a little angry and cold.

From Ronan Patrick Shields

From Ronan Patrick Shields

Kim's been doing great while I've been at work. You'd think she's been doing this for years! We had a few visitors this past week. My dad and Brennah, Frank and Susie, Roxann, and my mom on Friday night.

Watched the Hawks take down the Cyclones on Saturday, as well as about 5 other games, and enjoyed NFL most of the day today. One of Ronan's favorite things is to lay in my or Kim's arms and watch the green blur that is the TV football field.

New pictures up on the Picasa site, and thanks to Brennah for the cute nickname (see title of this post). We'll see how I do about posting during the week.

Food, food, and more food...

Sorry for the lack of updates in the last couple of days. We've been busy with Ronan and his eating schedule. When we went in Friday for our Follow up visit, we found out Ronan was underweight. While most newborns lose a little weight at first, they start gaining about an oz. a week. Ronan lost almost a pound in his first week. We were put on a strict 2oz every 2-3 hour diet.

We thought we were doing good with the breastfeeding, but Ronan must just like to play around and not eat, so it's been strict pumping and bottle feeding until he gets things figured out. I know Kim is a little bummed about it, but we both know it's more important that he's getting the calories.

Sunday was our third visit in three days, and Ronan did great. He gained 2.5oz in 24 hours! Kim has to take him back Tuesday and hopefully he's gaining more weight. He seems a lot stronger and more active when he's awake, so I'm sure he's doing good.

Kim's been a champ the last couple of days. She's been up every two hours to pump, diaper, and feed like clockwork... and she's doing a lot of it by herself! I think she's proving to herself that she can handle things when I go back to work Tuesday. I know she can. She's turning into a great mom!

Other than the feeding issues, we've been trying to adjust to this new sleep schedule, watching the Hawks win, and putting up some drywall (with the help of my dad today). Hopefully we can finish the bathroom up before the end of the month... or the year...

I know I said I'd get some pictures updated, and I didn't. I'll try again tomorrow night.

What a difference 24 hours makes

As the title says. Wow. Ronan did great overnight! All three of us took a field trip last to Roxann ans Tim's. Kim has reached the really sore stage, and because I slacked off, we have no bathtub. So we got some free pizza, a soak for Kim, a cuddle for Ronan, and a trip to Target for me.

My last post I was expressing my disdain for Parents Choice diapers. So I attempted to pick up some Pampers. Well apparently 30 isn't old enough to go shopping by myself because I grabbed what I thought was Newborn diapers. Turns out it was "New Baby" diapers and was size 1 not size N. Guess we have some extras for later now. We might have figures out the Parent's Choice newborn diapers. No blowouts since yesterday afternoon! (knock on wood)

So once we got back from Roxann and Tim's, Ronan and Mom had a nice long feeding session. My little man can EAT! After his dinner we got him changed and in bed and he slept the majority of the night. I had to step in around 1:30am for a burping and blanket adjust, but he was good until 5am when we all woke up!

Today's agenda calls for an in-hospital (as opposed to a in-home) visit to check his feeding habits and overall health, a trip back to Roxann and Tim's for another mommy tub soak, and a visit from my sister tonight. Tomorrow is the first Hawkeye game, and we'll all be decked out in our black and gold! (pics sure to follow) Until next time...

Sleep is for losers

Holy crap what a night. We got to leave the hospital and come home last night around 8pm. This was just about 2 hours after his circumcision. The doctor was going to do that early morning Wednesday, but since Ronan was having a hard time learning the sucking motion, he wasn't eating very much and had a bit of Jaundice. We got him eating throughout the day, and by 5:30pm the doc came back and did the slice and dice. ($#%@$%! OUCH!!!)

When we got home, Ronan was zonked out from riding in the car so we 'thought' we were in for a nice night. How wrong we were. He decided that diapers are there for a reason, and each time we put a new one on him, he would poop. Now this wouldn't be too much of a problem, but having to put stuff on his peep each time made it take twice as long. (Give us a break we're new at this and aren't very fast with the diaper "pit-stop") After about 4 double surprises, we got him to sleep for a few hours.

Kim was back up early and feeding, and after a nice mommy session, both Kim and Ronan zonked out for a couple hours. Now, not thinking, I decided that it was my fatherly duty to stay awake in case someone needed something. Wow... wrong. Just as those two were waking up, I turned into a zombie.

Today's new experience is the poor fit of newborn Parents Choice Diapers. Three times today Ronan has wizzed and soaked his back. First time was just an undershirt, second time was was undershirt sleeper and blanket, and just about an hour ago was another undershirt. If anyone has any advice on them we'd sure take it. We're about to donate two packs of them and buy some Pampers like he had at the Hospital. Sheesh...

Not much to update today. Ronan is having a little trouble eating. He hasn't quite figured out the sucking motion. He's getting there though. They decided to pass on his circumcision this morning due to his not eating much. Maybe this afternoon. If all goes well we can all go home tonight, otherwise he'll have to stay here for the night.


I added a link on the right hand side of the page to Ronan's Picasa Site and his St Lukes Site. Roxann and Tim sent me some photos today and those are now up on Picasa. Eventually we'll get some videos up. Frankly he hasn't done much to video yet. I have a bit of him in Kim's arms right after he was born and us talking in the background. Not very exciting.

Kim will be calling people on her extended side of the family today. Seems like it's been non stop for her with pumping, feeding, eating, resting, healing, etc... She's doing great though.

I'll update later if anything changes.

Well today is August 31st and I've deleted all posts on this blog. Why? Well, Dan was the only person to read anything, and I've decided to take my ramblings in a new direction.

Yesterday at 8:33am (Aug 30th), my son Ronan Patrick was born. Entered in at 7lbs 15.25oz and 20.5" long (DING*).

From Ronan Patrick Shields

Check out the Picasa Photo site for more pics

People always say that the birth of their children is the best day of their lives. This is correct. To see a little person come into the world that you (or your wife) carried for 9 months... who started out as a little gummi-bear and turned into a mini combo of you and your better half... you just become speechless. Fact is I couldn't have written this yesterday.

Well enough cheeseball rhetoric. The new plan here is a place to link photos, videos, and "milestone" events in the world of Ronan and his mom and dad. True there are twitter options and facebook options, but with all the other distraction on facebook, I've decided to delete my account. I'm not a celebrity, so I don't see the need to be on twitter. This blog will be just fine. Now, if someone doesn't care about a first bath, or a cute pic of Ronan in Hawk gear, they won't get bothered.

So stick around. Deal with my spelling and grammar mistakes. Laugh. Cry. Bore yourself to sleep. Doesn't matter. Feel free to comment on anything. Until the next update...


*DP Show Height and Weight Bell