Bam!

Caden has new favorite word.  When telling stories, it usually involves someone bamming something. 

Bam!

Breastfeeding

I was very anxious about breastfeeding before Elinore was born, but it has turned into something I couldn't imagine missing out on.  I'd heard so many times how hard it can be and all the things that could happen to make it more difficult.  I wanted to be prepared and know how to handle any issues as they arose during breastfeeding.

Elinore strated breastfeeding fairly easily about an hour after she was born and stayed latched on for about 45 minutes.  I was so happy that it went so smoothly!

Things continued to go smoothly for a few hours with her, but then she seemingly lost interest in it for some time.  Sometime later she spit-up some unpleasant looking spit-up.  The nurse indicated she may have swallowed some fluids during birth causing her to be a bit upset an uninterested.  I continued waking her ever two hours in the hospital to try to nurse.  She wasn't always interested, but the nurses continued pushing us to try every two hours since Elinore had dropped under 6 lbs.  She was 6 lbs. 7 oz. at birth.  

We came home on Thursday and sometime shortly after lunch time on Friday my milk came in.   I could certainly feel it, and I really wasn't prepared for the engorgement that I experienced for the first week or two.

I have had an oversupply from very early on.  Elinore never nursed from both sides during one feeding as I was always directed to.  Or course that made me anxious, so I talked with a lactation consultant a few times early on.  While I appreciated her advice; it usually didn't work for us.  I sometimes think my issues were not common questions and she was more accustomed to under supply issues and latching problems, so she wasn't as prepared to help me. 

In talking with a good friend and Keith, I decided not to stress about her advise and just do what worked for us.  Our peditrican assured us that she would take what she needed and as long as she was growing and happy, we would both be fine. 

I continued nursing from one side and dealing regularly with leaky messes.  My let down was strong and supply was abundant, so nearly evey time she ate, she got the hiccups.  She would gag a few times a day too when there was just too much too fast for her. 

That first week or two of breastfeeding my back hurt something terrible from the extra weight.  She started sleeping long stretchs at night early on and I was still engorged and over full.  I could only sleep flat on my back at night.  In hindsight, I wish I'd have taken advantage of my pump a little sooner.  I know it can increase supply doing so, but I would still have tried it. 

It was several month, probably close to six months in that I finally stopped leaking regularly.  I tried many nursing pads, disposable and reusable. 

When nusing Elinore I had to be very careful to have multiple layers of material separateing my from my current clothes.  It was commong to soak through more than 3 layers of our burp rages. We used Gerber's floding cloth diapers.

At first I was very uncomfortable around other people while nursing her.  Party because I felt exposed, it was new to us, and it was messy, so staying discreet was hard.  I often went to another room alone if people were in our house.  Keith didn't like this at all because we were away from our guests and he kept pushing me to stay in the room with them.  I understand better why it was that way early; the extremem messiness of it all from the oversupply made it hard to let her latch quickly and discreetly.  It was a process to prepare! 

Fortunately as time went on the messiness slowed; I got more practiced and better at it, as did she.  Now, I don't use a cover and am comfortable nursing her neatly anywhere!

In the beginning there were challenges, but I'm so glad I stuck with it.  It is certainly easier now, and something I don't think twice about. 

My lack of understanding or reading about formula feeding only heled me stay commited.  If I stopped breastfeeding; I knew nothing about formual feeding.  I hadn't read anything about how to prepare it, how to store it, how much to use, anything, and I'm so alright with that.  Granted, Keith would have known a lot of that since the boys were formual fed.  Although I think about that being something that helped keep me commited to breastfeeding; I certainly don't think it was a driving force. 

I was forunate there were very few times, that I even thought about stopping; and even then, they weren't serious considerations.  It's been a great experience.

A Letter to My Future Self

Dear Self:

If you're ever a grandma or even as a mom to adult children, please remember these things:

• Things have changed since you were a new mom.  Allow them to make their choices, and know that those choices are not a slap in your face that you were wrong in how you raised your children.  
•  Stay active, healthy and fit to be around to enjoy your family and fun activities even as you age.  
• Offer to help, and be genuine about it. 
• Try not to offer too much unwanted advice.
• Be a good listener.
• Be patient and kind.
• Take interest in your children's lives, not just your grandkids lives. 
• Try to find a common interest to connect with your kids.
• Be open minded.
• If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.
• Put God first, eveything else will fall in line.

I'm sure there are more things.

Now that I've written out these things, I realize it's more than just my future self that could benefit from these things.  I can benefit from some of these things now.  Here's to living a better life. 

Love,

Self

Hello Doc!

Elinore,

You've had a rough week.

Weekend before last you had a low grade fever, but it went away and you were acting fine, other than being a little cranky.

Monday after work, Daddy took you into express care because he was worried you had another ear infection.  We only learned of your first ear infection because you went in for a cough.  Turns out, you were just teething, which is what Mommy thought was going on, but we wanted to be safe and make sure you were taken care of. 

Wednesday you had a doctor's appointment too.  After being at work only a few short hours, your sitter said you eye wasn't looking very good.  I left, picked you up and stayed home with you until your appointment.  You had conjunctivitis a.k.a. pink eye.

Friday after work I noticed a big red spot on your neck.  An hour later when I changed your diaper, I noticed you had it on your tummy and arms too.  I don't know a lot about rashes, and you Daddy was ready to rush you to the ER.  (Don't worry, you'll get used to Daddy wanting to run to the ER at every sneeze.  I help balance him out that way!)  I called the nurse on call and she recommended having you seen in the next 24 hours, but didn't see it as a rush.  Then we remembered Express Care was still open, so in we went again.  The doc said it is a viral rash and may be what caused your pink eye, but that there was not treatment, you'd be fine and it should be gone by Monday.   

You had a really rough day on Saturday; we were out and about and your cried through most of our meal at the restaurant with Uncle Brent and Aunt Kate.  It was one of our first experiences with you being cranky and noisy out in public.  I think I handled it alright for you, but you were just ready for your crib for some sleep I think. 

Sunday was much better, even though you still had this rash.  By Sunday night it wasn't going away like the loc said it would, so Daddy stayed home with you today and took you back into the doctor's office this afternoon.  (You're becoming a pro at doctor visits!)  They said today that even though you still had some red marks the rash was gone.  Although they checked your for strep and thought you may have a bit of a yeast infection/diaper rash, so they prescribed some cream for that.  The diaper rash was new today for you and may have been due to the full diapers you left Daddy today while I was at work.  (Thanks for that! ::))

You've been slightly less happy and cheerful than usual this week, and I certainly can't blame you!  For the most part though, you've powered right through it like a champ.   I sure hope we're on the upswing and you'll have a better week.  If not and the trend continues we'll be back at the doctor's office Wednesday!

Love,

Mom

Smart Ass

I can be kind of a smart ass at times.  I probably over use sarcasm too.

I'm trying to do it less, as I know it isn't always polite, but I clearly have not been that successful.

There was once I time when I longed for the days the boys would understand sarcasm.  When they were younger they didn't catch on to a lot of my funnies.

Now they not only understand it, but they have learned how to be a smart ass right back at me.

For example:

Me: "Good morning boys, time to get ready for school."

Boys: "We don't have school today. We're going to the babysitters."

Me: "You know what I mean, get dressed to leave!"

This happens nearly every Wednesday and Friday.  At least they know their days of the week.

Litter

This past weekend I took the kids out to "practice" for the fun run they are registered for early next month.  They are running one lap around the track at the high school stadium.  I'm running in the 5K the same day. 

The made it roughly half way before they were tired and wanted to walk.  We may practice another time or two before the day weather permitting of course. 

We were blessed with great weather on Sunday, so they asked to go for a walk when we arrived back.  So my mom and I went out with the kids, including Elinore in the stroller, and went for a walk.  I estimate it was at around a half mile or so.  We walked the school sidewalks and parking lots down to their elementary school and back. 

I was so proud of Caleb as he saw some litter on the walk and started picking it up!  He carried it for awhile, and then I realized he could put it in the stroller.  He kept it up on our walk. 

Caden joined in later too, but most of the time he was busy with the dog.  He usually likes to handle Belle when we go for walks. 

On our way pack through the high school parking lot we found a lot of trash, so my mom and I even joined in his efforts in picking up.  I'm pretty sure I picked up the remnants of some high schoolers breakfasts of pop tart and muffin wrappers. 

By the time we got back to the house the bottom of Elinore's stroller was full and the boys set at unloading it into the trash and recycling bins in our garage. 

It warms my heart to see them being so thoughtful and caring. 

Great Lakes Science Center

 

 

Keith spent an afternoon in late February off with his brother.  I decided to be adventurous with the kids and take them to Cleveland for the afternoon to the Great Lakes Science Center.  The boys had a great time, and I really enjoyed spending time with them.