Easter Celebration

Well, this post is a little late, but I wanted to share some pictures I took on Easter.

On Saturday night at 10:30pm, I completed my first official obligatory holiday act as a mom...I dyed the Easter eggs!  I really wanted to do the ones with his name on it.  We did them when we where little and I always loved it!  I know he's way too little to understand and participate, but I still had to do it.

The best of the finished product



On Easter Sunday, Michael and I hit the road to spend the day with my Mom's side of the family.  It had been our plan to go as a family, but Rob's dad had a little health scare, so he decided to go to see his family that day.  It actually turned out to be a fairly decent day.  Michael wasn't too cranky and enjoyed being held by all his aunts, Nana and Papa.  He also got to meet his cousins Claire and Daniel and get a closer look at Brooklyn and Jayde.

A closer look at Cousin Jayde

My Godson Daniel meeting Michael

Wyatt and Ava chillin on the swings

Snuggling with Papa

Dee, James and Wyatt

(Yes, they are his parents!  Just prepping for Mexico!)

Andy, Ava and Jayde

(Jo was working)

Michael and his Easter Bunny from Gramma and Grandpa Polingo



We are still going to the chiropractor and as convinced as I was that it was a cure-all, I'm now being a little more reserved and thinking of it as a "mild helper" instead.  Wednesday night he cried for 4 hours straight, only taking time out to eat.  I headed to Target and and got some Gripe water.  We put it in his bedtime bottle and it actually seemed to help a little bit.  We'll test it out again tonight and see what the results are.

Today, I'm even getting smiles out of the little man.  It kinda makes all the other bad days just disappear.  I can't wait for him to be more smiles and less cries.  I know it's coming and I'll keep waiting.

Here is his ten week pic!



Thanks for checking in!

Something new

Well, we have officially had the 2 month mark come and go!

These pics were taken on his 2 month Birth Day...April 15th!  I love the stickers that go on his onesie to show how old he is in these pics.  (Thanks, Ana!)  I also got an idea from another co-worker to take the pictures of him in a white onesie every month so we can see how much he's changing. (Thanks, Joni!)

When he was started on the Zantac for his acid reflux the doctor encouraged the use of a pacifier.  The reason being that when babies have acid reflux, the more they suck the more comfortable he feels.  The unfortuate part was that Michael was not liking his pacifier and would only use me as his human nuk.  When he did that, he would have more volume in his stomach which would make the acid reflux worse.  What a vicious cycle!  Since he's been born we've tried 5 different pacifiers.  Since the acid reflux diagnosis, we've tried to concentrate on only one so we don't confuse him too much.  We've been focusing on the Soothie paci since it's the closest looking nuk to the bottle we're using.  We have a couple Soothies, but we got this one at a baby shower and I think it's adorable! (Thanks again, Ana!)  Yes, the monkey is attached to the pacifier!  Michael likes to hug it sometimes.



We've continued to go to the chiropractor for his colic/acid reflux to see if it will continue to help.  The first night after his first adjustment was great!  He slept for 8 hours (doesn't mean mom does, though)!  Since then it has been hit or miss.  Some days he's good; still fussy, but not the ear-piercing horrible screams.  Some days it's bad...really bad.  We're still going to the chiropractor.  I figure it can't hurt.

However, yesterday was another bad day and I called the pediatrician again.  (These people are going to love me, I can tell!)  When Michael was initially given the prescription for Zantac, the doctor mentioned that if it didn't help, we could try something else.  Well, after 2 weeks, I thought that his symptoms should have been better by now.  I called the clinic and told them what was going on...projectile vomiting, constant screaming and urping up all the time and screaming afterwards.  This morning they got back to me and tonight we started a new medicine...Prilosec.  We were told that it can take 2-3 days to start to see a difference and it should be better after the first week.  Let's hope!

This might be TMI:

I've also started to feed him by bottle.  I'm pumping and giving him the milk that way.  It gives me a little peace of mind knowing that he is getting enough and tends to be more satisfied after feedings.  This way he is also not attached to me 24/7.  I know that a lot of people think that nursing is a great bonding experience and should be the only thing done, but for right now, it's working for us.  It also turns out that I'm not making enough milk to meet his needs.  He's taking about 3 ounces a day over what I am making.  It still makes me happy to be giving him the breastmilk, but at least I know he is getting what he needs.  I'm still taking an herbal supplement called Go Lacta recommended to me by a lactation consultant.  I'm not convinced that it is working, but at this point, I'll do what needs to be done to keep my supply up.

I feel that the majority of my posts have been a little down-in-the-dumps.  I feel like I do nothing but complain and to be honest, I think I still have quite a few bouts of the baby blues.  Just to clarify, I love my baby and would do anything for him.  But like the pediatrician said, it's a very high stress time, he's a high stress baby and I need to rely on those around me for help and support.

So many of you have expressed sympathy and support for both me and Michael.  Thank you for that.  Whether it be holding him so I can take a nap, getting me out of the house, or letting me take a few hours out of the house without Michael, thank you.  Again, I love my baby, but sometimes a mom needs a break.

With that being said, I also know how lucky I am for how healthy (generally speaking) that Michael is. 

My co-worker and her husband recently found out that their unborn baby girl has hypoplastic left heart syndrome.  This is an extremely difficult diagnosis and their sweet baby girl will need to have heart surgery in her first week of life that she may or may not survive.  Any prayers for Baby Kaiya and her family are much needed and appreciated.  As the pediatrician told me:  There is only so much that medicine can do.  Many prayers and hugs to Jilanne, Jason, Brady and Baby Kaiya!

Here are a few more pictures of my little guy:



Relief!

Since I've been on maternity leave, it seems like there is never a week where we don't have something going on.  Heck...a day that there isn't something happening!  I'm sorry to those of you who have been anxiously awaiting an update (Dee and Mom), but I'll explain a little more later.

The last week of March was Spring Break for my friend Teresa.  To keep us both sane and to get out of the house, we took a trip to the zoo with our friend Charlotte and her family.  I know you're shocked at this, but Michael didn't get much out of the trip. :)  However, it was a much needed day out of the house for his mama.  He actually spent a large chunk of the day snoozing in a sling.  It's the first time I've used it out of the house and only the second time I've used it ever.  I think the noises and activity around him played a big part of why he slept, but hey, that's okay by me.

In his zoo outfit (Thanks, Tasha!)

 Checking out the dolphins!



During that week off, we also had his first trip to the Mall of America.  Again, just an excuse to get out of the house and stretch our legs!

It was also during this week that I thought maybe Michael was dealing with acid reflux.  The mom in me says "Oh, he's a good baby.  All babies have crying fits."  However, the more I paid attention and listened to him and my heart, I realized that maybe something a little more in depth was happening.  He wouldn't just cry, he'd have ear-piercing, blood-curdling screams.  He's be inconsolable for the majority of the day and the only time he wouldn't be crying was if he was nursing. 

I finally said enough is enough and took him into the pediatrician on April 5th.  We were scheduled to meet with the doctor that initially saw him when he was born.  I was not thrilled.  I thought that he was unsympathetic and didn't explain things well while we were in the hospital, but he was my only option.  My thoughts have now changed.  He was the nicest doctor!  He explained everything so well and encouraged me to find support in my family and friends since having a baby with Michael's temperment is extremely stressful.  (Preachin' to the choir, doc!)  The good news was that he was still gaining weight and now weighed in at 9# 10oz!  We started him on Zantac (an acid-reducer) that night. 

It's now been a week later and even though I think the Zantac is helping, he still has many horrible hours during the day.  He would only be calm and relaxed when he was eating, and sometimes not even then.  The only time during the day when I could get stuff done would be when Rob got home or after he went to bed at night.  It might be time for something other than medication.

Michael had his Zantac follow-up and his 2 month well-check today (I know, right?!?!)  He was 9 pounds 15 ounces (16th%) and is now 22 1/2 inches long (40th%).  He's a long and lean little guy.  All-in-all, it was a good appt and everything seems to be on track.  Even though he's only 16th percentile for weight, the doctor says that he has still gained weight the way he should be - 0.5-1 ounces per day.  While we were there, I asked him what his thoughts were about chiropractic care for him.  He said that there is only so much the medicine can do for him and that since we've tried everything else, it might not hurt to have him adjusted.  I said "Good!  We have an appt this afternoon!"

I took him into the chiropractor this afternoon for an exam.  I was hoping to find someone who did pediatric care in the Shakopee area.  I stumbled across this website for Kavangah Chiropractic in Shakopee.  Not only did she say she specialized in pediatric chiro, she also happened to train with the chiropractor that my sister takes her girls to!  I took that as a good sign!  I was right!

She blocked out an hour for our visit, which was great cause Michael decided he needed to eat shortly after we got there.  She examined him and said he already had knots in his back, had a very tight tummy, and had a misalignment at C1, which can cause ear infections.  It was so great watching her work her magic!  After Michael ate, he had relaxed enough to where she could work on his tummy.  As she massaged, I watched his face go from in pain to totally relaxed.  I almost started to cry right then and there.  My poor little man was in such pain!  All he needed was a little adjustement, and he's like a whole new baby.

He actually sat in his swing and watched the mobile for 45 minutes tonight.  He let mom and dad eat without being held and crying.  He cooed and smiled at us more than he has ever done.  He's currently sleeping at 11:06pm, instead of screaming in pain.  It's so great to see my baby be so pain-free and relaxed!  We have another appt with the chiroprator on Friday, so hopefully things will only continue to get better from here on out.

I know I've been stingy with pictures, so here are some recent ones.  I can't believe my little man is already 8 weeks old!

So serious!

Chillin in the tub!

Chewin on his hand.

Smiling at dad!



Weights and Bilis and Breastfeeding, Oh My!

We had another doctor appointment today for the little man to check his bilirubin level and his weight...again!

Good news!!!!

He now weighs 9 pounds!

His bili level was at 10.7!!!!

Now, it's still not "normal", but it dropped over 4 points in 1 week.

That's the biggest drop we've seen since he was born!

Needless to say, I was thrilled!

We also now have a hungry man on our hands.

I am breastfeeding and yesterday, if he wasn't sleeping, he was attached to me!

Don't get me wrong, it's a great bond and all that, but there's only so much a mom can take.

I talked about it with the pediatrician today and she recommended supplementing him with either EBM or formula after his feedings.

I was a little dillusional about breastfeeding (I think).

I imagined feeding him, he'd sleep for a few hours, wake up and eat again.

I'd have so much supply that I'd have enough stocked up to feed him till he's 1.

Wrong!

I never imagined how much of an emotional thing it is.  Feelings of inadequacy wash over me when he is crying for more and I simply don't have any left to give him.  I literally cried the first time I gave him formula since I left the hospital.  It's making me cry now!  Hormones are a bitch!

I've now decided that I can't feel guilty 24/7 and that I need to do what's best for my little man, even though it might make me a crying sack of mush.  I want him to be a rolly-polly and chubby thighed baby.

I'm hoping that supplementing him will do that.

Hopefully I'll have some rolly-polly pics soon.

In the meantime...

Meeting Cousin Wyatt for the first time.

4 weeks old!

Little hands



Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We may only have a pinch of Irish in us, but we're celebrating anyway!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Kiss Me???

With a face like this who can resist?!?!?!

One month!

 4 weeks!

I can't believe it has been 4 weeks since this new little person arrived.

We are still watching his jaundice closely.  He looked a little more yellow to us over the past few days, so I took him back in yesterday for a check-up.

His bili level was at 14.7, so it had gone up, but not enough for the doctor to be too concerned.  We will have it checked again next week just to make sure it's not still going up.  The doctor called it "breastmilk jaundice".  My niece, Jayde, had it when she was a newborn and that was the first time I had heard of it.  I still need to do some reading about it to find out more info, but in short, it can last for up to 3 months, so at this point it's nothing to freak out about.

He now weighs 8 pounds 10 ounces, meaning he gained a little over half an ounce per day since his last weight was done.  The peds would is happy with is weight gain, but he was acting hungry while we were there even though I had just finished feeding him!  She then brought up the idea of supplementing with either formula or EBM after feedings if needed.  Thankfully I had started pumping and had some milk in the fridge and freezer.  We ended up needing to use it later last night.  I fed him and an hour later he woke up hungry again!  Thank God for a little bottle action!  I think Michael was thanking Him too!

Please pray and wish us luck that Michael gets all the nutrition he needs and that his weight goes up and bili goes down!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm slow with getting pictures up here.

This may come as a shock, but I haven't been doing the best with taking pictures of him.

Even though we did take some "good" pics of him a week ago, my sister mentioned that she regretted not having professional pictures taken of her girls when they were newborns.

On a whim on Monday, Rob and I took Michael into Target for a last minute photo session.

For being Target and only having a 20 minute appointment with a not-so-happy baby, we got some pretty good pictures.

I tried to attach a link, but can't figure it out.  You'll have to take my word for it...we have a pretty adorable baby!  Once I figure out how to attach them, they'll be up here.

In the meantime, this was Michael's opinion of having his pictures taken...

I really need to get the camera out more often!

Thanks for checking in!

2 weeks in the blink of an eye!

Make that 2 weeks and 3 days!

I've tried starting this post multiple times over the past 2 weeks.
You know how it is.  Still enjoying being a mommy!

I'll try to bring you up to speed.  Unfortunately, it'll be a long post and I totally understand if you skip it.

On our last day in the hospital, I realized that we hadn't taken a picture of Michael with his Birth Day Cake.  It's a tradition my sisters and I started with the birth of each their children and my sister, Dee, was sweet and brought Michael his first Birth Day cake.

We ended up having to stay in the hospital for one day longer than we were anticipating.  I was feeling great, but little Michael was needing a little extra time.  He hadn't pooped in 38 hours, his bilirubin level was high (jaundice) and he had lost 11% of his original weight (down to 7#1oz.).  Because of all these thing, the pediatrician felt better having him stay an extra day.  I felt better too!
By the time we left the hospital, he had pooped multiple times and had gained 2 ounces.  Unfortunately his bili level was still high, but not high enough for phototherapy, so they let us go home with orders to follow up in the clinic.

Our first day home was relatively uneventful.  Harley greeted Michael by ignoring him.  No worries there! My friend, Chantel, and sisters, Dee and Kate came over to visit, but other than that, it was time to relax and enjoy being home.

Sunday, Feb. 20th was Michael's first official blizzard.  Shakopee got about 15 inches of snow.  We got to spend the day snuggled in the house.

Rob had one more week of vacation and was enjoying every minute of it.  He didn't change a diaper or help with feedings, but he was wonderful and waited on me hand and foot.  With my hands full with fulfilling Michael's needs, Rob fulfilled all of mine.  It was great!   I even got a foot rub for my crazy "Fred Flintstone" feet!

We had both sets of grandparents come to visit and bring us wonderful meals that we didn't have to cook for ourselves.  Their payback was a little snuggle time with the peanut.

Michael's first doctor visit was on February 24th.  He had gained 5 ounces since discharge from the hospital!  However, his bilirubin level was still high at 16.3.  Being an L&D nurse, I know just enough about bili levels to be irritating.  Apparently the new standard is to not worry about the levels until it hits 20.  The fact that Michael is also alert, wakes for feedings, is filling his diaper regularly and has gained weight were also good things and made this first time mom a little more comfortable with having a yellow child.  We have a recheck sheduled for tomorrow, March 3rd.

On Sunday, Feb. 27th, we had planned having an "us" day.  A day with no visitors and nothing to do, but hang out at home as a family.  I had talked to my parents and they were planning on spending the morning with my Grandpa.  When Michael woke up, it was apparent that he was not going back to sleep, so we got ready, loaded everything up in the van and headed to Belle Plaine to visit Grandpa.  We took the 4-generation picture, but Grandpa had no interest in holding Michael.

Just as we were getting ready to leave, Grandpa was sitting in his chair and my Dad said "Here, Pops" and placed Michael in his arms.  I had my camera ready and snapped as many pics as I could of my Grandpa and Michael.

Someone mentioned the fact the with all the grandkids and great-grandkids, that Grandpa should be used to holding babies.  I replied by saying that it was always Grandma who held the babies.  Even after her stroke, she would use her good arm to hold the sleeping little ones.  In the end, I think Grandpa enjoyed holding a baby more than he will admit.  They are pictures I will always treasure.

Rob headed back to work on the 28th, so Michael and I were home alone for the first time since he was born!  All went well and I even got in a nap or two!

I had my 2-week post-op appt on March 1st.  This was my original due date, and as Rob pointed out to me, also the 3 year anniversary of our engagement!  My appointment went well.  I just need to follow up in 4 weeks.

Michael had his follow-up appointment at the pediatrician on Thursday, March 3rd.
Again, nothing but good news!  He is now weighing in at 8 pounds 3 ounces and his bilirubin level went from 16.3 to 13.7.  His doctor says that even though the bili is still higher than normal, he is on the mend and does not need to be seen again until he is 2 months old.  Yay!

We also had Michael's first photo shoot this week.  He was cooperative (for the most part) and I think we got a couple cute pics.   Maybe now I can order his Birth Annoucements!

Here are a few pics...
Enjoy!