June 2012

Pathetically, I've only got one picture for the entire month of June. I've got more on my phone, but my phone doesn't access the internet, so I usually send those pictures to my dad, who then emails them to me. Somehow I haven't done this for my June pictures! And my phone doesn't get good enough service to send pictures when I'm at my house, so I'll have to do that sometime in the Walmart parking lot or something. In the meantime, here is the one picture I have (well, really I have more than 10 versions of the same picture, but this one is the best of everyone :) I think). This is me and Rosebud with my sister-in-law Joni and niece baby D, and Joni's cousin C and baby F (the only boy in this group). It was taken at my nephew's baptism in June. Rosebud and baby F are birthday twins, with baby D being 10 days younger.

Babywearers unite!

On June 12, Rosebud had her 4-month check-up. She weighed only 14lb 7oz, a gain of only 7oz in a month. The pediatrician didn't freak out about it, though, which I was glad for, because we knew that the problem was her tongue-tie and that she'd start gaining weight more quickly once it was clipped. And that procedure was scheduled for the following day. Developmentally, she was ahead of schedule.

That evening, we met my parents at a restaurant between our two homes for dinner, and so that Jeric could go stay two nights with them so I could focus on Rosebud and her recovery. This was the very first time I had ever spent an entire night away from Jeric and I'm pretty sure it was more traumatic for me than it was for him! I am glad we had him go, though, because it was definitely easier to help Rosebud heal than it would have been if he'd been there; she needed to rest, and he probably wouldn't have let her, though of course he wouldn't have done it on purpose. :)

One June 13, we woke up early early and arrived at the hospital for Rosebud's double surgery. Since she was only 4 months old, she was first on the schedule. Her surgery took a bit longer than Jeric's when he had tubes put in, because she was also having her frenulum clipped, but it was maybe half an hour from the time they took her back until she woke up in recovery and we were able to go to her. She was so pitiful, poor baby. It was amazing, though, because I sat down to nurse her for comfort, and IT DIDN'T HURT. AT. ALL. It was amazing. We went home and gave her some pain medication, then she and I pretty much snuggled in the bed while nursing for the rest of the day. I only had to give her one more dose of medication that afternoon, and after that she seemed fine and back to her normal happy self. I had to work with her on her latch a little bit for the next week or so, because she'd been doing it incorrectly for so long. Once we got it down, we never had any more problems! I'm so glad we decided to have her frenulum clipped. And since there's a genetic component to tongue-tie, better believe I'm having a good lactation consultant check all my future babies when they are newborns.

Only a couple more things happened in June: my sister turned 16, Husband had his transfer student orientation at the university, and my aunt was in TN for a few weeks doing course work for her grad program, so she stayed one weekend at my parents' house and we got to see her.

May 2012

In May, Husband finished his last semester at the community college and [finally] finished his associate's degree. The poor guy has had a rough time getting done because of moving and moving and moving again, but I'm so proud of him for sticking it out. We were beginning to make preparations to move sometime during the summer, because he had been accepted to a state university to finish the rest of his undergraduate degree. We took a couple of trips to look for a job for him in our new city. We weren't very concerned about it at first, because he had a job working nights in our old city, so we figured we had all summer. 

We started looking more in earnest beginning the last week of May, because he lost his job. It wasn't his fault, and it wasn't the company owners' fault. Circumstances beyond anyone's control caused a drop-off in business, and they simply couldn't afford to let all the employees keep working. Because they knew that we were moving that summer anyway, Husband was one of those let go. He put in more than a dozen applications for jobs in our new city, but we didn't hear anything for a long time.

I almost forgot something else that happened in May: I had my very first [very mild] anaphylactic reaction. I reacted to, of all things, the baked apples at a restaurant while out to eat with my mom, dad, and sister (it was kind of a joint anniversary celebration, because our anniversary is two days before my mom and dad's). I still don't know what it was that was in the apples that I'm allergic to (it wasn't the apples, the sugar, or the cinnamon, so there must have been something else) but it was definitely the baked apples that caused the reaction. We were just finishing up and on our way out the door anyway, and the reaction was very very mild. My tongue felt like it was blistered, and my throat felt raw, but I could breathe just fine, so we didn't go to the hospital. Instead, we went to the Walmart pharmacy because it was 7:30 on a Saturday evening. Because I'm breastfeeding, I wasn't sure what was and was not okay to take (I didn't think any of them were unsafe, but I wasn't sure). So, I called the midwife! I called the number that you call when you're in labor, because I had it saved in my phone. :) Marcia answered and apparently had my number saved in her phone, because she knew who I was before I told her. I told her what was going on, and she said I could take Benadryl, but to be aware that it might cause a temporary drop in milk production. We bought the liquid kind because we thought it would take effect more quickly. I took it while we pulled out of the parking lot and felt fine by the time we got home. albeit a bit drowsy from the Benadryl. So that was an exciting weekend. Haha.

Also in May, Rosebud and I continued to have difficulty with nursing (again, if you don't want to read about it, scroll down to the pictures). By the time she turned three months old on May 6, I was fairly sure she had a posterior tongue-tie, because no one had noticed it (they are difficult to spot) but she had all the symptoms of tongue-tie. (Google tongue-tie and breastfeeding if you're curious.) I felt like such an idiot that I'd noticed all the signs but hadn't put them together for three months. We went to an open house at the birth center (Rosebud had been born at the temporary location, and I wanted to see the new place!) where I asked the midwives if they'd be able to confirm my suspicions. Nicole looked at Rosebud's tongue and said yes, she was definitely tongue-tied. 

Some tongue-ties don't cause any problems for breastfeeding or speech, some cause problems for both, some only cause problems for one or the other. Some initially cause problems for breastfeeding but stretch out o n their own with time. Because Rosebud was already three months old and the problems were only getting worse, I knew she'd need to have it clipped. I called my pediatrician the next day for an appointment so I could get a referral to an ENT who could perform the procedure. Rosebud was still gaining weight fairly well despite our issues, so I was glad for that. But, I knew that she'd have gained more quickly to that point had she not been tongue-tied. (She was 9lb 2oz at birth, 10lb 0oz at two weeks, 12lb 10oz at two months, and 14lb 0oz at this appointment at three months.) 

I got my referral, but had to wait until the last week of May for the appointment. Those weeks were awful. I sought the help of a couple of lactation consultants to help minimize the pain I was feeling in the meantime, but I would just cry in pain every time poor Rosebud latched on to nurse. When I finally took her in to see the ENT, we learned that our insurance wouldn't pay for the frenulectomy, which would need to be performed under anesthesia (similar to when Jeric had tubes put in his ears). We certainly couldn't afford to pay for it out-of-pocket! I was devastated. The ENT took pity on me and did a full check-up of her ears, as well, and found that she already had a lot of fluid in her ears (though it wasn't infected at the time). He knew our family history (tubes, tubes, tubes for everyone!) and recommended based on those two things that we go ahead and have tubes inserted, and that he would simply clip her tongue while she was under anesthesia for the tubes, and we could just pay for the tongue-clip itself. We were able to afford that! We scheduled the procedure for June 13th. I wasn't happy about having to wait that long, but was excited to have it done! And that concluded Chapter 2 in The Saga of the Tongue-Tie. :)

Helping Papa in the yard. 

Cuddle cousins. 

Being sweet. 

Neither of my kids have ever taken a pacifier consistently, but Jeric knows what they are for and thought Rosebud should use this one. She wasn't too thrilled.

So he just stuck it in his own mouth. 

Wish he hadn't moved so his face was cut off, but I still think it's cute. 

Tummy time. 

Napping with the blanket Nene made for her. 

 

Playing with Papa outside.

Washing his dirty feet. 

Imitating Daddy. Wish it wasn't blurry, but the child never holds still.

Fell asleep again. 

My sister.  

 Rosebud meeting Great-Grandma H (my dad's mom).  

 Jeric and Grandpa (twins, haha).

April 2012

Again, I apologize for all the sideways pictures. I can't figure out how to turn them in blogger, and I can't turn them on my computer before uploading them because my right-click is broken. :(

**Warning: What follows now is a record of the difficulties we began to have with breastfeeding around this time. If you don't want to read about it, skip down to the pictures. :)

Toward the end of April, I began to experience extreme pain while feeding the baby. I knew this wasn't normal discomfort due to newness of breastfeeding because (1) she was almost 3 months old, and (2) excruciating pain is never normal. I knew her latch wasn't great and figured that was the problem. It had always looked fine, but it never felt quite right. I read an excellent book about breastfeeding when Jeric was an infant, so I looked up the website of the pediatrician who wrote that book. I wanted to refresh my memory. I thought I could maybe fix the problem on my own, but knew where I could find a couple of good lactation consultants if I still needed help. I wasn't concerned about Rosebud because she had always gained weight well, though not as quickly as her brother. (I was slightly concerned about that, but she was always well above-average for her age, and everyone reassured me that things were fine. In retrospect, I wish I'd insisted on checking things out a little more thoroughly when she was younger, because it would have saved a lot of trouble in the end.) And that brings me to the end of April, but only the beginning of this little saga.

Just up from a nap and cuddling Grandma. 

Playing with brother.

Tummy time.

Just sweet.

Brother teaching her about the world.

Helping Mommy check her email. 

Easter Sunday.

First Easter dress.

Close-up.

Sitting with Grandpa.

Talking with Nene. 

Hugs and kisses. 

I put her on her tummy in the middle of the bed while I folded clothes around her. Jeric got the empty laundry basket and put it over her. As you can see, she didn't like it. Don't worry, I didn't leave her like that for long -- just long enough to pick up the camera (which was right next to the bed) and take a picture. 

And then she promptly fell asleep.

Helping me fix a nail that was sticking out. (The nail had just been hammered back in by Husband. Poor Jeric actually has a scar from this nail -- it's about 4 inches long on his right leg.)

Helping Daddy do homework. 

Jeric hasn't had a daily nap since Christmas, but occasionally he plays hard enough during the day that he crashes around 5pm. He was actually laying down and playing with the flashlight...and then I realized he'd fallen asleep and the flashlight was still on. I turned it off before taking this picture. :)

Mommy snuggles. 

Cool dude. 

Helping in Nene's garden.

If you don't want to read all the details about my new nursing bra, do yourself a favor and skip this post

First of all, I have to say that I LOVE my new nursing bra.*



Now, why I needed a new nursing bra:

1. I am between cup sizes anyway, and with the back-and-forth-ness of breastfeeding I was just a mess.

2. I am somewhat large-chested and really need support.

3. I have had issues with all the bras I have ever owned (except a nice one I was fitted for just before I got married). The straps never sat correctly against my shoulders and I was always busting out in the middle (even when I had been measured).

4. I bought two nursing bras from Motherhood Maternity and I hate them both. I tried on every bra they had in the store. One I bought in a larger size and it was handy when I was so engorged when my milk first came in, but it was never comfortable. The other was just awful. It was too tight around the bottom and middle, baggy at the top, and the straps pulled away from my skin (this despite the store people measuring me). I rarely wore either unless going to church or something like that because they were extremely uncomfortable and painful at times.

5. I wore a sleep bra from Motherhood pretty much everyday of the first 9 months of Jeric's life. The sleep bra is comfortable and I still sleep in it, but it was not at all supportive.



I know that it was a blog that first sent me to the Bravado website, but I can't remember which. I looked around a bit a few months ago but didn't purchase anything because of the prices - they aren't cheap bras. After 9 months of sleep bras, though, I was tired of it all. Bravado has an excellent return/exchange policy, so I decided to take my chances and see what they could do for me. I took my measurements in front of a mirror (Bravado includes instructions on their website - scroll down about halfway) and gave them a call. After listening to my situation and concerns, the official Certified Fitter ( :) ) recommended the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra.

Dude. I love it.

No underwire (which is uncomfortable), but still extremely supportive.

The straps lay correctly!

It is rather high-cut (she said this like it's a bad thing, but it's not an issue for me) which I like because I'm not exploded out the middle.

It's stretchy and adjusts to my ever-changing size -- no other nursing bra I've seen could do that (not counting the sleep bra).

It has removable foam cups. I like to use them.

And it is SO COMFORTABLE.

I might just wear it even when I'm not nursing anymore, I like it that much!

I was a little disappointed that it doesn't come in white because I generally wear a white bra, but I like the ivory just fine.

Totally worth the money.




I know there were a few of you that wanted to know what I thought -- hope that helps. Any questions that I didn't answer?





*I guess I should be official and say that I am not being compensated by Bravado Designs for writing about this product in any way. I just like the bra!

A few things, once again in list format

1. Baby boy has four teeth. He bites sometimes. I'm working on that.

2. I need to find a family doctor or pediatrician in our new area because it's about time for another well-child visit for Jeric, who turns 9 months old on Wednesday!

3. Speaking of Jeric's age, he has now spent more time out of me than in me (if the length of time from conception to due date is 38 weeks, Jeric was born at 38 weeks and 1 day -- and he is now 38 weeks and 4 days old.)

4. TMI for some/possibly all of you, but I ordered an expensive nursing bra from Bravado the other day -- I hope it fits. It's supposed to be a really good bra, and they have a good return/exchange policy. I have had such a hard time finding a nursing bra that fits, they are all so uncomfortable. I almost always wear a sleep bra, which is pathetic. I'll let you know what I think when it gets here.

5. One night last week, Husband and I went on an impromtu date to the bowling alley. The first game there were people near us and I gutter-balled nearly every other throw. It was lovely, let me tell you. Plus I couldn't find any light balls and the one I was using was way too heavy. Husband won that game, 73-63. The second game I totally schooled him :) 114-63. Amazing for me. When he asked if I wanted to play again, I said I'd rather leave it on a good note.

6. I'll write another post about the last update I have right now.