Wednesday, August 07, 2002
My DS's next doctor appointment is next Tuesday. It is his "4 month" well baby checkup, a little early. He will be getting any "2 month" vaccines that we decide to have. I've started reading up on vaccinations again. Reflections On Immunity, Vaccinations and Smallpox
Monday, August 05, 2002
Hand to Mouth
DS holds his hands together a lot. If anything is within 6 inches or so of his mouth, his hands go together trying to grab it, then they go towards his mouth. He often grabs the object (especially if it's a blanket or drool rag or his rings) and sometimes he actually gets it to his mouth to chew / drool on.
DS holds his hands together a lot. If anything is within 6 inches or so of his mouth, his hands go together trying to grab it, then they go towards his mouth. He often grabs the object (especially if it's a blanket or drool rag or his rings) and sometimes he actually gets it to his mouth to chew / drool on.
Enjoy the sounds of children
Yesterday the air conditioning in our church nursery wasn't working very well, so the children (an infant & 4 toddlers) moved to the parlor. It is a large carpeted open area that is separated from the sanctuary only by a thick folding curtain. When the pastor explained the possible noise to the congregation, she said "enjoy the sounds of children". I just about cried. I realized (again) how blessed I am to have my DS!
Yesterday the air conditioning in our church nursery wasn't working very well, so the children (an infant & 4 toddlers) moved to the parlor. It is a large carpeted open area that is separated from the sanctuary only by a thick folding curtain. When the pastor explained the possible noise to the congregation, she said "enjoy the sounds of children". I just about cried. I realized (again) how blessed I am to have my DS!
Friday, August 02, 2002
Hearing is fine
DS passed his hearing test this morning. It was a 3-month follow-up from the testing that was done in NICU. There was one imbalance between the right and left sides in the nerve transmission at very soft levels before, but everything came out balanced and fine this time! That's one more "normal" judgement from the medical profession for him... not that we want him to be "normal", mind you, but it's one less thing to worry about from his traumatic first few days.
DS passed his hearing test this morning. It was a 3-month follow-up from the testing that was done in NICU. There was one imbalance between the right and left sides in the nerve transmission at very soft levels before, but everything came out balanced and fine this time! That's one more "normal" judgement from the medical profession for him... not that we want him to be "normal", mind you, but it's one less thing to worry about from his traumatic first few days.
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Surrender
That's what it takes to care for an infant without going crazy. You have to surrender your schedule and your desires, and submit to the baby's needs. No more "getting lots of things done." No more spur of the moment lunches out. No more hours of television watching or 'net surfing. Fifteen minutes of quiet "adult time" is now a lot of time. It's a big adjustment. It's good once it's accepted as what is needed at this time.
Doing the grocery shopping together is great. Being the one to do the shopping while the other one stays home with the baby is sometimes even better. I now understand my mother so much better! Too bad she's not around for me to tell her that. Tomorrow will be the 4th anniversary of her death. Sometimes I really miss her a lot!
That's what it takes to care for an infant without going crazy. You have to surrender your schedule and your desires, and submit to the baby's needs. No more "getting lots of things done." No more spur of the moment lunches out. No more hours of television watching or 'net surfing. Fifteen minutes of quiet "adult time" is now a lot of time. It's a big adjustment. It's good once it's accepted as what is needed at this time.
Doing the grocery shopping together is great. Being the one to do the shopping while the other one stays home with the baby is sometimes even better. I now understand my mother so much better! Too bad she's not around for me to tell her that. Tomorrow will be the 4th anniversary of her death. Sometimes I really miss her a lot!
Thursday, July 25, 2002
Time flies!
One year ago today we had the egg retrieval for our IVF. Tonight I just finished putting my 3 month old son to sleep. Wow! In a way it doesn't seem like that long ago, but it also seems like a lifetime, DS's lifetime.
I don't get enough sleep. That's probably very common for new moms. Now that I am back to work, I don't get my naps. And after putting DS to bed, I stay up and watch the news or catch up on email or do a little (emphasis on little) housework. Sometimes DS will surprise me and sleep 5-6 hours in a row, but usually it is still 3-4 at night, and sometimes only 2-3 at a time.
I should go to bed now, but I need to get my clothes and breastpumps ready for tomorrow. I have 2, one Medela mini-electric that I use at home on one side before I go to work, after feeding DS on the other side. The other is an Avent ISIS manual that I take to work. It works just as fast and as well as the mini-electric, is quieter and more comfortable, and may even get let-down to come faster. By having 2, I don't have to wash one immediately after using it in the morning before going to work. I just rinse the milk out and wash it later in the evening.
One year ago today we had the egg retrieval for our IVF. Tonight I just finished putting my 3 month old son to sleep. Wow! In a way it doesn't seem like that long ago, but it also seems like a lifetime, DS's lifetime.
I don't get enough sleep. That's probably very common for new moms. Now that I am back to work, I don't get my naps. And after putting DS to bed, I stay up and watch the news or catch up on email or do a little (emphasis on little) housework. Sometimes DS will surprise me and sleep 5-6 hours in a row, but usually it is still 3-4 at night, and sometimes only 2-3 at a time.
I should go to bed now, but I need to get my clothes and breastpumps ready for tomorrow. I have 2, one Medela mini-electric that I use at home on one side before I go to work, after feeding DS on the other side. The other is an Avent ISIS manual that I take to work. It works just as fast and as well as the mini-electric, is quieter and more comfortable, and may even get let-down to come faster. By having 2, I don't have to wash one immediately after using it in the morning before going to work. I just rinse the milk out and wash it later in the evening.
Saturday, July 20, 2002
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Monday, July 15, 2002
Party!
Yesterday we went to a BBQ with the other couples in our Bradley childbirth class. It was great to get together with them and their babies! DS was the youngest, but he wasn't the smallest. The oldest, a girl, was smaller than him. She was born about 6 weeks early. Most of the time the mommies and daddies held the babies, but we did lay them all down on the floor (in order of appearance) for some pictures. It was cute to see them interacting a bit and to compare sizes. I suggested that we get together again, and one of the other moms suggested a playgroup. DH wondered if he could drop DS off at the playgroup and leave. I answered only if he were willing to have one of the others dropped off with him sometimes -- that's the difference between babysitting swapping and a playgroup.
Yesterday we went to a BBQ with the other couples in our Bradley childbirth class. It was great to get together with them and their babies! DS was the youngest, but he wasn't the smallest. The oldest, a girl, was smaller than him. She was born about 6 weeks early. Most of the time the mommies and daddies held the babies, but we did lay them all down on the floor (in order of appearance) for some pictures. It was cute to see them interacting a bit and to compare sizes. I suggested that we get together again, and one of the other moms suggested a playgroup. DH wondered if he could drop DS off at the playgroup and leave. I answered only if he were willing to have one of the others dropped off with him sometimes -- that's the difference between babysitting swapping and a playgroup.
Sunday, July 14, 2002
I have a cold
I felt it start to come on Friday evening. By Saturday it was full-blown (no pun intended). My PCP's partner said anything except cold medicines with alcohol (like Nyquil) are okay when breastfeeding. That's nice, because Dayquil & 12-hour sudafed & Tylenol will do good enough. I'm really tired today, but the cold symptoms are pretty well under control. I just hope that the immune boosting qualities of breastmilk are good enough to keep DS from catching my cold. So far so good, we'll know in a couple of days for sure, though.
I felt it start to come on Friday evening. By Saturday it was full-blown (no pun intended). My PCP's partner said anything except cold medicines with alcohol (like Nyquil) are okay when breastfeeding. That's nice, because Dayquil & 12-hour sudafed & Tylenol will do good enough. I'm really tired today, but the cold symptoms are pretty well under control. I just hope that the immune boosting qualities of breastmilk are good enough to keep DS from catching my cold. So far so good, we'll know in a couple of days for sure, though.
Friday, July 12, 2002
I'm not pregnant
Okay, that's no surprise, but I have bright red proof! I've read and been told that breastfeeding will often delay the return of a woman's period. No such luck for me. Actually 9 months without it was nice, but the lochia bleeding for several weeks after giving birth pretty much made up for that. My lochia was actually light and short, from what I've been told. Since my Dr. "cleaned me out" during the c-section, there was less bleeding afterward than had I delivered vaginally.
My first week back to work went okay. I didn't have as much angst about it as I thought I would. That's probably because I left DS home with DH instead of having to take him to a sitter or daycare. DH is doing better now, too. :-) I picked up all the enrollment paperwork from the Child Development Center (CDC) where I work yesterday. We plan to have DS start there when classes start in late August.
Okay, that's no surprise, but I have bright red proof! I've read and been told that breastfeeding will often delay the return of a woman's period. No such luck for me. Actually 9 months without it was nice, but the lochia bleeding for several weeks after giving birth pretty much made up for that. My lochia was actually light and short, from what I've been told. Since my Dr. "cleaned me out" during the c-section, there was less bleeding afterward than had I delivered vaginally.
My first week back to work went okay. I didn't have as much angst about it as I thought I would. That's probably because I left DS home with DH instead of having to take him to a sitter or daycare. DH is doing better now, too. :-) I picked up all the enrollment paperwork from the Child Development Center (CDC) where I work yesterday. We plan to have DS start there when classes start in late August.
Tuesday, July 09, 2002
2nd day at work
DS came to work today for lunch. DH had an 11 o'clock appointment near where I work, so instead of me going home (across town), DH brought DS to me. I brought his stroller up to my office and he watched me work for a little while, then I fed him (my co-workers all happened to be conveniently gone to lunch). Shortly after DS finished eating, DH called because he finished early. So he picked us both up and we went out to lunch, then DH took DS back home. It was a nice break.
DS came to work today for lunch. DH had an 11 o'clock appointment near where I work, so instead of me going home (across town), DH brought DS to me. I brought his stroller up to my office and he watched me work for a little while, then I fed him (my co-workers all happened to be conveniently gone to lunch). Shortly after DS finished eating, DH called because he finished early. So he picked us both up and we went out to lunch, then DH took DS back home. It was a nice break.
Monday, July 08, 2002
I'm back at work
I left DS with DH this morning, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. After feeding DS, I rolled over and told DH "I'm going to take my shower, he's all yours." Before coming out of the bathroom I heard crying. By the time I was ready to go, DS had a dry diaper and was gurgling and cooing in his crib happy.
I'm still trying to get a pumping location set up at work. We have a room with a lock now, but I couldn't find any electrical outlets. (It's a very large storage room with plenty of room for a nice chair, desk, pictures, etc., but it wasn't designed as a work space.) Instead of using my batteries, I went to the women's restroom. The pump works with batteries, just not a well, and the women's restroom is a one-seater so I locked the door and sat on the floor.
I left DS with DH this morning, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. After feeding DS, I rolled over and told DH "I'm going to take my shower, he's all yours." Before coming out of the bathroom I heard crying. By the time I was ready to go, DS had a dry diaper and was gurgling and cooing in his crib happy.
I'm still trying to get a pumping location set up at work. We have a room with a lock now, but I couldn't find any electrical outlets. (It's a very large storage room with plenty of room for a nice chair, desk, pictures, etc., but it wasn't designed as a work space.) Instead of using my batteries, I went to the women's restroom. The pump works with batteries, just not a well, and the women's restroom is a one-seater so I locked the door and sat on the floor.
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