May « 2012 « Introducing… Elliot and Winston!

Mommy goes to the Doctor

by kate

This morning when Elliot went back to sleep at 6AM I was very full, bordering on engorgement. So I pumped. I don’t know what possessed me, either insane curiosity, a need to get my frozen milk supplies up, or just being stupid from the lack of sleep, but I pumped 5 fl.oz., effectively draining both breasts. Big mistake. Elliot slept for a couple of hours and then ate. I thought I had satisfied him, but as soon as we got to the doctor’s office he started wondering where I put his leftovers. The staff were kind and patient as I tried to nurse him. Eventually he got enough to knock him out for a bit and the nurses took him so I could talk to the doctor.
“Have you tried swaddling him?”
“He doesn’t like it. He kicks out.”
“Have you tried the wraps with Velcro?”
“No, he doesn’t like being swaddled.”
“Have you heard of The Happiest Baby on the Block?”
“…”
And so forth…

When I got home I fed Elliot back and forth for almost two hours while I waited on Logan to get home (which took extra long because Aunt Linzy stranded herself and needed a ride). Eventually, Elliot fell asleep (and so did I). When Logan got home, he fed him a bottle and Elliot actually took a couple of ounces! Now we are relaxing after watching Doctor Who while Logan makes pasta for dinner.

Day to Day Happenings Doctor Visits

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28 Days Later…

by kate

Elliot is 4 weeks old today! We are heading back from a weekend at Gingy’s. Let me see if I can catch y’all up on the past few days…

Thursday we had Aunt Linzy’s graduation crawfish boil. Turns out, 20 lbs. of crawfish is a lot of crawfish. Elliot took his first dose of the Zantac that evening which he did not like. I don’t know how much of it he actually got down. He was pretty fussy that evening, but Gam Gam and Aunt Linzy took turns trying to console him while I learned how to eat a crawfish.

We had another rough night and then after Logan took care of some things in the morning we got on the road to Tullahoma. We stopped by the Food City pharmacy on the way to see if they could flavor Elliot’s nasty prescription. They said that the compound we too unstable to flavor. So, I called Elliot’s pediatrician and they suggested that we get the medicine flavored… We ended up stopping at Target and they were happy to add a grape flavor to the medicine.

We got to Tullahoma without incident. Well, I guess there was one blow out diaper. I also gave him a dose of the medicine while traveling which went a little better since he swallowed while he cried. Gingy and Grandpa were so glad to see him! They got him talking and doing all kinds of baby tricks. It was sweet! Gingy even helped me give Elliot a sink bath, which was cute. After the bath, Elliot demonstrated his excellent bladder pressure by peeing on Gingy’s bathroom door and floor.

That night Elliot woke up every 2 hrs to eat.

Logan and Gingy let me sleep in some the next morning. Gingy and Grandpa went to Uncle Art’s graduation and we stayed at home with Elliot. Logan went to Hastings that morning for free comic book day. Then the 3 of us went out to try to find some Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo. Not surprisingly, the Mexican restaurants were packed so we ate Subway.

We went for a walk to Great Gingy’s house. Elliot slept on the way there and back but got a bit fussy while there. Marm and I diapered him and I fed him. Marm came in to check on me and related a story about when her youngest was a baby, she and her husband and another couple went on a boating trip and she got left on the dock all day with the baby. She tries to keep the mother in mind after that experience, which I appreciated.

We came home and watched An Idiot Abroad marathon on the Science network. Later we watched the Kentucky Derby, which Elliot seemed to really like. He watched it live with Logan and again later that evening with Grandpa.

Uncle Art came to Tullahoma that evening after his graduation and got to hold Elliot for the first time since Elliot’s birth day. Art brought him a custom made onesie with Squirtle’s face and some pointy sunglasses to match!

Later that evening we were all watching TV and I realized that I was breastfeeding un-drapped in front of every male in my immediate family… Whatever…

Last night Elliot went 3 or more hours between each feeding!!! Logan went ahead and got up with him at 4:45 and let me sleep. That was nice.

That morning Elliot took a long nap on Uncle Art.

We had a graduation party for Art and a birthday party for Great Aunt Mary for lunch. Elliot wore a special outfit with turtles from Gam Gam. We had to turn Elliot upside down to get him into it which surprised him.

Mary showed us her special swaying technique which calmed her oldest when he was colicky. She also had Elliot perform some more baby tricks for us! Mary’s advice to us: “Do whatever it takes to survive these first few months!”

Victoria and Elliot!

We got on the road after Elliot had a couple of lunch breaks. I got Elliot to take a pacifier finally, which made me feel like Super Mom! We stopped on the way to visit a classics professor of Logan’s, Dr. Sutherland, who kindly gave us some neat baby and toddler toys! Now we are home unpacking and snacking.

Product Placement Trips to Gingy's

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You mean we aren’t suppose to be miserable?!?!

by kate

After another night of feedings almost every hour and almost no sleep, we took Elliot for a follow up appointment to see Dr. Dave at Kid’s Choice Pediatrics. Turns out, Elliot’s urine is normal and was probably just concentrated before, and he is growing appropriately. We then discussed Elliot’s fussiness. In fact, I had to feed Elliot while discussing so I could actually hear what the doctor was saying. I mentioned the evening nursing marathons, the frequent short nighttime feedings, the coughing and choking with feedings, the difficulty we were having with burping, etc. I showed him my nursing log on my iPad (to which he replied “No wonder you are tired!”) and I suggested that maybe I was having a problem with milk “oversupply.” I had managed to pump off 3oz from my left this morning without Elliot even noticing. Dr. Dave was not convinced and asked me if Elliot was arching his back, spitting up, or crying a lot at or refusing feedings. I answered, “frequently, especially with burping,” “1-3 times per day,” and ” yes.” Dr. Dave then suggested that Elliot might have GERD, and prescribed him baby Zantac.

I was a bit surprised by the diagnosis. GERD had not really even been on my radar. I mean Elliot spits up some but most babies do. Plus, the belching seemed to make him feel better (although the process is always an issue.) When we got home, Elliot was asleep so I laid him down in his bassinet. Within seconds he began howling. Suspicious… So I got out my Baby 411 book and began reading the section on GERD. “Everyone is miserable from this.” Check. “Most parents are convinced that their infant either has horrible gas pains, a milk allergy, or colic.” Check again. “Some adventurous parents will unsuccessfully try Mylicon [Baby Gas-X] drops…” Good grief, is this book reading my blog? The book also mentions hiccoughs, stating they might be a sign of GERD if they are “excessive” (but is 1-3 episodes per day “excessive”?) Hopefully the Zantac will help fast!

Fun fact about Elliot: His whole hand will fit inside of Logan’s mouth, much to his (and my) surprise!

Doctor Visits Rants

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Baby steps…

by kate

No, Elliot is not walking yet. Although when I was pregnant I had a dream that he was 1 day old and walking. Also, In the dream I realized that my son was already walking and I had forgotten to tell my parents that he had even been born! I also had a dream where he was a girl and was already talking before he/she could crawl. I remember him/her clearly telling me that his diaper was uncomfortable and that he needed a change.

I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday after not getting any sleep… again. Logan stepped up to the plate and gave Elliot his first bottle of my stored milk before the crack of dawn while I tried to get some sleep. He also put him on the dryer, in the swing, in the crib with the mobile rotating, and I’m sure various other soothing places. When I awoke at 9 I breast fed him and we spent the day napping, feeding, and rebonding. We sat in the recliner side by side (because holding him gets tiring for me) and cuddled. Logan said that he looked like a little person the way he was sitting up in the chair.

He got pretty fussy in the evening again and just wanted to nurse. I think I might have an idea to help fix that or at least use it to my advantage to help him go to sleep. We’ll see… He actually is getting better on that front. Either he is better at burping or we are better at burping him (or both). He is awake more now and likes looking at the lights and the fan. We are also keeping outfits clean for the most part throughout the day and night. Things are starting to improve…

Last night I had the most restful 3hrs of sleep of my entire life. When he started waking me up at 1AM I was ready for him. He woke up about every hour to hour and a half until 5, at which pont he was wide awake. I took him downstairs to the recliner where we rocked until we were both about to fall asleep and then I sat him beside me again and we cuddled and slept for a couple more hours.

Today we took a trip up to Sevier county. I had a dentist appointment and Logan needed to stop by the court house to pick up a file for one of his cases. We drove Elliot up to Gatlinburg to surprise Gam Gam. She squealed with delight when she saw him and showed him off to her coworkers. She even changed a diaper for us!

We took Chester, our hedgehog, to his new home in Gatlinburg afterwards. A friend of Logan’s from high school’s mom really likes hedgehogs and has had one in the past. She was thrilled to have him. I said my goodbyes but I am sure this is for the best. Since Elliot’s birth I have probably seen Chet 3 times. Last week Sarah said that her relationship with her pets changed significantly when her baby was born. I can believe it. The pets have very much gone down the priority list, especially the one in a cage that can’t just come up to us and let us know that he feels neglected. We cleaned his cage and gave him a bath yesterday and “his grumpiness” actually seemed like he missed us. I’m glad he his going to a home where someone will enjoy him more. Oh the times, they are a changing.

Now we are heading back to Knoxville. Logan is going to do some grocery shopping for a little dinner we are having tomorrow to celebrate Linzy’s graduation and I am going to feed Elliot and (hopefully) take a nap.

Day to Day Happenings Funny Stories Musings

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