Weight gain

     We just got back from her weekly doctors appointment. She's up. She is now 3.31kg or 7.3lbs. She's almost big enough for her cloth diapers. I tried them on her & they're WAY too huge. I also have a feeling that she knows when she has a doctors appointment because the night before she is fussier than normal. We basically just made it to the appointment because I dozed off. It didn't really matter. We were seen at 1030 and the appointment was for 10.
     We saw the lactation counsellor and she asked me about my supplementing. In her paperwork she gave me she said I could do 15-20ml of breast milk or formula at each feeding through the Supplemented Nursing System (feeding tube). I chose to do breast milk instead of formula. Today she commented that she didn't consider breastmilk to be supplementing, just a top up - "but if it works for you, like it has been.". She also asked about the pumping. "Do you feed and then supplement and then pump?". From my understanding, since she gave me an SNS, I was supposed to feed and use the SNS and then pump - which I have been doing. I put what I pump in the fridge to use at the next feeding. I've also been letting her sit on the boob for however long she wants. She's eating, peeing and pooping about every hour, so thats good. And she's no longer jaundice.
     She also has a swollen lymph node on the one side of her neck. *sad* It's going to be looked at on Monday. Basically, we have to keep an eye on it. It could be allergies, hormones, or like if a bug bit her.
     Having a baby is hard.
     Saturday morning was lovely. I had just fed her and she got the hiccups. Nothing unusual there. I was looking at her and she then proceeded to puke right in my face. Gross. I was in shock, so I just wiped it off and sat her upright. Then, like a puke fountain, it just spewed from her, onto the blanket I put under her. Not too bad. She's almost a month old and this is her first real puking (she's had some spit up before). I'm now scared whenever she gets hiccups -after almost every feed. I picked up gripe water and Ovol for her. I have no idea what I am doing as a mom.

    
     She's currently in her vibrating bouncy chair, if I turn it off she SCREAMS. I'm going to make lunch and possibly work on her leg warmers. She's getting solid pink ones.

Little Miss

                                                  Me at 4 months                                         Kaelynn at a week

     I don't think she likes to go to the doctor's. She was up most of the night being alert and fussy. Plus, about every hour she would dirty her diaper, almost clock work. We spent the night in the chair watching Big Brother Canada. Everytime I thought I could put her to bed, she would be up again in about 20 minutes. Jake got a new position at work, and a new starting time - 7am, so I've been trying my best to let him sleep.

     She is still underweight, she is 6.9lbs.She still needs to be supplemented, now every other feed. I also picked up some Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle, since the doctor said they can go together. They said her jaundice is looking good. The rash in her groin/underarm rolls is looking good too. Yes, she's tiny, but she is strong (at least I think so, not like I have much new born experience).

     I wish it would start to warm up, so we can go for walks without me having to worry about her still freezing. Plus, I think it would help me lose weight. I am not yet at my pre-preg weight and closer to 200lbs.
     To get to the doctor's today, we took the bus. I was hoping there would be no wheel chairs, old people, or other baby carriages. Well, there were old people. The bus slowed down near one stop, and some old woman was like "oh..I hope they're not letting on another stroller". Meanwhile, this woman got off at the next stop anyway.

     Time to wake the babe up for a feed and tire her out to get her to sleep later!

I don't know how it's done

     Sure, she looks all cute and cuddly now, but you should have seen her lastnight.
Jake went to his Thursday paintball meeting lastnight and Kaelynn was fine and in bed. However, throughout the night when it came time to feed her, she got fussy. I had her in bed with me and she was fine, ie: less fussy. Around 3am, when daddy came home, nothing could soothe her. We went to the chair and watched tv/slept/fed. This morning it was a bit more of the same. I took advantage of her crying fit to give her a bath, she would cry anyway. It seemed like she wanted to feed every hour. I let her. The pamphlet from the lactation coach said it was ok for short snacks, 10mins, so I did that.
I have taken 2 of the 3 pills so far of Domperidone. We'll see if that helps increase my milk. At least giving her the Supplemental Nursing System (feeding tube) is getting better.

     I have no idea how people who have twins or even babies close in age do it. My younger brother and I are 18 months apart, and that seems close. Mom had to deal with 2 toddlers and a new born. Crazy. I would have gone crazy. I feel like I am going crazy now.
     I felt fine after the pregnancy, but now I just feel like crying randomly. It's even worse when shse doesn't want to be fed, diaper doesn't need to be changed, she won't burp, and holding her doesn't help.

     She's asleep and needs a feeding soon. I am going to go prep her SNS with the 1.5oz I pumped earlier and brown some beef cubes for stew

TGIF

     Just how I wanted to spend my Friday....at the children's outpatient clinic. Jake & I spent almost 5 hours there.

     When Jake got up,he noticed Kaelynn's eyes were yellower. I called the nurse from my doctors office and we waited.We waited an hour & then decided to head out to the clinic. Just as we were getting ready, the hone rang: the nurse suggested going in.
     We get there & register. There's no room in the waiting room, so the triage nurse told us to wait in the hall. We find a seat on the floor right outside.Many people walk by. A security guard walks by & questions us. He tells us to go to the seating area at the front of the hospital. We get all settled and then he comes back and says there is now room for us in the waiting room. We go and sit. And wait.
     Typical waiting time both to be admitted and checked out. We find out she is mildly jaundice (duh), but that's also perfectly normal. The pediatrician also found out that she has a rash/infection in the creases of her leg folds by her groin. Nothing was there at her check up on Thursday - they went over her thoroughly. I have a feeling its because of her little breech legs reaching to her chest. When she's folded up, thats where her rash is. They took her blood to do some work on it to check her biliruben levels. I cried. She cried. We cried. Jake was out making phone calls. We then were told that we had to wait for the blood work to come back. We sat in an exam room, taking up space, for about 2 hours. Her levels were normal, we got a prescription for her somethingsomethingstaph (ie/bacteria infection) and were good to go.
     We picked up her antibiotics & they were cheaper than I thought -$25. The care for it is her meds 3 times a day, wash & air dry (currently she's on me diaperless) and Vaseline.

    Later, her aunt Sarah, 2nd cousin Katie, great aunt Coleen & grandpa John came over for a visit. It was past her bed time when everyone left, but after the day she had she was easy to put to bed.

First Doctors Appointment

     Today Kaelynn had her first doctor's appointment. I suppose it went well. She's down about a pound (6.6lbs now)(They had some numbers 3.02, I assumed they were kgs and just converted them), but they said that's normal. She is also a tad yellow, but they didn't seem too concerned. We also met with the lactation coach that's at my doctors. She helped and got Kae to suckle from the side she doesn't much like. She also suggested a nipple shield, so I picked one up to try it out. We'll see. Pumping seems to be going well. As much as I don't think I am getting alot, they seemed fine with it: roughly .5-1oz. (My weight: 199lbs)

     I am thankful to Christine (Jake's mom) for our Moses Basket. I put her to bed around 8:30 and she's been in there about an hour. She was fussing after her PJs were put on, as soon as she was plopped in her basket, she was out. It's time to wake her in 20 mins anyway for her feeding before I go to bed too.

     Yesterday I was able to put my ring back on! HURRAY! I was s worried we would have to get it resized. Granted, just now I had to fight to get it off...but we're getting there.

     Anyway, enjoy this picture from the doctor's office.

5 days old

     Hi there Miss Funny Face. How's life treating you?? It's hard being a baby in this big scary world.

     We're trying to get a schedule down for Kaelynn, started yesterday. For one, she hates her crib & likes to be held. Thankfully, yesterday she was in it for 45 mins. Then, it was BFing time & her bath. Even tho we used night time stuff, it should have been bath first then feeding. She did manage to stay in her crib about 2 hours, then was up with daddy.
     A schedule will help her routine, and help with the end of this week when Jake goes back to work. We've shared her during the day, Jake has had her at night (waking me up), and I've had her from about 430am to whenever Jake gets up.
     Lastnight was good for crib time, but not for pooping. She's peed alot & has been fussy. Her stomach isn't hard or anything...but if nothing happens tonight, someone will get a phone call.

     She's asleep, so I think I am going to stick her in her bouncy or on daddys lap. I have to clean up my area- I have papers & snacks scattered around. I even dealt with OSAP this morning, so we'll see what paperwork they send me now that the household has increased.

    

In Recovery

     Kaelynn is awake after napping on & off tonight. Plus add in her usual 20min feedings and movie marathon with Daddy, it makes sense. Daddy is in bed, so I am blogging one handed & making faces at a furry head.

Friday 

     My first night in recovery was good. I booked in for a private room, but was put in a semi. Hurray for surprises. I was alone in the room. She slept through the night, granted it was only about 3 hours since Jake left at about 3am & the nurses left me alone then.
     Friday morning I had visitors. Kortney came by with a kitty for Kaelynn. Next was Mindy. Jake's cousin, Corrine, stopped by on her way to class with a tea & a muffin. Cezar & Tesah stopped in with a fruit basket and a unicorn toy. And even tho Katie doesn't hold babies, she dropped in. Mom also came by before she had errands. She said she would be back on Saturday, I told her I would let her know if/when discharged. Jake came back.
     Jake was rough looking because he got no sleep. Him & his friend Aaron were up all night organizing things and getting stuff ready for the last dump run. He hunkered down in his chair and was attempting to stay awake. He even brought me a Big Mac. At the time I was eating my burger, my family doctor stopped in to check Kaelynn over. Everything looked good. Plus, everyone agreed that he looked like Mike Meyers. Everyone left & Jake started to eat some fruit.
Daddy and baby got in lots of cuddles.
     Earlier in the day, I got a roommate. She had a little boy, her 3rd. Her & her man spoke English & dome other language. When thru spoke English, I kind of eavesdropped (because I could). She was in at midnight & gave birth Friday at 9am. She had to have her water broken & be induced. Her baby was being formula fed & mine breast fed. Whenever a nurse asked her something, she has no idea of the answer.
     The morning was usual routine. Attempt to feed, waking a sleepy baby for feedings, dealing with everyone & their mother on how to breast feed (more later).
     At least that night the nurses took both babies away to give mom a rest. Kaelynn because she was fussy & not wanting to eat at meal time & other baby because mom was zonked.  They were back for feedings.

Saturday
     I finally ate the muffin Corinne brought me. Kaelynn and I watched some Netflix and fed more. Jake came over around 10, and he had some sleep.
Earlier in the day, she had her hearing test & both ears passed.
The nurse came by & said she had paged my doctor to come around for discharge. Looks like we would be going home.
     Around noon, Dr. Green came by & looked her over again. Yes! We got to go home.
My dad came to get us & away we go! On the way to the lobby, everyone was like "Oooh a baby" "soooo cute".
     At home, everything was cleaned up. I gave baby to daddy so I could eat something & shower. I devoured my hospital chicken salad before my shower. Both seemed amazing. I also ate the crusts off some pizza (stuffed crust) and made tea. A great part/gross part was she pooped. She didn't at the hospital. I have never changed a diaper before-gross.
     She was sleeping & feeding during the day. Around 10, I had her all set for bed. She is unsure/hate her crib, so Jake offered to stay with her for a bit. They had a movie marathon (including FernGully). I woke up to feed her. We switched at 430am. Since then, she's fed, cried & wanted to be skin to skin.  At least she's sleeping on me now while I do this, drink water/eating & watch Fringe.

     As for the cats, thet fluctuate between indifferent, freaking out, curious, and acting just weird. None of them like the door closed. Kae's room is closed, but noone is in there so meh. The bedroom door is closed and they scratch and cry. Since 4:30 when I got up, Vodka has been the weird one. He's been crying at the door (its now almost 8:30am, might let him in to snuggle Jake), under the sink, in the cupboards, hiding IN the pile of shopping bags and staring at me. Bandit & Tugger have been sleeping. I keep letting them watch me with her & smell her. So far, no bad reactions -score.
     Its almost feeding time again & I am tired of my water. I shall nuke some tea & get this almost naked, sleeping squeaker her first pair of socks (and let the cats snuggle Jake- I know I missed kitties & Jake when in KGH).

Valen-Tiny

  First Photo

    

Kaelynn Anne Lawrence

Feb 14, 2013

7lbs, 4oz

Birth time: 10:23pm

Head circumfrence: 35cm

Length: 48cm

Apgar score at 1 min: 8

Apgar score at 5 mins: 9

 



     On Thursday, 2 days ago, I felt fine. I was doing housework and basically just chilling. I was even trying to crochet baby leggings, but they looked WAY too small and whoever wants a pair (Cris...) I would need leg measurements. At about 2pm, I started to get cramping. Unsure of what period cramps were, I texted my friends Cris and Mindy. Mindy was in the area and came over. We sat around, talking for a bit before she had to leave for an appointment. At that point and time, it just felt like cramps. Cris suggested that it was pre-labour and not to get too excited because it could last for weeks.
     As the day went on, they were getting crampier. I walked, sat, bounced and leaned on my yoga ball. I took a bath and drank lots of water. Nothing was helping. The cramps were getting more sharp. Mindy was home and I was texting her the whole time. It got to a point around 5ish that I was telling her when they started and when they ended. They were about 10 minutes apart. We kept talking and I kept bouncing. I was home alone with the cats until about 730-8 anyway. At 730, I made a pot of coffee for Jake and decided to run a bath. He comes through the door and looks at me like something is wrong. I say I am crampy and just getting into the tub, and that we probably will have to go to Labour and Delivery.I get in the tub, still texting Mindy, and hear Jake putting together the car seat.
The sharp pains at that point progessed from 10 minutes to about 2 minutes apart. They say that if it's a REAL contraction and to the point of labour, you should not be able to talk through it - I was. I also decided we should go to L&D anyway (even if we were going to be sent home). I got dressed, told Jake, and went pee. I felt/heard something POP! into the toilet. "Thats gross", I yell. Yep. Time to go. A cab is called.
     Bags are packed and put in the cab. My winter coat is not done up. The driver looks at me while the bags are put in the trunk. "Are you going into labour?" "Probably". Then he gets excited. "You  will have a Valentine's day story to tell". "Can I run in there and yell WE NEED AN AMBULANCE! STAT!?". Jake and them then begin to discuss the root of the word STAT. We enter and some doctor lets us through the emergency room doors.
     Once in L&D, I inform them that I think I am in labour. They give me a cup  to pee in and take Jake beind a curtain. I am unable to pee due to contractions. I go back behind the curtain and change into my gown. Inspection time. I am only 5cms and baby is breech, plus had a bowel movement inside (due to being breech). They give me 2 options: attempt to push or c-section. I chose the later because at 5cms, she could get her head stuck. Jake had called my mom and she had shown up. I tell her what's up. They start to move me about 15-20mins later and mom gets prepped in scrubs, (Jake's not really a fan of hospitals and I accept that - every girl needs their mommy too). I get checked again. Looks like I am fully dilated and my body wanted to push anyway.
     I am moved into a delivery room near by the operating room, incase something happens. There seems to be no time to dress a new bed. I am ready to go on the bed from my first examinations. After some screaming my lungs out because I had no idea what I was doing. Finally, after about 20 minutes and no meds, we had a baby girl. Mindy showed up to help keep me amused, and because Jake told her I was getting a c-section and she personally knows they are not for everyone. All in all, mom, dad, Jake and Mindy were the first people to see her.
     It wasn't all sunshine and lollipops. Jake didn't realize how much blood there would be, but he managed to cut the cord. I kept yelling at my mom- she had her hands on my head and I was focusing on that. When she removed them, it hurt. When they say push past the burning, it BURNS. It was worth it - even when my private room only lasted one night. More of the past 2 days to come later.

About 15 mins or so after labour, when Mindy arrived

 

Blurbs From The Boyfriend:

"I didn't think there would be that much blood. I never want to see that much again"

"I know I don't smoke, but I want a cigarette"

"SING TO ME!"