This particular drama has even played out so far as the next scene where he is doused in water and cries heartily about it. Silly boy.
3 weeks ago
Monday, June 21, 2010
A milestone gone horribly wrong...
so around three or four months, one of the skills babies acquire is the ability to reach out and grab things with decent precision. My dear sweet boy has been working at this milestone for a while and has been getting better and better rather quickly. As a result, the scene below has become a common scene.
This particular drama has even played out so far as the next scene where he is doused in water and cries heartily about it. Silly boy.
This particular drama has even played out so far as the next scene where he is doused in water and cries heartily about it. Silly boy.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Hrmmm...juxtaposition.
Dave and I were talking about the potential for me to take a 4 over 5 (take four years of pay over five years, taking the fifth year off of work to do whatever you please) sometime in the future.
I was pretending money was also no object and talking of our buying a boat and sailing around the world. We'd take the kids out of school and I told Dave that he would take the non-teaching equivalent of a sabbatical ("You mean quit?"...smarmy bugger) and we'd go where ever we wanted for the entire year.
I said that we wouldn't have to worry about the kids' schooling because I'd make sure they fulfilled the literacy and numeracy outcomes and the learning that they got from the traveling would be more valuable than anything they'd get in a classroom.
"For instance, 'we are going to study China today; step out on the dock and away we'll go'."
Dave's response, "And today, we'll learn about typhoons; they are different from hurricanes, you know. Orin, go get the weather station and Isabel, tie Orin and yourself down. We don't want to lose anyone this time"
Smarmy bugger.
I was pretending money was also no object and talking of our buying a boat and sailing around the world. We'd take the kids out of school and I told Dave that he would take the non-teaching equivalent of a sabbatical ("You mean quit?"...smarmy bugger) and we'd go where ever we wanted for the entire year.
I said that we wouldn't have to worry about the kids' schooling because I'd make sure they fulfilled the literacy and numeracy outcomes and the learning that they got from the traveling would be more valuable than anything they'd get in a classroom.
"For instance, 'we are going to study China today; step out on the dock and away we'll go'."
Dave's response, "And today, we'll learn about typhoons; they are different from hurricanes, you know. Orin, go get the weather station and Isabel, tie Orin and yourself down. We don't want to lose anyone this time"
Smarmy bugger.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I wish I were as clever as he is...
I meant to post this ages ago, but just kept forgetting, so please do me the favour of setting your mind back about 6 weeks. It is just barely feeling springy out and we decided to head downtown for breakfast at Cora's.
I am standing in line wearing Orin in the Moby and waiting to pay. A woman in her late 50s or early 60s queues up behind me. She starts ogling the baby, as everyone does. When she notices the tube in his nose, she asks, as so many do, if he has a hard time breathing. I explain that it is a feeding tube, that he has a kidney condition that causes him to dehydrate and that we use the tube to put extra water into him. I mention, in a half-hearted attempt to cut her off before she could ask any of the predictable questions, that he doesn't take a bottle yet. She nods thoughtfully. We go back to our waiting stance. A few seconds later, she pipes up, asking, "How does he eat if he doesn't take a bottle?"
It takes me a second to process what she was asking. I respond as kindly as possible (because I am the type to wear my emotions openly and I want to avoid my incredulity embarrassing her), "Oh, he is breastfed." She stammers a little, apparently taken aback by my response, and suddenly seems to be totally engrossed in something in the far corner of the restaurant.
When I get outside, I tell Dave about our exchange. Without missing a beat, he blurts out, "Photosynthesis." I cock an eyebrow and allow this to sink in. I laugh heartily when I realise this is how he feels I SHOULD have answered "how does he eat?"
I really wish I could think of things like that as quickly as he does. A baby seems to make people think they have carte blanche to ask whatever they want (like my friend with twins who is asked regularly by complete strangers if they were conceived naturally or via fertility treatments), so having a few zingers like that in my pocket to be used as necessary would lead to a little less annoyance and a little more satisfaction on my part.
I am standing in line wearing Orin in the Moby and waiting to pay. A woman in her late 50s or early 60s queues up behind me. She starts ogling the baby, as everyone does. When she notices the tube in his nose, she asks, as so many do, if he has a hard time breathing. I explain that it is a feeding tube, that he has a kidney condition that causes him to dehydrate and that we use the tube to put extra water into him. I mention, in a half-hearted attempt to cut her off before she could ask any of the predictable questions, that he doesn't take a bottle yet. She nods thoughtfully. We go back to our waiting stance. A few seconds later, she pipes up, asking, "How does he eat if he doesn't take a bottle?"
It takes me a second to process what she was asking. I respond as kindly as possible (because I am the type to wear my emotions openly and I want to avoid my incredulity embarrassing her), "Oh, he is breastfed." She stammers a little, apparently taken aback by my response, and suddenly seems to be totally engrossed in something in the far corner of the restaurant.
When I get outside, I tell Dave about our exchange. Without missing a beat, he blurts out, "Photosynthesis." I cock an eyebrow and allow this to sink in. I laugh heartily when I realise this is how he feels I SHOULD have answered "how does he eat?"
I really wish I could think of things like that as quickly as he does. A baby seems to make people think they have carte blanche to ask whatever they want (like my friend with twins who is asked regularly by complete strangers if they were conceived naturally or via fertility treatments), so having a few zingers like that in my pocket to be used as necessary would lead to a little less annoyance and a little more satisfaction on my part.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Lessons in bottle-feeding learned the hard way
Isabel wouldn't take a bottle - no way, no how, so I never used them. Bottle-feeding Orin's water has led to a few lessons, some learned the really hard way.
1) When traveling with a bottle full, while the cap keeps the nipple clean, it doesn't keep the bottle from leaking. Use that little blocker doo-dad to make sure you don't lose 3/4 of the water your child will need on a day when you are on the run. This will help prevent a great many tears from all parties involved.
2) The measurements on your average bottle are NOT accurate. They are all off by between 5 and 15ml. This may not matter to most, but it does to us. I always carry a bit more than I officially need and use the syringes for measuring as a result.
3) Venting systems are a god send when you are feeding in the volumes we are. The poor little bugger blew up like a balloon after just one feed if we didn't use a vented bottle. And, to be clear, the bottles that have a little hole in the side of the nipple and claim that is a venting system are crap.
4)Cleaning bottles is way more work than having a shower ;)
5) Bottle preference is a very real thing and can be a problem even after breastfeeding is well-established. I am very glad that I put my foot down and made my ultimate goal of exclusive breastfeeding very clear. Things have come together very well thanks to putting the tube in rather than pushing the bottle; he is gaining weight and meeting milestones and SO happy. That is what it is all about.
1) When traveling with a bottle full, while the cap keeps the nipple clean, it doesn't keep the bottle from leaking. Use that little blocker doo-dad to make sure you don't lose 3/4 of the water your child will need on a day when you are on the run. This will help prevent a great many tears from all parties involved.
2) The measurements on your average bottle are NOT accurate. They are all off by between 5 and 15ml. This may not matter to most, but it does to us. I always carry a bit more than I officially need and use the syringes for measuring as a result.
3) Venting systems are a god send when you are feeding in the volumes we are. The poor little bugger blew up like a balloon after just one feed if we didn't use a vented bottle. And, to be clear, the bottles that have a little hole in the side of the nipple and claim that is a venting system are crap.
4)Cleaning bottles is way more work than having a shower ;)
5) Bottle preference is a very real thing and can be a problem even after breastfeeding is well-established. I am very glad that I put my foot down and made my ultimate goal of exclusive breastfeeding very clear. Things have come together very well thanks to putting the tube in rather than pushing the bottle; he is gaining weight and meeting milestones and SO happy. That is what it is all about.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Musings...
The strangest things can make you take pause and reflect. Today, for me, it was hanging laundry.
You know how the clothes on a clothesline can tell outsiders a little about their owners? You see scrubs, you guess nurse or doctor. You see teeny tiny baby clothes, you picture a new mom or a mom-to-be prepping her new little one's wardrobe. You see blankets, sleeping blankets and odds and ends and imagine a camping trip having just ended.
Hanging the hodgepodge of yoga pants and hoodies, jeans and t-shirts, small skirts and sundresses and tiny sleepers and body suits, I smiled at how the changes in my life were reflected on that line.
I used to hang clothes one day per week and the line's contents were comprised entirely of jeans, t-shirts, cute baby-tees, my work clothes and the bedding that was in the wash more for the fresh air smell from line drying than because it needed to be cleaned.
A few years later, I could be found hanging laundry a couple of days per week and added in the mix were more comfy clothes and tiny items covered in hearts and butterflies and drenched in pink and lavender.
I hang clothes several times per week now. There's a lot more bedding in the mix now due to bed-wettings and spit-up. More notably though are the small bits of blue, the sleepers with robots and soccer balls and the awww-worthy gym suits featuring Baby Tigger and Cookie Monster.
Just by watching my laundry, a person could see the transformations our family has taken and could see me clip each piece up with the deepest affection for what our life has become.
You know how the clothes on a clothesline can tell outsiders a little about their owners? You see scrubs, you guess nurse or doctor. You see teeny tiny baby clothes, you picture a new mom or a mom-to-be prepping her new little one's wardrobe. You see blankets, sleeping blankets and odds and ends and imagine a camping trip having just ended.
Hanging the hodgepodge of yoga pants and hoodies, jeans and t-shirts, small skirts and sundresses and tiny sleepers and body suits, I smiled at how the changes in my life were reflected on that line.
I used to hang clothes one day per week and the line's contents were comprised entirely of jeans, t-shirts, cute baby-tees, my work clothes and the bedding that was in the wash more for the fresh air smell from line drying than because it needed to be cleaned.
A few years later, I could be found hanging laundry a couple of days per week and added in the mix were more comfy clothes and tiny items covered in hearts and butterflies and drenched in pink and lavender.
I hang clothes several times per week now. There's a lot more bedding in the mix now due to bed-wettings and spit-up. More notably though are the small bits of blue, the sleepers with robots and soccer balls and the awww-worthy gym suits featuring Baby Tigger and Cookie Monster.
Just by watching my laundry, a person could see the transformations our family has taken and could see me clip each piece up with the deepest affection for what our life has become.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Review of Cloth Diapers
All cloth diaper users have preferences as to what works for their family - pocket, AIO, fitted, prefold, hemp, bamboo, cotton, snaps, velcro....I could go on forever. Well, throw a kidney disorder into the mix and things get a little more complicated. If I am being honest, we are struggling. Below, I will elaborate on pros and cons of the various types of dipes and accessories we are using.
Bumbooo size 2 Fitted - I was really excited about these diapers. I had heard so much about the absorbency of bamboo and absorbent is what we need. As fitted diapers, they need covers. We are using some that we got with a used lot that I bought on kijiji. They are simple kushies pull-on covers made of rubbery/plastic material (I can't find them on the net). I need to find some wrap-type covers for these, but these will do for now.
Look & Material - These diapers are cute, no question. They are soft and fuzzy and they look like the stereotypical, adorable cloth diaper of old. The elastic is strong, but not too tight. Unfortunately, they have to be covered with our crappy (PINK!!!) covers.
Fasteners - Snaps...loving this. Total snap convert and I will not be buying any new dipes with velcro.
Absorbency - Keeping in mind that I am dealing with a very specific situation (the kid is now drinking 760-800ml of water/day on top of nursing every 2-3 hours), I am a little disappointed with the absorbency. These diapers provide the opportunity to have 2 layers between bum and the cover for someone Orin's size. They also came with what they describe as a night time insert. In order to give Orin about an hour in these diapersr, I double layer the diaper right at the front (where he, as a boy, wets most) and then use the insert to double layer toward the back and put a third layer in the front (laying it flat in the diaper) OR quadruple layer the front. When I change him, he has almost inevitably soaked all the way through and the entire front of the diaper is soaked (waist to midway between his legs and hip to hip). This is not practical for any time other than those days spent hanging around the house.
BumGenius 3.0 OS pockets - I bought these as part of a used lot on kijiji. I was pretty keen to try these because I had a number of friends who had recommended them to me. They can be stuffed with whatever I inserts I want.
Look & Material - These basically look like disposables, but much cuter. They are the slimmest (depending upon how I stuff them) of the diapers we are using. I much prefer the PUL outside to the plastic material of the covers I am using with the fitted diapers.
Fasteners - Not a fan of the velcro. It doesn't hold the diaper closed as tightly as the snaps - it slips. I am sure that this is partially due to age and washing. Speaking of which, the laundry tabs basically don't hold the tabs in place anymore, so the tabs themselves are taking more abuse as a result.
Absorbency - the absorbency of these diapers is dictated by the inserts. I can stuff these well enough to last about 2 hours, as a rule. The night thing is that the fleece layer against his skin keeps him very dry, despite how much he has wet the diaper. I will discuss inserts below.
Chinese Prefolds - the other diaper included in the kijiji lot I purchased. I had no idea what to expect.
Look & Material - These are simply flat layers of cotton (extra layers in the middle where most wetting would happen). These are the old school diapers that people used to use pins to fasten (I am sure some people still do, but there is now a slightly less dangerous product called Snappis that do the same thing). They need covers. They are pretty cute ;)
Fasteners - As I mentioned, I use Snappis. They work surprisingly well, but require a little practice.
Absorbency - This is where the rubber hits the road and, in our house, these are a joke. Orin peed while I was fastening one of these on him and there was pee dripping out of the outside of the diaper before I got the fastener done :P I am using them as stuffing for the pocket diapers.
Inserts
Bamboo - Thin, but absorbent. They surprised me.
Hemp - These are dense and soak up everything. I put one of these in every diaper I stuff.
Cotton (including prefold diapers) - least absorbent and must always be supported by something else.
Claudia's Choices soap - I like it so far. I am not running into any problems with residue and it gets the diapers super clean almost every time (and a few hours out in the sun will get any stains out of diapers).
What works for us?
~vinegar in the wash...a tip I was given by a few cloth-using friends and I will never go back.
~stuffing pockets with fitted. If I really worry about him (his bum is rashy or I figure he is going to fall asleep or he has just drunk a lot of water), I will stuff a fitted diaper and an insert into the pocket diaper. This gives him extra absorbency and the fleece between him and the wetness. It gives him a giant bum, but it does the job.
If I am being honest, I am still using disposables a lot more than I want to. I am still trying to figure out how to make these work for us consistently during awake times. I don't expect to be able to use cloth at night - the boy soaks through disposables on a nightly basis (yes, I do a lot of laundry....thanks for noticing ;) ), so cloth is not an option, but I think we can do it throughout the day and even during naps. Keep your fingers crossed for us and if you have any advice, feel free to dole it out.
Bumbooo size 2 Fitted - I was really excited about these diapers. I had heard so much about the absorbency of bamboo and absorbent is what we need. As fitted diapers, they need covers. We are using some that we got with a used lot that I bought on kijiji. They are simple kushies pull-on covers made of rubbery/plastic material (I can't find them on the net). I need to find some wrap-type covers for these, but these will do for now.
Look & Material - These diapers are cute, no question. They are soft and fuzzy and they look like the stereotypical, adorable cloth diaper of old. The elastic is strong, but not too tight. Unfortunately, they have to be covered with our crappy (PINK!!!) covers.
Fasteners - Snaps...loving this. Total snap convert and I will not be buying any new dipes with velcro.
Absorbency - Keeping in mind that I am dealing with a very specific situation (the kid is now drinking 760-800ml of water/day on top of nursing every 2-3 hours), I am a little disappointed with the absorbency. These diapers provide the opportunity to have 2 layers between bum and the cover for someone Orin's size. They also came with what they describe as a night time insert. In order to give Orin about an hour in these diapersr, I double layer the diaper right at the front (where he, as a boy, wets most) and then use the insert to double layer toward the back and put a third layer in the front (laying it flat in the diaper) OR quadruple layer the front. When I change him, he has almost inevitably soaked all the way through and the entire front of the diaper is soaked (waist to midway between his legs and hip to hip). This is not practical for any time other than those days spent hanging around the house.
BumGenius 3.0 OS pockets - I bought these as part of a used lot on kijiji. I was pretty keen to try these because I had a number of friends who had recommended them to me. They can be stuffed with whatever I inserts I want.
Look & Material - These basically look like disposables, but much cuter. They are the slimmest (depending upon how I stuff them) of the diapers we are using. I much prefer the PUL outside to the plastic material of the covers I am using with the fitted diapers.
Fasteners - Not a fan of the velcro. It doesn't hold the diaper closed as tightly as the snaps - it slips. I am sure that this is partially due to age and washing. Speaking of which, the laundry tabs basically don't hold the tabs in place anymore, so the tabs themselves are taking more abuse as a result.
Absorbency - the absorbency of these diapers is dictated by the inserts. I can stuff these well enough to last about 2 hours, as a rule. The night thing is that the fleece layer against his skin keeps him very dry, despite how much he has wet the diaper. I will discuss inserts below.
Chinese Prefolds - the other diaper included in the kijiji lot I purchased. I had no idea what to expect.
Look & Material - These are simply flat layers of cotton (extra layers in the middle where most wetting would happen). These are the old school diapers that people used to use pins to fasten (I am sure some people still do, but there is now a slightly less dangerous product called Snappis that do the same thing). They need covers. They are pretty cute ;)
Fasteners - As I mentioned, I use Snappis. They work surprisingly well, but require a little practice.
Absorbency - This is where the rubber hits the road and, in our house, these are a joke. Orin peed while I was fastening one of these on him and there was pee dripping out of the outside of the diaper before I got the fastener done :P I am using them as stuffing for the pocket diapers.
Inserts
Bamboo - Thin, but absorbent. They surprised me.
Hemp - These are dense and soak up everything. I put one of these in every diaper I stuff.
Cotton (including prefold diapers) - least absorbent and must always be supported by something else.
Claudia's Choices soap - I like it so far. I am not running into any problems with residue and it gets the diapers super clean almost every time (and a few hours out in the sun will get any stains out of diapers).
What works for us?
~vinegar in the wash...a tip I was given by a few cloth-using friends and I will never go back.
~stuffing pockets with fitted. If I really worry about him (his bum is rashy or I figure he is going to fall asleep or he has just drunk a lot of water), I will stuff a fitted diaper and an insert into the pocket diaper. This gives him extra absorbency and the fleece between him and the wetness. It gives him a giant bum, but it does the job.
If I am being honest, I am still using disposables a lot more than I want to. I am still trying to figure out how to make these work for us consistently during awake times. I don't expect to be able to use cloth at night - the boy soaks through disposables on a nightly basis (yes, I do a lot of laundry....thanks for noticing ;) ), so cloth is not an option, but I think we can do it throughout the day and even during naps. Keep your fingers crossed for us and if you have any advice, feel free to dole it out.
Some Milestones for the Girly Too
Last week was a busy one for Isabel.
We went through a rather unpleasant stint of bedtime drama that seems (fingers crossed) to be on its way out. Part of the issue seems to be that her imagination has exploded. She had a couple of nightmares, where she roused (didn't wake entirely) very upset, but unable to articulate what was wrong. She is also seeing dinosaurs in her blind, which is causing trouble getting to sleep.
She also went to her first movie - Shrek 4. Not including about 15-20 minutes toward the end where I let her play matching games on my iPhone to keep her entertained, she did really well! She wasn't a fan of wearing her 3D glasses, but was more cooperative about it than I expected her to be. Most importantly, she seemed to really enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, by the time they turned the lights on after the movie and I could get a photo of her with her glasses, she was beginning to meltdown because it was naptime. I think we are going to take her to see Toy Story 3 as well though, so hopefully, I can get one then.
We went through a rather unpleasant stint of bedtime drama that seems (fingers crossed) to be on its way out. Part of the issue seems to be that her imagination has exploded. She had a couple of nightmares, where she roused (didn't wake entirely) very upset, but unable to articulate what was wrong. She is also seeing dinosaurs in her blind, which is causing trouble getting to sleep.
She also went to her first movie - Shrek 4. Not including about 15-20 minutes toward the end where I let her play matching games on my iPhone to keep her entertained, she did really well! She wasn't a fan of wearing her 3D glasses, but was more cooperative about it than I expected her to be. Most importantly, she seemed to really enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, by the time they turned the lights on after the movie and I could get a photo of her with her glasses, she was beginning to meltdown because it was naptime. I think we are going to take her to see Toy Story 3 as well though, so hopefully, I can get one then.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A miletstone especially large for our boy
He ca only hold it for a few seconds at a time, but it is an amazing start at three months old. He will need this skill like no other so, best to start early.
Monday, May 17, 2010
"Cry me a river. I practically stew in other beings' bodily fluids daily."
Yes, these words crossed my mind. My dear sweet husband complained about cleaning up pee or something or other and this was my thought on the matter.
Really though, with a potty training nearly-3-year old, a newborn with a kidney condition, a cat with failing kidneys and a hairball problem, it isn't far off the mark. I feel like I am constantly cleaning or preventing the need to clean up someone's bodily fluids. I am constantly dealing with poop and pee and vomit. I don't remember this clause in my contract.
Really though, with a potty training nearly-3-year old, a newborn with a kidney condition, a cat with failing kidneys and a hairball problem, it isn't far off the mark. I feel like I am constantly cleaning or preventing the need to clean up someone's bodily fluids. I am constantly dealing with poop and pee and vomit. I don't remember this clause in my contract.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
A day in the life...
I kept meaning to post this, but kept forgetting. I was reminded/inspired by, my friend, Jenn's post on her blog today.
I have been asked often what I mean by "watering" Orin and how often I do and why do I look so damned tired *laugh* Let me run down what our day typically looks like:
2am - I wake up to run a bolus feed of water for Orin. I try to keep him sleeping for this one.
5am - Wake Orin to eat (if he hasn't already awoken) and run a bolus feed of water.
7am - Orin wakes to eat; I get Isabel up and ready if she is going to daycare
8am - Bolus feed of water for Orin
9am - Orin back down for a nap
**Izzy and I eat and watch CBC Kids cartoons while Orin naps; if she is at daycare, I eat and do laundry
10am - Orin wakes again; Izzy has a nap
11am - Orin eats
11am - Get Isabel's lunch together
12pm - Orin gets water; Isabel eats
12:30/1pm - Both kids go down for a nap....lately,this often takes work for both of them for some unknown reason
**While they nap, I eat, switch laundry, load dishes and catch a moment or two of TV/internet
1:30/2pm - Orin is back up and eats
2/2:30pm - Isabel is back up and Orin gets water
**If we are going to get out during the day, we try to do it now...sometimes we can get out in the morning, but mornings are pretty hairy. Isabel also has a snack during this period and if we don't go out, we go for a walk, play in the yard or on the floor. I also try to get more laundry done at this point.
4pm - Start working on supper
4:30pm - Orin loses his mind because he is hungry and starting to get really tired because he is not a fan of napping, so I strap him on in the Moby and dance around while working at supper and entertaining Isabel
5pm - Dave gets home and takes over supper/loading the dishwasher while I feed Orin
5:30pm - Water Orin/entertain Izzy
6pm - Eat supper
7pm - Bath time and bedtime routine for the babes (Isabel gets dressed, teeth brushed, reads books; Orin gets dressed, fed and has water)
8pm - Bed time
**We have a little time to relax after the babes go to bed, but I also spend this time folding laundry, tidying toys a little and sterilizing the equipment we use for Orin
11pm - Wake Orin to eat and do a bolus feed of water; go to bed
Here is a picture of the drying tray after a typical sterilizing run, which happens every two days typically:
I scoured YouTube for a video of a bolus feed using an NG tube, but couldn't find one. I may make one just to show folks what it looks like. He tolerates them well and it is working, which is all that matters to me :)
My dear sweet babies are flourishing and happy, so every day is worth it :) Here are some pictures to show them off:
I have been asked often what I mean by "watering" Orin and how often I do and why do I look so damned tired *laugh* Let me run down what our day typically looks like:
2am - I wake up to run a bolus feed of water for Orin. I try to keep him sleeping for this one.
5am - Wake Orin to eat (if he hasn't already awoken) and run a bolus feed of water.
7am - Orin wakes to eat; I get Isabel up and ready if she is going to daycare
8am - Bolus feed of water for Orin
9am - Orin back down for a nap
**Izzy and I eat and watch CBC Kids cartoons while Orin naps; if she is at daycare, I eat and do laundry
10am - Orin wakes again; Izzy has a nap
11am - Orin eats
11am - Get Isabel's lunch together
12pm - Orin gets water; Isabel eats
12:30/1pm - Both kids go down for a nap....lately,this often takes work for both of them for some unknown reason
**While they nap, I eat, switch laundry, load dishes and catch a moment or two of TV/internet
1:30/2pm - Orin is back up and eats
2/2:30pm - Isabel is back up and Orin gets water
**If we are going to get out during the day, we try to do it now...sometimes we can get out in the morning, but mornings are pretty hairy. Isabel also has a snack during this period and if we don't go out, we go for a walk, play in the yard or on the floor. I also try to get more laundry done at this point.
4pm - Start working on supper
4:30pm - Orin loses his mind because he is hungry and starting to get really tired because he is not a fan of napping, so I strap him on in the Moby and dance around while working at supper and entertaining Isabel
5pm - Dave gets home and takes over supper/loading the dishwasher while I feed Orin
5:30pm - Water Orin/entertain Izzy
6pm - Eat supper
7pm - Bath time and bedtime routine for the babes (Isabel gets dressed, teeth brushed, reads books; Orin gets dressed, fed and has water)
8pm - Bed time
**We have a little time to relax after the babes go to bed, but I also spend this time folding laundry, tidying toys a little and sterilizing the equipment we use for Orin
11pm - Wake Orin to eat and do a bolus feed of water; go to bed
Here is a picture of the drying tray after a typical sterilizing run, which happens every two days typically:
I scoured YouTube for a video of a bolus feed using an NG tube, but couldn't find one. I may make one just to show folks what it looks like. He tolerates them well and it is working, which is all that matters to me :)
My dear sweet babies are flourishing and happy, so every day is worth it :) Here are some pictures to show them off:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The day has finally come. We are making the switch...
to cloth diapers. I have talked about it since before Isabel was born, but was a little unsure of my ability to manage a cloth system and very unsure of Dave's willingness to use them. Well, our wee boy and Pampers have joined forces to leave us little choice.
Pampers introduced their "Dry Max" technology very recently. I thought little of this. Orin started getting bum rashes. Again, he is a baby and this happens, so I thought little of it. Then I came across some information on Facebook about the new Dry Max diapers causing chemical burns and serious rashes on baby's bottoms that made me wonder about this rash, that wouldn't clear up for longer than an afternoon and would flare up after only 1/2 an hour in any one diaper (thereby eliminating duration in dirty diaper as the culprit). The same day, Orin's wee bum broke into a rash so bad that it was raw and even bleeding a little :( This was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I had a small stash of cloth diapers in the house that I had purchased early in my pregnancy, thinking we might do cloth with this wee one, but had chickened out about when we found out he had NDI (I figured he'd soak them in no time). I got them out and started him in those and within a few hours the rash started to look better. I put him back in disposable for the night and the rash was back with a vengeance by the 3:30am feed/change. Proof was in the pudding (goodness, I am on a roll with the fun turns of phrase *lol*).
We did a few days in cloth and he hasn't made any terrible messes (i.e. leaking or soaking too fast), so we are going for it. I am sure some are asking why we don't just try another disposable and, honestly, for the night time, we will have to because no cloth diaper will be able to hold this boy's pee for longer than a few hours. That said, I hate the impact of disposables, both environmentally and to my pocket book. If cloth is going to work, I am excited to give it a go.
Our stash is still rather small, we have 6 pocket diapers, various inserts and a bunch of Chinese prefolds that I will be using as liners (I tried to use one as a diaper and he soaked it in 1/2 an hour....laughable). I bought 6 bamboo all-in-ones on Babysteals today and will keep my eye on kijiji for more. I will also be looking for accessories, but all in good time.
There, I've written it out, so I am committed and the whole internet can hold me to it ;)
Pampers introduced their "Dry Max" technology very recently. I thought little of this. Orin started getting bum rashes. Again, he is a baby and this happens, so I thought little of it. Then I came across some information on Facebook about the new Dry Max diapers causing chemical burns and serious rashes on baby's bottoms that made me wonder about this rash, that wouldn't clear up for longer than an afternoon and would flare up after only 1/2 an hour in any one diaper (thereby eliminating duration in dirty diaper as the culprit). The same day, Orin's wee bum broke into a rash so bad that it was raw and even bleeding a little :( This was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I had a small stash of cloth diapers in the house that I had purchased early in my pregnancy, thinking we might do cloth with this wee one, but had chickened out about when we found out he had NDI (I figured he'd soak them in no time). I got them out and started him in those and within a few hours the rash started to look better. I put him back in disposable for the night and the rash was back with a vengeance by the 3:30am feed/change. Proof was in the pudding (goodness, I am on a roll with the fun turns of phrase *lol*).
We did a few days in cloth and he hasn't made any terrible messes (i.e. leaking or soaking too fast), so we are going for it. I am sure some are asking why we don't just try another disposable and, honestly, for the night time, we will have to because no cloth diaper will be able to hold this boy's pee for longer than a few hours. That said, I hate the impact of disposables, both environmentally and to my pocket book. If cloth is going to work, I am excited to give it a go.
Our stash is still rather small, we have 6 pocket diapers, various inserts and a bunch of Chinese prefolds that I will be using as liners (I tried to use one as a diaper and he soaked it in 1/2 an hour....laughable). I bought 6 bamboo all-in-ones on Babysteals today and will keep my eye on kijiji for more. I will also be looking for accessories, but all in good time.
There, I've written it out, so I am committed and the whole internet can hold me to it ;)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Best-laid Plans
So I had every intention of keeping up with this. Let me tell you how that plan went awry.
I went on maternity leave on January 15th out of sheer exhaustion and in a great deal of pain due to a pregnancy-induced condition in my hips. You would think that this would give me lots of time to blog, but instead I went into nesting mode, tidying the house, prepping freezer meals, getting errands run, attending my multitude of doctor's appointments.
Nearly a month flew by...my due date came and went. I was in false labour from January 26th (so we didn't end up planning anything serious for my birthday just in case). Finally, on February 11th, labour really picked up. I got some sleep that night, but by early morning, it was looking good. It kept intensifying until we finally decided to go to the hospital around 10:30am. Labour moved along well and my wee boy was born at 2:18pm.
If you followed my other blog, you'd know that I am a carrier of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. My wee boy has NDI and has the distinct honour of being one of the earliest diagnosed kids that our doctors have seen. Normally, symptoms show up around day 4 of life, but Orin was diagnosed on day 2.
Here is a summary of the first few weeks of Orin's life as posted on ThatBoard:
Orin is three weeks old today. He was diagnosed with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus on day two. The earliest diagnosis of this condition in recent memory at this hospital. He has been a mostly permanent resident of the NICU since then.
The long and the short of the condition is that his kidneys don't concentrate his urine properly, meaning that he ends up with a build up of salt and can dehydrate very quickly.
So for Orin, this has meant a stint on IV fluids. His first one was in his hand. That was rough, especially since the nurses told me that it took several attempts. When his body started rejecting that one, they jabbed him another 6 or 7 times and ended up putting one in his head. I cried when I saw him with that one. His body started rejecting that one within a day so they moved it. Another in his head. One of the worst moments of my life happened with this IV when, in a fraction of a second, he got his finger wrapped in the loop of tubing taped to his head and started to pull. Luckily, Dave and the nurse intervened quickly because I became mentally paralyzed. Between exhaustion, stress and my fear of needles, there was nothing I could do, my mind went blank and I just started to pace in circles while my baby screamed. :'(
when he blew out the 3rd IV in less than a day of getting it, the decision was made to put a central line in. They were hoping to go in through his arm. The second choice was his belly button in one of the major arteries - very dangerous because if it came out, he could bleed out very quickly.
Of course, they couldn't get it in his arm, so belly button it was. I cried really hard when I saw him after this. A nurse cried along with me because she said that she could see my heart break when I saw him. He slept for nearly 6 straight hours after the procedure because the stress of it wiped him right out.
This central line meant my sweet boy was on limited access because we didn't want to jostle him about too much with that line in so he came out for nursing and that was about it.
Things are a little blurry at this point, but I think he had the line in for 4 days, at which point it was felt that he was out of the real danger zone he was getting into and we could start working on methods of getting fluids into him that would work at home.
Since then, we have been trying various combinations of medications (he is on three right now), salt solution, sterile water and breastmilk in our attempts to get him gaining weight. Unfortunately, none of these methods has worked yet. We have been sent home on a couple of day passes, which was absolutely wonderful.
Unfortunately, we are in hospital again because he is still not putting on weight. Yesterday the decision was made to put a feeding tube in to try pumping water into him that way. If he hasn't put any weight on by tomorrow, I suspect the paediatrician is going to put the IV back in. Just the thought of it makes me feel sick and teary because it feels like we are moving backward rather than forward :(. What's more, the paed wants me to start supplementing him every second feed with formula because he is worried about the lack of calories in the water. I have been saying the same thing since they started pushing water into him before BM, but no one listened to me. Now, my milk supply has diminished some AND Orin is getting fussy at the breast because it is slower flow than the bottle he is taking water in. All that said, supplementing with formula does not work for me at all and is entirely unnecessary according to the specialist at the IWK and the neonatologist here, so I have asked for a few days of making the breast first choice again before we take any other action. I have purchased low flow nipples for the water bottles and fenugreek in case I do struggle to keep up with him on my own.
I found out from a nurse that the paed (who, I admit, is very knowledgeable, but is lacking in bedside manner and creative problem solving skills which are needed with a condition as rare and challenging to manage as thus) foresees Orin being in hospital for another two weeks. I could really use some positivity to get us out sooner. I am being allowed to stay because he is breastfed exclusively and pumping doesn't work for me (I get abou half as much with the pump as I would estimate the baby gets) and while I am very grateful, I am missing my home and family like crazy. Isabel has changed so much over the last 3 weeks - she is in a big girl bed, she is using the potty, she uses personal pronouns consistently and is just SO bright. It makes me really sad that I am missing it :(
Anyway, that is the gist of it. the absolute worst things about this are missing Isabel, what this seems to have done to her trust in me and the feeling that Orin may never be *mine*. It still feels like he belongs to them and I am just a bystander waiting for them to hand him over. I certainly don't feel like his mom given how little I can do for him. :(
The good news is that, as soon as the feeding tube went in, things improved IMMENSELY:
When we started the NG tube, we struggled to find the magic combination of water and caloric top-up (20mls of formula or BM depending if I could pump or not). He gained and lost at random. Then, one day, we found it and he has been gaining since then. For instance, in just over 4 days, he has gained over 320g. That's nearly 12oz for all you imperial folks out there. Impressive, given that we realised on Friday that he'd grown 1 1/2 inches in length since birth!
While it can't be a long term solution, because the NG tube is working so well, we are leaving it in for a while longer rather than trying to reintroduce bottles again just yet. This will require a ridiculous schedule that will mean we really won't be able to go anywhere or do anything until that changes but we will manage.
The great news is that the doc is going to send us home this week! I am so ready to go home. I can't say that I won't see the inside of this hospital for a long time, as much as I would like to, because we will have to come in for daily weigh-ins and regular bloodwork for a while yet, but that is perfectly alright with me.
Since that update, we've been home for about a month. He has continued to gain like a fiend. We have been going to the hospital for check ups on a regular basis and the doctors are SO pleased and impressed with his progress. We are doing so well at home. We've settled into our routine. He is such a wonderful baby. Isabel is such a wonderful big sister. The best part, Orin is now beginning to take water in a bottle, which will mean the eventual removal of the NG tube!
Alright, I feel better having updated you all. I will post a more detailed update of what we've been up to since the hospital, but for now, I hope you understand why I haven't been blogging.
I went on maternity leave on January 15th out of sheer exhaustion and in a great deal of pain due to a pregnancy-induced condition in my hips. You would think that this would give me lots of time to blog, but instead I went into nesting mode, tidying the house, prepping freezer meals, getting errands run, attending my multitude of doctor's appointments.
Nearly a month flew by...my due date came and went. I was in false labour from January 26th (so we didn't end up planning anything serious for my birthday just in case). Finally, on February 11th, labour really picked up. I got some sleep that night, but by early morning, it was looking good. It kept intensifying until we finally decided to go to the hospital around 10:30am. Labour moved along well and my wee boy was born at 2:18pm.
If you followed my other blog, you'd know that I am a carrier of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. My wee boy has NDI and has the distinct honour of being one of the earliest diagnosed kids that our doctors have seen. Normally, symptoms show up around day 4 of life, but Orin was diagnosed on day 2.
Here is a summary of the first few weeks of Orin's life as posted on ThatBoard:
Orin is three weeks old today. He was diagnosed with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus on day two. The earliest diagnosis of this condition in recent memory at this hospital. He has been a mostly permanent resident of the NICU since then.
The long and the short of the condition is that his kidneys don't concentrate his urine properly, meaning that he ends up with a build up of salt and can dehydrate very quickly.
So for Orin, this has meant a stint on IV fluids. His first one was in his hand. That was rough, especially since the nurses told me that it took several attempts. When his body started rejecting that one, they jabbed him another 6 or 7 times and ended up putting one in his head. I cried when I saw him with that one. His body started rejecting that one within a day so they moved it. Another in his head. One of the worst moments of my life happened with this IV when, in a fraction of a second, he got his finger wrapped in the loop of tubing taped to his head and started to pull. Luckily, Dave and the nurse intervened quickly because I became mentally paralyzed. Between exhaustion, stress and my fear of needles, there was nothing I could do, my mind went blank and I just started to pace in circles while my baby screamed. :'(
when he blew out the 3rd IV in less than a day of getting it, the decision was made to put a central line in. They were hoping to go in through his arm. The second choice was his belly button in one of the major arteries - very dangerous because if it came out, he could bleed out very quickly.
Of course, they couldn't get it in his arm, so belly button it was. I cried really hard when I saw him after this. A nurse cried along with me because she said that she could see my heart break when I saw him. He slept for nearly 6 straight hours after the procedure because the stress of it wiped him right out.
This central line meant my sweet boy was on limited access because we didn't want to jostle him about too much with that line in so he came out for nursing and that was about it.
Things are a little blurry at this point, but I think he had the line in for 4 days, at which point it was felt that he was out of the real danger zone he was getting into and we could start working on methods of getting fluids into him that would work at home.
Since then, we have been trying various combinations of medications (he is on three right now), salt solution, sterile water and breastmilk in our attempts to get him gaining weight. Unfortunately, none of these methods has worked yet. We have been sent home on a couple of day passes, which was absolutely wonderful.
Unfortunately, we are in hospital again because he is still not putting on weight. Yesterday the decision was made to put a feeding tube in to try pumping water into him that way. If he hasn't put any weight on by tomorrow, I suspect the paediatrician is going to put the IV back in. Just the thought of it makes me feel sick and teary because it feels like we are moving backward rather than forward :(. What's more, the paed wants me to start supplementing him every second feed with formula because he is worried about the lack of calories in the water. I have been saying the same thing since they started pushing water into him before BM, but no one listened to me. Now, my milk supply has diminished some AND Orin is getting fussy at the breast because it is slower flow than the bottle he is taking water in. All that said, supplementing with formula does not work for me at all and is entirely unnecessary according to the specialist at the IWK and the neonatologist here, so I have asked for a few days of making the breast first choice again before we take any other action. I have purchased low flow nipples for the water bottles and fenugreek in case I do struggle to keep up with him on my own.
I found out from a nurse that the paed (who, I admit, is very knowledgeable, but is lacking in bedside manner and creative problem solving skills which are needed with a condition as rare and challenging to manage as thus) foresees Orin being in hospital for another two weeks. I could really use some positivity to get us out sooner. I am being allowed to stay because he is breastfed exclusively and pumping doesn't work for me (I get abou half as much with the pump as I would estimate the baby gets) and while I am very grateful, I am missing my home and family like crazy. Isabel has changed so much over the last 3 weeks - she is in a big girl bed, she is using the potty, she uses personal pronouns consistently and is just SO bright. It makes me really sad that I am missing it :(
Anyway, that is the gist of it. the absolute worst things about this are missing Isabel, what this seems to have done to her trust in me and the feeling that Orin may never be *mine*. It still feels like he belongs to them and I am just a bystander waiting for them to hand him over. I certainly don't feel like his mom given how little I can do for him. :(
The good news is that, as soon as the feeding tube went in, things improved IMMENSELY:
When we started the NG tube, we struggled to find the magic combination of water and caloric top-up (20mls of formula or BM depending if I could pump or not). He gained and lost at random. Then, one day, we found it and he has been gaining since then. For instance, in just over 4 days, he has gained over 320g. That's nearly 12oz for all you imperial folks out there. Impressive, given that we realised on Friday that he'd grown 1 1/2 inches in length since birth!
While it can't be a long term solution, because the NG tube is working so well, we are leaving it in for a while longer rather than trying to reintroduce bottles again just yet. This will require a ridiculous schedule that will mean we really won't be able to go anywhere or do anything until that changes but we will manage.
The great news is that the doc is going to send us home this week! I am so ready to go home. I can't say that I won't see the inside of this hospital for a long time, as much as I would like to, because we will have to come in for daily weigh-ins and regular bloodwork for a while yet, but that is perfectly alright with me.
Since that update, we've been home for about a month. He has continued to gain like a fiend. We have been going to the hospital for check ups on a regular basis and the doctors are SO pleased and impressed with his progress. We are doing so well at home. We've settled into our routine. He is such a wonderful baby. Isabel is such a wonderful big sister. The best part, Orin is now beginning to take water in a bottle, which will mean the eventual removal of the NG tube!
Alright, I feel better having updated you all. I will post a more detailed update of what we've been up to since the hospital, but for now, I hope you understand why I haven't been blogging.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
January 11-13
Sliding with daddy and the dog.
One of the movies that our doula gave us to watch in preparation for birth. It was REALLY interesting!
Two for the price of one. I have been working diligently at unpacking and washing and rearranging baby stuff in preparation for the Newbie's arrival.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Slack on posting, but not on picture taking!
January 7th
We've been working all week to reclaim our house from the toy explosion that had taken over.
January 8th
Some downtime with hubby and two other men, charming Italian plumbers ;)
January 9th
My two favourite people strolling the mall toward our "coffee" date at Starbucks. We all had hot chocolate, but everything purchased at Starbucks is considered coffee by the wee girl...I may have started something.
January 10th
This is a cheater as it was technically taken last night, but I like it too much not to include it. Perhaps that is what I will do every Sunday, post my favourite picture from the week that was not used in the regular posts.
We've been working all week to reclaim our house from the toy explosion that had taken over.
January 8th
Some downtime with hubby and two other men, charming Italian plumbers ;)
January 9th
My two favourite people strolling the mall toward our "coffee" date at Starbucks. We all had hot chocolate, but everything purchased at Starbucks is considered coffee by the wee girl...I may have started something.
January 10th
This is a cheater as it was technically taken last night, but I like it too much not to include it. Perhaps that is what I will do every Sunday, post my favourite picture from the week that was not used in the regular posts.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
January 3rd & 4th
January 3rd
It snowed....a lot...over the last couple of days. It isn't going to let up until Wednesday and even then it is only for a couple of days. There is storminess/snow predicted for Friday through Sunday and possibly into next week.
January 4th
The midnight snack of champions! I love my homemade peanut butter balls, but PB causes serious heartburn for this pregnant lady. In an effort to combat that, I complemented it with a large glass of milk and two Tums. Here's to sleep uninterrupted by the fire-breathing dragon I seem to have swallowed.
It snowed....a lot...over the last couple of days. It isn't going to let up until Wednesday and even then it is only for a couple of days. There is storminess/snow predicted for Friday through Sunday and possibly into next week.
January 4th
The midnight snack of champions! I love my homemade peanut butter balls, but PB causes serious heartburn for this pregnant lady. In an effort to combat that, I complemented it with a large glass of milk and two Tums. Here's to sleep uninterrupted by the fire-breathing dragon I seem to have swallowed.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Project 365 - January 1st & 2nd
January 1st
I committed on both Facebook and Twitter to complete this project as y only resolution for the year. With an adorable kid, another on the way and a love of photography, it shouldn't be too hard :)
January 2nd
We undecorated the tree and took down the Christmas decorations today. Taking it all down is nearly as much fun as putting it up in Isabel's opinion. Below is the second runner up for the Jan 2nd slot.
I committed on both Facebook and Twitter to complete this project as y only resolution for the year. With an adorable kid, another on the way and a love of photography, it shouldn't be too hard :)
January 2nd
We undecorated the tree and took down the Christmas decorations today. Taking it all down is nearly as much fun as putting it up in Isabel's opinion. Below is the second runner up for the Jan 2nd slot.
Friday, January 1, 2010
¡Olá!
Everyday is an adventure. This has been my motto for a while. This blog will reflect that. It will be a combination of Project 365 and just general blogging.
Currently, I am doing most of my blogging at my pregnancy blog, Two Lines. However, once the Newbie is born, my blogging will move here for good.
Currently, I am doing most of my blogging at my pregnancy blog, Two Lines. However, once the Newbie is born, my blogging will move here for good.
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