Incident Report

On Friday when I picked up Avery from daycare I signed my first 'incident report'.  When they said they had one for me I admit, I'm awful, and thought it meant she hit someone or something.  No, instead she tumbled while running in the gross motor skills room and bonked her head.  She has a decent black and blue mark there still tonight.

Throughout the weekend she managed to tap it off of the railings on the stairs and then tonight when she was frustrated she was bopping her head on the kitchen floor.

Speaking of her head... at the pediatrician appointment we measured in at 20" around, that's in the 99th percentile!  Her height at 32" which puts her in the 50th percentile and her weight at 25 lbs 1.5 oz, which is in the 75th percentile.

She did get two more shots while there.  Today she woke a little snotty and coughy, but seemed less doomed to illness as the day progressed.

We're also getting definitive NOs from her now.  Man is she going to be a challenge as she starts to use that big old noggin.  Her Dad told her if she didn't eat he was going to turn off Elmo.  I didn't think she'd understand it, but when he went and picked up the remote and repeated himself she said No with a tone that rang of "how dare you!"

The youngest puppy is learning from the older ones

This morning Avery woke up a bit too early, so I brought her to my room to cuddle for a few minutes.  She didn't want to go back to sleep.  Instead she started mimicking Danika, who was panting.

I suspect she was a little sore as she had a shot in each leg again last night.  First her second dose of the flu vaccine and then her last DTAP.  At least we're getting to the point where we'll be done for a few years.  But we did go to the chiro prior, so that could help.

A shot in the wrong arm

The pediatrician gave Avery a break last night.  Instead she only had her well visit, no shots.  Instead I got a flu shot there.  Here are her current statistics:
24 lbs 6 1/2 oz (75%)
31" tall (75%)
18 3/4" head (90%)

A few bites and a shot

Last night Avery received her MMR vaccine.  Maybe she was spaced out but she actually willingly ate some mandarin oranges! I've tried offering them to her several times and over the side they would go, but we had success last night.  Tonight was pizza, which she is willing to gnaw on.  She still seems happy and well. I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but it would be nice to get through a vaccine without her starting to feel unwell in the next two days.

Feeling better

Avery's rash has tamed back down again, thank goodness.  I have seeing that girl in pain.  Amusingly though she starts wiggling her little butt the second you go to use a wipey on her.  I am sure it is anticipation of pain, but absent that pain it is pretty amusing.

We went to the pediatrician on Monday, scheduled for the MMR vaccine, but were advised to wait a little longer between the variacella and MMR, so instead she got her flu shot.  I need to go get one myself.  We'll be back to the doctor a couple more times in the next month for the second flu shot (which they advise for little ones) and her MMR.  It could be a rough month if any of these make her feel less than well.

On a bright note, we were scheduled for another 30 minute photo shoot yesterday - a "milk and cookies" session.  Avery started crying right at the onset again, I don't know what it is about our photographer that makes her wig out a little.  This time it didn't last too long (I'm sure handing her that cookie helped) and I am pretty sure she got some cute photos of her.

Vital Stats

I realized I didn't post the official one year appointment measurements.  Hence:
28 1/2" tall (up 2" since her 9 month appointment), 22lbs and 10 oz (up 2lbs and 4.5oz since her 9 month appointment), and 18 1/2" head (up another 1/2" since her 9 month appointment).  She remains in the higher percentile for her head and weight, but in a mid-range for her height.  Also, I am happy to note that her lead levels were lower/in a safe range - thank God.

Last night while we were out running we also stopped in to have her feet re-measured.  She's officially a 3 1/2w at this point, which is the size of the shoes she currently is in, but they're wearing out.  I'm on the hunt for cute 4 or 4 1/2 wides for the cooler weather.

Food wise there aren't a ton of things to introduce her to at this point, but we have found a blend we tried that added leeks to her repertoire.  I'm also slowing shifting her bottles to milk.  We're at about 1/3 milk and 2/3 formula right now, which had her pretty hungry yesterday.  I guess she was ready to keep eating at lunch time - so additional food has been sent to daycare for backup.  She also was jealous of a classmate eating their yogurt, so I guess we'll keep yogurt there.  It is probably a better mid-afternoon snack than puffs anyhow.  I'm glad she likes it!

Kicking off the new year

Along with a birthday comes a visit to the doctor.  I am so grateful to report that Avery's lead levels were good for the follow up check from her 9 month appointment.  She got two shots as well, a pneumococcal and hep a vaccine.  Today she woke up a bit toasty - likely a result of the shots.  I still took her into daycare as it was a mild fever, after giving her a little bit of baby Tylenol.  Well, didn't daycare call mid-afternoon saying she was unhappy, wanted to be held, and was running a fever.  The temp I got when she got home wasn't as high as what they saw, and was lower than this morning, so I'm not sure what's up, but she did go down for a nap pretty quick.

While we were in the pediatrician's waiting room Avery decided to show off something else she has learned how to do - point!  She pointed to tweety bird, she pointed to minnie, she pointed at pooh... and so on.

She remembers.

Last night Avery returned to the doctor, this time for her 6 month visit and two more shots.  She looked at the doctor a bit skeptical during her exam.  While we waited for the nurse to return we giggled and played peek-a-boo.  All of those giggles came abruptly to an end when the shots came.  This time there was screaming.  I picked her up and she would not take her eyes off of the nurse.  I'm pretty sure she was burning this lady's face into her brain.  She also cried most of the ride home and was a bit cranky this morning.  Poor girl.

Yesterday we weighed in at 16lbs 15oz, putting her I believe they said at the 75th percentile for weight; 26" I believe was 50th percentile, and a big ol noggin at the 90th percentile.

The only other food addition since my last post was whole wheat (cereal) as to give us a little more mixing variety.  Tonight we're ready to add something else to the list - what will it be?  I'm thinking maybe mango or pears, although I'd like to get the blueberries sampled as well.

Three month weigh in

Avery is officially three months old.  She is also officially over her birth weight, finally.  We knew she was, and we were weighing her here at home, but I am still surprised to report she is over 10 lbs by 4 ounces (as of Monday)!  She got a few more shots, but didn't see the doctor, so they weren't even going to weigh her had I not requested it.

From there I took her to a le Leche League meeting and she wiped out before we left.  She was out pretty early at home and hard too - she even slept until 3am when I woke her to eat without her swaddle sack.

She remains a bit snotty, but her usual happy self.  Nothing else really to say other than I'm eager to go get her and get my share of daily cuddles.

Two Months

Today marks my sweet girl's two month birthday!  No gifts other than two shots at the pediatrician (which out of the like 5 or 6 they normally do at the two month mark that isn't too bad).  Once again she only gained a little bit of weight (we are up to 7lbs 14oz) but she was in a different patient room and thus on a different scale, and only 1/4" taller (21 1/4").  She is in the 10th percentile on height, 5th in weight, and 15th for head.

Since our chiro appointment last week the poops have been more regular.  I can also say that the initial latch pain has been reduced tremendously.  On the pumping front I once again this morning got a bit more on the one side than I had been - I do think the supplements are helping in some ways, just not as much as I had wished and hoped, but I'll take what I can get.

Six weeks down

Well, almost six weeks anyhow.  I had my six-week appointment at the ob/gyn yesterday and all is well.  After Avery and I stopped at the pediatrician's office to use their scale.  The good news is Avery is up to 7# 12.5oz.  That isn't crazy progress, but it's progress in the right direction none the less (so up 2.5 oz in the past week and 5 days).

I'm getting more smiles but still narrowly missing capturing them on film or video.  We're also starting to create a good, healthy pattern at night which has been resulting in good sleep!  Of course, I recognize that now that I typed that everything will go out the window.

Slow and steady

Our Thursday appointment at the pediatrician turned into Avery's one month appointment.  As such she got measured - showing she's now 21" long and her first vaccine (Hep B).  She did gain a little bit more weight and is back to 7# 9oz (where she was when she left the hospital).  This is indeed slow going.  But the doctor is still okay with everything. This puts her at the 10th percentile for weight and 15th percentile for height.

We had a few rough days leading up to this appointment.  On Tuesday she was fussy every time she was put down on her own and insisted upon being held.  Fortunately, she snapped out of that for bedtime and allowed us some rest.  Then on Wednesday night she decided to be a bear in the evening - staying awake well past 3am.

Overnight last night she was unable to get anything from my left breast on her own.  When I pumped this morning I was able to get a half of an ounce out of it.  Of course, I also got another half an ounce out of the right which had just fed her.  So I am a little more concerned about production levels than I was even before.  Right now I am going to go ahead and guzzle some fluids to see if I am just not drinking as much as I should be.

Some upward progress

At the Thursday appointment we were up... slightly... to 7# 7.5oz.  Granted she hadn't had a single poop that day to that point, so I suspect that helped us out, but at least we didn't lose more weight.  I am continuing to feed her around the 3 hour mark and trying hard to get through any of the initial pain of latching on by trying to get her situated better for feedings.  We're also sitting still for 20 minutes or so with the hopes that the hind milk will help out.  We return to the pediatrician again this coming Thursday.

In the mean time, we were getting a little more of a routine/predictability down, so I was brave enough that we ventured out to see some of his family on Friday night (an hour away).  It went well and she got to meet some folks.

I won't talk about sleep other than to say I'm rather tired right now.  I do yearn for when the feedings are spaced a little further apart as right now by the time I'm ready to put my head down we're within an hour of the next feeding and that short of a nap just leaves me grumpy.

Yearning to Gain

We were back at the pediatrician today, and unfortunately - she has lost even more weight.  We're now down to 7# 6.5oz.  *sigh*  Of course, I immediately started crying.  I need her to put on weight.  We're going back again on Thursday.  I suspect if the next 48 hours aren't productive we'll be headed down a path of supplements (which is another healthy expense).  I'm pumping and feeding often - she'll guzzle the pumped milk, but sits lazily more often than not when she's on the breast.  Of course, pumping I'm not getting a huge amount either, so that sits poorly with me.

Two weeks and counting

It blows my mind that two weeks have already passed since Avery joined us.  The time has gone so quickly, but the nights seem to crawl as she is unhappy and hungry for hours on end each night.  We've been able to feed, offer what I pumped earlier in the day, and feed again - then with some cuddling to get her out I am able to get some sleep, but I'm still feeling deprived.  It's hard to get through that cycle at 2am.

If only you could sleep while they slept on you.  She goes out nicely laying on top of me.  But we all know that is not a safe situation.  Sometimes I get lucky and after she falls asleep like that will stay asleep after the shift to her bed.  I do wonder/think that perhaps the coldness of her bed is what wakes her back up.  Time to take a heating pad to her mattress until I'm ready to set her down.

At Avery's appointment on Tuesday she was only up an ounce (7lb 10oz).  So here I am looking for ways to increase my output. My left breast doesn't seem to be as productive as the right, so I am also starting her nursing on the left more often, which displeases her too if it doesn't let down as quickly or as much.  I'm also sitting here with a cup of oatmeal, which supposedly will increase supply.
Her Aunt Jackie will be coming to stay with us tomorrow, so I'll have another set of hands to hold the baby - I'm hoping this will give me a little more sleep time, but I also know all too well that it can be hard to sleep and relax with company here.

We ended up scheduling an appointment with the Picture People for her photos since I heard back from only one of the other photographers and it was a dismissive response.  I hope we can get some good shots. I need to take some time to put the outfits on her tonight that I want to take with.  I do fear some will be too big and make her look like she's swimming.  I picked up a few other items from consignment to keep her covered in an appropriate size, but nothing there that is so adorable as to warrant photos.

Leaving the hospital and finishing her first week

While I was discharged on Saturday, Avery had to stick around another night.  The hospital was amazing and allowed us to room in with her.  Since they weren't super busy we didn't even have to switch rooms, which meant we kept the large labor and delivery room for our entire stay.  I admit I wasn't as scared when the time came to pack up as I expected to be - but I did have butterflies.

We arrived here mid-afternoon and started trying to settle in a bit.  We've set up camp downstairs using the pack n play as her night time crib.  This way we both can see her directly from the couches where we've been sleeping.  I know we need to transition upstairs at some point soon, but we're working to get better at feeding for now.  The girls didn't really get bigger, I don't think.

She is the calmest baby, at least during the day, but at night it seems like another child emerges - one that had me wondering if sleep was a thing of the past.  Sure they say sleep when they do, but the sleep periods were so short that once I fed her, changed her, got her to wipe back out, pumped, cleaned up the supplies, I was lucky to get an hour before I had to start it all over again.

As things have moved forward I'm needing to pump less thanks to starting to get the hang of feeding, but I'm still keeping some in the fridge as backup.  I couldn't even be to this point if I hadn't taken my 4 day old baby out to the Le Leche League meeting.  I was to tears frustrated trying to get her on properly and feeling so desperate... so I went.  I left on Monday feeling like 50 lbs had been lifted from my shoulders and that there was hope.

It was no small feat as Monday was a big day.  We had her first pediatrician appointment, from there we went and picked up the dogs.  It worked out well that I then went to the Le Leche meeting as he was able to get the dogs settled back in at the house for a while before we returned.  So how are the dogs doing with her?  Well, they were a bit crazy at first.  I have to say Saf, my baby, did better than I would have guessed, and Dani ended up being weirder than I expected.  They are very interested in the baby, but doing well.  They're also sleeping with us downstairs (other than that first night) so they too are looking a little sleepy.

He returned to work on Wednesday but I was only truly alone here with her on Thursday as his parents were in since his father is doing some work here on retaining walls.  Of course with people here I didn't have a shot at sleeping when she did, so I really just started making attempts at that pattern.  I should be sleeping right now as he is out running for us and she is down, but there is so much to try and do that I often cheat myself.  I guess once I'm beyond exhausted sleep will win.

Weight has started falling off and I AM eating.  I'm sure I'll hit the wall on that too (very soon).  My belly button is starting to return to pulling back in (yay).  I also lucked out in the period department.  They kept telling me I'd likely have a very heavy period for up to 6 weeks, but it's been pretty light and dealable.

When Thursday at 3am hit we were just falling asleep.  I can't believe it's already been over a week already.

Local Le Leche League and Pediatrician

Last night I made my way to a local Le Leche meeting.  Fortunately one of the local groups has evening meetings.  Many tend to meet during the day mid-week, go figure.  There were three other ladies there last evening, so it was comfortable and not too overwhelming for me.  I admit I had some fears about people being super free about breastfeeding, but people stayed covered, so I didn't mentally freak out.  Everyone was very friendly.  I can see myself going back.

I also neglected to report that we met with the recommended pediatrician last week and were very satisfied with our discussion, so we've got a doctor lined up for our wee one!  She is available to come to the hospital for first checkups etc, is onboard with some of our opinions, and offered a great deal of information and dialog.

In other news I am officially heavier than I've ever been.  Today is week 31, so 9 weeks to go, so I am guessing that will tick up by another 10lbs, which would put me at a 35lb gain.  That is at the top end of allowed gain - IF I had started out at what they consider to be a healthy weight.  Since they classify me as overweight (and a mere 2 or 3lbs under what they'd say is obses) based on BMI I'll be 10lbs over what they would want, easy.

I still think if I'm that close to 'obese' they need more categories because there has to be somewhere to go from there given the tremendous (word selected on purpose) variety of even larger sized women I encounter on a very regular basis.

I also have the hospital packing list started.  I want to start setting stuff aside, being the crazy planner I am.  After all, I need to get my stuff in order so I can then start telling him what all he needs to get in order, right?

Chiropractic care and potentially more doctors?

I'm not hurting - yet.  But I know that with my past issues of my hips moving out of alignment and the fact that ligaments and whatnot will loosen throughout the pregnancy I figure it is a matter of time.  So yesterday I had my first chiropractic appointment with a local doctor.  I am thinking I chose wisely.

It is a husband/wife team.  They too see it the way I do:  give me ways to fix the situation rather than creating a cycle where I am dependent upon coming to your office for relief for the rest of eternity.  Granted, for now I don't mind regular appointments, as from what I read (and it makes sense) getting and staying aligned during pregnancy can help a lot of things - including labor and delivery.

They had some neat toys I hadn't seen before to assess the nerves and muscles in my back without x-rays.  It is kind of interesting when the areas that 'light up' are the ones you do have issues.  The first is the left side of my neck in the back, which is where my tension headaches keep forming.  That was off the charts and over 3000% by their unit of measure.  The other was a spot Ben keeps saying feels bulged around the middle of my back, also on the left.  It hasn't been hurting me, but there it was also lit up red and above and beyond all good readings.

I did get a few unexpected perks from this visit.

First (TMI warning), when I got up this morning I poo'd immediately and not a rabbit pellet little thing, this was legit!  At my morning weigh in I am back down a little even, which makes me feel a little better, but I know I'm still pushing the upper boundary of the acceptable range for this point in time.

Second, she also is going to give me the name of a pediatrician that they use (they have a 5 month old daughter) who is open to discussing vaccinations and altering the schedule there - which is good news because my hunt on this front has been fruitless thus far and met by cold responses of "I don't know anyone who would see patients who don't vaccinate" (*sigh* - that's not what I said!)

These responses at the obgyn and the comment of "that's not typically something the hospital does" in response to my inquiry at the baby basics class with regard to delayed cord clamping also makes me think I need an advocate beyond Ben and I when we're in the act of having kiddo.  I've thought about a doula, but the cost and not knowing where to start has put it at the back of my brain.  Thirdly, the chiro will also be giving me a name for a doula they used.