boobies

That seems to be all we talk about in our house these days. Pump, nurse...nurse, pump...nurse, nurse, nurse.

"Whatcha doin' Mama? Pumpin' milk?"...."Seester cryin'! She sad. She need mommy's milk." These are the little conversations we have all day.

Yesterday I had just about had it with BFing and Nick and I decided to just give her a bottle of formula to see how she handles it. I mixed it up and gave Nick the bottle to feed her. She downed about 3.5 ounces in less than 10 minutes. We were both like, "Wow, that was easy." We got her all dressed and in her carrier, ready to go for a walk around the block, when just as we are leaving the house, she pukes up ALL of the formula. She let out the most heart wrenching scream and was twisting and arching her back in discomfort. It was just awful and made me feel like the worst mom on earth. Nick and I both looked at each other and agreed that we would go back to plan B.

So I called the local LLL ladies and they were SUPER helpful. I talked to each one on the phone for over an hour. They answered all of my questions about BFing and how to correct Olivia's latch so that it is more comfortable for me. They also gave me the info of a lactation consultant in the area how is supposed to be awesome. I put in an emergency call to her and hopefully we will get an appt set up for this week.

So we are still BFing. It is getting better, and in fact, today I nursed and it was completely painless. Olivia loves to nurse, she is so content and happy and relaxed and passes right out every time. The times we have to give her a bottle she squirms and grunts and screams and it takes her at least 45 minutes to settle after she is finished. Just seeing how much she enjoys it is enough to make me want to whatever it takes to correct things so we can continue to BF.

That's the update for now. Oh, I also thought I should note that BOTH kids are currently asleep and have been for over an hour! I have prepared lunch, picked up the house, and am working on laundry. Today is a monumental day, I may actually be able to handle two kids...and enjoy myself :)

strrrrreeetch

mommy's milk

Luke has been very interested in me nursing Olivia. The first time, he came over and watched intently and asked a thousand questions about "mommy's milk". He thought it was pretty funny and kept laughing about it. Then, yesterday while I nursing, he came over and put his mouth on my elbow and started sucking and saying he wanted to drink "mommy's milk". I just let him do it and, really, it just about made me cry because I felt so bad for him. He is still such a baby himself and it's hard to watch him have to be the "big boy" sometimes.

So then today, on the way home from the pediatrician's office, I hear Luke talking to Olivia in the back seat. Olivia was getting a little squirmy in her seat and Luke was lifting up his shirt, pointing to his boobie, saying "you want 'mommy's milk' baby sister?"

It was too cute!

first pediatrician appt

Today was Olivia's first trip to see Dr. Lestz, our beloved pediatrician. This was just a 48 hour follow up since Dr. Lestz was not able to see Olivia in the hospital. She checked her weight and she was 7 pounds 11 ounces!!! She was 7 pounds 5 ounces on Sunday when we left the hospital. I am so proud of my "mommy's milk", as Luke calls it. That means that she has gained 6 ounces in less than two days! I thought the carseat straps were a little tight today. :)

We also had another jaundice check, just to be on the safe side. The doctor said it still looks like a very mild case that we don't need to worry about, but she ordered a blood check to get exact levels anyway. I was expecting Olivia to cry her little heart out when they pricked her foot and began squeezing the blood into a little vial, but suprisingly, she stayed sound asleep the whole time. I asked if that was normal and the nurse said that they gave her a little bit of sugar water just before they started to help with the pain. She said that most babies don't cry when they use it. I thought that was pretty interesting.

Olivia also received her Hep B vaccine, but she did let out a little shreek for that one.

We have to come back in one week for her two week visit, but no weight checks before then since she is already turning into quite the little piggy.

sweet cheeks

It isn't any wonder that the doctors said "look at those cheeks" before they even pulled her out of my tummy. She's definitely got 'em! She has smiled a couple of times, probably due to gas, but it looks like she might have great big dimples too!


And a few more from the hospital...