People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. ~Leo J. Burke
How true is that?! For the past few weeks, er... months, we have been struggling in this household. Braden has not wanted to eat, hasn't wanted to sleep and has been kind of a pain to be around. I chalked it all up to teething thinking it was quite "normal" from all of my reading. But something had to give. My anxiety levels were through the roof, I was frustrated and angry all the time and I just felt like a failure of a mother.
So, I mentioned in my last blog about my change of routine. And I have to say it's making a HUGE difference. He's actually taking entire 6 ounce bottles with no fuss! I can hardly believe it. Once I got the feeding part figured out I HAD to do something about the lack of naps in this house! Lack of naps for baby = cranky baby = cranky mommy.
So, I did tons of research. I asked loads of people what worked and didn't work for them. Braden has never had an issue putting himself to sleep at bedtime, so what's with the napping?! From all the reading I've done they all mention that you should try to use the same routine for naptime that you do for bedtime. So what do we do at bedtime? We do bath, lotion, PJs, quiet time, then bottle, then bed. So, I thought what the heck, let's try putting him in PJs for naptime! Well that most certainly did the trick! He went from having 20 minute naps to sleeping for an hour or so 2-3 times a day!! Why didn't I think of this before?!
All I know is that we're here now and doing great! I'm feeling so much better about things!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Quotations to Live By.
"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."
~ Beverly Sills ~
I'm starting a new trend with my blogging. I'm finding great quotations that I love and trying to incorporate them into my life and then just share the ioutcomes with my readers!
Lately, I've been trying a new approach with Braden and his schedule throughout the day. For the past few weeks, he was just an unhappy camper and it was making for a miserable mommy-baby duo. So far so good with the new approach. I'm trying to let go a lot more and just enjoy him rather than stress over every little thing.
I'm also looking into possibly going back to work in a few months. I know, what??!! But I really miss working. I miss having people to talk to and something productive to do all day. I love being a mommy, I'm just not sure being a stay-at-home-mommy is cut out for me. I hate the monotony of the day. Every day seems to drag on endlessly.
We shall see what happens. Right now I'm trying to calculate the benefits and figure out which works for us in the long run. Daycare is so not cheap. I just don't know yet.
~ Beverly Sills ~
I'm starting a new trend with my blogging. I'm finding great quotations that I love and trying to incorporate them into my life and then just share the ioutcomes with my readers!
Lately, I've been trying a new approach with Braden and his schedule throughout the day. For the past few weeks, he was just an unhappy camper and it was making for a miserable mommy-baby duo. So far so good with the new approach. I'm trying to let go a lot more and just enjoy him rather than stress over every little thing.
I'm also looking into possibly going back to work in a few months. I know, what??!! But I really miss working. I miss having people to talk to and something productive to do all day. I love being a mommy, I'm just not sure being a stay-at-home-mommy is cut out for me. I hate the monotony of the day. Every day seems to drag on endlessly.
We shall see what happens. Right now I'm trying to calculate the benefits and figure out which works for us in the long run. Daycare is so not cheap. I just don't know yet.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Catch up
Well, I always have the best of intentions when I start things... although, I know myself very well. I don't always finish everything I start. ;-) So, I jumped off the blogging bandwagon - BUT I'm back now, so that's all that matters, right?
Where to start... Well, Braden has done absolutely wonderful. He was placed on a prescription formula called Neocate and is 100 percent a different baby. He's gaining weight well, he's happier - all in all it's definitely a success. In the last month he's gotten extremely vocal (in a good way) and loves to carry on "conversations." I was hoping that he'd have rolled over by now considering he's 6 months old (4 months corrected) but he's just not quite there. His upper body strength is lacking a little bit I think due, in part, to his acid reflux troubles before. This little man is JUST starting to tolerate 3-4 minutes of Tummy Time per session. Honestly, I'm not too worried about it though. He'll get there when he gets there and that's that.
Yesterday, Braden got part of his 6 month immunizations. We are doing a semi-delayed vaccination schedule so he gets shots every month instead of every 2 months. This poor kiddo has not been at 100 percent today. But that's okay. It'll probably only last a couple days and he'll be back to normal in no time!
Well, he's just woken up from his nap - I hear him "chatting" with himself up there. I suppose I should leave this for now. But don't worry - I promise I'll be back soon. I have a hot topic/ controversial subject that I want to discuss.
Where to start... Well, Braden has done absolutely wonderful. He was placed on a prescription formula called Neocate and is 100 percent a different baby. He's gaining weight well, he's happier - all in all it's definitely a success. In the last month he's gotten extremely vocal (in a good way) and loves to carry on "conversations." I was hoping that he'd have rolled over by now considering he's 6 months old (4 months corrected) but he's just not quite there. His upper body strength is lacking a little bit I think due, in part, to his acid reflux troubles before. This little man is JUST starting to tolerate 3-4 minutes of Tummy Time per session. Honestly, I'm not too worried about it though. He'll get there when he gets there and that's that.
Yesterday, Braden got part of his 6 month immunizations. We are doing a semi-delayed vaccination schedule so he gets shots every month instead of every 2 months. This poor kiddo has not been at 100 percent today. But that's okay. It'll probably only last a couple days and he'll be back to normal in no time!
Well, he's just woken up from his nap - I hear him "chatting" with himself up there. I suppose I should leave this for now. But don't worry - I promise I'll be back soon. I have a hot topic/ controversial subject that I want to discuss.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Feeling Better
*sigh* I feel really good today!! Better, in fact, than I have felt in a really really long time! I have to chalk this up, in part, to getting a full night's sleep last night! Don't get me wrong, Braden still required 3 feedings, but as soon as each feed was over he fell right to sleep! This, of course, allowed Mommy to fall right to sleep! I think over all I got in a good 8 hours!
Plus, Braden is doing exceptionally better with his feeds! The last 2+ weeks have been soooo challenging! Just after his immunizations, Braden began a habit of food refusal for HOURS at a time! Freaking out, I took him to the doctor (last minute - so he saw some random doctor) to be told that he's absolutely fine he just needs more reflux medicine! That answer was not good enough for me! Sometimes a Mom just has a GUT feeling when things aren't right. Being a first time Mom, I was torn between my gut feeling and the doctor's suggestion. I mean, they're doctors - they know what they're talking about, right?! Wrong! That night Braden got much worse and ended up severely dehydrated! Thankfully, I have a wonderfully awesome pediatrician who returned my email with a phonecall from his HOUSE to help me figure out what action to take.
I immediately took him to the pediatrician's office and got in an appoitment with another INCREDIBLE pediatrician who totally took the time to listen to all my concerns and said that she 100 percent agreed with my intuition. It was her personal opinion that Braden was experiencing a milk intolerance and would probbaly benefit from a change in formula! I had been practically begging doctors to do this for weeks, but I'm just the Mom - what do I know?!
Since switching to a hypoallergenic formula about 2 weeks ago, my son has gone from screaming/crying almost all day and eating maybe 20 ounces total on a good day, to being a very excitable smiling, cooing baby who seems to have a bottomless pit in his tummy. He's now taking between 26-32 ounces in a 24 hour period!!
He's now getting weekly weight checks to ensure that he continues to gain. Now if only we can get him to spread his feeds apart a little more we'll be golden! However, I know that we need to take small steps! I'm grateful that he's EATING! At this point, I'm not concerned that he's hungry every 2.5 hours! Luckily he goes 4-5 hours between feeds at night! I could not be more ecstatic! A happy baby makes for a happy Mommy!!
Plus, Braden is doing exceptionally better with his feeds! The last 2+ weeks have been soooo challenging! Just after his immunizations, Braden began a habit of food refusal for HOURS at a time! Freaking out, I took him to the doctor (last minute - so he saw some random doctor) to be told that he's absolutely fine he just needs more reflux medicine! That answer was not good enough for me! Sometimes a Mom just has a GUT feeling when things aren't right. Being a first time Mom, I was torn between my gut feeling and the doctor's suggestion. I mean, they're doctors - they know what they're talking about, right?! Wrong! That night Braden got much worse and ended up severely dehydrated! Thankfully, I have a wonderfully awesome pediatrician who returned my email with a phonecall from his HOUSE to help me figure out what action to take.
I immediately took him to the pediatrician's office and got in an appoitment with another INCREDIBLE pediatrician who totally took the time to listen to all my concerns and said that she 100 percent agreed with my intuition. It was her personal opinion that Braden was experiencing a milk intolerance and would probbaly benefit from a change in formula! I had been practically begging doctors to do this for weeks, but I'm just the Mom - what do I know?!
Since switching to a hypoallergenic formula about 2 weeks ago, my son has gone from screaming/crying almost all day and eating maybe 20 ounces total on a good day, to being a very excitable smiling, cooing baby who seems to have a bottomless pit in his tummy. He's now taking between 26-32 ounces in a 24 hour period!!
He's now getting weekly weight checks to ensure that he continues to gain. Now if only we can get him to spread his feeds apart a little more we'll be golden! However, I know that we need to take small steps! I'm grateful that he's EATING! At this point, I'm not concerned that he's hungry every 2.5 hours! Luckily he goes 4-5 hours between feeds at night! I could not be more ecstatic! A happy baby makes for a happy Mommy!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
First Time is a Charm
So here I am... I did it. I finally broke down and started a blog. It's something I've been meaning to do for quite some time. Now seemed as good a time as any. I have decided to create this blog as a means for posting Braden's progress and developmental milestones, as well as give me a place to come to where I can vent all my frustrations and worries.
Living so far away from family, with - let's face it - zero good friends on the islandof Oahu makes for a lonely and trying time. Don't get me wrong, I love having my husband home with me every night and I absolutely love that, being on shore duty, he no longer has to go out to sea for months at a time. However, it's just not the same as when we lived in Washington and I had girlfriends to go and do things with. I also had a job that I loved and was exceptionally good at. My current job as a Stay-At-Home-Mom IS something that I love, although I can't help but feel like it's not something I'm good at.
My husband and I are the very proud parents of a 30 weeker baby. Our son, Braden was born on December 13, 2008 at 2 pounds 11 ounces and was only 15 inches long. He had a very rough start to this life, with a 2 month stay in the NICU - undergoing: jaundice light therapy, bradycardia, apnea, acid reflux treatments , blood transfusions, anemia treatments, and a milk intolerance. I count my lucky stars that things didn't progress to the point of needing surgeries. However, his rough start has lead us down an even rockier road. Currently, he's 4 months and 2 weeks old. However, when referring to premature infants, doctors will typically judge developmental milestones, gross motor skills, and weight gain based on a preemie's "corrected gestational age" - or the age at which a preemie should be assuming he/she was born on his/her initial due date. Braden's corrected gestational age is only 2 1/2 months. Because of this, he only weighs what a 2 1/2 month old weighs and his skills are only at a 2 1/2 month old's level as well.
The thing about parenting that NOBODY ever tells you is that it's H-A-R-D!! And I'm not trying to brag, or toot my own horn here, but I honestly think that parenting a preemie baby is about a million times harder! It's so difficult to try and figure out what's "normal". Even my pediatrician admitted to me how difficult it is to try and diagnose issues with a premature baby. They don't develop at the same rate and they often don't react the same way that other full term babies do.
Of course, my personality is such that I have a hard time dealing with major stress. I've never been the type of person to just let things roll of my back. I'm a "worrier"! I always have been and I always will be! Now, combine that with first-time parenthood and you've got disaster written all over it. Add to that a premature baby and, well, then you've got ME - frazzled, stressed, worried sick, and freaking out over "every little thing". But to me, nothing seems like a "little thing" when it comes to the health and well-being of my son. Right now, I'm trying to just take things a day at a time and go with the flow the best that I can! What else is there to do?!
Living so far away from family, with - let's face it - zero good friends on the islandof Oahu makes for a lonely and trying time. Don't get me wrong, I love having my husband home with me every night and I absolutely love that, being on shore duty, he no longer has to go out to sea for months at a time. However, it's just not the same as when we lived in Washington and I had girlfriends to go and do things with. I also had a job that I loved and was exceptionally good at. My current job as a Stay-At-Home-Mom IS something that I love, although I can't help but feel like it's not something I'm good at.
My husband and I are the very proud parents of a 30 weeker baby. Our son, Braden was born on December 13, 2008 at 2 pounds 11 ounces and was only 15 inches long. He had a very rough start to this life, with a 2 month stay in the NICU - undergoing: jaundice light therapy, bradycardia, apnea, acid reflux treatments , blood transfusions, anemia treatments, and a milk intolerance. I count my lucky stars that things didn't progress to the point of needing surgeries. However, his rough start has lead us down an even rockier road. Currently, he's 4 months and 2 weeks old. However, when referring to premature infants, doctors will typically judge developmental milestones, gross motor skills, and weight gain based on a preemie's "corrected gestational age" - or the age at which a preemie should be assuming he/she was born on his/her initial due date. Braden's corrected gestational age is only 2 1/2 months. Because of this, he only weighs what a 2 1/2 month old weighs and his skills are only at a 2 1/2 month old's level as well.
The thing about parenting that NOBODY ever tells you is that it's H-A-R-D!! And I'm not trying to brag, or toot my own horn here, but I honestly think that parenting a preemie baby is about a million times harder! It's so difficult to try and figure out what's "normal". Even my pediatrician admitted to me how difficult it is to try and diagnose issues with a premature baby. They don't develop at the same rate and they often don't react the same way that other full term babies do.
Of course, my personality is such that I have a hard time dealing with major stress. I've never been the type of person to just let things roll of my back. I'm a "worrier"! I always have been and I always will be! Now, combine that with first-time parenthood and you've got disaster written all over it. Add to that a premature baby and, well, then you've got ME - frazzled, stressed, worried sick, and freaking out over "every little thing". But to me, nothing seems like a "little thing" when it comes to the health and well-being of my son. Right now, I'm trying to just take things a day at a time and go with the flow the best that I can! What else is there to do?!
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