It was quite the adventure taking 3 kids (felt more like 4) to the Family Doctor today to get the prescription for diflucan. I took my research with me showed what Dr Jack Newman recommends, and after a little discussion of everything I had tried and the Nurse practicioner leaving to check with the doctor they agreed to give the script for our yeast problem. (Newman recommends a very high dosage, and they wouldn't have give this dose without the research I brought with me. Because we saw my doctor instead of the Pedi, we had to fill out charts for each child and take vitals for them also since they were writing a script for them. And because the script for them needed their weight we also weight and measured them too.
Tommy is 36" and 33#
William is 23" and 10# 2oz
Micah is 24" and 15# 9.5oz
On another note William ate 35oz of milk today! The minimum he should be eating at this point is about 24oz.
I was panicking this past few days (Thursday/Friday and Saturday) as I had a drastic dip in milk supply and wasn't getting enough, I had to dip into my freezer stash of milk so I would have enough to feed William (only 4 oz total), and every time I pumped I was only getting 2-4 oz total when I normally get 2 to 4 oz from each side. As a result I started pumping ever 2-3 hours so I would have enough milk for William to eat.
It's now resolved, I'm not sure what did it as I did everything under the sun to get it back up quick.
Ultimately I think I wasn't eating and drinking enough calories and liquid.
But here's what I did to boost production:
More food, more liquid, more sleep, skin to skin time, more nursing, More milk plus (herbs), fennel, colostrum, extra pumpings, warm baths before pumping, hot compress while pumping, added back the ice cream I had cut out of my diet, pump before nursing as babies empty breast better than pump,
all in all I had 8+ oz of extra milk today so yeh!!! I would much rather have extra than have to dip into my freezer stash like I was having to.
In another note I think we all have yeast problems myself I have burning in the breasts during feedings, William still has thrush, and Micah has yeast in the diaper area, and they all respond and get better when treated with GSE, or other things, but immediately come back when treatment is discontinued, so we'll be going to the doctor tomorrow, hoping to get a script for everyone who is nursing/bf for diflucan.
Rob's been in bed much of the week due to his back flaring up BAD. So I haven't been able to get to the grocery store for lack fo someone to watch the kiddos so I could go, so I sent out and email pleading for a Mother's helper for Thurs or Friday, and found a friend of mine's who has a 16 year old who is the oldest of 5 kiddos, and she was a life savior. She watch the kiddos and helped straighten the house some for me. I was able to take William with me to the store, and get the groceries we needed, and also take William to the Chiropractor. Also I was able to make a run to the library with Tommy so I could pick up the books I had reserved for him. The only down side was I had to drive to down town to pick up my friends kid as she lived in Mesquite. So I'm still in the market for a mother's helper type kid to help me out once or twice a week. I'm looking for a 12-15 year old girl that's very responsible and I'm looking to pay about $5 an hour. But I'm negotiable on this too. Let me know if you know anyone interested.
Also, I am still in the market for someone to watch all the kiddos when I go back to work, right now I'm slated to go back in September (beginning) (or sooner if we drastically improve sooner) provided everything keeps improving, and I can find someone capable of feeding William.
Also today I picked up another bottle to try for William and I accidentally left the main bottle I use at home, so in desparation I tried the new bottle and it worked. He sucked 4 oz down in about 5 minutes. here's a link to the new bottle It's more like the breast than the current bottle that he was using, so I'm hoping he may be getting closer to learning to nurse. He needs to quit clamping down as that would HURT on the breast.
Tuesday, we had swim lessons, went home, then packed up and went to Jack Carter Pool, then went home and took a nap (Ok Tommy took the nap), I took William to his therapy appointment, then we went to the chiropractor, then back home, and Them I packed up and took everyone to soccer practice, I chased kids a soccer practice, a friend helped me with Tommy, and I did get to practice some. Then we went home and to bed. It was quite a full day.
Tommy Loved Jack Carter, they have a splash area for the kids that's about a foot deep, and in the center they have a fort like thing with 3 slides, tommy went up and down the slide SEVERAL times, and even wanted mommy to slide on the slide, but the slides are off limits to "older" people. When it was time to leave for nap time, I had to drag him kicking and screaming from the park. It was tons of fun.
At William's Therapy, the therapist worked on his frontal bone and senoid with the Cranial Sacaral Therapy, And she said to expect him to be about the length of his NICU stay behind his brother, but that if he hadn't gotten any therapy that it would be minimum double his NICU stay. His NICU stay was 7 weeks, and that's about where he is.
Micah is smiling and cooing and talking. He says 'Hi!' and 'mama' and 'nurse' now. Course 'mama' and 'nurse' are all in crys when he wants something. I'll have to see if I can catch a video of it. A friend of mine's baby is saying 'I love you' and he's only a week older, so I totally think he's saying that, and Tommy was saying 'Off' at the same age (he always heard us say off to the dogs).
At soccer practice Tommy really enjoyed playing with another boy of another player named Noah, and also with my friend Maria and her baby who came to help. He threw rocks in the water, and peed in the creek, and kicked the ball around.
Today was a busy day, we started running out the door at 8:30am to Swim lessons (for Tommy), after swim lessons we went home dropped off William and Micah with daddy and Tommy and I went to the library to pick up some books, as we try to read some books at nap and bed time each day. Rob fed William a bottle and got poop all over himself while I was gone. I had nursed Micah before leaving for the library. After the library we came home Rob left for work, we read all our books, and lay down for a nap. After much fighting Tommy finally collapsed on the floor next to his bed for his nap.
While he slept William and I met with ECI, I pumped, she showed me some neck exercises for him as he still has tendencies to the right side, and we also discussed other exercises I can do with him. She fed him a bottle for me as Micah had just awoken to eat again, and I nursed him. He ate 4 oz in about 15 minutes and quickly passed out again. William slept through most of the visit, and Micah talked and cooed away begging for attention which he wasn't lacking in.
After the ECI visit Micah nursed some more, and then Tommy awoke from his nap with a poopy diaper. We cleaned up and ran out the door about 10 min late to our 3:30 chiro appointment. After our appointment we ran home to get shoes and clothes for soccer practice and headed out the door for soccer practice, on the way we stopped at Chick-fil-a for some dinner, and a quick play on the play ground, then we headed in the direction of soccer practice, sense we were running a little early I called someone more familiar with Wylie to ask where a park would be located close to our practice location. We played at the park for close to an hour, while Tommy played and ran all over the equipment I nursed one child, and then bottled the other. After playing on the playground we headed over to the soccer fields. I pumped in the parking lot on the way, and changed clothes.
I played a little soccer and the babies lay happily in the stroller, and carseat, while Tommy played next to the field with some of the other older kids. At the first water break William was hungry and dirty again so I changed him several times and fed him a bottle, he then lay on a blanket while I was able to play some more. Then tommy came over to me hugging my legs asking me to "pick you up" ie pick me up. So at this time everybody was about to pack up and go home so we did too. At 8:30 we were headed home. We arrived home cleaned out the car, took a bath, had a snack, and lay in bed about 9:40 for some stories. Then I nursed Micah while Rob gave William a bottle, and both babies passed out on the couch with Rob and I. I will then pick up the house, wash diapers, wash bottles and head to bed myself.
We had OT today, and cried through most of the Cranial Treatment. It was tough! He seemed a lot more relaxed after it was over. He always seems to sleep a lot after treatments. We're seeing more reflexes than we saw in the beginning, and Susan was saying that we will be watching to see if he coordinates and combines the reflexes and makes them into brain functions instead of spinal cord reflexes. He keeps improving, but the improvement is slow.
In other news it appears that the yeast/thrush is back. we finished our medicine on Friday ~9 days, and sunday the white patch on the tongue was back. I'm still giving motrin every day, but today was only one dose instead of 2. I'm also giving pro-biotics in his milk, and still taking anti-yeast supplements myself.
Saturday Rob was working so we headed to Nana's house, after two accidents and 3 fits in trying to pack up and head out the door. Finally we were in the car and on the way. We stopped on the way and picked up chick-fil-a, and then continued on the hour drive to nana and papa's house. at nana and papas Tommy played in the pool, feed the ducks, slid on the slide, and took a nap with papa. Then we played in the pool again (this time with Daddy as he drove out after work). It was a fun day. I took some pictures I'll try to upload soon.
Wed or Tuesday last week Tommy asked me to ride the train. I told him Friday we would ride the train as we had plans for every day that week but friday. So friday after nap time we headed to the train. I had Maddie helping me out all day, and so she helped with the train ride too. She carried William and held Tommy's hand while I carried the stuff (diapers, and stroller) and Micah. We got on the DART rail at 15th street station and rode to city place, then we got off, rode up the escalators to the top, and then went down and re-boarded the train, and rode back to the 15th street station. About a stop before our stop tommy was telling me all done train, but then when we got off he was crying more more train. We played in the park close to the stop, and then headed home.
Well Sharon Assessed him and he chomped on her finger quite hard several times, and she quickly declared that he's not ready, and I agree, he is better with the sucking sometimes, but not this time, and not consistently enough. She encouraged me to keep trying, but did say that she wouldn't put a nipple within ten feet of his mouth with how he chomped on her finger. So we'll continue our therapy and try again later, keep doing the skin to skin and maybe at 5-6 months he will be ready. The important thing in the mean time is he's getting breast milk and I'm pumping to keep the milk supply availiable to him....
I'm taking William to see a LC tomorrow to see if we can work a plan to get him to the breast. We've been treating a thrush infection and it seems much better now, and also with doing that his suck has been much more consistent (though still not always) at a bottle, so I feel it's time now to try to see a Lactation Consultant, so we have an appointment tomorrow. I really don't know what to expect, but I would love to get him to the breast eventually. He's 3 months old now, but didn't start feeding on his own (without NG tube) till close to 7 weeks. Benefits for getting him to the breast include improving the muscles of the face and throat, more relaxing hormones to help him relax and lessen the muscle tone.
Well I screwed up today, I asked for Rob to be off on the 12th, I totally thought our appointment was on the 12th of June, and on Thursday. So I show up promptly at 7:50 as I'm suppose to be for a first time appointment at 8:20. Only to find out that our appointment was suppose to be yesterday. So they do some checking and they can fit me in first thing today, but the doctor doesn't get their today till 9am. So we wait and have William's appointment at 9 am.
So we see the doctor, they weigh and measure him he's 22.5 inches and 9# 6.5 oz. Yeah, more weight gain! ;) The doctor asks me questions about his development and what he's been doing. And what my concerns are. He says he's about a month behind, he should be smiling and cooing more, and he just gave his first intentional smile to me this morning when I was changing his diaper. We discussed his Hyper muscle tone (too much muscle tone/holding his limbs all stiff) he said we can do two things for the hyper tone, we can do therapy (which we are doing) or we can give medication that will relax his muscles, and the medication they would give would be valium. After examining him he suggested we continue with the therapy, and to call if his tone got worse, but that he didn't need medication at this time. He did say instead of giving Tylenol to give motrin for pain, to help with the inflammation. Also, that if we find that we are giving Motrin or Tylenol everyday that we may need to switch to the valium as valium is easier on the liver and kidneys.
Don't forget to take your keys with you into the garage, especially when babies are in the house and especially with a two year old. No nothing happened to the babies, and everybody was fine, but it could have been a whole lot worse. Some times you just don't know what a two year old can do till you go out to grab something from the car really quick and come back to find the door locked. Yes LOCKED! Did I mention it's raining outside too. I knocked on the door and could hear tommy on the other side, so I immediately knew what happened. I try to tell him to unlock the door, and could quickly tell he couldn't figure out how to do that, but I quickly remember that I just got the mail in the front and left the front door unlocked then, so I dash around the house,in the rain barefoot through the wet grass, and I was correct, and am now back in the house. A sigh of relief, and a hilarious laugh for Rob when I call him to tell him the story while he's at work.
2. Avoiding extra sugars (or trying to) (this also means we aren't fortifying the milk anymore because the 2nd ingredient on the formula is corn syrup solids, yeast food basically)
We may have found the root of the problem with William's weight gain/feeding issues. YEAST!! We had our appointment with Speech (ST) and OT Tuesday. William showed all his usual problems iwth the feeding we did with her. Lots of arching, spitting, milk running out the side of his mouth. She said what I've felt all along, that he looks like he's in a lot of pain, and she wanted to wait for most things til the yeast cleared up. She said she felt like the yeast was causing the pain, and it was right on the portion of his tongue responsible for swallowing. She really felt like his problems eating would be much better after the yeast was gone.
When I was young, I'd often say, I'd like to be a mom someday While playing with my baby doll, I thought that job's not hard at all
I'd have a baby, maybe two, a girl in pink...a boy in blue Well I grew up and sure enough, I'm now a mom and gosh it's tough
The baby that was sent to me, was born with disabilities At first I'm frightened through and through, there's much to learn to care for you
This wasn't in my plans at all, when I was young and played with dolls Your mind and body were so weak, you might not ever walk or speak
So much special care required, I'm often scared and often tired As months and years go slowly by, I smile a lot but sometimes cry
To watch you grow and not complain, though you endure your share of pain Oh, how I'd hold you and I'd pray, that you'd be healed and whole someday
But I knew that was not to be, not physically or mentally And so I taught you best I could, your progress wasn't very good
But then one day I realized, as I gazed into your loving eyes That I had learned so much from you, determination...courage too
A love so unconditional, it floods my soul and always will I'm proud to say I gave you birth, for you're an angel here on earth.
God Choose a mother for a "Special" child
Most women becaome mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But she has patience?" asked the angel.
"I don't want her to have to much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".
And what about her Patron saint? asked the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
My 3 Boys!!!
About my blog
This blog is about me and my family.
Wife to Robert Conrad, and Mommy to Tommy, William, Micah and our latest edition Sydney! Tommy is my bouncing/skipping/swimming/reading 5 year old, loving life and having fun, William (3) is our happy smiling laughing boy loving life and his brothers, William has CP, Micah (3) is our happy go lucky boy, walking/running/swimming/tooth brushing easy going tender hearted boy, Micah has a Congenital heart defect Atrial Septal Defect ASD. Sydney our latest addition adds a girl to our crew of boys.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference
Wife to Robert Conrad, and Mommy to Tommy, William and Micah! Tommy is my bouncing/skipping/swimming/reading 3 year old, loving life and having fun, William is our happy smiling laughing boy loving life and his brothers, William has CP from a birth injury, Micah is our happy go lucky boy, walking/running/swimming/tooth brushing easy going tender hearted boy, Micah has a Congenital heart defect Atrial Septal Defect ASD.
