Addendum to Quite the Week

Got a call today that I need to take Joshua back to the clinic because they didn't get enough blood the first time.

Had a good evening yesterday, but Joshua was up for the usual 90 minutes from about 3:30am. The last few days he is waking increasingly early with a stuffy nose. Apparently congestion is a sign of food sensitivity. He also has a couple of pimples. He has been fussy all morning and finally fell asleep in the wrap after crying for a long time. He's still arching his neck back which is a sign of reflux as apparently it soothes the burning esophagus. So I'm still working with the food sensitivity + silent acid reflux theories. The really encouraging thing is that kids generally grow out of both within a year.

I am so hot!! It is a hot day and I have a big hot water bottle (AKA Joshua) strapped to my chest. But the poor kid needs to sleep so I'll take one for the team.

Quite the Week

This was a challenging week. Even since before he was born, I had been dreading pulling together everything for Joshua's proof of Canadian citizenship and Canadian passport applications. With good reason; it was as horrible as I expected. On Tuesday morning, knowing it was overly optimistic but hopeful since all our destinations were close to one another, I hoped to accomplish the following: Get Joshua's blood test done, get his passport and citizenship photos done, and get the photos and passport application signed by our guarantor.

Here's what really happened. We got to the clinic at the time they told us to be there, waited 20 minutes, then were told that the special test thingie wasn't in yet and to come back in half an hour. So we went to the photography studio, showed them the diagrams with the size requirements, had Joshua's photo taken, and were told to come back in an hour and a half. By the way, try getting a photo of a fussy four week old which does not show hands holding him, and where his eyes are open and mouth is closed. About as easy as finding and killing that mosquito that lurks under Andrew's desk making mincemeat of his legs.

Went back to the clinic, and of course by this time there was no parking nearby. There poor Joshua was subjected to multiple heel pricks in order to fill the little circles with blood stains, and Micah played in the hazardous waste bucket.

Called the studio and the photos weren't ready yet.

In the afternoon, took all three kids back downtown to get the photos. Micah, did you bring shoes? No, why would I have done that? Carried Micah and Joshua into the studio (luckily there was parking right in front). The passport photos were clearly not the specified size. Guy said he would take care of it. Eva is now hungry and thirsty. Micah now has to go pooh. Willy bad. I did not want to take him back, shoeless, to a restroom we had once used and didn't care to use again. Never mind with two other kids in tow. You're gonna have to hold it, kid. Finally we got the photos we needed and couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Later that evening I actually had a look at the photos. Not only were they still not the right size, but my hands were showing. Big no-no.

So the next day we went back. After fiddling with the photos for 15 minutes, it became apparent that another shot would have to be taken. It took about 20 minutes to get the shot. And then we spent an hour waiting for the prints. In the muggy waiting room. With an inconsolable baby. Aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

When we finally emerged victoriously with the necessary photos, we headed over to drop one off with our guarantor for signing. Micah didn't want to leave the building but I managed to convince him and finally we were done for the day.

Getting close to having everything together now. The rest should be a piece of cake. There is a bank and courier office in walking distance, and walking with Joshua and Micah is cool. Fun, even. This morning we did that walk, only to be told at the bank that we need to have an account to get a cashier's cheque. I'm pretty sure that's not true. I also know that the service fees for the cashier's cheque are going to be almost as much as the value of the cheque itself, but I'm purposely not letting that get to me. Anyway also the courier office by my house has shut down. Perfect.

Thursday we had our monthly Circle of Friends meeting. I barely got to be part of it because Joshua was super uncomfortable and just cried and cried. The only thing I've eaten different lately is the trial of two pieces of toast on Monday. I would have expected to see repercussions the same day or day after, but he was really hurting on Wednesday and Thursday!

The other thing that has been tough this week is the acting out by both of the bigger kids. On the one hand I understand, but on the other hand I can't just let it go. Eva spent a good thirty minutes in time out rather than clean up a few things she took out. I put Micah back on his time out chair over and over and over and over and over again (not to mention chasing him down as he dashed for another part of the house- all of this with a baby in the sling) before he finally acquiesced. I was sooo close to just giving up on both of them, but the persistence did pay off. That was encouraging.

So those are the challenges of my week. But there were plenty of blessings and good stuff to offset it as well. People at Andrew's work took care of picking up the stuff from the guarantor and will take care of the cashier's cheque and courier stuff for me. Whoohoo! The last couple of days have been a little better with the big kids. Joshua had a much better day today. Still having discomfort but doing way better than Wed and Thu. Andrew takes good care of me, picking up the slack in the dinner department, being totally in charge of bedtime for Eva and Micah (even if Joshua is asleep, sweet!), doing the grocery shopping, and encouraging me. Micah was really quite well behaved during all the many runs to downtown. We had a fun time doing our walking errands this morning. We bought some birthday supplies and Micah was so excited to come home with Spiderman plates and cups and whatnot. In the afternoon Eva and I had our little birthday supply date and she loves her Princess paraphernalia. We have a social weekend planned and I think that will be good for the kids. On Wednesday I did something very out of character and I not only took the kids to a fast food restaurant, I also bought them something to eat. They played for a really long time on the play structure and finally got up the courage to explore the whole thing. They were so excited! AND, Eva made some friends. So happy for her.

Also, next weekend is my birth conference! Everyone is coming along and Andrew is going to enjoy three days in Monterrey with Eva and Micah while Josh and I conference it up. I'm so excited!!

So life with three is just a little more extreme. The challenges are tough but the blessings and rewards are great!

SBD... I mean, Silent Acid Reflux

You may be wondering why we haven't posted any photos of Joshua. Well, unless he is sleeping or eating, he is fussing. I don't care to post a photo with my boob in it, he sleeps lightly so we don't want to mess with it, and his face turns an alarming shade of purple when he's mad. Therefore, photo opportunities are extremely rare.

So far.

I have new hope. Yesterday in response to my facebook plea for suggestions, my cousin suggested silent acid reflux. A couple of other friends had suggested GERD some time ago. At the time I was so focused on food sensitivities that I hadn't looked further into GERD. My cousin said her friend's newborn had just the same symptoms and improved dramatically with meds. She sent me some web sites and I did some research and it seemed like it might fit. Things like:

- not liking to be on his back during changes
- not liking to be in the car seat: he hates it
- swallowing spit up: Mom mentioned noticing this while she was here. Yesterday he was actually happy for a moment, then I saw him swallowing, and sure enough, right after that he made a face and started to cry
- fussiness: uh, yeah.
- persistent hiccups: I wouldn't go so far as "persistent", but he does get hiccups fairly regularly
- burping more than normal: Eva and Micah rarely burped, but Joshua does seem to need to burp regularly

I would rather not give him medications if I can help it. So I called Lucia and asked if she knew a homeopath. We made an appointment for this morning. He gave Joshua a thorough examination and asked me lots of questions. He felt that it was indeed silent acid reflux. He sent us home with three dropper bottles. Chamomilla, phosporus and robinia. I'm supposed to give 5 drops every waking HOUR for the first three days (alternating remedies, so that each remedy is administered every three hours). After that I'm supposed to give them every two hours until the bottles are empty.

I'm hopeful that these will help Joshua be more comfortable and relaxed. Poor kid! Out of the womb and into a world of pain...

He does have good moments though! While I was speaking to the homeopath, Joshua was sleeping in the sling, and I caught a full blown sleep smile. I loved it! I just really can't wait until he smiles when he's awake!!!

Almost 4 Weeks Already!

Can you believe Joshua is almost 4 weeks old?

This week was going pretty well, with increased tolerance (though not full acceptance by any means) of car rides and some longer relaxed happy stretches. By that I mean up to ten minutes of just hanging out before he starts to fuss. Then Wednesday night he was restless in the night and needed about 90 minutes of bouncing to get back to sleep. Last night again he needed 2 hours and later another hour of bouncing in the predawn hours. The good news is that the tv programming is quite good in the middle of the night! I am catching up on old ERs and Greys Anatomy. I am also learning many valuable fashion lessons from Stacy, Clinton, and Tim Gunn.

I started keeping a food log. Wheat has been out of my diet for over 3 weeks now. Dairy has been out for a week or so. Today I had a bowl of yogurt so we'll see what happens. I didn't want to add either until he'd had about three really good days in a row, but I was so starving this afternoon that I caved. He's been somewhat fussy today so unless he has a dramatic reaction, I may not get a clear signal of intolerance.

I took Joshua to the pediatrician today. He weighs 10lbs 4oz (4,650g). His heart and lungs sound terrific. His abdomen looks and palpates fine. We hadn't done the heel prick test I know as "PKU" screening, and Dr. Flores recommended that we do the more exhaustive metabolic disorder screen test, so we will do that on Tuesday.

I'm still on the cloth diapering learning curve. I bought a little of this, little of that so I could figure out what I like and what works best for us and order that kind in the next size up. Well, four weeks in and I just don't know. I'm still trying to figure out how to fashion the perfect blowout-proof Poop Pocket with the prefolds. A lot of people seem to love one size pocket diapers, but they're so bulky up front right now, snapped down to the smallest size. I want to love them, because they have a nice soft liner that keeps baby feeling dry. That wasn't a priority for me because I want to do at least part time EC and I know that he is more likely to stop using diapers sooner if he doesn't get too comfortable in them. That said, I don't want him to have be too uncomfortable either! And he sleeps in such long stretches that his diapers get really soaked and I feel bad for him. His private parts get all wrinkly like he's been in the tub too long!

I found myself thinking that cloth diapers were really not very absorbent at all since they get so wet so fast. But right now he pees about every 10 minutes so of course they're going to get wet fast. And I rarely have a leak, whereas I remember needing to change Micah's leaky disposable diaper- and sleeper- in the middle of the night almost every night when he was younger than Josh is now.

I have been doing some EC. The other day we caught like 4 pees and poops. That was fun. If/when Joshua gets more relaxed I'd like to lay him out on a pile of prefolds or something and REALLY watch his cues and learn his elimination patterns better. But right now he'd last about a minute. So for the time being he's in diapers and covers all the time, with a number of potty opportunities throughout the day. And I change him as soon as I know he has pooped. At this point there's no way I can keep up with all of his pees. I'm hopeful that as he grows and his eliminations become less frequent and more regular/predictable, we'll be able to really get into an EC groove.

Joshua has already grown out of the cover I crocheted for him. I'll have to get going on the next size. I wonder if I can get two out of the wool I have left. I like the wool covers because I know they breathe, and the ones with the little legs contain blowouts better. The down side is that because the wool absorbs the wetness, a little gets wicked onto the baby's clothes. They just feel a little damp to the touch though, not wet like a leak would make them. I must say that the Bummis Whisper Wrap covers are really good. They do live up to their reputation. The Berry Plush minky cover truly is adorable and works decently over a prefold or fitted diaper, but I've had a few messes with the snap in insert so I'm not convinced of its value as an All In One diaper. I'm not sure about the Kissaluvs fitted diapers. They're great for Andrew who hasn't had a complete orientation to the cloth diapering world yet (but is putting in an excellent effort and being totally supportive), and I haven't had a leak. But then they just somehow feel even MORE wet than the prefolds when they're wet. Maybe I'm just being silly. But Joshua had some diaper rash in his first couple of weeks so I'm paranoid of anything that might cause its return.

I do like five loads of laundry a day. I don't know what has happened. I only wash diapers every two days and Joshua usually makes it through the day in a single outfit, so how has my load increased so much? Oh wait.... Could it be the copious number of "accidents" the older two are having lately? Well, this too shall pass... (and at least it's not puddle accidents, right?)

9 Minute Intervals

Last Thursday we had a brief power outage. Just long enough to set the clocks a-blinking.

When we went to bed that night, Andrew turned on his alarm like he does every weekday night. It didn't occur to him to check it first (wouldn't have occurred to me either. But now it will!). If he had, he would have learned that the alarm time had reverted to 12 midnight. We went to bed on the early side that night, and fell heavily asleep. When the annoying beepbeepbeep of the alarm clock roused us at midnight, our heads were packed full of cotton balls. Andrew made it stop and we both fell immediately back to sleep. For a whole nine minutes, at which point it went off again because he had SNOOZED it, not turned it off. Stuff happens, no problem. I groggily suggested he turn it off rather than snoozing it, and gladly returned to dreamland when the beepbeepbeep stopped again.

For nine minutes.

People- he did not fully turn the thing OFF until 5:30am!! We were roused every nine minutes for five and a half hours!! Why didn't I get up and turn it off myself, you ask? Well, I was paralyzed and trapped by a newborn. Why didn't I suggest somewhat more strongly that he turn it off? I did, at least twice. But remember, I was paralyzed. And we were running a noisy swamp cooler plus a fan. I was probably pointing away from him. Andrew also was apparently fighting some sort of paralysis. Of the brain variety, perhaps. ;)

Friday was a rough day. But we learned a valuable lesson and added one more page of things to look back and laugh about in the book of our marriage....

Growth Spurt

Joshua is having the textbook three week growth spurt. I wish I'd known about this with Eva- I remember being incredibly frustrated and confused and feeling inadequate. Now I know that the constant nursing that happens for a couple of days around 3 weeks, six weeks, three months and six months is actually very normal and will bring my milk supply to the next level to accommodate Joshua's needs. I know it is a temporary change in nursing habits and I have adjusted my expectations and behaviour accordingly for these few days. I always have some water, a book, my iPod close at hand. I know to take advantage of his naps to run around and get things done while I have the chance. I've gone to bed quite early with baby and book the last few days. Andrew has been totally picking up the slack, uncomplainingly.

The big kids are struggling a little. They are having trouble entertaining themselves. I don't want to stick them in front of the tv all day, but I don't have the hands or the energy to attempt big projects with them. Can anyone offer ideas and suggestions for keeping 3 and 5 year olds happily entertained with minimal parental input? Days like this I really miss Canada and all the people and places there are to visit.

Early this morning I did a bad job of aiming Joshua's little fire hose when I changed his diaper. Woke up a few hours later soaking wet... oops. Chalk that one up to experience.

Joshua's skin has totally cleared up now. Whoo hoo! He had his first shower yesterday and he loved it. Had one of his longest awake-alert-happy stretches ever. I'm so glad! I tried just using water to clean him but between all the sweating he does when he's freaking out about being in the car seat and the smell of my armpit from being tucked in there all night... I was forced to use some baby wash. That said, I've gone to plain water for wetting wipes so at least his liver only has to process stuff every day or two, not every dirty diaper change.

Joshua

In the past 2+ weeks I have learned the following things about Joshua:

- He has extremely sensitive skin. He breaks out in a nasty heat rash if he gets really ticked off.
- It doesn't take much to tick him off.
- He doesn't like laying flat on his back. Therefore diaper changes generally involve crying.
- The sling, wrap and swaddling calm and soothe him. Especially when combined with bouncing. So glad we have an exercise ball.
- He sleeps long stretches, both during the day and at night. Some nights he needs some bouncing in the middle of the night, but often he just wakes to nurse and goes right back to sleep. Appreciating this (but not counting on it to continue, lest I be crushed with disappointment).
- He has a the makings of a killer smile! It's not gas, I'm telling you, I have seen this kid smile. Sometimes just a hint, sometimes just one corner, but definitely a smile. Can't wait to see the full blown version.
- He is a mover and a shaker. When he was only a week old and we tried to pose him for a photo, he was doing crawling motions with his legs and actually getting some traction! The other day I had him on my chest and he worked himself over so he was laying beside me.
- His hair is curly. He's got a little curled up minimullet, so cute.

It seems that if I can keep him in a sling or wrap, I will keep him happy. And therefore I will be relaxed and happy. This is not a kid I can just put down somewhere and who will just lay there and coo. So far he has been pretty high needs. That said, I have so many more tools to help both of us get what we want/need, and I have experience on my side. Now I know that these times don't last forever. Now I know to work with it rather than bang my head against the wall. He needs to be carried? Ok, I'll carry him and not begrudge him for it. Whatever works for him, works for me.