The past 6 weeks

Holy cow - in some ways it seems like Guy has been with us a lot longer than 6 weeks. In others, it's all still brand new.

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For a while I felt like I could update life through medications, medical procedures, and self diagnosis (with some wonderful help from a very generous friend). Some days, when I remembered to take everything, I was taking more than 20 pills. Fortunately, that did include 2 doses of iron, calcium, vitamin C, and a prenatal vitamin, but really . . . really?

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As for the issues it's mostly been breastfeeding woes . . . after Guy's jaundice, I got a mastitis, yeast infections on both sides of my chest, low milk supply (because of the infections/complications), and my latest discovery (and explanation for the ongoing pain since Guy was born): vasospasms (another chest issue). I've learned all this from 2 lactation consultants (one a good friend) and mostly from the above-mentioned very generous friend (THANK YOU ERIN!). Seriously, I have this renewed gratitude for facebook, and reconnecting with old friends, I really don't think I could have survived so long with the pain and frustration had it not been for Erin, who I've known since fourth grade and recently reconnected with via facebook.

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I really feel like with just a little more information I could be an expert on breastfeeding issues and infections/complications. I think I know a lot more than many doctors now (and for sure, more than the 2 doctors that I went to during all of this).

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For four days I pumped every 2 hours round the clock. One of those nights Guy slept for 7.5 hours in a row (yes, I was very jealous). And I'm still having some issues, but they are tolerable, and I'm working to make them better--coping a lot better, to say the least. Now I'm getting 4 hours of sleep in a row pretty regularly--horray!

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Meanwhile, Guy's growing (a lot more since we figured out we needed to supplement for a bit - now I've got more milk than he drinks in a day - yea!)--changing everyday, smiling lots, and laughing every once in a while. Putting everything else into that perspective, it makes all of it worth it. Now if I could just figure out how to consistently keep him awake while he's feeding . . . he's got this habit of falling asleep while eating, even if he just got up from a 3 hour nap. Baby steps, right?

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And now an open-ended offer . . . if anyone has breastfeeding problems, please don't hesitate to see if I can help, I'd be willing to share what I have learned--seriously.

Where did the last month go?

I can't believe how fast the past month has flown - - could have something to do with the adjustments we still haven't mastered, or just other stuff we've encountered (to be filled in later). For now, I'm just posting some photos.

Some Photos

Our glow-worm--the at home bili-blanket

Guy's mask for under the bilirubin lamp

R. Guy

Wow, it's been quite the few days.

On Saturday we were blessed to have Robert Guy make his appearance. The hospital had wi-fi, and I knew that in advance, so a couple weeks before Guy was due, I wrote up an email and just had it saved to go out. On Saturday a couple hours after delivery, Rob filled in the details and sent it out.

Last Friday we had an appointment with the dr., and he felt like things weren't progressing very quickly, so that day we scheduled the induction for Tuesday, Feb. 17. We also scheduled this week's appointment to include an ultrasound - the dr. wanted to check his positioning and size to see if he was stuck on a bone or something (explanation for him not dropping enough). I was feeling a little disappointed after the visit, but off I went to work.

Rob worked until 9 pm on Friday, so I went to JoAnn's to get material for a nursing cover--my Friday night was mostly me making the nursing cover. That's as close to "nesting" as I got, I guess.

We went to bed around 10:30. At 3:15 I woke up feeling my water break. I now know what they mean when they say that if your water breaks, you'll know . . . and did I ever. Within 5 min. after we got to the hospital two other girls came in, too. It seemed like the hospital just got busier.

There was one anesthesiologist on duty, 2 c-sections going on, and just a lot going on. The anesthesiologist started my epidural and went on his way to one of the c-sections. I started feeling the needle in my back AND contractions. No numbness at all. Over 45 minutes later still not numb, the anesthesiologist came back and actuallyh hooked up the pump that disperses the medicine. The rest of the day was better after that.

At 1:23 p.m., after about an hour of pushing, Guy was born. We're biased, I know, but I think he's an absolutely beautiful baby.

Things at the hospital were okay, though it wasn't my favorite experience. I don't think I'll ever recommend the hospital to anyone. A few times nurses said they would be back in 10 minutes, and most the time that meant it would take over an hour.

The morning of the day we thought we were going home, we got Guy's blood tests back and found out he was jaundiced. One day under the bilirubin lamps, a "hotel stay" in the hospital for Rob and me, and one messed up breastfeeding habit/routine later . . . we were on the way home, with a biliblanket. Never a dull moment, it seems.

After a couple more visits to the dr, and some eating wars later (he's still proving stubborn, go figure), we're doing a lot better. I finally got a nap in on Friday while he was sleeping too. We're far from a predictable routine, but we're making progress.

Fabulous Food cont.

Jen got this to me last week, I'm just a little slow in getting this up:
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The last shower food recipe:
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Salad - so good!
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Greens: spinach, iceberg or romaine (mix a few together)
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Glazed nuts: I used about 1/2 c almonds with 3/4 a cup sugar and you caramelize in a pan (stir constantly for about 10 minutes?), pecans or walnuts also good.
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Fruit: blueberries, pineapple, apples, pears, craisins, strawberries--all good!
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Veggies: celery, onion are all I really like
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Chicken: I had some shredded ckn and sprinkled some garlic powder on it.
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Raspberry Salad Dressing:
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2/3 c canola oil
6 T sugar
4 T raspberry vinegar (I only had apple cider vinegar on hand, not a big deal)
1 c raspberries
2 T sour cream
1 T dijon mustard
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Mix ingredients in blender for a few seconds. Put on the side or add right before serving.

Fabulous Food!

Last weekend a good friend, my sister, and my sister-in-law threw me a baby shower. They prepared wonderful food that was a great hit. I promised I'd get the recipes on the blog, so here they are:

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Willy Wonka Balls

(I think these might be my new favorite dessert - I loved them!)

2 cups creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter (@ room temp.)

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Mix together peanut butter & butter

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Add:

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 c. powdered sugar

3 c. Rice Krispies

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Roll into balls and freeze for 2 hours

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Dip in semi-sweet melted chocolate and let sit until hardened

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Spinach Artichoke Dip:

1 c. mayo (light)

1 brick cream cheese (light)

1 4 oz. can green chiles

1 can artichoke hearts (drained & quartered)

2 c. parmesan cheese

spinach as desired (Jen did a few handfuls)

Bake @ 350 for 15-20 min. (or until hot and bubbly)

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Almond Cake

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. melted butter (not marg.)

1 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp. salt

Blend sugar with melted butter. Beat in eggs. Add almond and vanilla extract. Add salt and flour. Spread batter into a greased 9-in round pan. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds (if desired).

Bake @ 350 for 30-35 min.

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I still need to get the salad & dressing recipe from Jen - when I do, I'll put that up, too. :)

Pregnant Photo - FINALLY

Not my favorite photo, but a photo nonetheless--since I've hardly taken any while pregnant. :)

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Any suggestions?

So, we're not super-prepared for the baby . . . we do have a car seat and now even some diapers. The good news is we can now get him home from the hospital. We're collecting and gathering . . . and I'm looking for any suggestions from people with more experience with babies than me (which just happens to be the bulk of my friends).

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Particularly . . . does any have a baby book they love? . . . the "first years/memories" type? I've been on the hunt and haven't found anything wonderful so far.

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And, is there anything else you just can't live without that is a well-kept secret?

Less than 2 weeks . . . maybe :)

So, thanks to my little ticker friend on the blog here, I've been pretty aware of how much time they think I have left before I deliver . . . I'm planning on being late, though. I figure it may just be the key to my mental well-being. My mom was always late, and since I'm very similar genetically, I'm just planning on it.

The good news is I am making progress towards delivery, though. The baby's been head down since the first time the dr. checked (during the 7th month), I've had some Braxton-Hicks contractions, the baby is dropping and "getting ready to come out" as the dr. put it (and his foot isn't in my rib so much these days-hooray!), and I'm a little dialated (all of 1 cm).

I feel like the pregnancy has gone pretty well . . . aside from the 4-hour glucose test that was a pain (at least I passed, though), and a bit of an iron deficiency (which pills have remedied), things have gone pretty well. . . While my wedding bands from my ring don't fit, I'm still wearing the bulk of my ring . . . and I've only gained 25 lbs. Things could definitely be worse!

Poor Rob, he's dealt with a lot of cold nights--I can't handle the heat--so he piles up on blankets. He's also been extra helpful with just about everything.

We actually took some pictures of the baby belly a couple weekends ago . . . I really need to get them up!

"I think I might be able to become a fan . . ."

Sweet words out of Rob's mouth the other day . . . a past post noted both in word and photo Rob's tolerance (I think that's the best word) of football. To my utter shock and amazement, the other day I was pleased to hear Rob subtly admit that he has actually enjoyed BYU football this season. Yea! . . . He did say he prefers to watch it from the couch (and after another year in the student section, I can't say I blame him)--by the end of the season he WAS watching away games on the couch, and enjoying it. He's also not a blue-bleeding football fan, but I'll take baby steps.

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I'd have to say Rob and I don't have a lot in common, in fact, I think our most common ground is agreeing to disagree. It works for us, and we're happy. At the same time, I do enjoy and am very grateful that he's made an effort to take interest and learn about things I like, and I, in turn, try to do the same.

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Another example - last Christmas Eve we stayed home and spent the day completing a 500+ piece puzzle and cooking. Rob's not interested in puzzles, but he did it for me, and even liked it more than he thought he would. I loved our first Christmas Eve together.

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I feel that Rob and I are pretty good proof that common interests aren't a necessity in relationships - just wanting to be together and spend time together is more than enough to help our relationship develop and progress. . . differing interests create great learning opportunities or at least some new experiences, an added bonus.

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Who knows, maybe one day Rob will actually learn the cougars' fight song . . . I can always hope, can't I? :)