The End Of The Day.

Here is what my house looks like at the end of the day.

































Too bad I have no energy to get
It picked up. Guess this is what it will look like at the beginning of the day tomorrow.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Calling All Nursing Mamas!

*Disclaimer*

If poop and breastmilk make you uncomfortable:

discontinue reading now.

Help!

Nursing sweet Laynee has been such a blessing but oh such challenge!

Yes. Sweet girl is:

1. sleepy

2. a lazy eater

3. so teeny tiny.

These 3 things do not make for a power nurser.

I am doing my very best for her, trying my darndest to make

this experience a positive one.

She started off nursing very slowly - in the hospital

and I could immediately tell we were going 

to have a little struggle with it.

I was relaxed and ready to face the challenge 

with a happy heart.

My milk came in on day 5

which I thought was kind of late - but I was just glad

that it came in.

Between week 1 and week 2 there was no poop.

No poop? For a breastfed baby? What?!

For 7 days?!

I KNOW.

I finally called the pediatrician.

Here is what he told me:

Feeding every 2.5 hours was hurting my supply - 

as it was not enough time for me to "replenish"

She was absorbing every (little) bit she got from me - 

leaving nothing for waste.

 Supplement.

I did not want to hear that.

Here is what I have been doing:

drinking between 64-80 oz of water a day.

Eating healthy snacks. All day. Literally.

(was) feeding on demand.

(I know- I did this intentionally in the beginning to build up supply)

It turned out to be feeding about every 2.5-3 hours.

Pumping 3 times a day.

Herbal supplements

Vitamins.

What else can be done people? Why can I not make enough?

 She has had a bottle.

Her urine started turning a very dark color 

(indicating signs of dehydration)

and I could not have my baby not pooping!

Please comment away on what I can do - what else is there for me to do?

I am not at all ready/willing to give it up - 

but when you try 8 -10 times every single day

for 4 straight weeks- 

it gets wearing on a mama!

 

Welcome Laynee Blair!

July 31st has come, and with it came our sweet

Laynee Blair Moses!

We went in to check her growth that morning.

Little girl wanted to stay little.

Not a thing had changed from the week before,

and we knew it was time for her to grow on the outside

instead of on the inside from that point forward.

We we were 99.9% sure that would be the case,

so we headed to the doctors office with our hospital bag

in the car and a carseat and base installed.

(both had been done the night before, mind you...not a second a before)

We left Dr. Neel's office and headed straight to the hospital.

under 3 hours later, at

11:55 am I laid my eyes on her for the very first time.

She was 5 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long.

A huge piece of tiny.

I love every inch of her, and thankfully had

an almost instant connection.

(For those who know my story, you know this was a huge prayer of mine)

She has hair like Kensington did.

Long skinny feet like Anslee.

I can't help but see all of the good in both Ans and Kens in Laynee.

Her nose matches that of both of her sisters and does her chin.

(A trait from mom and one from dad)

Since she is so small, and pretty sleepy, nursing challenges

came from the first attempt.

I am happy to say, now, that 6 days have passed she is doing

remarkably better and learning so quickly.

The C-section.

Whew. I hate surgery.

I was shaking like a leaf in a windstorm when I went back to the OR.

There is something so eerie about being in such a 

sterile environment.

The spinal took fine. Tyler was able to come back with me once 

I was good and unable to feel anything.

I was still awake, very aware of everything going on.

Lets just say this...

I was aware of every single thing that was happening to me.

So. Did you know there is a national back order on 

the medicine they call astromorph?

I am assuming its a form of morphine.

All I know is that typically this medication is put in with the spinal,

because the spinal only lasts for as long as the surgery lasts.

The astromorph provides comfort on a longer lasting basis

(24 hrs) after surgery.

So what happens when there is a national back order?

The hospital gets none of the medicine and neither do you.

By 10 pm Tuesday evening I was in a lot of pain.

The poor nurses were trying to help me as best they could

with the pain killers in pill form and demerol.

It just did not give me quite the relief I was hoping for.

Guess I am little wimpier than I had originally thought I was!

Each day has been better since! In fact, since being home,

I have only taken 1 of the prescribed pain pills!

Just 1! 

I think my body, after 3 of these, is savvy on how to 

get back in gear.

The recovery has been a million times better this time

compared to Anslee's. Its never fun though!

There you have it! What we gained this last week!

Here are some photos. I totally recommend having a friend who 

has photography skills coming to the hospital to capture those moments.

Hopsitals are not the prettiest setting, but its a time you won't

want to forget. 

 Kensington, worried about having to share paci's.

 The best girl dad that ever was.

 puffy. ugh.

 All 3 of my girls with all of their grandparents!

 Feet!

 Admiring my 3rd baby girl!

 Happy 3 times over! Can't believe it!

Richly blessed indeed!

6 Days.

We checked on our sweet Baby L this morning.

What a stubborn little bug she is when it comes to growing!

We are sitting on 37 weeks and measuring 32!

Thankfully, she is healthy as can be, and of course all her

organs and such are as old as she is,

but her tiny body wants to stay tiny!

The doctor found 1 (as he describes) "halfway decent"

pocket of fluid, that keeps him "comfortable enough" to let her

cook for 1 more week. He said (and of course this is always an estimate)

that she is weighing about 5 lbs 1 oz right now.

Tuesday is his day at the hospital, in which he does not schedule

in office patients and spends his entire day at the hospital.

He is going to check my fluid levels, and unless there 

is a huge increase in both the fluid levels and her growth,

we will have a baby girl that evening.

July 31st. Another day that will mean just as much as January 22nd and January 19th.

Oh these 3 days will be the most special out of each year.

We are such a blessed family, and I tear up just thinking about

how the Lord has shown us such favor by his gift 

of these 3 baby girls.

When I left the doctors office today, I changed my mindset for the afternoon.

Its a "yes!" day.

Kensington is going to get her pacifier every time she wants it.

I rocked her to sleep for her nap. I love that she will still fall asleep on me when I want her too.

There will be no reason to battle her today.

Anslee got to eat part of her lunch in the living room.

She got a cookie and watched 3 episodes of Curious George at 1 sitting.

I am going to read her 3 books before nap, instead of just 2.

I have to to do the little things to make these 6 days count,

and I love the idea of a "yes" day every once and a while.

I spend so much time saying no,

that saying yes is so refreshing...

even if it means bending my own rules

for a bit.

Please join us in prayer, as we make these 6 days left as a family of 4 special and memorable!

Overwhelmed with Sweetness!

I am aware that this sweet baby on the way

is the 3rd one for our family.

There are some very thoughtful, gracious,

and giving friends who apparently

didn't get the memo that baby showers

are "typically" for first babies!

My pretty friend Barbara and I are a part of a Stroller

Exercise program that our dear friend Jill runs.

When I say "runs", I mean directs with great force.

We sweat people. Our babies are with us the whole time,

and they get the benefit of being engaged with us as

we do lunges while we count to 10 in German.

Or we squat thrust to our "ABC's".

Mom gets in shape. Baby is being intentionally taught something

significant. How perfect is that combo?

When Jill and the other stroller strength mamas found out

that Barb and I were having baby girls within 3 weeks

of each other, they pulled out all the stops 

to an amazing double shower for us.

I just can't believe how blessed I am.

I feel so undeserving, and I promise,

I am grateful beyond what words can express

from the outpouring of love

that my sweet unborn baby was shown today.

To all of you:

Thank you. You made my day.

I can't believe that my little one

will have diapers and wipes to use until

we are ready for her to use the potty.

I am so humbled by the support and love.

Here are some photos from the fabulous party that

was oh so special to me.

Jill, Barbara, Myself, Torri, and Sara

(Barb and I with our sweet hostesses, minus Kim - who

has a military husband who was receiving an award at the time)

Praying for Barbara as she is expected to deliver literally any day now!

Can't wait to know little girls name too!

Food glorious Food!

Delicious Cake!

Diaper cakes, complete with sparkling cider

in the center for us to open and celebrate the arrival

of our newest family members with!

Whoa. Not sure what happened with my photog skills here,

but you can still see, there are enough diapers, wipes,

and cute baby girls clothes to fill a warehouse with!

It was so beautiful, complete with sweet friends and lots of yummy food.

I can't get over how loved I felt by each person there (and many

of those who werent able to come as well!!)

All I can say is thank you, from the bottom of a very pregnant

mama's heart!

Real Life Mom.

Sometimes I feel sub-par.

Like I don't quite measure up.

Any other mamas agree?

Someone feeds their kids healthier than you feed yours.

So and So's house is always more tidy than yours.

There are days where I want the girls to sit and watch 1 hour of TV.

I mean in one sitting, people.

Sometimes I make myself feel this way.

Other days, my mama counterparts can make me feel this way.

So, In order to share my real life with you,

I decided to share some pictures of my 

"Real Life" today.

This is what my house looks like.

Getting ready for a new baby in about 3 weeks.

Juggling 2 kiddos each day.

Only having 2 arms and so much energy available.

This is what I usually look like. Until my 2 pm shower.

Thats right. No make-up and my best t-shirt.

Bins full of folded (well somewhat) baby clothes.

Lucky for us, they are actually labeled!

Clean laundry. Not folded. Been that way for 4 days now.

When you have 2 kids, that you brought into this world,

you sometimes have to tote them along with you.

Here we are at my doctor appointment yesterday.

I take them to wal mart with me.

They are my responsibility, right?

I guess I could get a grip on things, and have my van cleaned out more often.

That would require time away from the two pictured above.

 

I have spent this summer trying my darndest to make their everyday

special and memorable.

Its too bad other things have had to take a backseat

but I am not sorry for it!

Just a Wee Bit.

Friday morning we checked up on baby girl.

I never get tired of seeing a growing baby on the big screen.

 

This office visit ended up bringing us some 

cautionary (is that a word?) news.

I am 31 weeks, measuring about 28 weeks.

Its no surprise I grow small babies

(Anslee was 4 lbs 11 oz and Kens was a heavyweight

at 6 lbs 8 oz)

Usually measuring small is not too concerning,

but what did seem to be the problem is that there

was not much growth between the last check up

and the one we had Friday.

Praise the Lord fluid levels are good.

Praise the Lord her heartbeat was strong and steady.

 

Now its just on to making sure my body can provide

her with everything she needs to grow and thrive

until its time to make her appearance. We

are at the point in the pregnancy where

growth should be happening pretty rapidly.

 

I have never made it further than 38 weeks and a couple of days

in pregnancy, so I am no stranger

to having a baby earlier than truly expected.

I just really want to carry her until she could not possibly

grow any more in me. All I want is for her to be

healthy.

 

Its never reassuring as a pregnant mama to hear things like

a possible need for steroid shots to help the lungs develop faster.

 

The doctor has not given me a "diagnosis" of IUGR

but I am feeling like we are in the beginning

stages of this and would really 

appreciate any prayers for her health and growth.