So I just finished writing a long post about the baby, because its his (three month birthday) only to have my computer freeze, and now I've lost everything I wrote. So very, very annoying. If I weren't so tired, I'd be angry, but there's no point in getting all worked up about it now when I'm very much looking forward to going to bed. Maybe tomorrow I'll try to rewrite it, but for now, all you're going to get is a nice picture I took, and not even one of the baby. The weather has been really nice lately, but we've also been having a bit of rain and some real rainstorms. This is what the world outside my window looked like the other day. Its not the most awesome picture, especially with that big glass reflection in the middle, but the world just looked so beautiful, like it'd been washed clean. It was really the end of the day, the kids were already in pajamas, so it must have been after 7:30 at least, so that gorgeous spill of sunlight at the bottom of the yard was just incredible. And this is what we saw out the east windows:
A rainbow! And again, the picture does not do it justice, because it was this beautiful dark sky (much darker than the image) and the rainbow just popped out of it arcing over that dark pink cherry tree. It was amazing. I wish I was able to capture it better. I brought the Little Dude over to the window to see it, and after oohing and aahing to him about how great it was, he ran down to the kitchen and said "Daddy come see! Come see dat AWESOME rainbow." I can't recall having used the word awesome to describe it, but it was certainly appropriate.
Ah well, now that I'm writing again anyways I want to try and say all the things I was saying about the baby in my lost post. Because he is three months old after all. Three! And such a lovely baby. We survived the first three months, and have finally gotten to a place that feels a bit more settled. He's eating well, despite some early reflux-like symptoms, and gaining weight like a champ (over 14 lbs at his last weigh in) so now I can stop worrying about his feeding. Also, his sleep has really improved, his naps are evening out and he even (dare I say it) sleeps through the night sometimes. (I'm whispering that last bit, because I don't want to jinx it). In the potty deparment (in case you are wondering) we've been doing what we call 'part time' EC'ing, so just pottying him when we feel like it, and are having some success, usually catching his daily poop in the potty, and sometimes a pee too. And his personality is starting to be visible to us. Hubs calls him "Busta" because whenever you look at him, he bust out this adorable wide toothless baby grin. Its so sweet. And he 'talks' to you when you talk to him, saying 'a-goo' and generally cooing like a little bird. Also, in just the past couple of days he has started to laugh, which is awesome.
So generally, all is good, except when its bad. Which seems like an oxymoron, but if you've ever parented you know what I mean. A good nap and sleep day, is great, and a bad nap and sleep day sucks. And then you get occasionally thrown for a loop, like I did yesterday. Because after a long evening, with both the Little Dude and the New Baby very reluctant to settle down and go to sleep, L.D. needing numerous post tuck-in hugs, and the Baby needing a second evening feed, I noticed something felt odd, and discovered I had a blocked duct.
Which, really, really pissed me off. I've had a bad blocked duct before and it is super painful and comes with the lurking worry that its going to develop into full blown mastitis, which can sometimes mean a course of antibiotics, which is not so awesome for a breast-feeding baby, and what will I do then, because we've never been able to get the New Baby to take a bottle and what will I do..... And of course, I was super tired, so little concerns seemed like major setbacks and I was really, really bummed.
But thank goodness for the internet. I know, some say its an amoral black hole and a major source of time suckage, but really, what did we ever do without it? After just a few clicks I had all the advice and remedies I would need. So I started using hot compresses, and gave the Baby his late evening feed off the blocked side, to get it moving again. And God was smiling on us, because it was raining in the morning, so Hubs did not have to go into work until 11:00 am, and he got up with the boys, so I could sleep in. Apparently, a major reason that blocked ducts occur is fatigue. And when I finally got up and around, I went to the grocery store and got me a nice green cabbage. So that I could wear one of the cold leathery leaves inside my bra. I know, ew. I smelled like, well, cabbage all day. I changed the leaf often, but even so, there is a certain je ne sais yeuch about the smell of cabbage that just can't be avoided. But I'll tell you, it does actually work. It was starting to feel a bit better by the time the second morning feed rolled around, and then I pulled out another bit of internet advice and did this little trick.
Ta-daaaah! Upside down breast feeding! Basically, lots of sources said to vary the position of the baby, and point them towards the blockage, to get more suction in that area. Since my blockage was towards the bottom, the baby was going to have to be pointing that way too. So Hubs helped me get him all propped up with pillows and such, and it didn't seem to bother him at all.
I on the other hand got kicked in the head pretty regularly. He's a very active feeder. But they are such soft little baby feet that I can't really say it was a problem.
I wasn't sure if I was going to post these photos or not. It was still pretty early in the day and much before anything that even vaguely resembled grooming had occurred. And I was rather hesitant to put up a photo that so prominently features my nursing bra. Really, its not my most glamourous moment, but there it is. I wasn't planning on running for office any time soon anyways. And it was just such a funny moment. One of those weird parenting you-would-never-imagine-it moments, because its so odd and mundane at the same time. Life is full of those lately. Occurrences that are one part cute, one part gross, one part ho-hum. Breast feeding (ho-hum, I do it every day) my baby upside down (cute) because I have a blocked milk duct and have been wearing cabbage leaves on my boob all day (gross). Such is my life.
But it worked. All the combined internet advice somehow managed to unblock my blocked duct. Which is such a relief. Its nice not to be in pain, and worrying about bigger worse pain. So yay internet. And yay cabbage. And hooray for upside down babies.
um, yay you! you are a picture of gorgeousness, blocked duct and all. and the upside down baby - so very cute!!! i just love seeing mamas who nurse, i can't tell you how much it has helped me see others in order to be able to do it myself!
p.s. you can totally amp up the photo of the rainbow if you like. i use free software called gimp. (specifically - in the tools menu, go to sub-menu 'auto' and click 'color enhance'. you can then adjust the intensity by going to the edit menu and 'fading' it.) hope that may be useful!
Posted by: kendra | 05/27/2011 at 02:54 AM
p.s. happy three months!!! we are at five months and TEETH! not joking, two of them just poked through!
Posted by: kendra | 05/27/2011 at 02:55 AM
what a great photo. really sweet moment captured forever. also may i say your lawn is the most stunningly bright green - loved those outside shots too.
Posted by: emme | 05/27/2011 at 07:58 AM
Alright, that was my "morning laugh"; I'm bleary-eyed, and fatigued , but when I saw that upside-down baby, my sides just split!! Who'd have thought of that ? In my day there was no Internet---so full-blown mastitis resulted; and that was NO laughing matter! Kudos to you for managing it, and for seeing (and sharing),so many wonderful, funny, delightful moments in your day.
Posted by: Leni | 05/27/2011 at 09:41 AM