Third babies keep you on your toes

And here I was thinking another baby would be fun.... Ha ha. He has reflux and essentially throws up all day long. He also strains like he's giving birth when he has a bowel movement. He manages to go several times a day, but it's just a major ordeal when he goes and sometimes requires me to "assist" with a baby thermometer. Poor guy. Anyway, the last few days Ed and I were about to go crazy. He's been what I consider "colicky" (hurting baby) for a week now. Ed went online and we discovered The Elimination Diet on Dr. Sears site. It's a diet for breastfeeding moms to try if they have colicky babies that may have food sensitivities. I figured I'd give it a try.

So here's what I can eat :

Turkey
Lamb
Sweet Potatoes
Baked Potatoes
Yellow and green squash
Pears
Pear juice
Brown Rice
Millet
Rice beverages

No seasoning other than salt and pepper.

Yeah, that's it! So i've been eating this way for two days and Shepherd has responded well to it. Less fussiness and he slept again last night (2 hour stretches). He only did that once on Christmas Eve and then got worse and worse thereafter. I tell ya, nothing like sleep deprivation and desperation to make you stick to a food plan! LOL

So I'm thinking I'll start losing some weight since I can't have any of the processed goodness that I tend to gravitate to. I'm going to slowly add back more variety. I'm going to stay away from dairy for a while though as I suspect that's the big culprit.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll get enough rest to begin exercise again.

Oh how I love thee YMCA....

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Before


After..

Merry Christmas!!

In survival mode...

So my little guy has reflux.  Poor buddy is spitting up and screaming every feeding.  Thankfully we got some medicine for him from the doctor that is supposed to minimize the pain he has with the reflux.  Amelia had reflux too, but no pain at all.  Not Shepherd.  He's a grunter, screecher, crier.  And he doesn't sleep more than one hour at night.  We're hoping the Zantac helps him. 

Needless to say, I'm exhausted.  And despite all my "no excuses" mentality, it's dang hard to think about eating healthy food when you're exhausted.  You just eat what is placed in front of you or you order out.  I made all these individual salads and put them in the frig.  They've sat there for 3 days.  :(  Just been totally out of it.  In fact, I feel like the last three days has been one long day.  

I feel like once I can get some sleep, I can function properly.  If Shepherd can extend his sleep just a little bit at night, I'll feel like a new woman.  At that point I'll add back exercise.  But right now I feel like my body is conserving energy for breastfeeding and taking care of my babies.  There's that fine line between going on a walk to invigorate you and give you energy and just doing it and feeling even more exhausted.  I'm feeling the latter.  

This too shall pass.

I'm setting small eating goals for the next week.  

1.  Drink lots of water.

2.  Don't over do it on sugar.

3.  Eat fruit.

Okay, my little man is sleeping, so I need to sleep too.  

Initial postpartum weightloss is great for immediate gratification!

So, I got on the scale (first time in months) when I got home from the hospital.  197.  Yowza!  No biggie, I thought.  That was Sunday.

Tuesday I got on the scale.  190.  Cool.

Thursday I got on the scale (I wasn't obsessing so much as I was just plain curious).  187.

Today I got on the scale: 183.  

Sweet!  At this rate I'll be back in my size 4's by New Years!  (Ha ha)

I pulled out my WW's book today.  Starting to get in the frame of mind to lose this pregnancy weight.  Looks like I'll be eating 34 pts (including nursing pts) per day.  Cool.  I can do this.  

I went on a walk today with my sister.  Felt so good.  Nothing crazy, just a slow walk around my neighborhood with Shepherd in the stroller.  I had been having cabin fever and needed to get out!  The walk was nice and I definitely felt better and  had more energy afterwards.  Shepherd was up ALL NIGHT last night.  Gassy and couldn't really settle.  So I needed some energy.   Luckily my mom and sis are in town taking care of me.  I slept until 1pm and woke up feeling like I had a hang over.  I'm hoping Shepherd sleeps better tonight.  He's definitely got his days and nights mixed up.  I don't care if I have to wake to feed him every 2 hours, it would just be nice if he actually slept in between feedings.  The only time he settles is if he's hooked to my boob all night.  But then I get paranoid I'm going to smother him in my sleep, so then I don't sleep well.  

Oh well, this too shall pass.  

Other than sleep deprivation, I'm loving every minute of Shepherd's newbornness.  He's sweet and smells good and makes me smile.  

How you burn calories while sitting on your butt

Breastfeeding.....a postpartum girl's best friend.

We're settling in quite nice here.  I feel great.  Better than any of my other births.  I did have a 2nd degree tear, but surprisingly I feel no pain from it at all.  I do have some lingering pubic bone soreness, but that was before the birth.  All in all I'm a firm believer that recovering from an unmedicated childbirth is much, much easier.  

Breastfeeding is going smoothly.  I'm enjoying it very much.  It's pretty  much all I do.  This boy is ALL about nursing .  Seriously, like every 30 mins.  My milk came in without much fanfare because this man child keeps emptying them so thoroughly.  I kept waiting for engorgement and it never really came.  We had a pediatrician appt yesterday and he's already back up to his birth weight.  

Fischer and Amelia are adjusting well.  We were mainly worried about Amelia.  She has been extremely emotional and having more than a fair share of tantrums.  We're working on having grace for her, while still disciplining.  She had a break through today and asked to hold Shepherd.  I got a pic.  She was very proud she held him all by herself.  She's since helped me change a few diapers. 

So far so good on the three kids "thing."  (Me and my whole FOUR DAYS of experience as a mom of three).  I feel blessed and very happy.  I'm living in the moment and trying to remember to take care of myself.  I'm soaking up every moment of Shepherd's teeny tininess.  Even in the sleep deprived moments in the middle of the night I just stare at him.  Unending patience that somehow reveals itself despite myself.  I read in a book that a mom of multiple kids should take at least 6 weeks "off" before resuming normal stuff.  I felt like that was ridiculous, but the theory is the whole "happy mom makes happy kids."  I'm a believer.  

Well, I've got a baby who wants to nurse!  

Birth Story

Friday morning we woke up and headed to the hospital. I had been having start/stop labor all week and was becoming exhausted. I never planned on intervening at all to begin labor, but my midwife and I decided that breaking my waters would be all I needed to push my body into active labor. No pitocin or any other induction meds necessary. I was nervous about labor, but was very ready. I felt like my body was just ready to roll. We arrive and find out that both waterbirth rooms were taken by other moms. I panicked a little because that was one of my fears. Luckily the midwife said she'd wait a while to break my waters and by the time I'd need it- one of the other moms will have given birth.

I was pleased to find out I was 3-4cm upon arrival. That was encouraging because I knew my contractions had been doing something. It wasn't until noon that the midwife broke my waters. But when she did- Niagra Falls. The amount of fluid! It was such a nice release. Surprisingly nothing much happened after that. I expected the contractions to hit intensely like they had in my last labor when my water broke. Instead Ed, Teresa (my wonderful doula) and I just sat around and chatted. We periodically inquired about the woman in the tub room to gage when I'd go in. We learned around 3pm that she'd given birth and that the room would be available shortly.

That was when I started feeling consistent contractions. Nothing intense, just a pattern and caught my attention. Just before 4pm I noticed a distinct change and contractions became more intense. I was having to close my eyes and breath through them. Up to that point I just enjoyed listening to Ed and Teresa talk while I had one. Nice distraction. But now I was "working." Up to this point I wouldn't even say they hurt-just lots of pressure. It was after one particularly strong one that I said : "I need to get in the tub." Just then the nurse came in and said they were filling it now. I had another couple powerful ones and then Ed helped me shuffle down the hall to our waterbirth room.  His job was make sure my gown didn't flap open and reveal my rump while getting to our room.  LOL

I got straight into the tub and knew I had hit transition. The contractions took over and I could only surrender to them. I just floated on my side and let the water hold me while the contraction peaked. I had a handful like that and then felt the need to get on my knees with my hands draped over the tub. They became stronger and stronger. I started doubting myself and really needed Teresa to look at me and vocalize with me. Ed kept putting icy cold washcloths on my neck and head. That was so nice. Then during the peak of one of these contractions I felt "pushy." Then the next one there was no mistake: I was pushing! I could feel Shepherd move down into the birth canal. I told Tersea he was coming. She told me to reach down and feel if he was there. I did and could feel his head just inside. "I feel him!" They got Margaret (my midwife) and I started to really bear down. He moved down quickly and the next two pushes I felt the all famous "ring of fire." I didn't realize I was crowning and just kept thinking: why is it stinging? Margaret was like: "His head is half way out." Oh! By then I was so motivated to get him out I just pushed with all my might. His head was born. Then I pushed again and felt his shoulders, body and legs be born. I would have never thought that was a cool feeling, but it really was. I turned around and Margaret brought him up out of the water and into my arms. It was the most amazing feeling in the world.

Shepherd Avery Gordon was born at 5:24pm (After only an hour and a half of noticeable labor). He weighed 8 lb, 6oz. 19 inches long (shorty).

Right after he came out....

Snuggling into our postpartum room..

So how does Dec 5th sound?

So after a 4 days of start/stop labor, my midwife and I decided tomorrow will be the day if Shepherd doesn't make his arrival sooner. I have an olympic size pool of amniotic fluid in my uterus. Big surprise huh? No, not twins....WATER! Anyway, both my midwives agreed that sometimes with that amount of fluid your body can be on the cusp of labor and just can't quite get there. Which sort of explains this past week for me. And I'd be all for waiting for it to get there except I'm going on no sleep with two kids and a husband that is trying to be Mr Mom and business owner.

The good news is that I'm already dilated to 2cm. I've never dilated before labor. Always high, tight, firm, thick, etc. So that was a positive sign for me that I'm not, in fact, crazy and I am experiencing some contractions.

So..the plan is to go to the hospital tomorrow morning and my midwife will break my waters. She's confident that no other meds (pitocin) will be needed and my body will kick into gear. Then, as soon as I'm ready, I'll get in the tub and have my waterbirth!

Yesterday after thinking about this option I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I prayed about it and then felt peace. I felt like my body would tell me what to do. Then at 3am this morning contractions hit every 4 mins. They puttered out 7am. I was able to sleep two hours and then woke up again feeling cramping. This was my sign that I cannot do this over and over again for another two weeks. So I made my decision that Dec 5th it is unless Shepherd decides to come sooner.

Anyhow, we'll see what happens today and tonight, but I feel good about my decision to break the waters tomorrow and let labor come. I'm excited and nervous. I can't wait to meet my son. To hold him, to nurse him, to see him. I'm planning an unmedicated waterbirth, so I'm preparing for the work of labor. So I get nervous every so often, but for the most part I feel peace and I'm ready.

I'll post pics and my birth story as soon as I can!

How does December 5th sound for a birthday?

So after a 4 days of start/stop labor, my midwife and I decided tomorrow will be the day if Shepherd doesn't make his arrival sooner.  I have an olympic size pool of amniotic fluid in my uterus.  Big surprise huh?  No, not twins....WATER!  Anyway, both my midwives agreed that sometimes with that amount of fluid your body can be on the cusp of  labor and just can't quite get there.  Which sort of explains this past week for me.  And I'd be all for waiting for it to get there except I'm going on no sleep with two kids and a husband that is trying to be Mr Mom and business owner.  

 The good news is that I'm already dilated to 2cm.  I've never dilated before labor.  Always high, tight, firm, thick, etc.  So that was a positive sign for me that I'm not, in fact, crazy and I am experiencing some contractions.  

So..the plan is to go to the hospital tomorrow morning and my midwife will break my waters.  She's confident that no other meds (pitocin) will be needed and my body will kick into gear.  Then, as soon as I'm ready, I'll get in the tub and have my waterbirth!

Yesterday after thinking about this option I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.  I prayed about it and then felt peace.  I felt like my body would tell me what to do.  Then at 3am this morning contractions hit every 4 mins.  They puttered out 7am.  I was able to sleep two hours and then woke up again feeling cramping.  This was my sign that I cannot do this over and over again for another two weeks.  So I made my decision that Dec 5th it is unless Shepherd decides to come sooner.

Anyhow, we'll see what happens today and tonight, but I feel good about my decision to break the waters tomorrow and let labor come.  I'm excited and nervous.  I can't wait to meet my son. To hold him, to nurse him, to see him.   I'm planning an unmedicated waterbirth, so I'm preparing  for the work of labor.  So I get nervous every so often, but for the most part I feel peace and I'm ready.  

I'll post pics and my birth story as soon as I can!  

I have some pretty amazing friends...

Feeling better every day.  Pubic bone is less tender and I can walk (or wobble) fine.  I walked down the stairs yesterday (without telling Ed) and got into trouble.  As I should have because once I got back up I was aching.  I just wanted to see my Christmas Tree I put up Friday that I couldn't enjoy.  So now I'm back in my bedroom jail and being a good girl and resting.  If I don't make myself rest, I'll regret it in labor.  So taking it easy is going to be my only option for now.  Which for those of you who know me- is the hardest thing in the world right now.  How am I supposed to nest in bed for Pete's sake?  

My friends I have to say, have been amazing.  Ed has been Mr Mom all weekend, but now he needs to work and I've had some anxiety about getting back into the swing of things so he can work.  I'm anticipating labor soon and I want Ed to feel settled with work.  Today alone two of my friends called to see if they could bring me something from the store.  One is bring us dinner tonight.  My other friend is taking the kids after school.  And ANOTHER friend is taking Amelia tomorrow while Fischer is at school.  And then two other friends brought me treats yesterday.  I always feel weird about letting people help me.  I mean, I'm not a martyr or anything, I definitely need help, but it takes me a moment to feel okay about it.   Plus I hate to feel like I'm making a big deal out of something.  Except to Ed- to him I totally cry and whine about it.  LOL

Anyway, it's just nice when you're in need of something and someone takes the time to help you.  Simple concept, but goes a long way.  I'm lucky enough to have friends that don't really ask- but just do it.  They know me well. 

Loading up on fruit today.   My lack of movement has caused some...ahem..."stalling' in the ol' digestive tract.  Good times...  My goal today is water and fruit!