Not happy

Well, you got all my happiness, now you're stuck with my crying too. After having troubles with Everett latching correctly and seeing a lactation consultant to fix that, our follow-up appointment was even worse. Everett still has not gained any weight, and has in fact, managed to lose more. Despite all of his frequent nursing and adequate wet diapers, it turns out his ineffective sucking has deprived him of calories. He's down to 6lbs, 10oz. So, obviously, something has to be done. We are now on a strict schedule of every two to three hours, nursing for a half hour, pumping for 15 minutes, and then feeding him what was pumped plus the evil formula until he has been supplemented with 1oz per feeding. We also have to go in to see the pediatrician again this week (goodbye insurance!) to see if he gained anything. I opted out of using a supplemental feeding apparatus for fear it would just frustrate me every time and we're going to use the drop-in bottles we got at the baby shower. I'm hoping that Ev's poor sucking didn't do too much damage to my supply and I'll be able to supplement at least the majority with breastmilk. I have to keep myself from thinking about how my baby was starving and think instead about how it's good we caught it right now and can work with it instead of having to go to the ER or worse. Also, Brian now gets an opportunity to help feed Everett, which he looks forward to. It's going to be a rough 24 hours (at least) for me and I just need to try and not cry myself sick in the meanwhile. I know it will get better....it's just hard right now.

Super Daddy of the Year

For those of you who know my dear husband well, you might understand my slight trepidation that our baby would end up dropped, stepped on, or misplaced within the first week of life. However, I have to be the one to tell you, Brian is so naturally good with Everett, I must eat all my words. Yes, there were some things he had no idea about, but learned very very quickly. He loved the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD and when Everett fusses, he will promptly swaddle him up tightly, turn him on his side, shush in his ear, then flash me the proudest grin ever when baby immediately settles. Bri's also been amazingly helpful at night. I never knew that we could work so well together until we suddenly had a little guy waking up every two hours. Even for the tiny things he is there to help, like burping Everett while I switch sides. He is also more than happy to take care of nighttime diaper changes so I can go straight to sleep after nursing. Brian has taken this whole week off (besides classes, a test, and working on a big final project) to stay home and help me with all the new duties.
On another happy note, I finally remembered to put my ring back on! Yay! I missed my pretty sparklies. My birthday was a very calm day. I spent almost all day home with my cutie pie and Brian only left in the afternoon to work with another guy on their project. When he got back we made a trek out to Target, got glared at by the judgmental old check-out lady for taking Everett out in public so early, and had a wonderful dinner delivered to us by someone from church. Today our out of the house trip consisted of bundling up really well and walking across the parking lot to Ace where we picked up a slightly bigger christmas tree than last year (slightly bigger family!). We're going to get it all decked out this evening and I will be sure to take some pictures. Here are some pictures from today:

Brian got Everett dressed this morning all by himself while I took a shower -
Here's our little doll sitting in his bouncer -
And the proud daddy with Everett in the sling -

Happy Birthday to Me!

Obviously, I got just what I wanted for my birthday this year! Besides, I'm pretty sure they don't make gift receipts for babies... :)
Yesterday, we received a DVD of Happiest Baby on the Block from Brian's mom. Bri was convinced that Everett cried all the time...until we watched the DVD! He then realized that our little guy is pretty content. He does, however, still have his days and nights switched around. Happily, the DVD did show us a few tricks for calming a crying baby and we tried some out last night when Ev just wanted to be up and awake and moving. Brian was absolutely wonderful last night and took Everett out, put him in his sling (also from his mom!), and walked around the living room/read a book TWICE while I got some sleep. We're not totally unbalanced here because I also had to get up a few times to feed him during the night. And Brian can't really do that. :)
We have a follow-up appointment with the lactation consultant today, but I'm waiting to hear back from her because Everett's been doing so well, we might wait until Monday to follow up. It's amazing how well her advice has helped. I look forward to feedings instead of being ready to cry, and Everett is pleased to finally have some real milk instead of just colostrum.
We are savoring every moment with this beautiful little guy and love staring into his big eyes. Last night (after Brian elatedly swaddled Everett using the tips on the DVD), the cutie was wide awake and just looking at everything. Brian took this opportunity to start reading The Lorax to him while he sat in his bouncer. (The bouncer, by the way, is amazing! It is where he spends all of his daytime naps and where he sits when he is awake and we are not holding him.)
Brian left for the lab to work on a big bridge project and Everett and I are sitting here watching the Today show (thank goodness for TiVo!!!!). This afternoon, we plan to get out of the house by possibly going to the lactation consultant follow-up, and finding ourselves a little christmas tree! I know it will only be able to be up for two weeks, but we MUST have a tree for Everett's first holiday season! I also need to find some new bras (huge!). Brian also picked up a little space heater yesterday because our bedroom gets cold at night if we keep the door shut (to keep cats out).
Anyways! It's time for Everett's lunch!

Doing Great!

Just a quick post to say that things are great here at the Hammond house! We went to see a lactation consultant yesterday and got to sit down with her one-on-one for an hour and a half! It was really great. We learned some new tricks, got some new tools, and breastfeeding has now become a happy instead of painful task. Everett is doing wonderfully and had two four-hour sleeping times last night! We were very happy to get more than an hour of uninterrupted sleep. Even though one of those sleeping times consisted of him lying on my chest sleeping....shhh...don't tell the doctor! :) We go back to see the lactation consultant again tomorrow to make sure things are working out.

Today we went to the pediatrician for a check-up since our little man lost so much weight in the hospital. He is now at 6 lbs, 13 oz (so small!!!), but the dr. seemed pleased. He has the very slightest tinge of jaundice, but nothing to be concerned about. He was an angel while the dr. manipulated all his limbs, just looking around the room. Now we just need to plump this boy up for our Christmas dinner! :)

And here is some proof that I am a bad listener and don't always try to sleep while he's sleeping. Oops. Guess it's time to try and catch a half-hour nap!

We're home

Just wanted to quickly post that we're home and learning how to take care of our little boy. This morning, I felt like I was cramming for a test trying to read over a section about latching on while I quickly ate some cereal and Brian held Everett in the sling. Last night was....miserable really. We're having some issues with latching on properly, which is causing me some pain. We didn't really get to see the lactation consultant before we left the hospital because she doesn't work weekends and by the time she came in on Monday, we were being discharged. So this morning, Bri called in to the center where we had our childbirth classes and scheduled us an appointment to meet with their consultant at 3. It stinks that we'll have to pay for something that should have been free, but what can we do about it now? If we can figure out this one issue, life will be much much better. I'm leanring how to use my boppy pillow too (hence being able to actually type this)...thanks again Britt!
Thank you everyone for the messages here, on facebook, and through email. The whole thing is an adjustment and a half and a bit painful at times, but this little monkey is definitely worth it all. I look at him and still cannot believe that 1 - he was actually in my belly for so long (and that he fit!), 2 - he's actually mine to take care of all the time (in a good way), 3- he's so stinking cute! I know that everyone thinks their own babies are the cutest thing ever and I am definitely one of them. He just looks like perfection to me. Nothing can compare to when he looks me in the eyes and watches me talk to him. Anyway! Enough of my mushiness! (Emotions go off the wall crazy, btw.)