Update

This week was a pretty tough one for us.  On Tuesday, Larry had his two week appointment.  When we weighed him, it showed that he weighed 9 lbs, 2 oz.  He had been such a fussy baby, and he hadn't had many wet/poopy diapers the last few days before his appointment.  When the doctor came in to see me, she let me know that Larry had lost 16% of his body weight.  She also let me know that she had never seen a baby loose that much weight after birth before.

I was so frustrated.  Larry was fussy, and tired all the time.  He wanted to nurse constantly, but he was also really fighting breastfeeding.  Even though I felt like I spent most of my time feeding him, he was still not progressing.  I felt like a horrible mom!

The doctor had me start him on formula, and she wanted me to bottle feed him.  She said that breastfeeding uses more calories than bottle feeding.  She had me mix the formula so it was more concentrated, and had higher calories than normal.  I needed to feed him every two hours, and then I also needed to pump to get my milk supply up.  She also wanted me to eat 5 small meals a day and drink tons of water.  It took over my entire day, and it was very overwhelming, but it all paid off.  I went back the next day, and Larry had gained 3 oz.  I was able to start feeding  him every 3 hours, and I got to breastfeed him every 3rd feeding, and then supplement with the higher calorie formula.

She had me come in again on Friday, and he had gained another 3 oz.  He is still over a pound under his birth weight, but I am back to breastfeeding exclusively, and only supplementing when he still seems hungry after eating.  I think things are finally starting to click.  When I first started breastfeeding exclusively, he never seemed satisfied, but he is finally back to being my happy boy.

My mom came and helped me out this week, and the kids are finally out of school, and they are able to help me out more.  They are such great helpers.  Today, Allen was holding Larry, and Larry filled his diaper and then some.  Allen was so grossed out, he just about dropped him trying to pass him off to Hubby.  Now that we have the helping out taken care of, maybe we should start working on diaper changing.

My Miracle Worker

Tonight, we had a family movie night.  Larry decided to be extremely ornery, and fussy the entire night.  Hubby and I kept passing him off, trying to calm him down, and get him to rest a bit.  All of the kids offered to help out, and they kept fighting over who would get to hold him.  We finally let Allen take him.  I think both Hubby and I were convinced that Larry would just end up screaming, and we would end up coming to the rescue.  As the movie ended, Allen let us know that Larry had finally fallen asleep.  

He is here!

I have wonderful plans to have this amazing photoshoot with my new little baby, and then I will put together this blog that is worthy of my new baby, but reality is starting to set in.  I am lucky to have a few minutes to jump on the computer and throw something together.

Our little boy was born on Monday a little before 3.  I did end up being induced, and things went well for the most part.  I really hate needles, and especially IV's.  I definitely felt like a pincushion by the time I left the hospital.  My IV went in with minimal fishing.  My epidural originally only took on one side, and so they pumped me full of the medicine.  By the time the baby got here, I was extremely numb.  I had a harder time pushing this little guy out than I have with my other kids.  I thought that it was because I was so numb, but no.  I had a tough time because he was 10 pounds 14.3 oz!!

His apgar scores were decent (I think his 5 minute score was a 7) but he was really floppy.  He ended up in the NICU.  I was very concerned because Morgan ended up in the NICU for a week after struggling after birth.  Our little guy had low blood sugar because he was so big, and so the NICU gave him several bottles of formula to get his blood sugar up.  He was very sleepy, and not very interested in nursing for a while because of that.  I ended up pumping for most of the time I was in the hospital, and then we would force the little bit of colostrum I got down his throat with a syringe.  Nursing took a little bit of time to get down, but everything is finally starting to click.

For those of you who know me in real life, you know that the names that I use on my blog are not my kids real names.  Hubby and I have been trying to come up with an online name for our little guy, and we have decided to call him Larry.

The kids are so excited.  They rush through their homework and jobs in order to hold their new brother.  It has been so much fun to see them be responsible with him.  They are so much older than they were the last time we had a baby.  We have had a very busy schedule this week, and it has been very challenging trying to be a mom to my oldest four, and a mother of a newborn.  I am looking forward to getting done with the school year, and then just taking it easy for the summer.

I am sure that this blog is just a random jumble of thoughts, but that is about all the brain power I have today.  I just thought I would take a moment to update you all on our big news.

Still Waiting

I was scheduled to be induced on Friday, but the hospital had so many women who went into labor, that they never had a room available for me.  By afternoon, they decided to reschedule my induction, and so I am now scheduled to be induced on Monday. 

On Thursday, I started freaking out.  I felt very overwhelmed and anxious about this baby, and about labor.  I am no longer anxious.  I just want it out!  Well, I want it out and healthy.  I am tired of feet in my ribs.  I am ready to lie down comfortably.  I'm ready to hold my baby.

Makenzie, the Brave!

On Thursday, Allen came home from school and got right on his homework.  He likes to do it down in his bedroom, so he is not distracted by all the younger kids.  Morgan and I went up to my room, so he could read, and I could lie down.  As we were reading, Allen came running up the stairs to let me know that there was a hornet in his room.  I HATE hornets and wasps.  Hubby finally has me convinced me that not all yellow and black stinging things are called "Bees."  I have learned that I can handle bees, but I hate hornets and wasps.  Unfortunately, the hornets and wasps are the insects that always seem to make it into our house.  One of the best things about our dog, is he eats hornets.  The year before we got him, I killed at least one hornet a week.  Since he became a part of our family, I see very few hornets in our house.  I told Allen that he needed to take care of the hornet, and to have Max help him.

Allen came up a few minutes later.  He had gone into the garage, and he had found our Ortho bug killer spray.  He tried to kill the hornet that way, but he couldn't hit it through the blinds.  He finally came and asked me if he could have Makenzie and Max kill the hornet.  I told him to go and ask her.  (I really am not usually this lazy, but I have absolutely no energy left!)

Makenzie went downstairs where Allen sent her into his bedroom with Max, and closed the door.  (Allen stayed in the hall).  Makenzie took a squirt gun with her, and she shot the hornet.  Then she had Allen come upstairs, and fetch the flyswatter which he passed her under the door.  She smashed the hornet, and fed it to Max. 

My 9 year old daughter saved us all from the big, bad hornet!  I'm pretty darn proud of her.

Last Doctor's Visit

Today, I had my last doctor's visit of my pregnancy.  I was wrong when I said my doctor doesn't induce.  I found out that he will, but only after 39 weeks.  I am scheduled for an induction on Friday.  I am still dilated to 2 cm, and 50% effaced.  I can't sleep.  I am measuring big.  I am nauseous every day.  I am constantly plagued by heartburn.  My ribs are so sick of being kicked. 

I am so glad that this pregnancy has gone so well.  The end of a pregnancy is always tough, and I definitely complain a lot, but I am so grateful that I get to add a new little boy to my family this week.  The kids are so excited, and hopefully with the induction, it will make all the scheduling that needs to take place easier for everyone.  It still feels very unreal to me.  I am just a few days away from giving birth again, but I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it.  I feel like I am still bracing myself so I won't get hurt if things don't go well.  I am sure, once I feel the weight of that baby in my arms, it will all become real to me.  I have a feeling this is going to be a very emotional weekend.

Almost Full Term!

I just wanted to give a quick update.  I saw my doctor today, and things are looking good.  Last night, I felt the baby flip a full 180 degrees.  I had been concerned that the baby was breech, and so I was relieved to feel it flip over.  The doctor checked today on an ultrasound, and sure enough, the baby is now head down.  Hopefully it will stay that way.  He has been going back and forth for the last few weeks.  If the baby is breech when I go into labor, they will take it by C-section.  I am 50% effaced, and dilated to 2 cm.  The doctor said that this baby will not be coming anytime soon.  On Thursday, I will be 37 weeks, and this baby will be officially full term.  My doctor will not induce me, and so that adds a little bit of uncertainty to this whole thing.  I like being able to plan, but I guess for the next while, the baby will be making the plans.