Both boys are feeling a little better. We actually did make a visit to the doctor only to find out they both have bad head colds with fluid in the ears but they are not infected yet. David seems to be getting better and Jon is doing OK. I have been trying to figure out why my kiddos are always catching stuff and here are some reasons that are leading to some changes around our house:
1. LACK OF SLEEP! This includes me... I finally turned off the monitor last night! I am giving Jon a bottle at 10pm each night to insure he is nice and full. He woke up once last night and wouldn't settle down with the paci so I just let him work it out on his own. The next thing I knew it was 6 am! I feel better already today. I think I need to work on my milk supply again... when I pump I am only getting 4 oz. and Jon needs more if he is going to space out his feedings during the day and at night. I REALLY don't want to have to go to formula, I truly love nursing Jon-Jon.
2. DIET! I am a sucker for sweet tea and french fries (if you ever lived with me or spent any amount of time with me, you are probably laughing at this one!). But, I know we do not get enough veggies around here... fruit I can handle, veggies are harder. And it is especially hard on a budget. I'm working on this one and really want to start with some green smoothies for breakfast and salads at dinner time. This will probably help with the sleep portion since I now pledge to not skip meals (meaning hopefully more milk for Jon)... no matter how busy I am!
3. OUTSIDE TIME! It is finally getting warmer here and I think some fresh air will really help us. I have actually thought about planting a few veggies in the backyard, however I am a little intimidated since I can hardly keep house plants alive!
* I know this post is lacking some sweet pics of my kids, but blogger is not my friend tonight and since sleep is number one on this list, I am not going to fight it! Good night everyone and lets hope Jon has sleep-full night!
6 comments:
Hey... I am so glad things are starting to get a little better! I hear you on #1... My husband goes to bed too late and I am really trying to get him in bed earlier!
As far as your supply issues go I can relate a little... I still nurse Anderson about every three or three and a half hours during the day and then no feedings during the night. He nurses at 8/8:15AM,11:30PM with some solids around 12noon, 3PM, 6PM, then at 7:45PM he nurses and has a 4 oz. bottle of formula (to keep him full and because my supply is always low at the end of the day).
Also, keep in mind that you will always pump less than milk than you actually have. Jon can suck much more than even the best pump. The longer you nurse the less you can pump. Right now I probably can only pump about 3 oz. using my Pump In Style but I know I have more than that.
My biggest problem with helping keep up my supply is remembering to drink tons of water!! I never drink enough and I can tell sometimes.
OH and there have many MANY MANY nights where I turned my monitor off :)
I'll keep praying for the boys... and you!
I forgot Anderson also has solids at dinner around 6:30PM
Danielle, I'm sorry things are kinda rough right now. As for keeping Jon full: at times when my supply was low, I would mix formula in the bottle with the breast milk(recommended by the ped.). Maybe it would help hold him over at night. Also, when I was sick or stressed my supply would lessen. A lactation specialist recommended the herb Fenu-Greek (sold at GNC), but check with a lactation specialist for the dose. It helped bring my supply up. It did however make my urine smell like maple syrup, but it fed my baby so I just dealt with that.
We are having rough times with veggies here, too. Frozen veggies are great on a budget, especially if you can get them on sale. Also pureed frozen veggies go further. As in, add them to your dinner (spaghetti, scrambled eggs, etc.) Hidden for the little ones, and your bag will last over a couple meals.
With the monitor, E and I would try to switch off, especially if I'd had a few sleepless nights and was totally worn down.
I hate that I am only one state over yet, still so far away from you. Texas is SO big. I will definitely try to work something out for a visit!!
Take care! Love you all!!
Dani-
Your post made me think of a cookbook I saw on Oprah recently by Jerry Seinfield's wife. It's called "Deceptively Delicious...Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food" and it gives recipes to hide veggies in food.
I hope everyone is feeling better soon!
Dani,
I hear ya! My milk just dried up with Creighty because it was sooo hard to stay well rested, well nourished and well hydrated to keep it up wth 2 so close in age. Don't give up though. I took Fenugreek with Carter and it helped my supply, but she got a rash because it is a peanut derivitive. Wierd, I know! I also tried Mothers Milk hot tea.
As for the monitor issue- we had to let him cry it out for a few nights until he went all night without eating. You have to do it for your sanity sometimes and it does work! 3 nights in a row and now he goes 12+ hours, no problem! As for getting sick, it is so frustrating with 2 because they just seem to pass it back and forth. When Creighty kept getting sick, all of the peds told me not to worry about it- they called it the "2nd child syndrome". You are doing a great job- hang in there!
Hey - You are doing great! By the way, it's ok to turn off the monitor! I haven't had one on in years.
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