Breastfeeding

Need I say more in my title for this post! I'm breastfeeding as some of you may or may not know. I'm not trying to say that its not working because it is. What I should say is that its not quite working the way I would have hoped. Don't get me wrong, I was blessed with a baby who had no problem learning to latch right on in the hospital. So that was wonderful, its the after part. Now that we've been home for almost two weeks things aren't going quite as planned. My little angel is still eating but he's not eating the recommended amount the pediatrician told us he should be eating. Our Pedi told us to feed him every 2 to 2-1/2 hours never letting him go past 3 hours without eating. Then he said to feed him at least 15 minutes per each breast every feeding, HA YAH RIGHT! Not this kid, he just won't have it. First of all we have 2-3 scenarios that are happening here.

1. Cooper wakes up from his never ending nap and is starving, basically eating through my shirt. I start to feed him and he eats vigorously on one side for 15 minutes. Then when its time to go to the other side for fifteen minutes he becomes comatose and you can't seem to wake him no matter what you do. He will eat so slowly that it takes you nearly 1 hour or more to feed him and he then manages to spit up half of it.

2. Cooper wakes up from his never ending nap and is starving and I start to feed him and he decides after one breast that he is full. No more. He refuses any other breast milk formula or anything. Leaving me distraught and upset because I think he's getting malnourished.

3. This one goes along with number two, When he's done with his one sided feeding he then decides precisely 1 hour later that he wants the other side. This so isn't going to work!!!! I cannot feed you every hour my little angel pie, Mommy isn't a drive through sonic for you to just pull up and order during happy hour. We most definitely cannot be starting that.

So here I am left upset every day it seems because my son either won't wake up for the life of him to eat, or will only eat a small amount or decides he wants to eat way to often and at his own pace. I have definitely cried over this numerous times. All of which were after he was asleep and I knew it was safe for me to break down. I've also talked with a number of my girlfriends who told me there feeding experiences with there newborns. I just am worried that my son isn't getting enough to eat. Not to mention the fact that in just 4 short weeks I go back to work and he is also now decided that in the wee early hours of the morning he will eat a small amount then play while eating for about 15 more minutes and then he decides that he wants to stay awake for an hour and a half and have social time in the middle of the night. Even when I tried religiously to keep the room quiet and tranquil while feeding in the night.

I absolutely love my little sweet angel boy, but I have got to figure out a good eating schedule for him. Its wearing me down mentally and physically and I'm just so unsure of what to do. I've seriously even considered pumping every feeding and putting it in a bottle that has quick flow so he eats faster and we know how much he's taking down each feeding. Either that or just doing formula GASP!!!! Yes I said it, But I want whats best for him, but I also need to not be upset and near tears every night as well. We have got to figure out whats going to work for us and FAST! Luckily we go to the doctor this Wednesday so I of course will mention this to him but what if he doesn't help the way I need him to.

Also to top it all off, My little guy in the first week home was sleeping a good 4 straight hours at night, It was fabulous, but then the doc told us we had to start waking him for feeding ever couple hours and since we started that, he now won't sleep more than three hours at night. Which I know is good but why the heck would we ruin his great sleeping schedule at night when he was so content and happy sleeping 4 straight hours. Yes I know, the whole he needs to eat and he's a newborn and doesn't know when to wake himself up, but now that he's not eating anyways and he's playing instead of eating its come to my attention that stopping his great sleeping schedule we were all so content with was a huge mistake.


On a brighter note, Our little Cooper is doing great. Although I dread sundown, during the day he's perfect. He still has eating issues but he's doing great aside from that. He's working on his head control, he's waking and trying to stay awake longer periods throughout the day. He's such a joy to have. I just love him to pieces.

ALSO:
My cousin that took our 1 week pics posted a really sweet video of all the pictures she took of us. Its on her blog but if you would like, pop on over and check it out. She worked hard on them and is really wanting to get a business started soon. She would love to hear what you guys think so if you'd like leave her a comment as well. I know she would love that. Her blog is http://carolinerentzel.blogspot.com/

I do want to thank God for my beautiful family. For all the support, especially from my amazing mom who is here staying with us and being absolutely wonderful the entire time. I can only hope to be as good a mom as she is. I will try my entire life to be.
Thank you for my sweet husband who is the most wonderful man I've ever met and who even though he's back to work this week still wants to get up and help feed his son because he wants to spend the time with him. What a wonderful father he is.
Thank you for my sweet son who is perfect and healthy and beautiful. I'm so in love with him. Please God help us all to stay healthy and well this year ahead of us. We love you!

some of Coops 1 week old pics

Thanks so much to The gardella's family blog at http://babygardella.blogspot.com and also to The Steven's family Blog at http://meganstevensandfamily.blogspot.com. They both nominated me for the creative blog award. Thanks so much girls that was so sweet of you. Both of these ladies are moms to sweet little boys just like me. Go team boy! You should check our there blogs as well they are great moms and wonderful supportive friends in the blog world.
For those of you that I will nominate, I will copy what you do when you are nominated below and then type out my own answers below that. This is the first time I've ever done this so I hope I do it right...

With this award, comes the rules:

1-Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2-Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3-Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4-Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5-Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6-Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7-Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they've been nominated.

So with the rules in place...here ya go!


SEVEN THINGS ABOUT ME YOU MAY NOT KNOW!!!

1. I LOVE CHEESE! not just sort of like it and enjoy it but love it! I have always had a love for cheesey foods and it never seemed to go away. People who know me sort of understand that its just part of who I am.

2. I AM A HUGE FAMILY PERSON. I feel like my family is truly amazing and I'm so blessed to have them. I mean Mom, dad, Brothers and sister in law, Niece, in laws, cousins aunts and uncles. The entire shebang! I love them all and look forward always to any family moments or get togethers we have.

3. Shopping is truly something that I love. I haven't gotten to do that often anymore since I was pregnant and I loved being pregnant but the one thing I couldn't wait to do as soon as I get down to a good size again is go to the mall and get some fun new clothes. Its almost therapy for me. It makes me feel better to look nice. When I'm pulled together for the day feeling good about myself my entire day seems to go better. So I love to shop, to see the new trends. Unfortunately my bank account doesn't love it as much as I do :)

4. I watch the movie "Hairspray" religiously. Yes this may seem very Kindergarten to all of you but it makes me happy and I love to sing along to the songs. Sometimes I'll put it on in the background just to hear the music.
I just realized my list is really starting to sound like I'm a twelve year old girl. I promise to you all that I'm an adult women and I do enjoy adult things as well. But these are my deepest darkest corny parts of me that you guys don't know.

5. I can't sleep unless its completely silent. My husband breaths loudly and we had to buy a box fan to keep in our room and run it every night to drown out any extra sound there may be or I'm up all night long. I have Vulcan ears or something. I hear the baby cry when he slightly whimpers. I've gotten up already and gotten him from the bassinet and my husband hasn't moved or noticed or woken at all until I flip on the lamp to feed the baby. Its amazing. We actually have to take the dang box fan to my parents or anywhere else we sleep if we aren't sleeping at home. Its terrible. How can I sleep when I'm on vacation. Its not like I can check my box fan at the airport and take it along with me. Its become a bad habit to get used to having that in our room.

6. I'm a pessimist. I know this is hard to believe because I'm also a very cheerful and positive person. So it doesn't seem like its possible to be pessimistic too. I'm not bad pessimist, just a little but I tend to think the worst just to prepare myself rather than think the best and be let down, yet I'm always let down when I'm right in thinking the worst. I most definitely get upset and think bad will happen that way I'm always pleasantly surprised. Its a weird thing to do but it works for me.

7. My biggest fear in life is loosing the people I love. I'm paranoid almost at the thought of it. I know this one is a downer but its the truth. I pray every day for my loved ones.

OK so there are a few things that are about me, I have so many things I could have put I just put what came to mind. Who knows what would have come out of me if I had more numbers to fill. Now its your turn!!!

7 Bloggers I Notinate for the Creative Blogger Award

Powell Power
http://spowellsinatlanta.blogspot.com

Two kids a minivan and allot of love
http://oxboroughchaos.com

Blonde ambition
http://jennsblondeambition.blogspot.com

Our Journey through Infertility, Pregnancies and Losses
http://ourlongjourneyofhope.blogspot.com

Mommy to Charli Girl
http://mommy2charli.blogspot.com

The Williamson Family
http://everbrooke.blogspot.com

Hoping for our own peanut
http://terobertson.blogspot.com

I feel like I've fallen off the blog world completley!

Today my little angel is 1 week old! Can you even believe that he's already a week old? I can't! This past week has been the most amazing week of my life. I'm filled with such a strong love for my little punkin and I Cherish every minute I spend with him and with my sweet husband who has been an amazing man through all of this. My favorite part about being a mommy right now is when Cooper falls asleep on my chest. He lays on his side perfectly wedged and he curls up his little legs and just sleeps and cuddles quietly with me. I LOVE THIS!

Today we are taking his one week old pics and hopefully will get his birth announcement pictures out of them. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

I wanted to send a quick message out to all of you girls and apologize for not keeping up with any of you this past week. I guess mommy hood is allot more demanding than I had imagined. I haven't been able to get around and read all the many blogs I'm following and see how all of you are. But I'm still thinking of you and promise to get caught up this week and hopefully I can check how everyone's doing and make a few comments while I'm there. I hope your all good.

Here are a few pics from this past week. First week home!

Cooper Thomas Case

Uncle Mark, Lauryn and Cooper

First ride in the car

Our Cooper

Mommy, Daddy and Cooper Man


Uncle Matt, Aunt Jamie, Natalie and her new and only cousin Cooper!!


Grandma and Grandpa with Cooper

Our first picture as a family of three :)



6lbs 19" long.
He arrived at 3:51P.M on Wednesday September 16th.

A quick version of the birth story for now:::


We went to the hospital on Wednesday morning at 7:30 and got checked in. They started the Patosin at 9:00 A.M. they couldn't get the I.V. into my veins, they said I have allot of valves and it hurt like absolute hell while they poked and pinned me like I was a pin cushion. It was by far the worst part of the birthing experience. Once they got things going I was still dilated to a 4, I was having contractions but nothing painful just very strong tightening. In another about 20 minutes, then to a five about 15-20 minutes later. The nurse said that I had better get my epidural asap before I dilated too fast and they rushed out to get that started. The anesthesiologist came in 20 minutes later and by this point I was feeling the contractions pick up and they were starting to really hurt. They came to give me the epidural and I didn't even pay attention to the pain of the epidural. I laid waiting for it to work and noticed that my left side wasn't as numb and I was feeling a pocket of pain in my left side. I was totally freaked out that I was going to have to feel that pain through the whole birth (I got an epidural for a reason). They gave me a button to push every 15 minutes to up the dosage and I did that for about 15 minutes. They came in to check me and the nurse calmly says to another nurse in the room "Ok, she's fully effaced and a 10, lets call the doctor quickly, she's going to have to start pushing". My husband and I were like "WHAT, ALREADY". Excitement and terror in both of our voices. They ran off to call the doctor and let all our family and friends come in (which by the way was so wonderful, we had nearly 50 people there supporting us and waiting in excitement, we have such amazing family and friends). I started to make darn sure to lay on my left side and keep pushing that button for the epidural so I could get rid of the pocket I had. Sure enough about 25-30 minutes later I was numb on both sides. WEIRDEST FEELING EVER! I felt like I was picking up someone Else's squishy legs, It sort of freaked me out but at the same time it was a lifesaver so I didn't complain. Our doctor came in the room at about 3:15, we did three rounds of pushing, each round consisting of 3 counts of ten with me pushing in each three counts. I was so out of breath and unsure if I was even pushing because I could feel nothing. I ended up needing an epesiotomy and then suddenly the head was out and quickly after our Cooper was here. My husband cried while they set my baby on my chest and the most insane loving feelings came over me. I felt like It was someone Else's life I was watching. It was such an amazing feeling. He was taken from me and moved to a bassinet next to us to be cleaned and taken care of. He was healthy and beautiful and surprising us all bigger and healthier than we could have guessed ever in our wildest dreams. I was so grateful, our prayers were heard. The next day -2 days were full of a never ending stream of people and visiting to the point I needed a rest and was getting a little stressed but was still so grateful to have such great people in our lives.
He breastfed just great, although my milk hasn't come in yet. We has some problems last night with him eating and I thought I was going to loose it. The stress was setting in the lack of sleep, everything but today things are good again and our angel baby is asleep peacefully napping in his crib with a lullaby playing sweetly over his head.
I apologize it took me a while to get this out to all of you and I want to thank you all for the prayers and the support. We are so blessed.
I'll leave you for now with a few pics of our beautiful Monkey (he's got some long toes and fingers).

Enjoy!

(Oh and I apologize for any spelling errors durning this one, I'm not sure how to spell a few of these words I used so I winged it and don't have the time to go look them all up. So hopefully I didn't do too bad and you can figure out what I was meaning to say if I spelled wrong).

We have an inducing date!

Induction date is Wednesday September 16th 2009.

Today we went to the doctor for our 37-1/2 week check up. I have not dilated anymore which was a bummer to me, I wasn't surprised by this news but I was hoping and wishing he was going to come on his own. He did my examination and it was not a comfortable one at all. He pushed really hard this time when checking my cervix and then he did this finger move that hurt like hell. I said "ouch" because it truly hurt. Then when I sat up I told him that it hurt this time and that I was cramping really bad. He said "yah, you'll be ok, Sorry about that". So on our way out of the office I went to give my urine sample as I do every week and when I went to do so I saw I saw that I was bleeding pretty bad. This totally freaked me out since I haven't bleed since I was 8 weeks pregnant. I did the sample then went out to tell him I was bleeding. He looks at me and says "yah I know, I did that to you, It will be fine". So I looked at him, made a joke and was on my merry way! Only it wasn't very merry because I was in pain. I felt like I was having really bad period cramps. I talked with my mom and bf and both of them confirm that he scraped my cervix or "stripped my membrane" whichever term is correct.
He didn't tell me that he did that but he must have because I very definitely remember him making two sweeping motions from side to side and it was painful. My last internal exam did not feel like that.
So my bf tells me that a few of her friends have had that and they both went into labor on there own withing 24-48 hours. But that its not a sure thing, its sort of 50/50 chance. So I get all excited at the thought that we still have a chance to have him on our own without getting induced. I doubt it will work but it would be so amazing if it does and we don't have to be induced. I just can't believe nobody told us that he did that? Shouldn't they tell you that sort of thing? I mean I've felt crampy and just plain crappy all day now since then.
I went to work, Filled everyone in on the inducing situation and came to find out everyone has a pole going to see when Cooper will come and how much he will weigh. I got in on that little bet myself. I guess Wednesday at 3:00 pm and he will weigh 5lbs 5oz. Anyways all the money people gave to be part of the bet goes to Cooper. So we can start him a little bank account right away. I like that, its a cute idea.

Needless to say, I'm still not having contractions that are real. I'm still having those false labor contractions and I don't feel like he's coming in the next two days. So the inducing is probably going to happen. Which is fine and I'm so excited to meet my baby boy that I'm just so happy its so soon. But at the same time I would love for him to come on his own. Either way we are so excited to meet him and see him, I JUST CAN'T WAIT.
Oh and in case anyones curious, the reason we are being induced is because he is still so small and although he's growing his growth has slowed down to nearly a stop so it would be best for him and his safety to get him out and let him grow on the outside. He should be fine once he's out. So instead of letting him get all stressed they are taking him while he's a safe weight and still healthy. I hope he's healthy! Please God help our baby boy to be healthy and well mentally and physically. Please bring us through this safely!

Hopefully sometime this weekend my water will break or I'll start contracting for real but as of right now, nothings happening. So if not then next Wednesday is the magical day I will meet my son. I am so grateful for that day whatever day it may be.

Can't wait to share pics with you girls. Thanks for all the support always ladies.
I am posting a picture of me from Tuesday night. It may or may not be the last before I have him.

Have a great weekend.

Still pregnant.

Well as you can tell I'm still with child. Not that I thought that he was going to come out right away or anything. Our doctor guessed sometime in the next two weeks. That doesn't mean it will definitely happen and its only been 3 days since my appointment. There is one part of me that wants my little boy to stay safely inside of me and keep growing nice and strong. But then there is the selfish side of me that feels like if he's coming out on his own then he's ready and then I'm all anxious and excited to meet him and see his face for the first time.
I have done nothing to try to make him come out. None of the silly things like Eat oranges or anything. I'm only 37 weeks tomorrow so he can stay in a while longer and it would be just fine. I think its just the idea that they told us it could be any day that has me all antsy. This weekend I truly felt fine. I had some contractions like always but nothing severe and nothing consistent. I almost feel like Friday when I go back to see if there has been any changes that they will check and I will still be 3 centimeters dilated and no change at all. Which is totally fine but like I said now that they planted the "within two weeks" in my head I'm all excited and ready for him now. Also the whole I'm about to give birth, is in my head now and I sort of just want to get that whole thing over with rather than think about it for weeks on end wondering what it will be like. Scary!
This weekend. I've still been in nesting mode. My husband and I spent Saturday with all our friends watching the OU game. They lost but hopefully next week will be better. Then Sunday we went to church, cleaned out entire house and then I even made some pumpkin cranberry bread. I felt so accomplished. We walked our dogs for a good 45 minutes (not trying to induce labor by the way), I had been cleaning all day and we figured if that didn't make me go into labor than walking the dogs wouldn't either and it was gorgeous outside. I of course had no sign of labor that night so I'm glad I didn't make it happen. Today we went to a friends house for some homemade chilly and just visited and had a good time. It was a good weekend and luckily we have been busy but I'm still so antsy to just go to my doctor and see if anything has changed. Thats all I want to know? Has it changed?
Oh and guess what, My bags are now packed and ready. I even packed pads and breast pads just in case they don't have those at the hospital (I assume they will but just in case). I'm ready when you are Coop, I can't wait to see your beautiful face. Be easy on mommy little guy and God please watch over us.
Well I will update again on Friday after the doctor appointment, unless I go into labor and have him before then. I hope you all have a nice 4 day week.

Dilated to a 3!

Today we went in for our weekly appointment. My nurse asked me if I've had any contractions. I told her no that all I have been having are the braxton hicks that I tell them about every time I go in. She informed me that they may not check my cervix for dilation since I wasn't contracting at all.
My doctor came in and started the ultrasound and everything looked great with Cooper. I had lots of fluid still and the baby's heart sounds good. He asked If I was having contractions and I told him the same thing I told the nurse. Right about that time he stops what he's doing and goes "your having one right now". I said "a braxton hicks"??? and he says "no, a real contraction, don't you feel that". I was like yah I feel it but its the same thing I've been feeling for months now.
He looked at me and laughed and said "than you must be tough because that was a real contraction". Ha me tough! That's HILARIOUS! I'm not anywhere near tough. They just aren't intense yet is all. Its not me being tough that's for sure.

Anyways he(my doc) starts singing "your going to have a baby, your gonna have a baby". I was like "What" what does that mean, he says your dilated to a three, effaced and he's dropped. He then tells me to get dressed and he'll be right back. So we talk about it for a sec when he comes back in and he tells us that everything is progressing and I've started to labor, but that he feels it will happen in the next 2 weeks sometime. I totally understand that sometimes you can be dilated for weeks on end with no sign of real labor so I didn't get all crazy excited. But I can't help but wonder when he will come? My guess is in a few weeks like the doctor said but??? Its the whole wondering and not knowing thing that's driving me crazy.
So I have to ask that you all pray for us. And for our baby that he is ready to come out and that we both handle the birth well. I pray that he's a good weight and that he's healthy mentally and physically.
I'm a little antsy just knowing this information though, How will I know? When should it happen? What are the odds of it happening sooner? I just want to know more about the unknown. I am going to try my hardest to stay calm and not think about it but my life is about to change, I'm about to have my son, in my arms and in my life. Thats HUGE! I'm excited, scared! So many things.

I will leave you with some pics of me the past two weeks. Just in case they are my last few pics (doubt it). But hey you never know.


Also I want to ask my followers to please pray for a fellow blogger named Erin over at the Williamson's blog. She had her baby yesterday and had some complications, (the baby is fine as far as I know). But Erin lost a lot of blood and had to have surgery and is now in the icu recovering. I don't know many details and I know some of you follow her blog as well. I just want to get a good prayer group going for her because it sounds like they need it. Her blog is http://everbrooke.blogspot.com/ if you would like to stop by to add a prayer or encouraging word.

Have a great holiday weekend girls. :)

The things I've done in the past week.

Well today I'm 36 weeks pregnant! HOLY COW! 4 weeks until my due date.
I'm getting really nervous about giving birth to another human being. But I can't hardly wait to meet my little angel.

So lately I've been most definitely "Nesting". Let me just give you a run down of the small but for me big list of things that I've done this week.
Cleaned the entire house, cooked dinner nearly every night, made banana bread, cookies (I'm not usually Suzy homemaker so this isn't like me at all to want to bake). I've cleaned every closet in preparation for our baby to be here and want everything to be clean and perfect. I even cleaned out our front coat closet. WOW you have no idea what that looked like. 6 years of seasonal decor and rapping paper and gift bags for every occasion thrown into a closet on top of each other. IT WAS HORRID! But its done now. I've started a mini art project, weeded my flower bed (what the heck, I hate any kind of yard work and especially not 36 weeks pregnant, whats going on with me???)

And here is the big one. I'm really organized at work, even though at home I'm really not. So its not a huge deal for my desk to be well maintained and organized every day. But today I managed to find time to type up 4 Yes that's right 4 word documents nicely laid out explaining any special instructions that might help my co-workers do my job correctly while I'm gone on maternity leave. Each document was about different subjects with headings and all nicely laid in the drawer next to me for whoever needs them. One had customer names and numbers and email addresses neatly spelled out and yes ladies it was in alphabetical order and everything. FABULOUS. Gosh it felt good to do that. There was another with vendor info on it just like the customer names. Now I have it ready for the moment just in case I don't show up one day because I'm having my baby. I know I probably have 4-5 more weeks but I just wanted to be prepared.
So in a nutshell that's me lately. Miss organized, trying desperately to find anything else I can do to get ready for him to come and wanting more projects and household things to do.

If all of this fades away after I have Cooper I think I'll be a little bit sad. I've kind of grown to like my over achieving housewife self these last few months. It makes me feel good to be accomplished and feel motherly. I sure hope I still want to work hard in my house and everywhere once he's here but I'm afraid its that Nesting thing they talk about? Don't know?

Ok enough about that, Symptom check for this week.

Stronger braxton hicks, no pain still but my whole uterus will tighten and I will nearly loose my breath.
I'm EXHAUSTED all the time. In between my crazy new housewife mode I'm just run down and completely exhausted.
Lots of pressure all over my ribs. OUCH its like he's in them. He's become one with my ribs, there is no separation, he's found a nice nitch and he's now living up in my ribs. It hurts.
No sign of "dropping" as they say.
Acid reflux-evil acid reflux. I thought growing up this was just something old people got. Nope I have it full force these days. But I'm trying a few things to cure it. Hope it works.
Loss of breath is my last symptom, I'm getting out of breath at bending over slightly, getting out my seat to walk, I feel like I have to lift my belly to sit down because if I don't somehow I will loose my breath.

I guess that's all on the symptoms. We go back to the doctor on Friday. Can't wait to see how our baby boys doing then. Please keep him in your prayers.

Last but not least. I'm really excited. I'm such a girly girl but I've truly grown to love College football. Can't wait!!! This Saturday OU's first game is on of the season. I can't wait to sit back with friends and watch and scream and cheer and eat brownies and cook out. So much fun. GO OU! My husband is a huge OSU fan and will be cheering them on earlier in the day. I hope both our Oklahoma teams win.

Have a great week girls. I'll give an update on Friday. :)