Tubes in the Ears

After months of fighting ear infections and Aidan patiently taking various medications, we received a referral to see an ENT.  I was anxious about the visit and Aidan needing tubes.  You see, I have had ear trouble and tubes multiple times, and I had hoped Aidan could avoid ear problems.

Side Story(ies) - I can't clap in sync, I can't do jump n jacks with a group, and I have a hard time differentiating tones.

I am a die hard Clemson fan, and even the Clemson cheer that requires rhythm is hard for me.

The one test I attempted to cheat on was a test that would allow me to enter into band. The test was not a curriculum test, but the score would be a starting point for being allowed in band.  I really wanted to play the violin, so I thought being in band would help. When the test began, and I had to differentiate between tones, rhythms, and notes, I was LOST.  People all around me where marking their scan tron, and I thought every sound clip I heard was the same.  So I peered around to see what people were marking in order to understand what they heard, but in the end, I didn't hear anything different.  Thus, I failed miserably and never made it into bad.  At that point, I gave up hopes of ever playing the violin.

Jump to the future...I am playing softball in a critical  playoff game, and I hit a nice blooper to the outfield.  Due to other circumstances on the field, I thought I could take second base, so I kept running.  Two first base coaches were yelling for me to come back to first.  Our dugout of players were yelling for me to get back to first.  All I heard was noise...when there is that many voices coming at my ears, they all blend together to be "blaaaaaaaaaaah blah blah blah".  I made it to second safely, the only problem was our other player was still on second, so I attempted to run back to first and be safe...sadly even a last ditch effort to dive was not enough.

Back to Aidan's ears.  Due to my history, I was nervous and sad that Aidan might suffer the same fate as I did.  However, after a wonderful first appointment with Dr. Moretz in Augusta, GA, I was excited for Aidan to receive tubes.  I wish this doctor was a pediatrician.  His bed side manner was spectacular, and he was very informative and patient with us.  We were able to view the inside of Aidan's ears on a computer screen while Dr. Moretz explained the entire concern with the ears.  Once Dr. Moretz determined Aidan needed tubes, he took the time to explain the procedure and put us at ease.  The tube procedure was scheduled four days later.  Not only does his office schedule appointments quickly, they also send appointment reminders by email and send the doctor's report.

The procedure.  Dr. Moretz prefers to perform the tube insertion procedure in his office for kids under 2.  This means no anesthesia, food restrictions, or worrying with post-op recovery.  We were in the doctor's office for approximately one hour.  The first 30 minutes we waited for the numbing medicine to take affect, which I know it worked well since I kissed Aidan on the check and got some of the medicine on my lips that.  My lips went numb in 5 minutes and stayed numb for two hours! The next half of the procedure required us holding Aidan down while a laser created the holes in the ears, then the fluids being sucked out of his ears, and finally the tubes placed in his ears.  Aidan only cried from being held down (from all the doctor visits), but once I picked him up, he was happy.

The first night Aidan was home, he slept through the night...and every night following the surgery.  Dr. Moretz predicted this would happen, but I was skeptical since Aidan would be able to hear all the noises he was missing out on (he was diagnosed with 40% hearing loss), but Dr. Moretz was right.  Aidan did not have pressure on his ears anymore since the fluid had a place to escape.

Over the next week, Aidan had a lot of fluid and nasty gunk coming out of his ears.  He also began trying to pull up and get on his knees to crawl.  In 2.5 weeks, he crawled and has not stopped since.  He's a completely different kid now, and I am so thankful for Dr. Moretz and the tubes.

It's Been A While

I know, I am neglecting the blog.  I have several blog ideas in my head that kept being delayed as I attempted to write them.

Anyway, quick update...
Aidan received tubes in both of his ears (will detail later)
We went on an exciting camping/boating trip to the upstate of SC.  

Aidan turned 9 months and is still in the 90th percentile for weight and height.  He gets mad when he sees the doctor and his nurse, but has no issue with the nurse who administers the shots.

First Father's Day.

Aidan began crawling and now we are on high alert. See video below.

Aidan Crawls for Dog Food

Weaning

I love spreadsheets, and since I gave up several of them as a New Year’s Resolution in order to simplify my life, I decided I could have a pass for a month.  So I created a spread sheet to track my output and corresponding graphs.  In addition, I tracked output versus consumption.  My body was producing enough breast milk until I cut to two a day sessions and went on a mini vacation this past weekend.  Therefore, I began taking Sudafed because it’s a decongestant and dries you up.  I will take one a day and drop to one pump session and then, NONE!  This week, Aidan is receiving half formula and half breast milk bottles to help him with the transition.   I should add that a few weeks back, I fed Aidan a bottle of formula to ensure he would drink it prior to complete weaning.  However, yesterday, he kept throwing his cup on the floor when he only had formula.  Though I also tried putting the formula in the bottle, and he drank it.  Silly kid.

I am ready to cut the pumping cord since Aidan doesn’t nurse friendly – you know, he bites with his gums and teeth on the verge of popping through.  I hope to be done by this weekend, but I can go another week if necessary.  

Overall, my body has adjusted well to weaning.  Each time I dropped a pump session, I saw a slight to noticeable drop in output, with the most significant change occurring when I dropped from 3 to 2 pump sessions.  

There were many reasons for breast feeding – the bond, health benefits (immunities), convenience, supposedly reducing ear infections, and cost (or lack there of).  The bond was gone when Aidan would not stop clamping down, the majority of the health benefits were already gained, pumping is a complete inconvenience, it appears Aidan’s ears are terrible no matter what the food consumption is, and I am ready for the tether to be gone, so cost is no longer a factor.  I should add that there are added benefits to the mom if you continue to breastfeed, but I gave breastfeeding my all, and now I am done.

Breakfast with Aidan

I love to cook, and I love to bake.  Even more, I love for people to enjoy what I make.  Baking is a hobby in addition to a stress reliever.  I knew when I wanted kids that I would look forward to the day I could share my kitchen creations with them.

On Sunday, I woke up before Aidan (because I am the early riser) and tinkered around the house.  I made coffee, pumped, and began working on breakfast.  I made myself egg whites with cheese, and I made Aidan egg yolks with a small amount of cheese.  He must have known I was making him breakfast because he woke up as I was putting his eggs in a bowl.

I stood in the kitchen while Aidan sat in the high chair and hand fed himself the eggs.  He loved them!  So from now on, on my days off, I will make Aidan and me breakfast to eat together.  In case you’re wondering, AJ rarely eats breakfast, and if he does, it’s 3+ hours after I get up…his food would be cold.  I am happy Aidan wakes earlier to share this time with me.

Birthdays, Post Partum Symptoms, and Quitting

Birthdays are amazing with children.  I was able to have lunch with my mom and Aidan on my birthday, and it was the best celebration I could ask for!  Aidan was a delight, and he even giggled and laughed with a nearby baby.  He is so happy, and he is easy to take into restaurants.  Additionally the food, I had pizza at a nice Italian restaurant, and company were amazing.  I could have lunch on my birthday every year like this and be happy.

After a wonderful lunch, I had to deal with an agonizing post partum symptom.  My wrist, no not the right one which surgery was performed on, but the ever reliable left wrist.  The orthopedist diagnosed the wrist with De Quervain syndrome, which he presumed occurred due to overuse being a new (breastfeeding) mom.  TO be honest, I put off the doctor’s appointment because I wanted to believe that my wrist had post partum carpal tunnel that would resolve itself around 6 months PP. No such luck.  My treatment options are rather simple – cortisone shot with a brace and OT or surgery.  I willingly accepted the cortisone shot since I previously had a great experience with one.  However, this time proved difficult.  I was in far more pain the next day than I was before I went to the doctor.  I was nauseous all day, and at 9:30 PM, I threw up everything I had to eat.  Ugh, if this is what I have go through, sign me up for surgery!  I did buy a brace that immobilizes my thumb, which has helped significantly.  I wear the brace when I am at home during the week and most of the times on the weekend, especially if I am carrying Aidan a lot. I also wear the brace when I sleep, so we’ll see how it goes…

I am not a quitter, BUT I am done with being bitten while nursing, and I absolutely despise my pump.  I wish I could take my pump outside and beat it up Office Space style, but breaking the pump would only cost me in the long run, so I have refrained.  While Aidan has no teeth poking through, we can see them making their way towards puncturing the gums, and his gummy grip now hurts when he clamps down when nursing.  The first few times he did it, I shrieked, and he laughed.  Now, I shriek, he cries, I put the boob away.  I thought taking food away when he bites would help signal that he should not clamp down, but he continues to clamp.  He has even smiled and clamped down.  Little stinker.  My original goal was to breastfeed for 6 months, and when pumping was going so well at work, I had high hopes of a year, but my intermediate goal was 9 months.  Well, I hope to pump enough milk between month 8 and month 9 to make it 9 months on breast milk because I started decreasing my pump sessions on May 2^nd.  While I gave up tracking spreadsheets for a New Year’s resolution, I have made one to monitor my milk output as I slowly tell my body to stop producing milk.   I don’t know how long it will take for me to dry up, but I at least want to monitor what my body is doing so I don’t shock my system by dropping a pumping session.  I did not have Bfing woes early on, such as a plugged duct, but engorgement is still uncomfortable.  So yes, I, Diana Bowers, give up.  Oh well, he’s a few short months from being able to consume cow’s milk and he is drinking less milk than he was a few months ago due to consuming solids.  Formula can happily bridge the gap.

In other news, Aidan still cannot fight his ear infections.  We were told to try one last dose since the last visit indicated that the left ear infection was gone.  So here’s hoping the right ear will be healed on Monday!  I desperately want to take Aidan swimming since he loves his baths and baby pool, but I don’t want to risk aggravating an infection. L  Lately during bath time, he will lean over and put his  mouth in the water.  Once he blew bubbles, though I don’t think it was intentional, but it’s a start!  So please, ear infections, be gone!

Community Supported Agriculture

I make Aidan's food, and in doing so, I picked up organic vegetables and fruits, especially those that were on the dirty dozen list for pesticide use and exposure.  While in the midst of searching for the next food to try, I came across a facebook group that was supporting a local farm.  I bought a few baskets here and there in order to get fruits and vegetables for Aidan.  However, there is no way Aidan can eat a half basket of these goodies, so I had to pick what I liked and committed to eating it.  Waste means money down the drain, and there's no way I was going to let that happen.

I was never a big fan of kiwi, but after having fresh picked kiwi, I am in love.  I also love the sweetness the fresh oranges and strawberries contain.  Not only am I getting pesticide free foods, but they taste great.

Did you know carrots have to be bleached prior to being sold in grocery stores? Crazy!  But not from the local farm.  Did you know that apples have the highest pesticide use?  Or that wax is added to the skin of a cucumber?

Not only does the farm provide fresh fruits and vegetables, but it also provides butter, cheese, eggs, and pork.  I have had all of these items, and I am hooked.  I love the fresh cheese, which contains mostly goat's milk. 

Prior to going to the farm, Aidan turned away from sweet potato, but now that I receive fresh sweet potato, he gobbles the food up!  He actually screeches if you take too long to feed it to him.

So far, I have made a lot of fresh salads, tried egg plant Parmesan and beer battered asparagus, and fell in love with new fruits. 

From the farm, Aidan has tried and liked! carrots, squash, sweet potato, apples, green beans and a melon hybrid fruit.  He has also tried the goat's cheese through baby led weaning techniques.

Additionally, the farm has live chickens, ducks, and rabbits.  Aidan actually touched a baby chicken and baby duck very gently.  He LOVED looking around and hearing all of the sounds. 

Overall, I am not sure if what I bought locally has cost more, but I do not that the experience and the taste of the produce is well worth the cost.  The farmers also give me free produce from time to time.   Well, they give it to me because they know I make Aidan's baby food, and they want him to try something new!

Happy Easter

I can only imagine showing off these pictures when Aidan is a teenager. Oh well, I will enjoy dresssing him up while I can.  He receives lots of compliments, so I don't understand why he wouldn't like his adorable baby pictures!

By the way, if you ever like the knitted hats or sandals that you see Aidan wearing, I buy them from a friend.  Her facebook page is Lark and Juniper

Baby Talk

Aidan putting his Steeplechase winnings
in his Clemson Bank.

What is it about babies that cause people to talk funny and make up words or using silly phrases?  For instance, when Aidan is obviously tired, I ask him if he wants to take a nappy nap.  Why not just a nap?  I don't take nappy naps, nor does AJ, but Aidan does.  I seem to be guilty of using the word twice and typically adding a 'y'.  Nappy nap, dipey dipe, andYum yum (to be fair, I have said the same thing to my dogs for 7 years), plus several more.  I try to stop myself because there's no reason to make up words and phrases, but something about a baby brings it out.  I do realize that changing the pitch of my voice makes Aidan giggle, and of course, I will say and do something repeatedly to hear him laugh, but it's a conscious effort, not like the phrases I make up which seem to take me by surprise...

Since Aidan has begun to roll, he has always decided to roll left, even screaming when he gets stuck and does not roll right.  However, this week, he decided that he wanted to roll right.  He also decided that playing on his stomach isn't so bad, and I fear that learning to crawl is on the horizon.  We're not ready!  The house needs baby proofing and keeping up with a roller is already a tall task.  Aidan is also learning to soothe himself to sleep.  He cries less and falls asleep sooner...most nights.  He still wakes several times a night, but he doesn't need much to fall asleep.

I have introduced Aidan to apples and squash, which were bought fresh from a local farm that doesn't use pesticides, which is great for apples since they are the worst for pesticides.  Additionally, I reintroduced Aidan to sweet potatoes and he loved them.  I have also given him some whole pieces of fresh banana, avocado, and steamed sweet potato to gum on (or is it gummy gum?), and he enjoyed it.  So I plan to give him less purees and more "solid" type food.

Aidan has kept busy playing with lots of toys, swinging, playing in his pool, and going out to events such as the Aiken Steeplechase.  He was not interested in the horse racing, though he was greatly fascinated by the fence and the badge that we wear into the event.  I guess it's the small things that are entertaining. 

The jumparoo required a height adjustment, and Aidan finally had enough of the infant car seat altogether.  AJ had to change out his infant base for the big convertible seat.  Bringing Aidan home from daycare is easier since I do not have to lift the heavy seat with the 20+ pound baby, however, when he falls asleep, I typically wake him when removing him from the seat.  He never falls back asleep, so I don't have a break to unload the truck and put stuff away, unless I carry Aidan the entire time.  I do have great arms, thanks to Aidan. :)

In other news, I thought I had avoided the hair loss, but lately, I have noticed hair balls in my laundry, a lot of hair in the sink and shower, and my hair brush having to be cleaned more often.  Ugh, I liked my thick, glowy hair...why must it fall out?! I am still taking prenantals, and I thought this would prolong the loss, but I guess all good things must come to an end.

It’s hard to be a gym junkie when the weather is gorgeous, and my favorite season appears to be upon us.  Welcome Spring, I missed you, please stay as long as possible.  With the warm weather, it will be nice to take Aidan to the park, play in a pool, and go for walks in the stroller.

No big developments with Aidan – he’s rolling to the left, sitting up, and trying new foods.  He is not a big fan of his antibiotic, which is unflavored, mom will know better next time.  Some nights go well when he is in the crib, other nights it is a scream fest, and he ends up back in the bed with us.  One day at a time…

So it has been 6 months since I gave birth to the little guy, and while I feel normal for the most part, there are symptoms I still experience.  Warning TMI to follow, skip to the bold below if you want to skip the TMI.  Now that the warm weather is back, and the air conditioning is running, I experience night sweats, again.  My wallets says I can’t put the temperature down to 62 degrees Fahrenheit, so I suffer through the craziness, which isn’t every night.  The linea nigra is almost gone, but my abs are still weird looking, even after crunches, planks, and sit ups.  And the worst symptom that has not disappeared is the hemorrhoid; it is not bothersome, but the presence is irritating because I wonder if it will ever go away.  The fortunate side effect of breastfeeding (and pregnancy) is no Aunt Flo.  She has not returned, and I hope she stays away until after I wean from breastfeeding, which I hope is at least one year.

Life as a Mom

This past weekend, I met up with some awesome ladies who happen to have babies around the same age as Aidan.  Okay, we know each other because we all happen to have babies at the same age, but we met up for some girl time.  I wouldn’t call it a play date…it was more gabbing, enjoying a drink, and throwing back pizza while babies roll, scream, and enjoy someone else's toys.   I had a great time and look forward to doing it again, though I don’t want the other babies teaching Aidan how to crawl or showing off their teeth – I am NOT ready for him to do/have these things.

Time goes by quicker as a mom.  Gone are the days where I can come home and sit on the couch to watch tv or read a book.  No, I have to hurry home to unpack the daycare bag, start laundry, fill bottles with breastmilk, put the dirty bottles in the sink to be washed, and hopefully find or make something to eat.  If Aidan naps on the way home, I can accomplish a lot, otherwise, my arms hurt from holding him while trying to accomplish these tasks.  Then it’s time to feed Aidan – nursing and a solid, but not too close together…After eating, it’s time to play and practice the new skills he has developed.  Finally, it will be time for a bath, followed by nursing and a wonderful game of go to sleep! Hopefully, the game won’t last long because mom needs her sleep, all 6 hours if she’s lucky.

Dear Aidan,

I amazed everyday by what you learn.  One day, you refuse to roll over, and the next you won't stop rolling over.  I never know what you will do when we get home to play, and I look forward to these special moments.

At 6 months, we have found how much you love eating solids - oatmeal, avocado, sweet peas, and zucchini.  You make faces and turn away when I offer sweet potatoes.  I love feeding you solids; you get so excited that you squeal with delight and cry if I take too long.  Your hands are constantly grabbing at the spoon or moving around, making a fist and opening back up.  You open your mouth wide and smack your lips.  When you blew your first raspberry with a mouthful of food, I loved it, made me smile - too cute. I cannot wait until we can eat the same food, and you can be a Guinea pig for my new recipes.  But don't grow up too quickly, I love enjoying your infant stage and it seems the first six months have gone by faster than expected.  Baby boy, you melt my heart everyday.  You take a bad day at work and turn it into the best evening possible. Who knew baby laughter was so wonderful.

Together, we have successfully nursed and pumped for six months, which was my original goal, and baby boy, we have another six to go.  I love nursing you, the connection is beautiful and one I know I will miss when we wean, but that's months to come.  I fear teeth, but I know it's all part of growing up and becoming a big boy, I can only hope that it doesn't interfere with nursing.  I love your happy smiles and giggling when your nurse, even when you spill milk down the side of me.  I know these moments won't last forever, so I will cherish them, despite the messes you make.

I know bedsharing can become a bad habit, and while it's only been approximately three months, I know we have to seperate.  The doctor said so, though I don't want to.  I love to wake up and see you lying there beside me.  I love to kiss you good morning and good bye, even though you're sleeping peacefully.  I am glad you don't want to be up at 3 am like mom has to be.  On weekends, we nurse in bed, then play.  You giggle and jabber; you are a morning person already, and I love talking to you when you're so happy and playful.  However, our moments have to come to an end soon.  It's going to be hard, the doctor even said to let you cry some, so please forgive me.  Mom doesn't like to see you cry, but some things are for the best...at least that's what I am telling myself.  The doctor also said we need to cut out the 4 am feeding....it's all the doctor, baby boy. But we will do what's best for us, and if you need me or you need to nurse, you know I will give in.  Those salty drops running down your face win me over every time.

As we take these next few months one day at a time, please have patience with me as I will do the same.  I expect some teething woes, some self soothing sleeping fussiness, and some stern "no's" in your future.  But I also foresee you sitting up more by yourself, playing with new toys, enjoying new foods, practicing swimming, and possibly crawling.  I bet the dogs can't wait!  So bear with me as we get through some tough times because those tough days will be filled with plenty of love, kisses, and hugs.

I love you baby boy, you are my whole world.

Love,

Mom