Memorial Weekend

This weekend was Olivia's first big camping trip. I was nervous for her to be in the cold and the bugs but it went fine. Amazing the amount of extra packing was involved but I will be better prepared with less items next time! We went to Moose Creek Resevoir in Bovill, ID. There ended up being quite a crowd that all met there which made it even more fun. Here are a couple pics of the trip.

I am somewhat nervous.....I debated whether I should post this or not but here goes! For a week now I have been getting sick. Nausea. Vomiting. You can guess what is running through my mind. I hate to admit that the possibility exists but it does. I didn't realize the timing of baby making good times and that I have already started cycling again. I started the birth control this month but when I counted days I was too late. I know I ovulated before I took it. After all the months of temping and watching my body I should have realized what was going on. I only realized it in hind sight. I am crossing my fingers this is not the case. I should be able to take a test on Friday at the earliest. No other signs so far. Unfortunately the nausea started immediately when I was pregnant with Olivia. I know I would get over the shock and devastation (I know bad word to describe it but right now it describes how I feel about it) but I sure hope NOT! I will update when the info is available....... : (

Olivia Update

Since my last post I am pleased to report improvement. I would like to thank all the moms that commented. I was BEYOND frustrated. I started to use the carrier when Olivia won't settle down on her own. She is starting to get a schedule which has also improved our daily routine. I know when she will (most likely) nap so I plan my work then and when she is awake we have time to play together. She is starting to want to play. Before, the second her eyes came open she fussed. It was like she didn't know what to do when she was awake. Now she will wake up and smile and coo. It is adorable! As you talk to her she smiles and reacts with funny animated faces. I started putting her in the Bumbo which is great. She can sit up in it even though she can't hold her head up completely. I can put her on the counter and get dinner ready. She also decided she doesn't hate the swing anymore. I do think she had memory of the "breaking process". If I even turned the knob on the swing she woke up and started to cry. Finally a HAPPY BABY.

I went for my six week check up. It was annoying. I talked to her about my weight and she said I needed to "exercise more" wow what great advice! I asked her about my concern for taking birth control again. (Can contribute to infertility in Polycystic Ovarian) She informed me "no, you need to take birth control." REALLY? wow again what great advice. I asked about continuing to take metformin (diabetes meds I took to get prego) for diabetes prevention and weight control due to insulin resistance. She said "no, I only gave you that to get pregnant not to lose weight." OHH? I must have forgot. The appt continued this way. It seemed to annoy me. Maybe this is still the hormones coming into line but I left angry. I guess I am going to take the birth control for at least six months so I am out of the "danger zone" for getting pregnant again after a C section. (I have NO intention of trying to get pregnant within the next 15-18 months, I just want to eventually get pregnant again.)

The other subject of the dr appt was Olivia's food intake. Dr said she should be eating between 28-32 oz of formula a day. This was right on track up until last week. She became a vulture! She "roots" and twists and smacks her lips together after two hrs (before it was every 3 1/2hrs). I try to hold her off with a pacifier but it lasts 15 min before she spits it across the room out of anger (Daddy's temper! lol). The dr informed me I should just give her the pacifier. Yesterday I gave in to the eating frenzy and learned that she just wants to chow down in the afternoon and evening. Last night by 8pm she fell asleep and didn't wake up until 3am!!!! When she did wake up she almost ate my arm off while making a bottle. She chowed down 6 oz and back to sleep again for another 5 hrs. I am hoping this is a new trend. I had been fearful she just had her momma's appetite and would eat all day and night double what she should be eating! I am going to experiment for a couple days and see how much she is consuming.

Thanks again for the mom support. Life is improving at the Bezdicek House! Whoa!

Ohhh Miss Olivia

Miss Olivia is somewhat of a naughty baby. I question if other babies are like this??? I am not sure if this is what colic is all about. Let us first discuss her crying. I thought she was spoiled. Every time I set her down she screamed. I would pick her up and it would stop. I made sure all the standard complaints were met (feeding, diaper, burping, etc). I would hold her until she fell asleep and put her in her bassinet or swing. Within 30 sec she would wake up and scream again. I would try to comfort her with a pacifer and talking to her without picking her up. Over a week and for hours we would try this. The RESULT: screaming. I have tried all the advice from the internet and friends: swaddling, baby massage, music, gas drops, Gripe Water, Catnip and Fennel, warm blanket from the dryer. None of which I get anywhere. She is quite content as long as I am holding her. Again I listened to lots of advice of people telling me to "break" her of this. After 8-10 hrs a day for a week I don't think she is capable of being "broken" she doesn't get it! At one point during the breaking process I put her in the swing tucked blankets around her. She was fussy but not hysterical. I had to go to the bathroom so I left and when I returned "CRAZY PANTS" (that's what I call her when she turns evil angry) had thrown her blankets off, kicked one shoe, thrown her cuddly animal, and had managed to get herself almost on the ground. ADD on top SCREAMING! I made a decision that moment that I had given up. I would put her in the carrier and carry her butt around all day! I realize some parents do not agree with this idea but I don't know what else to try.

Yesterday we went to the dr because her eye was watering a lot and getting yellow stuff on it. I didn't think it was infected but I wanted to make sure. The dr agreed it was not infected but she has a blocked tear duct. Nothing you can do for it but keep it cleaned and it will clear up on its own. I spoke to the dr about the 2 yr old tantrums and she assured me that under 3 months you can't "break" a baby. They don't have short term memory. She said she most likely likes the comfort of being held and the warmth. She encouraged me to keep trying to lay her down once she is asleep but until 3 months she is not capable of understanding. I guess my new life involves her being attached to me.

Good news from the dr was that she was doing great otherwise. She is getting chubby at a whopping 9 lbs 11 oz. I thought 3 lbs in 5 weeks was pretty good. Takes after mom, during pregnancy 9 lbs in 4 weeks!!!

Another discouraging issue: How freaking fat I still am? I again ask all you moms out there, how long did it take to get the weight off? I don't know if it is only the skinny b*tches out there that brag about losing the weight fast or if it is truly the difference of breastfeeding. I am five weeks out and still have a lingering 20 lbs. I gained a total of 35 lbs. Now if we do the math: Olivia 7 1/2 lbs, Placenta 5 lbs, water 3lbs= approx 15 lbs. Yes that does make sense but I thought I would lose some in the five weeks of starving myself. Ok only 3 of those did I start starving myself. I have been eating 1000 calories a day and trying to stay busy (remember I have a baby that screams all day! lol) I have been walking but I can't face other exercise given my stomach muscles still hurt to sit up from the c section.

So this blog entry turned into a complain fest but seriously??? Mom advice would be appreciated.

I am a little discouraged about her behavior. So moms out there: WHAT'S your take on this issue? Any suggestions?

For your entertainment value I have included the picture from her throwing herself out of the swing. I also included a happy picture of her on tummy time. ( Just to remind myself that she doesn't cry all the time)

1 Month old Pics and Curly Bows!

I am so excited to report that I have learned to make bows!! Wish I would have learned how before I bought $50 in bows for Olivia...but that's okay. With the help of Kari and a website, I experimented and made a bow for Olivia to wear for her 1 month old pics. Picture session was a little stressful. Olivia has not learned that this is apart of life. I tell her everyday, "As a woman you must understand that Beauty can be Painful!" She will understand this better down the road but I figure I might as well start teaching her now. lol Overall we did get some cute pics most of them just tended to be when she was sleeping. I had really hoped to get one smiling (she just started doing "reactive smile" as opposed to "gassy smile". So cute!) No such luck with smiles but I still like them. Check a few of them out!