We are so happy to announce the arrival of our son in late June. Life has been one challenge after another but we are finding opportunities to be happy and recognize the joys that God has given us.
When we first moved to the Pacific Northwest we were very hopeful. I was still pregnant and Matt was starting a new job. It took us about a month to find and move into an apartment that we could both afford and enjoy.
Within the first week at our new place we realized that we had a problem . . . FLEAS. It was very difficult at first because we had boxes lying around everywhere and we were going in and out of all the rooms unpacking so we ended up with an entire apartment infestation. I learned that vacuuming is a major tool to get rid of them, so in addition to 1 fog treatment, 2 cans of spray, a million loads of laundry (when we would see them on our sheets we would wash all the bedding to make sure there were no residual eggs waiting to hatch), we vacuuming the apartment every day. Or should I say that Matt vacuumed the apartment every day.
It took about a month for all the fleas to disappear. It was very disappointing when we arrived home from the hospital to find that we were still infested. However they are gone now and we are loving it.
Our little one was born on Matt's birthday and we were happy to only have to go through about 5 hours of labor. He was 7 lbs 11 oz. and 19.5 inches long. We came home after a couple of days in the hospital and were happy to have my mother and sister come to town a few days later. We are learning how to be a family of 3. Matt keeps telling me that 3 is a magic number. Our little one is growing well and developing well and happy (most of the time). At his last weigh in he weighed 12 lbs 3 oz and everyone keeps telling us that he seems so tall! He'll be tall like his dad.
Not long after we were home from the hospital we realized that something was wrong with the way that the baby was feeding and acting and having no bowel movements. He and I went to see a lactation specialist. From that meeting we learned that I have low milk supply. This has been very discouraging and disappointing because I had been planning on nursing for an entire year. So we began supplementing in addition to nursing and he seemed to perk up and be a happier more content baby. I began an intense pumping regimen in hopes to increase my supply and hopefully have enough for him that we would not have to supplement. However, it is 2 months later and I we still need to supplement. I have faith that I can still increase my supply but It is easy to get discouraged.
Matt is experiencing some of his own ups and downs with work. It took about 2 months to get licensed here and now he is waiting to be approved by the insurance companies as a provider. He has been marketing, and has 2 patients.
We are learning every day to rely on God. We press forward with faith that Matt will have success in his efforts to bring in patients, and that I will produce more milk. We can't help but be grateful for all the support that we receive and love from our family and friends.
We hope to be posting more often again now that we are getting used to life with a baby.
Kim
2 comments:
My love and prayers are with you guys. I can't wait to see that sweet, sweet, beautiful baby in person. Looking at his pictures makes me want to cry. I feel so bad I haven't been to see him yet. Life w/ a newborn is so emotional, even without additional challenges. I wish I was closer and more helpful!! Holler if we can ever do anything, or if you ever need to talk. Can't wait to see you soon. xoxo
Oh man, that top picture is cute!
I understand about the low supply. Even if you end up supplementing more than you breast feed you're still giving your baby an advantage in life. You can consider trying that mommy's milk tea, too.
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