Infant Speech Therapy

Karmann attended her first 'speech therapy' appointment today. As usual, she was a champ and cooperated the whole time. No, she wasn't happy the whole time, but she didn't wail at all! Our goals are 1. hold her properly 2. get her in the state of mind to eat and suck properly 3. suck from a bottle properly! All this and hopefully she will eat enough and gain weight at a proper pace. A little bit of luck and a lot of effort on all our parts and I am determined we will get there! All three of us have to do our part - so this is our first family team project. We go back next week so we'll update you on the progress. 

On another note, the countdown to work is about to 36 +/- hours from now. I still haven't gotten my non-maternity clothes out from the other closet, so I hope I have something to wear to work! Granted it will be a Friday, so I can wear jeans if I want to, and I do at least fit into those. But a shopping trip to the outlet may be in order over the weekend. I can't say whether or not I am looking forward to going back to work, but what I do know is that I am going to miss spending all day with the little ladybug! 

Well, off to our first feeding session since therapy - got to go do my part! 

New vocabulary

blow⋅out - noun*

1. a sudden bursting or rupture of an automobile tire.
   
2. a sudden or violent escape of air, steam, or the like.
   
3. a hollow formed in a region of shifting sands or light soil by the action of the wind.
   
4. an uncontrollable escape of oil, gas, or water from a well.
5. Slang. a lavish party or entertainment.

Disclaimer: If you don't want to read about breastfeeding and pooping, do not read this entry!!
One new vocabulary word that has a whole new meaning - not in the dictionary definition above - is  blowout. Karmann has been through a rocky last two weeks with eating and - well you know what. What goes in must come out. She has been having problems nursing by not sucking enough in so, again, we were starving her and didn't know it. She was really cranky like she was when she was jaundice two Fridays ago, and the weekend was a little rough. I thought she may have had a little stuffy nose, but when we called the Dr and put saline in her little nostrils and sucked them clean, she was clear. Plus, she hadn't pooped in almost a week! You would be cranky too...So that following Monday, I attended the Mother's TEA for breastfeeding moms, and she nursed, but only took about 20 ml total, which is less than an ounce, and she should be taking about 2.5 with her weight and age. So we decided to have another follow-up with the lactation consultant the next day. To make a long story short, she had only gained 5 oz. in the past 2 1/2 weeks, and she should have gained that in one week. So, the consultant observed her eating and determined that she doesn't suck hard enough - on my boobs or on the bottle. The consultant also recommended oral therapy to help her learn how to suck harder. So, we left there with the plan to fatten her up by nursing and supplementing 2 oz. after each feeding. I also called our Pediatrician to discuss what was happening and to see if he needed to see her. He said what we were doing was good and to definitely go to the oral therapy. In the mean time, the plan worked and she gained 3 oz. in two days (and pooped too)! So over the weekend, we kept doing that except at night, and I was pumping in between. We went back today and she gained 3 more ounces! Yippee! Plus, she ate 80 ml (almost 3 oz!!) while nursing her there. So she is improving already! Her "speech therapy" starts Wednesday, and we'll go from there. This breastfeeding is difficult! But I fully expect her to be talking in a week after all this is said and done!
At the same time all of this had been going on, we had Kris' birthday that we celebrated yesterday, and our great friends - considered family - Jerry & Sherry came from Phoenix to visit to meet Karmann, and their new grand-niece and nephew twins Tyler and Caleigh. Jerry will be here for another week or so, but Sherry had to get back to Phoenix today to be back with her grandson, Asher. Karmann loved meeting them and they couldn't put her down either! We can't wait till we get out to AZ so Karmann can meet Asher!
Lots to get done this week, as Friday I go back to work part time in the afternoons. I anticipate a lot of adjusting and a transition period ahead. The latest photos - okay like 50 of the same photo - are up at the following link. Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=18b1mpvl.78ojxzbd&x=0&y=-22urkx&localeid=en_US

* reference: dictionary.com

Visits and phone calls

Karmann hit her 4-week mark this past Friday and has her 1-month birthday tomorrow - unbelievable! The report is that she is no where close to being on any sort of schedule, except you can count on her sleeping in late in the mornings, which I love. However, she has slept in our arms more than she has slept in her bassinet - but we are working on changing that. Also, as a new parent, of course I am paranoid about every little thing, which is driving Kris crazy, but I don't want to take any chances since last time she ended up in the hospital! Plus, I don't want to take any chances of her getting sick. And, everyday there seems to be something new to make me paranoid. Friday night she was very fussy and then woke up yesterday breathing really loud, so I was concerned about her breathing. The result was a call to the pediatrician and dropping saline in her little nose and suctioning it out. Nothing really came out, but she did breathe better after that, so no visit to the doctor - thank goodness. Today she has a runny right eye, which is gooing in the corner. This is going to result in a call to the doctor's office tomorrow morning. Its probably normal, but I don't want to take any chances with her eye sight!! Needless to say, confidence in myself taking care of her is challenged on a minute by minute basis. Even feeding her, I am not sure what is going on as she is eating often and for a long period of time. She's been doing this for longer than a week, so I question whether it is just a growth spirt, or something else. We have actually supplemented with formula just in case, but that is also causing poop issues, so what can we do?? There always seems to be something!

Uncle Brian and Karmann

Kris and Brian watching TV with Karmann

On a higher note, we had a pretty good weekend full of family and friends visiting. Kris' brother was in town for a conference, so he spent Thursday evening with us and finally got to meet Karmann. She was extremely polite to him and minded her manners while he held her. Kris' sister Aunt Sarah and Uncle Charlie also were in Orlando for the weekend, as well as his sister Aunt Keri and Uncle Choy and Cousin Amara were in Florida and they all came to visit Karmann. It was a fun day hanging out with the family and Karmann was happy to meet her extended family! 

Aunt Judy and Karmann

This past week we also had Aunt Judy and Uncle Rick visit, Elisabeth Holler from my work, and our good friend Jeff Bush come meet Karmann, and as usual, Karmann was an angel and happy to meet everyone. I guess she's pretty popular already! 

Aunt Sarah, Aunt Keri, Uncle Choy, Holly & Karmann, Kris & Cousin Amara 

(Photo by Uncle Charlie)

Polka Dots

Karmann and Minnie Mouse

Last week, GG and Gramps visited Magic Kingdom and of course returned with Karmann's first Minnie Mouse doll. Karmann (okay, me and my mom really) has quite a thing with polka dots. Mainly because we like to call her "ladybug" and the fact that most of the gender-neutral outfits and crib bedding is all polka dots. But, it just fits that Minnie's outfit is also polka dots - and don't forget we love the color red, which Karmann looks great in already! So, here's  a photo my mom took of Karmann with Minnie. It was really cute, though you can't tell in this photo, that she was so into Minnie's yellow shoes and would almost grab them. I think its mainly the contrast of colors of the doll that gets her attention, but I like to think that she is happy to have Minnie as her friend. 

We hit the three-week old birthday today! No doctor appointments, thank goodness, just another lazy day with me and Kris. She is such an angel, we have no complaints. Well,  I'm going to take advantage of Kris being home this afternoon and take a shower and maybe run some errands. Gotta think of something to eat, too...have a good weekend!

Hard day - hopefully not night

Karmann's first sponge-bath

Grandpa Hare came to visit on Monday


Karmann's peppermint outfit (and just a cute picture) Last day with GG - We miss you!

Its hard to believe that three weeks have passed already since my mom has been here helping us. Today was a really hard day seeing Mom and Denny go back to CA. We got a few hours this morning to spend with them and then had to take them to the airport around 1:30. They have a long day in the air and will surely be jet-lagged the rest of the week, but we sure will miss having the help! I can't thank them enough for all the dinners and helping hands in general for the past 3 weeks. Though Kris and I have been on our own at night, I think I will be lonely during the day! Luckily Kris will be working half days from now till possibly April, so he'll be able to help me in the afternoons until I go back to work - which will be here way too soon.

Anyway, I will miss my mom and though skyping is not the same, at least we will be able to "see" each other every night when possible.

Other things things that have gone on this week...Monday I went to my first breastfeeding support group. It was interesting and somewhat helpful and I will go back next week. Karmann was the youngest baby there and it was interesting to see how other moms are handling things too. I have broken down and given Karmann the pacifier - mainly because the consultant suggested it to help her learn how to suck - but she's been using it more often and it is getting to be a challenge to get her to calm herself without it. Especially at night.

Speaking of night - Monday night was a killer. She certainly had a belly ache, and was off schedule from going to the support group meeting, and she would not stop crying and would not sleep. Kris helped a lot but Karmann was all out of wack. Then last night, she was an angel and slept in 3 hour increments. Tonight she is being a little challenging again and wanting the pacify er, so I am a little scared of what tonight is going to be like. I am going to try to play with her a little to wear her out before we try to go to bed. Wish me luck!! Actually, she is the best little angel most of the time, and I really can not complain!! We really are lucky, we just need to work on consistency! Off to wear her out (and me at the same time!)...

Two Week update

I've been a little slack on the blog lately...but yesterday was Karmann's two week birthday and doctor check up. She is back up to her birth weight, over actually, at 7 lbs 11 oz. and she grew half an inch! Last weekend I was desperate to get out of the house and enjoy this awesome warm Florida weather, so we packed up the car and took GG and Gramps and Karmann to the beach! She was an angel as usual in the car seat and she loved the fresh air and the sound of the waves!




We had a pretty low-key new years, though Karmann was awake to ring in 2009 - so we didn't miss it. However, GG got a bug possibly from something she ate and has been held up at the hotel for the past two days! Karmann is missing her hugs and kisses, though she should be feeling better soon. 

Though Karmann is only 15 days old today, it seams like time is flying by and she is changing and growing on a daily basis. That seems like such a short time in numbers, but feels like a long time ago that she was born! Life certainly has changed in that short amount of time. 

Well, we are going to try and take a walk today and get some fresh air, so we must head out before its time to nurse again! Enjoy!