Poor Baby

As you may have gathered if you are getting to know me through this blog, and as you well know if you know me already - I can handle a lot. I'm pretty easy, pretty resilient. Let's just say I've been through a lot, some of it at a young age, and I've just learned to go with the flow.

There is one thing that I can not handle - seeing my baby in pain. I've always admired and been astounded by parents whose children have chronic problems because I just don't think I could handle it.

Molly developed a "diaper rash" while in the NICU. (I have to be careful how to word this - don't want the freaks coming upon my blog by way of Google searches). Basically, this was no "rash" I, the nurse, my mom (a physician) had ever seen. There were areas of No.Skin. It worsened until I finally called the pediatrician. They listed 20 things I could try, 90% of which I was already doing and it wasn't helping. We did start doing baking soda soaks and tried multiple types of diaper cream. It slowly improved, but now started looking like severe scarring. On mom's recommendation, I made a pediatrician appointment.

The pedi said it was unlike anything she's seen before. She thought it looked like BURNS. (She later consulted a pediatric dermatologist who agreed that yes, it sounded like chemical burns that some babies get from their poop). She's now on antibiotic cream and Triple Paste which we layer "an inch thick". Needless to say, that tiny $8 tube of Triple Paste goes fast.

But the thing is, she Screams. Like she is being tortured, which in a way, she is. She is in such obvious pain that I can barely stand to change her. Since mom has been here most of this week so I can continue to recover, she has been on Molly-duty. I have to be otherwise occupied in the other room because I can't stand to hear her screaming. If I have to change her, I stand there and cry and try to finish as fast as I can. It is torture for a mommy.

We've been saying that if we can get this resolved, not only will she be a happier baby, but a lot of things will go smoother, because she will not constantly be requiring all of our attention. She'll sleep better and eat better and things will just all around improve.

ETA: While this post was in draft, we had another injury. Earlier, Hunter fell while on the trampoline and landed on his elbow. He came in crying and refusing to let us even look at it. He finally fell asleep on the couch. Well, I went over to check it out after he had been asleep a while and it is swollen, bruised, and full of fluid. Soooo, looks like we'll be headed for the ER first thing in the a.m. I just keep saying, "at least we've met our deductible for this year".

For your viewing pleasure

Wanna see the rest of those baby pictures? You must not because not even one of you posted on my teaser and how cute those baby feet were. :pout:

But I like to show off so I'll post 'em anyway.

http://jamiewoodwardphotography.com/gallery/obryant/

And if you're a sucker for a good cry, make sure the sound is on. Or is that just me because they are my progeny?

If you're local and need some pics of your family, make sure you give Jamie a call :)

Teaser

It is almost 4 a.m. I have just finished feeding the babies and I'm waiting for them to decide if they are going to sleep before I get comfortable in the bed.

So, I just have a few minutes (I hope) and thought I'd post this little teaser.

We got the pictures from the newborn session with Jamie.

I love sweet baby feet :) More to come....

Five minutes in my life

So J. called today and wanted to know if she could come by and drop something off. Sure, nothing's happening around here, it's pretty quiet, come on by. And then...

Molly started crying so I changed her diaper.
And Emily started crying.
Molly's clothes had poo on them so I have to find new ones.
But first I wrapped her up and went in to comfort Emily quickly.
Took Molly back to find clothes.
Someone besides me put up the baby clothes; can't find anything.
I hear Cooper fussing.
Go comfort him; Molly still naked.
Scott texts me.
Continue looking for clothes for Molly.
Dress Molly.
Emily is crying again.
Change her diaper.
Mom texts me.
Text Scott back.
Text Mom back.
Comfort Emily.
Cooper is crying.
Change Cooper.
Still crying.
Decide it is time for bottles.
No bottles made.
Start to mix formula.
Assemble bottle parts.
Scott texts me.
Text him back.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Doorbell rings.
Mom texts me.
Scott calls.
Answer door. It is J. She has paperwork.
Fill out paperwork.
Scott calls again (because I didn't answer).
Mom texts again.
Try to talk with J. over babies crying.
J. leaves.
Text Scott: "Can't talk now"
Text Mom.
Go back to bottle making.
Can of formula empty.
Open new can.
Slice finger open on rim of can.
Grab towel to soak up blood.
Scoop up powdered formula; try not to bleed into formula.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Run to living room and comfort them.
Go back to finish formula.
Spill formula.
Mop it up with towel. Hope it's not the same one I bled on.
Pour up bottles.
Warm bottles.
Go look for Band Aid.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Mom texts.
Scott texts.
Try to text back; bleed on phone.
No Band Aids.
Still bleeding.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Bottles are ready.
Mom arrives.
Molly is asleep.
Emily is asleep.
Cooper is asleep.

Mom says: "Well, at least it's quiet."

Assemble make-shift Band Aid with cut up breast pad and freezer/masking tape.

Wouldn't you be tired, too?

Slight relapse

I started having increased pain yesterday and have been pretty well laid up since. I had to make Scott come home from work because I COULD NOT handle the babies. I had my follow up appointment with the surgeon today. His diagnosis is that I have been doing too much. So, it's back to Spa a la Mom for another weekend of relaxation. I HAVE to recover fully or I could have serious complications.

So I have a pile of DVDs, scrapbooking good stuff, newly printed pictures, and a couple of knitting projects.

I expect to be bored before midnight, LOL.

Fingers crossed for poor Daddy managing the babies for an entire weekend by himself again. Mom and I at least have plans to entertain the twins and get them out of his hair.

See ya!

It's like working with 3 little lawyers

So, every night before I go to bed, I tell their Daddy to whisper in their bitty ears to Let.Mommy.Sleep. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, not so much.

Last night the little darlings slept until almost 3! Not bad considering Daddy had to feed them at 9, instead of the 10:30 they were scheduled for (oh, how I'm loving that funny little word schedule). I'll barely touch on the fact that that "sleeping" involved rotating holding Molly and then Emily while I slept in the chair, because, hey, sleep is sleep.

So they all started stirring a little and I got them up to feed them at 3. They sucked those ba-ba's right down and we were all back in bed by 4. But, first we struck up a little deal. They agreed to STAY asleep until 8. That seemed a reasonable compromise. Honestly, I figured I'd get 7 or 7:30 out of that deal and we'd be right on schedule for today. And they would get a sane, happy, well-rested Mommy out of the deal.

Well! The slimey little snakes reneged on me! They started in at 5:30 and we went round and round with diapers and unsuccessful nursing until I finally made bottles at 7ish. Do you think any of them TOOK those bottles?? No, they did not. Barely a drop between the 3 of them. What are the chances they stay on schedule for an 11 o'clock feeding??

The moral of this story is not to sign any contracts while hopped up on pain meds and lack of good sleep.

All done

Just an FYI: I am all done. I'm staying at mom's to rest. I have pics of my gallstones. Should I post them or will I lose readers? LOL

I'm boring this week

Sorry. Nothing much witty and interesting to say, LOL.

We had pictures with Jamie today! It was so much fun and I cannot wait to see how they turned out. Just seeing them posed together....ah! they were so cute!! It went surprisingly quickly; thankfully DiDi was here to help feed, change, etc each baby as they needed while we posed the other babies. Thank you again, Jamie!

I'm gearing up for surgery, not that there is much to do. The bummer is that I keep thinking of things I want to do this weekend, but then I think, "hmm, if I CAN do that", LOL. Sheesh, I was laid up for so long that I'm not looking forward to being stuck in bed, in the house again, even if it is just for a day or two.

I have been catching up on cleaning house. I finally unpacked my clothes from the hospital :) I spent yesterday cleaning up my scrap/craft room. It was disastrous! Can't blame me; I haven't even been in there in 6 months. I cleaned the room but have only cleared off about a 10x10 section of my table, so I've been trying to work in that little bitty space :P I'm mostly just finishing up some little projects. I'll post pictures eventually, but the items are all gifts, so can't give you a peek until they are mailed off. Hmm, should I tease the recipients?? PawPaw and Jenifer J., be on the lookout :) Ha Ha!!

Keep praying

I know that the babies are here, and home, and healthy and that's all that we wanted and prayed for (and asked you to pray for) for all those months.

One last thing though: I'm having gallbladder surgery on Friday. I'm nervous; I don't think one can have surgery and not be a little nervous. I actually know of someone who died after a "routine" gallbladder surgery and yes I know that that was a freak accident, but it scares the poo out of me. I just won't even go there about the thoughts going through my head.

So, just keep praying.

Comments

For those of you that are new to blogging, if you want to leave me a comment about my trials, blessings, or wit, you can click on the "comments" button at the end of each post. Just type your comment in the large box, type the word verification in the smaller box, then click Anonymous. Don't forget to sign your name with your comment if you are not logging into a blogger or google account.

Clear as mud, eh??

Thanks Darci for reminding me that not everyone may know the ins and out of blogging :)

Something different

I ran across this and had to take the quiz.

Take the Quiz here!

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

I absolutely love Jane Austen; Sense and Sensibility is one of my all time favorite movies.

So if you are a fan, check it out and let me know who YOU are :)

PS Michelle - this one's for you!!! ;)

Swing Shifts

That's what it's like, working swing shifts. Only, the boss(es) doesn't tell you what shift you will be on that day, they just call you in and you have to be ready to go. So, I can nap in the afternoon, go to bed early, and darn if they don't sleep that night. But I skip the nap, stay up a little later, and find myself asleep in the chair at 5 am for the first time since 12.

I'd make the full switch to nocturnal, but sure as I do, they'll decide to be up all day instead. I was actually doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen at 3 am. Might as well; Molly was awake and crying off and on anyway. No reason to get comfortable in the bed, only to be awoken by her banshee screams.

Can't keep my eyes open. 'Night 'Night (at 8 am)

Busted for solicitation

Anyone who spends any time with me knows that I am so not a name-brand snob. In fact, I'm a cheap snob. Er, anyway.... I am all about a bargain. If it comes in generic, that is probably the only way I buy it (with very few exceptions, because Blue Bell ice cream has no match, despite it's lofty price).

The trio are starting to get a little rich for my blood, however.
1) Specialty formula - it could be worse; I've seen cans for upwards of $25, and theirs is only $16. Still, no generic substitutions for this crowd, no sirree. And the uber-perfect and FREE mother's milk? Eh, they could take it or leave it, and generally tend to leave it. This is the second time in my life I've been really grateful for WIC.

2) Diapers - I literally have a closet FULL of every brand of diapers (Continued thanks to all who have gifted these as I am using up almost a pack a day). We've used up all the preemie ones and have moved on to Newborn. In the hospital, they used Pampers. Since we've been home, we've used almost exclusively Huggies, with the odd Luvs thrown in. But yesterday I found a pack of Pampers Newborn. Heaven! I didn't think it made much difference but they are vastly different. Now, I will never poo-poo a free diaper (Ha! Ha! I'm clever at this hour of the a.m.), but man, I'm thinking hard about seeing if Wally World will exchange a slew of diapers for me. I don't want to know how much I might lose in price difference though. Ug!

3) Buttpaste (as it is affectionately known in our house) - All of the babies, but Molly especially, have suffered from the most horrendous "diaper rash" I have ever seen. It makes me cry to see it. I first noticed it in the NICU and it has been off and on ever since. It is like open sores on their little behinds. *shudder* We addressed this with the pediatrician the other day. She recommended one of 2 diaper creams because all of the other ones have "extra crap" in them, including alcohols and acids. So, I'm having to throw out the Boudreaux's and the generic Desitin that have always sufficed in exchange for the $7 a tube Aveeno. I have used half a tube in the past 3 days. Yikes! But I love this stuff and it is absolutely working, in combination with the Pampers diapers and Pampers Sensitive wipes, to clear up even Molly's skin.

So, for those of you that have asked what we want and/or need:
Pampers (currently collecting size 1 diapers) - though we honestly will use and be grateful for any brand
Pampers Sensitive wipes refills
Aveeno diaper cream
Bottle liners, 4 oz., Target brand (that fits the Playtex) EDIT: Actually, at the rate that they are increasing the amounts of their feeds, and the number of liners I already have, we need to start stocking up on 8 oz liners instead.

And since I reminded myself about the pedi:
Emily 4 lbs 11 oz
Molly 5 lbs 2 oz
Cooper 5 lbs 12 oz
to the best of my memory. I'll be putting a notebook of some type in the diaper bag to record all of that because I'd forgotten by the time we left the office and got loaded back up on the way home.

Figuring it out

Scott says it's my fault. He says they are "my" children and that they are night owls. But hey, I was going to bed by midnight when I was pregnant with them, so it's not as if they've ever been subject to my up-all-night habits. Staying up until 3 and 4 in the morning is only fun if you are going to get to sleep in, NOT if you're going to get back up in 2 hours.

I'm trying a new tactic. I'm making myself go to bed before 10 so that I can sleep a couple of hours before the fun begins. Sure enough, last night, after the 11 o'clock feeding, at about midnight, Scott laid them all in the bed........and none of them went to sleep. So I got back up and was up pretty steadily until 4. That part wasn't bad; since I'd had a little nap, I was feeling ok. The part that sucked was the short sleep until about 6, after which I was NOT ready to get up. But, after that round of feeding, they like to sleep all morning. So, Yes, evil mother of newborns that I am, I don't wake them to feed them. If they wake, we eat; if not, we sleep. So we've been sleeping all morning, and have become lazy bones who stay in bed until 11 or so. Then we spend the day trying to get back on "schedule".

Whatever works.

Sleepless in Seattle

because...

It is the crying that never ends
It just goes on and on my friends
Somebody started crying it not knowing what it was
And now they just keep crying it on and on just because
It is the crying that never ends....

Our hospital 3 hour, and then much easier, much saner, home 4 hour schedules have gone to shi......er, the dogs. Noone taught them how to tell time apparently. For some God-only-knows reason, Molly wakes up, like clockwork, an hour before feeding time. Now, this would be all fine and good, if she didn't scream like a banshee all night. So I tried holding her off until the next scheduled feeding, except that she started spitting up all the time and the pediatrician says this is because she's getting all worked up and sucking down air with all of that "fretting" so try not to let her "fret". Er, right. Tell her that.

So I decided to try a little demand feeding. Feed the ones that are hungry, then wake the others and make them eat, too, so that they are all on the same schedule, even if that schedule is weird and unpredictable.

How you wanna guess THAT worked out?? I've slept one 2 hour stretch since before midnight. AGAIN. I even woke Scott up to help because it got so out of control. And dangit if Molly AND Emily weren't up after a mere 2 hours! While I was feeding them, Cooper was lying in bed "fretting" so I got him up after the girls were done. And he wouldn't take a drop. Sh.......oot. Now he'll be up in 30 minutes wanting to eat.

I'm a little delirious and hysterical. Of course, now that I've completely given up on sleeping during this calendar day, they're all stone cold out in there.

I give up.