this and that
EC continues apace. We pee and poo A several times a day, though it's exciting when we actually save a diaper (meaning we take a diaper off clean and put the same one back on clean after he's done his business). What mostly ends up happening is we take a diaper off that has a skidmark on it from a wet fart, let him do his business, then put a fresh diaper on him. At least we're saving on diaper wipes.
***
My blood sugar has started to return to its pre-pregnancy screwiness. This means, above all, lack of coping skills, since what new mother has time to feed herself properly? So. Not. Good. Especially with a tiny baby to care for, awesome as he may be. I don't know how single parents do this. For that matter, I don't know how two people do this. Three caregivers to a child should be the norm, and it's STILL hard for us (or maybe it's just hard for me, since I'm the primary caregiver). He's a beautiful little creature, but the screaming that accompanies the "I'm too tired to remember how to fall asleep" is just more than I can handle. Can't wait for the joys of teething. Ugh.
But seriously, since having A, I really think that the nuclear family is the stupidest invention EVER. Extended family (chosen or biological) is where it's at when raising a child. It's ridiculous to think a single person can be everything that a child needs *at all times*. It's fair to neither of them.
***
I love my ObusForme sound therapy machine thinger. It plays ocean waves over and over and over again. We got it for A, but I don't care if it soothes him or not; it soothes me, and that means A LOT. Thank you,
ferum_animi!
***
I think I may have a plugged duct. It hurts, like major breast tenderness that's very localized. I've been doing what I can to unplug it (nursing and massage; haven't tried everything yet; won't unless I feel I need to), and it seems to be getting better. It's been this way for 24 hours now. Thankfully, I can't even feel the pain unless I poke at it or lift my arm up over my head (and even that has gotten better over the past day). No fever to speak of, which is why I'm thinking plugged duct vs. mastitis.
***
I have discovered that suddenly increasing the amount of raw food in my diet gives A bad gas. Nifty. This morning was so much fun for all of us. :( Next time, moderation.
***
I visit the dentist on Thursday for my evil tooth. I hope it'll be able to be a quick fix, but something tells me root canal. I'm really grateful I've been able to go as long as I have without getting it taken care of -- didn't have the resources until now. Perfect timing, since now it's getting bad and I want it taken care of before it gets unbearable. I'm having to take Tylenol for the pain every couple of days now. My teeth are so shot. Half my wisdom teeth are poking through, crookedly. The other two are buried and are partially impacted. And I have majorly receding gum lines on my two lower central incisors, which is irreversible (and not due to any sort of mouth jewelry, like labrets). If I had more dental resources, I'd have them pulled and have braces put on the lower teeth to bring the lower lateral incisors forward (they're currently wedged behind the central incisors). I'd probably have a small gap between my two lower teeth initially, but the braces could potentially bring all my teeth closer together, making more room in the back. I currently have no issues with the state of my wisdom teeth, as they're not giving me any bit of grief.
I have already informed the dentist's office that I am a nursing mother of a 5-week old. When L went there in June, she inquired about pregnant and nursing mothers and dental work, and she was sufficiently impressed by their knowledge of what is ok to use and what is not.
***
I have shrunk: I'm down to a C-cup from a DD. I can fit comfortably into my size L pants and can retire my XL pants with confidence. I've lost a total of about 35lbs with the same amount left to go (mostly from my rear-end). And I'm down to about a 35" waist. Unfortunately, I still can't fit into any of my pre-pregnancy tops, so the wardrobe for my upper half consists entirely of maternity tops. Ugh. Don't get me wrong -- I like my mat tops, especially the ones from Old Navy, which make nursing a breeze. I just don't know when or if I'll be able to fit into the other tops again, so I don't know what to do with them in the meantime. I don't like having extra clothing hanging around that isn't getting worn and I don't know whether it ever will. Makes for a lot of stuff I would otherwise consider clutter. I have at least three rubbermaid bins' worth of clothing I cannot currently fit into. I don't know how long I should give myself before I start purging (the clothing!). I don't know what's realistic, as far as a weight-loss timeline.
***
My blood sugar has started to return to its pre-pregnancy screwiness. This means, above all, lack of coping skills, since what new mother has time to feed herself properly? So. Not. Good. Especially with a tiny baby to care for, awesome as he may be. I don't know how single parents do this. For that matter, I don't know how two people do this. Three caregivers to a child should be the norm, and it's STILL hard for us (or maybe it's just hard for me, since I'm the primary caregiver). He's a beautiful little creature, but the screaming that accompanies the "I'm too tired to remember how to fall asleep" is just more than I can handle. Can't wait for the joys of teething. Ugh.
But seriously, since having A, I really think that the nuclear family is the stupidest invention EVER. Extended family (chosen or biological) is where it's at when raising a child. It's ridiculous to think a single person can be everything that a child needs *at all times*. It's fair to neither of them.
***
I love my ObusForme sound therapy machine thinger. It plays ocean waves over and over and over again. We got it for A, but I don't care if it soothes him or not; it soothes me, and that means A LOT. Thank you,
ferum_animi! ***
I think I may have a plugged duct. It hurts, like major breast tenderness that's very localized. I've been doing what I can to unplug it (nursing and massage; haven't tried everything yet; won't unless I feel I need to), and it seems to be getting better. It's been this way for 24 hours now. Thankfully, I can't even feel the pain unless I poke at it or lift my arm up over my head (and even that has gotten better over the past day). No fever to speak of, which is why I'm thinking plugged duct vs. mastitis.
***
I have discovered that suddenly increasing the amount of raw food in my diet gives A bad gas. Nifty. This morning was so much fun for all of us. :( Next time, moderation.
***
I visit the dentist on Thursday for my evil tooth. I hope it'll be able to be a quick fix, but something tells me root canal. I'm really grateful I've been able to go as long as I have without getting it taken care of -- didn't have the resources until now. Perfect timing, since now it's getting bad and I want it taken care of before it gets unbearable. I'm having to take Tylenol for the pain every couple of days now. My teeth are so shot. Half my wisdom teeth are poking through, crookedly. The other two are buried and are partially impacted. And I have majorly receding gum lines on my two lower central incisors, which is irreversible (and not due to any sort of mouth jewelry, like labrets). If I had more dental resources, I'd have them pulled and have braces put on the lower teeth to bring the lower lateral incisors forward (they're currently wedged behind the central incisors). I'd probably have a small gap between my two lower teeth initially, but the braces could potentially bring all my teeth closer together, making more room in the back. I currently have no issues with the state of my wisdom teeth, as they're not giving me any bit of grief.
I have already informed the dentist's office that I am a nursing mother of a 5-week old. When L went there in June, she inquired about pregnant and nursing mothers and dental work, and she was sufficiently impressed by their knowledge of what is ok to use and what is not.
***
I have shrunk: I'm down to a C-cup from a DD. I can fit comfortably into my size L pants and can retire my XL pants with confidence. I've lost a total of about 35lbs with the same amount left to go (mostly from my rear-end). And I'm down to about a 35" waist. Unfortunately, I still can't fit into any of my pre-pregnancy tops, so the wardrobe for my upper half consists entirely of maternity tops. Ugh. Don't get me wrong -- I like my mat tops, especially the ones from Old Navy, which make nursing a breeze. I just don't know when or if I'll be able to fit into the other tops again, so I don't know what to do with them in the meantime. I don't like having extra clothing hanging around that isn't getting worn and I don't know whether it ever will. Makes for a lot of stuff I would otherwise consider clutter. I have at least three rubbermaid bins' worth of clothing I cannot currently fit into. I don't know how long I should give myself before I start purging (the clothing!). I don't know what's realistic, as far as a weight-loss timeline.