Back to the doctor

12/30/08

We had a wonderful Christmas this year with Adeline and Owen. Adeline pretty much slept through all the festivities, but Owen enjoyed everything way more this year. Last Christmas he was only 7 months old, so he didn't really know what was going on. He opened up a couple of his gifts this year, but would get distracted easily by his cousins, or other toys. We also had a great time in Terre Haute visiting with family, and showing off Adeline for the first time to many relatives. She got lots and lots of pink and ruffles! Everyone seemed to enjoy purchasing girly stuff for a change! : )

I had to take Adeline back to the doctor this afternoon. He umbilical cord has become smelly, and has been oozing yellow drainage for the past couple days. The area has not been red, inflamed, tender, or hot, so I was not extremely worried. She also has not had a fever, but I wanted to get it checked out just to make sure. At the office, she weighed 10lbs 3.8oz!!! I asked what percentile that was, and the medical assistant said it was above the 90th! What a chunk! I can't believe she is already over 10lbs! She got down to 8lbs 3oz when we left the hospital, so she has gained 2 pounds in two and a half weeks! She is going to be out of 0-3 month clothes in no time. I looked back in Owen's baby book, and he was 6 weeks old before he reached 10 pounds. When Owen reached the 10 pound mark is also when he started sleeping through the night, so maybe she will start doing that before 6 weeks old. I don't want to be greedy, since she is already such a great baby, but it would be nice to get a little more sleep. : ) The doctor looked at her umbilical cord and said that it was not infected. He said that it was still attached because she has such a thick cord. He said she should have gotten lots of nutrition through that big cord, and I said, "I guess that is how she got to be 8.5lbs!" I told him that Owen kept his cord until he was about a month old, and he said that I must just make great, thick cords. He put some silver nitrate around the cord to cauterize it so it would stop draining. He said that the cord should now fall off within the next 5 days. I can't wait to give her a real bath, and get some cute pictures. I also had the doctor look at her eyes since they have been draining, and then become crusty. He said she has clogged tear ducts, which is exactly what I suspected. My mom said I had the same problem when I was born, and it went away on its own. The doctor said it could come and go until she is 9 months, but hopefully it will resolve on its own. She does not have to go back to the doctor until her one month well baby check.

Adeline is becoming way more alert in between feedings, and I love seeing her beautiful little eyes more and more. She enjoys spending time in the swing, and loves being held on my chest with her head up on my shoulder. She crosses her legs Indian style and keeps her hands in towards her chest when I hold her on my chest. I guess she doesn't quite understand that she is no longer confined to my uterus. She looks so cute all curled up in a ball. Owen is being a good big brother most of the time, but I am starting to see some attention getting bad behavior when I am trying to breastfeed Adeline. Today it took almost one hour to finish one feeding session instead of the normal 20 minutes. I had to keep putting Adeline down to deal with Owen. He got into the baby swing, shut himself in our bedroom and was climbing up onto the bed, shut himself into the laundry room and was getting into the dog food, and turned his rocking chair upside down and was climbing up and down almost falling several times. Adeline did not appreciate him interrupting her feeding time, and I was really getting annoyed. I am going to have to find a form of discipline that works for him because I can't handle this bad behavior everyday while George is working. Owen has also started lifting up his shirt and looking down at his chest. I guess he is trying to figure out why he doesn't have the same parts mommy has. How cute is that?

A friend brought something to my attention today. I have been providing nutrition and life for another being besides myself since July 2006! I was pregnant with Owen, then breastfeeding him, became pregnant with Adeline, and am now breastfeeding again. My body has not been by own for almost 2.5 years, and I wouldn't change it for the world! I am going to breastfed Adeline until she is at least one. I love that bonding time with her, and I really missed it when I stopped with Owen. I am so glad that my body has allowed me to provide the very best for them.

Happy New Year!