Three years ago today, I got a call that would change my life.
All things being said, I can't complain. Today, I am healthy (just waiting on Dr. L to confirm tomorrow at my check-up). I've moved on with my life. I even had another baby since that fateful day when I didn't know if it would ever happen.
My treatments are a distant memory and thinking back I just remember all the good things that have came out of it and how much I think I've improved as a human being. To be honest, most days cancer doesn't even enter my mind. And that's a good thing for me.
That being said, I hope I learned what I needed to from cancer. I'd rather not do it again.
Three years cancer free. Let's shoot for another sixty.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
4 Months
My little one is now 4 months old. Wow time flies even faster the second time around. Yesterday he had his doctor check-up and passed with flying colors. He was 26 inches long (75th percentile) and was a whopping 18 pounds 12 ounces (off the top of the growth chart). He got 5 vaccines (narrowed down to only 2 shots). He look startled after the first one and then screamed after the 2nd one and according to Amy was cranky the rest of the day, even after I dosed him with Tylenol.
Discussion with the doctor centered around eating and sleeping. I'm still breastfeeding(pumping at work), but I'm starting to feel like either my supply is dwindling during the work hours or I'm just not letting down as well with the pump. I'm thinking more the latter because I breastfeed exclusively on the weekends and Luke always seems satisfied. However, I'm barely making enough at work to cover the next day's bottles. Some times I only get 2 1/2 or 3 ounces at a pumping (luckily my first pump usually nets around 6 or 7, so I can cover the lower ones). I used to get about 18 ounces a day, now I barely crack 15. I asked about possibly supplementing with formula if my supply dips more. She kind of blew that off and said he's doing great and obviously gaining weight, so not to worry about supplementing. So for now, I'll keep plugging along and if I dip to 13 ounces or less at work, I'll call back to discuss again.
We also discussed nighttimes. Luke isn't sleeping so great and now that's he's bigger and moves alot at night, I'm not sleeping great when he's beside me. That means something has to change. Currently Luke goes to bed between 7 and 7:30 p.m.(last feed at 6:30) I'm ok with this bedtime. Grace went to bed that early for well over her first year and he's definately getting cranky and tired by that time. Most nights (95% of the time) he wakes at 10:30 p.m. on the dot. I usually nurse him downstairs (watching TV) and then take him back upstairs and put him back in the crib when I go to bed between 11 and 11:30. Then he usually wakes around 12:30 p.m. and I go get him and put him in bed with me. I usually can use a pacifier and hold off nursing until he wakes again around 2:30 a.m. Then he usually wakes up between 4:30 and 5 and I nurse him again before we get up at 7. That's a lot of waking. Dr. H tells me that he no longer "needs" to eat overnight. I should still nurse him if he wakes up before I go to bed, but then I should try to get him to just sleep the rest of the night. If I can't pacify him and he acts hungry, I can give him a bottle of water. Over time, that should discourage him from waking just for water. Haven't tried it yet, so we shall see. I'm ready for him to start sleeping 12 hours like his sister used to.
Also, Dr. H said he doesn't need the calories, so no need to start cereal yet. Whoops, guess I didn't mention that we tried it out starting this weekend. I think we may skip that advice and start the cereal anyway. I'm hoping a fuller belly at night might encourage longer stretches of sleep. Tonight he actually did really well with the cereal and managed to keep most of it in his mouth instead of just spitting it back out. We'll see what happens to his sleep.
He's also doing cool stuff like rolling over constantly. Still only back to belly, but hoping the other way soon. He also has now been allowed to play in the exersaucer (see picture). He doesn't love it yet, but he's getting much more interested in the toys. Now when he sits in the bouncy seat, he always grabs the toys. He also has a stuffed bunny/chew toy that he loves to hold and knaw on. I feel like his hand/eye coordination is really good.
He's got a great tempermant and is very smiley. He smiles at anyone who will interact with him and this thrills Grace who gets tons of smiles. She doesn't even mind when he pulls her hair. She also has designated herself to be in charge of rolling Luke to his back every time he rolls to his belly (they did it about 4 times in a row tonight). She's not especially gentle with him, but he's tough and only complains if her hugs are too tight or if she tries holding him with her arm around his neck. She still adores him and is especially excited that we're starting "baby cereal" and will through massive fits if I don't let her help with the spoon.
From "What To Expect the The First Year" here are the milestones we've reached:
Should be Able to:
- On stomach, lift head up 90 degrees
- Laugh out loud (easy to do when you kiss his neck)
- Follow an object in an arc about 6 inches above the face 180 degrees
Will probably be able to:
- Hold head steady when upright
- On stomach, raise chest, supported by arms
- Roll over (one way)
- Grasp a rattle held to backs or tips of fingers
- Pay attention to a raisin or other very small object
- Reach for an object
- Squeal in delight
May possibly be able to:
- Turn in the direction of Mommy's voice
-
May even be able to:
- Bear some weight on legs when held upright
Discussion with the doctor centered around eating and sleeping. I'm still breastfeeding(pumping at work), but I'm starting to feel like either my supply is dwindling during the work hours or I'm just not letting down as well with the pump. I'm thinking more the latter because I breastfeed exclusively on the weekends and Luke always seems satisfied. However, I'm barely making enough at work to cover the next day's bottles. Some times I only get 2 1/2 or 3 ounces at a pumping (luckily my first pump usually nets around 6 or 7, so I can cover the lower ones). I used to get about 18 ounces a day, now I barely crack 15. I asked about possibly supplementing with formula if my supply dips more. She kind of blew that off and said he's doing great and obviously gaining weight, so not to worry about supplementing. So for now, I'll keep plugging along and if I dip to 13 ounces or less at work, I'll call back to discuss again.
We also discussed nighttimes. Luke isn't sleeping so great and now that's he's bigger and moves alot at night, I'm not sleeping great when he's beside me. That means something has to change. Currently Luke goes to bed between 7 and 7:30 p.m.(last feed at 6:30) I'm ok with this bedtime. Grace went to bed that early for well over her first year and he's definately getting cranky and tired by that time. Most nights (95% of the time) he wakes at 10:30 p.m. on the dot. I usually nurse him downstairs (watching TV) and then take him back upstairs and put him back in the crib when I go to bed between 11 and 11:30. Then he usually wakes around 12:30 p.m. and I go get him and put him in bed with me. I usually can use a pacifier and hold off nursing until he wakes again around 2:30 a.m. Then he usually wakes up between 4:30 and 5 and I nurse him again before we get up at 7. That's a lot of waking. Dr. H tells me that he no longer "needs" to eat overnight. I should still nurse him if he wakes up before I go to bed, but then I should try to get him to just sleep the rest of the night. If I can't pacify him and he acts hungry, I can give him a bottle of water. Over time, that should discourage him from waking just for water. Haven't tried it yet, so we shall see. I'm ready for him to start sleeping 12 hours like his sister used to.
Also, Dr. H said he doesn't need the calories, so no need to start cereal yet. Whoops, guess I didn't mention that we tried it out starting this weekend. I think we may skip that advice and start the cereal anyway. I'm hoping a fuller belly at night might encourage longer stretches of sleep. Tonight he actually did really well with the cereal and managed to keep most of it in his mouth instead of just spitting it back out. We'll see what happens to his sleep.
He's also doing cool stuff like rolling over constantly. Still only back to belly, but hoping the other way soon. He also has now been allowed to play in the exersaucer (see picture). He doesn't love it yet, but he's getting much more interested in the toys. Now when he sits in the bouncy seat, he always grabs the toys. He also has a stuffed bunny/chew toy that he loves to hold and knaw on. I feel like his hand/eye coordination is really good.
He's got a great tempermant and is very smiley. He smiles at anyone who will interact with him and this thrills Grace who gets tons of smiles. She doesn't even mind when he pulls her hair. She also has designated herself to be in charge of rolling Luke to his back every time he rolls to his belly (they did it about 4 times in a row tonight). She's not especially gentle with him, but he's tough and only complains if her hugs are too tight or if she tries holding him with her arm around his neck. She still adores him and is especially excited that we're starting "baby cereal" and will through massive fits if I don't let her help with the spoon.
From "What To Expect the The First Year" here are the milestones we've reached:
Should be Able to:
- On stomach, lift head up 90 degrees
- Laugh out loud (easy to do when you kiss his neck)
- Follow an object in an arc about 6 inches above the face 180 degrees
Will probably be able to:
- Hold head steady when upright
- On stomach, raise chest, supported by arms
- Roll over (one way)
- Grasp a rattle held to backs or tips of fingers
- Pay attention to a raisin or other very small object
- Reach for an object
- Squeal in delight
May possibly be able to:
- Turn in the direction of Mommy's voice
-
May even be able to:
- Bear some weight on legs when held upright
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