Whew, What a weekend!

Life has gotten a little crazy around our home the past few days!  I had a comment on my blog or facebook saying hopefully my next post would be a positive one (mainly for Carsyn's sake) . . . SO, I will post the positive first! In two days, he gained 4 oz so I was SUPER happy about that, however, Cris had also just given him 2 oz of formula just before he was weighed and I didn't get to talk to the doctor about my concerns as I was in SURGERY!

UGH, yes, you read that right.  On Thursday night I ate ONE chicken enchilada.  No big deal.  It was even a pretty healthy version with some black beans, corn, etc.  My gallbladder decided to go on the fritz!  It started with a pain just under my ribs but the pain continually got worse and then seemed to encompase my ENTIRE back.  I had had problems with my gallbladder before but nothing this bad.  I ended up throwing up that entire night.  It was the saddest thing.  I was nursing Carsyn and felt the urge to throw up so I ran from the living room, to my bedroom, handed him over to a sleeping Cris who had NO idea what was going on and spent the next 6 hours or so in the bathroom. 

I try to stay strong and be like a man and not go to the doctor but the pain wasn't going away.  I decided I would just go to the instacare while Cris stayed home with the kids.  I figured they'd give me some meds and then I'd be on my way and Cris could get to work. NOT SO, the doctor didn't even flatter me, she said "people that look as bad as you, we don't even treat them, we just send them to the ER".  And so, off I went to the ER with Cris stuck at home, no car or car seats for Cayten or Rysa . . .

I spent a few hours in the ER with some really nice drugs and then at 3:00PM on Friday I had my gallbladderectomy!  That is not the right term, I know, but when the doctors asked me if I knew what they were going to do, I said you are going to do a gallbladderectomy and they said "pretty much"!  My mom was able to come over and get Cayten and Rysa and bring Cris and Carsyn to the ER with me.

I was able to come home Saturday morning and am ordered to take it easy.  No Mowing the lawn, major cleaning, or lifting for 2-3 weeks.  That will put me 6 weeks post partum and then I will be able to get back into the real world.  Surgery kinda sucks.  I think having my baby without an epidural is better than having surgery.  With surgery, you are left hurting, after delivery I felt WONDERFUL.  Here's to hoping we are fully on the mend now!

Thank you for all the concerns and get well wishes on Facebook and through phone calls, they are very much appreciated!

I came home o

Breastfeeding issues . . . read at your own discretion!

Carsyn was 7lbs 15 oz at birth.  When he was 6 days old he weighed 7lbs 5 oz.  At 15 days old, he weighed 7lbs 0 oz, and today at 22 days old, he still weighs 7lbs 0 oz.  I went to a lactation person today and we did a weight check, fed, weighed again, fed, weighed again, and at most he was getting about an ounce from me.  Later today, I went to his pedi for another weight check and his pedi is SUPER concerned.  I told him about some regurgitation issues that I thought were reflux and that his stools are still pretty thick, greenish in color sometimes and sometimes yellow.  He just called me back and is pretty concerned.  He thinks he is dehydrated and not getting enough calories.

Last week he wanted me to start supplementing 2-4oz of formula/day. I didn't want to, and so I didn't.  I started feeding him ever hour and a half and at MOST gave him 1-2 oz of formula everyday.  Now he is wanting me to give him 4-6 oz of formula in addition to his feedings everyday.   The problem I have with this and as you are all aware I am sure, is that when Carsyn has any formula, he tends to sleep for hours and it is hard to even try and wake him for any feedings.

The lactation consultant issued me a hospital grade pump and I am to pump for 10-15 minutes 6-8 times/day.  Hopefully, during those pumpings, I get at least 1 oz and can give that to Carsyn 6-8 times a day.  I figure this will give him the extra 4-6oz my pedi is suggesting, I am just worried there aren't enough calories in my milk.  My milk is not cream like some peoples. . .

Any suggestions you all have?  Pray for Carsyn and me that in the next 2 days he will start gaining weight, we have another weight check on Friday at 2:45 to also address my concerns of the dehydration, stools, and possible reflux issues.

Carsyn's newborn pics

Over the span of a couple days (because apparently, trying to photograph your OWN newborn is MUCH harder) I was able to catch these photos of Carsyn. I can't wait til he is a little bigger to get some with Cayten and Rysa and get them posted on my wall!

Life with THREE!

My how time flies!  Carsyn will be three weeks old on Tuesday.  It seems like yesterday I was tired and complaining of being uncomfortable and hating life of being pregnant and now I have such a sweet family of THREE!  Carsyn is such a good baby for the most part.  He doesn't really have hunger cues besides waking up and screaming saying "Dude, I'm hungry, can't ya do something about it!"  Our family really loves him.

Last Wednesday we had his 2 week check.  It didn't turn out so well.  At birth Carsyn was 7lb 15oz.  Normally by 2 weeks as we all know, they should have gained some if not ALL their weight back.  When he was discharged, he was 7lbs 5oz and at his 2 week check he was 7lbs even.  He has almost lost a full pound.  Not sure what was going on but we think it is on the mend.  I am taking him in for a weight check this Wednesday and hope it goes well.

I was just sitting on the couch on this beautiful Sabbath day listening to the laughter of Cris and Clarysa goofing around while I was feeding Carsyn.  The thought came to me wondering what Carsyn was thinking.  I don't know the science behind infants thought process but I do know they are way more knowledgable than we give them credit for.  The thought came to me (and I'd like to think this thought was from the Holy Ghost) that he was thinking how great it was going to be living in a home filled with laughter and love.  I got really excited when I had this thought and decided I better document it.

We have had a wonderful 3 weeks.  It has been interesting as I battle feeding Carsyn, keeping him happy, keeping the house clean, keeping Rysa and Cayten entertained, having warm dinner ready (rarely happened), and getting all the other crazy menial stuff done but it has been wonderful.  The one thing I was able to get out of church today (after not getting to listen or attend class because of the many distractions of a newborn) was that God placed us here on this earth at this exact time for a reason.  The children and trials I have from them are mine and God didn't send us here to fail.  How wonderful is that?  He knows we can succeed if we trust in him and use Him as he tries to guide us back to him.  As we all know, God will NOT give us anything we cannot handle, which means in the end, there is no reason to fail, and in fact, he has set us up for complete success if we will just follow Him!!!

I'll leave you with a bunch of pictures to admire HAHA!