I haven't been able to post or blog because we turned off our internet. Things have been going pretty well. Liam is still having issues really late at night just being unconsolable. He is exclusively on breastmilk now, which I'm rather proud of. He eats about 3.5oz per feeding about 6-7 times a day. Last night we ended up giving him about 4.5oz at his early morning feeding and I guess that was enough to let him skip another morning feeding. He usually goes down around 9-10pm and sleeps until 2am, then eats again and is up almost every 3 hours after that. But Rob decided since he was crying his head off after eating/being changed, he might still be hungry so we tried some more and he took it down no problems and slept in until 6:45am. I think we're going to try giving him 4oz for his last bottle and see if that lets him sleep longer and then try another 4oz at his early morning feeding. I just don't want to over-feed him and make him sick. We just transitioned from 3oz bottles to 3.5oz bottles over the past week or so. But if he needs more then I certainly want him to have it. I'm exclusively pumping all of his milk now and I'm actually able to save some in the freezer each day. I could probably save more than I do, but I like to be about 2-3 bottles ahead just in case I can't pump or something happens with my supply. I BF him every now and then, but he gets so freaking hot and sweaty laying on me and then he takes almost an hour or more per side and honestly giving him a bottle for 30 minutes seems alot easier. I enjoy BF him, it certainly feels better than pumping, but I don't know, I may just do it every now and then to console him or if I just can't find the time to pump and it's time for him to eat. That's what happened yesterday.
He's so much more awake now it's crazy. He hardly takes any naps during the day which means I get absolutely nothing done. Rob and I have been fighting alot more mostly about not having enough time in the mornings for us to get what we need to done before he leaves for work. I think he resents me needing the time to pump, but I'm going to stand my ground on that and keep it up for as long as I can. I don't know what will happen when I start work, but I'll cross that bridge when it comes. Rob claims that if he watched him all day he'd have all the laundry done and the house clean and do it with a smile. I told him try me. So we'll see if his next day off he's willing to take care of him solely.
Rob still doesn't have confirmation on a job in ATL. We close on the house on Sept 28, and we still don't have a place to live. We can't commit to a rental until he has a position up there. We have an offer to stay with a friend for free with all of our animals for as long as we need. She's an older woman that I met at school and her kids are all grown and gone, so she has a huge home and tons of empty rooms. If it comes to us having to move in with her temporarily it will be a blessing just so that we can save up some money. Rob should hear something the end of next week on the 23 about a potential job. If that falls thru and the other position he's interviewed for doesn't work, I have no idea what we're going to do. I'm scared out of my mind, but it is what it is. Worst case scenario we either live apart for a little while or he quits his job to stay at home allowing me to start my job. Please pray he gets either of the jobs, we need this desperately! We are going back to ATL for the day on Wed to look at a few more rentals, just to see. We looked on Thursday and everything was such crap it was so upsetting. The one house we liked was in a sketchy neighborhood and when I saw 2 pit-bull mixes tied to a tree next door, that house was off the list. I'm hoping things fall into place at the last minute, they seem to do that for us alot lately. It will be nice to be done with selling the home, but the not knowing what's next is killing me.
The Quiet Zone
12 hours ago
i hope you guys find out either way about dh's job. and seriously to having the laundry done and all that with a smile? i'd be screaming :) let him have a day alone with the baby and see how it goes..
ReplyDeleteC was like that at night too-unconsolable and it turned out she had reflux, maybe Liam has that? C did sleep better in her car seat or propped up and when you'd lay her down she'd wake up and fuss. Hope that helps? Good luck with the house and the job.. :)
I bet my husband will have that same reaction too when he is working and I am on maternity leave. F that! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope he finds out about the job soon and you guys are able to find a rental that is ok.
Thanks for the update. I was wondering how you were doing!! Keep in touch!
Ava hardly sleeps during the day either! Even worse, she wants to be held most of the time so I NEVER get anything done!! It kind of drives me crazy because I'm such a neat and organized person.
ReplyDeleteHope you guys get situated in your new home soon!
Hahaha...I seriously hope Rob was joking. Being a SAHM is a full-time job and being a SAHM to an infant is even harder! Please, please let him have a day where he stays home with Liam all day and tries to get all the chores done too and report back to us on how that goes!
ReplyDeletegood to hear from you!
ReplyDeleteand just quietly, i'm so glad i'm not the only one pumping and feeding -- though i have to do it because olive is fussy at the breast and will only choose to attach when *she* decides to. very frustrating!
i am impressed that you are able to pump 3.5 or even more per feeding and getting 2-3 bottles ahead. on a good pump i can get 3.5oz but it's not for every feeding. how long do you pump for? i pump on each side for 15 minutes.
when olive decides to feed she will also feed for close to an hour, so i understand what you mean about feeding the bottle being quicker and easier.
boo to your husband thinking that he could do everything if he was sole carer -- make sure if he gets a day off & tries that, that you make him sit still doing NOTHING for the time it would take to pump -- then he can see how frustrating pumping is when you have to sit in the one place and just think about all the tidying up you could be doing!
I hope your nights get better, I hope you get some quality naps during the day, and I hope Rob gets a rude awakening of what it's really like soon. :) Sam and Anna went through a period early when they weren't sleeping much during the day, and what worked for us to improve that was our lifesaving blowdryer. That white noise was worth it's weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that Rob is not more understanding. I keep hoping and praying for you guys for all of what you need to fall into place for your move. Chin up and keep loving your new baby boy in the best way that you know how because you are a caring mother!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa - First of all well done on the BF! Glad it finally worked out for you, you should be really proud of yourself. And men just have no idea!! They don't appreciate how time consuming and challenging BF is. I have to say the one thing that has disappointed me has been how many disagreements me and DH have had over this period. I think coming from an IFers perspective, I expected more from him... all my IRL friends have confirmed this is how men are, it takes time... Anyhoo I think lots of communicating is the only way forward....
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