I hate CIO, I hate CIO, I HATE CIO

I caved.  I decided to try the Cry-It-Out Method for Lucy's first nap this morning, and whaddya know, I was right. 

Cry-It-Out just isn't for us.  I've known this for years, since I heard my brother and sister in-law using it with my niece.  I'm the mom that cries when her baby cries.  I'm the mom that drops everything and RUNS to my baby when she needs me.  Why I ever thought that I could go through with this method is beyond me.

Oh ya, I was stupid and I was selfish.  That's why.

We had a terrible night last night.  Lucy went down later than she should have and she was up all night.  Finally, around 4:30 AM, we threw in the towel and put her in the car seat.  We drove around town for 30 minutes, got home, and she actually stayed asleep in her car seat for two hours.  Lucy is almost 6 months old...we should NOT have to resort to the car seat trick.  I told myself, "Tonight she sleeps in her crib."

So, tired and frustrated, I tried putting Lucy down in her crib this morning.  For my first attempt, I tried nursing her in the glider; when she fell asleep, I waited for "limp-limb" sleep and tried to transfer her....she woke up instantly.  Rinse and repeat.  Attempt #3, Casey rocked her.  And, attempt #4, CIO.  I read the Ferber Progressive Waiting Chart on this blog and away we went.

The first interval was three minutes.  Lucy didn't cry for the first two minutes, but once she started, she didn't stop.  I went in for two minutes, patted her belly, held her hand, and stroked her face - which made her cry harder.

The second interval was five minutes.  After three minutes I was sobbing.  Casey went in for the second "visit" and just as I was about to throw the baby monitor through the window, he and Lucy came marching into the kitchen.

He said, "She pooped....  And we're never doing that again."

And then we both started laughing, which made Lucy laugh.  But as soon as he set her down to change her, she started screaming again.  I think she so overtired and afraid that we'd leave her again...  After much soothing and nursing, she finally went to sleep in our bed.  Where she belongs.

Call me a wuss, call me an idiot, I don't care...  I'm not judging mothers that use the Cry-It-Out Method, not at all, its just not for our family. 

"You're due for x-rays"

I had an interesting visit at the dentist's office this morning (yes, I had a Saturday appointment - whoa!).

I say it was interesting because two sorta crummy things happened.  First, the dentist tells me I'm due for x-rays and that I need to get them done today.  I didn't know how that would affect breastfeeding, so I was sitting there having this internal debate, screaming "My boobs, MY MILK!!!"  And then, once she started cleaning, I start bleeding.  Like a lot.  Like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was taking place in my mouth. 

Problem #1 was easily avoided, I just asked that we wait for the next visit to do the x-rays.  Nbd.  Even though, come to find out, there is no known impact on breastfeeding.  So, nursing mommas, if you plan to visit the dentist while you are breastfeeding and you happen to need x-rays, rest assured knowing that its a-okay.  For more info, peep these sites:  here and here and here.

Problem #2 was not so easy peasy.  The dentist needed hella gauze and suction to control those ridiculous gums of mine.  She really didn't know what to say about it, she thought it might be hormonally induced but wasn't really sure.  I've been researching since I got home, and I haven't found anything on postpartum bleeding gums...  Bleeding gums can be a symptom of pregnancy gingivitis (which I did have), but that's supposed to clear up after giving birth.  She said to watch it for one month and to call if there's no improvement. At which point they'd have to use a local anesthesia and do a "deep cleaning" of the gums to stimulate the healing process and reduce inflammation.  

Sounds fun (and expensive), huh?  Is anyone else experiencing something similar?

Confessions: Week 12

Confession #25:  Sometime last month I decided to save some money and be (even more) environmentally friendly by storing my breast milk in bottles instead of bags.  The switch has been great for the most part!  We're saving $5.99 a week on bags and we've cut down on trash; and, my dad/Fallon/Cole also seem to appreciate the conversion as well.  They no longer have to transfer breast milk to bottles (and risk spilling it all over themselves, the counter, and the floor - yes, they've done that a time or two).      

Confession #26:  After last week's confessions, I realized I needed to step up my game as far as keeping intruders out of my pumping lair. 

So far it has actually stopped one person from coming in - those office chairs are heavier than they look!  YAY for privacy!  I've also started hanging a sign that says, "In Use, PLEASE Knock".


New to my confessions?  Check out my other posts!  And, while you're at it, maybe you've got some confessing of your own to do...  Fess up, ladies!!!

My Dream

Disclaimer:  These are my feelings and my opinions.  I don't judge those women that choose to work, and I hope to not be judged as well.

I'm an old-fashion girl at heart.  A simple girl, really.

When I was little, I longed for two things; and to this day, that hasn't changed: 

1.  Get married and have a big family.
2.  Own a bakery.  (seriously)

I realize neither of those things are very ambitious, and I'm okay with that, that's just who I am - sorry Mom!

My sister wants to join the Navy, travel the world, and have a complex linguistics career.  My brother wants to be a high school history teacher.  And my youngest brother in-law wants to be an engineer.  All huge dreams!  None of which are mine. 

In my opinion, family is the most important thing in this world.  I know that once I'm old and wrinkly, all I will have left is my family.  And I want to be able to look back at this time in my life and remember the time I spent with my family - not the time I spent working, not my job title or big projects, not the numbers on my paychecks....

Nothing would make me happier than to be home for my child(ren) and my husband - to take care of MY child(ren); make a nice dinner every night; clean my house every day; and, maybe start up a small bakery one day.  

A friend, who shares similar dreams (less the bakery), recently asked me:  Is it so wrong to want these things? 

My answer:  Hell to the NO, girlfriend!

I don't care if my dreams set the women's movement back 50 years.  Maybe I'd like to be a homemaker, thankyouverymuch.  Maybe I'd find that to be fulfilling.  Maybe others would too.  Did those feminists ever consider that??

And now, for the the lingering question, what are my dreams for this little beauty?

My hopes and dreams for Lucy Lu are that she be happy.  I won't shove college down her throat.  I won't arrange her marriage.  And if she decides she wants to be a stay-at-home-mom, too, I will fully support her.  Although, if that's the case, I will insist she become my partner in Shelton Sweets Bakery.  ;-)

Darn you, clothing manufacturers!!

I'm a little frustrated.

But what else is new, right?

Over the weekend I washed all of Lulu's 6-9 month clothes (yes, the clothes I said I'd wash 2 weeks ago), only to find out that NONE of her pants fit.

Not a chance in hell, Ma!

For most of my life I have hated jeans shopping, and now my poor, sweet Lulu seems to be following suit.  ::insert sad face::  I am so over the clothing industry accommodating only the skinny people.

Who are all these skinny babies?

When did skinny babies become the norm?

What about the phat babies of the world?

Okay, okay...I know the 97th percentile isn't exactly normal, but the weight ranges on baby clothes is absolutely absurd to me.  Now I have a bunch of baby pants that will go unworn....  And don't even get me started on bloomers!  Between the ass genes in this girl and her cloth diapers, she has never been able to wear bloomers.  But then again, I guess that's why God made stretchy pants - just for our pumpkin! 

Anyone else in the same boat?  Or are Casey and I the only ones that grow big babies? As a side note, I've got about a hundred bloomers free to a good home, if anyone is interested give me a shout!

Lucy N.A.P.S.

Please ignore Casey, who is also a great napper, passed out on the floor...

I know that I've complained a time or two about Lucy's napping abilities, but over the past week it became very clear to me that her napping abilities are just fine. 

My nap-giving abilities, on the other hand, need(ed) some work.

With the help of my darling friends, Jaye and Meg, one very informative mommy blogger, and ultimately, Dr. Polly Moore, I have discovered the secret to infant napping!!

Its called, The 90-Minute Baby Sleep Program or N.A.P.S.

Note time when baby wakes up
Add 90 minutes
Play, feed, or pursue other activities
Soothe baby back to sleep

Now, right off the bat, I know most of you are probably thinking, "Gee, that's A LOT of napping!"  (*cough* Mom!)  Well, let me tell you, 1) It is NOT and 2)  Frequent napping helps baby sleep through the night.  Babies brains are in a constant state of development, even when they're sleeping - which is a whole other post, and so consequently, they need to nap every couple of hours!  

This book taught us so much.  We've learned to recognize Lulu's sleep cues; we've actually developed a schedule; we finally realized that the mysterious fussiness was actually over-stimulation; and, it has made for an overall happier Goosey.  What I loved most about this book was that it didn't advocate Cry-It-Out, because neither Casey or I agree with the CIO method, and it seems like the majority of books on infant sleep do so.  Dr. Moore actually points out that sleep training should not be used until at least 6 months.

From the very first day we used N.A.P.S. we noticed an improvement in Lulu's sleep quality.  Lucy is very much on a 90-minute clock (some babies are 120-minutes); she is very expressive in her sleep cues, it is unbelievable to me that we never noticed them before last week.  Prior to reading this book I always had to nurse Lucy down, but now she'll go down in her swing!  And if we catch her cues at the right moment she'll go down verrry easily. 

As for sleeping better at night...she's up to 8 hour stretches!!!  After almost a month of hourly waking, it is a very welcome change!!  I recommend you all go buy this book immediately, you will not be disappointed.

A well rested Goose is a happy goose.

Has anybody else used (and LOVED) the N.A.P.S. program?  What is your baby's nap time ritual?  

Our battle with Molluscum

Disclaimer:  Graphic, yucky pictures to follow.  You've been warned...  I promise to conclude this terrible post with super cute pictures of Lulu.

My beautiful baby girl has Molluscum Contagiosum.

July 27

Goosey's case is apparently very mild, with about twelve spots on her right hip and one spot on her left.  

I first noticed these nasty little bumps towards the end of July - right around Goosey's 4 month birthday - during a family shower.  So Casey did a little research, and decided the symptoms most closely matched those of Yeast Infection.  The next morning I called the pediatrician and described the appearance of the rash, and I told him that we thought it was yeast...  So, without seeing her, he prescribed an anti-fungal cream and asked that we follow up in a week.  

A week later the bumps looked the exact same.

So that Friday, Grampy and Auntie Fal brought Lulu to the pediatrician.  (Now, I really like our pedi, but this next part still kind of pisses me off...)  The doctor looks at Lulu's hip and says, "Hmm I really don't know what that is, but its definitely NOT yeast..."  Brilliant!  He sent them home with instructions to "watch it" for a week and "let him know how it looks".  During that week we alternated using Desitin and baby powder on her hip, and it didn't do a thing. 

A week later the bumps looked the exact same. 

I happened to be off of work that day, so Grammy and I took Lulu to the pediatrician - only this time we saw another doctor.  This doctor walks in, and the moment she sees the rash she says, "That looks like Molluscum".  Ahh, where were you a week ago???  She proceeds to tell me that Molluscum is a type of virus, similar to warts, that is harmless and self-healing.  

She presented us with three options (each with pros and cons):  

1)  Leave it alone, let nature take its course, and eventually these suckers will heal on their own.  The Good:  Natural; no meds, no pain.  The Bad:  The process can take up to 6 years.

2)  Use a prescription cream three times a week for one month, it will dry out the rash and cause the bumps to scab over.  The Good:  The rash will clear in 4-8 weeks.  The Bad:  The medicine can cause numbness, itching and burning.

3)  Freeze them off with liquid Nitrogen.  The Good:  Kills the virus completely.  The Bad:  Verrry painful; the virus can come back; possible scarring. 

We chose to try the cream.  

August 24

After more than a month with these damn spots, we've finally got some improvement.  They've begun to scab, and her left hip is actually completely clear.  Our follow up visit is in mid-September, and we're optimistic that the infection will have cleared by then (thank you, God!).

So how did my sweet baby girl get this infection? 

The doctor said that once someone gets a wart they become a carrier of the virus (even after the wart has been removed); and anytime that person itches the site of that wart, the virus gets on their hands.  Since all of Lucy's caregivers (myself included) have had a wart at one time or another, any one of us could have given it to her while changing her diaper.

The doctor did point out that this infection is very common in young children and infants (daycare setting, sharing towels at the pool, using public bathrooms, etc.).  It can appear anywhere on the body, the most susceptible areas are the arms and legs.  The most effective way to prevent this kind of infection is by washing your hands often.  While this infection doesn't cause any pain to the child, it can be pretty darn concerning to the parents. 

Now, as promised, to take your mind off of this evil infection, some pictures of Lulu...

Fresh out the bath!

Airing out the tush!

"Oh geez, Mom!  You HAD to post that picture of my butt, didn't you?!"