Bringing Down The Tree

We decided to take out tree down last week. Actually, what happened was that I had promised the little kids we could do something fun after the lactation appointment as the big kids were gone with Grandma. By the time we got home I was tired and hungry so we ate lunch and then I proceeded to sit and nurse the baby and not get up for awhile. While sitting there I couldn't help but observe that our tree had shrunk to about half its original width, was brittle as a toothpick and had that very sweet smell it gets right before it goes bad and turns to that very nasty smell that makes you quickly want to throw it outside. So I thought we'd  forgo that stage and suggested the little kids start  un-decorating the tree. And since the branches were all sad and droopy they could reach  most of the ornaments, except the star.
Kateri put on the tree skirt and they began dancing around pulling off ornaments and whooping  it up with all the energy of a native de-frocking of the tree festival that would end with the tree being lit. On fire. Which was one of my fears and another reason it needed to go.   They quickly had stripped it of everything but  the star on top left, which was beyond their reach. But not the dandling chord attached to it.  So they made up the game 'lets see if we can pull the star down' which I quickly anticipated would turn into 'lets pull the tree down' intentionally, or not, so I put the kibosh on it.

 

 

I was happy that the 'fun thing' for the day also happened to  be something we needed to get done and all the activity entertained Malachi as well.

They were quite happy pulling off ornaments and lights and running their hands down a branch to make all the needles fall off. Which the needles did very readily. I warned them it would make a bigger mess to clean up when they were done but they insisted they loved so sweep and vacuum the needles and that was why they were doing it. Plus they commented several times that this was the best activity ever and as they threw handfuls of pine needles into the air . Then Kateri go the idea to roll in the needles and get them to stick to her hair so she could be a real Christmas tree.

And then the fun was over and it was time to clean up and all of a sudden it was the worst day ever and it did not count as the 'fun thing' for the day. So, just like the living room, things were back to normal.

I am happy to report that Malachi is back to normal as well. Whether it was the growth spurt or the clipping that was disturbing him, I'm not sure. But his naps are better and he is more cheerful. And we are seeing a lot more of his tongue as to him it feels like a new found toy to stick out and wiggle around. And I think that means it is not sore. The nursing is better and I have not had to  employ any of the awkward nursing poses to help him. Which would have been an option as we are still not getting out much. The colds sounded bad but now the reports about the flu going around sound worse and after it was reported that an usher at church came down with a horrible stomach issue during liturgy I renewed my resolve to never leave home again.

Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip, Or Not

 Malachi has been having some growing/recovery pains lately. Which is translating to not napping unless being held, acting like he's being poisoned when I try to nurse  him, and me getting nothing done. Sometimes  I can get him to nurse. If I am standing up. And  IF I am walking. And only after he recovers enough emotionally from the fact that someone had just tried to poison him. The lactation consultants said it is a bigger recovery  than the first clipping and to give him ibuprofen if he seems uncomfortable. Even then, two hours later he would start to fuss. So she said add acetaminophen and alternate the doses. But still he is having some trouble. Which makes for long days and late and challenging nights. And even more challenging waiting room times.

It used to be so easy. Now I have to reheat my coffee every time I want a sip. And one cup can take me several hours to drink.

 

 Kateri at her appointment looking very professional.

 

 

Sometimes he does this and I get all excited thinking I'll get to finally have breakfast, coffee, or a shower. Not all three. 5 min later he is up and 'squiggling' and we go back to pacing/nursing.

 

I'd been doing the exercises the lactation consultant gave me to help him transition to using his previously ignored muscles, and to keep the frenulum from tightening up or developing scar tissue again. But today I called and asked if we could stop by to have a look-see just to make sure it was not still causing  problems. The big kids had just left to go to art and writing classes with Grandma and the receptionist said Kristina could take a peep if I got there in the next half hour. Fortunately I'd been well schooled in the 'how to have a functional day with broken sleep, no breakfast or shower, and only 1/2 cup of cold coffee. I hollered to the little kids to grab their boots and away we went. Boots are great. If your socks don't match nobody can tell. And if, as is usually Cyprian's case, you don't have socks at all, well you're still in luck.

 

 

So the good news is, no his frenulum has not re-attached. There is a little scar tissue from the first, or second clipping, but we went over the massages to do for that. And tried some new nursing positions as he is still a little less comfortable on the one side. She watched him nurse and suggested little adjustments. Then she suggested having him in a more upright position reclining on my stomach. She seemed hesitant in helping him transition while still nursing.

 

"Here" she said "try like, um, I don't want to, uh..."

 

"It's ok," I said. "It's number 5. It's real stretchy."

 

I was relieved, as was Kateri, that a third snipping was not in order. And knowing his discomfort seems to be the result of adjusting to normal while hitting his 3 months growth spurt at the same time but will end someday, I think I can muster up the energy and good will to get through it gracefully enough. Though I did have a little setback when Shane reported to me his new paycheck, courtesy of the #%!@ s in D.C.

Seriously, there is a new tax on dental devices. So braces that already cost a bazillion dollars are going to cost more. And with four, soon to be five, kids ahead of me in line I probably won't even be considering it for myself until I'm 60. By which time, if things continue in the vein they are now and a doomsday device does not take out Washington, will be even less affordable and if you try to get them anyway they will realize you are a drain on the system and euthanize you instead. After they try to get you to inform on your friends and family for illicit possessions like guns or heirloom seeds or activities like collecting your own freaking rain water!

Ok tirade is over. Fortunately, Malachi's nap is not. So I just might get something done. After I heat up and finish my coffee.

Frenotomy-Part II

Today I took Malachi back to the lactation consultant. His latch did seem a bit stronger since the visit by the craniosacral lady but I was eager to see if he needed anything else, get it done, and be done with it. I was a little bummed when it was snowy and icy yesterday. My car is not so great in bad weather and I didn't want to have to ask Shane to stay home or trade cars with me. Then Malachi was in a strange humor all day yesterday. Not his super chipper self, very clingy, and sometimes had almost a glassy-eyed sick look. When Shane got home he noticed it too and tried to cheer him up and get a smile out of him. Eventually Malachi went to sleep on Shane where he stayed through dinner and coffee. Waking up just in time for us to get ready for bed and NOT got to sleep. But I didn't mind too much. He was smiley and definitely his usual self. And definitely not sick. We managed to  sleep in a little and still get to our appointment on time, even though I had to scrape and defrost the car first. Fortunately the roads were all fine, which also meant Shane could go to work.

Kateri came with me, of course, and we bundled up the Munchkin and went to see Kristina. She was happy to see him again and I was happy that he was all smiles. Especially when we got to strip and weigh him. But then things got more serious. The previous clipping had definitely grown back and with scar tissue this time so things were nice and tight, but not in a good way. The assistant came in and the scissors were readied. She tried swaddling him up snugly but he decided he does not like swaddling and the little blanket was no match for a determined  14 lb 11 oz baby. So I ended up holding his arms down and his body still. It took a couple seconds longer and there was a little more blood than the first time. And he took a few minutes to settle down enough to nurse.

Kristina went over some exercises to do with him to keep the cut from closing up and scarring again. So now that that is out of the way and I went to the grocery store yesterday to  stock up a little I can look forward to any weather that would keep us home and cozy.

Here is picture from Christmas, I realized I didn't put any up. It was Malachi's first Dr. Who episode. I thought it warranted documenting.