Monday, June 21, 2010

He Has Been Found

This is off the topic of Tristan - but I had to post....

Today, he was finally found.

I have known since I was in elementary school that I have a half-brother.  Not going into any detail about such events- saying that he is to the day 5 months younger than my brother should be enough.

Growing up, I knew he was still in the Valley (I live in Skagit Valley, WA).  In school, anyone named Mathew I would ask what their middle name was... because I knew it was Charles.  But I never found him.. never crossed paths.

After I turned 18, I looked a couple times a year online for him.  The unfortunate thing was I no longer knew his last name.  He was adopted by his step-dad and now had his last name instead of his mom's.  My Mom couldn't remember what it was either.  I searched online for adoption records or marriage records... but was unsuccessful.

A couple years ago, my Mom told me that his grandfather passed away and when the memorial was being held.  I thought about going and sitting outside to see if I could at least see him... But chose not to.  Guess I didn't want to meet him like that...

I searched myspace when that came out... As well as, facebook...  Always nothing.

Then, Justin and Megan just happened to run across information online that provided us with his last name.  They checked with my Mom, and sure enough, that was it (she couldn't remember it, but knew it if she heard it).  Megan searched facebook - something I had already done... and found several Mathew H. She decided to message them all!  I am still unclear as to why she did this... but she did.

She got a facebook message back from one of the guys that yes, he was from WA (but not currently living in WA).  After a couple messages back and forth, he wanted her to call him.  And she did.

And what she found- she was talking to our half-brother! 
He talked to my brother and asked him to give his number to me and have me call him.  I plan on calling him tomorrow... He did send Megan a picture on the cell, which she passed to me.  He looks A LOT like my brother Justin!

I'm so happy he has finally been found!  Maybe we can stay in contact... and one day even meet.  He is in Maine... kind of opposite side of the US.. lol




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Holding His Own

-7w1d/1m2w5d-

Kaleb has him holding his own bottle!
He's growing up so fast ;)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Woes Update

-5w3d/1m1w-

An update from my visit with the lactation nurse...

She weighed Tristan, got a base line.... then weighed him after feeding on each side... and combined, he got almost 2oz! That was after not feeding off of me for 4 hours!!! So, definitely a milk production problem :(

But she gave me something to try... and hopefully it will work well...

To grow ... she calculated that he needs to have 8 feedings of 3oz...
So, I'm going to BF then give him a bottle of formula and/or pumped breast milk to equal about 3oz.  Then give him a couple minutes, burp him, etc to see if he is still hungry... feed more as needed.
Then after each feeding pump each breast for just 10 minutes.

In addition, she says that babies at this age shouldn't really be sleeping thru the night... and my milk supply might be taking a hit because of it... they aren't being stimulated at night. So, I need to feed him every 4 hours at night. We are figuring 11pm, 3am and 7 am... then every 2hr40min or so during the day... give or take, nothing is perfect...

Also, continue taking my fenugreek and possibly add blessed thistle as well.

I also need to get bigger flanges for my pump...

So, that's what I found out. That's what we are going to try....
I hate to feed on a schedule... but it's better than every hour! That's just unreasonable!

Breastfeeding Woes

-5w3d/1m1w-

Tristan latched great in the hospital - immediately in fact!

He was feeding great... but every hour! Went in for our 2 week appointment and he wasn't back up to his birth weight! :(
So, I'm thinking... what am I doing wrong... maybe I'm feeding wrong... or something...

For the next week I kept track of my feedings and brought them into the Dr because he wanted to see Tristan again and weigh him... he LOST an once! And I feed him practically every hour!

So, Dr. Benson wanted to start supplementing with formula and have me take fenugreek... and come back again in a week.
We went in a week later, he had gained 14oz in that week! It's great that he is gaining weight.... but I feel like crap :( and I haven't noticed a difference on the fenugreek....

I was feeding him every hour... he would feed then act like he was starving! Then down a whole bottle :(  The only time he feeds from me without throwing a fit is in the morning... and even then he can still take a bottle.....

I've tried to pump and I'm getting barely anything.... and it hurts....

I'm torn between just breastfeeding a couple times a day and using formula for all other feedings.... or fighting this and trying to get my milk up....

Even in the mornings, after 7+ hours.... I don't get engorged .... and only sometimes leak....

A lactation nurse is coming to my house today, in an hour... so, we will see what she says....

*sigh*

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Brag-tastic!

-4weeks 3days/1 month old-

My little Tristan had the nurses at the hospital in disbelief - because he was holding his head up HOURS after birth! :) My strong little man!

Kaleb has been doing tummy time with him since he was a couple days old.... he has tremendous leg strength, was scooting himself across the blanket at 1.5-2 weeks old... it's pretty funny to watch lol because he doesn't have the hand thing down yet.

He has rolled over a couple times now from tummy to back but I think it was pretty random... but I might be being too critical lol

We put him in his bumbo chair last night for the first time. I was so proud!! He was sitting like a little person (if that makes sense?) lol he is still pretty small though, so the chair swallowed him lol which is really cute :)

But I'm even more proud that he is only ONE MONTH - today!!!

We are going to have our hands full with him! I'm excited :)