4 Month Dr. Visit & Formula

James had his 4 month doctor's appointment last week. Stupidly, we couldn't find the insurance card and will have to go back later to get his shots done (quit losing things Jamo!). But James did not enjoy his visit this time. Poor kid was crying almost the whole time, and he even lucked out on the shot thing. I think he was tired and the table was just too cold. But my little good is growing.

His height was at 26 inches, which is close to the 90th percentile.

His weight was 13 lbs 9 oz., which is in the 25th percentile.

And his head was about 16 inches, which is about the 50th percentile.

So we have one long and skinny baby with a normal sized head. The doctor said that his weight was ok, that it would go up and down. But I would have liked it to be more towards the average, especially since he is so long. So I've made the decision to start supplementing my breast feeding with some formula. I just feel like I can't keep up with his demands and growing self. And so once or twice a day I give him a bottle to make sure he's getting enough food. And I'm pretty sure he gets his taste buds from his father. The kid doesn't mind the formula. I was worried he'd hate it and not take it. But truth be told, it's harder for me than it is for him. But I can almost see his little thighs chunking up before mine eyes.

Between the forumla and the rice cereal, he's getting all sorts of different tastes. One day we'll add other things, but for now, I'm content with what we got going on. Although I will say, I miss that new baby smell he had before. He always smelt a little bit like sour milk or something from the breastmilk. I think the smell of him is what I miss the most. But I will say, it is nice to have a break from the endless breatfeeding sessions. I find I'm able to enjoy it more now that I have a choice and that's a beautiful thing. And now Jameson can help with the feeding and have some of that bonding time also. The kid gets to see me for hours and hours every day. But Jamo has to work and then we have to put him to bed a couple hours after he gets home. Hooray for the weekends!

James Goes to His 2 Month Check Up

So today we took James to his two month check up. He is of course, all sorts of amazing. Here are the stats of the day...

Height - 24 1/4 inches (90th Percentile)

Weight - 12 lbs (5oth Percentile)

Head - 15 1/2 inches (57th Percentile)

So are baby is growing pretty much right on track and is good and healthy.
Today though, was a day for shots. He had 3 shots and like 5 different vaccines I think (Hep B, DPT, and Rotavirus). One in one leg and two in the other. Poor baby. And poor mommy too. But we survived. And after we got him all calmed down, dressed and in his car seat, he slept for the next couple hours. Feeding time happened. And then he screamed and screamed. Nothing could console my poor beebeebee. So the children's Tylenol was given (they gave us a dosage chart at the doctors office today). And he promptly slept for the next few hours. It was a bit of a rough day for the poor guy. But he's sleeping it off like a champ.

(Buzz Light Year & Donkey (from Shrek) )

Also speaking of sleeping, he didn't wake up until 10 am today when I got him out of bed to feed him before the doctors appointment. Guess that's what happens when I don't put him to bed until 11 pm. And after properly wearing him out yesterday. We had a stake Relief Society meeting with the stake presidency. With treats afterward. And all the ladies had to look at my baby and hold him and love him.

Cause he makes the hipsters fall in love when he's got his diaper on and up.

And with that much attention and people loving on him, it just tired the poor kid out. I think it's what they call "over stimulation". But he survived and got a good night's sleep. I didn't even feed him until 7 am this morning. It was amazing.

Back to the doctors appointment!

Have you seen his belly button? If you've seen the videos of him in his diaper you might have noticed his belly button stick out a little. But it doesn't really look like an outie (thank goodness). But he does have a herniated umbilical stump, which makes it protrude (especially after he's eaten :) ). But the doc said they don't worry about it and it should fix itself at some point.

Also they're watching his testes. They're still really high in the tubes. Which means, if they don't drop on their own by 6 to 9 months then he has to have surgery to bring them down. And that's kind of sad thought. My poor baby. And the doc didn't seem very optimistic about one of them. But we'll just have to wait and see. But we do what we have to and get on with life. Even if it stinks to see the poor little guy in pain. I'll deal with it when the time comes if need be.

And because James (and me) did so well, I done took one of the stickers they had for the children at the doctor's office. I think we deserved it after that many shots. In case you're wondering, it's going in the baby book we got him. And oh how I love Patrick Star, got to raise my kid right and all :).


And now it's time for some sleep. So excited!

Diagnosis: Awesome

The doctor's office called me back today. And it seems I have passed my 3 hour glucose test! So no gestational diabetes for me. They said they would just watch the sugar levels in my urine to make sure it doesn't do anything crazy. So yeah, all free and clear. Now if only my inner elbow wasn't quite so bruised and sore.

Failed, but not epically.

So I got a call from the doctors office this morning, they left a voicemail. My first thought, "doh!". Apparently that whole no news is good news thing didn't work for me. My blood came back fine, but I failed my 1 hour glucose test. She said the cute off is 139, and I had a 146. So not that much over. But tomorrow I get to go to the doctor at 9 am (oy, that's early for Sheri) and take the 3 hour glucose test. And after some reading, only about one-third of all the people who tested high on the first test were actually diagnosed with gestational diabetes. But if I happen to be of that lucky third, I'll be with a good crowd because about 2-5% of pregnant women get it, making it one of the highest pregnancy problems. And I guess mostly I would just have to watch what I eat, even more than I have to with this stupid gallbladder. And then after I have the baby, it goes away. Pregnancy is so weird. So yay for sitting in a doctors office for 3 hours and getting poked in my poor arm yet another 3 or so times (every hour). I think I'm going to need my books and music tomorrow. Sigh.

Glucose and Books

Today I had my 28 week doctor appointment. I thought it was just going to be a normal one. But when I went in the lady asked me if I was taking my glucose test that day. And I was like, no one told me about it. They asked if I had the time to do it, cause it takes and hour and I said yes. So I got to drink their special drink. It was fruit punch flavored and tasted a lot like that Hawaiian Punch drink in the blue can. And then I had the rest of the regular part, then got to wait in the waiting room. It's a good thing I thought to bring a book with me today, cause it came in handy. Then they drew my blood and sent me home. It was a woozy afternoon... lack of food, blood drawn and lack of sleep. I tried to takes some naps... my birds were annoying today though. Oh, and if I don't hear back from the office, it's good news. Other wise I should here back tomorrow or by end of week if I have either Gestational Diabetes or Anemia. Yay!

So I'm currently reading two books at once. The first being Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austin. I bought her entire collection a few weeks ago as I was tired of having to keep renewing books at the library (or more like forgetting and racking up fines :). I read her at night before I go bed. And during the day I've been reading Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass. I like the reading.

And life pretty much rolls on as busy as ever.

Gallstones For The Win

I had the ultrasound on my gallbladder done yesterday. Went in, thought I was going to have to wait forever, cause there were TONS of old people in the waiting room. But after registering, I was the first one called. Don't you just love that? I always feel a little special. Anyway, so then I got the ultrasound done, the u/s tech was nice, seemed to know what she was doing. So she said they'd send it to my doctor and she would discuss the results with me in 24-48 hours.

So this morning I wake up to a voicemail on my phone from the doctors office tell me to call them back. And I do. And the assistant lady tells me that I have GALLSTONES! And for now I should try and eat a low fat diet to keep it under control. And I should also contact the G.I. doctor she referred me to. I don't think there's much they can do while pregnant, or at least much they want to do.

But I have gallstones! And I know that I probably shouldn't be so excited or happy about this, but I am. I think it's just finally having a diagnosis to this stupid problem I've had my entire life. And it also feels nice being justified in thinking for years that the problem was in my gallbladder, when even the doctors wouldn't listen to me. So yay.

24 Week Doctor's Appointment

Today I had a doctor's appointment. I got to meet my new doctor. My old one switched practices and I didn't feel like following her to her new one, even though I liked her quite a bit. The drive would have been like 20 minutes longer and I would have deliver at a different hospital. So, I decided to stay with the practice I'm at. And I'm quite fond of my new doctor. She seems to actually listen to her patients. So I had all the usual routine stuff done (weight, blood pressure, pee in a cup and listen to baby's heartbeat). Then we got to talking about my gall bladder. And she actually listened to me (unlike every other doctor). It probably helped that I expressed how frustrated I was with the ER doc and his complete lack of doing anything and a general frustration that this has been going on for years and no one has felt the need to help past one appointment. Anyway, so she had me do a blood test there in the office. They were checking umm, liver enzymes or something? And also checking for celiac disease, just to make sure it's not a gluten problem making me so sick. And there were a few other things, general blood test stuff to check my levels. And I have an ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow morning to check my gall bladder. She said there's another test that I can take after I've had the baby... some sort of gall bladder function test. And to check if it's inflamed? Cause the ultrasound might not show anything if there aren't gall stones or anything. Also, she gave me a referral to a gastroenterologist, so I have to call him up and set up an appointment. She said sometimes they don't see pregnant women, but in my case to go to him and tell him I've been having these problems for year and that I want to start figuring it out. If nothing else, get everything ready for when I'm not pregnant anymore.

So yup, hopefully things are now moving in that department and we can figure this out. Is it sad I'm excited to so the gastro guy? Finally someone knowledgeable who might actually be able to help. In the meantime, I go to my ultrasound tomorrow and wait for my next appointment. She said we'll discuss the results then (in 4 weeks).