Babyfiend

Allergic To My Baby?!

I went in for my annual physical today, visiting the avuncular Dr. Trout, my doctor  (and occasional savior) for many years. After the he gave me usual congratulations on the new baby, I made my usual comments on continuing breast problems. After much questioning and an exam, he diagnosed me with allergic dermatitis of the nipple and suggested that I might actually be allergic to Artyom's saliva! Whoa. He prescribed a powerful anti-inflammatory  (Ultravate) and gave me the litany about breastfeeding and topical steroid use. All of this is at odds with the "you still have thrush" coming from my nurse practitioners. I'll see if the meds help.

When I came home, I spent my obligatory hour and a half on gooogle checking all this out. Tomorrow I'll call Gretta Granola and ask about the both the diagnosis and medication before I use it. What a weird diagnosis! And how depressing. I feel like I need to call Maury Povich.

On a cheerier note, I spoke to Patricia for almost a half hour today. Our schedules have been incompatible--she comes home from work when I go to sleep prior to my evening/early morning baby shift. I can't remember everything that was said, but I know that I yelled "Ahhhh!" into the phone and that she had some delicious gossip for me.

E.T.A. Subsequent doctor visits revealed that I still had thrush compounded by dermatitis. I was allergic to the nipple cream originally prescribed to me for thrush. Go figure.

What's been going on...

It has been too long since we last chatted! And it's all my fault! I was out shopping for Tanya on Sunday since I spent all Saturday at home/having my hair done. Derpy-de-durr. So here's what's been going on:

Tyoma is growing like a weed! I can't wait to have you over to take a peek at him. I plan to take some pics soon, Lord knows when that will actually materialize. He's been healthy and non-colicky. We did have a little problem with acid reflux (!), especially as a result of me drinking too much cranberry juice. I thought that I had a bladder infection, but alas, Lisa told me that it was normal bladder stuff after the epidural. It could take up to six months for my bladder to return to normal. At least I'm not pissing my pants anymore (well, I'm not pissing them much).

Speaking of my six week appointment, I've got some over-healing skin tags that might need to be burned off.  Geeze, that sucks. I'm waiting to see if the over-healed parts will resolve themselves.  Other appointment stuff is boring, except I still have that damn nipple thrush, so I'm hooked up to the breast pump every three hours. How shitty. I've been on a month plus of anti-fungals plus my diet is almost carb free except for oatmeal. I never thought I'd get so sick of cheese and meat. Sigh.

Mimi and I are getting along swell, she's been babysitting for me on Wednesdays while I shop. Since Tanya will be here this Friday, she was here three times last week. It went really well, she's super sweet and entertains Tyoma tremendously. She and Walt have been keeping Misty on and off, too. Misty will be bummed to return here--she just doesn't get the same loveys. This weekend we're leaving Misty at their place till Tanya gets settled.

Saturday  Robert did my hair and he suggested lowlites and bangs for me. Holy crap, I took a chance and WOW! I look different! E was going to snap a pic for me to show you, but we got way too busy and we forgot. I really like the new look, I hope the hair color stays true. Since my hair darkened so much with the pregnancy, my highlights have an orangish cast. Robert said that he'd fix it for me but I didn't want to overprocess my hair. Let's see what I say in two weeks.

I am really looking forward to Nukestock, though my breasfeeding needs may curtain my presence, either that or maybe Brotherkurt could let me pump in his private bathroom so I can stay for a longer time. I have NO clue for a costume, though Robert made some great suggestions. He suggested that I bring Tyoma by for a quick "How do you do" and that we come in a matching costume. His idea was a Popeye-Olive Oyl-Sweetpea triad. How cute! And how sooo not happening. He aslo suggested Angelina Jolie & Shilo, Little bo Peep and Sheep, and Little Miss Muffet and Spider. As if. Heh, I do admire his creativity. I am all out of creative thought!

Well, girl, I do miss you terribly and hope you have a second to tell me what's up with you. For now this post is for your eyes only, so feel free to post whatever. Hope to hear from you soon!

Much love,
Lori

E.T.A.

Well, its four something and I am unwinding for my upcoming three-four hours of sleep. It's great to hear that you'll be home early tomorrow and Wednesday. I've got an appointment for an annual physical with my old physician, Dr. Bass. I haven't had a physical in forever. I'm going primarily so I can get a flu shot this year, that and I have a funny mole on my tummy. Anyway, borrr-ring! I'll check in later tonight since I'm up every three hours to do the breast feeding/pumping thing. How are you? And Brotherkurt? and Daddy? Work? What have you decided on for Nukestock costumes? Hot gossip? You rock!!!

At Long Last

Well, our brand new baby boy arrived a little more than two weeks ago, on August 21. Artyom Alexander D. weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19 and 3/4 long. I'll post my birthstory later, it was wonderful!

Finally, I can sit at the computer comfortably!!! Despite not feeling truly miserable until the final three days of my pregnancy, I realize that the past two-three months were uncomfortable enough to keep me off the computer chair and ass deep in pillows on the couch. At last I hope to transfer my journaling online. Actually, I'm not totally normal yet, I feel like we have welcomed more than our new son into the household. My breasts have taken on a life of their own, including not only a size change that seems to be keeping pace with our baby's robust growth, but also a fussy character that surpasses colicky witching hour awakenings. I'm just waiting for my nipples to burst open and start squalling inconsolably. That's all for now.

Pics at Three Weeks

I'll spare you the dozens of poorly illuminated/overexposed shots that our tired selves took of Tyoma and leave you with these two shots we took of him on a sunny weekend right before his one month anniversary.

(Click on image for a larger view)

We'll post some more pics once we can catch him in the act of smiling.

Newborn Pics

The first pictures of Artyom(A.K.A Tyoma, Malootka! Russian tradition/superstition dictates that no one but immediate family can see a newborn baby until forty days after the birth (some Russians hold out for two months!).

This restriction surprisingly applies to photographs also, as we found out from Artyom's great grandmother Lydia (who was quite concerned about it). So, the only souls to have seen the baby (aside from medical staff) are us (duh), his maternal grandparents, and his Godmother . So, at long last I unveil his "Home From The Hospital" photos:

(Click on image for a larger view)  
We arrived home from the hospital around 8:00 p.m., with plenty of help from Ewbliette, who schlepped our birthing expedition gear. It must have taken me twenty minutes to gingerly climb out of the back seat of my truck, even with 's help! My bottom was unbelievably sore! Anyway, two hours later, we snapped shots of Tyoma to send to his family in Russia. Unfortunately, our sleep deprived state resulted in thirty shots that were all a touch too dark.
Poor Tennisfiend looks absolutely wiped! He slept less than seven hours in the past three days. Part of the sleep deprivation came from caring for Tyoma while I spent an extra few days in the hospital. He changed diapers, rocked the baby, brought the baby to me for feedings and even helped with the supplemental feedings the Doctors recommended. Funny, I don't recall much of the first night home except for the photographs and Ewbliette buying us a half dozen towels.


I just had to share this pic, unlovely though it may be. Poor little devil looks like he just realized what a crazy family he was born into!

Goth Nipples

 I haven't gotten around to posting my breastfeeding drama(s) yet, but I just had to post this.  Naturally, I plan to nurse Tyoma exclusively for the first six months and I ambitiously hope to continue for one whole year. It's something you do for your child that will impact him/her for the rest of their lives. Well anyway, after a few extra days in the hospital with attendant  nursing problems, I came home and worked on developing a painful case of mastitis. 

Did I say painful?  Heh. Thrush is painful.  Mastitis, meh. Got thrush two weeks ago on a Saturday and liked to have died. Bless icepacks and Diflucan. And bless Sarah Seamstress, who took care of my agonized self at nine in the evening.

Two weeks on the antifungals have passed, and I was still itchy/burny so I called my lactation consultant for help. She suggested more Diflucan and painting my nipples with Gentian Violet. Gentian Violet is like iodine, except it is purple-black and it smears and stains everything.

Since I have lost all modesty with the birth and breastfeeding, so I'm tempted to post a pic of my grotesque deep-purple nipples for your amusement. But I am restraining myself. Egor observed me painting my  poor  monstrously huge nips and laughed, "You've got Goth Nipples!" That struck me as being outrageously funny.  That's all. :D

Happy Grandparent's Day!

Happy Grandparent's Day Momfiend and Dadfiend!I can't thank you enough for all of the help that you have given us! The shopping, the cooking, the babysitting, the panicked phonecalls, the cranky phonecalls, the moral support--the list goes on! I appreciate you and love you very much!

Thrush

What a miserable night! One problem with a woman taking antibiotics is developing a yeast infection. Thankfully, I haven't had one of those in years. Until now. Did you know that yeast infections can occur in a breastfeeding mom's nipples? I'd heard of the dreaded nipple infection, thrush, from a former co-worker who struggled with it for four months. She was agonized by it. Out of fear I gobbled acidophilus tablets and guzzled yogurt while on anitbiotics. I suspect that I have been developing an infection since Wednesday, but it hit full force last night. Zow, what pain!

How can I describe the pain? Well, it was about an eight on my pain scale--an intense shooting, stabbing pain that took my breath away. Ibuprofen could not take off the edge of it. I slept with icepacks on my boobs. Unbelievable! Sarah Seamstress rescued my miserable self with a prescription for a powerful antifungal late yesterday evening. Although the medication didn't stop the infection in its tracks, the icepacks she recommended allowed me to sleep. Whew!

Mastitis

Last night I started shivering at nine in the evening. I continued to shiver with increasing violence until two a.m., when I became alarmed and woke up Tennisfiend. I took my temperature while he made me some hot tea. Naturally, I consulted our medical library and diagnosed myself with mastitis.

Breast pain? Check. Chills? Check. Fever? Check. Headache? Check. And so on. First thing in the morning I called Gretta Granola who confirmed my suspicions. She gave me a list of self care suggestions and told me she'd call me in the afternoon to see if I was any better. I shook and sweat all day. Since I just felt worse, she called in an antibiotic prescription for me. This sucks. The last thing I wanted was to start taking meds while I'm trying to breasfeed. Anyway, there should be no problem with nursing with this antibiotic, it just sucks to be sick.