52 Weeks of Blogging: 10 Survival Tips to the Expectant Mom

Hey everyone, so I am back to do another link up with Becky at From Mrs. To Mama.  This week the topic is 10 Survival Tips to the Expectant Mom.

Now I am  no stranger to babies.  As you read last week I have a brother and sister who are both significantly younger than I am so I remember them growing up and watching some of the things my mom bought and did when they were newborns.  But another little interesting bit about me is that my nursing education helped me to prepare for the arrival of Alex as well.   So when I was pregnant with Alex I kind of took all of that into account and made a list of my own.

Now I am going to share some of it with you all and add a few from my own experiences!

52 Weeks of Blogging: My Goals for Motherhood

Like I said yesterday I am beyond thrilled to be blogging once more, however I am even more excited to be able to participate in the link-up Becky at From Mrs. To Mama is hosting.

This week the topic to pic from is Goals for Motherhood. 

So after thinking long and hard about this topic here are my goals.

I'm Back & An Update on Alex!

I am sure you're thinking...

"she's said that before," or "Yeah, Yeah."

But I truly mean it this time.  

11 Months of Alex

Yes this little man is 11 months old now!!

Alex's 1st Ear Infection and 1st Anibiotic

So as I finished the last blog mentioning within 20 minutes of the dose of antibiotics Alex had diarrhea, now the nurse in me knows that it was probably not related but it was definitely a new thing for Alex and something to keep my eye on. 

So throughout the day Alex continued with diarrhea, I think 4 episodes in all that day, and as the day progressed his poor tushy more and more red.  After each diaper change we would let him air dry and then liberally apply Beadrueax's Butt Paste, Organic Variety.  And it did not seem to be helping.  He cried for about 15 minutes after that last change, his tush was fire engine red and as hot as a branding iron.  So this was the last straw for me.

I broke down and called the answering service line.  I needed more advice.  Yes I maybe a nurse, but when it comes to your baby feeling helpless a lot of the other ideas kind of go out the window because you have your blinders on or maybe the Supermom cape is tied a little too tight and it is affecting your thinking.

Thankfully we got to speak with a VERY helpful nurse.  She ran through a list of recommendations from Alex's pediatrician and said she would be sending an urgent note to the doctor since this was his first time on antibiotics since his stay in the NICU.  

**Let me preface this next part, these were the broad recommendations from a list that Alex's pediatrician has made up for the nurses to give overnight so he does not have to be called,  this does not mean they will work for your baby and by no means am I saying you should use them either.**

The recommendations were:

Give him at least one oatmeal bath per day

Mix mylanta and zinc oxide into a cream and apply it at each change

Start giving him probiotics or acidophilus daily

And let him go without a diaper if we could

So we took this info and ran with it, I put Alex in the tub and we waited for Chris to get back from the store.    Even while he was in the tub Alex would not sit down on his bum. he would kneel or lay on his hip but never putting pressure on his tush.  It was pitiful.

So our rigorous treatment began.  Alex played in the tub that night longer than he ever had and he loved it, other than he could not sit down. 

We tried everything but the probiotics and acidophilus and put Alex to bed. 

The next morning Alex did not wake up until about 1030 and when he did we could already see a difference in the redness and warmth.  The doctor himself gave us a call back and said that he we would also recommend putting zinc oxide on his bum every 1-2 hours until it was gone and gave us his direct office number for is we had questions. 

So after our diligent work Alex is doing much better and it is now Monday and his bum barely has any redness.  He has had only one other episode of diarrhea also.  

Alex's 1st Ear Infection and 1st Antibiotic pt 1

So as most of you know Chris and I have both been working night shift for the pas few months.  Well this past Thursday Chris got a call from his parents, who were watching him, saying he was screaming his head off and pulling pretty hard on his right ear.  So like the good Daddy he is, Chris called me at work, let me know what was going on and I got an appointment scheduled for Alex the next day.

Chris and I had spent all day with Alex, running all sorts of errands and he was fine all day, the only we noticed was he coughed a few times, we just kinda thought it was a fake cough.  So we couldn't believe it could be an ear infection, maybe it was teeth coming in or allergies. 

However if you needed to know anything about Chris or I, it is that we had chronic ear infections as kids, Chris had 8 sets of tubes and I have 3 or 4.  

Nonetheless I took Alex to the doctor's Friday morning after I got off work.  And to my surprise Alex was diagnosed with a double ear infection and a ruptured ear drum in the right side. 

So after talking with the doctor we put Alex on Amoxicillin twice daily and he made a referral.

SOO after the days running we did not get home until about 3 pm, needless to say I was exhausted.  

We gave Alex his first dose of antibiotics and within 20 minutes he had diarrhea.    

And this leads us into pt 2!

10 Months of Alex

Yes I know this is incredibly late, but at least it is here!

Height & Weight:  No accurate measurements this month.

Diaper Size: Still in size 3 diapers. 

Feeding:  We are 100% table food!  You love everything we give you!  And to touch on your transition to whole milk, we are now 2 oz of formula and 4 oz of milk, you are doing incredibly well with it, you suck your bottles dry, but we have noticed you are spitting up again, not everyday, and not every other but probably 2-4 times a week. So after talking with the doctor we are going to give almond milk a try and if it does not change then we will try soy.  For more info on our decision to transition a little early click here. 

Sleeping:  Nothing much has changed here but you have been falling asleep on our chests again while we snuggle on the couch and we love it!!

Milestones:  As of May 6 you now have 9 teeth!  On the top you have your front 4 and 2 molars!!!  And on the bottom you have your 2 front teeth with the one next to them, on your left, just coming through.  You are still pulling up on everything and cruising along the furniture like it's your job.  We are working with you to stand independently but you are bull-headed like momma so I feel like we have a fight ahead.  But on the other hand you love to walk with your walker and don't want anyone's help to do so.  We are down to bottles for bedtime only and momma could not be happier. And you are doing well with only having the pacifier during naps and bedtime. 

Likes:  Food, Mickey Mouse, being tickled, pulling the diapers out of our new storage for the living room, and swinging outside.

Dislikes:  Being told no, you have become very sensitive to when mommy or daddy are leaving for work and it is your least favorite time of the day, making it very hard on momma.  We pick you up to give you a hug or a kiss goodbye and you flip your s***.  We are gonna have to get better at this kid or momma ill have to quit working, which is not an option. 

Adventures:  You went to your first wedding, for Uncle Nick and Aunt Theresa. And not much other than that.