Granny squares 2nd annual Happy Birthday Friendship/Comfortghan

[katyallen815]

katy

 its been a roller coaster week and today was just the absolute worst

another bladder infection for mil,took her back today to urgent care,she is soooooooooo weak yesterday I helped down the hall to her room and thought I was going to have to pick her up off the floor a few times,anyway,antibiotics are NOT working.

he needed to come back for the power of attorney,then the screaming matches started  of her saying she wasn't going,she'd walk to Canada first,anyway they are on their way to the ER,and hopefully they stop this before it enters her blood and cause worse problem

sigh,sunshine would help ,why oh why is it a gloomy day ? for my own reasons gloomy day are unsettling,mom died on a gloomy rainy day 55 yrs ago

ohso sorry for all your troubles linda. I sure hope things get better with all real soon,and daughter and her hubby, doing ok now too??

 

Viking, broadway no  less, stage door no less, Im impressed!!!!!!!! sounds like you all had a grand time!!

Ill come inlater, see how you all are doing then.........

[Guest]

pineknott hope things get better for mil and you.

[Guest]

Hand towels I made.

 

Next picture is a wreath I made. Daughter made herself one too.

Then the next wreath needs a bow and it for my sister.

A snowflake wash cloth and a square wash cloth , the circle is a Scrubbie for dishes.

[Guest]

Well look at that every picture is upside down.

[CindysSweetThings]

katy

 its been a roller coaster week and today was just the absolute worst

another bladder infection for mil,took her back today to urgent care,she is soooooooooo weak yesterday I helped down the hall to her room and thought I was going to have to pick her up off the floor a few times,anyway,antibiotics are NOT working.

he needed to come back for the power of attorney,then the screaming matches started  of her saying she wasn't going,she'd walk to Canada first,anyway they are on their way to the ER,and hopefully they stop this before it enters her blood and cause worse problem

sigh,sunshine would help ,why oh why is it a gloomy day ? for my own reasons gloomy day are unsettling,mom died on a gloomy rainy day 55 yrs ago

 

Your poor MIL! I hope the ER can fix her up. UTI's are so very difficult.

 

Thanks, grannyannie! I'm pulling up those links now! 

 

 

Thanks, Cindy! I'll definitely pass all of that info along. She was only at 37 weeks when she was induced, so the pediatrician said that might have something to do with it too. She's attempting to breast feed each time, but then she'll give him formula and pumps. Hopefully the lactation specialist will have good things to say tomorrow! 

 

I've been busy trying to finish up (another) afghan for baby Gavin, but I'm also working on squares. I really will get them all out soon, I swear! 

 

I was 38 weeks with Y and it took 4 days for my milk to come in. I was 37 weeks with C and it took 2 days. If she is putting him to the breast every time and pumping, then she is doing great! Waiting for the milk to come in that first time is so nerve wrecking. Like I said, it is perfectly natural for it to take up to 7 days. Yikes! 4-5 days is most common though. I wish I could be there for her. Breastfeeding is so hard in the beginning. Both times, I really wanted to quit. I didn't though and both times we pulled through and it was wonderful afterward. Just be as supportive as possible. She really needs it. Make sure she is getting plenty of food, water, and rest. Reduced calories, dehydration, and extreme fatigue will adversely affect milk supply.-----What kind of pump is she using?

[pineknott]

update

hubby and mil are staying the night,she is still grumbling a lot,didn't want to lay in the bed,she wants to sleep in the lounger

Cindy she is at Chesapeake General off of Battlefield Blvd.

he didn't say if the kidney test revealed anything,she was severely dehydrated,guess we will have to stand in front of her to make sure she drinks each glass.

I had a real creepy feeling before when I was outside having a cigarette,a mourning dove just about flew in my face

[CindysSweetThings]

update

hubby and mil are staying the night,she is still grumbling a lot,didn't want to lay in the bed,she wants to sleep in the lounger

Cindy she is at Chesapeake General off of Battlefield Blvd.

he didn't say if the kidney test revealed anything,she was severely dehydrated,guess we will have to stand in front of her to make sure she drinks each glass.

I had a real creepy feeling before when I was outside having a cigarette,a mourning dove just about flew in my face

 

I had to think for a minute about where on Battlefield Blvd, but I remember now. I hope she pulls through.

[yarn_monkey]

Your poor MIL! I hope the ER can fix her up. UTI's are so very difficult.

 

 

I was 38 weeks with Y and it took 4 days for my milk to come in. I was 37 weeks with C and it took 2 days. If she is putting him to the breast every time and pumping, then she is doing great! Waiting for the milk to come in that first time is so nerve wrecking. Like I said, it is perfectly natural for it to take up to 7 days. Yikes! 4-5 days is most common though. I wish I could be there for her. Breastfeeding is so hard in the beginning. Both times, I really wanted to quit. I didn't though and both times we pulled through and it was wonderful afterward. Just be as supportive as possible. She really needs it. Make sure she is getting plenty of food, water, and rest. Reduced calories, dehydration, and extreme fatigue will adversely affect milk supply.-----What kind of pump is she using?

 

Right now she has a hand type pump. She's calling her health insurance tomorrow to see how she can get one through them that isn't manual. She said it's killing her hand to pump that way! I have carpal tunnel so I can't even imagine. She ate really well tonight (she was here with DH and I and our dad who got into town today) but she said she's had trouble remembering to eat, so I'm going to start reminding her. I know she's busy and a "little" overwhelmed but we have to keep her healthy to keep him healthy! 

 

Side note... My dad is a super proud grandpa!! 

 

And Gavin's little toes in my dad's big hand

[Guest]

Good night everyone !

[kuddlekubs]

Good morning! Starting another work week...ugh....and Kiddles will have to be in daycare all week since it is her spring break. She does not want to go there, but uh, where ya think I'm going to leave you? She'll survive......

 

Have a good day all,

kuddles

[Guest]

Hope kiddles has fun at the daycare. Once you get her there she'll be fine. It's nice they fight us but usually have fun while there.

 

Good morning all! What you all doing today? Me going to make so e wash cloth's and turn them into bunnies. I did four last night.

[pineknott]

they are just waiting for the Dr. now

she is not as combative as yesterday,boy not enough fluids can really mess your system up

I tossed and turned all night,hey hey the sun is shining today

 

 

11:30

they will be spending another night,kidney function test won't be back till Tuesday

[CindysSweetThings]

Right now she has a hand type pump. She's calling her health insurance tomorrow to see how she can get one through them that isn't manual. She said it's killing her hand to pump that way! I have carpal tunnel so I can't even imagine. She ate really well tonight (she was here with DH and I and our dad who got into town today) but she said she's had trouble remembering to eat, so I'm going to start reminding her. I know she's busy and a "little" overwhelmed but we have to keep her healthy to keep him healthy! 

 

Side note... My dad is a super proud grandpa!! 

2014-03-23 16.53.48.jpg

 

And Gavin's little toes in my dad's big hand

2014-03-23 17.00.54.jpg

 

Holy cow! A hand pump? Yeah, hopefully the insurance will either cover an electric pump (dual electric is best) or at least cover a hospital rental (hospital-grade pumps are awesome). Baby is still the best pump though. They have a stronger suction than any pump out there. He was born on Thursday, right? I think her milk will come in today or tomorrow. Tell her not to expect a lot a first. Babies have super tiny tummies so her milk will come in slowly and adjust to his demands. Its important that once her milk comes in, she stops giving him bottles. This will cue her body on how much milk to make. I know its hard to do because she will have no idea how much he's getting, but as along as he peeing and pooping, he is getting enough. She should only give occasional bottles if the pediatrician wants him to get extra calories. That is when she should give fortified breastmilk 3-4 times a day. And if she is going to give him fortified milk, she needs a better pump! (come on, insurance)  Give her a big hug for me!

[VikingRunnerGirl]

Going to have to contradict a little there Cindy! While demand does affect supply, it's not the same for everybody. I never did produce enough milk and it didn't matter how much I tried to pump or how often he nursed. We had to supplement all along.

 

Any good lactation consultant will do everything they can to help, no fear there! But they will also say that the most important thing is to feed the baby and if that means formula along with breast milk, then that's what it is.

 

Basically we can all share our stories (since obviously what we all did worked for us, I mean really! who would keep up a plan that wasn't working?) but the ones to listen to will be the baby and the scale.

 

Helping them out and helping her eat is probably the best thing you can do! You're right, she has to stay healthy for him to thrive! And helping her relax will help with breast feeding too, but maybe don't tell her that. Learning that stressing about feeding could cause lower milk supply really didn't do anything for my stress levels! Well, nothing GOOD, anyway.... *eyeroll*

[Guest]

Katy thank you for the puffy today. I love the squares. It was a nice surprise in the mail box. Thanks!!

[VikingRunnerGirl]

On an not unrelated note, know what I've been really hating about life lately? All these hard questions, and there's no good way to answer them. Should we have another baby? Should we move across the state to take that job? Across the country? Should I *quit* my job? Should we try to find in-home care or maybe a nursing home for aging parents? Nobody can answer these but us, and WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS EITHER! Even the classic "you just have to do what works best for your family" comfort doesn't really help, because how do you really know what's best?? You don't! Because there's always something that might be better!

 

 

 

Can you tell I've been having an existentially difficult couple of weeks?

[cshort]

Good Morning Everyone!

 

I have the little ones to myself this morning as my daughter and son-in-law took the cats to the vets so they can keep them in the apartment rather than at my house. They came back to drop off one cat and had to take the other to a specialist to have her eyes checked, the vet thinks it's hypertension causing blindness and hopefully medicine will fix the problem. The  grandkids are watching a movie and having a snack so I decided to jump on the computer for a few minutes while its quiet.

Pineknott, I hope your mil is feeling better.

yarn_monkey, hopefully everything will work out and that baby will grow like a weed once mom's milk comes in.

 

I hope everyone has a good day!

[kuddlekubs]

Well I think HUGS all around are needed! So there ya go      

[CindysSweetThings]

Going to have to contradict a little there Cindy! While demand does affect supply, it's not the same for everybody. I never did produce enough milk and it didn't matter how much I tried to pump or how often he nursed. We had to supplement all along.

 

Any good lactation consultant will do everything they can to help, no fear there! But they will also say that the most important thing is to feed the baby and if that means formula along with breast milk, then that's what it is.

 

Basically we can all share our stories (since obviously what we all did worked for us, I mean really! who would keep up a plan that wasn't working?) but the ones to listen to will be the baby and the scale.

 

Helping them out and helping her eat is probably the best thing you can do! You're right, she has to stay healthy for him to thrive! And helping her relax will help with breast feeding too, but maybe don't tell her that. Learning that stressing about feeding could cause lower milk supply really didn't do anything for my stress levels! Well, nothing GOOD, anyway.... *eyeroll*

 

Baby and scale is most important! No doubt there. Like I said, I had to supplement with some formula for C for a while just to help her gain. After a while, my milk was enough. I was producing plenty the whole time, she just needed a little boost because she wasn't gaining (she was off-the-charts small). It isn't a bad thing to supplement with formula if it is needed. I'm just trying to say that she needs to give her body a chance and trust nature. Most women can produce enough. Its actually quite uncommon for a woman to not produce enough naturally, though it does still happen. Even today, the biggest hurdles to successful breastfeeding are misinformation and lack of support, not the woman's own body. If she's getting the support that she needs and she doesn't have an idiot pediatrician (its okay to have a small baby, even at 1%, as long as he is growing and staying in the 1%; some pedis make moms feel like 1% is bad), then she should know she has done all she can and shouldn't feel bad if formula is needed. Its great that we have such good formula these days for when nature absolutely refuses to do what it needs too! I'd just hate to see her "fail" at breastfeeding if it can be avoided. If she does need formula in the end, I'd like for her to not feel bad about it. I know, having to supplement with formula can be traumatic for some new mothers. Hopefully she can feel like she gave it a good try. I know, easier said than done. Oh, motherhood is so tough!

 

On an not unrelated note, know what I've been really hating about life lately? All these hard questions, and there's no good way to answer them. Should we have another baby? Should we move across the state to take that job? Across the country? Should I *quit* my job? Should we try to find in-home care or maybe a nursing home for aging parents? Nobody can answer these but us, and WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS EITHER! Even the classic "you just have to do what works best for your family" comfort doesn't really help, because how do you really know what's best?? You don't! Because there's always something that might be better!

 

 

 

Can you tell I've been having an existentially difficult couple of weeks?

 

You know I totally understand! My head has been spinning with all the different options. Which one is the right one? I just don't know. Take care of yourself. Its easy to forget to do when you are that stressed.

[Guest]

Well I think HUGS all around are needed! So there ya go      

I agree hugs to everyone !

[pineknott]

you really need a break that's for sure,hope better days are ahead for you Viking

[Kristy Taylor]

Hugs all around....           

[katyallen815]

those wreaths are just darling!!!

[howieann]

I'll take pictures tomorrow, but I wanted to let Katy know that I got a puffy with some very pretty red squares today! Thank you!

[grannyannie]

Ok, well, I had a post and it disappeared into cyber space, so whatever I was saying....I can't remember.  Couldn't be important, lol!  One thing I'll agree on.... HUGS all around!!!!!!!!!! :hug :hug :hug

 

Oh yeah, now I remember!  (it just took a hug, lol)  thanks everyone regarding my bunnies!  and....someone asked about the yarn.  Most of it is Vanna's Choice, some is Bernat Waverly and the bunny tails are RHSS soft white. 

Ok, over and out.  I'm going to bed. Nighty night!