Lots Going On

So motherhood has been keeping me busy and tired which is why posting has become a sporadic thing. I will try to recap the events of the last couple weeks.

I found a New Mom's Club through the Lamaze Family Center. It meets on Wednesday afternoons and there are other new moms and babies that are Lucy's age.

Lucy accompanied me to a post-Camp Midicha meeting. Camp Midicha is the Michigan diabetes camp sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. I have gone the last two years to volunteer as medical staff, and I was planning on going both weeks this year. The camp director knew I was pregnant and was going to make accommodations to make it easier on me. Evidently, Lucy didn't want to go to camp because she was born the Friday that I was planning on going up to camp. It might have worked out for the best though because camp had a flu outbreak!

Lucy started kayexalate. Kayexalate (Kionex) is very hard on baby's stomach so we don't actually give it to her. We take 300ml of breast milk and add 1 tsp. of the Kionex. After one hour, we decant off the milk and throw out the potassium sludge. We then give that low-potassium milk to Lucy throughout the day. We are continuing her sodium supplements.

Someone gave Kris the great idea of taking Lucy's picture each week during the first year. Then at the end of the year, we will have 52 pictures to document her growth and development. I loved the idea and have been doing it so far. On the Babies 'R Us website I found a measurement blanket. I tried finding the blanket at a local store, but I couldn't, and I finally ordered it from the internet. Lucy doesn't enjoy being left on the floor for a picture, but it works out because she kicks her legs out and we can see how long she is.

Grandma (GM) and Grandpa (GP) Liedl came to visit again. They drove out from Minnesota on Monday, June 26 and stayed until Thursday, June 30. It was mutually beneficial. I got to sleep more and they got to spend time with their first grandchild. They helped by feeding her and cuddling her and cooking. My mom made lasagna, jello salad, ranch dip, banana and pumpkin bread, and pasta salad. All of my favorites!

Every year, I walk for either the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) or the ADA (America Diabetes Association). Last year, I was a Team Captain for the University of Michigan's JDRF Team, and I plan to do it again this year. Last Wednesday was the Kick-Off lunch. I took Lucy because I knew that I would see a lot of my patients and that they would enjoy seeing my beautiful girl. They Kick-Off lunch always does a good job of raising excitement and motivating everyone. If you are interested in supporting Lucy and I, you can visit my walk site.

While we were at the kick-off lunch, Lucy's tube fell out. She was nursing, and I think some of the milk got underneath the tape holding the tube. The tube simply slipped out and hit the floor. We decided to see how she would do without the tube. Unfortunately, the nephrology team really wants her to have 180ml/kg/day and Lucy was only able to take about 2/3 of that. So, the tube went back in. :(

On Friday, I took Lucy to the Breastfeeding Cafe at the Center for Childbearing Years. Oddly, there seems to be a lot of tongue tied babies these days. When a baby has a short frenulum, it is hard for them to breast feed because they cannot get their tongue out far enough. The lactation consultants in the hospital had made a comment about Lucy's short frenulum but we hadn't planned on doing anything about it. However when the other moms were discussing it and the lactation consultant said again that it might be affecting Lucys ability to breast feed, I decided to make an appointment with the ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat) doctors. We will go see what they have to say this coming Friday.

Lucy went with me to a wedding on Friday evening. Ginny is a friend from my knitting group, and she and her fiance, Jeremy, had a beautiful wedding and reception. Lucy did wonderful and did not make a peep during the ceremony.

Lucy's weight has been increasing as it should. As of today, she is up to 3.935 kg which is 8lb 10oz. Her potassium levels have been 5.8 (07/22), 5.1 (07/27), 5.6 (today 08/03).

Lucy is supposed to have "tummy time" any time she is awake. Unfortunately, today's tummy time turned into nap time. :)