Breastfeeding battles and *Weight Watchers*

I will preface this post by saying… 2 under 2 is no joke. My blogging has seriously taken a back seat… soweee.

anyways…

Hud's tie release went well.

Much better than my crazy worst-case scenario brain imagined. The plastic surgeon even showed me the tie and assured me that I was making the right decision. It took about 4 minutes of me out of the room, and it was over. 

Hud was a champ. We even went to Calgary the next morning to visit family. 

I knew the release wasn't going to fix my problems with feeding right away, but by 5 days later at my follow up appointment, I was pretty distraught again.

Erika, my lactation consultant did what's called a "weighted feed" - we weight the baby before a feed and then I feed him and we weigh again to see how much he is taking in. Because I wasn't able to get him to latch still, I used the sheild. After a 30 min feed, we weighed him in and noted that he had taken about 2oz... Better, but still a far cry from his required 4oz per feeding. I pulled out my bottle of pumped breastmilk and let him eat while I talmed about more options with the LC. After 5 minutes or so she asked me how much he had eaten. I pulled the bottle up to take a look and to both of our suprise, he had not actually drank a single gulp... Nothing. And he sat there sucking away for at least 5 minutes. I left that appointment with the same game plan (feed and pump, exhausting) and a referral to an occupational therapist that specialized in the swallowing reflex, and a new pediatrition that would take a closer look at Hud in general. 

Now as dramatic as I'm making all this sound, I know there is nothing terribly wrong with my son. He's a healthy boy who is (now) gaining weight and sleeping longer stretches and is very quiet and sweet. I just want to do everything I can to get him the breastmilk I think is best for him. We will get there, I feel sure. 

On Thursday a couple weeks ago, I took an hour and turned my attention back to myself for a second. I went to my first ever Weight Watchers meeting. 

Some quick stats for you here:

I started this pregnancy 20 pounds heavy, at 160lbs. 

I gained a hearty 47 pounds by delivery and sat at 207lbs. 

3 weeks post partum, at my first meeting - I weighed in at 181.4.

Game on. 

The complication this round, is that I have to wait at least until my 6 week follow up appointment, probably longer, before I can work out. My prolapse unfortunately was not resolved by delivery. I'm ordered to still not lift too much or even be on my feet too long, until my body is recovered, and we check everything out at my 6 week follow up appointment. 

So for now it's all about my diet. 

And I think it will work okay for now! At my second meeting, I weighed in at 177.2, a 4.2lb loss! We will see what this Thursday has to hold. My requirement of "points" to eat daily is high. Much higher because I'm breastfeeding and much higher than what I'm used to eating normally. I'm finding myself with lots of points left at the end of the day! (I know, poor me!)

Easy has been in his toddler glory lately.

He loves his baby brother. Like, loves him so much he could squish him. Literally, I need to keep an eye on those two at all times!

As we inch closer to the "terrible twos" I wonder if we are already there. Easy isn't the greatest talker at 18 months. He's mastered "dada" "gaga" and screaming and pointing. It makes for a frustrating relationship at times, one where I wish I was more helpful...or a mind reader. I have a feeling we have a bit of a road ahead of us with our quiet #1 son. 

All in all I love my boys. My boys are fun, and tough and sweet and sensitive. My house is filled with cars and dirtily clothes and Thomas the tank engine. I love Easton's gappy smile and Hudson's soft hair and dark blue eyes.  I love my boys and everything that comes with them.

XX-r