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Babywearing with a G-Tube

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I looked forward to being able to babywear #2. I hadn’t really cared to wear my first and later wished he’d gotten used to it. You know, it’s hard to cook dinner with a 20 pound toddler who insists on being held on your hip grabbing everything!

When a 39-day NICU stay ended in my baby being able to come home fed only through his g-tube, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to wear him. I didn’t know how I would be able to do anything with a toddler and a tiny baby who needed so much extra attention. I asked the NICU nurses if I could wear him. They had no idea what I was talking about, but they said that if it was like tummy time and put pressure on his stomach, it should be avoided. Continue reading “Babywearing with a G-Tube”

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5 Tips for NICU Moms

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Most parents don’t expect their babies to end up in the NICU. So when it happens to you, you may not know what to expect or how to handle everything.

When my baby was lifeflighted to a NICU, I spent many hours online in my empty hospital room trying to learn everything I could about our new normal. While nothing could have prepared me for what I went through during my baby’s 39-day NICU stay, here are a few things I learned that I hope may help someone going through this rough experience: Continue reading “5 Tips for NICU Moms”

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Making a Memory Jar

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My dad turned 60 this year, and I wanted to do something special for him. Years ago I saw the awesome idea to fill 60 envelopes with memories. I couldn’t wait to do it myself. I worried that I wouldn’t get enough participation or that it would seem silly to people. But it had such potential that I couldn’t help but try. Continue reading “Making a Memory Jar”

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5 Tips for Exclusive Pumpers

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There are a lot of reasons you might exclusively pump, and each reason will have it’s own set of circumstances. For me, it was the NICU. Then my baby came home on a g-tube unable to have anything by mouth, so I continued to exclusively pump for several months.

Some days I enjoyed pumping. Some days I hated it. Some days it was a nice break. Some days it was a nuisance. I never expected to exclusively pump. In fact, I breastfed my first for 20 months without ever using a pump. This time has been very different. Continue reading “5 Tips for Exclusive Pumpers”

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“Just Be Happy, Mommy!”

“Be happy!”

My toddler screamed it at me as he chased me down the hallway. I don’t remember why I was frustrated. He’d been testing his limits. He’d been refusing timeouts. He’d been getting into things I’d never had to worry about before. His three month old brother cried in my arms. I didn’t blame him for the outbursts, but I didn’t know how to make things better. Continue reading ““Just Be Happy, Mommy!””