Update

I have been too busy and sleep deprived to blog; so here is the update on Christophe health.

The jaundice is under control, he is steadily gaining weight - today he weight in at 7lbs 10oz. Getting him to this point was not easy on mom. We spent a few days with a every 2 hour feeding schedule that drained every bit of energy out of me.

We are still breast-feeding; however I am having milk quantity issues and am pumping to try to encourage the supply. I am also taking blessed thistle and fenugreek supplements to help my milk come in fully. Each day there seems to be a bit more so perseverance, perseverance, perseverance.

One of the things that have been the hardest on me emotionally is supplementing. Because I do not have enough milk to satisfy him we are giving him formula at each meal. I am finally able to look at this as medicine not formula but it took a while and a lot of tears.

This is a picture Geoff took at the hospital when we brought Christophe in for one of his bilirubin test last week.



On Monday we had our first visit with our family doctor Dr. Sood; it was a short visit as the sole purpose was to get a requisition for a CF test. For those of you who do not know CF runs on both sides of my family. While Christophe was still in me I got tested for CF and everything came back saying I was not a carrier of the gene however the genetic counsler wanted us to have him tested just in case; but at this point we are not worried. His test is at the Hospital for Sick Kids on March 25. I hope that this will be the only time he will need to go there in his life.

A Lost Krzr Afternoon

We ventured out in the snowstorm to go to With Child on Pape, to look into pump rentals. After that, we popped around the corner to Shopper's, for a few supplies. Between With Child and Shopper's, we could tell the snow was hitting hard. By the time I prepared the car for the return trip, I couldn't get the whole car clean before finding that the window I started with couldn't really be seen through, even the back window with the wire in-glass heater. The trip home was a little tense.

Upon arriving home, Pierrette discovered that her KRZR cellphone had made a suicide jump out of its holster on her new diaper bag. We called it a few times and poked around in the car, but no dice. After looking a few more places and feeding Christophe, I headed back out into the snow. I found it outside Shopper's in a snowbank, still working fine (and thus responsive to being called to locate it). Hooray for devices that answer when you call.

I made up for the miserable evening by picking up some pizzas at Magic Oven. Christophe added to the excitement with a sequel I call The Triumphant Return of Poop (US Title: Pop III: The Revenge). That makes three, if you're counting. Tomorrow morning's the next round of bilirubin testing. Fingers crossed.

It's a Poop!

Well, Christophe laid down nine meconium diapers on the first twenty-four hours back from the hospital, the last one around 10am on the 2nd of March. After that, nothing. Well, lots of wet diapers, but no more stools.

Although this was mildly worrying, it wasn't an actual sign of danger, and although our midwives found it unusual, they quickly found from talking to their colleagues that it wasn't unheard-of. Unfortunately, jaundice is exacerbated by lack of stools, since the body can't use that avenue to eject bilirubin (and also something about bile salts, although I can no longer remember the detailed explanation).

So it is with great happiness that Pierrette and I are able to announce the arrival (return!) of Christophe's poop, first at the breastfeeding centre this morning and just now, again, at home. Photos will be available on flickr shortly. (No, not really, although I wouldn't put it past Pierrette).