Weight check

We took Jack in for his weight check today. He gained some and is up to 7 pounds, 2 ounces, but that means he's only gaining half an ounce each day and should be gaining roughly two ounces a day. She's not sure why he's not really gaining, but it's most likely either an issue with my supply or quality. So, his doctor wants me to keep nursing him, but then we're supposed to give him two to three ounces of formula after each feeding so that he starts growing. Basically, we'll be feeding him formula and supplementing with breast milk.

When we got home, I gave him his first taste of formula. After I gave Jack the bottle, I was able to lay him down and he actually stayed asleep for one of the first times in the last three weeks. Before now, he would usually only stay asleep if he was being held, starting back in the hospital. So, maybe we are finally on the right track.

Not sure how much longer I'll continue nursing, but it doesn't really matter to me anymore. I wanted to try it, and I made it so much longer than I did with Mara, who had her first taste of formula at five days old. Now, I just want to make sure we're doing what's best for Jack. We go back next Wednesday for another weight check, and we'll see where we go from there.

Mara's week

We tried to focus more on Mara this week since it was her birthday week and we believe she's having a hard time adjusting to Jack being around.

Monday, March 22

After cutting her own hair last week, I took Mara to get her hair cut tonight. She really likes the new, shorter length, and it looks really good on her.

Tuesday, March 23

Mara started swimming lessons again today. We're at a different rec center here in Plano, and I'm not sure how well I like it since the parents have to watch from the second floor. It's not too bad when John can make the lessons, but it's hard going up and down multiple times with the stroller when it's just me there. Mara's still enjoying the lessons, and that's really all that matters. Jack also turned two weeks old today.

Wednesday, March 24

See Thursday's post for pictures.

Thursday, March 25

Last night, Diane gave Mara PJs for both her and her American Girl doll, and they both wore them tonight.

Friday, March 26

Since we didn't have anything planned for today, I asked Mara what she would like to use as today's picture, and she thought it should be of her cousin Lani.

Saturday, March 27

See yesterday's post for pictures.

Sunday, March 28

John took Mara to see How to Train Your Dragon today, and then they went to McDonald's (again!) for lunch. The two of them had fun spending time together.

Mara's 5th birthday party

After much deliberation, we had Mara's birthday party at McDonald's this year with an Ariel (The Little Mermaid) theme. She had a lot of fun, and several of her classmates as well as cousins came to celebrate her big day. She had a lot of fun and got many great presents from her family and friends. At the end of the day, we tried to take a family picture, but Jack didn't want to cooperate. :)

The Big 5

Yesterday was Mara's 5th birthday, and we had a very full day. We started off by going to the doctor. Jack had his two-week appointment, while Mara was there for her five-year one. Then, Mara went to school and celebrated her birthday there at afternoon snack. After coming home and opening presents from us, we went to see Disney on Ice.

About ready to give up

I really wanted to try to nurse Jack, and I have been doing it for 16 days now. However, I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to continue.

At Jack's doctor's appointment yesterday, I found out that he hasn't really gained any weight since we went in for a weight check on March 15. At that weight check, he was 6 pounds, 14.4 ounces, and he was only 6 pounds, 15 ounces yesterday. I do question how accurate the weight was since all of his previous weights have been taking with digital scales, and they use a manual one (where the nurse moves the slider) at the doctor's office. I'm not supposed to worry about it too much since he hasn't lost weight, and we have to go back next Wednesday for another weight check at the doctor's office. At that time, we'll talk about supplementing with formula if he hasn't gained as much as the doctor wants him to.

In the meantime, I'm supposed to try feeding him more as well as pumping so we can supplement with breast milk. It just seems like I'm having to tend to Jack almost constantly, and Mara's suffering. I don't know how much longer I can continue doing this since the whole nursing thing isn't coming as smoothly as I would like. Plus, I don't like the idea that my son is basically starving, which is why he almost constantly has to be held to sleep and nurses so often and means I don't get much sleep. I'm also supposed to be sleeping when he does during the day to try to help my supply. It just seems like it would be so much easier if I just switched to pumping only and supplementing with formula like we did with Mara. At least I've kept him solely on breast milk three times longer than I did with Mara. (I only lasted until day five when we started having to supplement formula with her.)

I'm going to try to stick it out this week, though. I might just be feeling defeated since I got bad news at the doctor's office and it's just been a very busy week for us with Mara's birthday and all.

Five Years Ago...

Five years ago today, we went to the hospital, and our daughter joined this world. Now, here she is turning five and is going to be going to kindergarten in the fall.

There have been a lot of changes in her life this past year, but nothing as big as becoming a big sister earlier this month.

Happy birthday, Mara!

From spring back to winter

Thursday, March 18

The weather was so nice today that we decided to grill hot dogs and eat outside. It was a little chilly, but it was nice. We ended the evening by washing Jack's hair for the first time. We're still waiting for his belly button to stop bleeding to give him his first bath.

Friday, March 19

We met up with the Heltons in Grapevine for dinner tonight, and then we wandered around the Bass Pro Shop. Mara liked looking at all of the animals there.

Saturday, March 20

We bought a new bouncer two years ago, and we were finally able to put it together and use it today. Jack seems to like it OK, but he won't stay in it for very long. But that's OK because Mara likes getting her turn to hold him sometimes.

Sunday, March 21

Even though yesterday was the first day of spring, we got about 4-6 inches of snow overnight. We didn't know when Jack would get to see his first snowfall, and it ended up happening before he was even two weeks old. Mara helped me collect some snow, and we finally made some snow ice cream. Despite how much snow we received, there was only 1.3 inches at DFW Airport, so we're still half an inch away from setting a record for snowfall for a season.