Mastitis

After a morning of tears and fears we made an appointment with Katie's OB and discovered that she most likely has mastitis.  We will know for sure after this round of antibiotics.  I feel pretty bad for Katie.  We thought we had things figured out yesterday, but after using the pump we found out that it wasn't only the outsides hurting, it was the insides too.  In my last post I posited that we had the right tools and the right perspective to make breastfeeding work.  I was wrong.  But hopefully now we have the right tools to make this work.  After being beset by all these roadblocks and holes in the road, this effort is as much physical as it is emotional.  I'm hoping we hit smooth pavement and can ride it all the way home now.

My family is awesome.  Katie was able to pump enough for us to be safe leaving Lydia with the fam while we went to an impromptu doctors appointment and then to lunch afterwards while we waited for them to call in her prescriptions (We ended up having to wait 45 minutes at the pharmacist's anyway, but at least we tried!).  It was our first time extendedly away from Lydia.  We both missed her fiercely. (And don't worry, this was an exceptional occasion.  We're not planning on being away from our little one again for a loooong time.) My sister sent us pictures of Lydia and the family during the day and Katie and I would "d'awwwww!  So cute!" followed shortly by "I miss my baby!!"   My mother picked up a large number of items from our list before showing up!   Our bedroom is no longer doomed to smell like baby poo, as she grabbed us a trashcan with a lid!  We don't have to worry about losing all the hospital paperwork, as she got us a small document container!  We're not going to run out of new born diapers!  These and other wonderful things were facilitated by the wallet and kind heart of my mother.  So much gratitude!

I love how much my family loves my little girl!  Lydia brings out the motherly side of Alicia so strongly!  It's really cute to see how much her Aunt loves her, and how content she is in Alicia's arms.

We're trying to get ahead of Lydia's appetite using the pumps, but thus far we haven't been successful.  She wants it all!  Hopefully as we continue to pump we'll catch up.

Sometimes I feel like I should rename this blog to more accurately reflect its contents.  Possibilities include:

• Feeding Lydia, The Epic Journey
• Lydia and Company, The Photo Gallery
• TMI Time With Jolley

If you think of other fun titles, post them in the comments below.

Picture Dump!

Lydia's cousin made these for us!  Aren't they awesome!

This one is my favorite of the two.

Auntie Alicia loves her niece!

So does Auntie Jessica.  I love Grandpa's smile here.

Grandpa holds her so carefully.

Sleeeeeeepy Lydia

Yaaaaaawn!

She looks so much like a monkey in this shot!

This one too!

Laying down on daddy's chest.

Yay bonding!

As a bonus, here's a pic of Grandpa napping