The Babymoon's Over

3 and 1/2 week old "Belle" feet with a little kitty that was mine

Okay, so it's not exactly the way it sounds.  In fact, things are going much smoother now than they were several weeks ago.  My sweet girl, whom I will call Belle here on the blog, has finally hit her birth weight!  While I stopped worrying about it when she finally stopped losing weight at three weeks old, it was still very exciting when I saw the scale read 9 pounds 9.5 ounces last Monday.  Her birth weight plus half an ounce!  And all week long she kept on gaining.  All the way into the 10 pound range. 

But still, the babymoon's over.  That is, my bloggy break is over.  I can't promise that some small or large "catastrophe" won't come up around here (you know, sickness, or a week of no sleep or sitting to stare at the latest accomplishment by one of my littles, or just cuddling, or continued intensive training of all my children for obedience at once), but as far as I have planned, I'm back! 

And I'm so excited to be back.  I have lots to share.  Lots of back stories.  Lots of plans.  Things happen around here and I think, "Oooo, I should blog about that."  And that's where I'm left off.  With plans to do just that. 

Let's be realistic... more than half of those things will never make it onto this blog.  But hopefully the really fun and really important stuff will. :)  And hopefully you'll enjoy it... even comment.  Now that would be cool!

Up first this week?  Belle's birth story.  I've broken it into pieces and the first bit is scheduled to hit the blog Tuesday... stay tuned!

Labels: As it happens...

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 11:38 PM 0 Comments

Returning soon...

... at least that's my plan.

In the mean time, this post really spoke to where I am these days! 

Labels: Passing it On, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 4:29 PM 0 Comments

A chance to get some great homesteading stuff free! I'm in!

I'd love to know how many of my readers are of a "homesteaders" mindset. 

Anyone? 

Well, anyway... you could say that I am.  I want chickens so I can collect my own eggs (or rather so the kids can).  I want goats (or even a cow would be awesome!) so we can have fresh milk.  I want land and gardens and fences and even a barn... if we're lucky. (Not that I believe in luck.  'Cause I don't.)

I had to share this bit of my dreamland so you'd understand why I'm bopping in here during my baby-moon simply to share this with you. 

You see... the new owners over at Homestead Drying Racks have come out with an Ezine about homesteading.  And it looks to be absolutely beautiful inside.  And the first one is free!  Go get it... check it out... and enjoy!

But, ultimately, as cool as that is... it's not really enough to get me back here blogging when there are babies to care for and a house falling apart. 

Nope, but the huge and amazing giveaway they are having to celebrate the debut of this online magazine IS enough to break me away for a few minutes. 

I'd take just about any of the 10 prizes they're offering... but I'm really torn about whether I am desperate for the 1st or 2nd prizes.  I really want them both... as in, I've been wanting both for a long while and it probably won't be in the budget for either anytime soon.  :( 

So... here I am spreading the news about both.  Go over there.  Get your free magazine and enter this giveaway!!!

Labels: Homesteading, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:30 PM 2 Comments

A quick update

Just popping in to share a quick update. 

3 weeks old yesterday. 

Things are looking up a little.  She seems to be nursing stronger.  I actually hear swallowing from time to time.  And she's gaining.  Not much... but something.  Up 1.5 ounces on Saturday.  And stayed about the same since.  But she's not dropping weight.  Hopefully she won't anymore.  Yesterday I skipped cup feeding expressed milk after each nursing (feeding expressed milk from a medicine cup tiny sip at a time to avoid introducing a bottle for those of you unsure what I mean by that) because I hadn't been able to pump the night before.  I decided to just see what would happen when I weighed her today.  She was either up a tiny or the same (my scale rounds to the nearest 1/2 ounce), so I am encouraged. 

Yesterday was quite the day, between not cup feeding and too much sleep... therefore only getting 7 feedings in rather than 8.  I really expected her to drop... but no. 

Please keep praying.  My scale read 8 pounds 8 ounces this morning.  Birth weight was 9 pounds 9 ounces.  Keeping in mind that the two scales are different and we don't know how they compare... we're still a ways off. 

Labels: As it happens..., Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:12 PM 0 Comments

How I'm Spending My Days...

No, I'm not really back yet.  And, though I want to be, I don't quite know when I will be fully here.

I'm not even sure I'm fully HERE... in my home... in real life.

I'm stopping in quickly to share a tiny picture of life right now... and to ask you to pray.

My sweet girl is 16 days old... yet it feels like she's been part of our family forever.

Days and nights are full of caring for her and the other children.  She sleeps pretty good at night, which means I do too for the most part.  And of course she is so very sweet.

But she's not gaining weight.

I know.  Shocker.  That one of my children should struggle with weight?  Nonsense!  (Roll of eyes inserted here!)

Trouble is that she's continuing to lose weight and is down to 8lbs. 5ozs.  And that's on my scale, which, I believe is higher than the hospitals if I remember right.

We've seen the pediatrician and he's not worried yet... but still.  Please pray that my little girl will stop losing and start gaining weight.  Feedings seem to be going better, but she's continued losing even though I've been cup feeding her expressed milk after most feedings.

So approximately 8 hours of each day are spent feeding this precious little one!!  And most days that's with only one middle of the night feeding.  That's a lot of feeding during the days!!!  Please pray things will get easier!!!

Thanks!

Labels: As it happens..., Breastfeeding, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:05 PM 2 Comments