The Yeast Beast

Disclaimer:  If you don't want to read about breastfeeding and boobs, don't read this!

Thrush:  the yeast beast.  I have Maggie to thank for that clever nickname.  Its been almost two and a half weeks since we started treating the thrush.  Thrush seems to be the gift that keeps on giving... except that you don't want it.  =(
On April 13th we went into the pediatrician's office because I was concerned about Henry having a cold.  While we were there the pediatrician examined him and asked me if his tongue is usually white.  I said yes, that it had been white for a while, but I just assumed that this was leftover milk from breastfeeding so often.  The pediatrician then determined that this was thrush and prescribed Henry Nystatin.  He also asked me if I had been having breast pain, but I said no, because at the time I didn't think what I was experiencing was necessarily "pain".  After talking to a friend, and doing a little bit of online research I realized that I was also infected with thrush, but just assumed that itching, burning sensation I was having was just a normal part of breastfeeding.  So with new information in hand we started an "aggressive" treatment of thrush.
We started with applying Nystatin on Henry's tongue 4 times a day, or after every day time feeding.  We first started using our fingers to do this, but then switched to using a Q-tip.  Lucky for us Henry happens to love Nystatin!  He takes it like a champ and actually enjoys when I apply it to his tongue!
After each feeding I would wipe off my breasts and apply a solution of one cup water, 1 tbsp vinegar.  I would then try to let them "air-out" as much as I could without giving the neighbors a free show.  I would also apply Mother Love's Diaper Rash and Thrush cream several times a day until I ran out of it.  I only had samples that I had gotten at Belly Bliss in Denver, where I used to go for prenatal fitness, yoga, and birth classes.  I really liked the Mother Love thrush cream because you didn't have to wash it off before a feeding, and it is olive oil based, so it just smells and feels really good.  I still continued to use my cloth breast pads but just changed them out after each feeding and washed them in really hot water with a few tbsps of vinegar.
After a few days with not a lot of progress I changed my cloth breast pads out for disposable ones and asked my midwife what else I could do.  She suggested applying Clotrimazole 1% on my nipples after feedings 4 times a day, but making sure to wipe it off before feeding Henry.  The first time I applied it I made sure to wipe it off well before feeding Henry, but even with doing so he still acted weird about it, and I could tell that he didn't really like the taste and knew that something was different.  This scared me a little bit so I decided just to use it 2 times a day.  About a week ago I felt like the yeast was taking over my whole body,  so my midwife prescribed me 2 pills of Diflucan to get rid if the yeast "down there".  Throughout this process I've been taking pro-biotics and trying to be careful about what I eat, but not completely depriving myself of all sugars and dairy.
On Tuesday last week Henry's tongue started looking better, but I felt like my breast pain was worse.  I decided to call the lactation consultant for some help.  She asked me if Henry still had thrush on his tongue, to which I told her yes, but that it was looking better.  She suggested that we talk with the pediatrician again, because after a week and a half of treatment she thought it should be gone.  On Wednesday after my 6 week check-up (which went great, and I've been cleared to exercise again, yay!) we stopped by the pediatrician's office.  She checked Henry out and thought that his tongue is looking great and nearly all better.  She suggested that we continue treatment for a few more days and finish up the second bottle of Nystatin.
Yesterday, we finished the Nystatin and both Henry and I am feeling much better.  I don't think the yeast is completely gone, its more in balance than it was before.  I am hopeful that we will both continue to get better, but if we don't, the next step is gentian violet, which can be a really messy treatment, so hopefully we don't have to go there.
Throughout this whole process I've learned a lot of information about thrush and discovered a lot of great resources.  I found The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Dr Jack Newman to be very helpful, and Kelly Mom also has a lot of great thrush resources.  Hopefully the yeast beast is on it's way out the door.

Play Dates!

Henry (and I) are so lucky to know quite a few babies and new moms that are right around Henry's age.  Last week we had not one, but two play dates with new friends!  Henry W. who was born 3/2/12 and Hunter who was born 2/24/12.  While the boys may not truly be interacting with each other yet, it is so nice for me to have time to relate with other mamas!

Two Henry's! 

What's so funny?

We are pretty darn cute. 

Whoa, what is that?  Is that your face? 

Yep, we hold hands.

Two cuties hanging out.

Sometimes I punch my buddies in the face (sorry Hunter)

Hunter is really interested in eating Henry's arm.

Who doesn't love a little Michael McDonald?

LJ has been really into Michael McDonald lately, and apparently, so is Henry.  Here is yet another Henry video for your viewing pleasure from last week, 4/17/12.  I kind of ruined it because I didn't know LJ was taking a video, but I don't think it ruins any of Henry's cuteness! =)

 

Henry's first video!

I know many of you have seen this already, but I came across this video today and couldn't help posting Henry's very first video that was taken when he was 20 weeks old in my belly!

Happy Henry!

Henry is starting to talk more and more these days.  Check out this video from last weekend (4/21/12):

Henry 5-6 weeks in pictures

Here's a  picture update from the last few weeks.  In other news Henry has his first cold and we both have thrush (more on that later).  Enjoy the pictures!  

Curious Henry

Getting some Grandma loving

Party animal with Beth and Carolyn at Beth's baby shower

Mama love

My little love cup

Spring time! 

Sleepy baby boy

 I blow bubbles!

I'm cute.

Whoa.  What are you doing lady?

Happy little man

Happy little man #2 

My boys.  =) 

Colorado Visitors!

This Thursday we had two very special visitors from Colorado-  Joe and Mary!  Joe and I used to teach together at Good Shepherd in Denver.  Henry got to meet the first of (hopefully) many GS friends.  They were back in the Midwest visiting family in MN and friends in Milwaukee, and lucky for us, we happen to live in-between!  It was wonderful to see you guys!  

A baby looks good on you Joe!

Two bald men.

Loving the football hold with Mary.

Mary's a natural. 

Henry at 1 Month

Its hard to believe that Henry is now 1 month old, and as I'm writing this, he is already 5.5 weeks!  Soon we will be measuring his age in months instead of weeks!
As a 1 month old baby Henry is awesome.  He has a great temperament and is generally happy if all of his needs are met.  Henry is super inquisitive and loves to look at people's faces and outside.  Henry loves to go on walks, but if we can't make it outside he loves to look out the window.
When Henry was first born he hated (with a passion) getting his diaper changed.  Now he tolerates it most of the time.  Sometimes he will scream, but now that he's discovered he can look out the window while he gets his diaper changed it seems to make him much happier.
When Henry first came home from the hospital he was eating A LOT.  Like every 1.5- 2 hours, even at night.  This made for lots of sleepless nights for mom.  Now that Henry is 1 month old, the past few weeks he has been spacing out his feedings by four hours at night, which is wonderful for mom and dad!
Speaking of night-time habits, Henry does not like to sleep in the pack -n-play in our bedroom.  He much prefers to sleep in his swing.  Since it is not the most recommended place for him to sleep all night, we have been trying to put him in there for 15 min and then transfer him to the pack-n-play.  This seems to work when we don't fall asleep before the timer goes off on the swing.  Since Henry does his best sleeping in the swing, I think its ok, at least for now.  =)
Henry is getting stronger every day and has much more control of his head now.  He can hold his head up while being burped and while in the Moby.  He still throws his head back sometimes and likes to head-butt my boobs.  
Henry continues to be a good eater and loves to nurse.  As of this Friday Henry weighs 9 lbs,13 oz ... almost 10 lbs!  No wonder my arms are sore!  Henry also took his first bottle from Dad this Friday.
Just today Henry cried with real tears for the first time.  This simultaneously totally melted my heart and made me so sad for him!  Poor little guy.  Its hard when all you want to do is eat and sleep, and you have to ride in your car-seat when you don't want too.
Henry is starting to "talk".  He is cooing and gurgling and making all kinds of fun and ridiculous noises to communicate with LJ and I .

The most amazing and heartwarming milestone so far is that around 4 weeks Henry started smiling!  Real, beautiful smiles, while looking right at mom and dad!  The little charmer has a dimple!  These smiles make all of the challenges and lack of sleep so worth it.  I predict Mr. Henry is going to be a smiley guy!  =)

Remember when I was the size of a blueberry inside your tummy?  Now I'm  bigger than my "Blueberry" bear! 

Oh hello.

Look ma, I'm smiling!  

 

Smiley guy!     

Happy Easter!

We celebrated a great Easter with both families yesterday.  Last year LJ and I were in Denver on Easter and feeling kind of sad because we couldn't spend it with family.  Now, a year later, we have a little family of our own, and we got to celebrate with both LJ's parents, and my parents and brothers!  Awesome.
Also on Easter, Henry officially turned 1 month old.

Our little family.  Easter 2012. 

With Emily's family after church.

Henry in his little-man Easter outfit.  

I'm one month old! 

Happy Easter folks! 

Henry's fourth week

Henry pleasantly surprised us with sleeping for four hours in a row AT NIGHT on his four week "birthday" mark.  He then repeated this for two more nights!  It was amazing.  Sadly, this run ended last night, but he is moving in the direction of spacing out his feedings and sleeping a little bit longer at night.  Never thought I would be so excited to sleep four hours in a row, but even 3.5 hours feels amazing!  =)
I know he's only 4 weeks, but it feels like Henry is growing up before my eyes!  Its such a cliche, but its true that this time goes by so quickly.  Henry is definitely getting bigger, I'm guess around 9lbs, and is becoming more interactive.  He's starting to coo and make funny sounds other than grunts and cries.  Henry loves to be outside, and when he's not outside, he's fascinated with looking out the window.  I think we may have a little outdoors-man, which makes mom and dad VERY happy.
We had a surprise visit from Maddie S, and her mom, Amy, who I went to high school with last week.  It was great to see them and catch up.  We've decided that Henry and Maddie will be each other's prom dates.  =)

Our first time taking the Bob out for a stroll.  Thanks to the generosity of the families at Good Shepherd we got it with a gift certificate. We love it! 

Henry and his lady friend.

Family snuggle time.

My sweet little man.

Henry's third week

If mom's boob is not available, dad's nose is just a as good. 

Taking a walk in the Moby to enjoy the amazing weather! 

Visiting with Grandpa Yak.

Visiting with Grandma Yak. 

This is how Henry felt about his first "big boy" bath.

Going for a walk with Daddio.

This is how Henry felt about his second bath. 

Much better. 

Meeting the other Henry, who was born 3/2/12.   Note that Henry Sustar is not so chubby that his pants can't button, its his cloth diaper that adds about 2 pounds. 

Henry's third week brought us a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Yak last Sunday.  They brought us dinner and stayed to give Henry lots of kisses and love.  =) On Monday we had Henry's two week check up where we learned that Henry is doing a great job eating, as he was 7 lbs, 14.5 oz, and is probably 8 lbs something by now!  Also at Henry's check up he illustrated how fantastically his bodily functions are working.  When we got to the appointment Henry had a poop incident that came out of his cloth diaper, but it was ok since we needed to get him undressed to weigh him anyways.  After we cleaned him up and weighed him, I was carrying him back into the room and he peed all over me.  Awesome.
We started using the cloth diapers during the day about two weeks ago, but we are still using disposables at night.  Maybe its just us, but we seem to be having lots of cloth diaper leaks.  Including three that have happened in our bed.  (Of course!) I'm hoping maybe this will change once he is just a bit bigger?
On Thursday of last week we had a visit from "the other Henry" (aka:  Henry W).  Henry W is the son of one of LJ's co-workers and was born just about a week before our Henry.  It was pretty cute to see them together.
Now that I am starting to feel more healed, we've been trying to get outside everyday  for walks to enjoy the amazing weather!