Swimming Upstream

Here we go again. Back on the breastfeeding tirade again. I swear I am on this earth for some purpose, some days I’m sure of what it is, some days not. This is one of the latter.
I have been a La Leche League leader in this Iowa town for eight years. (Gawd, has it really been that long???) I have helped numerous moms who’ve wanted to breastfeed, and have helped moms to wean who were feeling ready to move to the next step in their parenting journey. Overall I’d say the past eight years have been rewarding, frustrating, and enlightening all at the same time. Every mother has her own take on what kind of mother she wants to be and how breastfeeding might fit into that. Some moms who desperately want to nurse cannot for whatever reason (usually circumstances out of their control, or lack of info from the onset) are devastated that it isn’t meant to be for them. I mourn along with these mothers. Part of their dream of motherhood has died and they have to come to terms with mothering in a slightly different way.

Most women who are committed to breastfeeding have success in breastfeeding. I love these mothers. I am so encouraged when I meet a mom that is longing for that closeness and natural experience with their baby. It’s exciting to be able to help them and I love seeing their joy in their success and how they marvel at the awesomeness of their body’s ability to sustain another human being. It feels like the universe is in order when I can be a part of that.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the mother who attends a couple meetings, has trouble nursing in the early days in the hospital, and is soon formula feeding her baby. I usually see her out in public with a bottle or hear from a mutual acquaintance that the breastfeeding ‘didn’t work out’. I always react the same way, a little disappointed, sad for the mother that she maybe didn’t get the help she needed, and wondering if I should have done more to encourage or inform her. Maybe if I’d gone to the hospital to visit her I could have helped. Maybe I should have at least called. And I still haven’t taken her and her hubby a meal like I’d planned. I really should have, then I could have been there if she’d had questions.

Or maybe it was just her choice, and that’s okay. But it feels like I have failed.

As an endnote here I have to say that the mom I’m referring to here could have possibly avoided all this if only the docs would have been patient and trusted the miracle of breastmilk in the case of jaundice. Instead they supplemented and apparently the mom never went back. It seems like it all could have been easily avoided. When will things ever change??? What is the next batch of pediatricians learning about jaundice in med school right now? How long will it take for policies to change??!

Sophie Update

Life with a new dog definitely has it’s ups and downs. She is still sweet and lovable, but we’ve learned she has some separation issues. My daughter has been showering her with attention and Sophie is not alowed in the kids bedrooms (for now) and so at night she fusses and then chews my daughters flip flops to shreds. I think it’s a love/hate thing. Loves my daughter so much but is angry that she’s deserted her so she chews. Hmmm. A crate will fix that, it’s coming tomorrow. As well as a choke chain to curb her nasty leash behavior. I don’t think she really walked much on a leash before we got her.
We’re still trying to figure out the rules. I would love her to be able to have free roam of the house, and my daughter wants her in her bed at night, but untiil we have her awhile and make sure the potty issues are resolved, I really don’t want her on my carpet unattended. So much for my soft heart!

And yes, Roobee, I can’t wait to knit for her! I saw a great dog sweater book at the library. Gotta get the Kevat shawl done first. It’s posted on my ravelry page for anyone who cares. It’s nearly done, photos coming soon.

In other news, I spent ten hours in bed today with a migraine.  Woke up this morning feeling awful and took meds, ate some toast, and went back to bed.  Got up at 6:15 pm.  Not good.  Thankfully my DH had the day off and could help me with what had to be done.  I missed an all star game this evening and feeling bad about that, but mostly I’m just relieved that the pain in my head is gone.  This was a scary one, vomiting, and pure misery.  I took my max of meds and was worried I’ve have to go to the ER if it didn’t let up.   That doesn’t happen often, maybe once per year, but I’ve had two of those in the past 30 days.  Send some healing thoughts my way.  Or the name of a good surgeon who can perform a headectomy.  That is my husband’s idea.  He’s so helpful.

Miss Sophie Butterscotch

Well, I have done it again – gone off the deep end like there’s no tomorrow. We got a new dog today, Sophie. She’s a very sweet little thing, the kids love her, and she has a great story too.

One day last week my friend Melissa told me about a dog had been hit by a car and brought into the vet clinic where she works. The woman who hit her couldn’t keep her and the dog was in foster care. Today I called the woman and she told me how the dog ran in front of her car and about the many people who stopped to help. One woman offered to pay for half the doctor bills, one woman insisting on saying a prayer for the dog and so everyone around prayed for the dog. Another woman said that since the dog appeared to be dying that it wouldn’t be right for her to die without a name, so she offered up the name ‘Sophie’, after a dog she once had that looked similar to this dog. Though the dog was limp and in shock, it was a miracle that she only sustained a ruptured ear drum and a fractured pelvis.

She is getting around fine considering her pelvis injury, but whimpers when she gets in a position that hurts her back end. She’s getting along fine with Bruno, the 6 year old Husky/Shepherd we’ve had for five years.  She’s pottying outside, no accidents so far in the house.  She loves the kids and is not aggressive in any way.  She lets us pick her up (she’s about 12 pounds), and she isn’t hyper or barky…so far.

I told the fam that we are test driving her to be sure she fits our family.  But actually, I think I can tell that she fits in fine.  But then again, new brooms sweep clean.  I’ll keep you posted!

Bruno, king of the castle (before today)