Success!!!

Mark this date down on your calendars - December 11, 2012:  the day Rossleigh Dewey breastfed for the first time!!  Okay, so probably not something you'll want to mark on your calendar, but definitely something to go on ours!!  Since we've been home from the hospital, I have periodically attempted to get Rossleigh to latch on so that once she was able to tolerate the consistency of milk, breastfeeding wouldn't be a foreign concept to her.  I would always wait until after I'd emptied my breast via pumping and also tried to wait until after she was satisfied from eating (but still wanting just a little more) so that she wouldn't get too frustrated.  She's latched on before, but lost patience and unlatched.  This wasn't a huge deal in the past because she wasn't physically ready for milk consistency anyway.

Anyway, since Rossleigh tolerated milk consistency well at the swallow test, but did have those "flashes", they suggested we wait about 3-4 weeks before making the full switch to breast milk/regular formula.  Since the last swallow test, I've been having her practice a few times a week (well, it's only been a week, but still).  She would lose patience easily so I was feeling a little discouraged.  I started feeling like I was sentenced to a year or more of exclusive pumping...I won't lie - pumping EXCLUSIVELY really kinda sucks, but I'm still thankful that I have milk coming in so I would do it if I needed to.

So today, we were practicing again...except this time I was a overdue for pumping (so I was full of milk) and she was pretty hungry.  Wait for it....she latched and continued to feed from the breast!!!!!!  Yippee!!!  For those who have never dabbled in pumping or breastfeeding, this probably seems like no big deal (because I know I probably would have felt that way before I had RSD), but I assure you that it is HUGE!!  :)

On top of it, my friend (and one of Rossleigh's Godmothers), Nicole came over this evening to help us out with latching on correctly and gave me some tips to get me to increase my supply.  We're so lucky to have her in our lives!!

Worky Stuff and Appointments

Well, it's official...I returned back to work today (but only part time until the end of the year).  I balled like a baby when I left Rossleigh before heading to work!!!  I stayed pretty busy while I was at work, so I only cried twice while I was there.  Yeahhhh, I know...I'm a wimp!  I just didn't want to leave her.  :(  It will get easier with time, I'm sure.

On top of leaving her for the first time, she had vaccinations at her 2 month checkup this morning (poor planning on my part). Cuddling my little one when she was fussy was not in the cards for today - for me, anyway.  THREE shots in her widdle wegs (that's "little legs" for those of you that don't speak babytalk) plus an oral vaccination.  Poor baby!  She's a little warrior though and she has the pink camo bandaids to prove it!!  LOL

It turns out that she is 10 lbs, 10 oz now, but hasn't grown a smidge in length!  So she's growing, but just in her tummy and cheekies!!  Little stinker!

TOMORROW - swallow function study!  Please pray that she is able to tolerate thinner fluids now.  We're praying for regular milk consistency so that she can finally take breast milk, but we'll even settle for half nectar consistency.  Even if she's still at the nectar stage, it's fine, but we're really hoping that she's had some muscle development and improvement in her throat. I'll give an update tomorrow with all the details of that!!  :)