Category: me

Today was, whew. I woke up to someone yelling downstairs, which had me up like a shot – only to find that they were arguing over a soda straw and a yarn end. I was so not patient with that, especially because there were four other yarn bits and two other straws right there, for God’s sake. Argh!

Then Bede was very upset (read: screaming at the top of his lungs) because one of his favorite websites was down. And then Gilbert, who is working on getting out of diapers, had a huge mess. And all the dipes and wipes were out in the laundry room, which is outside. And it was cold.

It was at that point that I wanted to just go back to bed.

And then, this afternoon, the pipe leading to the main sewer clogged, so every single drain in my house overflowed. Yep. While Sean was gone, and unreachable, for about 5 hours. Yes, the toilet too. And the kids were in the shower, so the bathtub was full, and the sink in the bathroom was full because Sean had shaved in it just a few minutes before, and the kitchen sink full because Faith had used it.

And then?

Then the water from the bathroom, the toilet water, the yucky from a rinsed diaper water, it seeped through the floor and started leaking through the kitchen ceiling.

Right over the cereal and cracker boxes. Yah.

Mr. Rooter was called and all was fixed. My mom came over and a.) watched the kids for 20 min while the plumber fixed it and b.) paid for said plumber because I had no money and Sean was gone. Our landlord will reimburse you Mom, but thanks for being there (like always, but we don’t take you for granted Mom. you’re amazing!)

So, that was that. Guh.

My friend learned today that her unborn son does NOT have a life-threatening urinary valve blockage and associated renal failure. So even though my day really blew hers was one of the best of her life, I’d expect. I’m totally basking in that happiness secondhand, and so, so glad that my biggest problems are poopy cereal boxes and squabbles over yarn ends.

Goodnight all.

So I kept notes on the clickity girl. She needed relatching less and less over the last few days for pain, but still had the same amount of clicking. The air swallowing is getting a little better, but not consistently.

 At this time, I’m not going to consult a doctor. I found out without a referral we would pay out of pocket, and we have our first appointment with the family practice assigned to us by the state (we have state insurance) on Feb. 13th. Can’t get them to see us any sooner, but it’s okay. I’ll ask for a referral then, unless it gets awful between then and now.

My major concern is of course how much Gloria is eating. As long as she’s growing, sleeping well, and going through lots of wet and messy diapers (she is) my fears are assuaged. I also worry about her latch affecting my milk supply and/or damaging my nipples – if I can’t feed her because of this that’s obviously a big problem. So far we are only dealing with minor pain on my part, no actual injury. I’m used to pain.

So, as it stands we will continue to do what we’re doin’.

She sleeps well at night, which makes everything easier. Wakes up about 3-4 times, nurses for a bit, gets burped, and we go back to sleep. I have had much more trying newborns than her, sleep-wise.

All is going as well as it can, which is pretty good, you know?

I’m really ticked off. I was treated poorly this morning by people who should have wanted to help me and my daughter. It hurt my feelings and made me feel angry and helpless.

First, a brief anatomy lesson.

Gloria has a very “clicky” latch. She also swallows air, audibly. Her latch hurts a bit when she first attaches (normal) and then progresses to a different sort of discomfort as she retracts her tongue and starts clicking and swallowing air. It doesn’t have anything to do with my milk ejection reflex as it happens before it lets down, after, during… it’s independent of that.

I suspect posterior occult tongue tie, or tight frenulum. It’s treated by applying a topical anesthetic to the underside of the tongue (that banana stuff they use before the shot at the dentist) and then the tissue holding the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is cut, and when it heals it’s not as tight. It’s almost painless (even without anesthesia) and it provides immediate resolution of the problem.

The trouble is most doctors have never heard of posterior tongue tie because it doesn’t affect bottlefeeding much. They think tongue tie is largely related to the position of the frenulum, not the length. So you have to really look around to find a pediatrician experienced enough in breastfeeding difficulties and, more importantly, solutions, to diagnose and treat it.

OK, OK Fee, you are thinking. Cut to the chase, as it were.

This is the most breastfeeding friendly pediatrician in Oklahoma City. I’ve met him. He’s really nice, down to earth, and intelligent. (Also, I happen to know he knits. Which, you know, would irrationally predjudice me in his favor.) We went to him about eight years ago when Faith was tiny, I think twice, then moved to Wichita, Kansas. When we moved back to Oklahoma four years ago we didn’t use him as a ped because our insurance had changed.

OK, fast forward to this morning. I called to see if I could schedule a visit today for Gloria. We’d have to pay out of pocket, I knew, but I figured one visit and one procedure would be doable. I was hopeful that we could be seen today, even, since feeding difficulties are very important to catch.

They won’t see us, ever.

Apparently we owed them some money from 8 years ago, like $30 that insurance didn’t pick up, and since we never paid, they very snippily told me “your family is not welcome at our practice and has been discharged.” I asked if we could pay the past due amount this morning and was told no. I said “but my daughter really needs to see Dr. Moore! He’s the only pediatrician I know of with enough breastfeeding experience to diagnose her! Please, let us pay you this miniscule bill we knew NOTHING ABOUT!”

“No.” said the office manager haughtily from her high horse. “You are no-good, no-count people who shouldn’t have children anyway, and they deserve to suffer for your irresponsibility.”

Well, okay, she didn’t say that last part, but she implied it.

So now I have a clicky latch air swallowing kid, an angry feeling in the pit of my stomach, and no other ideas. I guess I get to hope it resolves, which it can, but it’s not fun while you’re waiting for the frenulum to stretch. It takes months.

Those rotten bastards.

ETA: Have mustered some other troops – CBEs, LLL Leaders, and local midwives. Maybe someone has a recommendation.

That about says it, huh?

Baby and mother are just spiffy.

 She sure looks like Gil!