Martha

First Smile - July 14, 2006
Baptism - August 20, 2006
Roll Over - August 21, 2006
First ER trip - August 27, 2006
Roll Back - September 3, 2006
First Giggle/Laugh - September 5, 2006
Second ER trip - September 17, 2006
First Sickness - September 18, 2006

Martha was diagnosed with Infectious Diarrhea last night. She’s hydrated well, thank God for my milk. I think she finds comfort with my breast as she rejects the bottle with my expressed milk so I was glued to her side most of the weekend. She is still an active baby, no noticeable symptoms except for poo ever after feeding. She’s into antibiotics and ORS to be safe. And Im now using sterilized mineral water (yep, twice) for her on everything. We are still wondering where she got it as she is still purely breastfed so she doesnt take any water in quantities that might infect her. But she is teething and she has her hands on her mouth 90% of the time, 10% of which are on things and toys everywhere. So most probably she got it there.

Since we still have no househelp, Mom has sacrificed and took Martha to Cavite. It’s better there - airconditioned room, fresh air, and she can have two nannies - ladies who stay there and help around the retreat house where my Dad is staying most of the time. I spent last weekend there, and everytime I go there, I find peace. What I can find without technology — priceless.

Matthew

Matthew is now a full blown attention craving son. Sibling rivalry hasnt kicked in yet. But he has verbalized that he wished he was the second baby so he can be taken cared of. He dotes on his baby sister, in fact, Martha goes to sleep with his singing, and first laughed because of Matthew. Their connection is awesome. But, it is a struggle, finding time to balance attention for both of them. Soon, I hope. Matthew has been having issues lately. Well, it has been there for a time but lately we have been noticing he is starting to act feminine more and more, and I have to admit it is bothering me - not because he might turn out to be gay but because he might get teased a lot. He told me he’s a boy. But it’s quite hard to explain in writing. Basta, minsan, napapansin ko nagiimagine sya na model daw sya, kasi mahilig manuod ng America’s Next Top Model. Tapos, pag nagsasayaw, medyo malambot, pero di naman maarte — pag mag-isa lang, un ang inaatupag nya, imagining things! Im analyzing that he is so much a Mama’s boy. He needs to be involved with Edil ASAP or else masasayang ang kagwapuhan ng anak ko, hahahaha. Any tips on how to do this? I dont want naman to put malice na bading sya or what — kasi gusto ko if he is, I want him to be open to us and not hide it. If you ask me kung ano instinct ko, ang sagot ko pa din HINDI. Pero syempre, I want to be sure. Edil is having a headache just thinking about this, LOL.

There.

What do you call a woman who will go to Cavite tomorrow just to deliver expressed milk when her daughter has formula stocked just in case?

A breastfeeding advocate.
My mom told me point blank to switch to formula for now since Martha has been having many poos, but I flatly told her NOT to give any formula until all my stock has been used up (She is going to take formula, sooner or later, this week, as I only have enough for 2 days). She told me my tenacity is amazing. I simply told her I want to give Martha the best option for now — and that is MY milk.

Information is wealth. I know the reason Martha is not hospitalized yet is because the antibodies in my body are fighting the infection. And that my milk is customizing its content according to what Martha needs NOW. I hope I can keep up until her first year. That is my plan.

Btw, I got a bone density test earlier and my calium levels are high, so normal that the doctor cant believe I dont take calcium supplements (even milk) — pwede pa ice cream, LOL. Im still taking them from now on as Ive read calcium levels of breastfeeding mothers drop by the 6th month. Falling hair has begun and I lose so much Im having a hair cut tomorrow.

More later.

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