Brenik 6-8 Months

6 months

It's been awhile since giving an update about Brenik, part of that has been situational but a lot of it has been avoidance. A couple months ago the boys and I all came down with hand, foot, and mouth, it was pretty mild but nevertheless it caused quite the number of issues for me and Brenik. After Brenik's illness he had his 6 month wellness checkup and at that time we discovered Brenik hadn't gained any weight since 4 months of age. It wasn't that he hadn't gained weight but that any weight he had gained he had lost due to the acute illness. The doctor at that point wasn't concerned but wanted a weight check in 2-3 weeks. Unfortunately when I got HFM it caused a clogged milk duct that then turned towards mastitis, I was able to clear it before the infection got too bad but because I was actively trying so hard to clear the blockage, I created what I later learned was a milk bleb. Have you heard of a milk bleb? I hadn't until I had one. At the weight check we were expecting Brenik to have gained weight because the main clog was gone (I didn't know yet that the bleb was also blocking milk) but he had lost more weight and was now below the 0th percentile. This was absolutely devastating. How was my child wasting away right in front of my eyes without me even noticing? Below the 0th percentile, cue mommy guilt skyrocketing to levels unknown. I mentioned to the pediatrician I had been having nursing issues so she set me up to see the lactation consultant after the appointment. From the lactation consultant I learned that a milk bleb is basically a cyst on the top of the nipple. The LC used a needle to pick it open, had me nurse and then instructed me to open it back up proceeding and following every time I nurse to let milk pass through. I originally thought this would just be a 1-2 day process but wound up being something I had to do multiple times a day everyday for a month. Awful, just awful, it felt like a very sick, sick joke that this is what I had to do and broke me emotionally several times throughout the month.

Etsy Love {{5}}

I love that next week I get to say, "we fly home next week!" Well, our other home. We really live and breath the mentality that home is where we are because Japan has been just as much our home as Washington has since we've gotten married. We're starting to talk to Gabriel about our flight and how we're moving back to our other home. I think it's important to keep it in his mind that we have multiple places we live and that the physical places isn't what's important, home is where we are living no matter where that might be. 

Here are my picks this week, a little late... Have any finds to share with me?!

eclu: $78.00+

9 Ways to Avoid Mommy Burnout

Feeling burned out, struggling with anxiety or flirting with depression are all very real and common issues of being a mom (or parent). I spoke candidly last winter about my surprising battle with postpartum depression. I wound up sinking even deeper the months to follow, the first couple months in Japan being some of the darkest moments of my life. Fortunately I eventually started to recover and can say I've been in a healthy place mentally and emotional for a few months now. Though I still have days that throw me, they don't consume or control me anymore. I cannot pinpoint an exact day or event that caused me to start recovering, it doesn't really work that way. What I can say is that I tried to be very intention with my day in finding ways to promote lifted spirits! The following are practices that have helped me and continue to help me on this journey of motherhood.

Etsy Love {{4}}

We're beginning to pack up the apartment more seriously this week, cannot believe it's that time! So much to look forward to in the next month which doesn't include the actual flight... Really digging the 'home' pillow right now, though I feel like we'd need 2; one for Washington and one for Japan! Hope you enjoy this week's picks!

OohLookItsARabbit: $70.00

Online Shopping: Fabric

The following is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own, you are welcome to visit my disclosure page. 

A question I get quite frequently is, "do you ever buy fabric online?" Yes, yes I do! Since I have access to such wonderful fabrics in Japan six months out of the year it doesn't happen often but when there is a specific fabric I'm looking for and can't find it in my current country, I'll order it. I typically keep to Etsy and fabric.com only because those are were the only two places I knew of but recently I stumbled upon some attractive and unique fabric designs in an unexpected place, Minted! You know that feeling you get when you discover something truly amazing and want to tell everyone? That's me right now! Have you heard of Minted? The last I knew Minted was an online place where I could go for Christmas cards, friends it's so much more than that! First, lets ogle at some prints shall we?