I cannot believe it, but I woke up this morning with what I know to be mastitis brewing in my right breast. The hot knife of pain, the ache in my spine, the dizzyness. My milk supply is all over the place after the Great Winter Sickness, where Meeps went from being night weaned (I had cut her off from bedtime until 5am, though she protested thoroughly) to nursing all day and all night, as it was her only sustinence. She had stopped eating and eventually stopped drinking (even when I pulled out the ever coveted, but seldom used packet of straws). So I was happy to be nursing…. but man. The decongestants I caved in and took for my horrible sinus schmutzery were reducing my supply at the same time. Up, down, all around. Milk madness. My right breast is more than twice the size of my left and stuffed with a rabid raccoon of agony.
We managed to watch The Hangover a couple of nights ago. We loved it. Zach Galifinakas is hilarious. During the scene where one of the groomsmen meets the stripper/escort he accidently married, and she promptly starts openly breastfeeding, I turned to Scott and was like “that’s me, isn’t it. Boob out, like all the time.” And my loving mate responded “yes, only you have colourful tattoos all over your breasts to really draw the attention in.” Thanks, honey. We were laughing that I should make myself a scoop necked shirt that reads “INDISCREETLY BREASTFEEDING SINCE 2006!” As I do. It’s a natural thing, and if you don’t like it, don’t look.
I’d really like to tell you all about the great stride we’ve hit in the discipline department (also known as, our lives have all been markedly better lately) but I have to prep for a talk on EC I’m giving tomorrow, do some printing for a neighbour, flyer every house on our concession for an upcoming gathering and get groceries.
Life is good. Busy, wonderful.
Here are some snaps from our excursion with our neighbour into our bush.
Here are some snaps my dad took out of a little plane recently, of a section of our property, the bustling Kincardine airport, the lighthouse in town.
Oh god mastitis sucks. I had it briefly thankfully when Addie was little. Does the cabbage leaf thing really work? I was in hospital still when I got it, and the midwives told me loads of other ways to help it, one of which (sounds bizarre I know) was to get a wide tooth comb and gently ‘comb over the red bits towards my nipple to help get the milk going. I felt like an idiot and I didn’t think that it initially made any different cos my tit was killing me but once I put the comb in the comb in the fridge that made me feel a bit better. But that wasn’t infectios mastitis or anything like that so I didn’t need antibiotics cos thankfully it fixed itself. I hope your bewb feels better soon.
And I was reading your bits on EC. I wish I had started it sooner because we are only just now having a go with Addie. She finally last night did a wee on the potty after a week of nothing and I was so excited I nearly wet myself too. She’s too big for a potty so we’ve had to put her straight on the toilet with a booster seat!
A friend told me she was going to hear an EC talk from you. I wish I could be there. I’d really like to talk face to face about EC with someone who has been so successful.
I hope your boobs cool down soon. Sorry to hear that you’ve all been feeling poorly. Hoping things get more comfortable for you soon!
Alex – EC is just about communication! Start really talking to Addie about her peeing and pooing and I am sure she’ll pick it up!
Laura – Hey, if you ever want to talk on the telephone about it, I’m totally game. Love talking about this stuff!
And thank you both, my boob is feeling less atrocious!
I will do, thanks! I was actually surprised at how quickly she watched what I was doing and picked it up, hilariously her favourite thing to do so far is to sit there and dab at her lady bits with a tissue (and read/pretend to read a book! Just like her parents!)
I definitely need to talk to her more about it but I’m not really sure how to start. She probably has no blinkin’ idea what is going on and I should pull my finger out and get stuck in and try and figure out her erratic pooping and peeing schedule.
Alex – definitely see if you can see a pattern, how long after she eats, etc. But even for the “misses”, cue her “HEY! YOU’RE PEEING!” It doesn’t matter if it’s not in the toilet, the point is just that they figure out, hey this thing I’m doing is called pooing. The more you can catch even the misses, and identify them, the better. Of course, trying to get them in the potty is ultimate goal, but start just namin’ ‘em where EVER you can!
I’ve never experienced mastitis but I think that boobs are amazing for a variety of reasons, so I send my every blessing to yours. ‘The Hangover’ is so funny, I watched it the other night at a friend’s house with a tasty curry. We also watched ‘The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto’, an animated film by Rob Zombie. Have you seen it? It’s literally bouncing with animated boobs.
““INDISCREETLY BREASTFEEDING SINCE 2006!””
you genious!
Ivy, I have not seen it but since I share the Boobs Are Amazing sentiment, I will put it onto the list, pronto!
Great photos! I love the horses all hooked up. What a neat experiences your children have on a daily bases! Way to go!
~M~
That is a really nice offer, especially since I am sure you don’t have much spare time between the kids, your goats, pets and projects!
I am having trouble talking on the phone right now without bursting into tears (I blame pregnancy hormones). Would you be open to an email conversation? If I could send you a brief overview of how far we’ve come and the plateau we seem to have hit, then hear your thoughts, i think that would be very helpful.
Also, a friend of mine is leaving next week to visit Canada (family in Walkerton) and asked me about Sugar Shack. I told her from what I’ve heard your husband is booked for years but that he sometimes had the open days. Are there any on in the next month or so that I could tell her about? Or is she out of luck?
Just curious, how do you handle EC in public situations?
Laura – no sweat, just shoot me an email! If you’re coming from a distance, get in touch in advance of your trip and we can try to fit you in. He also does walk in Fridays through the summer. Email me.
Ali – same way I handle it with my toddler and myself, just find a toilet! If it’s a busy parking lot, and not appropriate to pee beside someone, I just have them pee onto a spare diaper. I used to travel with a potty seat in the car with Bob, but we never did it with Maggie.
Owieee mastitis! Glad to read your boob is on the mend now. I am a LLL peer supporter and see lots of mums with blocked ducts and mastitis, I feel so lucky that I haven’t had that so far nursing Pearl.
That ‘indiscreetly breastfeeding’ thing made me really chuckle!
I always enjoy coming here. Your family is beautiful and you are the most amazing woman I have ever beheld and that aint no shit. I really am amazed with the REAL life that you guys are living, genuine and genuinely inspirational.
Now that I can feel less guilty for never commenting allow me to add oh no on the mastitis. I remember Christopher and I trading thrush and all the horrors that went with that. Yikes. As impossible as this sounds it sure would be great if you could rest a bit. A bit. Get better now, see if apple cider vinegar taken internally wipes it out and good luck.
I have a question for you about cloth diapering during tummy sickeness (yep, diarrhea). Do you know if one is supposed to disinfect diapers after a bout of possible rotavirus? I’m not too keen on using bleach on diapers (bought mostly organic fabric diapers to avoid the nasty toxins in bleach). Have you ever had to deal with that?
Hope you feel better. Beautiful photos! Beautiful blog.
Cynthia, I am not well versed on rota virus. I am going to say that I would personally use a light peroxide in the wash, and be sure to rinse it very, VERY well.
Elizabeth, Theresa – thank you. Blush!
Natalie – I hope you NEVER have to know that pain personally!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like a beautiful winter from here. Hope you’re feeling better!
Cynthia: A little tiny bit of tea tree oil could be used in a wash. It’s an antibacterial and antifungal, and would be better than bleach. Or some vinegar.
what’s wrong with bleach?
as far as I’ve always known bleach is an excellent disinfectant. mostly chlorine.
Cabbage Leaves!? my wife had problems with our first child. her hangers went from doorknobs to bowling ballsssss! The cabbage leaves (or leafs) didn’t do jacksh*t. I have no idea of the pain, but I can imagine. I’d have to chalk them up as old wives remedies.
I don’t wish that on anyone, and I can only imagine what you are going through.
first bout was concurrent with intestinal bug and period. I’m so glad I wasn’t born a woman! I’d make a lousy one!
Thanks for the suggestions Twwly and Gillian!
SCI — The chlorine, that’s what’s wrong with bleach… or are you kidding?
Apart from not wanting to breathe it, drink it, or touch it… it destroys the P.U.L. in cloth diapers. And no mommies I know want any bleach residue on my babies most private parts! Yuck.
Cabbage leaves worked for me this time, and many times in the past. I’m sorry if they did not offer a miracle cure to your wife during extreme engorgement.
You would never use antigalactagogue (as I was using for engorgement coupled with mastitis with a 1.5 year old) when milk comes in for a new baby. Your boobs get huge, they hurt, baby nurses, it gets better. This is what happens. My present issue and “the Boob Fairy Cometh” are two different things.
There are no negative side effects (other than smelling like cabbage of course!) so I figure why not give the “Old Wives” a chance.