Real Quick (it seems that's always my blog title, real quick).
Quinn just turned one last week! Wow, where does the time go? Both kids are sick, (I think a ton of kids have this yucky summer cold or thing going around).
I'm trying to pack to get ready to go to Chicago for 3 days. I'm attending the Leadership Academy for The Women Council of Realtors, as I'm going to be the President of my Marin County Chapter in 2010. (Like I don't have enough on my plate!!!)
Quinn has qualified for Regional Center and Early Intervention (as he's so delayed -poo on you Jean (read earlier post). Just had the PT come give an evaluation (used to be K's PT) and she said she thinks it's sensory issues also. We'll see. sigh.....
But here are 2 amazing pieces of news:
1. Kaitlyn is potty trained! wahooooo! It seemed we'd never get there. NEVER. All of a sudden (as everyone said it would) she jsut got it. After 2 days of accidents (the last one inside REI in Corte Madera, sorry REI store!) we've gone 3 weeks with no accidents (except a minor incident at the park for Quinn's birthday party last weekend). AND we are even dry at night. So Kaitlyn loves wearing her new big girl underwear (she loved them before, but never minded peeing/pooping in them), but finally now she gets it! I'm so proud of her!!
2. I've found a donor for my milk. And, this is the reason for my blog post title. Get your tissues ready. I was hoping that I could donate my milk to my good friend in Los Angeles who is desperately trying to find a baby to adopt. She's been through 5 IVF's and so wants to be a mom and will be the best mom ever. She's been here for me supporting me though so much and I couldn't' think of a better place for my milk. BUT at this point, my oldest milk is from the beginning of January, so I started feeling that I should find another home for it.
I had put out a post on the Yahoo Milk Share site months ago, and I had a TON of moms interested in my 2,500 ounces. But I told them I was holding it for my friend.
I think many of you know that I belong to a local Feeding Tube Support group. Even though my daughter no longer h as a feeding tube, I continue to go to monthly meetings to be with some of my now closest friends as well as support new moms who join the group.
We had a new member join a few months back who emailed me. I suggested that she try breast milk for her daughter, as her story sounded hauntingly familiar to mine. A micro preemie. Gtube fed, unexplained vomiting and not getting any better.
Well months later, she finally come to the meeting in person last month. She was at her wits end. The docs weren't helping much and told her under no uncertain terms should she use breast milk (it's not pasteurized, etc).
Well, I suggested (saying that I'm not a doctor) that it worked for me and I got donated milk from women I knew as well as complete strangers all of the country and it was the only thing that allowed Kaitlyn to gain weight.
She tried my milk this week. When she emailed me the next day after her small trial tat it was working. I got some more milk to her and she did an over night trial. She wrote back saying it was the first nighttime feed she'd ever had without vomiting!!!!
Her email to me:
"Update... Sis really doing so much better since we started the breastmilk!!! She hasn't thrown up at all at night so far, and only twice during the day, and that was on formula. I cannot thank you enough for introducing hope to me at a time I felt like giving up."
Then today again I was in tears as I read her email to me:
"Yes, it is definitely going to a good cause. You don't know (or maybe you do!) how much happier I've been this week, to see "S" happier, and not feel the constant fear of her vomit coming...
Liz, I don't know how to thank you for all this... You have opened my eyes to new hope, A feeling I'd forgotten about. I'm feeling more optimistic, and am so much more able to cope and function since we started the milk and her vomiting is so much better."
Anyways, I'm so happy my efforts at the pump have come back to help someone that needed help like I did. This is for all the moms who so graciously donated their milk to my daughter in my extreme time of need!
Thank you!
(And if you are a local SF or Marin mom, she's going to need more than my 2,500 ounces of milk so if you have milk to donate, please let me know!!)
11 comments:
That is absolutely wonderful Liz that you are donating your extra milk to a baby in need. When my breast milk ran out I received awful emails from people I knew well to people I vaguely knew telling me that I was essentially failing Eliza in not conintuing to pump. All of these woman produced way, way more milk than they ever would use and almost boasted about refrigerator stashes that they had to toss because it was too much for their babies. I asked them to consider donating their milk and not one volunteered.
Good for you Liz!
Liz- I am crying tears of joy reading this- you have really come full circle from needing milk so desperately to giving yours to someone in similar need. Our baby is due in 6 weeks and if I have extra milk I would be happy to donate to her! I will be in touch. Have a great time in Chicago.
Best,
Jessica Flemming
What an amazing gift you gave to this woman! You've got one big heart Liz, thank you! :)
Liz,
You rock. You really are a good friend to those mommas. Just checking in tonight and wanted to say HOWDY!!!!
-Shannon in Austin
OK, can K come here to train my kids? lol
Liz,
This is truely a dream! One of the best feelings I have had in my life so far was when I was able to send you my friend's milk from Michigan. I can still see myself at the mailing place explaining to the guy what "this" was that I was sending. Now you can help someone too. Isn't it the best? I hope this story continues to make you smile and tear up!
What a great gift!! You are amazing!
Liz, this post is so awesome! I had so much "liquid gold" that I ended up pitching it because I didnt know what to do with it. If I only knew. DAAAARN!!!
I also would like to thank you for your uplifting and inspiring blog. Because of this, I would like to present you with a blog award! You can pick it up from my blog. Thank you for everything you have done for the micro preemie community!
Thats so awesome that your daughter is potty trained.
I don't even have a clue when Tristan might even be ready for that. Considering he doesn't talk, we can't communicate the whole concept to him...but just like the G-tube, maybe ONE day he will eat and ONE day pee/poo in the potty.
Can you please give me information on tube feeding support groups? I would LOVE to get out once a month to talk with other moms who know what my life is like tube feeding my baby but have yet to find a support group in the Los Angeles area. PLEASE email me rikirees at g mail dot com
I just read your entire blog and it was such an emotional roller coaster ride. Took me two hours!! You are one strong women and I admire you and your family.
Naomi
It was certainly interesting for me to read the article. Thanx for it. I like such topics and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read a bit more soon.
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