Snot, I am no sucker

                                                   

Ok, I heard about this little device months ago when a mom on facebook posted a comment about how disgusting it is.  At that time I agreed.  Fast forward a few months, and I have a  7 week old with a very bad cold.  I bought a humidifier, vicks plug in (can't use the rub on newborns), and nasal saline.

My first realization was that the nasal aspirator I purchased from my registry was useless.  I am sure every mother before me has learned that only the hospital supplied aspirator works...good thing I still had mine.  The saline really helped at thinning the secretions, but Emory got angry every time I suctioned her.  Because she was so miserable, I decided to read some about this aspirator made in Sweden.  The following is from the manufacturers website (FAQs):

Will I get the cold my baby has?
No. The hygiene filter prevents mucus transfer from child to user

Is Nosefrida safe to use on newborns?
Yes. Nosefrida is designed to be safe and effective for newborns as well as toddlers.

Why is Nosefrida better than other aspirators on the market?
Nosefrida is better and safer, since you never put anything inside the nose, and you control the amount of suction you apply. It does not irritate the sensitive lining of the

How do I clean my Nosefrida?
Nosefrida should be detached from the tubing and washed with warm water and soap and allowed to dry. Hygiene filters should be changed after each use.

I took the tube apart for washing, and now it won't stay attached.
The tube has to be pushed very hard until you hear it snap into place. There is a groove inside that makes the 2 pieces fit together snugly.

I know my child has mucus but nothing comes out. How do I get the really thick stuff out?
First, try 1 - 2 saline drops in each nostril, wait for a few seconds and then aspirate. Try using the Nosefrida in a CIRCULAR motion against the nostril. You will hear some sounds when the mucus starts to come out.

My experience with the Nosefrida:
EWWW, yes I tried it.  As you know I am a mother who squirts hand sanitizer into the hands of anyone who looks at my child.  So you should be as surprised as I am that I gave this little device a try.  I actually love it!  The mucus stayed at the end of the tube and never even reached the tip of the filter.  In summary, if you can get past the "Ick Factor", you will love this device...and so will your little one!

Welcome Baby Emory

Well you know a Type A must plan everything.  I decided early in my pregnancy that I needed to plan everything and be in total control.  I wanted to know the time and date and control as many variables as possible.  I mean honestly, what would I do if my water broke on rounds.  It didn't lessen my anxiety that the physicians I work with all made jokes about which unqualified MD would deliver me.  Would it be an intensivist on rounds, an interventional cardiologist who boasts at having delivered 12 babies before, a cardiologist who has delivered 2 babies, and the list goes on.  I WANTED A PLANNED C-SECTION.

When I presented my plan to my OB, she was less than thrillled but agreed to do what I wanted.  Somewhere along the way I changed my mind.  I have no idea why, but still wanting to be in control I convinced my OB to induce me at 39 weeks.

At 38 weeks I planned to have my baby.  My OB was on call, and hey it was a baby girl so her lungs should be fine...she was fully cooked.  I tried every old tale you have heard of. I will spare you the details, but if you have heard of it I tried it.  The only thing I didn't do was take my new car over a ton of speed bumps.  Did I mention that my wonderful husband had me riding around on trash bags in that new car for a month prior to delivery?

Induction was scheduled for 4/20/11, and I planned 4/18/11 to be my last day at work.  Well Emory made the first of what would be many loud declarations that she would be calling the shots.  My water broke at 4 am (45 minutes before I would have gotten up to get ready for work.) Since contractions did not begin we loaded the car (of course I was packed....I had been for over a month), straightened the house (of course I had cleaned already, I am type A), and loaded the dishwasher before we left. 

We arrived at the hospital at 6 am.  I changed and IV fluids were started.  I was dilated to 4-5.  After a liter or two of fluids I had my epidural.  It was so much better than I imagined....not too scary at all.  Six hours after I arrived Emory was born at 12:32 pm.  A benefit of working at the hospital you deliver at is the special attention you receive.  Emory came out loudily announcing her arrival.  This child had APGARs of 10/10 and screamed until they put her in my arms!  Back to special attention...I got to keep her in recovery with me for about 2-3 hours before she went to the nursery.  By 4 pm I was in my own room, in regular clothes, and digging through my suitcase when my first visitor arrived.

Emory's arrival was nothing like the screaming women on TV. It was amazing and lightening fast compareed to most first time births.

                                                          So I went from this

                                                         to holding this sweet face

                                                Photos by Brooke Kelly Photography

The Story of Us

You can learn a little about me by reading my profile, so let me tell you about my fabulous husband and our story.

After a few years of spreading his wings (about 5) Jason returned to college on a baseball scholarship.  I met him through his roommate (who was from my small hometown) and some of my teammates (I played soccer.)  We started dating within weeks of school beginning, and it wasn't long before I realized there was something special about this goofy boy.  Everyone loved "JY", and to this day I have never met anyone with anything bad to say about him.  I have never met anyone who did not like him.  He has the smoothest type B personality ever. 

We dated through undergrad and continued to date when he went to TN Tech Univ to pursue an engineering degree, and I moved to Memphis for pharmacy school.  Neither of us were looking for what we found in one another.

In May 2007 he proposed in Destin Fl with our best friends there on vacation.  After seven years of dating, I married the man of my dreams.  We married in June 2008. Since the first day I met him, he has had me laughing.  He has taught me to find the humor in all things and makes my days better.  Simply put Jason makes my life better...makes it easier.

We may have thought we found the love of our lives when we met one another, but in April of this year we welcomed baby Emory.  I am pretty sure she stole our hearts!

                                           From our balcony in our condo in Destin

                         The moment he proposed.  Thank you Jennifer Twilla for the picture!

Our wedding picture courtesty of Doug and Arlene at Ace Photography