Poop Cannon

Advance warning to all those who don't want to read a post on bowel movements, you might want to stop right now. So, our little gal has been having intestinal issues practically from her first day. After her initial diaper in the hospital it took her a week to have another. After that, she seemed to be doing ok the next couple of days, but I noticed a pattern of grunting and groaning and discomfort after feedings and before trying to poop. It has gradually gotten worse again, and now her discomfort has led to screaming and a very unhappy baby. I have spoken with the nurse and pediatrician on a couple of occasions as we tried to help Joelle gain weight her first week which she was also having trouble with because of her refusal to nurse. The doctor explained that some newborns are still trying to figure out how to work all those important bathroom muscles and sometimes take long to get it right. They suggested that if it becomes a problem we can grease up a Q-tip with vassaline and gently "put it in the appropriate place" to help Joelle along. If that didn't work, they said they could give her some type of laxative I guess.

I have waited to use the Q-Tip, I really didn't want to do it, but yesterday Joelle was miserable and I wanted her to sleep better which she hasn't been doing either, so I got the Q-tip ready. Chase took her first though in a last ditch effort to spare Joelle from the Q-Tip. He rubbed her tummy (which worked before), and put her in the appropriate "pooping position". He did this for quite sometime with no results, so it was time for the Q-Tip.

I got the diapers, wipes, diaper pad, and commensed the Q-Tip proceedure. I barely did anything, thankfully I guess it doesn't take much, I was afraid of damaging her permanently. So, some poop came out. After not pooping for a couple of days though, I figured there was more to come and "Q-Tipped" a little again and a ton came this time. Having 4 other children, I remembered that sometimes when you think the kid is done doing their business, he/she is really not done and you need to leave a little time before removing the diaper. Well, I thought I had given enough time and there was plenty of poop, so I started cleaning up and getting ready to put another diaper down. Now usually I have a clean diaper already set up underneath the dirty one, but had not done it this time, I guess I was distracted by the whole Q-Tip thing. So, Joelle took that opportunity to let it rip. It shot out like a cannon and I screamed. I've been pooped on plenty of times, but this was all in a class of it's own. Chase had been helping me by holding her legs and so we just busted up laughing. I started to clean up again, thinking this surely was the last of it. Apparently, Joelle was just getting warmed up, because she let it all go again, of course it was all over me, this time it was my other hand. I was wearing a white shirt of course, I should learn to never wear white, only bad things happen when I wear white. Both sleeves were covered in baby poop, along with one sock and my pants. Luckily, the floor was pretty much spared except for a tiny spot. My dad had come downstairs by now wondering what the heck was going on, which was fortunate, because I was covered in poop, out of reach of more baby wipes(I had gone through all of the wipes in the diaper bag), and Chase was limited to what he could do, because he was holding Joelle so she wasn't rolling in poop. I'm sure anyone watching would wonder if we'd ever had kids before. Nothing like a newborn with poop issues to bring it all back to you.

So, now I think she has got to be done by now, but NO! I have another diaper ready, but she starts peeing before I can get it down, then I thought she was done again and lifted it off to get another clean diaper and this time she starts to pee and poop AGAIN! I lost count of how many diapers we went through, maybe 5, some didn't even make it on her bottom but got squirted. Poor kid, no wonder she has been so miserable. I'm sure as Joelle gets older she won't appreciate her new nickname of being the poop cannon. Bailey, on the other hand will probably be happy now that Joelle has replaced her with a worse baby poop story.

I guess the moral of this fascinating poop story is to never stick a Q-Tip in a baby's rectum unless you are absolutely desperate, and you are completely prepared for what the results will be.

Baby Joelle Celina Fox!!!

Lovely before pictures of me the night before Joelle was born.

Happy Birthday Joelle! She came out screaming with a good set of lungs.
Joelle seemed to wink at us a lot at first as her eyes were adjusting.
All cleaned up after her first bath.
Daddy and Joelle in the nursery. We were waiting to get into my room and find out what Joelle's blood sugar results were. Because of my gestational diabetes, after she was born she started to make her own insulin with all that I'd given her and her blood sugar dropped way low. We had to start her out on some formula right away, so she wouldn't go into a seizure.
Content with Daddy holding her.
Mommy and Joelle.
Joelle's first outfit all bundled up for the ride home from the hospital.
Pudgy baby cheeks!
Joelle, home from the hospital, 2 days old.
The rest of Joelle's first outfit on her first day home and the pretty blanket made by Grandma Beebe.
Joelle, 4 days old. I got a bunch of funny pictures of her stretching and yawning. Here she looks like she's getting ready to box somebody.
Caught Joelle with a tiny smile.

Big Stretch!
Perfect Baby Feet! I love little baby feet. Joelle's are a little beat up though from all the blood sugar tests.
Joelle has really long toes! Monkey Toes!
Joelle with big sister Bailey. Bailey has been a big help playing with Emery and Cam and even occasionally changing Emery's diaper and getting her dressed.
Addie and Joelle. Addie also has been helping entertain Cam and Emery and helping Emery brush her teeth.
Cam has been such a good big brother and comes to check on Mommy and Joelle frequently to see how we're doing and if we need anything. He will come knock on the door to peek at Joelle and ask if we need any food or if he can help with something. Cam is such a sweet boy!
Grandma Beebe feeding Joelle, 6 days old. It was finally tonight that ended Joelle's no pooping streak, all it took was for me to let Grandma hold her and she finally pooped!

Most of you know Joelle has joined our family now. We dropped the kids off the night before at our cousin Rachel's and Peter's house. Thank you again guys for watching the kids for us, they had soooo much fun! I hope they were good for you. Bright and early the next morning I was called and told to come in for my induction.

We got to the hospital a little before 8:00 am I think and then they started me on pitocin shortly after. The nurse asked me about an epidural and when I wanted it and after explaining about my 3rd pregnancy and not getting the epidural in time, she suggested I get it the same time they started me on the pitocin which I agreed to. So, shortly after the pitocin started the anethesiologist came in to start my epidural. He poked and prodded FOREVER! I just sat curled up on the bed in pain. All I kept thinking was that this pain was worth it not to feel worse pain that was yet to come. He kept asking me where I felt it and all I could do was feel pain shoot down my right leg and felt a little tingly. He was having trouble getting it into the right space is what he explained, so he kept trying and trying. After what seemed like forever he said I was done and they told me to kind of lay on one side and not flat on my back. The doctor came in to break my water and I felt everything, I still wasn't numb. I was a little nervous at this point, because I remember from previous epidurals that they were very quick and I felt no pain. So, before the anethesiologist left he said, my dose should be enough, but if I was still feeling too much to push the button and then if that wasn't enough tell the nurses and they would come get him and he would give me a stronger dose.

So, my contractions started getting bigger and closer together and I'm feeling them, more on my left than my right, but I'm feeling them. I kept telling Chase, that this wasn't right, and that I was getting nervous. I told him I shouldn't be able to feel this. So, I pushed the button, nothing. I can feel the contractions strong on both sides now, and memories of Cam's birth come flooding back to me. I told the nurse, I feel a lot of pressure and pain. She says, you're not quite there yet and tells me I can push the button again. I asked her, how often can I push this stupid button because It's Not Working! I think I squeezed Chase's hand off with one hand and the bed railing with the other, forget trying to hold my legs like they wanted me to. They finally had the anethesiologist come back in and he shot something into the epidural... nothing! Then flashback to Cam's birth again, where I thought I was going to die.

Also, I had previously explained to the nurse that my babies come fast and like with Cam, they told me not to push because the doctor wasn't there yet. Well, here it comes all over again, I had to push and they told me not to and that the doctor was almost there. What!? Did you not listen to me?! The nurse almost had to deliver Joelle. Finally, he comes, but the baby is ready and he's asking me if I have had an epesiotomy last time and I yell that I have, but it's too late for that and I tear just like with Bailey. So, take my 2 worst experiences of child birth and combine them and that was what it was like delivering Joelle. I felt everything!

Even with the epidural not working though I really liked all my nurses and doctors and had a peaceful and enjoyable stay after delivery at the hospital. Even the food was really good except my first meal of meatloaf. Recovery, also has not been as bad as I had anticipated. I feel utterly exhausted and have had to occasionally take pain meds, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Chase has been awesome and taking care of the kids, getting them off to school, picking up Cam, meals, dishes, garbage, doctor appointments, baths, laundry, etc. He is my Superman and I love him! I'm sure he is tired as well, but he doesn't complain and is wonderful!

Joelle, fortunately has been a very good baby. Maybe Heavenly Father knew we needed a good baby. She takes a binky like a pro and rarely cries. We have been worrying about her eating habits however. She just wants to sleep through feedings. I nurse and supplement as well, but the pediatrician is concerned she's not gaining like she should. We had a weight check on Tues. and go back tomorrow for another. One of the concerns is that she has not pooped since her first night in the hospital which was last Fri. so about a week ago. She passes gas all the time, such a stinky little girl, but that's about as far as she is willing to take it for now. She also does this thing when she gets upset when I'm trying to get her to eat and she gets mad and squeels really loud like a pig or something.

Anyway, for other birth details, which I probably should have started out with. She was born Fri., Feb. 26th @ 11:38 am. Joelle weighed 9 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 in. long. I'm not sure where we got the name Joelle, I'm sure I saw or heard it somewhere, just can't remember. And no it's not "jello" or "J-Lo" like my mom first thought...she was very confused on the pronunciation I guess. It was one of the few names Chase and I could agree on. Celina is actually a family name that I believe is French Canadian. Chase called his mom shortly after Joelle was born and she gave him some family names. Celina is Chase's great great grandma on his dad's side. Joelle has a lot of dark brown hair, which we are hoping will stay that way, especially since Emery will look like she belongs in our family with another brunette sibling. When the pediatrician came in to check on Joelle they detected a heart murmur and had her tested, but upon discharge the next day, they said it was gone and was probably just from the birth process and sometimes happens. They also checked her bilirubin for jaundice which all of my kids have had and is characteristic of gestational diabetic babies. Her level was normal and didn't even lend to be retested, so I'm hoping that continues. I am a little concerned though about her sleepiness during feedings maybe being because of possible jaundice. She appears to be a little yellow, still, but don't know, I guess I will ask about that again at our appointment tomorrow.

Anyway, we are very blessed to have such a beautiful, healthy, chubby, little girl and are excited to have Joelle in our family! The kids have all been very excited for the baby. They have also been upset that they haven't been able to hold her and see her. The kids have all been sick for about 2 weeks with a cold and bad coughing, so the baby and I have quarantined ourselves to a room. We got masks from the hospital for the kids to wear in the car as we drove home and they got to peek at her a little while wearing the masks. I finally let the kids take short turns holding Joelle this morning. The pediatrician was very serious about not taking Joelle out anywhere until May because RSV is really bad right now and he had several babies in the ICU. Apparently, RSV can present in adults and older children just like a cold. So, if I wasn't paranoid before I am most definately now, especially with a house full of sick kids.

Emery has yet to hold Joelle because she has been sick still. Chase took her to the doctor on Mon. and got some antibiotics since it turns out she also has an ear infection. So, it has been hard for Emery. She's been sick and missing me and now has to contend with the new little interloper. I sometimes catch her standing quietly outside the door just watching, not sure of what to make of the situation. Before I had the baby I went to DI and got a bunch of little dolls that I wrapped up and had Chase give to her as a gift from the baby, hoping to ease the adjustment a little. She loved the present, but she thinks Daddy gave it to her and not the baby, oh well. She finally did say, "I love my new baby stister!" We'll see, hopefully, they will get along.

Well, sorry for the long post, but I needed to write everything down while I had the chance and could still remember.