Flynn's Test Results

I got Flynn's test results back.  He is almost low on Iron (whatever that means) but his Prealbumin levels are low.

Since I had to cut dairy out of my diet and I'm a vegetarian she said I have not been giving him enough protein through my breast milk.  I have been eating 50-60 grams of plant based protein a day.  I thought that was plenty.  His doctor suggested that I give him more bottles of formula with rice.  I have told her numerous times that hurts his stomach.  Why do doctors just try and make you feel bad instead of listening to their patients? I just had to hold him for 30 minutes to get him to stop screaming after listening to her advise about formula and cereal. .

The only way I could get her to agree with me to get a GI Test done was to argue with her. She will let me know when his appointment will be at St Michael's Hospital.   Apparently he has to drink some barium and then they X-Ray his GI Tract.

The Arkansas Children's Hospital Growth and Nutrition Department finally called to get my information to schedule an appointment.

Hopefully I can get some answers soon.

Flynn's Health Problems

Flynn has been having a lot of problems in his short little life.  He has major food intolerances through my breast milk.  I can't eat or drink dairy, can't eat cinnamon, citrus fruit, milk chocolate, tomatoes and I think that he is starting to have trouble with gluten.  His little body still can't handle too much formula and rice cereal hurts his tummy. I have tried to makes some baby food for him.  He can eat green beans and bananas with no problem but sweet potatoes are a major no no.  

Basically he has not been gaining weight or getting much taller.  He is 5 months old and only weighs 11 lbs.  His pediatrician is very concerned because he is not on the growth chart for other babies (fat formula fed babies BTW).  We had to get his blood drawn.  They are checking on his thyroid and his electrolyte levels.  Some people have suggested that he might have Cystic Fibrosis since he is always sneezing and coughing with boogers in his nose. Some other diseases that were suggested is Celiac Disease, Pyloric Stenosis, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Type 1 Glycogen Storage Disease.

It has been very stressful for me.  I feel guilty every time he screams because his tummy hurts.  Every food or drink I eat, everyone time he eats and every poop or pee he makes has to be written down on a chart.  I really want some answers.  Is it my fault? I checked with a lactation consultant today and she said that as long as he has 6-8 pee diapers a day then he is getting enough milk from me.  Am I still eating the wrong food for him to gain weight?

I will find out some of the answers on Thursday when we go back to the doctor. They are going to refer Flynn to the Arkansas Children's Hospital Growth and Development Clinic.  That means I have to travel 3 hours for him to go to the doctor now.  :(

Meanwhile, sperm donor dad keeps calling from prison because he needs money for shoes and a tattoo.  He needs the shoes because he plays softball and goes to the gym all day.  FML!

Being Homeless

Not only did Clint do something stupid to land himself in prison but he made us homeless.  We were living in an apartment that was owned by the place he worked.  He was to do the maintenance on the duplexes in exchange for very low rent. On October 7, 2011, that changed everything.  He was arrested at his place of employment and was using their address to commit his crimes.  He got an eviction letter a few weeks later saying that he had to get out of the property due to criminal activity.   :( I was 7 months pregnant when he got the letter.

I spent the next month trying to apply for Section 8 and public housing.  Everything was closed unless you were handicapped. None of the homeless shelters would take us.  Apparently being pregnant and homeless is not a big deal to anyone in the city of Norfolk.  I tried the income based apartments.  Those were still $700/month.  I was about to give birth and didn't know if Clint was going to prison or not.

Luckily they didn't go through the process of eviction legally.  I got to stall the proceeding until January.  Meanwhile I had to pack everything I owned and put in a storage building while huge and pregnant.  The week before my C-Section was the last time in the apartment.

When I got out of the hospital I had no place to go. :( I was in so much pain with a new baby and homeless. My old boss decided I could stay at the hotel I worked at for $250 a week. I just got a tax refund and had just a little money to pay for 2 weeks.

My parents decided that we could move to Arkansas and move in with them.  I had to sell my car and fed ex what little clothes and toys I could afford to send.  I am 32 years old and officially a loser living with my parents.  Every day is heartbreaking to me. My hopes and dreams for my life are gone.  I have nothing.

Update

Things have really changed for me! Flynn was born on January 24, 2012 by C-Section.  He is the most amazing baby boy in the world.    At that time we had no place to live so Amaya, Flynn and I were staying at the hotel I used to work for.

Clint was sentenced to prison on February 2, 2012. He did not believe he would be going to jail (idiot) so he did not prepare for anything.  He left Sugar and some of his clothes and tools in the apartment that we were just evicted from.  I had just had a C-Section so I could not drive.  Poor puppy was stuck in that apartment for 2 days without any water or food.  A rescue organization finally agreed to help me drive my car to get in the apartment to get her out.  It was one of the saddest moments of my life seeing Sugar drive away in a truck never to see her again.  I wish things could have been different. I wish Clint did not get us evicted and I could keep Sugar.  He also made me take care of all the other stuff he should have done before his court date.  He drove his van to court that day because he was very delusional that he would get probation.  The van had to stay in a city parking garage for 2 weeks until I could drive. I also had to get all his tools and clothes that he left behind. This is all while recovering from a C-Section and taking care of a newborn while homeless.

I am very bitter.  My life and children's lives have been ruined by someone's drug addiction. Yes, you can be addicted to the stuff and it is dangerous.  My next blog post will be about my homeless situation and what I had to do about it.  

Finding a Home for Sugar

I've been sad all day. Clint's trial date is coming closer and closer. I still don't know if he will be going to prison on that day or if it will be later. My doctor has moved up my C-Section date to January 24. That will be just 5 days after prison day. My blood pressure is getting too high because of all the stress and I have major edema.

I tried to contact the Norfolk SPCA to see if I could surrender my sweet baby dog. Their waiting list is too long. The person forwarded my information to many Pit Bull Rescue places. I just can't stop crying. It is not fair that I have to find another home for my dog just because Clint is a selfish, greedy ass and decided to be a criminal. There is no possible way for me to take care of an active Pit Bull after a C-Section with a newborn and a 4 year old. We still don't have a place to live and homeless shelters and most motels won't accept the breed.

I need help with my sanity. Someone send me a miracle.

Baby Update

I am 32 weeks pregnant now! Amazing how fast time flies by during your second pregnancy! He is measuring 2 weeks ahead and is already heads down.

Amaya has been calling her baby brother Flynn since she found out he was a boy. Tangled is her favorite movie and Flynn Ryder is one of the main characters. There is also a boy named Flynn on one of the silly Disney shows she watches. I have about decided that his first name will by Flynn. It will be a neat story for later down the road that his big sister named him.

We are still trying to get everything in order before Clint goes to prison. Trying to move all my stuff in storage before we get the final eviction notice. I still can't believe they are going to evict someone who is 8 months pregnant because of something that he did! Totally heartless people! I still have no leads on anywhere to live. It looks like Amaya and I might have to live in a homeless shelter for a little while until we find something. I have so much stress in my life right now that I hope little Flynn doesn't make an early arrival! I'm also trying to buy some cloth diapers because I know it will be a struggle to buy diapers after the birth when I am a single mom with absolutely no child support.

I just have to keep moving on!

Huge Update

Wow! I haven't even been on this site in over a year and a half! There are many things I have to update.

First, I am pregnant again. The due date is January 31, 2012. I am expecting a boy and am totally thrilled about it! He kicks and punches so much more than Amaya ever did and stays on my bladder. I have no names picked out. Amaya insists his name will be Flynn Rider after the guy in her favorite movie Tangled.

Second, I am going to have to change the Carter-Sutton family just to the Carter family. My lovely long termed boyfriend of 6 years got arrested. Apparently he had been receiving packages full of drugs in the mail. The Norfolk PD caught him with 65 pounds of marijuana that he had just had mailed to him from California. I knew he was a drug addict.

He has been smoking weed since he was 12 years old and is 32 now. His habit was what we fought about all the time. I can't stand the smell of weed and he was still smoking around me until my morning sickness almost made me puke on him. He had to quit smoking for a little while so his drug test would be clear and it was the hardest time of my life. Being around a 20 year addict when they do not have the drug is not safe for anyone. The mood swings were severe! One minute he would be punching stuff and screaming at me. The next minute he would be threatening to kill himself or run out of the country. He has been doing this in front of his 4 year old daughter. Once his drug test was clear, I believe he started smoking again. When you are pregnant you have a nose like a bloodhound and I have been smelling it on him! People claim that someone can't become addicted to marijuana and it is harmless. That is very false!!!!

His attorney told him that he would be going to prison right after Christmas and before the baby will be born. That means I have 10 weeks to find out what I'm going to do for the birth. My family lives 1,000+ miles away and couldn't make it to Virginia in time for the birth. I have someone here that can watch Amaya but would have to be in the delivery room by myself. I guess I will have to schedule another C-Section so my parents or brother can be here.

Last, he got us evicted from our apartment. He was having the drugs mailed to his place of employment and that is where the Norfolk PD arrested him. His former employer owns the apartment we live in and they are evicting us. He has somewhere to live but I can't handle being around him anymore. I have to find somewhere for me and Amaya to live before November 30! All the public housing places are not accepting applications anymore so we might just be homeless right before Christmas. I am just devastated that my child will not have a Christmas this year or even somewhere to hang her stocking.

The only place to go when you hit rock bottom is up. Hopefully things will turn around soon!