Hey craft buddy! I wanted to take a moment to share a little life update about our sweet Henry—and thankfully, it’s a good one. 💛
Henry is doing so well lately, and we’re beyond grateful. He’s growing like a weed, and is already 17 pounds and in the 95th percentile for height! He’s smiling, laughing, rolling over like a champ, and adores playing with his big brother, Finn. Watching their bond grow is one of the greatest joys of my life.
One huge win lately has been the special formula he’s on. It’s been such a blessing—it’s helping keep his electrolytes stable, which means we’ve had a break from the constant lab work and blood draws that were part of our daily reality not long ago. That change alone has brought us so much relief. I’m also so thankful our insurance covers a good chunk of it – while I’m sure you know how expensive regular formula can be, this is about 4x per can (and the can is smaller!) – so I’m grateful for the help there. If you missed a chapter and are wondering what I’m talking about, check out this video, it will explain…
What’s next for Henry?
Looking ahead, we do have more follow-up appointments in the coming months with the kidney, neurology, and urology teams. These visits will help us assess how things are progressing and whether we need to make any changes to Henry’s feeding plan moving forward. The goal is to eventually get him off the special formula and add more breast milk for more nutrients (specifically calcium). For now, we’re staying the course, trusting his team, and taking things one day at a time.
I’ve also been continuing to pump to make sure Henry gets as much breast milk as he can safely have in a 24-hour period. It’s been exhausting, honestly—but I’m proud of myself. I’ve made it five months so far, and my goal is to make it to a year (God willing), just like I did for Finn.
How am I doing, specifically my mental health?
On a personal note, I also want to share that I’ve been working on my health too. After struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, I started on an antidepressant and have been in talk therapy.
I can honestly say it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my well-being. I’m also working with my therapist on coping with PTSD from everything we’ve been through, and those tools have been incredibly helpful. After both my health scare and Henry’s, my brain was working overtime to convince me that everything bad that could happen was going to happen. That was just awful for my quality of life. I’m happy to report I’ve been making real strides there, and I’m enjoying life and my motherhood journey so much more now. As a huge supporter of mental health advocacy, I want to continue to be transparent with my craft buddies on what’s going on. If you’re struggling, know there is help out there, and you don’t have to live like that. Sending you a big hug!
I’ve learned firsthand just how important it is to take care of a mom’s mental health postpartum. There’s so much focus on the baby after birth (and rightfully so), but moms go through an enormous physical and emotional transformation, too. It’s okay to need help, and it’s more than okay to ask for it. Taking care of your mental health isn’t selfish, it’s essential. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and getting the support you need allows you to show up as the best version of yourself for your baby, your family, and you. Whether it’s therapy, medication, a support group, or simply a friend to talk to, reaching out for help can make all the difference. You’re not alone, and you deserve to feel well and supported on this journey.
After taking some much-needed time away to focus on my family and my mental health, it’s felt really good to get back into a rhythm with creating videos and sharing with you all again. Having the flexibility in my job is something I don’t take for granted, and I truly appreciate every view, comment, and kind message. Your support means more to me and my family than I can express—thank you for being here.
Sending love and gratitude from our family to yours 💛
-Whitney-
