Just checking in...I simply don't have a whole lot to report other than feeding frequency, diaper changes, watching Baby J grow and change (which is really amazing--he's a month and already almost 12lbs, according to our scientific method of weighing ourselves and then holding him and re-weighing), and realizing the beauty and wonder of showers and naps. Oh, and the occasional job search.
Right now he's in the middle of a growth spurt, which means he's eating ALL THE TIME. I love him so much, so I feel guilty when he cries and a part of me thinks, "Again?!", but I know this too shall pass (thank you, Ouiser) and I'm so lucky to have him in my life. I sort of can't figure out what we did before we had him.
OK, he's crying, so I'm off to see what Mommy Magic I can pull off. I'm thinking a drive around the neighborhood to calm him, likely in the A/C! Promise I'll write more when he gets a wee bit more scheduled.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Baby J makes his way into the world
Well, I have a few minutes here while little man is in his swing (aka The Neglect-o-matic) after feeding, so I'll finally get to write a little bit about how the last ten days of my life have utterly, completely changed...and yet it's all getting to be routine.
I was due on the 18th, a Saturday. That day came and went. Father's Day came and went, although I still gave T a card. We even went to brunch in hopes that if we got out of the house, I'd start having contractions. No go. Doctor's office on Tuesday: zilch. I'd had no water breakage, few contractions, and he seemed perfectly happy to stay where he was. So we scheduled an induction for Wednesday afternoon at 4:30. That day we managed to distract ourselves pretty well, re-cleaning the house and wandering the mall because I knew I couldn't sit through an entire movie. Well, we got to the hospital, I changed into a gown, they told me they were going to give me something to dilate me, and then, the ultrasound....
The resident (who seemed very capable--I know from Dr. B. that residents are, indeed, "real doctors") couldn't quite find the head. She called in another doctor who could read them better and "wait...here's the head. At the top. Oh, yeah, he's feet down." Ohhhhh, crap. The awesome 30-year veteran nurse informed me that we could try to turn the baby and the other option was a straight c-section. At this I began to cry, of course, out of fear and anxiety and about a MILLION hormones. T immediately asked what the safest option was and we were told c-section. Thankfully they hadn't given me any of that other medication yet. However, I'd eaten a Kashi bar at 5pm, thinking I was prepping myself for labor, so we had to wait until 6:30am to actually do the surgery. To be fair, when I spoke with my doctor, she honestly told me while she could do it at midnight, she preferred the morning so she could get a good night's sleep. I had to agree--I preferred a well-rested doctor doing major surgery to remove a baby from me than one who'd probably be hopped up on caffeine. Fewer chances of jittery hands.
One well-utilized Ambien and about eight hours later, I was anesthetized from the waist down (but awake--pain receptors are blocked but feeling receptors aren't, so I could feel some things) and ready to go. T was an absolute champ, stroking my hair, holding my hand (which I could feel) and being extremely calm. I found out later he took pictures of them weighing the baby and all those absolute firsts, and I vaguely remember seeing my mother and T's mom and stepdad right after. The picture we put on Facebook tells it all: ecstatic father, tiny baby, and barely-post-op-already-crying mommy:
Four days later on Sunday we got to take him home, which felt almost surreal. T drove exactly the speed limit all the way home; J slept the entire way, thank goodness. We came home to a spotless house, flowers, and a completely full refrigerator, compliments of our families and friends.
It's been a heck of a steep learning curve since, let me tell you. T's mother stayed over for the first three nights to help us out (and we needed it!), my friend M did the same on the night when J fussed for at least an hour and a half in the middle of the night and gave us all sorts of practical and much-needed advice (like how to relieve a gassy baby--I didn't know! But how and why would I?), my sister M has called with all sorts of helpful advice, and my mother has been an absolute godsend, coming over every day when T is at work to help out. For my part, it's taken a lot for me to accept the help offered because I really am not supposed to do anything but take care of myself and the baby. This ranges from doing any sort of housework to going up and down the stairs a lot due to my surgery. Fortunately, a mild case of mastitis the other day forced me to slow down--in particular the "flu-like symptoms" and I've finally realized that that's what needs to happen. It also didn't help that two days after I got home, I found out I wouldn't be hired back at my current job and we had to scramble to find health insurance, but the latter's been taken care of and a job will happen, I know. But not a good time for the old raging, rearranging hormones. P.S. Insurance can get expensive. Yuck.
Despite the bumps, I am totally in love with this little man. We're already figuring out his cries and moods, what soothes him, and that formula is not the devil when used to supplement, especially when you're exhausted and sore and whipping a bottle together means your dear husband can take over one of the feedings. We've tried to remember to give Penny extra love so she doesn't feel neglected and feels a part of the family unit. My whole life has changed, and I wouldn't change it back for anything in the world. I never knew I had the capability of this much love...of my husband and my son. (P.P.S. writing those last two words did indeed choke me up.)
I was due on the 18th, a Saturday. That day came and went. Father's Day came and went, although I still gave T a card. We even went to brunch in hopes that if we got out of the house, I'd start having contractions. No go. Doctor's office on Tuesday: zilch. I'd had no water breakage, few contractions, and he seemed perfectly happy to stay where he was. So we scheduled an induction for Wednesday afternoon at 4:30. That day we managed to distract ourselves pretty well, re-cleaning the house and wandering the mall because I knew I couldn't sit through an entire movie. Well, we got to the hospital, I changed into a gown, they told me they were going to give me something to dilate me, and then, the ultrasound....
The resident (who seemed very capable--I know from Dr. B. that residents are, indeed, "real doctors") couldn't quite find the head. She called in another doctor who could read them better and "wait...here's the head. At the top. Oh, yeah, he's feet down." Ohhhhh, crap. The awesome 30-year veteran nurse informed me that we could try to turn the baby and the other option was a straight c-section. At this I began to cry, of course, out of fear and anxiety and about a MILLION hormones. T immediately asked what the safest option was and we were told c-section. Thankfully they hadn't given me any of that other medication yet. However, I'd eaten a Kashi bar at 5pm, thinking I was prepping myself for labor, so we had to wait until 6:30am to actually do the surgery. To be fair, when I spoke with my doctor, she honestly told me while she could do it at midnight, she preferred the morning so she could get a good night's sleep. I had to agree--I preferred a well-rested doctor doing major surgery to remove a baby from me than one who'd probably be hopped up on caffeine. Fewer chances of jittery hands.
One well-utilized Ambien and about eight hours later, I was anesthetized from the waist down (but awake--pain receptors are blocked but feeling receptors aren't, so I could feel some things) and ready to go. T was an absolute champ, stroking my hair, holding my hand (which I could feel) and being extremely calm. I found out later he took pictures of them weighing the baby and all those absolute firsts, and I vaguely remember seeing my mother and T's mom and stepdad right after. The picture we put on Facebook tells it all: ecstatic father, tiny baby, and barely-post-op-already-crying mommy:
Four days later on Sunday we got to take him home, which felt almost surreal. T drove exactly the speed limit all the way home; J slept the entire way, thank goodness. We came home to a spotless house, flowers, and a completely full refrigerator, compliments of our families and friends.
It's been a heck of a steep learning curve since, let me tell you. T's mother stayed over for the first three nights to help us out (and we needed it!), my friend M did the same on the night when J fussed for at least an hour and a half in the middle of the night and gave us all sorts of practical and much-needed advice (like how to relieve a gassy baby--I didn't know! But how and why would I?), my sister M has called with all sorts of helpful advice, and my mother has been an absolute godsend, coming over every day when T is at work to help out. For my part, it's taken a lot for me to accept the help offered because I really am not supposed to do anything but take care of myself and the baby. This ranges from doing any sort of housework to going up and down the stairs a lot due to my surgery. Fortunately, a mild case of mastitis the other day forced me to slow down--in particular the "flu-like symptoms" and I've finally realized that that's what needs to happen. It also didn't help that two days after I got home, I found out I wouldn't be hired back at my current job and we had to scramble to find health insurance, but the latter's been taken care of and a job will happen, I know. But not a good time for the old raging, rearranging hormones. P.S. Insurance can get expensive. Yuck.
Despite the bumps, I am totally in love with this little man. We're already figuring out his cries and moods, what soothes him, and that formula is not the devil when used to supplement, especially when you're exhausted and sore and whipping a bottle together means your dear husband can take over one of the feedings. We've tried to remember to give Penny extra love so she doesn't feel neglected and feels a part of the family unit. My whole life has changed, and I wouldn't change it back for anything in the world. I never knew I had the capability of this much love...of my husband and my son. (P.P.S. writing those last two words did indeed choke me up.)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Welcome to the world, baby J
8lbs, 14oz, 22in.
And our lives will never be the same. Hooray!
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Longest Day
It is indeed the first day of summer, the longest technical day of the year in terms of sunshine.
It also figuratively feels like the longest damned day ever. No contractions. No back pain. No water breakage. No NOTHING. I'm only four days overdue, and I don't know how women don't go on total hormonal rampages when they're late. Seriously, Scarlet, how did you manage to survive nine extra days? Meanwhile, one of my dear childhood friends who was due three weeks after me just gave birth to a healthy baby girl yesterday. I do see the cons in this: They didn't have a bag packed, figured they had more time, etc. But ohhhh...a tiny bit of jealousy reared its ugly head.
I've tried all the tricks. I've walked. I've eaten spicy food. I had a beer. I did other things. The only thing I haven't done is eat eggplant--clearly my lack of eggplant is holding things back.
He is moving around maddeningly inside, as if to say, "Ha ha, Mommy, I am so comfy and I just want to remind you that I am still here!" Yes, I know that I am incredibly fortunate to even be pregnant, and as of tomorrow I'll be induced, so by the weekend I will have him in my arms and be exhausted and happy.
But I'm hormonal and hot and uncomfortable, and the magic of pregnancy is gone.
It also figuratively feels like the longest damned day ever. No contractions. No back pain. No water breakage. No NOTHING. I'm only four days overdue, and I don't know how women don't go on total hormonal rampages when they're late. Seriously, Scarlet, how did you manage to survive nine extra days? Meanwhile, one of my dear childhood friends who was due three weeks after me just gave birth to a healthy baby girl yesterday. I do see the cons in this: They didn't have a bag packed, figured they had more time, etc. But ohhhh...a tiny bit of jealousy reared its ugly head.
I've tried all the tricks. I've walked. I've eaten spicy food. I had a beer. I did other things. The only thing I haven't done is eat eggplant--clearly my lack of eggplant is holding things back.
He is moving around maddeningly inside, as if to say, "Ha ha, Mommy, I am so comfy and I just want to remind you that I am still here!" Yes, I know that I am incredibly fortunate to even be pregnant, and as of tomorrow I'll be induced, so by the weekend I will have him in my arms and be exhausted and happy.
But I'm hormonal and hot and uncomfortable, and the magic of pregnancy is gone.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Beginnings and Endings
OK, so a few posts ago I titled it "beginnings", and now I have both. This baby is imminent (and I really hope the next time I post it will be me looking exhausted and weepy with a teeny tiny, wrinkly, gorgeous little bean in my arms)--not quite as imminent as I'd like, considering he hasn't dropped enough yet. However, I plan to eat spicy food and have a beer on Friday and hope for the best. I'd love for T to have a true Father's Day if possible, so please send good "come into the world" vibes for him.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to get everything in place. I just finished up the last of my major grading last week and I've got lovely colleagues helping finish my exams for me. I've cooked up and frozen a few meals (although I probably should do more!) for us to defrost when I'm so tired I can't see straight. We've been working like mad people to get the room and the house ready: My mom and sister have come over numerous times to help clean and re-organize, and the baby's room now looks ready, don't you think?:
Meanwhile, I'm trying to get everything in place. I just finished up the last of my major grading last week and I've got lovely colleagues helping finish my exams for me. I've cooked up and frozen a few meals (although I probably should do more!) for us to defrost when I'm so tired I can't see straight. We've been working like mad people to get the room and the house ready: My mom and sister have come over numerous times to help clean and re-organize, and the baby's room now looks ready, don't you think?:
The organized closet is all my mom and sister M
(Toddler Tamer, recognize the bathrobe?)
(Toddler Tamer, recognize the bathrobe?)
Mom and M also re-arranged the clothing drawers.
AND, T finally got the opportunity to get the dining room painted--doesn't it look awesome? As he said, it's Big Kids. It looks like a totally different place. I also love the Pack-n-Play in the middle of things. We picked the color partly because we loved it and partly because we could not pass up the name: LaFonda Green. Not kidding. How can you not paint your dining room LaFonda Green?(a little Napoleon Dynamite reference)
Before
After (we haven't put the art back up yet)
So that's the latest wrap-up with us. Hopefully we'll have some news soon!
T also rearranged our bedroom--all he did was angle the bed, and it changes the whole room: We've unblocked the window and just given this whole new dimension of space. Obviously Penny likes it.
I also realized I better get you one more picture of me, so it's not great, but here I am, right before baby J comes. My dear friend D, a great photographer, took some genuine lovely pregnancy shots (no, I did not go au naturel), but I don't have them yet, so this will have to do:
He just has to drop a leeetle more.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Hooray for Craigslist
...and for T for hauling half an hour each way (to Lockport, for those who know it) to get this bookshelf for the baby's room. Nice, huh? The guy's grandfather made it by hand and we got it for a SONG. All it needs is a little scratch hider and some wood finish to spruce it up.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Just another reason why I love my husband
T picked this hat up for the baby today. I plan to get him the Grover one. I cannot wait to see his on his little head.
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