OK, I posted the happy details of The Event but in the interest of being GENUINE, I felt the need to post some of the details of how life is AFTER The Event. In an effort to be succinct, and because I am a mother of a newborn and a preschooler, this blog post will take the form of a list.
Things that have happened since we got home from the hospital:
1. Micah was having serious trouble eating- he would start screaming and stop after just a second, then he started throwing up whole feedings. After some diet changes for me and four formulas later we learned he has reflux. My newborn is now on Prilosec. Less throwing up but still has trouble eating sometimes. I have officially stopped nursing too because I just couldn't handle the diet I had to be on. Hopefully we'll continue to see improvement.
2. Addyson has done really well with her brother. I can't say she's as excited as she was but it's not because she doesn't like him, she's just learned he's as exciting as a loaf of bread.
3. After four weeks, I finally have Micah on a schedule that has both kids down at the same time for an hour each day. 3pm-4pm is the most blessed hour of the day. We also have finally perfected bedtime too. By 8:30 John and I have some peace and quiet.
4. We are getting about 6-7 hours of sleep at night. Micah eats every three and half to four but he goes to sleep pretty easily in between the feedings so it's not so bad.
5. I have lost all my baby weight and am back in regular clothes. My husband has also lost 15 pounds that he didn't need to lose. What's truly unfair is he lost his because his workouts have been short and somewhat sporadic. Where is the justice in the fact that working out less causes him to lose weight?
6. My husband continues to overwhelm me with how wonderful he is. He pitches in constantly and tries to give me a break whenever he can. He is such a blessing to all of us.
7. Our friends and family have been so great. Family helped us out so much the first ten days we were home and our friends have picked up where they left off. Meals, gifts, cards, babysitting Addyson... you name it. What's even more amazing is every time I had a truly terrible day there seemed to be a gift on my porch or a sweet card or email waiting for me. I know God was prompting them, it's the only explanation.
8. I know he's only a month old but Micah has starting smiling at me. Maybe it's gas but I choose to believe he recognizes my voice and loves me.
9. I have almost gotten into a routine. ALMOST. I am so close I can feel it. I have managed to be at home with both kids now by myself and there has been no bloodshed and only a few tears. That's got to be progress.
10. My house no longer looks like a bomb went off and I actually did all the laundry AND folded it AND put it away yesterday. Well, except the last load in the dryer right now...oh well....no one likes an overachiever.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Event
Not that many people are following my blog but for those of you who have- sorry for the delay in posting. Micah Porter Leathers has made his appearance in a big way. Life has been hectic to say the least. For those interested in birth stories here it is:
I had been told repeatedly that I could choose to be induced if I chose. I chose. With our family so far away and a three year old at home I thought it would make life easier for all of us. My mom flew in the weekend before I was told I could be induced. At first there was some issues on getting in the hospital but that worked out and Micah's birth was planned for the 23rd. On the 21st I went for my pre-induction meeting with the doctor. I was not going to get to have my doctor- he wasn't on the hospital rotation that day but I was getting my next choice so I was happy. He checked me at that appointment and surprise- no change. I was still only at 1 cm where I had been for three weeks. After my check-up I met with one of the head nurses at my doctor's office. Her name is Donna and I seriously love her. After she went over all the important details- no food after midnight- be at the hospital at 4:45 AM- blah, blah blah- she reached over and took my hand and prayed a serious blessing on my life as well as Micah's life. It was awesome. I was a snotty mess by the time she was done but felt so at peace. I headed home and decided that just to help things along I would wash the car. I've had friends who have mowed the grass or gone up and down stairs and told me it worked so being the clean freak I am I figured washing the car was my equivalent.
I'm not sure if that was it but about 2 hours later I was sitting at the dinner table, talking to my mom who was washing the dishes. John had just finished mowing the grass and had gone upstairs to shower and Addyson was watching Sesame Street. At first I felt a little wetness and thought, "Oh man, I just wet my pants. Seriously??" Then as I stood up and headed upstairs to change, the flood came. I ran into the bathroom and sat on the toilet. I informed John who was in the shower that I thought my water had broken but I wasn't sure. The reason all of this was confusing to me was I never had my water break with Addyson. They even tried to break my water at the hospital with her and nothing happened. At the time they told me that it must have broken and I didn't realize it. Now, after experiencing it, I can say, it didn't with Addyson. There is no way I would have missed it. We called the doctor and guess who was on duty that night- you got it, my doctor. God is good right? Anyway, he asked some questions and then told us to head to the hospital. We told my mom and Addyson what was going on. Unfortunately I made the mistake of telling Addyson my water broke and she spent quite a while in my bathroom looking for my "cracked water".
We got to the hospital around 9 pm and spent awhile getting checked out and checked in. By this time the contractions had started. I decided at that point I was definitely getting the epidural. We had to wait about 2 hours to get it, the anesthetist was busy in a C-section. By the time he got to me I was in serious pain. Kudos to all you amazon women who go natural. You are amazing. I am a wimp. Once I was feeling no pain, my doctor decided to give me some drugs to speed up the labor. I agreed. I was so tired at this point from the constant prodding and checking, not to mention the blasted blood pressure cuff that went off EVERY 15 MINUTES. Around 4:30am I was ready to push and at 4:52 on September 22nd, Micah was born. To my, my husband, my doctor and the nurses' surprise, Micah weighed in at 9 lbs. and 5 oz. He was 22 inches long. I had only gained 22 pounds with him and Addyson had been 6 lbs. 13 oz. so we just assumed he would be similar. He evidently takes after his daddy who weighed 9lbs. 10 oz.
I'll save you the gory details of after- let's just say 9 lbs. 5 oz. will leave a mark. But other than that, we were good. Healthy baby, happy family. Addyson came the next day and was so excited to see her baby brother. It was so sweet and such an answer to prayer. She didn't seem bothered at all or disappointed. She wanted to hold him constantly. It was seriously adorable. Family and friends were so great. They were supportive and respectful of us and what we wanted and needed. The hospital stay was so much better than with Addyson. We actually got sleep. There was even a rest time each day when the nurses left you alone for two hours. Amazing. We did have a little issue when the pediatrician realized that they forgot Micah's Vitamin K shot but we got that fixed quickly and got Micah's hospital bill comped in the process.
The Event was all we could have asked and prayed for. The aftermath however, deserves it's own post. I'll save that for another time.
I had been told repeatedly that I could choose to be induced if I chose. I chose. With our family so far away and a three year old at home I thought it would make life easier for all of us. My mom flew in the weekend before I was told I could be induced. At first there was some issues on getting in the hospital but that worked out and Micah's birth was planned for the 23rd. On the 21st I went for my pre-induction meeting with the doctor. I was not going to get to have my doctor- he wasn't on the hospital rotation that day but I was getting my next choice so I was happy. He checked me at that appointment and surprise- no change. I was still only at 1 cm where I had been for three weeks. After my check-up I met with one of the head nurses at my doctor's office. Her name is Donna and I seriously love her. After she went over all the important details- no food after midnight- be at the hospital at 4:45 AM- blah, blah blah- she reached over and took my hand and prayed a serious blessing on my life as well as Micah's life. It was awesome. I was a snotty mess by the time she was done but felt so at peace. I headed home and decided that just to help things along I would wash the car. I've had friends who have mowed the grass or gone up and down stairs and told me it worked so being the clean freak I am I figured washing the car was my equivalent.
I'm not sure if that was it but about 2 hours later I was sitting at the dinner table, talking to my mom who was washing the dishes. John had just finished mowing the grass and had gone upstairs to shower and Addyson was watching Sesame Street. At first I felt a little wetness and thought, "Oh man, I just wet my pants. Seriously??" Then as I stood up and headed upstairs to change, the flood came. I ran into the bathroom and sat on the toilet. I informed John who was in the shower that I thought my water had broken but I wasn't sure. The reason all of this was confusing to me was I never had my water break with Addyson. They even tried to break my water at the hospital with her and nothing happened. At the time they told me that it must have broken and I didn't realize it. Now, after experiencing it, I can say, it didn't with Addyson. There is no way I would have missed it. We called the doctor and guess who was on duty that night- you got it, my doctor. God is good right? Anyway, he asked some questions and then told us to head to the hospital. We told my mom and Addyson what was going on. Unfortunately I made the mistake of telling Addyson my water broke and she spent quite a while in my bathroom looking for my "cracked water".
We got to the hospital around 9 pm and spent awhile getting checked out and checked in. By this time the contractions had started. I decided at that point I was definitely getting the epidural. We had to wait about 2 hours to get it, the anesthetist was busy in a C-section. By the time he got to me I was in serious pain. Kudos to all you amazon women who go natural. You are amazing. I am a wimp. Once I was feeling no pain, my doctor decided to give me some drugs to speed up the labor. I agreed. I was so tired at this point from the constant prodding and checking, not to mention the blasted blood pressure cuff that went off EVERY 15 MINUTES. Around 4:30am I was ready to push and at 4:52 on September 22nd, Micah was born. To my, my husband, my doctor and the nurses' surprise, Micah weighed in at 9 lbs. and 5 oz. He was 22 inches long. I had only gained 22 pounds with him and Addyson had been 6 lbs. 13 oz. so we just assumed he would be similar. He evidently takes after his daddy who weighed 9lbs. 10 oz.
I'll save you the gory details of after- let's just say 9 lbs. 5 oz. will leave a mark. But other than that, we were good. Healthy baby, happy family. Addyson came the next day and was so excited to see her baby brother. It was so sweet and such an answer to prayer. She didn't seem bothered at all or disappointed. She wanted to hold him constantly. It was seriously adorable. Family and friends were so great. They were supportive and respectful of us and what we wanted and needed. The hospital stay was so much better than with Addyson. We actually got sleep. There was even a rest time each day when the nurses left you alone for two hours. Amazing. We did have a little issue when the pediatrician realized that they forgot Micah's Vitamin K shot but we got that fixed quickly and got Micah's hospital bill comped in the process.
The Event was all we could have asked and prayed for. The aftermath however, deserves it's own post. I'll save that for another time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)