Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Few Things....

Lucy's party on Saturday was great. Hub and I were up at 6am to do all of the cooking, and we had time to spare. We are getting a reputation for being party throwers and had over 50 people at the park including kids. Lucy spent most of the day conning various relatives in to pushing her on the swing. Here she is with my Uncle Ed:






And while I did order cupcakes, we got her a small cake as well, which she just loved.





Here she is with my dad, "Papa":



And this one is for Shelly:



I ended up having to return one of the pairs of jeans she got from my mother, as they were size 24 months and instead of a gift receipt, she gave me the actual receipt. She spent over $120 on Lucy's gifts, as well as making macaroni salad, a veggie tray and buying the cupcakes. I feel like this is WAY too much, but I don't know what to do about it. Don't get me wrong, I deeply appreciate it, but I feel like I need to repay her somehow. She spent double what Hu and I spent on Lucy's gifts. And I know that's what grammas are for and yadda yadda, but GAH!





In other news, Olivia turned 4 weeks old yesterday. I can't believe how fast time flies, and what a personality she has already. Even in the darkness of the middle of the night, her dark blue eyes sparkle up at me when she wakes me to be fed; mischievous. She is amazing. I never thought that the third time around would be just as super as the first 2. My heart hurts sometimes; I love these three kids so much.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Questions

Do you think it's possible to have post partum rage as opposed to
depression? What do you think it means if I have dreamt of both of my
(deceased) grandmothers the past 3 nights? How is the baby 4 weeks
old already? How will I function when Hub is in CA next week? How
will I survive til Saturday when I get to go out by myself for the
evening?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Finished....and a few photos

FINISH THE SENTENCE---stolen from numerous bloggers....

Maybe I should
order a cake for Lucy's party
I love the smell of coffee brewing in the morning, freshly showered kiddos and the baby's head
People would say that I am sarcastic and full of dry humor.
I don’t understand why my big ids are suddenly so wild.
I lost my favorite lipstick and found it 2 years later.
Life is way too short and quick
My past involves an alcoholic mother and a strong desire to flee.
My idea of a good time is a comfy hotel bed all to myself with lots of pillows and endless hours of sleep.
I wish Hub didn't work so much at night.
Twins would be a real handful! But probably pretty great.
Dust bunnies are good friends of mine.
Tomorrow I’m going to go to BJ's to shop for the party.
I have low tolerance anything that flashes, dings or repetitive noises.
I’m totally terrified of the dark.
I wonder why Bud always has to poop 30 minutes after I put him to bed, regardless of what time it is.
Never in my life have I done any illegal drugs.
High school was actually pretty fun
When I’m nervous I run my mouth.
One time at a family gathering my father fell off our washing machine and broke his leg.
Take my advice: stay in school.
Taking a good picture is better done by someone else.
I’m almost always talkative
I’m addicted to coffee, TLC
I want someone to come and change some diapers, please.



3 weeks



I just liked this one. Bud and Lucy at the park today.









Me, MIL, Bud and Lucy at the fair Saturday

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Random Spewing

So, I think I'm suffering mentally because of my lack of blogging. And your probably like, "What the hell can she even complain about? She's sitting home all day long...."

Well, there is the issue of my paycheck, which has been screwed for the last 2 pay periods. For some reason they thought I was on an unpaid leave of absence, and therefore, paid me about $200 this past Friday. SO, I call them and argue, and they can research it, but who knows how long. So I have the admin in my office call and straighten it out. They tell her that they will overnight me a check on Monday for receipt today. I called today to check on it and they haven't even cut the check. And it won't be cut until today's cycle, which means I will have it on Thursday. Which is BS. And yes, we moved things around and were able to cover our mortgage payments that came out on Monday, but that WAS SO NOT THE POINT. So about 15 minutes ago, someone from payroll called me to say "hey, we've shorted you about $1800 total, should we overnight it???" WHO THE FUCK HAVE I BEEN TALKING TO HERE????

Very frustrating.

What else? Lucy turned 3 yesterday, and insisted on chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting and GRAPE juice boxes for school. Cupcakes were eaten but the juice boxes were sent home. WTF. I don't want grape juice boxes in my house. GRAPE.....HELLO! We surprised her with a trip to Applebee's for dinner, because in her words "Applebees is my favorite restaurant!" and then we came home for cake and presents. Her size 3 & up Dora bike helmet was too small on her which made no sense to me, and limited her riding her new Dora bike to up and down the driveway....not that she could figure out the pedals anyway---the brakes just screwed her right up.

I weigh less than I weighed before I got pregnant, yet none of my clothes fit me. Seriously. Perhaps my hips will shrink back down. It's really irritating. I was all triumphant about losing the pregnancy weight so quickly, and then some, because I've been really good about what I eat AND the baby and I have been out walking. This was a friggin slap in the face.

But, oh well, I'll make due.

FIL. that's all I'm even going to say. I could devote an entire website to him. But he helps me with the kids. And the baby. SO I won't.

Lucy is still an emotional wreck. If you tell her she is doing something wrong as it relates to baby, she freaks the hell out. You can't even look at her the wrong way.

And Bud is taking full advantage of me being tied down to a nursing baby. He's been out of control while Hub is at work. I think we've gotten that worked out though.

Finally, Lucy's birthday party is on Saturday, and I have nothing done. Not a single thing. I don't even know who is coming. I need to order a cake.

I need to get down here and write more often, huh? I'm a mess.

Honestly, I can't wait to get back to work. If it weren't for the late night feedings and complete lack of sleep, I'd go back tomorrow. I'm not cut out to be at home. (And you know that when I get back to work, I'll want to be home with Hub and the kids. Total catch 22. And I'm entitled to feel that way, I think.)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Post Partum

I don't feel weepy or anything. I actually feel fierce and protective
of the baby. I don't want anybody to look at her or hold her-not even
her grandparents. I am annoyed by my husband's every move for no
particular reason. My temper is short with the big kids. I'd really
just like to feel normal for a change.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

If Nothing Else, There Are Photos



One Week Old



Trying to capture that her shirt says "Little Sister"




Sleeping with her blankie from Swistle



Preparing for bath




Bath...which she really liked




After Bath






With Lucy




My Current fave of her.....2-weeks old

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

TMI Question

Do you think it's normal to have completely stopped bleeding at only 2
weeks post partum? It has been 3 days of nothing. It lasted between
4&6 weeks the other times. I don't want to bother the dr. if I'm just
being silly.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Things I'm Enjoying About Not Being Pregnant/Having a New New Baby

1. Sleeping flat on my back and being able to breathe
2. No more Acid Reflux
3. Ankles as opposed to kankles.
4. Playing "name that tune" with the songs on the swing. One of them is "What Child is this", my favorite Christmas hymn... Needless to say I have been walking around belting "This this is Christ the king...." in the middle of August.
5. Not feeling guilty about sitting around all day. I just have to pick up the baby. Nobody else can feed her!
6. Playing "name that grunt!" Poop? Pee? Hunger? Just angry baby???
7. Typing and driving with no belly in the way!!
8. Even though I still have a long way to go, I feel so THIN!!
9. Seeing Bud and Lucy take an active interest in the baby.
10. I didn't leave the house for 10 days!!
11. Contemplating what to do with my hair (I'm pretty sure I'll be cutting it all off and donating it. I hope they don't mind if it smells like spit-up)
12. Reading everyone's posts via phone and only feeling mildly guilty about not commenting.
13. Actually looking forward to going to work.
14. PRESENTS!!
15. Reliving Lucy's babyhood through her clothes.
16. Nick at Night during late night feedings. (But when did Nick at Night become the "all Fresh Prince all the time channel???)
17. Able to smell baby's head any time I want.
18. Breastfeeding Metabolism. YEAH!!!
19. Actually peeing instead of that annoying trickle when I was sure I had to go SO BAD!!
20. Of course, the baby herself.

Monday, August 11, 2008

A Birth Story, You Say?

I actually feel kind of bad, in that Olivia doesn't so much have a birth story. The induction was scheduled and we knew when she was coming, so there was no frantic rush to the hospital or drama like my water breaking in the driveway. It was all very calm and laid back and, well, it just happened.

I slept pretty well the night before, despite my worries that I would get no sleep and be exhausted by the time labor set in. I was up by about 5:15 AM and woke Hub and FIL up as I was getting dressed and ready. I had done almost everything the night before, so it really was just a matter of walking out the door.

We made it to the hospital a few minutes after 6 and got checked in, an IV started and all of that jazz. After around an hour, my good friend Pitocin was introduced. I had a really bad experience with the Pitocin during Bud's birth, so I was really nervous, but they started me off slow; 2 drips per hour. I was contracting regularly without it anyway. I must have just needed a tiny push, because after about 1/2 hour things were in full swing, and before I knew it, a midwife and Doogie Howser Resident were in to break my water.

HOLD UP.

I had been clear about wanting my epidural prior to the water being broken, so my nurse sent them away. I was starting to get uncomfortable anyway, so it was time.

And now for the drama.....

The epidural was placed and I waited. And waited some more.....and then again. It never kicked in. It had felt weird going in, like nothing I'd ever felt. The nurse called and the gal came back to redo it, and she had the nerve to say "yeah, it felt kind of shallow for someone of your size....." WTF is that supposed to mean exactly?

Anyway, this one worked well on the right side, but had some trouble working over to the left, so I had to turn on my side to let gravity help. After 20 minutes or so they did break my water, and as before, I had immediate pressure.

I went from 6 centimeters to 9 in about 30 minutes. When the doctor left me at 9cm I knew it would only be a matter of minutes, and it was. The nurse had me do a practice push to see if I really was ready, and also to see how well I could push. She paged the doctor immediately---Olivia was coming!!

The doctor came in and had me push once, and out came the head. The most excruciating part was lying there, while she manipulated the shoulders to avoid me tearing. Afterward I told Hub it was the longest 5 minutes of my life, and he laughed and told me that it was probably less than 30 seconds, before she had me push again. Two pushes, and there she was, our new baby girl!

Hub had not cut the cord during my previous births and once again declined, but the doctor asked me if I would like to, and I did. I thought it was a neat way to make her birth a little bit different.

We were surprised when they put her on the scale and she only weighed 8 lbs 10 oz. She was the smallest of all of our babies, and the shortest as well, at 20 inches. The very best thing though was that her sugar levels were perfect. It was my biggest fear during the pregnancy, that she'd be taken away like Lucy was, but she was perfectly fine.

As soon as she was cleaned up, and I held her, she nursed right away. As far as birthing experiences go, this one was probably the best.

She was born at 12:10 PM and they took her upstairs around 1:30 or so to be cleaned and checked out etc. My epidural was not wearing off on the right side, so I was stuck in labor and delivery forever. Finally, when my nurse had a meeting, I convinced the replacement nurse that I was ok to get up, and I got in the shower. I was finally in my room at about 4:30.

The rest of the hospital stay was uneventful. The baby nursed every 3 hours, and all of my visitors came that 1st night (Hub and the kids came again the 2nd). I was home by lunchtime on Thursday.

I'm actually amazed at how easy the transition from 2-3 has been so far. Granted, I haven't taken all 3 of them out or anything, but things are going really well. She is an excellent baby, who sleeps for 3-4 hours at a time and she doesn't cry or fuss. The horrible pregnancy was worth it; she was definitely worth the wait.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Hum Drum

It's been an uneventful few days. Olivia sleeps 4-5 hours at a time
during the night but I am still exhausted. Lucy is a huge bag of
emotions, happy one minute, then sad& then a ball of fire the next.
Bud loves being a big brother to this tiny baby and showers her with
constant kisses & hugs. Hub has been sick since Sunday with a fever
and aches. I took the baby for a walk yesterday-more exercise than
I've had in months& today we are going to do some visiting. This
concludes my mobile post.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Friday, August 1, 2008

Bullets and Photos

* Although I did use her real name in my first post, going forward, the babe shall again be known as Olivia. I wanted you all to know that we did change the middle name (to my middle name) at the last minute.
* She loves to eat and is not so big on the sleeping yet. Soon, I hope, since my milk came in today and I also discovered that she enjoys sleeping on the boppy. Dangerous, I know. I am not condoning this method for anyone else. But I'm tired.
* I am completely over the moon for her.
* She looks just like Bud as a baby.
* Both big kids are doing well. It's a bit of an emotional adjustment, but they are hanging in there.
* I had many comments about posting from the hospital---I was bored as crap there. It will be much more sporadic from home, I assure you. I am Tweeting pretty regularly though.
* Here are the photos since I am hungry and thirsty and have already been online dealing with my disability pay for an hour. GAH!