One Week

It was the quickest of weeks, it was the slowest of weeks...

Isn't that always how it goes with a newborn? I stayed in the hospital for two nights (so as to get the most money back from Aflac and Conseco) and came home on Sunday. Since we've been home, things have gone extremely well. Recovery is never fun and/or easy, but I am feeling better every day.

My biggest complaints post-partum were:
1. The uterine contractions. Supposedly they get worse with each delivery, and these ones were extremely painful. The most painful contractions I felt during any part of my labor (blessed epidural!). Fortunately, the worst of the contractions happened in the hospital, where I had percocet at my disposal, and I managed to get through that.

2. The pain of breast-feeding. Despite my religious use of Lansinoh, I always seem to get have a hard time adjusting to nursing every few hours. That pain is getting much better, but I still cringe every time I begin nursing. And the engorgement. Oh, it's so painful. And one tiny baby cannot begin to drink enough milk to relieve that pain. I am currently without a breast pump (it has been misplaced), and waiting for the one I ordered on eBay to get here, so I haven't been able to really pump much either. On Facebook, I posted that my body thought it was fun to make enough milk for 4 babies. Now I am down to enough milk for twins. And that isn't a bad thing.

3. The hemorrhoids. I don't think much else needs to be said, but that is definitely included in my recovery process.

The kids seem to be adjusting fairly well. I know that is probably because my mom is here and takes them to do fun things every day. What are we going to do when she goes home on Friday? I'm not anxious to find out. Damon and Allie don't seem to be affected by the baby at all. They just live their normal lives, albeit much more fun when grandma is around, and haven't shown any signs of displacement.

Kyla, on the other hand, has suddenly become the most stubborn, strong-willed little girl imaginable. Don't let that smile fool you, she has not been the least bit cooperative since we brought Carter (she pronounces it "Cado," like "avocado") home.

She hasn't taken anything out on the baby (she loves him tremendously, and is always wanting to hold him. One day she even got out of the chair and was standing on the floor, bouncing him up and down because "he likes to be bounced."), but she has started fighting both my mom and me on everything we ask her to do. I understand that her world has completely changed, and I am trying to be patient with her, but there are only so many times I am willing to let her do things by herself or make her own decisions about what she is going to do, and then I can't give in anymore. I mean, no matter how much she may not like it, she has to ride in her carseat in the car. And so, we fight. But I know it will get better. It just may have to get worse first.

Carter is doing amazingly well. He has figured out his days and nights and will wake up a couple of times at night to eat and then goes right back to sleep. So far, he is a dream newborn, with very few issues. I know it's way to early to proclaim him a calm, content baby, but I am enjoying it now. We'll see how he does once he hits the six week "wake up period." He was a bit jaundiced, so we let him have a little sunbath one afternoon.

The forehead crinkle seems to be his trademark. He is always doing it.

He is also very alert, and will turn his head to hear my voice when I'm nearby. He sleeps a lot, but when he's awake, he seems to really try to engage whoever is holding him.

The kids all love to hold him and he doesn't seem to mind too much.

Finally, here is one of my and my four kids. Wow, that is weird to think about. But I am so happy. Despite the one melt down I had on Monday (I think everything had just caught up to me; I was feeling a lot of pain, I was tired, I was emotional, and I had to just go into my bedroom and have a good cry. I felt much better after that and much more equipped to handle life), I feel pretty good. I can't believe how much love I have, not only for Carter, but for all my kids. And even with little sleep, I can feel that I am being given more patience to deal with all the craziness around me. I truly feel so blessed.