Bumps After Pregnancy

*Please excuse the grammar/spelling issues. I am tired. Thanks :)*

This week Addy will turn 2 weeks old, and I have yet to be alone with both my girls. Chris has graciously and selflessly taken the last 8 days off of work to help with the duties of toddler/newborn care and then to help with my recovery from mastitis.

I'm not going to lie, I am a little uneasy with the idea of taking care of LEL and A by myself again. Why? Well, mainly because I want my kids to be happy; and lately, LEL is not happy. I believe it is the combination of having a new member of the family that has a odd feeding schedule of every-two-hours/needs mom & mom's body to eat/cries, if she makes any noise at all/requires to be held all the time; and the sudden disappearance of her normal, happy schedule.

My goal is to try a reinstate her "normal" for her...at least some version of such, as soon as possible. This basically means getting her out of the house for a few hours (maybe now only a couple) every day to see some other faces other than Chris' and mine...this means grandma and Aunt Hannah for the most part. They live 5 minutes down the road, have tons of toys, and are aware (and tolerant) of all her quirks...and lately, her crankiness.

The only thing I need to do this week is 2 appointments on Wednesday morning. One at the pediatrician's office and one at the hospital for A's second PKU test. This means no pain medication so I can safely drive my kiddos and myself around. A few days ago this made me nervous. Now I know I can function just fine without them. Though, to be honest, I never felt handicapped by the meds, if anything, it's more my lack of sleep that will affect my driving skills. Other than that, we will take it one day at a time.

I do take comfort in the fact that even if LEL is having a horrible day, we can stay at home, she can scream her little pretty head off, and I know we won't be bothering anyone. I am so thankful we are out of the apartment with this time around!

Please think happy, content thoughts for my girls, especially Lorelai. I feel for her and her small, upside-down world. All I can do is keep offering her love, attention, and patience. Even through her fussiness and frustration, she still loves Adalaide. She pats her on the head, lovingly calls her baby-sister, and always wants her to have a paci available. These two will do just fine, I know this; in spite of all the bumps in the road lately, I know this. :)

M.LEWIS 

 

Adalaide's Arrival

Bright Dark and early in the morning, my alarm went off. It was time to get up, it was time to prepare for Adalaide's arrival. That's the thing with inductions- you can plan for them.
At 39 weeks, I was more than ready to finally meet my second little girl.

I was already packed for the most part, the carseat was installed, Lorelai's things were organized and ready to go, all we needed was to get moving. We dropped Lorelai off at my mom's, waited a bit to hear for the "all systems go" from Labor and Delivery and then we were out the door. I felt for my little sweets, she did not want both Chris and myself to leave, and I wish I could take her with us. I knew that would never work, so we distracted her enough to slip out with the promise to see her soon...along with her baby sister.

At the hospital, I was in bed answering questions, getting an IV, and preparing my mind for the impending labor. Pitocin in, water broken, and we were on our way by 10:30am. The contractions came on stronger and stronger as the minutes/hours passed by. I received an epidural at some point (I lost track of time), and I was looking forward to the relief. It was not a fun process. I knew it wouldn't be, I had one with Lorelai, I should have gotten over it...but I still dreaded the whole procedure. I flinched, a few times; something you do not want to do while a needle is being placed in your spine. Somehow I was still enough to get it done and I waited for the sweet numbness.

It came.

It went.

My first suspicion that something was not working as well as I wanted was when I felt some discomfort (TMI alert) around my catheter. Within half an hour, the discomfort turned into pain. I called the nurse and she checked everything...it was okay, but I was still in pain. She said it was probably the baby settling down further and to press my handy-dandy pain meds booter button. I did that already...I did it again.
"Call me when you feel a lot of pressure." she told me, and stepped out.

17 seconds later I sent Chris out to stop her and bring her back.

The catheter pain was now intense pressure/pain in my groin. She checked my progress. 9 cm dilated. She told me to try pushing and she sent someone to call my OB. "You don't have to rush, but she's starting to push."

HA. I heard that and I knew she couldn't be more wrong.

That epidural? Completely unhelpful. I felt as if a large, heavy bowling ball was trying to escape my body. I was not happy. If I was going to feel labor as if I had no epidural, I might as well not have had one.

I pushed only once more before the same woman got back on the phone with my OB. "Um, yeah, she's going to need to hurry." Waiting for my doctor to show up while literally holding in a human-being was the longest, most painful experience of my life. My OB flew through the door and immediately started to gown up. I believe I pushed another 2-3 rounds. Every event felt in high definition...episiotomy and all. I remember my Dr. asking me during labor "Your epidural isn't working is it? You seem to be feeling all this."

Um. Yep. Exactly.

After a weird pop of relief, my second daughter was born...and my body relaxed in achieving its goal. She was placed on my chest screaming and I had never felt so happy not to be in pain in my life. I looked at her and thought "My pain was probably only a fraction of what she just went through...but we did it, together.

I watched as Adalaide was being wiped clean over by the baby bed and her dad. I watched as I felt my doctor stitch me up. Sigh. Not how I wanted it to go, but it was the way it went. It was over. 39 weeks, and my baby was here. Adalaide Olivia; 8lbs 0oz, 21 inches long...and oh-so perfect.

Lewis. Family of 4 ♥

M.LEWIS

Reasons to LOVE Wednesday

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Adalaide's Birthday.

Yep. 5 days until my induction! I am excited and anxious. The day is creeping closer, but I still have some "still pregnant" time to bank first. I am looking forward to so many things about A's arrival and subsequently, the end of my second pregnancy.

• Fitting into more clothes.
• My stomach has been measuring about 2-3 weeks bigger than it should for months. At almost 39 weeks, my stomach is measuring over 40 weeks. My maternity pants are limited to 3 pair, and my shirts are dwindling down as well...mainly in the short-sleeved department. And pajamas? Ha.
• Eating without restrictions
• Marinara sauce is not something I usually think about, but pregnancy does not mix well with it. It was the same with Lorelai. I eat marinara sauce and heartburn fierce and unrelenting arrives in a matter of minutes. Recently, carbonated drinks are also bad...along with: black pepper, sugar?!, spices or seasoning of most varieties, and drinks heavy with acidity. So...basically...my diet. I do eat some of these things anyway. I have to eat and I want to eat things I like!
• No heartburn
• I know, "didn't you just say that?" Well, not really. While certain foods bring on the burn, other things do as well. Laying on my right side is certain to spark that lovely feeling, along with bending over to pick up something. Tums have been a staple in my house for months and months.
• Bye-bye body aches
• It doesn't stop at backaches (though those are pretty consistent and intense), I also have aches in my ribcage. I cannot lean forward hardly at all. There is no room left to maneuver. I have a little baby butt and feet pressing up into my ribcage most of the day. Laying down helps, but then I invite the heartburn for sure...and laziness. I hate feeling lazy. Not that I have a lot of opportunity for that due to my Lorelai. ;) 
• Caffeine
• It's not just the feeling of being more alert, it's also what makes coffee, coffee. Decaf coffee just doesn't taste the same, it tastes...muted. I have cheated a bit on and off with "real" coffee, but it is only with a few sips...not much at all. It will also open doors with soda options, but I didn't mind the decaf options with those...they were just hard to find. 
• Feeling like myself
• All these things by themselves are annoying, but together, they make you feel more than a little off. I am now swollen, my joints are loose, my feet hurt if I stand too long, I am hot/sweaty all the time, my lips are always chapped, I can't tie shoes or carry a load of laundry. I just feel handicapped. 
• The most important of all:::HAVING A BABY
• I look at the tiny diapers in the drawer, wash the small onesies, dig out the bottles from the pantry...and all I can think is: how surreal that she will be here in less than a week. I remember LEL that small, and yet, I don't. Seems so long ago. In a way, I am looking forward to A's arrival more than Lorelai's simply because I know what the heck to expect. I was never scared with LEL, but I was anxious about labor, unsure about nursing, concerned about every developmental milestone, etc...this time, I feel more confident, more in control. I guess that is normal with baby #2. I also look forward to coming home to a house and not apartment. It feels more comforting, more secure. I also am excited for Lorelai. She loves babies and playmates. I see this as the beginning of enriching her life in a way only a sibling (a sister, really) can. I think she will be as in love with her as we will...as we already are. :)

 And the countdown continues!

M.LEWIS

Pumping Out the Next 2 Weeks

Life here seems to be dragging on here. (It doesn't help that LEL has been showing off her "terrible two's" side quite regularly.) I am 2 weeks away from baby A's arrival and I am getting excited and anxious. I have previously updated you on my shrinking to-do list, so I know I am prepared. One of my last to-do's didn't go as planned though.

I have been researching breast pumps for weeks. I don't want anything too pricey. My hope is A will be a good nurser and I won't need a pump but for special circumstances; but knowing how difficult LEL was, I am not banking on it. My double mastitis diagnosis came just 2 weeks after LEL was born, thought to be because she didn't nurse enough, clogging my ducts and creating an infection. After that awful experience, I kept my pump near by, fearing if I didn't keep things moving, I would end up with another infection. LEL would eat for about 5mins? 10 if I was lucky, and that was with having to wake her up often. Once she stayed awake more I thought she would be better, but then she hated to be tucked under my shirt or blanket. I began pumping more and more so she could have the benefit of my milk from a bottle. Even then, I dried up fast and we were all done with the experience by the end of 4 months.  My pump did break down, sort of. It was a double pump and one side got clogged somehow and stopped working. It was a cheaper brand, so I chalked up the issue to just that- cheap.
This time I was trying not to let the price scare me; but over $300 for a pump? I just can't do that. I decided on a pump that had good reviews (4 out of 5 stars) and wasn't too pricey (around $130). I found it on sale on Amazon, and Chris had a gift card knocking the price down to only $60 (or so). I ordered it. It came a week or so later.

I opened it, set it up and...nothing. Well, ok, not nothing. It did turn on for a few seconds, but then it shut off. I tried again and again with the same results.

"Huh?" I thought. "What am I doing wrong?"

I read the manual cover to cover a couple times. I checked online, watched some demos...and then frustration set in.
I wasn't doing anything wrong. The stupid thing was broken. I remember a couple weeks ago when my other package was delivered. There was no knock, no doorbell, just a loud thud as the box slammed against my front door. Now, in that box, there was a couple stuffed animals and a book. I wasn't happy, but I knew nothing would be damaged. I started thinking about the pump delivery. There was no knock, no doorbell. I didn't hear a thud, but I did nap that day in the back of the house, I could have been out of earshot.

I was not happy. I couldn't prove UPS damaged it, but it was odd this well-respected machine was a bust out of the box. Who knows why it was broken, the only thing I cared about was the fact it was broken, and now I needed a plan B pretty fast.

I read about the return policy and was mad that "personal products" could not be returned. That didn't help my mood. Turns out, you can return them as long as they are marked as "defective." Since the product was dud, I could return it. I was happily surprised how easy Amazon makes it to return items. I print off a barcode and place it in the box, repackage the item, ask UPS to pick it up, and tada: done. It felt too easy, but sure enough, the box disappeared off my porch and replaced with a sticker confirming the pick-up.

Now my plan is to go to Target and pick up a decently priced pump and hope for better luck. If that one breaks, I am getting a manual pump and calling it quits. Seems so silly that something that should be simple turns out to be so complicated. At least I have a couple weeks to correct the bogus purchase.

Here's to the countdown! 14 days!


M.LEWIS

Baby Pink

In just over two weeks from now we should have another baby girl...hence all the pink. Don't worry, it won't stick around too long, as an adult, I am not a "pink person." ;)

M.LEWIS

36 Weeks and Counting

Time keeps passing, but not fast enough if you ask me. I am almost 36 weeks, baby Addy is measuring a week ahead, and my stomach is measuring over 3 weeks ahead. I am ready to be done with pregnancy and want to begin mommyhood with 2 girlies as soon as possible. I, of course, don't want baby Addy to come before she is ready and can take on the world as a healthy baby girl, I just want the time between now and then to pass by quickly.
Induction date is still a go as far as everyone can predict. Things can still change, shift; but as of today I am planning to be pregnant for 3 more weeks. My list of "things to do before Addy comes" is dwindling.

Order a double stroller

Buy a new breast pump

Buy NB diapers

Buy a small supply of formula

Reassemble the cradle

Pull out baby swing

Put up the playyard ---> I decided I had no room for this, and no need, so I am skipping this.

Find places for all these things

CLEAN - mainly master bath

Wash carseat inserts (LEL's & Addy's)

Stock up on meals I can freeze

Oh yeah, BUY A NEW CAR

I added lots of things on my new list, like buying Easter dresses, getting things for Easter baskets/eggs. (Which are both done.) There are also obvious things like packing a hospital bag, installing car seat, etc; but I do feel on top of things. I even have LEL's old baby clothes/blankets/burp clothes unpacked, washed and put away. I do not feel overwhelmed at my list, the major things are done. This makes me happy. I do have to wait to do the deep cleaning, for I want these things to stay clean by the time I get home with the baby. I can handle that procrastination just fine. ;)

Induction date: 23 days
Due date: 30 days

M.LEWIS

Office Corner Complete

My blueprint for a desk area came to life today. I am pretty excited about it, so is Lorelai, and not just because it came with some large boxes she could play in. She loved sitting on the chair and using her coloring book on the desk. Please excuse the grainy quality, I had no energy to dig out my camera and take proper pictures; cell phone worked just fine for this occasion. ;)

Note, Lorelai has already been busy coloring on the floor

Once completed though, she asked to climb up. It was worth it just to hear "Ooooh, thank you!"

Almost 34 weeks along and still assembling furniture, not bad...though, it took longer than it would if I didn't have 30lbs of tummy in my way. :P

This spur-of-the-moment project is now finished. I think the rest of my goals will involve washing and prepping baby things!

M.LEWIS