8 Weeks Old!

This was originally written on Friday, June 13, 2008:

For those of you read my last post, the update is positive! I no longer need to bottle feed Logan! I'm only pumping now when I'm going to be away from him or we're out in public and I'm not able to nurse (like, yesterday afternoon I had an appt. so he had a bottle that hour. I pumped more than I ever have in one sitting, though--8 oz!)

After watching my video diary I realized that my one pump that night was more because "I" was addicted to pumping rather than him needing me to pump--so that made it easy to go to zero. So yes, nursing is finally going smoothly EVERY time. . .I hope this gives women motivation who didn't realize (like me) that it often takes a couple of months for this natural thing to become natural! Like I said the other day, it's not something that's simply easy or hard--it can be a rollercoaster before it's smooth. So I can understand why many women don't continue (it takes a lot of time and energy and let's face it, there isn't a lot of that as a new mom). There's nothing wrong with deciding not to (don't beat yourself up about it--there are plenty of healthy formula-fed babies out there), but if you really want to breastfeed then you can see it IS possible despite roadblocks--it just might take 53 days!

For our other updates. . .Logan and I had our first bad day last Friday. It was when I was packing for Iowa--he was wide awake ALL day and wanting my attention every second! I'd no sooner put one item in my suitcase when he'd need me to pick him up again. It was the same situation yesterday as I got ready for my appointment. I was afraid I was going to be late, as "Before Logan" I was early everywhere but now it's very easy to be late even when I've allowed extra time. I just never know what's going to happen--for example, yesterday Logan had an explosion in his diaper that got all over me while he was eating AND then he spit up! These things take even more extra time, as they require both of us to change our clothes! (There was another time, when Sarah from Seattle was here, that his poop went through his diaper and outfit all over me as well. I'd considered using cloth diapers before I had a baby but I don't see how people do it with a newborn--he can have up to 12 messy diapers a day and boy are they messy. So we've been using both organic and non-organic disposable but it doesn't matter what brand we've gotten, they've all leaked.)

My appointment yesterday was the first time Logan was awake in public and so he was very squirmy--but fortunately hasn't cried in public yet. He kept acting like he was going to but I'd change positions, put the pacifier back in his mouth, etc.

The upside to him being awake more during the day is that he's sleeping better at night. This past week the average was four hours straight through (last week it was three and all of the weeks before that it was two) and as soon as he eats he goes right back to sleep so the nights really aren't that exhausting. This is good because Joe and I were previously showing signs of sleep deprivation. The first time for Joe was our first week with Logan when I carried him into our bedroom and asked if Joe could take him. Joe sat up suddenly and started patting our bed all around. I was like, "What are you doing?" He's like, "Where is he? He's going to smother!" I started laughing. "Um, he's right here--I'm holding him!"

I have no room to talk, though--one day I was at Wal-Mart and walked into the Men's Restroom! A guy ran in after me and was like, "This is the men's!" I'm sure my face turned red! I apologized and thanked him. :p That had never happened to me in my twenty-eight years of life.

The downside to Logan sleeping more at night is that I'm getting less breaks during the day. I'm constantly running around. Our house is an absolute MESS so I will be spending all day today cleaning.

On Tuesday night our neighbors, Sean & Brenda (they're to our left when facing our house; Dave & Jenn are on our right) stopped by to meet Logan and give us a gift card to Babies R Us (I was shocked they'd get us something, how nice)! I made sure they didn't go farther than our living room which is in our entry way and fortunately not messy since it's the room used least, haha. To give you an idea of our kitchen--we don't even have any clean silverwear at the moment! And here I thought after I was pregnant I'd be able to clean like I used to prior to pregnancy. . . :/

Anyway, after we chatted with Brenda & Sean, Joe and I went for a walk with the dogs and Logan. We had eaten supper on our deck that evening since the humidity hasn't started yet.

On Wednesday, Bella & Cosmo had their yearly appt. for the last time with our vet. The reason I say it's their last is 1) It's too far now that we've moved--over twenty minutes when there's a vet just down the street from us (less than five minutes away) that we've heard good things about and 2) I was upset with the way I was treated last month when Bella had the ulcer.

It had been a Saturday and I knew they closed at 1 pm, but it was noon when she threw up blood so I asked if I could still bring her in. They said, "Yes, at 12:20." So I handed Logan off to Joe, hurrying as quickly as I could to get Bella on her leash and in my car, while Joe then had to go to the airport to pick up Sarah from Seattle. Needless to say, I realized I'd be about five minutes late but hoped that wouldn't be a problem. However, when I saw that the road to their office was closed, I had a horrible feeling because I knew I'd be between 10-15 minutes late after I found another road to take to their office.

Sure enough, when I got there they were like, "Your appointment was at 12:20." I apologized and said I'd hurried as fast I could, but I had a newborn at home, had planned on picking up my best friend from the airport at the same time, and hadn't realized that the road outside their office was closed. But they weren't sympathetic at all. The receptionist went back and talked to the vet on call and said that for an additional $75 she could stay. My mouth dropped. I was like, "Are you serious? I don't understand! My dog is throwing up blood!" This was four weeks after Logan was born and so I couldn't help but start crying which was embarrassing as I could tell everyone was avoiding looking at me.

The receptionist left again and came back to say I could bring Bella in on Sunday during their one emergency hour. I was not very nice as I responded, "I guess I don't have a choice." I had to bite my tongue not to let them know I'd be holding them accountable if something bad happened to Bella. I tried to find another vet open that day but they were all closed, and so Joe took Bella in the next morning. He had to pay $15 extra but it was better than $75. Still, I decided right then and there that we wouldn't be back (after the appt. that was already scheduled for their rabies vaccine).

In the three years we've been going there I'd been early to every other appointment (sometimes sitting in their waiting room for twenty minutes) and then the one time I was late they couldn't fit me in for something potentially serious.

It's a shame because I liked our actual vet, in fact she is due to have a baby boy next month and so she was really interested in Logan (who was doing a great job in his car seat). But I'm sure I'll like the one down the street, too.

After we returned home Wednesday night the weather got really bad and several tornadoes formed around the Omaha area. At 8 pm our sirens went off and the weather guy said a tornado was on the ground near us. So we went down to the basement and made a fort around Logan's car seat, haha. A half an hour later it was over without damage in our area. On a serious note, tragically a boy scout camp in western Iowa was hit and four boys died with many more injured. It is very sad. Larry King had a show about it last night. Also making national news is serious flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where I worked as a TV reporter right after I graduated from college (and only 20 miles from where I lived from 1988-1998).

Thursday night, after Joe came home from work with Little Caesars Pizza & cheese bread, we went for a walk with Logan and the dogs by the new elementary school that's almost done being built (the first year will be this fall)--the place where Logan will go in five years! Crazy!

This evening Joe is heading back to Iowa for his high school class reunion. Originally, I was going to go, but although last weekend went fine with Logan, it was exhausting and I decided I'd prefer traveling as little as possible this summer. So, my mom and stepdad are coming over to help me this weekend before Joe returns on Sunday.

In other news, my cousin Kate (who lost baby Caden last October) is expecting another baby in January! PLEASE keep her & her baby in your prayers!!!!!

As for Logan, he is getting Joe's eyelashes! Until the past week, Logan didn't have any but I've always envied Joe's long & full lashes and have always said I hoped our children get them. Logan's are so precious--it appears he got the gene :-)

Logan is getting a lot better with the crying while we're changing his diaper. He only does it on rare occasions now--yeay! He also is not really screaming at all anymore (as that was his only cry up until recently). I think it's because he's starting to trust us (before it was like he was just an impulse who reacted to everything, but now he stops and looks at us a lot and appears to be absorbing things and having thoughts. Best of all, he seems really happy and content and like he likes us! Everyone has been saying that motherhood only gets better as babies get older, and now I understand why! It's nice to get positive feedback from him!) He also comprehends that if he starts to fuss a little I'm going to come to his rescue, and so now he kind of just does a fake cry at first, haha. (However if I don't get to him right away then it will transition into the scream.)

This morning I saw that despite not having time yet for aerobics I had lost another three pounds (so only two more to go!), so I decided to try and put on my wedding ring again--and it fits! Whew!

In conclusion, in Monday's blog I mentioned that I had tried something with only 1/4 success. Just like a lot of other stuff regarding pregnancy/childbirth/parenting, I was clueless it would be this difficult and this painful. (Yes, I've tried my HypnoBirthing techniques)! I won't go into detail (Joe asked if I was going to do a video diary about this-HAHAHA--NO!!!), but this wouldn't be a complete post-pregnancy blog without me mentioning this subject.

Even though my doctor said it could take a couple of months before sex felt normal again, it just felt so wrong that I looked up on the internet to make sure something wasn't abnormal with me. Apparently not. There are a TON of message boards all over cyberspace with women who are still in a lot of pain during it EIGHT MONTHS LATER! I pray that is not my experience. (One person was at 19 months but I'm ignoring them.) For those who are curious like me as far as what the experts say, I've copied and pasted an article I found:

Childbirth is a pretty traumatic process for a woman. Having a baby pass through her vagina is almost like having a small explosion go off inside her. The delicate vaginal tissues are inevitably strained, bruised and torn – and it takes some weeks for these injuries to heal up.

Furthermore, childbirth involves very considerable hormone changes. Therefore, it’s important for both mother and father to realize that lovemaking may not go brilliantly in the first six months or so after baby arrives. So be prepared - and be patient!

In general, a woman shouldn't consider having full sex (intercourse) until after her postnatal check-up. This examination usually takes place about six weeks after the birth.

Even then, she may not feel ready to 'go all the way' - particularly if she has had stitches and the opening of her vagina is sore.

If you're in any doubt about whether to resume sex, ask the doctor who does your postnatal examination for advice – particularly about using additional lubrication.

When you're both ready to have intercourse after the birth, you should begin gently. If possible, try and find a time of the day when you are not too worn out. Also, try to find a time when the baby is not likely to wake up - so you can have some peace and quiet.

----I'll end with a positive quote from babycenter.com: "Remember that this too shall pass. With time, sex will likely be as satisfying, if not more, as it was before your baby came along."

So, it sounds like just with breastfeeding, it's all about patience. SIGH.