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Saturday, August 1, 2009

A few random thoughts and updates

Because that's how my brain is working, now. Seems I got the foggy pregnancy brain after pregnancy had ended.

1.) Delivery was the fastest 14 pounds I've ever dropped. They weighed me just before we left the hospital, and all but 6 pounds disappeared almost immediately. Belly looks goofy and deflated now, as the uterus continues to shrink. But the linea nigra is still as nigra as ever.

2.) For all the worrying I've been doing over a lack of wet & soiled diapers, the pediatrician says Cayden is doing great. In fact, he had gained a little weight back (after the initial loss all babies experience) by yesterday's pediatrician's visit. Next doc's visit is next Friday. Oh, and the red patch on his right eye is a "stork bite" -- a kind of birthmark that fades a few days or weeks after birth. Most babies get them at the base of the head; Cayden got one on his eye.

3.) I've dubbed him Chicken Wing, because his arms look and move like chicken wings. And dad says his legs are skinny chicken legs. Hmmm, I remember teasing a certain new dad about his own chicken legs during our dating days.

4.) Brian thinks Cayden looks just like me in my infant pictures. I think he got dad's eyes.

5.) Newborn photos are scheduled for Monday evening!!! We're so excited to see Jodie and Jeff Wolf, and to capture Chicken Wing in his earliest days.

6.) This is HARD. I knew it would be, but everything people tells you just doesn't mean anything until it's happening to you. I'm constantly tired, my emotions and hormones are starting to get the best of me, I can't seem to find the right time/moment to pay attention to the cats and for being so busy all day, and I sure have little to show for it at the end of each day. Sorry to the friends I have yet to call back, and sorry to the family who has yet to see Cayden. It's all I can do to get through the mostly sleepless nights without breaking down. I wish I was a better napper. I just can't seem to fall asleep during the day, which makes the nights even harder. It's a lot of pressure being the little guy's chuck wagon and only source of food, but we're making it work. It will be nice, however, when I can start pumping and dad can take care of a feeding or two. You know, since we're doing about 10 a day at this point. I have no idea how single moms or moms of twins do this. But I just keep repeating to myself: "this, too, shall pass"; eventually, things will get a little easier. And the new dad is really good about delivering hugs and words of encouragement at just the right times.

7.) So you can understand, I hope, if I'm not as regular as I'd like to be in providing updates here. Hopefully I can post more as things calm down a bit, but I now understand first-hand how everything else is just left on the ever-growing to-do list when there's a newborn in the picture.

Here are the two of us, early this morning. Hoping I'm not setting myself up for harder times down the road, but falling asleep with him last night was the only way I had a prayer of making it until morning.

Cayden is five days old.

2 comments:

Lillian said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE stork bites! I don't know why, I just think they're the sweetest things ever. Nick has one on the back of his neck and Amelia had them on the back of her neck, between her eyebrows and on both eyelids - I can still very faintly see the near her eyes when she gets really upset and it makes me realize how much she isn't a baby anymore:( The fact that you posted all of this so coherently and succinctly is AMAZING - I'm so impressed! Hang in there, it really does get better;)

Anonymous said...

Liz, you are doing great. I know as a new mom it is hard but yes it does get better. One thing to think about is to take help from anyone who wants to give it. If it is doind laundry for you, cleaning or cooking take the help. You may not be able to take naps during the day (I understand I'm not a napper either) but just sitting in a chair or laying on the bed will help you rest and get stronger. I can come over and help anytime you want. Just let me know when would be a good time and I'll give you and Brian a little break. Talk to you soon.
Erica