Hey Humble Readers...
How are things where you are today? I hope that you have sunshine and cool breezes, and time to enjoy both.
Things on the flatland are sunny, although a bit too breezy for my taste. This is the time of year I love. When it's warm enough for me to have the windows open and maybe only need the fan on low to be comfy. The only bummer at the moment is that we still haven't replaced the screen in our screen door, so if I want a good cross breeze, I have to risk letting in bugs. Blech!
Today was a big day for our little mister. His first doctor appointment.
It's way later than it should have been, but it's been a scheduling nightmare because Dr. B has been away for a family emergency since just after Pip was born. When we got to the office today we found out that Dr. B is still away (and no one called us to reschedule) so we had to see another doctor at the same clinic.
On a side note, I wanted to smack the nurse who gave me attitude at the front desk. When we got there, I went to check in and she started in on me (on ME?!?!) for showing up when Dr. B wasn't there, and how they had tried to contact me yesterday (big time bull-pucky, I was home all day and the phone didn't ring until the dinner hour). When my Beloved joined me at the desk, I told him that Dr. B wasn't there, the nurse got all huffy and said that she could squeeze us in with another doc in the clinic.
Ok, enough griping. On to the good stuff.
Pippin is growing like a stink weed. He's already up to 9lb 2oz! I knew he was getting heavier and he's been filling out nicely (no more stork legs), but I had no idea he had gained so much in the last couple of weeks. He's now in the 75-90th percentile for weight and the 95th for length (I'm doubtful that he was measured correctly when we left the hospital, because they told us he was 19 inches long, and today he was 21.25 inches). Dr. L, our substitute doc, seemed very happy with where our little mister is at right now.
My incision looks really good (and no infection or yeast... YAY!), and she was pleased with my weight loss. She agreed that the dizzy spells were likely connected to the other side effects I've been having with the metformin. We discussed my blood sugars, and seeing as they have been so good since going off insulin and given all the side effects I've been experiencing, she said that I could go off the metformin (super YAY!!), provided that I keep a good track of my sugars and discuss it with Dr. W when I see her in a few weeks. The only thing we forgot to do was my blood pressure.
So, all in all, a good appointment, crabby desk nurse notwithstanding. :) And I promise to have a post that is not all baby or recovery related.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Ginevra in May
Greetings Humble Readers...
I hope you are all doing well, and if you are of the US persuasion, I hope you are enjoying your long weekend.
Ginevra is 18 months old today. A year and a half ago she arrived in our world and nothing has been the same since. May has been a momentous month for our wee sweet girl, on so many fronts.
Of course the addition of Pippin to our little family has been a serious adjustment for Ginny. Overall, I think she's handling it well. She gets frustrated when I can't let her climb into my lap when I'm feeding Pippin, and she is fascinated with the bassinette that we have for the little mister. She's learning to help... carrying empty bottles to Daddy, picking up things like receiving blankets and changing pads.
Her vocabulary is growing constantly, thank heaven. Ginny primarily babbles in her own language, but every day she adds something new to her repertoire. Recent additions include shoes, alle-alle (a low German term for all gone), and go-go-go. We've been working on the alphabet song, and she mimicks many of the letter sounds, just not in any semblance of order. We're also working on counting... when I say 'one', she says 'twooo'. She also likes 'fiiiiii' which in Ginny-speak means five.
Ginny has developed a particulary annoying habit of shrieking at the top of her lungs, in the highest key possible. It almost makes my ears bleed. She does it when she's happy, excited, upset, angry, frustrated... pretty much any emotion seems to call for it. She started doing it around the end of last month, and it's getting on my nerves. I have tried ignoring it, I've tried putting her in her crib when she does it. Neither seem to have helped. I'm just praying she outgrows this soon.
Our wee sweet girl is also still teething the last of her one year molars, and we have no sign of her canines yet. It seems to come in waves, she'll have a not-so good day, followed by a couple of really awful pain days, and then it will start to fade away, with no progress being made. We went through this with her lower front teeth too. Poor baby.
She's very active, as she should be. She likes to try to put her foot up on the furniture (think like a ballerina doing bar excercises), including the top rail of her crib and the top of the play pen. She's managed to crawl up on to the new couch, which is significantly higher than the old one, and she still gives me heart palpitations when she sits facing the wrong way. I have visions of her falling backward onto the coffee table.
Ginny is becoming more aware of her own identity. She has been able to identify Mummy and Daddy in pictures, and she loves pointing us out to each other. She's also recently added 'Bay' for baby and uses that term for anything and everything that is related to him... the breast pump, bottles, wipes, blankets, the bassinette and the baby himself. Just this weekend she began to understand that she is 'Ginny'. When we ask her where Ginny is, she'll pound on her chest. It's really cute.
She also recognizes that Daddy and I wear glasses and that we look different when we don't have them on. She knows something's missing. The first time she actually watched me clean my glasses she got very freaked out about the whole thing.
Lastly, she's learning to share. She tries to share her milk cup with me and her Daddy on a regular basis (which is hard to deal with, because I can't stand whole milk... blech!). She's also tried to share it with Pippin, but that just resulted in a wail coming from the bassinette. She and her little friend J at church have bonded over goldfish crackers (which Ginny tries to dunk in her milk cup through the straw).
My girl is getting so big. She's pushing 25 pounds now, and I have to pack up all of her super cute overalls and send them off to the consignment store because they're all miles too short. Thank heaven for summer and not needing to wear long pants all the time. Ginny's now rockin' the shorts and t-shirts most days. And looking super cute in the process.
I hope you are all doing well, and if you are of the US persuasion, I hope you are enjoying your long weekend.
 |
| Yup... that's my milk. |
Ginevra is 18 months old today. A year and a half ago she arrived in our world and nothing has been the same since. May has been a momentous month for our wee sweet girl, on so many fronts.
 |
| Reading one of Mummy's books. |
Of course the addition of Pippin to our little family has been a serious adjustment for Ginny. Overall, I think she's handling it well. She gets frustrated when I can't let her climb into my lap when I'm feeding Pippin, and she is fascinated with the bassinette that we have for the little mister. She's learning to help... carrying empty bottles to Daddy, picking up things like receiving blankets and changing pads.
 |
| Hamming it up for the camera, and carrying her favourite new thing... a pic of Pip. |
Her vocabulary is growing constantly, thank heaven. Ginny primarily babbles in her own language, but every day she adds something new to her repertoire. Recent additions include shoes, alle-alle (a low German term for all gone), and go-go-go. We've been working on the alphabet song, and she mimicks many of the letter sounds, just not in any semblance of order. We're also working on counting... when I say 'one', she says 'twooo'. She also likes 'fiiiiii' which in Ginny-speak means five.
 |
| Hangin' out with her cousin Oscar |
Ginny has developed a particulary annoying habit of shrieking at the top of her lungs, in the highest key possible. It almost makes my ears bleed. She does it when she's happy, excited, upset, angry, frustrated... pretty much any emotion seems to call for it. She started doing it around the end of last month, and it's getting on my nerves. I have tried ignoring it, I've tried putting her in her crib when she does it. Neither seem to have helped. I'm just praying she outgrows this soon.
 |
| Watcha up to, Mummy? |
Our wee sweet girl is also still teething the last of her one year molars, and we have no sign of her canines yet. It seems to come in waves, she'll have a not-so good day, followed by a couple of really awful pain days, and then it will start to fade away, with no progress being made. We went through this with her lower front teeth too. Poor baby.
 |
| Not diggin' the swings today... |
She's very active, as she should be. She likes to try to put her foot up on the furniture (think like a ballerina doing bar excercises), including the top rail of her crib and the top of the play pen. She's managed to crawl up on to the new couch, which is significantly higher than the old one, and she still gives me heart palpitations when she sits facing the wrong way. I have visions of her falling backward onto the coffee table.
 |
| ... but she's lovin' the slide! |
Ginny is becoming more aware of her own identity. She has been able to identify Mummy and Daddy in pictures, and she loves pointing us out to each other. She's also recently added 'Bay' for baby and uses that term for anything and everything that is related to him... the breast pump, bottles, wipes, blankets, the bassinette and the baby himself. Just this weekend she began to understand that she is 'Ginny'. When we ask her where Ginny is, she'll pound on her chest. It's really cute.
 |
| No Daddy, I don't want to wear my hat! |
She also recognizes that Daddy and I wear glasses and that we look different when we don't have them on. She knows something's missing. The first time she actually watched me clean my glasses she got very freaked out about the whole thing.
 |
| I love the camera! |
Lastly, she's learning to share. She tries to share her milk cup with me and her Daddy on a regular basis (which is hard to deal with, because I can't stand whole milk... blech!). She's also tried to share it with Pippin, but that just resulted in a wail coming from the bassinette. She and her little friend J at church have bonded over goldfish crackers (which Ginny tries to dunk in her milk cup through the straw).
 |
| Ready for summer! |
My girl is getting so big. She's pushing 25 pounds now, and I have to pack up all of her super cute overalls and send them off to the consignment store because they're all miles too short. Thank heaven for summer and not needing to wear long pants all the time. Ginny's now rockin' the shorts and t-shirts most days. And looking super cute in the process.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Small Victories & Minor Grievances
Howdy Humble Readers...
Oy! I haven't gone this long without posting in a while. I've been checking in on many of you, in a hit or miss fashion over the last few days, but I just haven't had the juice to put thoughts down on paper. The following are just a few of my observations of our new life, with Pippin settling into our world.
*****
Breastfeeding isn't all sunshine and unicorn farts. Pip is getting breastmilk at almost every feeding, but for the last few days it hasn't been in a direct manner. Although I have better supply this time, things are still challenging. He's staying awake longer at the breast, and getting better about nursing even if he's dozing. BUT... I took a half day break (because my nipples were super sore... sleepy baby on the boob equals not a great latch) and that ended up being a three day break due to a plugged milk duct. Fun times. I have been pumping constantly, and that has helped greatly, but we have only just gotten back to trying the direct approach in the last 24 hours. We are still supplementing, but I am totally okay with that, so long as he's getting all I've got to give.
*****
Why, oh good heavens, why do I have to be so blankety-blank itchy? I don't remember this at all from last time. And it's not the incision itself that's itchy. It's about an inch or so on either side... and it's driving me nuts!!! I've tried all the usual itch cures... scratching another body part, scratching another person. Nothing helps. And of course I can't put lotion on it or anything. Ugh!
*****
Yesterday was my first day alone with both Ginny and Pippin. It's gone pretty well, I think. Considering that I'm technically not supposed to lift anything heavier than the baby, having a toddler who needs to have diapers changed, and be put into a crib for naps is challenging. But I'm making sure not to over do it. Ginny has been coping better with sharing Mummy's attention. There haven't been any repeats of the bottle throwing incident, and she's actually been 'helping' quite a bit... carrying bottles and diapers, folding the changing mat I use in the living room, etc. She still tries to steal Pip's bottles and blankets, but we are seeing some progress.
*****
Weight-loss contiues to go in the right direction. As of this morning I'm down 30 pounds from 13 days ago. This happened last time, so I'm not trying to celebrate too much yet. Last time I plateaued at around 40 pounds, and then it slowly crept back on after I stopped bf-ing. I am truly hoping that I will be able to continue to head in a downward direction and, at the very least, keep off what I've already lost.
*****
I understand that I need to be on metformin right now, to help my body adjust from all the crazy amounts of insulin I was on, but man oh man... the side effects suck! Who knew that metformin's primary side-effect is gastrointestinal discomfort? Ha! I've been having some serious heartburn and IBS flares in the last week. Like, wake me up in the middle of the night and spend more than an hour in the bathroom kind of flares. I'm hoping that met is not in future long term. My blood sugars have been great since I went off the insulin, and with a few exceptions to celebrate (I had my sushi and an iced chai latte in the first week after Pip was born) I am trying to continue to eat smart.
*****
I've also been dealing with some random dizzy spells. I don't have any other signs of high blood pressure issues, and they only seem to come on when I am exceptionally tired. I'm wondering if it's just a recovery thing, or if it's a side-effect of something that I'm on, or a drug interaction. I see the underwhelming Dr. B next Tuesday, so hopefully I'll get some advice on this.
*****
Ok, it's been almost two weeks... why can't I get rid of the medical tape gunk on my arm? I've scrubbed it every day, and it's still there. It's just two little spots, but they're bugging me. Any suggestions on how to get rid of them?
Oy! I haven't gone this long without posting in a while. I've been checking in on many of you, in a hit or miss fashion over the last few days, but I just haven't had the juice to put thoughts down on paper. The following are just a few of my observations of our new life, with Pippin settling into our world.
*****
Breastfeeding isn't all sunshine and unicorn farts. Pip is getting breastmilk at almost every feeding, but for the last few days it hasn't been in a direct manner. Although I have better supply this time, things are still challenging. He's staying awake longer at the breast, and getting better about nursing even if he's dozing. BUT... I took a half day break (because my nipples were super sore... sleepy baby on the boob equals not a great latch) and that ended up being a three day break due to a plugged milk duct. Fun times. I have been pumping constantly, and that has helped greatly, but we have only just gotten back to trying the direct approach in the last 24 hours. We are still supplementing, but I am totally okay with that, so long as he's getting all I've got to give.
*****
Why, oh good heavens, why do I have to be so blankety-blank itchy? I don't remember this at all from last time. And it's not the incision itself that's itchy. It's about an inch or so on either side... and it's driving me nuts!!! I've tried all the usual itch cures... scratching another body part, scratching another person. Nothing helps. And of course I can't put lotion on it or anything. Ugh!
*****
Yesterday was my first day alone with both Ginny and Pippin. It's gone pretty well, I think. Considering that I'm technically not supposed to lift anything heavier than the baby, having a toddler who needs to have diapers changed, and be put into a crib for naps is challenging. But I'm making sure not to over do it. Ginny has been coping better with sharing Mummy's attention. There haven't been any repeats of the bottle throwing incident, and she's actually been 'helping' quite a bit... carrying bottles and diapers, folding the changing mat I use in the living room, etc. She still tries to steal Pip's bottles and blankets, but we are seeing some progress.
*****
Weight-loss contiues to go in the right direction. As of this morning I'm down 30 pounds from 13 days ago. This happened last time, so I'm not trying to celebrate too much yet. Last time I plateaued at around 40 pounds, and then it slowly crept back on after I stopped bf-ing. I am truly hoping that I will be able to continue to head in a downward direction and, at the very least, keep off what I've already lost.
*****
I understand that I need to be on metformin right now, to help my body adjust from all the crazy amounts of insulin I was on, but man oh man... the side effects suck! Who knew that metformin's primary side-effect is gastrointestinal discomfort? Ha! I've been having some serious heartburn and IBS flares in the last week. Like, wake me up in the middle of the night and spend more than an hour in the bathroom kind of flares. I'm hoping that met is not in future long term. My blood sugars have been great since I went off the insulin, and with a few exceptions to celebrate (I had my sushi and an iced chai latte in the first week after Pip was born) I am trying to continue to eat smart.
*****
I've also been dealing with some random dizzy spells. I don't have any other signs of high blood pressure issues, and they only seem to come on when I am exceptionally tired. I'm wondering if it's just a recovery thing, or if it's a side-effect of something that I'm on, or a drug interaction. I see the underwhelming Dr. B next Tuesday, so hopefully I'll get some advice on this.
*****
Ok, it's been almost two weeks... why can't I get rid of the medical tape gunk on my arm? I've scrubbed it every day, and it's still there. It's just two little spots, but they're bugging me. Any suggestions on how to get rid of them?
Friday, May 18, 2012
Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Firsts, Questions, & Tidbits
Hey Humble Readers,
I know I owe many of you comments and emails, and I am hoping to get back into a rhythm soon. Please know that I am thinking of you all and am so appreciative of your support and kindness.
*****
Being a mummy to a little boy is different. We had our first "fountain" incident yesterday, when the little man decided to pee all over himself and his daddy.
*****
Question: To circumcise or not to circumcise? We are leaning toward not, much to my mom's disapproval. We don't have a religious reason to do so, and in looking at info available there doesn't seem to be a significant health benefit. We have to make a decision soon, so I'm looking for any and all opinions and input. (I know that this can be an emotionally charged issue, so I'm just looking for general opinions... not diatribes. Thanks!)
*****
Pippin snores.
*****
I'm feeling more like myself on a daily basis. The staples came out today, thank heaven, and I'm weaning myself off the painkillers. Getting from a sitting position to standing is getting much easier, although actually laying down is still challenging. I've lost 23 pounds in the last week (and I only gained 11 pounds total during the pregnancy), and the swelling almost completely gone from my feet. I was able to put my rings on again this morning (YAY!). I'm itchy all over, and patches of numbness are slowly coming back to life (including some parts that should never have that pins & needles feeling).
*****
He's up past his birth weight as of this afternoon. The nurse who came to remove my staples gave him a check over and he's officially 7lb 13.5oz. He's also rolled over onto his side more than once (OMG!) and he's super strong. He's trying to hold his head up already, and when he's awake it seems like he's always in motion.
*****
Question: Does anyone have any tips for keeping a little one awake while they breastfeed? Pip, due to the lingering jaundice, tends to fall asleep while eating. When he stays awake, he does pretty well, but mostly he's asleep within five minutes. I'm having to pump a lot right now, and of course we're supplementing as well.
*****
We had our first round of jealousy/sibling rivalry yesterday. Ginny has been intrigued by the baby's bottles and wanting to play with them. I have had to repeatedly tell her no, and have had to discipline her a couple of times for not listening. Yesterday, I guess I had said no one too many times, and she snapped. She grabbed one of the bottles and chucked it into his bassinette. Thankfully, it didn't hit him too hard, but my Beloved immediately took her and put her to bed for a while. She's been good today, but I know she's confused and frustrated.
*****
We had our first little outing yesterday, going to show Pippin off at my Beloved's office. The ladies all oohed and ahhed appropriately. As did the ladies over at the little grocery store across our back lane. We have visitors coming tomorrow, and I'm excited to show him off. He's getting his first really big 'debut' on Sunday at church.
I know I owe many of you comments and emails, and I am hoping to get back into a rhythm soon. Please know that I am thinking of you all and am so appreciative of your support and kindness.
*****
Being a mummy to a little boy is different. We had our first "fountain" incident yesterday, when the little man decided to pee all over himself and his daddy.
*****
Question: To circumcise or not to circumcise? We are leaning toward not, much to my mom's disapproval. We don't have a religious reason to do so, and in looking at info available there doesn't seem to be a significant health benefit. We have to make a decision soon, so I'm looking for any and all opinions and input. (I know that this can be an emotionally charged issue, so I'm just looking for general opinions... not diatribes. Thanks!)
*****
Pippin snores.
*****
I'm feeling more like myself on a daily basis. The staples came out today, thank heaven, and I'm weaning myself off the painkillers. Getting from a sitting position to standing is getting much easier, although actually laying down is still challenging. I've lost 23 pounds in the last week (and I only gained 11 pounds total during the pregnancy), and the swelling almost completely gone from my feet. I was able to put my rings on again this morning (YAY!). I'm itchy all over, and patches of numbness are slowly coming back to life (including some parts that should never have that pins & needles feeling).
*****
He's up past his birth weight as of this afternoon. The nurse who came to remove my staples gave him a check over and he's officially 7lb 13.5oz. He's also rolled over onto his side more than once (OMG!) and he's super strong. He's trying to hold his head up already, and when he's awake it seems like he's always in motion.
*****
Question: Does anyone have any tips for keeping a little one awake while they breastfeed? Pip, due to the lingering jaundice, tends to fall asleep while eating. When he stays awake, he does pretty well, but mostly he's asleep within five minutes. I'm having to pump a lot right now, and of course we're supplementing as well.
*****
We had our first round of jealousy/sibling rivalry yesterday. Ginny has been intrigued by the baby's bottles and wanting to play with them. I have had to repeatedly tell her no, and have had to discipline her a couple of times for not listening. Yesterday, I guess I had said no one too many times, and she snapped. She grabbed one of the bottles and chucked it into his bassinette. Thankfully, it didn't hit him too hard, but my Beloved immediately took her and put her to bed for a while. She's been good today, but I know she's confused and frustrated.
*****
We had our first little outing yesterday, going to show Pippin off at my Beloved's office. The ladies all oohed and ahhed appropriately. As did the ladies over at the little grocery store across our back lane. We have visitors coming tomorrow, and I'm excited to show him off. He's getting his first really big 'debut' on Sunday at church.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Not What I Was Expecting: Pippin's Birth Story
Greetings Humble Readers...
Life is slowly beginning to resemble something akin to normal around the hobbit hole. At least as close to normal as things can get these days.
Not that I'm complaining one little bit!
My Beloved has been a superstar over the last several days (not that now is any different than any other time). He changes diapers, plays with Ginny, helps me with feedings & pumping & formula, cleaning, cooking, and everything else that I can't do. He even took the first late night shift at home with Pippin so that I could sleep. I don't know what I'm going to do when he goes back to work.
I'm so incredibly thankful that our time at home has been relatively peaceful and calm, considering that there is a new little hobbit around. Our time in the hospital was anything but. Let's just say that if we hadn't already decided that our family was done with two, there is NO WAY IN HELL I would go through that again.
(Fair warning... this is a little bit rambly)
When I got to the L&D ward on Thursday, it was a zoo! The place was jumping... and this was at 6:30 in the morning. I got settled in my room, which sadly turned out to be a shared room. Normally, the scheduled c-sections get the private rooms, but not this week.
The lab came and took blood, and I had to get into my gown and everything. I was scheduled for 11:05am, but they ended up coming to get me about an hour early.
My mom walked down to the surgical waiting area with us, and then it was just my Beloved and I. We sat, looking oh so stylish in our hospital garb. First the surgical nurses came and talked to us. Then the anesthesiologist came and talked to us. Then Dr. W came and talked to us. And finally someone came and took me into the OR.
Before I knew it, I was up on the OR table, having needles jabbed into my spine repeatedly, as the anesthesiologist attempted to get me numb. It took five jabs, after the local, before I felt the effects of the drugs. My feet felt like bricks, and my legs were all tingly. It took a little while after that for them to get me situated, and for them to bring my Beloved in.
Just after my Beloved took his seat at my head, they started the procedure.
And I could feel it.
(Let that sink in a little.)
Yup, I could feel them cutting into me. I could feel it as they cauterized the opening (felt like an electrified metal comb sliding over my stomach repeatedly). It burned, stung, and generally took everything I had to not scream. I told the anesthesiologist through clenched teeth that I could feel it, and he said, 'Yes, you'll feel some pressure.' Ha!
That's when they (Dr. W, her assistant, nurses, etc) started telling me to not move, specifically my legs. And that's when the anesthesiologist finally clued in that something wasn't right. He stopped them for a minute, injected me with some sort of local freezing, and they continued. But it was too late. I could feel them poking, prodding, pulling, and cutting. It felt like it was going on forever.
When they finally got our wee little man out, I was almost too freaked out to even realize it. I remember Dr. W commenting on his hair, and calling him by name (she had asked for our chosen names before the surgery), and saying that he was a lot littler than we all thought he would be. My Beloved got up and went to the table where they had Pippin.
Dr. W and her assistant got to work on the tubal ligation. I tried to focus on the little bit of our wee guy that I could see, but I could still feel it. My Beloved and Pippin were whisked from the room fairly quickly at that point, although I did get to give Pip a quick kiss on the forehead.
I don't remember a whole lot from when they took me out of the OR, but I very clearly remember both Dr. W and the anesthesiologist telling the nurses in the recovery room that my spinal was 'very patchy' and that I was in a great deal of pain (no sh!t). Every time the nurse pushed on my abdomen I was very vocal. Less than five minutes in recovery and I could feel it when she touched my navel. Not fun.
I was on a lot of pain meds for the first 12 hours. I felt really stoned, and the word 'fundus' started to bring tears to my eyes (the nurses were pressing on my stomach every two hours). I wasn't able to get out of bed until after 8:30pm, and that was only to take two steps to a wheelchair so that I could go to the NICU to see my boy.
While I had been in recovery, the nurses had checked Pip's blood sugars and discovered that he was sitting at 1.1 (very scary low). He had been taken to the NICU immediately, and they began giving him formula and iv dextrose. They were also monitoring his vitals regularly (due to his irregular heartbeat).
I was able to get as good a night sleep as I possibly could, while alternating being stoned and in pain, because my initial roommate had been discharged. It wasn't until the next morning that the psycho-biotch-from-hell moved in.
The first thing I heard from her was an expletive laden diatribe leveled at her boyfriend as to why his parents were already at the hospital when she specifically told them not to come. The next 36+ hours were filled with her shrill voice bickering with her boyfriend, her family, his family, and the nurses. She also had lovely personal hygiene issues (including sucking back snot as loudly as she could, and not washing her hands when she would come out of the bathroom). Oh, and she made more than one comment to the atmosphere at large about how it would be so nice to be able to have nurses look after her baby so she could get some rest (as if having a child in the NICU, even for a short time, is at all conducive to rest).
On Saturday morning, when the nurses wheeled Pippin into my room, I was so happy, I practically jumped out of bed to get to him, until my incision reminded me that I couldn't do that yet. We had a good morning and afternoon, making our first attempts at breastfeeding (I had been pumping up to that point) and spending a lot of time just holding and looking at him. That night, I had a bit of a meltdown... I couldn't handle my roommate's obnoxiousness and all I really wanted was quiet. Pippin was fairly mellow, only getting really upset when we had a bad go round of bf-ing. Saturday also brought the advent of jaundice, but that seemed minor in comparison to everything else.
And as I told you previously, we were given the all clear to head home on Sunday morning.
It's hard to believe it's all over. I'm so incredibly thankful that he's here, he's healthy, and that we are both able to be at home. Our little family is complete.
Life is slowly beginning to resemble something akin to normal around the hobbit hole. At least as close to normal as things can get these days.
Not that I'm complaining one little bit!
My Beloved has been a superstar over the last several days (not that now is any different than any other time). He changes diapers, plays with Ginny, helps me with feedings & pumping & formula, cleaning, cooking, and everything else that I can't do. He even took the first late night shift at home with Pippin so that I could sleep. I don't know what I'm going to do when he goes back to work.
I'm so incredibly thankful that our time at home has been relatively peaceful and calm, considering that there is a new little hobbit around. Our time in the hospital was anything but. Let's just say that if we hadn't already decided that our family was done with two, there is NO WAY IN HELL I would go through that again.
(Fair warning... this is a little bit rambly)
When I got to the L&D ward on Thursday, it was a zoo! The place was jumping... and this was at 6:30 in the morning. I got settled in my room, which sadly turned out to be a shared room. Normally, the scheduled c-sections get the private rooms, but not this week.
The lab came and took blood, and I had to get into my gown and everything. I was scheduled for 11:05am, but they ended up coming to get me about an hour early.
My mom walked down to the surgical waiting area with us, and then it was just my Beloved and I. We sat, looking oh so stylish in our hospital garb. First the surgical nurses came and talked to us. Then the anesthesiologist came and talked to us. Then Dr. W came and talked to us. And finally someone came and took me into the OR.
Before I knew it, I was up on the OR table, having needles jabbed into my spine repeatedly, as the anesthesiologist attempted to get me numb. It took five jabs, after the local, before I felt the effects of the drugs. My feet felt like bricks, and my legs were all tingly. It took a little while after that for them to get me situated, and for them to bring my Beloved in.
Just after my Beloved took his seat at my head, they started the procedure.
And I could feel it.
(Let that sink in a little.)
Yup, I could feel them cutting into me. I could feel it as they cauterized the opening (felt like an electrified metal comb sliding over my stomach repeatedly). It burned, stung, and generally took everything I had to not scream. I told the anesthesiologist through clenched teeth that I could feel it, and he said, 'Yes, you'll feel some pressure.' Ha!
That's when they (Dr. W, her assistant, nurses, etc) started telling me to not move, specifically my legs. And that's when the anesthesiologist finally clued in that something wasn't right. He stopped them for a minute, injected me with some sort of local freezing, and they continued. But it was too late. I could feel them poking, prodding, pulling, and cutting. It felt like it was going on forever.
When they finally got our wee little man out, I was almost too freaked out to even realize it. I remember Dr. W commenting on his hair, and calling him by name (she had asked for our chosen names before the surgery), and saying that he was a lot littler than we all thought he would be. My Beloved got up and went to the table where they had Pippin.
Dr. W and her assistant got to work on the tubal ligation. I tried to focus on the little bit of our wee guy that I could see, but I could still feel it. My Beloved and Pippin were whisked from the room fairly quickly at that point, although I did get to give Pip a quick kiss on the forehead.
I don't remember a whole lot from when they took me out of the OR, but I very clearly remember both Dr. W and the anesthesiologist telling the nurses in the recovery room that my spinal was 'very patchy' and that I was in a great deal of pain (no sh!t). Every time the nurse pushed on my abdomen I was very vocal. Less than five minutes in recovery and I could feel it when she touched my navel. Not fun.
I was on a lot of pain meds for the first 12 hours. I felt really stoned, and the word 'fundus' started to bring tears to my eyes (the nurses were pressing on my stomach every two hours). I wasn't able to get out of bed until after 8:30pm, and that was only to take two steps to a wheelchair so that I could go to the NICU to see my boy.
While I had been in recovery, the nurses had checked Pip's blood sugars and discovered that he was sitting at 1.1 (very scary low). He had been taken to the NICU immediately, and they began giving him formula and iv dextrose. They were also monitoring his vitals regularly (due to his irregular heartbeat).
I was able to get as good a night sleep as I possibly could, while alternating being stoned and in pain, because my initial roommate had been discharged. It wasn't until the next morning that the psycho-biotch-from-hell moved in.
The first thing I heard from her was an expletive laden diatribe leveled at her boyfriend as to why his parents were already at the hospital when she specifically told them not to come. The next 36+ hours were filled with her shrill voice bickering with her boyfriend, her family, his family, and the nurses. She also had lovely personal hygiene issues (including sucking back snot as loudly as she could, and not washing her hands when she would come out of the bathroom). Oh, and she made more than one comment to the atmosphere at large about how it would be so nice to be able to have nurses look after her baby so she could get some rest (as if having a child in the NICU, even for a short time, is at all conducive to rest).
On Saturday morning, when the nurses wheeled Pippin into my room, I was so happy, I practically jumped out of bed to get to him, until my incision reminded me that I couldn't do that yet. We had a good morning and afternoon, making our first attempts at breastfeeding (I had been pumping up to that point) and spending a lot of time just holding and looking at him. That night, I had a bit of a meltdown... I couldn't handle my roommate's obnoxiousness and all I really wanted was quiet. Pippin was fairly mellow, only getting really upset when we had a bad go round of bf-ing. Saturday also brought the advent of jaundice, but that seemed minor in comparison to everything else.
And as I told you previously, we were given the all clear to head home on Sunday morning.
It's hard to believe it's all over. I'm so incredibly thankful that he's here, he's healthy, and that we are both able to be at home. Our little family is complete.
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