all done

Abe's here!

Is there anything else to discuss? ...perhaps.

Rough outline: he's now 6 weeks and 2 days, born Sunday, November 9th, via ceserean at Washington Regional Medical Center after 15 hours of labor at home. He was posterior and in a brow presentation and 9.7 lbs., hence the surgery. It was humbling to have a ceserean after having planned a homebirth, but intervention is there and when it's needed it's needed. Some may say that I could have done it if I had tried longer or harder, but my baby we stuck and we were losing control of his and my vitals. At about 35 weeks into my pregnancy I realized that I could trust my midwives; if I were going to put my life in their hands, I needed to trust them. If Jennifer said, "We need to transport," well, then, we need to transport. Some may choose to have more control than that. But it was WAY less traumatic for me to trust them than to have to bear all the pressure of making that kind of decision myself. Granted, we stayed and labored as long as it was safe, but when it seemed out of control, we transported.

It has been arduous. I mean, everyone tells you motherhood is work, but no one tells you any gross details. First of all, labor is way easier than breastfeeding. Even my experience was way easier. Don't let anyone ever tell you breastfeeding is easy. I had no drugs (until surgery) and I really do feel that breastfeeding is a million more times a challenge. Another thing is balancing time. I am not putting Abraham on a feeding schedule or a napping schedule perse. However, he has a clock. I intend to adjust that clock as we need to, and especially as Abe grows. For example, when Mark has school, he gets up at 5, does some study, eats & gets himself ready for the day. Abe and I got up with him that early a couple times. Loved it. It's just precious time. But it's a ridiculous when Abe is up at 3:30 for a feeding; to get him up at 5 for another feeding and Daddy time seems a little excessive. So adjusting our lives to a reasonable schedule has been rough too. Cannot complain about lack of sleep. Abe is a good sleeper, and therefore Mommy gets her rest too.

We picked up some new diaper wraps yesterday. I was starting to covet disposibles. Shame on me, I know. But the blowouts were happening like every time. Newborn wraps on a 12 lb. boy don't work. We've got a great natural parenting store in Fayetteville that carries great products. We love our new wraps.

He is growing out of his clothes so quickly. I can't believe it. Gerber 3-6 month onesies do not fit him anymore. And the 0-3 month sleep-n-play zip ups don't fit him either. He's just a big baby.

I had my last post-op visit last week, and the last visit with the midwives yesterday. We've all got good bills of health. Abe has his 8 week well-baby check-up next week. So we are all settling in very nicely, including Mark. He's an amazing daddy and I am so thankful he's been here for me through all of this. He takes very good care of me!