Mommyhood = Exhaustion

Reading through the Sunday Star-Ledger when I first wake up: Out.
Being stuck in the LazyBoy all day watching Lifetime Movies: Long gone.
Waking up at the butt-crack of dawn: Good morning, sunshine!
Cleaning a poopy diaper every 20 minutes: Embrace change.
Feeding a 5 1/2 week old during a growth spurt: Farewell, my body.

I gain a few things (seeing how fast the sun rise) and I lose a few things (a couple ounces as CJ feeds). It's all part of the whole package I signed up for. Not that I am complaining, because being a mommy trumps all, just never realized how tiring it really is. Frankie is a huge help if I need an extra ten minutes in bed just to collect myself. I have a new respect for parents of newborn multiples (and to think, I was praying for twins!!)

The past couple of days have been rough, I must admit. CJ has been very fussy. He hasn't wanted to sleep unless he's being held, or in his swing (which thanks to Aunt Gabby has saved my arms and my sanity!!). He wants to constantly move; and just can't sit still. He fusses when he eats sometimes; latches on, cries a little, latches on some more, cries a little more. Sometimes he doesn't. When he does eat, he eats quite a bit. Burps some. Farts some. (He burps like a grown man. And farts just the same... amazing). I came to the conclusion last night that he has to be going through a growth spurt... His sleeping "pattern" is a wee bit off... Babies are very difficult to read; sometimes I get very upset because I can't figure out why CJ is doing what he's doing, or what he wants when he is fussy... I know sometimes it just happens, but I feel so helpless!!

From what I understand, growth spurts can last 2 -3 days, or up to a week... I'm hoping that by the end of tonight, I have a better outlook for the week...

I wouldn't be able to get through the day without Frankie around! He has been there for me every step of the way. Sometimes he gets CJ to calm down and relax when I've exerted all my efforts, and then I feel somewhat bad because Mommy couldn't get him to calm down. I don't get too down on myself, maybe CJ just needed Daddy time, who knows??

CJ is sleeping upstairs. Daddy is doing laundry. And Mommy is just going to relax for an hour until the cow bell cries.........

It's been a while...

Well, it's been a while since my last post, and now that CJ is sleeping (for the night) and I don't have laundry to fold, or beds to make, or anything else on my list to do, why not update my blog?

A quick run-down since my last posting....

CJ was born Tuesday, December 16 @ 8:11am after I was induced at 11pm Monday night... The results of my 24-hour urine test came back with too high of a protein level for my doctor's liking and decided to induce me before I ran into kidney problems... It was a very harsh labor, but nevertheless, it was fast! 9 hours total. The resident OB broke my water at 5:30am, and at 8:00am, I started pushing (even though i was ready at 7:30am... not very happy....) CJ received 9's on both his APGAR's (good boy). He was born with a cephalohematoma (fancy word for bruising on his head). The pediatrician said it could cause him to deal with some jaundice, sure enough, she was correct. My poor monkey man spent a total of 2 days under the bili-lights... Rather then go into the details of my fights with the nursery and the pediatrician, I'll just say, St. Barnabas is a hospital that I will never deliver another baby at. (Their NICU is one of THE BEST, but regular nursery, that could use some help, or perhaps a new staff.....). Anyways, we brought him home Saturday, December 20 in the morning in yucky weather! We made it home safe and sound, and here we are 5 weeks later...



Mommyhood has been the most rewarding experience (and I'm only 5 weeks into it all!!) I never wanted to have a baby born in the winter because it would be too cold to bring him out, bad weather, fear of being stuck in the house during a snowstorm, etc. HOWEVER, since I have experienced it, I think it might just be the best time to have a baby. You are basically forced to stay in the house because of the weather and nest with your baby. If it was warmer out, I would be more inclined to go here, and go there. No, I'm not saying you should stay all cooped up with a baby because you can't take them out... But, I'm not much of a home body, and these past 5 weeks have been great. The weather isn't so favorable to go out in, so CJ and I have spent a lot of time together getting to know each other.


I am very biased, but when he smiles, it's beautiful. Sometimes I find myself filling up with tears when he does (I know, blame it on the raging/unbalanced hormones). He used to only really smile when he was on the verge of falling asleep, but since Monday night (which was when I received my first official smile while he was completely wide awake), he has been smiling quite often.

Tuesday (01.20.09) CJ had his one month check up with the pediatrician... here are his stats:
Wt: 10lbs, 12oz//Ht: 22.25inches//HC: 15inches
(75th percentile across the board!)

Prior stats:
Birth (12.16.08) Wt: 7lbs, 8oz//Ht: 19.25inches//HC: 34.5cm
1 week (12.23.08) Wt: 7lbs, 5oz//Ht: 20inches//HC: 13.75inches
2 weeks (01.02.09) Wt: 8lbs, 6oz//Ht: 21inches//HC: 14inches



So, as you can see, CJ is gaining weight like a champ (an for any mom that is breastfeeding, I like to say, props to the mommy!!! so yay me!!) He's latched on great the first time we tried, and since then, he is munching down his num-num's like a professional!! I had one little incident with mastitis (OUCH!!) but spoke with a lactation consultant, laid in bed and nursed all day long for 2 days... by the end of the first day, my fever had subsided, and the mastitis took care of itself and there was no need for me to go on antibiotics!! (Boo to the doctor who told me to stop breastfeeding... shame on you!!)



Now that CJ has put himself on somewhat of a routine, I should hopefully be able to keep this blog updated regularly (semi-regularly) now. As I said earlier, and I can't express it enough, these past 5 weeks have been more rewarding than anything else I have ever experienced. I am so thankful that CJ is healthy, happy (most of the time), and here in my arms. My husband and I are so thrilled and filled with so much love for him and even more for each other now. I have to say, when my son was born, a new love developed for his daddy! That new love for my husband was a completely unexpected feeling, and hit me pretty hard. It's kind of like I fell in love all over again with him, but at the same time, like I was meeting a new person. He has done great with CJ, and I knew from way back when (I can't say since the day I met him, because I met him when I was 9) that he was going to make a great father. I couldn't be happier with my new family.


The pictures I posted were some pictures from my phone. I haven't even began to tap into the camera yet.... Eventually, my life will get back on track and I'll be able to keep up (as best I can). I just love spending all my time with CJ!! I can stare at him sleep for hours; I can lay next to him and coo back and forth. I can sing to him and dance around with him all day!! I just love being a mommy....... I love it. I love everything about it..........