She Reads In The Dark

Bigger and better

02 Nov 2011 4 Comments

by jhking in Uncategorized Tags: breastfeeding, Family Fun, Me, Urijah

We have weight gain!  As of Urijah’s 2 week check-up he was back to his birth weight.  I felt like we had been cramming for a test for days leading up to that appointment – as soon as the scale registered those numbers, I burst into tears.  It was such a relief to know that all of our effort was paying off.  Heather, the midwife, gave me a good long hug, and let me cry for a minute, and told me I was doing a great job, and I was doing everything right.  It was just what I needed to hear!  I had had so many days  of worry and stress, and disappointment in my body that it wasn’t fulfilling its obligation to this little boy, that to get the news that between my body, Lisa’s body and the Enfamil corporation, we were making it happen.  Go team!

Urijah commemorated the moment by promptly peeing all over the sling they use for weighing.  An appropriate indication that he is getting enough food, I suppose.

The lactation consultant brought her fancy scale back over on Sunday and we did a couple of pre and post feeding weighs over the next 2 days, and we’re up to getting around an ounce or ounce and a half from a nursing session, which is a HUGE improvement.  Still not enough to sustain him, but it’s progress!  The last weight I took of him today was right around 6.5 lbs, so he’s starting to chunk up.  His cheeks are definitely starting to look fuller, even if his legs are still scrawny.

In other news, there’s been a bunch of grandma love going on around here.  My mom came to town and stayed for 5 days, and the day after she left Scott’s parents came to town to help me out, since sadly, Scott had to go back to work. My mom was Urijah’s first ever babysitter!  We took advantage of her capable hands and we went to dinner with some friends while she and the babe stayed home and bonded.  I actually put on makeup and wore my hair down for the first time in weeks – it felt great!  And, if I may pat myself on the back for something that I had absolutely no control over?  I was able to wear pre-pregnancy jeans.  There was sort of a muffin-top situation, but whatever.  They zipped!  The were pretty comfortable!  They looked great while I was standing up! All in all, it was a success.

My mom also gave Urijah his first bath while she was here.  We thought it would be nice to actually bathe the poor kid before we took him to his 2 week check up.  Honestly, he just wasn’t really dirty!  It was just a water wipe down, but he handled it pretty well.  He did pee during it, which we fully expected, but right as he started, he sort of rolled to the side and crossed his leg over in a very gentlemanly fashion, so she was saved from the spray.

Mom cooked up a storm while she was here, and Scott and I ate it up.  It was such a nice treat to have someone make food for us that we haven’t eaten, like, 20 times before.  We have been in a food rut, so Mom showing up with new recipes in hand was just what we needed.  She made tons, so we’ve got a stuffed fridge to keep working through.  Such a luxury to have prepared food that just needs to be heated up!

Scott’s mom took up the torch and she’s been cooking as well.  As I type, she’s working in the kitchen and it smells great!  It really is so nice to have an extra pair of hands (or two!) around the house to hand the baby off to, or to pour up a bottle or to make dinner.  I was even able to make a solo run to Target yesterday while Karen stayed home with Urijah.  Between Ali, Mom and Jim and Karen, we are so, so lucky to have had such amazing and supportive people around us to help out.  Everyone is just smitten with Urijah, and we couldn’t be more pleased to see how happy he makes them.

Next week will be my first real week ‘on my own’ while Scott is at work, and while I’m a bit nervous, I’m also excited to see how we do.  Hopefully we can settle into some sort of normalcy (notice I didn’t say routine – I’m not that naive) and both get through the days fed and somewhat rested.  If I can manage to accomplish both of those tasks for us, it will be a roaring success!

But can everyone please keep your cell phones handy in case of a meltdown?

Thanks.