Wisdom from my walk

my boys, caleb and Boaz

Boaz – one week old

I dont want to brag or seem inconsiderate, I just want to let everyone know how I am doing. This resource and also this make me wonder how I got so lucky to have the recovery from a c-section that I do. With my son, over 3 years ago, I remember things being easier than I’d thought they’d be after a c-section. This time I expected it would be a little worse since I had the previous surgery and also a toddler to take care of. I guess God has granted me with more than one huge gift after a hard pregnancy, not only do I have an amazing little boy I have little to no pain and am feeling quite well these days.

For me pregnancy is very hard and it’s not just morning sickness it’s a ton of things and I’m suprised I even agreed to put myself through it again after the first go round. Some how for me recovering from being pregnant and having a c-section is so different than it should be for most women. I stopped taking pain killers about the 2nd day, and now am only taking tylenol for some horrific headaches I’m getting, no doubt the return of my migraines. other than that my body feels mostly good, a little tired, okay a lot tired and aside from the headaches things are going well.

we went out Monday night to our weekly young adults meeting to show off the kid and some people were suprised that I was up and about already. I know that how I recover is a lot different than the norm. And I feel very blessed. I guess it’s a good trade off, 10 months of pain and misery while carrying the kiddo yet after a major surgery my body does better than it should as far as healing. I’m very grateful for this but I want to make sure people know that this is more than likely not the norm for someone recovering from a c-section. I admit I probably do a lot more than I should at only a week after the surgery, like laundry and cleaning, but the more I make myself lay down the worse my incision feels so for me doing more is actually helping me heal better. The same was true the first time around. We actually went for a short walk yesterday and it felt good, tiring and made me crampy but overall it is helping me recover a lot quicker.

at the same time it may seem I am doing well, but in truth it does hurt some and walking is very uncomfy at times, but overall I’m just so glad the pregnancy part is over that I want to do what I can to get things on a schedule and back to as much norm as it can be after all these changes around here. So while I’m doing my best to rest as much as a newborn and toddler will let me, I’m not going to stop living life and doing what I need/want to just because I shouldn’t after the surgery. I know when to stop and indeed today made myself lay down when my head felt like it was going to explode after doing some laundry, so dont worry about me! and if I happen to overdo things it’ll be me that suffers the consequences. But so far things are going well, better than should be expected for someone recovering for a c-section, and with any luck things will continue to go well.

I’m so grateful to our church family for providing meals for us for the next week, I dont look forward to or even have an interest in cooking or even eating very much at this point, so that’s been great! For some reason my body hasnt gotten hungry since I was starving before my surgery last week, and all I want to eat is junk when I do eat. I’m trying to get on more of a schedule as far as my own eating but I’m just not hungry, it’s annoying at times because I know since I”m breastfeeding I need to eat really well, I should really be sticking to the diet I was doing for diabetes and thought it’d be easier to stick to it, but when people bring you chocolate and brownies before you even get home from the hospital I think I was doomed from the start. I’ve indulged myself to make up for weeks of having to not eat sugar and now I cant get back on track, it’s a bad cycle! I”m trying to do better but it’s hard!

well dont know why I’m rambling, probably because I”m so tired. I should be napping but Dean’s working on fixing our bed , maybe I’ll go sleep in Calebs bed for a bit, but at this point it’s almost time for the baby to eat so I better wait. Oh well, at least it’s almost time for an afternoon nap! The worst part this last week has been lack of sleep, everyone else in the house is sleeping well but me, it’s really not fair, but I guess I’ll survive!

Can you believe its been a week already! Before we know it it’ll be christmas, heck it’s December today! wow where did the time go?

Things I love about not being pregnant anymore:

1. holding my precious baby boy
2. watching Dean hold our precious baby boy
3. wearing my regular clothes, that’s right, right back into my non maternity pants!! wohoo! but thats not too surprising since up until about 2 weeks ago I could still fit in them! the fun part will hopefully needing new smaller size pants in a month or so.
4. not having morning sickness
5. being able to sleep laying flat and still be able to breathe
6. being able to sleep in our bed again and not in the recliner
7. walking up/down the stairs without getting out of breath

a week ago today I was completely stressing out, today I’ve been lying in bed all morning. For a while I sat w/ laptop close by balancing the check book w/ one hand and w/ the other nursing the baby. When Dean got home from taking the big brother to preschool he came home and we sat together catching up on our Tivo playlist until he finally decided to get up and put away the laundry. Mind you I am completely able at this point to put clothes away, I’m just taking it all in today. It’s such a contrast to how my last Tuesday was spent. Right now I am here with the baby sleeping by my side while Dean goes to get the big brother from school. It’s an amazing thing, this family of 4.

Last time I managed to get in a good deal of sleep, the baby ate around 2 am and then again at 6 am. I’ve been awake ever since, but getting more than an hour of sleep at one time is a great accomplishment and it felt really good. I’ve been managing in a really good afternoon nap while both boys sleep and I can barely stay awake by that time and my body feels so much better after I take that long nap.

It’s hard adjusting to being a nursing mommy since I never was able to do this with Caleb, it’s an amazing feeling to be able to provide for the baby but I”m so tempted to give in to just one bottle feeding or a at least using a pacifier, but so far this baby has not had either, no bottle, no pacifier. I am in shock at that one. It’s been rough a few times, but as long as I can nurse when he gets fussy we are all set. it’s the whole nursing in public that is scaring the heck out of me. I dont know how we’ll do it and I’m really not looking forward to it, I guess for now we’re just doing our best to make sure he’s fed right before we go anywhere and praying he stays calm while we are out. I want to do this for my baby and for me but it’s a hard thing, dont believe anyone who says breastfeeding is easier than formula feeding. Sure there’s no bottles to clean, no heating up of said bottles, and no buying formula, but at this point I feel like the human pacifier and that can get a to be a little annoying. But overall this has been a ton better than my breastfeeding attempts with caleb, so thats an answer to prayer. If anything we’re saving money on formula this way even if it only last for a little while. I dont look forward to the day when Dean goes back to work, but I’ve got 3 weeks to worry for that day to come, so for now I’ll take what I have. I love having all my boys at home, we spend a lot of time cuddling in bed together, all 4 of us and it’s wonderful. Caleb loves holding his baby, and he’ll tell you it’s his baby, his baby boy. It’s adorable! For weeks I’ve worried how hard this would be, adding another child to our family but now it feels so natural, so complete.

we had our first outings yesterday, as a family of four. we took Boaz to the pediatrician to get his bilirubin checked again, then headed to visit Boaz’s great grandparents. After that we went to visit a friend who hadn’t seen the baby yet and I nursed for the first time outside of my home and the hospital, and it wasnt too bad, luckily we had no problems w/ latching on so it went well. Then we all came home and napped really well, even Dean! Last night we managed our first trip to Target, and it went smoothly. We’re trying to find some clothes that will better fit the baby. All of the 0-3 months outfits are huge on the baby as he only weighs 6 lbs 5 oz now. Dean’s brother gave us 2 outfits that are for Newborn, and say up to 7 lbs, so today we hope to find more of that size. Target only had newborn but it said up to 11 lbs and we have tons of those size clothes and the poor baby looks lost in them! So that’s the goal for today, another outing with all of us, ought to prove interesting!

well I just wanted to check in since I hadnt in a while but now the Baby is awake and it’s almost time for him to eat. so gotta get. hope everyone is having a great week!

be prepared, this contains graphic info about babies, breasts and c-sections!!!

Well, we managed to figure out how to finally get online at the hospital, so I wanted to do my best to let you know what was going on. After our surgery time was bumped back on Wednesday due to another mommies ER c-section, we anxiously entered the OR, or at least I did. I immediately started shaking because it was so cold. I waited while the anastheiologist (sorry about spelling) prepared to do my spinal/epidural. I told her several times that I didnt want to get shaky, vomit or be numb for a long time since with my first pregancy I was dumb for about 24 hours after I got it. I told her I was extremely sensitive to meds and told her give me a lower dose if she could to avoid problems. Continue reading →

Boaz Iain McKenzie was born at 10:48 a.m. on November 24th weighing in at 6 lbs 14.6 oz. He is 19 inches long. He is doing great and so is mommy! We will be staying til Sunday at latest but are hoping to go home Saturday morning.

See Dean’s entry for some pictures.

This will be my last update for a few days, but I’ll have Dean do his best to update here sometime soon. It’s hours away from the big c-section and doesnt look labor is going to happen anytime soon. I’ve had cramps and what I think are contrax all day long and tons of pressure but unless my water breaks I dont think anything is going to go anywhere. The in-laws just arrived and Caleb is super excited, now getting him to bed will be a chore. I hoped to be in bed early since I have to be around 5:30, but thats not likely to happen. I’m packing last minute stuff now in my bag, I decided I should pack a few outfits so I”m not entertaining visitors in jammies for four days, that would drive me nuts! Well thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts lately! I’m still not dealing well with things, emotionally and all, and at this point I guess it doesnt matter, it will all be over soon and then I’m sure my emotions will get even crazier. I dont want to talk to anyone, I just want to lay in bed and cry and not have a c/s in the morning, but thats not gonna happen. I will be very thankful to hold my new baby boy tomorrow and am praying he’s ready to come into this world.