Mamas with babies in arms...check in!

[*Lindsey*]

Just wanted to see how everyone is doing!

We're doing well. Seems like all I do is nurse, nurse, nurse. The three week growth spurt should be upon us very soon and I think I'll just strap them each to a boob.

Sleep-wise...I could definitely use more. Hazel and Lucy typically give me two three hour stretches most nights which is wonderful, I know! They usually wake up at the same time of night to nurse. During the day it varies, but I try to wake one within 15 minutes after the other one nurses, so that hopefully they will be on a similar schedule.

Big brother and big sister love the babies but are acting out a bit by fighting with eachother and it's getting OLD.

Physically I feel great, not at all like I gave birth 17 days ago.

Can't wait to hear how everyone is doing!

[welldone]

We're doing great here, as well. It's my first long day home with all three kiddos, and so far, so good. Of course, as I begin typing this, Asher is starting to fuss for me again...

Asher is eating well, gaining amazingly, pooping lots, all the normal newborn stuff. He's a darling, and very laid back. Perfect for a third baby.

My two older daughters are adjusting nicely, though like Lindsey's older two, they're fussing with each other more. It does get old quickly, doesn't it? My oldest daughter, who just turned five, is such a big help. She is always fetching something for me, throwing something away, etc. I didn't realize how helpful she was until I had a new baby around!

My "baby" girl is nightwaking, crying for me often, having daily meltdowns (literally to the floor), and other adjustment behaviors. Trying to love on her as best I can while giving all three the attention they need.

We still have meals from church coming, which is a blessing and a half. And my family is coming in on Thursday, so I'll have help for four days!

Physically, I feel great. I can't believe how quickly I've recovered. The midwives were right--I was made to have babies, I think. I wonder how many more we'll be blessed with?

[drnmd1216]

My boys are 1 week old today, and I am still adjusting to the hormone shift and a lot of sadness over their birth (everything that could have gone wrong did, but thankfully we all came out of it relatively healthy). Also nursing 24/7 and exhausted! My older 3 are adjusting as quickly as a 4, 3 and 2 year old can-but their schedule is way off from that time change as well as new babies! Looking forward to life with 5 kids once everything settles down a bit more.

[renaissanceed]

We are doing amazingly well. I've only had one minor meltdown and it was minor and DD is adjusting as best as could be imagined. She is having trouble at nights getting to sleep since she is used to cuddling me lying down to get to sleep but I'm am usually sitting up in bed nursing the baby and cuddling her with one hand. But once she's asleep - bam! she's out for the night, which is great (of course, we have also decided not to nap her during the day - mostly because she was rejecting them so vehemently).

I can't believe how different #2 is. Silas is 6 days old and we have been out of the house on 4 of those 6 days. It helps that it is unseasonably gorgeous outside. With Miriam I didn't really get out of the house til she was 6 weeks old and I was going crazy.

Nursing is going great, I am so relaxed, he's probably back to his birth weight, should find out tomorrow.

I was at the grocery store today and saw someone who was pregnant and realized how I actually missed being pregnant this time (unlike last time) and how it just seems like yesterday that I bought the test at that store to confirm.

I'm finding that I would love another couple of babes, but I know realistically we are done. Financially, space-wise and in terms of DH's emotional health, we just can't have any more. He has trouble focusing on people at the best of times, and having 3 people to focus on is enough for him.

I'm trying to cherish each moment with Silas because now instead of things being firsts, they are almost like the lasts - the last time my baby will lose his cord stump etc. - since there are no more babies on the way.

I love the little guy more than I could imagine and I'm so happy he's a boy since that's totally what I expected - just a bit sad about all the cute girl clothes in the basement that won't get used again by our family.

Hope everyone else is enjoying their new babes and that the rest of you will get to join us in the next few weeks.

[melissakc]

We're doing great! All of my preparations seem to be paying off. I don't feel AT ALL like I felt after C. was born. I feel supported, nurtured, and appreciated. I'm drinking my post-partum tea, asking for help when I need it, and talking about how I feel. DH is awesome and my PP doula is wonderful! I am so grateful. PPD, stay away!

A. is healthy and a champion nurser. She sleeps for two 3-hour stretches at night, which makes me giddy. So different from C. My only issue is the newborn nasal congestion, which means I couldn't even put her down last night. C. and I have colds but are past the worst of it, I think.

[chrysalis]

mamas, do you find usually when the kiddos have a harder time w/ the new baby that they are under age 4? i wonder this w/ megh, if she will go into 'baby mode' or over-help mode (which i don't want her to do either...), or what...especially w/ all the recent losses she's just had...it will be interesting. all i know is i will snuggle her too as much as we do now as long as she will accept my love!!! :

i'm so glad you are checking in.....this is great. although its making me feel frustrated as i read cuz this stupid strep throat (which so far for me isn't even barely throat-related) isn't going away and i'm exhausted from it....when i need to have energy for birthing...hopefully my Rx will get switched from amoxicillin to something else...ugh. :

post more pics when you can too mamas.......love them!

[kathteach]

Honestly, things are a little challenging over here but please let me express how overjoyed we are that Desmond is home. He's doing great transitioning to nursing and I think the bottles should be phased out around Thanksgiving, at least that's what my LC is predicting. My 18 month old is having a bit of a hard time transitioning to having a sibling and mama is trying to figure out how to be there for two. My DH is helping out so much which makes the nights manageable. I'm very lucky and blessed. It's good to hear how all of you are doing.

[LittleBrownDog]

Things are going well here. DD1 is having a rough time at night, she starts the night in her room and then comes into our room and is used to me being there. For now the baby and I are sleeping in the guest room, so DH is handling DD1 when she comes in at night. Sometimes she's OK with it, sometimes she freaks. Last night DD2 was sleeping soundly enough that I was able to go in with DD1 and help her get back to sleep. I explained that if the baby woke up I'd have to go to her, but until then I could stay and cuddle. She seemed perfectly OK with that compromise.

Elizabeth does her long stretches of sleep during the day and is up pretty frequently at night to nurse, but she's still really congested (I think MIL gave her a cold ) so laying down doesn't work well for her. She is SO laid back compared to Allison, it's weird for me to be able to put her down to go to the bathroom or get something to eat. Allison never let us do that!

Overall, things just seem to be flowing along nicely! Elizabeth has her first ped. appt tomorrow, so I guess she'll have her first bath tonight to prepare for that.

[sorteep]

Dean and I are doing well.. he is a great nurser and (so far..) a pretty calm baby (never had one of those B4!) still have some pretty tough stitches/ tears but they are healing...

older boys are awesome and very happy with a little bro

DH seems to be getting used to the little guy too..

[Isaac'sMa]

We're doing great over here. Sleep is okay...I feel like last night was the first night I was able to sleep really well. He wants to be attached to my boob all night long. I have gotten to nap the last few days which is super nice. He's nursing great and I'm healing well. I have a few stitches so I'm trying to take it easy so that I heal well. It's definitely going to get easier from here on out when I can pick up Isaac again and get back to a more normal routine around the house as far as which chores I am "allowed" by my MWs to do. (Come on two week check up!) I have been asking for a lot of help and relying on dh *a lot*. He's been great and I only had one minor blow-up at him. After staying upstairs the first few days, I wandered down to see how things were and it was *a royal mess*. He said, "I don't know what you want I cook and clean and do laundry *all* day and it's still not up to your standards!" I was just like, "well now, maybe you see how hard it is to work *and* be a mom and keep the house in some semblance of order and cook and do laundry and pick up after you and Isaac!" : I might get a bit more appreciation after it's all through!

[JamesMama]

Aldria is doing great! Still has her days and nights a bit confused and I have a non-napping 2.5 y/o so I'm exhausted. but other than that we're doing well. She had her 2 week check up today and she is already up to almost 9lbs! She was born at 7lbs 3oz and has MORE than gained that, thats exciting to me. I can *finally* put her in real clothes! LOL She's been living in gowns and sweat pants because I wasn't sure if her 'real' clothes would fit her and didn't wanna piss her off by dressing her finding out it was too big and having to start the process all over again.

I'm doing good, recovery this time around is light years better than it was with James. I was so sore for weeks after James, I feel fine this time! I think it was because I only pushed for like 15 minutes with Aldria and I pushed for about an hour and a half with James.

[chubbycheeks]

Edwina, my thoughts are with you. I went through something just like you are explaining after the birth of DS2 (very traumatic birth and DH said no more after him, and I wanted more for sure). Anywho, it is hard at times to enjoy firsts when you know they may be lasts as well.. I somewhat feel that way this time around as well with DS3 as I *know* this really may be it, but I am coping better emotionally with it. Hang in there Mama, you aren't alone!

As for Sam and I, we are doing great. So far he is a very sleepy and relaxed baby, a first for us as we have a house of non sleepers! The other boys love him, especially my 30 month old. .wants to be with me every time I feed and change him. I forgot how much I love being a mom to a nursing newborn, such sweet times. Last night he was struggling with some gas and I was just holding him and looking at him in awe. . its wonderful!!

Glad everyone is getting settled in and adjusting well!

[De-lovely]

Hey everyone! All is well here. Cora is nursing like a champ though I do have one really sore nipple so I am working on getting over that. She is 18 days today and back well past her birth weight. Emotionally I feel fantastic! I think the progesterone shots really did a number on me depression wise....I forget who posted that they took it and had the same problem. I thought for a minute I was going to need medication.

I too am relishing every moment as this is my last baby. I had my tubes tied and while it provides relief because really we could never afford 4 children (but it happened) I am sad because I know in 5 years or so I will want another baby. I always had my heart set on 5 kids. I am so in love with Cora and I think a lot of it has to do with her being my last.The fact she has reddish hair and bluish eyes and looks like me helps a little too! I am even mourning newborn dipes! I mean hopefully I will always know someone that CD's so I can buy them for gifts!

Quinn is having the hardest time adjusting since he is only 18 mos he pulls my hair sometimes when I nurse because he wants me. He is still my baby. Emma is another mother and Elena means well but is pretty rough so we have to watch her though her intentions are loving. The girls' birthday is in 2 weeks and we are financially STRAPPED-we ordered them a play kitchen and now its discontinued so we are back to square one. It was cheap and we really couldnt even afford that! Its free to breathe right?!

[Bonawich]

I'll join the "baby has her nights and days mixed up club!" Despite this, we're doing well. She is such a sleepy baby compared to my son that it is difficult to get used to. And I had forgotten how dreamy having a new baby is - I just want to kiss and snuggle her all day long.

Still getting used to seeing the girl parts when I change her diaper, I've called her "he" a couple of times and it definitely feels strange to talk about "my daughter." I'm sure it will be old hat before long.

Rosemary has jaundice, just like my DS, but it seems to be clearing up faster. And I'm working hard to avoid the problems I had before with low milk supply. Already started on fenugreek and will be starting blessed thistle today. I've also been working to make sure she drains each breast - not so easy since she is so sleepy!

Still haven't posted my birthing story yet, ah well, it will come....

[mittendrin]

I'm in love!!!:

Yesterday dh went back to work and the boys were pretty good compared to the show they put on last week....: It was crazy the first week after the baby was born, they were fighting, regressing in potty training, whining...you name it...! They are starting to adjust. Today was our first time out with Niklas. We dropped the oldest off at school and went with ds2 to visit some friends. I was terrified that Niklas would hate the carseat like his older bro did, but he's ok. Phew!
So far he's been sleeping well, at night he gives me 3 and 4 hr stretches, just last night he was up for about an hour. I try to keep him awake a bit more during the day now, he's just so sleepy. But he nurses well!
I can't believe how lucky I am. Going from 2 to 3 is definitely easier so far than from 0 to 1 or 1 to 2 kids.
My only complaint is that I am bleeding still at 9 days pp. I am horny, I wanna be done with the mess. I didn't tear and feel great overall and want my hot hubby...

[Ackray]

Georgia is doing great. She's still very sleepy and hard to keep awake for feedings. I can't believe she's 10 days old already!

I feel terrible still. I got a uterine infection and I've been really sick. I'm on antibiotics and percocet. But the antibiotics don't seem to be helping. I've been on them for almost a week.

My kids are doing well with the new baby. The older two are in love with her but my 4 year old is a little sad and quiet. She's doing better than I expected though.

I wish I was feeling better. My house is a disaster and I feel like I'm neglecting my kids. But I hurt and just feel generally terrible.

[Momma Aimee]

Theo loooove his baby brother and wants ot hold him a lot -- he has learned to sit on teh sofa, all teh way back , and put his arms out.

Theo brings diapers for Chrles, even when i don't ask. he throws away all the diapers with a bigf smile ---

theo is nurseing again :::

only once or twice a day -- but that is fine. i got to tandan nurse and there is nothing ike a little dark head iwth dark hair on one boob and a big pale hair with blond curles on the other :::

more later -- can't hold charles, nak, and type

[meisterfrau]

Hi, I'm here, but intermittently. I don't know how people NAK...I just can't really do it.

Isaac is such a calm baby. I got a reminder yesterday how lucky I am for that. I don't know what was wrong with him, but he cried just about all day long. My suspicion is that he managed to scratch his eye...one eye looked a little glassy/weepy. So I did nothing but nurse and try to calm him all day long yesterday. I was kind of at my wit's end by dinnertime.

Here's a couple of Halloween pictures:

There were no costumes small enough for such a little guy, so I made him this fried egg getup: Egg

And here's another Halloween pic: Pumpkin

And REALLY unhappy in his first bath: Bath

[*Lindsey*]

Aww, Chrysta! Isaac is breakin' my heart with that pitiful little face in the tub. Sooooooo cute!

Here are a few new pics of my girls:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...azel_lucy4.png (Lucy left, Hazel right)

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...azel_lucy5.png (Lucy left, Hazel right)

This one is hilarious. I don't think you can really see what's going on, but DH was holding Hazel and Lucy, they were hungry and started sucking on one another's faces and screaming.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...azel_lucy6.png (Hazel left, Lucy right)

[mittendrin]

Lindsey, that IS hilarious. They are so cute, I can hardly stand it.