A week ago yesterday, I gave birth to Liam. And in this past week, I have dealt with two sick toddlers, 48 hours worth of c-section recovery without the aid of narcotics, and nursing difficulties that once again rocked me to my core.
On the surface, it all sounds pretty craptastic. Yet, that isn't the case at all (mostly - Kara and Nathan's colds weren't fun for anyone).
I've given myself 20 minutes to post, so most of the bloggy goodness will be shared over time, but here is what I feel compelled to share at this particular moment about having three children - or, more directly, three c-sections.
RATION THY NARCOTICS.
In the hospital, I was taking two capsules of my OB/GYN's drug of choice every four hours; as a result, I was feeling well enough to shower, meander through my corridor, receive visitors with a smile (if not without bloated ankles and droopy eyes), and leave within two days of surgery, which became a primary goal the minute Liam was out and we were both deemed healthy. Because I was afraid of losing my post-partum high, I continued this regimen once I returned home, which meant by Monday morning, I was out of meds. No worries, I thought. I have one refill. I'll just refill it! So imagine my surprise when, after Luke called in the prescription, the pharmacy's auto robot denied my request because it was too soon to have depleted my supply.
(Are you imagining that scene from Wayne's World where Mike Myers walks into the guitar store and sees the "No Stairway" sign over his favorite piece? If you weren't, you totally are now, aren't you?)
The bottle said I could take one to two pills every four to six hours, so I didn't see anything wrong with following the maximum dosing schedule. Apparently, though, the on-call OB/GYN who released me did. Which meant that entire Monday all I could depend on for relief was Al*eve and Ty*lenol.
Tuesday came, but I was afraid to call in again because what if the pharmacy's auto robot was keeping track of this and thought my profile matched that of a bonafide street addict?
Monday and Tuesday were not good days.
Luckily, then came Wednesday, and I was brave enough to call again, and the gods were smiling upon me, because I received another dose of happy pills. Of which I am now taking one, every six hours, and am no worse for the wear.
If they don't want you to take two pills every four hours, they really should just make that clear on the damn bottle.
I'm very sorry for wasting so much of your time with my pill-popping story, but this is an issue that quickly became very important to me, so I would like to spare all of you similar pain if I can. You are welcome.
Okay, okay, more pictures.
Kara is in love with Liam and constantly refers to him as "my baby." She can't help herself from kissing his hands, feet, cheeks, head, etc. Luckily, her fever/cold is just about gone, so I should be able to allow her to make contact with his sweet little face again.
Nathan, poor thing, took the brunt of the summer cold this time around, but is thankfully now on the mend. He loves his baby brother just as much as Kara does, and they are equally concerned for his general welfare. Whenever he wakes up or cries or does anything even remotely resembling an awake human being, they immediately start shouting, "Mommy! Daddy! The baby NEEDS you!" until Luke or I stop what we are doing and tend to whatever the issue is requiring attention.
They've said some pretty funny things about Liam, too. I wish I could remember them all, but here's a sample.
Kara: (after staring at him intensely) Is Liam creepy?
Nathan: (after waking up and finding the two of us on the couch) Oh, Mommy! The baby is still here!
I have passed my 20 minutes, but there is one more thing I wanted to share before signing off. Mainly because I don't plan on talking about it in-depth and prefer that it not turn into an "Is she or isn't she?" lingering kind of issue.
I am no longer nursing.
I did it while I was in the hospital, and I'm glad I did, and continued a bit when I got home, but that first night was extremely difficult, and I quickly realized what I personally would need to do to make it work for my entire family. In the end, I decided it was not my path. So Liam is now formula fed, and I am at peace with it. So, if anybody would like a half-used box of Mother's Milk tea and a completely new bottle of fenugreek for their upcoming breastfeeding needs, just let me know.
Alright, fine, one more picture.
I am seriously over my time limit here, but how can I let you go without telling you how amazing this baby is? Because he is. Everything about Liam is wonderful, from his Danny DeVito hairline to his piano-player fingers, from his bright blue eyes to his ruby-red lips. Right now we are in the honeymoon phase that is the first week, during which they sleep almost ninety percent of the time and therefore trick you into thinking they are absolute angels and that their agreeableness is the result of your mad parenting skillz, and then somewhere between weeks two and three they wake up for longer than 90 minutes at a time and trick you into thinking you don't know anything at all. So I very well could be pulling my hair out seven days from now over the latest development of his personality. But right now I am grateful that he eats, pees, and poops well and is content to sleep almost anywhere and takes all the poking and proding from his older siblings in stride. Also, that he is a happy, snuggly baby, a miracle baby that I am so, so grateful for.
The five of us, we are going to be unstoppable.
He is a handsome little guy! Sounds like everyone is adjusting well to life with a little one. I hope he continues to be a delightful baby! As far as the medication that is just not fair! Enjoy your party of five!
Posted by: kim | July 07, 2011 at 01:48 AM
I am sure that the agreeableness is due to your mad parenting skillz, and that the five of you are awesome. I am so sorry about the drug shortage.
Posted by: Grandma Molly | July 07, 2011 at 05:26 AM
Liam is just precious! And on the breastfeeding - I had to start supplementing from the very first hour and probably only really did it a week with baby #2. I was ok with it and figured there was no need to stress about something I really couldn't control. Glad you are feeling good about your decision right away because that is key! Enjoy the honeymoon phase and who knows - you may get a super calm, sleepy baby like we did that made that honeymoon phase last for MONTHS!
Posted by: Bren | July 07, 2011 at 06:56 AM
That is a precious little boy you have there. His chin is downright yummy. OMG 48 hours without meds!?!?!? You're a superwoman! That's awful. When I got home from my c-section and Marcus went to get my Rx filled, our drugstore was out. (WHO RUNS OUT OF PERCOCET!?!?) He had to go ino Manhattan to find some because I think I said something about not letting him back into the house without them. So glad the kiddos are loving their baby brother. Very, very happy for all of you! Thanks for all the pictures.
Posted by: Jen L. | July 07, 2011 at 08:34 AM
He is precious. That last picture is bordering on criminal for ALL THE CUTE.
And I would have thought/done the same thing about the meds re: oh noes! They'll think I'm drug seeking if I call too soon!
Wishing you a LONG Honeymoon period and a fast recovery~ what a beautiful family you have.
Posted by: rkmama | July 07, 2011 at 09:35 AM
My third is almost a year old and my older two kids still call him "our baby." Because he is. He's not just mine & my husband's. Not a day goes by that I don't think about how glad I am that we decided to have a third after much debate. I can't imagine my family without him. Enjoy your family of five!
Posted by: Dorie | July 07, 2011 at 09:46 AM
Oh look at him! And the other two look so grown up all of the sudden! Crazy. Congrats on your handsome guy!
Posted by: Beth | July 07, 2011 at 02:17 PM
When I had my first c-section, I got some kind of prescription painkillers that were great. The second c-section, the doc refused to prescribe anything other than some kind of suppository, which, NO THANK YOU. I was on Tylenol + Advil only once out of hospital and it, uh, sucked. I was so angry at the doc (who I hadn't met before since I'd planned a VBAC) for delaying my recovery, making me hobble doubled over in pain for the first two days home, but really, it worked out ok.
Ok that's MY blog post on why you are lucky to have ultimately gotten good drugs!
Your kids are adorable. Enjoy every cuddly newborn minute and keep documenting all those cute sayings from Kara and Nathan for their future wedding fodder!!
Posted by: eva | July 07, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Congrats to you, your sweet little family is precious!
Posted by: Erika Mitchell | July 07, 2011 at 03:54 PM
Time to change your blog banner again :D
Posted by: Teresa | July 07, 2011 at 04:39 PM
You certainly have made three beautiful children together! Liam does not look very newborn! Love his chin in that first photo!
I have to say I love reading about your life because you've chosen a different path than I have. Hope you don't mind that I drop by and read. I don't comment very often but I am out here reading.
All the best!
Posted by: Lynne | July 07, 2011 at 05:56 PM
Congratulations. You guys have the perfect meld of your genes, cause all your kids are absolutely adorable.
Posted by: Jess | July 07, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Two days with no painkillers? Lady, you are HARDCORE. I was hitting my pills every 4 hours on the dot when I had minor surgery on my KNEE. And those 4 hour stretches felt very, very long.
I'm so glad to hear you're all doing well! I'll take that tea and fenugreek off your hands in a few months :)
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | July 07, 2011 at 10:04 PM
You might want to throw out the Fenugreek. There was a contamination of Fenugreek seeds in Europe.
Posted by: Grandma Molly | July 11, 2011 at 08:19 AM