And The Ways They Stay The Same…

I was told, by more than one person, that I’d never get to finish a book again.  I’ve actually finished the entire Dresden Series in the past approximately 3 months.  Slower than I would have pre-Adam, its true.  But I still find time to read.

I was told, by more than one person, that I’d have no time to go online.  I’m on almost as much as I was before he was born.  There are lots of times he will only sleep in my arms (or Simon’s).  So one hand surfs the net, the other hand holds him.

SDC10303
I was told, by more than one person, that I’d never get to eat a hot meal again.  Well, sometimes that is true. Other times he sleeps away while Simon and I eat.  I am sure that will be more true as he gets older and sleeps less.

I was told, by more than one person, that I’d never get to soak in the tub again.  Why not?  Simon is just as capable of taking care of Adam while I did that (for almost 2 hours!!) the other day.

I don’t know, maybe I’m a bad mummy because I still do the things I enjoy even though I have a 5 week old baby? Or maybe I just know that sometimes it is more important to read a book/play on the computer/eat a meal while the baby sleeps than it is to hoover the floor/do the dishes/dust the front room?

Or maybe its because my husband and I share the load 50/50?  That he is up in the night with Adam as much as I am, while I sleep in our spare bed?  And vice versa?

Are we really that unusual in this?  If so, how sad for everyone else.  And how fantastic for us.

The Way Things Change…

Obviously Simon and I knew our lives would change, once we had Adam, even before we knew he was Adam!

But I am not sure we knew about some of the things that would change.

We eat together at the table now, rather than in front of the TV.  Well, together in that we both have a place setting at the table.  Usually not together as Adam has that baby ability to get fussy/hungry as soon as our dinner is ready.  So one of us is usually feeding him while the other one eats.  But still, we’re at the table!

The three of us have been out of the flat nearly every day this week.  That’s a huge change for me, who would be content to sit on her butt in the flat every day all day for the rest of her life.  But, some how, knowing I am getting Adam out into the air, even if he sleeps the whole time, makes it easier for me to get organized to get out there.  That might change the other way once Simon goes back to work next week, but this week it has been nice.

I’m sure I’ll think of many others, but those are the two big ones.  Next entry will be about the things that haven’t changed.  Despite people telling me they would…

Has Been A Rough Couple of Days…

Adam has not been settling easily and eating constantly.  Tried changing his formula, doesn’t seem to have made him any less hungry.  I will speak to the Health Visitor about it on Wednesday when she stops by to see him.

Also, my arthritis is kicking in.  My hands have been hurting a lot and my legs.  Part of it is fatigue and the reason I do think I may  have fibromyalgia.  I am suppose to have another appointment with the Rheumatoid people in a few months and we’ll pick back up the investigation.

I am counting down the days until I can start doing yoga again.  I really miss it.  I may have to do some basic positions with Adam in a sling, but at least I’ll be able to get moving again in a couple of weeks.

Being a mummy is the hardest and bestest thing I have ever done.

Letter to My Baby – Adam – 1 Month Old

Dear Adam

Today you are one month old.  Its been quite a month, my son.  You spent the first week and 3 days in the SCBU getting your breathing straightened out.  Then you came home to mummy, daddy, grandma and pops.

SDC10059

Then a week ago today Mummy dropped you on your head and you spent another 2 nights in hospital.  Mummy will never be able to tell you how sorry she is that that happened.  She doesn’t even exactly know how it happened.  One second you were safe in her arms, the next you were flying through the air and hitting the floor, with her screaming your name.  It turned out that you cracked your skull.  Just a small fracture that did no other damage, but the sentence Daddy and I never want to hear again is: ‘The good news is his ribs are fine, the bad is that he cracked his skull.’  We both thought we would throw up right there in the cubicle at the A&E.

But after two nights observation in hospital and a set of full body XRays you were announced right as rain!  And Daddy and I were so glad you were home.

SDC10283

You also had your SCBU follow up this past week and were officially discharged from their care.  Your lungs and your heart are perfectly fine.

The other exciting thing that happened was the birth of your younger cousin.  Aidan was born 3 weeks and 3 days after you, so you can lord that over him as much as you like. 🙂

Mummy and Daddy have been having so much fun learning about you.  About how it takes you a good 10 minutes to wake up.  About how you like to play with your bottle for awhile before actually swallowing any of it.  About how you really hate getting your nappy changed 99% of the time.  About how you enjoy a hair wash, up to a point, but hate a full body wash.

SDC10285

About how you love being swaddled.  And we are learning more things about you every day.

The adventure that is your life is just beginning, my son.  And I can’t wait to watch it unfold.

I love you.

Mummy

Yesterday Was A No Good Very Bad Day…

Adam was a fusspot from noon until he finally fell fully asleep at about 2100.  Daddy had night duty and he apparently woke up again at 0145 and 0445.  Mummy, however, put herself into the spare room and slept from 2230 to 0600.  Daddy has gone back to sleep!

Today is Adam’s follow up appointment from SCBU.  They want to XRay him again, but I am going to ask if that’s such a good idea, since he was XRayed so much over the weekend.  They want to see how his chest is now.  I am wondering if this much XRay exposure is okay or if it might cause harm.  He’s so little they can’t exactly put a big lead apron on him!  Maybe they can see his lungs on the XRay they did of his ribs on Monday? Or is it a different kind of XRay for lungs? I have no idea!

He might have a little sniffle, poor wee dote.  He is just not having a good week.

And Happy Four Weeks Old Today!!!!!

*whew*

My boy is back home and settling back into his routine.  That means eating every 2 – 3 hours.  And poohing every 2 – 3 minutes. 🙂

I’m settling down as well, although last night was horrid.  Kept having nightmares that I dropped him on our tile floor, rather than the wood laminate, and he lay bleeding on the floor.  Led to a lot of leaping up to check he was breathing.  Not a good way to sleep.

He was a bit unsettled as well and actually woke up twice during the night, which he usually doesn’t do.  Perhaps he was having nightmares about flying through the air and landing hard. Poor wee dote.

But we are both settling down now.  Its good to have him home.

I Will Never Play the Game

‘don’t drop the baby.’  That is when you hold the baby in your arms and sort of let it slide down your front while saying ‘uh oh, don’t drop the baby!!’  My oldest niece loved that game when she was about 1!

Why won’t I play it? Because I actually did drop Adam yesterday at around 1915.  He’s in the hospital.  He cracked his skull a little bit.

He’s fine, really, just in for observation and some scans and hopefully will be home tomorrow.

But I dropped him.  One second he was in my arms, the next he was on the floor, crying.

Intellectually I know he is fine.  Emotionally I feel like the worse mum ever.

I have now heard what seems like 100s of dropped baby stories from friends and relatives.

Doesn’t really make me feel better.

I.Dropped.My.Baby.

Poor wee dote.  23 days old, been in hospital 11 of those days.

I just want my baby home for good.  No more accidents, okay?

First Call to GP!!

Adam had started to pooh BRIGHT green.  I looked that up on the internet, and it said not to worry.  Then there was some mucus as well.  So I rang the GP.

I could hear the ‘Oh God, another first time mum panicking’ in the GPs voice, but he was very nice and assured me it was fine.  Nothing to worry about.  But if it was still that way on Monday, to call and they’d see him.

Hey, I think one call in 3 weeks is not so bad!!!

I just wish my GP, who is also Adam’s, had been in.  She wouldn’t have had that in her voice.  And she’d be so pleased to hear about him.