Today was my first day back at work too. It felt like I was starting a new job today. It's amazing how routine things become when yo udo them day in and day out, but how you can forget them when yoou take 10 weeks off! Yikes!
Jacob really has just started becoming enjoyable (smiling, cooing, not screaming thanks to reflux being under control....) Just in time for daycare .
PPD- I was actually thinking I had it this time, but it seems to have gone away now. It really makes me "question" PPD in general; not that it exists or doesn't, but if it's more a case of being overwhelmed, overtired, and in some cases not having a lot of support . I was reading a bit that other cultures (though it didn't detail what cultures) have a better support system for new mothers to help them with the transition, etc and I wonder if we as a society are lacking that support system and creating some of the issue. KWIM?
Weight- I was within 2 lbs of prepregnancy weight and then gained some back.. I think because I wasn't eating well when I was having the issues with Jacob and my mood; so I have about 6 lbs to get to pre preg weight, but really need to lose closer to 40-50! YIKES! We have an ellipitcal that we dind' thave room for at the last house and had stored in the garage, so we're going to move that into our front "living room" and make it an exercise room. WE're also joining our country club whcih has a gym. I'm hoping to be able to take advantage of some of the classes (though the schedule is limited). I feel like we just got our evening routine, so now that I've returned to work we need to figure out mornings and see when we can schedule work outs for both DH and me. I'm hoping to get a personal trainer (if DH and I go together in a session we can get a great deal...almost getting a trainer for one of us for free). But before we commit to that cost we need to firm up our budget with 2 kids in daycare (and all the new house expenses).
Joshua Daniel~ 3/4/08 at 19w4d with us for 68 minutes, forever in our hearts , Michael Aaron- our rainbow baby arrived 5/15/09
Jacob Ryan- our second rainbow 2/11/12
PPD- I was actually thinking I had it this time, but it seems to have gone away now. It really makes me "question" PPD in general; not that it exists or doesn't, but if it's more a case of being overwhelmed, overtired, and in some cases not having a lot of support . I was reading a bit that other cultures (though it didn't detail what cultures) have a better support system for new mothers to help them with the transition, etc and I wonder if we as a society are lacking that support system and creating some of the issue. KWIM?
I agree with this, off2skl. I don't like to, but I do. In fact, in 2006, I wrote in my LJ the following:
"Anyway, it all got me thinking: I was pretty much fine in NY without it [my Celexa, which I'd forgotten to refill before the trip to NY - my hometown - and where most of my family still lives] but by last night I was ready to kill somebody and very impatient. So, who REALLY needs antidepressants? Maybe what this country needs is to live in communities again where there is support of family and friends. Maybe everyone's just so isolated with so little support that any little thing can throw them over the edge.
On the other hand, there are examples like [my SIL] and [my sister] - both of whom are surrounded by family but who have isolated themselves, and who have been dealing with depression. Yet [SIL] has dealt with it on and off for years while [my sister's] has been more of a situational depression (one that has lasted multiple years at this point, though) like mine.
I don't know; maybe we're all just weak, too. Who knows? All I know is that I need my Celexa still."
Like I said earlier, I have been on and off Celexa throughout the last 7 years. I do think a cultural shift would make a difference, but our society isn't there yet, and I'm not sure it will ever be back there again. So, in the meantime, if the medicine helps someone, so be it. This time around, I'm finding I don't need the medicine as much. I have MUCH less stress this time around - I have much more support of friends now who have kids, I'm not new to motherhood, and I'm not working two jobs on top of the full-time job of being a mother. So I think there is definitely something to the idea of PPD being about being overwhelmed - except in those cases where it REALLY is chemical.
ETA: In fantastic news, Allison has slept 8+ hours for the last three nights - 8 to 4, 8 to 5, and 7:30 to 6:15!!! She slept 8+ hours once before, a few weeks ago, but this time it's been consistent for three days. I know it won't last, come teething and developmental milestones, but I'm enjoying it for now!
Thought I'd check in, although I'm typing with one hand!
Things are going great here! Felicity is a generally happy baby, unless she's hungry. At 7 weeks, she weighs 12 lbs 13 oz, so over the 95th percentile! She is my huge blubber baby -- it's hard to get a photo of her that shows any detail to her face -- the rolls are near impossible to minimize.
It's amazing how happy and contented I feel, even with the lack of sleep (she's had her days and nights reversed since birth, and is only starting to give us sleep stretches longer than two hours at night), since she's so sweet in general. It's such a change from Lochlan, who screamed all day for MONTHS, never allowing me to put him down (I wondered about PPD with him, but now I'm sure I was just freaking stressed out from all his crying). Felicity actually tolerates the floor mat and will bat at the hanging toys. She has also been cooing and doing social smiles since 3 weeks!
Her big negative is that she cluster feeds all evening long -- sometimes for four hours! She will fuss and act panicky if she doesn't get that booby time. It makes it difficult to make dinner, but I know this time is fleeting, so I'm just going to enjoy the snuggles of this short newborn period. Plus I know her crazy big body is just trying to maintain its heft and continue to grow!
I recently went off dairy and eggs, as she has been congested at night since birth, and has had a bad rash on her face/shoulders/neck/upper back/upper chest for four weeks. I thought it was acne or a heat rash, but now it's just red and flat and dry--but seems to be getting better with the diet changes.
As for me, I have lost 30 pounds of the pregnancy weight, but have a good 10 to go. I would have 19 to go to my pre-preg weight, but I honestly didn't look great (no boobs or butt, haha) at that size, so I'm not shooting for it. It's crazy having two kids under two, but I feel so unbelievably BLESSED. Even though I spend much of my day trying to protect my newborn from the attacks of her older brother (and sending him to time-out two hundred times a day) and rarely getting a second to myself (how do you all find time to shower???), this is the life I've always wanted.
11-4-08 Grace, here only nine months, in heaven for eternityBlog:Grace, mourning, life.
L, healthy living miracle, 7/22/10
F, sweet cuddlebug, 3/16/12!
Here she was at 4 weeks:
She's a whole pound and a half bigger now!
11-4-08 Grace, here only nine months, in heaven for eternityBlog:Grace, mourning, life.
L, healthy living miracle, 7/22/10
F, sweet cuddlebug, 3/16/12!
Hey everyone....thought I would stop by and say hello and see how everyone is doing!
Heather - Felicity is ADORABLE!! She looks so bright-eyed and alert. Oh, and I LOVE babies with rolls
AFM - Doing well over here. Caleb is a very mellow baby and pretty much only cries when he is hungry or tired. If he his tired, I just warp him in a blanket and hold him for about 5 minutes and then he is out! He has also been sleeping 8-9 hrs stretches since the beginning of May. We actually moved him into his crib Mother's Day night (kind of a weird day to do it..i know) and he did just fine wit the transition. We have been able to get a good routine and flow down and balancing everything...it will be interesting to see how it works when I return to work on Tuesday...yikes! kind of scared.
We did have our 2 month checkup on Monday and it appears that Caleb is not gaining weight like he should. He slipped from the 64% percentile for weight at his 2 week appt to the 23% percentile. He eats 5-6 4ounce bottles a day (20-24 ounces total) but apparently that is not enough.
I am also a bit concerned about his hearing. He passed his hearing test in the hospital and I can tell he can hear things because when there is a loud sound he blinks, gets a focused look on his face and will get irritated (if it is loud), but he is not turning his head toward the sound. He does also respond to the sound of my voice. When did your babies start actually turning toward a sound they were hearing? Just curious...
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Originally Posted by off2skl
