Only a dream?

I don't have a picture so you'll just have to use your imagination. One of the many times I woke up last night I remembered this dream: Baby Bop and B.J. were working in the hospital inserting IVs. I was a psychology major so I feel qualified to interpret.

1- Too many visits to the hospital. (I've spent the last three evenings at the E.R. being diagnosed and getting treated for a kidney infection.)

2- Too much Barney. WAY too much Barney. Is there an addiction program we can put C.J. into that will end the constant Barney requests??

A Love Affair

I know it sounds crazy, but before Eli was born I expected it would take weeks or months before I really loved him. Newborns don't really do much--they don't even smile!

Well, I was wrong. I am totally smitten by this little boy. No, he doesn't smile yet (on purpose) and yes, he just sleeps a lot and grunts and cries when he has a bubble, but I adore him. This newborn stage is more wonderful than I remembered. I find myself wishing we could stop time and just enjoy his newness forever. He had his two-week checkup today and he's up to 8 lbs 2 oz. Eeks! He's already growing up too quickly!

C.J. loves him, too, and enjoys "holding it" whenever he can.

Baby Eli has Arrived!

Our new baby, Eli, was born June 30th, 2009 and weighed 7 lbs 6 oz. 

It was quite the event. I had planned on doing a VBAC delivery, but when I wasn't progressing any, I gave in and scheduled a c-section for the day after his due date. I was much too uncomfortable and needed him out!

Late Monday night (his actual due date), I finally started having contractions. I hardly slept at all and came into the hospital at 7:30 the next morning. I was thrilled that I could still attempt a VBAC. About 3:00 pm I started pushing. After about 15 minutes it became clear that the baby wasn't tolerating the pushing well. Though his heart rate would return to normal between pushes, it is also one of the signs that the uterine incision from my last c-section could be opening. So the chaos began and they quickly had me cut open and the baby out. 

The only complication was that they also cut into my bladder on accident. They were able to repair it, but for TWO weeks, I have to be attached to a catheter to make sure that my bladder stays empty. What fun. I suppose I won't miss all the bathroom trips--I've certainly made enough of them over the past month!

As for Eli, he is healthy and doing really well. He's a good eater and a great sleeper. I'm hopeful that his first few days are indicative of the next few months! I really expected him to look like C.J., but he is definitely his own self. He's two days old now and really turning into a handsome little thing. I think he looks like his dad.

The first night C.J. visited us in the hospital he was enamored with his new little brother. He wanted to hold him and touch him and kiss him. When he saw Eli breastfeeding, he exclaimed, "Eating Momma!" But last night C.J. visited and wanted nothing to do with Eli or me. I suppose it will take some time to adjust.