Catch up - First days home

Here is the final catch up post.

Introducing Scout:

We got home around 3 pm and Scout was super excited to see both of us.  She kept sniffing me all over.  I finally sat down and we left Cooper in his carseat on the floor.  She kept sniffing him and didn't know what to think.  We realized she was too excited, so I picked Cooper up and Chris controlled Scout. 

We let her sniff him and me.  She kept licking his little feet.  She started pawing at him and that's when we had to start with strict voices.  Poor Scout got yelled at more in that first week than she has her entire life with us!  We both felt so bad, but we were tired and frustrated and she wouldn't listen very well.

Now Scout is a little angel around Cooper.  She is very gentle, never licks his face and is pretty maternal around him.  If he's in his crib or swing, she will check on him.  If he wakes up she will whine until we go get him.  She even tries to be quiet when she barks.  We are also starting to get back to our normal treatment of her.  I think it will take awhile until she doesn't feel neglected.

First night home:

This was one of the most difficult nights of our lives!   Thank goodness Christina brought us yummy lasagna for dinner, otherwise we would have starved.  The phone kept ringing, and although people meant well, it was very overwhelming.  It was all I could do to not yell at anyone who wanted to talk on the phone with us. 

We were both running on empty and each hit a breaking point.  Chris hit his at 10 pm and just broke down because I had just laid down to sleep and Cooper kept crying because he was hungry.  I got up (even though I was purely exhausted) and told my husband in no uncertain terms that he was required to lay down and get some sleep (he had maybe 5-10 hours of sleep since going to bed on Saturday night and this was now Wednesday night).  I was able to make it until about 1:30 am before I reached my breaking point.  I woke Chris up and passed off Cooper.  I got a few hours before Cooper needed to eat again.

First couple of weeks:

The next few days went much better.  We started to figure out that Cooper would eat and then sleep for 2-5 hours depending on the time of day.  On Thursday evening I had my first hormonal cry.  I tried to lay down around 7 pm, but basically cried until 8 pm and then got up.  I told Chris I didn't know what was wrong, but I really missed being pregnant.  He gave me a hug and I was able to stop crying.  I now know that I seem to get the most hormonal between 7 pm and 10 pm. 

My milk came in on Friday and engorgement lasted until Saturday night.  It felt strange and almost a little painful, but it made it really difficult for Cooper to latch.  Once engorgement was over, Cooper seemed much happier to be getting real milk and I felt like I was getting the hang of breastfeeding.

Chris and I actually got to feel like we were normal people again and do normal things like check email.  Plus we got some extra sleep and set up a schedule so that I would start going to bed at 8 pm and he would only wake me when Cooper needed to eat.  At 3 am I would take over and let him sleep for a straight 6 hours, while I took care of all the Cooper duties.

On Monday, all of this went out the window.  Cooper ate continuously from 8 am until noon, then took a 3 hour nap.  Then he ate from 3 pm until 1 am continuously (maybe a few 10 or 20 min breaks) and took a 3 hour nap.  From 4 am until 8 am he would eat every 1.5 hours for an hour.  He did the same thing on Tuesday.  I broke down around 9 pm both nights and cried until he fell asleep for his nap.  I seriously considered quitting breastfeeding so many times.  Every time he latched was excruciating and he might rest 10 min and then need to latch again.  It was torture for 2 days. 

Turns out babies have a growth spurt at 7-10 days, another one at 2-3 weeks, and another around 6 weeks.  During this time, continuous feeding is normal.  I hope to be better prepared for the next one.

Once Wednesday rolled around, I had to go through an adjustment period of not being on super high alert for Cooper to eat.  He was slowly getting back to his normal patterns.  I let him sleep on me every night because I would get more sleep.

Chris and I have spent the last few days learning how to communicate about Cooper.  It's tough because sometimes it feels like we are telling each other how to do things, when in fact we are sharing possible alternatives.  We are still working on it, but I would need several hands to list all of the things I've learned about my baby from my husband.  He is such a natural and amazes me every time he handles Cooper.  It feels strange when he asks for help because I feel like he already knows how to do everything.

Last night was the first night we had him sleep in the bassinet in our room.  He did great, and so did I.  I did get a little hormonal in the middle of the night.  Turns out I probably need to hold and cuddle Cooper as much as he needs me to. 

The baby blues are very hard for me.  When I start feeling down, I get angry that I am a mother and don't have my normal life anymore, I can't stop crying, and I start to feel disconnected from everything.  I always talk to Chris about it and instantly feel better.  When I feel 'normal', I am the happiest I've ever been in my life.

The first 2 weeks have been the most exhausting of my life.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Cooper makes me laugh and he makes me cry.  I love him so much!!

I will be working on the announcements over the next couple of weeks.  My goal is to get them out before we come to Denver May 16-24.  I have to learn Photoshop first and then I'll post some more pictures...in the mean time, enjoy the one below.  It makes me laugh every time I see it.  He often purses his lips and he is just learning to control his eyes, so he often gets cross-eyed.