Mood:
chillin'Topic: Everyday
Well, things have quieted down enough so that I can actually sit down and write about what happened in Mia's first week of life. For the sake of order (and we all know how much I like that), I think I'll have to list it out day by day.
Thursday, 5/8
This day was the only full day we spent in the hospital. After waking up to an obnoxious smelling egg breakfast, and after a night full of infant tests and vital sign checks, we were running on pure adrenaline. The morning was spent alternating between gazing at her in wonder and wondering what the hell to do next. Mom came by around 11 after I had taken a shower, and I had Walter go home and get some much needed sleep, breakfast, and a good shower. Mom held Mia while I took about an hour's worth of a nap, just in time for the influx of friends eager to catch a glimpse. From there she went from arm to arm for a while, and Mom left about 3 for home. That evening I had Walter go get pizza after he picked up DeShaun. That pizza tasted like heaven! You should have seen the "lunch" at the hospital- ham with a brown sticky sauce, some orange gluey stuff, and some white gluey stuff, which I can only assume was potato and squash.
Mia had her first check-up with the pediatrician, a Doctor Demester (catchy name, huh?), who pronounced her perfect except for a right hip click, which she suggested that I get checked out at Shriners. "Ironically, I work there," I told her. She suggested that some time in the next few weeks we just get it looked at to rule out a hip dislocation.
I got my "bottom" checked out- why these medical professionals keep calling it your bottom, I don't know- and discovered that the discomfort I though was from hemmorhoids was actually just my tear repair. Fun. The whole bathroom sequence in the doctor's office is eclipsed by the bathroom scene post-partum. First you pull down the super sexy mesh underwear, throw out the "carnage" (pad), squirt yourself with water (hopefully you remembered to make it warm and aren't just using the water left over from last time), pat yourself dry, apply new "carnage collector" and to that add either a burning foam product called epifoam, or stinky gauze pads dripped with Witch Hazel (aka Tucks pads). Its a messy, smelly, gross process, but it is so relieving that you can't be too upset about it.
Anyways, that night Mia had her hearing test. She passed of course, because her Momma has super sonic hearing. Her father, on the other hand, hears well, as long as he's not in the bathroom. THen you might as well take a number like at the deli.
Friday, 5/9
This day was easily the worst, because both Walter and I had gotten just about an hour or maybe two of sleep. Mia seemed to hate sleeping on her back, and just wanted to be held, so hold her we did. The whole morning we organized all of the crap we brought to the hospital, and the nurse brought in a 100 papers for us to fill out and sign. We got her birth certificate typed out, and got the last of our teaching regarding breast feeding and infant care. Luanne was actually our nurse that day, so she helped me get Mia all decked out in her going home outfit and strapped into her car seat. Finally around 2, we checked out and drove right to Shriners for Mia's hip appointment with Dr. Drvaric.
After most of the hospital came out to see her, we brought her in the back to see Dr. D. He performed a quick check of her hips, then an ultrasound, while explaining that hip clicks are usually a benign finding and that she was absolutely perfect the way she was. Thank goodness!
I was exahusted when we finally got home after getting DeShaun, and starving. I shoveled in some food and tried to take Mia upstairs to feed her. She threw a hissy fit and would not eat the entire evening until 8 p.m. Of course, I had my emotional breakdown at that point, where Mia and I were both wailing and Walter was trying his hardest to hug us both simultaneously. Not my finest moment.
Finally she ate, but that night was so fussy that we both barely slept.
Saturday, 5/10
I woke up this morning feeling much better. It was sunny, it hurt less to walk and sit, and the world just seemed a better, safer place. I can't even really remember most of what we did that day, but I do know we went to CVS to pick up my stool softener and jumbo carnage collectors, and popped by quickly to see Walter's mom and Uncle Joe. Auntie Kathia came by, her neck loaded down with about 40 gold necklaces, but we managed to escape her clutches pretty quickly. Mia played "possum" the whole time sleeping serenely through all the commotion.
That night she slept a little better, especially when I shoved her in a swing to buy me a coouple hours of peace. Unfortunately I had her in just a onesie and no hat at the time, so when I woke up and noticed that, I felt like the shittiest mom on the planet.
Sunday, 5/10, my first Mother's Day!
This day was the best. We all woke up very cheerful and ready for Mom, Dad, Sarah, and Petr to come visit.
We gave Mia her first bath at home, and she really liked it, until her head got wet!
We went to our pediatrician's office for the first visit. She had gone from 8 lbs, 15 oz. to 8 lbs, 2 oz., which the MD said was normal. After the pediatrician's office, we popped by the grocery store to get supplies for the visit.
We got back just in time for the crew to come by. The visit was so nice- my dad got a good long chance to snuggle with her, and so did everyone else. Petr's parents, Jan and Jana, came by as well and gave us the very useful gift of diapers :) (oh, Sarah gave me a great plant and Mom and Dad a lovely lounge chair for my deck).
After everyone left, we had Bertucci's pizza, and Mia had a great night's sleep for the first night. My milk had come in! Yeah!!!
Monday, 5/12
Neither Walter and I even remember what we did this day. Isn't taht funny? ll I know is that I dressed her up in this:
Tuesday, 5/13
This day, the big event was going to the lactation consultant. Of course, it was almost a moot point by then, because my milk had come in and she was going to TOWN, but I wanted some extra guidance and pointers about positioning and how long to feed, etc.
They weighed her at first on one scale, which had her at 7 lbs, 11 oz. I told them, "No that can't be right, she is eating a lot!" They checked her again on three other scales, which all had her between 8 lbs, 11 oz and 8 lbs, 13 oz. So she had gained between 9 and 11 oz in two days! She was definitely doing well!
The lactation consultant advised us to let her sleep at night from now on as she was feeding very well, and to just relax and let her dictate the feeding scedule. That's what we've been doing ever since, and its been great!
Wednesday, 5/14
The only game in town this day was a very brief visit to see Great Grandma. All the old ladies in the apt. complex that saw her scolded us for taking her out. Oh well.
Well, that was week one. Week two is upon me already!
