Thursday, January 5, 2012

Postpartum My Eggo Update: Week 2

Well, we have made it two weeks and we are all still alive and somewhat sane. So far, we are all adjusting well as a family and I have to say that it is a hell of a lot easier the second time around. When we brought The Quiet Contemplator home from the hospital, we drove 5 miles an hour home and panicked at every squeak. When we brought Baby Boy home, we clicked him in his carseat base, kind of forgot he was even there for the most part and hit up Trader Joe's and Target on the way home (don't worry, we remembered he was there). Things are just so much more serene this time.

The Quiet Contemplator has done pretty well with the change. She seems to like Baby Brother, who we currently refer to as "The Cool Cucumber" due to his laid-back disposition. She only seems to be pissed at me. It is getting better day by day, but I won't lie and say that there aren't some days where I want to stab my eyes out with a rusty screwdriver from her acting out for attention--even when I am sitting on the floor playing with only her and the Cucumber is nowhere in sight. She is just adjusting to everything changing and mommy not only being there for her. I know it will get better, but it is really hard right now.

So far, The Cool Cucumber is a prince. All the kid does is eat, sleep and poop and I am drinking it all in. When ADD Daddy has him and I want to hold him, I just say, "My vagina hurts," and he has to fork him over. I know it is a dirty trick but, damn it, my vagina does hurt and I want to hold him. :) He is a healthy little dude. Only scare we had was that he might be deaf in one ear at the hospital. When the Dr told me he might be deaf in one ear I replied, "Well, his sister is pretty much blind in one eye so I guess that levels the playing field." She did not think it was funny. My thought was, "What do you want me to do? Get on my knees and start bawling and praying?" If the kid is deaf in one ear we will get him the best help we can find, do what we can and move on. It isn't cancer and there isn't anything we can do about it. My freaking out won't make him hear. No worries though, he passed his hearing test with flying colors the next day. Guess we will have to make him wear an eye patch too just so his sister doesn't feel bad.

As for me, I am doing pretty damn fine. Birth was an amazing experience, my recovery has been pretty good and I did the smart thing and started anti-depressants in the hospital. That's right. *GASP* I struggle with depression and actually did something about it before it took me down hard again. I will elaborate more in another post, but for now, just know that it is OK to need help if you are having a hard time after having a baby. Even the perfect mom at Gymboree that manages to do her hair and makeup AND hit a pilates class while juggling what you can barely even dream of might be struggling. She just might have asked for help by now.

I have also made tremendous strides to put the beer back into I like beer and babies. I won't speak to the exact amount of wine I have consumed, but let's just say it is enough to make make a Jehovah's Witness blush. I love booze. I missed it so. Don't call DCFS. I have never once been drunk around my kids and I am not breast feeding (also for another post). Just slightly warm.

Moral of my Week 2 story: Wine + anti-depressants = happy mommy.

9 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the boozing! Oh, & the new baby too!

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  2. I loved everything about this post. Your view on life and this newborn stuff is actually inspirational for me. I was such a freaking mess after mine was born and you give me hope that maybe, someday, I can do it again.

    Can you hand me a dose of that laid back-ness? I could use it.

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  3. It's cool that you didn't freak out. I have disasters that I take calmly, which always weirds people out because I spend a TON of time worrying about stuff that doesn't matter. But eh, there's a big ol' bolt in my tire on a Tuesday evening and all the shops are closed. Whaddaya gonna do?

    Also glad to hear that you are working on the depression thing. Depression is sucky and scary anyway - I can only imagine it is even suckier and scarier when you have small people and you want to be your best for them.

    Good luck and congratulations! And don't think you're the only one on the Quiet Contemplator thing - my friend's six-year-old thought it would be cute if he spat on his mom's face, since we all cooed when the new baby drooled on her. It did not go well for him.

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  4. Love this post.

    Wish I could drink wine! I tried at Christmas, and failed. I didn't *like* it, and figured I'd rather booze it up on quality wine than accept inferior wine. I'm breastfeeding, so it was a pain in my ass anyway.

    Soon. Soon.

    Ohhhh. Wine, I've missed you.

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  5. My family fully appreciates the fact that I take drugs... I mean, antidepressants. Good for you! PPD sucks.

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  6. I love your attitude and reaction to the doctor about the deaf in one ear comment. Don't doctors wish for patients like you? The level-headed ones who have life perspective and not the ones that freak the eff out because they cut their baby's nails too short and they're bleeding? =) Anyway, sounds like you really have things under control with your husband, your kids and most importantly, yourself. Hooray!

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  7. Great reaction to the docs. Seriously it would suck, but what are you going to do. Exactly what every mom would do. Seek help and move on. Thank for sharing the "real" life with me. I to struggle with depression and seriously asking for help has saved me in more than one way. Oh and the beer is a good start. What is your favorite type?

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  8. thanks everyone. I love hearing from you, especially while stranded at home with a little man that's favorite thing to do is poop on me. And, Seasoned, I am a fan of good ol' Bud Light. Lately, I have been a wino though. TJ's has a great cheap red zin that I buy by the case. ;)

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  9. Thanks for sharing your humor, calm demeanor, and struggles with us. You make me smile every time I read your blog. Congrats on the baby boy and the wine!
    Its good to hear that it can be easier the second time around. I am not sure if there will ever be a second time for me but still good to know. And if there is ever a second time I will most definitely be asking for antidepressants before I ever leave the hospital. I struggled with so pretty bad PPD myself with my little girl. Can't wait to here more from you! Try to get some rest and more wine :)

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I love hearing from you. It reinforces that writing this blog is not just a silly waste of my brain matter. If you leave a douche canoe comment, I will delete it. I am powerful like that.