Liam turned two weeks old on Tuesday, and went for his second appointment at his pediatrician. He was very excited about being able to wear his Pooh outfit.
Liam is now almost 2 weeks old, and I can tell a huge difference in him from even a week ago. He's making a lot more little noises, his eyes are open a lot more and he's looking at the world around him. He's even holding his head up by himself and trying to head-butt me when I burp him. He's starting to be awake more during the day, whereas a week ago he slept almost round the clock. As such, he's more fussy and wants to be held to be soothed a lot more.
A few days ago we entered the period where everything started getting really difficult. In between all his feedings and holding-time, there is laundry to be done, floors to be vacuumed, showers to be taken, groceries to be bought, trash to be taken out, and six dogs, two cats, and five reptiles that all need to be fed. We've trouble adjusting, to say the least. I worried a week ago what would happen when I am back at work full time and Eilene is home by herself, but we're just taking it a step at a time.
I went back to work today for the first time, and it was pretty gut wrenching. I thought before we had Liam that I would cherish time away, but I was horribly sad and missed my family terribly the whole time I was gone.
We didn't do this, he did it on his own.
I forgot to post the requisite stats, last time I updated. Liam Matthew was born at 6:50pm, Tuesday October 28th. He was 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and 19 3/4 inches.
He slept in his crib for the first time today.
It's been extremely emotional for me and Eilene both, this is one of those experiences that can't be described in words. I always judged my feelings on children based on seeing other people's, and proclaiming what I would and wouldn't do or be like when I had one.
It's completely different than everything I thought it would be like, my world and entire set of priorities has been turned upside down for the better. Everything is different now. He's unlocked a part of me I didn't know existed, and lives on a level of love I've never felt before.
A lot of instincts are kicking in that I didn't realize resided in me or Eilene. We both have some insane feelings of being very protective over Liam, and don't want to be away from him for even a minute. I had trouble going to the store tonight, and Eilene couldn't even take a shower without feeling separation anxiety.
I have no idea what it's going to be like going back to work in a few weeks, or when we both start working again.
I'm finally starting to upload some photos of Liam and the birth in this Flickr set.
I thought I would be way more in contact with everyone throughout the last few days, but instead found myself just wanting to have private time with Eilene and some of our family members.
The birth was rough and we're all still a little shellshocked. After he was delivered, and the placenta started to be delivered, Eilene wound up with her uterus on the outside of her body. Apparently the way to soften the uterus and get it back in the body is to administer nitroglycerin, a relaxing agent. The anesthesia techs accidentally gave her 150 micrograms of nitroglycerin instead of 50 micrograms, so Eilene immediately started crashing and was rushed to the OR. Every nurse and doctor in L&R was there, she lost tons of blood but wound up being okay in a very short amount of time.
I was left in the delivery room with Liam, who had fluid in his lungs and needed a little TLC to start coughing it up. They cleaned him up, and once Eilene was stable and stitched up, we went in an OR recovery room to have the moment together we missed out on after the birth.
Everyone is in fantastic health now. Liam is quiet and feeding nicely, cooing and gurgling and acting very content. Eilene was able to stand up and walk around late this morning, which was tremendous progress. All her IVs are out and she was able to start eating.
After that long day yesterday, everything today is very, very quiet and relaxed. They kept us in L&D overnight to monitor Eilene, and now we're up in a normal room in postpartum.
It feels completely normal and natural to have a son, all my fears went away when he came out. Eilene is a natural at being a mom, as well, she's doing great with him, and he's breastfeeding fantastically.
We are very grateful and happy, childbirth is really an amazing and wonderful experience. Our son is beautiful and miraculous to us.