9.12.2011

I am Back and Feeling Like a New Woman!

1. Obviously the number one reason is that AJ, now 10 months, is sleeping through the night.  It's been a few weeks now so I feel safe to say it out loud.  I think the key for us was filling him up more with solids and adding in protein.  He still nurses short, but it is clear now that he is super efficient and 10 minutes total is a long nursing.   I know there are moms out there still struggling with baby's sleeping and are still in that dark dark place and I ask you all to join me in praying for them!


2. My house is clean.  Really clean.  Don't hate me, but we paid someone to get it that way (every 8 weeks).  It's something we started doing when I was about 8 months pregnant with AJ.  I feel somewhat justified because my dh doesn't help with a lick of cleaning (hard worker in other areas, yes, but not cooking or cleaning though he does grill occasionally).  Did I mention we have five bathrooms which is insane in and of itself.  Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly grateful, but it needed a good cleaning and now it is done!
 
3. I am done with school.  I know its been awhile, but I am able to enjoy and appreciate this fact more now that I am not a zombie.
 
4. We got a new grant at work so I continue to be employed part time, as desired.
 
5. I fit in my jeans.  My real prepregnancy jeans.  It took a lot longer with this one, but I can't complain because I didn't do anything to get here (but run up and down the stairs a hundred thousand time and lift heavy children and...)
 
6. I am not bleeding. This may be an old one, but I am still grateful for it. I bled for a solid 12 weeks after having AJ. It was worrisome, it was a pain to deal with and it just added to the overall feeling of gross.

7. My hormones are "normal."  I put normal in quotes because we all know they are not normal as in functioning as they should.  However, they are normal for me.  The ups and downs of my hormones, until now, have most notably lead to dry eyes (causing me to wear my coke bottle glasses day in and out), craziness and, yes I will say it (TMI) vaginal dryness.  Add bleeding to that and you can imagine I was feeling quite sexy. 
 
8. AJ is taking a bottle.  He always took one begrudingly from the daycare providers that take him while I work, but he would take half of what he nursed (about 2.5oz).  He was very finicky and mostly wouldn't take one from dh or our night sitters when we went out.  When we took our 5 yr anniv trip, I was worried, but I knew he'd have to give in to this one.  I was worried he would stress getting to that point though.  He totally was a champ (and my mom is amazing!) and took bottles well and slept well for her and that was the real beginning for us for sleeping through the night (he had off and on the week prior, but this clenched it for us).  Anyway, after that week, he has taken 4-5oz from the sitter when he is with her for each bottle.  Finally, last weekend I decided to try one myself and I couldn't believe he took it from me.  I am thrilled as this will help immensely with weaning (which I will start now and will take 3-4 months due to my recurrent mastitis).  I do love nursing, but my goal is always a year and I am satisfied with that, given my issues with mastitis.  My baby is 10 months now, so it appears I will even exceed my goal.  But I will be lucky if I end with both nipples intact as he is quite the biter (it's not the occasional tiny bite that tells me I am pushing him and he is full; its the "I am going to use you as a teether and full on chomp down on you when you are not suspecting it because my teeth hurt and now you know how I feel".  (He has 2 bottom teeth, just cut the top 2 and it appears he is getting the ones on either side of the top right away).
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All of these things lead to a well rested and happy mama that is able to leave the house without sending dh into a panic, read for pleasure, catch up on blogs, shower regularly, spend time outside enjoying the weather, complete to do lists, spend quality time with her children, be pleasant to dh, have patience with a certain two year old (almost 3-next month!) and his avoiding nap cherades, and even an occasional conversation with long time friends!  It.feels.amazing.

So my question to you is...are you still there?!

9 comments:

Hebrews 11:1 said...

Woo hoo!! Glad you are doing well.

Kaitlin @ More Like Mary said...

This is all great news!!

JellyBelly said...

We have had a cleaning lady since almost the beginning of our marriage. We avoid fights and I don't have to worry about having a slob of a husband!

So glad that you're doing so well!

Karen said...

So glad you are feeling so great! All wonderful news!!!

Yay for AJ sleeping through the night! I'm definitely in that dark place. :) MG has regressed and has gone from waking up twice to every hour. Exhaustion does not begin to describe it. Although deep down I know it will, it's nice to hear that it really does get better.

stacym88 said...

Thank you SO much for posting this. It helps me realize that eventually, Mary will learn to sleep through the night and we will all be more well-rested! In the meantime, I'm trying really hard to appreciate the time I get alone with her...I just with it was during the day :)

Amazing Life said...

Wow, so glad you are a happy, rested mama!!

All in His Perfect Timing said...

These updates are so great to hear! No wonder you feel like a new woman. :)

Brenda said...

So glad you are rested and "normal":) I am the opposite! But my time will come....I hope!

Being Refined said...

Still here! I am so glad you are feeling better and things are going smoothly. Praise God!