The First Week

The first week at home with a newborn is kind of like trying to vacuum a room* while there is a tornado** ripping your house apart.

Our living room was rearranged the first time before Hugo even entered the house for the first time. Hubs came in while I was trying to get out of the car and re-situated all the furniture, moved the Pack-n-Play to the living room, got out burp cloths and blankets, and plugged in the night light into the plug near the front door. All before the child entered the house.

The next five days were similar in terms of living room reconstruction. It was like having a DIY renovation*** every day!

There are some details in this post that a friend of mine said "I can't believe you would share that on your blog! I could never." But I truly believe that if more people had shared it, and if more people felt like they could talk openly about it, I would have been more prepared. Let's just say it involves poop.. and not baby poop.

Anyways.

The first week. I'll summarize.

Baby: Poop; start to eat, but then poop; get changed; eat; sleep. Repeat.
Daddy: Eat; "sleep"; change diapers. Repeat.
MiMi: Eat; "sleep"; change diapers. Repeat.
Mommie: constant state of "What the hell have I done?" And also "Ouch."

We arrived home Sunday, June 21, around 7pm. The perfect time for sunset pictures in front of the house with new baby!

Note our new matching bracelets.

This day also happened to be Father's Day (and I have to admit, I'm going to have to work hard to top this Father's Day gift.. So will Hugo). Hubs' mom, DiDi, was kind enough to supply Olive Garden for the crew ("The Crew" consists of MiMi, DiDi, Sarah, Husband, Hugo, and myself) for our first dinner at home. Food was delish and Hugo slept right through it.

Then DiDi and Sarah left for the night, and Hugo woke up. This basically sums up the first overnight experience.

Monday, Uncle Brian came to visit! He wanted to meet Hugo so badly that he drove up from Birmingham after a 36-hour shift. He arrived, took a quick shower, and loved on Hugo. Then Hubs returned home with a glider and we put Brian to work building it. Then he rightfully took a 3 hour nap on the living room floor. (Hubs also napped on the floor, but only for about 1.5 hours instead of Brian's 3.) I was in a lot of pain and having a hard time sitting and getting comfortable. I showered and when I finished, I came out to crying hungry baby. Monday night, Hugo woke up.

June 22

Tuesday, we were supposed to have Hugo's newborn photos done, but I texted our photographers and friends over at Glass Jar Photography and begged them to reschedule, since Hugo was up all night, and so were the rest of us. Hugo had his first pediatrician appointment and he did so well! He'd lost some weight (5 lbs, 11 oz), and but otherwise was looking great. I had a hard time at the appointment, both because I couldn't sit comfortably for the ride in the car, but then also because I kept feeling the "urge to go." My pain continued when we got home. Turns out, I was constipated. Combine that with a real and valid fear of ripping stitches and not fully knowing or understanding the status of my Downstairs Mix-Up, I was in a bad place. Doubled over in constipation pain. My mom and Hubs went straight to work trying to find foods and medicines to help relieve my problem. Many (yummy, orange-essence) prunes were eaten. A lot of warm water with lemon juice was drank. Lots of regular water was consumed. All day, after feeding Hugo, I'd rush to the restroom and try to .. uh.. work things out. I'd always come back a defeated, hot and sweaty, crying mess. Unsuccessful, for lack of a better word. Tuesday night, Hugo woke up.

June 23

Wednesday was much the same, except without rescheduling the photographers. Pain from sitting, pain from constipation, feed baby, try to eat, try to sleep, try to stand. Wednesday night rolled around, and Hugo woke up, which was hard for me because I had been trying all day to find a good time to try a suppository. I ended up going for it in the middle of the night, hoping that between my mom and Hubs, Hugo would be cared for. Thankfully, they did work together with Hugo, and I had a long night trying to crap, feeling disgusting, drinking warm lemon water, and crying. Also note that since our bed is so high, I'd been sleeping on the couch (Hubs had been sleeping on the floor next to the Pack 'n' Play). No luck.

June 24

Thursday was a little different! We actually got his newborn photos done! The photographers were amazing, like we knew they would be (they did our engagement and wedding photos, after all), and Hugo did great too. I'm biased, but I'm pretty sure he's the most handsome baby. Aunt Mita (my sister) arrived Thursday afternoon to meet her first nephew and stay with us for a few days to get to know him. Little did she know she was entering a house of constant crying****, people covered in feces*****, and loud noises all night******. Thursday night, Hugo woke up, and I had another long night of trying different remedies, and becoming a big ball of sweat and tears. Foiled again.

June 25

Friday we had another pediatrician appointment for a weight check since his weight was a little lower than the doctor wanted at our previous appointment. His weight was much better (6 lbs, 1 oz. I'll go ahead and take all the credit for that), and I decided to man up and ask his pediatrician for advice regarding my situation. She recommended Miralax and mentioned another type of suppository. After getting back home with Hugo, Hubs went to the store to fetch the constipation goods. In the meantime, between and during feedings, I'd been texting my good friend Becca to ask her advice on the situation, and my good friend Meg (a nurse) for her suggestion for a colon cleansing. Becca's advice for working things out ended up being invaluable, and Meg suggested a certain drink to try. So I texted Hubs and asked him to pick up Magnesium Citrate along with the other items. The rest of the day went by like the previous five - in a haze of constipation and sitting pain, nursing, trying to eat and stay hydrated, and trying to find a moment to sleep, what with my my baby crying and my constant pain. Friday night, Hugo woke up. I decided to give up on trying to solve my bodily issues, and instead tried to get some sleep.

June 26

Saturday was a special day all its own, and as such, it deserves its own post.

Which will be up tomorrow.

Honorable Mentions:
Husband: for being constantly at the top of his game in washing baby dishes (pump gear and bottles), regular dishes, fetching food and medicines and other groceries, and most importantly, for not judging me in what I can only call a very dark time in my life.
My mom, MiMi: for doing all the laundry- both baby and adult; and basically teaching hubs and I what to actually do with a baby- like how to soothe one, or even bottle-feed one (I've been pumping enough milk for one bottle, so I can sleep through one at night); for helping me try to work out my internal issues with different ideas and research.
Becca, Meg, and Stephanie L: for not judging me when I texted them out of the blue about constipation, and for holding actual conversations about it and trying their best to help me through.
Hubs' Family: for supplying us with so much food and support the first week (and those following). They even came over one night, and we handed Hugo over to them, and Hubs and I napped. It was a glorious hour.
Aunt Mita: for not judging me for the sweaty, poop-deprived, hot, hormonal mess that I was.


* Replace "vacuum a room" with "eat, sleep, shower, breathe, change clothes, and talk to other adults" ** Replace "tornado" with ..well, actually "tornado" is accurate. Except it's a tiny almost-six-pound tornado that manages to rearrange your living room, your life, your schedule, and your world. Literally.
*** Replace "DIY renovation"with "pooping tornado who is completing the contract work."
**** I wish I could say it was just the baby,
***** Again, I wish I could say it was just the baby.
****** And again, I wish I could blame it on the baby.