Naptime Blog

My C-Section for baby number four was set for September 22.  On the 16th, I went for my regular OB visit and learned Joseph did not want to wait until the following Tuesday, as I was three centimeters dilated and contracting regularly.  My C-Section was moved to Friday, September 18, 2009 at 8:00 am.  And I was ready.

Although I did not sleep the next two nights as I was full of anxiety and my nerves were shot about the upcoming surgery and the thought of being responsible for FOUR little lives, I was tired of being pregnant.  I so wanted to be able to get on the floor and play with the twins, chasing them around as the little Frankensteins ran across the room.  I wanted to be able to get in the car and take my daughter shopping for new shoes without needing someone to drive me because I didn’t fit behind the wheel anymore.  I wanted to be able to stay up longer than my kids and spend some quality time with my husband.  I wanted to meet this little boy who took me totally by surprise nine months before when I learned he was on his way. 

At 8:27am, weighing in at 8 pounds 6 ounces (my biggest baby!) and 20 inches, Joseph Paul made his entrance into the world.  I just ordered his birth announcement, and the wording I chose was “Our hands may be full, but so are our hearts”.  And then I wrote “On September 18, 2009 at 8:27 a.m., our family became complete.”  Those words could not be truer.  Joe Joe has completed our family.  He is beautiful and so sweet.

I still cannot believe that I have given birth to four children.  I still cannot believe that I am “Mommy” to these four individuals.  Each of them is so different, yet they all share a little piece of each other.  And Joseph, as unique as he is, resembles each of his siblings, even my stepson. 

My life is chaotic, with a dirty diaper every second, a child needing a bottle every other second.  My three older children are the greatest sleepers, so it is taking me some time to get used to the waking baby at four in the morning, but I am hoping he sleeps through the night soon.  As a matter of fact, my husband has already started to “wean” him to sleeping through the night.  For the past two nights, we have put Joe Joe in his bassinet at about 10:30pm, right after his last feeding.  Then when he wakes at 4am for a feeding, my husband has been re-swaddling him and rocking him and lo and behold, he has been going back to sleep without that middle of the night feeding and sleeping until 6:30am!  I cannot ask for more!  10:30pm to 6:30am at four weeks old is parent’s dream!

As a matter of fact, although my life is chaotic, it is wonderful.  I must admit that the only time I really want to pull my hair out is when I have three screaming babies at once (sometimes with their older sister tugging on me as well asking for a snack or something).  Actually, today is a day like this…  Juliana is home sick with an awful cough, and Louis and Anthony are trying to climb their way out of the corral, while Joseph is a bit gassy.  So, Motrin and cough syrup (and a dose of laying on the couch) for her, boots on the twins so they cannot fit their little feet in the corral walls to climb up, and Mylicon for Joseph and all is well in our house!  Well, for now at least!

 Jennifer
Wife to Paul, Mom to Juliana (7), Anthony and Louis (1) and Joseph (Newborn)
www.nevaland.com

Well I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t. I was laid off from work. Thank god I had paid most of my bills for the month including daycare. So that means I have a month to find a job before I have to pay daycare again. To most people paying child care $150 a week is inexpensive. Some places it is double that. Now that we are a one income family it means we have to tighten the belt some more. Tristan is down to two formula bottles a day and the rest milk. I love the Wal-Mart brand stage two formula. I can count on it to make sure Tristan’s daily food intake is round.

 I forgot after being at a company for over 5 years how stressful interviews are. I feel like I am on display, I show up early and most times I am made to wait past the scheduled meeting time. So if anyone knows an open administrative assistant job in the DC area let me know. Also if you have any interview tips I am all ears.

 I love our Wal-Mart I went in for rice krispies the other night and it was like a new store. For a few months they have been working on it and now it’s complete. We have a Super Wal-Mart. All in one place I can get great deals on milk, diapers, formula, fabric, clothes, electronics and more!! Waiting for the construction to be done was a pain and learning a new layout is a pain but I loved the expanded selection. I no longer have to drive to the other Wal-Mart to get Tristan’s parents choice microwave meals. YAY for change!!!

-Chrystal