Bringing Home Baby

So I broke down today.  I was finally freaked out about something enough to call the doctor and bring Finley in for an unscheduled check up.  It’s Mike’s fault.  He’s the one who looked at her this morning and said “she really looks like she’s straining to breathe.”  Then when I said I’m calling the doctor - he said it was probably nothing.  Hello!  Don’t tell a high strung mom it looks like your baby is having trouble breathing and then act surprised when she wants to call the doctor.

Things have actually been a little challenging with our peanut lately.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that she was cluster feeding all the time.  At first I chalked it up to a growth spurt - but unless the last three weeks have been a growth spurt, there’s something else going on.  Last night for instance, she fed from 6:30 PM until 2:30 AM.  Everytime I would try and lay her down, she started screaming bloody murder.  It was Mike’s birthday and already he had to skip out on our special family dinner because he had to help out at work - but then he had to deal with me calling him after the 10PM news to say hurry home to help with Mrs. Cranky Pants. Happy Birthday to him.

Anyway, when I got to the doctor today to talk about the breathing problem, she took one look at me and the bags under my eyes and asked “how’s mom.”  Instant waterworks.  It ended up being a cry fest as I explained how she was eating and crying all night.  And then she said it.  The word no parent wants to hear.  ”It sounds like she has a little colic.”  Nooooo!!!!!!  I can deal with the endless feedings and the lack of sleep, but listening to Finley cry and watching her lip quiver and not being able to do anything about it…is like a knife in the gut.  And basically, you just have to wait it out until they outgrow it.  I’m trying to look at this with the glass half full though.  Lisa Klein’s oldest daughter had colic about ten times worse than Finley.  She screamed all day and night and sometimes even feeding couldn’t calm that girl down.  And man did she have some lungs.  So, it could be a lot worse.  (it’s a wonder Lisa ever had #2)

The breathing issue by the way, turned out to be nothing.  My doctor, bless her heart, checked over all the vitals; ears, eyes, heart, lungs and everything looked just fine.  She clearly was more concerned about me.

On a positive note - she smiled for the first time a few days ago.  She had smiled in her sleep before, but a big toot usually followed, so I’m guessing those times were just gas.  But a few days ago, wide awake, she looked up at me and showed off that toothless grin.  That makes that 7 hours of crying instantly fade away…

Jen

I need some advice.  I am about three weeks away from having to go back to work (I’ll blog about my emotions on that another time…) and Finley is showing absolutely no signs of getting on a schedule.  Sometimes she sleeps in three hour stretches at night - sometimes she doesn’t sleep a wink the entire night.  I want to try and have a routine for Mike’s and my sake by the time I have to leave him alone with her - but I have no clue how to establish that!  Any tips?

Oh and one quick funny story - Mike was getting Finley dressed the other day and she starts crying and I hear him cursing at the outfit.  ”Why do they make these stupid things like this!?!”  I look over and Finley is practically bent in half as he’s trying to shove her legs through the opening for her head…not realizing the 12 snaps down at the bottom that are for her legs to go through.  I just looked at him and said “you’re an idiot.”  Men.

Here’s a few new pictures.  Enjoy!

Finley Mae, 1 Month Old

I do not know how you mothers of more than one do it!  Seriously.  Wednesday, I had my first major mom melt down.  Here’s what happened…

As you all know, Mike is back at work.  Katelin had swimming lessons and so this would be my first true test of handling the girls on my own.  Now let me preface this by telling you that Finley is going through a week long cluster feeding.  No joke, I’ve been able to put her down to go to the bathroom and quickly fill my water glass before she screams for more food again.  So anyway, we are approaching the time to go to the YMCA and Finley has been eating for about 4 hours straight.  I stop the feeding and the whimpering begins.  Then I get her into the car seat and the whimpering turns into a cry.  By the time we are ready to head out - the cry is a full fledged wail.  Then I start to cry.  I’m blaming it on the hormones. (Is it me, or is it fine when other babies cry…but when it’s your baby, your heart just aches.)  Katelin is asking what she can do to help.  She runs and gets a pacifier.  She tries to stroke Finley’s head.  (she was very sweet.)  I call Mike in tears, telling him I’m not cut out for this.  I know I just need to figure out how to juggle everything - but I felt like a big fat failure.

We finally got to the YMCA a few minutes late and Finley slept through the whole lesson.  And as soon as we got back home, the feeding frenzy began once more.  I’m never leaving the house again.

Well Mike is back at work and I am adjusting to being home with the ladies by myself.  But I am also adjusting to something else.

For those of you that look at my husband and see this baby faced man - allow me to enlighten you.  Whenever we go on vacation, he goes on strike from shaving.  (that’s what happens when you work in a job where you have to be clean cut and shave every single day…)  Usually he comes away looking like a ragged version of George Michael from the early 90’s.  (who by the way - I was in love with.)  But after 4 weeks of “letting himself go” my little Michael turned into my very own Grizzly Adams.  Check him out…

Daddy and Finley

Sunday night we held a moment of silence for the hair that would soon be gone - and then it was an hour long process to de-beard himself.

Farewell Grizzly Adams

And when he came down from the bathroom with a face as smooth as Finley’s bum - I kind of got a little sad.  It was like our little baby bubble that we had been living in was about to burst.  Already a month of Finley’s life has gone by and it was the eve of being on my own.  Gulp.  As Mike said in his previous post, it is a little unusual for the dad to stay home for as long as he has…but I am so glad he was able to.  What a special, precious time we have had as a family.  Mike has been so helpful and supportive and I will miss him being here 24-7.  I will also miss seeing that face full of hair - but it is nice to have my baby faced fella back.

After four weeks of paternity leave, I head back to work Monday.  I would like to tell you the four weeks was like a long vacation, but quite the contrary.  As many of you know, it’s a lot of work raising a baby!  My time off has been so great.  I’ve really had the opportunity to bond with Finley and spend a lot of quality time with our other daughter, Katelin.  I think Jen would also tell you that I was a big help around the house during my time off (at least I hope she would say that!).  I’m also very lucky I work for bosses who are extremely family-friendly and encouraged me to take as much time as I wanted (of course, within the realm of what’s allowed by law).   Not many husbands take that much time.  While my leave has been wonderful, I must admit I have the itch to get back.  I’m just one of those people who loves my job and looks forward to going to work everyday.

I also have to say a big thanks to my co-workers for “picking up the slack” when Jen and I have been gone. It’s one thing when a woman takes maternity leave from her place of employment after she has a baby, but when her husband works at the same company and takes leave too, it can complicate things.  There’s several people at the station who’ve shifted their schedules and personal lives to cover for both of us. Their sacrifices are much appreciated.  I have to admit, it’s going to be a little strange going back on the air after four weeks off. If I start reading sentences that make no sense at all, just bear with me.  It might take me awhile to get the wheels turning again. I’ll see you on the air!

Mike

P.S. For all of you Jen fans, she’ll be returning to the morning show March 2nd