Max's fifth and sixth weeks

From Last Import

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Max is settling into life more now, therefore making for a happier mommy!  My mom was here last week and Aunt Carol and Uncle Mike came back also.  It was so wonderful to have extra hands with Max.  Who knew that an infant takes several adults (rather a village...) to raise!  

He's growing leaps and bounds and is on yet another new formula.  His stomach seemed to bothering him immensely and Mylicon wasn't helping.  We're staying on this one--he's much happier and sleeps better.

Max's fourth week

From Max's fourth week

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I'm not sure if I mentioned this before or not, but I'm calling motherhood wonderfully overwhelming!  Last week Max was sleeping horribly and I was getting little or no sleep. I called my mom and asked her to return. Thank goodness she's semi-retired!  She came back this Tuesday and is staying until next Thursday.  I take him at night and she lets me sleep in the mornings.  I feel so much better and more rested!  

Aunt Carol and Uncle Mike (mom's sister and brother-in-law) came in last week and shared in some Max time, which also allowed me to sleep some!  yah!  They are back this week to see mom and eat delicious New Haven pizza.  In-between their visits, Laura came!  I picked her up last Saturday in Hartford while Lou had Max in White Plains seeing his mom.  While I enjoyed my time away from him, I felt torn--I should want to be with him all the time?!  Ridiculous.  I still need me time and Lou and I need time together also.  So many mommies forgo and forget about themselves, which I can see is very easy.  It's hard, but I'm finding my way through!

Tuesday night is book club and I'm going without Max and not feeling guilty.  I didn't even read the book!  I just need time away!  Since Max is having problems sleeping and going back to sleep, I've invested in all kinds of books I devour in the wee hours of the morning.  

This is sounding a bit negative.  Don't get me wrong, I love being a mommy, but there's no time off or time to just sit and listen to the silence.  Max is an absolute joy and I'm so happy we decided it was time to have a baby.  He's starting to smile and is about to outgrow the newborn diapers!  He's already outgrown newborn clothes!  It's amazing how much he changes.  

Watching Lou with Max is such fun.  I knew he would be a great dad, but I didn't know how fabulous!  Max loves it when his daddy walks in the door (as do I!).  It's so fun to watch him bond with Max like no other.  I just didn't know how incredible it would be to watch other people with him and love him!

Thanks for all the well wishes and sleepy thoughts.  

Love,

Shelley (and Lou and Max)  

Max's third week

From Recently Updated

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I will post pictures later. So, Max has been trying his parents patience since Thursday night. He hasn't been sleeping so great and cries when he's put down. We switched his formula to soy on Sunday, so we'll see how that goes. Last night Lou was nice enough to give me a break for 30 min. and took him in his screaming fit from 11-1. Lou's on call tonight, so that means no sleep for him at all!  He fell asleep on my chest and I moved him to our bed, where he slept like a champ!  If that's the solution, then so be it!  Maybe the crib and swing are scary places for the babe.  

I took Max to the pediatrician today to make sure nothing was wrong.  He's very healthy and weighs in at 9 lbs!!!  I'm feeling much better today.  Rachel and her family came over yesterday and I napped.  Today Tanya was nice enough to come over and relieve me for a bit.  Thank goodness for good friends!  

Aunt Carol and Uncle Mike are coming on Thurs. to help celebrate Passover and staying until Saturday.  Then, Laura comes!  Mom is coming Tuesday as Laura leaves.  I'm feeling much better with all this support coming in and just wonder how moms do this alone.  I know women have been having babies for thousands of years, but this is really hard!  Someone asked me if m 20 years of babysitting prepared me for motherhood, my answer was a resounding, "NO!"  

Nothing prepares you for motherhood.  I'm calling it wonderfully overwhelming.  There's this person who relies on you for everything.  No breaks, no time outs, nothing!  Then there's the hormones that are wack-o from being preggo.  Sometimes I'm just overwhelmed with emotions...mostly positive ones, but sometimes it's overwhelming!  

I love hearing everyone's suggestions and support.  It helps me get through the day and NIGHT!  Thanks!

Shelley 

Max's second week

From Max's second week

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We spent the day in Westchester today. Max met his "cousin" Lena and her family. We had a delicious brunch at the Davidson's and hung out there for a few hours. After that we went to Lou's mom's house and visited for a bit. She loved seeing her grandson and holding him in Whole Foods!

Max is growing like crazy! We went to the pediatrician yesterday and Max is now 7.75 lbs and grew .25 of an inch. He goes back at 2 months and is fabulous! More later...holding required.

Max's bris

From Max's bris

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In the last week, Max has changed his animal noises to sound less goat-like and more sheep-like. He sounds like a different animal everyday! It's so fun to see him change daily. Lou has been home all week and I'm totally dreading being alone next week. I go back to the doctor on Monday and hopefully will be able to drive after that. We had a photographer come last Saturday and her pictures are at the link below.

http://erinbellphotography.com/Stein/

Max_1

Max_1

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Here's a shortened version of our birth story. The pitocin drip is immediately stopped and we need a new plan of action. Janet, the midwife, tells us that the baby needs to come out. She quickly goes and talks to my OB who wants to do a C-section IMMEDIATELY. While this was not an urgent situation, his heartbeat did return to normal, there was absolutely NO thinking involved on our part, which was fine because I didn’t have time to worry. Allie and Ryan made a hasty exit and wished us luck. Not two minutes went by and I signed the consent forms while they were telling me what to expect in the OR while wheeling me there. I didn’t really want a C, but I wasn’t willing to risk Paco’s life and didn’t think the iron cervix would open, so this was it. Jump into the diving pool, STAT!

Lou goes and changes while they prep me for surgery. Two anesthesia residents and an anesthesiologist tell me what’s going to happen play by play. The OR is freezing cold and I’m shivering and shaking, which in part might be due to being scared. They give me warm blankets, even though it’s only for a few minutes…Instead of an epidural, I get a spinal, which does into a different layer of your spinal cord. Essentially painless, just a pinch, I start to feel numb. Was I not just talking to Ryan about some patient of his that day like 5 minutes ago? Now I can’t feel my legs and it’s just surreal. “Can you feel this? This? This? “ the female anesthesia resident asks. I feel nothing from my boobs up! I started to feel nauseous and told them, then I had indigestion.

They wafted an alcohol pad under my nose, which helped. I wanted to know where Lou was and they assured me that he could come in as soon as I was draped and ready. He joined me at my head and they joked about having the curtain high so he couldn’t watch and criticize. He sneaked a few peeks, but was mostly just checking in on me. I couldn’t feel a thing, not even pulling when they said that I would (which I was so happy about!). A few minutes later, Max was screaming his head off. Evidently he was swimming in meconium (newborn poop), which can make a baby septic.

Lou gets to hold him after they clean him up and the three of us have an amazing time behind the curtain while they sew me back up. While I so wanted to have a vaginal delivery for a speedier recovery, I know that this is what was best for the health of our child. We thought I was headed for a C-section Saturday morning when my cervix was still undilated. We both agreed that we would rather go ahead and do it than risk Max at all.

Max was born at 4:04 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, weighing in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 21 inches long. It took longer to close than it did for him to be born. While Lou, Max, and I were hanging out (I literally was since I was filleted open) we majorly bonded and continued to do so in the recovery area. I put him on me for some skin-to-skin contact. He felt so amazing with super soft skin and downy  hair.

I tried to upload a video without success.
Love,
Shelley, Lou, and Max

40 weeks

Well, technically my due date is tomorrow, March 5.  It would be fun for Paco to share a birthday with Spencer (Erin's 2 year old), but I just think he's happy inside.  I go back to the doctor on Tuesday for a stress test (for him), ultrasound, and fluid check.  I must say this waiting is for the PITS!!!