SSMoTBUT

In case you're not up on all the abbreviations you find on online discussions boards and mommy blogs the title of this post is "Semi-Single Mommy of Two Babies Under Two." It took me forever to figure out what DH, DD, DS and LO stand for. In case you don't know either- Dear Husband/Son/Daughter and Little One. I know that no one like to read the "today we (insert long list of boring things you did today)" type posts but today has been such an accomplishment. It started out AWFUL with Eli waking up like the Tazmanian Devil on steroids after losing all his money in Vegas. My precious mother decided to go in to work a couple hours late and helped me tame the beast. After his belly was filled he was a whole other child. He was placing dropped pacis in the babies mouth, throwing away wet diapers (I'm afraid he would play in a dirty one...) and just being a ham. We dropped my mom off at work and headed to the Health Dept to pick up Andrew's birth cert and I'll be darned if Eli didn't sit in his chair like the champ of a big brother I always knew he would be. He got up only to flirt with the clerk and hold Andrew's bottle while I paid. As if that weren't enough, he ate a whole Rice Crispy treat on the way home while keeping the part he was holding in the wrapper. NO STICKY FINGERS! E haaaaaates sticky fingers. He passed out about 2 miles from the house and is currently still asleep in the bed. Am I dreaming? Can it really be this easy to be a SSMoTBUT? If I can get 1 good day like this every 3 weeks it's totally worth it... But then again, it is only 11 am.

It's been one week

since you looked at me...

Or rather since the number of lives I am responsible for has doubled. It's been really easy and really hard at the same time. Eli came home from his grandparents Sunday evening and he was not prepared for the transition he was about to make. After two or three hours he finally decided he would cooperate and be the good little Eli he always is.

Night 1: (@ home)

A sinch. Andrew woke up twice. Ah, such a perfect baby.

Night 2:

Hell. Andrew woke up every hour on the hour and nursed for about 40 minutes. That means I was getting about 20-30 minutes of sleep at a time. Not cool, Andrew... not. cool.

Nights 3-5:

They have gradually gotten better, he is eating at a predictable every 2-2.5 hours. Much better

So let me just say... Daniel is the best daddy ever and he is sorely missed this time around. He would get up with me in the night and change Eli after he ate and heat up bottles or anything else I needed. My mom... she is a heavy sleeper. But she does keep Eli entertained during Andrew's meal times so I am always thankful when his 30 pound self isn't jumping on me and slapping my very sore chest when I'm feeding the baby.

On Monday we took Andrew back to the Dr for his first check-up and his weight was only 2 oz away from when he was first born. He lost 8 in the hospital. I told the Dr that he wakes up in the night sometimes like he is gasping for air. I either thought it may be because of reflux or he truly wasn't breathing. They sent us to home health and for the next week and a half Andrew will be hooked up to a monitor that keeps up with his heart rate and breathing. If he quits breathing an alarm goes off. Last night it went off... I'm not sure what the next step will be when we get the results but please say a prayer that it isn't serious or even anything at all.

Now that I think I'm caught up on all of our exciting news I've got to go love on my babies.

Day 4

It has been 4 days since sweet little Andrew has entered into the world. It seems like these past few days have been a whirlwind and lasted forever at the same time.

I went in Tuesday night/Wednesday morning at midnight for the induction and was all hooked up and ready to go at 1 am. And can I please just ask, is it just me or does everyone always get stuck with drop dead gorgeous nurses when it comes time for the most embarrassing and exposing thing you will ever do in your life? Why can't I get the old fat lady? Why do I have to be the one who has to make the skinny, gorgeous nurse feel even better about herself?

Anyways, around 2 I was really feeling the contractions so I got some pain medicine via IV and it helped...for about 45 minutes. Not wanting to get my epidural just yet, I asked for another does of the apparently Tylenol strength medicine to course through my veins. I waiting 20 minutes and it never kicked in. I called the nurse and told her I would like my epidural NOW and I was all kinds of jacked up around 4 AM when I was numb from my chest down. At 5:30/6 I was checked again and I was only at a 4. I called my MIL and FIL who were on their way to let them know that it would probably still be a while and since they were in Sylacauga not to worry about speeding. My inlaws arrived a little before 8 AM and then my Dr came in shortly after asking everyone to leave so he could check my progress. Everyone walks out and as soon as he checked me my water broke. Even still I figured I was at a 7 at the most. My progress with Eli was extremely slow so I wasn't getting my hopes up this time around.

Well guess what, it was time to start pushing. My mom and MIL came back into the room and were informed to get into their battle stations. We got Daniel on Skype and I started pushing. After barely 20 minutes later, the greatest feeling I had ever expeienced only 18 months ago was back. I was a mommy to a perfect little 6 lbs 15 oz little boy with lots of black hair. Daniel was able to stay connected for over 2 hours and experience everything with us. We are barely ever able to stay connected for 20 minutes so it was such a blessing that there was no interruption with the not so dependable Skype.

My dad was at home with Eli, who normally is up with the sun. At 8 am my dad was still trying to pry Eli out of bed. They got to the hospital just after Kangaroo time, which was really awesome and something I didn't have with Eli. E was not too impressed with the newest addition to our little family but was pretty upbeat about all of his new Big Brother prizes waiting on him. BY THE WAY, this was the FIRST time that Eli and I had EVER been apart over night. And to make matter worse I wouldn't be coming home until Friday and he went home with my inlaws Friday night and will be coming home sometime this afternoon.

I have missed that kid SO much. I have gotten a little glimpse of how sad it is for Daniel not getting to hug and kiss him every day like I am blessed to do. Only 3 more months until he is home with us and we journey back to the mother land. By the way, Andrew will be the same age Eli was when we first moved.