What keeps me from posting? Well, Nate is working from home most days now, which severely limits my computer access. Because of the new working situation, Nate bought a laptop to take back and forth with him when he goes into the office, and I will get the computer he used to have at the office, which is a nice Mac Mini.

We are waiting for our carpenter friend to build what will be a gorgeous, wooden breakfast bar in the eating nook off of the kitchen and living room before we set my computer up, because that is where it will be.

So I am practically computer-less for the time being.

And then there’s the other reason I have difficulty posting.

(He’s 2 weeks old now. I can’t believe it).

I SWEAR he slept almost all day. But whenever Nate left the computer, giving me an opportunity to post…

He’d wake up positively STARVING.

But we love him anyway.

Every time I sat down to do Health Group yesterday, Clark decided he needed to eat immediately. So the post is late.

I weigh about 219 right now. And I can cross my legs relatively comfortably! So I guess I lost some weight during the months I couldn’t eat. This surprises me somewhat, since what I did eat when I could eat was junk, but it looks like I lost some weight just the same.

I still think it’s mostly muscle.

But, to help take advantage of the situation, I went grocery shopping and bought some food to make healthy meals. Like fantastic salads for lunches. I had one today. Mmmmmm. And some good crockpot meals, since my energy is ok during the day, but fades real quick as the sun starts to go down.

It’s SO nice to be able to eat again!

How’s it going for you?

Thank you all so much!

Also, I’ve been meaning to show you the cutest diaper bag that my mom had made for Clark.

She asked Keri to make a Superman bag, and that’s what we got! I love it.

To answer Mia’s question from yesterday…

All of my babies so far have slept in our bed with no problems. I was worried about Clark, mainly because Nate has been really tired and sleeping heavier and I didn’t want him to roll over onto the baby. (He’s older now than he was the last time we did this). That’s why I’ve been sleeping semi-propped on the couch downstairs until recently. I moved to the bed a few nights ago because my neck and back are killing me, and I find that if I keep Clark right close to me, he’s fine.

Usually, my babies are only in our bed for a little while, although I can’t remember exactly how long, and then they spend the next several months sleeping in the battery powered swing.

The swing is TOTALLY where it’s at! And has saved me from sleep deprivation each new baby!

This is what I woke up to this morning.

Things are going well. Nights are getting better. I’m still tired, and my neck and back are in sad shape. I hurt more each morning, so I went back to the chiropractor and got cracked today. My neck is sore, so I’m going to put hot packs on it this afternoon. If that doesn’t help, I’ll take a bath.

Nate and I are trying to arrange a date for ourselves so we can go and get stocked for Easter. I’m looking forward to hiding a bazillion plastic eggs in our new, very large house. The problem with this is that the kids will end up getting a bazillion plastic eggs worth of candy, which isn’t a good thing. So we’re thinking about stickers, cheap toys, and other such egg-fillers.

Nate took the girls to the Seattle Aquarium this afternoon. I pulled Clark’s cradle, the boppy, and a chair to nurse in out onto the front porch so I could stare at the yard and try to figure out how to fix it.

It’s really ugly.

I also snuck some pruning and very light weeding in. It felt good to be outside, and I would be there still if it were a bit warmer.

(That’s a yawn).

Nate was on the computer the entirety of Saturday doing taxes and finances, hence, no Health Group post. But I talked to the nurse at my post-partum appointment at the hospital on Friday, and she said that I could probably start my physical therapy exercises in a week or two.

In the meantime, I’m going to sleep as much as possible.

Nights are getting a little bit better. The nice thing about Clark is that so far, he doesn’t cry inconsolably. I have memories of walking with the girls endlessly while they cried for no apparent reason. He doesn’t do that. I know that if nothing else, he’ll be happy suckling/nursing.

He’s getting more used to having his diaper changed and doesn’t scream the whole time anymore. Now he usually just complains in grunts which is quite funny sounding.

The girls are on Spring Break this week, and they’re chewing on the walls to get out of the house, so we’re going to go hang out with a friend of mine and her kids in a few minutes, and I think we’ll order some thai food for lunch.

Now that I can EAT again!

If any of you have Health Group news, feel free to post it here! I wanna hear it!

‘Twere the hours before daylight, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring….

except for mom-the-milk-machine.

It’s my first go with the sling. I’m liking it mucho. Clark was fussing quite a bit. The instant I put him in it, he fell fast asleep.

Which is kind of annoying, because I’m not asleep, BUT, I can now raid the fridge with both hands! And I can take pictures of myself in the stairwell mirror and post them.

That’s something.

Lots of baby talk here, with a spattering of pictures.

Unless time has played tricks on my memory, Clark has been by far the fussiest baby. Fortunately, I’m still really enjoying him, but it’s been hard. I’ve been getting 3 hours of sleep a night, in 1 hour increments. I haven’t been able to sleep during the day, but all of this will change.

My milk is in, which is obviously more satisfying to his demanding little tummy than colostrum was. That helps.

At the recommendation of my sister-in-law, I sent Nate to the store to pick up some Lansinoh. I’ve never used it before, and it is glorious. I don’t hurt nearly as much now, and I wasn’t even cracked. It just made it all better.

This is my first time using a Boppy. Wow. I feel like an idiot resisting with my other babies.

First of all, when I was in labor at the house and about ready to go to the hospital, sitting enormously increased the most painful contractions. I didn’t know how I was going to survive the car ride, so I sat on the Boppy in the car, and my contractions were way better. I was actually relatively comfortable.

I sat on the Boppy in the wheelchair up to the doctor’s office to get checked (couldn’t walk at that point), and in the wheelchair back down to be admitted in the hospital, at which point, I think I loved the Boppy as much as I love anesthesiologists that administer epidurals.

Right now, I want to go on and on about my admitting nurse. She is Superwoman. I was hurting SO bad, and between the time I was at the doctor, and the time I was “checked” in the hospital, (about 30 minutes, tops) I had dilated 1-2 more centimeters and effaced the remaining 30%.

She jumped into high gear, ignoring all the computer stuff she had to do. She got a helper in with her, and got my IV started immediately with the antibiotics and hydration. Right on the heels of that, she ran and got my epidural supplies, called the anesthesiologist from my room, and had me out of pain sooner than I thought was humanly possible.

All the while, telling me how brilliantly I was handling my contractions, and how amazing I was.

I really love nurse Kathy.

After the fact, she told me that the contractions had been 2 minutes apart, and were very intense. So I got my wish to go into labor on my own, eh? :-).

Back to the Boppy, it next proved it’s worth when the girls came to visit Clark for the first time. You know how awkward it is to hand a brand new baby to young children? Well, we put the Boppy around their little waists while they sat in a chair, and set Clark on top. There was no slipping, head dropping, nothing. The girls were confident. The baby was secure. We could step back a little bit and give them some “alone” time without having to interrupt and reposition, or correct them.

Third, nursing. Ah, it’s better that way.

Another thing I did differently this time was buy cute jammies for the hospital. I also bought several pair of underwear in matching colors. Sounds silly, as things are so messy after delivery, but I didn’t want to wear the nasty hospital clothes and disposable, netting panties any longer than I had to.

So on Tuesday, I re-braided my hair, put on my new stuff along with a nursing bra, and felt pretty!

I also slipped Clark into a little sleeper, which he seemed to really appreciate.

It felt SO good, that Clark and I spent quite a bit of time walking the halls. Clark got oogled by nurses and visitors alike, and I got to chat with a few Grandparents-to-be waiting in the lobbies for their own good news.

It was a pleasant way to spend the unforeseen extra day in the hospital while Nate was out making Abby’s birthday special.

We’re still very tired, and I’m going to get off the computer and try to take a nap while the house is quiet.

But before I do, here is a shot of Nate on the couch after dinner, asleep.

And Clark cuddling up in a diaper.

Oh, and Clark and I got a nice stretch of sleep this morning from 6:30-10:30 after a couple good feedings. I so desperately needed that! I have high hopes that now that my milk is in, we’ll be able to sleep a bit more.

Hi all! What a wonderful welcome for sweet little Clark! Thank you!

I’ve been on the backseat of all the camera action until now. Last night, I took a couple while he was sleeping on my lap.

That hat is NOT going to fit him for very long!

And this morning, when I had some good daylight…

I love the “grumpy old man” face!

And now, a very warm and loving birthday wish for Abigail, who turns 8 today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ABBY! We love you SO much!

I have to stay in the hospital until tomorrow because Clark came too fast to allow me to get the full 4 hours of antibiotics for Strep B, so they need to observe him.

The family will be here this evening to eat pie and celebrate her birthday. Right now, Nate is taking a rose to the school and he’ll sit with her at lunch in the cafeteria.

She’s being a sport.