How are we doing? Really.

Well, since you asked ...

I'm not going to be all "It's wonderful and rainbows and kittens," because in the time it has taken me to write this much, I have already threatened the two big kids and scooped myself a big bowl of ice cream. And I'm trying to type quickly before the baby wakes up screaming.

Bo
Little dude is two weeks old tomorrow. His birth weight was 8 pounds 12 ounces (still shocked about that one), and he lost about a pound over the next few days. Doctors like for babies to regain their birth weight by two weeks. I took Bo for a weight check today, and he's at 8 pounds 7 ounces. But no one seems concerned. He's nursing great and obviously gaining. Today I put him in a 0-3 month outfit because all of his newborn clothes are getting too snug! I thought for sure he'd be in those for at least a month.

Like I said, he's nursing great ... and a lot. On Saturday, I was stuck on the couch with him allll day long. He'd nurse, then fall asleep, and as soon as I put him down he would start crying and the only thing that would help would be to nurse him again. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

He also sleeps great ... as long as I am not trying to sleep, or eat, or get something done. And he fakes me out. I'll put him down and he'll be so quiet and peaceful, then I'll lay down and close my eyes and start to drift off ... then he'll start fussing. I admit to shedding a few tears between the hours of 3-5am.

*** Reality update. I may or may not have just said, "Do not put the baby wipe back in the container. Do you hear what I am saying. Why did you just put the wipe back in the container? Can you hear me? Why does no one listen to a word I say? Both of you, go upstairs and play because mama is getting ready to lose it."****

Nate
Nate is adjusting to having a new baby in the house exactly as I expected, and exactly how he acted when Georgia arrived. It does not affect him in the least. He's busy with first grade, and playing leggos and trains and hide and seek with Georgia and just the every day life of a six year old boy. Don't get me wrong, he likes Bo, thinks he's cute, likes to look at him from time to time. But babies don't really do anything. When Bo starts walking, I predict Nate will be more interested in him.

So far he's doing great at school and likes his teacher. A new thing this year is that he is actually telling me some of the stuff that happened at school. One day he came home and was tripping over his words, he was talking so fast, to tell me that someone came to school to talk to them about Boy Scouts, and every time he said a fun activity the boys were supposed to wiggle, and it sounds awesome, and it's at 7 o'clock at night, and we needed to go! I told him we'd talk to daddy about it. Then when he saw the neighbor boy, he excitedly said, "I joined Boy Scouts!" Oh well, I guess we're joining Boy Scouts then. Blake took him to the orientation the next night, and he's super excited about it too.

***Reality update--The kids were begging for string cheese and they couldn't find it in the fridge, but in order to avoid getting up I suggested they get Rice Krispies treats out of the pantry. Not my best mommy moment.***

Georgia
Oh. Georgia is in heaven. She has been such a mommy to her baby dolls since she was a baby herself, and now she has a real live baby here to hug and kiss and fuss over and cover with blankets and fetch things for. She is fascinated by Bo. She really is a big helper. And the hugs and kisses are endless. She asks several times a day if she can hold him, and she gets the boppy pillow and puts it on her lap to get ready for him. It's really, really cute. Even though sometimes it's extra work to keep her involved, I try my best to not lose patience with her and to encourage that caring attitude.

Yesterday, Georgia went back to Bekah the babysitter's house for the fall. She hadn't been since May, and she was so excited to go back. She loves Bekah and the kids there. It gives me time to spend with just Bo, and it's good for her to get back on a schedule.

*** Reality update--The kids are upstairs being really quiet, and it's making me nervous, but I also don't want to disturb the quiet by asking what they are up to. I'll regret this later.***

Blake
Blake and I understand our roles pretty well by now, with the 3rd kid. He knows that newborns pretty much just want their mamas, and he needs to help out with the big kids. In fact, he's been superdad for awhile now, during my last weeks of pregnancy when I felt terrible and had no energy, and now when I'm chained to the couch by a fussy baby. He gets the kids up and gets them ready for school/sitter's house (with just a little help from me with choosing clothes that actually match for Georgia and fixing her hair and a couple other little things), goes to work, and is home in time for Nate's nightly bathroom routine and bedtime.

On Monday (Labor Day), Bo and I had barely slept the night before, and Nate and Georgia really needed to get out of the house, so Blake took them to a fun church carnival while Bo and I napped. When they got home, I asked how it went. Both kids said, "Great! So much fun!" Blake said he never wanted to go again. The kids cried and whined and threw fits the whole time. Georgia wanted to be carried because the ground was a little wet and she was wearing sandals. He came home with a back ache and laid on the couch the rest of the day. The kids can't wait to go back next year.

***Reality update--Did you know that when you have 3 kids, at least one is unhappy at all times? Have you ever tried to cut a piece of toast with peanut butter into bite size pieces with one hand while holding a screaming newborn in the other arm? I have!***

Colleen
I would like to shout this from the rooftops--I feel GREAT!!! Yes, I'm so tired, and I sometimes have little pangs of pain from my incision, and I've had a migraine more days than not since having Bo. But, I'm not pregnant anymore. Sorry to say this, Bo, because I would do it all over again for you in a heartbeat, but I was pretty much miserable during my whole pregnancy. Now, I can eat toast with jelly for breakfast without having a hypoglycemic crash about an hour later. My feet are not swollen 3 times their original size, and it doesn't hurt to walk! I have energy! My back doesn't feel like it's breaking every time I get out of bed. My hips don't hurt! I. FEEL. GREAT.

I had my first post-partum appointment yesterday, and I'm healing really well. The nurse practitioner was surprised that this was my 4th c-section (counting fetal surgery) and my scar looks great. Best of all, I have dropped 20 pounds! And I only gained 15 during the whole pregnancy, so I'm actually down 5 pounds from my first appointment! (Disclaimer: I don't recommend pregnancy as a weight loss method. I still look about 4 months along and have stretch marks for the first time.)

I have realized something since Aug. 23. I had forgotten how totally, head over hills in love a mother falls for her babies. I was excited for Bo to get here and all. But holy cow, I love that baby so hard it brings tears. I forgot that part. I remembered the newborn phase as a blur of sleeplessness and waaaaahs and spit up and just surviving. I forgot the great parts. Like holding him in a little lump on my chest while he sleeps. I love that. And him thinking I'm the only person in the world. And being so proud to show him to the few people we've seen when going to doctor appointments and such.

We have our ups and downs. But I wouldn't trade these 3 awesome kids and husband for anything. And I plan on enjoying every minute of Bo's babyhood ... before he starts whining and fighting with his big brother and sister. So the reality is, it's not all rainbows and butterflies, but I think we're doing pretty great.