5 crazy days

*Oh my* I don't think I can handle another week like this one!

9/30/09 Long post alert!

Oof...waiting for my 800mg ibuprofen to kick in...

Need to gripe for a sec. I am tired. And sore. Those pesky nurses at the hospital weren't satisfied with my drug-free super delivery--they later drew 4 vials of blood, gave me a Rhogam shot in my hip, and then a flu shot in one arm and a tetanus shot in the other. Just for good measure, apparently, to make sure there wasn't a square inch of my body that hadn't been subjected to some sort of torture. So since I've been home, I have had those aches and pains in addition to the stitches, the muscle soreness, the joys that come along with nursing, and headaches from no sleep. Aahhh. Life is great!

However, Luke is a fantastic baby, and I have bonded with him a lot quicker than I did with Madelyn (sorry sweetie, it's true). I think having been a mother for almost five years primed me for baby #2. He is so sweet and cuddly, and is the cutest thing ever when he's awake and looking around with those little almond shaped eyes of his. He usually isn't fussy, but has a frustrating habit of gulping air when he's hungry or upset, so we constantly have to burp him.

We had a lot of visitors over the weekend. Bear with me while I document them for memory's sake.

Meeting Grandmom Kathy Yoder

Grandpop Frank Yoder (the resemblance is rather uncanny, don't you think?)

Auntie Sally Yoder, who has four cute boys of her own

Here's three of them: Noah, Will and Alex. Jake is Madelyn's age and was probably off teasing her somewhere

Auntie Lori Murset, cousin Hattie, Auntie Meg Murset (and Madelyn)

Uncle Kevin Murset

Hattie (18 months) taking a break outside

Auntie Megan, age 14

Wish I could sleep like that right now...

That was all on Sunday, when he was two days old. The next day, he and I spent five hours at doctor's appointments, while my mom stayed home with Madelyn. First was his three day checkup, where we found out that he'd lost six ounces and was down to 6 lbs. 2oz. He has a mild case of jaundice, too, but Dr. Newbold (Mark's colleague at the clinic) didn't think it needed treatment. While we were there, he offered to do Luke's circumcision later that afternoon for free. I was not planning on that until his two week checkup, but decided it would be better to get it over with while Madelyn wasn't there (she's had enough medical drama for the time being...)

But first we had to go over to the hospital for an echocardiogram, which took over an hour. Luke was really good and slept through the whole thing. Dr. Newbold had heard a heart murmur the day he was born, so we were getting it checked out.

Then we headed back over to the clinic, where we got to wait an hour and a half in the waiting room (well, we were in an isolation room since he's so young) before the circumcision was performed. That was not fun for me or Luke, poor dear! I went and sat in Mark's office because I didn't want to watch, but I could still hear him crying. :( The results from the echocardiogram had already come back from Primary Children's hospital, so Dr. Newbold went over them with us. Luke has three small holes in his heart, but they are the type that should close up on their own by the time he's a year old. So we will have to keep a close eye to make sure he's getting enough oxygen, that his circulation is good and that he grows well. I'm sure he will be fine, but we'll have to wait and see how he's progressed when they do a second echocardiogram in a year.

My mom Carolyn was nice enough to stay and be bossed around by Madelyn for that entire day while we were at the doctor, plus the next! Although she loves her baby brother a ton and smothers him with affection, Madelyn is still Madelyn, after all. (Direct quote from today: "I don't like to hold still! I like things messy! I don't like them clean.") She is a demanding little girl and can be hard to deal with when energy and patience are in short supply...which they are right now for me.

Yeah, this picture pretty much sums it up

Luke is Grandma Carolyn's fifth grandbaby!

Somewhere during all the craziness this week, we've managed to have a little bit of time just hanging out as the Yoder's Four:

One-day old Luke helping daddy beat Halo 3 ODST on the XBox 360

Two-day old Luke and Madelyn after their baths

Two days old, checking out Auntie Meg

Four days old on the gorgeous quillt that Auntie Sheila made for him (the kid has like, 12 aunties)

Those Yoder women sure know how to make a quilt! Sheila made one for Madelyn when she was born, too. I'll have to post a picture of it sometime.

And Little Miss Panties here, with her eerily lifelike doll next to my real live one.

Well, I think I'd better go eat something and finish getting dressed so I can go pick up Madelyn from preschool and then take her shoe shopping. It has gotten nippy here in Cedar and she doesn't have winter shoes yet. And I'll just take one of those boxes of Snickers there for me...king size...