I am a boob

Huxley is here! Huxley is very thrilled that my milk finally came in and I am very thrilled that I can finally do something besides nurse or hold him (if put down, he would wake up and nurse again).

But that Huxley is a championship nurser is really about my worst complaint, which is pretty awesome. I mean, I haven't slept for more than 45 minutes at a stretch in a couple of days, but we'll worry about that in a few days. I've got all those hormones on board to keep me functioning, right?

It appears that Huxley responds well to deadlines, just like mom. We had gone in to the doctor and set up an induction for Saturday morning. I know it needed to be done, but I wasn't very happy about having to be induced. That night (Thursday), I went into labor. There was no confusion on my part that this was the real thing. I had been having contractions on and off forever. Since I am perpetually optimistic, every one would make me a little excited despite knowing it was exactly the same as the ones before. Much like the ducks at the lake which still haven't learned that Turing only throws rocks, and try to taste every one . . . then when the real contractions kicked in around midnight, I kept trying to convince myself to get more sleep. Ha.

This round went soooooooo much better than the last round. Let's review:

My water broke with Turing and I was induced. I had an IV for the antibiotics, the anti-nausea meds, a couple rounds of pain meds, the induction stuff. We ended up needing internal monitors and an epidural, so I was confined to bed. Huxley got us started just fine. I needed two rounds of intramuscular pain meds. That means no IV, no cords sticking in my vagina or my back - I got to move around the entire time and even gave birth on my knees.

Turing: birthing ball and shower. Huxley: bathtub and position changes.

Turing: 36 hours of contractions. Huxley: 12 hours of contractions.

Turing: 2 hours of pushing ending with a forceps assist (bun extracted from oven with tongs). Lots of doctors and nurses down there. Huxley: 20 minutes of pushing (i think). Daddy did the catching and the cord cutting! That means Trouble has caught one more baby than I have. And I'm the one who is going to be the doctor.

Turing: something like 6 shifts of nurses and doctors and residents. It is all a big blur. Huxley: one nurse to get us admitted and settled in the room, then a single set of nurses, one doctor, one resident for the entire thing. The nurses were just thrilled about the process - or they were just being nice about saying so - I think because they actually got to be Involved. They helped me with various natural pain options and made good suggestions, they monitored me while on the morphine, but still moving around, they got to encourage me through the painful ones and keep things running smoothly. The only slightly scary things Huxley was doing disappeared as soon as they gave me some oxygen, for instance. They kept the external monitors working the entire time, too. The alternative of having me totally drugged out and mostly non-responsive does seem rather boring in comparison.

Turing: very quiet when born. whisked off to the NICU after briefly seeing us. Spend weeks slowly transitioning from bottle to breast. It worked, but was work and frustrating. Somehow becoming exceptionally exhausted by travelling from the recovery room to the NICU every 3 hours, even though it seems like that should be more relaxing. As soon as we got home, all we wanted to do was have skin-to-skin time because it felt like we hadn't really seen him, yet. Huxley: screaming at dad first thing. After getting cleaned up, we nursed and he totally knew what he was doing and has just chugged right along since. Came with us to the room and has been hanging out every since. Tiring, for sure, but lots of happy baby hormones must be smoothing things over.

Turing: lots of swelling, bruising, peeing issues, pooping issues, morphine. Bleeding for weeks, unable to drive for the pain meds, impressive uterine cramping. Huxley: some issues, but really not bad at all. You know, for birthing an 8lb 10oz baby. I'm done with the uterine cramping, I'm pooping just fine, I have only had ibprophen since birth, the bleeding is fairly slow.

Turing: we were a bit anxious after the whole NICU thing. And the first baby thing. We hauled that bassinet into whatever room we were using and I couldn't bring myself to shower while Trouble was napping. Huxley: he's napping. We'll hear him if he wakes up.

Turing: walk to coffee shop on day 5. Huxley: walk to coffee shop on day 4.

Turing: overall results is a healthy baby at home. Huxley: overall result is a healthy baby at home.

Both ways turn out just fine, but I'm glad I'm home more functional to deal with two kids. And glad to be home.