The midwife came by yesterday and took stock of the situation.

I'm pleased to say that she took in Angus and I and the two little moppets and said that we were, without question, the calmest new baby family she had ever seen. She said that more often than not she comes into a house with a new baby - usually just a singleton - and it's chaos, with tears, disorganization, and frustration. But she thought Angus and I and the babies seem to be thoroughly well-adjusted, low-key, and happy. I told her that there have been tears (and oh, there have been), but that basically we were pretty calm and the babies are pretty calm. There's no point getting stressed up, we tend to take most of this in stride so far.

The babies are still jaundiced, both of them. He's in worse shape than she is but they both aren't completely well. They've lost weight since birth, which is normal, but it's our mission to get them up to birth weight by Day 10, which is tomorrow.

He lost his umbilicus this morning.

My little guy is growing up and moving on.

They're both eating very well, up 30 mls of formula every 3 hours to 90 mls every 4 hours (Jesus, if that doesn't bore you then nothing will. I'm down to discussing minutiae about baby bottles, what the hell happened here?). This means that hopefully we're turning some kind of corner. I really hope so. I hate living under this spectre of fear of special care with my babes.

As far as me, I'm now only 2 pounds off my pre-pregnancy weight, although I am sporting what Statia very efficiently noted is an Ethiopian pot belly. The midwife was impressed. What she was not impressed with was my C-section scar and healing. I have a mass under my scar on the right hand side. Or I did have that yesterday, but as of this morning I have a mass under my scar on my left hand side, too.

I've overdone it, and burst one of my stitched abdominal muscles.

I'm to take it easy, otherwise it's back to hospital for me, and the only thing I am to do is lift a baby now and then. So those who recommended I take it easy...um...you were right. Mea culpa. Also? Ouch.

So luckily for Angus and I, the cavalry arrived yesterday for a short stay.

My father seems to have fallen completely and utterly in love with both of them, as he has fallen for all his grandchildren, be they here, in the States, or in Sweden. He's yet to change a diaper but he feeds them with every 4 hour feed, and he dotes on them. It's pretty special to watch, actually. He's admitted that he's changed, too, and wants to be there for his grandkids in ways he wasn't around the first time around for his kids.

We're big on second chances in this house.

Seems we're all turning corners.

But then it's pretty easy to do, and even the toughest fall prey to the babies' charms.

-H.

PS-Steff, thank you so much. Two books arrived today (we have a postal strike going on over here). I love them and remember them from my early days. I love them-thank you!

PPS-Sorry for the brevity of the post - family here and I'm not so comfortable just now from the stomach muscle issue. I miss the blogging, and once we get through the tunnel I hope to be a bit better.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 11:09 AM | Comments (26) | Add Comment
Post contains 609 words, total size 4 kb.

1 I'm not going to say "I told you so." I'm just glad you're going to try to take it easy.

Posted by: ~Easy at October 12, 2007 12:09 PM (WdRDV)

2 Dude. Slow it down. I know how you are. Don't make me come over there.

Posted by: statia at October 12, 2007 12:20 PM (lHsKN)

3 Perhaps the lovely midwife that visited will share the news with Ms. Mussolini :-p The pictures are great, enjoy the connections that babies can make :-) Nick & Nora, yeah you're both stealing hearts already.

Posted by: Angela at October 12, 2007 12:38 PM (DGWM7)

4 I'm glad to see that it's going well! Love the pictures too.

Posted by: Erin at October 12, 2007 01:21 PM (IPMSz)

5 I don't know which photo I adore more, the one of your father with the babies or Angus. Slow down, ok?

Posted by: amber at October 12, 2007 01:23 PM (HCbA1)

6 The cavalry arrived, just in time! Wonderful pictures H. Don't worry about the blogging, just enjoy those babies. Savor every moment. xoxo

Posted by: AManda at October 12, 2007 01:24 PM (ay+rD)

7 Being grandparents is so much better then being parents....your father was young the first time now he nows whats important...love your posting but you need to take care of your self first....

Posted by: Cris at October 12, 2007 01:37 PM (reELJ)

8 Helen, that picture of Angus is worth a million words. I am so happy things are working out for you - tummy issues not withstanding! Abs x

Posted by: abs at October 12, 2007 02:36 PM (+gJH8)

9 I am so happy things are improving, you look great and the picture of Angus with the babies, priceless!

Posted by: Cheryl at October 12, 2007 03:37 PM (n3lCA)

10 Cavalry, indeed. I'm so happy your Dad and Stepmom could make it! Oh, and what Statia said. Don't make ME come over there either (although I would so LOVE to hang out with you and love on Nick and Nora)....

Posted by: caltechgirl at October 12, 2007 03:55 PM (/vgMZ)

11 I'm so glad the cavalry arrived in time to save the day. The pictures are wonderful, thank you for sharing them. Now, please take it easy - I don't know one new mom who hasn't overdone it a bit, but I hate to see you do damage to herself. Sounds like you and Angus have things well in hand regarding the babies and I seriously hope word gets back to Midwife Mussolini about how well you're doing. Oh, and I laughed out loud when you lamented over "discussing minutiae about baby bottles" - you may not realize it, but to us cyber aunties who can't get there these are important details! :-D And - he lost his umbilicus already? It seems only yesterday he was born - how is it possible he's "growing up and moving on" (and that bit made me chuckle too) already? You're doing great, and so is Angus. I'm very impressed.

Posted by: Lisa at October 12, 2007 04:02 PM (EcHBm)

12 Listen, after all the turmoil you went through during your pregnancy, I, for one, am happy to read about the minutiae of baby bottles. And oh my god. Only two pounds to your pre-pregnancy weight and it's only day nine? You are AMAZING. Hollywood starlets don't even get their figure back that fast. Enjoy the downtime with your family, sweets.

Posted by: amy t. at October 12, 2007 04:36 PM (3dOTd)

13 That picture of Angus? SERIOUS CRYING GOING ON HERE. Corners are good. As long as you don't ram them with your tender belly, darling. Rest, water and rest. Good food, too. I love you, girl. Your family is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! (Just like you.) xoxo

Posted by: Margi at October 12, 2007 04:50 PM (wSEpS)

14 Seems I'm the only one that noticed how advanced Nora is. Seems she already has the hang of holding the bottle! Not bad for almost 10 days old! Somehow I just knew your children would be in the advanced class! Lovely pictures.

Posted by: grace at October 12, 2007 04:55 PM (yJz+h)

15 So love the pictures, thank you for sharing them. Extremely touching, I've been showing Dan the pics and the slideshow you made and we are both quite touched and rather tearful. Yah, you made my big strong Ox cry. And take a break from blogging too if you have to. Don't blog at all if you don't feel like it. And you have plenty of help so go ahead and be laaaaazeeeeee whenever you can. MmMmm...lazy sounds nice! Fixed now? heheheh

Posted by: The other Amber at October 12, 2007 05:32 PM (zQE5D)

16 It is so gratifying to see both Angus and your dad cuddling up to the babies. Men who warm to second chances with children are very special!

Posted by: kenju at October 12, 2007 06:07 PM (TiGru)

17 Lovely...simply lovely.

Posted by: sue at October 12, 2007 06:12 PM (WbfZD)

18 I loved the picture of your dad and stepmom with the babies. Then I thought Dad and the babies was the sweetest. But when I got to Angus and the wee ones, oh, how sweet it is.

Posted by: Julie at October 12, 2007 06:27 PM (cNmFS)

19 They are such sweet little things! The photos all made me smile--each one more than the last. I'm glad you have some "supervision" so you will take it a bit easier. Save some energy for when it's just you and the N's, okay?

Posted by: sophie at October 12, 2007 08:49 PM (AY+fk)

20 The pictures are gorgeous. I know how hard it is to take it easy - Abby's jaundice was so bad that we were in and out of the clinic every day for 2 weeks when she was first born - finally sent home with a bili-light which I used to take many mean pictures of her glowing in the dark with. I was on my own so I was carrying the diaper bag and the car seat ... and getting yelled at by the doctors and nurses. Wow for being 2 pounds away from your pre-pregnancy weight! I just got back to that weight a couple of months ago and my baby is 2!

Posted by: Michele at October 12, 2007 10:18 PM (h1vml)

21 Those pictures are fantastic. Your little ones are so beautiful!

Posted by: Veronica at October 12, 2007 11:32 PM (KKt4M)

22 This made me smile. Take care.

Posted by: Laura at October 13, 2007 03:17 AM (SWQqr)

23 Helen, I came back to say I am curious about how the cat and Gorby are taking the babies?

Posted by: kenju at October 13, 2007 04:46 AM (TiGru)

24 Gah! If I had all the money in the world, I'd so fly over there for 10 minutes so I could smooch the tops of their little heads! They are so beautiful...

Posted by: Bou at October 13, 2007 02:36 PM (fGpp7)

25 Glad to hear that you are all doing so well. I am very happy that you are finding the time to post at all, so you go ahead and bore us with all the baby news you want. That's all nothing but good news and I enjoy hearing it. Keep up the good job!

Posted by: Irene at October 13, 2007 04:54 PM (RL+iu)

26 Don't worry about light blogging. Get better first. However, if you really do feel guilty, baby pictures are ALWAYS an acceptable substitute for long posts.

Posted by: B. Durbin at October 13, 2007 06:16 PM (tie24)

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