Having two children.

I certainly couldn't do anything without Shane's help! He takes care of Ava and I take care of Olivia and we swap out in the afternoons/evenings to play with the other child.

I had a scheduled c-section with Olivia and I must say it was way better than the first! Being in labor for 29 hours and then having a c-section, no thanks. It was surreal to walk in and have a baby. Recovery was faster, discharge from the hospital was faster, my milk came in faster. Everything was faster and EASIER! Downside of having a repeat c-section was not being able to pick up and hold Ava for 2 weeks. She didn't understand why I couldn't pick her up and it was harder (emotionally) for me too!

My two week check up went well. I am 4 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight and my incision is smaller this time (I only have one incision not two!) and Olivia's two week check up showed she's back at birth weight (she had dropped a pound when we went home) and she slept through her PKU test and I was amazed! Ava screamed through hers!

These past three weeks has been great with my babies! I stopped taking pain meds around a week and a half and was able to get on the floor to play with Ava and read books, eat lunch with her, change her diaper and I actually felt like a parent to her! That first week was hell. I was hormonal, I admit, but I felt like Ava didn't need me and that was an eye opener for me because I'm a control freak. If it's not done my way it's not done right, but I think that is every new mom's thought process. That week and a half I wasn't able to do anything with her was a great bonding time with Shane. Shane and her are big buddies now, not that they weren't before but they are definitely closer now. He is a great Dad!

I'm more relaxed with Olivia (and Ava too for that matter). In turn she's more relaxed. Breastfeeding has been super easy this time around, I think because I know it's normal for her to have cluster feedings, poop after every feed, and many other things no one filled me in about with my first!

I had my first experience being by myself last Saturday. It was scary and I was really nervous but it went well. Olivia was awake the entire time which she usually is asleep and Ava was easy. It was difficult at breakfast though. Olivia screamed the entire time I was making breakfast for Ava and I and Ava was crying, signing 'milk' and banging on the refridgerator. Talk about pull my hair out! So in between stiring oatmeal on the stove, pouring milk intoo a sippy cup and trying to keep Ava from pushing Olivia out of the swing I'm saying to myself... "I got this under control, I can do this!" and I did get through it. I got Ava's milk to her and picked Olivia up and finished the oatmeal and made myself some chocolate milk and then put Olivia back in the swing and grabbed Ava and we at oatmeal while Olivia sucked on her hands. I felt guilty but what else was I going to do!? After breakfast, Olivia decided to cluster feed from 10am to 12pm (CRAZY, I know!) and so we sat in Ava's room and Olivia nursed and Ava and I read books, played with blocks. Then Olivia finally went to sleep so I put her in her bed and then fed Ava lunch and put her down for a nap. I got about 15 minutes of time to myself and Olivia woke back up because she had a dirty diaper. Then Shane came home and I said "Um, I know you just walked in BUT I really need a shower so here! She's got a clean diaper!"

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm certain I will have more funny stories about having two children and I'll try to keep up better with this blog! Wish me luck :)

Jackie