Getting my groove back
Saturday, September 03, 2016
Well, hello there, those of you still hanging around! I took a little unplanned six-plus month hiatus from writing here, for a bunch of reasons. I was writing every day for work, and writing a personal blog was feeling a little too much like more work. And I was busy growing a human, raising another small person, and doing thangs. Now that I'm on maternity leave, I've been getting the urge to write more, so now, while both my kiddos are napping (this never happens, swear to G) here I am, resurrecting this blog like a phoenix from the ashes.
So! Let's kick things off with a nice, lighthearted post about how this was the worst summer probably of my life. "But you have a new baby and you're not working! Shouldn't you have had the *best* summer ever?" Let me break it down.
[+] I had a c-section June 19. The common misconception about c-sections is that they aren't major surgery. Common, yes. Easy? No. For weeks, I wasn't allowed to drive, swim, exercise, lift anything heavier than the baby (which is pretty much everything), clean the house (darn) - really, I should be listing the things I was actually allowed to do, which included breastfeeding and shuffling up the block to the mailbox. Recovery was tough. One afternoon, I laid down on the couch and I couldn't get up. I remember my eyes filling up as I yelled for Pete to come pull me into a sitting position. On my first outing once I had the green light to drive, I went to Superstore to pick up milk and bananas, and standing in the produce section looking alllllllll the way down to dairy, I almost gave up and went home because it felt like such a trek. I hated feeling so dependent, weak, and unproductive. I kept Googling c-section recovery stories and reading about how this person ripped her incision open, and that one got an infection, and I was convinced all those things would happen/were happening to me.
After a few weeks, like everyone promised, I started feeling better. Somewhere around four or five weeks I started feeling like my old self. And now, 10 weeks out, I'm finally feeling completely normal again. I'm planning a post about c-section recovery and what worked for me.
[+] It was HOT this summer. Hot, humid, sweaty, and sticky. I also had a baby who loves to be cuddled and loves to eat and is also about 32748023 degrees. Holding Henry was miserable because we were both sweating all over each other and he'd be yelling because he was so hot, but wanting to cuddle.
[+] I was home alone with Eli and Henry. Eli is four years old, very busy, very inquisitive...which is all great, except when you're answering questions about Star Wars, dinosaurs, and Pokemon from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. with no reprieve while holding a sweaty, screaming baby.
What I'm trying to say here is our summer days were each 8000 hours long.
HOWEVER! At my seven week postpartum appointment, I got the green light to start exercising, lifting things, going places - basically my ticket to freedom. And now the weather's changing - the days are still nice and warm, but the nights are cool and comfortable. Cuddles are enjoyable again. Henry's sleeping in good stretches. I'm once again feeling like a capable, functioning human being and not like a prisoner trapped in a humidity chamber hooked up to a milking machine while the Pokemon theme song plays on continuous loop for 12 hours a day.
Now that I'm back, I hope to update the blog somewhat regularly. Eli starts school next week (!!!!) so I'm sure I'll have feelings about that. Since we can turn the oven on without melting, I'm excited to get back into planning meals and trying new recipes. I've also been toying with the idea of creating a fall capsule wardrobe. Non-stop excitement around here!
[+] I was home alone with Eli and Henry. Eli is four years old, very busy, very inquisitive...which is all great, except when you're answering questions about Star Wars, dinosaurs, and Pokemon from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. with no reprieve while holding a sweaty, screaming baby.
What I'm trying to say here is our summer days were each 8000 hours long.
HOWEVER! At my seven week postpartum appointment, I got the green light to start exercising, lifting things, going places - basically my ticket to freedom. And now the weather's changing - the days are still nice and warm, but the nights are cool and comfortable. Cuddles are enjoyable again. Henry's sleeping in good stretches. I'm once again feeling like a capable, functioning human being and not like a prisoner trapped in a humidity chamber hooked up to a milking machine while the Pokemon theme song plays on continuous loop for 12 hours a day.
Now that I'm back, I hope to update the blog somewhat regularly. Eli starts school next week (!!!!) so I'm sure I'll have feelings about that. Since we can turn the oven on without melting, I'm excited to get back into planning meals and trying new recipes. I've also been toying with the idea of creating a fall capsule wardrobe. Non-stop excitement around here!
11 comments
I relate to SO MUCH OF THIS. I had my first baby June 6 and it was a ridiculously sweaty hot first three months. I'd thought I was so smart "not being pregnant" during the hot summer, but holding a sticky nursing baby and being stuck at home after a C-section was worse. Glad to hear you're feeling better now! I've missed your posts.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing about not being pregnant during the summer. Surprise! I'm usually a big fan of the heat, but it's different when you can work in A/C all day and then jump in the ocean or a lake to cool off. I've never been so excited for fall!
DeleteCongratulations! I'm one week post c section now with my first baby and also terrified of hurting my incision. They really don't give a lot of guidance! I'm glad to hear you are coming along nicely!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new baby! I hope you're feeling well! I was really surprised at the lack of guidance about recovery after a c-section, and of course googling any questions is terrifying and gives you wildly varying results.
DeleteCongrats!!! I don't know if you remember me, but my Charlie has almost the exact birthday as Eli, and Theo was born June 18 but last year. It was one of the hottest Summer's we've ever had on the west coast. Many days over 90 and 100! I feel you!! And, age four with a newborn was tough!! It gets better, and they love each other so much and play together and just...all the feels.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the boys play together as they get bigger! Henry is already smitten with Eli - smiles at him, watches him and whatnot. Eli is getting better about tolerating a baby brother!
DeleteThis summer was THE WORST. It just was. Says every pregnant mama and new mama out there. I'm 8 months pregnant now and my solace in this summer was always, "at least I'm not due right now, or recovering with a sweaty baby" - so I commend you for surviving!!
ReplyDeleteIt's 40 again today... and I basically hate my life.
Anyway - welcome back! Happy you're feeling better and congratulations on the arrival of Henry :)
thank you! I hope things go well for the remainder of your pregnancy and I'm wishing for cool weather for you!
DeleteHurrah! so nice to see you back! I kept looking for a post and I couldn't believe 6 months had gone and no post but its all good as you are back!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Henry! I remember when Lily came along it felt like I had 6 children suddenly and not 2.
I meant Henry, not "the" Henry.... sheesh
DeleteYou're back, you're back, YOU'RE BACK! You were missed. Can't wait to catch up! :)
ReplyDelete