The first week he was in our lives was filled with the entire spectrum of human emotions. We spent a little less than 48 hours in the hosital and we were so ready to go home by the end of our stay. The first night home I was up from midnight to 7 am…I can't tell you why exactly. I think it was a mixture of nerves, stress of feeding, and leftover adrenaline.
Our first challenge as parents was getting jack to poo and while in the end we didn't really have much to do except getting more calories into him we nonetheless felt we overcame a hurdle with that first poopy diaper.
That first week was FILLED with so many new learning experiences. Each day I would figure out new little trick or short cut to make life a little easier. I was terribly sleep deprived and my emotions were ALL over the place. I will admit that there were times (when I would allow myself to stop moving) when I would just lay down and cry. I would cry because I was just so tired and so overwhelmed with everything new in our life and all of the new emotions running through my body. Hormones are a bitch!
My parents arrived in Colorado the day he was born and my dad left the following Saturday. My mom was supposed to leave the Wednesday after he was born but I just wasn't ready for her to leave and I was terrified to be by myself. She stayed a couple extra days and then Justin's parents came into town, so I was not alone for a few weeks.
But then 10 days after Jack was born, Lucy (our bulldog) died suddenly. She was such a large presence in our family and it was an incredible blow to Justin and me. Lu's death didn't help with the excessive crying and out of control emotions. The days following her death, I felt as if I could get in my car and just drive because I was so completely overwhelmed with all of the changes in my life. But I just kept reminding myself to take one day at a time….hell one minute at a time if needed.
One battle we didn't have to fight too long was breastfeeding. The first 4-5 days were a bit touchy and I was so sick of pumping I could have easily given up but after day 6 my milk was in and he caught on to latching instantly. Now I feel like he is feeding nonstop! But I know he is getting exactly what he needs because he is gaining weight rapidly. Birth weight- 6 lbs 9 oz. 3 days old- 5 lbs 15 oz. 7 days old- 6 lbs 11 oz!
Our sweet boy at 1 week...
I am so sorry that your dog died. :( As if your hormones aren't messed up enough as it is! He is SUCH a cutie! Glad you are doing well.
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