5 Days - Survivor

Wow!  How in the world do mother's ever forget the first little bit of having a newborn. God has some amazing mind altering powers.  Literally, I forgot that it was hard to have a newborn.  He is sweet and just amazing but his sleep schedule sucks!  Sorry for the strong language.  ;)  Last night I was pretty much awake from 2am to 6am.  Towards 6am I thought I was going to die.  Then a beautiful thing happened.   We laid down on my bed, he ate, and then he finally drifted off into a deep and lovely slumber.  I woke at 8:20 to get the kids up and he still slept until I woke him up to eat again.  We have got to get more of that kind of sleep in.  The 30 minute short naps in the middle of the night are not going to do me much good. 

Here's what David looks like during the night.

Here is David during the day.  :)

In nearly 13 year of marriage Nate has never slept on the couch...but I think it is going to become his permanent sleeping place until the basement is done.  Don't get the wrong idea.  He would be up in a heartbeat to help me when I need it.  But, let's face it.  Someone in this house is going to have to stay sane.  So, Nate has started sleeping on the couch and I guess the baby and I will be co-sleeping more often.  It seems to be the one place he really feels comfortable enough to give into his exhaustion. 

On the up side...I can't believe how much better my body feels after only five days of being free of my little bundle.  SO MUCH BETTER!  Nate and I are going to combine forces and join weight watchers.  It will be a lot easier for me to lose weight if Nate is working on the same thing.  Can't wait to get down to my pre-Ben weight.  HAHA.  I know, baby steps.  But, it is still and exciting thought. 

Ending on a good note...I don't want you to think I don't absolutely adore my little David.  5 Days out and David is already easily becoming part of our home.  I am especially proud of Sarah who seems to be taking David's arrival like a champ.  She is aware of him and has started telling me when he cries.  She frequently comes up and holds out her arms so she can hold David.  She was running back and forth to him this morning saying "Hi David".  She is doing a great job.  We are trying to help her feel a responsibility for him just like we all do.  It's a fine line to walk making sure she doesn't smother him while letting her get to know him and feel like she is allowed to love him.  We will see how the next few weeks go. 

I love him.  It is an amazing thing to lay a tiny little person against your heart and listen to their soft breathing.  Knowing the miracles involved in their creation and arrival.  There isn't anything I wouldn't do for him.  Which is why, I suppose, I willingly suffer sleep deprivation for him.   I am deeply grateful that he is a healthy and perfect little boy.  (Let's ignore the jaundice...I hate those bili lights!)