Last night was a rough one. Olive started refluxing pretty badly. She also had gas which hurt her little tummy. The combo meant that neither of us slept more than 3 hours the whole night. Not good, especially since I only slept 2 hours Thursday night. I am having the same problem that I had with Ivey... I am producing way more milk that Olive needs. I'm only nursing her off of one side per feeding, but even on that one side, I have way more than she could ever eat. This means that when she nurses, she isn't getting past the low-cal thin fore-milk and getting to the thick heavy hind-milk that she needs. Same problem, different baby. What can I say, I can make some milk.
These fore-milk only feedings leave her tummy all frothy and acidic. I can't pump to get to the hind-milk, because that would only tell my body to keep making way more milk than I need. So, like with Ivey, we have to ride it out until my body gets the clue that it doesn't need to make enough milk for the entire mother/baby unit. Until then, we are using gas drops and I'm propping the end of her bed up to try to help her get through.
Jeff stayed with the kids last night and today, while Mom spent the night with Olive and me at the hospital. Jeff wasn't feeling too well last night. I figured he was just exhausted from Thursday night's baby birthing adventure. Not the case. This morning, he developed a fever. By the time they discharged me, he was feeling really crummy. He got to experience something that most men do not... being sick as a dog and having to take care of kids anyway. Moms everywhere know this part of the job well, and it stinks.
As Mom drove Olive and me home, Jeff called to tell me that Addison had clogged up the upstairs toilet. Then, with poo-water to the brim of the toilet, proceeded to flush again, which caused the poop-water-waterfall to spill out all over the floor, seeping through the cracks and dripping through the tin ceiling tiles of the downstairs foyer. Oh, and Jeff's fever was now up to 101. He said that he was able to steer clear of the boys, but Ivey was all over him and had been since last night. Great.
I wanted to quarentine Jeff to the boys' room, but he is in the living room instead. I am not going anywhere near him... and I hope to be able to keep the kids away. I seriously cannot get sick. The kids cannot get sick. Olive CANNOT get sick. Not cool. Mom helped me disinfect surfaces and cover the house in Lysol spray. What perfect timing.
Now, Jeff is no help. Mom was going to be here the first part of the week with the six of us. Jeff and Mom together could take care of the kids and help me out until I heal. Now, instead of having him to help, he's a pile of scary germs. Ivey was very happy to see me and spent the first hour sitting in my lap while she watched a movie. I asked if Olive could watch the movie with us and by not screaming, she agreed that it was a great idea. She didn't want me to leave her side, and I don't blame her in the least. It's been one heck of a month.
Ivey's reaction to Olive's homecoming was better than I could have imagined. I sat on the bed, holding Olive, while Ivey examined her little ears and nose and hands. She reached out and stroked Olive's hair. She was extremely gentle and very sweet. Then, she reached behind her and grabbed her favorite blanket, Ladybug Blanket. She took her prized possession and gently piled it on top of her new baby sister. When it would fall off, she would gently place it back on top. I am so proud of my big girl and her very big heart. When Ivey came home from the hospital, and was lying in a bed in the same very room, Asa ran and found his "yellow blanket" and placed it on top of his new sister. There's a lot of love in our big, big family!
Mom took the kids out to eat in order to get them out of the house. With Jeff out of commission and me needing to feed Olive, a car to unpack, a kitchen counter full of dishes and four hungry kids, it was a little out of control. Mom took Asa, Addison and Ivey out for dinner while I retreated to my bedroom, to sob for a while over how unpleasant it was to have a sick husband and a house that was covered with an invisible layer of dried poo water. While I was hiding in my room feeding Olive, I overheard talk in the next room. My van wouldn't start. It turns out, the battery was completely shot. Good grief. Surely, things will calm down to a more normal level of insane. I am trying very hard not to panic about getting sick.
Jeff took the battery to Auto Zone and Olive and I stayed home alone. When Mom came home with the kids, I had all four of them on my bed for the first time. Wow. That's a lot of kids. Ivey was in a wild mood, so it was a bit nerve wracking to keep her from clobbering Olive, or from flying off the bed onto her noggin. She was sweet to her sister, but she was just in one of those crazy moods. Mom took Olive from me and the strangest thing happened. We had expected Ivey to be jealous of Olive when I held her. Well, we never expected Ivey to get upset when someone took Olive FROM me! Ivey pitched a fit when Mom took her baby sister away, and continued to do so until she was returned to her mommy's arms. As soon as mom gave her back to me, Ivey was content. She didn't want anyone taking our baby away!
Asa and Addison took turns holding their new bundle. They are both in awe over her, and over the sheer fact that this baby was inside of me a few days ago and now is outside. They have good reason to be amazed. It is completely miraculous. Each and every one of them are completely miraculous. Now, to keep all of these miraculous little beings slathered in Purell and away from their daddy!
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