Our first week: Family of four

Wow! Time sure does fly. I can't believe my baby is over a week old already. We have had a very busy but fun week. Don't you love when people type long extensive blogs just so they can have it for their memory? Well here's mine. ..

No Labor, But Delivery: I really thought that I would have this baby early, and boy did I hope that would happen, but baby Troy was very content and cozy in my big belly and stayed in clear till his scheduled date. I was 39 weeks, and very ready to have him come out. What a different experience it was this time knowing exactly what was happening. It was nice not going into labor and not dealing with the whole "pushing" aspect of things, but it was also very scary to know what adventure my body was about to embark on. My neighbor Aly is a labor and delivery nurse so she met us at the hospital to help with my delivery. My mom, Chris, his mom, and Brighton all came. Brighton and Kim left when it was time for surgery so he could have his nap and come back afterwards. I hate IV's and am always nervous for that part. My first one the vein blew so Aly had to try again on my other hand. I hadn't eaten since the night before, my doctor said no water or even chewing gum; so my veins were very small and dehydrated. Luckily we got one in and working. Then I got hooked up and waited for a bit. Our doctor came in and said they were just waiting on the anesthesiologist to finish up with someone else and then we would get going. It was weird to walk myself to the operating room and sit on the table. I got an epidural and spinal, they called it a double. Then I laid down and began numbing while they prepped me. I felt a few tugs but nothing too bad. Chris sat by me and was very sweet the whole time. As soon as Troy's head was out he started screaming. Everyone joked about his angry temper. After getting cleaned up and checked Chris brought him over to me; he had stopped screaming by then and kept poking out his long tongue, an Albright trait for sure! Then Chris left with him to the nursery. While getting sewed and stitched I became very nauseous. I hated having to throw up while I knew they were putting me back together. What a miserable thing! Aly was still with me and held my hand since Chris was gone. Then I went to the recovery room and fell asleep for a bit.

Troy's blood sugar level had been a little low so they couldn't wait for me for him to eat. He had a little formula before we were together so he wasn't hungry for a while. It was so cute when Brighton was brought back to meet his little brother. He marched in the room just as happy as can be and looking so big. He held him and just giggled. My mom said it sounded like he was saying "I've been waiting for you brother". Brighton visited us everyday. He would run in and say Hi Troy! but then mostly ignore him while he ran around the room and hospital. He would help push Troy around when we went on walks and had to be bribed to stay in our room. Brighton enjoyed staying with Gramma Megan. She took very good care of him, fed him lots, and bought him toys. He missed us though and always had a hard time leaving.

The first day all our families came to visit and see the new baby.

Chris had to go to a wedding one day and into the dealership another so I spent some time alone in the hospital. It was nice to have the time to bond just Troy and I. He was a good little eater and ate about every hour and a half to 2 hours, and mostly slept the rest of the time. My recovery has been incredibly different this time around. Even at the hospital I was able to do so many things on my own that I couldn't do the first time. My pain has been so much less and I am feeling good already. What a blessing since I have a crazy 2 year old as well now. I feel like being a mother of a newborn is easier this time too but then there are so many new challenges since I do not only have the one. Each day in the hospital got better and better. The nurses stopped bothering us so much at night and I was feeling better and better. Troy would sometimes go to the nursery but I hate when they keep him longer than 3 hours and give the babies that sweeties sugar water. He got a little Jaundice but has been able to work it out on his own. No funny blue lights for him! My IV stopped working early the first morning. The nurse tried to "Flush" it which just pumped a ton of water into my hand and bloated it up huge. They were able to take it out and leave it out luckily. Other than that it was pretty much smooth sailing.

My mom has been staying with us this week and has done all the cooking, cleaning, getting up with Brighton every morning and attending to his every need. I am so lucky that she is here! Chris is back at his dealership full time since they are still a new business so he is unable to be home as much as he would like. Next week his mother is staying with us and we will be just as grateful to have her!

Troy is doing wonderful. He sleeps well at night, about 4 hour stretches; which would be longer if his annoying mother didn't wake him up to eat. He is still so little! He does not like to sleep by himself though. We work day and night on putting him in the pack n play but somehow he convinces me that the bed is better. We will get there though and a few snuggly nights are ok by me. He continues to eat often during the day, but struggles to stay awake during his feedings. He is usually out within the first few minutes. He received his first sponge bath on the first day home because his little wizzer went off and soaked his whole self. We have been more careful since then and have only had one other accident. Troy seems to have a little bit of a gassy tummy and needs lots of burps, which Brighton likes to help with :) He is a great snuggler and does not like to be by himself. When I need him to wake up I just lay him on the ground alone and soon he will be awake and telling me he is not happy. The first day we had Troy we thought he looked very different from Brighton. Each day he began to look a little more like him. They do however have different lips, and although they both have lots of hair Troy's is lighter, maybe a little longer, and a little less. I love my hairy babies! I look forward to having Troy in our family and seeing more of his personality come through everyday!

Brighton was very excited when we all came home from the hospital and was so excited for his brother to be there. Then he had to lay down ground rules that Troy could not play with his toys or sit in his booster. They have been getting along ever since. Bugs likes to hold him a few times a day and will say "Hi Troy" whenever he sees him. He is adjusting to splitting his mommy's attention and will get better at it. It is a good growing experience for him.