Musings at 3:30am...

So, I was lying in bed last night after putting Hunter back down (she had already been up for an hour), and I could NOT go back to sleep!  I kept thinking of things that I needed to do, things that I want to buy (but have no money), and things that I should blog about.

One of these was this:
How do men ignore all the stuff that needs done?  I mean really, I know that I am not alone in this, and I'm really not complaining at all... I just want to know.  How is it possible that a man can just not see that the dishwasher needs unloaded, or the laundry needs switched over or the bottles need made?  I really, really am not complaining, I really, really just want to know.  Case in point: The other day, I was sick, and I went to bed (literally) at 5pm as soon as Justin got home from work.  I slept great, got up with the baby in the night, and felt awesome the next morning.  I got up with the girls, and went to get a bottle for Hunter out of the fridge, only to find that there weren't any more bottles for Hunter, so I had to make one.  No biggie.  Later, I asked my husband why he had not made bottles the night before, and he replied, "but, you didn't ask me to make bottles."  And he's right. I hadn't asked him to make the bottles.  But, every night, I make bottles for the next day.  And every night, he asks me what I'm doing, and I reply that I'm making bottles for the next day.  I really wasn't (and am not) mad about this situation.  I just want to know.  How does he ignore this?

Another one: breastfeeding.
I'll admit it: I used to be just a little judgmental of those women who chose to bottle (formula) feed their infants, instead of breastfeeding.  I always thought that I would breastfeed my babies, and that they would be happier and healthier for my efforts.  Until I had kids.  Here's what no one tells you (or at least no one told me) about breastfeeding: it's really, really hard.  At least it was for me.

With Lena, she was in the NICU for six days, and I was not allowed out of my hospital bed for 24 hours after she was born.  So I didn't get to see her for 24 hours, let alone practice nursing her.  So I pumped.  For 8 weeks, I pumped every 3 hours and bottle-fed her breastmilk, supplementing with formula.  I am convinced that my full capacity of milk never really 'let down' or 'came in' or whatever you want to call it.  Even after she was out of the NICU and eating fine, we just couldn't get the hang of it, and I hated pumping.  I felt like a cow at the milking barn.  Not good.

With Hunter, we had a much better pregnancy and delivery, so she and I were able to practice right away.  And things looked great!  She was nursing like a champ, and my milk actually came in this time!  Everything was great!  Until we came home from the hospital.  Hunter did a great job of nursing... she was latching on a sucking away just like she should.  I don't know what happened exactly, but at 2am, I was sobbing, she was sobbing, and my nipples were bleeding.  I mean bleeding.  Like she had been chewing on them with sharp, nasty little-girl teeth.  I could not take it anymore.  I caved and got her a bottle.  Well, Justin got her a bottle.  Because he couldn't handle me sobbing and her sobbing anymore.  And you know what?  It's three weeks later, and we're both fine.  My boobs have healed, and Hunter is growing like a little weed.  We're fine.

Here's what I have learned from these two experiences: The main point in all this is to have happy, healthy kids.  And I do.  Lena is doing just fine, and so is Hunter.  They will both be fine.  As will I.  Justin can (and does) help with feeding Hunter.  Yay!  And, I don't have to worry about pumping when I go back to work in a few short weeks (tear :( )

Here are a few more:
Where are the gargantuan, gross flies coming from?  Every time I kill one, four more show up for revenge!  WTH???
Why do some people insist on driving like maniacs every time it snows?
Why do old men love little kids so much?  Whenever I take my kids (especially Lena) anywhere, the old men always want to stop and talk to her... I love it and so does she!
Why is it that as soon as I fall asleep or put lunch in the oven, Hunter wakes up and wants to eat?