Sleep deprived but grateful
Isn't it amazing how quickly your perspective changes? Two weeks ago, if I had only gotten sleep in 3 hour increments twice in a night, I would have thought I was extremely sleep-deprived. Right now, that sounds like a great night's sleep.
I honestly forgot what sleeping in 45 minute snippets can do to one's brain. And it's taking me a little while to adjust. I feel like I'm walking around in some sort of fog. I vaguely remember this from last time around. I'd try to sleep during the day, but how does a mama of two accomplish that? There's always something "more important" to do. Like changing a leaking diaper, calming a fussy baby, trying to quell my starving stomach (Wow! I had also forgotten how much I can eat when I am nursing!)... you experienced moms know how it goes.
This is only a season. A short season at that, and I don't want to miss out on the joys of having a newborn for wishing I could sleep more or think more clearly. I want to enjoy today, this moment. It will be gone all too fast.
I'm so thankful to have Jesse home this week. He was in law school and working part-time when Kathrynne was born so he didn't get any time off. Since I'm supposed to be staying down and avoiding the stairs, I'm doubly grateful he is here to help out. He's doing a splendid job, too, and getting just about as little sleep as me. I'm so blessed with a husband like him.
Kathrynne is still loving Kaitlynn to pieces. She's done so well at adjusting, which we are so thankful for. She is struggling more with obedience than before, but I think some of that is due to having her routine all out of whack for the last few weeks. We've been working extra hard with her the past few days and I think that having more stability in our home and regular naps have gone a long way in improving her attitude and obedience.
Other than being low on sleep, I'm doing really well and feeling so much better and stronger. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to hopefully help resolve some problems which occurred during Kaitlynn's labor and delivery. I've been on bed rest all week and am anxious to have these things resolved so I can resume at least some activity. I can hardly remember what it feels like to be up and around! I'm supposed to be meeting with the hematologist in two weeks and am hopeful for a clean bill of health then. In the mean time, I'm on a high-iron diet and iron supplements in addition to beginning taking my Super Mom vitamins again now that my gag reflex has subsided. Thanks to all of you who have asked about me. This has been a difficult few months, but God has been so faithful, He has taught me so much, and I am so grateful for His mercies and faithfulness.
Thank you for all your suggestions and words of advice concerning Kaitlynn's jaundice. We were so excited to find out that her levels had gone down a little today so we're hopeful she's turned the corner and is now on the mend. She's been so yellow the past few days that I've not taken many pictures, but I hope to take some soon to post. She's growing and changing everyday and continues to melt our hearts! As I told Jesse a few days ago, it's amazing how you can love someone so much whom you've only really known for a few days. We are so blessed and every time I talk about "our girls" I have to stop and just take in how wonderful it is to be a mama of two precious daughters.
God is good - so good - so gracious to one so undeserving as me. And even though I might be sleep-deprived, I am grateful for all God has done in our lives.
I honestly forgot what sleeping in 45 minute snippets can do to one's brain. And it's taking me a little while to adjust. I feel like I'm walking around in some sort of fog. I vaguely remember this from last time around. I'd try to sleep during the day, but how does a mama of two accomplish that? There's always something "more important" to do. Like changing a leaking diaper, calming a fussy baby, trying to quell my starving stomach (Wow! I had also forgotten how much I can eat when I am nursing!)... you experienced moms know how it goes.
This is only a season. A short season at that, and I don't want to miss out on the joys of having a newborn for wishing I could sleep more or think more clearly. I want to enjoy today, this moment. It will be gone all too fast.
I'm so thankful to have Jesse home this week. He was in law school and working part-time when Kathrynne was born so he didn't get any time off. Since I'm supposed to be staying down and avoiding the stairs, I'm doubly grateful he is here to help out. He's doing a splendid job, too, and getting just about as little sleep as me. I'm so blessed with a husband like him.
Kathrynne is still loving Kaitlynn to pieces. She's done so well at adjusting, which we are so thankful for. She is struggling more with obedience than before, but I think some of that is due to having her routine all out of whack for the last few weeks. We've been working extra hard with her the past few days and I think that having more stability in our home and regular naps have gone a long way in improving her attitude and obedience.
Other than being low on sleep, I'm doing really well and feeling so much better and stronger. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to hopefully help resolve some problems which occurred during Kaitlynn's labor and delivery. I've been on bed rest all week and am anxious to have these things resolved so I can resume at least some activity. I can hardly remember what it feels like to be up and around! I'm supposed to be meeting with the hematologist in two weeks and am hopeful for a clean bill of health then. In the mean time, I'm on a high-iron diet and iron supplements in addition to beginning taking my Super Mom vitamins again now that my gag reflex has subsided. Thanks to all of you who have asked about me. This has been a difficult few months, but God has been so faithful, He has taught me so much, and I am so grateful for His mercies and faithfulness.
Thank you for all your suggestions and words of advice concerning Kaitlynn's jaundice. We were so excited to find out that her levels had gone down a little today so we're hopeful she's turned the corner and is now on the mend. She's been so yellow the past few days that I've not taken many pictures, but I hope to take some soon to post. She's growing and changing everyday and continues to melt our hearts! As I told Jesse a few days ago, it's amazing how you can love someone so much whom you've only really known for a few days. We are so blessed and every time I talk about "our girls" I have to stop and just take in how wonderful it is to be a mama of two precious daughters.
God is good - so good - so gracious to one so undeserving as me. And even though I might be sleep-deprived, I am grateful for all God has done in our lives.
posted by Crystal Paine at 4:22 PM
19 Comments:
Hi Crystal! I have been reading and enjoying your blog for a few months now, thanks so much for the encouragement as a Godly wife and mom! I also have been praying for your pregnancy and safe delivery of your precious second daughter! We have 5 girls and 1 boy, and have been so blessed, I love to hear about your newborn-time, because those are such precious memories to me. Sleep when you can, enjoy this time, and forget about being a "super mommy" right now!
Praise God that her jaundice is dropping!
I didn't take many pics of our son during his jaundiced phase and I have always regretted it. Of course, I avoided the yellow clothing and blankets for a few months, but I wish I'd taken more pics!
Oh Crystal, I know how you feel with not getting much sleep. It is like being in a fog! My lactation specialist recommended that I always try to get at least three hours of straight sleep in 24 hours, because that it was you need to literally "reset" your brain. I wasn't able to do that for a while (Elena nursed every two hours for quite a while). However, I did find that if I got a three hour stretch of sleep at least every few days, it helped a lot. My mom or Joel would help keep the baby happy for a few hours so that I could sleep that amount of time.
I hope you start getting more sleep soon!
Kimi
Crystal
I will be keeping you in my prayers for your upcoming appointments. I am happy to here your husband has been able to be home and lend a helping hand.
I remember those days well- pure exhaustion and my baby will be 11 next week. They grow so fast.
Good luck and God Bless.
Theresa
It's good to hear from you. Keep on resting!
Ah yes, the fog. It'll clear up soon enough. :)
Just wait 'til she starts smiling and gargling at you. :D
You're probably learning this already, but the 2nd time around, it goes SO much faster, which is good & bad. Good, b/c the sleep deprivation doesn't seem as endless; Bad, b/c the newborn stage passes in an instant.
My thoughts & prayers are w/you!
That's so funny because I, too, love to say "my girls" or "our girls." It's such a blessing being a mother.
I'm glad to hear that her numbers are dropping. From what I hear, it's so very common. I'll be praying that her body will kick it fast. Until then, take a lot of pictures but keep them private. I'm sure you'll catch us all up with lot's of great pictures soon enough. :-)
I haven't stopped to comment yet and say Congratulations on your beautiful new blessing from the Lord!
I was "staying posted" during the labor and praying for you all continually. I'm so glad to hear that all is going well.
God has certainly blessed you...and I am so happy for you.
Ohh, don't miss taking lots of pictures when she is growing and changing so quickly......just do black and whites!
Praise the Lord for the safe arrival of Kaitlynn (I love the spelling)!
Praying for you all,
Kristina
you have know her for almost a year now really :)... i type this as my baby is kicking a way in my womb!
I'm so glad everything is going well for you, Crystal! Yes, like the rest of the seasons of our lives, this too will be over, so you'd better enjoy it while it lasts!
Enjoy your time with a new born. And do take pics, all my guys had to be monitered with jaundice and they've all commented how "tan" they were when looking at baby pics of themselves. LOL!
HI Crystal,
I've been enjoying your recent posts and am so glad to hear how you and your family are doing. Our girls are adopted from China, so I've never done the newborn thing, but I can relate to the sleep deprivation! China is 12 hours ahead of us, so when we got home with each of our girls, it had been about a 30 hour day. We were all on China time which meant wanting to sleep all day and feeling like eating a steak at 3am! I'll keep all of you in my prayers.
Glad to hear that Kaitlyn is doing better and I pray that you will begin doing better too!
I know what you feel in the sleep deprived department...My son is now 5 months, but going through a sleep problem right now...I'm exhausted, but I have too much to do to take a nap.
Ah well, wouldn't trade it for the world :-)
Lots of love,
Sommer
Hello Crystal
I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading your posts about pregnancy and childbirth. I do think you are brave to pioneer natural birth. I really like checking in with your blog and hearing what your little family are up to and I wish you all the best.
Oh, so glad you're doing well, Crystal! And the baby! Thanks so much for posting all the updates.
What a testimony your life is to others (including me). Praise the Lord!
Dear Crystal,
I'm a mom of five and when my second was born it was probably the hardest adjustment for me. He slept pretty short streches at night and I was very sleep deprived...I say this to give you some advice- you've got to take naps girl! Almost without fail, I took a good hour every day of the first month or two. My 19 mo. old would take her nap at 1:00 and I knew she was good to be down for at least two hours so I MADE SURE to put newborn son down for part of that time and if there were dishes or laundry THEY WAITED. Its not a selfish act, you need to look at it as a sacrifice for your family...your milk will be better not to mention your mood and patience level. You may already be trying this but I really want to encourage you because you've been such a blessing to me! Also, don't try to stay up at night until an "adult" bedtime...go down early and you can get an extra stretch of a couple hours in your night sleep. It only lasts for such a short season. Hope this helps! God's blessings on you and your family!
I don't know if this is your style, but when I put my babies in bed with me they all slept for four or five hour stretches right away. I have a friend who doesn't co-sleep with her babies as a rule, but did for the first couple of weeks in order to get some much needed sleep.
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