Terribly Overdue Update
Ben had a well-baby appointment today. He’s up to 10lbs even (almost 2.5 pounds over his birthweight). And he’s grown an inch. At four weeks, Elizabeth was just barely a pound over her birthweight. Nursing issues continue but we’re sludging through them. Two bouts of thrush, blanched nipples, high palete (makes it hard to get a good latch), improper suck technique, blah, blah, blah. I haven’t had cracked nipples in two weeks now (woooohooo!) and I haven’t had “I absolutely can’t do this another second” thoughts for exactly three weeks. Pain is still there but its getting much better. The suck training has made a big difference. Despite all the nursing challenges, he’s obviously getting enough milk!! We are on week 3 of a diaper rash. It had some yeast in the beginning but I *think* that part is cleared up. I’ve tried so many things but I can’t get the rest cleared up. No bleeding or puss, thankfully, just really raw looking now. Unlike Elizabeth, he really favors just me to soothe him. Elizabeth would really take to anyone but Ben really prefers me (Jim will do in a pinch). Luckily, he’s a very laid back baby. I always knew Elizabeth was a high-needs baby but I had no idea just how high-needs until Ben came along. Wow! If I could have a household of babies like Ben, I WOULD have a household full of children!!
Elizabeth is absolutely in love with him. She wants to hold him constantly. We’ve started putting him in his crib for naps and she does NOT like him being that far away. Several times I have found her playing outside his doorway. She is adjusting well. By 3:30ish, she starts to breakdown when he’s nursing but EVERYTHING is meltdown-worthy to a 3yo at that time of the day. By the time Jim gets home from work, we are ready for his homecoming!! She got a new bike last weekend and she looks much too old on it. *sigh*
My mom came out last Thursday. She’s in love with her newest grandchild, of course. And she’s absolutely exhausted by Elizabeth!!
My body is healing from birth. I’m still much more sore than I thought I would be. I had no idea how sore I would feel!! Still, I feel such joy that I was actually able to push my baby out. It has gone a long way to helping me heal from the trauma surrounding Elizabeth’s birth.
We got Jim’s training schedule for the rest of the year. Seeing the dates makes me ill. With his first deployment, I handled the preparations well. The only part that was really rough was the paperwork where we had to plan his funeral. But now I know what a deployment is really like. And with his position now, the realities are so much more intense. Looking at the calendar makes me want to vomit. War sucks.
I’m sorry to hear about Jim’s schedule, but I’m thrilled to hear that Ben is a mellow baby and thriving like he is. Don’t know if you’re a LOST fanatic like I am, but the name Ben always gives me a visual of “The Others.” He he he.
John and I will be in Hawaii in April, but unfortunately we’ll only be on Oahu for a layover. Depending on your schedule, I might try to make that a long layover so that I can see your happy family.
You know, my mom has always said that if she’d had me first she might have kept having kids. I wonder if the 2nd baby is often more mellow than the 1st.
I’m glad you guys are doing well.
War does suck.
Good to see an update from you. I remember how difficult it was to post those first weeks after having babies — not sure what my excuse it now.
As far as the diaper rash, not sure what you are using but my sister swears by Aquaphor. Her first was plagued with diaper rash and this was one thing that seemed to work the best.
Hi!!!! So happy to see an update here.
Sounds like Ben is doing well and E is just thriving like i knew she would. They are such big helps at this age. 
Diaper rash, i used corn starch on Lain’s to help keep him dry, and even had to switch to cloth diapers a few times til it went away completely. Just an idea. 
(His were due to berries… when i’d eat them or he’d eat them, he had a reaction to them. Doesn’t anymore, but he did when he was in diapers)
N was much more difficult that the twins, so it’s no wonder we didn’t have any more kids! LOL You never know how hard the first one is/was until you’ve had the second. i’ve always said that i never knew how are the twins were til i had just one and realized how *easy* it was to take care of one. Course my *one* was N, and was a handful in herself! LOL
Hard dealing with deployments and all the stuff that goes with it. i’m praying for you guys. War does suck, i agree. i never watched the news or read the paper when Don was out to sea… too hard to deal with the reality.
You did a great job on delivering Ben, i’m glad that it went well and is helping you with E’s delivery. You are a great mom, keep up the good work. Good luck with the bf’ing… i pray that it smooths out soon for both of you!
Hugs!