Slowly Adjusting

Zayd at 2 1/2 weeks

A friend of a friend who is building her photography portfolio offered to come take some pictures of Zayd and did a great job, as you can see! Thank you, Jennifer!

That said, I can't leave out major kudos for our regular photographer, Leya, who put together this beautiful slide show for us:

http://littlemonkeyphotography.com/slideshows/Rehmans1108.html

I've started emerging from my sanctuary a little more as I'm getting into more of a routine with Zayd, although I still haven't found time to watch anything on my beautiful new TV, and still have a long way to go before getting back into a regular routine with all the children. I'm feeling much better now, 3 weeks after the surgery, and am just about back to normal.

Nursing is going a bit better, although I'm still having to supplement, and am gradually starting to accept that I may have to keep supplementing, since if I can't make enough milk now with all the help I have with the children, I'm unlikely to find time to keep working on it once I'm on my own with them.

Confinement

Layth and 1-week-old Zayd

Zayd at 2 weeks

So far, we're all surviving. Of course, I'm spending almost every minute of my time at home up in my room. Like most of his siblings, Zayd is slow to gain weight and nursing just isn't going as well as it did when I was younger. Between visits to the pediatrician, the lactation consultant, my ob/gyn, nursing as often as possible, and expressing to try to increase the milk supply, I hardly have time to shower or eat. On the bright side, it's peaceful in my room (except when Zayd is expected to spend a few moments not being cuddled or fed,) I get room service from my concerned husband, I'm catching up on my reading, and I've already lost 30 pounds. On the down side, I've had to start supplementing with formula (though I'm hoping this is temporary,) I'm fully aware that my irregular eating habits and low intake of food are contributing to my low milk supply, and I'm going a little stir crazy from time to time.

I wandered downstairs today after hearing a strange man's voice in my house, and found a new, giant TV from K in my living room! I'm very excited about this, as our old TV takes about 20 seconds to warm up and show a picture, reds and oranges bleed across the picture, blacks are no longer black, and end credits are nearly impossible to read. Now I can host movie nights at my house! Of course, the TV is much bigger than I expected our next TV would be, and I'm not sure how or where K is planning to set it up, so it may be a while.

Mom's (and Zayd's) night out tonight - it will be nice to get out of the house and socialize with friends!