Recovery

I'll tell you what, this somewhat difficult "recovery" has certainly made me much more grateful for my previous uneventful recoveries. It started out with the most glorious 3 days in hospital. I mean, when you're being brought big meals and 3 snacks ("tea"s) a day - in bed - who can complain, right? Just the peace and quiet and lack of having to clean up or pick up or basically be responsible for anyone but me and baby, combined with endless food and naps... it's better than a vacation!

We had some cute visitors and the nurse talked the kids through Desmond's first bath. I found everyone here is more hands off - they basically left me alone, only checking in occasionally to see if I needed any pain meds. Didn't bathe the baby til the night before we left, rarely checked my bleeding/vitals, just trusted me to let them know if I needed anything. Even at the prenatal appointments I was never weighed or had to pee in a cup - just measured, checked blood pressure and baby's heartbeat. Cool.

Unfortunately, a few days after GramB left I started bleeding heavily and feeling real sick. Apparently it was some sort of infection, followed by some sort of hematoma that had to get drained (ouch!) and after the third round of antibiotics I'm finally feeling human again. Check out the pic of one day's worth of my pills... It didn't help that the whole fam traded ear infections, nasty flu and chesty coughs/colds for a week after I got home, too. I don't think there was even a day when all the kids went to school together. Good thing D was able to take off work - he was a champ, taking it all in stride and holding us all together. (You know you've hit rock bottom when you hire your 6 year old to mow the lawn.) Huge thanks to the amazing army of friends who swooped in with meals, deep cleaning, rides, playdates, food, encouragement, gifts and visits. We feel so incredibly loved! Without them we'd still be wallowing in this (ahhh, the delightful state of things with a new baby in the house):

instead of this:

Honestly, you just can't put a price tag on good friends.

We are so grateful!

 And we hope to be able to return all the wonderful favors someday :) you know, when I'm not so busy being a 24 hour milk factory and all...