T.G.I.M. (Monday?! Really?!)

We made it through our busy weekend. Everything worked out just fine. Friday night I left for the rehearsal at 5:45. I had fed him at 5:00. I came home between the church rehearsal and the dinner so I could pump since my mom would be giving him a bottle about 8:00...or so I thought. When I walked in at 6:45, Rudy was content and full sitting in his chair. A few of my biggest worries are (1) that my milk supply is too low, (2) he would go into a growth spurt over the weekend (wanting to eat every hour or two -- I had enough milk frozen, but when that happens I need to be the one feeding him so that my milk increases with his needs), or that (3) he likes the bottle more than me so therefore doesn't try as hard with me anymore and ends up hungry after an hour, which will also mess up my milk supply if when he gets hungry again he is fed with a bottle. So back to the night. While I was finishing up pumping, Rudy started to have a melt down. He was crying louder and harder than I had ever heard. My mom and I were trying everything...including eating which has always worked until now. He finally settled down (what seemed like forever but was only 15 minutes at most) and fell asleep on my chest.  I called John crying on my way to dinner.  Talk about hard to leave!  Hard to hand off a cuddling baby, worried about the things I mentioned earlier, and sad from him being sad.  But once I calmed down, the dinner was a lot of fun.  I hadn't been out to socialize with people in a long time.  And when I got home Rudy was sound asleep.  So asleep that he actually slept until 2:00 am.  So that makes 3 nights in a row that when his last feeding is with a bottle, he sleeps for 5+ hours.  I don't know if its the bottle or if he is just getting to the point where he is starting to sleep longer.  I guess we will figure it out over the next week or so.
  
Saturday Tony came over at 6:00 am.  He was only in town for awhile that day and wanted to be able to spend some time with Rudy.  I had to be up that early to get ready to go for the day and Rudy is usually up by then anyway.  Tony brought us Starbucks (soy milk for me!), which was awesome!  Rudy was up and kicking...literally.  He was talking, smiling, and wiggling around so I am glad Tony got to have fun with him.  And it was a big help for me to get to shower and pack things up while the two of them hung out (John was still at work until 7:15ish).  As far as Rudy goes, the day went great.  He was good for everyone and the plan worked out accordingly.  Sara's wedding was beautiful and it all went great as well.  She looked gorgeous!  It was perfect weather (sprinkled some so they have their good luck) and everyone had a lot of fun!  I knew I was missing Rudy a lot, but when John and him walked in to the reception looking all handsome dressed up, my heart dropped.  I was so happy to see them both!  Rudy was in and out of sleep at first but then woke up and was being his typical show-off self.  I held him for awhile before I let him be passed around.  He got lots of attention.  John was in charge of dressing him all day (Iowa outfit in the morning of course).  Rudy got so many compliments on his outfit...he looked like a little old man -- not a 5 week old baby!  I can't believe we didn't take a family picture with us all dressed up!  It was too hectic, I guess.  John did take one of me and Rudy though...

My pumping experience was the one major downside.  I had never gone so long without feeding him.  I pumped twice (which was a huge pain...trying to find a place to go, etc and ending up standing in public bathroom stalls).  The first time I only was able to get 1.5 ounces, which started up worry #1.   Having not fed him I was expecting to get about 5 ounces (what he is taking from a bottle).  By the time I was able to pump the second time, I was incredibly uncomfortable.  I was so full and rock hard.  Unfortunately, the pumping didn't help.  I was able to get 4 ounces, but the discomfort didn't go away like it normally does after he eats.  I was so frustrated with pumping and breastfeeding in general because of how inconvenient and difficult it had made the whole day that I was ready to throw in the towel.  I knew not to make any decisions that night of course, but at least I know now that I can't be away from him for more than one feeding.  Even if I was fine being away from him, the physical aspect was miserable!  I went about 12 hours between feedings.  Hopefully when I go back to work I can handle it.  Of course work will be more of a controlled environment and I'll have my office to pump in, so that should help.  But ugh!  As great as it can be at times, breastfeeding can be a real pain!

Everyone was happy on Sunday.  John was on cloud 9 waiting for football to start.  We spent the afternoon/early evening at my parents.  Rudy was a bit crabby.  He took one 2 hour nap, but other than that he only slept in small 15 minutes doses.  Again, I'm upset we didn't take a picture with all of us together in our Patriots gear...I'm sure there will be plenty of other opportunities!

He had 4 feedings that were 1 - 1.5 hours between each other (worry #3 creeps up again).  Then about 6:00 he started in with another melt down, similar to Friday night.  We got him calmed down and came home.  Again at 7:00 he had another one.  I'm talking freaking out crying, legs kicking, coughing and having problems catching his breath, real tears...the works.  And NOTHING seems to help.  Of course we try everything (including taking his temperature - no problems there) and if/when it happens again we still will, but eventually he calms down and falls asleep.  It was a horrible 30 minutes.  With no bottles yesterday he did go about 4 - 4.5 hours between feedings at night at least.

Then last night I get an email, "Your baby at 5 weeks."  It says, "At this age, babies stay awake for longer during the day - as long as 10 hours - and their increased alertness may lead to overstimulation, which partly explains those crying jags."  Well that about sums it up.  I'd say a weekend of different babysitters, different routine, a wedding, followed by a long afternoon away from home would qualify as "overstimulation."  And probably overtired, too.  Needless to say, I've never been so welcoming of a Monday.  Rudy and I need some normalcy in our lives!