Week One

Well, I've managed to survive my first week with four kids.  Although, we are still in the 'sleep all day' phase, so I'm sure it'll get trickier once Maddex keeps her eyes open longer than ten seconds. 

I saw a lady in the grocery store on Saturday and she had four kids trailing behind her.  I thought to myself, that's a lot of kids, then backed that thought up with, Hey, hang on a sec, that's me!  Filter, party of six.  What???  This is all so surreal, and yet normal at the same time.

The kids have been great.  It's like nothing has changed except now there's a baby around.  I think that Aiden has been the most excited though.  Surprising.  He genuinely adores and loves her.  He has also nicknamed me 'The Milk Machine'.  It's got a nice little ring to it, don't you think?  If you want to traumatize your children here's 2 ways to do it:  Step 1-Let them watch you pump  Step 2-Try to explain.  This whole baby process is probably really confusing for them.  Good thing I've made it nice and clear.

Baby 101 (as understood by Aiden)
Where do babies come from?
Mommy gobbled her up and swallowed her.

How do babies get out?
Here, watch this video and it'll all make sense...Greenville Zoo's Baby Kiko

Why is mommy's belly a little sore?
Because Maddex kept doing gymnastics in my belly. You know how your muscles get tired from doing gymnastics?  It's like that.

How does the milk come out?
Because I'm like a cow.  And a robot.  I'm RoboCow.

Yep, nice and clear.  Hopefully he's young enough to not remember block this out of his memories.  I think I'm well on my way to him seeking out therapy when he's older.  Hey, if he was looking for medical answers, he should have gone to Brian.  Let's just hope he doesn't come to me when it comes to 'the talk'.

I'm confident in saying that we're definitely done here.  I won't change my mind.  So I bid my pregnant self adieu.  You were good to me, easy even, but I will not miss you.  Don't take it personally, it was you, not me.

And Then There Were Four

Finally!!  A baby!!  To make a short story short, labor started at 11:01 pm Saturday night (I know this because I was folding laundry and looking at the time debating if it was really worth it).  Finally decided it was the real thing about 30 minutes later, told Brian I was in labor, called my dad to come stay with the kids and we got to the hospital around 12:30 am.   I measured in at 7cm dilated and we got sent to our room.  My water broke at 1:24 am and at 1:53am Sunday morning she was born!!  I'd also like to add that her daddy delivered her, which we think is actually pretty cool.  I'm still trying to figure out why the nurses left after my water breaking, but they did, so it was just the two of us in the room.  Brian had just got done asking me "So how do you know when you're supposed to push?"  And with the next contraction (in my stupor of being 'in the zone') all I could mutter was "Brian..."  He saw her crowning, ran out and said something along the lines of We're having a baby in here! and next thing I know nurses are scurrying around me trying to snap on their gloves saying "Don't push!" (Like I haven't heard that one before, don't push?  Really??) but Brian had already caught her.  Job well done, Dr. Filter.  Guess we could have had that home birth after all... 

So here she is!  Maddex Elise Filter.  Weighing in at 9 lbs 6 oz.  I'm a little reluctant to put up the 'fresh out of the shoot' pictures because now that we're home and she's almost 24 hrs old, she's already looking better.  And by better I mean not all smooch faced and just born looking.  But it is what it is, so here's the good, the bad, and the, well...newborn.

  

I have only one comment about this:  I look tired.  But then again, it is 2 o'clock in the morning and all I wanted to do was take a shower.  On the other hand, check out those rosy lips!

 The kids came up to meet her later that morning around 10.  A prize goes to anybody who can correctly guess the number of times Ella says "She's sooo cute!"  If you want to indulge yourself into 5 minutes of our day, knock yourself out.  If not, these pictures of the kids should suffice:)

 

We got home around lunchtime today (Monday)...I harassed them enough to get me out early.  I'm looking forward to being in my own bed.  How about a good night kiss?

Oh, right, who am I kidding...I have a baby and I want to what?  Sleep?