The load of two kids is not quite like it was with just one, and it's showing in my blog postings. It's harder and harder to find free time, especially when only Kole is sleeping more than 4 hours at a clip. Some here are considering four hours all told in a night a great night.
The big picture is - Karissa has grown a good bit in her first month, and is already in "1" diapers, out of Newborn. To recap, she was born weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz., but left the hospital at 6-3. A week later she was 6-11. When Kat took her into her routine doctor visit that became the Cook Children's hospital fiasco she was 7-6, then last Sunday when Kathy took her to the doctor last Sunday when we were concerned about her congestion she was 8-12. So, she's growing normally and mostly healthy - though we can't seem to get her breathing completely phlegm free. For the most part she sleeps well, but it's mostly during the day. She's got her day/night thing all screwed up and spends too much time awake at nights while snoozing through the daylight hours. She spends much more time with her eyes open and is noticably observant. When we hold her and just stare at her (and there is a lot of that), she will now dart her own eyes around, as if she's studying our faces and getting to know us. It's cool.
Kole now calls her "kwiss-ah" and is increasingly inquisitive. Still, he's a bit too rough and doesn't understand that he needs to be gentle. He pats her like a dog and sometimes will just squeeze her foot like she's a toy. When she cries Kole likes to mock the cry and scream at the top of his lungs then laugh at himself. That's getting old. For the most part, however, outside of some isolated incidents, he's being a good brother - though we're not real sure he's real aware of everything going on, and that she is permanent.
The next moment that all four of us in the house are completely healthy will be the first. I've had an annoying cough/congestion thing going on that I am sure I'm on the tail end of then crap keeps coming up. Kathy has had a bladder infection related to her C-section, then Kole came down with strep throat last week. Then there was the Karissa congestion thing after coming home from Cook Children's. So, we're adjusting to sharing each other's germs and breath.
Obviously, I've attached video of Karissa's first bath. She was much more agreeable than Kole - while Kole himself thought that it was time for everyone to have a bath, including him, so he was a bit of a turd while all the attention was heaped on his sister. Again, as we monitor his mood and behavior as it relates to Karissa, he hasn't really been overly jealous - openly competing for our attention while we're holding Karissa. He has, though, challenged his mother to what her capacities are at this point. In that respect, the "Terrible Twos" have come out full-force. One day he will defy every rule - mocking timeout punishments, and moments after being disciplined for throwing a toy, will wait for Kathy to relax and get back to feeding Karissa, then will take a toy, stare his mother in the eye, then chunk a toy across the room.
Yeah. It's on. Hardcore.
Then ... two days later, Kole will not let Kathy take a step without him lovingly shadow each step, hugging a leg or looking to be held and cuddled. Kole has become a loving hugger, even patting his Mama or Daddy on the back or shoulder while being hugged. He has his moments, and sadly for Kathy, I get much more of them because I'm out of the house more because of work or travel. Kole now knows the sound of the garage door opening, and will open the house door to the garage singing and dancing the praises of his Daddy. It's an awesome sight and feeling, I can't lie ... until I find out what a shit he's been to Kathy most of the day. So, onward we go with the Terrible Twos, and all its ups and downs.
Karissa continues to be awesome. We just need her to spend more of her cranky awake time while the sun is up, then do more of her 4-hour sessions of sawing logs when mom and dad choose to do so also. All told, when the report card is analyzed and broken apart, we got it pretty good around here and we're thanking the appropriate Authority for the blessings every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment