Bella's Home and a Lesson on Organization
So, yes I know that I am now two days over on reporting about the Butterfly Effects challenge but, as if in answer to my 100 Thing Challenge, we brought my daughter Bella home from the hospital yesterday.
It was a bit unexpected. We'd been given several dates before and hadn't expected much as the dates had always come and gone but at about 5:00pm yesterday they told us to prepare to bring her home that night.
That night was a blur and it didn't seem real till we tried to put her to bed and she cried much of the night. The new surroundings overstimulated her, I'm sure.
You think that you're ready for it, and I'm not telling any existing parent anything they don't already know, but the first night, while exhilarating was truly exhausting. Feedings at midnite, 3am and 6am as well as the near constant chatter from the baby monitor and neither my wife nor I are working on fully charged batteries. And this is just one of our three babies.
I think that our organizational skills are about to really be tested. I spent much of the morning running around and removing the unessential things, which for the moment, is anything that is not baby related. And I am trying to get my writing tools organized so that I can still maintain the blog, which for me, I love to do and is a way of recharging my batteries.
I will maintain my five days a week posting schedule for as long as I can, but since this is more for love, than money (I assure you) I hope that you understand if it slips a bit in these next few months while we learn the not-so-gentle art of parenting.
This is where my Butterfly Effects challenge and my 100 Thing Challenge will really come in handy. With tiny blocks of time open here and there to do things that are not parenting-related or work-related (i'm a project manager for a large corporation by day) I have to maximize that time with tiny little steps to recharge myself:
- Like ten minutes of Yoga to relax my body
- Or a twenty minute run on the treadmill or outside to keep my heart young.
- Or ten minutes of meditation when you can't seem to get your body to fall asleep for a power nap.
- Taking a moment to write down every penny you spend when you have all these new expenses coming in like Baby Formula, medications and diapers.
- Plus, not having to worry about cleaning up your own stuff because you've managed to make do with 100 Things.
It may be just a day or two more before Owen comes home and so while it has been a very long wait of four months in the hospital, we still feel like this is coming on so fast. We concern ourselves already over how the overnight feedings will work with three babies. I am ever thankful for these three blessings and I know that the Universe never gives you more than you can handle. I am anxious and as ready as I'll ever be for these changes.
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Comments on Bella's Home and a Lesson on Organization
1:21 pm
Congrats! That's awesome news that Bella is home now! One thing that worked well with our daughter for her 1st few months (but its not for everybody…especially perhaps for parents with triplets) was to get a co-sleeper. It's a little bed that straps/attaches to your bed. So when they wake up at night for a feeding, you don't have to get up. You just reach over there and feed them. Anyway, congratulations again…cousin Matt, Krissy, and ella….
7:10 pm
Oh wow! What a great surprise. I'm so happy she's doing well and able to come home. The first 6 weeks of a newborn (of a normal-term pregnancy) are totally exhausting. I can imagine it would still be overwhelming and exhausting for just one preemie baby, let alone 3. The first few weeks will be the hardest until you get the routine set and they get accustomed to the new surroundings. Enjoy every minute with them. They grow so quickly!!!!!
Hope Bella's brothers come home soon, too. Can't wait to hear about all the trials and tribulations of raising triplets!
7:26 pm
Hi Charles, Nikki. Welcome Home Bella! I know this is my first reply but I've been keeping up faithfully with everything on the blog. I'm sure Charles has a future as a writer. I understand many of the clutter and organization problems you're working on. You can be my self-help guru, and I don't have to buy any books–just read your posts. I see you already have a great attitude about parenting, so God bless and best wishes for everyone and enjoy every minute you can. Oh…about the 100 things list–If you need someone to take Sabres tickets off your hands…HaHa Congratulations! Dan, Lisa, Griffin, and new baby next February (yaaay)
8:02 pm
Charley–AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you. Good luck. I know you'll do a great job and those PM skills will definately come in handy.
3:25 am
Congratulations Charley!!!
Babies are such a miracle and to finally have one of them home is just so magical.
Don't worry about keeping up your schedule of 5 posts a week. Maybe you should consider writing just 3 times a week – once a week for each baby:-)
10:05 am
So excited to read that Ms. Bella is finally home with you and Nikki that I am crying happy tears. Now, if you can just get her brothers to join her. . . .
For what it's worth, my advice is not to worry about feeding schedules, or crying (there will be many tears I am sure, especially since you have to multiply by three!), or even money so much (We've found that if we needed it for the baby, it always worked out, even if we did live on macaroni a lot during the formula phase). Stay in the moment, and enjoy having that little beauty home, and in your arms, right where she belongs!!