Baby Max Perry is here!!!

Maximilian Perry Newhaus entered the world on Feb. 22, 2010 at 9:10am. He weighed just a little over 8 lbs. and was over 21 inches long! The nurses said he was the longest baby they had seen in a year. WOW!

I'll save my labor and delivery story for another post when I am feeling better and a bit more rested. I'm slightly traumatized over it and don't have the energy think about it. As of right now I have a fever and ache all over. Sleep is unbeknownst to me at the moment. Being sore, sweating like crazy, and exhaustion is taking its toll on me. I've been laying in bed on and off for hours with no luck on getting comfortable, so I actually decided to write a blog while I am drinking water and taking my temperature.

So let's get to the good stuff....Baby Max! Oh my goodness, I couldn't have imagined him to be more perfect in any way. If I could have picked a baby out of a line-up, I would have chosen HIM! He is the cutest, sweetest, most peaceful baby I have ever met. And lucky me because he's mine! He almost never cries. Sometimes I see him making funny faces only to realize that he is chilling out in his poopy diaper. His calm demeanor is such a blessing

One lesson I quickly learned this week is that Max gets cold very easily. His little chin was quivering every time I changed his diaper. So now we have a heating pad in his diaper changing station. It has definitely made for a happy baby. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. In my post partum state, I am dripping in pools of sweat. I think it is hot all the time and must have complained to the nurse in the hospital that it was too hot. So she turned the air down for me. She saw how drenched I was and even had to get me a new, dry hospital gown. Shortly thereafter, another nurse came in to check Max' temperature only to find out it was too low. Poor little baby Max had to go sit under the heat lamp in the nursery for a few minutes to warm up. That made me so sad that he was too cold and had been laying there shivering. I felt like the worst mom in the world, but I was completely out of it and had no idea what was going on.

On the third day after Max was born, my milk came in full force. I was a little surprised that I had no problem after all the stories I've heard from women saying how difficult it can be to produce. I almost had the opposite problem because my milk has been leaking all over the place. Visits from lactation consultants only proved that things were going great. Baby Max is definitely a boob guy so this works out very well for him. Marc says it's like a dairy farm around here with all this milk.

Unfortunately, when I got fever yesterday my milk supply diminished quite a bit. Thank goodness I had a small sample of formula in the house and was able to supplement. I never thought I would have done that because I am gung-ho about breast feeding the baby, but my body has been shutting down and there was nothing else I could do. Hopefully I will be feeling better soon because I don't do "sick" very well. No, not my forte.

My parents flew in town the day before I got out of the hospital and have been a big help. Last night when I was practically dying in my feverish state, my dad did the nighttime feedings. I still woke up to pump, but he did ALL the dirty work. He changed a poopy diaper...probably for the first time in his life. From what I hear, he didn't help with diaper changes when we were little, so this is HUGE! It has been precious to see Grandmom and Granddad with their grandson. And I am forever grateful they are here to help me get passed this sickness.

Nothing compares to being mommy. My son is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I promise to show him all the love and kindness that the best people in my life have shown me. From here on out, it is my primary goal in life to be a good mom to him. I'm blown away by the love I have for this child, and I am so happy he is here.

I better go get back in bed. My fever is up to 101 tonight. I thought I was getting better, but I guess not. Even though I feel terrible, I don't want to forget how special this time is. Bonding with my son and getting to know Baby Max has made for an incredible week. He is absolutely amazing!!!