Weeks Two and Three

I had hoped to post something each week about our adventures with Devon but we had a bit of a detour last weekend.

On Friday afternoon I put Devon down for a nap and crawled into bed to read. Russ was working at his computer in the next room. I suddenly got really cold. I turned my electric blanket on, put a blanket around my shoulders and Russ gave me his hat. However, I continued to shiver and it got really violent for about 45 minutes. We took my temperature at that point and I had 102 temp and a stellar headache and lower back ache. So we called the clinic and their advice was go to the ER. Just what a brand new mom who is freezing cold wants to hear – take your infant out into the cold to the ER.

But that is exactly what we did. Russ bundled us up and back to Abbott we went. Our dear friend April met us there to help manage Devon and we started the process of trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Being that it’s the ER, nothing gets done quickly so we were there from 4pm until 11pm. Various doctors consulted with us and after determining that I had symptoms to indicate infection (fever, chills, twice the normal white blood cell count) they puzzled and puzzled about where it might be. Two weeks out is pretty late for the normal post partum infections and I wasn’t having any abdominal, breast or kidney area pain which would make it easier to diagnose. They started saying really scary things like blood clots or meningitis as well. After two pelvic exams (Ladies, I highly recommend you AVOID this so soon after a vaginal birth) it was decided I had a uterine infection. The treatment would be to pump me full of hardcore antibiotics and hope that cleared up the infection.

Throughout this, Devon did a great job of hanging out with us, eating when needed and if memory serves really only had one big crying session.

To help combat my massive headache they gave me morphine. When I asked what the side effects to Devon might be the answer was – he could get sleepy. Sold, sign me up, let’s go.

So we spent Devon’s two week birthday right back where he was born, but in a different area of the hospital. Evidently when a baby leaves the nursery they cannot come back because they are now ‘dirty’. The downside of this is that we weren’t in an area where the nurses were skilled at post partum, but the plus was we were in a much nicer room.

Sunday night they determined I had been fever free for 24 hours and run through several cycles of the antibiotics so we could go home! I was really looking forward to my own bed and for a whole 2-3 hour stretch of sleep. You don’t go to the hospital for the food or to get rest – someone is always waking you up to take vitals, bring your food or ask questions. And if they weren’t, Devon was waking me up to eat. Russ was a rockstar all weekend making sure I was ok and taking care of all of Devon’s needs that he could so I could stay resting.

That was the main highlight of Week Two. Devon’s stump fell off so he can now wear onsies and sleepers, but I’ve found I still keep him in the gowns most of the time because it’s so much easier to change his diaper. And it’s not like we’re going out on the town quite yet.



Week Three started off with some amazing hormonal shifts for me. Russ went back to work on Tuesday which is still really hard, I was trying to recover from my adventures in sleeplessland while still being in a new region of sleeplessland and of course questioning every move I make regarding Devon. Needless to say Devon wasn’t the only one shedding tears.

Week Three has also brought with it the dreaded bubbles – gas. The last few nights have been really tough for Devon as it appears gas is causing him a good amount of pain. I’ve adjusted what I am eating (much less dairy, no gassy veggies or beans, onions or garlic) and we’re doing some massage and leg pumps to get the farts out. So the conversations around the house have shifted from talking about poo to talking about flatulence. Awesome.

April helped us out a great deal this week too by coming over for part of the day while Russ was
gone so I could sleep, shower or just relax and get back to where we were last week. Devon really liked hanging out with her and we thank her for spending so much time with us. We hope you get your toaster strudel soon…
Tomorrow brings the arrival of Gramter and Grampter (my parents if you didn’t know) and Gramter is staying until the following Friday to help us out. Devon will complete Week Three of life on Saturday and as everyone keeps telling me it will get better from here. Here’s to less gas and more smiles in Week Four.

Devon with the monsters - we think they are enjoying each other's company.