Priceless

Midwifery Care (covering the last 13 weeks of pregnancy plus postnatal care): $2900
Birthing Center and Hospital Stay: $2694
Having our gorgeous little boy come into our lives: PRICELESS

Fortunately, we're only responsible for 20% (after adjustments) of the charges. But that still came to $1071.54 - whereas it only cost us $100 to have Margaret, and that was with an induction and hospital stay lasting Tuesday night to Saturday afternoon (the original cost of hers before adjustments and insurance's payment was over $11,000!).

I can't believe Ethan is 4 weeks old already. He's changed so much in that time, and yet it doesn't seem possible that so much time has passed. He's much more content than Maggie was. Sleeps well most nights, waking ever 2-3 hours for feedings (which are usually no more than 15 minutes each). Rarely cries, and when he does, it doesn't last long. He's smiling. He's strong, holding his head high already. He's rolled over from front to back a few times. As long as he isn't shooting poop across the changing table or bed during diaper changes, he's a joy. :)

My foot is slowly healing. I had another round of x-rays today and while they don't show much healing yet, it feels much better and I've regained most of the motion in my foot at a pain-free level. I go back in 3 weeks for more x-rays and (hopefully) the permanent removal of the walking boot. They have another cast-like thing in store for me but it's supposed to be smaller. (I shudder to think what all that is costing me!!!)

Complications

Just when I thought it was too hard, it got harder.

Monday I fell down the outside steps to our porch. I had Ethan on my front in a ring sling and my left ankle gave out. So as not to land on Ethan, I twisted and ended up breaking the 5th metatarsal on my foot. I was in denial though. Even though it hurt like hell, I didn't do anything about it Monday other than try to ice it and keep it elevated. Tuesday morning it still hurt so I agreed to go the ER. I was not happy with the results.

So now I have a special boot I have to wear (they would have casted it but I told them I couldn't stay off my foot), I'm supposed to use crutches (not an easy task in a small apartment and while chasing a 2 year old or caring for a newborn), and I was told it would be 3-5 months before it will heal completely. Great. Just Great.

At least I didn't fall on Ethan.

So tomorrow is my baby girl's 2nd birthday. And instead of taking her to a local farm like I planned, I'll probably be sitting home with Ethan while hubby celebrates with her. As well as many other things I'll miss out on this summer because of this stupid fracture. Did I mention this all happened because Maggie refused to bring in her water bottle from the bottom step? I know it's not her fault, but I'm still ticked off that it wouldn't have happened if she had brought that water bottle in. And then I wouldn't be stuck on the couch instead of playing with her.

I know... woe is me...

Adjusting

One of hubby's friends has a saying he loves sharing: "One is one; two is twenty." He's been saying this ever since I got pregnant with Ethan (though I liked reminding him that sometimes, one is twenty... at least in the case of Maggie it is!). In all seriousness, though, two is a lot more challenging. We knew it would be. It doesn't help that I'm still in pain where I tore so I have to take it easy, and I'm not supposed to be picking up Maggie yet (though I did twice accidentally and paid the price).

Maggie seems to like her little brother though. She will sometimes call him by name ("Baby Ethan") though usually he's just "Baby". She pats his head when she walks by. She covers him with blankets even when it's 80 degrees so he'll be warm. She wants to help and she wants to hold him. This is good, right?

But it seems she doesn't want me anymore. Whenever she wants something or needs someone, she calls out for Daddy. Daddy is going back to work tomorrow and we're not sure what that impact will be on her (though fortunately my sister will be helping out the rest of this week). It seems she has abandoned me. Or maybe she feels I've abandoned her? With Ethan in my arms most of my waking hours, it may appear to her that there's no room for her anymore...especially since I can't pick her up and it hurts to have her sit on my lap. My MIL warned me that she would not take out any concerns about the change in our family on Ethan but would on us, but I wasn't expecting her to change to a Daddy's girl so quickly and exclusively. It really makes me sad.

She did have one victory tonight. We've been watching the Elmo potty tape for a while now in hopes that it will spark an interest in using the potty again (since she hasn't in months now). Tonight she was calling out long after bedtime "poo poo" (which usually is an excuse to stay up later through a diaper change). Hubby checked on her and decided to let her sit on the potty... and she peed (a lot!) right away! Yay for Maggie!!!