We survived!!!!

Well, the first week of being a stay-at-home mom to two kids is over. I have to say, it wasn't THAT bad. We had our rough moments, like the following:

• I load two kiddos into the car (a process that alone takes 10 minutes) and head to the grocery store to pick up some essentials. Conrad is not happy about it. He screams the entire 5 minute drive there. I figure he's hungry and end up breastfeeding him for 10 minutes in the back of the car when we get there. He settles down and I undergo the process of getting 2 kids out of the car and into a double stroller. Conrad is calm for all of 15 minutes only to launch into hysterics halfway through the store. We head off to the bathroom to warm up a bottle. He's screaming his head off when Joseph notices the tampon dispenser. Apparently, this looks like an awesome toy and he is now screaming to get off the stroller and play with it. After sucking down 1/2 an ounce, Conrad calms down again...only to start screaming again as we walk out. At this point, anyone walking into the store could hear me say "This would make a good commercial for birth control". I get to the car only to realize some asshat has parked so close to me that there is no way I can get Conrad's car seat into the car. I pick up the monstrosity of a car seat on the other side of the car and somehow get it past Joseph's car seat and across the backseat. BTW, it was about 90 degrees. Oh yea, and in the middle of this chaos some cooky old bat interrupts me to ask if Joseph and Conrad are twins???? Yeah, lady they are, we just kept Conrad in the womb for 23 extra months!
• On Thursday, Conrad decides he needs to eat 10 minutes before Joseph needs to go down for a nap and Conrad isn't the quickest eater. Joseph, in his typical overtired fashion, is running around the room like a crazy man. He trips over a toy and face plants into a basket of toys. Crying ensues and I am trying to calm him down from the couch when he lifts his little head and blood is streaming from his mouth. Conrad's feeding is abruptly ended - he gets thrown into the swing - and I am trying to apply a cold cloth and assess the seriousness of Joseph's injury. Meanwhile, Conrad is screaming for more food. Luckily Joseph's injury did not require any sort of doctor's visit - just a superficial cut to the lip that bled like crazy.

Overall, though, those were pretty isolated incidents. Sure, it was hectic trying to get two kids and their supplies out of the house, attempting to make sure Joseph didn't seriously harm himself (or Conrad) while I was trying to get lunches ready or laundry folded, worrying about whether each child was getting enough of my attention, but it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. We got out of the house everyday. Conrad came to play dates, the park and trips to Target and only exhibited some minor fussiness while out and about. Despite not napping more than 30 minutes any day, Joseph remained relatively happy and content with the new schedule and routine. We all survived.

Of course, we have lots of people who assisted us in surviving the week...my playgroup Mommy friends for opening their houses to us for play dates (play dates that allowed me to sit in one spot while Joseph expended energy in a contained area) and sending us home with yummy dinners, the night nurse who is coming every other night, allowing me to sleep 7 hours (with a quick pumping session in the middle), and my husband for managing to come home before 6 pm every night and doing more than his fair share of night time duties to help keep me sane.

So on the eve of beginning week 2, I am optimistic that handling these two will not actually send me to an early demise. I know there are going to be days ahead when both are sick or one is teething or I am just exhausted and I am going to lay down on the floor and cry or call Rich telling him I am losing my mind or drink a pitcher of margaritas at 11 am, but I am actually starting to think this might end up being kinda fun...