Feeling berry much better

It's been a long week. And yet it's flown by. How is that possible so often?

First off, thanks to all of you who have called and emailed and commented with encouragement. I really do appreciate it so much. Thank you also to all of you who have sent goodies and gifts, brought or fixed food, and just helped out in various ways.

Special thanks goes to my mom, who spent 10 days of the last 12 here with us. And thanks to Dad and the kids for letting her be away. She went home yesterday, taking Braska with her for a few days. She accomplishes more in a few days around here than I do in weeks. I'm most often not very pleasant when she is around, so she puts up with alot and doesn't complain. Thanks, Mom.

I'm definitely feeling better. I think it's a combination of factors, though I'm not sure what to credit with what element of the improvement. I stopped taking the meds after three days, because it was going to take at least 3 weeks for them to begin to work, and I got the impression that they might be actually causing the anxiety to be a bit worse. (It can be a side effect in the initial period.) Also, after some research and contacts with people--natural remedy experts, pharmacists, etc--Mom went to get some Red Raspberry Leaves (natural supplement), which is supposed to actually help the hormonal imbalance, not just deal with the symptoms of that imbalance. I'm not one to do the natural remedy thing usually, that's no secret. But I was at the point to try anything, and I have to say, from day one that I took the Raspberry, I have not had another bad panic attack. I had some slight periods of feeling anxious, but it was not nearly as bad as it had been this weekend or as it was with Braska. I'm not going to analyze it to death, but if it's working, we're gonna go with it for a while. (I hear this is great for PMS issues as well, so if you want more info, let me know.)

Kinlee is doing great. She is way easy as newborns go, or so I'm told. She's sleeping regularly and eating regularly, more frequently in the day than at night. Last night was my first one by myself since feeling better, and we made it through pretty well. She had a block of 4 hours of sleep and one of almost 5. I cannot complain about that. And M kept her in the evening for a few hours so I could get a nap in before starting the night, just in case. She rarely cries at all, and that may not remain the norm, but I'll take it for now! Last night she slept in her room, in her crib, and did just great. It's right across from our room, so I could hear her when I need to, but I didn't hear all her sleeping noises. That's good, as they keep me awake...every noise wakes me! I really SO do not get how you guys can sleep with a kid in the same room, or for goodness sakes, the same bed!! I'd NEVER get a wink of sleep!

Sunday afternoon we'll meet up with Mom and get Braska. Then we'll start the week all together to see if I can manage to deal with all the "stuff" of our normal weeks with newborn in tow. We shall see...

Hopefully, we're on our way to really finding our new normal very soon. Or should I say... BERRY soon!