Today is the first time I'm completely alone with the baby and I'm scared as hell. My Mom was able to help me with the 9am feeding and then took off a little before 10am. *gulp* I really didn't feel ready to take care of Gabriel on my own, and to be honest I don't think I am. My c-section wound is still hurting and giving me problems, I'm still bleeding pretty heavily from where the placenta was removed, my tailbone is bruised on the inside and outside which means it hurts when I sit or stand (and there isn't really anything else I can do because I need to be propped up while sleeping so I can't even lie down), and my left ankle is messed up. Not really great markers for "hey, she's ready to be left alone with a newborn". But then again I didn't really have a choice. Mom needed to head home and Rob has to be at work. So, here I am, still recovering from surgery with other problems as well and I'm home alone with a newborn.

Most everything has gone well. Granted it's taking me forever to write this, but I have small burts of time when he sleeps. I've been blessed to only have pee diapers so far today. That makes me happy because feces of any kind makes me vomit. Mom told me to put Carmex under my nose if I come across a poopy diaper. I hope it works. Vomiting while changing a diaper would be very bad timing (and would hurt my c-section wound like crazy). Feeding him is awkward with no one around to help, but it's working. So far our main problem has been that he recently (he had a 3pm feeding and did this around 3:40 or so) spit up in his bassinet. I was able to pick him up and make sure he was all right and wipe stuff off of him, but I can't change his bassinet sheet without someone else here. There's no where I can put him where he won't have the possibility of rolling off while I change the sheet. And I can't change it while holding him because I have no hands. I put an absorbant cloth diaper (thank you Kat!) that doubles as a burp cloth under him where the wet spit up spot is. That way it's dry and Rob cna give me a hand changing the sheet when he gets home from work. On the bright side, it's not much spit up at all.

I love Gabriel and he's amazing, but I will admit that being the only one around the house to take care of him isn't easy and can be quite insane at times. Except for short spurts here and there I really don't have much time for anything other than the baby.

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The Asserter
You chose AY - your Enneagram type is EIGHT.

"I must be strong"
Asserters are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me
- Stand up for yourself... and me.
- Be confident, strong, and direct.
- Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
- Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.
- Give me space to be alone.
- Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
- I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.
- When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a Eight
- Being independent and self-reliant.
- Being able to take charge and meet challenges head on being courageous, straightforward, and honest.
- Getting all the enjoyment I can out of life.
- Supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me upholding just causes.

What's Hard About Being a Eight
- Overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to.
- Being restless and impatient with others' incompetence.
- Sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it.
- Never forgetting injuries or injustices.
- Putting too much pressure on myself.
- Getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right.

Eights as Children Often
- Are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit.
- Are sometimes loners.
- Seize control so they won't be controlled.
- Figure out others weaknesses.
- Attack verbally or physically when provoked.
- Take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings.

Eights as Parents
- Are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted.
- Are sometimes overprotective.
- Can be demanding, controlling, and rigid.

The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test