custom loop w/ customized first post

hey guys

im trying to set up a custom query on a static page to display the 5 most recent posts, with a customized first post (unique class and code).

the code i’ve come up with thus far takes care of customizing my first post, but doesn’t define post count. i only want to display 5, i want to set a greater number for the actual blog page. make sense?

here’s what i’ve pieced together so far w/ minimal php expertise. any ideas?

<?php if (have_posts()) : ?>
<?php $post = $posts[0]; $c=0;?>
<?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

<?php $c++;
if( !$paged && $c == 1) :?>
<li class="first post">
<?php the_post_thumbnail(); ?>
<h2><?php if (strlen($post->post_title) > 35) {
echo substr(the_title($before = '', $after = '', FALSE), 0, 35) . '...'; } else {
the_title();
} ?></h2>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</li>

<?php else :?>
<li class="post">
<?php the_post_thumbnail(); ?>
<h2><?php if (strlen($post->post_title) > 35) {
echo substr(the_title($before = '', $after = '', FALSE), 0, 35) . '...'; } else {
the_title();
} ?></h2>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</li>
<?php endif;?>

<?php endwhile; ?>

<?php endif; ?>