The First 24 Hours with Baby E

May 25th

2:30 PM – I FINALLY get the call from the hospital social worker that I need to get to the hospital because they are getting ready to discharge the babe.

2:45 PM- I arrive at the hospital and scrub in. E is sleeping, so we get goin’ on paper work. I run to the hospital pharmacy, which was packed like a sardine can. I wait and wait and wait. I get E’s meds and head back to the NICU and scrub in again.

3:45 PM – The wonderful nurses help me double check E’s car seat and pack up all her stuff. (Hurray for free baby formula!) I bring my car around to the pick-up point and head back to the NICU. I scrub in again, but just quickly this time, and get E packed up into her car seat. The nurse puts her on the car and all the amazing NICU nurses say their bittersweet good-byes. I promise to send pictures. I almost cry, ‘cuz they were.

4:00 PM- E sees sunshine and breathes fresh air for the first time since she was transfered to the NICU. We load up into the car and head over to a friend’s to pick up Jeremiah. We are welcomed with ooo’s and awww’s. I have to say a difficult “No” to a friend that asked if she could hold her. I’m guessing that will become a common thing in the next few days. E gets her first floor time ever, and she happily checks out her new world. She even gives a few smiles.

4:30 PM – Jeremiah, Baby E, and Aiti (the Finnish word for Mommy) head home. She sleeps the whole way.

5:15 PM – Isa (Finnish for Daddy) gets to meet his new foster daughter. He falls in love. He immediately asks to hold her AND asks me to take pictures. She is incredibly alert and awake and wants to look at everything. She hangs out with Isa for nearly 2 hours before finally falling asleep.

7:00 PM – Just after she falls asleep, grandma and auntie show up to say hi. They hold the sleeping babe as we visit. She wakes up just in time for them to see her beautiful blue eyes before they leave.

9:00 PM – She sleeps for half hour increments and will only take an ounce of formula at at time. It looks like it will be a long night.

1:00 AM – Aiti is chillin’ on the couch watching the last Oprah episode on the DVR. Babe wakes up at about 1:30 and Aiti gives her her 2 AM med (yes, she takes her meds at 2 AM!) She finally takes a full 4 oz. and falls asleep quickly. She fusses quite a bit, but finally settles in and sleep soundly until…

7:00 AM – Babe wakes up and wants to be fed NOW! I give her her Morning med and try to settle her down. It doesn’t work for more than 10 minutes at a time.

9:00 AM – We’re up an about. I put on the moby wrap (thank you to whoever got that for me btw) and she snuggles in. LOVES IT and is good to go for the rest of the morning. She eats well and stays awake, but calm in the moby.

10:00 AM- Jeremiah gets up and starts playing dumb IMMEDIATELY. He is visibly nervous and needing a lot of hugs. I have him sit on the floor and put the babe in his lap. We talk about how none of this was her choice. I talk to him about making better choices to show her love (as some of the choices were directly aimed at showing his disapproval of her presence, although not directed at her.)

12:30 PM – Headed out to the pediatrician. Had to be there early to fill out paper work.

2:00 PM – First pediatrician’s appointment. Nurses ooo and awww over the little bundle in the green moby. They asked me quite a few questions about the moby, so that was fun. I really enjoy the doctor. He asked all the right questions and answered all of my questions as well. He wants to see her once a week for a while, as he was concerned about her tremors and other withdrawal symptoms. Developmentally, however, she is right on track. YAY!

3:00 PM – Ran errands in town (gotta make the most of every trip, cuz we spent $12 in gas to get there.) Baby E slept the whole time. I had Jeremiah stay in the car with her, cuz it was a bunch of 5 minute stuff.

4:00 PM – Got home and chilled. Jeremiah drama.

7:00 PM – Hubby’s mom showed up with a big surprise, THE SWING I WANTED! Thank you, Mom! Oh, and she must be feeling grand-baby deprived, cuz she also brought a bag of amazing baby loot. She tried to shrug it off that it was all on clearance, but DUDE! I am so overwhelmed with gratitude.

8:00 PM – Got swing put together while watching the season premiere of “So you Think you can Dance?” which I’ve been counting down to for weeks. Put Babe in swing and MAGIC! I think this may be a more peaceful night. It may be cheating, but until her withdrawals are under control, I am totally okay with that.

9:00 PM – E woke up for a little snack, I swaddled her up, and then back to sleep she goes.

11:00 PM – Hubby brings me a giant bowl of Mackinaw Island Fudge ice cream. Dude.

And tonight? Hopefully sleep.

Blessings!

Hannah

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