Happy Due Date!

 Well today is your official due date and you're 5 days old! This week has been the most challenging and rewarding week of my life! Your Daddy and I are so in love with you and we can't wait to spend the rest of forever loving you, teaching you, watching you grow, helping you, supporting you, and being the best parents we can be to you. 

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

- Robert Munsch

day 4

Last night was pretty rough and today was a rough day. Breastfeeding is hard, but we are certainly trying our hardest! 

Jen Shubin came over this morning and took some newborn pictures of you! You were awake most of the time and I tried to get you to sleep for some pictures, but you weren't having it. I did take this one shot with your Daddy's phone. We can't wait to see the final pictures!

I decided to call the nursing mothers' center at the hospital today to see if they had any available appointments. They were able to fit us in at 3:45 this afternoon with Lisa. Before we went, your Daddy and I took a nap while Rah Rah held you and had a mini photo session of her own!

The appointment was encouraging. Your weight was up to 6 lbs, 15.1 oz. Lisa gave us a pumping/breastfeeding regimen that will help alleviate the engorgement. We'll also been syringe feeding you the pumped breast milk if you don't latch on. Hopefully that will help tonight go a little more smoothly than last night!

day 3

 Our activity today was going to see Dr. Brown at her office in Clemmons this morning for your newborn appointment! She said you are looking good!

 Your weight was 6 lbs, 14.5 oz, which is almost 11% down from your birth weight, but Caroline said that she is comfortable with up to 12% weight loss for babies that are exclusively breastfeeding. We plan on taking you to the nursing mothers' center at the hospital tomorrow to see if you're heading back in the right direction.

day 2- going home

We were released from the hospital today! Whitney, the PA from TCP, wrote your discharge order and Brad had already scheduled an appointment with Dr. Brown for tomorrow at 10AM. And Dr. Scherer stopped by and wrote my discharge order (she said I'll probably get more rest at home since I know everyone working will be stopping by). We had several of my co-workers visit and you, Rah Rah, and I even took a walk around the unit to see everyone this morning!

us with Amanda (remember, she gave you your first bath on Monday!)

Rah Rah caught this sweet smile!

Connie M was our nurse today and Jordan was our CNA

us with Jordan

us with my co-workers Ann and Lauren

Lauren and Jordan were so sweet and walked us out, so we didn't have to wait for the volunteer transporter to come and get us!

Welcome home, baby girl!

Your room came together just in time! The only couple of things left is for your Daddy to finish painting a side table for next to the glider and for a crib sheet I ordered to come in!

We had a wonderful stay in the hospital, but we are excited to be home with you! 

Rah Rah is planning on staying with us until Saturday and I know it will be super helpful to have her here!

day 1

Today was a big day, baby girl! 

You met Santa! And you're only a day old! 

Rah Rah brought a Santa suit and Pappy was a sport and wore it so we could get some Santa pictures for your first Christmas!

 You were an adorable elf! It's only the second outfit you've ever worn, but I think it's one of my favorites!

 My friend Audrey did your hearing test and you passed!

 Several of our friends came to meet you today!

Amy Linn

Greg and Abby Peters

Allison and Carter Bowen (Brad was working)

Tyler and Mary Claire Winford

 Several of my co-workers also stopped by today! 

my sweet friend, Angela

Kathy E- our nurse yesterday and today

our happy family of 3!

Whitney a PA from Twin City Pediatrics came by to check you out this morning and Dr. Thompson came by to see how I was recovering. He said we should be able to go home tomorrow!
Nana, Pappy, and Aunt Beth had to leave this afternoon, but Nana and Pappy will be back with Aunt Brittany after Christmas!

Today was a busy, fun day, but we were able to get a couple hours of rest while Rah Rah held you!  I was exhausted, but couldn't quite turn my brain off, but when I finally fell asleep for a nap, I slept hard! Tonight you had your transcutaneous bilirubin test and your state newborn screening done. You passed the jaundice test with flying colors (1.6- seriously one of the lowest levels I've ever seen!) and we'll hear in a couple of weeks about the state test.

Here's to a good 2nd night!

Your birthday, continued

So after we arrived to our room and spending lots of time skin-to-skin, Amanda our CNA came and gave you a bath! You weren't thrilled with the bath part...

 but you didn't mind the hair washing!

 After more skin-to-skin to warm you back up after your bath, it was finally time for everyone else to hold you!

Your Daddy wore pink socks in your honor!

Several of my co-workers stopped by to meet you! 

And your pediatrician Dr. Caroline Brown stopped by too! She wasn't on call, but said she couldn't stay away, so you had your first pediatric assessment! (Your Daddy was very interested!)

And guess who else came to visit?! Kyle, Carolyn, and Clifton (and Kyle's parents who are visiting from Indiana)!!! We can't wait to see you and Clifton grow up together over the next 2.5 years!

Due to all of our visitors, skin-to-skin, and resting, you didn't get your Hepatitis B vaccine until it was almost 7PM (shift change)! But Lyndsi (on left) and Meagan came to meet you and Lyndsi gave you your shot and Meagan came to console you after! Haha!

 And Abby came by to meet you too!! 

Rah Rah, Nana, Pappy, and Beth all left for the night, so we could have some quality time as our new family of three! 

Our new nurse for the night was Laura A! I was so excited for her to be our nurse because she is wonderful (she's actually coming to days soon!). Our CNA was Rachel and around 10:30PM, they helped me get out of bed and up to the bathroom. Laura actually left at 11 and our nurse for the rest of the night was Kerry J (also a wonderful nurse). Getting up wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! 

We can't believe you're already here!! Today has been exhausting for all three of us, but it couldn't have been a better birthday for you, sweet girl!! Your Daddy and I love you so much!