Bringing Emma Home

Emma coming home from hospital

 Friday night we were discharged from the hospital at 10 pm after Emma passed her testing and we were glad to finally be home!   

Sun bathing Emma

We have made sure to sun bathe Emma every morning per the doctor’s orders, but throughout the weekend she was still having trouble with eating.  It was almost as if her rooting reflex wasn’t there and Jared and I were like a 3 ring circus trying to get her to nurse for 20 minutes, then pumping for 20 minutes then getting her to take drop by drop by spoon/bottle feeding!  It would have been discouraging and disheartening to experience this with my first, but I am thinking “I just don’t have time for this!” with my 4^th.  We have kept at it, and it seems every feeding she gets a little bit better.  My after pains were by far the worst I’ve had yet and I hear it gets worse every baby so I am just trying to use my labor breathing through every feeding and keep on top of my pain meds.  We’ll hopefully get there!  

Emma with her fan club

The three older kids have been such little helpers.  Every bath, diaper change and feeding is very exciting.  Jocelyn was interested in the food menu when she visited me at the hospital so she made up a whole menu with options for me to select my food for my first breakfast home and must have had help writing it all out then brought it to me and delivered food, etc. It was very sweet!

Proud big sister Lilly

   Especially Lillian will set up her rocker right next to mine, nursing her baby doll and taking good care of her and I get startled when I see things like this in the baby swing thinking “how did the baby get there?” only to realize it’s a doll.  She'll also ask to sit and hold Emma and will stay for 30 minutes just talking calmly and sweetly or smoothing down her hair.  Jonas lasts for about 1 minute or less but likes to "hug" baby Emma.

Lilly's doll in swing

  Jonas was very hesitant in the hospital and would hardly acknowledge the baby and me, but now that we’re home he is taking good care of dollies and wants to hug or old the baby pretty often.  He says “baby Emma” very clearly and makes sure everyone knows he is a big boy, and she is the baby!  

Nana holding Emma at hospital

We are so grateful for my mom (and Dad) who managed the schedules and transportation for the 3 kids while we were in the hospital and cleaning and taking care of us now that we are home.  We also have several good friends who have done everything from spoon feeding Emma so I could shower (because my parents had taken Jocelyn to a soccer game and Jared had the middle two running errands picking up tucks pads, breast pumps and prescriptions).  Another friend  picked up support hose for my throbbing leg veins and delivered them to my house, and yet others who have brought over dinner.  Another friend offered to come over and take newborn pictures of Emma and the few I’ve seen so far turned out so cute!  I had never done that before and I am excited to see how they turn out.  I can’t imagine doing this without the support of amazing family and friends.    

Emma 3 days old

Caitlyn & Emma 3 days old