First Bath!

Much catching up to do...

Thomas had his first month at three weeks.  His cord took forever to fall off--I think Ellie's was off after a week.  I was so happy that we were finally able to give him a good, proper bath...he, on the other hand, did not love it quite so much.  He cried when his body hit the water but then quickly calmed down and since then, he hasn't seemed to mind baths other than being cold when we get him out of the water.  He is so much less dramatic than his sister was at this age!

 It should also be noted that he is going to outgrow this PUJ tub much more quickly than Ellie did.  She used it through 7 months and then transitioned to the duck tub because she was able to sit up.  This big boy almost reaches the end already at one month!

Mothers Day

My sweet babies and their daddy gave me the best Mother's Day ever!  It was a sweet, perfect day and I feel blessed beyond measure for these two to call me mommy!

Artisphere

We made our first outing with Ellie and Thomas for Greenville's artisphere.  We love going every year and Ellie loves Kidsphere.  This year proved a bit more difficult with Thomas' nursing schedule but we somehow made it work and were happy to be out of the house!

 We were equally happy that the Tapps joined us!  We had a delicious lunch at Rick Erwin's deli after getting our fill of art.

 Ellie's favorite activity every night is holding him.  She has it down to an art with boppy around her waist and arms out!

First Few Weeks Home

I am doing what I swore I wouldn't do and falling behind on documenting life.  We are settling in and getting into our new routine and so hopefully that will improve in the days to come.  

 Thomas at his first pediatrician's appointment.  We saw Dr Bessom a couple of days after we got home for the hospital and he looked great!  When we were discharged from GHS, he had dropped from his birth weight down to 6 lbs, 1 oz but was back up to 6 lbs, 5 oz two days after.  Because of that and how well he was doing nursing, she said we didn't have to come back until his 2 week appointment!  

 When Ellie was a newborn, Parkside only had one building--they now have two, one for well visits and one for sick visits.  Ellie does go to the new building for well visits but this was our first time on the newborn wing.  We were impressed!

 Thomas has a very laid back demeanor.  He rarely cries and he is a decent sleeper at night.  He loves to eat and nurses like a dream, which I am so thankful for.  I knew I wasn't going to have the time to invest in pumping and then feeding bottles like I did when Ellie was a baby.  

 Josh was at home with us the first week--Ellie was a complete beast and my hormones were out of control so she and I cried throughout the majority of that week.  Thankfully our sweet girl returned and she has adjusted to having a new little person in our home.  

 Grammy came and stayed the 2nd week we were home and just took over Ellie while I took care of Thomas.  She set up a water park in the backyard, complete with soap boat races.  Ellie had a big time sliding those soaps down the gutter ramp!

 Thomas still has a head full of hair--none of it has fallen out quite yet.  He has much more in the back than in the front.  He loves sucking his passy.  He likes sleeping on his stomach (just when I'm holding him during the day--not unsupervised).  Other than that--he pretty much just eats and sleeps all day!

 He had his newborn pictures at 6 days old and did a great job sleeping through it all.  Much more cooperative and much less dramatic than Ellie was through hers.  We are hoping these characteristics carry through way past his newborn age.

Hospital Visit & Coming Home

Our hospital stay was night and day from what it was with Ellie, due to her being in the NICU.  We were able to get rest and relax and heal...this time, not so much!  Thomas is a very good baby so far and rarely, rarely cries--however he loves to eat and loves to eat at least every 3 hours on the dot.  

 After we left recovery, I was wheeled to my room and my nurse came in to officially admit me.  Thomas also had a nurse come check him out and get official stats.  I asked that the grandparents be allowed to come in, being that it had been nearly 3 hours since he had been born and no one had seen him besides me and Josh.  After they came in and met him, Thomas' nurse came back in and gave him his first bath (he screamed bloody murder).

 The rest of the day was somewhat of a blur--we had a couple of visitors.  I was unfortunately high as a kite on pain killers so don't much remember the visits.  I thought I was going to be able to get the catheter removed about 8:00 that night but it wasn't until midnight or so until it actually happened.  I immediately wanted to get up and did so surprisingly easily.  I have healed very well since surgery and feel great with no complaints.  

 Thomas' cord panel came back that night as well, indicating that he has Coombs--which is simply when my blood type is different from his blood type, and because they mix--he would have a higher probability of being jaundiced.  He had several heel pokes to ensure his levels were ok and they stayed fine due to the fact that he was (and is) a great nurser and I had a great lactation consultant that spent a lot of time with me, ensuring that he would be successful.  By the 2nd night, Dr. Dobson (our pediatrician) gave the all clear that Coombs was no longer an issue.  

He also decided to fail his hearing screening the 2nd day but thankfully passed the 3rd.  Two little scares that all turned out perfectly ok.

 I can't say enough about all of the nurses that cared for both of us.  We had truly exceptional care from the time we were admitted to the time we were discharged.  I am forever thankful!

We were told that we could be discharged after the 2nd night but Josh and I decided to go ahead and ride out the 3rd night as well to ensure that the Coombs and circumcision were all healed and as they were supposed to be.

We finally had discharge papers on Monday morning and were out of there by lunchtime.  Ellie was waiting for us when we got home--and has nearly smothered him since then.  We are adjusting as a family of 4 settling into our new rhythm--daily thankful for our two sweet babies! 

Ellie Meets Thomas

Ellie came up to the hospital on Saturday mid-afternoon to meet Thomas for the first time.  Josh and I decided that it would be best if she didn't come the first day, as I wasn't able to walk around and I still had the IV in my arm.  It worked out well and she was completely smitten by her brother the moment she laid eyes on him!

 I really wish we had this on video versus camera because it was just the sweetest thing ever and pictures don't do it justice.  She came into the room very hesitantly holding an "It's a Boy" balloon.  When she saw me holding the baby, she asked "Is that Thomas?"

 She immediately wanted to get a good look at him and kept saying "dat's baby Thomas".  She pointed out all of his body parts and rubbed his little head.  We let her hold him and she just had the biggest, proudest grin I've ever seen her give.  

She looked at Josh and said "I love that baby."

 She has been very gentle (for the most part) since we have been home.  She went out and bought him his own elephant lovie (just like hers, except blue instead of pink!).

 She loves to smother him in kisses and hugs.  She loves when she's allowed to hold him.

 We are praying that the love and sweet nature towards him continues.  

 We truly are so blessed!

picture as a family of 4.  (with a very swollen mommy!)