Home Finally!

I guess I had never really thought about the nitty gritty of birth, but its way more complicated than I thought. What I expected was: go into labor, pop the baby out, stay one night at hospital, bring baby home, resume normal/new normal life. That is not quite the case haha. I'll continue the story from last post (mainy because I have pictures haha)

Paige was off oxygen by her 24hr birthday!! She was doing great! And yes, this picture was taken within five minutes of her 24hr birthday! =>
This is Paige's little set-up. Her "room" (which was just separated by curtains when I nursed her) was the NICU 3. On her IV stand they would add the antibiotic machine every 7 hours, so that was one more thing going into our little baby, but I guess it was a good thing. When she was sleeping the nurses would swadle her up good and make a little tent for her, so it seemed like she was in the dark.
She had so many identification tags on her, which I am very grateful for! I was so nervous that they would get babies switched up or something! She had a hospital band on each ankle, tags in her bed, and this "bar code" on her thigh. It was a little joke we had with the nurses that when that bar code gets taken off we could not return her anymore. haha
On thurseday Paige was healthy enough to get her diaper changed by Mom and Dad. I did it earlier that morning. This is Jared's first ever diaper to change! He did wonderfully! Especially with all the wires and cords he had to watch out for! He is a natural! =>

I was discharged Thursday afternoon, without Paige. That was one fo the most horrible feelings I have had. I hated leaving my baby at the hospital! It was not the way things were supposed to go! But it worked out. Jared and I stayed at the hospital to feed Paige and play with her while she was awake. When she would sleep we went home and slept. We only live 5mins away from the hospital, so when Paige would wake up the nurses would call us and we would be over there to feed her and play with her again. And that cycle repeated itself all night. So it wasn't all that bad, we still got to be with her, and I like to think she never even knew we were gone. =>

Friday morning, while we were there feeding her, the doctor gave us great news! He said if she gets three good feedings within the next 12hrs we could take her home!! There was never more pressure on this little baby to eat well than there was then. haha Finally in the late afternoon she finished her third feeding and we were given the green light to take her home!!!! We had previously packed her hospital bag with clothes and blankets to take her home in, so we were prepared! But I could not decide on which outfit to bring her home in, so I had to bring a few options =>
Before we could leave there was a long process of things. The nurses had to go thru "training" wiht us to make sure we knew how to care for a baby, they had to do last tests on her (like weight), and they had to remove everything.
I know its not the most pleasant of pictures, but we just had to record it. This was the thing that troubled Jared and I (and my Mom) the most. We HATED seeing Paige with this IV in her hand! I wanted to cry every time I saw it! I felt so bad for her! But it was finally out! (and Paige very much disliked the process of taking it out). But it was a HUGE relief when that came out. It was when it really hit me that she was coming home with us and leaving the hospital!
This was one of the many nurses who took such good care of our little girl! We are so thankful to all of them!! They were all amazing!
Paige had just had the last thing taken off of her....the bar code. That was the worst thing to come off! It had to have hurt so bad, and Paige let us know just how much it did hurt! But after it was all over I was able to calm her down, and luckily she doesn't have to do that again.
After the traumatic experience of taking all the hospital stuff off of her Paige went right to sleep. It was perfect timing too because it was time to put her in the car seat. After we took this picture we learned that the baby can not be burrito wrapped when in the car seat but that the buckes had to be directly on the baby and the blanket around the buckles. When knew? haha So we had to change that.
We are really doing it! Walking out of the NICU!!! The first time for Paige to leave there since her birth! It was a big step in her little life!
And now walking out of the hospital!! I was so excited at this point no wonder the pictures are blurry haha. But I could hardly believe that my little girl was coming home with me! And that I would not have to come back to the hospital in 4 hours to feed her! I could just feed her at our apartment! It was an amazing feeling!
Paige's first car ride! Oh how peaceful! (can you tell I am a new Mom with all the pictures? haha)
She made it from the hospital to our building!! Yay!!!! She is really coming home!!

Here they come! Here they come!!! Oh it felt so good to see her in our apartment! I know I was out of the hospital without her for only one day, but that was a really hard day! I never thoguth I would want to have a baby wake me up but I would prefer my baby waking me up to feed her instead of a phone call to come to the hospital to feed my baby. We are all so grateful to have her home!
Our happy little family!
Soon after we got home it was diaper time haha. Jared had the honor of changing the first diaper at home, and his second ever! Let me tell you, this little girl does NOT enjoy having her diaper changed haha. And she still has not gotten used to it. DIaper changing is definately an adventure every time. =>

After we brought Paige home and we got settled and went to sleep I started feeling a little nauseous. It wasn't until Jared and I woke up to feed Paige at 2:00am that I started to feel overwhelmingly sick. By the morning there was no possible way I could do anything but sleep, throw up and feed the baby. Jared took my temperature and it was 100.8, not a good thing especially so soon after giving birth. So he called my doctor to see what I should do and the doctor said to take me to the emergency room. Luckily I had pumped 4 bottles and frozen them already, so Paige would be taken care of. I fed Paige one more time and then left her in the care of my Mom and Jared took me to the ER. We were there for 6 hours! They did all kinds of blood work tests, urine tests, ultra sounds, exc. The worst fear was that some placenta was left over and causing an interuterine infection. Nothing was found. After 6 hours of lying in an uncomfortable hospital bed, witht he most painful IV I have ever had, they sent us home with medicine for the pain and nausea and said just to keep a close eye on me, and to follow up with my OB doctor on Monday. I was supposed to continue breastfeeding Paige, but not to breathe on her or be around her more than feeding time.

That was just great. As soon as I get my baby home I get sick and have to be kept away from her. That was not fun news. But luckily I have the best helpers here. Jared and my Mom just adore that little one and are AMAZING at taking car of her!
Last night Paige and my Mom chilled on the bean bag while we watched a couple minutes of a chick flick.
Jared and Paige were chillin on the bean bag this morning. This baby loves just being with people. It is the cutest thing! As long as she is in the room and can see people she is happy and content.
I went and took a shower this afternoon and when I got out this is what I found.
Takign care of a baby really makes you tired! Thank you so much my amazing helpers! I can not even imagine doing any of this without you two!