Noe News is Good News

We're home!

To our (pleasant) surprise, my doctor let me go home yesterday- a day earlier than we had thought we would be going home. I couldn't have been happier... I missed my family and my home. I felt great and Landen was doing well so there was really no reason for us to stay another day.

I must say that I am surprised at just how different things are this time around. Everything seems easier. It helps that Adam will have these next 2 weeks off to help out... he's been so wonderful. I'm lucky to have a husband who takes such great care of his family!

After my doctor gave the go ahead, it wasn't long before we were out of the hospital- unlike with Joselyn where we waited ALL DAY to be discharged. The weather was windy but a balmy 66 degrees- quite the contrast from the day we checked in when it was snowy and icy. Weird Kentucky weather I guess! It was nice to not have to worry about ice or even rain. The skies were sunny and we headed to Babies R Us to get a few items before picking Joselyn up from Adam's parents and heading home. (Landen and I waited in the car while Adam ran in) It was SO GOOD to see Joselyn. I had missed her so much- but she seemed happy. I know she had fun while she stayed with my in-laws during the day. It's always good to know your child has been well taken care of while you can't care for them yourself.

When we got home, it was back to our regular routine- as much as was possible. Landen hung around on my shoulder sleeping most of the time as we got Joselyn fed and bathed. She seems okay that he is hanging out... she has been very sweet and gentle with him. When we put her down for bed she was pretty upset that I wasn't the one putting her in her crib though. It broke my heart because she just kept on crying "Mama" while reaching out for me. My doctor gave me strict orders not to lift more than 15 poundsfor 6 weeks so at least for last night I listened... although Joselyn is only 5 pounds heavier than that. She eventually went down for Adam though and slept well through the night.

Landen is such a mellow fellow. Only issue with him so far has been how often he likes to eat!! Joselyn ate every 3 hours- almost on the dot. Landen... well, he's very random. Sometimes he gets hungry 30 minutes after I have finished feeding him. Yes, I am very sore. But he has blessed me with a good 5 hour from about 3-8am since the day he was born, which I am grateful for. I know that can change though so I am enjoying it while I can! Last night was as good of a night as it could have been. I am a little sore of course from the c-section, but I feel a LOT better than I did my last week pregnant and slept pretty well. Landen woke up twice to eat and once again slept a 5 hour stretch. It was great.  Even emotionally I am much happier... no baby blues like with Joselyn, or even an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Everything just seems right and goes smoothly so far.

I am amazed at how much I love little Landen and STILL love Joselyn. It's always hard to imagine loving someone else as much as your first child, but I can now say it's possible. Joselyn has been so sweet through all of this... Landen demands much of my attention, yet she seems to understand and tries to be a good girl. I've really seen an improvement in her obedience lately... in fact, in the 3 days I was away from her a lot she seems much more mature in so many ways. She even communicates more proficiently. I couldn't stand seeing her cry again tonight when we put her to sleep... so I cuddled her and put her in my crib. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't feel my body was up for it- but it was. And I don't plan on lifting her but once a day- at night when I put her down. I asked Adam if he supported my decision and he did. I think he understood that I needed that alone time with her at night. So I cuddled with my baby girl and rocked her for a good 5 minutes. It felt so good! And she felt so BIG! She is seriosuly such a sweet girl. Then I laid her in her crib where she peacefully went to sleep.

I can't quite describe the joy I feel in my life right now despite all the stressful things happening around us. I am just so in love with my little family of four and feel so incredibly blessed. And what a great time of the year to enjoy the new member of our family. This is seriously the greatest!

The first few days with Joselyn

Since Joselyn had been a very good baby at the hospital, I didn't expect the frustration that came the first night home from the hospital. She was having really bad gas and I was tired. The reality of everything hit me all of the sudden and I felt very inadequate. The hormones probably didn't help either... At one point I was in the nursery with Joselyn trying to get her to stop crying and I just lost it. I started bawling... how was I going to do this? Doubts filled my mind and I didn't know if I could be a good mother. It was a very humbling experience, and I don't think I could have made it through the night if it weren't for my sweet sweet husband. I know he must have been having the same feelings of inadequacy and doubt, but he stayed so strong and was able to calm me down. We finally got Joselyn to sleep (she literally had not slept ALL day) at around 3:30am... and to our amazement she slept until about 9am the next morning. When we woke up, Adam and I felt a renewed sense of accomplishment. We made it through that first very difficult night and it felt good. We felt so blessed. We now have a beautiful little girl of our own. And despite that frustrating night, our love was only stronger for little Joselyn. In reality, she had gone through a lot more that we had... she was the one having the roughest time and yet she made it through... and we were so proud of her. She is so precious and sweet.

Things are better now. She is a very good calm baby... she has gas problems at night and even last night didn't fall asleep until 3:30. But we felt more in control and know it will take a while to get used to everything. As I type this, little Joselyn is cuddling with daddy on the couch fast asleep. It is a picture of perfection. I am so lucky to have this little family!!