Your Second Day: 12/16/2011

Dear Conor,

Your second day was a big day for you!  It started early in the morning (around 1 am) when you were taken to the nursery so that you could have your PKU test done and your blood drawn for the metabolic testing that must be done after you are officially 24 hours old.  Your PKU test came back negative and we will only be contacted if there are concerns with your blood work, but that will take several weeks.

When you were brought back to me we went to sleep for a few hours until you needed to be fed again.  After you were fed you were taken back to the nursery to be examined by the pediatrician again and to have your circumcision done.  While you were being checked the lactation nurse came in and taught me to express a little milk for you to have as a treat during your procedure.  However, when they brought you back they told me that you didn't cry or make a sound during the procedure and so you got the milk as an after treat.  You were my brave little boy right from the start!

Your Dad arrived pretty early in the morning and so he was there for your first diaper change after the circumcision so we learned how to take care of it together.  Then your Grandma Mary and Aunties arrived.  They stayed for a short visit before they had to start on their drive home.

After their visit we waited for the photographer to come and for you to have your first photoshoot.  It did not go very well because she was an hour later than she had said and you were very hungry and fussy.  We didn't get a lot of great pictures but there were some cute ones.  I have gotten in touch with the photographer to see if there is a way to do a reshoot.  If not then I will likely only order one or two of the photos and we will get more pictures done at a later time.

After the photoshoot it was time to pack you into your carseat for the very first time.  The nurse was there to make sure that we were installing you into your seat correctly and she was kind enough to take some pictures for us.  She also helped us pack up everything so we were certain not to forget anything!

Our First Family Photo!

All packed up and ready to go!

You and I were officially discharged at 1pm and leaving the hospital was bittersweet.  I was very glad to be going home (and taking you with me) but the staff had been so kind and had really helped me adjust to taking care of you full time and I knew I was going to miss them!  The nurse who took care of you right after your circumcision escorted us out to the hospital lobby and waited with you and I while your Dad went to get the car.  You were a hit with all the nurses on the floor and the ladies in the lobby were also drawn to you.  They all thought you were adorable and they could not believe how much you looked like a little boy.  You even attracted the security guard who came over to congratulate us.

Finally your Dad pulled up to the door and it was time for us to go home.  I rode in the backseat with you to make certain that you didn't need anything as we drove home.  The ride home was very quiet.  You slept the whole way home and your Dad and I listened to Christmas music.  This was your FIRST car ride!

When we got home it was time to introduce you to Hunter - but that is a post all in itself.

After about a half an hour, your Grandma Janet, Grandpa Dennis and Great Grandma Irene came to visit you.  You have not met GG Irene as she had not come to the hospital so she was very eager to meet you.  She is 88 years old and you are very lucky to have her as many kids don't ever get to meet their Great Grandparents.

You and Great Grandma Irene

Once GG Irene was done holding you then it your Grandma Janet wanted to hold you again.  Since I hadn't gotten any pictures in the hospital I made sure to get some while we were at home.

You and Grandma Janet

The Jakan family stayed for a few hours and then it was time to say goodbye to them and it was just you, me, your Dad, and Hunter - our new family of FOUR!

You spent the rest of the evening sleeping, eating, and messing your diaper (which we changed of course).  It was very nice to enjoy the night as our new family.  Your first night at home you did really well.  You woke up every 3-4 hours to eat (which took you about 20 minutes) and then I would change your diaper and give you just a little bit more to eat to help you fall back asleep.  You did not want to sleep in your bassinet because you had mostly been co-sleeping with me at the hospital as you had been waking every 2 hours so I let you sleep on my chest for a bit to help you get to sleep and then I put you in your bassinet.

You also seemed to not want to be swaddled in the fleece Halo swaddle (though you were very comfortable in the swaddle at the hospital) so we just made sure you were in very warm jammies and I swaddled you but left your arms out and tucked you under a fleece blanket while I was watching TV.  When it was time for bed we put you in a fleece sleep sack.  But, I noticed that your arms would wake you up so I said that the next night we would work on the swaddle!

Resting in Mom' bed while she watched TV

Given how many issues we could have had I believe the transition from hospital to home went very well and that you handled the craziness of Day 2 very well.

xoxo
Mom