Thursday, February 2, 2012

Day 3 Of Your Life

Thursday was a rough day! We were working on virtually no sleep from the night before and we got discharged, which therefore meant you got circumcised.

We got woken up at 6 in the morning (right about the time you finally went to sleep) by the nurse saying that the doctor was ready to do your circumcision. So they wheeled you off and I slept with your dad for a while. When you came back I asked for the nurses to take you so we could get a little rest. With the sleepless night and no nap the day before, I was exhausted. The break was short lived though because the doctor that did your circumcision came in shortly afterwards to give us care and discharge instructions for you. Then after that my doctor came in to give me discharge instructions. By the time all this had occurred you were ready to eat! 

The nurse manager from the unit came to visit us in the morning and she gave you the cutest Saint Al's bear. I work with her frequently and so we talked a bit about the unit and service that we received. 

Dad and I had our 'celebration breakfast' together with you sleeping soundly in the room. The lactation people came in again to have another consult so that I could ask any final question. After that Dad had to go off to work so it was just you and me again. 

We had the hearing screener come in to do your hearing test. I knew that you weren't going to be ready for your test since she had told me you needed to be in a deep sleep, and because of the circumcision earlier you were very fussy and just wanted to be held. You were just barely sleeping in my arms. However, I let her try since it was the last day in the hospital and I had already put her off the day before because we were so busy. The hearing screening did not go well. You were upset from the very beginning and woke up before she even started the test. We got you to calm down for a few minutes and I thought we were in the clear. Then you got the hiccups and everything spiraled downward. Although you passed the left ear, your right ear wasn't testing properly and you began to cry. It was at this point that I had my first 'mother bear' moment. You were inconsolable and I wanted to help you calm down. When the screener finally realized that you weren't going to calm down she let me pick you up. I was so frustrated at her by this point that I started to get angry. Although I was holding you, you were inconsolable. My heart hurt for your pain and frustration. She finally realized that your ear wasn't going to test and said we could reschedule for another day. Yet she wouldn't take all of the LEDs off of your head. I began to tear up in my frustration at her. I tried explaining to her that you just wanted to eat and be loved and that there was no point in leaving the LEDs on if we weren't going to finish the test. She caved eventually when you wouldn't calm down. It took me quite some time and lots of love to get you to calm down. 

At this point Dad came back and it was time for me to get a massage. Dad held you and kept you calm while I got my massage. The emotions from the week and frustration from earlier made me cry a little as I got my massage. The release of the tension was wonderful and I was glad the massage helped me relax. After the massage we were ready to be discharged. We started packing up our things and the nurse came to give us our discharge instructions. I was so distraught at how you were feeling so I didn't want to subject you to getting changed into the outfit that I had brought. I had this picture perfect idea of how we would be going home. You in your outfit, me having showered with my hair and makeup done and me being wheeled out of the hospital with you in my arms. It was nothing like that, and I am completely okay with that. I have already learned that parenting is full of expectations that can be broken or exceeded. In this case the expectation was broken and I was completely okay with that. 

The car ride home went well, you like the car seat once you calmed down from being put into it. I was so exhausted I tried to sleep when we got home, but you woke up hungry. Grandpa Miklos called and I had a little bit of a breakdown on the phone. I fed you and then I did get a chance to take a shower for the first time since before the delivery. The shower helped tremendously. Grandma Harper came by and brought us food for dinner and spent some time with you. Dad and I had a few minutes to ourselves and got a chance to eat while Grandma held you. After she left we were pretty much ready to go to bed. It was early, but with no sleep the day before or on Thursday we were ready to turn in. 

You slept much better this first night at home. You slept for about two hours at a time and then woke for feedings. I awoke still tired, but feeling much better and with a new outlook on life. At least the first night at home was a successful one!

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