Elizabeth's first day of life was pretty calm once the business of being born was taken care of. She nursed for a little
shortly after she was born. And again a few hours later. Then she
proceeded to sleep all afternoon!
Ellie was born in the wee hours of Friday morning. Due to some delays getting Ellie's blood work okayed by the pediatrician, we didn't make it up to a mother/baby room before nurse shift change at 7 a.m., so we got to hang out in the labor and delivery room for an extra few hours. So even though I desperately wanted to sleep after being awake all night, it wasn't meant to be. I couldn't drift off in the bright room with the uncertainty of when we would be moved. At least they didn't completely forget about me like when Claire was born!
Once we got into a room, we had some visitors. Brandi's dad came by around 9 or 10 to meet his new grand baby. And Jeff's dad came by around lunchtime. The NP from the pediatrician's office came by in the morning to check out Elizabeth. She gave her the seal of approval, even after changing a poopy diaper just as Ellie decided to poop again! Poop squirting out all over the place! All told, Ellie pooped 9 times in her first day! Jeff and Grammi both went home for naps and to meet the pest control guy who was supposed to take care of some bees in our bushes. He was quite late but fortunately Grammi was there to meet him.
The first night was a little reminiscent of our first night with Claire, but not nearly as difficult. Claire cried for a long time in the middle of the night until we finally fell asleep during some side lying nursing (for an hour and half!). Elizabeth similarly spent over an hour in the same position. And she was more of a fusser than a screamer and much easier soothed. She didn't like being in the bassinet thing and much preferred laying next to someone. So she took turns sleeping beside me and Jeff for the night.
Saturday, Ellie's second day, was a whirlwind of activity. A photographer came by in the morning to try to take some pictures for us. But the pediatrician on call came in just after her. He gave Elizabeth a quick check and gave us the go ahead to take her home that day if we wanted. Then the photographer came back and tried to get some pictures, but Ellie was hungry and cranky so she was going to come back later. Then most of our immediate family arrived to meet Elizabeth. Jeff's sister, his brother and his wife, my brother and his wife, my mom, and Jeff's parent and Claire were all there. Claire was a little overwhelmed by the hospital environment and all the people. She liked looking at and holding her new baby sister until Ellie started to cry. Claire got a panicked look on her face and frantically asked to get down off of the bed. She perked up with all the presents though! She helped mommy open some presents and even got a few presents herself. Elizabeth had brought Claire a big sister present with some play-doh, a nightgown, and a special big girl Minnie Mouse cup. Claire immediately became enamored with her new cup and proceeded to carry it everywhere.
The midwife on call came in while everyone was around. After a few questions for me and some quick instructions, she gave me the okay to be discharged if I wanted. I could have chosen to stay until the next day but thought we'd probably be going home that evening. But then everything happened quickly and we were cleared to go by lunchtime! I got a little panicky about leaving so quickly and needed a little quiet time to recharge after having everyone visit. Plus, we needed to finish our pictures. With lunch time rolling around, everyone headed out and I shooed Jeff off to have lunch with his parents and Claire so that I could have some alone time. After some food and some alone time to decompress, felt much calmer. I ready to go home once Jeff got back from lunch. And so, the three of us came home to our quiet house, mercifully absent of people who wanted to take my temperature or blood pressure!
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