the best week ever.

Monday, July 13th

We headed to the hospital for inducement at 5:00 a.m. By 5:30, I was hooked into my drugs and fluids, by noon I had an epidural (aaaaah) and by 6:00 p.m. my doctor decided it was time to start pushing. My doctor said I did a wonderful job, that most first time mothers have to push for hours- I believe I was told the average was 2-3 hours for a first time mommy, but it only took Liam 30 minutes to make his debut! Mommy and Daddy got some nice time alone with Liam- Daddy cut the cord, Mommy snuggled- Liam "tooted" on the pediatrician. His daddy loved that!



Tuesday, July 14th

I was moved into the postpartum wing at 1 a.m. and Liam came from the nursery often for feedings. He was brought in at around 7 in the morning and stayed in my room with me all day, excepting when they needed to come and take him to be changed and tested and various other things. Daddy has Tuesdays off, so he spent the whole day in the hospital with Liam and me. The "lactation consultant" came by my room and didn't believe that I was a first time mommy, she said I was too good at breastfeeding, and too calm for it to be believed. I was very proud. At 8:30 p.m. Liam was taken to have his bilirubin tested and receive his Hep B vaccination. The nurse returned with him about an hour later and told us Liam had jaundice and he would be taken right into the NICU and would have to remain there overnight, all night, in an incubator, under blue lights until he was cleared by the doctors. There was much crying and devastation on his mommy's part. I didn't like parting with my baby, and I hated not having him come in my room to be fed.


Wednesday, July 15th

I woke up early (5:20) and headed down to the NICU to see Liam- broke my heart. He was in an incubator, crying loudly with a horrible foam mask taped to his face to keep the light out of his eyes. I wasn't allowed to hold him, but I was able to put my hands in with him and rub his head and hold his hand to calm him down. I spent a lonely, trying day in my hospital room with my family trying desperately to cheer me up. Liam was brought to my room 3 times, for 30 minutes each time, to try and get him to feed. The "specialist" came in (finally!) and told me that evening that he wasn't eating well and that because of that they weren't comfortable sending him home and he'd likely be there a few more days. More devastation and crying on Mommy's part. Daddy and I visited Liam in the NICU around 8:00 p.m. and were overjoyed when Liam decided to breast feed for 40 minutes. I was discharged that evening but was allowed to stay on without patient care to be with Liam overnight, and so I made arrangements with the night nurse to come in every 3 hours to feed him.

Thursday, July 16th

I had to give up my hospital room early and my dad and I moved me out and got my stuff into his car with the plan that I would remain at the hospital with Liam- sitting in the waiting room when I couldn't be in the NICU with him. When I went to tell the nurse where I was (since I was kicked out of my room) I was greeted by the PROPER pediatrician who had not only removed Liam from the incubator, but also said he saw no reason at all why Liam should have to stay and that he'd write up the discharge papers! Liam was free to go, except that he had to wait for my OB to return to the hospital to do his circumcision. She arrived at around 1:30 and by 3:30 Liam was all set to go. Since we had to wait for Daddy to come get us, the nurses set me and Liam and Grandma Nancy (and Grandpa Ed for a while) up in triage and let us sit and just play with him and love on him. Daddy arrived shortly after 6:00 p.m. and we headed home! Finally!


Friday, July 17th

Liam had his first doctor's visit at 8:30 in the morning, as were the pediatrician's instructions. He was looked over by the doctor, left her a nice package in his diaper and had his weight and length taken again- and he was ALREADY back to his birth weight! He had been down to 8 lbs 1 oz while in the NICU, but was back up to 8 lbs 9 oz! I was such a happy, proud mama! We headed home and Liam spent the morning getting loved on, since I had spent the last two days without getting to hold my baby hardly at all. His grandparents Clark left for Dallas late that morning and his grandparents Small came over later that afternoon. We had to go back to the hospital to get blood work done (oh my gosh- so horrible having to hold your 4 day old baby while a nurse cuts his heel and squeezes the life out of it trying to collect blood!!!) and then headed to Babies R' Us for some essentials.



Saturday, July 18th

Family day! Daddy didn't have to work, so we spent the whole day together, just loving on our little boy. We got a visit from the Talbert family, who wanted to drop by and have a peek, and other than that, it was a quiet, enjoyable day.


Sunday, July 19th

Grandpa Ed came over to say goodbye, he had to head back to Qatar that afternoon. Liam was an angel baby- as per usual. He makes the funniest faces, he smiles, he makes hysterical noises and he already has a stinky face. He doesn't like the way McDonald's or Pizza Hut smell- he grimaces something mighty!


Monday, July 20th

We woke up with Daddy and had a feeding, and then Liam got in the big bed with mommy (in his sunggle nest, thank you!) and we slept late. Grandma Nancy came over to let Mommy get all the washing done- Liam wet the big boy bed so I had to wash that. He spent the day just being a sweet baby, cuddling with everybody who would let him. Uncle Kirk and Aunt Darlene came to town and came over to see Liam- which was lots of fun because he made Aunt Darlene laugh with a big showing of all his favorite faces.