thetadpoles.com

What? A baby is being entrusted in our care?? We can take one home, without the monitors?! Yes they set little Loen free. It happen quickly. They said in a couple of days and they weren’t kidding. I am in a state of disbelief that after 3 and a 1/2 months we can take one home. We could have gone home on Sunday but a nurse noticed one of Loen’s pupils was larger than the other and they wanted the ophthalmologist to assess her before she was discharged. He wasn’t overly concerned but it was in the eye where she had more extensive laser surgery. I should have known things wouldn’t go smoothly. While he is a good eye doctor he is notorious for running late. When I got to the NICU in the morning I was told he would be there around 1pm. I went over all of the discharge teaching with the nurse ahead of time so we would be ready to walk out the door as soon as her eye exam was done. I went home to get some lunch and pick up Tadd. On the drive back to the NICU we were so excited, I had butterflies in my stomach. We walked in and the nurse gave us a little frown and said the doctor wanted Loen’s eyes dilated and would be back after 5:30 to check her. Sigh… I felt like that scene in Godfather III where he says “Just when I thought I was out… THEY PULL ME BACK IN. ” All said and done Loen’s eyes look fine, she hated the eye exam and her eyes were swollen and red. We were told to make a follow-up appointment in 3 months and we were free to go. It was 7 pm. Gone were the plans to make a quiet dinner at home with Loen. We moved to plan Plan B, I ordered Rusty’s pizza on the car trip home. So that was our first night. Loen in one of our arms, watching Lost and eating pizza. It worked for me.

Last pictures in the NICU. Unfortunately the eye exam caused her to look like she had been partying all night long.

Coming home

I just feel so torn that Derby has to stay. Though he had a bad A & B early Saturday morning and I would rather him do that while he is in the hospital vs. home. You know it is bad when ICU nurses looked concerned and call the doctor at 1:30 am. They aren’t totally sure what caused it other than he got upset and had a large poop. He still doesn’t really know what to think about pooping, it is such a foreign thing to him. You can see him bare down, his head will turn red then his heart rate will drop. I tried telling him he cant go home till he cuts it out but I’m not sure if he was listening. Something we learned about Derby is he LOVES the swing. We brought in the swing we got at the baby shower and he acts like a little King in it. Bad thing Loen also LOVES the swing. She was in it earlier and I think Derby knew and he got a little crabby. Looks like we are going to have to buy a second swing! Thats ok, I hear that is the way you get a shower when you have twins, put them in the swing. Poor little Derby, he probably thought he was making out. “All right! I get the swing all to myself. HA HA Loen, too bad for you! Wait… wait a second… where are they going? And why is Loen going with them? COME BACK! You can have the swing I want to come home!”

A little one on one with Derby before taking Loen home. Poor little guy had no clue what was going on

Loen’s first night she was up almost the entire time till 6:30 am when she finally fell asleep. She didnt cry very much just wiggled and grumped. I kept leaning over the co-sleeper to check on her. Loen and I slept in till 10 when she decided it was time to eat. The last couple of nights have been better. I premade all the bottles and put them in a little cooler by the bed. I was told not to nurse her all the time because it will tire her out. So I am trying to nurse every other time. She is getting better with both breast and bottle. We have committed the unthinkable by putting her in bed with us a couple for times. I put her in the co-sleeper and she whines, I put her next to me and she is fast asleep. When you’re tired the fast asleep baby looks pretty desirable vs the whining baby. I mentioned that to the NICU nurses and they had a look of horror on their face. They told me a story of a family who took their baby home from the NICU only to have the baby suffocate in their bed. Yup no more babies in the bed!

We were supposed to have our first pediatricians appointment yesterday but alas mommy missed it. I thought it was at 11 am and I was in the car getting ready to leave when I got a call from his office. They wanted to know why I missed her appointment, I said I thought it was at 11 and I was on my way. Well it was at 10:45 and I was told it was too late to try and see him. The rescheduled for today at 12:30 and I was told NOT to miss this one. I’m sure there is a sticky note on the chart about how I am a loser mom. CRAP! So much for the good first impression. I told Tadd I am afraid we will never get anywhere on time again. I feel like by the time I feed and change Loen, clean myself up, change Loen again because she spit up, try and get some food it is like 2 pm! What is going to happen when Derby comes home?They both take anywhere between 20-40 minutes to eat. It is going to be a never ending cycle of eat, change, sleep..repeat.

Loen test driving the changing table

Loen in her crib (not like she sleeps there!) Nice job by my mom and brother on the bedding!

Derby’s crib is ready and waiting….

Loen looking very smug watching Lost.