The Day We Came Home

I remember when Liam was born the nurse who was assigned to us tried to convince me that staying in the hospital as long as insurance would allow would help me rest better.  I didn't do it then and I can say from experience now that it was NOT more restful to stay another day.  It didn't help that they kept checking the baby's vitals every four hours and mine at less consistent intervals but at different times.  Then there were the midnight baby weighs and the wee morning hour checks to see if he was jaundiced.  Also the ward was really full, so we kept having different nurses.....I could go on, but the point is eventually, on Wednesday, we did get to go home.  Here are some pictures.

Gotta do the wheel chair shot, right?  Frankly, I'm glad I didn't have to walk.

Victory!

 Devin's first breaths of outside air were mostly car exhaust. 

 All the stuff that ended up at the hospital.  Because of my sensitivities to fragrances I took all my own linens, plus we took the big air filter.  And some food because I have some sensitivities with that too.  I really tried to keep it to a minimum, but it was a lot of stuff.  The hospital staff was generally very understanding - or at least cooperative if they were a little confused.  One person asked if we'd gotten a water pitcher and when we explained we'd brought our own said something like "You don't want our water either, huh?"  In general, though I was very impressed with the communication between the hospital staff at a very busy time.

 They always look so puny in that great big car seat!

 Headed into the house at last!  It was kind of a rushed big moment.  Liam was at a friend's house.  Mom had had to go back to Columbus early and we were down a car, so we were very thankful that friends could pick him up from preschool while Dad came to get us.

 Settling in with Grandpa.

 Devin still hadn't had his first bath.  Since I knew there would be lots of crying I decided to do it while Liam was having his snack so he could supervise and maybe it would help take some of the mystery out of the crying baby.

 I tried to keep him covered up at first.  Not too bad.

 Hair washing he could handle.

 The rest was terrible.  I sort of gave up on keeping him covered in favor of getting it over with.

 Now we have gotten to that pathetic wavering cry.  I can just see him thinking "I came out two weeks early for this?"

 Now he finds that there is some comfort in the world, but he's not ready to set aside his grievances. 

 Worn out.

I put him down on is back and he rolled away from us and fell asleep.  At least you can see all that cute downy hair!