Home Sweet Home…
The Dawsons left Sturtevant a family of two and returned a trio. We were released from the hospital around 3:30 this afternoon. Our insurance gave us 48 hours after the birth and with a snowstorm(!) on the way, we decided to get out of there a bit early. Honestly, while it is nice to have the resources of the hospital right at hand, but the prospect of our own couches and bed beckoned all day.
We spent the past two night on the post-partum floor of West Allis Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Center. As amazing as our nurses were on the delivery floor, the nurses we had the past few days left quite a bit to be desired. If I have the energy, it could be its own post one of these days, but suffice it to say - none of our post-partum nurses will be getting any thank you cards, but I do plan on filling out a few comment cards.
Inept service aside, we’re doing as well as can be expected. Elliott is doing great. She’s an eager eater, extremely aware and alert and still cute as a button. She does have a mild case of jaundice, but nothing out of the ordinary for a baby of her size. Kari is recovering. The biggest challenge right now is what amounts to a case of serious whiplash. She pulled nearly every muscle in her neck and shoulders pushing little Elle out (see the “12 Hours Later” post on my blog to read the full story). Because of that, she is unbelievably uncomfortable. Do you know what the best cure for a muscle strain is? Immobility. Try nursing a baby while not moving your neck. Doesn’t work so well.
While Kari is fighting the pain, I’m trying to do all that I can to make both girls comfortable. I’ve changed about 20 diapers already (Elle hits a particularly unique note when that cold wipe hits her little butt) and trying to keep her quiet so Kari can get some sleep and rest her aching mind and body. We’re all tired and at times all confused at what to do next, but we can’t help but smile at our little girl. Even when she’s testing out her lung capacity at 3:30am.
At the request of many, here are a few more photos…
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