3 Full Days at Home

Today marked our 3rd full day at home! Daddy went back to work on Wednesday and my mom (aka Grammy) has been home with me from Wednesday and will continue to help me throughout next Friday. I am now released to drive, but I have weight restrictions. I am not able to lift Evan in his carseat - or anything that is heavier than Evan's bodyweight. This makes it hard for me to even be home alone.

Yesterday, we had our first official outing! We met Daddy at his work to go out for lunch - Daddy showed Evan off to all the ladies (and Doug)! :) Evan got his first glimpse of Chinese food! And today we went to get Evan's pictures taken professionally. I have been waiting for a long time to do this and it was better than I even dreamed! I took some of my own little props and she incorporated them into the photos. We had one of my wedding ring dangling from his big toe, another where he is lying naked on top of our Mizzou football, another where he is lying in front of his name spelled out (the letters from his room), another where my back is to the camera and he is peeking over my shoulder, and more. My mom was nearly in tears watching, while I was holding Evan is his poses. The few pictures that I did get a glimpse of were sooo cute and all I can think about is getting to see them. They will be up on her website on Thursday so I will let everyone know! I cannot wait!!!!

These last days have been a little rough. Evan seems to have his days and nights completely flipped. He gets the hiccups almost every time after he eats. He has a fourth of his food down his chin because all the nipples I can find are drowning him. We have decided to stick with the volu-feeder bottles with the preemie nipples - they seem to work the best! Looks as though taking these antibiotics are affecting the outcome of me breastfeeding, so I'm not sure I will be able to try and go back to giving him breastmilk! I'm not completely giving up yet - but I am not feeling so confident. This is a huge hurdle for me, so I hoping that I can overcome!!! :) It's amazing to me that I have to start getting ready 2 hours before it is time to leave the house - even with my mother watching Evan while I shower. I am such a get-up-and-go person, which has changed - I hardly want to even leave the house. And the biggest challenge, my decreased energy! Not only do I have a new baby that has a messed up night schedule, but I have been on either bedrest or restrictions for over 2 months and doing anything is completely wiping me out. I am going to start trying to walk a little to try and build up my stamina! It is hard enough to battle no sleep, but I am just completely exhausted like I had not even slept at all.

But even with the craziness of these past few days - it has all been worth it! Nights are the worst, but there is nothing better than waking up to those big blue eyes, little nose and little lips. He will smile when I give him kisses and when we sing the 'itsy bitsy spider' and clap his hands at the end and say 'yeah Evan'! Dorky, I know - would you expect any less?!?!?!?