After the delivery, the nurses came in and took care of all the standard protocols of washing, weighing, measuring etc. Within an hour and a half we were whisked away from the relative comfort of the private room in the spacious labor and delivery ward to the confines of the postpartum wing. Here is a shot of our room:
There isn't much more to it than that. Rebekkah was recovering in the bed and I had a recliner over by the window. Baby slept on our chests when she slept. She was a little irritable the first day and night and needed a lot of feeding and comfort. We were happy to oblige. The first night she slept on and off for about a half hour at a time with feedings and cryings in between. Family and friends were there in full force to see little Emma and welcome her to the world. She is very loved and lucky to have the extended relatives and friends that care for her.
The second (Monday) night in the hospital was no different, not a lot of normalcy and I think the baby was feeling that. She didn't sleep much better and seemed to only be comforted when she was feeding. Daddy learned that laying Emma on his chest and giving her his pinky worked very well for getting her to sleep. At about 3 am, when all were finally fast asleep, we were awakened to a nurse busting in and asking where the baby was. Rebekkah panicked, because Emma was sleeping on my chest in the recliner. The nurse was hovering over me trying to take her for her lab blood draw, but half-sleep daddies hold their babies in kung-fu grips and don't give in very easily. Quick-witted Rebekkah noticed she had no credentials and asked her for them. Apparently she left them at home and followed the proper protocols of going to get another member of the staff to come get Emma and take her to the nursery. We then fell asleep again and were awakened when they brought Emma back.
At that point, it was getting close to daylight so we just got up because there was no use trying to sleep again. Nurses and staff were in and out and we saw the pediatrician and attending OB who promptly discharged us. After the standard state-compelled counseling session (my own description), we were free to go.
The drive home was apparently the most soothing thing Emma had experienced up to that point. I was expecting her to scream the whole way home, but she zonked out as soon as we got going. I noticed that I was driving like I was in my truck with a glass shower standing up in the back that I was trying to keep from tipping over.
We finally made it home and what a relief it was!! Emma was the guest of honor, and Grandmas Shirley and Susie were there waiting to capture the moment:
Otherwise, the rest of the day and night were about what you would expect. We spent our time resting and caring for Emma and reflecting on how quickly life has changed and will continue to change.
This is her Robert De Niro face..."You lookin' at me? No? Well who else you lookin' at?"
