Life is a journey, not a destination...: One week old

One week has passed since Pais was born, and wow what a week it has been. We were discharged from the hospital Saturday and my last question to the Pediatrician was "Are you sure we're allowed to take her home?" After the doctor checked her over and said that she literally was like a "full term baby" just in a little package, she said we were ready to be released from the hospital. We were discharged around 11 am, and in a blink of an eye we were strapping her in to her carseat and headed home.

The car ride home I was a nervous wreck. I told Jaris to drive safe probably about 5 times. We also needed to buy a new head insert for the carseat for Preemie's. Very thankful my mom and dad bought us the head insert the very next day. As for the first night home...Holy emotional roller coaster! It's really true when they say there is a such thing called "the FOURTH trimester." And I was feeling it. There were so many emotions going on because it was reality, we now had a newborn and I still wasn't sure how to be a Mom!

Car ride home!

Once we got home, my parents met us here at our house and helped us unload everything from the car and start organizing. For those of you who know me, my house is pretty spotless and to say that I was overwhelmed with all the "new stuff" coming in was an understatement. I felt like I didn't know what to do with it all. I was so grateful for all the things we got, but having to unpack and organize all the stuff was a bit much. Thankfully my Mom was there and to be completely honest, no matter how old I am or what stage of "adulthood" I'm in, a Mother's comfort is something you just can't replace. She made me feel like everything was going to be ok, and she started packing our diaper bag with Jaris and help tidy everything up. Our first meal out of the hospital was Ned's Krazy Sub courtesy of my parents! It was delicious!!

As for the first night...it was rough on me! I am a worrier, so I had a difficult time falling asleep. I just kept looking at her to make sure she was ok and breathing, and constantly worrying over every little thing. Pretty sure that's every new Mom, right?! Jaris and I set alarms for every 3 hours throughout the night to feed her, and she was pretty spot on to most of them, but for some we actually had to wake her up. The doctor said that she should not go more then 3 hours for feeding since being a preemie, they want her gaining weight. First night was down, and on to day two of being home. The emotional roller coaster continued and I won't lie I was a hot mess! Poor Jaris would just see me crying out of no where and he would be so supportive, but what I was crying over...who knows!? It would be that I missed our New Zealand nurse, P had the hiccups, I missed my Mom & Dad, worried she wouldn't sleep well, worried I wouldn't sleep well, how would I feed her, what if she didn't burp...etc, etc. I looked up the term for all these feelings and they are legit...Called "Baby Blues." Happens to most all new mommies, and it made me feel a little better!

Day 3 (Monday) came around and I was getting a little better hour by hour. I even would text some of my "mom friends" and ask "Is this normal, this hot mess roller coaster?" Sure enough, all of them said yes, due to the crazy hormones and chemical imbalance trying to purge the body. Jaris was super supportive and helpful through the whole thing, again...my rock! Day 4 of being home (today) I feel back to my normal self...for the most part. I know it will be a roller coaster being a new mom, but getting back to my routine of things, I feel so much better! No tears = Success! We've gone out a couple times: to my parents, the pediatrician, QuikTrip, brother and sister-in-laws, and tonight we went Bahama Bucks! We have also been so grateful and blessed by all the wonderful people bringing over dinners to us! The Nevin's provided dinner on Sunday, the Philpot's brought dinner tonight, our neighbors the McNeil's brought over homemade brownies and ice cream, my parents have brought us dinner and lunch several times. We have many more dinners coming from so many amazing families that we really are thankful!!

As for Jaris and I...well we live the life of feed, change, sleep, watch World Cup soccer...repeat! We are definitely getting use to being parents but sometimes it doesn't feel real. I am recovering pretty well from my csection but wow, it hurts to cough, sneeze, and laugh! Oh and cheer for USA soccer. I've done good weening myself off of any pain meds because I didn't like how they made me feel, always gave myself an upset stomach. I'm slowly getting my appetite back (it took me 4 days) but it's nice to eat an actual full meal rather then peanut butter toast. We couldn't be happier to have Paisley in our lives, and we will continue learning something new everyday being parents. Several people mentioned already, so when will you be ready for the second one? My response "I'm sorry, what!?!?" Not even a thought in my mind. Lol! We love all the prayers, support, and love that we have gotten these last two weeks, and we can't believe Miss P is already one week old! She lost 5 oz. in the hospital but is already back up 2 oz. so that's a positive. She's still a little peanut, but we are so happy that she is ours. Here's to another night of restless sleep but falling in love with our little girl more and more.