Finally Home

After almost a week at the hospital, Micah and I got to come home Friday evening. We've been able to rest and catch up on sleep thanks to my wonderful mother- who came to stock our fridge, clean the house, and do our laundry while we stay in bed all day (thanks Mom!!!). We are so glad to be home where we aren't woken up every hour by nurses checking vital signs, and are extremely grateful for our own bed, comfy pillows, and edible food. Although I do miss the nifty electronic bed that moves up and down...

I don't remember a whole lot from the ordeal, due to the fact that I was pumped full of magnesium shortly after we checked into the hospital last Sunday. Apparently magnesium- although it effectively prevents the seizures and kidney failure that come with severe toxemia or preeclampsia- also slows the effects of pitocin. So 15 hours of induced labor didn't result to much progression, but the magnesium (and lots of anesthesia followed by lots of narcotics) did manage to keep me groggy for four days, so at least I don't remember it being that bad, or even remember much of anything. Thank heavens for that, or else I might never agree to have more kids!

I'm feeling mostly like myself again, except that I still look and feel like the Michelin Man from the knees down (Doctor says it might take a few weeks for the swelling from the preeclampsia to go down). Looks like I'll be wearing flip flops in the snow a little longer. The incision from the C-section is healing slowly but surely- it just hurts like crazy when I laugh, so of course everything Micah says is extremely funny and then I try to keep from laughing by taking short, fast, breaths (yay for lamaze class!) which sound like something between a snort and a wheeze, which makes us both laugh even harder. Who knew recovery from major abdominal surgery could be so fun?

Our little Maddi is still in the Special Care Nursery at the hospital, but we get to visit her twice a day. She is healthy, just too small to regulate her own temperature and to thrive without IV-supplemented feedings. As soon as she gains enough weight and is getting enough nutrients on her own, we'll get to bring her home! Already her cheeks are looking fuller and she's more awake and alert when we see her. She is very active (could've told you that- I felt those flailing arms and legs in my ribs and pelvis for months!), and so strong- she's been holding her head up on her own since day one. She has so much personality and makes the most adorable faces- she sleeps with her itty bitty mouth open (gets that from her Dad:) ) and if you try to wake her up she'll crack one eye open and look at you sideways, crinkle her nose and go back to sleep. It's amazing how easy it's been to fall in love with this tiny person we've only known for a week. We already love being parents!