You may be wondering why A is smiling in the picture above. Well...it was because I was telling her the good news...she gets to go home with Daddy & Mommy tomorrow!! I have cried every day, since they told me that I would go home before her. They said she would be here for a week after I went home. I immediately started praying that she would be home by at least mid-week. I figured I could handle a few days better than a full week, but as always, God had better plans! Something seemed to happen each day that kept me here and A just continued to improve. I'm so happy that we will go home as a family of three!
I have been breastfeeding for a few days now and it is going very well. A has latched on from day one, but getting her to stay awake and continue to feed was a problem. By day three, she was nursing like a champ! I have to say that breastfeeding is a commitment and a lot of work. I can see why a lot of Mommas give up and just go to formula. I wasn't excited about breastfeeding when I first got pregnant...the thought of it...well...it grossed me out. The longer I was pregnant, I started opening up to the idea and once she was here, I WANTED to do it. I felt so helpless with her in the NICU, I felt as though it was the only thing I could do for her. Though it's tiring and sometimes painful, I'm really enjoying that time with her.
Many have said they want to hear A's birth story. I will be honest...I don't remember a whole lot of it. I will have Alex type that post because he was there and remembers everything. He will explain why I don't remember much of it. So when Alex can, he will post. :) And speaking of my husband, he has been THE BEST partner in all of this. He hasn't left my side, has slept on a terribly uncomfortable bed, has had little-to-no-sleep, and has taken wonderful care of me. He's the best. I love you, babe.
Tonight A will join us in our room...this will be our first night with her! I'm sure I will get very little sleep, but I'm excited to have my baby girl by my bedside.
Love to all,
29 comments:
Oh Jill. Welcome home sweet Baby A. I am so thrilled for you! Hugs from Australia! xxxxx
So glad she gets to come home! Yay! What an answer to prayer!
OH, I'm so happy you are coming home together!! That is just FANTASTIC news!
Oh, Jill!!! That's such wonderful news!! Praise YOU, Lord!!!!
You are so right about breastfeeding being a committment and a lot of work! I felt the same way as you, at first, with our first, but just like you, the longer I was pregnant the more I wanted to... I was so glad I decided to do it, too! It was rough at times, and painful, but if you can get through those first rough weeks, it really gets easier! And by baby #2 you'll have it down pat! I didnt have any of the problems or pain the second time! I will tell you what saved me though, the first time, was a shield...you can get them at Target (Medela makes them)...it's just a clear little piece that protects you and helps the baby latch on. Lactation consultants say not to use the shield all the time because it may reduce your milk supply...I had to use mine quite a bit though, because I was so sore and even had sores and some bleeding (not to give you TMI or scare you half to death)...the shield saved me several times! :) Just passing that along... :)
Praying that the settling in goes well!
Oh my gosh... I hadn't heard the good news! This is AWESOME!!!!! I can't wait until I get to come hold that sweet thing :) And I'm so glad breastfeeding is going well.... I knew you'd be a natural at it!
Love you!
Thank you Lord for YOUR perfect timing! SOOOO excited you get to take sweet A home- hooray!!!! Been praying for you all... I know very well how hard it is to have your precious baby (babies!) in the NICU and leaving them... oh it's so hard. REJOICING with you today!
Hi Jill,
It's Sara (the photographer who fixed your wedding picture!) here. I just wanted to say a huge congrats on A's birth. She is such a doll! I love all the photos, esp. the one where I can see her little foot (where the nurses are holding her). I am a mom of two girls and I know what a blessing they are!!
I have nursed both my girls... still nursing my younger one at 20 months (just once a day, before bed). It is at once the most natural and unnatural things you can do! A lot of moms stop at the beginning because they feel they are doing something wrong when really they are doing everything right. Just follow your baby's lead and you'll be fine. Every newborn falls asleep while nursing...just pat a cold washcloth on her face to try to wake her and if that doesn't work, don't worry...let her sleep. She will take what she needs. Remember, this is the way that humans have survived since the beginning of time. Babies are wired to know how to do it...so just let her be your guide. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me: scolket [at] gmail.com.
Most of all...have fun and enjoy every minute of her!
Sara
Praise God!
::andreajennine::
Jill, this just makes my day! LOL, U guys are great and I am so glad the Lord made all this happen. Miss A is beautiful, we are praying for you daily. Enjoy that sweet miracle.
Emailed you last night about how happy I was all of you get to go home together...
I was the same way about breastfeeding in the beginning. Who would have thought I would have turned into this rabid shark about it now? lol I thought it was gross too (I was not breastfed and I think that is why I felt that way about it b/c my kids sure don't think it is gross, it is all they know). I first started reading about it b/c I wanted to stay home and needed to save as much money as possible. But, the more I read about it, the more determined I became... and then it turned into wanting to do what is best for her. It did not come naturally to me, it hurt like heck (and continues to hurt like heck with each one), and I didn't understand growth spurts. But we made it for 10 months, though I gave her way too many solids too early.
I read where your MIL was able to help you. I'm glad you have her. I had *no one* with my first and was so clueless.
I'm here if you need me!
Oh Jill! That is wonderful news! I'm so glad that your little Ms. A will be going home with you! She is so beautiful...and perfect...and tiny...and just amazingly strong (like her momma!). I can't wait to see how God will use her little life. She's already such a testimony! And, I can't wait to have her as my future daughter-in-law ;) Alex hasn't purchased that gun yet, has he?
Sending love to you guys!
Yea!! Praise the Lord! I'm soooo happy for all three of you! I can't wait to hear all about her birth and your first few days at home together.
Yay! She gets to go see her beautiful room! She's so precious.
YAY Baby A!!!! So glad that you get to go home as a family - it really means a lot. And so glad that the BF is going well.... it didn't for me, and that is still one of my biggest hang-ups about our first weeks together.
YAY!!! I am SO excited for you, Alex, and A! Welcome home, A!
Yay!! I am so excited for you. Congratulations!
So very very excited for you. I admire you for your decision to breastfeed. I didn't and sometimes wish I had of. A is absolutely beautiful. God is sooo faithful~so happy you are all getting to go home together!
oh that is so awesome that you get to come home and be a family of three today. God works such wonderful miracles...A, Alex and you are examples of those miracles.
Yeah glad she's going home with you too! She's such a doll that A!! Glad the nursing is going so great too :)
what a great post to read!!! i am so excited for you. and i am very glad the nursing thing is going well for you, i was in terrible pain and i just made myself do it with Sara and it got better, then with John William i was torturing myself so i just tried for two months but if you and A are doing great from the begining then keep on doing it as long as you can, it will be great for her now days with all of those viruses going around, your breast milk will help her be stronger and built her immune system:)Oh! these are exciting times, enjoy every minute of it!! while i was reading about how Alex has been wonderful it remind it me of JP too when i had Sara, i will never forget how i fell in love with him all over again, he was so sweet, he was the man!! Ha! hope to meet little A in person very soon. love you guys:)
I am so happy for you, Jill. We have been praying for you guys over here every night at bedtime (L and I, if you want to picture that!) and we are beyond words happy that everything has gone so well for you both. I cannot wait to see more photos and hear more about A. I am so glad nursing is working for you and keep up the good work, mama! (MAMA! I can totally call you that, because YOU ARE ONE!)
*hugs*
Amen! So glad she is finally coming home- so thankful that God has blessed your family, even if it want' as you had originally planned!! Our girls are only about a week apart- can't wait to hear your birthstory. So glad she is home!!
Congratulations. She's adorable and thankfully in good health.
Oh, God is so good!!! I am so, SO happy for you! Baby A is coming home!!!! I keep thinking about God telling you it was finally "your turn" back right before you got pregnant and I get chills thinking that now, that promise has come all the way to fulfillment!!!
You are SO right about the breastfeeding....and I promise the pain will get better...and eventually non-existent! I had to fight to keep both of mine awake for feedings at the beginning....and that passes, too.
SOOOOOOO THRILLED beyond belief for you and just so thankful to God for all His blessings!
INCREDIBLE! i love the way God works!
Oh that God of ours...He is so wonderful. So glad to hear your great news.
Still here praying for your cute little family.
Love, from Wisconsin
Praise God you didn't have to spend one single moment away from your little darling!!!! SO happy for you!!!
Congratulations from Italy!
Thinkin of you.... I have so been where you are. We had to leave Ben in the hospital for one whole week after we left. It was so hard. You are so blessed!!! She is such a doll!!!!
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