Coming Home as a Family of 5!

We were discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon and made our way home for Hannah and Hudson to welcome their baby brother.

Andrew is all tucked in his car seat ready to go.

Rodney rang the front door bell and let the kids answer the door and find Andrew waiting to see them.
We're home!!!

Hannah is such a proud big sister.


Sweet little face



Andrew is doing so well. He started showing signs of jaundice right after we got home, so I took him in to the pediatrician on Tuesday to get him checked out. His bilirubin level was 11.2 which wasn't bad (in comparison to Hannah's and Hudson's which were 16 and 19 at this age). He also had gained 3 ounces since we left the hospital making him 8 pounds and 4 ounces (he lost 9 ounces from birth to discharge). He is nursing every 2 hours and is very efficient when he's not too tired. But, because of the nature of being a newborn and so sleepy and the fatigue that jaundice causes it takes him an hour or more to nurse well. I have to constantly stimulate him to keep him awake to eat. If he wasn't so tired all the time I bet he could be done in 10 minutes. That would be nice since right now I nurse for an hour, rest for an hour, nurse for an hour, rest for an hour and so on. I've pretty much only been able to nurse, burp, and soothe him and not much else. Hannah and Hudson have been very understanding, though, and have adjusted well so far. I guess we'll see how this week goes with no help here.



He sleeps pretty well and has already slept up to 3 1/2 hours between feedings at night. He's usually sleeping well between the last feeding around 10pm to about 2am, but after 4am he wants to he held to sleep. I've been spending some time sleeping on the couch with him. All in all, he is a very easy baby who justs wants to eat, sleep, and suck on a pacifier when tired. He only cries when he has to burp and when he's over-tired and needs to be soothed to sleep.




Everyone....I mean EVERYONE...that sees Andrew comments on his goldilocks.

I caught a little smile while he was dozing.

His first bath at home-check out the hair!!!

And after his hair dried this is what it looked like,

from Afro baby to Spike!

I've had so much fun with Andrew. It's been such a nice transition so far. I have been so much more relaxed this time around. Maybe it's because nursing is going so much better this time, or maybe because this just might be the last time we have a newborn and I want to savor it, or just maybe because I feel like I finally know what I'm doing. Whatever the reason I'm glad to have no stress in this first week. I hope it continues.

BB and Andrew

And a huge reason why this week has been so stress-free is because my mother has been here since Andrew was born and has cooked for us, cleaned, and cared for us all week. We can't say how awesome it's been to have her here. What a big help to us!

Also, Big Mama Papo came and cared for the kids from the day before Andrew was born to Saturday when we came home. We are so blessed to have such loving grandparents for our children!