A New Day
Well, it’s already day two of little Phoebe’s outside-the-womb life. Those tiny heels that were so often making circles under my right rib cage are swaddled up in a clean blanket printed with bears carrying balloons. (Thank for the swaddle, Dad!) At six this morning Nurse Karen came to check our vitals and remove me from the rest of my attachments—I was still hooked to a pulse oximeter, catheter, and fancy auto-pumping support hose. My magnesium sulfate drip had been turned off at 1:30 a.m. (hooray!), so my wooziness had cleared up and I could focus better. Phoebe let us get a little sleep between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.—she woke up three times for a little back-to-sleep snack, but all three of us slept in between.
It truly feels like a new day! I got out of bed for the first time with Karen’s help and went to the bathroom. Then we wheeled everything walk down the hall to our new room in the maternity wing. Bye-bye, labor and delivery! That long Tuesday night and Wednesday morning of laboring and delivering will fade into memory. The hospital has a cute tradition of playing a lullaby in chimes as new moms and dads leave L&D for the maternity wing, so we listened to our lullaby as Phoebe and I got wheeled (me in the wheelchair, her in her bassinet) down to the new room. We have a queen-size bed and a gorgeous view of the mountains, so Dave and I laid down for a quick doze and recoup once we were alone.
Phoebe ate more than once every hour yesterday, like a trooper, so I think she zonked herself out. She’s been sleeping most of this morning, although we woke her up at 7:45 a.m. for breakfast #1-ish. Dave took a shower while she ate and got to put on clean clothes—although he forgot new socks and underwear. Then he swaddled her up and helped me into the shower. It’s amazing how beat up I feel! (Or maybe not, considering everything your body has to do to get the baby out in the first place.) It was lovely to take a shower and rinse off the accumulated goo of the previous twenty-four hours. We just got to meet our new nurse, Leslie, and Dave went down to the lobby to buy a mocha (he’s worthless without his mocha!)
There’s been plenty to occupy us this morning—several checkups by the nurses, a hearing checkup for Phoebe, a visit from one of our new pediatricians, cleaning ladies, a volunteer to offer baby photos, a checkup by Merrilynn (one of the midwives), a flower delivery of beautiful tulips from Elaina… We have a quiet moment before Emily, Katie, and the boys arrive to meet Phoebe, which will be fun. (Pete, Kelli, and Marin stopped by last night to say hi and bring an adorable little pink outfit.) Little Phoebe is napping in her bassinet and Dave and I are both typing away. I’m also eating a fabulous lunch. (I had heard the food here is good—in the hospital!—and it really is. A pork chop with cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes with plenty of pepper, milk, salad, a roll, and peach pie.)
It’s been a busy and good day so far! We sure wish we could see more of you sooner, but we’ll look forward to introducing you all to Phoebe as soon as possible.
