The FIrst 24 Hours

Well, we made it! Our first night and day with her has been a success!

Yes, we are exhausted. But, yes, we are all very very happy. What a difference a baby makes!

To be honest, she seems very happy to be home. She is smiling alot more. She hasn't cried at all since she has been here. She gurgles, but isn't fussy at all. She even seems to be starting to play just a little bit. It is so nice to see.

There are so many things we have learned about her already. Some we learned over the last 6 weeks in the NICU. Some we were told during discharge yesterday. Some we figured out over the last 24 hours. Some things are because we are new parents. Some things are because she is a preemie, and needs to be handled a bit more gently than a newborn.

She likes to be still - because she was still in NICU for 6 weeks - Walking around with her makes her feel yucky - like she's on a boat. While she was in the NICU, everything was done in her crib (rolling cart) - diaper changes, swaddling, dressing, etc. So, we have learned that is her preference for now - at least until she develops more and gets used to us.

She wears out really easy - overstimulation exhausts her.

Stimulation means having to deal with more than one thing at a time - looking at us AND hearing our voices can be overstimulating if she is also eating AND trying to catch her breath. Fast movements, loud voices directed at her are overstimulating. Camera flashes are overstimulating. Moving her (even from her bassinet to the couch) is overstimulating.

Eating is very hard for her - she has learned how to do it, but it is like a full workout at the gym. Therefore, we have to conserve as much energy as we can for her eating times.

She has learned how to burp and how to help us burp her - she turns her head to one side to help us support her by her jaw.

She has started to reach for her food - she knows its there and its what she needs and wants. She grabs the bottle, our hands, or my skin when feeding.

She just showed Daddy she can hold the bottle herself.

She has stress signals - her way of telling us she's stressed - and her being stressed also leads to her being exhausted. Stress signals: stretching, yawning, sneezing, waving her arms, holding a hand up in a stop sign, grimacing.

When she is holding her hands at her chest or playing with her face, she is stressed, but calming herself down. This means, "Give me a minute."

She also has "I'm ready" signals. These tell us she's happy and ready for more stimulation: Smiling, making an "o" with her lips, being wide awake and alert, looking at us with relaxed arms.

She doesn't really have an immune system built up yet. So, she has to stay home for at least 2 months, except for her doctor appointments (she already has 2: a check up and an eye appointment, since she was on oxygen).

We have to wash our hands before handling her or anything she will touch (bottles, etc.)

Kids and sick people can't be around her for awhile - at least 2 months to 6 months.

She has a schedule already built in by NICU, but she's trying to see where the limits are on it. For the most part, she is sticking to it.

She has 3 different types of medication that have 3 different schedules and two different methods of delivery (in the mouth, mixed with milk). Oye!

She knows how to bottle feed and breast feed.

She has the risk of getting a misshapen head because of prolonged periods of stillness in the NICU and after (from not liking to move). So, we have to really pay attention to rotating her positions throughout the day (side to side and back and front).

And last but not least - she loves us and we love her - Our Scarlet Rose