First Week Home

It's been a week now and we are loving our new little family life!  Dylan is 5 months old as of yesterday.  6 1/2 weeks, adjusted (which is how we pretty much count everything).

It's been a bit of an adjustment in good and difficult ways.  Not driving all day is awesome.  So is going outside and getting exercise instead of sitting in a chair all day.  Sleeping is definitely more difficult, but Dylan is on a pretty good schedule so we're not dying.

Leaving the NICU was bittersweet.  The care Dylan got over the past nearly 5 months was fantastic.  We meet some really great people.  It's pretty cool when the doctors and nurses truly care about you and your son and are as excited to see you leave as you are!

Here's our room on the last day.  Good-bye Room 15!

That chair is where I spent most of my time.  I embroidered a birth announcement in that chair.  I learned to crochet in that chair.  I even slept there one night (it pulls out).  I'm not going to miss the chair.

This is Dylan's first car ride!  He was unimpressed.  I also learned why babies don't wear sweatshirts.  I had been dying to put this sweatshirt on him, but it didn't make sense in the NICU.  A sweatshirt onesie would make more sense!

This is what the first few days mostly consisted of:

Stella's been pretty cute with him.  I think she feels a little neglected, but she's very curious and seems to be protective too.  The other night, she just HAD to fit herself into the small space between Dylan and the back of the couch.  It was pretty cute.

But Dylan doesn't sleep all the time.  We talk and play and read books.  He's getting really strong too!  This is probably our favorite pic of the week.

I've been staying up until around 1am to feed Dylan and pump (even though he's still eating formula).  Then Mike feeds him around 3 or 4, then I'm back on around 6.  Most nights have been pretty good, but the mornings are more difficult.  This picture was taken yesterday when Dylan FINALLY fell asleep at 8:45 am. He'd been up (me too of course) since 4.  He sleeps in the Rock n Play next to the bed.

Although we are still severely limiting visitors until the end of flu season (especially all of my wonderful yet germy teacher-friends and friends with toddlers or kids in day care), Dylan did have his first play date with his girlfriend E yesterday.  They played under the gym for a few minutes together (so we could get pictures). They're looking at Auntie J.  Then we went for a nice hilly walk around the neighborhood.

I truly am starting to feel like a "normal" mom!  When I push Dylan around the block, no one knows what we've been through.  I am just so thankful that he is as healthy as he is.  Dr. S, our absolute favorite doctor, said that his outcome is outstanding for a 25-weeker.  He even gained 4 ounces this last week!  I'll continue to update at least once a month.

Also, if you are a preemie parent, leave your email in a comment.  I'd love to help you out in any way that I can.  I'll also have a few posts coming up on suggestions for the NICU and preemie parenting in general.