Zoey Lately

So, I haven't written in forever. I still have so much to tell you all about and I will in time. The NICU stay was quite difficult and that will be a coming post. But let me update you on the last few months.

Zoey came home on December 19. We drove through tons of snow to get home. I was a little nervous about having my baby totally alone with me at home for the first night. She was still learning to suck, breathe, and swallow and would get strangled pretty regularly. My mom and I got home with her late that evening and we all sat around at my house with my dad, brother, and of course my hubby. It was the first time my brother had gotten to see Zoey because our NICU had strict rules of only parents and grandparents being admitted.

After everyone left, I laid Zoey on my chest on the couch and we watched TV. I was so exhausted. I was worn out at the end of my pregnancy, then I had my lil girl and didn't take time to recover because I was living at the hospital to be with her. The Ronald McDonald House was great but it still wasn't home. We got up at 10 or so in the morning and went to the hospital until about 2 or 3 then out to eat and back to the hospital by 8 and stayed until about 12 or 1 am. It was a hard road to walk but worth every second of it. I love my baby girl so much and am so glad that I didn't leave her alone at the NICU a lot. Anyway, after everyone left we just relaxed and finally we put Zoey in her bassinett and went to bed.

I slept the whole night with my arms hanging in her basinett to make sure she was still breathing. Every sound she made startled my husband and I both. We were just so worried that something would happen. But it didn't. And the next morning I was still completely exhausted. She had only ate a couple of times during the night and of course I had pumped but still I was just severly lacking much needed rest. I could have requested help from my mom (who was exhausted too from staying in Knoxville at the hospital with us) or my mother-in-law but I was so ready to be home with my baby girl and to take care of her all on my own. I just needed the energy to do so.

The day after we came home my mom and brother came down for a visit. My mom and I finished up the nursery. My hubby had gotten everything up and put together but I had to sort through all the clothes my sister-in-law had sent for the chest and put the sheets and stuff on the baby bed. Of course my brother watched Zoey along with my husband. They were amazed by her. : )

Since then we have continued to fall into a routine. Sad to say, Zoey and I have rooted daddy right out of the bed. That started when she started spitting up pretty badly due to reflux and I was scared too death to put her even in her basinett. So now she sleeps on a wedge in our bed. There are mixed feelings with folks about the cosleeping thing… I realize that. I always said that I didn't want to do that but things change when the baby arrives. I was so scared of hurting her but we have gotten into a routine with how we sleep and it works for us. It is also good for me because I feel like I'm away from her so much during the day with work and all and I enjoy getting to be with her every moment I can. Eventually we may just move her bed into our room or something. I dunno and at this point it doesn't matter. I just like having my hand on her to make sure she is ok. My hubby feels the same way because he worries about her, too. He hangs out with us and sometimes he sleeps with us but he worries about hurting her as well.

We are fast approaching Zoey's 4th month old birthday. I plan to update you of the past 3 months soon. I have pictures to go along with each post. Things are just moving quite slowly and I enjoy spending my evenings with her instead of being on the computer a lot. I haven't forsaken my blog and I don't intend on doing so. Just bear with me faithful readers! I also plan to eventually get back to my first blog Shine 4 Jesus! Plans, plans, plans …. : )

Much love,

Alesha & Baby Zoey