We Came Home

Last week I sat here anxiously awaiting the arrival of Connor.  Now it is hard to believe he has been here almost a week.  The doctor was going to induce labor on Monday if the baby hadn't come yet, but I am very happy that he decided to come on his own.  We are very grateful for Jeff and Elizabeth who came over in the middle of the night...and spent at least part...if not all the night on the floor next to kids who were having a hard time sleeping.  Grandma and Grandpa Atherton came over in the morning so Jeff and Elizabeth could go to work and school.  Grandma and Grandpa took Jared and Lauren to school and were entertained by Brad.  Alan met them at home after school to tell them about their new little brother.  We were all really excited when they came to visit that night.  They brought some hearts and cards that they had made for Connor. 

Car seats crammed in Grandma and Grandpa's car

Brad is showing me Connor's chin.

Jeff and Elizabeth came to visit later that night too.

I had really hoped to come home on Tuesday, but because I had been positive for group B strep they wouldn't let Connor come home.  After getting over that initial disappointment I managed to survive another day at the hospital.  Alan was able to come visit in the morning and while Jared and Lauren were at school....Grandpa ran the shuttle bus to and from school.  After school everyone came to visit again.  Then they got to go to Costco with Grandma and Grandpa.  Lauren was especially looking forward to getting to eat Costco pizza for dinner.  They came back to visit a little more after dinner...my dinner came just after they got back.  Brad liked the sweet potato fries and carrot cake as much as I did (I had both of them 3 of the 4 meals they served them while I was there).

Wednesday Connor and I finally got to come home...and they didn't let him come a minute early.  We got home just before Jared had to leave for school.  It was so nice to finally be home and together in our tiny little house.

There was a really fun welcome home sign on the wall for Connor when we got here. 

Jared was wearing white pants when he got traced around and had to change into brown pants before he could color his pants.  Lauren went to school too and Grandma and Grandpa left that afternoon.  That first night home was a little rough.  Lauren was the only one who slept through the night.

Thursday Alan stayed home all day which was really nice and helpful.  That night Connor and I were up for about 4..maybe 5 hours...in the middle of the night...it's easy to lose track when you're so tired.  He would eat...eat too much...then spit up all over and soak everything...and need changed...just as we would be getting his clothes back on he would need a diaper change....by the time we had done all that he would be hungry again.  All that would take about 2 hours...I don't know how it would take so long...it just does.  We did the whole cycle 2 or 3 times.  At the end of one time Brad came in.  I took him back to bed, but he came back about 30 min later.  I tried to wake Alan, but he was dead to the world.  When I shook him he said something in his sleep...it sounded like something to do with angry birds (which he doesn't even play).  I said what? and he said whatever it was again...I just let him sleep....so Brad slept on top of my legs for about 30 min until Connor was ready to start eating again.  With Connor's wail and a little shake Alan took Brad back to bed.  Luckily our nights have just been getting better.


Friday morning I had to take Connor to get his bilirubin levels tested again....He had been in a low risk category.  The health center called later that day and said he was at 9.2 (was a 9 on Wed) and he didn't need to be tested again.   Yea!!!  My friend upstairs took Jared, Lauren, and Brad to playgroup in the basement and then up to her house to lay for a bit.  It was nice to get a little nap.  Alan went to work for several hours in the afternoon.  It was in the high 50s so we even got to play outside for about 30 or 40 min.

Saturday was more of the same.  It was 60, so went and played outside a little.  We also watched the BYU basketball game.  Alan went to Winco.  Jared, Lauren, and Brad went and played at Jeff and Elizabeth's for a few hours.

Today we got to walk to church in the snow and Connor got to wear a hat he got in the mail from Grandma.  Everyone took a nap today (Alan's was just short..unless you add in the time from Sunday school).  Lauren slept so long that when she woke up she said "Yay! I get to go to school today!"  We were in her bedroom right when she woke up because Bradley wanted to show Connor the cars out the window.  Jeff and Elizabeth brought over some lasagna soup (which we still need the recipe for) and Elizabeth bread sticks...that Elizabeth made...which was a pretty big deal here.

We also got cookies from Grandma and Grandpa in the mail last Thursday and took pictures today.

Grandma made one for me too.

What do you mean I can't eat it yet.

We are grateful that Connor is here and everything went so smoothly.  We all love him tons and can't wait to get to know him more and more.