We got released from the hospital on Saturday at 2:30 and although I was originally completely freaked out, after the NICU doctor came by to tell us we we’re good to go, I started to get REALLY excited. 

Ember had been spotty on her eating through the night in the opinion of myself and my friend Kathryn, who are obviously goal-oriented people. We were panicked when she wasn’t eating the exact right number of ml’s each time, was sleepy, etc. A friend of mine from highschool had come in Saturday for the morning shift as Ember’s NICU person and helped put us at ease. She was so sweet and helpful and I’m totally sure that she was a big part of the reason we were released so early.

John and Ashley came to drive us home with their little girl Gwen (who looked just HUGE next to tiny Ember). Kathryn and John helped us pack up and off we went. This photo has GOT to be one of my favorites already. One tiny baby, to go!

When we got to the house, John and Ashley insisted I take a nap, which I quickly took them up on and apparently shook the house with my snoring. Oops.

Mom wheeled in her suitcase to move in this week later that day, bringing a delicious home cooked meal just as John was walking back into the house with take out Chinese. No one will starve here anytime soon. 

Kevin came up to visit after work and Mom (Gigi) happily fed him and my friend Laura and took her turn cuddling with kiddo.

Being home has been fantastic. Ember is eating more and more, I’ve been pumping and getting her fed (we’ll be working more on breast feeding this week when we’ve got less visitors) and the cats are very happy to have her here.

To say that I’ve been overwhelmed with emotions would be a colossal understatement. I’ve spent the majority of my life actively avoiding showing (or feeling) Big Emotions and ever since this tiny person has come into my life, I FEEL everything. I’m so lucky and overjoyed and it’s like my heart has cracked open and been filled with squishy lovey dovey cartoon animals or something. I sat looking at her at her 2am feeding this morning and cried because I realized she was ALREADY 4 days old and that she was going to get older and older every day. I boo hoo’d at every PERFECT song that came on our Pandora station this morning. A friend had offered to donate some breast milk that she was no longer able to use (her 3 month old is allergic to dairy and she had frozen milk from when she was eating dairy) came by and I almost melted into a puddle of appreciative tears as I met her at the door. 

So, you know, things are good. Happy Easter to everyone. We are doing so well and are SO lucky to have so much happiness to celebrate.