A Year Ago Today

A year ago today, December 10th 2008, we brought home our son. After spending 8 long days and nights up in Portland at Legacy Emanuel Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we were given the OK to bring Teagan home. I remember feeling overwhelmed, as do most parents I'm sure when they bring home their baby for the first time. We at leased we somewhat lucky in a way because Teagan was already on a schedule, eating every 3 hours. It was a little nerve racking to then have to get into our car and drive 2 hours home from Portland and have it timed just right. Mind you we had left our home in a hurry since my water had suddenly broke 6 weeks early. I couldn't think of what the house was going to be like when we arrived. As we pulled into our driveway, there was my dad, he had been up at the house and had turned the lights and the heat on for us. Thanks Dad! Here are some photos from a year ago today....

Here is James with Teagan in his car seat, inside this wooden shopping cart lookin' thing, that the stroll the babies out of the NICU with. Strange huh.

We stopped by this beautiful Christmas tree for a quick photo.

Getting put into the car for the first time.

Goodbye Hospital!

First car ride home!

Look how tiny Teagan was!

This was the first time in his bedroom bassinet, next to our bed.

We are having so much fun being parents. It is one of the hardest, yet rewarding jobs there are. We are in love with this little boy of ours and enjoy watching him grown, learn and smile every day.

We love you Teagan!

Finally Home!

Well we finally made it out of there! Teagan did great on his first car ride home. He slept the whole way, 2 hrs! By the time we got home he slept for another 10-15 min, then was ready to eat. My dad (Grandpa) met us at the house and Sheryl (Grandma Tapir), few minutes later. My dad helped us unload the car, in the dark, around 6pm.

It was strange to be back at the house, but also comforting. I will say that the first night home was not so relaxing however. James and I looked at each other like, "now what?" Our night went ok. We fed and put Teagan down about 8pm, we went to bed around 8:45pm. At 11pm Teagan woke up, changed and fed him, and back down he went at midnight. 2:30am we were all back up, changing and feeding. Down again and back up at 5am, and up at 8am and then again at 11am. We got through it, and James was right there with me every time!

We had a doctors appt. at 11:10am which we showed up at 11:30am! We couldn't find my wallet, Teagan was not through eating, it was a fiasco! But I have friends who tell me that you are never on time when you have a baby, guess they are right. We are trying to settle in with somewhat of a routine, and system. James spent the rest of the day vacuuming with our new Dyson Animal Vacuum, thanks Grandma and Grandpa Sullivan! He vacuumed and I took a nap while Teagan slept. We have been working well together as a team, James is a great partner and husband, much love to you babe, I couldn't do it without you!

Home?

Just a quick update. It looks like we may all get to go home tomorrow! (Tuesday) Which would make Teagan one week old. He is scheduled for his circumcision bright and early tomorrow, eeeek. Poor guy, I hope it goes well. The doctor is supposed to be fabulous, we've heard this from several people, so we are glad about that. We also we able to have our Neonate doctor call the one and only pediatrician in Astoria to see if he would see us. Initially we heard he was not excepting new patients but with some help from our doc up here he said he would! (It helps that we have private insurance, go figure) Also the Pediatrician in Astoria used to be a Neonatologist and so we feel very comfortable with him seeing Teagan, knowing that he has experience and the knowledge of preemie babies.
We are hoping all goes well for tomorrow and that we will be able to bring him home.