Being a SAHM

Being a stay at home mom (SAHM) has been such an amazing experience for me. I am very fortunate that R works really hard to allow me to have this luxury. Walker and I spend most our days together alone and I just can not get enough of him.

Lately, Walker has been waking up in the middle night because his teeth are coming in and bothering him. I try to only medicate when he is really irritated and seems in pain. Other times I let him decide what he wants to do. So, for the past few nights he has been falling asleep in our bed while I watch TV.

I don't mind because I like to watch a little late night TV while I sink into my bed for the night. He likes it because Buddy will jump in the bed with us and he thinks that's the funniest thing ever. R likes it because he gets to spend some more time with him now that he is away so much. He only does this when he is sick or teething, so it's not a big deal to us. I move him to his bed when he falls asleep because I don't feel comfortable bed sharing.

Being a SAHM is so much more than watching soap operas and eating Bon-Bons on the couch. I'm with Walker all the time. I know what he is doing. I am able to comfort him if he is crying. I don't want to share these moments with anyone else besides family of course.

Lately I have just felt so in love with the way our lives have turned out. R thanks me every day for giving him such a sweet and perfect little boy. He always reassures me that I contribute the most to the family because I have the most important job between the two of us.

R and I were raised in two completely different worlds. He had a SAHM all his life and my mom always worked. So it was an adjustment in our relationship to figure out what we wanted for our family. We both thought I would be a working mom but after having Walker and every thing that happened, the choice to stay at home became evident. In a few years I will go to work but as the saying goes, "babies don't keep"...

My Life Lately

My life lately has been filled with lots of Walker and Mommy time. He's slipped in to this "I need to be with my Mommy every second of the day no matter what time of the day and night". And I'm not kidding with the no matter the time or day. Sometimes Walker wakes up at 3 am and just wants to see my face and get some snuggles.

Sunday night

Monday night

"That Daddy guy better get out of my face with that camera"

Tuesday Night

"If Daddy doesn't leave our room, I'm going to scream!"

Wednesday night

"I'll just look at Mommy until I fall asleep"

Thursday nap time

When we are in bed together, he gets really upset when R comes in the room. You think he's asleep and then BAM! He can hear R and starts making this uncomfortable grunting noise. R walks out, and Walker is back to sleeping. It's funny. I think it's because he's still not feeling 100% from the cold we keep giving to one another.

And I love it!

Walker's First Trip to the Zoo!

Yesterday we had a play date at the Zoo. It was a beautiful day and we took advantage of it! While I didn't know it at the time, the last time I was at the Zoo was a year ago and I would shortly give birth to Walker in a few days. Last year we went to Zoo Boo and I was extremely hot and tired after.

Mallory, Walker and Adam.
Mallory is 3 months older than Walker and Adam is 6 months older. 

The group of kids. 

Such an exhausting day! Filled with a bunch of tears, spit up, falling down, and break downs! It was such a fun day!

So fun that my friend A sent me more pictures!

"What's up girl?"

"Oh yeah, come on in for some sugars!"

Stroller gang!

What are you doing now that he's home?

Good question! We have two doctor appointments this week, back to back Thursday and Friday. Today we went to the pediatrician's office for the first time. That was fun! He had a wrap sheet to go over and kept asking the same questions. Hey, it's a lot to take in. 5 1/2 months is a long time to be in a hospital. Thankfully, he is affiliated with the hospital and can access Walker's history through the computer system. Makes things SO much easier! AND, his specialist can email him within the system to keep him updated. Walker was weighed today and he is 9 pounds 12 ounces and 22 inches long! He's gained 4 ounces and grown a half inch since being home! We go back in two weeks for a weight check and to update on what the GI clinic says.

 Tomorrow we see Dr. Carter in the GI clinic, which also means we are back at the hospital. We don't expect her to lower the time on TPN/Omegaven just yet. We don't really know what to expect or how often we will have to see her. I'm guessing every other week, but we'll find out soon. Hopefully we can start upping his bottle feeds. Even Dr. Anderson, his pediatrician, is hoping that too.

We've been hanging out at the house. R is taking the 3 am feedings and we're hoping he'll continue that when he goes back to work. I do have to admit that last night we let Walker make his own schedule and he ate at 11:30 and slept until 4 and then woke back up at 8. He has to eat 8 bottles a day, so we have to wake him and feed.

 He loves his swing. He sleeps in our room in the pack n' play napper and honestly, he seems to really love it. When he's tired he needs his space. He watches the dogs and cries when they block the sunlight from the window. He loves to be held and we happily oblige! He loves his car seat and the car. He loves sunlight and being outside.

He does not, I repeat, DOES NOT like to be held cradle style! He likes to be up on your shoulder looking around. When he eats he needs it to be quiet. He can feed with the TV on but as far as loud conversations, he doesn't like it. Hey, he's still learning people. It's funny because in the hospital they were so worried about his pooping, dumping as they call it. Meaning that he would eat and it wasn't absorbing and simply dumping out of his body. Not happening at home! They were concern about how many diapers a day he was going through also. Here, he poops a good one time a day. 

That is all!

We're HOME!

After 172 days in the NICU level 3, we are finally home. And where we belong I might add. Is this real life? If I'm dreaming don't wake me up. This is just too good!

We can not say thank you enough to all of you who have followed us with love down our journey to getting Walker home. But stick around because the real journey has just begun. Walker can't wait to meet all of you!

Our first night as a family of three, in our own home, is coming to an end. My eyes are heavy as I'm listening to the Baby Einstein soother that is by Walker's pack n' play in our room.

He is adjusting well. He never wants to be put down and we don't want to put him down either.