Moments with Melissa: One Month with Anderson

You're one month, buddy! Whew, what a crazy month!

Your first week + a day was spent in the NICU.

Then we brought you "home" to the hotel.

We stayed a week at the hotel.

Then we went to our REAL home!!

Now we're surrounded by boxes.

It has't been easy; there have been some really long nights and days with a house that needs to be put together and two little boys who need lots of love.... but life IS really good.

Your first week was such an emotional rollercoaster... we were happy, sad, frustrated, exhausted, thankful and so much more. It was all just plain HARD. I was so incredibly happy to have finally met your sweet little self, sad that we couldn't take you home when I was discharged and even more sad that we didn't even have a home to go to yet and were still in the hotel, frustrated that we couldn't figure out what was causing you to have such high respiration rates and hazy lung scans, and just so exhausted, both physically and emotionally, from it all. I knew you were in great hands with the nurses, especially our favorite nurse Darcy, but I wanted to learn your different cries, be the one to feed you when you needed to eat, and keep an eye on your breathing around the clock.

The second week back at the hotel was pretty uneventful. The highlight of our days was the 3:00 snack tray delivered to the door! We pretty much just stayed in unless we were going to the doctors office, which we did a couple of times that week. And you had a few family/friends visitors that were happy to meet you!

We then got to move back into our house!! It all turned out beautifully and wonderfully... but it's all a little overwhelming with so many boxes to unpack. I wonder how long it will take for it to be "done". Actually, my money is on the fact that we will move before it all gets put back together! Ha! Elliott sure is loving being home though! It took no time for him to spread out and scatter his toys all over the place! It's so nice having more room for all of us.

We had your newborn pictures!! They weren't the easiest pictures to get, that's for sure. You made us work for the pictures (and have 2 separate sessions!) but, luckily, we were able to get some good ones even though you refused to sleep!

We're thinking you have some nasty acid reflux that's going on here. We've started you on medication and hope it will help. We've tried gripe water, ginger water, gas drops, you name it. You seem very uncomfortable and in pain a lot of the time. You also hate spitting up and often times you will gag on it. Mommy is terrified of you choking. Any time you lay on your back there's bound to be some spit up, and a good possibility of some gagging and us pounding on your back. We take turns during the night holding you upright and letting you sleep on our chests. We know it's not the recommended sleeping arrangement for babies, but the few times I've tried putting you on your back to sleep, I've awoken to you gasping and coughing so we really feel like you need to be held upright as much as possible.

To help with the reflux, I've started pumping a lot more so we can monitor how much you eat and stop you after every ounce to burp. Pumping is definitely not ideal for me but Momma is a milk machine and it seems like right now it's too much for you to handle.

Also, can we talk about your hair for a minute? It's crazy and awesome. You have a natural mohawk. When it's freshly washed, your hair is so fluffy and soft... then after a couple days it gets kind of greasy and lays down more. I love it! And I love you!

It hasn't been the easiest month, and I'm certainly exhausted, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I love you so so much, sweet boy!!