Today, I'll tell you about what happened after she began her life on the outside world.
THE SECOND 24 HOURS (8/9/4)
8:00 AM: Because of the problems with the epidural at this point I had complete feeling in my right side, but my left side was still completely dead. The nurse pulled up a spiffy chair thing and wheeled me to the restroom. They make you pee to make sure your body is functioning properly before they let you go to recovery. And pee I did... so much. I was wheeled back to bed and saw that Baby's Momma was spending some skin to skin time with her baby girl. A precious moment to see. I fell asleep shortly after that.
9:00 AM: My room was finally ready. When I woke up Baby's Momma was gone to handle some things she hadn't been able to get done before Ann Ann came. So Ann Ann and I headed to our room. The hospital is supposed to give the family a separate room, but because they were so full the only option the hospital had was to keep Ann Ann in the nursery and let the Baby's Momma "visit" her in there. So I offered to have them stay with me so they could stay together. In the next few hours I held Ann Ann amazed at the odd bond I was feeling. I did love this little Asian baby I held in my arms and nursed a few times. But it was a very unique love. Nothing like the love I have for my own children, but still similar. In those moments I prayed for that gorgeous baby. I prayed for a long, healthy, amazing life. I prayed that God would work in her to do amazing things. I prayed she would be a reminder to her mommy and daddy that God loves them and provided them with her.
1:00 PM: Justin and my crazy kids arrive to meet Ann Ann. Taylor was the first to hold her and had a huge smile on her face. Jordan was next and would hold her forever if I let her, but she had a cough so I told her she couldn't hold her anymore. Elijah was excited...until he actually hold her. He posed for a picture and decided she was boring and jumped down off the bed. Justin got to her hold her too - another awesome moment for me. Watching my family say hello and "good bye" to this little baby who has had such a huge impact on our family over the last year. There were amazing moments and there were very very difficult ones. But here she was now. And again...so worth it.
2:00 PM: Baby's Momma and the Interpreter arrive with lunch for everyone. We eat quickly because the nursing staff is eager to get some things done with Ann Ann that they had to wait for the Baby's Momma to approve. So as everyone left the room got quiet. Baby's Momma watched Ann Ann get her first bath. And listened (and recorded) intently as the nurse explained how she would do it at home, and what else she may need to know for the next 24 hours (how to burp, how to swaddle, how to suction mucus). And for the next couple of hours we just sat and talked. We watched Ann Ann in her bed. I watched Baby's Momma watch Ann Ann.
4:00 PM: Baby's Momma and the Translator had to head out again. They needed to take care of a couple more things. So out they went. And I slept for an hour or so. My first long stretch since 2 days earlier.
9:00 PM: Baby's Momma comes back alone this time. It was not just the 3 of us. We talked some more and now that I was pumping Ann Ann was in her capable hands for the night. She was so nervous. The first time she fed her there was joy in her eyes. Then she went to burp her for the first time and very gently patted her back. I showed her how to actually burp her. And again, Ann Ann slept. And for the first time so did Baby's Momma (and me).
Ann Ann was up every hour after that. She was one hungry girl, but pumping colostrum is difficult and I could not keep up with her demand. The nurses brought in formula to supplement between the colostrum feedings.
8/10/14 3:00 AM: Ann Ann had her first dirty diaper (just wet ones up to now). Baby's Momma was now changing her first "real" diaper. 20 minutes later, about 15 wipes, and some tears from Momma later Ann Ann was clean and re-swaddled. Baby's Momma was overwhelmed at this point. I just hugged her and told her she did great - it takes time to get "fast", but she is a good Momma. The entire time Ann Ann cried Baby's Momma just sang to her. Another beautiful moment I got to be there for. Even with the lack of sleep at this point...it was worth it.
The next few hours were much of the same. Ann Ann up and hungry. At one point she did have some gas so I showed Baby's Momma how to hold her in a way that would help get it out. One big burp and Ann Ann fell happily back to sleep.
7:00 AM: I ordered breakfast for me and Baby's Momma and took a much needed shower. Ann Ann was now 1 day old. The nurses came in to take her for some blood work so Baby's Momma and I rested.
And here are some more pictures of the 2nd day:
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