Continued

I had heard from friends to stay at the hospital as long as you can and get lots of rest. I guess one advantage of a c-section is that you can stay up to 4 nights...the doctor gave us the option to go home after 3 but we stayed all 4, coming home on Labor Day. It was probably most helpful the first couple of days when I could send Simone to the nursery for the night (the last two she was eating so often the nurse suggested I have her room-in). Also, at first I was wondering how I was going to get out of bed without all the nice controls and railings.

Nurses make all the difference--we definitely had some good ones and some not so good ones...like the one who made me go to the bathroom in a bedpan and the one who didn't come 90 minutes after I called her.

I had another day of liquids followed by real food. Even though it was hospital food at least it wasn't just jello. Apparently the green light to being able to eat normal food again is whether or not you have passed gas. I have never been asked that question at all and so many times as during my stay.

The best part was getting to know our daughter and taking in her sweet face and person. Her signature look is the furrowed brow which her dad likes because he thinks she'll be "intense." She's really good at not eating until she's good and ready (some strong pushes come out of those little arms). I really don't see who she resembles at all.

We watched more U.S. Open (one nice perk with no cable at home), had lots of great visitors (though I think it was smart that we didn't have any the first day), and started to learn the meaning of sleep deprivation. I was super fortunate in that I didn't have a roommate until the last night. Our hospital has these gigantic renovated labor and delivery rooms and then you get demoted to these teeny crowded shared post-partum rooms. It would have been hard in terms of not trying to be too noisy, having lots of visitors, etc. The last night I felt bad for my roommate because Simone wouldn't sleep and cried quite a bit. That girl can wail, especially when getting her diaper changed.

On Monday we were finally ready to go home. We took a couple last pictures to remember our time there. Was it a coincidence that our room faced the Audobon Ballroom? The very location where one of daddy's heroes was assassinated? I think not. :) After considering a myriad of options we took a car service home, and yes, our convertible car seat (a couple friends thought it had to be an infant seat) served us just fine.

More photos to come...

So sweet:

A rare sighting those first few days (open eyes!):

E telling me to look like I'm in pain:

Dad becoming an expert changer:

Friends:

Home: