Bringing home baby and stomach surgery

Little blue eyes.

Here's a brief overview of the last month in our lives:

• We find out our landlord didn't pay his taxes, the home is being sold on the courthouse steps and we need to move
• My water breaks early: 32 weeks and five days. We're told I'll be in the hospital on bed rest and antibiotics until labor begins on its own or I develop an infection.
• Labor begins and Kaitlyn is born at 33 weeks and one day. She's in the hospital for two weeks, I room in at the hospital and visit her in the NICU every three hours. Alan begins his pediatrics rotation.
• We begin looking for another home for lease. Because the market has changed, landlords are asking ridiculous amounts in deposits, fees, etc. etc. etc. We get disgusted and make a casual inquiry into purchasing a home.
• I look at a home for sale and fall in love. We make an offer.
• Kaitlyn comes home from the hospital.
• Our offer on the home is accepted.
• Rascal seems ill, so we go to the vet. An X-ray shows a foreign object in his tummy. He has emergency surgery to remove it. He's now recovering at home after two days observation at the vet.
  

We are not people who go looking for drama, but it certainly found us!

Kaitlyn was a NICU superstar — we were able to bring her home last Saturday, March 16. She weighed 4 pounds, .04 ounces. The cute stroller and car seat I agonized over picking out had to go back to the store and traded for a Chicco brand system, which can accommodate a four-pound baby safely.

Streeeetching in her coming-home outfit.

"I don't need no stinking NICU!"

Actually, I could not be more thankful for the NICU, especially the nurses. What wonderful women. They were always glad to talk to me, explain everything and make me feel more comfortable with a stressful situation. And they never judged me when I came in for a 3 a.m. feeding looking . . . like it was 3 a.m.

Although she was born at 33 weeks and babies usually can't suck, swallow and breathe until 36 weeks, Kaitlyn breastfeeds and takes my milk in a bottle like a pro.

I love this picture. It looks like she's in a straight jacket, and that little disgusted look on her face is perfect. Her hair is all fuzzed out because she'd just had a bath. Mom calls it her monchichi look. I didn't know what that meant, but Google always provides:

Tiny fingers!

Peekaboo is VERY interested in the baby. I think she understand that Kaitlyn is not another dog though, because she never tried to get between me and the baby, like she would with Kritter or Rascal. She climbs up on the furniture so she can peer into the bassinet, and is on a mission to steal the pacifier for herself.

Rascal has snuck in a couple licks of Kaitlyn's hands and feet. We wash them afterwards, but with three dogs, she's going to be licked occasionally, so I suppose she may as well get used to it!

Kritter hasn't paid much direct attention to Kaitlyn, but he has been barking at imagined threats outside much more frequently than ever before. I think he's protecting her.

My mom has been able to stay and help me out. I would not have showered all week if not for her!

She likes to roll over on her side and stretch after I change her diaper while I get the swaddling blanket ready.

Rascal recovering.

The object turned out to be a hard piece of a toy one of my friends gave me. I threw it away months ago exactly because I didn't want them chewing on a toy with pieces that might break off. Either the piece has been in him that long or he just now found it somewhere. He's getting lots of rest and soft foods.

Peekaboo and Kritter look very concerned for Rascal.

Playtime — before the surgery.

Googly eyes!

Alan's parents have visited for the last two weekends, bringing with them Hazel the boxer and their new dog, Abby the chiwawa-? mix. I suggested naming her wawa, chichi, taco, chalupa, etc., but I was shot down. She's very cute and sweet. (And Terri, I'm not just sucking up!) The in-laws were going to get another boxer after the passing of Rocky, but Abby found them first.

Happy Easter!

Now it's nap time!