First things first: They had no idea how much we would make them wash their hands. Poor Alden has a cough, and so he has to wash his hands anytime he touches him all day long. The other night he said, "Man, not again!" But now, he is so used to it that he stops himself and says,"Wait, I have to wash my hands!" With the pediatrician's blessing that the respiratory virus and croup were no longer contagious, the boys came to meet baby brother for the first time...
You know how they say that you shouldn't be holding the baby when the older kids go to the hospital because they will be jealous? We had the biggest room in creation and Joey was really nervous about the meeting. So, he literally rolls the baby out of sight around the corner of the room before they got there. We thought that we would need a family of four reunion, but as you can see, they could have cared less about us. All they said was, "Where is the baby?" They were off to find him immediately.
Spencer is kind of a big Mamma's boy. Joey was so worried that he would be the one that would come apart at the seems that he was no longer the baby. I had faith in my Doodlebug. Joey turned the corner with "Baby Harry" and those arms reached right out to hold him. Not even Mommy was a distraction from his new buddy. At home, Spencer has been a trouper. He has formed a habit of cuddling in Mommy's bed before bed time to watch Thomas the Train and has learned to crawl into my lap since I can't lift him. I even had to eat dinner the other night with Spencer in my lap instead of the high chair because he wanted Mommy. I think he is a little afraid that I am leaving again. But, only one time has he said, "It's Spencer's turn. No baby," when I was feeding Harrison. He still reaches up those little arms to hold him and just stares and stares sitting as still as a mouse. He is always concerned that Harrison has his paci. I think that is big love in Spencer's world. If anyone wonders if this makes us happy, go back and read the blogs from March of 2010 and see what happened when we brought Baby Spencer home to a two year old!
No one is more smitten with the new little guy than Alden. Big brother extraordinaire. He literally follows the baby around everywhere and cannot keep his hands off of him (especially kissing his head). I never knew how awesome it would be to have a four year old when you have a new baby! You know those times when you forgot the outfit upstairs or need wipes and you already have the baby stranded up on the changing table? Alden is my man! He fetches, he holds the baby when Spencer wants me in my lap, he brings me my water when I am nursing, and other endless little errands. He has even started to hold Spencer's hand when we cross a parking lot to help me keep up with both little boys. His ultimate expression of love? Whereas Spencer shares paci, Alden shares Wolfie to "make him feel better" when he cries. Super A!
I decided to take my doctor's offer of one more night in the hospital to rest and stayed one extra day. Wouldn't you know it that Harrison decided to be jaundice. I started to panic slightly when his bilirubin levels went up for the second day and threatened to break out of the hospital early to get him home. I was not about to have another baby held hostage in NICU at St. Vincent's under lamps. Amazingly enough, our own pediatrician had weekend rounds. Amen! She was not at all worried like her younger associates had been and said that she would just be willing to treat him at home if they didn't come down. Thank you, Dr. Linda! No worries, healthy baby, went down the next morning in time to go home. Alden and Spencer did feel like they had to supervise the exam, however.
Dr. Alden
Two very excited boys taking brother for a walk around the halls of the hospital. Good call on Dad's part to get rid of some energy and let the boys show off their Big Brother shirts.
Well, we made it. An uneventful hospital stay. Healthy Mommy, healthy baby, lots of visitors, and a big brother party. We even got a few extra packs of diapers to sweeten the deal. My doctor said, "See? This is how most people do this. I am glad you got to find out." Amen to that! Daddy got to put our third boy in that same Chicco car seat ready to go.
Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig! A picture perfect welcome.
Before Harrison was born, Joey and I took the boys shopping to get a gift for the baby. Alden knew right away that he wanted to get him a dinosaur blanket.
Harrison also had Mommy take him shopping for a gift for his big brothers. Alden thought he did a pretty good job with bathtub monsters.
Spencer chose to give Harrison a giraffe paci. His two favorite things combined: the giraffe, the only stuffed animal he sleeps with every night, and his beloved pacifier which we may never get rid of now.
Harrison got on Spencer's good side with a new Chuggington train. His name? What else..."Harrison!" Spencer makes sure we know the difference by referring to the train as "Harrison train" and the baby as "Baby Harry."
Nothing won them over more than Harrison's gift of Spiderman and Thomas the Train fruit snacks. Coveted prizes that Mommy does not allow at home very often. The new little brother gets cooler and cooler.
Harrison's Birthday Party. I remembered to order the cake, but forgot the hats. Alden does not party without a party hat. Kudos to Daddy for figuring out a quick party hat in a pinch. Gotta admit that I was super impressed with the creativity.
Guess who has bonded over this new experience? I left two brothers at home when I left for the hospital. I came home to best buddies. I always knew it would be fun when they started talking together, but I never knew how special it would be to hear them call each other's names. Heart. is. full.
Not that we are all perfection around here.... Survival in week one meant the return of the iPad and iPhone privileges so that Mommy can nurse a baby for 45 minutes. I cannot tell you the number of apps I have downloaded (Pinterest suggestions strike again). Most of the trains, monster, and Elmo related. Spencer is ridiculously proficient and can outdo the neurosurgeon's wife next door on computer skills now. It is the only thing they fight over. I lost control of my iPhone because one had to have the iPad and the other wanted the phone with the same apps. So, we got out my old iPhone and loaded it up with kid apps only. Sort of worked. The truly unfortunate thing is that by the end of the week, we have purchased a kid-friendly iPad cover to go along with the new iPad we went and purchased. Yep, two iPad family. Joey says we are going to have a Mommy/Daddy iPad and a kid iPad. I'll let him stay alone with three kids next week and see how fast we have two kid iPads that Mommy and Daddy get to use when they go to sleep.
My boys are a little overexcited and a little cooped up in this house. Their usually organized, scheduled, in bed on time lives have sort of been turned upside down. There have been a few tantrums and time outs around here. I won't lie. There is also a new whole in the 1927 plaster wall in my living room and the paint has been sawed off the walls to the kitchen. Totally bored kids! Alden had to wash windows as punishment to work off his debt in house repairs. He woke up the next morning and asked Joey if he could do his punishment again. Not sure that was successful, but at least I have clean windows.
Spencer just throws himself on the ground (or on top of the fireplace) face-down until he regains his composure when he doesn't get his way.
Harrison's first bath. Mommy and Daddy's first three boy bath. I knew how much Harrison would love it because I listened to his joy from the midnight bath the nurses gave him every night in the hospital. I still don't get why you have to wake me and him up at midnight for a bath. What is wrong with a daylight bath?
I love the new Rock and Sleep Fisher Price thing. Thank you a million times over to Elizabeth for telling us about it. I think it makes a world of difference. He hates the Pack N Play we have downstairs, but loves his Rock and Sleep. We get at least two four hour stretches of sleep with one eat, diaper, want to eat more, need to be held three hour period in between. I actually can live with that! Plus, he has slept on cue so far with big brothers nap which lets Mommy nap (I did have a little help from my own Mamma on that one). Best part: This might be my first reflux free baby! Hallelujah!
Amazing first week of life, amazing first few days at home. I will get back to you when all of my help leaves me on how amazing things are then. But for the moment, I am more than cherishing my bliss. Some of our precious moments with "Aldey, Spencey, and Harry" (boy's nicknames for each other)...
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