October 2008

Last night we had our first taste of parenthood. Éowyn decided that she didn’t want to lie down and be quiet all night, in fact it wasn’t until 0630 that she finally succumbed to the arms of Morpheus.  This was in complete contrast to her behaviour during the day, where she tended to sleep for three hours before gradually waking up for a feed and nappy change.  I think it is something that we are just going to have to get used to and learn to nap at the same time as Éowyn.

We had our first home visit by the midwife today, to check up on Éowyn.  She is very please with her progress, she is feeding well and gaining weight and should be above her birth weight by Monday, which is the next midwife visit.  The midwife also suggested that we could use infacol to help treat Éowyn for wind and that may help with easing her to sleep at night.  I don’t hold out that much hope, but we will try it for the next few weeks.

Considering the night we had last night we have taken it easy today but have had a couple of visitors with Lucinda’s mum popping round this morning and her cousins Lauren and Madison with Auntie Cristina this evening.

Spoke to my mom last night, who is very excited about visiting on Sunday, with my sisters.  I think Éowyn is going to be very spoilt that day.  She also has said how excited my nan is about her first great-grandchild.  Unfortunately, as my nan is in a home in West Bromwich, it will be a couple of weeks before we will be able to go up and see her.  Éowyn will have to do a little tour of her ancestral homeland as she will have to visit her great, great uncle and great, great auntie as well as a whole host of other friends and relatives.  I think that it will be very tiring for her.

I love being a dad, even in the wee hours of the morning, I can’t recommend it highly enough, although ask me again in a couple of weeks when I have not had any sleep and have a 12 hour shift ahead of me.

Haven’t taken many photos again today but here are a couple, one from yesterday in her car seat.

Peace and love

Baggie!

On Wednesday 22nd October 2008 our family life begun.  Yes, Éowyn and Lucinda were given the all clear to leave hospital and they came home with me.  Éowyn’s infection has cleared up, her jaundice is clearing up and the doctors are very pleased with her progress since she left ICU.  Lucinda also has a clean bill of health and the midwife was happy for her to go home.  It is such a relief to take them home, even though this means that now the hard work begins.

However, before we took her home she had to have her Guthrie (Heel Prick) test, her BCG, a blood test to confirm that her infections had cleared up and her canula removed.  The poor little girl, she must have had enough of all the blood tests, her arms and feet are like little pin cushions.  She is so good, although she is obvious upset when they are doing the procedures she soon settles down after a cuddle from daddy.  She is such a contented baby, which is amazing considering what she has been through already.

So, for the first time in her life, Éowyn left hospital, saw the sun (for it was sunny) and felt the cold air (and it was a little chilly) on her face.  A beautiful autumnal day and she looked so cute in her little coat that her Uncle Steve and Auntie Zöe had bought for her, sitting in her car seat with her little pink and white striped hat.  Have a look at the pictures below, I’m sure you will agree.

This evening she had her first home visitors, her cousins Lauren and Madison with their mum Auntie Alison.  The girls have been very excited about their new cousin and could not wait to see her and since they have not been able to see her in the hospital they did not waste anytime once she was home.  We are very fortunate with such family support so close, they only live around the corner and Nan and Grandad only live at the end of the road.  It will be very handy for Lucinda when I am back at work.

The health visitor will pay us a visit tomorrow to see how we are settling in and check up on Éowyn.  Then we can start to settle into a routine and maybe even brave a trip up the road to visit Nan and Grandad.

I want to thank you all for your kind messages, cards and just taking a little time each day to read this website, it is very humbling to know that we have such good friends and a loving family, Éowyn is a very lucky girl to have you all.

I’ve waffled enough here are the latest photos and some that you have missed.