Off to join the world

Our journey has really started. Not that I thought it wasn't for real, but the tiny life, with beautiful blue eyes, fidgeting in your arms, looking at everything with such curiosity and wonder, really signaled the true start of our family.

Everything went well after the birth. All Laura's vitals and senses checked out as good as can be, with the exception of her hearing in one of her ears and the nurse thought she may be a little jaundiced. They were sure the hearing concern was probably just fluid still in the ear but we had to schedule another test to make sure and thankfully she passed with flying colors. As for the jaundice, we thought the nurses were crazy because the only way you could see any jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, was if you pressed on her nose, but it would fade very quickly as the color returned. The rest of her was an almost otherworldly mix of red and purple skin tones that kinda made her look sunburned with horrible circulation in her extremities. We had already been assured that these colors were normal and would eventually fade to normal skin tones, so we didn't worry that our daughter would forever look like we forgot her in the sun instantly branding us as horrible parents to every new person to meet her. OK, maybe I worried about this a little more than I should have, that's what new parents do. We had to schedule her first appointment to the pediatrician for the next day where they agreed with us about the nurses assessment, she was just fine.

While at the hospital I was the lucky one to get the honor to change her first poopy diaper. Keep in mind I have only changed a few wet diapers, much less one on a wiggly newborn full of some sort of sticky asphalt tar that, if I had not been warned beforehand, terrify me into believing that my daughter was horrifically sick. Kinda makes you wonder what Adam and Eve thought the first time they encountered this natural wonder. Regretted that apple, I'm sure. I received a lot of coaching from Danielle's brother Mike, and my sister Beth gave me hands on help as I tried to work around the 3 or 4 extra legs Laura seemed to sprout as I was mopping up. I did pretty good and other than the alien consistency and stickiness of the substance it was not a bad experience. In God's infinite wisdom, He seems to have held back any accompanying foul odor, that when combined with the sight of this first 'cleanout', would probably have hurt mankind's survival through the years. He is very wise.

We had a lot of wonderful visitors at the hospital and Laura was the ultimate hostess. She was always glad to see them, let them hold her, and she looked as cute as a button along the way.

The hospital makes you stay at least 24 hours after the birth to make sure all is well and you can stay another day if you would like. We decided that although the hospital room was close to being a 4 star hotel, minus all the amenities except TV and a bathroom, we were done and left as soon as Mommy and baby were cleared for takeoff.

Home sweet home here we come!