From Working Girl to SAHM

The transition from working girl to stay-at-home-mom (SAHM for short, as I've learned from blogs and articles) has been a difficult one. When I was working full-time, I admit that the idea of staying home taking care of a sweet baby all day seemed idyllic. Crafting, keeping a perfect house, cooking dinner every night, all while keeping a baby happy, was what I expected staying home to be like. If someone would have asked, I probably would have admitted that I knew it wouldn't always be easy, but I didn't expect it to be like it truly is.

Staying home can be a lonely job. I'm lucky that Levi's job allows him to be home 20 days out of the month to help with Nora and keep me company; I honestly can't imagine doing it all by myself more often than I do. Staying home can also be frustrating for someone who likes to get things done and keep things a certain way. Most days that I'm home alone with Nora I feel like I get almost nothing done around the house. I'm often lucky to get a load of laundry in and a shower by 5 p.m. And if I try to get out of the house to go somewhere, I have to plan twice as long to get ready just to get out the door.

The hardest part of staying home for me has been losing my set of friends from work. Though we can still get together (and we do), it will never be the same. We don't see each other every day anymore, and we don't know what's going on in each other's lives to the same degree we used to.

All that to say, there are some great things about staying home. I get to spend almost all my time with a sweet baby. I get to watch her change and develop. I get to care for her and be there for her when she needs to be comforted. I have freedom to do things with Levi and Nora as a family any day of the week. We can vacation outside the limits of vacation time.

I don't wish I were still going to work every day and putting Nora in daycare, but there are some aspects of that scenario that are appealing. As with anything, the grass is always greener on the other side. In this case, I've found that, actually, the grass is green on both sides.

Flatlander Update

After becoming a bit derailed in April due to Nora's unexpected arrival, Flatlander Coffee Co. is back on track to open soon. We're shooting for a grand opening event on May 23, so mark your calendars! 

Also, like our Facebook page and bookmark our website (it will be up-and-running soon), which will be the best way for you to order our delicious coffee!

1 month

Nora is one month old!

She is up to 5 lbs. 5 oz. and loves to eat, swing and be held. Sometimes, she makes a laughing/billy goat noise when she's sleeping, and she gives a little squeak/squeal when she's very relaxed and about to drift off to sleep. She's a very happy baby as long as you keep her fed (which can be a challenge!). We love our little baby doll.

Hospital Coming Home Pics

We're home!

Nora finally made it home from the hospital last Saturday, and we've all been getting used to our new normal. She is a good baby who rarely fusses unless she's hungry. Since she's a preemie, we have to wake her up at least every three hours to eat (sometimes she beats us to it at 2 hours!) until she is over 5 lbs. She's a very sweet girl, and we've enjoyed having her home.

Today we went to Nora's first pediatrician appointment. Everything checked out great! She is now up to 4 lbs. 6.4 oz., and the doctor said she is a very strong girl. We go back again in 10 days just for another check-up since she was in the NICU and they want to follow her more closely. 

Some have asked about the red spot on Nora's forehead, and after today's appointment I have some answers.

It's called a hemangioma, which is a buildup of blood vessels that usually disappears on its own. Until Nora is 6 months old it may grow a little larger, but after that it should start to fade from the middle outwards. If it doesn't go away on its own, there is medicine to treat it, though the doctor seemed to indicate this was a last resort and he expects it to go away with time.

We're thankful to God for his graciousness to us in giving us such a healthy baby despite her coming so early. He has continued to bless us with her quick development and growth, and she has been a wonderful addition to our family! 

Out of the Box

Our big girl (4 lbs 2 oz!) graduated out of the incubator today and should get to come home on Saturday as long as she continues to gain weight and maintain her own body temperature.

"What is Friday for?," you ask. Yes, today is Thursday and I think she should get to come home Friday, but Friday we get to my favorite part of being a NICU mom (note the sarcasm) - you have to "pass a test" in order to take your baby home. No, it's not an actual test, but you have to spend the night at the hospital and care for your baby while the nursing staff occasionally takes vital signs. To me, it feels like we have to earn permission to take our child home. I'm quite bent out of shape about the whole thing, but I'm going to play by their rules and give them another 24 hours of my life and then I'll move on and try to forget about it.

I can't believe I finally have just one more day to prepare for Nora's homecoming! I'd better get busy.

Week 2 in Pictures