The first time I held Eric...
That was the most wonderful thing in the world! He was so small. It was hard to believe that he was already 7 weeks old and nearly twice the size was when he was born.
We spent most of that day taking turns holding him. Learning how to feed him. And just staring at him as he slept in his crib. Paul got to change his n-g tube, not something he was very fond of doing. In fact, he only put Eric's n-g tube in one more time because I wasn't around to do it when, for whatever reason, it came out. Having to put this tube in your baby's nose and down to his stomach, making sure it doesn't go into his lungs can be pretty rough on a parent, especially when your baby is so small. And when he's screaming, makes it even worse. I had to do it many a time with no one there to help. Paul never could figure out how I did it on my own. Ya gotta do whatcha gotta do! There were times Eric was so good, that it made up for the times when you thought you were killing him.
The next three days were much like the first one. We spent most of the time at the hospital getting to know our little man. I did spend Monday night there, didn't get much sleep with the nurses coming in and out. Eric slept very well. Wouldn't you if you didn't have to wake up to be fed? Monday is also when Elizabeth signed the papers giving up her parental rights to Eric. It would be another month and a half before Eric would be an adoptive placement since the birthfather's rights still had to be terminated. Thank goodness we are foster licensed!
Wednesday, May 23 we brought "Baby Eric" home. The most wonderful day since our wedding.
It was going to take some getting used to, having a little one around. The crying, although he is pretty good, the diapers, all the stuff but mainly the tube feeding. Both of us had our share of spills, trying to juggle everything and have our hands free. The boppy was a God send! We both have said/wish our next baby is going to be a bottle baby! I don't mind health issues, I just pray for a bottle baby. I miss just being able to cuddle and have that time. Not having to worry about how fast the flow is, whether the flow has stopped, making sure what needs to plugged up is, etc... But we love him and wouldn't ever give him up!
Mom and Dad came over shortly before dinner to meet their new grandson, bearing gifts. Mom, of course had to hold him, Dad passed. But he's had many chances since then. Our neighbors across the street were very happy about Eric's arrival, they even lugged over a bunch of baby gear to borrow, and it has all come in handy! Karen stopped by while we were picking Eric up and left a gift and balloons. Michele was the first, besides my parents, of the family to meet him. She stopped by that Friday, May 25. Which was also our 5th anniversary. Eric was a wonderful gift. Needless to say we didn't go out to celebrate. So, we got take-in from where we had our first date, Buffalo Wings and Rings.
