Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Finally HOME!

We are finally home now after having our sweet baby boy. Nicholas Alma was born on Jan. 21. 2011. His initials are NAC and since his name is Nick we've already started calling him our little Nic-Nac (knick-knack) Hee,hee! Unfortunately, during the C-section he inhaled WAAAAAY too much amniotic fluid which made his lungs sticky and got him a ticket straight to the new NICU at the hospital. They had to intubate him and put a drug called "surfactant" into his lungs to help them clear it all out. This worked beautifully but now that he was in the NICU he had to "graduate" out. Which meant he had to practically behave a hundred times healthier than a normal baby before they'd let him come home! It seemed to take forever, and I HATED coming home without a baby! This was the first time that had happened to us, even with Gabe being a month early, he got to come home with us. Anyway, he got to come home on Thursday and we are SOOOO happy to have him home. I don't think there is a baby in the world more adored by his siblings than this one is. They talk to him in sweet sing-song voices, and beg to hold him. Gabe just stares at him for forever at a time, and then says things like "mom, every time I say 'Baby Nick it's your big brother Gabe', he smiles at me!" Will just laughs at everything he does, and every movement he makes. I think he's told me about 500 hundred times that baby "Nik-kiss" doesn't have any "teef" - which he remembers every time he sees him yawn or open his mouth. :) The big boys were INCREDIBLE while we were going back and forth to the hospital a billion times. I'm so thankful that they are off-track right now and were able to help so much and also to enjoy some time with their baby brother before going back to school! Now that he's home he is doing great, and adjusting to the noise and environment here perfectly. I told Mark that once I got this baby away from all his NICU nurses and home that I didn't plan on putting him down for weeks. I think Nicholas understood that because when we DO put him down, as in once or twice a day, he fusses and squirms like we've just laid him in a cactus tree, then we pick him up and cradle him and he is out like a light and will sleep for HOURS! A little spoiled? Yes. Do I plan on un-spoiling him anytime soon? NO WAY! This is my last baby, and I feel like it's already going too fast. He's 11 days old today!! He's only going to be "fold-in-half" tiny for another week or so. Pretty soon he'll be smiling, laughing, crawling! I really don't want to rush it - so I'm just as happy to sit and hold him as he is to sit and be held.

Mark was absolutely AMAZING as always with this baby. He took a week off and had this house running like a well-oiled machine. He had a laundry day, a vacuuming day, a toilet scrubbing day, floor scrubbing day, etc. The boys were cleaner (maybe not as cutely dressed?) than they've ever been, and so happy and content. He was so patient and loving with them and let them all trade off on sleeping in the big bed while I was gone. I told him they were going to be mad at me when I came home and messed everything up for them! When we brought Nicholas home he waited on the two of us hand and foot until yesterday when he had to go back to work. *sniff* We miss him SO much already!

My mom came in on Sunday, and has been filling the job of new servant very well! She keeps telling me to lay down or take a nap, and has been doing laundry, making beds and fixing lunches. We've also been so blessed with people bringing in meals. My amazing Aunt Ellen even cooked us an entire TURKEY DINNER, and it wasn't even her Sunday to cook dinner for her family! I'm not going to remember how to do anything when all my help goes away! :)

I am feeling great. I think my body was totally prepared for C-section #4. I have been able to take it really easy, and haven't needed anything for pain since the 2nd day at the hospital. I'm so relieved as it would have been even harder to try to take care of a baby in the NICU and feel horrible at the same time. I definitely think it is a tender mercy and am so thankful.

.......And the baby is awake! I will leave you with some pictures of this precious little boy. We love him SO much!





21 comments:

Lisa said...

Oh he is sweet, Sweet, SWEET! Mel, you win, I promise I will not try to tie you. Cains 5, Nielsens 4. I give! LOL What a beautiful family you have. Can't wait to come see him in person. (I'll wait a week or so, I have strep) Love you!

Peggy said...

5 boys! I can hardly believe it! Congratulations, you two. He's beautiful and I'm happy to hear he's healthy and made it home safely.

Karina said...

Oh that was wonderful to read. I'm so happy that you are enjoying every second! You guys are too cute!

Anaise said...

I've been wondering and wondering about what was happening!! I'm so glad he's home and healthy and that everything is going so well. Your family is so beautiful! And your little Nick is particularly gorgeous!

Congratulations!!!!!!

Rhyetta Musser said...

Many congrats to your Nik-Nak!! I know what you mean about not putting him down. We don't much either. And when we do our Nikolaus is not happy! Maybe it's a Nicholas thing! I have so many of the same feelings you do. This could be our last as well so I'm celebrating every moment. I'm happy for your family!

Judy said...

So glad to get an update and see pictures! I'm here to testify how fast they grow up--went to see Baby 'Klaus over the weekend, and he is already alert and looking around. Seems like he was born yesterday, but it has been 6 weeks! And then there's Ana's Baby Heidi and Karina's Little Laela--walking/running around and "reading" and thinking/acting like the big kids. Wow. Life. Too fast...

Beautiful, beautiful family. Thanks for the post...

Cindy said...

He is so beautiful!! I'm so happy that all is well and he is home now. Just looking at him makes me so newborn hungry! I love those last couple pictures of him, and the one with his brothers too. Time does go by way, way too fast. I can't believe my "baby" is 18 months old already.

Cade said...

What a team!

Becky said...

What a beautiful baby!! Congratulations and I am so happy for you that you're all home safe and sound now. Please keep blogging it's so fun to see your little guys growing up!

~ME said...

OH MY!!!! He's GORGEOUS! You two do make beautiful babies!!! Congrats, friend! So good to see you today, and we'll have to come snuggle on your little one when I'm certain we're germ-free ;o) I'm so glad you are all home as a family. Please let me know if there is anything I can do! Talk to you soon. ~Beck

Shill and Company said...

Congratulations! He is absolutely precious. So happy for your entire family. Sorry that his first few weeks were unpleasant, but no doubt he will rebound and be a healthy little guy. He's lucky to be a part of such an awesome family!

AD said...

Just LOVED this update and all of the photos! What a darling, darling family you have.

Camille said...

BEAUTIFUL boys!! there is a lady in my ward that is getting ready to have her 5th boy.... made me think of you on Sunday and I just think you're superwoman! I am glad that everything is okay and he's home safe and sound with mama, where he should be.

melissa said...

Congrats on another beautiful boy!!! (It's Peggy's sister, Melissa). Looking at all your cute boys makes me almost want one more! Have fun with little Nick.

Anonymous said...

Oh he is soooo beautiful!! Congratulation Mel. Let me know when I can come steal some kids away for a quieter afternoon. My boys are dying to see your boys.
You and Mark do good work, he's a keeper.
Love ya,
Laura

Steph said...

Hi Miss Melanie! Yay! Your boys are adorable & I love it! You look wonderful as always. I hope life is treating you well.

We should try and get together sometime - I keep in touch with Donna...maybe we could do lunch?

Brandi said...

Congrats on the birth of your sweet little guy!

Unknown said...

Wow, how out of touch am I? I new baby boy! Congratulations!

Christine said...

Melanie-you are not giving me any hope here of having a girl! I'm two boys behind you. You are so amazing I can't believe you have five kids! You are my hero! They are all soooo cute!

Christine said...

Hey I had trouble nursing..with almost all of my boys actually. My friend brought over this raspberry tea stuff with my last and it made my milk come in like crazy. I didn't end up nursing because of a bunch of reasons, but try it. If you need a more specific name I can find out exactly what it was because it seriously worked! Good luck, nursing is so hard for me. I told Brad our next I'm not even going to try.

Kristin said...

Congratulations on the new baby! He is so cute! I had to come by and say thanks for your comment on my blog over 2 years ago about freezer paper stenciling - I finally tried it and you were right it is really fun! Don't ask me what took me so long, but thanks!