Life with Two

Well, friends. Joseph is 8 weeks old and has been home for 5 weeks and 3 days.  We are so, so relieved and excited to have him home with us, and both of our little ones in one place.  This is not to say every minute is easy: he is fussy a lot and prefers to be held pretty much all the time (nights included!).  But sometimes I look at him, asleep in my arms, and think My God.  And not in a vulgar way - in a My God, just look at him. Think of what he's been through, and he's okay. He's alright! He looks like God took Big Sister's face and the crayons from her craft table, and colored in brown hair and darker blue eyes, and said, here you go! Here's another beautiful one, just for you.

There's some moments that are just downright sweet. Nora absolutely adores him and asks if she can play with him (I'm never quite sure what she's envisioning when she asks this...I think she is anxious for him to be crawling around and chasing her) and hold him. Other moments are very difficult; putting them both to bed by myself is quite a challenge, because he's usually fussy, and she's well...she's 3.  I'm really glad that this week while Ryan works evenings, my mom is here to help.  

I don't have oodles of time to write, so I'll give you pictures instead. :)

Catching lightning bugs with Papa Ray

We surprised Nora after nap time when we brought him home from the hospital

Getting to hold little brother, with no silly tubes or wires!

Little Bro, you don't know how lucky you are. She's never once asked if we can take you back to the hospital...and sometimes you cry a lot.

Aunt Michelle, who had been put in charge of being "my person" while I was in the hospital (this meant she made sure I ate food, didn't let me lie to the nurses about whether anything hurt, stayed with me at the hospital while Ryan went home to spend a little time with Nora, talked me through lots of difficult moments, and loved on Nora at home while I couldn't), finally got to snuggle with Joseph.

GG and Papa Ray had patiently waited a long time to visit.

I mean, stop it. I can't handle all of the love in the picture.

GG and Joseph

Sometimes we read The Night Before Christmas in July while wearing no pants, all before breakfast.

Who needs to shower? Not me, apparently. These two prefer a stinky mommy.

Anyone need a babysitter?

In his Chicks Dig Scars onesie, a gift from my sister's friend whose son also had TGA and sent us a lot of encouraging words as we prepared for his birth and surgery.

Holy cats. I love this kid.