So, it feels a little belated to discuss the hospital bubble, considering our sweet caboose is now THREE WEEKS OLD (how did that happen?!). But I've had this post in draft mode for quite awhile and, well, I'm sure we can all guess why I haven't gotten around to finishing it... (ah hem, survival mode).
But I wanted to document and mention both (a) the hospital bubble and (b) our village.
First things first - y'all, I love me some postpartum hospital life. TJ is always itching to get home, and I always want them to tell me I need to say just one more day. Especially now with multiple kids at home... the hospital is just so calm and quiet and everyone takes care of you and is at your beck and call - bringing you pain meds and food and checking on you and asking if you're okay. Aside from the fact that my bottom side is basically split wide open, I liken it to a few days at the spa because I have never felt so spoiled. Ha!
And yes, I love my other children and miss them while I'm away... But with this being our last bambino, I really and truly didn't want to leave our hospital bubble. I loved every second of it - painful bottom, mesh panties, and all.
What made the hospital bubble even more enjoyable was knowing the two big siblings were in good hands, thanks to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. CK and E were as happy as can be, completely spoiled, and not missing us one bit! And luckily Meme and Aunt Beth were both able to sneak away so they could come snuggle our sweet caboose!
We had several other visitors, too - which meant the world to us. There's just something to be said about people in your life taking the time to come meet your child when he's just hours old...
Inbetween visitors and nurse check-ins and napping and doctors and food deliveries, T and I mostly just soaked in the one-on-one time with our Brooks, our #3, the one who completed our family...
Once we were finally forced to leave the oh-so-sacred hospital bubble, I really was excited to start life as a family of five. Nervous and anxious and emotional - but also excited. I have to admit, though, that the only reason we're surviving is because of our village! They say it takes a village to raise a child, and boy is that true. Especially when it is child #3.
We're treading water over here and managing to stay afloat, only thanks to friends and family constantly checking in on me via calls and texts, the generosity of those bringing us dinners, and grandparents dropping everything to come here and love on us/grocery shop/entertain CK and E/cook dinners/clean/spoil us rotten. So to all of you who have checked in on us or had a hand in helping us find our new, wonderful, chaotic normal - thank you, thank you, thank you. <3
We are nonstop, and we are exhausted - but we are so, so happy...
At 4:57pm on September 9th, four became five. <3
Which still absolutely blows my mind, since it seems like just yesterday we were told by so many doctors we'd likely always be a family of three.
And now - now we are five. And my heart is so overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude...
We decided we didn't want CK and E to come to the hospital until Saturday, so we could spend some one-on-one time with our caboose and soak in all of his newness. Luckily T's mom and sister were loving and taking care of and spoiling CK and E, which made being away from them so much easier. But needless to say, I was so, SO anxious and nervous and excited when they finally got to the hospital on Saturday morning.
I was so, SO anxious and nervous and excited to introduce them to their baby brother, their Brooks, their caboose.
We have it all on video, and it is something I will hold near and dear to my heart, cherishing those precious moments when CK and E laid eyes on our missing puzzle piece for the very first time.
The unconditional, innocent, pure love they both felt filled up the room immediately. If there was ever a time in my life during which I thought my heart would burst, this was it. I was so overwhelmed with how incredibly blessed we are - so overwhelmed by how lucky I am to be the mama of my three - THREE - children.
...
On Sunday we were discharged, and the emotions continued as we brought our little guy home, introducing him to our crazy, loud, chaotic, beautiful world...
And, of course, he needed an official introduction to Ellie:
I'm honestly not sure who is most obsessed with our little B...
Cameron Kate is such a little mama - she asks about Brooks all day, everyday, and he is the first thing she wants to see when she gets home from school. And Everette is much more into having a baby around than I ever thought he would be - honestly, I thought he'd be indifferent about it all. But he always wants to know, "Where'd baby go?! Where'd 'Books' go?!" And while E definitely requires constant supervision to make sure he doesn't pull off any newborn fingers or toes, it has been so incredible to watch his heart learn what it feels like to have a little brother.
I am so, so proud of both Cameron Kate and Everette. The way they have transitioned into our new normal, the way they have accepted a whole new level of chaos, the way they have understood me needing to devote my attention elsewhere - and mostly, the way they have both wrapped Brooks up in their loving arms, making him feel at home, letting him know that we've been waiting for him, loving him with all of their might.
At 4:57pm on September 9th, four became five... and my heart will never, ever be the same. <3
