The Hospital Stay

After Banks was born, I was starving! My meal request was a grilled cheese and French fries from Zaxbys. It was delicious! The rest of the time in the hospital was filled with family and friends coming to meet Banks. Our parents waited for his arrival patiently in the waiting room all day, and were able to meet him within 2 hours after he was born. Andy also stopped by right after he was born, and brought some beautiful flowers, but unfortunately had to go before Banks was allowed visitors (he came to meet him a couple of days later though!) Other visitors were: Byron and Kayla, Sally and Marco, Heather, and Andrea.

Banks got his first bath after the grandparents met him. He got a little too cold afterwards and had to be put on the "heater" for a little whilr. He was so cute when they put him on there because he threw his arms over his head like he was sunbating.

The first night, around 11pm, I was washing my face and brushing my teeth, and walked by Banks' isolette and realized he had spit up and was coughing/choking on it. I freaked out and yelled Patrick's name to wake him up, and told him to go get the nurse. Poor Patrick! He went running and the nurse came in and helped calm me down and tell me that was normal. They ended up taking him to the nursery for a couple of hours to watch him so I could get a little sleep. He came back from the nursery about 2 hours later ready to eat again. Hungry boy!

The next morning, I got up and showered, which made me feel much better. Dr.Shelley and Dr.Maddox came in to check on me and Banks, and so did the anesthesiologist since my epidural had bled a little more than normal. Then, came the "2nd night"...

AnMed requires new parents to watch a series of videos while in the hospital. One of those videos was on the "2nd night." It said that the second night is one of the hardest nights because the baby is extra hungry and extra needy of TLC. Boy, was that true! Banks was circumcised that day, and slept for 6 hours straight after that (which is apparently normal). So, that night he was ready to wake up and catch up on his eating! Patrick and I slept very little that night, between feedings, diaper changes, and just crying in general. We were also told that he had not passed his hearing screening in the left ear that day and would have to be retested before we could leave the next day. Thank the Lord, he passed the second time. We were both completely exhausted the next day, which was Saturday, December 21st, and the day we brought Banks home! He was 5lbs, 6oz when we left the hospital.