SouthSea's All American Baby thread

[duchesse]

New thread for well-wishers to leave messages! And for Southsea to leave links to photos of the Pebble (hint hint) [you don't have to Southsea)

[Liz79]

What a gorgeous boy!

[Southsearocks]

I'm dischaged!!

I am no longer a patient at Riddle Hospital . However, we're going to be here loads over the next few weeks so I will be here really but it will feel different.

We're just waiting to se the social worker about getting a social security number to move along the passport issue. I'm pretty sure we have to have one to get back. The doctor said Thomas should be able to fly back one week after discharge! So really all we are waiting on is the documentation.

DP has had his bills for his broken ankle . Not good. He had a less than 1 hour consult and was given an ankle boot support, for which he's already paid $200, and they now want another $800! And that wasn't even the diagnostic apppointment. The hospital bill for A&E and an x-ray was $500, which under the circumstances seems a lot more reasonable. I'm not happy....

But, had loads of cuddles with Thomas this AM and tried him on the breast again. He is latching on but then just falls asleep! But this is what preemies tend to do apparently. It's very cute .

Oop, social worker is here - have to go x

[tadjennyp]

My Samuel is 8lbs 11oz and also falls asleep on the breast southsea - you are not alone! Sorry about the bills, but they do seem quite reasonable compared to what I've heard about here in the States. Ds1 had to have something removed from his nose. It took 5 mins and they charged $800 for it! Lucky we are insured. Good luck with the Kangaroo care, it sounds like it's going brilliantly!

[Mrsfred]

Oh Southsea, congratulations. Thomas looks fantastic and I am glad to hear you are both doing so well after such a long journey!

[DirtyMartini]

Just caught up after posting ages ago on your first thread. What a rollercoaster it's been for you all. Sorry to hear about the bills, ugh.

Thomas is just gorgeous and I remember so well what that intense love feels like when it first hits you - it's amazing. You have a beautiful son - and you kept him safe all that time! Congratulations!

[TastesLikePanda]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

[MelinaM]

Congratulations again Southsea, Thomas is such a handsome little chap! x

[Tigerbomb]

oh isn't he a little Bobby Dazzler.
Congratulations to you all x

[Honeymoonmummy]

I'm another lurker, just wanted to say many congratulations, I am a similar number of weeks PG to you so well done for hanging on for so long! I've looked at your pics, he looks wonderful! Congratulations again! x

[Jacksmania]

Ok, so have just caught up on the thread (monster paperwork day, AAAAGH) - and I'm so happy you've been discharged!! Wonderful! How does freedom feel? :o Do you feel like you're floating - no heavy baby belly, no monitor? :o

Hope you're ok leaving Thomas in hospital, that must be tough :(
((((((HUGS))))))

[MrsDollFace]

Name change so need to re-mark place

So lovely you've had lots of cuddles with Thomas :)

[sparkleshine]

Great news you've been discharged Southsea...must be hard to leave Thomas every night though.
Hopefully he will be home soon as he is continuing to do well.

We are all thinking of the 3 of you. Sorry to hear about the hospital bill for DP.Must have been a shock for you.

I presume you are staying with the in-laws. Have they been to see Thomas yet or is it just parents at the moment?

[ckny1]

Thank you for posting the pics of your new sweetie-pie! He IS gorgeous, and I agree with crazybutterly, he does look strong! :)

Hope you have an easy transition leaving the hospital, and Thomas will be joining you soon enough! :)

[DirtyMartini]

[TeenageWildlife]

Thanks for the lovely threads Southsea and your lovely spirit always smiling through. Congratulations to you all and to little T.S.S

[SpecialC]

Southsea I am so happy for you! Thomas is just lovely and you make motherhood look good! Hope you enjoy you are able to get back to the UK quickly with 2 healthy boys

[duchesse]

Have to say I think those hospital charges for dp are quite steep! I went to a French hospital on boxing day with a broken ankle and was charged 143 euros for the visit, x rays, bloodworks and anticoagulant, and back brace for the ankle. Pales into insignificance next to your us bill!

[galwaygal]

Southsea - so good to hear you are finally free ! I am sure that walking out of the hospital doors felt wonderful!

Breastfeeding preemies is not easy, but hopefully you will have tons of support to get you going. With pumping I found that watching tv or reading a good book helped me the most, the more I was thinking about the pumping the less I got, I think relaxing with the pumping is the best way. Some say use picture of the baby, but this just made me miss my little one (not a premmie!) too much and the let-down reflex hindered rather than helped. Anyway I am sure you will get masses of advice from people.

Can any of your dh's relatives go in and see Thomas? or is it just restricted you your dh and yourself? I am sure you are enjoying every minute of being with Thomas.

[allyfe]

I loved the pictures :) He is gorgeous. You looked impressively lovely post birth! I looked shocking in our newborn family snaps. Obviously that shouldn't be the point, but still!

Hope you are settling back into life on the outside.

[FoxyRevenger]

Aw Southsea he is lovely lovely lovely!

I LOVE this thread!!

[flamingtoaster]

Great to hear you are discharged. Hope it's not too long before Thomas can join you.

[Southsearocks]

Hi all!

Thanks Galwaygal, that is very helpful. I'm on the milking machine all the time!! My nipples are sore, and my boobs are feeling tender. There's more coming but it's taking a long time. I've been told to try to do every two hours through the night as I'm a bit behind (took a while to sort out a hospital grade machine for home) so I'm also knackered! But I guess that's parenthood and of course he is so worth it. I think I'd find it easier if he was with us and not still being cared for in hospital. I still don't feel he's quite ours yet.

It's been nice to be sleeping in a really comfy bed, with DP. I'd forgotten how nice it is to be with him. Life is really hectic now what with breastfeeding, coming to hospital, and life at home with a family of 5. I was a bit stressed yesterday but a bit more relaxed today. There seems to be so many decisions to make, about whether or not we need to buy rather than borrow a car seat, whether we should get a stroller in case we're here for weeks, etc. It looks like it's going to take a while to sort out the passport still but we are trying to expedite it. You have to have a social security number and for that you need a birth certificate. These can take weeks to get. It means as well we're going to end up overstaying our visas unless we get on and contact the immigration board, but for that you need an appointment and for the appointment you need to cal a number that you can never get through to. It's never ending.

BUT..... And the end of it all we have the most beautiful, wrinkly nosed, squeaky little man who makes everything fade away when we have the chance for a cuddle. DP has changed his "diaper" today and fed him his bottle (which contained a precious few of my hard earned drops!). He's not under the UV light today so we've been able to spend more time on cuddles. The rocking chairs here are dreamy. You just want to drift away with him sleeping in your arms..... In fact the nurse had to go over to a mum who was snoring her head off earlier with her tiny babe in her arms. I don't think I'll ever forget the sense of peace in the NICU.

weve got lots of 'thank yous' to do for staff that bought us gifts. I'm planning on doing a hamper with lots of British food, including tea, chocolates, biscuits, I thought Marmite if I can get it. Any other ideas?

Xxx

[CrispyTheCrisp]

Well done on the pumpimg Southsea. I was doing it every 1.5hrs with my two and it is painful, tiring and not enjoyable. However, if you can carry on it is well worth it - i only had to do it for about a week IIRC with my 36 weeker and it certainly gets easier once the milk is flowing

The admin & logistics sound like an absolute minefield and bogged down with beauracracy. I hope you manage to wade through it as soon as possible. Can the insurance people help in any way as i would imagine they would like to see you home asap?

The hamper sounds like a lovely idea . British cheese is quite different from American and baked beans are always a must IMO . Our French friends like us to take them Ribena and Philadelphia when we go over

Re car seat and stroller - these will be allowable within your luggage limits so why not get the one you want in the US and bring it back with you? Probably cheaper too

[TheDuckSaysMoo]

Congratulations! Your photos are wonderful and what a fantastic story Thomas has to tell of how he came into the world!