New mothers need to be told that the whole hospital “rooming in” thing should be avoided at all costs. Tell the nurses that the nursery was built so that you, as a new mom, can get two nights of real sleep before you and the baby go home to lots of sleepless (and nerve-wracked) nights. Don’t be shy. Even if you’re breastfeeding, have the baby brought to you when he/she is hungry. Get sleep!

(The preceeding paragraph is only partially a personal justification for the large amounts of sleep I got Wednesday night and Thursday night in the hospital.)

The strangest thing about being in a hospital is the way nurses and doctors file in and out of your room with relative disregard. Carol, bless her heart, reminded me of a small fact I’d forgotten. (”It’s a hospital, Michelle, not a hotel.”) The day was sort of surreal … Medical staff in and out, Ryan in and out, Stephen and I stealing naps while we could. Kristi and her daughters came by, and my mother “came by” on her way home from work (and stayed two hours - it was funny.)

Ryan had his picture taken for the nursery web site. Stephen was in charge of that task, and the pictures turned out great - considering Ryan was less than a day old.

I can’t remember ever being as tired as I was today. Five minutes of silence in the room would find me sound asleep. Maybe my body’s finally trying to catch up on nine months of interrupted sleep.

Life with Ryan is going to be an adventure.

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michelle