Welcome Home Levi

Levi has been home with his siblings now for b 2 weeks.  Here is an update on his homecoming and how things are going. 

Since we only stayed one night in the hospital we decided to have Omah and Papa keep the kids for one more night so we could settle in and get some rest before our new reality set in.  We are so thankful that Omah and Papa agreed to keep the kids for us.  It really helped us out!

Leaving the hospital.

 

 

Our first day home we rested, took a little walk, grabbed some dinner and then watched a movie.   

Movie time with Mom and Dad.

 

The next morning Levi had his 2 day check up and then Omah, Joshua and Kayla were waiting for us outside at home afterwards.  Both kids were so happy to see us pull up and ran to the car.  They were of course even happier to see that we brought their baby brother home with us.  As we were walking in Kayla kept saying over and over, "Baby, baby, baby."  Which by the way, before I delivered she would say, "be-be." But since Levi she clearly says baby and its just precious. 

 

Daniel and I both couldn't get over how much bigger and thicker Kayla seemed to us.  She has always seemed so petite and dainty.  I remember going through that feeling with Joshua after Kayla was born.  It is the wildest thing to me. 

 

They couldn't get to him fast enough when I sat him down in his car seat in the house.  

It's tough being loved this much.

He started crying and Joshua brought over some train tracks for him. 

 

When Levi continued to cry Joshua looked concerned and started really thinking.  Then he declared, "He needs a new diaper."  Sure enough Joshua was right.  It was a big family affair changing Levi's diaper.   

Joshua covered him up with a blanket.  3 year olds are so literal.

 

We were finally able to get the kids to give Levi some peace while he slept and we ate lunch.  Every time he would make a little sound they would whip around to check him out. 

 

Busted!  Kayla caught in the action of poking Levi in the eye.

 

 

 

Having Daniel home for a week and a half helped so much and both kids just loved having him home.  He is a huge help and we all miss him tremendsouly while he is away at work. 

 

 

How Joshua is handling the change... 

 

Joshua adores Levi!

 

 

 

 

 

 Every morning when he comes into our room he wants to check on him and love on him. 

 

 

He also likes to hold him.  In the first few days he always wanted him to open his eyes. 

 

 

 

 Once when Joshua was holding Levi he got real close to him and asked, "What do you think of me?" 

 

He is always saying how cute and adorable he is. 

 

When he cries he likes to problem solve as to what would make him better.  He usually suggest the pacifier. 

 

Levi's car seat is right next to Joshua's and Joshua is always lifting the blanket to check on him.  He almost always has his hand on him patting him when we are driving.

 

Joshua said about the blanket over the car seat, "It's like a fort."

 

One day while Levi was napping and Daniel was in the shower, Joshua was watching a show, and I took Kayla to play outside.  I told Joshua if he heard Levi on the monitor to come and tell me.  Sure enough Kayla and I are a few houses down and I hear Joshua yelling, "Mommy, I hear Levi."  We left right away to get Levi and when I went into his room Joshua was in there real close to Levi saying, "shh, it's okay Levi, it's okay."  Another time we were all outside playing and Levi was in the car sleeping.  When Joshua heard him crying he hopped in the car to comfort him.  He is the perfect big brother!

 

How is Kayla adjusting?

 

Kayla too loves Levi and is adjusting better than we could have ever imagined.  As I have mentioned before, she is a Mama's girl and we were worried she would be jealous of the baby but so far she hasn't shown any signs of being jealous.  She seems to have grown more independent playing by herself and keeping herself busy. 

  

During the first few days when would be in another room sleeping she would wander around the house asking, "Baby? Baby? Baby?" 

 

She doesn't mind when I am hold him or nursing him which is a huge relief.  She is however, starting to realize that she can get into things she isn't suppose to while I am nursing and completely ignore me when I tell her no.  I think I am going to be a pro at nursing while walking around and holding the baby with one hand while tending to Kayla with the other.  The life of a mom :)

 

She has tried sharing her toys with him and putting things in his hand.  She even brought him her most special Polar Bear when he was crying one day. 

 

 

She likes to bring me diapers when I am changing him.  Sometimes I get more than one or sometimes she stacks them all around him as I am feeding him.  She always wants to bring me wipes, one by one.  When I ask for a diaper she will get the package of wipes and look at me and nod her head yes.   She also likes to throw away dirty diapers and then claps for herself for helping ;)

I love her expression here. 

 

She likes to lay her head on the baby.  

Kisses

How are Mom and Dad doing? 

 

We are a bit on the tired side.  Okay, okay, we are exhausted but oh so in love.  We are slowly finding a new normal and routine.  I feel like my life operates like an assembly line sometimes.  I also feel like I am always either feeding a tiny person or wiping a small bum but I love those little people with all that I am.