NICU

Because of a possible infection, Kimball was in the NICU on antibiotics for five days. My mom was a lifesaver throughout the entire ordeal. She arrived in Rexburg the afternoon Kimball was born and took sole care of Aidan until we were able to bring Kimball home from the hospital.

My mom brought our dinner to the hospital so we could spend time with her and Aidan. 

There were definitely pros and cons to having a baby in the NICU. I think I would have been a lot more stressed out if Kimball was in there because he was a preemie or because he was really sick. Thankfully, he was neither - he was there more for precautionary reasons than anything. I'm grateful the doctors took the "better safe than sorry" route, which I'm all for since losing Alma. Everyone was so nice in the NICU, too. The nurses were so willing to help and I knew Kimball was in good hands whenever I had to leave him to go back to my room.

Jayze got to go to the NICU with Kimball about 30 minutes after Kimball was born. He sent me this picture since I was still stuck in Labor & Delivery.

First time seeing him again after he was born. NICU. 

So in love. Second time I got to hold him. 

Once we knew he had to stay in the NICU longer than 48 hours, one of the nurses had to put a new IV in his head because all of his other veins kept bursting. I'm glad she told us that before we saw him with it in, because then we were able to brace ourselves. It was heart-wrenching seeing that big thing stuck in his head. I pretty much hated it and couldn't wait for it to come out. 

The second night, Jayze decided to go back home to sleep while I stayed another night at the hospital. It ended up being a good decision because both Aidan and Kimball had a hard time that night. I was pumping, trying to get anything to come out, while watching TV to keep my mind occupied. When I finished, I turned off the lights and tried to get some much needed sleep, but I kept getting the prompting to check on Kimball. I finally crawled out of bed and hobbled down to the NICU. After I washed my hands, I checked in with the nurse who told me that Kimball was really fussy and having a hard time going to sleep. As I approached the bassinet and softly called his name, he calmed down a little bit. Ever since he was born, he has seemed to know all of our voices. I grabbed him from the little bassinet and gently rocked him. I felt like I needed to be there for him (plus I didn't want to leave my baby), so I sat down with him still in my arms and leaned back in the reclining camping chair. After a few minutes we both fell asleep. We stayed that way for a couple of hours.

When it felt like it was time to go, I placed him back into the little bassinet and sleepily walked up to my room. While I was in the elevator, Jayze texted me and said that Aidan had woken up screaming (about the same time I felt prompted to go check on Kimball) and he was just now calming down again. It was a moment where I was grateful that Jayze and I could be there for our kids. This parenting thing is tough stuff (including parenting an angel baby), but I'm so grateful that the Spirit leads and guides us. I hadn't planned to go to the NICU at all that night because I hadn't been able to sleep much since Kimball was born, and I knew I needed sleep to heal, so I was planning to do just that - sleep. But I'm so grateful I followed that prompting so I could be there for my baby boy. It's a moment I want to look back on and remember that even when the timing doesn't seem perfect or convenient according to me, it really is perfect to the Lord.

I already love being Kimball's mom. I hope someday he knows that I need him just as much as he needs me. 

The nurses made this banner for him. They made a banner for all of the NICU babies, which I think is so thoughtful. We loved it. 

Soaking in that glorious newborn smell. 

By the time the five days were up, we were anxious to get home. Aidan still hadn't met Kimball, and I was so excited for these two brothers to meet. I wanted all of us home together. But when we finally got the all clear and were on the way home with our new baby in the backseat, I felt nervous. I wasn't sure how Aidan was going to react to his new little brother. Plus, a piece of my heart was still missing. I ached to hold Alma and wished that we were coming home to him, too. 

Neither Aidan or Kimball liked being put in the car seat for the first time, haha. 

But once Aidan saw Kimball, my worries went away and a tender peace filled my heart. Aidan couldn't stop saying "Baby!" and everything felt right for just a few precious moments. Precious moments I don't ever want to forget. 

"Baby!"
First time seeing Kimball in person.