Who needs sleep?

Friday was a long day. Of course we didn't know what to expect. A little crying and a diaper change late in the day made for what we thought was a long day. Overnight we learned the first day is the easiest.

We tried to nap Friday since at that point we had been up for pretty much 24 hours. Nurse after nurse after nurse came in to visit. We thought we were royalty. Then shift change and we had a whole new group of nurses. They were all helpful and ready to answer questions.

The grandparents stayed all  night . Grandpa Rice and Dennis had to leave to go to work early. Both Grandmas and Grandpa Dennis (he came back) finally got their chance to visit around 8ish. Then it was time to feed or try to feed. Didn't really work out. We tried to nap in the morning but with all the nurses in and out it was hard. Then we all fell asleep about 11:30. Around noon... Knock knock knock, here comes the nurse and she said our upstairs room was ready. We were packed and out of there in four minutes. New room means new nurses. It started all over again. Finally we decided that sleep was going to have to wait until night time. (yeah right)

Early afternoon Lee and Judy came to visit. A little later Grandma Rice, Great Grandma Tennison, Marilynn and Dick stopped by.
Nap time... nope.
We decided it was time for his first non hospital outfit. He was dressed up and waiting for visitors. About 30 minutes later Shane, Candi and Chris (Candi's mom) stopped by. Candi and Shane are expecting in April 2011 so this was their first chance to see and hear what they had gotten into. Another knock, It was Doug on his way to go line dancing. He reminded us that we still had time to make it to the dance floor. Then Grandma and Grandpa Rice stopped by. When they left they volunteered to stop by Publix for a sub and bring it back since the cafeteria was already closed. I went to the lobby to pick up dinner but picked up another visitor. Cathy, Laura's childhood bes friend. Then grandma and grandpa Dennis stopped by.

10pm and it is time to get some sleep. Well, maybe not. Anthony couldn't decided if he want to poop, pee, eat or was just cold.
They were all tested every 20 minutes. Sometime early Saturday morning the nurse came in and said she was taking him to sit under the heat lamp and check his breathing.... all right, we get to sleep. We think maybe an hour (which was an eternity) she had him. Then the door opens and he was crying. Like the death cry. Scarred both of us. She dropped him off and left. Guess it was time to sink or swim for us.
An hour later he went back to sleep... for 10 minutes. In the middle of the night a babies scream is very loud and jarring. Time for food, this time the lactation specialist walked in. Perfect timing. She was able to offer some tips that helped.
Another knock, it was the pediatrician. Wait a minute, it was 8 am. We all three slept for 90 minutes. Wow.

Breakfast and more diaper changes. Wait, more cries... but it was coming from another room. We were very happy to hear that it wasn't just Anthony with the death cry. Life is better knowing this.