Moved in to our temporary new home!

Well, things are finally starting to slow down so we can develop a bit of a rhythm in our daily life here. Brandt's last couple of days at the hospital have been very slow, with no pokes or prods or procedures. All he's had to do is lay there and get cuddled and nurse every few hours. Diaper changes are the worst part of his day, which is kind of understandable, considering the cold wipes and all.

Our first night (Saturday) in Seattle, we spent with Tanner's brother and his wife in a hotel just a mile or so down the road, so that Wade could get to know them a bit before heading back home with them. Sunday night we spent in Burien with one of my cousins who had offered us a room (we've been offered about twenty rooms over the past few days...thank you to everyone who's thought of us!). They've had preemie twins in the hospital for quite a while, so it was nice to talk to some other parents who had been dealing with the ins and outs of some of the stuff we're just getting into.

Plenty of toys for all
the kids that have
been staying here.

Yesterday, we got ourselves settled into our room at the Ronald McDonald house! This is where we'll be for the rest of our stay, and it's a huge relief to have a "home base". Somewhere we can leave our luggage and come back to and crash at at the end of the day. But this place is more than just that...I've been amazed at how eager they are to accommodate everyone here! Our room is a basic hotel room...two twin beds (that we turned into one), a TV, a bathroom and a mini-fridge (strictly for meds and breastmilk). Down the hall is a computer room for any sort of use we may need it for, and two community rooms (with a pool table and foosball game, as well as lots of comfy chairs for watching TV, and toys galore for the kids). Aside from that, they have a fully stocked fridge and pantry that are available to us to use, a full kitchen for cooking in, places to store our food in the cupboards, fridge, and freezer, and free laundry facilities in the basement.

To be honest, I'd be pretty okay with
a kitchen this size in my own house...

Organizations in the area also donate their time to come in 3-5 days a week and cook for the 80 families that are staying here at any given time, free of charge. Sometimes church groups, sometimes individual families that want to reach out...they keep the place well taken care of.

The main community room

I was delighted to discover last night that they also have hospital grade breast pumps on hand that they lend out to the occupants that need them! I figured it was just an as-needed thing, but apparently, I get to keep it for my whole stay! This was a huge game changer for me, as the pump I brought can't shake a stick at the hospital one, so having around-the-clock access to one that actually works has allowed me to keep my supply pretty consistent as well as the pain from engorgement under control. (New motherhood is just so glamorous.) Free is a lot nicer than renting, as well, which is probably what I would have ended up doing at some point.

Tanner's doing pretty well with the
whole daddy-duty thing! He gets
all the post-nursing snuggles while
I go off to pump. Brandt thinks
it's an acceptable arrangement.

So we're doing well, for those who have been asking. It feels kind of like the calm before the storm...everything is settled into place, as secure as we can get it, just waiting for the next hurdle. Of course, it's also the calm after the storm, in a way, and is much appreciated in that respect, as well. I do have to keep reminding myself that I'm not even a week post-partum, though. It seems like an insignificant thing to worry about, considering everything else that's happening, but after overdoing it the last couple days, I've had to learn to pace myself a little. Easier said than done, when just getting to his room is nearly a half mile walk, but I'm getting it figured out, because ending my days in a torrent of irrational tears isn't super fun.

Shawna brought Tanner a Technic Lego kit the other day, and he's been having lots of fun with that, on top of all his baby holding, which seems to be a favorite activity! We've got a pretty good system worked out in which I nurse Brandt, then pass him off to Tanner while I go pump (more for my own comfort than anything, but I'm just about to go into business as my own personal dairy!).

We've had a slow and steady stream of visitors, which has been working out wonderfully. My cousin Sierra has been with us yesterday and today (has to go back to Oregon after this, though), and we've had visits from one or two other family members per day. We do welcome visitors, if there are any in the area that want to swing by! Obviously, a phone call or message first is appreciated, but most of our days are decently open.

We should find out all the details about Brandt's surgery either tonight or tomorrow morning! As soon as I know, I'll post an update for you all.