Home-coming Queen

The long-awaited arrival of Claire to the Hansen household is finally here.  And just 10 short days after she came home from the hospital, it's already hard to imagine this place without her.  Of course, Emmett and Virgil were the first to give her a big, warm, Hansen-brother welcome (and a few sharp punches to the stomach.)  And then there was the obligatory "everybody gets to hold the baby" pass around.  At three weeks old, she already knows she's the little queenie around here. And she's going to make sure everybody else knows it, too.

Proud parents of little Claire on her home-coming day from the NICU.

Claire, sporting her "going home" attire, coordinated to match her car carrier, of course...

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson get to meet Claire for the first time.

Grandma Judy's got the touch!

Claire and Karla doing some chit-chat.

Baby girl, happily installed in her new basinette in the middle of the front room.  She's already really good at sleeping through very loud fire engine and train whistle sounds and lots of crashing dump trucks.

 

Big Brother is watching!

Claire got a visit from Big Brother Virg in the NICU when she was one week old last Saturday.  Emmett couldn't join in because he had a runny nose at the time, but he sent Virg in with strict instructions to take detailed notes and report back immediately.  So Virg tip-toed up to the edge of Claire's basinette, climbed up on a chair to get even a little closer, and yelled at the top of his lungs:  "Baby Claire! It's time to come home!" 

Actually, he didn't do that.  He was the model big brother and whispered quietly without waking her the entire time..but you know that's what we were all thinking.

Virg is ready for official baby observation.  Claire, in 3-D!

Emmett rogers that.  It's a big 10-4, little buddy!  Over and out. 

Girl's Day at the NICU Spa

When Claire found out she had newborn jaundice, she was not pleased.  It meant laying under the UV lamp, lit up like a blue light special at K-Mart with only a diaper and mandatory eye mask - no onesies, no blankies, no swaddling, nothing but bare baby.  Mommy and Claire tried to make the best of it though.  Mommy kept telling Claire that other ladies pay for this type of treatment,and in fact Claire's skin has turned a lovely bronze because of the UV reaction with her blood chemistry.  The doctors say she should have a good tan for the next 2 months at least.  She's ready for some well-earned R&R in sunny climes.  Hawaii - anyone?  Now, if only the NICU nurses would come around with some additional manicures, pedicures, massages and facial treatments, Claire thinks she might learn to like this kind of thing.

Here's our blue Sleeping Beauty!

Full of Surprises

As you may or may not know, Baby Claire has some pretty unique features.  She may look like a normal newborn, but if you could see what's on the inside, she would surprise you.  For one thing, she's going to be saying the Pledge of Allegiance with her left hand over her heart, because it's actually on the right side of her chest and has a hole in the walls that separate the four pumping chambers inside.  Her stomach and liver are also flipped on opposite sides.  And so far, it appears she doesn't have a gall bladder at all.  But, generally speaking (almost unbelievably), things are working fine, despite all of the flip-flopping and missing pieces.  She's eating, sleeping, crying and pooping like a champ. Don't talk to Claire about any Sidus Inversus Syndrome-Schmyndrome!  She's just taking care of business.

Claire - under some heavy surveillance.  She's wired for sound: sensors for heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen levels...you name it, she's got it!

Looking at Claire's heart through an ultrasound monitor.

Here's her heart...I think.  A little bit like abstract art - it takes a studied eye to see it.

Big Miracles

Claire finally decided to join us on Mother's Day 2012.  So far, she has had a string of blessings follow her.  On our first night's stay at the hospital, Mommy and Baby Claire both had fantastic nurses named "Angela."  What are the odds of both of us having angels on duty?  Claire spent her first nine days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for monitoring to make sure her heart and lungs were doing what they need to do.  She passed with flying colors, but while she was there she met some amazing neighbors.  Each baby in the NICU has their own unbelievable story.  Claire's next door neighbor was born in February weighing 1 lb 6 oz and only 13 inches long.  Three months later, that little baby is still growing and getting stronger each day, and her parents have named her "Miracle."   That's exactly how we feel about Claire, too.

Here at last!  Best Mother's Day present ever!

Claire during her first night on the outside - sleeping like a baby.

Here's our big girl at the official weigh-in:  a whopping 8 lbs 13 oz. and 20.1 inches long. 

She'll need every bit of that to hold her own with her big brothers.

She's Actual Size

Oh - you hadn't heard?  We sent an message to mister stork asking for a little, polite girl to join our family.  Of course something must have happend to the message because it's obvious we have recieved a little PARTY girl instead!  Staying up late into the night, drinking like there is no tomorrow, and dancing up a storm all the while.

You rock that Uke little girl!!!