#14. Finally Ours!!

Ahhhh...the life of a stay at home dad.  I just wrapped up making our delightful spaghetti dinner (the equipment in this place is pretty sad...flat top electric burners and only 1 pan and 1 pot).  I also snuck in a run right after our last feeding.  There is a really nice area called Lumphini Park (named after Buddha's birthplace in Nepal) just down the road about half a mile. Lots of people out and doing different things...tai chi, running, biking, outdoor gym, swimming, etc. The weather here is brutally hot this time of year, but when the sun starts to go down you can actually get out and exercise.  There were so many people out running around the park path that it felt a bit like running in a marathon.

We are happy to announce that the twins are now officially in our possession!  We woke up a little anxious this morning.  Chris tended to some work emails while I had a swim at our hotel's 25-yd pool.  At 11:00, we headed over to the hospital for what we hoped would be the last time there outside of checkups.

There better be babies in this buggy when we get back

We headed to the 2nd floor of the hospital to meet up with Clare and Luke's pediatrician, Dr. Thidawan. Yesterday, we asked if we should schedule an appointment and she said 'no', but when we tried to check in to today they were so busy they told us to come back at 2:00!  We kept our cool, but you can imagine our tension raised a few levels. Luckily, Dr. T was walking through the busy waiting area a minute later and the receptionist talked to her.  Dr. T waved us into her office and said 'All fine!' meaning we would be a quick 'in and out' appointment and could be on our way.  Phew. Dr. T shared updates and her usual 'na ha's' (this is what some Thais say at the end of a phrase like saying 'ok' or 'understand?').  Clare got straight A's, like usual, and Luke cleared up all of his jaundice issues.  So, she sent us up to the 5th floor nursery to pick up the babies.  Na ha to that.

Once we got to the nursery, we had a little wait for the nursing staff to process our discharge.

One anxious Papa

Our friends were actually in the nursery feeding their babies so we got the chance to see them with their new boys. Soon, we were placed in the feeding area and a nurse shared a lot of information and documents they had prepared for Luke and Clare.  This will be great for when we head home and see our Chicago pediatrician. Then, we were showered with parting gifts.

Did we just lose on a game show??

We actually got a lot of good stuff...diapers, wipes, formula for a couple of weeks (wow!), bottles, entire sets of Johnson's products...and TWO of everything!  Score.  We were a little overwhelmed to be honest. Next, they brought in the cashier to make sure we were paid up.

No pay, no babies

Then, FINALLY, they rolled out Clare and Luke.  At first, Clare seemed sad to be leaving BNH Hospital,

'Dont' send me home with the guys that can't do the bath right!'

but as Chris and the nurse packed the babies into our stroller (we picked this up last night because they are so tiny and won't fit in the equipment we brought...they both fit in the same stroller for now!), she relaxed and realized how lucky she is to be moving in with her two dads.

Away we went!  The hotel is only about a quarter mile from the hospital.  

Bye, bye, BNH

We walked past a bunch of food stalls on the way,

We will have to wheel back here for lunch sometime

and then had to cross our busy street, Thanon Sathon.  

Glad I wore my red polo for today's photo shoot

It was a little like playing 'Frogger', but with Papa 'driving' and Daddy 'navigating', we made it home safe and sound to room 2505.

We slept through the whole thing

We spent the next couple of hours watching them sleep.  We popped in one of our recently purchased videos (I have a feeling we will be doing this a lot and I will be making a trip back to the video shopping place soon)

Making Uncle Jeremy Heckman proud

and watched while waiting for our 3:00 feeding time.  It was funny how we jumped from the couch at every noise coming from the stroller.  I think we were more excited at them waking up at home than worried something was wrong.  Soon, we had eyes opening and it was time for our first 'home' meal.  Luke was the first to stir,

Where am I??

and then Clare came to.

Whatever you do, don't give me a bath

We had a couple diaper changes.

There's a lot more where that came from

Then, we did our best to feed them.

Papa and Clare

Daddy and Luke

Unfortunately, at 36 weeks and 4 days (their gestational age) they are two sleepy little babies.

No lullabies needed

Before they completely crashed, we got Luke and Clare together for a sibling picture,

Wearing puppies because we can't wait to meet our dog Trig!

even though they wiggled their way through most of the photo shoot.

All in all, it was a great first day home.  Let's hope it's a great (fingers crossed) first night!