Mialyn, Meet Emmalyn

   The day I found out I was pregnant with Emma, I took the test that morning (October 26th, 2016) and hung out with my best friend, Mia, for three hours that afternoon. It was so hard not telling her the whole time that I had just found out that I was pregnant. Of course I wanted Michael to be the first to know and he was at work all day. I felt like I was being so awkward around Mia and I later asked if she noticed it, but she didn't. I think I told her that night or maybe the next day, but a few days after that, at our Halloween party, we got a picture together! That was her first picture "with" Emma. A few weeks after the Halloween party, Mia and her boyfriend moved to Denver. She came back last Christmas for two weeks, but I didn't get to see her because we were in Michigan for Emma's surgery. Finally this past Wednesday, she was able to meet her!

    Mia was VERY excited to finally meet Emma, although she sort of felt like she had already met her because of all the pictures and videos I post on Facebook and Instagram. She wanted to hold her right away and was super proud of herself when Emma fell asleep in her arms. Mia also got pumped to make Emma smile and laugh. I told her it would probably be very easy since she has so many ticklish spots- her face, neck, hands, tummy, thighs, and feet! Emma laughed a lot while they played and Mia even got more "aggressive" with the tickling after she saw what Emma likes. The second day, Emma made audible laughs while Mia played with her and she loved that!!

    Mia wanted to know more about what we do to take care of Emma with her medical needs. She watched when we suctioned her, and helped with what she could. She mixed up formula and primed the feeding tubes. On the second morning, Mia watched me do Emma's treatments, and then played with her while I was putting my makeup on. When I came out Mia had pulled out the zoo mobile and gotten Emma's Glowworm from her crib to entertain her so she wasn't just laying there, staring at the ceiling! Mia even volunteered and changed two diapers during her 28 hour stay in Orlando!! She noted that she didn't think she had ever changed a diaper before that.

 

   One of Michael's friends, Saida and her boyfriend, also moved across the country to California, so it was great that she got to visit in Orlando too, and see how great Emma is doing at home. Next week she will hit the 8 month mark, out of the NICU! Last night after I got home from work, they went out and met another friend and had dinner together. That was Michael's first night out in a suuuper long time. He doesn't like to leave Emma except for work, but I'm glad that he did. He deserves it!!

   **Do not be confused by this post's title. Emma's full first name is just "Emma". I laughed when Mia asked if Emma was actually short for something longer, like Emmalyn. Nope! Although I did think Emmaleigh, pronounced like Emily, was a really cool name/ pretty spelling, but Michael did not care for it. :)