After Matt assists both Betty and Rosalina in getting dressed, they head downstairs to the reception area. Matt pushes Betty in a wheelchair while Rosalina rests in her lap. They wait under the overhang for the town car. Cal and Victoria surprise them by arriving in the town car to join them for the ride home.
"We hope you don't mind us joining you for Rosalina's first car ride. This way you can both sit with her and help her be comfortable," comments Cal.
"That is fine Dad, it is a nice gesture," responds Matt as he glances at Betty.
"Once we get home, we would appreciate it if we could have some time alone to get situated before people start showing up to congratulate us," he adds.
"Not a problem," retorts Victoria. "In fact, while you have definitely gotten better at putting limits on people in the last few months," which results in smirks from Matt, Betty, and Cal, "let me know if anyone needs a talking to regarding your rules about visitors, I'd be glad to assist with that."
"I'm sure you would," teases Cal, which gets him on the receiving end of one of Victoria's famous glares.
The ride home is uneventful, with Rosalina sleeping most of the trip, seeming to enjoy the motion of the vehicle. Betty waits in the car with Rosalina and Victoria while Matt and Cal bring in the various items. He hands Rosalina to his father to carry into the house, which results in Cal beaming. Betty and Rosalina get settled in the downstairs "baby area" with Betty looking over the various food items, balloons, etc that have been delivered.
"What is that?" asks Victoria as she looks at an unusual arrangement on the table.
"I think that is a cookie and fruit bouquet," comments Matt. "It is sort of a new thing, you can get them in various designs for specific occasions."
"I think I'll try a little of both before Rosalina decides it is time for her late afternoon meal," announces Betty.
The adults all have a snack, with Betty calling her father to let him know they have arrived home safe and sound. Rosalina starts to fuss, with Cal and Victoria deciding that it is a good time to leave since Betty is going to breastfeed.
"I can hear my granddaughter now. We don't want to overwhelm you on your first day home, so I likely won't stop by until sometime tomorrow. I did leave several meals in your refrigerator and freezer since I suspect neither of you is up to cooking," comments Ignacio.
"Papi, thanks so much! You are right, neither of us has the energy to cook or your talent with it either," replies Betty.
Betty adds, "If you would call before you come over, that would be much appreciated. If we don't pick up the phone that hopefully means we are all resting. We will then give you a ring when we are awake and presentable."
"You are more than welcome. A call before we arrive is fine with us. Try to get some sleep between feedings and diaper changes. We'll see you tomorrow. Remember how proud I am of you and that I love you, Mija," replies Ignacio as he hangs up the phone.
Betty sits in a recliner in the living room, requesting a pillow from Matt. She feeds Rosalina, who takes a little longer than previously to start nursing, seemingly interested in her new surroundings.
At 7:30 pm, the doorbell rings, with Matt opening the door and stating, "Welcome, Zoe. We are glad you are here since the nights have been long so far."
"They'll get better soon, I promise," says Zoe. "Please remind me where everything is so that we won't be stumbling around at 3am. As we discussed, my typical routine is to get up, change the baby, and then go get Mommy for the feeding. Sometimes I will also get Mommy before I change the baby if she is not too fussy."
"Do you mean Betty or the baby being fussy?" asks Matt with a teasing tone, which results in a look from Betty.
"I was referring to the baby, but Betty will have every right to be fussy too given everything her body has gone through and continues to go through related to breastfeeding," responds Zoe.
"Do you know where you plan on feeding her?" asks Zoe.
Betty replies, "I am thinking in the reclining chairs in either our room or Rosalina's room. Lying down to nurse her hasn't worked as well so far and the recliner is actually more comfortable than the rocking chair, at least to nurse."
"Well, then, I'll come to awaken you when your daughter calls and you'll decide which room at that time," responds Zoe.
Betty and Matt eat one of Ignacio's casseroles for dinner. They invite Zoe to join them but she graciously declines.
"I need to remember to thank my dad again in the morning, this tastes wonderful after the hospital food. He also kept the spice level down, which I am sure Rosalina will appreciate even if I'd prefer it had a little more kick," comments Betty.
"Yes, this was definitely several steps up from the special of the day at the hospital. Hopefully your dad can give us some pointers on meals that we, or our "temporary staff," can prepare that are healthy, tasty, and agreeable to both my beautiful wife and daughter," replies Matt.
Getting up and sitting on Matt's lap, Betty remarks, "You definitely make me feel beautiful and loved, even with all this," as she waves her hand around her postpartum shape, "I'm sure your attitude is contributing to our breastfeeding success thus far."
Betty rests her head on Matt's shoulder, giving him a sensual kiss that he returns in kind. They sit there contentedly for a few minutes, reluctantly getting up when they hear Rosalina's cries from the other room.
"Apparently, duty calls," states Betty.
They head upstairs, with Betty getting situated in the recliner in the nursery followed by Zoe handing her a just changed, and hungry Rosalina. Zoe excuses herself to give them some privacy. Matt quietly joins them and waits for the feeding to be finished, proudly taking Rosalina for burping duties and getting her ready for bed.
As they enter their room and change into their pajamas, Betty announces, "It looks like we'll get into a routine quickly, with more hours between feedings and longer periods of alert time with Rosalina both things to look forward too."
"Not too far off for either of those things, I suspect," responds Matt.
They get into bed, with Betty snuggling against him, and commenting, "Although Rosalina will likely have me up every two hours or so, I will still sleep better with you right next to me than in a separate bed nearby."
"Same here," replies Matt, "I sleep much better sharing a bed with you then on a pull out bed at the hospital, that's for sure."
"Plus, more opportunity to try out some of those alternate activities we looked into," he adds with a smile.
"Matt! We have a visitor in our house, a newborn that gets up about every two hours at night, and I just had surgery. I, too, am looking forward to resuming our "relations" but can't quite contemplate that right now," retorts Betty, who gives him a kiss just the same.
Matt says, "Betty, whenever you are ready to be intimate again, I suspect I will be more than ready to be so as well. No pressure. Listen to what your body tells you and I predict it will work out great."
They both fall asleep quickly. Nurse Zoe is in their room, gently waking Betty about every 2.5 hours to feed Rosalina. Matt tends to awaken briefly at each feeding, with Betty motioning for him to stay in bed to maximize his rest. Betty also enjoys the fact that he wraps his arm around her instinctively each time she comes back into their bed.