Home Sweet Home + A Visit from Grandma

...Home Sweet Home...

We have been home with our little bundle for 2 weeks! I can't believe my little one is already 2 weeks old!

Does my baby look a little bit like E.T.?

If you're wondering what the lovely blue hue behind my sweet, darling, baby girl is I will tell you. After a short story.

First of all, when we came home from the hospital two weeks ago today, I was a little nervous. What do we do now? Now we've got this little baby thing around who needs all the love and attention I can muster. Oh dear. It's real, isn't it? Thankfully the Lord is helping me take it one day at a time. It seems it could get overwhelming really quickly, especially if I try to picture the future at any time. 

We came home Wednesday evening to a clean house, clean laundry, mowed yard, and food on the stove. We have a wonderful family, don't you agree? It is so nice to be cared for. I called my sister in law to thank her and she told me that although the kids were beyond excited to come over for a visit, she would hold them off until the next day. I was extremely grateful for that. 

I wasted no time placing my little bundle in the crib, which is actually a smaller than average, and she still looks teeny.

I'm 40 hours old!

Drew and I sat and stared at her a while, at our supper and passed out. Until she woke up, about 5 minutes later. 

But as the days went we got more used to having a sweet little bundle with us. I was worried as can be about feeding her. My supply seemed puny and my milk was just barely making an appearance. But again, time won out. The next day or two my milk came in, and we worked diligently to nurse. 

When it came time for our doctor's appointment I had discovered Lainie was a bit jaundice so that was my main concern. The doctor confirmed it the minute she entered the room. "Oh you have a jaundice baby," she said. Well, that's good that you can see that from the minute you laid eyes on her. Sheesh. So after getting her blood work done (I cried) to have her bilirubin levels tested, we found out that her numbers were super high! The doctor guessed her to be at a 10 or so, but she was at 18! (For frame of reference, 15 is not so nice, and in need of action.) We had to get a bili-blanket and extra formula to supplement to flush her system and keep her well nourished. Enter more worry.

I have a pet peeve. It is one I think I bring on myself, but it is also one that everyone does no matter if they realize it or not. I hate stories. I like stories too, but mostly, I hate them. I am not a fan of people telling me what happened to them or someone else they know. They only bring on worry and fear for me. I appreciate the concern which brings up the stories in the first place...but I have about had my fill. Even though she's only two weeks I know we're in for the long haul with this battle, so I shall surrender this to the Lord and politely decline to listen to any further tales. 

With that said, I have been worried sick over her feedings for nearly a week. Since we've been on the formula I've been unsure of my own supply, and concerned that once we get off of it she's not going to be satisfied with what I can offer her. And I can worry. I am very good at it. Not to mention that every time we nurse she falls asleep after about 10 minutes. But give her a bottle and she's alert as can be! Little stinker. So with prayer and some diligent (back aching) nursing I think we should be fine. 

Lainie also has a hematoma on her head from being stuck and me pushing for so long. She had a major cone head and now we're dealing with the remainder of that. It's best not to read anything on the internet...like I just did. Yikes. Again with the stories. However, the doctors are confident that she should absorb the extra blood in time, but that means her jaundice will only drag out that much more.  Prayer for her healing would be great.

So here we are, two weeks into life and she's already to Daddy wrapped around her finger and Mommy at her beck and call. 

A Visit From Grandma

This weekend was 4th of July and we had visitors! My Mom and step-dad came to meet their grandbaby!

Grandma and Lainie at the pool.

We had a lovely visit and got to spend some time with my brother and his family as well. His kids really enjoy getting to know another set of grandparents (although they're not really related). We got to go swimming at the hotel pool and eat out at the Golden Corral. Grandma got some much needed snuggles in with her granddaughter and we got to sing and play the piano together. It was a lovely time and we look forward to seeing them again really soon.

3 Gen