Friday, August 21, 2009

Jeffrey Update...

We went to the doctor yesterday to monitor Jeffrey's jaundice and weight. The doc said that the jaundice was looking better, but Jeffrey lost an ounce over the past week. They (and I) are concerned about that, and Jeffrey will need to go back next week for another weight check. If he is not gaining well, I will need to supplement with formula. In the meantime, I am pumping after each feeding and giving it to him at the next feeding.

Hopefully, when we go back next Thursday, Jeffrey will have gained weight so I can stop worrying about him every day. Mandy and Andrew never had any issues when they were newborns, so this is all new and rather scary for me. It does cause a great deal of anxiety. I know he will be OK, but I can't help but worry.

Other than those issues, Jeffrey is doing fine. He loves to spend time on his tummy while he is awake, and is able to pick up and turn his head from side to side. He also manages to scoot up on the blanket on the floor while he is there. He has very strong leg muscles and a nice strong neck. His eyes are still blue-gray and his hair is very light, as well. He is such a cutie, he melts my heart every time I look at him! I will post pictures later today!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

School

Mandy and Andrew are starting school next Monday. We went to the school yesterday to get them registered and to walk around and see the layout of the school to make them more comfortable.

Everyone in the school seems very friendly and helpful. The office staff was pleasant, the principal excitedly met my children and asked if we had any questions, and the custodian walked us around the school, showing us where everything is! Mandy was able to meet 2 of the second grade teachers, who were genuinely excited meet her. And here is the scary part. Andrew is on the "middle school" hallway, which houses grades 5-8. He will have a locker this year!

I can not believe how grown up Mandy and Andrew are, and at the same time I have a newborn baby! It makes the age gap seem so huge. Fortunately, they are super helpful with Jeffrey, and completely in love with him. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Jaundiced

Jeffrey has jaundice. On Sunday, I noticed that his skin and the whites of his eyes were pretty yellow. I called the pediatrician, and she said they would check him at his appointment on Monday. So, at his appointment, the doctor agreed that he was jaundiced, and sent us to the hospital for lab work to check his bilirubin levels.

At the hospital, the man running the lab was absolutely awful. He was slow and a bit clumsy. It took him 10 minutes (which seemed like hours) to get 2 vials of blood from Jeffrey's heel. I whispered in Jeffrey's ear the entire time, tears running down my face because Jeff was screaming the entire time. He cried so hard, he fell asleep. I felt absolutely awful. Paul said he was getting really angry at the man because he seemed so clumsy and slow with our baby. If Jeff ever has to do that again, that man will not touch my baby. Surely it could have been completed much faster.

Anyway, that seemed to throw Jeffrey off all last night. He was up for 4 hours straight, crying much of the time. He ate really well, then seemed to have a gas bubble or something that was making him uncomfortable. Finally he fell asleep around 4 am.

Today, I will be napping with Jeffrey. We are both pretty tired.

We go back to the doctor on Thursday to check on his jaundice levels. The doctor's think he will be OK, but didn't want it to be a potential problem. Not sure what they will do if it is not getting better, though.

Sorry if I am rambling...I am pretty tired right now!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Introducing...

Jeffrey Robert Davison!!

After several false starts, Jeffrey joined our family on Thursday, August 6th at 8:41 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and was 21 inches long at birth! He made quite the entrance, debuting just 30 minutes after our arrival at the hospital. We were the talk of the maternity ward, apparently.

After just 2 days with our family, it already feels as if he has been with us forever. He has a wonderful personality, and is very content most of the time. He only cries when he is hungry or still wanting to be held...and since he is held most of the time and fed frequently, that leaves little need for him to cry. Oh, he also does not like the cool cloths we use to clean his diaper area!

Enjoy some pictures of our new arrival!