Getting Aquainted

Well now that we have all been home together for 4 days, we are getting better aquainted. Ofcourse the getting aquainted can happen at any time of the day or night whether we like it or not. After a few gut wrenching nights, we are learning to adapt better to her, her to us, and Stephanie and I working together. Overall I'd say the transition is going smoothly.

While I'd say the transition is going smoothly, I'd hate to give the impression that there has been no problems. For instance, I went to work on Friday afternoon and I got a phone call from Stephanie saying that they were taking Abbie to the Dr. because she was becoming quite yellow (i.e. jaundice). The Dr. checked over Abbie and wasn't overly alarmed, but he did notice that Abbie's weight had dropped to 6 lb 10 oz. For those keeping score out there, she had lost almost a full lb since birth. So we started a strict feeding regimen of mother's milk and baby formula(much to Stephanie's dismay). When we got a good system established, we noticed that Abbie would start crying (apparently in pain) shortly after getting formula, then after some time would have a diaper blowout. At which time she would settle down and rest. Long story short is that it appears that Abbie may be lactose intolerant just like her daddy was as a child. So we have had fewer issues since switching to soy substitute...YUMMY!!! I don't recall the taste, just that it didn't taste good!

Back to the jaundice, we got a call Friday night around 2200 from our vigilant pediatrician (we continue to be more and more impressed) asking if we had gotten any test results back. Again long story short is the results were faxed to the Dr's office after business hours. Bottomline is that Abbie was going to be fine with the food regimen and a little sun exposure.

So today was the first periodic pediatric appt for Abbie. So proud mommy and daddy take a trip with baby. Immediate good news! Abbie is now back up to a fighting weight of 7 lbs! However, the real fun was about to begin. As she was getting examined, we told the Dr about her not using her left arm very much. While she moved it some, and her hand had a terrific grip, she didn't move it very much. So the doc starts feeling around and Abbie starts crying, obviously in pain. Our suspicions were confirmed when he said that her clavicle was broken. So we go back home, feed everyone, then head to Children's Urgent Care to get an X-ray. After only about a 10 min wait, we go back to the xray with this very nice radiology tech. I stayed in the room wearing my lead apron to help x-ray Abbie. It killed both of us to hear her crying in agony to get the x-ray, but it was at least a mercifully short amount of time. Overall Abbie was a little trooper only crying when her shoulder hurt. The most impressive part of this experience was that I was talking to Dr Brown(our pediatrician) about the results within 20 minutes of having taken the x-ray. The results were immediately processed. We were truly impressed. The bad news is that the xray confirmed her little broken clavicle, but the good news is that nothing needs to be done to it. It will heal on its own, and there is virtually no chance that nerve damage was done. So that is reassuring. Wow, I knew Stephanie pushed hard, but sheeesh! Maybe next time I can get her to let off the gas a little.

Speaking of my lovely wife, she continues have her pluck restored more each day. The whole post-partum blues thing must really suck, but as long as she takes time to eat, sleep, and tend to her needs, she gets stronger and stronger each day. I have noticed a big difference just in the last 24 hours. I know the ups and downs of breast feeding can get to her. Bless her for her dedication though.

Finally I want to publicly thank my mother-in-law, Sue. OK, OK, some of you are doing a double take right now, but I'm serious. She has been absolutely wonderful to the three of us, doing whatever she can whenever she can. She has been with us to help with each step we have needed her to since last Monday night. She was there when Abbie was born, and she gets up in the middle of the night if Abbie is having an episode. Her loving support has been a godsend, and I consider myself a lucky man to have her in our lives. THANK YOU!