What a Wonderful …

Yesterday was great! Matt was off and we got to spend most of the day with my Aunt Yvonne and Mom. We enjoyed some unusual “usual routine” of showering, diapering, and other getting readying in the morning. I woke up with a headache that I chose to ignore for most of the day, but eventually got the best of me in late afternoon. Matt was his wonderful self, entertaining in my absences of feeding and pumping. We all enjoyed a trip to Walgreens to print off some pictures for my Grandma that Aunt Yvonne will get to take out to California when she boards her second plane trip on Sunday. Then we headed over to Babies R Us to grab a couple of helpfuls. Then Starbucks called the depths of my Aunt, which much to Matt and my enjoyment resulted in a couple of hot coffees, my cold banana chocolate milkshake thingy, and a happy ride home in a warm car. Dakota had some good bonding with Aunt Yvonne and then we parted our ways.

After my nap, the headache backed off just in time for dressing up and going out on the town. That’s right friends, we’re rebels. No, we didn’t go clubbin‘ (surprised) but we did go out for a nice, NICE dinner at the Melting Pot with Ron, Ellen and John. We decided to dress up for the affair – afterall when you spend more than $100 in a night’s meal it’s cause for some more-formal wear. So with the joy of “fitting” into two non-pregnant shirts that I haven’t worn in FOREVER, we prepped to leave. Matt put Rachael in a cream sleeper and the cream spring 6/9 month sized dress that Ellen and Ron got her. She looked adorable and I look forward to getting a copy of the pic of her and John (in sweater vest, dress shirt, slacks, and black dress shoes) that Ellen took at the dinner table. It was adorable, absolutely adorable, to see the two newborns all dolled up for the sheer enjoyment of their torturous parents.

Dinner was an amazing fondue pot experience that lasted a speedy 2.5 hours. It was so wonderful to just sit and chat with Ron and Ellen about life. I just love spending non-stressful, lookout for the kids time with them. They’re such wonderful people. And non-distracted time is hard to come by with them so it was so wonderful. Rachael was a bit fussy, but she was bearable. John was knocked out the whole time. And the cheese … and the steak… oh and the chocolate… heaven, friends….. whew!

And then the night ended in my all-time favorite way – just talking with Matt for a while in the dark in our bedroom. He’s so nice to fall asleep with. And I just love it when he pours out his heart right before bed. And then Rachael slept for 6 hours again last night. So lovely, friends, so lovely.

“And I think to myself… what a wonderful day (and night).”

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Wisdom

“Therefore, in light of the great host of witnesses we have before us…”

A humble thinker comes in many shapes and forms over the years and inspires others to pursue that which really matters when the lights go down……

– blessed by much today.

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Eleven to Five : Fifteen

That’s right, we got a “full night’s sleep” (according to pediatricians last night. Way to go Rachael! She was out cold with no grumblings that couldn’t be curbed by self-soothing. And then to top it off she slept her usual 3 hours after a 5:15a feeding to allow a whoppin‘ 8.5 hours of rejuvenation for her Daddy and Mommy. Oh yes, world, we’ve got a good one and we’re not trading!

And I also pumped a whoppin’ 5.5 ounces of liquid gold last night. That’s right, friends, I filled that little bottle and have six feedings stored in the fridge. Guess it’s time to start asking Lydia how exactly I should freeze this stuff.

Awake times have increased, including morning and evening awake patterns for approximately an hour. Yay Rachael! And it’s fun to watch her explore her world – studying faces and things.

Anyway, that’s how things are going here. Just simple
and finding a good routine.

Alrighty, off to a little cleaning and breakfast for myself.

Looking forward to Jackie visiting for a while today and Aunt Yvonne visiting and Matt’s day off tomorrow. Oh and then there’s the Melting Pot outing with Ron and Ellen. (We will never eat so lavishly and expensively again!)

The church has also so graciously signed up to start bringing dinners by for Matt and I. Thanks again, Lydia (if you actually read this) for setting it all up with such joy and ease.

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It’s All Yellow

Just wanted to post this picture of Rachael’s first official outing to, sadly, the pediatrician’s and then the Urgent Care lab for a Jaundice testing. She was less favorable of the heal stick at the urgent care than the pediatrician’s visit in which she was stripped to a diaper and poked at. She did surprisingly well with the doctor’s trip after Daddy held her in a bear-hug and read to her while we were waiting for the doc – she loves her Daddy so much (he has the great calming affect on her when he puts her on his chest). And for those who were counting along with us, Rachael broke her Jaundice count right on the verge of needing some home incubation. So despite the two heal sticks within the first 4 days of life, Rachael passed one of the most important tests thus far. And we all hope for her sake that her next outings will be much less traumatic.
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Morning Sunshine

Waking up content is a beautiful thing. And the value of the state of awake without direct correlation to a demand feeding is also wonderful. Many wonder how kind Rachael is to Matt and me regarding sleep. Giving you the average amount of sleep for a newborn to grace their parents with I do believe will help Rachael’s cause. A newborn sleeps an average of 2 hours at a time. Rachael has slept between 3-3.5 consistently (barring no extra gaseous problems) since birth. But last night after a midnight bought with “working out her diaper” she slept for 4.5 hours. To the single and married without children world, this amount of sleep may seem to feel unGodly or aweful. But to one who has been getting up every 2-3 hours to pee for the past month and a half, I rejoice and thank God for the opportunity to “oversleep.” And then to top it off we had some good awake and feeding time this morning.

It’s as if she woke up today and said, “I’m one week old today so that means it’s time to hit some milestones in survival.”

Gratefulness cannot be expressed enough.

=)
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All Home

Thank you, Lord, for bring us all home safely. Thank you for helping Rachael to make progress toward passing her jaundice. Lord, I pray that our efforts to get things cleared through her body will bring back reward at her visit today. Lord, I thank you for educated and dedicated medical staff who helped bring Rachael into this world. Lord, I thank you for your provision during the pushing stage of labor. Lord, I thank you for the amazing family and friends who so graciously offered their words of love and support. Lord, I thank you for the friends and family who eagerly looked past my exhaustion and said such kind words of encouragement and joy at the hospital bed. Lord, I thank you for the miracle of life and the reminder that you are in control.

And Lord I thank you for bringing Matt, Rachael and I home – how desperately we wanted to be at home- and I thank you that you made it all work out that both Rachael and I were released despite some medical concern for the both of us I (my blood levels and Rachael’s jaundice count0. And Lord I thank you that you are healing us both with rest and recuperation. Thank you, Lord, for Dakota doing well with the adjustment and shift of attention.

Thank you, Lord, for Matt’s love and compassion. I see You shining in him as he cradles Rachael and has such great patience with her learning. Lord, I thank you so much for Mom’s willingness to come take care of me and support Matt and i as we learn to best take care of Rachael. Thank you, Lord, also for Daddy’s humor and love that he has lavished on Matt and I through random house projects and delighting in Your work. And Lord, the list of thank you’s could go on and on regarding the endless love and support and encouragement that our family has already received and will receive. Thank you, Lord for Matt and Rachael who sleep so soundly across the hall. Thank you, Lord. Thank You, Lord. Thank You.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

-first night home-
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