Dreaming of a White Christmas?

We celebrated Christmas a little early today. Since Grandpa Tim has to go back home tomorrow, he & Grandma Debbie came over to open gifts with us tonight. Jack was really into it, as you can see. Although he was not much help at removing the wrapping paper, he did at least pose with his gifts. He is very obliging.

Sneak Peek

Another bath time picture...although today he rather enjoyed getting clean. He didn't cry nearly as much. It was pretty obvious once he was wrapped up in his towel that he's not really into the whole water scene. Oh well. We have plenty of time to fix that before summer comes. He will be a pool lover soon enough!

Sweet Dreams

One of my favorite Christmas activities is to go see the Gingerbread houses at the Mormon Visitor's Center. Since Grammie is still in town, we invited her along. We also looked at Christmas lights along the way. Jack was not as impressed by the gingerbread creations. I am pretty sure that he didn't even wake up the whole time we were there. Hard to believe that next year when we go, he will probably be running around!


We enlisted Grammie's photography skills - here is our first family picture :)

To Grandmother's House We Go

Jack went visiting today - he met his Great Grandma Ruthie for the first time. He slept through most of the visit, but still managed to be sociable. We had anticipated needing to take the phototherapy machine along, but we learned this morning that his bilirubin levels are normal again! He is still a little but yellow, but we are adding Vitamin D drops to his daily routine, and that should go away soon. Best part: no more blood draws!

Cowboy Jack

Jack is still rocking the cool blue light - you can see his "tail" in today's picture. He is also sporting his ultra fabulous cowboy hat, although he is not too happy about it. Best part about today's picture? Grammie is holding him! She was able to come from California to visit. We got to chat all day, which was awesome. Naturally, she held the baby the whole time, the only exception being when he was eating.

Grandpa Tim & Grandma Debbie are also in town for Christmas. They visited us this evening and met Jack. We are having a fun, but very busy weekend with all the family in town!

GQ Jack

Since being hooked up to the phototherapy machine, Jack has been held nonstop. He seems to be okay with this. Something he was not okay with? Being woken up this morning by a blood draw. The nurse comes right to our house, so at least he didn't have to go out in the cold.
Apparently the phototherapy is helping his jaundice levels improve, because today he was down to a 16.9!

Yellow

Jack had his first outing today - he visited the doctor. We were there to have his bilirubin levels tested, as they had been slightly high when he was discharged from the hospital after birth. Jack was NOT a fan of the heel prick required for the blood test. (He was mostly angry because his foot was held against his will, the actual blood draw didn't seem to bother him.) Two hours after our visit, we received the news that Jack's bilirubin level was dangerously high (19.7, they hospitalize at 20). His doctor ordered phototherapy, which came in the form of a cool blue light that he had to have on at all times. Luckily, the machine was portable and slipped under his clothes, so he was not inconvenienced much by it. He will have his blood drawn daily until the bilirubin levels decrease. I think the blood draws are worse than the vaccinations - they take longer. He's a tough little cookie, so I cried more than he did!

Clean & Cranky

Jack had his first bath today, which he really didn't like all that well. He much preferred being swaddled in the hooded towel to the actual getting clean part. He didn't cry, but he did look very irritated by the whole process. Once he was no longer unclothed he was able to be cheerful again.

Baby Love

Cassady is still very enamored with her new little brother. She got up super early this morning to make sure that she gets to cuddle with him before school. He is pretty taken with her, too. He likes to watch her. Hopefully the sibling love will continue indefinitely. I figure that once he's mobile (and vocal), they may have a few rough patches. We will enjoy it while it lasts, though!

Bringing Home Baby

Jack finally got to wear real clothes today. The special occasion? We got to go home! He has a touch of jaundice, so we will need to see his doctor in a few days. He also got the "snip" today. He did very well - Daddy says he didn't even cry.

Once we got him all strapped into his carseat (under the direction of a very persistent nurse), we were all set to go. He wasn't the biggest fan of the car, but I think that's just because he prefers being held. And I am okay with that!

The Meet and Greet

Cassady came to the hospital today to meet her new brother. It was love at first sight. She pretty much refused to let him go. Until he was getting a diaper change and "sprinkled" on her arm, anyway. Then she was less enthused. She was able to move past that and they are on their way to being good friends now :)

Chapter One - I am Born

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at [ten] o'clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously."

from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens