"Thank you for our time."

I'm sitting here with you on the couch today. You are not in a very good mood. Your usual peals of smiles and laughter don't make many appearances today. You alternate half-pouts with screams of hunger and long bouts of sleep. You are teething and you are growing. Between you and me, I wouldn't trade this day for the world.

I hold you nestled in my arms today as you drink your milk from your bottle. You grab my fingers and direct the bottle in and out of your mouth, taking breaks when you need to. You know what you need to eat and when, you just can't do it yourself yet. It won't be long until you try to hold it all on your own. I look into your eyes and in the morning sun reflecting my image back at me. Today I can set my clock by your tummy: a bottle every two hours on the nose, else wailing ensues.

You need a lot of sleep today. Twice I place you on my chest as you grip my hand with yours. You turn your head, smile and drift off to sleep. You wake up in an hour only to drift back off for another one. Eat a bottle and repeat. Awake two hours and eat, sleep two hours. You don't know that I have your head close to my nose so I can drift off to sleep with your baby-soft hair enveloping my senses. Godmade pheromones are working overtime and a few tears leak out with gratitude and fear as I drift in and out of sleep with you.

"Thank you for this boy, Lord. Thank you for our time." 

Our time day in and day out might be ending soon, son. Like many first-time mommies, the thought of leaving you in the hands of someone else, even someone very loving and capable, tears my heart out. I should be home with you. I'm your mommy and I was made to do this job. I was made to take care of our home and somehow entrepreneurial me has adapted to this role, even though I sneak work in here and there when daddy is home to be with you.

It's true... We should've made better choices with our finances when we were "young and stupid" so I could stay with you. But we didn't. So I suppose I hope to teach you that we make choices, son, and we have to live with them and work through them. Even when we are young and say "It won't affect me for ten years at least." That ten years comes and goes and now you have to deal. We have to deal. I hope that you learn these things and I hope that you are still a happy boy despite our choices, which, by no fault of your own, have become your reality.

God, heal my heart as I seek out to do what needs to be done. Heal my brain and my body as I process through all of these things, these feelings. Surround me with people who can help. Help me to see straight and separate truth from the lies of the enemy. Help me to be Your light to others as I wade through my circumstances. Lead the appropriate opportunity my way and set my heart to do an excellent job. And thank you for our little boy. And thank you for our time.


 
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Winfield: 3 Month Update

Winfield is 3.5 months old right now. As I type this, he's sitting in the bouncer next to me... filling his pants.

That's just how he rolls.

Goldarn he's cute.

He has been practicing his tummy time, though he is oddly preferenced to sleep with his head to the left (on his back) and lay during tummy-time and play-over-mom's-shoulder-time with his head facing right. It's odd and balanced, yet unbalanced if you catch my drift.

We're still cloth diapering part-time and using disposables part-time. That's me per usual, the hybrid mama.

PS: For a diaper savings calculator, click here. I made it. That's how I roll.  For the record, the pictured image is the most metrosexual baby diaper known to man. You can buy it at Kawaii Baby Diapers. (It's on sale because, well, just look at it.)

Winfield is working all of the expressions. He's finding his personality. And if he's grumpy, you will usually see THE MEGAPOUT. Photo-based evidence:

He also loves to smile. And play. It's way more fun now that he's mostly immobile, yet exploring his world.

His head therapy regimen includes tummy time, physical therapy checks, craniosacral therapy, massage and at-home therapy, Tortle use, and after PT is done, he'll go back to the chiropractor for very gentle adjustments. Like I said, he has a weird preference for left-right at different times, so finding balance is key. It's better, but not perfect. Overall I'm happy about how his noggin' is doing. Oh, here's a photo of him at PT. He looks like me and my dad as babies in this pic. (The older he gets the more of me I see in him. Admittedly vain, I enjoy this.)

While extremely independent during the day, he still loves to snuggle when he's very tired and at bedtime. He still puts his hand, well, in the same place he has always put it. (For safe keeping. You know.)

Nate and I have had some other adventures with him. He still travels very well and likes both snug body carriers and his stroller. We even went to Irene's, the massage school I work for, to participate in Infant Massage class. He looooooved it.

 

He has a "lovey" that we named Beary White. Get it? Beary White?

It's a white bear. And it has a deep, deep voice. Yeah, anyway...

He loves Beary White. Beary White will be "that bear" that's all filthy and filled with Kid Germs and I have this feeling he won't want us to wash it. I also have this feeling I need to find a back-up online for two years down the road.

Oh, and did I mention brotha' is teething already?

Ka-DROOLZ!

If you think that's just normal baby behavior, check the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdHRET07wj8

He has little buds where those teeth are "just barely" poking through. The buds appear, disappear briefly, then reappear bigger. So one of these days he'll have two bottom chompers.

So until next month, that's the end.

THE END.

 
If you enjoy this post, feel free to Subscribe in a reader or subscribe via e-mail. Follow @thegirlburgan on Twitter. Content ©2006-2013 Man & Wife Living Life. Photos © Man & Wife Living Life unless otherwise noted. Please e-mail before using or contact the original copyright holder. Thanks!

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Free Download: Diaper Savings Calculator

Being the hybrid mama I am, I am okay with using disposable diapers when necessary. Some days that is all we use. I really do enjoy cloth diapers and think they are cute and effective. However, sometimes our guy just does better in disposables, or "paper diapers" as I'm prone to calling them.

We do enjoy the Honest Company and think their diapers are both cute and convenient, not to mention less "toxic" than regular disposables. We've used most "natural" brands out there, including Earth's Best and Seventh Generation. (We still use Seventh Generation Baby Wipes and love them.) But sometimes we buy bargain brands and regular national brands, like Huggies and Pampers. And while I love to coupon in order to save money, I want to know that I'm using coupons wisely.

I sat down this past weekend and created a simple Excel tool that will allow you to easily and automatically tabulate your savings using coupons. This helps you to determine the total price paid, the total dollars saved, and the total price per diaper in your shopping trip. You can also use this calculator for just about any couponing where you have individual items in a pack (like dishwasher tabs for example) or really anything else! I put this calculator under a Creative Commons license, so feel free to use it to its full extent, provided you share and share alike and don't use it for profit, okay? Download this calculator from the Man & Wife Living Life Download page.

Click to enlarge

Here is my most recent diaper shopping trip, by the way. I think I did pretty darn well. Because we also use cloth diapers, these diapers will get us most of the way through the "2" and a good part of the way through the "3" stage, too! Let me know if you enjoyed this calculator!

 
If you enjoy this post, feel free to Subscribe in a reader or subscribe via e-mail. Follow @thegirlburgan on Twitter. Content ©2006-2013 Man & Wife Living Life. Photos © Man & Wife Living Life unless otherwise noted. Please e-mail before using or contact the original copyright holder. Thanks!

Photo © IngaMun | Flickr Creative Commons

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Easy, Inexpensive Natural Baby Powder: The Magic of Cornstarch

Most traditional baby powders contain talc. According to PreventCancer.com, talcum powder can contain one or more carcinogens! Why expose your tiny baby's bottom to these substances? 


Sure, you can purchase many brands. For instance, Burt's Bees Baby Dusting Powder, California Baby Non-Talc Powder, and Little Twig Baby Powder all have great products for baby's bottom. But if you want to spare the expense and keep the ingredient list very limited, read on. There is a super-simple and effective powder for your baby's bottom and it's most likely in your pantry: cornstarch.

Cornstarch is a great, all-purpose powder for baby bottoms and general chafing concerns, even for grown-ups! Simply put some in a container used only for baby's bottom and sprinkle as necessary. A powdered-sugar shaker is a great container. (Here at Amazon you can get two for a very inexpensive price and it qualifies for Prime.) Sprinkle and watch your baby smile!

I keep it even simpler... I just use re-usable cloth wipes and powder away!

The only consideration you might want to be on the lookout for is diaper rash caused by yeast overgrowth. The cornstarch won't be appropriate in this case. You can try arrowroot powder or one of the aforementioned natural powders.

The photo at the right explains: Dip reusable wipe (dry), powder and diaper as usual!

 
If you enjoy this post, feel free to Subscribe in a reader or subscribe via e-mail. Follow @thegirlburgan on Twitter. Content ©2006-2013 Man & Wife Living Life. Photos © Man & Wife Living Life unless otherwise noted. Please e-mail before using or contact the original copyright holder. Thanks!

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Marley Coffee Review

Bob Marley always said he would return to farming one day. With Marley Coffee, Bob's son Rohan fulfills the dream. Rohan remembers his grandmother drying their wild coffee berries in the sun, then hulling and roasting them for her own cup of coffee each morning. Marley Coffee is determined to deliver that same intoxicating aroma and rich smooth flavor into every cup. - MarleyCoffee.com

Starbucks is expensive, people. After having our baby, I became quite smitten with caffeine again. It is either that or fall asleep... doing pretty much anything. I have been making the rounds to the regular chains, both cafe-type chains and fast food places (and even gas stations), but I decided that it is too stinkin' expensive to have that kind of daily habit!

Last week I had an idea: "Brew your coffee at home, duh." So I set out to find an organic, free-trade coffee that met my needs. Normally I'd be sad to spend good money on something like a bag of coffee, but if one bag of coffee saves over $100, I'm for it. Enter Marley Coffee.

I happened upon Marley Coffee through Vine.com (enter "fromnature" at checkout for 20% off). The "Mystic Morning" blend was on sale at the time for $9.44. You can also buy most blends at the Marley Coffee website through CoffeeWiz for $9.99 and their more exclusive blends are higher based on the blend. I was intrigued that Marley Coffee was 1) organic, 2) fair trade, 3) sustainable, and 4) birthed from the desire of Bob Marley, one of the most influential musicians in the 20th century!

Here is a video about coffee production and the Marley Coffee company:

The Mystic Morning blend smelled great out of the bag. I was really excited to brew the first pot. I use a no-frills, regular drip coffee maker and this coffee worked great in it. I got no grounds in the cup. The Mystic Morning blend tasted phenomenal. It was very dark and rich and shortly after drinking it, I felt the after-effects of the caffeine. I drank one cup black and then drank another cup with unsweetened almond milk, which made it nutty and delicious. 

I will be the first to tell you I am no coffee officianado! I don't know the different notes that come from the coffee cherries or their roasting methods. But like most folks, I know what I like and I give Marley Coffee two thumbs up for flavor, price and ethics. I will certainly buy it again. I am excited to try "One Love" blend as well.  I have this feeling you will find Marley Coffee a very good buy for your coffee maker and for your ethics!

If you enter my email address or Refer-a-Friend code "fromnature" at checkout, you'll get 20% off your first Vine.com order and 20% off your first order on each of the other sites in their family, including Diapers.com, Soap.com and Wag.com.*

DISCLAIMER: This review was initiated by the author and has no ties to Marley Coffee nor did she receive any compensation or free product. The Vine.com links are affiliate should you use the code "FromNature". 

Product Image Copyright belongs to the manufacturer.

 
If you enjoy this post, feel free to Subscribe in a reader or subscribe via e-mail. Follow @thegirlburgan on Twitter. Content ©2006-2013 Man & Wife Living Life. Photos © Man & Wife Living Life unless otherwise noted. Please e-mail before using or contact the original copyright holder. Thanks!  

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Keeping House, Keeping Baby: Just One Per Day!

In January I realized my normal "do the chores you need to do... period" way of homekeeping was going out the window with the impending arrival of our kiddo. So after a couple of weeks of mommydom, I decided to make a chart with just ONE chore per day. (See the calendar image here... That's on my fridge right now!)

Oh, I have to sweep or vacuum each day to combat doggy fur tumbleweeds and I have to run dishes and wash bottles, but I decided those are my must-dos. Otherwise the house just gets gross with fur and we have no clean dishes to feed ourselves or baby. That doesn't work! But the other chores I squeeze in when I can. Some days it seems like, "Wow, that's all I'm really doing today?" And other days it seems like, "Wow, that is a lot to get done." Regardless, it's just the one chore. Today, for instance, I cleaned the bathroom sink in the basement bath. I did it before Winfield woke up for the day. Voila! Other than dishes, I'm done for the day! And yet over the course of the month, this keeps things in generally great condition. My husband always asks how I got the house so clean, when other than my "one chore" I only pick up a bit, sweep and do dishes. Well, this is how!

It's easy if you want to do it yourself. Take a calendar you've printed (or any calendar) and fill in the chores you both do regularly and not as regularly. For instance, I never want to clean the whole fridge, but I can do one shelf a day. In 4 days, I have a sparkly fridge that is neatly organized!  The simpler you keep it, the more realistic you are and the more accomplished you feel. This really worked the first quarter of 2013 with a new baby, so I plan to keep this going all 2013 and possibly beyond.

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Winfield: 2 Month Update

Well, I'm only two weeks late on the two-month update, eh?

Winfield is now 10 weeks old, or 2.5 months. He has grown so much from this...

to this...

Right?

We go on the town a lot:

We go to places like malls and stores and restaurants and grandma's and to mom's work. Wellby travels well.

He's become very exploratory when you place things near his mouth or hands. He will now reach out and grab on and direct things where he wants them to go, or at least try to.

He is really into his milk, of course. We are still nursing a couple of times a day, but with all of the troubles I've mentioned before, milk is still going downhill production-wise. So bottles it is. But he's thriving and gaining weight at an appropriate pace. He's a stringbean! He's 90th percentile for length and 50th for weight and 55th for head circumference.

Speaking of heads, his PT evaluation said momma's work with massage and stretching and tummy time exercises are really helping with the torticollis and plagiocephaly. His head is rounding out bit by bit and he's getting very strong! Check this out:

And finally, he's super-snuggly and he loves his mommy and daddy. He also adores attention from his cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends. Everyone is a friend right now! Even his dog, Bruce, who watches out for him.

So that's the update. He's meeting developmental milestones, growing like a champ, and a joy to be around. We're happy that he's even sleeping longer... With the help of disposable diapers and some plastic pants he can make it 6-7 hours now, which to mommy and daddy is something special indeed!

Here's one more video of him talking and playing:

Till next time!

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Of Flat Heads and Crazy Heads

Our son Winfield is now seven weeks old. I think he's just a gem! There was as time around 5.5 weeks that I finally realized, "Wow, I actually love being a mommy!"

Unfortunately we are realizing that Wellby has torticollis and plagiocephaly on his right side. This means his neck muscles are short ("too tight") and he doesn't like to lay his head anywhere but the right side. That leads to flattening on the right side. Many parents have kiddos with flattening on the back of the head, largely due to "Back To Sleep" or the campaign to put babies to sleep on their backs only, thereby lessening the chance of SIDS, or crib death. Our guy sleeps on his back, but places his head to the side. We try to reposition him and use a Tortle, or repositioning beanie hat, which does help. The more he does "tummy time" to strengthen his neck muscles helps, too. But he needs a little extra help! (Below is a photo of him with his Tortle in the car seat. Dang, he's cute!)

We will be going to the doctor to ask about his reflux and his plagiocephaly diagnosis next Monday, so no more information is available until then. At a minimum, I hope he prescribes PT. He may need a little helmet, but we're catching it early, so we'll see. Mommy is taking him to Dr. Vanloon, our gentle chiropractor, for the reflux and the plagio as well. It does seem to calm him right down and help the "snuffles" that come with reflux. I'll also be visiting my colleague Jennifer Pillow-White from the massage school to see a couple of CST, or Craniosacral Therapy, sessions. These are particularly good for infants and gentle as all get-out. Of course Wellby's favorite therapist is his mommy for massage, but mommies need help sometimes!

Speaking of needing help, yeah... I am doing much better overall with the postpartum depression, but on occasion it rears its ugly head. I feel crazy most days. My body is all out of whack, as I did just carry and birth a child, but it's not helping that I feel so... squishy and weak. That's the best way to describe it. Paired with no real sunshine and not being able to go outside to walk around, this is a good recipe for stir-crazy-depression-crazy-brain-itis. (That's my own personal diagnosis and official terminology.)

I did manage to actually put on well-planned makeup for church last week. This is a new feat, for foundation and blush with mascara is all I've been able to eek out thus far. I felt like a normal person instead of a fat, lumpy, butt-sitting, daytime TV watching mom. I know that when the spring finally decides to come and the weather warms, being mobile will be easier. I put together our stroller, which our car seat (roughly) snaps into. I plan on taking the kidlet to local malls, etc. until we can be outdoor daily. (Normally I'd just do my Mei Tai carrier, but with one person it's hard to carry baby stuff and baby without the stroller.) I think the combination of sun, fresh air and exercise will be good for the both of us. 

I wish more friends lived closer, but for now we just have to get through the ugly winter and focus on helping Winfield get his own, tiny head together! Come on spring... I know I will be a much saner person and in turn a much nicer, more fun wife and mother. 

PS: Extra bonus! Someone sent me a free "gently used" Infantino pouch carrier with an eBay auction of baby clothes. I knew right away that carrier was recalled from previous news stories, BUT when you cut off the logo portion (thereby destroying the carrier), you can mail it to Infantino for a free Sash Mei Tai carrier, which is soft, strong and safe. Two Mei Tais for the price of the one I bought early on... LOVE IT!  (Always check recalls on used items. Visit the CPSC recalls page here.)

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Winfield: 1 Month Update & The Difficulty Of Baby Decisions

Our little dude is just about one month old! He's taking a nice, long nap right now and I have energy, so I thought I would post.  Here are a few milestones he has hit this month:

1) He is now taking about 3-4.5 ounces per bottle feeding during the day (less at night), up from 1.5-2.5

2) He can hold his neck up in longer bursts, which is supposedly a little ahead of the curve.

3) He sleeps in his bassinet just fine, and has been since week one, which according to his doc is a little ahead as well.

4) His weight is creeping up. He has a double chin and is getting upper arm and upper leg chub, too. This is good!

5) His daddy might be right... It looks like Wellby is heading for brown eyes like his mama, even though SHE was hoping for blue/grey like his daddy.

6) Speaking of eyes, he can now follow us around a bit and knows our voices quite well. He can see and likes the look at the book "Colors" and his "Highlights Hello" magazine with very bright pictures. 

Winfield: BLUE STEEL!

Winfield pretty much sleeps, eat, and likes to mess his diapers, like any baby. I am impressed that this little THING was inside my belly just four scant weeks ago. I hardly remember life before baby, but I DO remember sleeping before baby and I miss that nice, long uninterrupted sleep F'REAL!

Here are five very helpful things I've encountered in the last few weeks concerning raising a newborn:

1) BabyCenter's "My Baby Today" App

2) KellyMom - Evidence-based articles on raising baby, typically from a "natural" POV

3) BottleBabies.org - When you must or choose to use a bottle for breast milk or formula

4) Similac's "Diaper Decoder" for baby poo. Yes, graphic photos of poo, but this is really helpful! (When you are a parent, BMs and #1 are the talk of the town.)

5) Swagbucks. Seriously! I have cashed in Swagbucks, earned for free, for $25 Babies R Us gift card and $20 in other gift cards. Babies R Us is my happy place these days!

Wellby & Daddy - Skin-to-Skin Time

One other thing I've learned in spades is that every mom and dad has to make the best, informed decisions they can for their child. This is SO MUCH responsibility! This little thought was brought up by my own personal struggles with breastfeeding, having to supplement with formula, and so forth. I said "I'd never do it" and then my child lost 18% of his birth weight (too much by all standards) and needed to gain. I had days and days of feeling like a failure and then I had the epiphany: We need to do what's right for our child, period. And now my mind is changed and now I am seeking support from other parents and receiving it, thank God! And Wellby is doing SO WELL and I am feeling so blessed that we have these tools at our disposal.

So no, we aren't perfect. I threw that notion out the window years ago. But every parent's decisions about feeding, clothing, diapering, sleeping, medicating, vaccinating, spiritual development, education, and so forth are A) hard ones to make for your child and B) never "perfect", but it's important that C) they are right for you, your family, and your baby. 

With the internet and its anonymity, I believe we've really regressed as people. We're unkind sons-of-youknowwhats when it comes to leaving comments, telling people "this is how it should be, or you are a terrible person/parent", suggesting people "should be shot" if they chose something you don't care for. Hardlining, in person or online, "You should do as I do or you are a sorry excuse for a human," is reprehensible. 

Peace, people. Peace, love and grace! Listen before speaking. Support and encourage, especially during the fragile times.  Therefore it's now my mission to support mamas and daddies as they make decisions for their child, assuming they're not putting the kiddo in mortal danger! I think if we support each other and approach each other in love, this is ideal. Cooking meals, holding the baby while mom gets an extra hour of sleep, passing along gently used items, and so forth. This is community. This is how we should be. This is what I will continue to seek.

Wellby & Grandma Burgan

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Bringing Home Baby

My baby is sleeping. I don't have much time to write this. I've already "saved" and restarted several times since yesterday. But by now the majority of you know that we've brought home our son, Winfield. We were "Team Green" and didn't find out the sex until he was born and passed up through his mama's legs and his mama said, "Oh. He's a boy." But then I proceeded to have a "Raising Arizona" experience of "Iiiiiiii... loooooooovvvveee him soooo-hooo-hooo muuu-uhhh-uhhh-ch..." moment, until the doctor decided it was time to break out the needle and thread and, well, we were reunited about 45 minutes later after he had some skin-to-skin time with daddy.

Winfield Lawrey was born at 1:09 a.m. on 15 January 2013 at Providence Southfield's Alternative Birth Care Unit. (Here is his birth announcement on BabyCenter.) He was 20" long and weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces. He was born naturally after 48+ hours of labor, 8 hours of hard labor, and 24 minutes of pushing. I'm healing quite well and he is doing well overall. 

We had an amazing birth doula, Laurel of Guided Passage Birth Companion in Ferndale, who helped Nate and I to focus and bring our little guy into the world. She held my hand when Nate was busy doing other things to help me, she helped me remember how to breathe (yes, I kind of forgot when things "got real"), started and stopped the jets on the labor tub, and held my back and legs when I would have contractions and when I got ready to push. When one technique stopped working, she tried another. That, plus all of the amazing information she gave during prenatal visits, was worth its weight in gold!

Our OB, Dr. Dionne Dickerson, of Physicans For Women in Southfield, was a huge part of our birth experience as well. "Dr. D" as I referred to her in labor didn't pigeonhole me due solely to weight. She was supportive and allowed me to birth naturally, despite of my pre-pregnancy BMI, because I had no other "risk factors" or health concerns. She allowed me to be in any position and do whatever my body needed to do during labor and delivery (except she stopped me from pushing before she had her gown on, which I guess we'll let slide), allowing me to deliver my baby without breaking my water artificially, allowing me to deliver naturally despite his presenting "Right Occiput Posterior," (not breech, but the least preferable presentation for a head-down baby) and helping me to move a "lip" that was holding the baby in at the cervix and preventing his delivery. 

Nate is childhood friends with a fellow named Matt, whose wife Jill is the "After Baby Lady," or a postpartum doula. Instead of assisting in birth, her goal is to educate and assist mamas after they come home, whether it be light chores, baby rearing, or breastfeeding. I reached out to her in the bleary-eyed throws of initial breasfeeding pain and exhaustion (twice!) asking for advice and she came out to the house to educate us and take the babe for long enough for me to catch a catnap. At that point in time, I had about eight hours of sleep in 3-4 days, so 1.5 hours of sleep was amazing. Then when my resolve fell away the next night, she was so supportive via e-mail I was just blown away. She continued to check on the baby and on us and we both really appreciated her kindness and expertise.

Lastly, today we consulted with Brandy from In Home Lactation Specialists, as Wellby (his nickname) lost 14% of his birthweight, due to no fault of our or his own. She came out to the house to weigh him, check his mouth and latch, check my breasts for trauma (there was none, really, which was good!), and check to see how I was feeding him, position, etc. When she left, both Nate and I felt like it was a great use of our money, as we were doing the right things and just needed a leg up to give Winfield a chance to thrive. I'll be following up with her to ensure he stays on the right path.

You see, Winfield had a big jaundice (bilirubin) spike after birth, which made him a sleepy eater. He has had several foot pricks since then to check his levels, and he will have another on Thursday of this week. I can tell his yellowing is going away though and his "output" (wet and dirty diapers) is excellent, which helps to rid the body of the bilirubin. He's already a sleepy eater, so this compounded the milk intake. His metabolism might also be a little overactive, amongst other things, so crying and normal "being a baby" stuff means he's burning the calories he's taking in. Luckily he's started gaining slowly in the last four days, but now we'll be pumping and supplementing with mama milk and formula until he has regained his birth weight and has gotten off to a good start. 

Lastly, friends and family have been integral to Wellby's well being. My mother Verna has been staying with us for nearly two weeks to help with the "graveyard shift" and give me and Nate sleep breaks and I have loved the extra time with her, as she normally lives in Florida. My dad Terry helped us to fix a few things around the house when he came home and helped us break into our garage, which hasn't opened in weeks due to a broken opener. My mother-in-law Mary Ann stops by with her love and words of wisdom. Friends and family have sent flowers, brought meals, and said prayers. To say we've been bowled over by this tender care is to say too little. We are flabbergasted at everyone's kindness.

So no, we're not getting a ton of sleep and I feel like Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow, but as he gets bigger and keeps his beautiful eyes open (he has his daddy's eyes and ears and my nose), he develops his little personality and I fall more and more in love. As my friend Angela said in a beautiful card, "Your heart lives on the outside now." (Yes, I'm hormonal and it still makes me cry, even when I type it.)  I feel tired, sore, stinky (showers are fewer and farther between), weepy and worn out... and indubitably blessed from one end to the other.

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