Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Love Dare
I have been struggling for a while to be truly happy with myself and with my marriage. I am not one to blog about really personal things and I don't like my true feelings exposed but I think it is important to share because no one's marriage is perfect and anyone else that feels this way should get on board with what I am about to share. Our bishop challenged my husband and I to watch the movie fireproof a while back. It is a pretty corny (horrible acting) christian movie about a couple who's marriage is hanging on a thread and they fix it with this LOVE DARE the husbands father gives him. The movie is paired with a Love Dare bible study and the Love Dare Book. In the movie, the husband takes this dare which is 40 days long and each day has a different step to practice unconditional love. Yesterday I was out shopping and I saw this book, and desperate for a change decided to buy the book. I read the back..... "The LOVE DARE is a 40 day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or healthy and strong, The LOVE DARE is a journey you need to take. It's time to learn the keys to finding true intimacy and developing a dynamic marriage. Take the Dare." When my husband got home I told him I bought him a book today and set it on the couch. Later I noticed him thumbing through it and I know he remembers it from the movie. Last night during a late feeding with Keldon I opened the book and started to read the intro and the Day One's love dare. I started to cry. I NEED TO TAKE THIS DARE What if I did it as well as him? Wouldn't that be twice as much unconditional love? Even if he doesn't get on board I know that my effort to be more loving won't hurt anyone and may even be enough to make all the difference in the world.
"Unconditional Love is eagerly promised at weddings, but rarely practiced in real life. As a result, romantic hopes are often replaced with disappointment in the home." This is where I am right now. Since I have had Keldon, I have realized how mundane my life has become over the last few years, especially in my marriage. I am constantly nagging at my husband to be better and do this and do that and getting frustrated when I don't get the results I want, all the while becoming crusty and cynical and hard to be around. I am a very needy person. I hate to be alone and always have to have something going on or I swear I will die of boredom..... but I rarely go out and do something. I admit that I am some what of a hermit because I am scared of failure and I have become self conscience about stupid things. I am whiny and have the tendency to complain about anything I feel like isn't just the way I think it should be. This all presents a very big problem.............and unhappy home, and and unhappy husband. As much as I hate to admit it, if momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy. I have always hated this saying because it puts so much pressure on us as women. My attitude has always been, " That is not fair!" When things go wrong in my house and when I can't constantly be miss peppy happy go lucky optimistic, I feel like everything is going to fall apart because I'm not holding it together. You can't change anyone besides yourself, not your husband and not your children. All you can do is worry about yourself and do the best you can be. That is the hardest concept I have ever had to learn. I have struggled with it my entire life. My mother was the best example of selflessness and charity I have ever known. She wrote me a letter before she died and in it she wrote, "Let your husband know how much you love him everyday in some small way. Try to overlook his faults and compliment him on his good traits. Be the best you can be but don't criticize him. Let him see your example." She also always told me "Just love him Melanie, just love him." That is the secret. This concept held my parents marriage together for almost 45 years. My mother was a saint and that is what I need to work to be. Less critical, more forgiving, more loving, less selfless and more charitable. When I got married I made a promise to be there for better and for worse.
I am crazy for taking the time to type this but I want to share a little to get you into this book--
The opening page reads:
Receive this as a warning. This forty day journey cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and often difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and steadfast determination. It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage. Consider it a dare, from others you have done it before you. The scriptures say that God designed and created marriage as a good thing. It is a beautiful and priceless gift. He used marriage to help us eliminated loneliness, multiply effectiveness, establish families, raise children, enjoy life, and bless us with relational intimacy. But beyond this, marriage also shoes us our need to grow and deal with our own issues and self-centerdness through the help of a lifelong partner. If we are teachable, we will learn to do this one thing that is most important in marriage---to love. This powerful union provides the path for you to learn how to love another imperfect person unconditionally. It is wonderful. It is difficult. It is life challenging.
This book is about love. It's about learning and daring to live a life filled with loving relationships. And this journey begins with the person who is closest to you: your spouse. May God bless you as you being this adventure. But be sure of this: it will take courage. If you accept this dare, you must take the view that instead of following your heart, you are choosing to
lead it. The world says to follow your heart, but if you are not leading it, then someone or something else is. The Bible says, "the heart is more deceitful than all else." (Jeremiah 17:9) and it Will always pursue that which feels right at the moment.
We dare you to think differently---choosing instead to lead your heart toward that which is the best in the long run. This is the key to lasting, fulfilling relationships.
The Love Dare journey is not a process of trying to change your spouse to be the person you want them to be. You've no doubt already discovered that efforts to change your husband or wife have ended in failure and frustration. Rather, this is a journey of exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when your desire is dry and your motives are low. The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling. It is selfless, sacrificial, transformational. And when love is truly demonstrated as it was intended, your relationship is more likely to change for the better. Each day of this journey will containing three very important elements: First, a unique aspect of love will be discussed. Read each one of these carefully and be open to a new understanding of what it means to genuinely love someone. Second, you will be given a specific dare to do for your spouse. Some will be easy and some very challenging. But take each dare seriously , and be creative and courageous enough to attempt it. Don't be discouraged if outside situations prevent you from accomplishing a specific dare. Just pick back up as soon as you can and proceed with the journey. Last, you will be given journal space to log what you are learning and doing an d how your spouse is responding. It is important that you take advantage of this space to capture what is happening to both you and your mate along the way. These notes will record your progress and should become priceless to you in the future. Remember you have the responsibility to guide your heart. Don't give up and don't get discouraged. Resolve to lead your heart and to make it through to the end. Learning to truly love is one of the most important things you will ever do.
Now these three things remain: Faith, Hope and Love, But the greatest of these is Love . 1 Corinthians 13:13
DAY ONE---LOVE IS PATIENT ---- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love---Ephesians 4:2
Love works. It is life's most powerful motivator and has far greater depth and meaning than most people realize. It always does what is best for others and can empower us to face the greatest of problems. We are born with a lifelong thirst for love. Our hearts desperately need it like our lungs need oxygen. Love changes our motivation for living. Relationships become more meaningful with it. No marriage is successful without it. Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes. Ant that's where your dare with begin. With patience.
Love will inspire you to become a patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in positive way to a negative situation. You are slow to anger. You choose to have a long fuse instead of a quick temper. Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps you settle down and begin extending mercy to those around you. Patients brings an internal calm during and external storm.
No on likes to be around an impatient person. it cause you to overreact in angry, foolish, and regrettable ways.The irony of anger toward a wrongful action is that is spawns new wrongs of its own. Anger almost never makes things better. In fact, it usually generates additional problems. But patience stops problems in their tracks More than biting your lip, more than clapping a hand over your mouth, patience is a deep breath. It clears the air. It strips foolishness from whipping is scorpion tail all over the room. It is a choice to control your emotions rather than allowing your emotions to control you, and shows discretion instead of returning evil for evil. If your spouse offends you, do you quickly retaliate, or do you stay under control.? Do you find that anger is your emotional default when treated unfairly? If so you are spreading poison rather than medicine. Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment of grief. You don't get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows our of our own selfishness, foolishness or evil motives.
Patience however makes us wise. It doesn't rush to judgment but listens to what the other person is saying. Patience stands in the doorway where anger is clawing to burst in, but waits to see the whole picture before passing judgment. The Bible says, "He who is slow to anger has great understanding but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly" ( Proverbs 14:29)
As sure as a lock of patience will turn your home into a war zone, the practice of patience will foster peach and quiet :A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute" ( Proverbs 15:18) Statements like these from the Bible book of proverbs are clear principals with timeless relevance. Patience is where love meets wisdom,m. And every marriage needs that combination to stay healthily.
Patience helped you give your spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is made, it chooses to give them more time than they serve to correct it. It gives you the ability to hold on during the tough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under pressure. But can your spouse count on having a patient wife or husband to deal with? Can she know that locking her keys in the car will be met by your understanding rather than a demeaning lectures that makes her feel like a child? Can she know that cheering during the last seconds of a football game won't invite a loud-mouthed laundry list of ways he should be spending his time? It turns out that few people are as hard to live with as an impatient person. What what the tone and volume of your home be if you tried this biblical approach. "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another." (1 Thessalonians 5:15) Few of us do patience very well and none of us do it naturally. But wise men and women will pursue it as an essential ingredient to their marriage relationships. That's a good starting point to demonstrate true love. This Love Dare Journey is a process, and the first thing you must resolve to posses is patience. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. But it's a race worth running.
TODAY'S DARE- THE FIRST PART OF THIS DARE IS FAIRLY SIMPLE. ALTHOUGH LOVE IS COMMUNICATED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, OUR WORDS OFTEN REFLECT THE CONDITION OF OUR HEART. FOR THE NEXT DAY, RESOLVE TO DEMONSTRATE PATIENCE AND SAY NOTHING NEGATIVE TO YOUR SPOUSE AT ALL. IF THE TEMPTATION ARISES, CHOSE NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. IT IS BETTER TO HOLD YOUR TONGUE THAN TO SAY SOMETHING YOU WILL REGRET.
Did anything happened today to cause anger toward your mate? Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?
Pretty amazing and powerful stuff huh? I can't wait to see how this works. Let me know what you think, if you want to know more. I will post just the daily dare each day if you are interested. I want everyone to be able to experience this opportunity. STAY TUNED
"Unconditional Love is eagerly promised at weddings, but rarely practiced in real life. As a result, romantic hopes are often replaced with disappointment in the home." This is where I am right now. Since I have had Keldon, I have realized how mundane my life has become over the last few years, especially in my marriage. I am constantly nagging at my husband to be better and do this and do that and getting frustrated when I don't get the results I want, all the while becoming crusty and cynical and hard to be around. I am a very needy person. I hate to be alone and always have to have something going on or I swear I will die of boredom..... but I rarely go out and do something. I admit that I am some what of a hermit because I am scared of failure and I have become self conscience about stupid things. I am whiny and have the tendency to complain about anything I feel like isn't just the way I think it should be. This all presents a very big problem.............and unhappy home, and and unhappy husband. As much as I hate to admit it, if momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy. I have always hated this saying because it puts so much pressure on us as women. My attitude has always been, " That is not fair!" When things go wrong in my house and when I can't constantly be miss peppy happy go lucky optimistic, I feel like everything is going to fall apart because I'm not holding it together. You can't change anyone besides yourself, not your husband and not your children. All you can do is worry about yourself and do the best you can be. That is the hardest concept I have ever had to learn. I have struggled with it my entire life. My mother was the best example of selflessness and charity I have ever known. She wrote me a letter before she died and in it she wrote, "Let your husband know how much you love him everyday in some small way. Try to overlook his faults and compliment him on his good traits. Be the best you can be but don't criticize him. Let him see your example." She also always told me "Just love him Melanie, just love him." That is the secret. This concept held my parents marriage together for almost 45 years. My mother was a saint and that is what I need to work to be. Less critical, more forgiving, more loving, less selfless and more charitable. When I got married I made a promise to be there for better and for worse.
I am crazy for taking the time to type this but I want to share a little to get you into this book--
The opening page reads:
Receive this as a warning. This forty day journey cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and often difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and steadfast determination. It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage. Consider it a dare, from others you have done it before you. The scriptures say that God designed and created marriage as a good thing. It is a beautiful and priceless gift. He used marriage to help us eliminated loneliness, multiply effectiveness, establish families, raise children, enjoy life, and bless us with relational intimacy. But beyond this, marriage also shoes us our need to grow and deal with our own issues and self-centerdness through the help of a lifelong partner. If we are teachable, we will learn to do this one thing that is most important in marriage---to love. This powerful union provides the path for you to learn how to love another imperfect person unconditionally. It is wonderful. It is difficult. It is life challenging.
This book is about love. It's about learning and daring to live a life filled with loving relationships. And this journey begins with the person who is closest to you: your spouse. May God bless you as you being this adventure. But be sure of this: it will take courage. If you accept this dare, you must take the view that instead of following your heart, you are choosing to
lead it. The world says to follow your heart, but if you are not leading it, then someone or something else is. The Bible says, "the heart is more deceitful than all else." (Jeremiah 17:9) and it Will always pursue that which feels right at the moment.
We dare you to think differently---choosing instead to lead your heart toward that which is the best in the long run. This is the key to lasting, fulfilling relationships.
The Love Dare journey is not a process of trying to change your spouse to be the person you want them to be. You've no doubt already discovered that efforts to change your husband or wife have ended in failure and frustration. Rather, this is a journey of exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when your desire is dry and your motives are low. The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling. It is selfless, sacrificial, transformational. And when love is truly demonstrated as it was intended, your relationship is more likely to change for the better. Each day of this journey will containing three very important elements: First, a unique aspect of love will be discussed. Read each one of these carefully and be open to a new understanding of what it means to genuinely love someone. Second, you will be given a specific dare to do for your spouse. Some will be easy and some very challenging. But take each dare seriously , and be creative and courageous enough to attempt it. Don't be discouraged if outside situations prevent you from accomplishing a specific dare. Just pick back up as soon as you can and proceed with the journey. Last, you will be given journal space to log what you are learning and doing an d how your spouse is responding. It is important that you take advantage of this space to capture what is happening to both you and your mate along the way. These notes will record your progress and should become priceless to you in the future. Remember you have the responsibility to guide your heart. Don't give up and don't get discouraged. Resolve to lead your heart and to make it through to the end. Learning to truly love is one of the most important things you will ever do.
Now these three things remain: Faith, Hope and Love, But the greatest of these is Love . 1 Corinthians 13:13
DAY ONE---LOVE IS PATIENT ---- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love---Ephesians 4:2
Love works. It is life's most powerful motivator and has far greater depth and meaning than most people realize. It always does what is best for others and can empower us to face the greatest of problems. We are born with a lifelong thirst for love. Our hearts desperately need it like our lungs need oxygen. Love changes our motivation for living. Relationships become more meaningful with it. No marriage is successful without it. Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes. Ant that's where your dare with begin. With patience.
Love will inspire you to become a patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in positive way to a negative situation. You are slow to anger. You choose to have a long fuse instead of a quick temper. Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps you settle down and begin extending mercy to those around you. Patients brings an internal calm during and external storm.
No on likes to be around an impatient person. it cause you to overreact in angry, foolish, and regrettable ways.The irony of anger toward a wrongful action is that is spawns new wrongs of its own. Anger almost never makes things better. In fact, it usually generates additional problems. But patience stops problems in their tracks More than biting your lip, more than clapping a hand over your mouth, patience is a deep breath. It clears the air. It strips foolishness from whipping is scorpion tail all over the room. It is a choice to control your emotions rather than allowing your emotions to control you, and shows discretion instead of returning evil for evil. If your spouse offends you, do you quickly retaliate, or do you stay under control.? Do you find that anger is your emotional default when treated unfairly? If so you are spreading poison rather than medicine. Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment of grief. You don't get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows our of our own selfishness, foolishness or evil motives.
Patience however makes us wise. It doesn't rush to judgment but listens to what the other person is saying. Patience stands in the doorway where anger is clawing to burst in, but waits to see the whole picture before passing judgment. The Bible says, "He who is slow to anger has great understanding but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly" ( Proverbs 14:29)
As sure as a lock of patience will turn your home into a war zone, the practice of patience will foster peach and quiet :A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute" ( Proverbs 15:18) Statements like these from the Bible book of proverbs are clear principals with timeless relevance. Patience is where love meets wisdom,m. And every marriage needs that combination to stay healthily.
Patience helped you give your spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is made, it chooses to give them more time than they serve to correct it. It gives you the ability to hold on during the tough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under pressure. But can your spouse count on having a patient wife or husband to deal with? Can she know that locking her keys in the car will be met by your understanding rather than a demeaning lectures that makes her feel like a child? Can she know that cheering during the last seconds of a football game won't invite a loud-mouthed laundry list of ways he should be spending his time? It turns out that few people are as hard to live with as an impatient person. What what the tone and volume of your home be if you tried this biblical approach. "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another." (1 Thessalonians 5:15) Few of us do patience very well and none of us do it naturally. But wise men and women will pursue it as an essential ingredient to their marriage relationships. That's a good starting point to demonstrate true love. This Love Dare Journey is a process, and the first thing you must resolve to posses is patience. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. But it's a race worth running.
TODAY'S DARE- THE FIRST PART OF THIS DARE IS FAIRLY SIMPLE. ALTHOUGH LOVE IS COMMUNICATED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, OUR WORDS OFTEN REFLECT THE CONDITION OF OUR HEART. FOR THE NEXT DAY, RESOLVE TO DEMONSTRATE PATIENCE AND SAY NOTHING NEGATIVE TO YOUR SPOUSE AT ALL. IF THE TEMPTATION ARISES, CHOSE NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. IT IS BETTER TO HOLD YOUR TONGUE THAN TO SAY SOMETHING YOU WILL REGRET.
Did anything happened today to cause anger toward your mate? Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?
Pretty amazing and powerful stuff huh? I can't wait to see how this works. Let me know what you think, if you want to know more. I will post just the daily dare each day if you are interested. I want everyone to be able to experience this opportunity. STAY TUNED
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Month 1
I thought I would take a minute while Keldon was content and swinging in his swing to update a little on my life as a new mommy. IT IS WORK! I knew it would be hard and that I would be tired but I don't think I really think I understood how draining it would really be. The first week home is a teaser. Keldon nursed so good, burped within a minute and slept so good. I thought I had a perfect baby. I told my sisters that I think I got lucky and that he was so easy and perfect. Then week 2 hit. Ha ha, Reality set in. The adrenaline wears off, my live in nanny (Sister Sherri) left, Keldon had to go to the hospital for a night for biliruben treatment and got nipple confusion when they took him off breast milk, and then everything hit me. I had to get to appointments at a certain time which also seem to be when he was hungry, and grocery shopping is a whole different blog post. I will have to say, that I am not naive though. Before I had him, every time I would go grocery shopping and was irritated and in a hurry I would tell myself to relax and enjoy the time alone. I even estimated how many childless trips I had left when I first got pregnant. I go to winco at least 2x a month x 10 months of pregnancy. Each time I went I would do the count down and force myself to enjoy shopping without all the hassle. Around week three I had a really hard time. I made it through the first two weeks without a breakdown but week 3 was the end of that. Keldon was really fussy and gassy and overall just irritated. I would do okay during the day if I got to sleep a little in the morning with him but during night feedings I would get so frustrated. It was hot in the house, he would take forever to eat and then spit up because he wouldn't burp and then fuss because he was able to eat fast enough which to me was abnormal but to anyone who has had a baby is just a memory, "Oh, I remember those days, it goes by so fast," "If you can just make it to 6 weeks, it gets better..." I'm happy to say I am on my way. The end of week 3 and on to this week has been a lot better. I just have to remind myself that he depends on me and that getting frusterated and worked up only makes me feel more hopeless, plus it drains my energy and heaven knows I only have so much of that. I have really been missing my mom lately too which has sort of been hard for me to deal with. I try not to let it overwhelm me and take over my life but sometimes it feels good just to have a quick little cry. It seems to hit me more when things are really hard or when something great has just happended. The highs and the lows....I just want to share stuff with her. I wish I could see her holding my sweet little baby and hear her voice just once tell me how precious he really is. I went out to my dads the other day and had my step mom spoil me. I called and told her if she cooked me up some good breakfast I would trade her a sweet little man to hold and kiss on for a while. After I ate, and nursed Keldon, we took a nap together in what used to be my parents bedroom. I laid on the bed and just stared at my baby and couldn't help but cry as I remembered not long ago that my mom and I laid in that same bed and she told me how pretty I was... her little baby girl. We use to snuggle in her bed when she was sick and she would tell me stories, we would share stuff and just talk. Most of the time, even though she was sick she would be rubbing my head or playing with my hair. The other night Keldon was throwing a little fit while I was trying to nurse him and I started to rub his little head and around his temples the Grandma Carver/Mom way and he fell asleep.... Oh I miss my mom so much dangit. I went to her grave yesterday to bring flowers for memorial day. When she was picking out her funeral stuff, she made a comment at the family meeting about making sure we had her headstone set before memorial day at least. We all had a laugh about it. I wasn't able to go up to the cemetery on mothers day so I had to get up there yesterday. Chris and Keldon were with me and it seemed so surreal, me having my own little family. I was reading Tammy Ottley's blog the other day and she posted a cute post about how she just realized she was all grown up. When did she grow up, she has a car and a house and a husband and so on. I have felt that way since I had Keldon. I got his insurance card in the mail the other day addressed to Keldon Cain, that is just weird, I have a son! It really hit me when I took him in for his circumcision and felt like crying because I'm sad that he has to feel pain, or getting a pku lab done while I'm holding him and he is bawling. That is when you feel like a mom.
Funny and Cute little Keldon things:
He grunts and squeaks all the time and is an especially noisy sleeper
He loves his swing and likes to be around a lot of noise. If he falls asleep with noise or in his swing and you turn either one off, he squeaks and grunts and wakes up when you stop it or move him.
He screams when you change him but has soon as you snap his onsie on he completely goes limp and calms down.
He is a super loud burper and a loud little tooter too
He loves to have his hands open wide and always holds them straight out and stiff like a karate chop. When he nurses he either has a hand on me or on his face or next to his head by his ear.
He can hold his head up and started trying since he was 2 days old.
He has strong little calf and thigh muscles and even has little defined forearm and back muscles. When he has a bubble in his tummy he turns from side to side and throws his head back when you put him up to burp him he always brings his knees up to his chests and pushes off of you and fusses. As soon as he burps or spits up he will lay flat and stick his legs straight out and point his toes. That is when you know he is content.
He likes to be held close chest to chest on his side and bounced up and down if you are trying to calm him down or put him to sleep.
He likes to be held close chest to chest on his side and bounced up and down if you are trying to calm him down or put him to sleep.
He doesn't mind taking a bath and likes to have a wash cloth covering his tummy to keep him warm.
When he is waiting for me to get situated to nurse and /or is hungry, he sucks on the back of his hand or on his forearm.
When he is waiting for me to get situated to nurse and /or is hungry, he sucks on the back of his hand or on his forearm.
He is always pretty content and alert between 6 and 11 o'clock feedings and snuggles on daddy's chest when he gets home from work.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
First week home
My sister Sherri came from Boise to help me through my labor and the first few days at home
We spent a lot of time eating and snuggling Baby K. It was so fun to have her here. The first few days were kind of a blur. Changing diapers and getting the hang of breast feeding. I got my first real glimpse into motherhood when Keldon had to go back into the hospital for jaundice. I got all teary eyed and emotional and had to leave the room when they did his blood work for the 3rd time in one day. So far things have been really good. I am a spoiled mommy . He is soooo good. He eats good, sleeps good and hardly ever fusses. He only cries for a minute when he is hungry and has to wait or when he gets his diaper changed. He loves to be swaddled and held, and his swing is my favorite. He seems to be out to get his dad..... he has peed on Chris a handful of times and even gives him a projectile poop once in a while before he gets the clean diaper on.
The curious little toad man....
Our first attempt at a bath! Aunt Sherri and Daddy helped.
Keldon pooped in the tub when we were just getting done.
I sneak snuggles in for dad sometimes in the morning before work
We had our first visit with the pediatrician on Wednesday. He wasn't at the hospital when Keldon was born so we had never seen him before. I really liked him. He was super personable and very down to earth. We had to get his blood work done to check his biliruben levels for jaundice. He turned out to be at a level 17.4 with 18 being where they draw the line for treatment. Because he had a hematoma when he was born and our blood types being different, his risk factor was higher than normal. We had to go into the hospital over night to get him under the biliruben light and help the jaundice to resolve. Breast milk doesn't bind to biliruben so I had to formula feed for 24 hours and pump instead. The orange pictures are the newborn room at Dr. Gavino's office. Keldon looks so tiny on the table. The other ones are from the hospital. That little bed looks like a mini tanning bed. Dad was making jokes about Keldon getting a tan. He did come home a little more red!
We spent a lot of time eating and snuggling Baby K. It was so fun to have her here. The first few days were kind of a blur. Changing diapers and getting the hang of breast feeding. I got my first real glimpse into motherhood when Keldon had to go back into the hospital for jaundice. I got all teary eyed and emotional and had to leave the room when they did his blood work for the 3rd time in one day. So far things have been really good. I am a spoiled mommy . He is soooo good. He eats good, sleeps good and hardly ever fusses. He only cries for a minute when he is hungry and has to wait or when he gets his diaper changed. He loves to be swaddled and held, and his swing is my favorite. He seems to be out to get his dad..... he has peed on Chris a handful of times and even gives him a projectile poop once in a while before he gets the clean diaper on.
The curious little toad man....
Our first attempt at a bath! Aunt Sherri and Daddy helped.
Keldon pooped in the tub when we were just getting done.
I sneak snuggles in for dad sometimes in the morning before work
We had our first visit with the pediatrician on Wednesday. He wasn't at the hospital when Keldon was born so we had never seen him before. I really liked him. He was super personable and very down to earth. We had to get his blood work done to check his biliruben levels for jaundice. He turned out to be at a level 17.4 with 18 being where they draw the line for treatment. Because he had a hematoma when he was born and our blood types being different, his risk factor was higher than normal. We had to go into the hospital over night to get him under the biliruben light and help the jaundice to resolve. Breast milk doesn't bind to biliruben so I had to formula feed for 24 hours and pump instead. The orange pictures are the newborn room at Dr. Gavino's office. Keldon looks so tiny on the table. The other ones are from the hospital. That little bed looks like a mini tanning bed. Dad was making jokes about Keldon getting a tan. He did come home a little more red!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Coming home
We got home from the hospital around noon yesterday. We had a little problem figuring out the carseat and getting him situated. He is so little he looks like a bug in there! The hospital has a lady that comes by and takes a picture for the website so we had to do all that. Keldon is a
sweetheart. It is probably just the new mom in me talking but I don't care, that is what I think. Even when you are breastfeeding and your tummy is cramping like you are in labor again, you get over it because all it takes is for him to open his eyes or wrap his little hand around your finger and you are fine. Chris is sooooo in love with his little boy. After I feed him he always takes him and is all about changing his diaper. I think it is just because he wants to snuggle with him.
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