Let me start by saying, I didn't remember just how many times a day a newborn poops! I thought something was wrong with our daughter for the first couple of days but after researching breastfeeding infants...sure enough it is normal to poop 8 to 12 times per day. I am real glad that at some point we outgrow this feature because going to the bathroom would literally consume a better portion of our lives.
Being home is great! We are in the midst of working out a rhythm...meaning that some days I get a shower and others I just put on another coat of deodorant and call it good. Feeding Neriyah is what I spend every waking and admittedly sometimes sleeping (dozing and pumping are more compatible than you might think) hour on. Here's a typical routine: Neriyah wakes (change poopy diaper #1) and attempt to breastfeed...after 20 to 30 minutes I take out the bottle from my last pumping session and feed her...when she is finished (poopy diaper #2 is changed) and then I reswaddle her and hold her for a bit as she falls back to sleep. Once Neriyah is sleeping, I get out my pumping gear and pump for 20 minutes (and check facebook status updates...you are all so interesting at 2 a.m.!)
I have learned in this last week that the nighttime schedule just needs simplicity so I have begun skipping the breastfeeding and move straight to the bottle and pumping. Hoping this creates some space for real sleep as the above process was taking 2 plus hours (she eats every 3 hours...so my feeding to sleep ratio was a little crazy making).
In my spare time, I have been trying to take pictures of my sweet babe. This is a bigger challenge than you might think. Not only am I quite forgetful (about pictures and most everything else) but when I do remember she is hungry or tired and well you can see the result (above photo).
On Sunday, my Dad arrived just in time for Jeremey to leave for a work retreat. It is so good to have him here. He and Gabriel built a fort out of a cardboard box and have spent hours playing together. I am more than grateful for the help and the home cooked meals!
Yesterday, I took Neriyah to her first pediatrician appointment since her release from the hospital. Our regular pediatrician (Dr. Pellman) will be out for several months after back surgery so we are getting to know Dr. Willis. He read through her chart from the NICU and thought that her weight gain looked great (she is now 5 lbs. 6 oz.). He would like to have a pediatric cardiologist follow-up on her heart to ensure that it continued to close properly (she had a murmur which they believed was related to being a preemie). She goes back in 2 weeks for another check.
We hope this New Year has begun well for each of you!
God's Grace,
The Kings
