The Life we call ‘Ithaca’

So after three days at the hospital, we packed up our home-in-a-home Friday and took Dale back to Whitetail Drive with us.  He slept the entire way.

He didn’t seem to mind where we put him, as long as he could sleep…but he seemed most comfortable next to the reference section of our library.  Tipler’s Physics seemed especially comforting to him as he took a break between readings for a quick snooze (above).

As we adjusted to a fragmented sleeping schedule of our own, I’ve found my own comfort in 20 minute cat-naps next to D2 – and he doesn’t seem to mind sharing the space.  Throughout the night, we only woke up ~5 times for feedings and diaper changes.  An enormous thanks goes out to the Doyle family who gave us a few velcro “Swaddle Me’s” which handily turned our son into a burrito.  Even then, though, he still manages to wiggle his right arm out so it can conduct the symphony he’s playing in his head while he dreams.

He also received his first bath from us, which went rather well…especially when it was time to shampoo his greaseball head.  He barely uttered a word while we cleaned all of the other parts too.  Hopefully he remains this calm for the months to come.

We took him in for his pediatrician appointment this morning, and his bilirubin number has continued to climb, which we were ensured was temporary until he can poop more which will result with Sam’s incoming milk.  And the milk is coming already, as he had his first milk coma at lunch time.  Still, just to make sure everything continues as expected/planned, he had to go back to the hospital for an overnight treatment of sun-tanning.

Just like his mother, he loves the suntan booth.  Not only can he sit in there unswaddled, but he’s quite warm – so here he’s enjoying some of the best sleep ever.

To protect his eyes from harmful UV rays, here he’s donning his first pair of Oakley shades, which didn’t bother him in the least.  The toilet seat on his chest covers a part of his skin that they’ll use as a reference to see how well the treatment is working.  He’s also getting a little bit of formula in addition to Sam’s milk so he can poop even more and clear out the excess bilirubin.

And while she only has to stay for one night, Sam has I have relocated all of her belongings back into the hospital so Sam can once again feel at home – away from home.  I’ll head back over there in a while to check up on the family, at which point I can only expect that I’ll need to bring some more items for the demanding duo.

And tomorrow – hopefully – it will be new business as usual.

One of the consequences of a baby born at 38 weeks – two before his official due date – is that the lanugo or fine hair covering his skin is still fully intact all over his body.  Arms, shoulders, butt, and even ears – and you can appreciate how hairy the little guy is right now (above).  While that is certainly going to go away in short order, I’m not so sure his omni-pleasant little boy temperament is here to stay…

As he starts taking in milk (note, he dramatically improved in his ability to feed this afternoon – audio later), his GI tract is adjusting to the rich foodsource and as a result he’s starting to get some monster gas.  You can hear it when he’s near you, but in case you can’t you can certainly appreciate the discomfort it caused him by dinner time.  Dale wailed for a little bit – probably 5 minutes which has been his longest go so far – before he worked out all of the bubbles and went back to sleep.  I only hope it’s temporary, or even if it isn’t, that 5 minutes is as long as he ever cries because it’s a tough sound for parents to get used to (I’m certain all of you parents know this).

I stopped home this afternoon and had a quick glance at the results of posting Dale’s birth on our website, and you can see the effect above on Tuesday – Thursday.  The green bar indicates how many times the website was loaded up; the blue indicates how many unique visitors, and the orange indicates those of you who visit us routinely.

It was quite heartening to know that so many people cared.  And likewise, thanks a ton for all of the well wishes.

The little guy has had a busy 24 hours.  Delivery, some shots, and even a circumcision later, and he just doesn’t seem to mind.  But it does take its toll on him, and so he sleeps – a lot.

We’re hoping it lasts, but as we were just informed by the pediatrician – it probably won’t.  But we’ll take what we can (and the sleep that comes with it).

(A Pulp Fiction reference to those in the know).

A few observations so far: he’s not convinced that swaddling is for him.  That’s not to say that he complains when he is swaddled…but he will do everything in his power to get his little arms out.  And once they’re out, he can resume with his beauty nap.

His conehead is 100% improved from yesterday, and he’s got a little ways to go before he looks a little less coney.  And his nose pimples aren’t pimples, they’re hyperactive oil glands getting used to a terrestrial environment.  And they’ll go back to normal in a few days.

He’s eaten some, but poops like a champion.  He’s had 4, and maybe 5, in the last 25 hours.  The little boy can’t wait to be a man.

More pictures shortly, but Dale William was born at 12:35 pm after 2 hours of serious pushing on Sammy’s part.  She was a champion, and out came the following:

6 pounds, 15 ounces.

19.5 inches long, 13.25 inches circumference head, 12.5 inches circumference body.

10 fingers, 10 toes, blue eyes, and brown hair.  And the most relaxed baby ever.