Over the River and Through the Woods. . .

Today was my first trip to Grandma and Grandpa Livingston's house.

Both Daddy and I were very excited!

I tried to take my nap--but I was looking around a lot.

Zoey is three weeks old today. I believe that she is ready to smile anyday now!

Sooo big!

Another cute one of Zoey--because Grandpa Nyhlen wants lots of pictures.

Happy Father's Day!

First off, happy Father's Day to our dads and grandpas! For Tyler's first father's day we started out by going to church and introducing Zoey to our friends in the congregation. She was a big hit. Then we came home and had some company and some good old fashion down time while watching the Twins on TV. We rounded out the evening by taking at walk to the Dairy Queen. It was a great day!

To Tyler, even though you have only been Zoey's father for 20 days I can tell that you are totally devoted to our little girl (and to me). Neither one of us could ask for more love and support than you already offer to us. Thank you and Happy Father's Day! Love, Judy

I got a suspicious looking package in the mail today.

I could be wrong, but I think it may be a birthday present. My first clue was the name Bruce Nyhlen in the return address window.

This was a very thoughtful gift. Around the time of our wedding, I was saying how it would be cool if I had a watch on a chain. I opened up the gift today and got the watch on the chain, but that's not all. On one side is Zoey's complete name and birthdate, on the other side is a picture of her. Thank you Bruce and Cheryl. I appreciate it.

Thank you also to my parents and sister who gave me some gifts for both birthday and father's day along with a gift of their time. Grandma Livingston and Auntie Tammy swung by today to baby sit while Judy and I went to a movie (one of my most favorite past-times).

Do yourself a favor and go see Cinderella Man.

Please, no flash photography!

A little Zoey/Judy time.

Zoey and Dad both catch some well deserved Zzzzz's.

Zoey enjoys some awake time in her rocker. (Thanks Vanessa! She really likes it!)

The Bedtime Routine

Last night was our first concerted effort to put Zoey to bed in her actual crib. I was determined to get things started on the right track.

We started with a bath around 8pm. Zoey has now had two baths in her infant tub, and once she gets used to the idea she actually seems pretty content in there. When we were giving her sponge baths, she screamed like crazy. Watching her just sit back and coo in the tub is very cute. I will sit on the edge of the tub in my bathing suit, not hesitating to pick her up and hold her to comfort her. When I sit her back in the tub she just looks up, looks around.

When it was time for bed, I turned down the lights, readied the radio/CD player, set-aside my night light so I could read while comforting Zoey, and brought her in. Zoey will lay in my arms while soft lullabyes play on the CD and while I'm reading a little Harry Potter (Order of the Phoenix). When she's fallen completely to sleep, I slowly get up and place her in her crib. I turn the CD player to radio and let the white noise of static soothe her further into sleep.

Since we have our guest bed in the baby's room, I just turn in for a couple quick Z's while Zoey is sleeping. After about an hour of peaceful rest, she'll wake and fuss, grunt and cough for another hour, but she's still sleeping (even if I'm awake). The 3rd hour of rest usually requires some holding and rocking until she's ready for her feeding.

All in all, I count it a success that Judy and I can keep Zoey in her crib throughout most of the night and that she is getting the rest she needs. We just need to train ourselves to sleep through her night sounds and wake when she actually cries and needs our help.

Zoey is 2 weeks old today!

Aunt Nicole and Zoey spend some time together.

Uncle Rob got some Zoey time last weekend when he and Nicole came for a visit.

Zoey's 2 Week Appointment Update

Zoey went to see the doctor today for her 2-week wellness check. She weighed in at 8lbs. 4oz. We were very happy to see that her weight has gone up. That means that she is nursing well and that is a huge relief for me. Zoey still has blocked tear ducts that is causing her eyes to be all goopy and red, so the doc prescribed some ointment to help.

Other than that, she is healthy and happy.

Here she is. . .doing what Zoey does best.

Four generations of Unwins and Livingstons.

Auntie Tammy gets some Zoey time.

Zoey met little Anna when she went to school with me last Wednesday--everyone thought Anna was so tiny until Zoey arrived.

Breaking News. . .Zoey Goes Cordless!

Yesterday was a big day for Zoey. She went to school with me to meet all my work friends--who all absolutely adored her, of course. She was so good--she slept most of the time. My colleauge Chris had a baby 5 weeks ago and little Anna was at school too--so we put them side by side to compare size--I can't believe that Zoey is going to grow like that. I want her to stay small!

Zoey slept for most of our outing--except to wake for nursing and an eventful diaper change. When I opened the diaper the flood gates opened all over my table at school and on her clothes, she was crying because she wanted to be fed, it was hot, and then I noticed that her umbilical cord was ready to fall off. It was all happening at once. But I stayed calm and we got through it. So far, Tyler and I are lucky that she is easy to comfort and calm.

Later that day, after she was safe at home again, she had her first "blow out" in her diapers. We were such proud parents. (Actually we were very happy about it because she hasn't been going as much as she is suppose to--and I was getting worried. ) Her umbilical cord did finally fall off that evening.

To top the whole day off--Zoey got to go on her very first trip to Target--an experience that once again she slept through. She will have plenty of opportunities to shop at Target with me in the future though.

After her bath we put her to sleep in the basinet and she actually slept for most of the night--with the exception of feeding--which I had to wake her for. Tyler and I both slept great! Let's all pray that this will turn into the normal pattern.

Well--Zoey has another field trip planned for today to go visit Daddy's workplace and meet more people. So we are going to go and start our day!

Just Chillin'. . .

Hey, Grandpa Livingston! Aren't I stylish in my sunglasses? I may have to grow into them a little. I did take my first field trip with mom and dad to Walgreens today--we took a walk to try out my stroller.

Good-bye Mr. Bilirubin, and please take your Bili-bed with you!

Upon hearing the news that her Bili was 12, Zoey promptly got dressed, went outside to say hi to dad, and decided to take yet another nap.

I don't know what number the doctor wants the bilirubin to be, but he said that if it was under 15 today that she didn't have to use the bed anymore. So, Yeah! She is also starting to gain weight--she weighed 7lbs. 12oz. today at our appointment.

Zoey is really enjoying being out of the bili-light. She has been pretty alert today--compared to the last 48 hours of mostly sleeping and eating.

The Hospital's web page for Zoey

http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=5J5Y9M2E1K


We weren't crazy about the pictures, but the web page and photo shoot were free, so there you go.

It ain't easy being yellow...

Zoey is displaying a yellow glow as her first fashion statement and her "catwalk" is a bilirubin phototherapy bed. She's at home on the runway and is turned from back to tummy after every feeding among the watchful eyes of the worried parents and grandparents. Still she's the most beautiful baby ever to grace the bilirubin platform. We plan to progress to the crib and various other conveyances in the next week.

Unfortunately, today's medicine (I irritatingly sigh) dropped the ball with communication on the how to's to our young parents. And I must say, no other parents I have EVER seen, (and I've seen a lot) have prepared themselves so intensely and with such love and expectation for their newborn child. These days moms and babies are being released from the hospital with inadequate practice and instruction. Modern medicine attempts to treat everything on an outpatient basis causing havoc and stressful trips to labs and specialists all in the name of saving dollars. I've always questioned if it's good patient care. And now it's become a personal event. What is more important than getting families off to the best possible starts as each new life comes into the world? Health care is dropping the ball. (Yes, I'm a former nursery/labor and delivery nurse -- so I'm on my soapbox.) My hope for the future is that we somehow find a way to improve our health care delivery to all ages through all specialties with reasonable cost.

Our Zoey is a real trooper despite this bump in the road and is doing her part to learn all those newborn things like nursing, bottle feeding, burping and staying awake long enough to eat and she's bonding to her family because of all the love and support she's getting. You can really feel the love around her. I'm so proud to be a part of this and so proud of Zoey's parents.

They call her Mellow Yellow

While Zoey's birth and homecoming were pretty uneventful, ever since her last check-up Zoey and her parents have had much ado. Zoey has developed infant jaundice, a typical and generally benign infant condition that involves the skin looking yellowish. If left untreated, problems can occur, but we're obviously trying to work with the doctors and hospital staff.

There's a little thing that is checked in some infants called 'billyrubin.' (sp?) Basically, if a child has lots of billyrubin stored up in her system, she develops the jaundice colored skin, followed by other problems. If the billyrubin can be cleared away -- through bowel movements, urination, exposure to natural light source, solid feeding and weight gain -- then we all go merrily on our way.

Judy asked me today where the name Billyrubin comes from. I did my best Cliff Clavin impression by explaining that billyrubin is named from the scientist that discovered it. It's true. As it turns out, this scientist was also awarded the most-likely-to-become-yellow award in his high school yearbook. He parleyed that exposure to an interesting career stabbing infants in the foot and withdrawing blood.

At any rate, we go to our doctor on Friday to do a regularly scheduled weight check to make sure Zoey is getting the nuitrition that she needs. We discover that she's lost weight, enough to start being concerned, so we made an appointment for Saturday (today) with a lactation specialist to see what can be done to make sure the milk gets flowing down Zoey's throat. The doctor also notices our yellow princess and orders the lab to check her billyrubin.

The result is a 19.4. My education in this area is still soft, but apparently we'd like to see a 'billy' under 12. Therefore, the doctor orders what he calls a "blanket" that will help Zoey process and remove the excess billy from her system.

So we go home and we wait. And we wait. No contact from the company who's scheduled to deliver this "blanket." Not a huge problem, but my anxiety is starting to rise.

Finally, about 7 hours after our appointment, the tech/delivery guy calls to get directions to our house. Now I'm sure he's a very nice man and he may in fact be absolutely brilliant, but I believe he was still learning the English language. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue. I love working with language learners and I have tons of patience to make sure that communication is established.

The tech guy finally rolls in at 7pm. Meanwhile, supper is ready, my sister Tammy and Grandpa Nyhlen are due to arrive any second, Grandma Livingston (a former labor/delivery RN) is calling for a check-up and teaching me all about jaundice and billyrubin, people are calling right and left to see the baby, Zoey's feeding with Judy and I'm trying to manage all the traffic. So the tech guy rolls in and has this huge bag, as if he's carrying an electronic keyboard to a gig.

He says, "Where you want it?"'

"How about upstairs in the baby's room," I respond, escorting him to the room.

We enter and he unzips the black bag revealing a piece of equipment that looks like a miniature tanning bed. "Don't use when it is in bag," he cautions.

"Ok. How does it work?"

The man grabs the three pronged powercord and says, "Plug this in." Then he reaches for a short cord with a button on the end, resembling one of those self-medicating injection buttons I see on shows like "ER." "This turns it on and off."

There's an outline of a baby on the clear glass set-up. "So I just put her on there and turn it on?"

"Yes."

"How long does she stay on there?"

"Up to doctor. When her billy goes away, she can leave." At this point the doctor had only told me that Zoey would be spending time in a blanket, not laying on a glass plated tanning bed. He then showed me a bluish-green hospital-like garment that uses velcro to attach itself to the top of the light box. "Close baby in there."

"Uh...ok. Thanks." I knew I wouldn't get much more information out of this guy, so I showed him out.

So far I'm uncomfortable with this thing in my house and the prospect of my daughter being zipped in, but my mood darkened quickly as I learned more about how the weekend would shape up. Shortly thereafter I learned that Zoey was expected to stay on that bed 24 hours a day until her billyrubin is back to normal. She can only leave to feed and be changed. If she cries and has been fed and changed, we have to leave her there. No cuddling. No jouncing.

Had I been informed of this when the doctor prescribed the device, I wouldn't have liked it much, but I would've dealt with it and moved on. Having this sprung on my the moment when guests were arriving, dinner was ready, daughter was crying, and machine looked so imposing, I just about lost my mind.

When Grandpa Nyhlen arrived with "Auntie" Gracie (their very cute but still young basset hound), I met him at the door. I think I probably startled him a bit with my brevity and my insistance that Gracie stay out of the way. I called Auntie Tammy and asked that she come over another time. As it turns out, she got my message as she pulled in to our driveway. She obliged and turned back around to home.

Sorry about both events, Grandpa N and Tammy. I was a bit on edge.

Grandma Livingston arrived to check out Zoey and the set-up and to help me out as I began calling phone nurses and the company that delivered the billybed, expressing my deep concern (or, rather, irate ravings) about how this treatment was handled.

After several phone calls and conversations with techs, nurses and our family, we finally figured out how to use the device properly and how it should help Zoey. Throughout the entire process, Zoey was content as could be; it was her parents that needed some swaddling.

Zoey is as comfortable as she can be. Upon further inspection, the bed's top is not glass but some cushiony substance that supports the weight of the baby. Additionally, it makes a pleasing hum in the background, which is always helpful for sleeping infants. Just an hour ago, we discovered that if we placed the entire bed in our pack-and-play crib, then Gracie can come upstairs and begin to meet her niece.

We will not be accepting any visitors while Zoey is in the billybed and possibly not until her weight has caught up a little bit more. She has another doctor's apointment on Monday morning where she'll get her billy checked again. Hopefully, we can get rid of the contraption and start to hold and coo and cuddle with our child by Monday evening.

We now have Zoey safely on our pack-and-play crib. The blue haze you see is not nuclear waste...it is the billybed shining on her back.

Grandpa Nyhlen getting his granddaughter time, only this weekend it will be on the billy bed. Don't worry Grandpa...you'll get plenty of chances to spoil her soon enough.

Grandpa Livingston is a natural with babies. He may need some help with his cell phone though.

Introducing...

Zoey Christine Livingston

Updated 6/1/05. (original post 12:24pm on 5/31/05)

I've received several requests to get something up on the blog. So here's the vital stats and then some pictures. Stories to follow in the coming days, but right now I need to get back to my lovely wife and daughter.

Zoey Christine Livingston:

Born: 5/31/05 at 1:56 am

Weight: 8lbs, 6 oz; Heights: 19.5 in

Mom and baby are fine and recovering.

Thank you everyone.

One of many phone calls we made the morning after Zoey's birth. Mom was very open to welcoming visitors. Thanks to all who called, stopped by, and posted here. We feel very supported and loved.

This is just us goofing around. The contractions had not really started hurting Judy, and we were starting to get a bit bored. I decided to start snapping pictures of the room. We thought a 'miserable' or 'exhausted' would feel more real, even though we were feeling just fine at the time.

One of the first pictures of Zoey. So far she loves her some swaddling.

This picture was taken roughly 30 minutes after birth, when the Grandparents were allowed to come in, else they'd break down the door! This picture doesn't begin to capture the emotions we felt at this point. While I will attempt to record my thoughts and experiences about this day, my I won't be ready to publish that writing quite yet. I'll need plenty of revision time.

In the meantime, this is a poem I wrote with my 7th graders as we studied form poetry. It is a Cinquain. When I wrote it, I shared it with the students and together we went through some revisions to get it to sound just right. It's still not done (writing's never done), but it is worthy of publication here.

Zoey

unsteady, unsure

aching for freedom

waiting for your touch

everything

It was cold...I needed warmth.

A few pics of the room. Very comfortable.

I'll let mom tell you her story of figuring out it was time to go to the hospital.

A more genuine self-photo. I like it.

I couldn't get them in one shot, but above are Grandma Livingston and Grandma/Grandpa Nyhlen.


Our over-the-top face.

The most beautiful baby in the world.



The most beautiful baby and mother in the world.

The most beautiful family in the...well, you get the picture.

Tummy time on Dad's stomach/chest just happens to be Dad's favorite activity so far.

Zoey's first trip home. I only checked the buckle 7 times.

Another proud Grandma, only this one is Grandma Nyhlen.

the baby gets his rest. Wait just a minute...

Great Grandad Unwin holding his first great grandchild Zoey (child of his first Grandchild, Tyler)

A very proud Grandma Livingston.

Here's mommy with a Pope-like Zoey. Too cute.