Day Six and Good Things

“Hey, tomorrow is Day 6.” 

Those were Emilee’s words to me last Tuesday night.  I of course asked what the heck she meant, and was reminded as to how hormonally insane she became on “Day 6” of our other two visits to the post-partum parade ground.  At least I got a warning this time.  The crying at the fact that it started to rain our way to Target, or the completed irrational hatred for me because I couldn’t breast feed did not catch me by surprise this time.  A little warning is always a good thing.

These have been many good things that have happened over the past twelve days.  Most importantly Sophie came home healthy after going through the aquarium treatment.  I really have great things to say about the staff at North Fulton.  They were very helpful and supportive throughout our experience there.  Even the lactation consultant.  This ladies job is to basically make mom feel inadequate while cramming baby’s head into her boob.  And all you can do as Dad is watch because if you try to speak up they both turn on you.  I’m pretty sure Emilee made her first comment about “if you can’t do the job yourself, keep quiet” at about this point.

I have also had a chance to really see what Gage is all about.  I am usually at work when he is going about his day, and I do not always get the chance to spend as much time with him as I would like. He is talking more, super energetic, and a head trauma waiting to happen. The kid has a new bruise or bump or welt every day.  I am pretty sure the authorities would haul us away if they saw him some days.  But, he usually just gives a disgusted look that he was slowed for a moment and continues to move forward; head first of course. We also have to keep him from inadvertently killing his little sister with a flying phone or sippy cup.

We have also seen Gracie really develop her Jekyll and Hyde personalities.  When she is at school or karate she is little miss angel.  When she hits the door she is hell on wheels. We are playing the “how many times can I get dent to my room in a day” game.  But, she has been really good around Sophie.  As sure as I am that Sophie’s arrival has kicked our little maniac into action, I am equally sure that she is happy for the arrival of her little sister.  She has been super helpful with all things Sophie.  I just hope she isn’t secretly plotting something.

And, Emilee had her lithotripsy today.  It appears to have gone well, and hopefully this part of the saga can be over soon.  Now all that is left is to pass the broken stone fragments and get the stent removed.  So, as long as all of that goes to plan we can start the pain free (physically at least) trek toward creating the perfect child…

Or at least our version of her.

Keep Smiling,

Rob

The Aquarium

So here we are looking at a contraption that looks like a giant fish aquarium.  It’s the Drager Photo Therapy 4000.  Better known as a UV light machine, it is helping Sophie get the excess bilirubin in her body broken down so she can get rid of it.  It is also what has us spending another night in the luxuriousness that is an L&D Postpartum suite at North Fulton. Don’t get me wrong, the staff here is AMAZING!  They are attentive, polite, empathetic, friendly, and supportive.  The bed and “man chair” that Em and I are tortured by are a different story.  Let’s just say this for the “man-chair”, it is covered in a material that can only be described as nauga-plastic; very comfy!

But let me tell you how we got here…

Sophie Brooke was born at 6:08 am after Emilee was in labor for about 10 hours.  It really wasn’t supposed to be that long, as she had seen her OB earlier in the day and he told her to come in so they could help it along.  But, with Pebbles and the stent (see Round 3), her OB thought that it would be a good idea to get everything in motion since she had already started.  So after a long night we welcomed Sophie.

We had a pretty quiet day after Sophie got here.  Matt had come up the night before to give us his and Jill’s love and support, and we had family through during the day in nicely spread out intervals.  Em’s mom was with us at delivery, and then her Dad and my family came by later; it was very relaxed.  This struck us as a huge contrast as to when Gracie was born.  There must have been 50 people that came by that day.  People that we weren’t even sure we knew in some cases. That was fun, but this was way more relaxing.  We even continued our tradition of having Longhorn for dinner!

The fun was when our sitter (and adopted child) Emily brought Gracie and Gage up to meet their sister. Gracie wanted to know when “her new baby” was coming home and Gage just stared in wonderment.  He had a “WTF is this and what is happening” kind of look on his face.  Then he was distracted by a NERF ball and was fine; at least until he beaned his new sister in the head with it.  I guess we are going to have to live by the “no blood, no foul” rule.

But today things changed a bit.  Sophie didn’t do so well on her hearing test.  Probably just fluid that will dry out, but it could also be the Bozicevich women’s trait of having an excuse not to listen!  I am praying for the fluid excuse.  And then we found out that she would have to spend at least one day in the aquarium.  All signs point to this is just a small bump in the road. But when you have your new kid in front of you, all bumps seem to be mountains.

Overall she is healthy.  I really want to thank all of you who have reached out to tell us how beautiful you think our new addition is.  I’m the skeptical one here though.  I mean, what you are going to say to new parents? I just can’t hear the following in my head:

                WOW! That’s one ugly baby!

                I didn’t know she could have a head that shape.

                Bless Her Heart! (OK, maybe this one)

                Which end is up?

Anyway, we should get to go home soon and I will continue to update our escapades. Here a couple pics for ya.

Keep Smiling,

Rob

Round Number 3!

Here we go again!  I’m going to pretend that I just lost the blogs I wrote for Gage, and ignore the fact that I just failed miserably in documenting the middle child.

But, recently a co-worker was proof reading one my old posts for a submission I am considering and it made me smile listening to her laugh.  I remembered how much I enjoyed writing, and I remembered how much I enjoyed getting replies from the three of you that read them.  So, without further ado…..

Here we go again!  I’m sitting here in the same room and about the same time of day in which we showed up completely scared out of our minds to have Gracie.  We had no idea what were about to experience and we had no idea what the next 5 plus years were going to bring.  Boy, have we figured it out though!

This pregnancy has been a fun and challenging experience.  Number three, or Sophie as we plan on calling her, has already had her run of experiences.  Emilee was in the hospital on two separate occasions for kidney problems and has been an absolute dream to be around for the past 3 months.  Something about pain and hormones that brings out the sweetheart in her.  She had to have a stent placed so that her kidney could function properly, and next week will have to go for lithotripsy for her 14mm stone (we named it Pebbles because that what it will turn in too after the lithotripsy).  She still has something else to deliver after the baby comes!

Maybe if I was smart I would be scared again.  I mean it’s not like I’m Trevor and have number four already, but we will be officially outnumbered.  Gracie at least is pretty self-reliant.  She can do things like; get up and turn on the TV at full volume so her brother wakes up, let the dogs out of their crates but not outside so they poop all over the house, and she can open the fridge to get something to drink and then not close it all the way.

But, Gage is the fun one. He has a great arm!  He can throw anything, and I mean stuff like phones, plates, and coffee cups, a long way.  And he has proven that nothing we have set up to protect Sophie is going to work.  I think he has been in training.  He’s got to know at some level that his life is about to completely change, and I don’t think he likes it.  He’s like a little assassin just waiting for his opportunity; our little ninja Gage.

But, provided we can keep Sophie from projectile induced trauma, we will soon be outnumbered.  And then the battle will begin…..

Emilee is already talking about number four!

Pictures to Follow,

Rob