My Tin Can Telephone: Her Protectors!

Here are the pictures from the boys meeting Jane at the hospital. The videos are so cute too! Stephen John says, "hi baby" in a sappy voice the whole time! When she woke up, they had to unwrap her and were so amazed by how she wiggled. Stephen John also liked, and still does, to tell us every time she made a noise-"make noise!" he says.

Family photo!

Proud brother!

Giving the pediatrician the stink eye!

The boys just love Jane. They always want to be by her and help with her. Stephen John likes to go "visit" her while she is sleeping. He also likes to put his finger out to have Jane grasp it.

Dallin loved giving her a bottle when I couldn't feed her for a bit (more on that below). I took Dallin out to lunch the other day just to spend some time with him. I was telling him at lunch about how it takes a lot of time to feed Jane and take care of her, but that I still love doing things with him. He just looked at me, and with all sincerity said, "I love Jane too mom!" What a sweet older brother! And, yes, I had to hold back the tears in the middle of Chick-fil-A!

Morning cuddles with Jane

Holding Jane's hand

The boys also like to share their toys with her-for now! Little toys will show up next to her. This time Stephen John didn't think a train was enough, she apparently needed a Christmas tree as well!

Jane with some toys

Reading stories to sister

Jane is doing great. She is growing fast and is probably well over 8 pounds now. She eats well and sleeps well and only cries when she is hungry. Jane is also getting much stronger and is supporting her head a lot more. Already she has changed and looks older now. She has been so good to me, which has been a huge blessing especially when I got sick.

The day after I had Jane, I thought I had a cavity bothering me. Then the pain spread to my lower left gums and inside cheek. That weekend a sore appeared on my lip and corner of mouth so I thought it was cold sores. It fit the description of an initial case of cold sores which can be much worse than reoccurring cases apparently. It kept getting more painful and my face and lip started swelling. I asked the pediatrician at Jane's appointment on Tuesday if it was cold sores and he said it was. I got a prescription from my doctor's nurse who is at the same office as Jane's doctor. That afternoon the pain got so bad I had to start taking heavy pain meds that I had a prescription for from delivery but hadn't had to use. The swelling and pain got much worse and now included shooting pain in my ear. By Wednesday night the pain meds were not enough and I thought this had to be more than cold sores! Thursday morning, Christmas Eve, I went to the urgent care and the doctor looked at it and right away said I had shingles. He gave me the right medication and stronger pain pills. As in they gave me crazy dreams kind of strong!

With one of the meds, I had to stop nursing Jane while taking it. I cried when the doctor told me that. She was nursing so well and I worried that it would affect her latch. After Dallin started on a bottle in the NICU, it took him three months to learn to nurse. I really did not want to have anything like that again! Jane took a bottle and formula like a champ though. Dan did a great job being Mr. Mom and getting up with her in the night. My mom was so helpful too. That way, I only had to get up to pump and take medicine.

I am feeling much better now. The pain is now gone as of a few days ago. Jane also went back to nursing easily, which was an answer to prayer! Having Dan home and my mom here was also a blessing. They took care of me and the boy and Christmas. My dad and youngest brother, Philip, were also here then for Christmas. They even took a turn feeding Jane. I think everyone enjoyed being to feed her and hold her more. And, now she takes a bottle too which gives us all a bit more flexibility. If I had to be sick, I'm glad some good came from it!