Today Grandma, Mom, Dad, and you went on a long car ride.  The longest you have ever been on. We went from home in Ames, IA to La Cross, WI to meet your Great Grand Parents and Great Uncles and Second Cousins.  You were very sleepy or quiet alert the whole way.  Mom sat in the back so she could keep and eye on you.  Dad drove, and Grandma played co-pilot.  It was great to see a lot of Grandma’s family before we moved.

The drive gave us a little practice for the move.

Today we are taking you home from Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines where you spent 4 days in the NICU with what the doctors have determined was a viral infection that gave you intestinal difficulties. We were worried for a few days and now are just happy that you are back to your normal self: sleeping soundly most of the time, squirming happily, quietly looking around for a couple hours of wakefulness, downing your bottles and complaining mightily when we change your diaper.

Our 2nd trip home from the hospital has taught us just how much we have to be thankful for and how many caring people we have in our lives. We really liked the doctors and nurses at the hospital but hope to never see them again (at least not in their professional capacities). We vote for no more trips to the hospital where you get an armband!

For those who want the most up to date news on Alonzo’s condition please see the Hospital 2012 link on the right.  It has the same password as the galleries.

There is nothing better than Smiles. For several reasons:
1. They are a clear indication that things are going well.
2. Try to be angry and smile.  Just by forcing yourself to smile for awhile you disposition will change.
3. Its another way that you communicate with us.  I love seeing you begin to figure out your facial expressions (beyond pissed off and asleep :P).

I got my first smile from you yesterday.  Maybe it was a fluke, maybe not.  I don’t think so.  You were happy, fed, clean, and doing leg squats on my lap looking at me.  Then you smiled, Amazing.

Keep the positive reinforcement coming please!

So today Dad went back to work and you got to have some quality time with mom.  Hopefully you were nice and let her nap, she still has the overnight shift as well.  Mom’s mom aka the Paparazzi arrives tonight.  Grandma Carol will be sure to give you all the attention you require and then some :-). While she entertains, Mom and I will do some more packing.

You have been duly warned 😛

Before having you, Mom was warned that the hardest part of motherhood for the overachiever is the drastic shrinking of the To Do list. Where one day used to be 15 or 20 things that could be done, the new one appears to only have 3 or 4, or even 5 on the productive days. Today’s, for example, might be: do 1 load laundry, walk Dad to work, visit people on campus, run dishwasher, cut up melon,and set up doctor’s appointment. This type of thing would have usually made mommy feel depressed. Her rebuff to that now: “Ha! That list is missing: feed you 8 times, change your diaper 10+ times, hold you, stretch sore shoulder muscles, change your outfit 1-5 times, wash pump pieces and bottles 8 times, nap twice (hopefully), give the dog some attention and tidy up the kitchen, nursery and bedroom.”

Its a beautiful thing when we know naps will occur and how long they will likely last because that means mommy gets one too.  You and I both enjoy a well rested Mommy. So far we have identified two major nap times. One hour after your morning feeding and two and a half hours after your afternoon feeding.  The latter nap is a sacred thing.  I do not dare wake either of you.

Thankfully you sleep soundly at night too.

Today was your first visit to the doctor’s office.  Hard for me to believe that you are already 2 weeks old.  While I know that means you are still very young, it also means that I am starting to know you. I am figuring you out, understanding your schedule and needs.

Mom and I were worried about your weight because you lost so much in the hospital, but you are nearly back to your birth weight. This made us happy even though it means we will still have to wake you up in the middle of the night to feed you more.

Keep eating, growing, and stick to that flipping schedule!

I look to the burp during feeding as kind a “at-a-boy”  that I am doing things right.  A nice deep burp with auditory substance (not physical substance!) means all is well. Whats great is the physical way you relax once that bubble has come out.  Its nice to know that there is a simple way I can make the situation all better.  Sometimes I can’t get a burp out of you immediately. So I put you down, you fuss and cry out and then BURP.

All is usually then calm.  Remember calm, and contentment, they are not always so easy to find.