Our New Normal

We have made some FB posts to say Parker is home, with a few cute little pics. Hope all of you don't feel like I have completely abandoned the blog.  I definitely have not!...just now starting to emerge from the baby fog and get into a routine.

Let me first start off by saying that Parker is doing great.  He is much more alert, jaundice levels are down, eating really good, sleeping pretty good and is adjusting to being the little brother. 

As I said in my previous post, Parker was jaundice and had some breathing issues.  After some light therapy and doing every test under the sun, the doctors finally determined he is good enough to come home.  As we all know, being jaundice is not uncommon for newborns, but Parker had a few extra things complicating his levels and making it a little more stubborn to come down.

Since being home, we have gone back for 3 rechecks at the pediatrician.  Unfortunately his jaundice levels started creeping back up again, so we had to stop breastmilk for awhile b/c he apparently had breastmilk jaundice (there is an enzyme in bm that can make it harder for babies to excrete the bili from their systems, resulting in increasing numbers).  Anyway, now that we stopped that, he looks like a pale little white boy instead of one with a bronzed tan :)  We will take it after all that!  We weren't wanting to have to start lights back at home.  No breathing issues since discharge from the hospital.

A few pics to share our time at the hospital...

Briggs first time to meet Parker

A little close up.  LOVE this pic!

When we went to pick Parker up and bring him home..

Briggs wasn't too sure about that little squirmy guy.

So just to refresh...we have gone from this...

and this...

to this!...

Briggs is learning to love his baby brother.  The first thing he says when he wakes up..."be-be"?  That's his version of "baby".  He loves to sit by us and help with him..holding the bottle, giving him his paci...We are working on being gentle with the baby which is still a work in progress, but we are getting there.  Briggs thinks Parker is soooo funny.  Anytime he burps, coughs, poots, Briggs is dying laughing about it.

And then of course Briggs wants to help carry the baby.  It's so cute how he hooks his arm just like mommy does.  But he still requires some assistance of course.

Here is another pic of him helping me carry the "be-be". 
What a big helper!

It has been pretty chilly outside since we have been home, but we aren't letting that stop us.  We upgraded from our single B.O.B. stroller to the mac-daddy. double.  Can't wait until we hit 6 weeks and I get the all-clear to start jogging, but for now, both the boys enjoy taking walks and getting some fresh air.

We have had many people ask what we need or what they can do.  I know I'm a little late with this, but a friend did set up a meal website.  See the link below.

http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=CRSF8687

People ask me how it is with two babies.  It has been an interesting start.  Very stressful at first and we have been very blessed to have help here since the week before Christmas (since I was on bedrest and then after the birth so we could get back and forth to the hospital).  Yesterday was our first full day alone and getting into a routine is top priority on this girl's list. 

We are looking forward to what the future holds and enjoying every second of having our little guy home with us...FINALLY!

I will hopefully get back on track with sharing fun things on my blog...and a few updates of our little men.  Thank you again to everyone for checking on us and for all the prayers.  One day soon I'll get a post up that explains how we truly saw the Lord working through this whole pregnancy/birth and how he specifically answered our prayers....stay tuned!