Liam is Two Weeks Old / Grandma Pam's Visit to Georgia

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. We're trying to keep up with our sleep and keep all members of the household healthy, at this point...

Doug is STILL sick with some sort of bug and actually came home from work early today with chills and a fever. I took Ava to the doc last Friday. The doc confirmed Ava just has allergen issues and her (awful) cough isn't anything to be concerned about. I remain healthy, Liam seems to be doing great, and my Mom, who has been a great help within the past few weeks also remains healthy. (She arrived about four hours after Liam was born and will be staying through this Saturday). When I was having contractions on Sunday, I told my Mom. I called her on Monday, 07/07, letting her know that I thought Doug and I would probably be heading to the hospital that day. Sure enough, after visiting my Ob/Gyn's office, they sent us to the hospital. Liam was born less than 3 hours later. My Mom arrived at the hospital about a half-hour after I was checked into my regular hospital room.


Grandma holding Liam for the first time
























Grandma holding Liam in the hospital
























Doug took a quick video of me holding Liam before he and my Mom left to go home for the night. In the video, I told Ava hello, asked how her day went and introduced her to Liam. Doug said when she saw the video she was grinning ear to ear. The next day when Ava first came to the hospital, I'm not sure she really understood what was going on. Liam was SO QUIET for the first few days, I don't think she even noticed him much. In the hospital room, we had a fun time with Ava. Liam gave Ava a princess storybook and Ava got to go on an egg-hunt through the hospital room (thanks for the GREAT idea, Molly!). She also got a Baby Alive from Grandma Pam. Ava seemed to really be anxious to spend time with me, after my absence from the house for the night.

Ava playing with the gift Liam gave to her: a fun princess book
















Ava holding her brother for the first time
















Ava holding her brother for the first time

















Ava excited about meeting her baby brother
















Showing Ava her brother's sweet little feet
















Enjoying some time with Ava in the hospital
























Fast forward two weeks... I got seven hours of GLORIOUS sleep last night. Liam seems to be a great sleeper. He sleeps in 4 and 5 hour increments. My Mom took the midnight feeding last night (which ended-up being the 4 a.m. feeding) so we could get some much-needed rest. I slept from 12:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. We'll be happy when the 4 a.m. feeding vanishes into oblivion! :-) My Mom asked if there was anything she could be doing today, with Doug being home sick. I told her she just needs to keep her finger on the trigger of the Lysol spray, to constantly disinfect our house of the ever-present germs. Ugh. It's been amazing to have Mom as an extra set of hands around the house during the past two weeks. We'll miss her when she leaves on Saturday. It has also helped that our class at church has been delivering meals every other day for the past week. Thanks, everyone!

We were able to make it to church this past Sunday for the first time. I know, it might seem a little crazy to go to church when Liam is only 2 weeks old, but at this point, we figure that we need to be AWAY from our house to get healthy, considering how sick everyone has been under our roof! :(

Liam has been an absolute sweetie pie. He is SO well natured, when we went to our first pediatrician appointment, we had to ask if he was "too quiet". The doctor said "And you're complaining about that?" :-) He really only cries when he needs a diaper changed, or when he is touched with a cold wet wipe. Can't blame him.

Liam seems to have my coloring entirely. His hair is definitely strawberry-blonde at this point, and he has my skin tone. Ava always seemed to have Doug's coloring. Doug thinks that Liam will look like me. Liam seems to look quite a bit like my hospital baby picture. He has THE LONGEST fingers and feet for a little baby! This kid will probably be able to palm a basketball by kindergarten... He seems to slowly be learning how to smile in response to our smiles. Each day he becomes more alert.

Ava seems to be adjusting well. At first she seemed to take issue with me specifically, as I am now splitting my time between tending to her needs as well as feeding / nursing Liam. She seems to be getting more used to the idea over the past few days. We've done some fun activities with her specifically, too. Today we attended a kid's music camp at a local church, for kids her age. She has gone to similar events at this church in the past, so she really enjoyed jumping around to fun church songs and playing with other kids. I think she appreciated the attention, too. She touches Liam ever so gently and says "it's okay, baby". She really seems to be taking a liking to him today, specifically. She is, however, boycotting afternoon naps and now prefers to play quietly with her entourage of stuffed animals in her room. I think tomorrow the zoo may have to take a trip to a different room in our house during her naptime.

Taking time out for a Mommy and Ava craft: Building a foam barn :-)
















My Mom has been a God-send during the past few weeks. It is amazing how many "sets of hands" are needed around the house with: a healing Mamma, an attention-craving two-year old, a helpless two week-old and a sick Daddy... Crazy. As you can see in these pictures, Ava enjoys the time she spends with Grandma Pam. I wish we were able to capture more candid shots, but we've been a LITTLE busy! :-)

Enjoying time with Grandma Pam
























Liam loves Grandma

















I'm really doing great in healing from the c-section. I only needed Percoset for 24 hours after the delivery. The nurses seemed to encourage the Percoset at every turn, though. It zapped me so much of energy, and made me groggy, so I decided to forego it after that. I seemed fine without it and felt less sleep deprived. I think I'm healed for the most part, but can't really stretch around the different stairs at McDonald's Play Place. The c-section shuffle hasn't even been required of me, at this point. I recall BARELY being able to walk after Ava was born. Now having a 2 year-old to run after, I think it's probably mind over matter?

Other than that, I've been able to do most things. The doctors don't want me lifting Ava, but that's REALLY hard not to do... So, I've just tried to limit how often I do lift her. I think I gained 26 lbs this pregnancy and lost 22 of the 26 lbs in 13 days. It's nice to be in my own clothes again. I look forward to moving the "tub" of maternity clothes out of our room, and finally getting dressed from clothes in my closet. Doug calls me the incredible shrinking woman. I told him I might've lost most weight, but it's definitely not in the same spots as it was previously! So, I am anxious to jump on the dreadmill or at least take walks when the weather cools off. For now, it is unbearably hot and humid (think 95 degree sauna :( ).

We feel incredibly blessed that Liam has been so well-natured so far. Please keep Doug in your prayers that he gets better soon... He has been sick one way or another since July 3rd (his birthday). 18 days later, and he's still sick...

I will be sure to post more updated pictures of Liam, etc later. For now, this is the picture taken in the hospital.

I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for a safe and quick delivery. We definitely had just that!

Peace, baby love and lots of diapers,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam :-)