Impact

I haven't updated in a couple of afternoons because Melissa and I have been on quite a trip. Upon bringing her home, My sister Erin and her husband Sean offered to bring us dinner so we wouldn't have to worry about it. We ordered pizza and relaxed a bit. Erin got her first chance to hold Violet, Maddie (my niece) got to meet her well. After our visitors left, Melissa and I had no idea what lay in store for us.

Long story short: Violet refused to nurse all night. Between the both of us, we averaged about 4 hours of sleep. Violet was wound up, fussy and SCREAMING the entire night. We got really freaked out and worried, so we dialed up some support lines for breastfeeding as well as making an emergency appointment to a pediatrician the next day to ask questions about nutrition.

After our visit to the pediatrician both Melissa and I ended up breaking down and crying because Violet was not nursing as she should. Melissa put in a call to La Leche (the nursing Nazis) and she spoke to a consultant who gave Melissa some really sound advice. Sure enough the next feeding was a success. Violet has been continuing to nurse fairly regularly. I stress out way too much about feeding schedules and whether or not she's getting what she needs. I know that Melissa is doing her best and if the docs don't see a problem, then we're right as rain. I sometimes think I need to be told to stop worrying about stuff like this. We have a fantastic support team behind us every step of the way.

Speaking of support and advice, special thanks goes to my sister and our friend Jef. Without their willingness and eagerness to help answer our questions and reassure us, we would still be in panic mode.

I've heard it said to me time and time again that raising a child is "life changing" and "wonderful". I can say after the first night with Violet that this is really. hard. work.... really. But so far, the reward of having Violet hold onto my finger while she's working on a pacifier, laughing at her freak outs when I change her, and gazing into eyes that don't focus so well is worth any amount of sleep lost over fear, uncertainty, and change.

I'm glad I have this time to spend with my daughter. With the shape Melissa is in postpartum (the delivery was a little unkind to her), it's as if I have two people depending on me at once. Instead of getting irritated or stressed out about it, I'm focused, cool, calm, and collected. I made Melissa breakfast in bed as walking up and down the stairs is really difficult for her to do. Seems like the more I look around the house, the more I see that I can do to help. Melissa is really appreciative of the things I'm doing... it's hard for an independent person to depend on someone. I would have a difficult time with it too.

We have two scheduled doctor appointments tomorrow. One with the dude, and the other with our pediatrician. I'll keep everyone posted.

Also, one quick note. I want to apologize for those of you who have called to speak to us and we have failed to return your call. Your calls will be answered in a timely manner in the order in which they were received (I've always wanted to say that. Now I know why credit card companies and businesses always have that on their automated call waiting system. Something really potent in those words). In all seriousness, we will get back to you as soon as we find some down time that's not being spent on picking up the house, nursing, changing diapers, going shopping, etc.

More to follow.


Aunt Erin (Conroy) with Violet.



While not the best picture in the world, I posted this because it is a fact:
They do come with a manual.
I laughed really hard when I saw this in the folder we got when we left the hospital.
It kinda reads like stereo instructions.


This is my view when I pick Violet up.
She's huuuge now.
I snapped this on a whim and the pacifier looks like
we've installed an entry port in her face.
Feeding is a breeze! Snap the top off any bottle,
and it really, really works!