Catch up post

Its so crazy to think that Lucy isn't our baby anymore... and she is doing so well with the transition.  Dude, is, as always, a big helper.  Right now he is really helping Lucy with talking and how to break down words so that she can say them.  It's really endearing!  And she listens to everything that he says... and the best part is after she does a good job, or attempts it he praises her with us enthusiasm!  It's like he is more proud of her than we are, and when he is so excited about it she gets so excited about it and wants to try it more.  He'll say stuff like, "Oh wow Goose!" "Not bad!"  "Good work!" There is a lot of clapping and applauding going on.  :)

She was mimicking Dude's 'angry eyes'

They have also really been into racing down a ramp.  Gaetan made this measuring 'ruler' for the kids growth so that we can take it with us where ever we move and they propped that up against the kitchen table and they test to see what cars and toys will make it all the way to the laundry room.  It's great!  Such easy and fun entertainment...

This is old news but I was taking a nap and the kids came down and Norah was laying in my belly in a very unusual way... and Tristan had been so excited about feeling her move so I told him that I thought there was a knee or an elbow and he was so excited about it!  Of course when they went to feel it she would move and they thought it was hilarious.  But what they found to be really funny was my belly button... that poor belly button.  They started poking at my belly button which would cause Norah to move so then they would feel her movement and just start laughing.  It was a vicious cycle that went on for quite some time!  The kids loved it and I thought that it was a good bonding time for them before she came.  :)  It was all fun and games until I couldn't lay there on my back anymore for them to see haha.

Something that they have really been enjoying (and me too because I'm not as mobile) are crafts and coloring books.  Dude loves going to the Dollar Store because we get crafts and educational things that he likes to do!  The last time we went we got some puzzles, an addition book, word search and an activity book for Lucy to color in.  They love it!  It's nice being able to set them up at the table with their activity and knowing that I can go clean up breakfast or take a shower or something and they will be just fine and happy doing it.  The other day I was taking a shower and when I got out I just heard them laughing and laughing and laughing... so I poked my head out and he was helping her into her snowpants... oh my.  Crazy kids.

We got bubbles for the bubble machine at the store too

I had to get this post out before I forgot and to much time went by!  I can't believe they are now referred to as the oldest ones but they are and I love them a lot.  They are mucho mucho crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

She picked out her own outfit...

Dude is getting really good at making things

Yup. Weirdo.

JVG

Jaundice

Our sweet little Norah is a week old already!  Unfortunately, in that one week sweet girly has only not been poked two days!  In the hospital they deemed she had a touch of jaundice and Tristan did too but it wasn't like this.  When we went home with Tristan we just had to make sure he stayed in the sun for a little bit, and when he went in for his couple day check up he was fine.  Poor Norah had to start being under the biliblanket and the UV light... and she hated those glasses they put on her!  They looked kinda cute on her though... she looked like she was heading to the little baby tanner haha.

Unfortunately, when we went home her count was still up... so we had to keep getting blood work done.  We are now at the point where we had to rent a biliblanket and she has been on it since Wednesday.  Its this machine that has a UV bulb and there is a cord that connects to a paddle that has fiberoptic things in it that she wears on her back that will help with getting rid of the excess bilirubin.  It makes things a little bit more interesting because the cord is only so long so getting her out of her bed and trying to feed her gives us a limited range of motion.  I was feeling down after her last appointment because I was really hoping that she would be off the machine but she wasn't...

You can see the blue glow 

I just feel so badly for her because I would think that its not very comfortable but she doesn't seem to care.  The first night she had it on though she cried and screamed the entire time.  :(  I didn't know if she was uncomfortable because of the new hardware, but I think she just had a tummy ache because she blew out her diaper the next morning...

Anyway, the Dr didn't seem concerned that she was unhealthy, and that it should fix itself soon.  They said that especially once my milk came in and she is pooping more it will help flush it out and they think that she is on the downswing so hopefully she will be cleared on Monday!  She is so sweet though and has been sleeping and eating like a champ.  :)

JVG

Norah's visitors

The first visitor that Norah had was our friend Ashley.  She had agreed to stay overnight with me to help so that Gaetan could go home and help out at night with the kids.  :)  She pretty much arrived a few minutes after I got into my room (which was good timing!) with lunch for her and Gaetan.  I was still coming off the drugs so I was in and out during her first couple of hours there.  I was attempting to eat a jello cup and apparently had fallen asleep mid scoop in the air.  Like I was going back for another one and I just didn't make it... they thought that it was pretty funny, but I guess that I do that a lot when coming out of c-sections!

My jello cup fiasco...

Her second pair of visitors where Quebra and Dizzy!  They have made it to every single one of our children's births and have held them the day they were hatched!  That's pretty impressive.  :)  And it's pretty impressive that Dizzy is 3-3 for not dropping my babies!  haha.  I think newborns can be intimidating but they both do so well with them.  It was nice to see them and this time I was actually awake the entire time they were visiting!

While they were there my brother Dale and his girlfriend Marcella came to visit as well.  They brought Norah this really sweet outfit and a cute Sandra Boynton book.  Dale held her for a little bit, which was endearing.  He's so big and she is so 'small' comparatively!  For as much as he is about not having kids of his own he seems very comfortable holding his nieces and nephews!  :)  I was glad that he did get a chance to come and see Norah... and it meant a lot to me that he made the effort to come to the hospital.  :)

Unfortunately, those visitors got hustled out of my room rather quickly because I was feeling unwell.  Norah made it clear that it was time to eat, so they were going to go anyway, but as I was sitting up in the bed I felt really sick and I thought I was going to lose it forreal.  And, I figured that nobody wanted to be around for that, so it was a very quick good-bye indeed!  I am happy to say that I never did get sick, but there were a few close times... oof.

That first night Norah was a great sleeper.  We tried waking her up a few times to eat but she would have none of it.  She would half open one eye, look at us like, "you've got to be kidding me" and would go back to eat.  She did 7 hours, fed for a quite awhile (they called her a cluster eater) and then slept for another 7.  It was wonderful.  Ratty got a lot of sleep and I was doing really well with feeding her by myself and stuff!

The next day my parents brought Tristan and Lucy.  :) I was so happy to see them!  It was so strange to not see them all day the day before... I did get a chance to talk with them on the phone though which was really good for this Momma's heart.  Dude walked over to her and said, "Oh Norah!  I love her so much!" Lucy was really into her.  She wanted to hold her and kiss her and pretty much just give her everything... blanket, pacifier, anything!  It was really really good to see them, but it was nearing their nap time so they had to go :(.

Next, Gracie came to visit!  It was good to see her and catch up a bit before I fell asleep... oops.  I apologized ahead of time to her because I thought that it might happen.  Usually I do that to Quebra and Dizzy, but this time Gracie was the lucky recipient!  I think that Gaetan and Gracie got a chance to talk though and catch up so that was good!  She is another one that has come to the hospital for all our kids births which is amazing!

We appreciate all the visitors and love that everybody showed us and our family.  Its nice sharing our little bundle with people and to have people so interested in what's going on with our family.  She is so loved already!  It's amazing.  Thank you.

JVG