Abram Kristopher

I would think that everyone who reads this blog already knows this, but Abram Kristopher was born on November 11 at 3:26 am. He weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and is 20 in. long. That's 1 oz lighter and 1 in. shorter than Benjamin's birth stats. He was at 36 weeks gestation EXACTLY. That was my goal and I made it! Well...barely, but I did it!

Abram spent 2 1/2 days in the NICU for a couple of reasons. He was having a little trouble breathing right after birth, but that resolved itself within 45 minutes. He was also in a frank breech position in the womb, which means he was head down but had his feet up to his ears. This caused him to have hip dysplasia in his right hip, which means it "clicks" if he hyperextends his leg. There's nothing wrong with his joints, and his hip isn't dislocated. He does have to wear a special harness to keep him from extending his leg, but this is temporary. We see a pediatric orthopedist on Wednesday so we'll know more then. He is also a little jaundiced but it's not severe so we were allowed to take him home with special instructions to put him in front of a sunny window and have lots of feedings to help his body expel the jaundice. We had our 2 day pediatric appointment today and our pediatrician recommended having his bilirubin levels checked again. The lab results should be in later today and we're hoping for a good report.

He is sleepy because of the jaundice so I have to wake him for feedings, but he is a GREAT nurser. None of Benjamin's early eating issues, that's for sure. I am also having hard time adjusting from being on bedrest to being a mother of two. I feel like I haven't really been mothering Ben for the past few weeks so we're all trying to cope with the changes. Ben is pretty fussy and is acting out a bit, but I expected that. Yesterday he asked when the baby was going to go back to the baby's house:) He wasn't pleased when I told him the baby was staying with us.

Joel and I are thankful for many things. We are thankful that our baby isn't in the hospital. I didn't realized how much our experience with Benjamin had weighed on us until Abram was born. Our first night home Joel turned to me and said he was so happy and that being at home with the baby and helping each other is how it's supposed to be. I'm a bit of a mess when I think about the differences between the two experiences, but I guess I should have expected that. We are also thankful for the amazing NICU staff. The doctors and nurses we interacted with were very pro parent, and our experience with Benjamin was exactly the opposite.

Sorry for the dry post. I am very tired but working on the birth story and should have it up soon.

In the NICU a few hours after birth

Tired mama

Abe comes home

Sunning himself next to our front door