The Panthers: 1 Month

Dear Cade,

As I type this with my left hand only, you are sleeping on my chest and obviously dreaming about something wonderful. These moments alone with you are my treasure! In many ways, this month has felt like the longest of my life. This is probably in part to the fact that you are huge (somewhere around 11 lbs.) and look older than you really are. But also, son, because we have each, in our own ways, experienced the growing pains of becoming a family of four.

After the last of our family visitors left, you only had two days before you became ultra fussy and spiked a 101 temperature. Since you were only 12 days old, we decided to take you to the ER. What a nightmare it was! They had to start an IV which was difficult because of the tiny veins you inherited from your Mama (So sorry, son. You can blame Grammy for this one), a catheter for a urine culture, and they wanted to do a spinal tap but Daddy wouldn't let them. When all was said and done, they admitted you to the NICU in an isolation room for three days. Mama slept in the waiting room and came in to nurse you through the night. Daddy took time off of work to watch Jack and when it was all over, your Grammy flew in from her Grand Canyon hike to help us get back on our feet.

When you were 2 and 1/2 weeks, you started having a terrible time with a gassy tummy. We watched you become a very sad little man and had to endure many, MANY hours of you crying. At 3 and 1/2 weeks this got much worse as you started to projectile vomit about 1-2 times a day. Mama did so much laundry! We are all anxious for your tummy to feel better.

At nighttime, you are very fussy and alert from 7-10:30 and seem to want to nurse constantly. Daddy usually studies during this time and relieves Mama when she can't take another minute. From 10:30 until 5 am, you sleep on the couch with Daddy. Every three hours or so he brings you back to our bedroom to eat. At some point in the night, you get too revved up, grunting and squirming, so Mama takes over in the living room around 5 am. Your sad tummy makes you wake up every time we lay you down and we are very anxious to find a new routine, one where we all sleep in our own beds.

When you are awake, you absolutely love to lay on the ground but can only stay there for about one minute before you get hiccups and start spitting up. You don't like staying in the same position for more than about a minute which keeps us VERY busy and very tired when you are awake.

Jack is slowly but surely getting used to having you around and asks about you when you aren't in the same room. When you cry, he says, "It's ok, baby... you're ok, Cade." We are so excited to watch your relationship as brothers grow in the future.

Cade, we love you so much and know that our family is better because you are a part of it. We have such wonderful adventures ahead together!

Always,

Mama and Daddy

Meeting Daddy