Poor Thing

One pattern we've noticed with Tucker is that she has a REALLY hard time getting comfortable. Some examples:

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

L&S,

Leslie

*huge sigh of relief*

So after a day of panicked, crying baby; helpless, crying parents; and a night of NO SLEEP (seriously, she went to sleep around 5:30 this morning finally), our today has been infanitismally better than yesterday!!! She has stayed calm all day (no more panicking about her stirrups), her weight was finally up at the dr. today so we got to cancel another appt. for Friday, and we had a successful breastfeeding with the stirrups on!!! It's amazing how one good day can turn overwhelmingly helpless into a task that can be accomplished! :-)

Oh, how the Lord knows our limits and helps us survive!!!

L&S,
Leslie

Starting from Scratch

So today we went to the Orthopedist for Tucker's hip displasia. They put her in a harness, which we were pretty much expecting. Her displasia is mild (basically the second level out of the four as the dr. told it to us). He said there's a 97% chance of full recovery and no problems whatsoever with this harness, so that is good.

Having said that, she has to wear this thing 24/7 for 6 weeks at least. We can't take it off for a minute this first week. Then we'll go back for a check-up where hopefully we'll discover that the harness has tightened-up the joint and they'll do an ultrasound to check that it really has corrected itself. If that's the case, then we'll still have to leave it on her for probably 5 more weeks to make sure it all stays in place, and we'll be able to remove it every other day long enough for a bath only. If it hasn't fixed itself by our next appt, then we'll have to go back in another week to check again. They'll give us three weeks' of checks and if it still hasn't tightened-up, then they'll have to take another approach to fixing it.

Again, this method is the least invasive and really not THAT bad overall, however we were just starting to figure out really good ways of getting her to sleep, calming her when she gets worked up, and getting into a routine of breastfeeding really well. Now all of that is put to scratch because we can't put her on her side at all. We can't swaddle (one of her greatest comforts). We can't swing her on her side (step number two in calming our screaming baby). And I can't put her on her side to breastfeed - which is involved in EVERY SINGLE POSITION for breastfeeding that they teach you. The dr. mentioned putting her chest to chest with myself and letting her feed that way, but, of course, I'm not tall enough to fit her that way.

So we basically feel like we're going to be starting from scratch in the parenting department. It's a little overwhelming today, but of course, we're just glad that they caught it early enough for it to be an "easy fix". And her health will be great at the end of all of this, which is what is important. We're just worried about comforting her, calming her, and feeding her between now and then.

L&S,
Les

Don't mean to brag, but...

We were sitting at the kitchen table visiting with Drew's dad and stepmom and I was giving Tucker a bottle, when she grabbed hold of the sides. I let go and she held her own bottle while she finished it off. I would like to remind you that she is ONE WEEK OLD today. :-D My child is BRILLIANT!!! :-D ha! (Pictures to prove it and you can tell that these are not doctored.)

L&S,

Leslie

TA-DA!!!!!

She's finally here!!!

Tucker Elise Bowers was born June 6, 2008 at 5:20pm.

8 lbs. 15 oz.

21.5" long

Just a little roly-poly

She loves Daddy's arms the BEST!!!

First family photo

She is a snuggler for sure!!!

L&S,

Drew, Leslie, and Tucker

Let the Countdown Begin!

So today's the day of Tucker's anticipated arrival. So far no news...

If nothing happens before then, they will begin inducing early, early Friday morning. So no matter what, there will be a baby by this weekend. :-)

Any prayers you'd like to offer for safety, health, and possibly ease would be very welcome!

L&S,
Les