Day 4: Packing on the Weight

Susannah was born 6lb 12oz on Tuesday, and from what we have learned, babies lose weight initially. This was the case with Susannah. We left the hospital and she was down to 6lb 4oz. No problem. Very normal.

We were a bit more concerned by the next morning. We had been up just about all night with Susannah as she wanted to suck and nurse and nurse and nurse more. She was doing all the tell-tale signs an infant does to signal her hunger, and we were listening.

Since Susan’s milk apparently hadn’t come in yet, Susannah was getting the very-important first breast milk, the colostrum, but Susannah was working hard to get it.

Friday morning we went to our first pediatric appointment with Susannah. She was down to 5lb 15oz. She had apparently lost about 12% of her body weight since she was born.

Dr David Zlotkin of Pediatric Affiliates taught our first baby class we took at Chesapeake General and so we have decided to go to his clinic. He was a bit concerned over the weight loss, and so we are now supplementing Susannah’s diet with formula. She at a whole lot of breast milk and formula from yesterday till this morning.

This morning we went for a follow-up weight check and she weighed in at 6lb 5oz! Praise God! We are continuing the progress and we are thanking God for the weight gain. Yesterday was a scary day for us novice parents, but God is in control.

Show your love to your sweetie!

Susan and I bought our house in March of 2005 and we have loved virtually every minute of it. And because Susan had always loved playing piano, we bought one to go with the house, but it had some tuning issues. It was good enough to plunk, but for those who can actually play get frustrated when the pedals don’t work or when a key sticks.

I decided, this weekend, to get the piano tuned as a gift for my sweetie. And she did love it. She hasn’t played on it yet since it just got tuned up this morning, but she is quite excited to get home tonight.

My point is: do something nice for the love of your life. Whether it is printable greeting cards, songs written down and sung, or a piano tuned, do something for your honey!

We are Proud of our American Soldiers

I have received this poignant email a couple times and decided to put it on my blog. It speaks volumes about the greatness of our country.

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a
   Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two
   together.  After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been
   invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was
   heading home.
    
    No, he responded.   Heading out I asked?
    
   No.  I’m escorting a soldier home.

   Going to pick him up?
    
    No.  He is with me right now.  He was killed in Iraq   I’m taking him home to
   his family.

   The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the
   gut.  It was an honor for him.  He told me that, although he didn’t know the
   soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family
   and  felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.  I turned
   back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you.  Thank you for doing
   what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

   Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

   ”Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of
   having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this
   flight.  He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family.  I ask
   that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow
   Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier.  We will then
   turn off the seat belt sign.”

   Without a sound, all went as requested.  I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I  am proud to be an American.

   So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so  we can live the way we do.