Jack's Newborn Pictures

Last Monday we had Jack's newborn pictures taken. He was just 9 days old, and his umbilical cord fell off (luckily) about 1 hour before the photographers got there! He did really well, and we got a bunch of beautiful pictures of our handsome Jack. Here are a few of our favorites!

I highly recommend the photographer. They're a younger couple out of Rexburg and do excellent work. RognonPhotography.blogspot.com

Stupid pigs

On Monday and Tuesday night Lillie had really high fevers. Tuesday night at midnight Lillie woke up with a sad cry. We took her temp to find out she was sporting a 103 degree fever! We called our advice nurse, who said to bring her into the doctor in the morning.
Jack had an appointment to be circumcised the next day, so we just doubled up the appointments. It was a horrible day! Jack was circumcised, the doctor told us Lillie had the swine flu AND pink eye in both eyes, we found out Jack's billiruben levels went back up to 17.9 (they were 14.4 on Monday) and I came down hard with the flu that night.
Anyway, it's Friday now and we've just been on the 'survive' mode. Lillie's flu is considerably better. She's on day 4 or 5 and her symptoms should be lessening. Mine, however, is peaking! I've had chills all day, uncontrollable shaking, a high fever, a sore throat, a little bit of coughing, and extreme fatigue. Dustin came down with it this morning, after taking every possible supplement and washing his hands every 10 minutes in pursuit of dodging it. Poor guy.
Jack's been to the doctor 4 times this week. His poor little feet have been pricked so many times! The doctors think that his billi levels went up because of a condition called "breastfeeding induced jaundice." It's where my breast milk apparently has too many amino acids for his little liver to break down. I've had to stop nursing for the past 1 1/2 days and supplement him with formula. It's apparently suppose to make his billiruben level plummet. I'll go back to nursing tomorrow and supposedly his levels will stay low. If they go back up, then it's something more serious, like an infection or disorder. The good news is that he's been in a completely different room than the rest of us, and my mother-in-law (bless her heart) has been feeding him today since Dustin came down with the swine flu also. He's as healthy as can be (well, besides the jaundice thing).

We were suppose to be moving this weekend, but that's obviously been postponed. Dustin's company is still deciding between Homestead, FL (south of Miami) or that office job in San Diego. At this point, I don't have an opinion about where we go. I just know that everything will work out.
... and hopefully we'll look back on this week one day and laugh! Then we'll know we can make it through ANYTHING life throws at us.

Back to the hospital

Don't you love his first pair of sunglasses??

On Friday we went to Idaho Falls for a well baby check up. I told the Doctor that I was a bit concerned about Jack looking a little yellow the past 2 days. He said that he did look yellow, but he's seen lots worse. He sent for a lab test just to be sure, though.
Well, as we were driving home I got a call from the Pediactric Center. They forwarded me to the nurse, who then said, "I'm going to need you or your husband talk to the Doctor." Doctor Hatch got on the phone and told us that Jacks billiruben levels came out at 21.5. Apparently that's almost toxic. He told us to rush him into the hospital and that they knew we were coming. Needless to say, Dustin and I were both in tears.

Jack was in the hospital for exactly 24 hours. They put him under some high intensity lights and his billiruben level dropped from 21.5 to 14.4 in just one days time. We got to take him home with a 'billi-blanket' (a heating pad type thing that we put under his onesie). He gets checked again tomorrow, and if he's less than 13 then we won't need the blanket anymore!

The good thing is that Jack's been eating great and has stayed well hydrated. He hasn't been acting lethargic, which isn't typical with a jaundice baby. He's doing really well! We're just glad to have him home and to not have to choose between meatloaf or tuna salad sandwiches for our hospital meals anymore.

Baby Jack

Welcome baby Jack!

Jack Dustin Miller

Born at 4:13PM

6 lbs 8 oz

20 inches long