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

We're moving!

We're off to beautiful San Diego! Dustin took the job his company offered him to be an assistant project manager. It's a stable job, and we plan on living there for a long while.

Now we have to figure out where we're going to live. We're planning on moving October 9th or 10th. That will give us atleast 2 weeks before the baby's due. We're so so so thrilled that things are working out!

Getting Ready for Baby...

Here's not the best, but the most recent prego pic of me. It was taken tonight. I'm not showing too much for being due in 5 weeks, but at my last appointment I measured at 34.5 centimeters instead of 33 (I was 33 weeks at the time). I don't really get that... but that baby's head is already down and that kid never stops moving. I haven't gotten a decent good nights sleep in a few weeks.

With just 5 weeks left, and absolutly no idea if/when/or where we're moving, I've been doing everything I can now to get ready for this new baby.
Here's the quilt Dustin and I made a few nights ago. Dustin did all the cutting and pinning, and I sewed it all together. The back is a really really soft brown material (that cost a pretty penny).

Here's a close up of the fabric. I LOVE it! The top fabric says things like, "Come," "Fetch," "Good Dog," "Shake," "Roll Over," etc.

My mom and sister taught me how to can peaches about a month ago. We accidently ate all the jars I brought home... so we canned more! Dustin and I (yes, Dustin really helped) canned pears, peaches, raspberry jam, and strawberry jam.

Smiths also had a caselot sale, and we stocked up on cases of peanut butter, tuna fish, cream of chicken soup, Ramen, flour, sugar, rice, honey, and other canned goods. Then we drove to Pocatello to go to Costco and bought large amounts of TP, paper towels, dryer sheets, garbage bags, baby wipes, and a few other items.

As you can see, we're running out of room for everything.

I took out the box of baby boy clothes we've been collecting all Summer and washed and put away the Newborn and 0-3 month size clothes. We have so much! Thanks again everyone who's been giving us little gifts here and there (and thanks to Dustin for letting me buy so much).

And as for other news, Dustin's job will be done in a week and a half! September 30th is the final inspection. Dustin's company also found out Dustin can do draftsman work and can draw up plans and things on the computer. They've been keeping him busy doing that on the side.

As for moving, nothing's official yet. His project manager threw out some ideas on Friday of possibly having Dustin take an office job (in San Diego) or also having us just plan on staying here until we have the baby and doing more drawings in the meantime. We would both rather move somewhere before the baby's due, and Dustin doesn't want an office job doing things you don't even need a college degree to do. So... we'll see what happens.

And today is day 6 with no accidents for Lillie! She's doing so well.

7 weeks to go

Just 51 days to go?? I can't believe it sometimes. It has me a little worried.
First of all, I will say right now that I do actually love being pregnant. I hate the feeling sick for 3 months, being exhausted from doing nothing, and having raging heartburn, but honestly love carrying a baby around for 9 months. I think it's fascinating. I love feeling this baby roll, kick, and sometimes even tickle me (I think he's opening and closing his fingers or toes, but it feels really weird). I love maternity jeans, the way my skin looks, and everyone holding open doors. I'm grateful to be able to reproduce! I love, love, love babies and love being pregnant.
However, with just 7 weeks until my due date I'm getting pretty anxious. We're still in Jackson, WY and Dustin's still working away at getting this building completed. We have no exact completion date, and for all I know we could be here another 4 weeks. We also have no idea where we're moving to. Dustin's boss told him 2 days ago that they were being very careful and making sure that wherever we go will not be a short-term job. We've heard of the possibility of Homestead, FL (Miami), Houston, TX, Tacoma, WA, Richmond, VA, and someplace in Colorado. I just wish they would make up their flipping minds! I wish we could have moved 2 weeks ago. Or better yet, August 7th like the original completion date.
I have nobody to blame. It's not Dustin's fault, it's not his company's fault, it's not the US Fish and Wildlife's fault. Everybody wants to get this dumb job completed, it's just not happening.

So, for all of those people who think I'm always so optomistic and positive all the time, I'm not. I know everything will work out, it always does. I'm just sick of always having to move when I'm pregnant, and I would just like to know when we're moving, and where to.

So feel blessed all you people who have regular jobs and live in houses!