Poor Levi

Levi had a rough day.  We think his tummy was acting up.  According to Levi's grandma Hughes, he would get so agitated that he couldn't even take a good nap.  When I got home, he looked like he'd been through the ringer.  He came around to a more normal Levi - just in time for us to play and read a little and then give him a bath, feed him, and put him to bed.  Levi was starting to get upset right before bath time.  We put his little body in that tub, and he settled right down.  He really seems to love the water!  I'm hoping that he will have a better day overall tomorrow, but it will probably be a sleepy day.  That is fine, too, though - I just want to be here even if it means watching him sleep!  I am so grateful to have a three day weekend - more time to spend with Levi.  Kevin is starting to feel better, so we're planning to watch the USC / UGA game (aka "The Border Bash" around here) with some other couples from our Sunday school class.  What a fun way for Levi to spend his second month birthday!  We're also planning to take Levi to church - and his own SS class - on Sunday.  I guess we'll have to see if Levi goes along with these plans...

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Levi and I ventured out to watch Kevin play softball tonight.  Levi had a wonderful time.  Unfortunately for Kevin, Levi didn't seem too interested in the game.  In fact, he didn't watch the game at all, but he got held by Ms. Alice and Ms. Kimberly.  He was so cute looking around at everything (except Kevin's game) and feeling the breeze on his face.  Before tonight, Levi's outdoor experiences had been limited to walks around the neighborhood in his stroller or being carried from the front door to the mailbox.  He really seemed to enjoy being in the Baby Bjourn and being held while being outside.  

Levi and I had a great time yesterday, just the two of us hanging out.  I missed him terribly today while I was at work, and I know I will tomorrow, too.  But, then we have the three-day weekend together.  I can't wait!

Working Mama

I never hoped to be one, but today I became a working mama.  Please do not misunderstand.  I have always wanted to be a mom.  I just always wanted to be a stay at home mom - to be able to see every little smile, to hear every little cry.  But, today, I re-entered the workplace and left my little man at home.  I cried on the way to the plant this morning, and I teared up a few times while there.  I couldn't even bring myself to call to check on him for fear that I'd cry and not be able to stop.  But, I made it through the day by God's grace and strength - and countless prayers on my behalf (thank you, my prayer warriors!).  I got home, and he was fine, of course.  Levi is such a wonderful baby; such a joy.  We are so blessed, and I have to keep reminding myself how fortunate I am to be able to spend the majority of each week with him.  Most working mothers do not have that.  

I am looking forward to having all day to spend with him tomorrow.

Eight Weeks Old

It is hard to believe, but Levi is eight weeks old today.  Time sure is flying!  Kevin is definitely sick; so it has been a challenging weekend.  Having Kevin here but not wanting him to touch Levi is difficult to say the least.  Levi and I managed to make a Wal-Mart trip yesterday.  I carried him in our Baby Bjourn, leaving plenty of room in the grocery cart.  That was much nicer than carrying that car seat!  Levi was very sweet while we were at Wal-Mart.  He's actually been before, but this was the first trip when he actually opened his eyes to see where he was.  Kevin and I took Levi to the Verizon store on Friday night, and he woke up for our visit to that store as well.  Perhaps we're turning a corner on the once asleep in the car asleep at least until the next feeding.  Guess we'll see.  

Levi was very alert all day yesterday, so today has been a very drowsy day.  I had been planning to take Levi to church this morning.  Our church has placed a call to a new pastor, and he was preaching this morning.  I really wanted to be there to hear him.  I was feeding Levi before we were supposed to leave.  He was not very cooperative, and he spit up everywhere.  We weren't dressed to go, but there was no way we were going to get to church on time.  Kevin is frustrated because we haven't managed to get Levi to church for his class yet.  Hopefully next Sunday will be better.  

Tomorrow I return to work.  I am absolutely dreading it.  I do not want to leave Levi.  Even thinking about it now just makes me want to cry.

Another First

This afternoon, Kevin gave Levi his first bottle.  Kevin said he ate very heartily.  Levi has also eaten straight from me twice since then.  So far, so good!  Looks like he'll be able to handle both bottle and me without confusion or preference.  

A terrible bug has been going around Kevin's high school.  He is afraid he's getting it.  Last school year, he always seemed to manage to get sick over the weekend.  Guess it will be the same this year.  Hopefully, Levi and I will not come down with it, if Kevin really does have it.  Say a prayer for us all!!

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho...

I work at a nuclear power plant. There are strict rules and regulations for everything - including returning to work after extended leave. Considering I have been away from the plant for eight weeks, I qualify for "extended leave". One of the items that must be completed prior to returning to work officially is an FFD (Fitness for Duty). In other words breathalyzer and urine tests.

When the nurse called yesterday to set up a time for me to have an FFD, she asked if I was going to bring Levi with me. Well, I had never really thought about taking Levi out there, but when she mentioned it, I thought, "Why not?" Kevin was agreeable; so Thursday morning, Levi and I went to the plant. Levi met the Vice President and several managers and supervisors of the plant. Levi also had the pleasure of meeting several of my friends from the plant; a couple of them watched him for over an hour while I waited to do my FFD (thank you!!). Levi had a great time!! Well, he actually slept through most of his visit, but it was really nice to take him with me. I started thinking that maybe it will help my transition back to work... Yeah, right!

Yep, my maternity leave is almost up. I head back to work on Monday; Levi will be 8 weeks old. Truth be told, I am absolutely dreading going back to work. However, I am blessed in that the company agreed to let me work part-time: three days a week, 8 hours a day. The unfortunate part is that the drive to the plant takes about an hour one way, so a "day" is really 10 hours. The plant was also good enough to set up a "lactation area" for me, so that I can pump at work and store the milk until I head for home. Levi and I got to check it out during our visit to the plant. While nothing special, it will work. Especially since the purpose of the area for me is that Levi will still get breast milk, and I am very glad about that.

Levi still has not received a bottle. We plan to introduce that to him Friday - and give him at least one every day this weekend. I have been hesitant to give him one, just because I have this fear that he will prefer the bottle over me. I've been told that that rarely happens, but I just have that fear. Regardless of his preference, though, I do have to return to work, so he does have to get a bottle. If he decides he likes the bottle better, I at least can pump and still provide milk for him. I absolutely love being home with Levi. I am going to miss him terribly when I am away.

Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

Levi can be alert and active one day and a slug the next!  He can be happy go lucky one second and crying at the top of his lungs the next.  Today, Levi was in rare form.  He was very sleepy (while Tuesday was an "active" day).  The majority of the time when he was awake was spent crying.  He was very gassy and very unhappy.  With his tummy feeling like that, he would be just fine and then all of a sudden cry out.  It was very sad, but I was hesitant to use the gas drops.  When Kevin got home, he made Levi take some Mylicon drops.  They worked, at least while we had visitors.  Kevin's parents and aunt stopped by on their way to church.  Levi was very good while they were visiting, of course.  Then, he got fussy again.  Oh, well, that just seemed to be how the day was meant to be!!  

Levi is having more and more experience with his bathtub, and he still loves it!  Looks like we might be able to keep him clean after all!

Labor Day Itself

Levi was very alert until Monday when his great aunt Joy and great uncle Wes came for a visit. They still thought he was wonderful, and we had a great visit with them.

Labor Day Weekend

Levi had a few more visitors this weekend besides Mama K. His aunt Audry and Q (my youngest sister and dad) made it to our house late Friday night. Saturday was AA's birthday. We watched Levi and a little football this weekend.

Levi spends a great deal of time during the day on pallets on his back. He tends to favor looking to his right, so we were trying to get him to also look to his left. We reposition his head and also tried to get him to follow us and our voices from one side to the other. Q was the winner, though, by actually getting Levi to follow him from Levi's right to left.

Last Wednesday and Thursday: Quick Summary

The past week and weekend were very busy and very fun. I will write a couple more posts to break the week/weekend into more manageable (and readable) chunks. My mom (Levi's "Mama K") came last Wednesday night. I had my follow-up appointment, and she was willing to come to watch Levi while I went to the doctor. Levi had a great time with Mama K on Thursday morning while I was away.

Thursday afternoon, Mama K and I took Levi to his doctor. He has been very congested at night, and Kevin and I were worried. There is not much we can do for the congestion, but we're praying that it doesn't go into his chest. We did get one piece of information that I found VERY wonderful. Levi weighed 11 pounds, 4 ounces, and wasn't even 7 weeks old!! He really is a bigun, as his Mama K says.

Thursday night was USC's first football game, so Daddy made sure Levi "saw" his first Carolina kick-off. I dressed him for the occasion.