Christmas Best

First Christmas

Our stake puts on a Christmas Creche every year.  They have hundreds of nativity sets from all over the world on display and an area for kids crafts as well as a photo booth.  This was the picture they took for us at the photo booth.  It was fun to have an you pose as the baby Jesus.

A few days before Christmas we went to see the Zoo Lights as a family.  I am pretty sure you slept the entire time in the front pack.

Christmas Eve

 Here you are joining in on our family traditions-- you'll have to watch the video we made of the nativity.  Dad read a Christmas Dress for Ellen, Tasha asked him why that book made his voice sound funny.  I told her it is because it makes us both cry.
After that he read our new book -- Twas' the Night Before Christmas.

 We took a family picture of us all in our new pajamas from Grandma Alyce.  I guess she didn't know how to make pants small enough for you, because you are the only one who doesn't match.

Here you are in your new pajamas 8 weeks old.

Here are all your Christmas presents.  Obviously you don't really have much interest in them yet.
Santa bought you a light up turtle that makes stars all over the ceiling, and a few other toys.  Mom and Dad got you some cars, Grandma Hyde gave you some books, Grandma Alyce gave you your PJ's and put some money in a savings account for you, Great Grandma Helen gave you a webkin puppy, and your brother and sisters picked out a toy ball and a driving toy.

7 weeks and much happier

 Sporting the shirt our friend Brigette made for him.  He was so sweet the entire time I was taking pictures of him, that of course I couldn't just pick a few.

 This one could be titled "The Double-chinned Thinker"

 These next ones I absolutely love -- from surprised to grinning and then the tongue out.

 I also took some of him with Trey... this time they were wearing their matching shirts that Brittany Burleigh made for them.  With Trey poking and prodding him, Dantley wasn't quite as excited about the photos... but Trey sure adores his little brother.

Sometimes a little too much.

6 Weeks and Sick

On Thursday, December 9th, at about 11pm when Jake and I were getting ready to go to bed, I felt Dantley's head and asked Jake if he felt hot to him.  Jake reassured me that it was probably just me (and since I tend to worry too much sometimes) I agreed and we all went to sleep.  

At 2 a.m. on Friday when Dantley woke up to eat he was burning up.  His hands and feet were hot, so I took his temperature and it was 102.  I knew that if a baby is under 2 months the Pediatrician recommends for you to call immediately if they get a fever.  So Jake called the hotline and talked to the nurse.  The doctor called back a few minutes later and told us to take him to the ER.  We were a bit surprised that we needed to go to the ER, but when Jake asked if the urgent care would be alright, the Dr. said "No, take him to the ER."  So I got dressed and headed out at about 4 am and Jake stayed home with the kids and later called into work saying he would need to stay home that entire day.

We got right in at the ER, and they ran all sorts of tests.  They took urine, and blood first.  His blood ended up clotting and was unusable so a grumbling tech came in to take more.  It seemed she blamed the nurses for not doing their job right.  She tried to take more blood out of his arm, but after trying for a torturous while, and then not being able to find a vein in his other arm, she took blood out of his heel.  

After that we went to the x-ray room and they took some x-rays of his chest.  The next test made me a little nervous and I wanted to know if it was really necessary, because it was a spinal tap to check for Meningitis.   The Dr. ended up calling the Pediatrician and told me that they both felt it was a good idea to check to make sure they could rule that out, as infants sometimes only have a fever as a sole symptom.  

I was a mess with all the poking and prodding, so I went out of the room for that one.  I texted Jake bc I knew I would cry if I tried to talk.  The Dr. said depending on the test results he might need to check into the hospital to be observed for 24 hours.  Luckily all of the fluids looked good and he sent us home around 7am after a shot of antibiotics in both legs, on the provision that we would go and see the pediatrician that same afternoon.

I took these pictures when we got home before I took all of the bandages off.  

That afternoon he looked good at the pediatricians office, but still had a low grade fever.  The Dr. gave him another shot of antibiotics, and scheduled us for a follow up the next day. Our home teacher came over that night and he and Jake gave him a blessing.  The blessing was sweet and calming:  Dantley would be stronger through the trials he faced, that his young body would fight this off, that he would grow up to adulthood and that he has a special mission here on earth.

Saturday morning when we went in, he had broken out in a rash all over his entire body, but other than that he was doing well.  Because of the rash, the Dr. opted to not give him anymore antibiotics, but had me schedule an additional follow up the next day and told me to continue to keep a close eye on his temperature and watch for any other symptoms. 

Saturday night at 5 pm.  His fever went back up to 101, so we called and talked to the Dr. again.  She said to go ahead and give him some tylenol and keep watching him.  

On Sunday his fever was back to normal and the rash appeared to be fading.  Today is monday and he is smiling and cooing and though he still has a rash, seems to be much better.

It wasn't the way I had planned on spending the day he turned 6 weeks old... and these weren't the photos I had in mind to show his growth and development... but we are grateful for his beautiful little spirit and are happy that he is feeling better now.

Doctors

When I had my Dr. apt last week I was able to get a picture of Dantley with my Doctor and the Doctor who was on call the night he was born.

Dr. Oxford is on the left, she has been great.  She is always willing to take time to talk about how things are going and answer questions.  She doesn't seem rushed like some of the other Doctors I have had.  On the right is Dr. Webb.  She delivered Dantley, and was great too.

Friday December 3rd, 2010

I am 5 weeks old today! 

This is my big brother Trey--

He likes to squeeze my cheeks!

 And give me kisses...

 And hold my hands.

 Sometimes he makes silly faces

 And I stare at him

Big Brothers are AWESOME!

One Month Old

These pictures were taken Saturday (one day after Dantley was 4 weeks old).  I am pretty sure he is looking at Jake and thinking... "ah ha, so that is where I got this hair".

One month old... 

Dantley is so alert now.  He has started to smile briefly (mostly at his sisters), and definitely recognizes his family members.  Natasha is amazing at taking care of him.  Sunday I was feeling sick and had to stay in bed.  She held him and kept him completely happy (I didn't hear a peep) for an hour while Jake went home teaching.  He loves her already and seems to cry less when she holds him.  Sleeping is still not happening as much as we would like at night.  It seems like he takes a good nap in the late evening and wakes up just as Jake and I would like to go to bed.  He also seems to be pretty lively between the hours of 3 and 5.  Hopefully a better pattern will form soon.

Doesn't that face just make you want to kiss it?