Bed time

Kristi and I read to Chloe last night before bed. She was just entranced by the sound of my voice. It was really neat.



We read the first chapter of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." by C.S. Lewis.

Play time

Chloe is really starting to perk up.

We have been having a bit of a saga regarding breast feeding since we left the hospital. The first two weeks of life at home were good, but a little stressful. Kristi and I were committed to breast feeding Chloe. Well she didn't gain any weight through her third week and the doctor advised us to do some experimenting.

To make a long story short, breast feeding unfortunately didn't work out as we planned and we were disappointed, but we made a smooth switch to formula and are now formula feeding full time and Chloe is gaining weight and doing good and that is what matters. (9lbs 4oz. this morning)

She is having fun around the house:



And we're having fun playing with our living doll:

New Perspective

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but since I've been back to work, it's been a little more hectic than before.

Today Kristi was holding Chloe while she was getting some "tummy time":



While she was sleeping peacefully, lo and behold, BBBUUUUURRRRRRAPPPPP!

A HUGE BURP CAME OUT OF HER! Kristi and I couldn't stop laughing! It was long enough that I think I saw her tiny lips flapping in the breeze!

It's those moments that let us know that any boring days Kristi and I had are now long gone. ;-)

Two Sides

Babies are really a miracle. You get to see how a little life develops, and it does so right before your very eyes.

Chloe is really a very good baby. She feeds well and sleeps well. Even at 12 days old she has responded to consistant feeding. We feel blessed to have such a good little girl.



Of course, as we have discovered, when nighttime comes, it can be hard on little babies who are overtired and can't quite get to sleep.



But Mom and Dad love our little daughter very much, and we loved showing her off to the family on Mother's Day. I hope you all had as much fun as we did. We missed those of you we couldn't be around.

2+ Miles

Yesterday we went on our first walk with Chloe. We used her stroller for the first time too. It worked really well. We went quite a ways and tested Kristi and Chloe both. First things aren't worth doing unless you go overboard. Right?!?

Time to go home!

The doctor discharged Kristi from the hospital on Sunday, May 1st. She was able to stay as a courtesy because Chloe was still admitted.

Then, at 6:05pm on Monday, May 2nd, Chloe was released from the hospital to go home.



We were so exited to actually be starting our new life as a family. She slept peacefully the whole way home. I have to say I drove very carefully with her in the car. I wasn't about to get in a wreck on her first car ride.


When we got home Tom and Kris had been waiting with our dinner for 1 1/2 hours. They were so exited to see and hold little Chloe.

The Bili Lights

Many babies get something called Jaundice. It occurs when the baby's liver is too immature to metabolize dead blood cells which occur naturally. It turns out that Chloe's red blood cell count was very high, which made the problem more acute.

The result was this:



She had to stay under these lights, in this position in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for three days. The only time we could remove her was for 30 minute feedings every 3 hours.

This was very tough for me and Kristi. Not only could I not stay the night with Kristi, but neither could her baby. All three of us were separated.

While in the NICU, the nurses and doctors found other things wrong with Chloe. They said she had Stridor, a breathing abnormality caused by a narrowing of the voice box. She could breathe normally at rest, but started to have difficulty when she cried.

It was very stressful thinking about your sick baby day and night. It added tremendously to the stress that Kristi and I would face when everyone eventually was discharged from the hospital.

Day One

Chloe and Kristi stayed in the hospital the first night. I couldn't stay, but could come during the very long, loosely enforced visiting hours. The first day Kristi got no sleep and I barely got any. Since we were up for more than twenty four hours, and I couldn't stay, I went home and got a little rest.

When I arrived back at the hospital, the first day of our new lives had already began. Chloe was sleeping peacefully in her crib next to Kristi's bed. I got to hold her for the first time, and help Kristi feed her. What a rush that day was. Grandma Julie, Grandpa Dan and Aunt Amy were the first visitors. They just ate little Chloe up and got to hold her and see her.



Then Grandpa and Grandma Britting showed up to visit. Cousin Hope, Aunt Dianne and Uncle Gordon came as well to see little Chloe. They all said what people say to new parents: "She's so cute!" and "What a beautiful little baby!" The only difference was, she really is cute and beautiful. :-)

I left the hospital to let Kristi and Chloe sleep at around 10pm. I could hardly pry myself away, but rules are rules.

Bear Cub

Chloe Kristi Traxler was born Thursday, April 28, 2005. That was one week ago today.

I gave myself a week to rest and catch my breath before putting some of my experiences down in words. I have since found out that it will probably take me eighteen years or more to catch my breath, so I will just start now...

She was born via C-section at 2:47am. She weighed 8 lbs 11 1/2 oz. and was 20 1/2" long. She wasn't breathing when she was delivered, and I saw the nurses and doctors take quick action to prompt her to take her first breaths. I was really worried about both of my girls at that moment, and I wondered what I would do if I lost them both. One of them hadn't yet taken a breath, in spite of being out in the world for more than two minutes, and the other was pale and exhausted on the operating table, with doctors hastily stitching her back together.

Needless to say, Kristi and Chloe both did good that day and my little bear cub is just as cute as could be.