End of week 3... all's well.

The last couple weeks have been good. Challenging at times, but good. Elliot, Tiffany and I are all becoming well acquainted. Mom and Dad spend our nights passing her back and forth, talking about different calming techniques, the variety of things that stimulate her, and whether or not we think 'Is she really smiling?!?!', or if that face was simply caused by gas.

Last weekend we took a trip to Sioux City for a day to visit family and friends. We went to Nana Pat's house for some good "grandma time". While we were there, she helped Tiff clip Elliot's fingernails, which grow like weeds and are razor sharp. (Tiff is very happy that Elliot inherited her nail beds)

She seems to handle nail trimming a little better than our pug, Simon.

Nana Pat went with us over to Great Grandma Shirley's house. Great Grandma Cambell got to meet her 21st great grandchild. Like any proud great grandmother, as soon as she found out we were headed over, she lit up the switchboard with an array of phone calls. Shortly after we arrived we were joined by Aunt Janet, Aunt Connie, Uncle Don, and Cousin Diane. Don and I had a good talk about motorcycles while everyone else fought over who got to hold Elliot and help change her diaper.

While we were there we got a good picture of daughter, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Four generations of women from the Janssen-Newell-Harms-Kelly-Cambell family (long story for another blog...). It was a pretty good afternoon.

From Great Grandma Shirley's house we headed over to a birthday party. James and Jen Beacom invited us over for their son Liam's 2nd birthday. He's quite a charmer. Many of our friends were invited as well so we got to see a lot of people all in one stop. Elliot got passed around like a hot potato, and didn't seem to mind it a bit. This allowed Tiff and I time to eat with both hands for once, which was nice.

Elliot got to meet quite a few people for the first time that day, including some "extended family", Pops and Deb Beacom.








All in all, it was a really nice day trip. Before heading home we went back by Nana Pat's house where we hung out with her and Grandpa Rory for a couple hours before heading back home to Sioux Falls. This weekend we're heading back down to Sioux City with all the dogs to spend the night. Nana Pat and Grandpa Rory are going to watch Elliot and the dogs while Tiff and I go see the Sioux City Roller Dames take on the Sioux Falls Killer Bees in a mid-western tough girl battle royale on wheels!

Below you'll find a few more pics from our trip.

Great Aunt Connie

Great Aunt Janet

Liam and his cake

 

Bella VS. Cake and Ice Cream

 

Liam's sister, Grace.

Liam digging into his presents

Mariana looks on while Liam opens presents

"Children make you want to start life over."  ~Muhammad Ali

Week 1 - No Fatalities

We did it. We survived one week without breaking anything, kid included.

It's been good so far. A few little things here and there. Many "firsts" which were cool.

Elliot's bilirubin level was a little high, so we've been monitoring it with random visits to the clinic where they draw blood from her feet. They simply prick her foot the same way diabetics prick their finger. She doen't mind it so much, but the process is getting a little old.

Elliot's bilirubin level hasn't hit a dangerous level, but as a preventive measure, the doctor had us rent this "bili-blanket", which really isn't much of a blanket at all. It looks like a floppy spatula attached to a fiber optic hose that emits UV light. It's supposed to be in contact with the baby's skin for several hours a day to help her body break down the bilirubin in her red blood cells. It's only for a few days, it seems to be working and it's not really all that bad except for being tethered to the wall all day and night.

She had her first sponge bath at home. Obviously a better experience for us than it was for her.

Shortly after Elliot's bath, she decided to let us know what she thought of it by peeing down mommy's front and all over the kitchen floor. Touche'!









Additionally this week, we've had a couple family outings, doctor's visits, some shopping, and even successfully made it out of the house for dinner last night. All went well and was exciting, but it seems that most of our time is spent lounging around the house. Here are some more pics... get used to them, this kid is addictive.

"COLD!"

Chillin' out on mom's boobs.

Enjoying some morning sunshine.

AND... We're out.

Merry Christmas 2010 - Introducing: Elliot Gloria Janssen

It's been a long 9 months with a great deal of change. We relocated from Austin, TX to Sioux Falls, SD in November. I left work in Austin as a mechanic, and started work here as an IT professional (again). The weather has been severe with much ice and snow, a shocking change from the mild Austin winters.

On 12/25/2010 at 4:00am, life presented us with our biggest change to date...

Meet Elliot Gloria Janssen, our beautiful baby girl. Born at 4:00am Christmas morning, weighing 7lbs 15oz, and 21" long. No gift will ever compare. Labor didn't go exactly as planned, but went relatively smooth no problems. Tiff's mom was there for the delivery, which was comforting to both of us.

We spent a couple days in the Avera Hospital. It was a very nice and very comfortable place to be as far as hospitals go. Elliot spent most of the time in our room, in our arms, or sleeping on our chests. Tiff began breast feeding right away, a few short minutes after Elliot was born. She caught on pretty quick, and if ever there was trouble, the Avera nurses were there for help and support.

We had some visitors while in the hospital. Of course Nana Pat and Grandpa Rory where there to get as much baby time as possible. We had a nice surprise visit from Tiff's cousin Joe and his wife who live here in Sioux Falls, neither of whom we've seen for nearly a decade.

Joe and Nancy came up from Sioux City and brought Aiden and Alexis with them. The girls hung out in the room, while Joe, Aiden and I wandered the hospital aimlessly, riding elevators and talking about life. Additionally, Aiden felt the need to take a bath in the whirlpool tub which I think was against hospital policy, but kept him entertained for a few minutes anyway.

Monday, December 27th. They turned us loose from the hospital and sent us packin', kid in hand. What on earth were they thinking?