Post-Labor Lessons Dad Style

Wow! I cannot believe how much I really did not know about being a Dad. Here are some of the things I have learned in my short time of 9 days of Dad-hood.
1. Babies don't always cry right after birth. I wish someone had told me that. I told Shannon, "Look how beautiful she is." Then she retorted back, "Why isn't she crying?" I had to honestly answer, "I don't know." Finally, the doctor was able to get her crying, and she hasn't stopped since! Low and behold, babies don't always cry right away. Sometimes it takes the doctor a while to get the lungs going.
2. Breastfeeding is anything but easy. I just thought as soon as the baby was born, breastfeeding was second nature. However, it is quite the struggle for a few weeks. Only after a few days/week or 2, does it become easier.
3. Take time off. If at all possible, take time off, Dad, from your job for a week or so. This will only help you and your wife deal more appropriately with this unique time of transition in your life. I don't know what I would do right now if I did not have June and July off this summer. I am up late and in the wee hours of the morning trying to help Shannon out with the baby, changing diapers or just comforting my wife. There is no way I could be productive at my work if I were still working full time.
4. Pray Pray Pray. Take this time to truly draw close to God and pray for your spouse and child. It was extremely special for me as Dad to have numerous friends and family members pray for my daughter already. However, it is even more special to pray for your baby yourself, or with your spouse!
All said, I would not trade my daughter for the world. I cannot stop smiling nor can I quit looking at her. She is truly an amazing creation. Thank you God!

Going Home

We are so excited right now because the doctors just left and they said we could go home, without the Billy-Rueben (sp?) blanket! No more little gloworm! YAY! So the first reason to give thanks is that we are going home. We have been here since Sunday at 12:30pm! Ah! Shan is ready for a new environment, and I am ready for my own bed and not the roll-out chair bed in the hospital room here. Secondly, we are excited to be going home without the blanket. It wraps around her to give her artifical light 24/7 in order to help with her Jondis. Her Jondis score has come down from 15.3 to this morning it was 13.1! YAY! All said, we are simply excited to be heading home. Keep praying for Shan's recovery as she still walks around like a slow moving grandmother, shuffling everywhere. Hopefully, she can continue to improve everyday. Here are some pics of my parents and my sister Lisa with her, as well as a picture from this morning.