Armitage Baby Update

What's New With The Baby

2008-09-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

3 months later. Livia is 6 and a half months old. Our big baby now mostly outgrew her horrible and long colic stage. Every now and then she still has a belly ache outburst but nothing we couldn't handle...

She has become a lovely, pleasant and a happy baby who smiles a lot. So what news dominates Livi's life at the moment? Here are a few pictures:

She has cut her first tooth last Sunday, at just over 6 months old (even if you can't really see it here.) That makes it 4 months earlier than her sister's first tooth appeared... which only shows how different each child is.

We as a family partook on many many travels since May/June time until now and Livia of course, made all these trips with us. She has been to England, Serbia, Slovenia (via Hungary and Austria), pastors' camp in Slovakia, Princess' ball in Czech republic, Germany, Switzerland and France. Plus few more day trips. She takes after her sister in traveling and makes an excellent baby traveler.

We have also had a couple of potty training sessions and the success was exciting. All per babinka's idea so don't even ask!

Rolling over, laughing, talking (=making various sounds), playing with Mia... those are few other experiences on our daily schedule. And lately, sitting up has been the new trick on Livi's agenda.

Getting comfortable

2008-06-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Livia is now 10 days away from being 4 months. We saw her doctor today and learned that she is now over 5kg (cca 11lbs 6oz) and 58cm (22.8inches). All that is a very good progress. Though she recommended we start her on soups soon. I guess the soup culture can't miss even babies. We'll see.

In May, we all enjoyed a visit of the grandparents from Canada. Along came also Bonnie and Everrett, aunt and uncle of Sheldon's. It was a blast. Livia loved meeting the family and they too deeply enjoyed her.

We (finally!) took Livi on her first return flight. Mia at her age already flew about 4-6 times of course so there's lot of catching up... But Livia did very well and tough she needed the comfort of her mommy's milk while taking off and landing, the trip turned out exceptionally good. So we got to introduce our little girl in the former residence of England.

While Livia still struggles with her long-lasting colic, things are definitely getting better and the cries are calming down. We all continue to get a good night's sleep so that makes us utterly happy. She is certainly quickly outgrowing the tiny baby stage and turning into a little person much aware of the world around. So we are more ready to face the upcoming adventures that the summer will bring our way. Until the next update!

colic, colic, colic!

2008-04-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

That's the word around our household. Livia continues to grow and prosper, she is gaining weight and getting taller (she added about 600g and 4cm in one month)... but she most definitely isn't able to process her feeds too well. Her belly is the source of many a crying outbursts. Constipation, gas... to name two of her main struggles.

But it's not all bad. She does like her nights. And night sleeps. In the last two weeks or so, she has been sleeping from 10-11pm until 6am. So while the days look a lot like the photos shown, our nights are peaceful and calm. She is 2 1/2 months old and getting ready for her first flight in May - we'll all be going to UK.

earrings are in!

2008-03-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

we went to the doctor's today. besides the great report of more weight added on (400+g) and an overall appearance of a healthy baby... we also got earrings put in Livia's little ears! the nurse politely sent us - parents - outside the room. the screaming was heartbreaking but luckily only lasted few moments.

and now, we have one stylish chick - judge for yourselves:

all's well

2008-03-13T01:10:00.001-07:00

We're thrilled at the moment as the last news from our doctor was very good - Livia's blood test results show a great improvement, she has been now gaining weight consistently all week and the bilirubin levels have decreased significantly so the jaundice is on its way out!

Thank you for prayers and all the encouraging notes and emails.

She was one month old yesterday and we can hardly believe it! Big sister Mia is getting more and more used to the idea of Livia being around; and staying around. All's well.

baby needs to eat more

2008-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

we've had some concerns with Livia...

since our return from the hospital, she has basically not gained any weight. it's complicated - she is breastfed but due to still recovering from her jaundice, she is not very strong and thus eats very little. she can't suck very well and not getting enough milk. the doctor first suggested supplementing with formula, which we wanted to avoid. yesterday, the doctor took some blood for testing the jaundice levels. she also seemed to think Livia might be iron-deficient.

today, she called us at home very concerned, telling us that the blood test results were not too good - Livia's protein levels were too high again (jumped back up from the release date in hospital) and her blood was too thick. she asked us to pack bags and go to the hospital for admission. she thought Livia might need IV to help get her blood sorted.

it was very concerning news to us. the doctor examined her upon admission and looked over her paper work. being a not very reputable hospital, we had our fill of hostility - they informed us that they were pretty full and though they could make room for us, the doctor seemed to think our situation was not too alarming for admission. we discussed the issues and decided that our children's doctor will continue monitor Livia closely and check her levels again by the end of this week. then we were released.

the main issue now is that Livia starts eating more (we have to add some formula) so she gains weight and gets stronger so she can fight her jaundice.

please keep us all in prayer.

two weeks old

2008-02-26T00:41:00.000-08:00

We've been home for over a week. Livia is 2 weeks now. And what have we been up to? Definitely not resting. Last week was pretty challenging. We all discovered that the Big Sis has some issues we did not expect... Jealousy. Not so much filtered towards Livia but us, the parents. So the joys of new family of four began. We're learning and it's getting better.

Other activities included 2 or 3 trips to grandma's house (once we had to go because the water in our apartment was cut off for a day; the other time we had our windows fixed with blinds and window sills...); one trip to IKEA at 11 days old (never too early to start shopping with the Swedish); first church service on Sunday (which of course Livia slept through)...

Life is good.

coming home

2008-02-17T01:12:00.001-08:00

Hi all

We are coming home now. Livia's jaundice levels dropped significantly last night and they've released us.

We are excited to get back to mia and to start our new life together.

Thanks for all the prayers and messages.

Sheldon, Anna and Livia

Livia's First Tattoo

2008-02-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

We like to do things fast here in Slovakia. Pierced ears at 3 weeks and tattoos at 1 day! Just so we know she's ours the hospital wrote "ARM" on her leg!

Three Girls in The Family

2008-02-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

As you can see we now have three beautiful girls in the family.

I'm a little yellow

2008-02-15T00:03:00.001-08:00

We were hoping to go home today but Livia is a bit yellow and the doctors want to run some tests and put her under a special lamp to see some improvement.

This means we are staying until at least Sunday. Please pray for little Livia, it is probably not serious but we still want Jesus to touch her.

I Love My Baby Sister

2008-02-13T23:55:00.000-08:00

a good first night together

2008-02-13T22:44:00.001-08:00

Seeing as Livia slept most of the day we were warned that she would be up most of the night. Thankfully she is like her sister and prefers sleep over food and clean diapers.

After a feed at 730pm we were all able to sleep until we woke her up at 230am. She was still wanting to sleep but had a dirty diaper (like an explosive collision between an asphalt truck and Willie Wonka's SUV) which we needed to change. Then she had a little more to eat and after some burping and crying, went back to sleep. At 430 she was awake with another dirty and wet diaper which dad changed (his early morning skills letting him down a bit as he dropped livi's foot in some poo). She didn't want to eat so back to sleep.

Finally at 630 we were all awake fir a big feed, multiplt doctor visits and a check on Livia's kidneys.

Not too bad for our re-entry into parenthood!

All is well

2008-02-13T04:25:00.001-08:00

So the first night went well, especially because they kept Livia in the maternity ward and we could sleep in a private room. Of course Anna had a lot of pain during the night which meant both of us didn't sleep much.

Livia came to us at 530am and stayed with us until 7am. She had a doctor check her out, had a poo, pee and her first bath all without us!

Mia got to meet her new sister this morning and loved looking at her and holding her especially after Livia gave her some presents.

Now she is sleeping and we are resting. More pics and videos to come soon.

Here She Is!

2008-02-13T00:25:00.001-08:00

contractions are here

2008-02-12T09:15:00.001-08:00

Get us some epidural! The contractions are speeding up now and painful. Anna doesn't want to experience natural birth so get us the drugs!

Livia Armitage is here!

2008-02-12T08:55:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to let you know tha Livia Armitage has joined our family at 525pm.

She weighed 3.6kg and is 50cm.

Both Anna and Livia are doing well after 1 hour of drug free labour.

Check out www.armitagebabyisgo.blogspot.com for pics and updates as we are able to post them.

Cheers,

Sheldon

like a slow flowing water balloon

2008-02-12T07:34:00.001-08:00

The waters are broken and we are on our way. 5 cm dialated and watching the contractions. There is another lady delivering beside us so I am getting two shows for the price of one. She is also 5 cm so it's a race to the finish!

breaking waters

2008-02-12T06:18:00.001-08:00

We are at the hospital. We have a scary nurse. The waters are about to be broken!

Off to the hospital

2008-02-12T03:59:00.000-08:00

We are going to the hospital...baby Armitage is getting ready for launch.