Merry Christmas!

I'm about to fall asleep at the computer, but I just wanted to let everyone know that Roxanne is doing very well. We went to the pediatrician yesterday, and her weight had dropped from 9 pounds 5 ounces (at birth) to 8 pounds 4 ounces, and she was a little worried that we might need to do some supplements. However, she let us come back this morning for another check of her weight (one of the bonuses of having a Jewish pediatrician, she promised she didn't have anything better to do) and Roxanne has gained ten ounces overnight. This morning she weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces, which was more than the doctor expected. And that was after she did a giant poop right when we got there. Yesterday she peed on me while at the pediatrician. I think she has a sense of humor... She peed on me two more times yesterday at home. She seems to like to do that when her diaper is off. Stinker.

As some of you know, Roxanne has shoulder dystocia, meaning that she got stuck on her way out at the shoulder, and after a very scary 15 minutes or so, she came out blue and not breathing. She is totally fine now, but can't really move her left shoulder. She is starting to throw her left arm in the air about half-way up, but she still can't lift it over her head (and her right arm is always moving). The pediatrician has referred us to a specialist at Eggleston, and we will be calling to make an appointment soon. It's most likely nerve damage from being stuck, and basically all we can do is watch it. However, we are hoping to learn some physical therapy movements to help us help her get it better. It's a very rare birth complication, and I decided not to research it on the internet, as sources online can be so incorrect and alarmist. I know it would only upset me. So I'm going off what the doctor tells me, and she seems to have a pretty good outlook on it. If Roxanne still has a very limited use of her shoulder by the time she is a toddler, there are surgical options we can explore. For now, we're just so happy that she is healthy and really a sweet natured baby. She doesn't fuss much, just sleeps, eats and has little periods where she likes to stare at you quietly with her little brow furrowed. She also puts her legs in the lotus position when we put her in gowns, and these two factors lead me to believe that she is the Buddha reincarnated. Just with some drama queen thrown in.

Alright, I'm going to try and wake her up for a snack and then take a nap. We tried to do feedings every two hours at the doctor's recommendation, and I think I probably got about 4 hours of sleep last night. We hope you are all having wonderful holidays, and we can't thank everyone enough for all of the lovely e-mails, and the visits, and the food, and the general good will. We are very spoiled, and couldn't begin to thank you all enough.

Merry Christmas!

P.S. I promise to post more pictures soon!