An Era of Good Feelings

Since the Battle of Will, life has become a bit more predictable, steady, and restful.

Will strikes a pose or practices the stake dance staple "sprinkler" dance move post-sponge bath

On Tuesday, the John family went to Dr. Grisemer for Will's weigh-in. Carrie and I were a bit concerned that his day of fits and hunger were going to lead to him not weighing enough, but he had only lost half a pound.

Will having eaten so much he did not mind a photo shoot

Will screamed multiple times, pinching and clawing the doctor, causing him to quip that our son was "a pistol". We also met with a lactation expert who was helpful in showing us how to get Will and Carrie to work together to feed. Will had and still has some self-destructive habits that make it harder to feed him, but with help we have been much more successful.

Dad dances with Will to Christmas music to soothe him. Will's got rhythm already

We are so grateful for the doctors at St. John's and their help. Our OB/GYN was wonderful and stubbornly believed that Will did not need a C-section to come when his peers thought otherwise. We had great nurses who helped us a lot through the birthing process and keeping us on top of things during our hospital stay. Will has a great pediatrician who is changing his schedule a bit to do Will's circumcision before we move to Kansas City. We are so glad we had Will at the hospital after all we went through. It is scary to think of what could have happened.

Carrie and Will pass out

We hold him briefly like this to wake him up to eat. He looks like the talking dismembered head on the bus in the Harry Potter movies

After visiting the pediatrician we packed or bags, loaded the car, and left for Kansas City. We met Laurence and Jill halfway so that they could drive our car the rest of the way. Carrie and Linda were both concerned that I was too tired to drive the whole way, and I was happy to stop driving, though even in my fatigued state I cold not fall asleep because I was too anxious. I consider this "passenger seat anxiety" further proof that I have become a father. I've come a long way from the post-mission kid without a driver's license to dad who can't relax when he is not driving.

Happiness? Gas? We'll have to ask him when he can do more than scream

Spending Christmas in Kansas City is always fun for us, but this visit has been very different for obvious reasons. Taking care of Will is a full-time job which makes it very hard for us to participate with everyone like we usually do. Christmas was fun. But Carrie and I have been a bit tired and grumpy. While Will's schedule has improved each day, that does not mean that it is easy to wake up multiple times a night, but...

WILL SLEPT FOR 6 STRAIGHT HOURS LAST NIGHT

This is not how we accomplished that, but a candid capturing of a brief nap taken by the whole fam

I am slightly cantankerous. But each day gets easier and easier to relax. Carrie has been an awesome mother so far, persevering through the pain and fatigue of these early weeks.

Dad ruins a happy Christmas shot

Again, this post was very picture oriented. Please, enjoy. And a Merry Christmas!