Hernia Sighting!

Well, we started off the week with a trip to the doctor on Monday and she looked at Eli’s hernia and decided to send us to a pediatric surgeon in Indy the following day for a consultation. He was a strange guy with his Harry Potter glasses, Mr. Roger’s sweater over his blue scrubs that he had tucked into his brown cowboy boots. Despite his attire Joe and I really liked him. He set Eli up for the surgery to repair the hernia on June 4th at 8am. Man, this kid just can’t catch a break! We are praying this surgery will fix much of his obvious discomfort.

Extreme May 13, Celebration: 2007

Today was a grand celebration of many things: my first Mother’s Day,our first wedding anniversary, and Eli’s baptism. The baptism Mass was perfect; we had so many people there to see his first sacrament. He wore the baptismal gown that was first worn by his great grandpa Kunkel and he was wrapped in the white blanket I was covered with at my baptism.

Everything was going so well and as soon as Fr. John placed wet, naked Eli into the towel Chris was holding Eli had the loudest toot and we all lost it including Fr. John. It was such a strange, but wonderful feeling to have everyone telling me “Happy Mother’s Day”. Looking back of the past year it went so fast. I can’t believe we have already been married a year and have a child! What a perfect way to celebrate a perfect year. Here's a look at a year ago today.

Papa's Visit

This week my dad made his way all the way from Florida to see Eli. He stayed in town for a couple days sleeping on our couch. It was so fun watching him hold Eli and listen to him talk to him. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw my dad hold a baby other then my brother years and years ago so it was so cute seeing them together.

Eli Update: 7lbs 14oz

Family Fun

This week we took our first walk through Minnetrista and the weather was perfect so we took some family photos which you can see posted here. Joe is back to work full time and we are working on getting into a routine, but there are still many sleepless nights.
Eli Update: 7lbs 3oz, 19 ¼ inches

"What's that, baby communion?"

This week has been interesting since Joe has been going back to work for half days at noon and I have been home trying to figure out how to manage myself and a baby! We continued to take Eli in for bili checks and his level began going down and by Sunday he was off the blanket!! We took Eli to Mass for the first time and of course I feed him before we leave and then as soon as we walk into the church he is hungry again. So Joe and I sat out in the narthex attempting to modestly breast feed in public for the first time. I was all covered and doing well when our friend, Jacob, walks up and this conversation takes place:

Jacob: Where’s the baby?
Tonya: Under the blanket.
Jacob: (moving toward me and beginning to lift the blanket) Well, let’s see him…
Tonya: What are you doing?! (Jacob realizing why Eli is under the blanket throws it back down and steps back)
Jacob: (picking up my breast pad) What’s this? Baby’s toy communion?
Tonya: No, that’s my breast pad (Jacob throwing down the pad and freaking out for touching it)

Oh the crazy friends we have!!



Eli Update: 6lbs 2oz

Attack of the Jaundice: 4-8-07

Eli wasn’t home but about 2 days before they decided he had to have a bili blanket on 17-20 hours a day to help his jaundice level go down. When we left the hospital he was at 10.7, just under the line for them to send us home with a blanket, but after a couple days he went up to 14. We had to take him into the doctor to have his bili levels drawn everyday and it finally got up to 18.6 and we began to get worried since at 20 they said they would admit him to the hospital to be placed under a bili light. So we are just patiently waiting for him to get over this hurdle so we can try to get things to normal around here. We have had lots of help from the families, especially the wonderful grandmothers for whom we are so blessed to have! Thanks again for all your help.

Eli Update: 5lbs 12oz

FYI

Hey here's an update, we are going to be updating pics on a regular basis on this link below. So if you want more pictures of him feel free to go there and get them!

http://www.pickle.com/jrkunkel/103

We will put an update post up soon I promise!