Perfect Christmas Card

What are the chances that I'll ever get this perfect of a picture of all three kids again? Pretty slim, I'll tell ya!!

Jacob 3.5 yrs Anna 5.5 yrs Isaac 5 weeks

I'm Gonna Miss This

I keep hearing that song in my head (search for "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins if you haven't heard the song) and remember a blog post I read over a year ago. She talked about not wanting to wish away the precious moment with her children, especially when things are crazy, hectic, frustrating, and tiring.
I have a to-do list 6 miles long and not enough time to do it all before we leave in 1.5 days for Christmas Globe Travel 2010. And Isaac has started to be very fussy every evening for hours. The only thing he wants is to be swaddled, fed, or held. For a couple hours tonight as I sat here rocking and soothing him, all I could think about were the piles of laundry needing done, the suitcases needing packed, the floors needing swept & mopped, the bedrooms needing cleaned, the presents needing wrapped...on & on. And then I realized that instead of taking this time, frustrating as it maybe since I don't know why such a normally happy baby is so upset, to relish the snuggles and smile and connect with my baby...I was wishing it away so I could get *stuff* done. I remember the day he was born and how heartbreaking it was not to be able to hold him. And I think of my brother & his family and how they're told how often they can hold their baby, or my friend whose babies are 3 weeks old and she's only been able to hold them twice. Or my cousin & her family who will only hold their baby again in Heaven. How dare I wish away time to hold this miracle, and listen to his little snores, and watch his dreams play out on his face. Life is so precious. It is truly a gift from the Lord and I take it for granted far too often. So I promise myself and my children that I will try my hardest to never wish away any moments spent with them-whether it's holding a cranky baby, comforting a scared 5 year old in the middle of the night, or cuddling a tired 3 year old who just wants me to hold him.
Lord, thank You for blessing me with these three amazing children and please help me to never take for granted the time You give me with them, no matter the time of day or the length of my to-do list.
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She's a "Mother Hen"

She said "Look Mom! I can burp Jacob, too!!!" Poor Jacob.
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Picture-less Christmas Letter

We left my computer with the "doctor" so we'll see what happens. I'm pretty sure I won't be getting a Christmas card/photo/letter out any time soon...seeing how it's almost Christmas and all! And I can't get to any of my pictures. So I'll try to type up a little Christmas letter here. We'll see how far I get before I get interrupted!

Aaron is still at the College. He had a very busy travel season this year (which I did NOT like being 8+ months pregnant during that time!). Their enrollment numbers are still going up, so he's doing a great job! His second job keeps him busy as well, but he says it's kind of nice to have a basically stress-free, mindless job to do (not completely on either counts obviously...). His hard work and intense focus have helped us pay off a lot of debt very quickly, considering our situation! I'm so proud of how hard he works to provide for us. We are currently praying about buying a bigger house. We're bursting at the seams here, but we'll see where God takes us! Aaron still plays on his summer league softball team and of course plays Fanstasy Football. In his non-existent spare time he runs (still doing the half marathon each summer!) and plays with his favorite kids. They love playing with Daddy, whether it's dancing to Bob & Larry, going for bike rides and runs, playing ball, or playing a silly game Anna makes up...they just love their Daddy!

I am trying to get into the swing of three kids!! It's been more of an adjustment that I thought it would be. I'm a lot more tired this time around I think, even though the recovery has been by far the quickest and easiest (don't tell Mom, but I did a load of laundry the night we got discharged from the hospital!). It was a rough start with Isaac, but we are so thankful that his stay in the NICU was short and he is very healthy. Time is flying by quickly and I try to remember to soak up these newborn moments, even in the dead of night when I'm exhausted. For now I've quit my Guidepost job. I told them I was off until at least January and we'll see from there. It's nice to know the job is there if I need/want it back but right now I can't imagine adding any other responsibility to my plate! I'm looking forward to the new year and getting back into our ladies' Bible study.

Anna is loving kindergarten! I can't believe she's in school. We decided to only send her half days to start with...she is far ahead of most in her class thanks to Mrs. Z so we weren't worried about the academic side of it. We really felt that she wasn't ready to be in school all day. And she hasn't been. She's always been given the chance to stay all day if there is something special going on in the afternoon, but she always opts not to. One day a couple weeks ago I had her stay all day (they had program practice). When I picked her up at the end of the day and asked how her first full day was, she said "It was fun. But boy I'm tired!" She still naps almost every day-doesn't always sleep but more times than not she does. We plan to send her all day after Christmas, so we'll see how that goes! I'm sure it will take her a week or two to get used to it. She's had some adjustments to make with friends. She's learning how to make to friends and get along--they don't let her boss them around like Jacob does! :) There are some days when she tells me about things that happen that I just want to keep her at home and protect her from any unkindness...she's such a sweet girl!! But I know they are lessons she'll have to learn at some point. Nobody warned me about this! Anna Rose has been a HUGE help with Isaac. She's always willing to hold him or feed him if I need her to and she absolutely loves it. She thinks she's pretty big stuff now that she's big enough to walk around with him and even burp him on her own! I'm not sure how much longer she'll be able to walk with him at the rate he's growing! It's been a bit of a rough adjustment for her with a new baby at home. She loves him but adjusting to the shift in family dynamics has been hard. And I think coming off several months full of change (Aaron traveling a lot, starting school, new baby) has a lot to do with it. I'm repeating "consistency" over and over to myself most days! We're getting there and she just melts my heart with the kind things she says and does when I least expect it.

Jacob is such a joy and a challenge. His speech is improving by leaps and bounds! He's been going to preschool 2 mornings a week for speech therapy. He loves school! He is the complete opposite of Anna when it comes to mornings. Even if he's a bit grumpy, he's still cooperative and basically in a good mood. And he wants to eat. Right. Away. There was a time Anna would wait for hours before being hungry for breakfast. Not Jacob! He went through several phases for breakfast food...pancakes, shredded wheat. Now it's oatmeal. And if he doesn't finish it, I put it in the fridge and he'll eat it as his morning snack...cold! He adores Isaac and LOVES to hold him. The challenging part about Jacob is that he got just enough of my stubbornness and just enough of Aaron's one track mind!! But he has a soft heart most of the time. Although there are times when he flat out says "give me 'panking!" That could be trouble!! His favorite things are still John Deere (of any kind) and Thomas the Train. He had a blast riding with Uncle Terry and Aunt Cara during harvest this summer. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he becomes a farmer (or is involved in agriculture in some way) when he grows up. It's like it's ingrained in his DNA! He's very content to play by himself and still lets Anna boss him around when they play together. I'm waiting for the day that doesn't happen...

Isaac is growing by the second, it seems! He eats and eats. He has outgrown his newborn sized clothes but 0-3 months are still a bit long. He outgrew newborn diapers long ago and is almost out of size 1! I think he's going to be a big boy like Jacob. His sleep hasn't been quite as good since I bragged on him (that's what I get!) but still good for most 5 week olds! He is really starting to interact with his surroundings. He is so close to smiling and cooing! He tries really hard to make a sound sometimes but can't quite get it out. He is fascinated by the Christmas lights. He did a pretty good job traveling this weekend, too so I'm praying that remains the trend through all of our Christmas traveling! He's a sweet, sweet baby and I can't imagine life without him! What a blessing God has given us in all of our children.

May this "letter" find each of you enjoying the Reason for this season, being mindful of what it means and taking to heart the love Christ has for His children! (and cue baby crying...that's the end!)

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!

Sleepy Boy

Isaac was having a very hard time staying awake which means I got a pretty cute video of his dreamy faces :)

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Quick...Catch Up!

While I have a computer with access to the pictures on my camera, I'll catch up a bit!

The kids were excited to put the tree up, but their excitement quickly fizzled when it wasn't immediately time to put the ornaments on. But we (I) got it done and the kids, especially Isaac, love to look at the pretty lights.

Anna was having a hard time going to sleep one night. I was in the middle of who knows what so she climbed up and snuggled with Isaac. She really is asleep in this picture! It melted my heart when I walked into my room and saw them.

This boy likes to be snuggled up tight when he's tired.

This was just shy of two weeks after Isaac was born.

Jacob was SO proud to hold Isaac for this picture! My 3 beautiful blessings!

Daddy's love

Big sister, the big helper! She LOVES to feed (and burp! she's so proud that she can burp him) Isaac.

Isaac also loves his swing.

Since we won't be able to make it up to Iowa during Christmas break, we decided to make a quick trip this weekend. They really go all out with the decorations. And it's been a long time since we've been up here! AND THERE'S SNOW!!!! :) Practically as soon as the kids were up this morning they were asking to go outside. So we spent 30+ minutes getting them bundled up and out they went!

One Month Already?!

I cannot believe it's been almost a month already! Isaac is a voracious eater, a great sleeper, a beautiful baby (I'm allowed to say that since he's a baby).
He must have vivid dreams because he's always making faces in his sleep. He likes to be swaddled tight to sleep, loves his paci almost as much as he loves his milk, makes the cutest little noises in his sleep, and is lavishly loved by his siblings.
For a week now he's been sleeping "all night" most nights. I say "all night" because that's by baby standards! :) He will usually go 5-6 hrs. I put him down for the night midnight or after then he sleeps til 5 or later, eats and goes right back to sleep for another 2-3 hrs. He's eating at least 4 oz at every feeding. He's starting to get too long for newborn sized clothes but not quite long enough for 0-3 months.
Isaac also loves his car seat. Which is a good thing considering all the car time he's going to get over Christmas! As long as the van is moving, he'll stay asleep-even past his normal eating times. I hope that continues through the month! My other two hated their car seats!!
I still can't tell what color his eyes are going to be. Sometimes they definitely look darker-brown or hazel-and other days they look like they might be blue. His hair is definitely getting lighter, too, just like Anna's did. She had almost black hair at birth like Isaac & hers gradually lightened by the time she was one. Isaac definitely favors Anna in looks (and depending on who you ask, that means favoring Aaron or me/my brother Jeremy!).
Time is flying by so quickly. Before I know it he'll be mobile & moving around! But for now, I try to remember to soak up these precious newborn moments. What a treasure God gives us through these babies!!
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Big Helper

She loves feeding...and it gives me free hands to pump!
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Heart Talk

Isaac's echo went well this morning. There were 4 issues they were concerned about from his first echo at 3 days old.
1. Mild Peripheral Pulmonary Stenosis. This is the 2 valves that go from the heart to each lung. They should form a "Y" shape or even a right angle, but Isaac's are at an acute angle. It's fairly common in infants because everything is so squished up in there. More than likely he will outgrow this by the time he's one. It isn't causing any problems, so no cause for concern. We'll do another echo in three months to check on it.
2. At birth, he had a moderate Atrial Septal Defect-a hole in the right atrium that babies have in-utero. Usually closes up by birth, but Isaac's hasn't. However, it's already shrunk quite a bit so the cardiologist was very encouraged by that. Again, no cause to worry-check it again in 3 months.
3. He also had small Patent Ductus Arteriosis. Basically a hole in a valve above his left atrium. That is gone!
4. He also has an acceleration of blood flow in his aortic artery. It isn't significant enough to cause concern, so we'll follow up on that in 3 months as well.
I really like both the cardiologist & his nurse practitioner. He said there is no reason to worry about any of these issues. They are all common in babies and they usually outgrow them by a year, sometimes five. So, praise the Lord! Thank you for praying for us!
Oh yes, he weighs over 9 lbs already!!! Big sister loves to walk around holding him (she's not allowed off the carpet!) And Isaac loves it when she sits in front of the Christmas tree so he can see the lights!

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Prayers...

Tomorrow (Thursday) at 11:30 Isaac has his follow up echocardiogram to check the heart murmur. Please pray that everything will be just as it should be, that the valve will be perfectly closed as it should be. Anna and Jacob (especially Jacob) have yucky colds, so Aaron is staying home with Jacob instead of coming with me (we didn't want to spread the germs to anyone else's kids!).

On an exciting note, Anna's school Christmas program is tomorrow evening! And she gets to stay at school ALL DAY (and eat lunch at school!!) since they're practicing pretty much all day. AND they get to ride a bus to the college to practice. She's a little nervous about staying all day, but she's really excited about the play! If I can get my computer working again, I'll have pictures (and hopefully video!) to post.

Sweet Dreams

Isaac must have some pretty sweet dreams-he always smiles, along with a dozen other expressions! I can't believe I caught his sleepy smile! I've been trying for several days. And with my phone, no less! Usually the flash makes him squint & frown. I can't wait until he smiles "for real" :)
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Improvise

Necessity (or is it desperation?) is the mother of all invention, right? Since all of my makeup & such is in our bedroom, which is also Isaac's "nursery", I had to find some way to get ready that wasn't in the dark! Thus, the blanket over his bed. :) I could have taken everything into the bathroom, but this was much easier!
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Its Beginning to Look...

A lot like Christmas at our house!! Christmas is easily my favorite holiday. Not only for the obvious Reason, but I just love the ambiance of the lights and some of my favorite memories are from Christmases past. I could spend a fortune on decorations :) and I coerce Aaron into putting up lights outside every year. I cannot even fathom not having lights up outside! I guess I come by it naturally if you've ever seen my parents' house! This will be the most challenging year to decorate-with 3 little ones, one who requires a LOT of Mommy (he thinks he's starving after an hour!!) and two big kids who want to help, but then they don't, but then they do... :) And of course not having all my energy back yet. But I'll get it done...for the most part anyway!
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Do What Ya Gotta Do...

To survive some days! Aaron has to work this evening & well...they're not screaming at each other so I don't care!!!
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Settling In

These are all from our first week home. We're settling in and adjusting:) Unfortunately, Jacob and Aaron seem to have some kind of stomach bug. Jacob has thrown up three times in the last week-no other symptoms, no fever, and just one time throwing up and then he's fine. Thankfully, he knows what's going on now and asks for a bowl before he throws up! Now Aaron has it, except his seems to be worse. Please pray for them to get better and for the rest of us not to get it...especially Isaac and me. I do not need to be throwing up two weeks after a c-section! Ouch.

Anna was having a hard time going to sleep one night. She was feeling out of sorts and just needed some one-on-one attention. And of course wanted to hold Isaac! :) I took this picture of the two of them so she could take it to school and show her class. She was excited about that.

Jacob seems like a giant now! I remember the first time I held him after Isaac was born, thinking "holy cow, this kid is huge!" haha He's so gentle with Isaac, though. And he tries to play with Isaac's hair when he's tired! It's really funny. The other night Aaron was working and Jacob had woken up (or hadn't been to sleep yet, I can't remember) and of course, before I could get Jacob to go back to sleep, Isaac woke up ready to eat. So I sat on the floor next to Jacob's bed nursing Isaac. Jacob couldn't reach my hair, so he settled for Isaac's hair! It was precious.

He's becoming more alert and has more awake times. I love watching him look around and check things out.

I think this is probably Anna's favorite picture :)

He is such a proud big brother!

Movie night on Binga's bed!!

Papa spent the week helping Jamie & Cassie. The kids missed him but he made up for it when he came back on Saturday! They can't get enough play time with Papa!!

My sweet baby. He gets bundled up good at night. He's my little burrito. It's no wonder he screams when I change his diaper...pulling him out of that warm cocoon! :)

Dad's Surprise

I mentioned in my Thanksgiving post that Dad surprised me and remodeled our bathroom. Aaron & I had talked about doing it before Isaac was born but things came up (like Aaron getting seriously sick on his last recruiting trip and making 2 trips to the hospital!) and we weren't going to be able to swing it yet. We figured to just take the door to our bedroom out and then next year at some point do the rest. The day after Isaac was born (I think), Dad had to "go to the farm" to take care of something that came up. Mom said "something about the land". I didn't think anything of it, other than thinking it was bad timing for Dad to miss out on the new babies' first couple days. There were a couple things that should've tipped me off, but I didn't have a clue. The first being when Mom said "Dad says it's snowing in Sterling...and at the farm." I just figured she meant he'd seen the weather and the storm was over Sterling. The second being when Kim called to ask about dropping off a gift for Anna and Jacob before we got home. She texted and asked if my Dad was at our house. I told her he could be-he'd been at the farm but was planning on being back in Sterling when we got home. Then she called when she got here and said "I think your dad is here...there's a pair of feet sticking out from the bathroom sink!" I didn't really think twice about why he would've been under the sink. DUH! The crazy man didn't sleep for two days so he could get it finished before we came home from the hospital!!! I love it and can't wait for it to be completely finished. THANK YOU DADDY!!! (and Mom for picking out the sink & faucet...perfect! and Aaron for keeping the secret!)

I LOVE the sink. It's nice & deep (actually perfect for Isaac's baths right now!), has a much bigger surface than my old one, and I really like the material and color. The faucet is awesome-it moves so I can swing it out of the way when I'm giving Isaac a bath! Mom said she debated getting one like that with kids, but figured they didn't have to be shown that it could move! :)

The vanity was one that Aaron got when he worked at the wood supply company-for whatever reason it was going to be thrown away! So it's been sitting in our shed for a couple of years. We're going to have a friend build a floor-to-ceiling cabinet next to the vanity for extra storage (and a hamper in the bottom!). We kept the same mirror and light fixture since they match the new vanity. Dad also moved the toilet over (not an easy task when you have to crawl under the house!!).

I think my favorite part is the tile!!! It's heated! We'll also paint the walls...I'm thinking a sage green (or along those lines).

Last of the Hospital

My computer is working again! I'll try to get caught up on pictures before it "breaks" again! :)
A few more pictures from the hospital. Big sister and big brother are totally smitten...

I'm just still so surprised at Jacob's reaction to Isaac. I didn't really think he would have issues with a new baby, but I definitely didn't think he would be so enamored with Isaac! He still (2 weeks later) loves to hold him and especially begs to feed him! I can't wait to see them bond when Isaac is older. The only time Jacob doesn't like Isaac is when he really gets to crying. Then Jacob covers his ears and runs from the room! haha

Oh my stars...look at that smile!!! I love it.

This big sister could sit and hold Isaac all day long. She doesn't even mind if he's crying! Today, she was holding him and he was hungry (shocker!) so he started wailing. I went to take him and she said "I don't mind. It's okay!"

This Little Piggy...

Eats and eats and eats! He routinely nurses for about an hour every feeding. He eats every three hours during the day and, now that his bilirubin is okay, every 4+ hours at night. BUT...the last few days, he's been wanting to eat every hour! You do the math...that's basically back to back eating! Luckily I have an abundance and have quite a bit pumped and in the freezer. I get a break now and then and the kids, especially Jacob, love to feed Isaac. Last night, he nursed his usual hour, finishing around 10pm and by 11pm, he acted liked it had been 6 hours since he ate! He was trying to latch on to anything that was close to his face. So I thawed out some milk and he sucked down 4 oz. in no time. Then he proceeded to sleep until a little after 5am!!! I felt like I got 10 hours of sleep. I'm really hoping that he isn't becoming a lazy sucker like his brother was. I don't think he is-he nurses pretty good, just slow (or else has a huge stomach!). We can't afford formula!! If all else fails, I'm prepared to simply pump what he needs and bottle feed it to him. Anna and Jacob both only nursed 3 months-Anna was impossible to keep awake. We did everything from ice cubes to waiting til she was super hungry, but it seemed after 5 minutes of eating, she just couldn't stay awake. Plus she had stomach issues for several months. And Jacob, he was just a lazy sucker so I ended up nursing him, pumping, then bottle feeding him. It got to the point that all I was doing was feeding him. He had a huge appetite! I never used the small 4 oz bottles with that boy! I'm determined, one way or another, not to do formula this time. Simply for the money factor. Yes, breastmilk is best for the baby, but obviously my other two kids weren't harmed by being on formula! But I think this time around I've got a better "grip" on nursing and pumping and Isaac really seems to be a better nurser than the other two-an answer to prayer! My $50 pump I found at a consignment sale has already paid for itself :)
Okay, enough on that topic. Isn't he a doll?! :) He's still a very good baby-rarely cries. Unless he's getting his diaper changed (usually), doesn't get fed quickly enough, or is getting a bath! I can't keep things warm enough! My new bathroom sink is perfect for him, but until his cord falls off, I can't get him all the way in the water. So even with the heater on in the bathroom, it's pretty chilly! Aaron got to hear him really holler tonight!
Anna and Jacob are still adjusting (we all are!). They love Isaac but are acting out toward each other and Mom & Dad. Anna has become an expert antagonizer and Jacob fights back now! Staying consistent with first-time obedience is a challenge, but one that I know will pay off. Not 5 minutes after Papa & Binga left today, they started in!!! Bedtime was a drawn out affair. Aaron finally realized (I never caught on) that Anna just needed some attention and she was to the point that she didn't care if it was positive or negative. So he spent a while rocking her and she finally settled down. It's been hard (and will only be harder now that we're "on our own") juggling the needs of all three kids!! But we'll get it figured out...hopefully sooner than later!
Speaking of juggling and balancing, I better get to bed since Isaac is asleep! Thank you for all the encouragement and prayers. Keep up the prayers!!! :)

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Blessed

I have much to be thankful for this year.
Isaac's safe arrival, even after a stay in NICU. His bilirubin is all good now (which means I'm getting a bit more sleep at night, not having to wake him up at night to eat!). The only unanswered is the follow up echo on his heart, which I'm not worried about at all. I love snuggling up with this precious baby boy. And I think I'll finally have my brown-eyed baby! :)
Jacob continues to make me laugh (and scream!) every day. He is such a wonderful big brother. He absolutely adores his baby brother. I'm so thankful God has given us this child.
Anna is once again a fantastic big sister. She loves holding Isaac and is such a big helper. Her tender heart blesses me over and over.
Aaron is an amazing husband and father. He has really stepped up and has been a huge help with the house and Anna & Jacob. He wanted a turkey dinner today (family gatherings aren't until tomorrow and Saturday) so he took Anna to the store this morning and got everything and is cooking the whole meal!!! All this on top of trying to catch up on work for his 2nd job-we weren't expecting to be in the hospital until Thursday. Oh yes, and having Jacob sick from too much chocolate the other night.
Mom has been such a help. Even though her health isn't back to normal, just having her here has been a help. Plus she's been my chauffeur since I can't drive for 2 weeks (even though she's a crazy driver, right kids?!)! :) She's kept me sane the last couple days when Anna & Jacob have been acting up. She keeps her cool & disciplines them when I just want to pull my hair out!
Dad is a crazy man. He didn't sleep for 2 days because he snuck back to Sterling to redo my bathroom as a surprise! He put a heated tile floor in, took out a door, put in a new sink and vanity, and moved the toilet. All in 48 hours! He loves surprising people and he is incredibly talented in so many things. Plus the kids just adore Papa.
My in-laws made the trip out to be here when Isaac was born. Anna & Jacob had a great day with them. They are generous and giving. All that and they didn't even get to hold Isaac before they went home since he was still in NICU!
Our extended family and friends...we had so many people holding us and Isaac up in prayer. And our church family has blessed us with meals. The Ladies Aid made Isaac a beautiful quilt and blanket.
Our nephew Tate, born at 31 weeks, continues to surprise everyone with his continued progress and improvement. God's miracle, for sure!!! That little guy is a feisty fighter!
God's blessings have poured over us. His hand has been evident in the lives of these little ones (Isaac and Tate).
What a list to be thankful for!
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Meet Your Brother

They finally get to see and hold Isaac!!! Anna was beside herself waiting.

Cuddle Bug

He's a cuddler! Waiting to hear about his bilirubin levels-had to get blood drawn again today for a 48 hour test. He's still pretty yellow but it's getting better. Hopefully it's improving enough to stay home.
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A New Routine

Isaac is seriously such an easy baby! The only time he cries is when he's hungry or you're changing his clothes. Such a sweet boy. We had his bilirubin checked yesterday and it's not quite where it should be. I'm on strict orders to feed him every 2-3 hours, even at night. Believe it or not, I have to set my alarm & wake him up at night! He's a great sleeper. But the best way for babies to get rid of the excess bili is through their stools. So the more he eats, the more he poops, the quicker he'll get it out! :) His first "smile" was perfectly timed...the doctor said "I hate to tell you this, but you need to wake him up every 3 hours at night and feed him." *As soon* as she said that, he got a big ol' grin on his face! It was so funny.
He's nursing like a champ. He likes to fall asleep, but not nearly as bad as the other two. He gets his fill at every feeding, he's just pretty slow about it!
Sorry I haven't posted more pictures (or ones better than just from my phone!). We're trying to settle into a new routine and get things put away.
It's taken me so long to finish this post I can't remember what picture I attached!
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Home We Go...Sorta

All bundled up & ready to go! Finally! It took much, much longer than we expected for Isaac & I to get discharged. We had already decided to stay the night at Jamie's since it had rained/snowed earlier in the day. But we didn't end up leaving the hospital until after 9:30 last night! Anna & Jacob were so excited to see him! I just can't get over Jacob's reaction to him...he always wants to hold him and it breaks his heart when you tell him he can't!
Alright, I better feed Isaac so we can get on the road and be HOME!!!
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The View from Here

I love snuggling up with this little guy!
He's doing great! Getting the hang of eating...slowly! He's a very good baby. Rarely cries and when he's awake, he loves to look around. He still has some trouble with gagging on his spit-up (or whatever it is) so it makes me nervous when he sleeps. He doesn't make a sound hardly when he's gagging. So I just snuggle him up next to me :)
The pediatrician came to check him out this afternoon & do his circumcision. I had no idea that he couldn't eat 2 hours before (plus I had no idea when they were coming for him!). So that got pushed back to this afternoon. He also heard a heart murmur that he wanted to do an echocardiogram to check out. He's sure it's nothing but wants to be safe. Oh-just got a call from the doctor & he's all clear! They still have to observe him for a couple of hours for the circumcision. The weather isn't great so we're going to stay at Jamie's tonight anyway. Yay!
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More Isaac :)

A couple more pictures of Isaac :) He's doing great! They're going to try and feed him soon (I've been pumping)-with a bottle first and see how he does.

I took his John Deere blanket (courtesy of Aunt Cara & Uncle Terry, of course!) to NICU :)

Once we finally named him, he got his little sign up on his bed! :)
Aaron & I got to hold him this morning for the first time (me since he's been in NICU and Aaron ever)!! I can't wait until he's in my room so I can hold him all the time without all the wires and tubes!

Introducing Isaac Jayden!

Papa & the kids stopped by before we headed to the hospital. The boys were enthralled with Word World. Although Hudson had a hard time deciding if he should look at the camera and say "CHEESE!" or watch the TV! :)

And he's here!!! Isaac was born at 2:02 pm weighing 8 lbs. 1.5 oz, measuring 20 1/2" long, with a 14 1/4" head!!! I really thought he was going to beat out Jacob for weight (I'm pretty sure he did for head size!), but Jacob had almost a pound on him. He has quite a bit of dark hair. And he cried big time-before he was even out! He was definitely the loudest of my three kids. Anna & Jacob didn't hardly make a peep.

He did great at first, but after about 10 minutes, he started retracting and taking shallow, rapid breaths. They put a pulse-ox monitor on him and his O2 stats were a little low. It's fairly common with c-section babies because they don't have the benefit of going through the birth canal and getting all that fluid squeezed out of their lungs.

They called NICU into the recovery room and after over an hour of him not improving, they decided to take him to NICU for observation (and ended up admitting him). His O2 would drop to the low-mid 80s, but as soon as he cried or they gave him oxygen, it would go right back up to upper 90s-100.

I didn't get to hold him very much-between cleaning him up, monitoring his pulse-ox, and then the NICU observing him. I knew he would be fine, but it was really, really hard not to be able to hold him and then to have him wheeled away where I knew I wouldn't be able to hold him...that was really tough.

But, it gave me plenty of motivation to get up and get moving a lot sooner than I ever did the other 2 times! By 10pm I had everything unhooked and was ready to try walking. To my surprise, it wasn't bad at all! So they took me down to the NICU to visit Isaac. He already had his oxygen helmet off and the nurse said he was doing great. I spent about an hour with him. He loves his pacifier (Jacob refused one, so I wasn't sure what he would do!), but he can't keep it in his mouth. :) He swallowed some amniotic fluid as well, so they put a tube down to his tummy to suck it out. Aaron & I went to see him this morning before shift change and the nurse said his breathing is better (he was breathing too rapidly) and they did another chest x-ray and bloodwork. We should know the results of those by lunch. I'm praying he gets out of there today, but we'll just have to wait and see.

8 pounds 1.5 ounces!

Look at those feet!!!!

As I've mentioned before, we've had a terrible time coming up with a name! For whatever reason, Aaron and I could NOT agree. I had a favorite (Isaac Lee) and he had a favorite (Jayden). After things settled down, we finally agreed on a compromise! I have to say, though...almost every doctor and nurse said "He looks like an Isaac" :)
Please continue to pray that Isaac keeps improving so he can move out of NICU. And pray for the rest of us, too. Anna isn't allowed into NICU to see him and she's pretty disappointed that she can't hold him yet. Jacob really doesn't get what's going on, especially since he hasn't seen the baby (except for pictures)! I'm feeling really good, so pray for my recovery to go as quickly & smoothly as it has so far. Also, pray for Jamie & Cassie...they're just a few doors down from us!