Live a good life.

I am sitting here at 10pm, baby and husband asleep with a funny boxer pup snoring at my feet and find myself to be completely taken over with a feeling of pride for my family. I've had one of those days where everything I once found important now seem absolutely silly and immature. 

My younger sister, Sara is someone I find myself always looking up to constantly. She is one of the lucky few who left our hometown when she realized her life was headed down the wrong path. When she was 19 she had my niece with her boyfriend Josh and the two of them are currently still together after 5 years and are some of the greatest parents I've seen. For such a young mom it amazes me that Sara is a natural at it as she is. I just hope one day I half the woman she has become, and half the mom she is to my son. 

Unfortunately, on Christmas night, after having spent the day with my family in NJ she went back to her house in PA only to find her home had been broken into and their brand new flat screen that they had gotten the day before as a christmas gift had been stolen. What did my sister have to say about it? "I don't care about the T.V, Its not the material things that matter. I'm just upset that someone invaded my families personal space." At that moment I couldn't have been more proud of her. I know they are going through tough times and if anyone deserves a break it is definitely them.

Also, my sister in law Brooke had her baby this morning! Brantly Joseph Poling was brought into this world at 12:47 weighing 8 lbs 12.6 ounces. WHOA BABY!!!!! Of course, for those of you that aren't close to the family, Brooke had to have a scheduled C-section since Brantly had spina bifida. (a birth defect that causes the backbone and spinal canal to not close before birth). They have known about since very soon into their pregnancy and have been about a prepared as you possibly could be for something like that. Brooke and her husband Rocky had been traveling two hours every month to get ultrasounds and monitor baby's progress. They had some of the best nurses and doctors available. They told Brooke and Rocky the baby would probably not be able to walk. However, after Brantly was born, they realized he has sensation in his legs and was able to move them a little!!!!! (do you believe in miracles?) Brantly was then taken to the childrens hospital while brooke is staying to recover in her hospital. The family will be staying at the Ronald Mcdonald House. Baby Brantly's surgery to fix his spina is scheduled for tomorrow. I will be posting updates as i get them. Please say prayers for such a beautiful and strong little boy that our family has so graciously been given! 

Today was one of those days where you realize that all the stupid things people complain about are pointless. Life is too short. Brooke and Rocky have been so strong. Brantly, no matter what the outcome, will be loved more than imaginable by his parents. I'm an emotional wreck that I wasn't able to be there with one of my best friends during such an important and terrifying moments in her entire life but i can't thank everyone enough who was with her. I am so proud to call brooke and rocky family. Brantly is truly adorable and i can't wait for Bruin to meet him! Tanya and Randy are such great people to have raised such amazing children I can't thank them enough.

 

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH LITTLE MAN!!!

Another terrible event hit my family on christmas and although I might be saying more than I should I'm going to try and stay as discrete as possible. All i want to say is that we lost a beautiful soul far too soon. You are so strong and I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through..<3

I leave you with this..."Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things." 

:o)

"A miracle is an event which creates faith. That is the purpose and nature of miracles. Frauds deceive. An event which creates faith does not deceive: therefore it is not a fraud, but a miracle." - George Bernard Shaw

All in the Family

"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich."  ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity Crisis," M*A*S*H


So Chistmas is over. How was Santa for your family?? We are truly blessed in our home this year. I was able to share Bruin's first Christmas with my dad who was able to meet his grandson for the first time.  While being with him was amazing it also made me realize how hard it is going to be to live this far from family with a family of our own. We missed our sisters who are pregnant and have kids. We missed our moms, grandmas, grandpas, cousins, Senior, and friends so much that it was actually bittersweet. We hope that one day our families can be together for beautiful days like Christmas where family is all that matters. 


Unfortunately, Bruin caught a nasty head cold with an ear infection just in time to be extra cranky on Christmas Eve and christmas day. Poor baby has been pumped full of tylenol and has had so much snot sucked from his little nose that i'm starting to think i have single handedly paid the Kleenex  factories bills for the month.  :-) 

*on a side note...has anyone had the pleasure of using one of these?!?!  




Umm...i'm extremely grossed out by this. I will stick with my hospital bulb thank you very much! 










ANYWAY! I've had the pleasure of bring Bruin to work with me for the past week because not only is he sick but the babysitter has strep throat. I am so grateful to have a job and boss that work with me and are so patient. I don't think that I would be nearly as patient if i were in charge! (Randy already said he would have fired me!)  I start nursing school next week and i couldn't be more terrified. Luckily Bruin starts at the base daycare Jan.3 so I can bring him there. But, i'm told that the sickness is only more frequent when he gets there so it leaves me worried that I won't be able to go through the program because i will have to stay home with a sick baby every week! I'm determined to finish this school. WE WILL DO IT!!!!! 


Bruin was scheduled for his 4 month checkup and shots. However, the dr. said she didn't wanna give him anything since he was so sick. We are rescheduled for Monday. I will post another blog then to update everyone on his growth, weight, etc.! 

I'll leave you with a cute picture just because I can't get enough of my cute son!

Nightmare on Callie Street.

So I've been having some serious issues lately when I should be sleeping. Since having Bruin I have the same nightmare EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Actually, to be honest, it doesn't seem like a nightmare because it's so real and I'm actually awake when I do it. 

ANYWAY, (Focus Jessica!) I have woken up every night since Bruin was born thinking that Randy has rolled over onto the baby. I even go as far as to frantically move Randy trying to get him off of Bruin until Randy wakes up and asks me what I'm doing and tells me to go back to sleep. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Now let me explain something. Randy has made is a rule from day 1 of Bruin being here that we would not ever, under any circumstances, sleep with Bruin in our bed. He explained he was extremely terrified of rolling over on him. Of course, I agreed and never once in the past 3 months has Bruin been in our bed. And yet, i still have this terrible moment every night when I swear with every fiber of my being that Bruin is underneath Randy leaving both me and my husband with less than a full nights sleep.

Anyone else ever do this? 

Will it ever go away?

I hope so.

"I wish I knew what I know now"

Well hello there buddies! 

I was asked today, by a beautiful pregnant lady, what i wish I would have been told before I had Bruin. GOOD QUESTION and to be honest that was one of the reasons i decided to write this blog, so other new mommies might read this and say.. OHHHHHHhhhhh. 

In all actuality, this child having thing is probably what I expected it to be like (so far..remember i'm only 10 weeks in) lots of diapers, lots of laundry, and crazy sleep patterns. My biggest thing, however, is that I truly wish i would have prepared myself better for breastfeeding. After about week two and Bruin had so many issues, I felt like I was at the end of my rope. I really thought I was going to have to give up. It was so intense, so time consuming, so much more of a commitment than I ever imagined. Luckily, at the two week mark, my mom came to visit and really tried to pound it into my head that it would get easier and that I was strong enough to do it. Even now, writing this, i can't help but tear up at the thought of all this and i'm not completely sure why...DAMN HORMONES! After I went to lactation consultant things became easier and I'm so proud of myself for doing it. I feel like (as strange as this might sound) I accomplished something great for my baby even though it would have been so nice to give him formula at our 3 am feedings. STICK WITH IT LADIES. It's hands down the most fulfilling thing I have ever done in my life. 

Now, after I thought of my response to that question I decided to ask that wonderful guy I live with. "Hey Randall, What do you wish you had been told before I had Bruin." He told me that he wished someone had told us that there was a difference between Newborn diapers and 1. And that there was a difference in newborn clothing and 0-3 month clothing. 

Don't laugh. I know it might sound like something everyone knows, but we didn't. It took us about a week to figure out why his diapers were so large (we were stocking up before he got here, on size 1 of course!) and why his clothes didn't fit. "Hey babe you think we should try preemie!?" 

Oh parenthood <3

*I was emailed this link from a friend. She told me to read the article and I could see how much good I was doing for Bruin even if I chose to stop breastfeeding when I go back to work in the end of November. 
http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/breastfeeding-benefits-how-they-add-up 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Bruin was too tiny to fit into any costumes this year, but that's ok we still took some great Halloween pictures..here ya go!

2 month checkup!

Well we had the dreaded two month appointment with our pediatrician. Bruin now weighs 10.3lbs which is a great improvement for us! He is finally fitting into 0-3 month and newborn clothes! His weight went from being in the 2% to 12% so that is great! He is getting stronger every day and holding his head up all the time. Nights are getting better and better too leaving a very happy Mama and Papa Bear! As for the shots, they weren't that terrible. He cried for 5 minutes after and then was fine for the rest of the day. MY BIG BOY.
Ozzy's jealousy is almost non existent now-a days. He is constantly checking on his new best buddy (Sorry Annabelle you're out of the picture...at least until you come to visit again). and even started to bring him toys...Bruin will catch on eventually.

 Things I've been learning so far:

Always point your sons manhood DOWN at all times during a diaper change. It doesn't matter if he has just dirtied a diaper, he WILL pee right on you. 


Don't forget the seal on the bottle. Even if you swear you put it on, if its leaking all over your baby's body chances are it's not there. 


Clean baby outfits don't exist for longer than 20 minutes. 


Babies are strong. I mean much stronger than they look. How is it that I find it almost impossible to bend him over to burp when he is fighting it!?! "JESSICA HE"S JUST A BABY!" 

FUN FACT: it is completely normal for baby to get hiccups! Pay attention, did he get them while he was in the womb? Was is at the same times of day? Bruin does...and apparently so do a lot of babies.

The Art of Breastfeeding

So it has been my motto since the beginning of this journey that I would breastfeed because I couldn't rationalize paying for something my body makes naturally and is so damn good for baby. Since hour one I breastfed Bruin and well to say it was tough it an understatement. On our two day checkup the Pediatrician said everything was great. Bruins weight had dropped down to 6.5 from 6.15 but that was normally and he should be back up to birth weight by the next week. Well, that next week my mom came in and was giving me lots of tips, but it seemed like our beautiful baby was completely miserable. I couldn't put him down for more than 15 minutes without him wailing on and on and he wanted to latch on to feed constantly for hours and hours. I had told my mom and randy that i didn't know how much longer I could do it but my mom told me it would get better and that I should probably make an appointment with Sacred Heart Hospitals lactation consultant to at least have someone to talk to. Two days later i went in to meet with Ms. Karen and possibly rent a pump. To my surprise Bruin had dropped down to 6.2  (when he should have been back up to 6.15) and we was not in the best shape. I had been starving him and she classified him as failure to thrive. As it turned out, Bruin was lazy. He acted like he was eating when in reality he wasn't taking anything in. My milk supply was low, and he was miserable. We weren't even supposed to give him a pacifier because it would burn calories and he needed every calorie he could get. She put us on a crazy routine that consisted of breastfeeding 15 min. on both sides, followed by 2 oz. formula, and then pumping so that on the next feeding i didn't need to supplement in formula, I'd just use the milk i had pumped. That was for EVERY feeding as often as he wanted. Needless to say, nights were long. He was so tiny. He barely fit into anything newborn including diapers and onesies. Gradually, he started to gain weight and finally by the third week of this he was up to 7 lbs. My poor buddy. Last week we went back for our final appointment and he was up to 9 lbs. YAHOOOO!!!! (although im a little bit upset because he doesn't fit into newborn diapers anymore, he's gettin so big!) 

But he is eating so much and i still don't have a great milk supply (even after taking Fenugreek, an herb that is supposed to increase it) So, i'm having to supplement in alot of formula, but he is still getting some breastmilk at every feeding and every little bit helps! 

*FUN FACT... did you know breastmilk has LIVE cells in it. That's some pretty amazing stuff!* 

I think by the end of Nov. he will be on formula completely, but I completely love the bonding breastfeeding give you and your child. If you have the chance and are willing, do it, even if it's for two weeks. I'm not gonna lie, it's tough, inconvenient at times and sometimes painful but you will have a bond that can't be described.

Daddys: I know that it will get frustrating for you. Randy had a break down at probably week 3 or 4 because he literally could do NOTHING to help with the feeding except burp (he's the best burper in history). But reassure yourself that you are still a good dad even if you don't have the groceries!

The pain of Labor!

Well Hello there! 

I've decided to create this blog not only to give me something to write my memories down on and give family a chance to read about our day to day, but also give people an idea of what being a new mom is like for me! (I also don't want to keep bombarding Facebook with every cute picture i take of Bruin!)...So here goes nothing. 

I'd like to start with my labor. I promise I won't get into intense detail. I was due on Randy's birthday 9/1. On Sunday, 8/28 I was minding my own business watching something football while Randy was napping. At 4:30 pm I thought I peed my pants! I sat there for a second and said, "nope, this is it" and went over to wake sleeping beauty. "Hey RANDALL...umm, I think my water broke." My husband, who i believe was in denial that we were having a baby up until this point, asked if I was having any contractions. When my response was no not yet he said, " ok well i'm gonna put in a load of laundry and then we can go."...So, I decided I'd shower while he did his thing. 

Well, we arrived at the hospital at 7:30 pm and still without contractions. (I didn't think I was actually in labor) After the nurse confirmed my water broke and I was at 3 cm, they put us in a room and said we were the only ones on the floor so we had everyones complete attention. My nurse said the midwife wanted me to sleep since I wasn't having contractions so she was giving me a sleeping pill and if contractions didn't start by 4:30am they would give me pitocin. Randy took this as a perfect opportunity to eat so he ran downstairs for some subway. When he came back up I had had my first contraction and they were coming strong and fast. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and said I needed an epidural although i had planned on going all natural (YEAH RIGHT!!!) The nurse said that she had to check my progress before the epidural and said i was 6 cm.WOW!  And they sent randy out of the room because they couldnt do the procedure with him there. Ten minutes later the jerk of a man came and gave me my shot, which took about ten min. and INSTANT relief. AMAZING. The nurse said she had a strange  feeling and wanted to check me again.  Her eyes became HUGE and uttered the words every pregnant chick is waiting for, "YOU'RE READY TO PUSH!"....ummm excuse me? this was at 11:00pm. 3 and a half hours after i arrived! They ran to get the soon to be daddy and my midwife joined in on the fun too. It was really happening. Now let me tell you, that pushing was so easy peasy. I didn't feel a thing. 27 minutes later Bruin Roscoe Arbogast arrived. They immediately placed him on my chest. Papa Bear and I were in pure shock and the only thing i could think to tell this new little guy was, "OH MY GOD YOU LOOK LIKE A LITTLE MONKEY!!" (Randy says that's one of his favorite moments of the entire pregnancy, labor and delivery) Bruin had his cord wrapped around his neck once and body once but we were lucky to have everything go absolutely perfect. 

And like randy says, the pit crew came in next and got everything cleaned up before we even knew what was happening. They let me breastfeed and then took Bruin for a bath a shot and some fun (I'm guessing). That pretty much sums up my labor experience. It was better than i expected ... I was truly terrified about the whole thing during my entire pregnancy.