Week 3

We are turning a corner with the jaundice which means a more alert baby and better feedings! Luke is growing out of his smallest clothes (getting long like Daddy) and newborn diapers are becomming snug! I hope to drop the extra formula next week after a follow up lactation consult-- the formula is smelly and Luke's tummy doesn't process it as easily, so he makes a crinkely face when he first tastes it, but even that is getting better.

Brent's parents were nice enough to give us a date night this Saturday, so we took full advantage and went shopping at Banana Republic and DSW (for me to cash in on our pumpkin carving bet!), then had dinner at Carrabbas... it was a much needed night, but we sure enjoyed walking through the front door to our sweet Luke!

Our babysitters:

My prize for winning the pumpkin carving contest that went to a vote on our blog! It is good to be the WINNER!

Yesterday, Nov. 17, marked Luke's original due date... glad we got him 3 weeks earlier! That was also my first day alone, just me and Luke, without either Grandma's help. I felt 2 hands short when changing a dirty diaper and not covering him up fast enough-- poor thing peed on his face before his mom realized what was going on! I'll get better, Luke, I promise!

More Pictures from this week:

Luke has shelves above his changing table-- he always looks up at the Astro's Rally Monkey feet, so Brent took the monkey down for Luke to see up close and personal-- lifesize!

Week 2

Luke is 2 weeks old! Time is flying. Debbie is with me this week, so she is loving on Luke and helping me with housework, dinners, driving to appointments, etc. We visited the pediatrician yesterday and Luke is not gaining enough weight, so we are beginning supplementing with formula in addition to regular feedings to bulk him up. We go back Thursday to weigh in and hopefully show progress. He still has jaundice with elevated bilirubin levels, so the Doctor thinks that may be contributing to sleepy feedings. We are not to start a schedule until he gets bigger, and primarily focus on eating and sleeping right now. The supplementing is going okay-- he doesn't eat as much as they want him to- not sure if he is just full or doesn't like the taste of formula. We have an appointment today with a Lactation Consultant to see how much he is getting from me at each feeding and get other pointers to help him get all he needs. He seems content now to go to sleep, which helps me be okay with supplementing to see a happy baby drifting off to sleep with a sweet smile on his face.

Luke's cord fell off, so we were able to finally take a real bath!

Swinging while Mom and Dad eat dinner:

Aunt Jamie teaching Luke how to be an Aggie fan even when we know they won't win!

Grandma Lovies:

Mud Run 2008

Brent and some friends from work participated in a Mud Run this past weekend... Mud Run is a combination of regular citizens, Civil Servants, companies, teams, colleges and some military personnel competing together through a series of boot camp styled obstacles that have been surrounded by (or consist entirely of) mud. The race is 10K and really dirty! They had a great time, but Brent's chiropractor has his work cut out for him this week! Brent is already talking about the Spring sign ups, so I think this will become a regular event for them.

http://www.mudrundfw.com/

The Fire Department hosing them down:

Blue Steel Baby

Luke's uncle Chris lovingly gave Luke his first nickname this past weekend... "Blue Steel". I didn't know what this was either, until they refreshed me on the movie Zoolander-- Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are runway models and when Ben Stiller strikes his pose during their "walk off", he makes this face:

1st Week

This first week has been amazing... the love we have for our little boy is hard to explain. My Grandmother sent Luke a book that sums up this feeling so well, called Through and Through. It says "I love your top side, I love your bottom side, I love your inside, and outside... it goes through fingers and toes, etc. and ends with the sweetest last page: "I love you through and through... yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too." It is so amazing to love this little guy more and more every day as we learn more about each other. We didn't understand how life would change with a baby and loved the season of life Brent and I were in enjoying our marriage and each other, but I have to say, life just got more full and meaningful for us both. Luke is a sweet little boy- his deep blue eyes are so calming and thoughtful, his pudgy legs are so kissable and touchable, and his hair is so fluffy and soft. Luke recognises our voices and calms when we hold him... it is such a rewarding feeling to have his trust.

We have been struggling this week with elevated bilirubin levels that started with treatment at the hospital, but levels rose again over the weekend. We are all physically tired and feeding is our first priority right now to get the jaundice under control. Luke's pediatrician thinks the worst is behind us, so we pray that is true-- I feel extremely helpless when my baby gets so tired, he can't get through a feeding without falling asleep, but trust with extra pumping and God's lead, Luke will be strong in no time. My mom has been a HUGE help this week teaching me baby how to's, driving us to doctors, making dinner (every other night that our wonderful Sunday School friends don't), running errands, and constantly doing laundry... learning from the best is one of the things I am thankful for this week :)

Luke's Pediatrician (first check up):

Watching Dancing With The Stars with Granna:

Playtime:

Dinner Time:

Naptime:

Our SON, Joshua Luke Brewer is here!

Our sweet Luke arrived at 37 weeks and 2 days... my water broke just as I laid down to go to sleep Monday night, so we knew this was finally the real deal (we had 4 false alarms and Labor and Delivery was just as sick of us coming in as we were!). Labor went very quickly at about 6 hours (and much easier than the horror stories everyone tells)! My Doctor was the one on call, so she got to deliver him... we had one scare where his heart rate dropped really low to 60 BPM from 130 for about 5 minutes-- I have never seen a staff work so efficiently. They stopped contractions to give Luke time to recover and started them up again with Pitosin... during my first push, I could see the nurses beginning to rush and lots of staff showing up-- his heart rate was dropping with every contraction (which later we found out his cord was around his neck), so I had about 8 rounds of pushing and Doctor used forceps to turn him and get him out quickly. To look down and see this wonderful baby who had been a part of me for 9 months is truly indescribable-- he was (and is) perfect, soft, wonderful, beautiful, lovable and adorable. Brent was amazing at getting us to the hospital, participating in delivery (wow!), and calming his son when he is too upset to eat... we joked that he is the "baby whisperer", but in all honesty, I am so blessed that he is the father of our son... what a great example that Luke will have in his life. Here are a few pictures we have taken over the last few days. We just got home Friday afternoon because Luke has jaundice and they treated him under the fluorescent lights over night- very emotional for me to see him under lights for 18 hours all by himself when all I wanted to to is hold him and tell him he is okay. They are let me feed him every 3 hours, so we get to hold him and talk to him then which probably did more for me than him:). He was circumcised Thursday morning and didn't cry or bleed! Tough kid, but pretty sleepy afterwards! My OB was the one who did the circumcision, so I was happy about that!

Thank you for the phone calls, emails, gifts, pretty flowers, visits, and well wishes... we feel loved and blessed that you all share in our excitement... we are so mindful of the gift God has given us and hope you know we appreciate you all in our lives. If I haven't picked up my phone to answer, it is because we are sleeping, feeding, or crying but I do plan to return phone calls this week :)
Joshua Luke Brewer
6 lb. 13 oz., 19"
October 28, 2008

Grandparents:

(Deb- still deciding name and Dwight "Granddaddy", Karen "Granna" and John "Pops")

GREAT Grandmother, Honey:

Four Generations:

Dr. Sigman:

Drew (born 5 days earlier at 9#) and Luke (6# 13oz) BFFs:

Biliruben Light Therapy:

Going Home!

Allie greets Luke... true love!

New Patio

We are in Phase 1 of our backyard project. We had the patio extended this week and we are pleased with how well it turned out... now maybe we can get a bigger table to host more than just ourselves for outdoor dinners :) All in due time!

Baby Drew is Here!

Our friends, the Carpenters just had their baby, Drew, yesterday and we are thrilled! He was a big baby at 9#, so I know Sarah is happy she had a planned C-section. We are excited our kids will be so close in age and look forward to watching them grow. We went to see them last night at the hospital to celebrate-- their link is in my Friend's Blogs-- and I am sure Wade is working on getting pictures posted soon! I won't tell their story, but Drew is a tough boy and he is in our prayers. We are excited to hear if today brings good news for their family! I bet it does! Here is the diaper cake I made to take to them... Brent started pulling on stuff when he saw it, so I am surprised it is all still in one piece!

As we were leaving the hospital, I started getting strong contractions and must have been walking funny because Brent said he saw 2 nurses look at each other with a "Why-is-she-leaving-the-hospital?" look. So, hopefully this is the last pregnant picture I post and Drew and Luke/Elliott can meet soon!