Brooks is 1 month

Stats:

Weight: 9 lbs 5 oz (50%)

Length: 21.5 inches (50%)

Head: 14.25 inches (25%)

Brooks has has an eventful first month...celebrated first Thanksgiving, lots of brothers' Christmas festivities, first ER trip and hospital admission which included blood/urine draw and spinal tap :(. Poor baby ran a fever on Saturday and with babies under 28 days they have to follow standard protocol as some scary things can happen, most crucial being meningitis. Praise God Brooks had a positive viral panel for corona virus which is just a common cold (that likely mommy and brothers also had) and was the source of his fever. We only had to stay 24 hours vs 48 because he was doing so well. He's a trooper and now at home doing great!! He is such a sweet baby and fits right into our crazy family. Can't imagine life without this sweet bundle. 

EAT--nursing every 3 ish hours, will give 4 hour stretch during day but never at night ! Very efficient, only about 8-10 mins and he is done! I did get mastitis at 2 weeks which was rough, hoping its one and done this time around!

PLAY-doesn't mind tummy time, will lift his head and look side to side, still has a perfect head shape and we're working hard on keeping it that way. Since he is so sweet natured most of the time, he gets held because I just love the baby snuggles and know they won't last long at all. It's nice having Caleb home, so I have lots of Brooks snuggles while boys at school or away on outings with Daddy!

Sleep-at night will wake up every 2-3 hours but keep him swaddled and he goes right back to sleep. Does much better in rock n play than anywhere else. 

My sweet Brooksie Bear,

From the moment I held you one month ago I am in awe of how perfect and wonderful you are. I just look at you and wonder about your personality and all the big plans God has for you. I love your baby squeaks and how you put your hand under your little chin. I love that you love to be held and snuggled. You can sleep through anything and I have a feeling it will stay that way because our house is noisy! We love you so much and thank God for the sweet and perfect gift you are! 

Love

Mama

A photo recap:

First surgery :(

Well, Carter is now 5 for 5 for major medical bills in the month of December (1-birth, 2-stitches, 3-rsv/pneumonia, 4-rsv/pneumonia, hospital admission) and now 5-broken arm/surgery. That's right. On Tuesday night (12/10) Carter was climbing up into a chair at the bar to see what our sweet friend Alison brought us for dinner. His foot slipped and he braced himself on the tile floor with the elbow. Immediate crying and this mama knew--I had heard that cry and seen that arm position before. However, we have learned there's really no point in getting immediate X-rays. Pain was surprisingly ok so we waited until the next morning since he already had his 4 yr ck up scheduled. Dr may have thought Caleb was crazy, but also comfirmed it was likely broken and we needed to see the ortho. Poor little man got 3 shots and a blood draw on top of a broken arm...note to self: not a good combo, delay shots!! Caleb had to deal with an inconsolable, irrational 4 yr old but did redeem himself with a sonic kids meal. 

That afternoon I took him to ortho. Got X-rays and dr immediately said it was broken. A 4 mm displacement so surgery was needed. On Friday. Lovely. They put him in a soft cast and he went to school on Thursday (have I ever mentioned he loves attention?). We explained simply what was going to happen and he showed no signs of anxiety. My little rule follower had no problem with being npo. If dr says he can't eat or drink, then by golly you don't eat or drink! 

Mimi graciously took Isaac for the day and Brooks came with us. Dad and Jolie met us at the surgery center. Carter chatted it up with everyone in pre-op and was really into telling jokes. Grandpa passed down his crybaby bear which was his growing up. At about 1 they have him versed and anesthesiologist said "this is what your kid will act like on drugs". Oh.dear. Carter became extra chatty and let's just say had no filter, acting all boy. I had been dreading the saying goodbyes but with Carter so happy and chatty and all the prayers, it really was devoid of emotion. 

The 2 hours went by fast as I addressed Christmas cards and talked with family. Dr Sackett came out and said carter did great. There was more soft tissue damage than expected and he had to use 3 pins to put it all back together. About 30 mins later we got to see him. He was pretty sleepy but super sweet and not agitated at all. His sats kept dropping to the 80s so we had to wake him up to cough. After about an hour and a half in the pacu, it was time to go. Carter was not ready to go and cried--nurse said that was a first. She was able to lure him out with the promise of riding in a wheelchair to the car. He came home, ate some sonic, and slept all night. Little did we know the medical drama the next day would bring with little Brooks, but Carter was such a trooper and survived his first surgery (and hopefully only?!) like a champ!

Pre op chatting:

Waiting room:

Leaving in the wheelchair!

2 week stats

Weight:  8 lb 0.3 oz (50%)

Length: 20.9 in (60%)

Head : 13.5 in (10%)

Already a week?!

Ok, so the 3rd time around I know how fast time flies so I'm trying to be intentional about lots of snuggle time. I just LOVE the newborn stage and Brooks is the sweetest most chill baby. He only gets mad if he's cold (hates getting clothes changed) and then fusses when he's hungry. That's it. Otherwise, he is so content just to lay on my chest or in my arms and sleep. He's sleeping a ton...I know it's normal, but he only has 2-3 30-45 min alert periods and is otherwise sleeping. The first 2 nights home he just wanted to be held all night and would fuss if we put him down anywhere. Thankfully, he has become content swaddled in the rock n play and will wake up every 3ish hours to eat then after burping goes right back to sleep. I really want time to stop, I love this snuggly squishy age!! The big boys are doing great...will comment on things he's doing but pretty much do their own thing. It's great having Caleb home, he's such a good Daddy and support to me.

I'm loving...

-his bald little head smell as he lays on my chest

-how he puts his right hand under his chin when he nurses 

-his froggy legs that just squishes him into a snuggly ball

-his sweet sweet smell!

 Here are a few pics since we've been home. I'll work on his birth story and do hospital pics later....

Our sweet welcome home from Aunt Diana

Wood party of 5! Let's do this!

First morning home snuggling with my 3 boys

Love this. We missed Carter's feast at school but Grandpa and GrandmaJo went. He is thankful for his baby brother and moms new shower. Amen buddy!

Carter has been super sweet with Brooks. 

During one of his alert times

Daddy snuggles

First time to the firetruck park

He's just so tiny!

His first party...community group chili cook off 

Those cheeks!

Lots of just watching him sleep ...and being so in love!

His first bottle at 6 days. Likes it warm but did great!

Napping in the rock n play

First Starbucks trip

What a trio!!

Brooks' Birth Story

Our sweet little guy was due 11/25. My ob decided early on it would be best to induce at 39 weeks given genes and Isaac being 8 lb 12 oz at 39w1d. A 37 wk growth sono was measuring him at 6 lb 12 oz but again, genes play bigger role so we stuck with the 11/18 induction. I was hoping he would come on his own. I had contractions off and on those last 2-3 weeks and went in at 2 cm and 70% for induction.

The Monday before I took the big kids to pump it up for some fun quality time with mama. Carter and I made Brooks a "birthday eve" cake and had a lil bday eve party with pizza, chicken Parmesan/pasta for mama, and cake for all. Nana, Burlie, and Mimi came over and dropped off presents for all 3 boys which was fun. I didn't sleep well the night before, more excited than anything. At 430 I looked over and Caleb was awake too. "You ready to have a baby today"? He went for a run and I took a steam shower and took my time getting ready and spending time with the Lord, praying for (then unnamed) Brooks and delivery. The boys got up and we got them ready for school. Mimi came and picked them up at 7, taking them to IHOP for breakfast with great nana and papa burl. Caleb and I drove to kroger for newborn diapers (#3rdchild) and a movie then onto the hospital!

We got there and there was no room available. I wanted to go see all the new babies in the nursery and there were 15...no wonder no labor rooms were available! Thankfully after a 30 min wait (that felt like 2 hours!) I was called back. Got on my pretty gown, let the student nurse do her first IV EVER (hey, I'm all about learning...you can do IV, you can't deliver my baby!), and Dr Ryder came in to check me.

I was at a 2, 70%. She broke my water and pitocin was started. Felt really good those first few hours. Felt contractions but not unbearable. Caleb and I watched the today show (of note it was 26 degrees that morning and weather was major story), and played gin. We typically play for a prize...I was winning so tried to negotiate winner gets to name baby but he wasn't conceding. Around 11 family started to arrive. At noon Caleb went to waiting room to eat lunch with his fam (such a great thing as he wasn't hungry/crabby/eating my food after birth) and dad and Jolie stayed in with me. Mom dropped by for a bit and brought a sweet outfit (which she ended up returning once we realized we had a small baby) then went to run errands. Around 1 dr Ryder checked me and I was only at a 4. I felt discouraged since the contractions had been going strong and since they were getting way more painful decided I was ready for epidural.

Anesthesiologist came in, placed epidural. Had a crazy left leg jump. Laid back down and felt it only working on my left, still feeling painful contractions on right. They rolled me on my right side to try to get meds to "move". Nope. 45 mins of super pain--feeling everything on right nothing on left. This is what happened with Isaac except for it worked on right, not left. dr came back in, gave me a "boost" dose. Still nothing. Caleb was being super sweet but I wasn't so sweet back. He was rubbing my face and I remember saying "quit petting me!". Ha. Long story, they had to pull the first epidural and put in a 2nd with a 2nd boost and then my right side worked. Anesthesiologist was joking and showing you tube videos to Caleb and the nurse as I was hunched over in pain...did not care for that guy but it finally works. Hallelujah! Anesthesiologist said I have some issues in my epidural space so note to self--if induced again, get epidural before contractions get painful! At this point I was at a 5. Unfortunately, with all the meds and an empty stomach I started having low blood pressure and nausea. The rn (jami--loved her) gave me meds and within 20 mins I was feeling good. I also had Caleb sneak me a protein bar around this point :). I went from 5 to 10 in 45 mins. Felt a weird pressure around my ribs which I remember from Isaac being the need to push. It sure was! Dr Ryder was called in, room was transformed to a delivery room, Brooks' nurse showed up and we were ready to have a baby!

I pushed through 3 contractions and he was here! They immediately put him on my chest and my first words were "he's so little"! We were expecting a 9 lb baby, but he was so perfect, all 7 lbs 13 oz of him. They let me hold him and Caleb look at him a good 10-15 mins then took him over to his little warming table to get weighed and wiped down. They gave  him back to me and he was so alert and latched on immediately for nursing. We had a good 45 mins the 3 of us then called family in. Carter looked at him but was way more interested in how my bed worked than his baby brother. Isaac on the other hand was super interested, kept pointing and saying "baby! Baby". Once other family came in, Isaac insisted on being right next to baby at all times. I was a little worried how this would play out but thankfully the newness wore off quickly :).

Ali brought us Jason's deli wraps which were a huge hit. I also got the traditional pork chop :). They changed policy where they don't give baths until babies are 6 hours old, so Caleb wheeled Brooks in his little bucket up to the postpartum room and he stayed with us until we were completely exhausted and ready to go to sleep. Love the luxury of the hospital where I could call Brooks' nurse and she would take him until he was needing to eat. Caleb got our bags, Brooks went to get his first bath, and mama went to sleep. Oh, November 18, 2014. A day I will never forget. Happy birthday sweet baby boy!

Birthday eve party

Look at that belly! Night before induction

Delivery room!

Carter loved all the attention in the waiting room!

Sweet Isaac playing blocks

First photo family of 5!

First looks...

Day 2 of hospital:

Day 3: going home day!