Bragging about Daddy/Husband

I just wanted to post a little brag about how great Jeff/daddy has been since Brooke was born. He has gone above and beyond in my eyes. I can tell how proud he is of his daughter. I catch him just staring at her in awe as she sleeps and when those big beautiful brown eyes are open. It absolutely melts my heart to watch him gazing at her as he does. He has no problem changing a dirty diaper either. I thought if I had any problems out of him it would be that, but he jumped right in and hasn't looked back. He would do absolutely anything for that little girl. He has been great dealing with me and my hormones too. I haven't had any rages or anything like that. Just crying over simple little things that a new mother would. He justs lets out a giggle then comforts me. I don't get mad at him laughing at me, I usually giggle in the middle of my crying because I know it's over something simple, but I just can't control it. Anyways, I just wanted to dote on him and let him know how much I love and appreciate him.

Issues....

Well we have been home from the hospital for 2 days now and yesterday we had a few problems with little Miss Brooke. The first night in the hospital I tried to give Brooke a pacifier just to see if she would be interested or not. She was definitely NOT that night. The second night we let her sleep in the nursery so we could get some sleep. She came back for feedings every 2 hours. In the morning I noticed her little bed had a pacifier in the corner of it. The nurse never mentioned to me whether or not she actually took one. Well Wednesday night when she was home for the first night we laid her in her pack and play next to the bed. She didn't seem to want to fall asleep, so I tried the pacifier again. She took it this time! The only problem was it fell out of her mouth every 10 minutes and she would cry. GREAT!!!! Our child is hooked, definitely not want we wanted. My cousin, Tracy, who drove all the way from Austin, TX to take newborn pictures of Brooke, came over her mom, my aunt Cheryl. Brooke was good as long as she had her pacifier in her mouth. Of course, we don't want that thing in the pictures, but she wouldn't have it. She screamed when we pulled it out of her mouth. So needless to say, the pictures didn't go well and we eventually just gave up.  I tried to get her to sleep without her pacifier and she just cried and cried. Nina took her for a while too and she just cried and cried. After at least an hour, Nina finally got her to sleep. I took her in the bedroom with me and we both napped. We woke up almost 2 hours later and she cried again for her pacifier. I put her in her swing without her pacifier and she cried. Finally I just gave in and let her have it. While Jeff and his dad were riding 4 wheelers, Nina and I were her with Brooke. I was sitting on the couch trying to catch up on emails and Brooke was in her swing asleep with her PACIFIER in her mouth. All of a sudden I saw it fall out of her mouth. I kept a close watch to see what she would do. I thought she would just start squalling but much to my amazement she didn't!!! She hasn't "asked" for it since then which is great!!! The second problem we have been having is her feeding. Yesterday for some reason she wouldn't eat anything. I have been breastfeeding and couldn't get her to latch at all. She slept most of the day yesterday and I could not get her to eat anything!! Of course I was worried that something was wrong. Then on top of that, she wasn't pooping. Her diaper would only have a slight yellow spot where poop should be, but I didn't consider that a poop. I finally called my sister, a mother of 3 breastfed children, for her advice. I thought about trying formula in a bottle to see if Brooke would take that. My sister's last child, Gavin, kept them in the hospital an extra day after he was born because he wouldn't latch on. They finally gave him formula in the hospital, but he still breastfed even after taking bottles with no problems. I tried twice giving Brooke formula bottles, but they failed like breastfeeding. Now I was really worried as was daddy. Our baby isn't eating or pooping!!! I laid down at about 9pm last night with her to get some sleep. We woke up about 9:45pm and I decided to try a formula bottle again because I was getting more worried the later it got. She TOOK it!!!! She sucked it down!!! YEAH!!!! Now I just need a poop!!! We were scheduled to see the pediatrician Friday and we would talk to the Dr. about the problem. Brooke continued all night to take formula bottles. The breastfeeding still isn't going well. My milk hasn't decided to come in so maybe Brooke decided she wasn't satisfied enough and got frustrated and gave up. She's been sucking down formula bottles all day today. Oh, we finally got a poop diaper this morning, just a couple hours before our Dr.'s visit. We definitely felt relieved!!! Although I did still mention this to the Doctor. He didn't seem concerned with the problem since it seemed to be resolved. I'm still waiting on my milk to come in. Hopefully it will arrive tonight!!! I don't want to keep Brooke on formula!! Our last problem for now is the doctor said that Brooke's neck muscles on her right side need to be exercised 3 times a day. Apparently the position she was in in-utero didn't allow her to use that neck muscle much so it's a little stiff. He rolled up a small blanket, placed it on the exam table, laid Brooke on her side and pushed her head over the roll to stretch it. Of course I had my hands over my mouth in shock while watching this. I actually thought that the Doctor was going to break her neck!! He wants us to do this at home 3 times a day with 15 reps. YEAH RIGHT!!! Jeff says he will do it because he realized by my reaction there was no way I could do this to my child. Jeff and I were changing Brooke's diaper about 2 hours ago and Jeff says "Ok, I'm going to do her neck exercises now." Of course I had to leave the room and get myself busy. I went to the laundry room to get her clean clothes to put away. I made it to her room and lost it. I couldn't contain myself or my hormones and burst into tears. I had in my head that Jeff was going to "break her neck" as I thought the Doctor was. A few minutes later, Jeff came in the room with Brooke to find me bawling my eyes out over this ordeal. Of course I felt better that she was ok and gained my composure while Jeff comforted me. Then Jeff tells me he will start doing the neck exercises while I'm in the shower so I don't know he's doing it. What do you think will be going through my head every shower I take now????? I will probably cry through every shower now. THANKS DADDY!!!

Random Pictures and a Bonus Video...lol

Bringing Brooke Home!!!!

We finally got released from "prison" or the hospital on Wednesday around 3pm. We were so eager to get home and get settled in.  We were so excited to finally bring our new bundle of joy home after all this waiting!! It's so nice to be in the comforts of our home and our own food for that matter. Jeff's parents have been here helping us as we get settled with Brooke (that has meant alot to Jeff and I!!!) We are more than greatful for the extra help and the yummy meals Nina has been cooking for us. Yummy!!! Here are a few pictures from the last day at the hospital as we are getting ready to leave.

Visitors

My cousin Tracy all the way from Texas

Proud Daddy with his mom (aka Nina)

My grandmother with Brooke

Great Uncle Ronnie holding Brooke

Jeff holding Brooke and my sister and mom looking on. 

Proud Poppi Gritter

My parents (Grandma and Grandpa)

Here are a few pictures of visitors who came by to welcome Miss Brooke into the world. Some people we weren't able to get pictures of (Sorry!!)

Brooke's Birthday!!!

Here I am with my baby girl almost 4 days old finally being able to write about her birthday.  I had begun having mild contractions on Sunday while my sister and I spent the day together. I was hoping to go into labor before the scheduled induction, but now I'm glad I didn't. Jeff and I arrived at the hospital at 4:50am. Filled out tons of paperwork even though they told me I was "preregistered." They got us into a room about 5:30am and took my blood and started the IV with fluids and PCN. Around 6am they started the pitocin. I was still only 1 cm dilated when they checked my cervix. I just knew this would be a long day!! Boy did that pitocin kick in quick. The contraction weren't really painful at this point, I could just feel my stomach tightening and I mean it was tight. They sent Dr. Dan in (my favorite Dr. ) He was my epidural man. He came in to go over everything for the procedure and let me know he was ready once they got the bolus fluids in me. Bring on the fluids!!! Well not too much longer my contractions started getting pretty intense. Poor Jeff probably didn't have any blood flow to his hands during these contractions. At one point Jeff asked me after a contraction was over "Did it hurt?" to which I replied "No, it felt good!" Mom and I were laughing at him, even though I was in pain. I know Jeff hated seeing me like that.  Then came Dr. Dan, my fluids were in and boy was I ready!!! I didn't think having the epidural put it was all that bad. The only part that bothered me was when he did the test injection and it shocked my left lower back which made me jump. After the epidural I was feeling no pain. The nurse checked my cervix again and I was at 2 cm. I guess a little progress. At this point it was about 10am. We did get a slight scare when 3 nurses came walking in with these serious looks on their faces. They didn't say anything to us about what was going on which scared me even more. Apparently the baby's heart rate took a scary dive so they put an internal heart rate monitor on her head. They stopped the pitocin in case that was putting the baby in distress. No problems after that. I still think it was the position I was laying in or she shifted which she was doing all morning. The nurse came in about 30 mins later and restarted the pitocin since I wasn't contracting much without it. About 12ish Jeff and I were exhausted, so everyone left the room so we could sleep. At this point I was 3-4 cm dilated. We tried to get as much sleep as possible in a hospital room. I may have been able to sleep if it hadn't been for the blood pressure cuff pumping up every 10 mins. My dad and brother came in around 1pm to see how we were holding up. We were watching the contraction monitor and how mild and far apart they were. We were expecting an evening delivery. A couple contractions I told my dad I felt a little pressure, but being my first birth I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't in pain so I thought nothing of it.  About 30 mins later the nurse came in and said it was time to check my cervix.  Of course Dad and Steven bolted out of the room like lightning at the news of that. Much to my surprise when the nurse checked me she said I had NO cervix. At first I thought she meant that I was completely thinned out which I was pretty much when I arrived. Then I thought, well I had a cervix I thought!!! Then she said I was at 10cm!!! That's when I looked at Jeff and started crying. My emotions hit me, the baby is about to come out and I couldn't wait or contain myself at the thought of her being so close to birth. The nurse didn't really panic or anything. She just said she would start getting everything ready for delivery. A few minutes later Mom, Nina and my sister appeared in the room. I quickly told them I was 10cm dilated and of course was crying again. Again I was in no pain at all, just the thought of holding her in my arms after 9 months of carrying her in utero. They got the room set up and we began pushing with contractions. The contractions were still the same as they were earlier. Not strong or close together. So the pushing may have lasted almost 45 mins, but the pushing was only with contractions so it wasn't as bad as it sounds. We were laughing and crying(mainly me at this point) and making jokes in between. Apparently when the nurse was telling me to hold my breath and push my sister and Nina were in the corner doing it as well. The baby was having a hard time getting past my pubic bone and they mentioned maybe having to suction her out. At this point I put everything I could into pushing her out without help of suction (which sounds scary to me!!) At 2:43 pm on Jan 12th our little girl Brooke was born!!!! She weighed in at 7lbs 5.1 oz and was 20.5 inches long. I had to have quite a few stitches so I didn't get to hold her long. I watched everyone ooooohing and awwwwing over her.  If I didn't mention before, my mom, my sister and Jeff's mom were also in the room for the delivery. Jeff (daddy) was a definitely a proud father. I don't think many people got to hold her because he was being a baby hog!!! I absolutely loved watching her with him and vs versa. Everywhere she went, there was her daddy. He got to go to the nursery and video tape her first bath and even put her first diaper on. Jeff said he must not have done it very well because when we got her back she was in a new one....LOL.....he tried!!! We are thrilled to pieces to finally have our little Brooke with us in our arms and lives. We will try to keep pictures posted on here as much as possible.  

Fried Green Tomatoes

Sorry about the late post. We've had alot going on. There will be more on that story coming up. Well Nina-aka Grandma Gritz from Florida arrived on Wed, Jan 7th awaiting the impending birth of our daughter. Since Brooke decided she would arrive fashionably late, I took Nina to Juliette, GA where the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed. We had a wonderful lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe, though neither of us had fried green tomatoes...lol.  After we ate we walked around this one street town looking at the remaining props from the movie. 

40 week appt!!

Well, nothing much changed from last week or the week before that. Still only 1cm dilated and 75% effaced. Baby measured 38 weeks this time so the doctor said she has definately dropped. 2 weeks ago she was measuring 34 weeks which is why we had to have the U/S then. We have scheduled an induction for Monday, Jan 12th if she hasn't arrived by then. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a birthday before then. My 2 guesses at Brooke's arrival date have been wrong so far. One thing I definately want to be wrong is my Sister-in-law's guess at Brooke's birth weight!!!!! She's now guessing a whopping 9lb 9oz's!!!! I didn't like her previous guess of 9lb 3oz's, then she has to go and up that weight. I hope she's wrong by about 3lbs. lol......I'll keep everyone posted of any changes.

New Years!!!

Jeff is really into singing that song!!!


Jeff and my brother-in-law Shaan.

Jeff and my pregnant (about to pop) self!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!!! I guess it's safe to say Miss Brooke will be a 2009 baby. We spent New Year's Eve with my sister and her husband and a bunch of drunken fools at my sister's house. They had a fire pit in the driveway to help keep everyone warm (it got down to 27 degrees that night) and my brother Steven, brought Rock Band over to their house. I wish I had video of all the drunken men thinking they were in a real band. I stole some pictures off my sister's blog to post on here since I forgot to take my camera out of the car that night.

Late Christmas Pictures

Gavin and Grandpa


Gavin with a bottled coke


Gavin with his Mommy

What a handsome young man!!!!

Shelby being a little goof!!

Love this picture!! Not sure where that look came from.

Shelby opening a present

Kalyn opening her presents

Smiling for the camera

Gavin climbing on things. Luckily Grandpa was there to supervise!!