Great Week!!

Sorry I haven't posted at all this week...Grandma was here and we just kept busy all week!! It was so great having someone do my laundry and cook my meals and get me stuff when I had already started nursing (gonna have to get better at remembering what I need before I sit down). My mom took me shopping (which completely exhausted me...did not expect that at all). But she got me some normal clothes!! It feels so great to have regular pants on and I look forward to when I can wear normal shirts and not really long big and long ones.

My mom just left and now I am officially on my own during the week...a little scary, but I think that I have been well trained by all the people that have offered advice and showed us how to do stuff. Yah a little scary, but part of me is really looking forward to spending some one on one time with my little guy!!
Everything is going soooo well!! He is a great sleeper and he seems to love schedules as much as I do...granted I know that everything could change tomorrow, but for now we have fallen into a nice routine. The holidays will probably disrupt that a bit, but after the new year I am sure we will find our rhythm again. He is also eating like a champ!! Right now we are just trying to regulate how much he eats...when he eats to much he spits up alot, so we are working on that right now! Funny how a baby changes everything:) I love it though!! I love being a mom. I never imagined how awsome it would really be...I feared colic, which could still happen, but I have been soooo very blessed with a little angel.

I hope to start adding a little variety to my blog from here on out!!! I love talking about the baby, but I am in dire need of other conversation at the same time:)

Family Photo

Our First Family Photo

Every day seems to get better and better!! Josiah is nursing well and I am feeling much better. I could actually see my ankles today:) This is good news indeed!!! I think we are finally on the upswing of the first week home from the hospital.

Dan is an absolutely wonderful father. He has taken to fatherhood with a natural ease a mother could only hope for:) It brings tears to my eyes when he is holding Josiah and looking down at him with the look only a proud father has. Dan has been so wonderful to me over this past week home and over the rough parts of pregnancy. Sure there have been ups and downs just like at any other stressful times in our lives...but we always come out on top and with more of an understanding of each others needs. I don't know how women come home to a household with a newborn and no father. I give them a ton of credit and just could never imagine Dan not being there for me at my beck and call (literally). There is so much you can't do when you first get home with a newborn that I feel so blessed that Dan had that first week to spend at home with Josiah and I. It brings tears to my eyes thinking that he has to go back to work tomorrow...we will miss him dearly and I know he will miss Josiah a ton when he is gone. Thank goodness Christmas is just around the corner and he will have another week to spend with us (be it on the road, but still time together).

I am looking forward to my mom coming to visit and stay with us for the week. She is coming down tomorrow morning and she gets to take us to the doctor to get my blood pressure checked. But I have a feeling that things are finally stabalizing since I can see my feet again:) At any rate; I don't think I am ready or should I say I don't think I want to be alone yet. I know I could handle all the baby stuff, but just having someone around for the company will mean so much to me. I am looking forward to doing some shopping and napping this week too:) It should be fun!!

Breastfeeding going well

He is just so snuggly and cuddly. I am so very glad that he didn't lose interest in the boob over the past couple of days when we had to cup feed. He is just such a good baby. In fact I decided to see how long he would sleep last night and I finally had to wake him up after 6 hours. Any of you that know me well...know that he must have inherited that from me...even if it is only for a couple of nights!! We will definately take what we can get!!!!

Update on High Blood Pressure

We went to the Dr. today and got my blood pressure taken. It was still high, but not to scary to the dr's I guess. It was 148/94...still something they are going to monitor though! Apparently I don't have a UTI and my anemia is normal with post delivery...so I was scarred and depressed and didn't really need to be. To bad the dr didn't take into account the fact that I am post partum and I will take everything and blow it out of proportion:) They did a complete blood work up today and I am going to the dr again on Monday to get my blood pressure checked again. At that time they will decide what action needs to be taken if any at all. Just wanted to let those of you know who were praying for us...and thank you!!

It has been great having visitors...a great distraction to all the little problems that keep creeping up on us. I will start posting visitor pictures soon!! I just love showing off our little Josiah:)

Update on Mom

He's got Dad's hair...it even sticks up on one side of his head (only on the opposite side of Dan's cowlick)

I haven't been really sure when to get real on this blog yet...but I could really use some prayers. Last night I went to the ER here in Eaton Rapids because I had a really strange headache and just felt really off. I got there and they checked my blood pressure only to find that it was sky high (153/103). Not good...so they did a work up on me and also found that I was anemic (which is probably pretty common this soon after delivery) and that I had a UTI. Not fun at all!!! So I am going back to the ER to get my blood pressure checked again this morning and we will go from there. I will keep you posted as I can...but prayers would be greatly appreciated. Also keep breastfeeding high on our prayer concern list. We are slowly getting there, but still pumping and supplimenting with formula. I know that God is taking care of us but with all these emotions that keep poring out my darn eyes, I could use some good news and a break from the tough stuff:)

On a positive note for me...I have already lost 22 pounds!! I knew there had to be an upside to delivering a big baby:)

Adorable Baby Pictures

Dan, baby and I are doing very well today!! It feels good to have a few more steps forward and less steps backwards:) Josiah slept very well last night and it sure made a difference for Dan and I today! We had a great time taking these pictures...not professional, but when you have a subject like Josiah...all the pictures turn out perfect:) Yep, we are some proud parents and don't even pretend to take credit for this perfect little guy. God had it in his plans for Dan and I to meet and one day have a baby. All part of God's perfect plan for us:)

Josiah had his first Dr. Apt today and checked out perfectly...like we doubted:) But he still weighs 8lbs12oz (which is what he weighed when he left the hospital) and is 21 1/2 inches long give or take a half an inch.

Thought I would have more time:)

Just a quicky update!! I really thought I would have more time to update my blog...but all in good time. Things are going relatively well...but with all the normal stuff that comes with having a big baby who loves to eat:) But he is the most precious thing and whenever things aren't going great I just have to look at him and it takes all the aches and pains and frustrations away:)

Thank you again for all your prayers! It has been truly awsome to see God's hand in all things baby:) When I have more time I will share more. But He provided an angel to me when I needed help (which brings tears to my eyes, like everything else;)

It's Picture Time

First Cute Outfit at the HospitalHe's a Spartan from the Get Go!!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Thank you for your Prayers!!!

(He already found his thumb...so much for not giving in to the thumb and pacifier...he loves them both:)

We are home safe and sound!!! I definately promise to post more tomorrow, but wanted to let everyone know that we made it home and we are all doing well. Grandma and Grandpa Loose were here today and got here early enough to shovel the snow before we got home....what a blessing (since I was still wearing slippers)!!!

I will post many more pictures tomorrow...so stay tuned!!!

Love you all and thank you so much for the prayers...it was an absolutely wonderful experience:) God has truly blessed our family!!

Josiah Kenneth

Here's some pictures of the newest addition to our family
Josiah Kenneth
Born: 12-2-05
Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz
Length: 22 inches

Happy Birthday Baby J

Today is the big day and I couldn't be more excited. And I thank God for that. I prayed alot last night and Dan and I prayed together. He has filled me with a peace and joy that only he can provide. No more sad tears (maybe tears of pain;)! Only tears of joy and happiness today:)

I can't wait to hold him and touch him and know that Dan and I have begun a new chapter in our lives...we have started our family. Thank you again for all your prayers and I can't wait to reveal his name and to show him off to everyone:)

God is good.....ALL the time

and

All the time.....God is good!!!