the 'document' of Asher's time with us so far

Here are some details from the last 3 weeks that I've been trying to write and post for two weeks now... it's a lot; and mostly for my own sake, I have a bad memory for things like this.  But feel free to read if you wish.  ;-)


Sunday (10.10.10)

You were born on a beautiful, fall, Sunday morning Little One.  It was sunny and warm.  I went into labor at 11pm the Saturday night before, you were born Sunday at 3:45am.  You could've been born around 1:45am because I was already dilated to a 8 or 9, but I opted to get an epidural and that slowed the process down a tad -but not much, you still debuted into this world just 2 hours later, you were really wanting to come out.  So labor was fast and intense, but not so bad. Once my body was ready to give birth there was no stopping my incompetent cervix. (You came so fast, it caused a 3rd degree tear, it would take more than three weeks for mommy to feel half way normal again). You came out just screaming- I mean before your feet even made it out you were squeaking! This was a wonderful and musical noise to your Daddy and I's ears; we've waited a very long time to meet you and hold you and love you.  There were three other nurses, doctor P, our doula Sara, Daddy and I in the room. Baby Asher, you made us smile and get misty eyed right away, we were in awe of getting to hold you, our little miracle we prayed for for so long. All of your APGAR  scores came back great (8's I think). Your eyes were wide open, taking in all this new light and noise. You ate right away for a good 40-ish minutes. Aunty Anne came to Abbott right away to meet you, with a smile and joyful tears, she prayed with us about you before you were even conceived. Mommy then had a vasovagal episode, and that was a little bit scary- Anne held you while Daddy and several nurses were caring for me-trying to get me conscious. Things settled down and about 8am Daddy gave you your first bath. -You didn't like being naked much. Then we spent the morning holding and cooing over your adorableness.  Daddy headed home to catch a quick nap and a shower and mommy and you rested.  Later Grammy and Papa Reed and Aunty's Cally and Anna came to meet you for a few hours and then Aunty Andrea and Alex stopped by quick too.   It took a little while to finalize your name. But that night we decided you were definitely Asher Clark. Grandma and Grandpa Johnson came briefly that evening to meet you; then daddy took them home to sleep. You continued to eat really well and snuggled by mommy until about 12:30am and went off to the nursery for 5 hours -where you continued to sleep like a big boy! The nurse said your were the best baby in there! :-)  

Monday (10.11)
You and I snuggled in bed all morning until Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa Johnson came back.  They loved holding you precious boy! You had a few more visitors who were excited to meet you that day. Mommy was having a rough time recovering and took everything super slow. It was really nice to be in the hospital and have them cater to our every need. You continued to eat well. You began to have your bilirubin levels checked. They were in the medium category, on the slightly high end. Nothing to worry about just watch. We sent out your birth announcement e-mail to many friend and family who had prayed for you for a very long time.  That evening you watched part of your first Vikings game with Daddy. Baby Asher, he adores you! We adore you. That night was equally as good as the first. And so many friends and family who prayed for you so faithfully before you were even conceived, or born, left their well wishes and congratulations on your birth.  Son, your are SO loved, cared for, and prayed for by SO MANY!

Tuesday (10.12)
We took our time getting ready that morning. After another biliruben test, the pediatrician decided to send us home with you on a bili light for a few days. -We kept you on it as much as possible through that Saturday. -You didn't like it much, it was rather uncomfortable.  Anyway, we checked out of the hospital after lunch (Daddy had one more meal from the McDonald's at the hospital). It was windy, but sunny that fall day. We headed home with your tiny little self in the (what looked like) huge infant car seat.  Just the week before you were born we bought a Morono, it's a taller vehicle to lug your car seat in and out of- and it worked out beautifully with you in it, completing our tiny new Johnson family.  The remainder of your day was spent quietly at home with mommy and daddy.  Right when we got home daddy walked you into each room of our home and told you what it was, and what we do there.  You seemed at ease in your new home right away. You also liked to have the ambient spa radio playing, you'd relax right away. That night you had to be on your billi light (you'd be on it until Saturday), and you didn't like it much.  So mommy slept beside you your first night home, so that when you woke (since we couldn't swaddle you) I could comfort you. It worked out pretty well, and Daddy got to get some good sleep in. It was so good to be home all together!

Wednesday (10.13)
It proved to be an eventful day (but not until MUCH later).  During the day we just took care of adding you insurance, running your to get blood tests, and cuddling you. Auntie Andrea stopped by to visit you.  It was a nice first day home. Gorgeous outside and quite relaxing.  We all went to bed early and you were asleep around 9:30pm.  At about 11:30 your woke to eat again. You always have (and continue to) eat really well, you suck fast and hard and then we change you and you go back to sleep.  I fed you and got up to lay you down to sleep again.  When I walked out of your room, I promptly had to go into the bathroom where there was tile flooring, because large amounts of blood started to pool at my feet, along with a lemon size clot. I yelled for daddy, who came right away; he started to get you in your car seat (I hadn't got to put you in your little swaddler, because you were on your billi light, so you were in only a diaper! I called my OB Dr. who advised us to go to the ER right away.  Asher you were so good, you just slept the whole time, before leaving we called Auntie Anne and she was up and ready to meet us at the ER to hold and care for you while daddy took care of me, she also got you a bottle and blankets, she loves you so much.  The whole way there- and it should normally take us about 35 minutes- we prayed and cried out to Jesus, asking for it to be nothing serious, for me to stay conscious, for safety... All of these prayers were answered. (especially the safety, because daddy got us to the ER in 13 minutes flat!!! he may have been going a tad fast, yes, even with you in the car.  Lets just say you've traveled at speeds of over 110mph- praise the Lord it was the middle of the night!) After more clots, ultrasound tests, observation, and some meds to make my blood vessels constrict it was decided that it may have been just left over placenta that the clots formed around and blood pooled behind. So we headed home about 5:15am to try to sleep some.

The Rest (10.14-10.16)
Thursday it was just our family, we stayed home and rested as much as possible, after two sleepless nights in one week, we were exhausted.  It was daddy's last day home, so he held you and talked to you a lot, and gave me time to take baths, etc.  Grandma Johnson came up Thursday and Friday to help cook and take care of you and mommy. Friday you had more blood draws for your billi ruben and you had your circumcision done.  Daddy came from work and went with you, and you were a trooper, you did better than mommy- who bawled the whole time in the room waiting for you.  That night Auntie Bridget came for the weekend.  She slept next to you the whole night, comforted you on your light, and changed you and brought you to me when you needed to eat. this was the best gift and act of selflessness ever. It allowed us to get in some good solid rest! Saturday Bird wheeled me around Babies R Us to get some last minute things for you I didn't have.  And then Annette Pare came over and took newborn photo's of you.  They were precious, I'm so thankful to have them.  Sunday we ventured to the pumpkin patch for 15 minutes so Auntie Bird could take our first family photo's.  It was chilly so we didn't stay out long, but you were SURE CUTE!  Daddy and I had dreamt of taking you to the pumpkin patch when you were born, and it was surreal to hold you and actually be DOING IT! WOW!  God has been so good us!

Weeks 1-3 Highlights
Week 1 (10.17-10.23)

• Tuesday-Saturday Grammy Reed and Auntie Anna came to stay with us and help around the house and cuddle you. It was wonderful to have them here!
• Daddy went back to work- for the full week
• You continue to nurse really well 
• When we give you tummy time of have you on our shoulder, you hold your head up so high and for a long time. It's rather impressive for such a young little guy!
• You've drank occasional bottles of mommies milk, and you do great with them!
• You like bath time, you just look around while mommy washes you.
• You like to sleep with your 'sleep sheep' set to rain, just like your daddy does.

Week 2 (10.24-10.30)

• 10.25 You rolled from your tummy to your back while you were doing "tummy time"! 
• 10.25 you weighed 9.3lbs when we went to the Dr.
• You don't cry as much when we change your diaper, and you love to look at the black mirror hanging above the changing area.
• You started making grunting noises all the time (and still do), and you're not upset.
• You no longer fit into the little grey "l'oved baby" outfit you came home from the hospital in.  
• Tuesday and Wednesday we had record low pressure for the continental US right here in MN! And the winds were up to 60mph!  It was CRAZY! You didn't mind.
• We went our first adventure together in the wind, Target! Whoo-hoo! You did great until we got to the check out and decided mommy had taken long enough.  You were excited to get home and eat.
• 10.29-10.31 You went on your first road trip! We headed to Waterloo, IA to visit family. You do really well in the car, on the way there I only stopped one time to feed and change you and on the way home no stops at all! You like your car seat. We hadn't been to IA since May. Auntie Elizabeth and all your cousins- Elliott, Emma and Isa were so happy to meet you Little One.  Then on Saturday you got to meet your other cousin Landon, Auntie Bird and Anna, Daddy and I took you two trick or treating to all the relatives houses.  Landon was a monkey and you were a little banana, it was a cute little sight! And All the Great Grandparents and Great Aunties and Uncles were very pleased to meet you.
• You out grew your newborn size pampers diapers, this made mommy nostalgically sad.
• When Daddy gets home from work he can't wait to kiss you and talk to you.  His job lately has been to get you wake up and stay awake for the evening, because you sleep ALL the time- during the day, all night.  You must be growing like crazy kiddo! Your daddy and mommy love you very much and enjoy just being with you.
• On 10.30 you weighed 10.2lbs! - that's a lot of weight gain buddy, and it's starting to show a lot of your face, neck and arms.
• Baby, you are SO adorable! People stop us everywhere we go and say you're just a gorgeous "gerber" baby.  We so think so, but we're the parents.

Week 3 (10.31-11.6)

• You've rolled over twice more from tummy to your back, so I know it's not a mistake! Boy, you're so strong!
• You've started to notice when your diaper is wet or dirty, and when we change it you seem more relaxed.
• We've noticed that you look visibly chunkier even since this weekend.
• You're still sleeping a whole lot. -if I had to guess I'd imagine you're up for only 1.5-2 hours the whole day! It always worries me that you won't sleep the whole night, but you always do. Waking only to eat 2-3 times. (you're still a super fast eater too). Although the past couple of days you've been wanting to eat very 2.5 hours around the clock, you must have a hole in your tummy!
• Since last week you get really strong hiccups after you eat, nearly every time, we feel so bad for you little man. You still nurse really well, and really fast! And while you eat, this week you use your voice with each suck, like a singing humming sound. So cute. (and noisy).
• Just this week you've become more aware of your surroundings and have spent some more time awake during the day. And have begun to really study our faces.
• Daddy noticed that lately if you're fussing you quiet right down when he picks you up and snuggles you.
• 11.3 You had the tiniest little tear in your eye when you cried today.
• You still have all that gorgeous hair you were born with! And your eyelashes look like they'll be long and blond like your daddy's!
• 11.4 You had your first visit to the chiropractor, and he just made a few small adjustments, with hopes it may help your little digestive issues.  
• During the day you don't nap in your bed, just wherever we put you. I even vacuumed one day, it didn't seem to bother you.

Baby Asher, we love you. Time is going fast, we're trying to soak up every second with little you! We thank God for you, our precious gift!