6 Months

This last week brought in the celebration of Aiden's half birthday- I can't believe he is 6 months old! It seems impossible that our little baby has been with us that long. Although, I can't imagine my life without him in it and cherish each and every day he has blessed our lives. This last month, Aiden got in two bottom teeth, tried rice cereal (which he still hates by the way), he still refuses to turn over onto his tummy from his back, but he stands holding on without our support (although I definitely hover and am there to catch him before he falls), he loves reaching for toys and is so observant! At his checkup, he was 28 inches tall and in the 90th percentile! He weighed in at 16lbs 13ou. Growing so big!

In celebration of 6 months, Aiden was graciously gifted RSV, I am suspecting from daycare. We tried hot steamy showers, cool humidifiers, extra fluids, but he still ended up at the doctor. Aiden was starting to have difficulty breathing. The doctor explained his RSV caused bronchiolitis and he also has an ear infection (that hadn't resolved from our previous visit). The poor kid brought home a shiny, yellow nebulizer and scripts for antibiotics. Despite all of this, he has remained the happiest little baby on the planet. Expect yesterday morning when he didn't want to take a nap, I did dub him Sir Cranky Pants. 

Several days later, Aiden is doing better. He still gets his nebulizer treatments, but his lungs sound so much better. He is also going a mile a minute. I have no idea how I will keep up with him once he starts crawling! But nothing is better than that big toothy grin.

A Week of Firsts...

Change has been the theme of the last week...well let's get serious, it pretty much has been the theme song of this year so far. But as this week comes to a close, there was definitely a lot of firsts. It was my first week in a new job. It was Aiden's first week at daycare. It was my first time leaving my baby in the care of strangers. Aiden first tried solids. When it comes down to it, if my family is not traumatized after this week, I think it is safe to say that we can handle anything coming our way. 

The job is good so far. The first week was filled with all the training, paperwork, and fun stuff that comes with it. There are still a lot of uncertainties, but hopefully I will get those cleared soon. It is strange getting used to different equipment, policies, and just different ways of doing things. Good Sam was pretty much where I trained during school and then went right to work there after graduation. I am already missing the overhead lifts in our ICU rooms, Alaris infusion pumps, and IV start kits. But I am sure there will be a lot of things I like better here also. It just will take some getting used to. 

Aiden did amazing at daycare! Aaron dropped him off at his first day (because I don't think I would have been able to do it) and I got to pick the little man up. Aside from having to sign a paper because Aiden got bonked on the head and that he didn't sleep much, they said he had a great time. And as the week progressed, he seemed to do a little better each day. He still doesn't sleep much there, but even I can barely get him to take a decent nap during the day. 

Among all the firsts, we also started Aiden on rice cereal. His first few bites went great and then he made the face. The face that says, "Mom! Have you tasted this stuff? It's gross!" He only takes a few bites and then he purses those lips together, pushes my hand away, and turns his head. I don't blame him, I took a little taste and Yuck! So what do I do? Move on to something else or keep at it? He seems to have the whole eating solids mechanism down, but I am not sure where to go from here. Any suggestions? 

To be honest, I'm glad to have this week behind us because of all the anxiety I had built up about getting a job, starting a job, sending Aiden to daycare, being away from my baby....it is all just another step in building our lives here. 

Home Sweet Home

So I know it has been awhile since my last post, but so much has been going on in our little Asay world. We just had a fantastic weekend with our wonderful friends Nick and Becca. It was such a relaxing weekend, followed by a crazy time waiting at O'Hare for a delayed flight with my infant son, and rewarded by finally making it home to Kearney. Right now I am sitting in my parent's living room, enjoying being with my family. When we were driving on the interstate and got off on the exit for Kearney, I felt like I was coming home from a really long trip. Now don't get me wrong, I am loving our new neighborhood and I do know that God brought us to Chicago for a reason, but there is something about this place where we grew up. And it will probably always have that feeling of home. Not to mention, it has been wonderful seeing the people that consumed our lives before we moved. Illinois holds the promise of new friends, but Kearney holds many of those that have been and still are near and dear to our hearts.

In other news, I got a new job! (Huge sigh of relief) I am going to be working at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington (a convenient 10 minutes from my house) as a critical care flex nurse. I am only working PRN (as needed), but I think it is going to be the perfect fit for our little family. I start Monday the 28th and will have to work a little more on the full-time spectrum of things until I get through orientation. My biggest worry is not really about the job, I have a feeling I will get into the swing of things in no time. But I am a Nervous Nelly about sending Aiden to daycare! I was lucky enough to find a wonderful place called the Young Scholars about 15 minutes from my house. I had toured a couple daycares and found them leaving me with a sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. But when I walked into this place, I new immediately that it would be a great fit. The infant room looked like so much fun, that I wanted to crawl around on the floor and explore with all the babies. I just hope that Aiden's anxiety is soothed by all the caring teachers and playing babies. Prayer needed for that! But tomorrow with worry about itself, for now I am just going to enjoy being home.

Help! It's official...

It started this week when I started going to the gym. At first, I thought it was just a fluke. But now I know that an entire week is not a fluke...Aiden has separation anxiety. He cries the entire time he is with the daycare people. The poor guy cries so hard that when I go get him (or they come get me) he stops crying but he continues to have those huge shuddering breaths you get right after you cried really hard. And that sound breaks my heart. I didn’t think that it started so early! When I referenced my mommy guide (What to Expect During the First Year), it states that separation anxiety as being most prevalent around 1 year old. So why is my happy, smiley little baby experiencing it now? The book also said it is a normal part of child development. That may be so, but it doesn’t make this any easier. Part of me is thrilled that he knows who his mommy is, but the other part of me wants one hour a day to workout. I also want him to be social with other people. Which, as long as I am there, he gives out his best smiles and coos to complete strangers! What is a mommy to do? This is one area where I am totally at a loss at what is the right thing to do. Any mommy’s have any advice? Should I continue to subject my child to new people to try and help him through this phase or do I forget the daycare and hit the gym at night when Aaron can take care of him?

Ugh...

Starting a new routine is never easy. I feel like change has been my constant companion since I got pregnant. Today I started working out at the gym I joined. I used to workout all the time, 5 days a week for an hour at a time. But when we had trouble getting pregnant, I backed off until I wasn’t going anymore. Then after having Aiden, I hesitated starting a fitness program again because I am breastfeeding. But I am going to ease into it and hydrate!

For me, starting a new fitness routine isn’t necessarily about moving the numbers on the scale. Of course losing some of this baby weight will be a nice benefit. But I am looking forward to feeling good about myself again. There is a lot of satisfaction that comes after being active and I hoping that I will have more energy. Well, maybe as much energy as a mom of an infant can have.

When I joined up, I received a free physical assessment by a personal trainer. I learned a lot about myself, mostly stuff I didn’t like. But I am going to think positive. My flexibility was off the charts and my sit-up assessment was excellent. So woohoo me! On the other hand, I was surprised that my arm strength was so poor…you would think lugging a baby and a car seat around all over would help me out a bit. Over the next few months, I want to increase my cardio ability and increase my strength. So raise your water bottle…because today hopefully begins a step to a healthier post-baby me. 

BFF's

Moving has a way of putting your life into perspective. You figure out what is/was truly important. I especially have been feeling blessed by the friends in my life. Even though it is a bit inconvenient that I moved 10 hours away, I still feel like our friendships are as strong as ever. This morning I was even able to be apart of my normal Sunday Prayer Group via a beautiful piece of technology (the iPhone). It felt like I was right there with Tia, Janet, and Jaime. Even before I moved, I had a few awesome friends that although we didn’t get to see each other that often, we were still able to keep in touch. It’s those friendships that whether you talk every week or every few months it still feels like you see each other everyday. Just want to say to all my friends (you know who you are) that I love you and of course am missing you.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:12-13

Heaven is for Real

I have been hearing from a multitude of people about this book that they had read called, “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo. I will confess that nonfiction is not my forte. I would rather read fiction novels based on real events because it brings the past to life. However, with all I had heard about this book I couldn’t pass this one up. Now after reading it, you shouldn’t either…this moving story will give you those convicting, spine-tingling goosebumps. A story about a little boy that transforms lives by his experience in heaven after his miraculous survival during an emergency appendectomy. I know an appendectomy might seem routine, but I am a critical care nurse and can attest that a burst appendix, if not surgically and medically treated, can end in death. Unfortunately, that is what this 3-year-old boy and his family faced. After his survival, a faith-confirming story emerged. Details no 3-year-old could possibly know about the bible, heaven, hell, Jesus, faith, life, and all those things in-between. For Christians, it is a reminder of God and his infinite promises and love. For nonbelievers, it is a story proclaiming the Truth. The part that touched my heart the most was the story this little boy told of his sister he never knew, but met in heaven. Even more, when his mother was pregnant she lost this little girl at 2 months along in her pregnancy. As a mother this tugs at my heart for two reasons. First, that this preschooler could give a gift so wonderful by telling his mother that his sister is in heaven. Secondly, that a baby not yet born, no matter how small, is still a human life. My inadequate words cannot do this story justice. Hopefully, God will nudge you to read this book and truly discover what it means to have a child-like faith.

Blizzard of 2011

Outside the snowing is blowing in every direction possible...snowcalypse, snornado, call it what you will. Almost all of Chicago is huddled up in their houses. I must admit that I am enjoying this time to be snuggled up in the house with my husband, a bowl of chili, a cheery fire, and an adorable snoozing little boy. It is the best kind of family time with no place to rush off to. Feeling so blessed by this little family of mine.

The roaming gnome outside on our balcony isn't going to be travelling anywhere :)

One Year Ago Today....

It is amazing how one year can change so much. If a year ago you would have told me I would be living in Chicago with my husband and 4 month old son, I would think you had gone crazy! But here I am. It was a year ago today that Aaron and I found out Aiden was coming into our lives.

We had been trying to have a baby for a long time...16 months. 7 months before we found out that I had PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) and that was the reason we hadn't conceived. We started taking a medication called Clomid which was unsuccessful. It was January when we started a new medication. It required my very brave husband giving me HMG injections in the butt every day for about 10 days. I also had started seeing a chiropractor and getting acupuncture.

That day, I had gotten up early to go into the hospital and get my blood drawn. When I got home, my husband dragged me out of the house. He told me I couldn't just mope around the house until they called. So he took me to the Egg & I for breakfast. We had finished ordering when my phone rang. I was so nervous and of course convinced that I wasn't pregnant that I made Aaron answer the phone. As the nurse talked, Aaron's face was somber and his words were limited to "ok" and "uh huh." My heart sunk. As he hung up the phone he told me, "You are going to be a mom." Of course I was in shock and started crying right there in the restaurant. The rest of the day, we told our anxiously awaiting families. It was a long wait for all of us.

Aiden has brought a joy into our lives we never knew existed. He is our little miracle and a gift from God that we will never take for granted. "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him," 1 Samuel 1:27

Great Having Family

One of the biggest blessings about moving to a new place has been having some family here- my brother-in-law Alex. He has been over for dinner, to watch movies, or just hang out. More recently, he stayed with us for a few days while he was recuperating from being in the hospital. His hospitalization also brought my husband’s dad out to stay with us. I was glad I had the guest room set up enough so that they could be comfortable. Despite the circumstances, it was just good to have someone else from home. The guys all have their own quirkiness when they get together. While I must admit I was missing a little estrogen in this equation, it was still balm to the soul. And as I am writing this, I am patiently (well let’s be honest, trying to be patient) waiting for my parents to arrive. I haven’t seen them since we left home on the 1^st of January and I am excited for them to come see where we live and catch up for a few days. Most of all, I think they are anxious to see a very cute, smiley little boy. He is ready for them to arrive as he waits for them by the window in his bumbo. 

Why Not?

I am by no means a tech savvy person- that honor belongs with my husband, Aaron. However, as I was reading my friend Justine's blog, I decided "why not?" I seem to have a lot of opinions and I am up for a new experience. So here I am, writing my first blog.

My husband and I just moved to Illinois from Nebraska on January 1st. I know, what better way to start the new year but to move away from the only place you've ever lived with your husband and 3 month old. Crazy, right? Well, call us loco but we knew it was where we are supposed to be. The past few weeks have been spent under a mountain of boxes. My husband does refer to me as the "unpacking nazi" but I might have to relinquish my title this time since my home is still not completely unpacked. I will say I am 98% done, but unpacking with an active 3 month old is no picnic. Thank goodness for the colorful gym, bumbo, and that annoying baby music that plays over and over on the swing. I did end up investing in the Baby Bjorn organic baby carrier which has been a lifesaver! All new moms should invest in a wrap (like the maya wrap) when they are newborns and a baby carrier when they are a little bit older. We chose the Baby Bjorn carrier because Aiden could face outward, whereas with the Ergo carrier the baby can only face toward you or go on your back. Aiden loves helping mommy around the house!

Being a mother has been a missing piece of the puzzle in my life. Aiden is a joy that Aaron and I never knew existed. We are thankful for him everyday. I look forward to sharing more of this mommy's new adventures with you all.

Aiden in his new baby carrier!