Growing up Bjurstrom: August 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

4+4=8

Well, my little boy is growing all too fast. He has managed to grow 4 inches and gain 4 lbs in 8 weeks.

Birth: 19.5 inches, now 23.4 inches

Birth: 6 lbs 10 oz, now 10 lbs 10 oz

WOW!

Oh I just love him so much!

I was having time with Jesus, reading my bible, while he slept by me!

Here are some pics! I just love sleeping babies and baby faces!

All these faces were in a matter of about 15 seconds. HA!

Ethan relaxing

Ethan interested or thinking "ooo, oh no."

Ethan laughing. and waving?

Ethan tired

Ethan serious

I think the end result was baby poo!

Precious baby feet!!!

2 Corinthians 12:15
"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well."

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Dad Time and 8 weeks!

Psalm 126:3

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

Steve sure loves his little "man cub."

Steve dressing Ethan! =)

Daddy loves to have floor time with Ethan too!

Friday, August 12, 2011

7 weeks!!!

Ethan is 7 weeks old today! Here are some of the hi-lights from the last 7 weeks:

First walk

Napping however is comfortable

Napping with daddy...while praying; j/k

FIRST bath

Meeting Uncle Gabe and Aunt Brooke

Precious sleeping

Funny sleeping

SECOND bath

couch sleeping

Daddy-son nap time

Ethan seriously sleeping BEHIND Steve's guitar WHILE he is playing

Ethan's first wedding

Ethan learns to wait patiently while mom gets ready for the day

Ethan and mommy play time

He doesn't always frown! :) Practicing being joyful!

Meeting Great Grandma Chamberlin

Ethan gets a RASH! NO! This rash was our 5th reason for a doctors visit, yes 5 visits in 7 weeks!

reason 1. Jaundice

reason 2. regular 2 week check up; 7 lbs 5 oz

reason 3. blood in stools

reason 4. reflux; 8 lbs 5 oz

reason 5. rash; 10 lbs 1 oz

reason 6...his 8 week check up will be in a week and a half

***At least he is gaining weight, the little eater!!

Ethan wins his first staring contest with daddy!

What a great 7 weeks, except for the rash. Apparently Steve, his dad, had VERY sensitive skin as a baby and so does Ethan! I prayed against this before he was born. This prayer may not have been answered as I like, but at least the prayer for him to sleep well at night was answered! Thank you Lord!

TRAINING:

Also, right now we are training Ethan to NAP during the day, and in his crib. He is usually awake most of the day.

Day 1 training: 1 hr 45 minutes of crying- no sleep (consoling him every handful of minutes of coarse)

Day 2: 45 minutes of crying- 20 minutes of sleep

Day 3: 30-40 minutes of crying- 1 hr of sleep

Day 4: 20 minutes of crying and 3 1/2 hours of sleep!!!

MEMORY VERSE the last couple of weeks as I learn to be a stay at home mommy:

Psalm 25: 3-4, 9-10, and 12-15 NLT

"Show me the right path, O Lord, point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your word and teach me. For you are the God who saves me, all day long I put my hope in you.

You lead the humble in doing right, teaching them your way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness, those who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity and their children will inherit the land.

The Lord is a friend of those who fear him, teaching them his covenant.

My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies."

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Ethan

Ethan Riley Bjurstrom: Born June 24, 2011. 6 lbs 10 oz. 19.5 inches long. 4:49 pm.

Ethan's story began long before he was born. Steve and I prayed for children before we were married, and prayed that God would allow us to have children right away. Well, 4 months passed, then 6, then 9, then 12, and then 14. After 14 months of trying to have a child, we finally got pregnant; we were sooo excited; I was sick! At our 10 week baby appointment, we sadly found out our long waited for baby had no heart beat. The Lord gives and takes away; still we say blessed be your name! About two days after this I had a surgery procedure and then about two days after that I was extremely extremely ill; taking a whole row of medications for, what I was told, the adult form of the 'croup.' It was pretty painful as I mourned the loss of my child, was coughing terribly, and felt my throat closing up.

Two months later, we found out we were pregnant AGAIN! Sooo excited, yet plagued by fears. Also, so very very sick again; 24/7 nausea and violent vomitting episodes. Everyone would tell me "it'll be worth it," all awhile I kept thinking, "will it, I was just as sick last time and lost the baby." I eagerly waited for the Lord to help me work through my recent loss in order to be joyful about this new baby. Weeks passed and at 15 weeks we found out we were having a BOY! Early, I know, but it was pretty darn clear. Several ultrasounds and baby appointments later, Ethan was doing great and we praised God for every single appointment we had where we heard our little one's beautiful heart beat! What a joy! I finally felt I could be excited about the pregnancy, I think around 20 weeks!

Many more weeks passed, having nausea and vomitting the entire pregnancy. My belly grew, I felt baby move, and we began buying things for baby!

7 months-ish pregnant.

pregnant, new house, and hubby's new job!!

36 weeks pregnant...one week before Ethan.

On June 20th we closed on our new/first home, and moved in on Tuesday the 21st. My youngest brother was supposed to get married on Saturday June 25th, and on the 24th morning Steve and I were getting ready to head out of town to the wedding; we were supposed to sing 5 songs. HOWEVER, Mr. Ethan man decided this was the day he wanted to come. My water broke in the early morning, the midwives told me to go straight to the hospital, pitocin was started around noon, I had maybe 2 hours of hard labor, pushed for FIVE MINUTES, Ethan's shoulders got stuck, I pushed harder and HE WAS FINALLY HERE, MY BABY BOY, FINALLY!!!

However, the battle wasn't over. Ethan was in the NICU for 7 days for antibiotics, with Mom and Dad right by his side. Not everyone gets a 7 day 'baby training' course for their first baby! This is how we tried to look at our 7 days in the NICU!

AND HERE HE IS: