Not so much fun

Little Brady has his own plans. We have had quite the week with our "Little Man." He seems to like doctors and nurses and all the attention he gets from them and is in the hospital.

After a seemingly good labor we took him home on Monday night. At his 3 day visit he had lost quite a bit of weight, from 7 lb 8 oz at discharge to 6 lb 9 oz at the doctor's office. He's quite the sleepy baby and doesn't really wake up to tell you he is hungry. The doctor had us feed him every two hours "like clock work." He was to get a little from mom and then take a bottle. He got mostly formula on Thursday through Friday morning. Mom really wants to give Brady all the benefits of her milk so that was hard on her.

At his visit on Friday he had gained weight, weighing 6 lb 14 oz. We continued the feeding schedule over the weekend, using mom's milk from a bottle in place of formula. On Monday, we went to see a Lactation Consultant and he just wouldn't wake up enough to eat, even though it was time. We went to visit his pediatrician, who weighed him again getting 6 lb 2 oz. The doctor told us to take him to Arkansas Children's Hospital, where they would be able to run more specialized tests than at the Hospital Facilities in Jonesboro.

Brady watching mom play checkers

We checked into the ER late Monday night. He has been poked and prodded and tested for various things. They are checking his Billireuben levels because of his yellowness (which his doctor says should have gone down according to the amount of diapers he is filling.) He's hooked up to an IV to get fluids and medication in him to fight off any infection, both bacterial and viral. He is taking a bottle every two hours. He seems to be a little more awake and his billireuben levels have gone down a little. They shouldn't have any more tests to run, he's mostly just being monitored at this time. He is such a little trooper. It's nice to see his eyes open more and more for longer periods of time. He still sleeps a lot as he is going through a rough time.

Dad loves his "Little Trooper"

Dad is doing pretty good. He is very very tired. He returned home on Wednesday to resume his responsibilities of work and school on Thursday. He is on his way to spend the weekend with Grandma Bruderer, Mom and Brady. So far nothing serious has shown up in any of the tests. He has tested negative for bacterial meningitis and the MRI didn't come back with anything serious on his brain. The tests for viral meningitis have been inconclusive as good fluid samples cannot be obtained. At this point we are waiting until Monday to insert a PICC (Peripherally inserted central catheter) so he can receive a 21-day antiviral treatment at home.

Grandma on clean-up duty

We would appreciate any prayers on behalf of Brady. It's heartwarming because complete strangers have offered to put us on prayer lists at their churches. It is definitely a different culture down here.

We are very thankful for the blessings the Lord has given to us, especially that Brady is here with us. We have peace that things will be okay. We are in the Lord's hands. Thanks for the support.

Our new home

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage." It doesn't say anything about a home in that rhyme...

We've submitted an offer and are now under contract for a new construction home in Brookland, Arkansas. The house is only five minutes away from where we are shacked up now. We hope to close at the end of March. I know that construction projects tend to get pushed back, weeks at a time, sometimes. I think most the hard work is done to the house though. It is sheetrocked and looks like most of the electrical is in. We've chosen paint, carpet, cabinets, counter tops and all that fun stuff. Here are just a few pictures:

Out Side

The front door
Kitchen door to garage
Kitchen to the back yard
living room looking towards back yard

We'll try not to go crazy and obsessed about it, but will keep it updated.

An Official Welcome

Brady Alma Behunin


It's time to officially welcome Brady Alma Behunin into the world. It's a few days late, but who can blame a new, tired and emotional mommy for getting behind?
We left for the hospital Sunday morning, February 17th at 4:00 a.m. after timing contractions for an hour. It wasn't the contractions that woke me up though. On one of my routine drudges upstairs to the potty I noticed my water had broken. After the false alarm on Saturday you'd think we'd get everything ready to go. NOPE!!! What true procrastinators we are! It did give us something to do while we timed the contractions.


I labored for a few hours with out pain medications. Seeing as my waters had broken, they wanted to make sure he came out within twenty-four hours and started me on patossin (that stuff that progresses your labor.) It was then I got a wonderful dose of something I can't remember that helped me sleep through most of the labor. I think I can officially say that I have been high. Carl and Gretchen may not remember, but I'm pretty sure I said some outrageous things. Something about the red roof being better than the black one.



At about 4 p.m. I was feeling pretty good and like we could get that baby out in the next hour. Wrong again. I pushed through contraction after contraction with pain killer fading away. There came a point where I just wanted to give up and let someone else pull him out. Carl and Gretchen and Nurse Debbie were extremely encouraging. After two and a half more hours the doctor finally suggested that we get a mirror so I could see what I was doing. Lo, and behold, it worked!!! Once I could see Brady's head almost out it was three pushes and he was here.
He cried to show he can use his lungs, but has been pretty calm since then.


We love him and are very very happy to have him here with us. We are grateful that he will be ours for all eternity. Grandma Bruderer was able to fly out on Friday. It's been a good thing having her here too. Heavenly Father has been watching out for us and helping all the puzzle pieces fall into place.

He came into this world 7 lbs. 10 oz., 21 inches long with a 14 inch in circumference head. Beautiful as can be and with lots of hair, just like mom had. We love him.



*Brady's middle name is from his Great-Grandfather, Alma Bruderer. When Great-Grandma Bruderer heard of the news and the name she pointed out that Great-Grandpa Bruderer was born on February 17 many moons ago. Coincidence? I'm not too sure...

Having to eat ones own words....

This is a poem my mom sent the day before Brady was born:

The Ninth Month
by Carol Lynn Pearson

Being a duplex
I have been happy, my dear
To loan you half the house
Rent-free and furnished
As best I could.

You have been a good
Tenant, all in all
Quiet, yet comfortably there
Tapping friendly on the wall.

But I hear
You have outgrown the place
And are packing up to move.
Well, I will miss
The sweet proximity.
But we will keep in touch.
There are bonds, my dear
That reach beyond a block
Or a mile or a hemisphere
Born of much love and labor.

I approve the move
And gladly turn from landlady
To neighbor.



He came early!! Brady Alma was born at 6:33 pm central time. He weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and is 21 inches long. The pediatrician says he's perfect, and I think so too. ( ; Here's the link to the photos we've taken so far: http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii115/sbehunin/?start=0 . An official baby blog will be posted soon.

Getting Ready for Baby

Disclaimer: I, Stephanie, am posting this as an update on our familial status. I do not feel this event is significant enough to alarm and notify with a phone call. Under no circumstances should anyone feel we are "leaving them out of the loop." Thank you for your understanding and continued support in our lives.

At our Doctor visit on Friday I was dialated to 1/2 cm and 50% effaced. I woke up this morning to strange things happening in regards to my body. I won't go into any detail, but the events were enough that after speaking to the doctor on call we went into the hospital. I was hooked up to a couple of monitors, one for the babys heartbeat and another for uterine activity. They did some examining and decided that my waters had not broken and it was safe to go home. Baby is getting himself ready to come though. It's very exciting. Just under 3 weeks to go!!! Make sure to check the Tummy Shots as baby is still growing.

A change in scenary

Things change during the course of a week. Last week, the frustration of the unknown, the lack of finding employment, and going through our first Tornado Warning. This week, a birthday and a job!, and it's only Tuesday! I'll be a teller at Regions Bank. It's really what I was hoping to start with. It will get me started with a company, allow me to really focus on schooling, and it will allow us to get in to a home as soon as possible. It's been frustrating to go 57 days without a job, but rewarding to learn from this trial of life. I've learned a couple of things over the last week that have changed me. First, how can we ever be able to learn in this life, if we are never willing to change the comforts of the known? We knew this was the correct decision for our future, so to have this opportunity to learn is rewarding. Second, the idea that some of us are given trials because Heavenly Father knows we will learn from the trials and not curse Him for them. The more trials we face and overcome here, the better off I'll be. That being said, I sure hope things run smoothly for a while.

Time Marches On

Well, it's now Mid-February and not much has changed. Carl is doing homework for school in addition to looking for jobs on a daily basis. He's had interviews with various places, but no offers yet. It seems to me a constant game of "We'll let you know by Monday." and then after an agonizing weekend, it becomes "We should have an answer by Friday." Endless torment, I tell you!!!! I mean, it's not like he's some bum with no skills.

I've started (and almost finished) refinishing a changing table we bought for the baby. It has become quite the project. I'm lucky to have a nice husband who will sit outside with me for hours and sand away and the next day paint for what seems like en eternity. It's been nice to have the sun shining the last few days so we can work and be outside and enjoy the fresh air. I planned on finishing up the painting today, but alas, it is cloudy and COLD!!! I'm not going to be able to do all I had planned, but I'll get a good chunk done. Working with my hands gives me such a sense of accomplishment. Even though the table was just fine the way it came, and this really has been quite a bit of work, I am excited to see the finished product and say, "I did that...we did that." So there may have been an easier way to accomplish the end result, or to others it may seem like a whole lot of work for nothing, but it makes ME happy. And right now, isn't it all about making ME happy??? ; )

And speaking of making me happy, this baby isn't doing a very good job lately. I guess it's not his fault completely, he's only doing what he's biologically bound to do. I've reached a point of great uncomfortability in every aspect of my body. I thought being pregnant was easy up until the last few days. Oh man this is not the best part of my life, I tell you what!! And, I'm afraid he doesn't plan on making his grand entrance any time soon. I suppose I'll try to enjoy it while it lasts. I would say the over all experience of pregnancy has been a positive one. It has been awesome to feel the little one moving around inside and knowing that Carl and I created something miraculous. Awww....sentimental feelings and such.

Carl and I both have church callings. We are officially bonafide members of our branch! Carl is the first and only counselor in the Young Mens Presidency and the Assistant to the Executive Clerk. I think they are keeping him in the Young Mens because he hasn't quite grown up yet. LOL I am Chair of the Activities Committe. Apparently someone thinks I am fun and can plan good activities. I have had this type of calling since Seminary when I was on the Birthday Committe. I'm excited and petrified at the same time. I'm just not sure I'm the best at being in charge of this sort of thing. I see myself in more of a supportive role. I'm going to give it my best.

I understand this has been a LONG blog and that these things are probably supposed to be shorter than longer. But it's my blog and I'll do what I want with it. : p Until next time, my friends.

President Hinckley

Thanks to Melanie for posting the video on her blog.

I too echo sentiments of saddness and loss. Like so many others, I am comforted by knowing that President Hinckley is in the presence of our Lord and his loved ones, especially his wife.
I recall when another denomination lost their leader. There's was such questioning and speculation of who would next lead that congregation. To me, I sensed a feeling of panic and being lost from the members. I am greatful that we need not even fear over who will lead us next. I am greatful that we can have comfort in knowing that our next President that steps into place is called of God to be a Prophet, Seer and Revelator not only for the LDS congregation, but for the world. May the Lord bless and keep President Hinckley. We look forward in faith to the years that are ahead and sustain he who is called of the Lord to lead us in these latter-days.