Homefront updates!!

The work on our home is finishing up. The cabinets were installed friday, along with the faucets, toilets, water heater, stove, and microwave. Finishing touches will be done over the weekend and an appraisal will be happening monday. We're optimistic in getting closed this week, but figure it will be some time early next week before we close. Steph is anxious to begin decorating the new place with our own personal touches. She is ever awaiting the day that she can leave the bedroom without a shirt on!

We personally love how the kitchen is turning out. We hope the pictures we post will do it justice. If you can tell, we're using the same model of faucet as we installed in our kitchen in Utah.

My goodness, we never expected the master to look this good. We new we were taking a minor risk in black cabinets, but wow, we love how they turned out to make the room stand out. We tried to match the faucets with the tub and showers, but didn't do a great job.

Due to the "Noah's Ark" of rains we've had lately, we won't be able to have our sod put in until there is a drier period. But the fence around the lot should be done by the time we close.

Anyway, I'll finish with some other updated pictures. Let us know what you think!

A lesson in Norwegian

I came across this in the manual for the baby monitor we purchased:

After reading this important bit of information I said to myself, "Self, what is a 'dult'? How exactly does a dult provide supervision?"

I had Carl look up "dult" on Dicitonary.com and this is what came up:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dult

nudge [nadʒ] noun
a gentle push usually with the elbowExample: He gave her a nudge.

Norwegian:
dult, dytt

So apparently a dult is Norwegian for a nudge. I'm still confused as to how a dult provides supervision....

FYI, "Printed in China" is written on the back of the manual. Just one of the many giggles I've had on behalf of foreigners writing instructions manuals.

Fussy

It's funny how after Brady has come along, that's pretty much all that is blogged about now. That may be due to the fact that he completely consumes all my time and energy. There's not room for much else but Brady at this time. We should probably rename the blog to "Carl and Stephanies's Adventures about Brady." BTW Melanie, Chianti is a red color, the same on we had on the walls in Sandy.

This video is about as fussy as Brady gets right now. We can consider ourselves lucky. I think he's primarily gassy with a little bit of "I could eat if your offering" on the side. Check out the sweet mohawk I gave him.

The Goose is getting fat

*New photos uploaded at Photobucket.com*

Our little baby is growing. He's 4 weeks old now. It's sad realizing he's not going to stay a little baby forever.

Friday evening Carl comes home and ever so casually tells me that he's been hired to work as a permanent full-time teller. Previously he had just been a "float" or "peak-time" teller without any benefits like insurance. He had applied for the job a few weeks ago. He tells me that at 4:45 he received a phone call from the manager from the Caraway Branch. He was asked 3 "Tell me about a time when...." questions and the manager said he'd get back to Carl. Five minutes later the recruiter from Regions called and asked if Carl wanted the job. We can start getting insurance benefits in April. Yet another blessing for our little family.

And as requested....some pictures of our house. The first coat of paint is up and Carl tells me the bathroom tile is in. I've also heard that our realtor has been hinting that our closing date maybe pushed back. Not a big surprise as our home is a new construction and those always get pushed back. Hopefully it's not pushed too far back. There isn't really that much left to do. I really do love my chianti wall....and I can't wait to get in that tub!!!

Last sunday was our first sunday at church together. I'm not sure I can take Brady to church anymore because he's quite the distraction to us and others sitting around us. Brady is the youngest member of our branch and the only baby so he gets A LOT of attention.

Sunrise, Sunset

Updates!!!

Brady is home with his PICC line. It's annoying, but only 7 more days until it is removed. Since coming home he has had a struggle with his weight. We haven't been able to keep it up. So after being told by the doctor that breastfeeding wasn't going to work and bawling my eyes out because I want to give that gift to my baby, the doctor and I have compromised with nursing, formula, pumping and a lactation consultant. After all that effort he has started to gain weight. As of Monday the 10th he weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces. The doctor says that once he gets up to 8 pounds we don't have to get him weighed everyday.

Carl's job is going good. He's been the "bag guy" (they guy that picks up the work from different branches) for the last few days. He likes his work. He's been getting some overtime too, which we can't complain too much about. He's being a good daddy taking the middle of the night feeding so mom can rest. Midterms are approaching then spring break is upon us. Carl can sure use the two extra nights home to get some rest and gear up for the next change in our life: moving into the new house.

Mom is trying to recover from all the hubbub. It's amazing what an extra two hours of sleep in the morning will do for you. I've had to totally cut back on my activities. With the house getting finished up I was looking forward to shopping for furniture and accessories. That will all have to wait, however. My life consists of sleeping, feeding the baby, pumping, eating and sleeping some more. I get somethings done here and there. Today I moved Brady's things out of the room we've been staying in down to the basement. We will get through all of this, I'm sure.

We are very thankful for the prayers, thoughts and concerns people have expressed for us. We are especially grateful to my mom who was able to stay with us for a little while. She was a HUGE help (and comfort) at the hospital and back home. We're trying to get by without her extra set of hands. We miss you, Grandma.

We are also thankful to the LaVetters (Especially Aunt Gretchen) for letting us invade their space for the last few months. Goodness knows where we'd be with out their immense generosity. Not only have they provided a roof above our heads, but food to eat, clean dishes to eat off, chauffeur services, people to talk to, and even more help with our precious little bundle of joy. We couldn't have done it with out them. We love you guys a ton!!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow

After all the testing that was done, it is still inconclusive what has been ailing our little boy. Four Spinal Taps (or Lumbar Punctures) were done over the last week but no clear samples were obtained. This is the only test that would really be able to tell us if he has Meningitis.

So with out a confident "Yes, he is infected" or "No, he isn't infected" we are going to go ahead and treat him as if he is infected. This entails getting a PICC line in place for medication at home. They weren't able to do it Friday, when all the testing was finished. We were pretty bummed. The doctor came in this morning and worked some magic. They don't normally do the PICC lines on the weekend unless they are emergencies. Since performing the procedure requires sedation the patient can't eat for four hours before going under. We were on call which meant that Brady couldn't eat until we knew what was going on.

The poor little boy!!! He went almost 12 hours without eating before a doctor came in to get us the final word. No procedure tonight. We can feed our baby! He did really good being so hungry. He slept through most of it and took a binky or moms finger during the last few hours of hunger.

We are on the schedual for Sunday morning, first thing. That means we go home tomorrow!! And additional plus is that no one will need to get up in the middle of the night to feed poor little baby cuz he can't eat after midnight. We're so excited to be going home. We are even more excited to have a healthy baby boy coming home with us.

He is now full and happy. He stayed awake for a good 3 hours after eating, and was awake for a while before that. It's nice to see his little eyes again. I'm in love with a little boy.

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.