Yah Growth Spurts!

Well Dane is going through what seems to be the his first big growth spurt. He is feeding constantly and is very fussy. Both Dane and mom seem to be worn out by it...dad is getting pretty tuckered out by it too. Still from what I've read this is completely normal at his current age. Two weeks seems to be one of the common growth spurt points.

Dane also had a great two week doctor's appointment yesterday. He is now up to 9lbs even and Dr. Swords said he is looking healthy and all is well.

Last night the family went and had dinner with the Wolters. Our friends child, Sadie, was very upset when her mother, Lindsey, held Dane. We had some awesome white chili and it was good time spent with friends.

As of this current moment Dane is lying down in his swing, content, and mom is trying to catch a nap to recoup for when he gets hungry again.

-Jake

Sapp Family Update

Well folks here is the latest of what has been going on with the Sapps. The dogs came home from their Grandma's house 5 days ago. It would appear that Ariel (German Shepherd) is very curious and a bit skittish around Dane while Valkyrie (Black Lab) is jealous to no end.

Dane slept great last night sleeping between 4 to 5 hours in between feedings. Napping however has become a bit touch and go. We have to let him lay in the crib and cry sometimes. It's not that he's not tired it's just that he wants to sleep on us. We are trying to train him to self-sooth as were are trying to follow the BabyWise philosphy, it's been hard on both Tonya and I. His crying tugs on both our heartstrings. It's fine when it's someone elses kids to say, 'just lay him in the crib and let him cry' but when it's your own it's hard. Still Tonya and I have been strong and we haven't given in to him yet. I have no doubt that we will give in every now and again but so far so good. We got a mobile for him today to help him calm down and hopefully curb his long periods of crying.

Tonya and I have watched a lot of CSI:Miami and we watched all of season 8 of Scrubs yesterday. Despite all this the house still seems to get cleaned and laundry is getting done so the Lord has really been blessing us there.

We are all doing great and we appreciate all the prayers and meals you guys have been great. God truely is good and he has blessed us so much with such a wonderful family.

-Jake

Some More Photos

Home Nurse Visit

Well today the home nurse came to visit from Liberty Hospital. It's nothing major the hospital just has a nurse come to you house to check up on you and the baby. It was nothing but good news. Dane is back up to his baby weight with 1oz extra bringing him up to 8lbs 5oz. The breastfeeding is going great and we are not having to supplement with formula anymore. Also Dane had his first tummy time today. That went as well as we could have expected he did not really like it but that's usual I'm sure.


-Jake

Great Night

Well folks last night was a really good night. Dane slept and ate on a fairly regular basis and Tonya and I both got really good amounts of sleep. Last night around 8-9 PM Dane was very awake. He was looking around not only at mom but as dad held him. He smiled at me which rates as one of the top ten moments of my life...and no he was not pooping. We both are really appreciative to God for this as the night before he didn't really sleep much at all. The doctor's appointment went great Dr. Swords said his privates are looking great and in 6 months time a urologist will attempt the circumcision again. He has lost some weight and now weighs in at 8lb .5oz which is normal for a baby. We also got him added to my insurance which cost us a pretty penny but won't cost us anymore if we have more kids. Still we have great insurance so I'm not complaining. Tonya is still recovering great and only had to take her pain medicine once yesterday supplementing instead with ibuprofen instead of the heavier stuff. She has been such a trooper through this whole ordeal and I love her so much. Well today is a new day lets see what blessings God can give us today.

-Jake

We're Home

Well after much ado we were able to come home yesterday. Their were complications with the circumcision so we had to wait a little while to come home. We stopped by Tonya's Uncle Mike and Aunt Diane's house for dinner on the way home last night. There we were treated to grilled steak, baked potatoes and rolls. It was really good food and they got to see Dane. Dane was very cooperative because he was on some Tylenol still from the hospital and was good and drugged. When we got home he was still really tired we were able to run around the house and get stuff done. We took turns watching him as we showered and after I read him a book he decided not to sleep. Tonya stayed up with him most of the night so I could get sleep. So, today my job is to watch him while she gets sleep. We also have a follow up doctors appointment today and I need to run to HQ and drop off the insurance paperwork for him but other than that we will just be spending it getting to know our son.

-Jake

We Have Dane

It's a celebration people rejoice! We have Dane in the room with us now and he is out of the NICU. He was able to come off the IV last night and they took him out from underneath the Billi-lights this morning. So far we have had two successful feedings and in-shah Allah that will continue. I couldn't be any happier and for those of my Facebookers you know just like I posted that this is one of the happiest days of my life! As I sit here typing this Dane is sleeping on Tonya while she takes a nap. And I would be remiss if I didn't correct and earlier error in typing. When I stated in an earlier post that our labor nurse was Karen I was incorrect it was Kerri. Our first three nurses were Kaylee, Kerri and Karen so you see how I could get confused. Kerri was wonderful and I want to give her the credit she rightfully deserves. As it stands now, and that shouldn't change, we will be going home tomorrow. We are grateful to be here one more day so we can soak in all the expert knowledge and advice we can. It's nice getting all the help from the Lactation Consult...and I only put this in here to annoy Kelsey if she's reading this. Thanks to everyone for your offers of support, your prayers, breakfast/lunches/dinners brought and to BJ and Lidnsey thanks last night for the company and the sweet tea.

-Jake

photos to go along

The Tale of Dane's Delivery

"Call me Ishmail. Some time ago never mind the year..." Oh wrong story you wanted Dane's Delivery not Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Just sit right back in that chair right there and I will tell you the tale of Dane's Delivery. It all begins on October 15th 6:00 P.M. in the year of our Lord. We came in and got checked in to room 304. They started the Cervatul (not sure how that's spelled) at 7:00 P.M. and we sat and watched CSI: Miami as we waited. Tonya began to lose her water shortly after 7 and would for the rest of the night. I felt the urge to eat and since Tonya wouldn't be able till after 9 I struck out for McDonalds. After eating as fast as I possibly could while still relaxing I made my way back. We finished CSI around 11:00 P.M. with the general consensus that it was a poor ending to season 6. Neither of us would sleep much because Tonya's IV hurt her constantly, the machine's alarms kept sounding and neither of us were comfortable. At 2:00 A.M. they started Tonya on Petocin which is designed to get her uterus to contract. She began contracting shortly thereafter. Tonya would contract and attempt to get Dane to labor down until around 12:00 when the Doctor Kramer came in and said she could have and epidural since she was now dilated to a 3. The anastiseoligist (Dr. Feelgood) came in to give the epidural but it was a challenge and Tonya endured quite a lot of pain like a pro. I went out to eat lunch and let Tonya rest only to be disturbed by the nurse telling me I needed to come back to the room. Right when I got back to the room Tonya told me that the new shift doctor, Dr. Olehausen, wanted to do a C-Section. He felt that due to the fact that Dane was still a -3 and hadn't moved down any at all he felt he wasn't going to come naturally. We felt that since he was the expert we would let him make the decision. Everyone was shocked by the this Tonya's nurse Karen asked, "what happened I went to lunch and I come back and you're having a C-Section?" We were a little worried but none more than Becky, Tonya's mom and Dane's GiGi. Becky knew all to well that her side of the family produced women that had problems with labor. I think everyone was a little nervous but the staff here at Liberty Hospital is top notch and gave us the up most confidence. I had to wait in the room as they prepped Tonya for the surgery. I offered up a lot of prayers for her, Dane, the doctors and the procedure. Karen, the nurse, came and said she was ready so I shuffled off in my scrubs, booties, hairnet and mask entering a new chapter in my life. I entered into the surgery room with multiple nurses, Dr. Olehausen (who I hadn't even met yet), Dr. Feelgood and his two assistants. I sat next to Tonya's head which was separated from the rest of her body by curtain. My knees knocked and I continued to pray all the while the staff was cracking jokes and trying to set us at ease. Tonya seemed so relaxed it calmed me down and as Dr. Feelgood gave her a shot of the good stuff she looked over at him and said, "you are my best friend right now." One of his assistants made the comment that more people name there babies after there own Dr. Feelgood's that they do the doctors that deliver their babies. Dr. Olehausen laughed at this and his expert hands continued to work. After they delivered him we would later find out that his cord was wrapped around his head twice. This explains why Dane hadn't moved down. I feel that Dr. Olehausen was a blessing from God because he made the decision to do a C-Section much earlier than he normally would for what seems like a hunch. I firmly believe that this hunch was from God. Still I digress, the surgery went off without a hitch and Dane was born at 3:58 P.M. on 10-16-09. I had to resist the urge to ball I was crying so hard. I was so excited to be a father! There isn't adequate words to express the elation I felt at seeing him. The nurse referred to Dane as a young John Stamos and though he won't know who that is I felt honored. Awaiting Dane's arrival were his Grandpa and Nana (my dad and mom), Gigi and Aunt Kaybay (Tonya's mom and sister), Great grandma (my Grandma),Uncle Jason and Aunt April (my brother and sisiter-in-law), Great Uncle Mike and Great Aunt Diane (Tonya's Uncle and Aunt), The Hausners (-Stefanie), Linda Knappenberger and Diana Dobson (Tonya's friends from CDC). Everyone came back to see him and hold him except Linda and Diana. It wasn't long after all the holding that he had to be taken back to the NICU due to some low blood sugar. The IV is taking care of that and he should be out of there by tomorrow.

That is the story of Dane's Delivery I know it is hard to capture the true emotions of it but that's the best I can do.

-Jake

Dane and Tonya Update

Here's the latest update on Dane. His blood sugar is a little low so our family doctor decided to err on the side of caution and place him in the NCIU. He will remain in there for up to the next 48hrs while he is given the needed glucose through an IV. He's also enjoy a nice tan under some warming lights so maybe he will get just a little bit darker. As it stands now the only visitors he will be able to have during the next 48hrs is the Grandparents. Sorry to everyone else. If there is a change and he can have more visitors we will update you guys and let you know. Keep him in your prayers. Oh and by the way the nurse said he looks like a young John Stamos, BOO YA!

Tonya is doing great she finally can move both legs now...well really only the right leg. The pain medicine is working wonders and I quote her telling the anastieligist "you are my best friend right now." She was amazingly strong not only while he was getting the epidural (which she didn't need thanks to the c-section) but also during the c-section as she made jokes just like her regular self. The "best friend" comment was actually made while they were making an insicion. She is keeping jello and water down and if all goes well she will be eating the biggest cheeseburger she can get her hands on tomorrow.

-Jake

Welcome to the World Dane

Dane is born on 10-16-09 at 4:30 P.M. 8lbs 4oz and 21 inches long!

Hospital Status Update

We arrived at the hospital last night at 6:00 P.M. Due to uncomfortable beds, painful IV and odd beeping neither of us got any or much sleep. At 2:00 A.M. they put Tonya on Petocin and she has been on it every since. Her contractions have increased but last time they checked she is only dilated to a 1 and Dane is at a -3. We would be going home except last night Tonya decided it would be a good idea if she let her water broke so one way or the other we will be leaving here with a baby. The way things are going we would appreciate if all visitors could refrain from coming today. We know you all care very much but Dane is being diffucult right now and we appreciate the privacy.

-Jake

Time is up....

So today was my 40 week appointment and I had an ultrasound to see how big he is. It appears I am birthing brutis beefcake because he is approximately 8lbs 7 oz. We are scheduled to go to the hospital tomorrow night at 6pm and they will start the pitocin on Friday morning. If all goes well we will be holding baby Dane by Friday night. Everyone say a prayer for Jacob because he is a nothing short of a basket case. I think I should have kept this all a secret :)

Danes Room

So here are some pics of baby Danes room, we finally finished putting up all the decorations. A big thank you to aunt Pam for all of her help.

Danes Bedding
Changing table
Isn't his name just adorable?

Officially unemployed

So Wednesday was my last day at Continental Disc Corporation. I was there almost eight years so it was kind of an emotional day. Lets just face it, it is not so much the "job" that I will miss but instead the people. I think back over the years to all that Jacob and I have been through and how my coworkers played a part. They have been there through our wedding, 2 deployments, 2 graduations, etc. No matter how tough the day might be or how frustrating the job can be at times the people made such an impact on us. One thing is for sure, CDC people take care of each other.

So now that I am technically unemployed everyone is asking me how I feel. To be honest I am a little terrified. This is the first time since I was 16 that I have not had a full time job. Even when we moved I had a job lined up. It feels a little strange to go to bed knowing that I do not have "somewhere" to be. Right now is especially strange since I have not started my new job of being a mom. One thing is for sure, I feel so blessed to be able to stay home and take care of our baby. I am so thankful that I have such a supportive husband that is willing to sacrifice the material things to make our family a priority. Lets face it, it is not easy living under 50% of the income you are used to having. So as much as I am nervous I am equally if not more excited. The countdown is drawing near and I am ready.

CDC thanks for all the fun times and happy memories. I will be back to see you soon.