The Bratsch Family: August 2006

29 August 2006

IT'S A BOY!

Silas Daniel Bratsch

Born 08-28-06 @ 7:51 PM MDT

Weight: 6 lbs. 7 oz.

Length: 19 1/4 in.

Delivered by emergency C-Section

Mom and baby are well

Praise God!

(Tired now... more later)

27 August 2006

It's Raining Babies! (AKA: a baby shower)

Today, our friends here at Denver Seminary threw us a baby shower! It was a whole lot of fun, and we were so grateful for all the work they put into it (which included helping us clean our apartment, cooking lots of food, doing all kinds of planning, and creating the cake seen here:

(The theme of the shower was blocks.)

Here are some more pictures of the fun:

One of the games was blindfolded diaper changing for men only. I (Paul) got second place without ever changing a diaper in my life.

As you can see in the last picture here, our friend Jeff is using the infamous upside-down technique.

We also got some wonderful gifts from our friends, including this great wooden Minnesota Twins sign to hang on the baby's wall!

(It reads "Future Fan") How true...

Thanks to everyone who came! We loved it!

24 August 2006

Our Latest Trip to the Hospital -OR- No Shower and No Breakfast Makes Paul Smelly and Hungry

[alarm ringing] - [BAM!] (snooze...)
[alarm ringing] - [BAM!] (snooze...)
[alarm ringing] - [BAM!] (snooze...)
[alarm ringing] - [BAM!] (snooze...)
[alarm ringing] - [BAM!] (snooze...)
[alarm ringing] - [BAM!] (snooze...)

Jess: "Are you ready to go to the doctor's appointment?"
Paul: "Sure. Just let me not shower and not eat breakfast and I'll be right there."

Two hours later, Jess and I were at the hospital, our still-in-the-womb baby kung-fu-ing every fetal monitor within kicking range, and I regretting not showering or eating a Pop-Tart when I had the chance.

It Also Happened This Way:

Today, Jess was sent by her doctor to labor & delivery at the hospital (because of high blood pressure and wacky reflexes in her ankle.) It turns out that Jess has a mild case of preeclampsia, a condition that, if it worsens, could cause Jess to have seizures. We were inches away from Jess having to stay at the hospital for the rest of the pregnancy, and several feet away from having to induce the baby there and then.

Now there is a doctor's appointment every 2 days and if anything even remotely out of the ordinary happens to Jess, it is straight back to the hospital for us.

And so it seems that at any time in the near future, we could be inducing and thereby adding a healthy, strong, and seemingly strong-willed baby to our family.

We are doing well and are getting excited about the baby coming soon, but we would still love it if you all could say a prayer for the health of Jess and our baby.

"For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:13-14a

19 August 2006

35 Weeks

Well, we have made it to 35 weeks! My doctor says she doesn't think I will deliver early, what a relief. However, she has decided to keep me on bed rest... but I have been getting up a lot more (I like to call it house arrest at this point). I am getting really anxious to get outside and go for a walk or go swimming or even just go for a drive into the foothills. Only 11 more days to go.

This past week Paul and I found a pediatrician, maybe a little later than we should have but still with plenty of time to spare. He seems like a very nice guy, he seems very calming which Paul and I both liked. Also, and more importantly, we felt very comfortable with his beliefs on care for an infant.

Here are my pictures from 35 weeks. I'm getting a little bigger. The baby is about 5 1/2 lbs this week and around 20 inches. And it seems that s/he is always getting stronger... I am judging this by the increasing power behind the kicks in my bruised ribs.

And here is Paul's picture from 35 weeks... I think all the cleaning is starting to get to him.

11 August 2006

Babies, Babies Everywhere

Well it seems lately that there are babies everywhere. Everywhere I turn one of my friends or family members is either announcing a pregnancy or is having a baby. It is so exciting. Two of my cousins just had little girls. Two of our friends in Colorado just had a little boy. Also, we just found out about some friends of ours back in Wisconsin who are expecting!

Congratulations!!!

Suzannah Ruth was born to my cousin Nathan and his wife Ashley on July 18!

Emily Ann was born to my cousin Brian and his wife Jessica on August 7!

As for Paul and I we have made it to 34 weeks! At this point our baby is about 5 lbs and 19 inches long. Here are my pictures from 33 weeks. The baby and I are doing well, still healthy. Only 20 more days of bedrest to go!