We took Gage to his first ISU game last Saturday! And unfortunately we didn't even have an appropriate outfit for him for the occasion. We looked all over for one and couldn't find a size 0-3 mos so we ended up accidentally dressing him in Kansas colors - oops! I was concerned about taking him out in the cold but we bundled him up and he slept through the walk to and from, as well as the entire game. He's excused for now, but someday I am sure he will be cheering as loud as his dad!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gage's First ISU Basketball Game
We took Gage to his first ISU game last Saturday! And unfortunately we didn't even have an appropriate outfit for him for the occasion. We looked all over for one and couldn't find a size 0-3 mos so we ended up accidentally dressing him in Kansas colors - oops! I was concerned about taking him out in the cold but we bundled him up and he slept through the walk to and from, as well as the entire game. He's excused for now, but someday I am sure he will be cheering as loud as his dad!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Getting to Know Gage (and his little quirks!)
It has been so fun to get to know our little boy these past 3 weeks! He is so entertaining, we could watch him all day. I know as he grows and changes there will be so much more to add, but these are our observations so far:1. He is a squeaker! A few days after coming home from the hospital Gage found his voice. He started making squeaking noises in his sleep and while eating. He soon progressed into making lots of different sounds including gasps for air. It worried his mommy so he got to meet his doctor's office before his routine 2 week check up! We learned that he is perfectly healthy, just a little noise-maker. We are used to them now and poor guy, we laugh at him a lot!
2. He is a hiccuper! When I told my OB that I felt my baby hiccupping on a regular basis in the womb, she said that usually if a baby hiccups a lot in the womb it will most likely hiccup a lot outside the womb too! She was right! Gage gets the hiccups at least twice a day. Thankfully they don't seem to bother him. They bother me more I am sure because I feel so sorry for him!
3. He loves to be stroked! When we stroke his cheeks and hands and fingers he will smile and open his mouth and close his eyes. It is so soothing to him, it will help put him to sleep. His skin is so soft I will never get tired of holding and kissing him! I dread the day when he will get tired of it!
4. He makes funny faces! I never knew one baby could look so differently from moment to moment. One of my favorites is what he does during a "burping"...he lifts his head up with his eyes closed and he'll raise his eyebrows and purse his lips. It makes me laugh every time! I'll have to try and catch that one on camera one of these days!
5. He loves to be held! He would much rather be held than sleep on his own. We found that out the first night home. That was one long night! Since then we have used the sleeping wedge, car seat carrier, and our arms, usually alternating between the three in one night! He was eventually sleeping for 3 hour intervals through the night in his car seat but lately is waking up every 2 hours like clockwork. Mommy can't wait to have more than 2 hours of sleep at a time! In the early morning hours he usually ends up beside me in bed or on the couch, where he would sleep for hours if he could.
6. He loves to be sung to! Daddy is so good at making up funny songs that make him laugh!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Little Hands
I have always heard you can tell a lot about a person by their hands. If that is true, I can already tell a lot about Gage by his hands! First of all, he has very loooong fingers so I am anticipating he is going to be tall like his daddy!
While he is eating he likes to have his hands by his face. We have to move them away every time to get the bottle to his mouth. He will sometimes put his hands up to help hold his bottle. It is so cute! Already such a helper...
In my arms he often puts his hand on my hand or holds a finger. He also loves it when we stroke his hands and fingers. It will even bring on a smile! What a sweet little boy we have!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sleeping Gage
We love watching Gage sleep! And many times it's me watching Gage and Daddy sleeping... :-) During one of my last pre-natal visits my doctor told me she felt a little hand next to the head when she checked me. I wonder if he looked something like this in the womb? I am sure he is much more comfortable next to Daddy!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Meeting Family
Gage's cousin, Dalton, is almost exactly one month older than him! Dalton's dad, Kevin, is Craig's older brother. They came with Grandma and Grandpa Engelbrecht to meet Gage on his 1 week birthday. Gage slept through the whole thing!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mom and Dad's First Bath
Since Gage didn't like his bath at the hospital I was dreading his first bath at home! I couldn't stand the thought of making him cry. Craig was such a trooper and just dug right in and got to business. Gage didn't do too bad. He only fussed a little. I fussed a lot. Poor Craig! We have decided that Craig will be the bath giver from now on. :-) 
Just as we got him undressed Gage decided to give us a little "shower" of our own! Daddy was quick and covered him up.
How many hands does it take to give a sponge bath??
Almost done!
Ahh, so nice to be clean, and warm and cozy again! Thursday, January 15, 2009
Grandma Mary..."GrandMary"
Grandma Mary, or sometimes "GrandMary", came to help take care of Gage and me after we got home from the hospital. It was such a blessing to have her help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and holding Gage! She came on Thursday night and left the next Wednesday morning. We were sad to see her go!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Coming Home
Gage is ready to go!
After 2 1/2 days in the hospital, it was time to go home. I was very ready for my own bed but felt sad to leave the comfort of the hospital! We had many wonderful nurses throughout our stay, but Marilyn, our discharge nurse was absolutely the best! She spent so much time with us helping us with breastfeeding and preparing us for going home. Another nurse gave Gage a bath, which he didn't like very much.
But he did enjoy his time warming up under the warmer! 
It was time for us to go. Craig got the car and the nurse and I walked out with Gage. I felt tears welling up in my throat as so many feelings were coming over me. It seemed like ages since we had come into the hospital. I felt surprisingly disappointed that it was over. The day, the moment that I had been looking forward to had come and gone and now we were going home. I never expected to feel sad it was over! While I was pregnant I couldn't wait until it was over and I had my baby! Two different perspectives...
The minute Craig started the car a talk radio program came on and Craig said, "This is how it's going to be buddy...you and me listening to talk radio in the car." I was sitting in the back seat with Gage, feeling so emotional and trying to hold it together. Along our route home I would have a thought and burst into tears telling Craig things like, "I just feel so much closer to my friends who have had kids now..." And Craig would be saying things like, "Look Gage, there's Jack Trice Stadium where we're going to be spending lots of time together!" Me: "I didn't think I would, but I miss being pregnant..." More crying. Craig (after listening to me and doing his best to comfort): "There's Reiman Gardens where we will take you someday!" All of a sudden I started to laugh at how different we were dealing with coming home from the hospital! Thank goodness for my cute and sweet husband who helps balance me.
Gage is home! 
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Hospital Visitors
Cousin Will Unfortunately they don't allow children under 14 to visit the baby so he had to see Gage through the nursery window.
GrandMary and Aunt Holly (Uncle Craig kept Will occupied in the lounge.)
Grandpa Mac
Kate and Martie ~ came at the same time!
Danielle
Brent
Nate & Christina
Tracy
Thursday, January 8, 2009
It's Time...(from Heidi's perspective)
Nesting
Saturday, January 3rd started out a typical "pregnant" morning. I awoke with some contractions that went away shortly after getting up. I was growing very anxious with each passing day to have my baby so I decided I was going to walk walk walk, even if only around the house! I did laundry, cleaned and organized, anything I could think of to keep moving.
Contractions...
That afternoon I took a little nap and felt those nagging contractions again so I got up and moved around, only this time they did not go away. By this point Craig was getting a little used to me saying "This could be it!" so he patiently timed them for me. They were 12 minutes apart and growing increasingly painful. I didn't expect to have such intense pain so early in labor so I called First Nurse to confirm they were in fact contractions.
A Surprise!
I expected the nurse to tell me they were contractions but keep watching them and call back when they were 3-5 minutes apart. So I was greatly surprised when she told me we should come into the hospital now and she would be letting the birthing floor know we were coming. What?! It's time? Due to my symptoms and the incoming ice storm at the time she felt we shouldn't stay home much longer.
Emotions
This was it! With tears in my throat I went downstairs to tell Craig. I could see the panic-fear-excitement in his eyes but he remained calm and comforting and we stood there and held each other. I couldn't believe after all the waiting it was finally time. I actually finished the laundry (couldn't let that load stay in the washer for 3 days!) and my packing while Craig referred to our checklist. We were busy little beavers moving around the house getting ready! About 30 minutes later we were on our way.
On our way to the hospital
I didn't realize just how icy the roads were. Although my heart was in my throat as we were sliding all over the place on the side streets, I think I was less uptight than usual in bad weather since I had other things on my mind! I was focused on getting through the increasingly close contractions. By this point they had quickly reached 5 minutes apart, lasting about 30 seconds. We prayed on the way asking God for a healthy and smooth delivery, safety for our baby, and a good staff at the hospital. I would later find out that God would answer all of our prayers! Craig asked if I would mind if we stopped at Burger King on the way because he was hungry. I knew that the baby wasn't going to be "falling out" anytime soon, and more importantly I know how my hubby gets when he is hungry, so I said sure. I was soon to become not quite so agreeable...
We made it!
Craig was happy he got his food and I was happy to make it to the hospital without getting into an accident! We went up to the 4th floor, the birthing unit, and they were ready and waiting for us. My regular OB was not on call that night but I was fortunate enough to have a doctor that I knew! Dr. Malaki is married to someone I know and we had met before. After monitoring me for about an hour Dr. Malaki declared that my contractions were steadily 2 minutes apart so we would not be sent home. What a relief! 8-) So the journey begins...
Working toward the prize
The contractions were more painful than I imagined! Craig was so sweet to try to comfort me through them but I had to tell him, "Don't look at me, don't talk to me, don't touch me" during a contraction. We tried walking the halls and some other relaxation techniques we learned in our birthing class. I really wanted to try to deliver naturally but after about 5 hours of enduring the pain and only being dilated to 2cm I decided I needed some rest! So an epidural was ordered and I soon got some relief by midnight! I was able to sleep through most of the night with checks from the nurse and Dr. here and there. I was taken such good care of. We knew Dr. Malaki's shift ended at 8am. At about 5 he told us that he really hoped to deliver our baby! By 7 I was dilated to 10! So the pushing (soon) began! The next 2 1/2 hours were the most exhausting I think I have ever endured. It seemed as if I was working so hard and not getting anywhere. After what seemed an eternity Dr. Malaki said those beautiful words, "Stop pushing!" I knew our baby was just on the brink of coming out! Craig and I looked at each other with such joy and relief! Our baby would soon be with us!
Gage William Engelbrecht
At 10:41 on Sunday morning, Dr. Malaki still with us, I gave one more push and could feel our baby come into the world! What a beautiful feeling! My first question was, "Is it a boy or a girl??" Dr. Malaki and Craig both waited for me to find out for myself...The nurse laid a BOY on my chest!! He was so perfect. I couldn't hold back the tears. A boy, just what I was hoping for. Craig and I had 3 names picked out for a boy that we could just not narrow down ahead of time. We decided to wait until we saw him (if it was a him) to pick one. We looked him over then looked at each other and both said, "Gage!" After nine long months our little boy had arrived.
Saturday, January 3rd started out a typical "pregnant" morning. I awoke with some contractions that went away shortly after getting up. I was growing very anxious with each passing day to have my baby so I decided I was going to walk walk walk, even if only around the house! I did laundry, cleaned and organized, anything I could think of to keep moving.
Contractions...
That afternoon I took a little nap and felt those nagging contractions again so I got up and moved around, only this time they did not go away. By this point Craig was getting a little used to me saying "This could be it!" so he patiently timed them for me. They were 12 minutes apart and growing increasingly painful. I didn't expect to have such intense pain so early in labor so I called First Nurse to confirm they were in fact contractions.
A Surprise!
I expected the nurse to tell me they were contractions but keep watching them and call back when they were 3-5 minutes apart. So I was greatly surprised when she told me we should come into the hospital now and she would be letting the birthing floor know we were coming. What?! It's time? Due to my symptoms and the incoming ice storm at the time she felt we shouldn't stay home much longer.
Emotions
This was it! With tears in my throat I went downstairs to tell Craig. I could see the panic-fear-excitement in his eyes but he remained calm and comforting and we stood there and held each other. I couldn't believe after all the waiting it was finally time. I actually finished the laundry (couldn't let that load stay in the washer for 3 days!) and my packing while Craig referred to our checklist. We were busy little beavers moving around the house getting ready! About 30 minutes later we were on our way.
On our way to the hospital
I didn't realize just how icy the roads were. Although my heart was in my throat as we were sliding all over the place on the side streets, I think I was less uptight than usual in bad weather since I had other things on my mind! I was focused on getting through the increasingly close contractions. By this point they had quickly reached 5 minutes apart, lasting about 30 seconds. We prayed on the way asking God for a healthy and smooth delivery, safety for our baby, and a good staff at the hospital. I would later find out that God would answer all of our prayers! Craig asked if I would mind if we stopped at Burger King on the way because he was hungry. I knew that the baby wasn't going to be "falling out" anytime soon, and more importantly I know how my hubby gets when he is hungry, so I said sure. I was soon to become not quite so agreeable...
We made it!
Craig was happy he got his food and I was happy to make it to the hospital without getting into an accident! We went up to the 4th floor, the birthing unit, and they were ready and waiting for us. My regular OB was not on call that night but I was fortunate enough to have a doctor that I knew! Dr. Malaki is married to someone I know and we had met before. After monitoring me for about an hour Dr. Malaki declared that my contractions were steadily 2 minutes apart so we would not be sent home. What a relief! 8-) So the journey begins...
Working toward the prize
The contractions were more painful than I imagined! Craig was so sweet to try to comfort me through them but I had to tell him, "Don't look at me, don't talk to me, don't touch me" during a contraction. We tried walking the halls and some other relaxation techniques we learned in our birthing class. I really wanted to try to deliver naturally but after about 5 hours of enduring the pain and only being dilated to 2cm I decided I needed some rest! So an epidural was ordered and I soon got some relief by midnight! I was able to sleep through most of the night with checks from the nurse and Dr. here and there. I was taken such good care of. We knew Dr. Malaki's shift ended at 8am. At about 5 he told us that he really hoped to deliver our baby! By 7 I was dilated to 10! So the pushing (soon) began! The next 2 1/2 hours were the most exhausting I think I have ever endured. It seemed as if I was working so hard and not getting anywhere. After what seemed an eternity Dr. Malaki said those beautiful words, "Stop pushing!" I knew our baby was just on the brink of coming out! Craig and I looked at each other with such joy and relief! Our baby would soon be with us!
Gage William Engelbrecht
At 10:41 on Sunday morning, Dr. Malaki still with us, I gave one more push and could feel our baby come into the world! What a beautiful feeling! My first question was, "Is it a boy or a girl??" Dr. Malaki and Craig both waited for me to find out for myself...The nurse laid a BOY on my chest!! He was so perfect. I couldn't hold back the tears. A boy, just what I was hoping for. Craig and I had 3 names picked out for a boy that we could just not narrow down ahead of time. We decided to wait until we saw him (if it was a him) to pick one. We looked him over then looked at each other and both said, "Gage!" After nine long months our little boy had arrived.
Monday, January 5, 2009
It's a BOY!!!
Gage William Engelbrecht has joined our family at 10:41am Sunday January 4th, 2009. Heidi and I are so proud. It looks like he might be our future basketball player coming in at 8 lbs 13 oz and 22 inches long. He is such a bundle of joy (at least right now when he is sleeping more than crying :-).
It was a long Saturday night and Sunday. Heidi started having some sporadic contractions Saturday morning. They became regular, every 12 minutes, around 4pm. By 5pm they were getting closer so Heidi called First Nurse to see if they thought it was real contractions. They thought we should go ahead and come into the hospital. Almost immediately after getting off the phone the contractions were only 5 minutes apart. So we scrambled to finish packing and head out into the ice storm and ice covered roads. On the way to the hospital it dawned on me that I was starving and I wouldn't have much of a chance to eat when we got there, so my wonderful wife allowed me to go through Burger King drive through to get some food. She is so great! We did arrive safe at about 6pm, just a little sliding on the way.
They put us into a "holding" room and hooked Heidi up to see if it was the real deal and or if we should go home for awhile. By this time her contractions were only 1-2 minutes apart but we found out that she was only 2cm dilated (a LONG way from 10). They went ahead and checked us in at 7pm but we knew we were in for a long night. Heidi was a trooper through the contractions even though they remained around 1-3 minutes apart for several hours. By 11pm she was still at 2cm so she decided to get an epidural.
She finally received the epidural by midnight to give her some relief of the continuous contractions. She was still at 2 cm so they decided to break her water and start giving some potosin to help her start dilating. By 1am Heidi was finally starting to nod off and get some rest and I was finally able to raid the vending machines to get some food again. We were fortunate enough to get the only remodeled room that includes a couch that somewhat fits me so I was able to get some shut eye as well. We got 20 min here, 25 min there of sleep for several hours.
At 6:55 am Heidi was finally dilated to 10cm but the doctor wanted the baby to drop some more before she started pushing. At 8am Heidi started pushing. Every 2-3 minutes until 9:55 she pushed. She was exhausted (so was I but what can I say when I wasn't the one trying to get a 9 lb baby out!). The doctor decided to let her rest for 10 minutes and she quickly fell asleep. At 10:05 she started pushing again. The doctor and nurse were out of the room at the time so I ended up being the only coach! When the doctor came back he said that at hour 3 of pushing (by 11am) if she wasn't progressing we would have to start looking at a C-Section.
Talk about motivation along with a little rest! With the words C-Section, Heidi started pushing extra hard and boy did her hard work pay off. At 10:41 we became proud new parents.
Wow, God is so good and amazing. What an amazing, intelligent design of a child. What an amazing gift from him. Praise and glory go to him.
It was a long Saturday night and Sunday. Heidi started having some sporadic contractions Saturday morning. They became regular, every 12 minutes, around 4pm. By 5pm they were getting closer so Heidi called First Nurse to see if they thought it was real contractions. They thought we should go ahead and come into the hospital. Almost immediately after getting off the phone the contractions were only 5 minutes apart. So we scrambled to finish packing and head out into the ice storm and ice covered roads. On the way to the hospital it dawned on me that I was starving and I wouldn't have much of a chance to eat when we got there, so my wonderful wife allowed me to go through Burger King drive through to get some food. She is so great! We did arrive safe at about 6pm, just a little sliding on the way.
They put us into a "holding" room and hooked Heidi up to see if it was the real deal and or if we should go home for awhile. By this time her contractions were only 1-2 minutes apart but we found out that she was only 2cm dilated (a LONG way from 10). They went ahead and checked us in at 7pm but we knew we were in for a long night. Heidi was a trooper through the contractions even though they remained around 1-3 minutes apart for several hours. By 11pm she was still at 2cm so she decided to get an epidural.
She finally received the epidural by midnight to give her some relief of the continuous contractions. She was still at 2 cm so they decided to break her water and start giving some potosin to help her start dilating. By 1am Heidi was finally starting to nod off and get some rest and I was finally able to raid the vending machines to get some food again. We were fortunate enough to get the only remodeled room that includes a couch that somewhat fits me so I was able to get some shut eye as well. We got 20 min here, 25 min there of sleep for several hours.
At 6:55 am Heidi was finally dilated to 10cm but the doctor wanted the baby to drop some more before she started pushing. At 8am Heidi started pushing. Every 2-3 minutes until 9:55 she pushed. She was exhausted (so was I but what can I say when I wasn't the one trying to get a 9 lb baby out!). The doctor decided to let her rest for 10 minutes and she quickly fell asleep. At 10:05 she started pushing again. The doctor and nurse were out of the room at the time so I ended up being the only coach! When the doctor came back he said that at hour 3 of pushing (by 11am) if she wasn't progressing we would have to start looking at a C-Section.
Talk about motivation along with a little rest! With the words C-Section, Heidi started pushing extra hard and boy did her hard work pay off. At 10:41 we became proud new parents.
Wow, God is so good and amazing. What an amazing, intelligent design of a child. What an amazing gift from him. Praise and glory go to him.
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