Ansley Joyce Brown

Catching you avid readers up on our lives!

Ansley Joyce Brown was welcomed into our world on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 5:45 pm. She was 6 pounds, 1 ounce, 18 inches long. The picture above is our first picture together. My new page picture is our family photo in front of our christmas tree. :)

The story of her birth happened so fast. Sunday morning around 10:30am, I started having consistent contractions. With the family on the way, I managed to walk the dog several times. Once Christy showed up, we ate chipotle and walked the dog more. Attempting to be admitted to the hospital several times didn't work. I wasn't dilated enough or the my contractions weren't strong enough. I eventually called Kyle in from the field and the three of us wandered around the hospital from 6-7am. At that time, Kyle walked into the "ship" store to get breakfast and red bull for him I crouched down for another contraction and my water broke. I vowed to keep it together, but with no sleep for 2 days, immense pain, and lots of hormones, I burst into tears. In fact, I became slightly hysterical. It took two tests to confirm my water broke to be admitted to the hospital. At three centimeters for several hours, pitocin was administered and then everything happened so fast. Ansley's heart rate kept dropping and I wasn't dealing with the pain well so I wasn't breathing through the contractions so I had to get an internal monitor for the baby. The doctors didn't want to check my progress too much because of risk of infection so once they finally checked, they were expecting me to be around 5 centimeters; I was already at 9! I was given an epidural and pushed for ten minutes and our precious little girl was here!

Of course I am leaving out several details where things got scary and funny moments Christy and I had walking in the dark or the three of us walking in the rain in the middle of the night with reflector belts on but it was an experience I hope to remember forever!

We are facing challenges daily with how to be parents, control our emotions when we are tired and balance work, family, and personal time. I believe that in time we will get the hang of it.

We are now preparing for Christmas leave. We are going back to Colorado to be with all our family and introduce Ansley to the everyone. More updates to come, but the baby is getting fussy...

Graduate

Hey All! I wanted to report that Kyle Brown is now a Scout Sniper. Here are a few pictures from the Graduation...

Kyle receiving his certificate and "hog's tooth"

The Brown's after the ceremony. It was only 20 minutes long!Kyle posing in front of the Sniper weapon

34 weeks

I am one day short of 34 weeks but I figured it was time for an update. I went to Colorado to visit family and have two AMAZING baby showers. They were both so much fun and everyone was so gracious in gifts.

We got:

-a TON of clothes

-a crib

-high chair

-bottles

-bottle drying rack

-dishwasher baskets that you can put small things in

-cups, bowls, silverware

-blankets

-books, books, and more books!

And I am sure there is more but that is the gist. And both sets of parents were nice enough to mail us all of our new gifts. I immediately opened all the boxes, washed all the clothes that are size newborn and 0-3 months. I washed little socks, hats, blankets, sheets, towels, wash cloths, and all the dish stuff. I put away the books... her room is almost complete.

We went to Babies R Us yesterday and picked up the crib, we bought the mattress, pack and play, the bed set we wanted, a bath thing, and repurchased the high chair. Today we put things together and it looks amazing! Thanks to Kyle for putting it together and everyone for contributing to us getting it all. :)

Inspiration

This week I am at 30 weeks. Third trimester. So far so good. But every little ache and pain worries me.

There are too many things that are scary about life. For me, it is having a baby, getting sick, failing school, letting the people I love down... The list can go on forever. Right now, my biggest fear is losing the baby and doing something that can harm it. I am slowly becoming a hypochondirac. I have a cold so does that mean the baby has one too? Do I have preeclampsia? Am I feeling braxton hicks? Is what I am eating or the meds I take going to give my baby autism....? It is scary. All of it. What if Kyle doesn't make it to the birth for whatever reason? What if I go into labor while I am in Denver? What if something happens during traveling?

I am scared people! I also am scared to tell people my fears because:

1. If I tell Kyle, I become his worry and right now, he needs absolutely zero distractions-- if he fails school again, he will feel like it is the end of the world. I don't know how to deal with that and I don't know how he will come back from that.

2. I feel like so much has been going wrong with all the times I have gotten sick, that people will roll their eyes and think I am a hypochondriac.

3. I don't want people to know I am scared at all, not even me. So I turn a blind eye to the pains I feel and wait for them to go away. But then I have a moment of panic. What if what I am ignoring is a problem and I am letting it get worse.

So here is my solution.

"If you aren't frightened, you aren't paying attention. And if you become frightened, find a way to become inspired."

So that is what I am trying to do. Become inspired. I am trying to become inspired to think positive. The baby, Kyle, and I will make it and everything will be ok. Being worried and scared is part of being a mommy. I am trying to become inspired and I can do it.

Another week...

28 weeks has gone off with a bad boom. I have been in the hospital twice this week for vomiting. The good thing is I got to see where I will deliver, the bad is that I am there for getting sick. Being really sick once again has gotten old... but if I have to do it for this baby, I will. She is strong and can make it through it too.

Reasons (obvious) why getting sick is so bad:

1. It is painful- everywhere.

2. I get scared for the baby.

3. I get really tired but can't sleep.

4. I get behind in school.

5. It worries everyone.

Today I have started to feel well enough to eat something and clean the house a little bit. I vacuumed, swept, did some laundry, cleaned toilets, and picked up dog poo.

The things I have learned about being 28 weeks:

1. My belly still grows a lot and it is even more difficult to get comfy at night.

2. Shaving your left leg with your right hand no longer works out too well.

3. EVERYTHING makes me have to pee.

4. I am always a little sleepy even if I just woke up.

5. If I go a full 40 weeks, I have less than 86 days of this.

I am getting very excited about going to Colorado for these baby showers. They should be fun. I got the invite to the one the Brown's are throwing and it is cute. I am anxious to see what the Barcheski invite looks like. Either way, I am getting excited to see family and get ready for this baby.

School is good for both me and Kyle. We are moving right along and passing our "tests." This is the last week of a class for me and then I immediately begin another.

Diesel is good. Since I have been sick lately he is restless but he will get a walk today once it cools down a bit more.

That's all for now. :)

27 weeks

I haven't kept up the blog in a few weeks. There wasn't much to tell. I got really sick in week 25 and had to see the doctor. After that, Kyle came home from training in Bridgeport. he loved it up there. So much so that he talks about re-enlisting and trying to get a job up there. I want to visit it first, but if he likes it up there I am sure me and the baby will too.

Guess what?!? Tomorrow I turn the big 2-4!!! Nothing happens at 24, but it is the last birthday of not being a mommy. I am going to check out the new exchange, hopefully win a prize, and wait for Kyle to come home.

Diesel has been very emotional lately. He pouts and sulks around the house and then becomes happy and animated after dinner. Quite the personality.

The baby is growing swiftly. Everyday I feel like another inch has been stretched around my belly. She rests in my rib cage and pushes out from the inside. I can't wait to see her and meet her personality. I am also very very excited to go home in a month or so for baby showers. :)

That's all for now.

24 weeks

This week my belly is 42.5 inches around. The baby is growing a lot!