Friday, February 3, 2012
Asher 4 month pics!!
We had Asher's 4 month pictures taken recently by Katie Cole Photography. They turned out so good! This age is so much fun!! Asher is starting to giggle at things and he smiles all the time. He has discovered his hands and feet as well as his voice! He coos and talks and the sound of his voice is like wind chimes to me. He is such a sweet baby boy!! By looking at his pictures, you would never know he got such a rough start in this world. Asher's favorite thing to watch is his big brother. If Aiden is in the room, Asher's eyes are glued to him. You can tell he is fascinated by everything his big brother says and does! When I see Aiden play with Asher or talk to him, it's so heart-warming. I can't describe the feeling of watching both of my boys interact together. Before I could not imagine what it would be like having two kids... but now that I have both of them together, I can't imagine it any other way!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I heart Pinterest!
A friend of mine recently invited me to join Pinterest... thank you Kim! I absolutely did not need another addiction! But, I've decided I can categorize it as a healthy obsession because it has inspired me to get organized, to cook AND to clean!! Now, what other addiction can you say that about?? HA! Check this STUFF out!!!...
15-20 Minutes a Day of Cleaning (so SIMPLE!)
from http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/p/free-organized-printables.html
Laundry Basket Dresser
from http://ana-white.com/2010/11/laundry-basket-dresser
And check out that recycle box on wheels? I am SO doing that!!
Wall baskets for Bath Linens
from http://www.imbusyprocrastinating.com/2011/06/design-solution-wall-baskets-for-bath.html
Wall Art Ideas
from http://the-wilson-world.blogspot.com/2010/07/art-in-hall.html
from http://ramblingasusual.blogspot.com/2011/01/prodigal-socks.html
I am implementing all of the above into my own house and can't wait to scour Pinterest for more ideas and inspiration!
What has Pinterest inspired you to do??!!
15-20 Minutes a Day of Cleaning (so SIMPLE!)
from http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/p/free-organized-printables.html
Laundry Basket Dresser
from http://ana-white.com/2010/11/laundry-basket-dresser
And check out that recycle box on wheels? I am SO doing that!!
Wall baskets for Bath Linens
from http://www.imbusyprocrastinating.com/2011/06/design-solution-wall-baskets-for-bath.html
Wall Art Ideas
from http://the-wilson-world.blogspot.com/2010/07/art-in-hall.html
from http://ramblingasusual.blogspot.com/2011/01/prodigal-socks.html
I am implementing all of the above into my own house and can't wait to scour Pinterest for more ideas and inspiration!
What has Pinterest inspired you to do??!!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Asher's Birth Announcement
Baby Love Blue Birth Announcement
Create beautiful birth announcements with Shutterfly.
View the entire collection of cards.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Welcome Asher Jaxon Tripp... a little earlier than expected!!
On September 13th, Richie and I went to my regular scheduled OB appointment. As soon as my OB/GYN saw my swollen feet, she said "It looks like you are going to the hospital." We immediately went over to the hospital where I was monitored for a few hours for preeclampsia. It was decided that my condition was severe and they would take the baby by C-section that day.
This is a picture of Richie and I before they took me to the operating room.
So, it turns out that Asher, who was due on October 5th, made his debut on September 13, 2011 at 6:20 p.m. He weighed 6lbs 5oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. HERE HE IS!!!!
Asher was born at 36 weeks and 6 days, just shy of 37 weeks gestation. We knew he was early, but we did not realize he would be considered preterm. The definition of preterm is the birth of a baby less than 37 weeks. After all, Asher was only one day shy of that!! But, as soon as he was born, they noticed he was grunting, which indicated he was having some problems breathing. They took him to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and he was placed on a CPAP machine, which is a type of breathing therapy. A CPAP is just an aid… it was not doing the breathing for Asher, it was simply making it easier for him to breathe. A friend of mine who has experienced this before likened it to a balloon... Asher’s lungs were like a new balloon that didn’t yet have a lot of elasticity (like a new balloon you try blowing up), so he had to work a little harder at getting his lungs inflated. The CPAP was just giving him a little assistance by keeping his lungs a little more inflated so he didn’t have to work as hard at re-inflating them every time he took a breath. Below is a picture of Asher on the CPAP machine. It is the tube you see coming from his nose and going around his head.
The below picture is the first time I was able to see Asher, which was about 12 hours after surgery. It was so hard seeing him with all of the tubes and wires attached to him. They told me I couldn't hold him, that I could only place my hands on him. No rubbing, patting, or anything that would stimulate him. They wanted him to stay calm in order to keep his breathing steady and even. He breaths were at 130 per minute and they said he needed to be below 60.
He was only on the CPAP machine one day before it was taken off and replaced with a nasal cannula.
And he was only on the nasal cannula for one day when he was taken off of oxygen completely. By September 16th he had learned how to breathe on his own with no assistance. His feeding tube was then moved from his mouth to his nose, which is the tube you see taped beneath his nose in the picture below. He was also being given necessary nutrients and fatty lipids through an IV, which is why his hand is taped to the board.
We felt he was progressing so well, but it was at this point that he started having digestive issues. We tried him on formula and on breast milk, but Asher's tummy was not digesting the food he was eating. The doctor ordered a blood test and x-ray, but everything appeared okay. We were told that his stomach was probably just not mature enough yet to know how to digest his food. He was tried at 3, 7, 10, and 12 ml every three hours, before they just stopped feeding altogether. If you are familiar with measurements, which I am not, then you know that there are 30 ml in 1 oz. So you see the very small amount he was being given. They gave his tummy a break and then started him on a special formula. Thankfully he has responded well to this one. (We are still hoping to re-introduce breast milk at some point.) He was started at 12, then 16, 18 and is now at 20 ml every three hours. He has been progressing so well for the last three days. Asher has now been in NICU for 10 days, two of which were spent under the bilirubin lights because of jaundice.
It is wonderful to see Asher progressing in the right direction and he will hopefully get to come home soon. His big brother is so anxious to meet him. Aiden has only gotten to see Asher through the NICU nursery window. Even though it has been rough on all of us, we feel incredibly blessed to see Asher doing so well at this point. And we are so, so thankful for all of the thoughts and prayers being sent our way. I will continue to update you all as we go along, but hopefully soon I will be posting a blog titled "Asher Comes Home!"
We love you sweet baby Asher! You are such a little trooper and we can't imagine our lives now without you!
This is a picture of Richie and I before they took me to the operating room.
So, it turns out that Asher, who was due on October 5th, made his debut on September 13, 2011 at 6:20 p.m. He weighed 6lbs 5oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. HERE HE IS!!!!
Asher was born at 36 weeks and 6 days, just shy of 37 weeks gestation. We knew he was early, but we did not realize he would be considered preterm. The definition of preterm is the birth of a baby less than 37 weeks. After all, Asher was only one day shy of that!! But, as soon as he was born, they noticed he was grunting, which indicated he was having some problems breathing. They took him to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and he was placed on a CPAP machine, which is a type of breathing therapy. A CPAP is just an aid… it was not doing the breathing for Asher, it was simply making it easier for him to breathe. A friend of mine who has experienced this before likened it to a balloon... Asher’s lungs were like a new balloon that didn’t yet have a lot of elasticity (like a new balloon you try blowing up), so he had to work a little harder at getting his lungs inflated. The CPAP was just giving him a little assistance by keeping his lungs a little more inflated so he didn’t have to work as hard at re-inflating them every time he took a breath. Below is a picture of Asher on the CPAP machine. It is the tube you see coming from his nose and going around his head.
The below picture is the first time I was able to see Asher, which was about 12 hours after surgery. It was so hard seeing him with all of the tubes and wires attached to him. They told me I couldn't hold him, that I could only place my hands on him. No rubbing, patting, or anything that would stimulate him. They wanted him to stay calm in order to keep his breathing steady and even. He breaths were at 130 per minute and they said he needed to be below 60.
He was only on the CPAP machine one day before it was taken off and replaced with a nasal cannula.
And he was only on the nasal cannula for one day when he was taken off of oxygen completely. By September 16th he had learned how to breathe on his own with no assistance. His feeding tube was then moved from his mouth to his nose, which is the tube you see taped beneath his nose in the picture below. He was also being given necessary nutrients and fatty lipids through an IV, which is why his hand is taped to the board.
We felt he was progressing so well, but it was at this point that he started having digestive issues. We tried him on formula and on breast milk, but Asher's tummy was not digesting the food he was eating. The doctor ordered a blood test and x-ray, but everything appeared okay. We were told that his stomach was probably just not mature enough yet to know how to digest his food. He was tried at 3, 7, 10, and 12 ml every three hours, before they just stopped feeding altogether. If you are familiar with measurements, which I am not, then you know that there are 30 ml in 1 oz. So you see the very small amount he was being given. They gave his tummy a break and then started him on a special formula. Thankfully he has responded well to this one. (We are still hoping to re-introduce breast milk at some point.) He was started at 12, then 16, 18 and is now at 20 ml every three hours. He has been progressing so well for the last three days. Asher has now been in NICU for 10 days, two of which were spent under the bilirubin lights because of jaundice.
It is wonderful to see Asher progressing in the right direction and he will hopefully get to come home soon. His big brother is so anxious to meet him. Aiden has only gotten to see Asher through the NICU nursery window. Even though it has been rough on all of us, we feel incredibly blessed to see Asher doing so well at this point. And we are so, so thankful for all of the thoughts and prayers being sent our way. I will continue to update you all as we go along, but hopefully soon I will be posting a blog titled "Asher Comes Home!"
We love you sweet baby Asher! You are such a little trooper and we can't imagine our lives now without you!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
I Love Heather Thompson Photography!
I just wanted to take a moment and give a quick shout out to one of my best friends Heather Thompson, who does photography on the side. This woman is insanely creative and talented, and photography is just one of her many passions! Her pictures are absolutely gorgeous and we are lucky enough that she has been willing to shoot our family photos the last few years in a row. You can follow her blog here: http://www.johnandheatherthompson.blogspot.com/.
Below are some samples of her work...
September 2011
November 2010
November 2009
September 2009
June 2009
October 2008 (There were so many I loved from this shoot, I couldn't decide on just one!)
Thank you Heather for capturing some beautiful photos of my little family!! LOVE YOU!!
Below are some samples of her work...
September 2011
November 2010
November 2009
September 2009
June 2009
October 2008 (There were so many I loved from this shoot, I couldn't decide on just one!)
Thank you Heather for capturing some beautiful photos of my little family!! LOVE YOU!!
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