Survival of Night # 4

Well, Elijah woke up about 2:30 this morning and was crying so loudly it woke me up. I laid in bed for a while to see if he would stop, but he didn’t. So I got up and went and rocked him back to sleep (it only took about 10 minutes or less). When I laid him back in bed he was still a little awake but tired at the same time. I patted his butt a little more, turned on his music and off to dreamland he went. I went back to bed and went back to sleep again, too, until 5:30 which is the new time I have set to feed him in the mornings. I do this so he can eat and I can sleep for another hour before getting out of bed.

Elijah is getting the hang of being able to sit up by himself and is getting more use to the army crawl. He has been pulling his knees up but not to crawl only to sit up. I made him peach and pineapple baby food the other night and last night I gave him some. He really liked and wanted more, but I still had to feed him is milk. Then Fan & I took Elijah to the pool here at OBU and after he got use to the water temperature he really liked the pool. I would hold him out in front of me on his tummy and he would try to kick or splash the water. He really enjoyed the swim. Fan & I figure if we do that regularly Elijah will be able to swim in no time.

That is all I have for now. Love you all.

In other news events

Well, Elijah sat up all on his own yesterday when I went to pick him up and then he scooted over to me. It wasn't exactly the hand and knees crawl, but like an army crawl. It was so precious I wish I had something to record it with. Both of his bottom teeth have broken through and are growing more and more. He gets so excited when I come to pick him up everyday. I can't wait until he can fully crawl over to me or even walk over. Fan & I tried to weigh him on the scale the other day and what we can figure out is that he weighs somewhere around 15 pounds. I can't even connect my middle finger and thumb around his thighs anymore. He has started a new cry for when he wants things.

To tell you how the rest of the time has been, it's been good. Struggling, but good. Struggling because of finances and REALLY wanting to to stay home with Elijah. I have figured out that if I want to keep my same income but stay home I need a home job that will bring me about $400 a week, but as always more is better. Iam still looking everyday and moment that I get a chance to try to find a stay at home job. Please pray for us as we are coming up on a difficult time of year. Fan's greencard paper work is due sometime between the end of October and early January. Then there's Christmas and every other thing that comes in our way. As I have been saying to myself over and over the last night and today, 'God does not give us more than we can handle.' Also, in June Fan's license plate and phone were stolen, then in July his stereo in his truck was stolen and then this month his dirty, stinky, nasty work boots were stolen. Needless to say we invested in a surveillance camera and more lighting outside.

We love all of you, and keep praying for us.

Hugs and Kisses,
Fan, Sara & Elijah

Survival of Night # 3

Well, I don't know if Elijah and accomplished anything or not. I did however sleep until 5:30 when my alarm went off. I had check the baby monitor to see if he was crying and didn’t hear anything, but as soon as I opened his door he started crying so I don’t know. And even though I had that much sleep, I am still so very tired at the office today. I did wake up one other time during the night and listened to the monitor and didn’t hear him crying so that was good to me. We will see how tonight goes and the rest of the week. I am hoping to get him trained in this sleeping through the night business before we go to Ohio so that he doesn’t wake everyone up in the middle of the night, just at 5:30 in the morning. And that is even ok because I some people who will get up to have coffee with the sunrise, or at least they use to. I can’t wait until we go to Ohio, Fan is not sure if he can make the whole trip up there if Elijah doesn’t sleep good, but I will be there and can calm him down.

Any how, I will let you know how Survival of Night # 4 goes.

Survival of Night # 2

Well, I don’t know who got more sleep Elijah or me. I woke up at 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. to make sure he was okay. I have this fear that he is going to get his face between the bumper in his crib and his mattress. Then he actually woke up at 5:15 a.m. so I brought him to bed with me and tried to get him to sleep a bit long until 5:30, well that didn’t work so he got to eat a bit early. Then we both got to go back to sleep for about 30 minutes, we were cute looking all snuggled up together. I love it. I have to tell you though the sock trick didn’t work so well this time. He rolled himself over early in the night and made a whimper, so I checked on him and he rolled with his back against the side of the crib and fell back to sleep, I was in shock. Well when he woke up at 5:15 he had rolled himself over on his back. I think the only reason he woke me up at 5:15 was because I didn’t shut his door after checking on him the last time. Oh well. Also last night I put the humidifier that was in our room into his room to make a humming noise since it is loud. I think that is was helped also.

Anyhow, stay tuned for Survival of Night # 3. It’s the last night and I hope it works and the continues to get better at sleeping.

Survival of Night # 1

Ok, since Fan has night shift (and after sssooooo much thought and reading and talking to Jackie & Kristie) I started to let Eli cry himself back to sleep at night (oh so hard for me) rather than going picking him up and rocking him back to sleep. You can bet he sure did cry and it was hard for me to do, but after I checked on him at 4:30 a.m. he cried some more and then he passed out around 5:00ish. I set my alarm to go off at 5:30 so I can feed him in my bed while I go back to sleep. When I went to pick him up out of his bed he held on to me so tight didnt let go until I laid him in my bed with me. But you know how he rolls over and wakes himself up, well I put socks on him so now his feet just slide instead of turning him over. LOL, mean I know, but it worked. So now hopefully by the time Fan is off night shift (Tuesday night) then Wednesday night we shouldn’t have to wake up at all in the middle of the night. I feel rested this morning, but I also feel like a meany for letting him cry it out. This morning he just stared at me for the longest time before smiling at me. Then I stood up at one point and he reached out to me. My poor baby boy, I love him so much and I hope I can make it through tonight.

Stay tuned for Survival of night 2.

The weekend

Well, Friday night I went out to eat with our friends Amber & Andrew and thier newest one Kelsey, along with Brandy & Glen and belly Emma (due next month). Fan didnt go because he was going to go stunting (his mototrcycle) with some friends. Eli and I had a good time, him and Kelsey both fell asleep just before our food came so Amber and I had to eat just our fries until we could pass the babies.

Then Eli and I got home and I put him to bed and then Fan & I watched Harold and Kumar Escaped Guantanamo Bay (super funny). We got up early (well early for Fan, not Eli & I) and we packed up and drove to Tulsa to stay with our friends Atron & Toiba. They are going to have a baby sometime in about April. Got to see my brother Matt, since he goes to school up there and hardly comes to see us. Saturday afternoon we went to Atron's dad's place and Fan had a blast sliding down the big slip and slide Atron made. Sunday he was sore all day. Friday I had bought Eli some swim trunks, so Saturday I put them on him and is too cute.

Last Tuesday I finally got around to coming up to OBU to workout and work off my baby fat that is still lingering around. I take Eli and put him in his stroller. I couldn't ask for a better baby. He stays in the stroller as long as he can stand walking around the indoor track then I carry him for a bit longer and go down and walk the tread mill. Eli likes when I ride the sit down bike machine because he can sit or stand on my lap.

Sunday while ELi took a nap I got all the dishes down and put away mine & Fan's laundry I still have Eli's to put away but its not a lot. I tried to get Eli to eat some oatmeal last night and he didn't like it so much, but when I ate mashed potatoes for dinner I let him have some and he liked them. He is getting better at eating solids still taking time.

Well 2 weeks before we go to Ohio, I am looking forward to it. Fan is too and I cant wait to see family and let them meet Eli and some others meet Fan.

Thats about it for now. Love you all.

5 months already

Well it have been 5 months since Elijah was born. Can you believe how time has flown? I sure can't, my little baby is growing so fast and my time to be able to stay home with him is getting shorter. I am looking everyday for a way to stay home, the thing is I don't like selling things. I have thought about Medical Transcriptionist and am looking into it. I can do that and be a stay at home mom.

Back on Elijah, he is the sweetest baby in the world. He is loving, he is starting to know what lovies and kisses are. When I tell him to give me kisses he either opens his mouth and slobbers on my cheeks or he just opens his mouth for kisses. And lovies are hugs (if you didn't know). Wednesday the 7th I picked him up from my mother-in-laws and he was sitting in his excer-saucer they have. I played with him a little in it then stood up and reached down and asked him 'Up?' and he reached up, I picked him up and he gave me lovies and kisses with out me asking (Best Moment of the Day). Elijah is also starting to reach out to us. Someone was holding him church on Sunday and came to give him back and he was playing with me, he kept shying away, hiding on that person's shoulder. He is able to easily roll over tummy to back with no problems. He just learned (as of Aug 13) how to roll from is back to his tummy. He likes to walk with support. The bath tub we have for him is one with a sling for babies and then you can take it out and have them sit, well last we took out the sling part and he is now sitting in his tub. He likes to go for his little blue ducky. He likes to talk a lot when he is lying on the bathroom carpet. Fan & I can get him to laugh more with less hiccups. Not to long ago Fan & I took him to see 'Wall-E' and he sat through the whole movie. When it comes out on DVD, I want it. So after the movie and on our way home and even in Wal-Mart the other day I would say "Waaallll-Eeee, Eeeevvvvvaaaaa" (with voice going up high and then down, Ill try to record it one day) and he just laughs so much. He loves to take everything to his mouth.

I do love to take pictures of my baby (as you can tell). I found a website called Picaboo.com. You can download their free software and make your own photo books. I also found a coupon for a free medium book (only 20 pages then you have to buy additional pages) and you pay shipping $8, so I used that too. The first one I created was of my pregnancy and the day he was born. The next one I am thinking about making is from 1 to 6 months. But I found another website that I can make a book up to 40 pages and then have to start buying pages after that. So when I make this next book and will use that site instead of Picaboo, but hey I got a free book. :) The last page I used for my story.

So much has happened since I last reported to you. Elijah is teething and so he not sleeping through the night. oh well. I have been able to get him back on a little schedule with fewer wake ups at night. Fan & I are the parents who have a problem with letting our baby cry himself to sleep. You see Elijah has always slept on his tummy, so when he rolls over at night sleeping or not he cries. I have only been successful once in getting him to cry to sleep. We do it by letting him cry 5 minutes, then go comfort, then let him cry 10 minutes and comfort and just keep going up 5 minutes every time. Well, when rolls over he only gets louder with his crying. So I just end up rocking him to sleep, no big deal for me. And sometimes, especially on weekends, I will just take him to bed with me when it is really early in the morning.

The first part of September Fan, Eli & I, my mom and dad are going to Ohio. It is my cousin's wedding. It has been at least 3-4 years since I have been there. I miss it there and love it. The town we go to is small enough to walk where you need to. When I get there I will probably walk to the Ice Cream Depot (best ice cream ever). So I will have tons of pictures.

Also, if I can find course online, I am looking into becoming a Registered Dietitian and then taking courses to become a Lactation Consultant (to work at a hospital) or just taking the courses to become a Lactation Consultant for private practice. For those who know me, know that I have always wanted to be in the Health Care field and this is one way for me to do that. I figure that I can find courses online and take them slowly while I stay at home with Elijah.

Another thing, Fan is going to apply for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. So pray that he makes it in. I really want him to be able to do something that he wants to do.

I hope you all pray that I can soon become a stay at mom before its too late and then be able to pursue the Registered Dietitian and Lactation Consultant.

XOXO

Talk you soon,

With love

P.S. Did I mention I love being a mom.

Update in the Wonderful World of Elijah

Hey family and friends, just thought I would update you on how Elijah is doing. He is now 4 months and 1 week old. We just went to the doctor last week. He now weighs 13.4 pounds and is 25 ½ inches long, his head circumference is 42 (something) cm. Tuesday night was the first time he was able to sit all by himself for about a minute (maybe longer). He is smiling a lot more often, and love to chat while on his back or even on his changing table (but he has to be in a good mood). He likes to grab at things and tries to get them to his mouth. He knows what his binki looks like and most of the time will stare at it until he gets it. Fan & I started trying to get him to sleep in his bed last week. So far, no very much sleep at night and it may be because he may be starting to teeth. Also, if he rolls over on to his back he wake himself up. My friend Amber, who just had a baby girl at the end of June, is letting borrow her excer-sauser for Eli......WOW....love it!!! It has so many toys on it that he can just spin the seat around and around and play for a while. It does keep him busy for a good while. We also have a johnny jump up for him, even though he doesn’t jump, he just sits there and sucks on the side....so cute, because all he looks like is ½ a head and legs. He likes to look in the mirror and try to grab the “other baby’s” toes or binki.

For those who don’t know, we (Fan, me and Eli along with mom and dad, possibly Matt) will be traveling to Ohio for my cousins wedding in September. I am so excited it has been 3-4 years since I been there. I miss a lot of my family and soon will get to see them. I sure hope Eli will travel well.

Well that is about it for now. Love you all and hope to see some of you in a few months.

The Dragman Family

4 Months

In just a few days Elijah will be 4 months old! I can't believe it. Time is flying by and I am wasting my time working instead of being home with my baby. Any suggestions for a stay at home job.....bring it.

Elijah laughs, rolls over, talks, smiles, getting close to sitting up on his own, likes to stand on my lap, can some what give kisses (but doesnt know what he is doing), plays with his toes, sucks on his hands, very playful. He is my bundle of joy.

Fan had just mentioned this last night that Elijah is something that we can actually call ours, not mine or his, BUT ours. We made him, together. He is our son, child, baby boy, the love and joy of our lives.

Now, we are waiting on one girl to come join our growing group. Amber is had Kelsey on June 30. Brandy is due in September with Emma. We can't wait. So many play dates lay ahead of us. For me it will be nice to have another mommy to talk to about baby. I already have one friend who a 1 year old boy, cutie, pa-tootie. (Jamie and Lane).

Lovies.....

2 Months

Well this Wednesday Eli will be 2 months old. We get to take a trip to the doctor for check up and shots. He has gotten so big and just keeps getting cuter. He is talking more to us and to his Pooh and Piglet picture on the wall by his changing table. Fan has watched him by him self at least one whole day a week. It is still hard for him because he doesnt have the mommy instinct. Eli is sleeping longer at night and shorter during the day. He is ineracting with us more during the day and gets really talkative in the evenings. We cant wait to see how much he weighs. Love you guys and talk to you later.

Much needed update

Hello friends and family. Sorry for the delay in Elijah’s updates, but as parents you know how that is. Where shall I start? Elijah is now 5 weeks old and getting longer and a little chunkier. Saturday, he was in the kitchen with me sitting in his bouncer chair and he babbled “heh” twice. He has gradually added more grunts and coos this weekend. He is starting to talk to us. He is smiling tons, especially when we look at him and smile. He still only sleeping 3-4 hours a night, sometimes 5 if I can push it. :) He doesnt like to lay down so much, he would rather sit up in our arms. I got the day off for my birthday on the 14th so I got to spend an extra day with my “little monkey bug.” He likes to make all kinds of faces, even more so when he is sleeping and dreaming. In 3 more weeks he goes for his 2 month check up and that will be the next time I get to a little more time with him during the day.

Last Wednesday my mom came over and watched him all day. I know she loved it and I did too. She did my laundry and dishes for me. I got to go home and feed and cuddle him. Then Fan watched him for half the day before going to his moms so she could watch him. Again I got to see him at lunch too.

For those who don’t know I had to go back to work on the 3rd of this month. BIG bummer, but financially I couldnt be off with out pay. I try to think and look for ways I can stay at home, but still bring in money. Any ideas, let me know. A telecommuting job for some company would be great too. My days at OBU as the exec. secretary to the president are filled with reading the newspaper and trying to find something to do or at least make myself look busy. It has been like this since our president retired in November. What is even more sad is that my boss doesnt even have things for me to do. Sucks I know. So leaving Elijah everyday is hard and getting harder because all I can do at work think about him, what he doing, how he doing and how much I need another job wither to keep me busy or to be able to see him more or both. I know every one says “It’ll get better or easier” I think that is BS as far as it is concerning my job. Maybe if I had more to do then it would get easier, but right now.... no. Look for pictures, hopefully, by tomorrow or Thursday.

Love you all.

Kisses and Hugs from us.

Week 2

Ok, so week 2 has come and gone. Eli has managed to poop in his tub before we even got the bath going. Then a couple of nights later he peed on my leg. Eli and mommy had our first 3 nights together alone, because daddy had to go to night shift. He is waking up about every 3-4 hours which is good. We went back to the doctor today to check his weight. He weighs a total 8.6 pounds. Getting bigger. Staying awake longer.

I forgot tell everyone, Elijah Ayden was born on March 7th at 8:46 pm. He weighed 8 pounds 1.2 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long and healthy as can be.

Week 1 down

Well, week 1 is down. It was a big week!! Sunday we came home, wow that was a bigger chore than I thought it would be. We had more stuff than you would think. My mom stayed with us overnight until Thursday. Thursday Elijah was still looking jaundice and so I called his doctor and had to go in to have is blood drawn to check his bilirubin level and well is was slightly higher than his weight limit, so we had to have a medical service company leave us a home bili light bed (basically a suit case with lights). Then Friday is was back to the doctor again for more blood to be taken and his level went up slightly more and he had to stay in the bed another night. Saturday, since the clinic was closed we had to go to the hospital and have them check his blood and page the doctor with the results and aaaaawwwww *sigh of relief* his bili level was way down, but still up there. No more light bed.

He wakes up about 2 times a night to feed and be changed. WOW I know. Not to be conceeded (spelling??) but man my boy is sssssoooooo cute. I can’t stop looking at him and kissing him. Whats funny is that he cries more for his diaper being wet or dirty than he does getting stuck with a needle. Being a parent has changed our lives so much. Our bed is now around 10 or 11 where as it used to be some where between 12 and 2.

Well thats it for now. Love you

Thoughts on Life

You know in my 23 years of life a lot has happened to me. I have gone from being born, to going through kindergarten and elementary, to junior high, to high school, then graduating and moving on to college and a “real” job, falling madly in love with the man of my dreams (Fan), to getting married, then graduating college, to becoming pregnant and now having a baby real soon. WOW! All in only 23 years and I have much to live for and go through.

All these stages have come and gone and still its amazing how some people can do it smoothly and others it either takes a while to grab a hold of or they just give up. I think a lot of it has to deal with the way you are raised. For me, life was not handed to me on a silver spoon and I had to work to accomplish things that I wanted or that needed to be done. As I grew up I had my ups and my downs, but hey don’t we all. Not to mention there are plenty more to come. I am thankful I did not have that silver spoon handed to me to easily, I just don’t think I would be the same person nor would I be where I am at today.

Where I am at today is all wrapped up in one simple word.....wonderful. I fell in love and am still in love with the most kindest, gentlest, smartest, most awesome loving man in the world. He loves me for me, we are completely honest with each other, we joke around and laugh with or at each other. We talk about everything, even if we fight we go our separate ways for a bit, but eventually come back and talk it over. I have my own house (with bills, hehehe), I have a job with good benefits, I have graduated college with an Associates degree, and I have a dog and a cat. Best of all, my husband and I are expecting our first child and we couldn’t be happier and more excited. Life is wonderful and soon will be completely changed forever. I know I have loved every minute of it thus far and will continue to.

To know that I will soon be a mom is exciting, but yet it is scary. But hey what first time mom wouldn’t be scared. It’s a life changing event/stage. To know that I have been literally growing a little human being inside me for the past 9 months is just amazing. Not to mention he went from being something so small you can’t see without a microscope to now this little baby, who will be here soon.

When I first found out I was pregnant I thought 9 months was so long and too far away, but now that I look back at it......it’s like where did all that time go? I’m here already? WOW! And to watch my once tiny body change and transform into this pregnant person who can barely put her socks on and soon I will be back to being tiny again. In 9 months a lot sure does happen.....you grow this tiny little human and your body changes with the baby and then after you have the baby, most everything goes back into place. We are amazing.
Life is amazing.

It’s amazing how humans carry a baby for 9 months, dogs and cats carry their babies for about 2 ½ months, and elephants for nearly 2 years. It’s funny how I am now in my last month and my dog GXSR is soon approaching her last few weeks. I think how awesome and funny it would be if her and I had our babies on the same day. Seeing as we are keeping one of the puppies, it would cool, I think, for Elijah to grow up with the puppy and know that they were born on or near the same day.

As I continue to grow and live, my life will continue to grow along with me, I will get old and I will fall down, but I'm not going to let that stop me from doing what I want to do....for I know I have so much to do and so much to continue on with. I take it a day or two at a time, I don't regret anything that has happened in the past because if it didn't ever happen I wouldn't be who I am today or in the future. I know life is not fair and never will be there fore I just live with it. Those born with a silver spoon may fall one day and those born with a wooden spoon may rise. I am glad for all my blessings and that I am who I am.