Hey Everyone!

This is Austin. I wanted to thank everyone that's asked about my eye infection. Mommy tells me that it already looks so much better. I don't like getting the medicine, but once it's in I'm able to see so much better! Hopefully I won't have to take the medicine for the full five days. I know Mommy and Daddy hate to put it in my eye. (The mark under my eye is just a pimple! Not related to the infection!)
Check out what my Mom put on me today. She tells me that if fit last week. Now it looks like I have really long arms and legs! I have no idea why she has these silly blue socks on with this outfit!

Here's a picture of me trying to help my Mom pay the bills last night...

The doctor told us that he has an eye infection. (This time we were in the Cat In The Hat -- Thing 1 and Thing 2 Room!) We have to put antibiotic cream into his eye three times a day. I think applying the medicine is harder on us then it is on him. We're supposed to do it for five days, but the doctor thinks it will be cleared up way before then. I never knew another person's sickness could make you hurt just as bad... if not worse!

We also found out he weighs at least 9lbs 4oz! The doctor said, "that's the weight gain we love to see!!" Go piggy!!!

Let's hope for another good night! ;)

Austin woke up around 5:00 with a bunch of nasty stuff coming out of his left eye. At 7:30 it was still there but not as bad. Now we only notice it when his eye is open. The nurse told me it could be a sinus infection or a clogged duct. We're going back to see Dr. Kellow at 3:00.




He's still sleeping really well. He was really fussy (for the first time) last night. He finally got to sleep around 12:30... and didn't wake up until 5:00! It would have been perfect if he didn't wake up with the eye gunk!



I love him in blue and brown! The outfit is from his Great Aunt Lynn and the blanket is from his Great Aunt Kathleen!

His "I didn't do it!" pose...

Last night Grandma and Grandpa Salger came over so we could go on a little date. Nothing more exciting then Dollar General and Dairy Queen on a Friday night!!

Yesterday we had a photo shoot for Austin's birth announcements. He did very well for round 1, but round 2 was a different story. Round 2 was also hard for Mom since she doesn't enjoy to see herself in pictures quite yet! I want the pictures to be a surprise when they arrive so I won't post any just yet.

I did want to share some more pictures from our trip home last Saturday morning...


The awsome yard sign our family made for him!

Bye for now!

...went to the doctor! Everything went really well...The car ride, the visit, grocery shopping and the ride home. He was a perfect little angel.

We were in the Spongebob room!

We learned that he weighs approximately 8lbs 11oz. The doctor told us that their scale is usually light, so he thinks he weighs more like 8lbs 15oz or even 9lbs! Our little piggy! I guess he's getting enough to eat! Apparenlty it's rare for a baby to be above their birth weight at just a week old. Everything else looks really good. We go back on 8/18 for his one month check up.

Austin took a nap in his own bed yesterday afternoon! He looked so tiny in that big bed. Last night was another good night. I got a little nervous because he was up at 12:3o and 1:30, but after that he wasn't up again until 6:00. He's sleeping with Dad right now.

I can't wait to see how this doctor's appointment goes. Hopefully a little bit better then trying to find something to wear! Ugh! Oh well! It was all worth it!

We'll update when we get home.

It's hard to believe Austin was still snug as a bug just a week ago today. It was about this time we learned that I was dilating quickly. Only a few more hours until his 1 week birthday!



We had another good night and another great day. His friends, Kylie, Makayla and Mackenzie, came over to play. He didn't know what to do with so many girls around! His cousins, Kalli and Kyle, came over later to make sure he was still doing okay.


My favorite picture of the day...

Tomorrow is the first doctor's appointment. I called them today just to make sure he wasn't going to get any shots. I'm not ready for shots!

Happy 1 week Birthday (at 12:24 am) Little Austin! You've filled our lives with more love in the past week then we could ever imagine.

He did really well last night. We didn't hear a peep from 1:00 - 4:30! He slept until noon after I put him down around 9:00. Lets home this pattern continues!

Aunt B. had to try on his Pumas. Don't they look cute with the ducky sack?He christened his room this afternoon -- He peed all over the wall! Silly little boy! Mama has to learn to move faster!

Who knew a little boy could make so much dirty laundry!

Night two went really well! He was up at 12:30, 3:30, 4:45 and 6:30. After putting him down after the last feeding...he slept until almost noon!! Here's a pic of him in our bed this morning. He looked so tiny in our king sized bed! Last night he slept next to our bed in his pack 'n play from Aunt B and Uncle Corey. The top part of it vibrates -- which seems to be really soothing. We decided that we're going to try to only use it at night. We don't want it to seem "old" by bedtime each night.He also tried out his boppy seat this afternoon. We didn't have any batteries but he seemed to like it anyway! I think it was because I told him his friend Isabella loves her pink boppy seat! Dad decided he needed a "bath" this afternoon. We gave him a little spit bath and lathered him up with some baby smelling stuff. Here's a picture in his bath towel from his friend Adali. Adali was born very early. Austin is so lucky to have a tough little girl like her on his side!
His first doctor's appointment is Thursday morning. I'm anxious to see how much he weighs. He was 8lbs exactly when we left the hospital on Saturday morning. He seems to be eating well and pooping very well!

We brought Austin home yesterday afternoon. We were both worried that he wouldn't like the car seat. He fell right to sleep after we removed some of the padding -- the little piggy is too big for the "baby" stuff!

The rest of the delivery story...
Around 10:00 they discovered I was dilated to a 10. No one could believe how fast I went from a 3 to a 10. All morning it was... you are a 1, okay 1+, maybe a 2, we'll just say 2+, etc. Next thing we know, the doctor has given orders to start "practice pushing" with the nurse. We did that for about 30 minutes. The nurse wanted to let me "labor down" on my own for awhile (come to find out...My doctor was with another woman who had already been pushing for three hours). My epidural wore off as soon as the nurse walked out of the room. I couldn't believe the pain. I went from feeling absolutely nothing to feeling like my insides were being ripped out. (My hats off to those who do this naturally...but I now know you are totally crazy!)

I ended up needing another round of the epidural. I was never so glad to see the doctor walk in with the medicine. This was the only time I "yelled" at Jay. During a contraction I looked up and realized he was flipping through the TV channels. I politely told him he could watch TV, but I didn't want him acting so bored that he needed to see what else was on!!

My doctor finally arrived and we started the "real" pushing around 11:00. I always thought there would be more drama during delivery. At one point I was talking to the nurse about how small the fan blades above my head were. Dr. Hugge asked one of the nurses to get the vacuum ready just in case we needed it. She then said, "Buddy don't make me come in there and get you!" One more push and Austin Jay Kiefer entered our world at 12:24 am on July 17th, 2008. It was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. So many emotions at once! Joy because we had just witnessed (and participated in!) the most beautiful thing on earth. Tears because I couldn't believe he was finally here and then the horror when I realized I had just delivered an 8lb 7oz baby! All totally worth it!!

Dad took pictures of him being cleaned up...

And ran to get Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt B...
We all got back to the room around 2:30 am. My nurse went over pages and pages of information. I think I only remember a few sentences. Mama was pooped! I enjoy my first meal since 7:30 Wednesday morning -- fruit and red cake! :)

We were blessed with so many wonderful visitors the next couple of days. There are a lot of people out there that love this little boy!

One of our first family pictures...

Everything has been going really well at home. We were both so happy to sleep in our own bed last night.

One last picture... Austin in his car seat ready to head home...

Today is the big day! I'll keep updating this as long as I'm able...

9:45-G-ma Deb again. She is dilated to a nine. The doctor is in the hospital. Grandpa, Aunt B and I have moved to the waiting room until his proud daddy tell us to come back into the room to meet him. Sounds like it won't be long now.

7:53-This is Grandma Deb. Jay and Leonard are eating supper. Nurse just checked Chrystal and she is dilated to a 6. She got her epidural at 4:26. At that time she was only 2 1/2. Things are really starting to move along. Pain is still tolerable she has only had to push the button once.

3:17 - They broke my water at 3:00. I'm dilated to a 2. Next step... drugs... (Pain is totally tolerable at this point...)

1:36 - More then a 1, but not yet a 2....

1:27 pm - Not a whole lot of change. Dr. Hugge stopped by to see us around 11:00. She said they would try to break my water when the contractions started to get a little more uncomfortable. She thinks he'll be here sometime in the middle of the night. I'm starving. I enjoyed a nice cup of red Jello and a Sprite around noon. Yuck! Here's Dad catching up on his celebrity gossip...





10:56 - Apparently I'm having contractions every 2 - 4 minutes -- I've yet to feel anything...
10:53 - His "bed" is ready and waiting...

10:35 - I'm hungry...
10:30 - Pitocin started (No cervix medicine needed!!)
9:30 - IV in place after 4 tries and almost passing out / throwing up
8:00 - Arrived at St. John's
6:45 am - We were called for an 8:00 am induction

Hair
Eyebrows
Toes

Check, check and check! Now we just need a baby boy!

Waiting is the hardest part!

I'm convinced my due date is going to come and go w/o even a peep from Mr. Austin.

Here's the 40 week shot. It's crazy to think this is the last one!

Still nothing!!! I guess he hasn't been reading the blog. He apparently doesn't know that he's supposed to come out TOMORROW!

I'm currently scheduled as the second person to be induced next Wednesday. The hospital will call when they are ready for us to come in that morning. Once I get to the hospital they will decide if I'll need the cervix medicine before they can induce. If things have progressed they will induce me as soon as we get there. Keep your fingers crossed that something starts to happen... the medicine before I'm induced takes 12 hours!

My doctor said she's still hoping I'll go on my own, but chances are very good that the action will start on Wednesday. Stay tuned...

A 39.4 week belly shot...
8 days or less to go!!

Friday we went to Sam's to stock up on the necessities for the next three months. I think we have an entire forest of paper plates, toilet paper, paper towels, etc. in our pantry! That night we headed to Evansville for fireworks.

This shirt came from my good friend who just had twins. I got so many complements... I might just wear it everyday until July 16!

39 week belly shot....
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Once again...no change! What a bummer!! I am still "just a fingertip dilated." I'm scheduled to be induced on July 16... if nothing happens before then!

Maybe fireworks and birthday cake will get him going! Stay tuned!

Jay asked me to marry him two years ago yesterday. Little did we know that I'd be 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant just two years later!