two month check up and turned 2 months old

My sweet baby boy had his 2 month check up on Thursday (Nov. 17) and turned 2 months old on Saturday. My baby is growing and getting so big. He now weighs 11 lbs 4 oz and is 22 1/2" long. His head is 15 1/2". He got his first set of shots and other then soreness, he did really well. No side affects at all.

John's first Halloween

Our sweet boy started sleeping though the night on October 25. John's first Halloween was a lot of fun. My friend Jenny loaned him a costume, so he dressed up at a darling little puppy. We took him out trick or treating with Jakob and everyone thought he was do cute they were calling people from inside the house to come and see him. Jakob was a police officer and John was his K-9 officer.

October 19..............Happy 1 month

Our baby boy has been with us for a month now. It's been a sleepy, yet wonderful month and I couldn't imagine my life without my little John John Maddux. He's a really good baby. He sleeps on average 4 hours at a time at night, gets up and has his bottle and his diaper changed and goes back to sleep for another 4 hours. Poor munchkin is gassy, but we get through it. His big brother loves him to peices and loves being a big brother. He's very helpful and loves doing stuff for John. John has been smiling since he was 2 weeks old and started 'talking' the day before he turned a month old. (other then the night when he was about 2 weeks old and started talking in his sleep) silly guy.

2 week appointment (a bit late) 3 weeks 3 days

John now weighs 8lbs 9oz and is 21 1/4 in. He's perfectly healthy. Has a slight heart mummer that we will be keeping an eye on, but the doctor isn't concerned about it.

Monday October 3

Our 2 week old baby boy is smiling at us. I was talking to him about my grandpa, whom he was named after. I told baby John that I wished he could meet his name sake, was getting emotional about it and John smiled at me. No pictures of it yet.

brotherly love

Jakob is in love with his baby brother. Every chance he gets he wants to hold him, or he's just watching him, comforting him or just talking to him. One day John was crying and Jakob started talking to him, John stopped crying right away and started again as soon as Jakob stopped talking. I think those two boys are going to have a very special bond.

first bath (ouside the hospital)

On Friday September 23, John had his first bath. At first he wasn't too sure about it. But after he got used to the nice warm water he relaxed and enjoyed it.

going home

On Wednesday September 21, we got to go home. John and I were both doing so well they let us go home early. John went home weighing 7lbs 6oz. Only 2 oz down from his birth weight.

John's many visitors.......in the hospital...and out

Daddy....minutes after birth and Mommy too

proud big brother Jakob




Grandpa Kurt was next

and then Grandma Kathy







Uncle Ray Ray

Monday evening brought Grandma Pam

Aunt Leanne

Uncle Lorenzo

Aunt Karen

Nana

and Kim

Tuesdays visitors were cousin Michael

cousin Amy

and cousin Alex. Grandma and Grandpa came back and so did big brother Jakob

Only two visitors on Wednesday......Daddy's friend Craig

and Mommy's friend Jenny...................who helped us pack up to go home

and on Monday afternoon.............when you were a week old...Aunt Sandra and Uncle Rod came to visit

the birth of John Maddux Strunk Monday September 19, 2011

We started the day bright (well really dark) and early....4:30 am, after little to no sleep. We had to be at the hospital at 5:30 for a 7:30 scheduled c section. We got checked in and the nurse put in my IV and gave me a few meds to get ready for surgery, then let us rest while we waited for Doctor Weldon. They finally came in to get us at 7:45, gave me some meds to settle the acids in my stomach and Paul got into his scrubs. We walked to a very cold OR where Paul waited outside while I got my spinal OUCH and got all ready for surgery. Paul came in and then Doctor Chang came in to assist. We know Doctor Chang from Jakob's second year of preschool. He is the father of twins that were in his class. They started the surgery and after a lot of tugging and pressure, our wonderful John Maddux came out crying at 8:05 am. Doctor Chang said it was Jakob the second and Doctor Weldon said hi John. They held him up for me to see and started cleaning him up. They weighed him and measured him and then handed him off to his Daddy for some snuggling and a wonderful meeting. He weighed in at 7lbs 7.8 oz and measured 20 1/4" with a 14" head.

While they cleaned me up Daddy got to hold and snuggle John until it was time to go to the recovery room. At that point I finally got to hold my baby boy. What a wonderful moment. It was love at first sight. They took us to the recovery room for about 45 minutes where Daddy fed John his first bottle....1 oz and by the time we were coming out of recovery I was already able to move my left foot. They got me back into my room and we let my parents know that we were ready for for them to come visit.

Around 10:15, Jakob and Grandma and Grandma came to meet John. Jakob came in and was very excited to see his baby brother. He got to hold him right away and again.....love at first sight. They hung around until around 11, when Grandma and Grandpa took Jakob to school and John got his first bath and some shots. Grandma and Grandpa came back up to visit for awhile and then Uncle Ray Ray came up to meet his new nephew. After that we had some rest time and I got full use of my legs back fairly quickly. Around 5:30 Grandma Pam and Aunt Leanne came to meet John and visited until around 7. After that Aunt Karen, Nana, and Kim came to visit and I was able to get up and move from the bed to the rocking chair. I got back into bed and our visitors for the day were gone for the night. We got ready for a long night with little sleep. John developed a gas bubble that had us up for awhile and of course nurses where in and out all night long checking us both out.

week 39

well I haven't posted here in awhile. Everything has gone well and John is growing well and ready to meet the world on Monday. I'm ready for him to meet the world sooner, but I will make it. I had my final appointment with Dr. Weldon today, signed some papers and have a pre op appointment at the hospital on Saturday. My blood pressure has been great the whole time this pregnancy, very little protein in the urine (just a trace this time) I weighed in at 159 pounds today. Put on about 9 of that in that last month...eek On Monday we will welcome our baby boy into the world around 7:30 in the morning. The doctor said we should be in recovery for 30 minutes to an hour and baring any problems John will be with us the whole time. We will call my mom and Jakob when I'm out of recovery so Jakob can come and meet his baby brother. He is very excited to tell everyone he see and talks to that he's going to be a big brother on Monday.

week 35

I went into instead of the appointment I was supposed to have on Wednesday. I was feeling dizzy and had very swollen feet the last week. Turns out the I'm dizzy from the head congestion I've got and the difference in weather and altitude from Florida home. All is well in Strunkieland. Only gained 2 oz since the 3rd. No protein in the urine, blood pressure was 112/70 so that was still good. John's heart rate was 152 so he's good to go too. Doctor is putting in a request for c section between Sept 18-20.

Monday 8/1 US and Wednesday 8/3 prenatal appointment

Monday August 1.................had another US to check on baby John. Everything is fine with him...he's growing well....estimated at 4 lbs 8 oz and a larger then average head. Not abnormal, just big like his brother. He even smiled for his pictures. Kept his foot and eventually his hands up by his face the whole time.......typical John. We got to see his fingers for the first time too. Such a cute baby boy. Heart rate 159

Wednesday August 8...I had my 32 week appointment today. Got there 5 minutes early and the receptionist didn't sign me in. My appointment was at 11:40 and finally at 11:55 the other receptionist saw me sitting there and looked into why I was still waiting. Doctor Weldon had gone to surgery and I ended up having to see another doctor. Hopefully though the nurse was able to get ahold of Doctor Weldon and get me a letter saying that I could fly to Florida no problem. Blood pressure was fine, baby's heart rate was fine. I'm up to 150 pounds. eeeks

30 week (5 day) appointment

Had my 30 week appointment today. Only gained one pound in three weeks. My blood pressure was 120/70 so all is well with that. Doctor gave me the ok to go to Florida. Go back just shy of 2 weeks from now, right beofre the trip.

glucose test results and 28 (almost 29) week US

Tuesday July 5

Got my glucose test results back this morning. Slightly elevated levels again....just like Jakob. Told them how sick I got with the 3 hour testing so they want me to come in and do a fasting blood draw and then go home and eat...then go back 2 hours later and have another blood draw..then see what the levels show then.

Friday July 8

Had another US to check on baby John and on my placenta. John is doing great, he's measuring at the 50% for his size, his heart rate was 147 and he did not like the tech trying to move his arms away from his face. He was pushing he US wand away. My placenta is fine...still can't find a reason for any bleeding. Which has almost been a month since I've had issues.

Friday July 1...........27 weeks, glucose testing

Had my 27 weeks appointment today, along with my glucose testing. The appointment went well. Weight was 144, blood pressure 117/65. Didn't tell me the hearrate, but it sounded good. Said we could wait until closer to the Florida trip to decide if I indeed should stay home or if I can go. Looks like baby John will make his appearance on September 19.

Wednesday June 8

he kept putting his hand and arm across his face.............and finally just as he was about to stop trying to get a good shot of it, he put his hand down and we got this adorable picture of him.

see....still a boy. And here is a cute little foot.

Had my (almost) 24 week apointment today. Gained about 4 pounds this month. 141.6 pounds. Blood pressure was good 117/70? My uterous is measuring 25 weeks. John's heartrate was 152. Because of the fact that his movement has slowed down......not stopped, the doctor wanted to do an ultrasound to make sure everything was ok. He was moving all around, his growth is good and his fluid level was good as well. All in all, baby John is doing well............and still a boy.