Growth Spurt!

I'm pretty positive Miss Auddy is going through another growth spurt! Yesterday she napped from 930 to 1230 then 1300 to 1500 then cat napped for a couple hours then a big nap from 1930 to 2330! Needless to say, she didn't get her 5 hours in a row. It was about every 2. I'll take an off night every now and then.

She's also been a bottomless pit! haha Lil' piglet can't get enough! Ben's off this weekend so if she doesn't get back to her routine at night, I have a helper for a few days!

Well its looking like dairy is the culprit. Trying to be completely dairy free is tough! There is dairy in everything! I'm going to be a professional at reading labels in no time. So far she's done a million times better when I don't eat dairy. She hasn't thrown up, fussed, or cried like she had. Well, she does get pretty upset when she wants to eat and she's in her car seat :)

She's been napping pretty much all morning today too. I'm going to sleep when she sleeps this evening, I stayed up waiting for her to wake up... little did I know she'd sleep 4 hours!

Just one of those days...

Well... yesterday was one of those days. It started out pretty good, Audrey slept 5 hours straight t night, had a good morning, and even took a 3 hour nap late morning. After that she didn't like something I ate and we had a time with gas and spit up. I thought it would be a good idea for us to get out for a little bit. Ben was working so we got all packed up to head onto base and look at somethings at the BX. Aud has grown out of her 0-3 onesies and with the supply planes being able to get to Germany now I thought they might have what I needed.

Audrey was pretty sleepy so once we got moving she was okay and started to fall asleep. When I got in the car and turned it on, I had this feeling that something wasn't right but I couldn't place what it was. Deep down I knew it was the car. So I hop on the Autobahn for the short ride to base, get off on the exit, and made my way through the traffic circle. About half way through the car started acting up. I could feel the car giving out. My RPMs dropped and wouldn't come up, even when I down shifted. I knew the car was dying, I just knew it. It wouldn't pick up speed when I pressed the accelerator and I just started praying that I got to base. I called Ben and thank God he hadn't gone into his meeting yet or I wouldn't have reached him. I said the car is dying I don't know what to do. He said try to get on base, he'd come to my rescue. I pulled up to the gate and don't you know it, God got me to base and then the car died. The car died right at the gate while I was getting my ID checked with a whole line of cars behind me. I tried to turn it back on but it was done. White smoke out the back and everything.

So there I am with a 1 1/2 month old in the back seat waking up, cars piling up behind me, embarrassed beyond belief, and it was really warming up outside. I had dressed Audrey in pants and short sleeves and ended up having to take her little pants off. Anyways, the gate guards were so wonderful. I looked up with tears in my eyes and was like Sir, what do I do? I said my husband is on duty could I call him to come down. Thanks goodness they knew him and was like oh yeah, and we'll push your car back and you can wait in the building for him. I took Audrey out of the car and the guards pushed my car back. Ah. I called Ben and he came right down. I wasn't a mess, just a little embarrassed, frustrated, and thinking. He talked to the guards, settled me down, then went back to turn in his weapon and grab his car. Thank God for such a wonderful husband. He came back, put us in his car and we went to see about getting my car taken care of. And you know what? Audrey's bulky car seat fit so much better in Ben's little beamer than in my Audi station wagon. We both were like your kidding me. We both could lean our seat back and sit comfortably! Anyways.... we called the German AAA (ADAC) and got things set up for them to come and tow the car down the street to the autoshop on base.

I just kept thanking God that it happened on base and not on the Autobahn. That would have been sooooo bad, sooo bad. God is good.

When he called ADAC he gave them his cell number to call when they got to base but was using my cell phone to talk to the because I had more minutes. Because the cell plans are crazy expensive here and a huge hassel with the contracts, we just got throw away prepaid phones. With the prepaid phones it only costs you to make calls, not receive them. Well in all the fuss, Ben took my phone and gave me his thinking he took his and left mine. While he went to wait on the tow guys Auddy and I hung out at the kennels. She was getting hungry and it was a heck of alot cooler than sitting in a car waiting. Well, the tow guy called Ben's phone which I had, to say he was at the gate. I called Ben and he said he didn't see him, he must be at the other gate. So he went and waited at the other gate. Then the tow guy called back said he was there, then the gate guards called Ben. Well here the tow guy was parked behind the building where Ben couldn't see him and just missed him. With his accent, it couldn't make out much of what he said and had to try and figure it out to tell Ben. We got it worked out and the tow guys said our car was done. I knew when it shut down that it was probably for good and it would be way too much to try and fix.

Ben came back and by that time it was 1800. Aud was sleeping and we both were starving. Poor Ben worked all day and then had to take care of the car mess. So, we went out to eat. Audrey did great sleeping in her seat but had enough. We put her in the car and once again-her belly didn't like something I ate and was pretty gassy. She threw up on the way home, got upset and screamed the last 5 minutes of the drive. I can't function when she screams like that. It honestly breaks my heart in two. I start crying and think about nothing else except getting to her and making her feel better We weren't anywhere that Ben could pull over and we were so close to home. I was opening my door as Ben was putting the car in park. My poor baby was all red and upset. I was crying and as soon as I picked her up out of her car seat she was okay. Poor thing was over tired, hungry and just wanted to be held.

We got home and it was time for Ben to go to bed and Auddy's bath. She was all settled and loved it. She was out cold by 2100. All three of them were. She slept until 0300 this morning!! She had a good night thank God.

Ben called earlier and said the car was a goner and we started talking about options. Pray we find a car that will get us through out time here and thats within our budget. God provides and it's only by his grace I'm really not that concerned. We're not quite sure if we should just find a good deal european car and have two cars again or sell his car too and get a newer car-one that we could take back to the states when we PCS. So, we're down to one car which is a little bit of a hassle, but it's okay.

Praying today goes a little bit better.

Time flys

I can't believe lil' Miss Auddy is almost 2 months old! It feels like the last month and a half was really only a week... wow. We brought Audrey home on our one year anniversary and had a week with just the three of us. My Mom and Grandma came over and got to spend three weeks here. It was the best visit and was so thankful they could come! Ben was able to get paternity leave for about two weeks. They were so unbelievably helpful. It was the first time I had seen my Mom since we left, about 6 months!

Needless to say, I didn't want them to go, at all. It was pretty hard when they left. Ben was working so it was the first day with just Auddy and me. That was the start to a very, very long week. I think she knew I was having a really hard time. She hardly slept during the day and was up every hour for about an hour every night. I felt so bad, Ben would call me while he was at work to check on us and all I did was cry. Then he'd come home and I still was crying. It was so hard. Then she started being really fussy and throwing up off and on. I had no clue what to do. She just wanted to eat then she'd fuss then she'd throw up.. ahh. Little did I know it was what I was eating that was doing that to her. Oh the joys of being a new Mom. I beat myself up so badly about it and worried I wasn't being a good Momma to her. Ben was soo encouraging, supportive, and loving through the whole entire thing. I don't know what I would have done with out him. He would hold her through the night so I could sleep more than an hour. He got up in the morning and would hold her and give her a bottle I had pumped. He cleaned the entire house, washed and folded laundry, got dinner, did the dishes, gave me hugs and kisses when I needed them the most (usually during a break down) and just because.

It started to slowly get better, she would sleep during the day only if Ben or I was holding her. She preferred Ben (and still does)! So many people kept saying we were spoiling her which really upset me. I wonder, how do you spoil a 3 wk old? And really, if they were so sleep deprived that it felt like an out of body numb feeling, the only way their baby would sleep for more than an hour would be if they held her they wouldn't hold her because they were spoiling her?? Like Aunt Susie said, what if somebody said sorry, I'm not going to hug you because I just gave you a hug 30 minutes ago? Ben and I both agreed that if that was the only way she and I would get some sleep we would be 100% okay with that and deal with the issue later if there was one.

I started looking things up about breastfeeding and fussy babies and found out most of the things I was eating were common irritants to infants bellies. I felt so awful it took me so long to figure it out. Thank God around the same time she started sleeping more through the night. It started with a few days was every 1.5 then 2 hours at a time then she jumped to 3! A few nights ago she started longer stretches. The one day last week she was cuddled up on Ben, her favorite spot, after he got done with work. I was hold off on her bath because she was so wide awake and I noticed she falls asleep so much better and sleeps longer if I wait until later to bath her. Well as soon as she got comfy she passed right out and slept 4.5 hours. I feel asleep on the couch folding laundry waiting for her to start fussing to eat and give her a bath. We didn't get a bath that night! She woke up at 0030! I couldn't believe it! All four of us, Beretta included were passed out in the living room. I fed her and we all went back to bed. She slept for another 3 hours after that. I was in complete amazement! I was praying so hard for her and her sleep. I was so thankful it was starting to improve!

After she get two good stretches of sleeps she get up about every 2 hours, 1.5 hour until 0800. Her napping throughout the day has improved. I can lay her down and she'll sleep for a little bit but she has to fall asleep on Ben or me first. Again, as long as she getting some sleep I don't care. Giving her a bath each night has helped so much too. All the books said only to bath 2-3 times a week because it could dry out her skin. My Mom said we were bathed every night and that it helped us calm down and get into a routine. She said just use baby oil in the tub. Audrey loves getting a bath. She can go from fussing like crazy to completely calm and relaxed. She loves it! I can't wait to have her in a swimming pool!

I'm trying to really watch my diet because it's really looking like she's pretty sensitive to what I eat. So far I've narrowed it down to chocolate, dairy, and eggs. I'm keeping a food diary to try and keep track of things that might bother her. It's been tough because I'm such a dairy eater and it's a huge part of my diet. I'm going to have to look into some other things to eat that won't be so hard on her.

Nursing is going good. I was having an issue with overproduction for awhile then got it under control but then Aud went through this growth spurt and now I'm back to engorgement. I thought I had a grasp on breastfeeding but after this, it's like I've never known anything! Poor Audrey is my little trial and error baby. I can't wait to see how I'll do with the next one. I was telling my Mom but the time 3 or 4 (God willing) I'm going to be a PRO or at least I hope so!

Now that she's sleeping better and I'm rested I'm able to do things while she sleep during the day. When she has an off night I nap with her but lately it's been pretty good. I'm almost done with the thank you cards from all the thoughtful gifts everyone has sent our Audrey. She is such a loved and blessed little girl. I beating myself up about not having the thank yous done but realized that all of you probably understand. If I hurt or offended somebody by not getting their thank you out before this, I'm really sorry. We're so grateful for all of the gifts, it's just been wild here. Thanks for understanding! Also, with the volcano they shut down our mail for awhile so I'm not sure how long it will take the cards to get to all of you!

Audrey had her best night ever last night. I'm really glad because yesterday and last evening she had a really hard time. She didn't sleep and I ate something that didn't agree with her in the evening. It was 2300 by the time she finally went to sleep and didn't wake until 0415! Then she slept from 0500 to 0730 then to 0930! Thank you God!

Now, I need to get myself off of here and take care some things like dishes, laundry, thank you cards, and 15 other things I can't remember. Hope everyone is having a great day! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! It means the world to all of us. I tell Audrey every night we need to thank Jesus for everyone who is praying for us. Love ya all.