Hello all you anxious onlookers. My picture posting is put on hold because I got milk in the camera and it's not working now. It was at the bottom of the diaper bag and a bottle leaked and somehow got into the battery chamber. We are pretty bummed out because Anders is growing so much right now. Hopefully we will be able to get it fixed or get a new camera soon.

This week we have Chris' mom and aunt here from Ohio. They are catching up on all the baby moments they have missed so far. Last night we were able to leave Anders with them in the hotel while we went to the movies. What a treat it was! The big event was being able to go out to Corona to Glen Ivy hot springs for the afternoon earlier in the week. I was anxious to get back and see our little guy but it was a much needed break and we truly reveled in our hours of freedom.
I'll post some pics of the week when things slow down a bit.

Cheesy Banana and Ham casserole....mmmm


One of my new interests is the food network on Cable. I am doing a lot of sitting while I feed and burp the baby and while I'm doing that I like to see what new and interesting recipes are being made. It is really making me more interested in being creative with cooking. Actually it's making me want to cook whereas before cooking was just a means to an end. I only did it occasionally and really didn't get super creative.
Now, I used to find joy in cooking. When I was pretty young I love making breakfast potatoes and was extremely proud of my mixture of spices, butter and potatoes. I really enjoyed seeing my sisters eat them and like the way they tasted.

I remember one time when I was about six or so, I really wanted to try and make bread. I had no idea what went into the mixture but I knew that dough had to be a certain consistency and that flour was somehow involved. So I began to search the kitchen for ingredients that seemed right. (I have no idea where my mom was at the time). I ended up putting together peanut butter, honey and flour in a mixing bowl. My mom ended up coming in just about the time it was all mixed up and I have some recollection of having to eat some of it to teach me not to waste good food. I do know that it didn't taste very good.

So, lately my desire to be creative with cooking has been reawakened and I've been trying some new recipes that I've seen on the food channel. One of those dishes was the Cheesy Ham and Banana casserole. When I set out to make this dish I went onto the website to read the reviews and see what people thought. It was either given one star or five stars. It was one of those dishes that is either loved or completely hated. So I figured I'd try and see which category Chris and I fell into. I made the dish and I have to say that it is quite an interesting mixture of flavors! We both decided it was an amazing and interesting dish and I've decided to try it again for a brunch when I get a chance. Because it also involves bacon and potato chips as well as lots of butter, we won't be making it very often around here!

Anders got a new toy yesterday and I set it up this morning. He is really starting to focus and enjoy his surroundings so it is especially fun to show him so many colors and shapes and see his reaction. He wore himself out playing and had to have a nice long nap afterwards.

Yesterday was a sad day for our little man. We had his two month well baby check up a the doctors office and that included his first set of immunizations. One shot on the left leg and two on the right. Ouch!
I've been pretty calm in the past about him getting a poke or some other uncomfortable procedure because I know it's good for him, and it will be over soon. For some reason yesterday was quite different. I think I cried more than he did! Chris couldn't be at this appointment so I got to do the honors of holding his little hands out of the way making sure he didn't flail too much. As soon as it was over he stopped crying and fell right to sleep on my chest. It was so pitiful.
The rest of the day he didn't feel very good and slept most of the time. Today he is feeling like himself and is smiling again. It's a relief to see him get his little personality back again!
We'll have to do this again in two months but we'll be prepared with geared up nerves and plenty of baby tylenol.

One of my favorite after bath pictures of Anders looking quite sweet.
Last Friday was the official due date of Anders birth and it's been fun to see how he is starting to change and grow each day. It seems like just in the past week he has been able to focus more and is starting to smile at the right times. Chris and I are enjoying each phase and trying to take in each new moment as it comes.
My sister Erin is visiting from Texas this week and she came bearing a very thoughtful and much loved gift. The quilt that Anders is so happily cuddled up to in his moses basket was put together by Erin and her hubby Jim. I love the fact that it was home made and I am sure that this will be a favorite of his as he grows.

This blog has officially become a baby blog. It started out as a writing outlet and a connection to various cousins and a couple of other fellow bloggers and now it has evolved into Anders' very own picture album.... It may evolve again but I have a feeling that the pictures will be coming at regular pace for a while. Chris and I can't stop oooohing and ahhhing at every cute face or action. The exhausting job of "parent" is made sweeter because of this innocent and helpless little face.

For the record needed to show that my sweet non-fussy little man does indeed have his moments of true freak out. It doesn't last very long and it's always for a very good reason. As soon as his need is taken care of he's fine again. I had to put these pictures up in response to Ariana's blog. =) Yesterday Anders and I spent the afternoon with Ariana and sweet little Amelia. Sadly Amelia spent the whole time sleeping so I didn't get a chance to see her intense little personality. Although Ariana did get a great picture of Amelia and Anders side by side to show the size difference. (Amelia is just a few days older than Anders).

This last picture is of our little man sunbathing. He is still pretty yellow and needs time each day in the indirect sunlight. He seems to enjoy it. I always think that he looks really relaxed and content when we put him in front of the window.

One of the things I love about Anders (and all babies) to be more specific, are their toes. They are like little peas perched at the end of their sweet chubby little feet. I had to get a couple of pictures of our little man's piggy's. As my sister Heidi would say "who can resist!!"

GOOD NEWS!

At this very moment there are two men installing a NEW air conditioning unit in our apartment. It's turning out to be quite a big proccess so it will probably not be done until this evening. (crossing my fingers). I don't think we can handle an overnight without some relief!
This summer has been one of the hottest that I remember in a very long time. I do remember some pretty hot summers when I was little. My mom and sisters and I would lie in front of a fan and wait until it started to cool off. I also remember being so uncomfortably hot at night that we would put ice cubes in a sandwich bag and chew on them. Another way to beat the night heat was to wet towels and lay them on our foreheads turning them over every couple of minutes.
Ahhh... the memories of summers gone by. I have a feeling that this summer will have alot of fond memories for Chris and I as well.

These pictures are almost purely for the Grandparents benefit (Hi Eloise!). The top picture I labled "milk drunk" because when he's all done eating he ends up looking a little loopy and extremely satisfied.

It's 3:40 in the morning and I am trying to cool down after Ander's 3:00 feeding. The temp today was 104 and that was in the afternoon when things usually start cooling down here in So Cal. I don't think I have felt this hot and grumpy in a very long time. My dear husband Chris keeps trying to afirm my motherly efferts by patting my shoulder or holding my hand and I keep veering away because of the sticky heat that radiates off both of us.
The window air con in our apartment probably dates back to the Ford administration and at this moment I am sitting right in the line of cool air and I feel slight relief, but as soon as I move it's back to sweaty July heat.
O.K. I'm off to bed now. When I get up in two hours for the 6:00 bottle it hopefully will have cooled down a bit more.
Tomorrow may be a day to take Anders on a big field trip to the local Starbucks where mommy can sip a Venti iced green tea....

Here are a few pictures from today. Aunt Gretchen and Heather stopped by this morning to visit. I gave Anders his first real bath at home tonight instead of the wet wipe swipe that I do at night. He was a bit overwelmed by it all. The one thing he really enjoyed was getting his head washed. After it was all done I combed his hair with a very soft toothbrush. Quite a big day for him! We also had the home health care nurse come and do a check up on him. So far, since he's come home he has gained about 5 ounces. We were pretty relieved to hear that. All that milk is paying off!!

ANDERS CAME HOME TODAY!

The day finally (yet quickly) for us to take our little guy home. It was quite a day and we are pretty much tuckered out from all the excitement. He is doing really well and is sleeping on the couch at this very moment. So far he is showing himself to be a pretty mild mannered baby but I may eat my words later. Hopefully he'll stay mellow and easy for a while.... I mean I'm only asking that of him until he's 18.... that's not to much to ask for is it?
Anyways I'm off to get his next feeding ready. That usually takes a bit of time.

Well, Wednesday has come and will be over soon. We didn't take home Anders today due to the fact that he still needed to put on a few ounces. I talked to the doctor today and he seems to think that Saturday will possibly be the day we can break him out of the hospital.... We are considering using a room they have at the hospital to spend the night with him while having the nurses nearby. It's a bit intimidating to unhook him from all the moniters and drive away to fend for ourselves.
As of today he is 3 pounds 14 ounces and he may gain a couple more before Saturday. We will love to see him tip the scales at 4 pounds. =0)
In the mean time we are preparing his little bed and stocking up on diapers and wet wipes. Today Chris and I lost ourselves in the confusing labrinth called "Babies-R-Us" looking for little things that we may need. Of course there are way too many choices and everything is pretty pricey. We realized that the "baby needs industry" is quite a racket. We managed to get out of there with what we felt were just the bare necessities.... except for the very cozy looking snuggler blanket. (A velcro blanket that a you wrap the baby in and it velcros so they can't kick it off.) That was an impulse buy on my part.
We'll try to put up some pictures of Anders first day or days at home.

Quick Update

It looks like if all keeps going smoothly, that our little man may be coming home this coming Wednesday. He has graduated to sleeping in a crib as opposed to the incubator and he is doing a really good job eating and maintaining his temperature. All these things make it possible to send him home. The reason he is still being watched closely is because he had some little episodes that they call "D-stats" where his breathing slows down and because of that his heart slows down also. Most preemies have these and with Anders he corrects it on his own but whenever they have an episode like that the hospital has to keep them another week to make sure it doesn't happen again. His last one was on the 5th of July. We are now waiting and hoping that he's outgrown that and we will be able to get him home. We can hardly wait!

A couple of pictures from the weekend. One of our favorites is Anders looking like a little monkey. He makes such hilarious faces and we just sit there and wait to see what his face will do next. It's very amusing.
The feeding picture is a favorite of mine because I have been so challenged to make enough milk, bottle it and rush it to the nursery at the hospital every day. It has felt quite frantic and as of today I think that I have caught up enough so that there won't be a shortage for the next day or so. He doesn't do well with formula at all and will usually throw it up. He does REALLY well with my milk and we are hoping he will fatten up in no time.
Anyways, life is taking on a bit of a routine and Chris and I are beginning to feel a little more relaxed and rested. We even considered going to see the new Superman movie tonight.... we then reconsidered. But it was an option. We realize that we won't be running off to do spontanious things once Anders comes home. Even though it is hard having our little guy at the hospital we know he is in good hands and it is a blessing to be able to recoup a little before life gets even crazier having a little child with us every moment.
We really are looking forward to the day he is strong enough to join us at home. That will be a day to celebrate.

Here are a few pics from today. Grandama and Grandpa Jensen have been VERY excited to spend some special time with Anders before they go back home to Ohio. They were able to cuddle him a bit before he had his dinner. He really is enjoying looking around at his surroundings when he's not sleeping and seems to notice different people. He especially likes being held by daddy and always makes funny faces while he's looking around.

So, here is Anders in all his preemie glory. We took these pictures today. We left the camera in the car on accident when we first got to the hospital and unfortunately missed getting a picture of him being awake and alert. Most of the time he eats and sleeps and the few moments when he's awake he's squinting his eyes against the light and new sights. I'm sure everything is quite overwelming outside of his former comfy home....
We get to hold him whenever we visit and today I got to try giveing him a bottle.(he promptly fell asleep so I passed him back to the nurse to finish it off).
Despite his small size he is doing really well and is off all the IV's and tubes. They still have a few wires hooked up to him to moniter his viatal signs but other than that he is free of constraints. It's good to see him move around more freely.

Thank you to all who have and are praying for him and us. We feel all the care and appriciate it more than anyone could know.

I'd like to announce the birth of John Anders Jensen (goes by Anders) born Sunday June 25 at around 9:45 in the evening. He weighed 3 pounds 11 ounces and is 17 inces long.
He seems to have farily reddish hair and he looks like a little man. VERY cute. We'll have pictures up soon.
I'm doing fine despite all the surprises of this last week. It's nice to be home from the hospital and unhooked from all he wires and needles. I'll update again as things settle a bit and we get some good pictures of our little love bug.