Jackson Paul Wisk

We started this blog three years ago now and I just can't believe all that has happened in that time. The goal was for this journal to serve a dual purpose. First, we are fortunate to have friends and family from New England to North Carolina and it's great to give them a glimpse of how our family is growing and even some day-to-day life in the Maryland Wisk House. Second, and what may prove to be most important will be the opportunity for our children and hopefully even grandchildren to read about how they grew up.I'm not a photo guy...I'm definitely not a video guy. We have this awesome video camera that we don't use near enough! One thing that I've always done well and even somewhat enjoyed was writing. I think I'm pretty decent at it and one day this journal can be my gift to my children and hopefully, their children.So here we sit, on Sunday, May first with our five-day-old little man, Jackson. Born at 9:09 a.m. on April 26, 2011, he was twenty inches long and eight pounds two ounces. Naming this child was perhaps the toughest task that Courtney and I have taken on together thus far in our almost six years of marriage! I would say that Jack was pushing an hour old before he "officially" had a name. In fact, I was asked twice what his name was and actually had to reply, "I'm not sure".
I believe that there should be significance in names. Julia Elizabeth has significance in both of her names and now so does Jackson. Courtney's grandfather was named Jack and her father is Paul. That means that our son is named after two guys that are both about 6'5"...now I just need to tie his right hand behind his back and work on that nasty change-up!!!
It was kind of ironic that the doctor that performed JP's c-section was a Duke fan...given his Kemba nickname! I couldn't help but talk a little smack to her during the surgery, telling her that the only thing that would have made Uconn's championship sweeter this year would have been if they went through Duke to win it!

This may end up being my longest post ever. So much happened over four days in the hospital, but one thing was different than the last time. This time I was completely relaxed. Last time I had no idea which end was up, why she was crying or what I was supposed to do. This time both Courtney and I had far less anxiety. We just did what we needed to do.

I was caught off guard by the whole boy thing. Just like with Julia, I had the "pleasure" of changing the first diaper. Only thing was this time, he got the better of me. I forgot about all the warnings about boys peeing all over everything! He got me, he got his mom, he even got himself. He actually got his mom first. The first thing that he did upon delivery was relieve himself on his mom!Julia has been AWESOME with her little brother! She still refuses to hold him...I think she's afraid to hurt him, but that will come. She gives him lots of kisses and holds his hand. She spent a couple days with Grandmom and Pop and seemed to behave so well! They brought her to visit mommy a couple time and she was so well behaved in our small hospital room for 3 and 4 hours at a time that it was incredible! She is a pretty special little girl!
Through this whole experience, we have been so blessed with such giving family and friends! Clearly Grandmom and Pop went above and beyond in caring for Julia, but so many others sent gifts, food and most importantly to me, came to visit. Four days in the hospital is a long time...I don't care why you're there. I think that Courtney would agree that having visitors meant a lot!

So I had a couple mornings at home with Julia to get her ready for school and they were hysterical! The first time, we went downstairs and I put on one of her favorite shows, Super Why, to hold her attention while I went to shower. I told her that when I got out of my shower we would have breakfast.
I walk down the stairs after showering and I Jules greets me with a big "Hi Daddy". Then she says, "Look, I already ate breakfast!" There she was sitting on her Dora couch, covered and surrounded by powdered sugar! She definitely thought she was doing me a favor by going to the kitchen and helping herself to the bag of powdered donuts that were on the counter!

A couple days later, after we had gotten home, I wake up to some distant crying. I come down stairs to see Julia sitting on the floor in the kitchen with a box of cupcakes and cookies beside her. She was crying her eyes out because Mia had vomited and Julia was upset because "Mia's belly was hurting!" Apparently, our little helper came down, fed the cat and then started to feed herself when Mia got sick.

She's such a good kid, such a BIG helper and so much fun. But something tells me that the fun is just beginning as I can't wait to see how she and her brother grow together. My only hope is that she and Jackson are fortunate to have a relationship like my sister and I have. Sure...we drive each other nuts, but we have always made a pretty good team and always look out for each other!

So now I sit here, completing a post that has taken three different sessions to write...interruptions are frequent these days...reflecting on my family. Some call it the perfect family (one boy, one girl). Perfect or not, a couple things are certain, I have the perfect bride and partner, who continues to amaze me. In return, I do my best to drive her nuts! We are both all in and committed to raise these kids the best way that we can. These may be the most stressful days of our lives...certainly thus far, but these will be the best days of our lives!
-Andy

Momma's Take

So Andy has done a pretty good job of keeping everyone up to date with what has been going on. But I figured I'd give my take on the whole experience anyway! Our first nurse was great! She was very friendly and comforting. So the contractions really weren't that bad...at first! So before they got bad, I asked at what point I could get an epidural. I didn't know if there was a specific time frame it had to be done in or what, but if there was, I didn't want to miss it! She asked if I was ready for it and I said that I wasn't sure, because the contractions were still bearable at that point! So she was looking out for me because she came in and told me the anesthesiologist was coming up to do someone else's and that I should just get it while he was up there. PERFECT!!! Except for that whole emergency thing Andy mentioned earlier! By the time he got to me, she said he had a long list of people waiting on him...but I was first! (Thank goodness!!)

The epidural was one of the most amazing things I've ever felt! We could see my contractions on the monitor, but I couldn't feel a thing! Although I think the nurses get a kick out of getting you the epidural and then making you turn on your side or lift your butt up when you can't feel anything and it is dead weight!! You feel yourself trying to lift up, but nothing is happening. Very bizarre, but amazing!

So the day was very long, as I think Andy also mentioned. They had me hooked up to the fetal monitor so we could see Julia's heartbeat and my contractions. Well there was also a computer in the room with all of the other rooms and their monitors that Andy was able to see. So he enjoyed comparing my contractions with all of the other rooms. You know Andy...Mr. Competitive!! So he would make comments like "Oh, I hope she's had an epidural already!" or "You've got a long way to go compared to Room 7."

After we got to the Mother/Baby section, we were put in a semi-private room. Luckily we didn't have a roommate because Andy would have had to leave if that were the case. Lucky for me, Andy took right to being "Daddy of the Year" as he calls himself! As I was pretty much stuck in bed, getting up only to go to the bathroom (which was a process in itself!) he took care of Julia all night. I realized that on Wednesday afternoon, I still hadn't changed a diaper! Andy had changed them all! I was so impressed with how he just took over and was so patient and loving!

We have also been attempting the whole breast feeding thing. I'm pretty sure I've decided that it is for the birds! Julia's first nurse didn't help me one bit. I even asked for her help and she wasn't that responsive. Her second nurse was very willing and eager to help and show me exactly what to do. This was helpful. The lactation consultant also was very helpful. I thought things were going well...until we came home! I have never seen a child scream bloody murder when her mom tried to feed her. She will suck on her hands, a pacifier, a bottle, even on Andy's shirt, but not on the boob! I try to feed her, she screams her head off, Andy takes her, she calms right down, he gives her back, she continues screaming!!! She is definitely a daddy's girl!! He has the magic touch that momma can't seem to find! So I'm pretty sure we are switching over to the bottle. She has had a couple already and seems to be more responsive to those. I just can't take anymore of the screaming everytime I feed her and wondering if she is getting enough to eat!

All in all, this has been one of the most amazing and unbelievable experiences I've ever had. Seeing this beautiful baby makes everything better....even if she is screaming! It's all worth it!!

So we are going on our first road trip tomorrow to Grandmom and Pop's, which is an hour away, so we will see how that works out for us!

~Courtney

Sorry About That Last One

Didn't mean to get so sensitive. I assure everyone that it was just a short state of mind and it has passed. It's just that even though there were lots of funny moments that took place, they really didn't stick with me.

I would however like the record to show that:

• I did manage to get Courtney to laugh DURING a contraction, BEFORE the drugs!


• Julia was born with Emeril Live on TV (insert your own "BAM" joke here)


• Courtney did actually say about one contractions, and I quote "these aren't so bad"...then they upped the dose of Petocin and she re-defined the term jinx.


• After she asked for her epidural, there happened to be an emergency. She then spent the next hour making up new cuss words for that bleepin' anesthesiologist!


• In my next life, I hope to become a "Lactation Consultant". No man (including the esteemed Mr. Hefner) could ever be lucky enough to see and touch that many breasts in one day.

Here are a couple more pictures:

Size Perspective

Feedin' Ain't Easy!

-Andy

Two Days as a New Dad in the Hospital

Flashing back a bit, after Courtney's doctor's appointment on Monday, everything was looking good and she was scheduled for another appontment on Thursday. When she asked how long he would let her go, her doctor responded that if she wanted to be induced, he would schedule it, but there was no need for it right now.

She and I talk about it and decide that we'll let it ride a few more days, but if she lasts, we'd like to be induced on Thursday. So Courtney calls the doctor's office and makes that request and they tell her that they will call right back. They do and they had scheduled to have her induced the next day!

I got that news at about 2 p.m. on Monday afternoon and I think I got more work done in those last 3 hours of the day than I had in the last week! Now we knew what was going to happen. There was no need to worry about it anymore. I knew all that I needed to do!

Bright and early the next morning we head over for our appointment with parenthood. Our bags are packed and we have everything that we need...and we needed none of it! We were as prepared as we could be, but there was nothing that we could have done to prepare for what was going to happen over the next 13 hours, no classes, books, advice or anything.

They began inducing Courtney at about 8 a.m., Julia was born at 7:11 p.m., but by the time things settled down, it was about a 13 hour day. It was difficult, it was draining, it was an emotional rollercoaster...and that was my perspective. I can only imagine what Courtney was going through.

Now I'm not a real emotional guy, but on this day, I couldn't help myself. I was good while the room was buzzing with nurses and doctors, holding back as hard as I could. Suddenly there came an opportunity. The room was clean and everyone left for a moment. Courtney was lying there holding Julia and I took one look at them and totally lost it. I couldn't even speak. I was just overwhelmed with pride and joy. After seeing first hand what my girls had gone through, I was so incredibly proud of both of them!

So I gather myself up and go to get Grandmom and Pop Jones (pictured above) from the waiting room, red eyed and all. This was another really cool moment as a new dad. To be able to see their faces (especially Pop who has a soft spot for all his girls) light up as they learned that we had added another player to the Jones' girls softball team was really special.

I had another cool moment the next day. Courtney had some minor issues from the birth that needed a little surgery to correct, so I had about 2 hours alone with Julia. I'll be honest, I was nervous. I've always shyed away from the little ones. They look so fragile and I can be pretty clumsy, but I had no choice here.

Julia fussed a bit, but not much. We walked and talked and swayed and danced and talkedsome more. I laid out the groundrules for the next couple decades. You know, the important stuff like when Momma tells you no, come to me with a quivering lip or batting your beautiful eyes and I'll probably say yes. Or anytime that you need money for anything, my wallet will always be open. And we had a really long talk about boys...alright well I did most of the talking, but I think it sunk in with her that boys are nothing but trouble.

Momma came back after surgery and Julia had completed her orientation with flying colors I might add (she's much smarter than her Daddy!). Courtney is really recovering quickly. I know that today she's still a little sore, but her recovery in the last two days has been unbelievable. But I suppose that I should have expected nothing less from the most amazng woman I've ever met!

-Andy

LBMF is a GIRL!!!

Julia Elizabeth Wisk

Born June 24th, 2008

7:11 p.m.

7 lbs. 3 oz.

20 inches

Here is a picture of my two beautiful girls, both doing very well. We are home now and trying to figure out which end is up. We thank everyone for your overwhelming support. We have received so many call, messages, texts, emails and more over the last couple days and it means so much. Julia is lucky to have such an extended family!

We have so much to talk about and share (with discretion of course). Courtney and I agreed that yesterday was the longest day of our lives...but it went so fast! Emotions went in every direction and there seemed to be so many priceless moments.

I think we both will have lots to share in the coming weeks as we adjust to life with Julia. There will be more to come soon! Right after a good nap!!!!!!!!

-Andy