4 month check-up . . .

  Austyn had her 4 month check-up on Monday. She weighed 14 pounds 1.5 ounces (63%), her height was 24 3/4 inches (75%), and her head was 16 1/2 inches (75%). She is a big girl. She did great with all of her immunizations. Jordan was there this time for the shots and he looked pretty sad when she got them. It was cute. She recovered quickly and then it was all over. I can't believe how fast she grows. It seems like she learns something new everyday. She is getting so good about putting weight on her legs. She really likes to stand and help me type this and poop in my lap all at the same time. What a multitasker I have. She loves sitting in her Bumbo seat. She's just getting so good at everything. It's so fun looking back at her pictures and seeing how big she's gotten. 4 months goes by so fast. I can't think of much else to say about her besides how perfect she is and how much we love her.

Look at that hair-do.

Sorry I forgot to flip this one before I uploaded it.

Dressing up for one of our cold days.

I can't believe she fits in this. When I got it

it was so big.

Hangin` with dad

Check out those wild eyes

Big girl in her Bumbo

  My back surgery has been moved up to January 28th. The sooner the better is my motto! I can't wait to have it done and to feeling better again soon! I'm hoping for a speedy recovery. The surgery should only take about an hour and I will be walking out the door that afternoon. It is supposed to be about a two week recovery. Not as bad as I had expected. And the doctor said I will be 100% better in about 3 months. Sounds like a long time. But worth it :) Wish me luck!!

  Jordan is still studying for his Engineer's test for work. He will be leaving for this hunting trip in a few days. He's looking forward to the break I'm sure.

  That's all for now. Hope all is well with everyone.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go . . .

  I officially started work last week. I am working for Pacific Plastic Surgery in Eugene. It is so much nicer than the hospital. It's much much smaller, more laid back, the work is easier, and a huge pay raise. And best of all only two doctors to try and please instead of dozens. The hours are nice for me too. I work most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And with Jordan's work schedule we only need a babysitter for three days a month. So far it's perfect, but it's still new. I'm hoping it will work out how we have it planned. But who knows, only time will tell.

  I also found out last week that I need to have surgery on my back. It's a herniated disc, and I've tried steroid injections which only made things worse. So my only option is to have it fixed. I just want it to feel better. I can't stand it anymore. So I think at the end of February I will have the surgery. And for my heart problem, I went up to OHSU and saw a specialist and they said that it wasn't what they had initially thought and that I was fine. They want one more echo in the spring to compare it to my last one, but other than that I'm good to go. I was really happy to have that over and done with. So check that one off the list and now to get my back fixed and then to lose the rest of my baby weight. I can't wait to work out. Someday soon I hope to be back to normal (whatever a normal body is after a baby that it. Ha Ha Ha)

  Jordan is off to his annual Coyote trip in a few weeks. He's looking forward to it. Hopefully this year they're a little more successful than last years trip. He'll be gone for three days which won't be too bad for Austyn and I. Jordan is also starting the process of becoming an Engineer at work. He has to take a series of tests in order to qualify for more tests. And then he has to rank super super high on his final test to possibly get into one of the open Engineer spots, which are only available if someone retires. It's quite the process. So he's back to studying any chance he can get. Boy am I glad I'm done with that stuff. I'm sure he'll do great. He always does.

  Austyn is doing amazing. She is rolling over now from tummy to back every chance she gets. She is beginning to bring things up to her mouth and she is quite the little chatter box. She's still sleeping like 10 or 11 hours at night. Jordan and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. Everyday is such a joy, yet challenging at the same time. I'm looking forward to this summer. It's going to be so much fun with her in the water and the nice weather. It's going to be great. She has her 4 month check up next Monday. I bet she weighs around 14 pounds by now. She's a big girl.

This is us getting ready to go to Christmas Eve

at Jordan's Grandparents house in Albany

What a cutie! She had a different outfit for every party.

What a spoiled baby.

  That's all that's new with the Petersen's. Hope everyone's Christmas and New Years were good. I know ours was kind of hectic. But I guess that's what come with a baby and the holidays. I keep telling myself next year will be better. As always we were showered with wonderful gifts from wonderful families. Thanks everyone.

Decisions suck . . .

  Well the time has come for me to reluctantly head back to work. I think I had myself talked into this day never coming. I was WRONG!!!!  So now the big decision on who to watch our most precious possession. I can't believe how incredibly hard it is to think of someone we can trust enough to put our baby's life in their hands. Fortunately she only needs to be watched 3 days a month max. But it still doesn't make it any easier. My mom said she would watch Austyn during January so I didn't have to worry about leaving her and going to a brand new job. Which would be super sucky. Hopefully things will work out for the best, like they usually do. I just don't think I've ever had  to make such a hard decision. Jordan has been pretty good through all of this. He just says to do whatever makes me most comfortable and happy (besides not going back to work). It's like he was reading my mind or something. Ha Ha.

  Jordan gets to be off work for 2 weeks over Christmas. Austyn and I are so excited to have him home. Jordan's recent adventure was trading (FYI: trading in boy language doesn't mean straight across. It means getting rid of something you don't like and paying whatever the difference is for something you do) our Honda Accord for a Toyota pick-up. He is so much happier driving a truck instead of a car. Whatever makes him happy right? :)

  Austyn is doing amazing. It seems like everyday she is growing, conquering another skill, and getting easier by the minute. She just had her shots and did great with them. It was so sad when she got them, but all babies need their vaccinations. She just slept for the two days afterwards. She weighs 12 pounds 12.5 ounces right now. Quite a little chunk. She is sleeping anywhere from 7-11 hours. Can't complain about that one bit. I've been trying to make it my goal to keep up on the pictures. And I've been doing fair. Time is just a slipper thing. Can't believe we're working on 4 months already.

  I have taken a position at a plastic surgery center (I wonder about employee discounts, baby's seem to make everything droopy). It's most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Which I'm trying to talk myself into will be a nice break from Austyn. I'm not sure how convincing I'm being, but we'll roll with it for now. I think I will be starting in the next few weeks. Believe it or not I'm kind of excited about it. Or maybe that's anxiety that I'm not recognizing. Who knows. I had an MRI and found that I had a herniated disc. So I am getting a steroid injection and doing physical therapy. I'm suppose to see if that will fix it, and if not I will have surgery. Only time will tell. And as for my heart defect. I have to go up to OHSU to see a specialist and go from there. My doctor here wasn't comfortable enough and didn't know enough about it to treat me. He thinks I'll most likely have to get the hole patched up. We'll see on the 28th. I'll be happy when all this crap gets fixed and over with. What a drag.

  Gosh, hope this blog doesn't bum anyone out. I just read over it and there's a lot of complaining in there. Sorry. Maybe I should have written this on a different day! On a positive note, KODA is doing great after her third surgery to get the stick out of her throat. It was successful. They got a piece of stick the size of the end of my thumb. It was narly looking. She feels so much better and is doing great. And best of all, NO CHARGE!!!! A little persuading on my part and no bill. It would have been $650.00. So if anyone needs a vet, Veneta Vet is your place.

  I've been enjoying the holiday season so far. Can't wait for Christmas! Hope everyone is enjoying it as well. And have a wonderful Christmas and New Years!! P.S. still looking for hand me downs if anyone know of anyone. Thanks.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree . . .

  The lights are up, the stockings are hung, and the tree is decorated. It's officially Christmas season at the Petersen's. I love doing everything Christmas on my Birthday weekend. It always puts me in the holiday mood. This year the whole family went to get a tree together, Chad and Kati, Mom and Dad, and Jordan, Austyn and I. It was great. We should have taken more pictures (like always). We had a Christmas Party on Friday and it was super fun. It's a little different now that I have to be able to function the next day to take care of Austyn. But it was still a lot fun. And then Monday we went to the mall to get all of our pictures taken with Santa. I'd say it was a great Birthday weekend, like always.  

  Not much is happening besides that. Austyn is doing great. She is really getting consistent with her sleeping habits. She usually sleeps from 7 to 9 hours a night. Woo Hoo!! Happy parents :) She's changing so much. She is now giggling once and a while. Which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. She is holding her head up so good. We barely need to support it anymore. And it seems like we can practically watch her grow. Seems weird to think she's almost 3 months old. Time sure does fly. If anyone knows anybody getting rid of baby girl cloths please let me know. We would love to fall in line behind someone for hand-me-downs.

I think he got tired after decorating the tree!

Chad, Kati, Peter, and Riley

Mom and Dad and Jazmine

Our two precious girls

The whole Fam!

  Well that's it for now. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow . . .

  I can't believe it!!!! Snow in November!!!! Maybe we'll have a white Christmas. I can't remember the last time it snowed in November. We couldn't wait to get all bundled up and go out and make the first tracks this morning. We also took advantage of the beautiful backdrop for our family Christmas card. And I thought we'd have to go out looking for snow. Who knew I'd wake up one morning and find it in the back yard. I went out before the rest of the fam to scout out good photo spots before we brought Austyn out. I had the tripod and camera all set up and all we had to do was snap the shot. I figured we had to draw the line somewhere with a 2 month old baby. So we've been enjoying the white stuff from the window. I need to get some warm one piece suites for her, so if we do want to go out. I'll feel a little more comfortable with her being warm enough.

I told her to keep her tongue in her mouth

or it was going to freeze off. But she didn't listen.



Just a skiff, but it was enough to get excited about.

  All is well with Austyn. Hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day!! We did!!

Elk Hunting Success . . .

  Jordan made it home on Wednesday from Elk hunting. He got a 4x5!! That's huge. He was and still is super excited. His first big animal kill. He said he got it on opening day about an hour into the hunt. It ended up taking them 6 hours to pack it out. He said it dressed out at 368 pounds so even heavier when they were packing it. My dad also got one, his is a spike, but still pretty big at 270 pounds dressed out. Way to go guys!! Jordan and TJ came home early, but the rest of the guys stayed to try and get some more. Jordan is super pumped about mounting it and eating it. Elk steaks all around!!

  I'm so glad Jordan is home. It was fun going out to dinner and shopping with my mom the whole time he was gone, but I was ready for him to be home. I was excited to see if he thought Austyn had grown since he'd left last Wednesday. And he was amazed at how she had changed. It will be nice to get into some kind of daily routine now that the corn maze is over and he's home from hunting. It seems like since Austyn's been born we have literally been on the go the entire time. I can honestly say we haven't stayed home one whole day, besides the first few days after coming home from the hospital.

  Austyn is doing great still. She has begun to sleep for 7 hours at night. Sometimes she'll even sleep for 8 hours. Makes for a happy mommy. She still loves her baths. And loves to be on the go. Good thing because I don't think she has much choice in the matter. Everyday seems to get a little easier than the last. I don't get so anxious at night anymore or when we go to a restaurant or store (I still do a little bit). Life is good!! Couldn't ask for anything better. She had her 2 month check up on Thursday and weighed 11 lbs. 5 oz., was 23 1/2 in., and her head was 15 in. She is in the 80% for her height, 65% for her weight, and 70% for her head. The doctor said she is going to tower over me. Everything else was great. They had ran out of shots so we have to go back in a month for those : ( It is so much fun watching her grow and change everyday. She has started talking so much. It entertains me for hours.

  Everything else is going great. Can't wait for Turkey Day!!

Baby update . . .

 October finally came and went for the Petersen family. Jordan worked at Lone Pine Farms helping my parents out every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from about noon to midnight. It was a long month. Austyn and I would go over everyday to try and spend time with the whole family. Since that was the only way would were able to see them. Boy am I thankful for such a little trooper. She is still a great and easy baby. She is growing like a weed. It's almost seems like I can watch her grow. We weighed her a few weeks ago and she weighed over 10 pounds so we're guessing maybe 12 pounds at her next check-up on the 18th. I'm excited to see where she's at with the percentiles. She has begun to smile so much more now. And they're real smiles now, not just the ones from gas. She also has found her mouth with her fist. It's amazing how these things just happen one moment and then she continues to get better and better. She has also been eating like she has a hollow leg lately. Almost up to 6 ounces per feeding. I think she's going through another growth spurt. We had to put her on all formula now, due to the fact that I wasn't able to produce enough for her. I tried pumping for a while and I just kept getting less and less. So I finally had to call it quits. She is doing great on it. Just a little constipated, but that's getting better as time goes on. And best of all she slept for 8 hours the other night. She has been doing like 6 or 7 hours most of the time, but she slept for a whole 8 hours!!! I was a happy mama. I hope she keeps it up. Everything else is getting easier as time goes by. Taking showers, eating, laundry, etc. has gotten back to normal now. It didn't take long, we just had to get into the swing of things.

Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen

Before Austyn was born I would always ask Jordan

what he was most excited for. And he would say:

"letting her fall asleep on my chest".

This was one of the many days at Lone Pine Farms

Here was her second Halloween costume. Her

first was a Lady Bug, but she pooped through it.

Good thing for back-ups!!

  Jordan's gone Elk hunting for a week and a half right now. So my mom and I have been bacheloretteing it. Since Austyn was born my mom had been working so much she barely got to spend any time with her. So while the boys were gone my mom has been able to spend all the time she wants with Austyn, it been great. I'm not sure when Jordan will be coming home, but it will be interesting to see if he can tell she's grown. We sure do miss him!! I hope they come home soon, and with an Elk.

  Another adventure in our lives was KODA getting cut in the mouth with a stick. The stick got thrown for her and she jabbed in the back of her throat causing a huge cut. I thought she was going to be fine but ended up having to take her to emergency vet ($$$$$) early one morning. So on top of Jordan being gone all weekend and having Austyn, KODA was needing to be spoon feed her meals : ( So of course, I loaded her up too and took her along with Austyn and myself to Lone Pine during the days. We can't stay home ya know : ) I wish I would have taken a picture of her because her right eye was swollen and draining fluids and she was drooling blood. She looked like she was a nasty junk yard dog with rabies, like Cujo or something. It was pretty sad. But she is all better now, it's just always something with that dog. Jordan and I decided for our next dog, two words: PET INSURANCE!!!!!
 
  Things we're looking forward to are the holidays and snow. It will be so much fun this year with Austyn. And even more fun next year.

  Things we're not looking forward to, you guessed it, work. I think I'll be going back after the first of the year. I don't think I'm going back to work at the hospital. I was offered a job at a private surgery center for a plastic surgeon. It's more money and a better work environment. And it's only two days a week at the most. So it won't be too bad. And I'm not looking forward to Jordan going back to his normal schedule. Although he was at Lone Pine all the time, he was home at some point every night and every morning. Too bad everyone has to work. Life would be so much fun if everyone had no jobs.

  Sorry there's not a lot of pictures, I need to be better about taking them. Hope all is well with everyone.