Pictures

Here is another picture. I'll add more this weekend when I have more time.

More Pictures

Here's a good picture of Jaron doing some serious thinking.

New pictures

Some more Pictures

The End of Marching Band

Today is the end of the marching band season for us at Lennox. It has been an exciting one where we have reached new levels. It has also been a stressful one for me due to the baby and not knowing when he was going to come. As much as I love marching band I am tired as are all my kids, it is time for us to put it away for awhile and go on to other things.

Jaron is doing pretty good. The jaundice is not a factor anymore, he is feeding really well and he is sleeping better at night. He has a very strong head and keeps trying to raise it up to look around (although he can only see a foot in front of his face).

I still look at him in amazement all the time. I am such a proud father, he is adorable. I know that the next 18 years will fly by way too fast. I just hope I catch as much of those years as possible, I don't want to miss a thing.

Day 2 at home

Things are going pretty good at home. Yesterday we had a follow-up appointment for his jaundice and the results were good. Numbers had gone down so they took him off the bili blanket. We were very thankful of that, it was such an inconvenience having to have that on all the time. He has been sleeping pretty good and feeding pretty good as well. It's very hard for me to be at work, all I do is think about him and wish that I were there with him and watching his every move (although he doesn't do much yet). We are beginning to figure out this parenting thing and our own little system of taking care of him. I absolutely love being a parent!

And pictures at home!

Of course I have to have pictures of my little man at home. Notice the OU gear. He wanted to wear it so who am I to say no!

We're Home!!

We're finally home. I am exhausted which only means Chelsea is more exhausted. We got everything set up with the bili blanket and now some time to relax a bit. I think I'm going to go out to get some food since I don't want to cook anything and since Chelsea has never been the one to cook our meals. Even if she were, I wouldn't let her for a few days after everything she went through. More updates later!

Going Home

We're finally going home! Jaron has a little bit of Jaundice so they are sending us home with a Bili blanket. I believe we will have to come back tomorrow to get another test done on him to see how his levels are. It has just been a long day waiting to go home. For those that know me, you know I am about ready to gouge my eyes out. I can't stand staying in a small space for a long period of time so I am ready to get out of the hospital. I'll be back at work for half a day tomorrow and then back full time on Thursday when Brenda gets here for a couple of days.

Thanks to everyone that has either comment here, visited us, texted us, called us or emailed us. We appreciate it all!!

The pictures never stop!

Even more pictures

More Pictures

I don't normally take pictures, but how can you resist when you have a son this adorable?!?!?! He must look like mom!

What an experience

What a great experience I have just been through. First of all it was a lot quicker than I had thought it was going to be. At 8:30 Sunday morning Chels woke up and had some bleeding which is normal and is the onset of pre-labor. We went on with our day and did some shopping. We stopped at the mall, ate at Subway and then around 1 Chels decided it was time to go home. She was having some contractions and they were getting closer and closer together. She called the midwife around 1:45 and she told us to come on in, but warned us that we may get sent back home if she wasn't in serious labor. So we loaded everything up in the car and headed out shortly after 2 PM. We arrived at the hospital around 2:15 but kept all our bags in the car since we both thought we were going to get sent back home for a few more hours. Well we were wrong. They first checked her around 2:45 and she was dilated a 6, then everything moved really quick. I didn't have time to even go out to the car to get the bags or the camera. Chels started the pushing around 4:40 and at 5:02 PM we had our baby boy, Jaron Robert!

Chelsea is simply amazing. She was so great throughout the whole birth. There wasn't enough time to get an epidural so she had to go without it. I was worried it was going to be too much for her, but I was way wrong! I know I couldn't have done what she did. As much as I loved my wife before today, I have an even stronger love for her now. She is such a strong person to do what she has done. I sit here now typing this as she is trying to feed him and I know that she is going to be a wonderful mother.

I am so exhausted, but I just don't want to go to bed. I want nothing more than to hold my son (Wow that is weird to say that) talk to my son and stare at his beautiful face. All my friends had told me how wonderful it is to have a child. They were right, but no matter how many times I heard it, it didn't prepare me for the overwhelming feelings of joy that I have. The only other day that even ranks with this day is the day I married Chelsea. What a great experience I have just entered into. I know the challenges will be many and some will be difficult, but they will all be worth it and I will have a great woman to go through them all with.

More Pics

Here are the pics that are on the Avera website.

Our Son

Here are some pictures just taken.

Jaron and Dad

Here's one of Jaron with the proud father!!!

Jaron

Here's a picture. Many more to come soon.

He's Here!!!

Well Hospital Part I was all we needed! We came in around 2 and had a healthy baby boy at 5:02 PM. Jaron Robert Kramer is 7 lbs. 9 ounces and is 20 inches. Both mom and baby are doing great. He has some very strong lungs, loves to cry a lot. Full head of hair. I will post pictures soon.

Hospital part 1

We're going to the hospital. We'll see if this is the real deal or a false alarm. We'll keep you posted.

11 Days

11 Days until the due date. Of course this depends on which due date you go by. The first due date was Oct. 13 but a month after the first appointment then changed that to Oct. 23. So really nobody has a clue! I am exhausted after a long evening in Orange City Iowa with my band. They did really well placing 3rd in our class. Every week my band has performed better and better, things are going great there. Chels spent the day with Heidi and I believe they had fun together, getting ready for Karianne's birthday party. This morning there is more and more cramping so things seem to be moving along, we'll keep you all posted. Now off to eat some breakfast and get ready for a birthday party!!

12 Days

12 Days to due date. Still waiting. I am off to Orange City Iowa today for a marching competition with my band, it'll be a late night for me. Chels is going to hang out with Heidi for the day in case something happens. We have another ultra sound on Tuesday to see again how much the baby has grown. Who knows how big he is now, he could be 9 lbs already or even more. The Dr. had mentioned to us that she wouldn't induce until 39 weeks if the baby is really big, we're at 38 now and we'll see how big he is and what's going to happen. I am still tired, Chels has been getting some good rest which she will really need when labor begins and for after labor.

13 Days

Down to 13 days now. Still waiting for that any day now to happen. Both of us are still tired and ready for him to make his grand entrance. We'll just keep waiting.

14 Days

Due date 14 days away and counting. Again we keep hearing that he could come at any given time so be prepared. Well, we are and he still isn't here. I am a mess physically and mentally. I can't stop thinking about when he will come. Sleeping just isn't in the books for me the past week so I am physically drained. I am so worried that Kosmo will decide it is time on Saturday evening when I am in Orange City, IA with my band. Chels is doing ok, she is tired of everybody asking how she is feeling. (How would you feel if you had an 8+ lbs. baby in your belly pushing up against your bladder!!!??). She is also tired of getting asked, "you haven't had him yet?" Well that is an obvious thing! Take a look at the belly folks that tells the answer to that! We are both just getting tired and just want our son but he isn't cooperating so we will keep waiting and will keep letting you know how things progress.

15 Days

Well, we are both getting frustrated with the whole waiting game. I'm not good at this game at all. I'm sure that doesn't come as a big shocker to anyone that knows me. I'm just getting anxious and am so busy with work I am just getting overwhelmed. Well nothing else is new so there you have the update.

16 Days and Counting!

16 Days until the actual due date! Still waiting......and waiting.......and waiting! Nothing else new.

17 Days to due date!

Well we now have only 17 days until the actual due date. Not much change going on. Chels has had more cramping and a few contractions. She goes to see the Dr. on Wednesday again so hopefully there has been some change. She is very uncomfortable and ready for Kosmo to come. We are really hoping for this week, but knowing my luck it'll happen Saturday when I am in Orange City for the marching competition. We'll keep you all posted.

20 Days until Due Date!

Well it is officially 20 days until his due date, but we are doubtful he will wait that long. Chels has been having a few contractions, nothing major. She has had some days not feeling well and is very uncomfortable. She also is like normal and wanting to clean everything in site! Then I go and mess up what she just cleaned by using the sink or toilet and she feels like she should clean it again. This of course is nothing out of the ordinary for her, she is always that way!

We are the type of people that don't like surprises so this is tough for us both. Not knowing when he is making his grand entrance is not something we are good with. We just keep waiting and waiting and waiting. Our friends all have dates in their heads I am sure, and some have shared those with us. So if you have an idea or a guess, let us know. Let's see who is right!

It's homecoming in Lennox for me so I have a parade and a halftime show tonight. Tomorrow is Festival of Bands in Sioux Falls so I have the parade and the field competition. Next weekend I go to Orange City in the evening for the competition there and finish out the season with the Dome in Vermillion on the 18th. Hopefully I'll be a father by the time that comes around. We'll keep you posted.