Jacob 'Brily's' Story

Jacob 'Brily' Kloss

After the 'first' go around just a few short months ago, 14 to be exact I was ready to pop. As you can tell from the picture above, this was no small child I would be delivering. I couldn't breathe, sleep, bend, find shirts or pants that fit, see my feet, or understand why they look like elephant feet. I had a scheduled C-section on September 24th, 2008 but after a few attempts of trying to escape & my blood pressure sky rocketing we had to change that. On September 18th I went to the doctor and learned that my high blood pressure was not cutting it and that I was having a baby that day. WHOA WHOA WHOA... that is my twin niece and nephews birthday! They already share with each other they don't need a cousin to share with. So I begged and pleaded with the doctor to wait until another day. She agreed and gave me strict orders to be on bed rest and DO NOTHING. Ha, if you know me when those last few weeks arrive so does the nesting. I was cleaning like a mad woman, going to a birthday party, packing & preparing, giving strict order as to how Jace is to be cared for, & worrying!

Why worry Whitney you've done this before? Uh, did I mention that it was the scariest time of my life??? Well it was I thought I was dying & leaving behind a husband and new son. So that morning the nerves set in and there was only so much preparation I could do, only so many pep talks I could give myself. That was quite possibly the quickest 3 hours of my life, I was trying to slow time down but it wasn't happening. The 11:30 rolled around and they surprised me and told me I was going back then. ACK! What the hell happened to NOON????? I was begging for Valiums and was more nervous than I had ever been in my entire life!!

Most operating rooms are cold and bright, well it was bright and HOT like the sun. But I was shaking like a leaf, afraid that my spinal would go crazy again and I would be left to lay there breathless, literally! I began to shake, my heart rate began to rise, my nose began to bleed from being so nervous, blood all over OR and they haven't even cut me yet. We waited and waited and waited for the assisting doctor to get there and finally it was time.... TIME FOR THE SPINAL :/

So I knew the whole "mad cat" arched back and all so I sit there trying not to shake, cry, or hop up and RUN LIKE HELL! First little pinch, spot numb, second big pinch, wait, wait, wait, "I'm sorry dear I missed, let me try this again." Evidently I was not "Mad Cat" enough, so here we go again with the first pinch, spot numb, second big pinch, and "LAY BACK Hurry your going to be numb quickly." So I lay back and up goes the heart rate, 150....160....170.... I was a little nervous but after a little crash course in breathing it came back down. As I waited to see if I was going to be numb from the head down, they started my C-Section. About 5 minutes into the deal I get a little upset and start saying "I cannot breathe CANNOT BREATHE, I CANNOT BREATHE DAMMIT!" After the doctor reassured me that it was only them hold my HUGE child up to be able to cut me. He was crowding my lungs making it hard to breathe, so I literally sat there and panted like a dog just to get a good breath. The funny thing was that they had oxygen on my nose and I was breathing out my mouth.

Before I knew it that he was my 'hunka hunka' love Jacob 'Brily' Kloss was born weighing in at a WHOPPING 9 pound 1 ounce and 20 1/2 inches. After a small fight with blood sugar, an IV, and formula to get his sugars up from me having undiagnosed gestational diabetes, he was wonderful, handsome, fat, & well he melted my heart instantly. He was a monster, he rolled over in the hospital bed while I granny walked to his bassinet to get a diaper. He was such a good baby!

He has been wonderful since the day that momma's boy was born. He had to have surgery at one month for pyloric stenosis but recovered like a champ. He's now my 10 month old attention grabbing, eye smiling, charmer!

(1 day old in the hospital)

Jace's Story

Jace Andrew Kloss

After a grueling 40+ week of being pregnant, complication after complication, and a switch in doctors less than 24 before delivery we welcomed our beautiful baby boy on June 28th 2007.

After weeks of false labor, active labor, and stopped labor I couldn't take it anymore. I guess when they say don't question a mothers intuition, you shouldn't. I knew I was in labor and I knew I wasn't going to be able to deliver him naturally so I sought out a second opinion. I was right I needed to be induced and quick. I was told to be at the hospital the next morning at 6 a.m. There I waited with my bags packed, I was not leaving with out my baby. Induction starts, water gets broken, and the wait begins. I had contractions prior to the induction, ones that would make me nauseous but these 'induced' contracts were crazy! I demanded my husband put pressure on my back for the labor pains and endured ever check ever 30 minutes so it seemed. I waited and watched my little man on the monitors until the Dr. came in and said, "You have a window for an epidural, the anesthesiologist is going into surgery soon and if he is in surgery and you miss your window that means no epidural." With a puzzled look on my face and in extreme pain I ask "Well then what are we waiting for???" After the epidural I was in wonderland and after an exhausting 40+ weeks and crazy contractions I was going to catch me one last wink of sleep before my sleepless night began. I dozed off only to be woke up 4 hours by my mom and the nurse telling me that I was going to surgery very soon because my babies heart rate had dropped and he was showing signs of stress and I was only at 4 cm. Still a little out of it and nervous of what was ahead of me I though I'd catch another wink of sleep on the way to the O.R. Since I had already received an epidural I didn't feel my spinal block which was nice but I also didn't feel anything. Slowly my epidural made it's way up and numbed me from the top of my head down. Let me be the first to tell you it is weird to be awake, alert, and not be able to breath on your own. Yes, I was ventilated, Yes, I was fine, and YES, I was scared to death!!! For some reason (that I still don't know) I heard the Dr. say as soon as he is out, give her "that." Whats that you ask, I still don't know but after I heard the faint cry of my baby I was OUT, back to sleep I went. I awoke in the recovery room wondering where I was, who these people were, and where my husband and newborn child were. I was informed of my status and situation and told that my husband and child were in the nursery and as soon as I could wiggle my toes I'd be on my way! PSH! Wiggle my toes I can do that, so I thought. I was there another 30 minutes trying to wiggle my toes!!

A bumpy ride back to my room and I was greeted by a glowing daddy and my precious baby boy! Jace Andrew Kloss 7 pounds 12 ounces and 23 inches long. It was love at first sight!!!! After 4 days in the hospital we made our way home & have made it to where we are today, a wild 2 year old and still those sleepless nights!!!

A never ending love story...

Jake & Whitney

I guess you could say it all started in the winter of 2003 as a friendship and secret crush. We had become best friends, spending a lot of time together, and beginning to fall for each other. On January 17th 2004 we had our "first date" one that will never be forgotten. Between me getting severely car sick, the waitress at Ruby Tuesday's acting like I was non-existent, missing our movie, or walking around the "Red Roof" mall in the FREEZING rain with out a jacket because I didn't have one to go with my outfit; it won't be a day I'll forget. After a short 10 days of "dating" it became official on January 27th 2004 a snow day away from school that we stayed up talking on the phone until 3 a.m. That Spring Jake graduated and went to work full time as I finished up my senior year. After my graduation in 2005 we moved in together in his parents "other" empty house, Jake's childhood home. It had been rented for years, severely run down, and in desperate need of some TLC. After living together for few months and much encouragement from my family we decided to get married. I scratched my lavish plans for a church wedding and settled for the beautiful front yard of my grandparents house to QUICKLY schedule it around our good friends Mike & Jareka. So on October 8th 2005 we jumped the broom became Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Kloss.







The next year was rough and I won't lie there were times that I was afraid that we would no longer be Mr. & Mrs. but legally separated. Between going from 'yours & mine' to 'OURS' and living arrangements to a number of "Whitney grow up" moments, WE SURVIVED miraculously our first year of marriage. With a new found love for each other we promised to make it work, remembering what we vowed just 365 days prior that 'through thick or thin' we would love each other.







That next year would begin the next chapter of our lives, Parenthood. We found out in October that we would be expecting our first child. We would learn quickly not only about the child that we would be having but the loved ones we would suddenly lose. Jake's grandmother Seely & father both passed away 3 months apart. It's hard to let go knowing that the baby growing inside of you will never meet that crazy papa and grandma Seely of his, never hear the untold stories, or make memories with them. It was hard and trying but we made it through a tough pregnancy that was high risk and almost lost. But by the grace of God we welcomed in a HEALTHY baby boy on June 28th 2007 Jace Andrew Kloss weighing in at 7 pounds 12 ounces and a lengthy 23 inches. We were changed for ever by the blessing of our sweet child. We devoted our every waking moment to him. Changing him, feeding him, nurturing him, and loving him; he was our pride and joy! During that time we acquired a home here on the hilltop, a beautiful 4 bed room 2 bath home on a couple acres to call ours!







A very short 6 months later we were very surprised to find out that we would be expecting another blessing come September. Jake was overfilled with joy, what more could a father want that working toward his goal of his own football team. Me on the other hand was instantly fill with guilt, I could only think of what I would be taking for Jace. His babyhood, his attention, and sharing his love with another. Thankfully that quickly passed and was replaced with joy, happiness, and excitement. After a LONG exhausting pregnancy we welcomed our second baby boy Jacob 'Brily' Kloss on September 22nd 2008 weighing in at a whopping 9 pounds 1 ounce and 20 1/2 inches long. After a minute of jealousy toward that baby "MY MOMMA" is holding Jace welcomed his brother with slobbery kisses, brother squishes, and an occasional bonk on the noggin'.







Now are days revolve around a daring 2 year old and a lovable yet rotten 9 month old. Jace, learning to talk and climb, getting an attitude yet still being that sweet loving boy he's always been, and is growing into quite a little man. Brily, learning to crawl, use his 8 teeth, babble 'ma-ma' and 'da-da', and mimic every move of his older brother is changing before our eyes from a chubby little hunk of love into a mobile toddler.







The next chapter in our lives is yet to be told, although I have the faith that through 'thick and thin' and together we will weather the twist and turns and bumps in the road it grace.