In the midst of this whole ordeal, I watched my mother age…. not as a result of stress, but because birthdays have a way of making us grow older. Mom, however, didn’t even realize that July had turned to August, but it wasn’t lost on Dad. In fact, after a long day at work, he made a special 2-hour trip out to Rochester on that Tuesday evening so we could celebrate mom. First, we showered her with Dad-selected-and-Jaeger-approved gifts. Then, we enjoyed the most serene August 1st skies from our cute sidewalk patio table, and treated mom to Pasquale’s authentic New York Style pizza with a birthday cake chaser! Finally, after our bellies were no longer empty, we decided to fill up our hearts by returning to the NICU where we admired the most precious gift of all, my adorable little sister.

Although my sister needed to remain in the NICU for an undetermined amount of time, mom got discharged from the hospital on Saturday, July 29, just three days after Genesee’s birth. Luckily, we were able to check into the Ronald McDonald House so we could stay in Rochester and IT. WAS. SUPER. DUPER. Not only was RMH filled with trains, games and free ice cream, it also had such a wonderful mission and became a much-appreciated home away from home, alleviating stress during such a challenging time. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to stay with mom when Dad had to return to work. Mom says I was the perfect sidekick and the best little helper. But really, did she expect anything less? I mean, sure, I might be trying to step up my game a bit, but most of my awesomeness comes naturally.

The lobby

The kid’s arcade

Free drinks and snacks!

Pet therapy!

Our bedroom – Angle 1

Our bedroom – Angle 2

Our bedroom (with the lights on)- Angle 3

A care package tote, filled with goodies

A map of visitors

Free ice cream? Yes, please!

I love this train table!!

Dancing in the lobby

Me and my main man

Taking my first taxi ride to the hospital

After Genesee made her big debut, we continued to enjoy lots of visitors! It was wonderful and lovely and all fun and games until I started to suspect that folks weren’t making the trip to see me and my dance moves. It almost seemed like that sister of mine was stealing the show. How could that be? She isn’t even entertaining, unless you get easily impressed by someone sleeping, pooping, and repeating. Hmmm…. I guess I’ll have to learn how to share the spotlight… or step up my game!

The Anderson sisters visit!

…and bring mom lunch! (She’s been craving a cold cut sandwich!)

Then they helped mom escape to the subway level!

Here I am, being my goofy self!

Here I am, being not goofy.

Perusing University Square,

and rediscovering that water fountain!

Grandma & Grandpa treated us to lunch at Chester’s.

My grandparents visit G’s room!

The Nicolais meet Genesee

Jamie and Justine made the trip…

and got to meet my sister!

Me and Authrene

Lynette and Dr. Bee!

Me and my Quizno melt.

Welp, the situation took a dramatic turn! Mom finally convinced herself that she simply had to hang out at the hospital for an uneventful few weeks until a routine c-section would be scheduled between weeks 35-37. But suddenly, in the middle of the 33rd week, just five days after mom became a Mayo Rochester antepartum patient, the dreaded phone call came. At 7:04 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, Mom informed Dad that she had experienced vaginal bleeding (as a result of blowing her nose in the bathroom) and was being rushed to the operating room. (Thank goodness Mom was surrounded by AWESOME nurses and doctors!) Dad responded, “Okay honey. Good luck. I’ll be right there.” But really, we were at home, two hours away. As we quickly packed the car to head to Rochester for the longest 91-mile drive ever, the doctors efficiently and confidently prepped mom with a pep talk, a catheter, intravenous therapy, and general anesthesia. Then, as mom drifted off to sleep, the surgeons made an incision in her lower abdomen and pulled out my baby sister three short minutes later, at 7:15 a.m.

After being sewn back together, mom returned to consciousness around 9:15 a.m. and numbly asked, “Is she alive?! Am I alive?!” Upon hearing the doctors respond “yes” to both questions, mom instantly felt the excruciating pain of an expeditious cesarean section, endured under just general anesthesia. Fifteen minutes and several doses of morphine later, Dad and I arrived at mom’s bedside in a state of disbelief and concern. But after being reassured that mom and baby should recover well, we were escorted to another bright and busy room where the three of us became four of us.

It’s a girl!

Our first family photo together

A mother’s touch

The boys meet the new queen in town

Dad greets his little girl

Here I am, holding my sister’s hand

Breathing machine and lots of cords!

Yikes… she looks fragile!

Cute feet!

Big Brother Certificate

Future doctor!

The stats

Little sis being monitored from mom’s hospital room

Cute notes from the nurses

Less than 24 hours later, the CPAP gets removed!

Uh-oh… she might take up a lot of room in bed, like me!

Before she had a name, the nurses called her Cuckoo Clock.

Victoria’s Italian Restaurant was yummy!

Dad’s checking on my little sister

There’s a lot of monitoring going on in this room

Sleepyhead

Lunch break with my Aunt Julie and cousins

Such a little peanut!

She was also known as “Apple Surprise” initially. (The other name I had picked out for her.)

Cute as a button! (She takes after me.)

Sister likes the swaddle bath!

Bath time!

Clean and fresh after a nice bath

Once she was given a name, the nurses decorated little G’s private room!

Kangaroo time with mom

She’s either really little or dad has big hands!

Here we are: Party of Four!

This was the day I officially became a big brother; I even have a certificate to prove it.

Although my sis and I were both born via emergency c-section, with a full head of black hair, and immediately sent to the NICU, there are several things that set us apart:

• Sister is a girl. (I’m a boy.)
• Sister was born almost 7 weeks early. (I was one week late; a true dilly-dallyer as Dad often calls me.)
• Sister weighed only 4 lbs and 11 oz and measured 18 inches at birth. (I was bigger! 7 lbs, 5 oz and 21 inches.)
• Sister was born in Minnesota, a different state than me. (I’m a Wisconsinite.)
• Sister didn’t have a name until a couple days after she arrived. Apparently, my name suggestions (“Cuckoo Clock” or “Apple Surprise”) did not stick.

Eventually, sissy-butt became known as Genesee Jaydeigh Goodenough (pronounced JEN-eh-see JAY-dee). Although Google will tell you that Genesee means “Beautiful Valley,” the name is actually a connection to our maternal family. Once upon a time, my Aunt Nay Nay (Helen Renee) lived in a southeastern Wisconsin town named Genesee and my Nana Florence would always say that the trick to remembering how to spell it was to combine the names of Papa Florence (GENE) and Aunt Cha Cha (ChelSEE). Plus, the initials of Genesee’s first and last name (GG) are like “Gigi,” the nickname that Nana Florence gave to my mom when my cousin Brooklyn was born. Jaydeigh, on the other hand, derives from my dad’s nickname “JD,” which stands for “Joel Duane” (the first names of Dad and Grandpa Goodenough). And so, her middle name celebrates family too, by preserving our paternal roots!

My first impressions of Genesee are as follows:

• She’s really furry.
• She has long fingers.
• She’s strong.
• She’s not much for conversation… doesn’t even cry, but she is quite the grunter and squeaker!
• She is loved.
• And as you’ll hear in the below musical tribute (dedicated by Auntie Cha Cha), the world is a “better place” since she came along.

Welcome to the world, Genesee Jaydeigh Goodenough!

Although the circumstances around mom’s hospital stay were unfortunate, there were definite perks that came with the deal: FOOD, FRIENDS, and FAMILY!! We received so much support through phone calls, text messages and visits. In fact, I was overwhelmed and humbled by how many people made the trip out to Rochester to witness my dance moves and bring me goodies. Thanks, peeps! We felt the love.

Picking up the pizza with Dad

Yum… I love me some New York style pizza!

SO many good people in one place!

Mom and little Sonia

Party on the patio!

Mahruq, Sonia and Nizam

The ladies love me.

Aunt Kowee!

I approve of the hospital food!

Chocolate makes everything better.

Lunch with Jackie

UWL peeps!

Food,

Dinner with Matt & Carrie

and

food,

more

Thanks for the good luck blanket, Becky. Mom cherished it!

food!

On July 21, Dad and I had to rush mom and her belly to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN because her 32-week ultrasound revealed information that put her into the high-risk pregnancy category. The placenta previa condition that was noted at the 20-week ultrasound had now changed to vasa previa, a rare and potentially “disastrous” condition, according to the doctor. And so just like that, mom was admitted to the hospital…

Room information in case you want to visit or call

Here’s where mom will be staying

An ultrasound image of my sister!

We found a water fountain! And the water fountain found my shirt!

Movie night in mom’s hospital bed!

Another angle

Look at these boogers! I mean flowers.

The 3rd floor patio

Snuggling with mom’s belly

Say “Cheese” mom and dad!

Chillin’ like a villain

Holy hydrangeas!

Reading books in the gift shop is cheaper than buying books in the gift shop!

Out on the town

Me and momma

Books are fun!

Me and Daddio

Family selfie!

I love a good escalator!

Luckily, mom did not have to endure bed rest or intrusive monitoring; she just needed to be close to an operating room should my little sister try to arrive early. In fact, if mom saw any blood, the doctors would need to deliver my sister within minutes otherwise she might not survive. Whoa?! That’s a lot to take in. So, mom cried and tried to prepare for the worst. Dad asked questions while searching for balance between optimism and realism. And because everyone navigates stress in different ways, and because I interpreted the doctor’s orders as a free hotel stay, and because I’m only 3 years old, I decided to cope by showcasing my latest and greatest dance skills in exchange for free smiles and stickers from all the nurses. Clearly, as you’ll see from the videos below, I’ll be the one to pull us through this difficult situation.

On July 15th, we road tripped to Papa’s to make sure he’s been behaving and to accompany him to the family reunion. There’s always new toys to play with or new projects to work on at Papa’s house, but my favorite thing to do is peruse the car magazines with him and compare notes. During this particular visit, we also reunited with extended family in Racine, where I indulged in cupcakes and met my Great Great Aunt Dorothy who just turned 99 years young!! What is the secret, I wonder, to aging so gracefully and living such a long, full life? I hope the answer is cupcakes. It’s gotta be cupcakes. Happy Birthday, Aunt Dot!

Here’s one way to celebrate America’s Independence Day: Head to Canada!

On June 29, we embarked on our trip to Vermilion Bay, Ontario for a fishing adventure on Eagle Lake! After a relaxing night’s sleep in Duluth, MN, and a stop at a stretch-your-legs wayside on Pelican Lake,

we had finally arrived!

We found our home-away-from home at one of Cedar Point Lodge’s quaint cabins.

Of course, most of our vacation was spent on the water, fishing for fishes. (I caught 5 Northern pike one night!)

But, it’s not a successful vacation without heading into town for a little shopping, sight-seeing, and ice cream too!

Some of my favorite moments included racing cars on the kitchen table, building Lego characters in the cabin, playing walkie-talkie with anyone who would respond, welcoming Dad and Grandpa home from their 1st shift fishing escapades, admiring the lake from our deck, and learning how to take enjoy a shower!

Although there were no July 4th fireworks to be applauded, I did get to admire a double rainbow in the sky and a new stamp in my passport!

In the end, this adventure was about spending lots of quality time with my family, so no sparklers or explosives were needed to make this trip an absolute blast! ….That’s how we celebrate America’s Independence Day.

By now, many of you know that I’ll be getting a promotion!
(I found out on my birthday!)

Or, perhaps you might say that I’m getting evicted.
(It depends on whether you see the sippy cup half empty or half full.)

But, do you know if my sidekick will be a sister or a brother?
My fate was determined by a balloon and the big reveal was captured on video,
so if you’ve come here for the sex, click below!

Stay tuned for sibling shenanigans, coming this August!

This past week, I experienced several “firsts…”

I went on my first boys-only fishing trip with Dad and Grandpa! We had to leave really early, but I was so excited that I woke up at 5:00 a.m., before Dad’s alarm had a chance to ring.

Then, Dad decided to remove the front of my crib so I could sleep in a big-boy-bed for the first time ever. I was so thrilled to experience freedom and independence. In fact, I decided to practice my newfound freedom by escaping from my bed in the middle of the night…

…and sneaking right into my parents’ bed. It was perfect; I felt so independent as I snuggled myself safely between mom and dad!!

Finally, I went to my first big-screen movie (Cars 3) at the Sparta Cinema 6 Movie Theatre! It was the 3-D version so I was provided a super cool pair of sunglasses (that I grew tired of wearing about 30 minutes into the movie). Luckily, there was no getting tired of the popcorn, root beer, Skittles and Reese’s pieces! And just to treasure the experience even more, mom and dad bought me a couple Cars 3 characters to play with (and sleep with and never part with) at home.

I will always remember my firsts!