Where's the Cow?

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

finally gaining!

we went to WIC yesterday- and finally, finally Henry has gained 2 more ounces! That puts our newest little guy at 8 lbs 5 ounces.

he still is pretty yellow, and still fairly sleepy, and is still needing to be woken up to nurse, but he has turned into a pretty good cluster nurser in the evening, and i do feel like things are starting to look up.

continued prayers for more weight gain!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

The Birthday Boy

We celebrated Campbell's birthday as a family on his birthday.

Us: "Campbell when's your birthday?"

Campbell: "April FOOLS Day!"

Next year we will work on him saying April 1st.

We had a really great day, Campbell awoke to his birthday balloons. We have had birthday balloons every year for him. He loves them.

When he came out of his room and saw them he cried, "OOh- balloons! For a Birthday Party!"

How old is Campbell?

our beautiful party table sans guests

and with guests.

cookie monster cupcakes

Campbell sang loudly along with all of us.

He knew exactly what to do!

To everyone who made this birthday party so special- thank you! It was a wonderful day and Campbell has been tearing into his birthday presents all evening long.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

my two babies.

yup, i have 2 babies. still can't believe they are only 15 months apart. mason just loves her little brother. whenever he is in the baby chair she can't help but come over and give him kisses. i was really nervous about how she would do adapting to her new little brother, but she has been doing great! such a proud big sister!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday my sweet little boy.

Campbell Paul, April 1, 2006

You arrived in the middle of the night after a long day of waiting for you to come. Labor wasn’t necessarily hard, but it was long, and my nerves were on edge waiting to meet you.

And then you were here. Beautiful and huge. I remember holding you in my arms and watching you mess with your tongue. Your Dad and I were in love instantly.

And you quickly started to grow.

Your first year was just wonderful. Watching all the new things you did, cuddling with you and getting to be your mom.

I remember the first little game you played with us-you would look up at us when you were on your tummy and then bury your head into the carpet- then do it again.

I remember you learning to roll- you literally rolled around our entire table one night when we were playing cards with friends.

You started crawling by chasing after empty plastic water bottles on the floor. And you didn’t get up on your arms for awhile- you would just simply army crawl everywhere.

You grew so much- so tall.

Your smiling face, your big huge grin and your wonderful little laugh. That first year just went way to fast.

And then you were one.

Walking around- the running around. You wanted to explore everything.

So we explored the world together.

You went to Momma’s favorite place: Disneyland. You didn’t cry on any ride- not even Pirates. Momma’s little thrill seeker.

You experienced dirt! We took you camping. I’ll never forget watching you find your very first stick. You walked around with this face that bore the hugest smile, like a whole brand new world had been given to you.

Your first real word was “giraffe” and you used that word to describe any large animal. When we went to Yosemite you would see the deer running around and called them “giraffes”.

You met your baby sister during this year, and you were great to her from the get go.

Putting you to bed at night was always fun, we would tell you “I love you” and you would say “FA FA Momma, FA FA Giraffe”, I still don’t know what that meant. But it was so sweet, and you did it every night.

And then somehow out of nowhere you turned 2.

This year with you has been unbelievable. I can’t believe how much you have changed, how grown up you have become.

It started with being able to point out all your letters, and then slowly you learned your alphabet song.

And then more songs. Today I am not quite sure there is a song you don’t know and don’t want to know. Listening to you sing along to your guitar is sweet music to my ears. Listening to you try and hit high notes cracks me up.

And books. Oh my books. All you want to do is read. And we have read every book in this house so many many times. You never get bored of your books.

And running and jumping.

And falling. I’m sorry son, but you are the clumsiest child I have ever seen. I’ve spent the last 6 months watching you fall and hearing you say “I’m ok”.

I remember the first time you said “I love you”, it was to your Dad and it was on his birthday. After that you didn’t stop saying it, and you haven’t yet.

When dad and I ask you “what do you think?” you respond, “I think I love you”.

And you have lately “want to tell you something” only to have really nothing to say.

Your love for the outdoors has grown. You are much happier outside.

You are a fantastic big brother, and before your 3^rd birthday you have welcomed a new brother to your life, and you already are in love with him. Its easy to see.

You are a thoughtful, caring little boy. You have such a healthy energy, and a desperate thirst for learning. You love memorizing your Bible Verses, and you ask to do your “school books”.

I can’t believe that you are so old. I can’t believe that you are carrying on conversations with me and helping Mason play with her toys and asking to hold Henry and trying to fly on Daddy’s shoulders.

I love you so much. I want to see who you will become. I want to see you learn to love the Lord and develop a relationship with Him.

You are a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.

Happy Birthday to my little boy.

and yes, i know he needs a hair cut

Monday, March 30, 2009

Our Jaundice Journey

So we have it made it to our first week with little Henry, and its been a crazy one. For those of you who don't know, we came home from hospital with Henry late Tuesday night. Then Thursday morning he had his 2 day check up. Well the doctor thought he looked a little yellow, and this started a whirlwind that we are still trying to recover from.

I took Henry to get his heel pricked and his billy levels checked. We got a call from the doctor at about 4:30 Thursday night that his levels were at 18 (a tad too high for our little guy, heading into a more dangerous level) and that we needed to go back to the hospital and put Henry under the lights for 24 hours.

That was really hard to hear. We had just gotten home, were trying to adapt Mason and Campbell to their new little brother, and for me I really just like to sit on the couch and do nothing but hold my new baby for days.

And now, we had to quickly scramble, repack for the hospital, get Campbell and Mason set up for staying at Nana and Pappa's and head back to the hospital.

It was just so hard to go back to the hospital and be told that we could only hold Henry when he was out being nursed. And we were to keep the nursing quick- no cuddling. Here he is only 3 days old and we are not allowed to hold him... it was incredibly difficult.

However, the nursing staff at Sierra Nevada was AWESOME! We got to have our room and keep Henry with us for the most of the time.

They checked his levels at 11 pm- and they had gone up- 19.6

He was rechecked again at 5 am... only down to 17- it was then that we were told that there was a chance we wouldn't be getting to go home that day (now Friday).

AHHHH.

So, we waited, watched Henry under the lights. And when he was retested Friday night, he was at only 13.9 And we would have to stay another night. However, we were told most likely we would be able to leave early the next morning! YEA!

Nope. At 5 am he was checked again- and only at 13.6

That was so hard. And I just wanted to cry.

I hadn't seen Campbell or Mason for more than a few minutes for almost a week, and I just wanted to be recovering at home, holding my new baby.

So we had to wait another 11 hours to SEE if we would get to go home.

Ok- so after about 8 episodes of Law and Order SVU (God bless you USA and your wonderful L & O marathons) we rechecked his levels and YES- finally at 10.6!

We were out the door.

As soon as we arrived home, our dinner was pleasantly waiting for us (ah, thank you Brenda for Frank's Pizza- and what a wonderful memory Rachel Jamison has... 1/2 Hawaiian and 1/2 Mushroom and Olives is the pizza we love to devour)

We returned Sunday morning for another heel prick. And didn't hear anything.

So as a paranoid mother, i started calling around today to see what was up. And found that Henry's Sunday level was at 13.5- it had gone back up and no one had called us.

So after trying to tackle someone down from Miners for information, here is the plan:

I'll take Henry in to Miners tomorrow to be checked out. I'll let you know what is going on when I know a little more. But please pray that we don't have to return to the hospital.

Right now, we are home, enjoying all 3 kids, and learning how to be a family of 3 under 3!