Camden Joins the Family

Camden Thomas was born on Friday, February 13th at 10:45 pm. He weighed 7 lbs 2 0z, and is 19" long. His entrance into the world was not how we had planned it would be, and became a week long "adventure".

To make a long story semi-short, while being monitored at the hospital, we noticed that with each contraction the baby's heartbeat would drop slightly. While not concerned at first, we were keeping a close eye on it. After getting up to use the restroom and being hooked back up to the monitors, after the next contraction the heartbeat didn't go back up. So starts the frenzy! Quickly, every nurse they could find was being called into the room and cords were frantically being unhooked from the wall. Before we know it, we were being whisked away to the OR for an emergency c-section.

The OB wasn't even there yet, but they were prepping me while he arrived and got changed. Even though it seemed like a very scary eternity, things were actually done very quickly and Camden was safely born. The cord had been wrapped around his neck twice. He had to be in an oxygen tent for 12 hours, and had an IV. But, our little man was strong and bounced back quickly.

So, Camden was doing great, but I on the other hand had some issues. Since it was an emergency c-section, there wasn't time for the usual prep and precautions. I had a lot of pain after the surgery that was treated with a lot of narcotics. And, using a lot of narcotics basically shut my bowels down completely, which caused even more pain. It was finally decided that I needed an NG tube (thru the nose down to the stomach) for 2 days, along with no food or water for that duration. After 48 very long hours, my system began to work again, and the tube came out and I was able to start a liquid diet. After nearly a week in the hospital, I got the good news that I could finally go home! Words couldn't explain how happy we were to leave the hospital...see our kids again...get out of a hospital gown...start as a family of 5.

I am so thankful to all that sent well wishes and asked how we were doing everyday. We have great friends and family. And most of all, thanks to my loving husband Tom. He was with me each and every day and kept my spirits up, even when I couldn't laugh. I am a very lucky woman.

We are now home and things finally getting back to normal. I'm healing well and Camden is doing great! We are truly blessed.

A Trip to American Girl

Madeline, Tori and their babies

This weekend Torrance and I went to American Girl at the Mall of America with our neighbors Sherrie and Madeline. Torrance and Madeline both turn 2 this month and we thought it would be fun to take the girls for their Birthdays. Each got to pick out a new baby and then we had dinner at the American Girl Bistro. We all had fun, and I feel we may have to go back when the girls are a little older!

Tori was attached to this baby from the minute we got there.

Tori, baby and I after dinner.

Sherrie and Madeline

Monster Jam

Nolan, Brady and Torrance

That's right...Monster Jam!

We joined The Murdoff's for dinner at Spaghetti Factory and then off to the Metrodome for Monster Jam. Luckily, thanks to Tasha, we were able to enjoy the show from a suite where it was MUCH quieter than sitting in the regular seats. Good thing too because we would not have been able to contain the kids to those chairs! Here are a few of the trucks we watched.

And the winner was...

Grave Digger!

Nolan's First Day at Hockey

Nolan started hockey on Sunday, and Tom was really impressed with the program. Who knows...maybe Nolan will be wearing #9 soon, just like his Dad!

An Overdue Update

Cheers...Happy New Years!!!

Tori & Nolan enjoyed a glass of "wine" to ring in the New Year. It was a fairly low key evening. We had dinner at Benihana with the Witte's which was a lot of fun. Then we came home and enjoyed a quiet evening with the kids.

Our plans with the neighbors were postponed until Saturday the 10th, which is captured below. We had a wonderful dinner at the Velarde's with the Nelson's and Witte's as well. There were 8 adults, and 9 kids...and I give huge props to Jennifer and Jaime for their tolerance with that many people! It was chaotic, but loads of fun. We left after midnight, and not one child had fallen asleep. Pretty impressive.

Aaron, Sherrie and Madeline Witte

Jennifer Velarde and Pat Nelson

Tom & Tori

Nolan & Tori settling down to watch Wall-e

Movie time!

Christmas, Christmas and More Christmas

Our Christmas was one filled with with day after day of presents...with a little love and joy to go with it (and good food too). Since we were running from family to family, our Christmas started on Tuesday night with opening presents at our house. The next day, Tom went to work and I got ready for the rest of the weekend. We left as soon as he got home and headed to Litchfield to spend Christmas Eve with the Manning's. We got home very late that evening, but still got up early enough to enjoy presents from Santa. Then we got ready and headed to the farm to spend Christmas with the Halloran's. It's a good thing we had 3 days after that to recover (and clean)! Here are some pictures highlighting our weekend.

It took Tori a couple of presents, but she caught on to the whole gift opening thing! Here are the kids in their mound of paper and toys checking it all out.

Christmas with the Manning's. Do you think Nolan needed a chocolate bar that big???

Christmas morning. Tori was confused at first by the whole stocking/present thing, but she put down her pacifier long enough to make phone call.

Nolan with his remote control monster truck from Santa...just what he wanted!

You should have heard Tori squeal with delight when Uncle Ryan presented her with her new pony. It was the best gift of the day (from Uncle Ryan of course).

Big Girl Bed

Well, we made the big move this weekend. Ryan came over on Saturday and helped dismantle the bunk beds in Nolan's room so Tori could move in with him. It was an extremely challenging evening to say the least. Tori was as giddy as a school girl and couldn't contain herself. Nolan was the perfect big brother offering to sleep with her in her bed, or vise-versa. We finally had to lay Tori in her crib until she was just about asleep and then move her back into her big girl bed just before she was out for the count. The two shortly fell asleep and slept through the night. Last night went a little more smoothly as they at least stayed in their room. They chatted and giggled for about an hour (with us only having to go in a couple of times). Nolan finally fell asleep at 9:30 or so, but Tori was up until well after 10:00. I think she just wasn't used to it. Getting up for Anne's house this morning was a chore, but they were in pretty good spirits. 2 nights down...thousands more to go!