Coming Home

After a very stressful night we were very happy to here that we were able to take our little one home. So, while we did our last minute check out items and our last visitors left we piled, and barely fit, all of our stuff onto one of those hospital carts (most of you have used one before) and squeezed our baby boy into his car seat. They have to be so tight in there!

And we were on our way!

Ty loves being able to sit next to Cole and take care of him.

He is such a good big brother!

Ty's photography is getting pretty good don't you think.

Such a sweet picture.

This one is not so sweet!!!

What a silly boy!

Yay we're home!!!!

We are so happy to have our family all home together

Our stay at the NICU

Every new parents nightmare is to have to follow their newborn into the NICU. Colton was tested for low blood sugar because of his weight. He tested in the low forties and he should have been in the mid seventies. We had to supplement feeding with formula and make him eat every three hours whether we had to wake him up or not. We tried this for his first 15 hours or so with a blood test that required pricking his heal every time before he ate and a half hour after he ate. That is a lot of owies! Feeding would bring his levels up but they would always fall again. We had a warning a few hours before he was admitted to the NICU and everyone came up to see him. When we got down to our new spot we had a great nurse that was able to get Coles IV in in only a few minutes and was able to get his glucose drip started. Then they wrapped his little arm up with what seemed like a whole role of tape. Steve and I spent all evening in and out of that place with feedings every three hours. Cole was the largest baby in the NICU at that time. The nurses were used to dealing with these fragile little people who were barely hanging in there and it was a joy for them to come and "play" with such a healthy one. At his 9 o'clock feeding I noticed that Cole had bled on my shirt. The little stinker had yanked his IV out of his hand, ouch. Because of this the nurses had to get another IV into him. They spent what seemed like forever poking him in the hands, arms and even his ankle. They were going to try a vain in his little head next when they decided to consult the doctor first. The doctor decided to see if Cole had had the glucose drip long enough to stabilize him. It was a small risk, we could have had to start again from the beginning but we prayed and gave it a try. At midnight we said goodnight to our baby boy and got some much needed sleep. The nurses the next morning were so excited when we returned around 5 am to tell us he was holding in the mid sixties. We had made it through a horrible night and our prayers were answered when we were able to walk our baby back up to our room. We were actually able to leave the hospital that afternoon and take Cole home to his big brother.

Welcome Our Sweet Boy

Well, my due date of June 8th came and went and Cole decided that he wanted to stay a little while longer in his cozy home. My doctor scheduled an induction for Friday the 12th if I went that long, but I didn't think he would wait an extra four days. With my mother in law here and my family calling every few hours to see if "anything is happening" I definitely felt like a watched pot. Days came and went and before I knew it it was Friday. I was OK with not having to guess when I should head to the hospital and if they were going to send me back home or not. I was induced about 6pm on Friday and had my baby boy at 12:13 on Saturday morning. He came quickly once he was forced to. I was able to push him out in three contractions once I was fully dilated. He was a big boy, 9lb 13 oz and 22 1/2'' long. He looks so much like his big brother when he was born. We are so thankful to have had a healthy, adorable little man!

Colton Thomas Houben

A Mommy's first touch

A Daddy's first thoughts

A Big Brother's long awaited wish!

Cute tootsies and my first owie

I'm a big boy!

Cole and I had a wonderful doctor, Dr. Brodsky. She was great throughout my pregnancy and turned out to be a great catcher as well. I'm glad that she was able to make the delivery at all considering he was born so quickly.

Tyler got the movie Bolt from Grandma to watch while we were waiting for Colton. I think that was all he did the entire time.

Steve and I had my Mom, Sister and Grandma in the delivery room when Cole was born.

Shell was behind the camera the entire time.

My Grandma had never seen a birth in all her 88 years and I was happy to have her experience her first with Cole. They will always have that special bond between them now.

Grammy Jackie was supposed to be in the room for the delivery, but because Colton decided to come so quickly my Dad was not able to get to the hospital in time to watch Tyler. Grammy volunteered to take him out and I felt so bad that she did not get to see Cole's delivery.

Thank you Grammy!

I know that this is a silly picture of me and I usually wouldn't put it in but this was a priceless moment. Everyone was at the hospital until 3pm and the Big Brother just couldn't take the excitement anymore. And for me, yes I got a hogendaz ice cream bar to eat and it was delicious.

Getting Ready for Our Baby

With only 2 weeks to go Ty and I took the pile of new clothes that everyone had already gotten Colton and took off all of the tags so we could wash them. Ty took his little scissors and snipped each tag very carefully. It took us FOREVER. But it was a lot of fun. Here is Ty and I with one of the little hats on.

Shell came by and caught me using Colton as a mouse pad. It will be a great picture to show him when he gets older. I think you can even see my belly button poking out! :0)

Easter Celebrations

Twas the night before Easter and all through the house, eggs were being colored by a cute little mouse! We had a lot of fun making Easter Eggs with our egg spinner. They turned out really cool.

Ty's Easter Morning Gifts from the Easter Bunny. He asked me who they were from and when I told him the Easter Bunny he said that " The Easter Bunny isn't real Mom!" We focused so much on the real reason for celebrating Easter this last few weeks that the silly bunny doesn't even hold a candle any more. He knows now that Mom and Dad are the Easter Bunny and it is OK for him. I let Dad pick out the toy this year and he of course had to get him a bad guy.

A little man very happy about his Easter treats

Thanks Dad for the cool bad guy

Ty and Molly after finding Easter eggs at church

Becca, Ty and Molly

It is very hard to get them to cooperate for pictures anymore!!!!

Giving Colton a little love

My Grandma loves me!

I'm pretty sure my Mommy loves me too!

Ty, Mommy and Colton at 32 weeks

I'm sure glad I got to wear this dress again but I'm pretty sure that with Colton growing as fast as he is this is the last time I'll get to wear it!

Crazy Cousins

Doug, Meg, Aimee, Josh and Ty

We added Aunt Shell and Uncle Jeff

Stuck at the kids table!

Ty with his second cousins Makella, Dylan and Kayden

Our new Home

Yay, I finally found the perfect place for us. After searching for a few weeks, with very bad prospects in our price range, I found this cute little place not far from a grade school and a park. I took Tyler with me to pick up some paperwork and remembered that I had my camera in the car so Ty had a blast snapping pictures all around the house to show his Daddy. I will spare you the interior pictures. I don't really think that you would care to see the dinning room chandelier or the closet in his bedroom. Ty and Colton will share a room upstairs and we will even have a playroom downstairs to corral most of the toys. My kitchen is about twice as big as the one I have now and I love the front porch. It will look great this summer with some hanging flower baskets. But most off all I am excited to be back home with family and my church. School will be much easier to deal with being only minutes away and Ty will be able to be in his Grandma's preschool class next year. Steve will now be the one commuting to work and is a little apprehensive about that but knows that this move will be best for his family. We get our keys on April 23rd and will be moving that weekend. (Anyone want to help?) I will have a month or so before Colton comes to get everything ready and in the right place. Much prayer is needed so keep us in your thoughts.

I'm The Big Brother

Ty got this outfit from Grandma and had to wear it to church the next day! He had to show it off to everyone. He is very proud of being a Big Brother.

So Handsome

How Silly

Baby Colton at 31 weeks