Sunday, July 26, 2009
Straw-babies
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sleeping Is What I Do Best
One proud Daddy!
We Love our Grammy
We enjoyed having Steve's Mom up for a visit from California. With Cole coming a few days late we had a lot of time to visit and for Ty to get some good Grammy time in. I appreciate all of the help that she gave with getting ready for the baby and keeping Ty busy. (Or was is Ty keeping Grammy busy?) After we came home from the hospital Grammy had Cole every second that she could trying to suck up as much loves and kisses as she could before she had to head home. I can't imagine living so far away. My Mother is over here daily to see the boys and acts like she hasn't squeezed them in days when she gets her hands on them. 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!
Ty loves being able to sit next to Cole and take care of him.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Welcome Our Sweet Boy
Colton Thomas Houben
A Mommy's first touch
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.
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.
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.







This one is not so sweet!!!







Shell came by and