July Jubilees

Now that things have kind of gotten back to normal, well the new normal, we have time to write a little synopsis of our eventful July.

We got to bring Caleb home on the 9th, after nine days of back and forth from the hospital, who so kindly let us board there for free while Caleb was being treated, to home. It was kind of bittersweet taking him home. Of course we were beyond excited to be home and have our family together, but we had gotten close with some of the nurses, especially the night nurses and were sad to not see them anymore. We now also understand a little better why some people who have money to spare hire night nurses to take care of their babies at night...Just saying.
 

Ride home from the hospital

Brothers meeting

First family picture. Don't mind my child eating a powder donut...he got a little spoiled by nana and grandparents

Side story about nurses: the Relief Society presidency came to visit me a few days after Caleb was born, heard the whole story and were amazing at the support they gave. The next person they went to visit was a lady who had just moved into our neighborhood who just happened to be my labor and delivery nurse, the phenomenal Bonnie! How cool is that?!

Throughout the month, we were blessed with amazing family who went above and beyond helping out. First shout out goes to my big little bro who found a ride as soon as possible once we told him we were having the baby, came down without any question and took care of Luke until Dallin's parents could get back from a funeral they were at in California. Luke absolutely LOVES his uncle Bubs, and we think he is pretty awesome, too. Such an amazing man.

The next shout out goes to the in-laws. These Greens are troopers keeping up with our energetic babe for a whole week. They cut their California trip short to come back and watch Luke while we were in the hospital. They stocked our cupboards, gave so much emotional support and helped tremendously at a pretty stressful time. They not only came to help once, but TWICE! Brave souls, indeed.

The third person is mama B. She made the trek from Napa to stay with us for two weeks, one of which was just her and the Spud. She did great each day wearing him out with parades, parks, long walks and play dates. She also stocked our cupboards, made some freezer meals and stole the hearts of everyone in our neighborhood who still ask when she is going to come back. Seriously, mom, they do.

The last shout out is to every single person who prayed, fasted, called, brought meals, treats and hugs. We honestly felt so much love which helped us through some pretty rough days. We felt your prayers daily and know for a fact that the faith of those who fasted and prayed for our little babe are the reason he turned around so quickly and went from not eating at all and needing a lot of help breathing to taking full bottles and getting down to a "whiff" of oxygen within 48 hours. Thank you, THANK YOU! We love each and every one of you.

Before Caleb came, we spent some time picking strawberries from our surprise crop in our garden. They were delicious, as you can see from Luke's strawberry stained face. We also went to the Bountiful Coats for Kids car show where Luke was in heaven seeing all the "cool cars," Jeeps, "Diesels" and "BIG TRUCKS!" He also enjoyed a good sno-cone. The kid LOVES snow cones and ice cream.

Delicious strawberries

Cool cars!

For the fourth, we let the nurses take care of Caleb in the NICU and took our little Spud to fireworks at Davis High School in Kaysville. We were not disappointed. Mama B was amazed at the neighborhood fireworks since aerials are legal for residents to use in Utah and she is used to the insanely strict California fire rules. The actual show was perfect and Luke loved every second.

When Dallin's parents were in town the second time, they let us go on a little date to Dallin's summer work party at Boondocks. It was a great little getaway for a bit filled with mini golf and arcade games as well as a little walk down memory lane seeing as this same Boondocks was one of the first places Dallin and I went on date to when he first moved out here. I still remember walking out to my car one morning and reading a hand written poem from him in which he asked me to join him at Boondock's that night. Such a charmer, that one.

Not amused with his golfing tactics

We got to celebrate Dallin's 29th birthday. Such an old man. He doesn't like when I say his age out loud. Still young at heart, though! It was pretty low key, but we had apple pie and ice cream, per his request and birthday fireworks that I got him. I told him and Brad that one of them was a big one, but they thought it was just a fountain. To their surprise, it was, in fact, a big one aka a 29 shot aerial. We are blessed it didn't burn anything down. Our neighbor who is a certified pyro would have been shaking his head...

Birthday boy finally got a sweatshirt for his alma mater

Lighting my first firework

Dallin fleeing his birthday firework

Pioneer day was a blast. Our neighbors down the street do a big firework show with previously mentioned pyro monitoring everything. We had a blast watching the show and chatting with neighbors.

Excitedly waiting to go to the firework party

Happy boy collecting the shells

Brad came back down for a bit when his semester ended, so we got to play some more. We even went on a very quick little hike to a waterfall close to our house. It was the perfect length for Luke's little legs and my postnatal body, which is healing SO much faster than my first. I still am in shock I did it unmedicated, but so glad I did. Such an amazing experience.

Starting out the hike

Famelfie at the end of the hike

Buds

Sweet boys

Dallin the mountain goat

Carting Caleb and his oxygen entourage

Some other things we have been up to:

Pumping LOTS of milk

Getting used to sleeping in a big boy bed

Eating lots of ice cream

Loving this sweet babe

Potty training

Managing these two on little sleep (note Dallin snoozing...)

Hanging poolside

Playing cars and trucks all day everyday

Eating ice cream

Showing how to eat hot dogs like a stud

Sticking play-do up noses, and then blowing it out. I'll let you guess whose nose. Sorry for the disgusting picture

Loving the cooler weather

Being like grandpa in John Deere attire

Giving cars and trucks lots of baths

Snoozing.

Finding new hiding places

and snoozing

We once again would like to thank everyone for all your love and support these past few weeks. We are so blessed to have such an amazing group of friends and family. We are excited to share this journey with y'all!

Speaking of, we have signed up for and created a team for the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation Buddy Walk/5K on August 29th in West Jordan. If you want to support this amazing foundation that has already been such a great help to us, you can sign-up to walk with us and play afterward or donate here:

Caleb's Capers - UDSF 2015 Buddy Walk/5K

Hope all are doing well. Love you!