Zoo Day

Crystal and Lee were still down, so we decided to take the boys out for the day. We visited the San Diego Zoo for the day. Austen came along for the fun. She slept most of the day. There was time when she was wide awake and wanted to see everything. I tried keeping her head covered but she became angry when I did that. It was funny, A (austen) was a big attraction herself, people love to see babies. We took a bus tour to see all the animals and then we walked around to see a few animals up close. The boys had snakes painted on their faces. All Gav wanted to see was the rhinos and giraffes and me the elephants.

Lee's 4th Bday

My nephew Lee had his 4th bay on 5/17 because he lives in Las Vegas, we threw a party for him on 5/30. It was a Power Rangers theme party. Gav, Lee and Dillon were all dressed as Power Rangers. There was a giant waterslide for the kids. The weather could have been better, but they didn't care. Thank you to everyone who made the day special for him.

Day 2

Everything is going great. Austen is sleeping and eating well. She was a little fussy at first but now things are going smoother. Gav is taking well to her, he gives her kisses and likes to hold her. He is so gentle with her. All that said, he is more attached to us as well. I feel all will be great once we are all home together. Also, an album with more pictures of her has been started, so click on Austen's Birth. There are a few family members that are completely in love with the name Reese and call her by that. It doesn't bother us and I find myself interchangeably using the names. From time to time I might use Austen or Reese, just know that it is her. Thank you to everyone who came to visit me and sent their love to us. Hugs and Kisses

Welcome Austen Reese Sparks

Well here is how Saturday May 9th 2009 started; Nicole wakes up at about 5am and is having a few contractions. Nothing regular yet and nothing to worry about. She has had contractions off and on for the last few days so we don't look too much into it. We planned on having a BBQ for mothers day at about 3pm today. So we wake up, have breakfast and get the day started as usual. We had a few things to do before the BBQ including getting all the food and drinks. At about 1pm we return home after running all the errands. Nicole gets the drinks on ice and I decide to mow the yard before everyone shows up. I get half way done with the back yard and Nicole comes to the back door and says "we might need to go to the hospital my contractions are becoming more intense and are about 10 min apart." So of course being that I am in the middle of mowing the lawn, I tell her to go call and see what the hospital recommends that we do. Of course, since we have a scheduled c-section they want us to come in. They tell her that we may not need to stay, but they do need to check her out. So I stop everything, leave the lawn mower in the middle of the yard and head to the hospital. Once we get to the hospital they run the usual tests and bring in the doctor. The doctor says that Nicole appears to be in the begining stages of labor. The doctor then tells us that we have 2 options, we can either do the c-section immediately or we can go home and wait. My first thought is well it is only 3pm we can still have a BBQ and maybe we won't have to come back in until tuesday, the scheduled day. So I ask the doctor "what are the chances of us getting home and having to turn right back around?" The doc gives me the confused face and says "your guess is as good as mine." So Nicole and I decided to stay put and have the c-section done immediately. Meanwhile back at the house everyone is waiting around for the BBQ. So I call and relay the message that the baby was coming today and the BBQ would have to go on without us. Nicole is admitted to the hospital and we go into the surgery. Austen Reese Sparks was born at 4:36pm, 7lbs 8oz, 19in long. Mom, baby, and I are in post-op until about 6:45pm. Then Gavin got to meet his sister and gave her lots of hugs and kisses. Friends and family all showed up about 8pm and left at about 9pm. Then the real work began...Nicoles vitals were checked every hour on the hour, baby Austen wanted to eat at least once per hour, and there were machines in the room that are placed there to purposely make it impossible to sleep.
Today was better all of the machines are gone, Austen slept more but ate just as frequently. Below are some pictures from our first couple of day together. The album will be uploaded wednesday after we get back home from the hospital.

Preparing for Surgery

Freshly Out of Mommys Tummy

Gavin meets his lil' sister

1 day old just hanging out

Very Hungry

Mommy, Big Brother and Baby Austen

New Friends

I created a terrarium for Gavin's 4 fire belly toads (Bombina orientalis). They are cute and small and a little over 2 inches in length. They get their name because their bellies are firey orange with black spots.

This is Jack


Here's Ghost (he's the one on the bottom in front of the rock, on top is Zero)


Now Zero (Ghost is hiding under the leaf)


and Spiderman


Spiderman is the only green and black one, the others are brown with black spots. They are very easy to differentiate because the black spots on their backs vary from one another. At first when Gav was naming them, he had the Nightmare Before Christmas theme going. When we picked up spiderman (he was the last to join the crew) I wanted to name him Sally, Jack's girlfriend in the movie, but Gav said it was a boy and he had to be named spiderman.

March of Dimes

Click here to help me reach my goal!

I'm raising funds for March of Dimes this year. I can't do the walk, because of my condition =) but I can still be part of the fight by bringing awareness and raising funds. Any dollar amount will be greatly appreciated. Lots of Love, Nicole

Orange Belt

Gavin had graduation in karate on 4/21. He had to perform the skills he has learned, with the help of his instructor to receive his orange belt. He is very proud. Congrats Gavin!

Below Gavin is receiving his orange belt from Mr. Simpson

His Class
Celebrating

Gavin and Lee

I wish my sister lived closer. It is great when we are all together and the boys are so happy. We are in the car on our way to Chuck E Cheese for Clarissa's 2nd Bday. The boys were rocking out to every song that played on the radio. They are Rockstars!

Colorado

Gavin and I needed a break during the first week of April, so we took off to Colorado for a week. We visited Boomer's awesome cousins, that I consider my very own. It was so nice to lay around and not have to worry about the regular day to day activities. The weather was nice, snow and sun... though we were prepared for a blizzard that never came to keep us in the house... darn weather man! It was really great to have 3 pregnant women and 2 kids around. Jolie and Mike are expecting a baby boy around June 1st. Sara, Andy and Exia (10 months) are expecting later this fall (Boom wants the birth date to be Oct 19, his bday). Gavin had a wonderful time playing at everyone's house, especially race cars with Aunt Kay. We had a wonderful time and miss visiting, Gavin still talks about being a pig and giving Exia a pony ride and the boomerang at Jolie's house. The pictures are from dinner with Aunt Kay, Jolie, Mike, Sara and Uncle Chuck. Also, photos of Exia, Sara and time in the snow.

March

So we have been really busy. I want to tell everyone THANK YOU for the awesome gifts we have received for Austen and thank you to all who attended the baby shower. The shower was the week before finals, so I was a little over worked.