Kalea feeding Xavier

Kalea is a great big sister. She loves to help out with her "little" brother, including to help feed him. And as always, Xavier loves to eat regardless of who is feeding him!

One Last Christmas in Utah...

We celebrated Christmas and New Year's in good ole' Utah, before heading off to Denver to start our new adventure. This Christmas was special because it would be our last one in Utah and Xavier's First! The highlights of the day were Kalea's Hannah Montana hair and Grandpa Rich's sentimental "Story of Kalea in Utah" book. We were also truly grateful that little Xavier was happy and HEALTHY on his first Christmas.

Kalea helping decorate the tree.

Kalea famously drinking her milk and playing with her hair on Grandma Teri's lap at the Christmas Eve Service at church.

Xavier and his life-size stocking on Christmas morning.

Kalea and Xavier posing by the tree in their Christmas PJs.

The whole family on Christmas morning.

Kalea turns 3!

Kalea turned 3 on November 19th. It may not have been a memorable birthday for her, but for us it was. Xavier was still in the hospital and we already had her party scheduled. Jay stayed with Xavier, while Kalea celebrated with her friends at Classic Fun Center. They played in "Pirate's Cove" and jumped on the blow-up toys. We wanted her to feel special, even though at the time, all the attention was on Xavier.

Princess Kalea making sure her earring is on good.

Blowing out 3 star candles on her Cinderella cake.

Checking out all her presents...

There she is, Miss Birthday Girl, Kalea!

Getting help from friend, Alexis, with presents.

The Scariest Moment Ever

As most of you know, Xavier suddenly stopped breathing for a moment one morning when he was 3 weeks old. Jay called 911 while I performed rescue breathing on him. By the time the paramedics got there, he was crying, but looking a little "dusty" according to the EMT--meaning he was a little blue around his lips--meaning he wasn't getting the proper oxygen. They wanted to take him to the hospital just to check him out thoroughly since he was so little.

While in the emergency room, they determined that he was not doing well without oxygen and decided to admit him to monitor him a little more. They took x-rays of his chest and determined that he had brochilitis and that it was taking over his body since he was so little. While at the hospital, he had quite a few episodes in the middle of the night where his heart rate dramatically dropped. He scared the doctors and nurses enough for them to start running every kind of test on him. They did everything from an EKG to a spinal tap--poor little guy!! As you can imagine, this made Jay and I and our family very anxious. However, all of the tests came back negative reaffirming that it was just the virus taking over. Nevertheless, it was still just as scary.

The nurses in pediatrics decided that it would be best for him to be under the care of a Neonatologist and transferred him to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, better known as NIC-U. While there, they did an x-ray of his abdomen and found that his large intestine was grossly enlarged. They decided to take him off food and immediately put a tube down his throat to suck out whatever fluid or air that was causing his intestine to swell. He didn't get to eat for 3 days! Oh, it was heartbreaking!! Especially since he was in a little incubator with IVs coming out all over including the top of his head!! ---I know, sorry to be so graphic.

So I won't give you ALL the horrible details, but the story does end good. Xavier was able to come home the day before Thanksgiving. And since we ended up missing our flight to Colorado, Jay's mom, Joyce, was able to fly to Utah to see Xavier and spend Thanksgiving with us. We definitley had a LOT to be thankful for. Oh and did I mention, Kalea's birthday party was already scheduled while Xavier was in the hospital--but the show went on and everything worked out. We also learned a LOT--way more than the average person should know about hospitals! And we thank all our family and friends who sent their prayers and thoughts with Xavier during that time.

Xavier did end up going into the hospital one more time in January while we were here in Denver. But I am VERY happy to say, he is a very healthy, oh so smiley BIG boy now!! We will have a story to tell him when he gets older though!!

Flashback: Halloween 2007

For Halloween, Kalea decided she wanted to be a ROCK STAR! She was so excited when I told her she could have pink hair. In fact, everyday for 2 weeks before Halloween, she asked if she could have pink hair. I knew I wanted to make Kalea's costume and thankfully I made it early because I had a feeling Xavier would be here for Halloween. And he was--Xavier was only 9 days old on his first Halloween. He also was a rock star with a mohawk, Led Zeppelin onesie, a chain and Vans.

So the evening started off at the church Harvest Hoedown. Kalea played games with her good friend Cameron. She SHOULD have won the costume contest, but word is that since Cameron's dad, Rob, was the judge, it would have looked rigged had she won. She definitely was the most creative and the cutest--in my opinion of course!!

We finished the night with Trick-or-Treating in Grandpa Rich and Grandma Gigi's neighborhood. Xavier stayed inside with Grandpa Rich while Grandma Gigi and Kalea braved the cold to get yet another bag of candy.




Kalea posed herself for this picture...It's my favorite one!

She learned this rocker look from her Auntie Paige.

Watch out Hannah Montana!

She takes after her Mommy and Grandpa Rich with her love of cotton candy.

Kalea and Cameron on their 3rd Halloween together (and 3rd year of life)!

Such sweet friends!!

Kalea's favorite game at the Harvest Hoedown at church.

Trick-or-treating with Grandma Gigi and getting candy from the spooky midget!

Brother Sister Time

Xavier's First Bath

Flashback: Xavier's "Birth" Day

Not that I want to relive labor or the pain associated with it, but I do want to go back and document the day Xavier was born. So rewind to Wednesday, October 17, 2007. I went in to my Dr. because I had a slight, constant pressure in my lower stomach. (Mainly I wanted him to tell me I shouldn't work anymore and give me a note stating that!) No such luck, but he did tell me I was beginning to dialate and that is why I was feeling pressure. He said we need to see if it's active labor and sent me over to the hospital! I didn't know what to think--after all I was only looking for a note not a baby today! Well, I didn't have to worry too much. After spending all afternoon in the hospital, nothing was progressing so I went back to my Dr. He ended up giving me a note to stay home from work, but only for 2 days. He wanted me to come back on Friday to see if I had progressed any further. We went on Friday, this time with our bags packed, excited and hoping today would be the day! No such luck again, nothing had moved. My Dr. was about to send me home and tell me to come back in week--after all I still had 3 weeks left until my actual due date--but he looked at me and my sad eyes and huge belly and said, "Come back in on Monday." Well, I'm still convinced that telling myself over and over I would have him on Monday worked! Because Monday morning came and by Monday afternoon Xavier Morris was here!

Weighing in at 7 lb 4 oz and 21 in, Xavier entered the world on Monday, October 27, 2007 right at 3 weeks early! Imagine what he would have been full term! (Ya, I know, I'd rather not!) Well, it all worked out, except for the fact that he came quite fast causing Grandma Teri and Kalea to just barely miss the actual birth. Kalea was able to come in right after he was born and gave him a kiss. One of her first comments about him was right after he was weighed and handed to me.

She said, "Mom, I think he's ready for a nap now. Put him down." Just a slight bit of sibling jealousy, not bad!

Is somebody missing their pumpkin?

Me getting my blood pressure taken--this is one of my least favorite things!

Grandma Teri holding Xavier shortly after he was born.

Xavier and his big smokey blue eyes and big umbilical cord!

He's a binky boy!

"See, my brother can do an impression of a lion roaring already!"

A sweet brother/sister moment.