Dashing Through December

December was an interesting month for us.  The hospital part felt like it would never end - it drug on forever.  And even though Garrett's hospital stay was so hard, looking back I know we were carried through that experience!  Everything else seemed to be over before we even knew it started.  I am so glad that we were able to have fantastic visits from Uncle Derek, Grandma Harrison, and Aunt Anna - just wish they could have lasted much longer!  Here are a few of our fun memories from December...

Either Prince was hiding from Tori or he decided he wanted to be part of the nativity set!

Tori had so much fun opening our family's present from Grandpa and Nana Harrison!

After being at the hospital so long with Garrett, it got a little boring and we were always on the lookout for ways to keep ourselves entertained.  One day Jared found out there was an activity going on in the child life center for all of the 'kids.'  They said that as long as there was a smile on his face they would love to have Jared participate.  So Jared made Garrett an awesome car-shaped birdhouse!!!

The original goal of this picture was to document Tori's awesome wave hairdo!  As an added bonus, we captured this fabulous grin!!!

Just in case you were worried about Tori's slide, put your mind to rest- it has been getting plenty of use!

Even Rapunzel likes to slide!!!

Check out our big guy - holding his own bottle!!!

Prince likes boxes almost as much as Tori does!

What a cute girl!

Call us crazy- we are starting down the potty training road!

Lovin' this boy's smile!

Tori is never one to be behind in fashion - this must be the new style for sporting Christmas pjs!!!

Garrett must have been thinking big strong thoughts while he was asleep!

Tori loved showing Aunt Anna her mad slide skills - on her knees and of course she also had to point out her toes and belly!

We found a new way to get Tori to smile for pictures - have her say ladies or Cam!

Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus even got a turn on Tori's slide!

It's sad that we have done so many breathing treatments that Garrett (at 2 months of age) already helps out!

Tori loves her new skirt and bow that Aunt Terrah made her for Christmas- talk about adorable!!!

That's it for our December memories- hope you enjoyed!!! We hope to have as many memories in January with just as much fun and family but a whole bunch less craziness!!!

Visitors from the West!

This past week, my Mom and sister Anna have been visiting from Utah.  After the rest of our crazy December, it has been so nice to just take it easy for a change.  We have had a great time playing lots of fun games, talking, talking, and talking some more, laughing so much my arms tickle (I know it sounds crazy, but when I laugh a lot my arms start to tickle), and watching our children build precious memories with their Grandma and Aunt!!!

Grandma Harrison wasted no time meeting her newest grandson!

Tori was so excited to have more people to play with and share her toys with!!!

Anna and Garrett hit it right off- I think we have a little charmer on our hands!!!

Of course, there was much time spent cuddling...

Even if one of the cuddlers was a little wiggly!!!

Tori had a ball playing with her Aunt "Nana"- as evidenced by this fantastic smile!!!

Tori had a grand time reading all of her books with Grandma!

Occasionally, Anna was able to get Garrett away from Grandma for a few minutes!

Tori, as usual, was a big helper with Garrett!

This is my favorite Grandma Harrison and Garrett picture - what a sweet moment!!!

Thanks for such an awesome visit ladies, we can't wait until we can do it again!!!

Christmas Times 3

Our Christmas celebrating has been awesome this year!  We had our Allen Christmas at Thanksgiving when most of Jared's family was here to visit.  And then we had our little family Christmas festivities on the actual day.  Today we had our Christmas with Grandma Harrison and Aunt Anna.  They were able to come out yesterday to visit us for the next week.  We made sure that we all wore our Christmas pjs and even started out the morning making princess waffles (the only way to start out a Christmas celebration in a house where princesses are loved!)!!!  We had a fabulous time and we were spoiled once again!!!

This picture was actually taken yesterday - this is the one gift that Tori left for Garrett to open!

He is going to be so stylin' at church!!!

Tori had so much fun opening presents again- she is getting to be quite a pro!  And we can't wait to have a tea (or juice) party!

What, oh what, could it be?

Tori was a big helper and made sure that Garrett put his new bib on right away!!!

I love this picture of us!

Grandma loved her new calendar!!!

One of the perks of having family visit - you can finally get a good family picture taken!  Thanks so much Mom and Anna - I love that we finally got our annual picture of us in front of a Christmas tree in our Christmas pjs!!!

This is my new favorite Mommy Garrett picture - talk about melting my heart!!!

Thanks for such a fun 3rd Christmas!!!

The Merriest Christmas of All

My absolute favorite holiday is Christmas!  I love that the world seems to be a brighter place in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  It really feels like the light that the Savior brought into the world is reflected in everything.  People seem to be happier and more willing to serve those around them.  We have really seen this service on our behalf this Christmas season- we have been so blessed with wonderful meals, care for Tori, and countless prayers for our little family, to name a few!
While I have always loved Christmas, that love seems to have grown exponentially since we have added Tori and now Garrett to our family!  It is so fun being able to share in the pure joy that they bring with them!  Jared and I have been planning our Christmas celebrations since before Garrett was born.  Some of our plans had to be set aside, due to Garrett being in the hospital.  I think that is why our best, and most cherished, gift this year was simply being home together!!!

Our Christmas Eve was a little crazy with just getting home from the hospital.  But, once we collected Tori and Prince, we were able to let Tori open her gift from her cousins Parker, Lincoln, and Henry.  We had never heard of Fancy Nancy, but I have a feeling our own little fancy girl is going to love her!!!

Next we moved on to one of our favorite traditions - getting new Christmas pjs!  I sure hope our kids like this tradition as they get older, because Jared and I love it!!!

Garrett must have wanted Christmas to come as soon as possible, he fell asleep super early!

Santa Clause did it again- he sure spoils us every year!

This year was our very first year at home for Christmas.  We were sad not to be able to be with family, but are so grateful that we were able to share our Christmas day via Skype with several of our loved ones.  It was especially fun letting Grandma and Grandpa Allen see Tori's first reaction Christmas morning! (I wish my reaction was better, oh well.)

Santa Clause sure knew what he was doing bringing Tori a slide - it didn't take her long to get over her awe and slide to her hearts content!!!

Prince enjoyed his first Christmas with some awesome new toys!!!

It's always so much fun surprising Jared!

Two of Tori's most favorite things are princesses and waffles.  So what could be better than a princess waffle maker?

Garrett was very calm and collected while checking out his new toy!  I don't think he knew quite what to make of it!!!

He took much more quickly to his musical seahorse!!!

After all of the excitement, Garrett and I enjoyed a long winter's nap together!!!

Tori made this card in nursery - talk about a cute little Rudolph!!!

Merry Christmas everyone, we hope your day was as wonderful as ours and that the joy of celebrating our Savior's birth stays with each of us throughout the coming year!!!

Our Christmas Eve Miracle

When Garrett was moved from the peds unit back to the PICU, we really resigned ourselves to the fact that Garrett would be in the hospital until next Tuesday or Wednesday.  We had even made plans to

postpone all of our Christmas celebrations until he came home.  Yesterday Garrett was moved back into the peds unit once again.  The only thing he still had to do, before going home, was improve his feedings so they could take the NG (feeding) tube out.  Right now he has 15 minutes to drink as much of 80 mL as he can.  Whatever is left, we feed him through his NG tube.  Since no one in the speech department will be here to do another feeding study until next Tuesday, we were right on thinking Garrett would be here until then.  But, as they were transferring Garrett, his old and new doctors approached Jared with another option.  They asked if we would be interested in having Garrett go home with the NG tube still in place.  To do this, we

both would have to learn how to insert it, listen to make sure it was in place before each feeding, and everything else that goes with taking care of an NG tube.  Then came the kicker, if we did this Garrett could go home on Christmas Eve (today)- that's all we needed to hear to be completely on board.  We made arrangements for Tori and Prince and then Jared and I both stayed with Garrett last night. 

I have to admit, I was really worried about how well our NG tube training would go.  But it ended up being much easier than either one of us was anticipating.  We both inserted his NG tube on the first try and got the placement perfect.  It was a lot more ambiguous listening to make sure it was in the right place.  We have to push a little bit of air through his NG tube and then listen with a stethoscope to make sure we can hear the air in his stomach.  Luckily, our nurse last night was awesome and helped us know exactly what we were listening for.  It's still a little hard, but getting easier with each feeding! 

Our little guy is so happy and handsome- even with an NG tube in!!!

Looking forward to doing this at home!

We sure accumulated a bunch of stuff in Garrett's room over the past 24 days!

We need to pull out Garrett's mobile when we get home, he loved this one!

Having Garrett sedated for almost 2 weeks, I remember looking at him and wondering if he was still there.  It has been so wonderful to know that he is definitely here - and he is happy and getting more interactive every day!!!

Getting dressed to go home!

All ready to finally go home!!!

I think Garrett knew he was home! (Lovin' that smile!!!)

Today was a whirlwind of wrapping up everything at the hospital- but it was so worth it when we were able to walk out those doors with our Garrett with us!!!  After being in the hospital for 24 days, our baby boy is finally home- and just in time for his first Christmas!!!