Home from Vacation!

Well we are home... from an amazing vacation! I had to go to Phoenix for work so Jason and Colin flew down the next day and then we stayed a week for some fun! Rhea, Matt, Brady and Mackenzie also came along and added to the excitement!

Colin did GREAT on the plane and was really well behaved for the majority of the trip. However - I am so used to vacations of laying out and relaxing that I was exhausted this trip running around everywhere with an infant! Nonetheless - it was really fun to take a family trip.

A huge thank you to the Van Hofwegen's for showing Colin around the dairy and for having us over for a bbq! Sorry that I couldn't make it to the piano bar but J had a blast!!!

Here are a few pics from the vacation for your enjoyment...

At the airport ready to go to Arizona! Awesome Dad award to Jason for flying alone with the baby!

Go Cubs! This was our first of 4 baseball games - I heart spring training! Although Colin was NOT a Cubs fan... but we were ALL fans of 84 degree weather and cold beer!

Colin discovered the pool had many uses... good for nap time as well as floating! He LOVED the pool - it was fun to watch!

Although most of our time was spent at the ball fields, we did find a day to visit Sedona - neither of us had ever been and it was gorgeous! This was a chapel built into the rock - very moving feeling when you walked in...

And this is Colin in his hiking gear as we traversed Sedona by foot!

Thanks to the Hespens for great hotel deals and thanks to my work for sending me out there - what a fantastic trip - it was hard to come home!!!

Hurray!

Well - we went to Hope Children's Hospital for Colin's ultrasound last Thursday and they said the swelling was going down and they cleared him! Hurray - so needless to say, we are thrilled to have good news and to stop worrying! Thanks to all of you for your kind words and helping us through this.

To Do List for the Bettenhausen's:
1. Now that Colin is well - get him to start sleeping through the night again - since he's been sick (christmas) he refuses to sleep - it's brutal. So, that is number one.
2. Figure out the details for a trip to Arizona! It has been way too long since we've had a vacation and we are READY!
3. Plan a fondue night - I am craving some fun fondue!

First trip to the ER

So, here's an update on the last few days. Very tense but hopefully we're on our way to improvement!

I suppose it started right around the holidays - Colin got a nasty cold that he just couldn't shake. Last week, the daycare called and said his cough was really bad and that we needed to take him back to the dr. So... last week we went back to the pediatrician and he got an antibiotic and a steroid. Note to parents - if you can stay away from steroids - do it! One of the side effects is "psychosis" so my nursing student friend tells me and Colin was WILD while on it!

The bottle it came in said side effects - sleeplessness and increased appetite. Talk about the understatement of the year - J and I have not slept for a week and I've had to introduce formula because I couldn't keep up with his insatiable hunger! The steroid was INSANE. However - the cough began to clear up and so we figured we were home free...

Yesterday we woke up and Colin's soft spot was bulging out of his head - we completely freaked. Mostly because it indicates swelling in his skull and obviously around his brain. We packed up and headed for the emergency room after a few calls around to family for advice.

The ER at Christ / Hope was fantastic - they actually have a pediatric ER so just for kids! The Dr. said they didn't feel it was meningitis because he was still acting pretty fiesty (not lethargic) and it wasn't so bulged that you couldn't push it in a bit (yeah... gross). They discharged us and said to watch him closely and bring him to the pediatrician the next day.

Off to the Dr. again today and he believes that the "intra cranial swelling" is a side effect of the steroid that he was on. We need to keep watching it and if it doesn't go down in a few days, Colin will have an ultrasound done on his head.

Needless to say - we were pretty terrified but feel confident that the dr.'s that have seen him are not too worried yet. Keep Colin in your prayers and we will definitely post again once his condition changes (hopefully for the better!!!)

Good morning everyone!!

I guess this post needs to start with where we left off.... HoHoHo Merry Christmas & a Hap Hap Happy New Year to everyone!!

Now that we're caught up with the formalities - here's what happened in the Bettenhausen Household the past couple of weeks...

In case you didn't get our Chrismas Card - here was our little Colin Jay in his Christmas Stocking. Colin was truly the greatest gift Santa could have left under our Christmas Tree this year.

Christmas itself was pretty exciting. Christmas Eve was spent over at the Heemstra Household where the annual singing of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer was sung. A little overwheling for an outsider like me, but after years and years of tradition, you find yourself not really thinking about how stupid I look singing it, but rather I couldn't imagine a Christmas without it. It's kind of like the Opening Ceremony of Christmas. It has begun. Colin must have been a very good boy his first couple of months in this life. Santa and his elves were very generous.

The Christmas Story was read...the presents were opened...it was a great day for everyone. It was a great time to reflect back on what the true meaning for the season really is. God has continued to bless our family over and over again.

It was an extra special time for us also in that Colin was able to meet his cousin Evan for the first time ever. Let's just say Grandma had a grin from ear to ear the past couple of weeks. You be the judge....

With family being the spot light for the Holiday Season - that was pretty much the focus on New Years. We needed to get the family back to normal.

Normal = 3 to 4 oz feeding every 3 hrs, occasional naps, bed time 8:00 pm / wake up 7:00 am

Christmas Week = 2 oz snacks every 2 hrs, no naps, bed time 11:00 pm / wake up at 2:00 am, 3:30 am, and 5:00 am

It was a rough sleeping week for everyone - but I guess in the long run, we don't have that much to grumble about. He's pretty good in that department.

On New Years, we put Colin down about 7:00/7:15 pm and he slept pretty good all night. Time to break out the Nintendo Wii...

(and yes he is dangerously close to drilling our tv)

Our good friends Jordan & Krissi graced us with their presence on Dec 31st. It was a lot of Fun!! Sadly...Jordan and I got dominated in just about every game we played that night. They said it was because they were smarter & better than us at most of the games we played, but I'm willing to bet it was the beer. Oh well!!

That pretty much gets you caught up with us. We hope that all of your families had a wonderful Holiday season & we are very anxious to hear about your happenings as well.

Till then....

The Bettenhausens

P.S. Here's Colin dressed up in one of his Christmas presents.

Work...

How on EARTH am I going to go back to work tomorrow and leave my little boy?

Thanksgiving 08

Colin's first Thanksgiving! How fun to have outfits for holiday wear - especially pants that say Gobble Gobble along the butt!

After church, we went to my grandparents for the early shift of Thanksgiving - lots of laughs like usual and fantastic food. Later that day we went down to Jason's sister's house for dessert and more family. Colin did amazingly well with the long day. Other than a few tears, he was near perfect!

Yesterday was shopping extravaganza. Woke up at 3:30 to finish scouting the sale papers and Dana arrived at 4:30 for our annual shop-fest. Ran into my cousin Ashley and Kerry at a few different places and both Dana and I seem to have just about all of our gifts purchased! Also picked up a Wii Fit because it was too tempting! In the afternoon we put up the tree and Xmas decor. Colin was mesmerized by all the lights and Logan loves to lay on the tree skirt (especially in the sweet Santa outfit Jason got him.)

Last night my p's, Dana and Tim and Matt and Rhea (and kids) came for the Christmas Kickoff. Pizza, Games and of course... National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Movie!

This morning Colin got to meet his mom's friend Melissa, who now lives in TN. It is always great to catch up and she got him some cool Tennessee Titan apparel! Thanks Melissa!

Tonight is an engagement party for Rick and Nicole and then tomorrow will be a day of REST - we need it!

However - we also wanted to post what we are thankful for: (Jason to add when he wakes up from his nap.)

Robin: a husband who is caring, loving and kind. He is my friend and companion, I can't imagine the highs or the lows without him. Colin - what an amazing blessing, being a parent is such a great gift and I can't wait to watch him grow up! Our faith - growing up in a Christian home and seeing examples of Christian marriage. And as we go into the holiday season, for the birth of Christ, without whom we would be hopeless. Thanks to family and friends for their love and support - we love you all! Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the Christmas season!

Yahoo - WEEKEND!

Even when you don't work - you still look forward to the weekends - why is that? Maybe because of Fantasy Football... big match up this week against Phil and Kristen - hopefully my team, Colin Jay's Crusade brings home a victory! :)
Weekend has been fun - Friday we hung out at home, watched a movie and just chilled the three of us (and Logan). Last night we met up with some friends for dinner and the 007 Movie while Grandma B. watched Colin. After the movie we were still inspired to stay out so we went over to Bella Martini - the greatest Martini bar ever... very low key and eclectic group of patrons!
Oops - Colin is crying - I'll post more later!