Camden has his first...

ear infection. My poor baby. He has an ear infection in both ears. Last night he had a temp of 100.6 and it would come and go without meds. Took him in today to the dr's and yup, just like I thought...ear infection..


Poor baby. It does make me really sad to know he is sick. I have an ear infection (again!) and let me tell you its no fun. I do feel bad. Thankfully, he is still fairly happy and talking. Just sleeping a lot and wants mommy...

Off to medicate the poor guy!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 has come and gone. It seems like we spend so much time preparing for Christmas. The shopping, wrapping, sending out cards, holiday parties, preparing to mail boxes,put the lights up, the tree up, Santa pictures and so much more. We stress about what we need to get done and what we havent gotten done and then in the blink of an eye it is all over with. This year I ended up wrapping ALL our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve morning, wrapped more into the afternoon and once we got home from my parents I still had a few to wrap. After wrapping ALL those gifts, I looked at the clock and realized it was after midnight and in just a few short hours all those nicely wrapped boxes in shiney, colored paper would be torn to shreds. All the hours of work put into wrapping those boxes only to have them ruined.....the good part was seeing my family light up and be so thankful for what we each recieved. (Next year I will wrap sooner so I can enjoy the pretty boxes!)

The Powell Christmas was a great one. We spent this year with our newest family member Camden. Nathan and Breonna as they have gotten older are more understanding of what Christmas truly is about. While the gifts are wonderful they know that the gifts arnt what Christmas is ALL about.

Nathan and Breonna got some really nice gifts from family and friends. We got to spend time with my side of the family on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I think the BEST part of Christmas 2008 was having Roger, Floyd's dad here for another year to celebrate with us. We are truly blessed to have him still here with us. Roger told me on Thanksgiving "I know I am sick, I know I am supposed to die, but Nicole I will live another 10 years!!" And if I must say so myself I think he really will too!

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year! This year was even more special. Camden is here. My sisters,their boyfriends, my mom, my dad, Nathan, Breonna, my husband and myself all just dote on him. He is not lacking for arms to hold him or hugs or kisses. The child whimpers and 5 people flock to see what they can do to make him smile or coo at them.

Here are some pictures from this Christmas 2008. Nathan and Breonna of course, run from my camera. I am sure one day Camden will too. Since he can't now, I will take as many of him as I can!!


Camden on Christmas Morning 2008!

Camden and Uncle Kam. This is Aunt Emily's boyfriend!

Camden and Aunt Stephanie on Christmas Eve

Papa and Camden on Christmas Eve (my dad!)

The kids in the snow.

Well Floyd and I bundled up Camden and found Nathan playing outside and pryed Breonna (who just got warm) away from the heater vent and I made them go back outside. The pictures turned out pretty cute

Enjoy!

Snow

Yes, we have had snow. This is also the 2nd day the kids have not had school. Currently the snow is coming down hard and fast. I love it. The ground is all nicely re-covered and Nathan and Breonna are enjoying their snow day! They have both been out in it a few times already today. The come in soaking wet and freezing, dripping snow all through the house. About 2 hours later once they have defrosted they are back out there with neighborhood kids playing. When I get a chance I will have to take a picture of it before it melts. In the mean time here are some pictures of Camden. He is 10 weeks old now.

The new stuff with Camden is:
*He sleeps better!
*He knows when it is bedtime at nighttime and no one and I mean no one can keep him awake if it is past 8pm.
*Camden is smiling so so so much more. And its a real smile, with a little sparkle that just melts your heart.
*Camden totally knows when you are leaving him. He follows you with his eyes and gets this adorable "boo-boo" face, which breaks your heart and you HAVE to just pick him up.
*He loves to snuggle with you
*He is talking to just about everything these days. The tv, people, stuffed animals, you name it he will babble to it.
*Camden lights up when the dogs come into the room. They will be best buds for sure!
*Camden is in LOVE with himself. He loves the mirror on his bouncy seat and on his floor gym. He just smiles and coos to himself when he sees himself.


Nathan and Breonna are doing so well. Christmas is nearly here and I know they are antsy to see what "Jolly ol'Saint Nick" brought them. Floyd and and I have watched enough holiday movies with those two to last a lifetime. I know both kids are excited (and so am I) to have the daycare closed. I am so excited to spend it with just my family and just relax. Everyone is so much happier after a nice vacation.

Gymboree Contest

So I am on a forum for Gymboree Clothes lovers. I do love alot of their lines for Camden. Anyhow the forum I am on is having a referral contest. The person who gets the most referrals via their link wins a 150.00 gift card TO Gymboree. I would LOVE this. Camden will be getting bigger at some point and this would be so nice to have. You do have to register but really, just register and don't come back??? Its easy to do :)

Your help is appreciated. I would do it for you!!!

http://www.GymboPlace.com/index.php?referrerid=1949

Its ONLY Thursday..

and it was a long, long, long day! Camden started this nasty cough on Friday morning. He acted fine and is fine. Happy, smiling, talking to us, sleeping and eating well. On Monday we went in for his 2 month well baby and his Doctor said just to keep an eye on it that he sounded fine. His lungs were crystal clear. Last night I noticed him coughing more frequently and this morning when he woke up he was coughing more too. I called the nurse and the nurse said Sara Husarik A.R.N.P (his "doctor) wanted to see him. We got there 15min early and waited in the waiting room for 45min (ANNOYED!), got into the room and got Camden weighed again (10lbs 11.5oz)and waited for another 40min for our Doctor to get in here. Sara apologized saying this cough was something EVERYONE was coming in for. Anyhow, she listened and his cough has infact gotten worse to some degree. She had us stay and do a nebulizer treatment and it worked great. So Camden is on the nebulizer every 4 to 8 hours as needed. FUN! NOT! Thankfully, Camden is still just has happy as can be. We go back Monday morning for a follow-up.

Here are a few cute pictures of Camden from today in his new "Future Rock Star" Pajamas! So cute! (thanks Mary for taking them for us!) See how happy he is? Camden is so so so sweet and just all smiles and coo's these days!






(yes, he fell asleep!!!)

Spending the evening with mommy

Camden Randoms 4 (2months old)

Here are a few pictures of the day! Camden's aunts came over to visit him today, they love snuggling with him. I am glad they decided to make the trip out here, even though they were already out here due to a doctors appt. But atleast they stopped by. It is nice knowing we have a close family even when I feel we are so far apart.

2 month appt

Real quick post here. Camden is about to awaken from his slumber :)

2 month appt was today. GREAT visit. I love the new ARNP I chose. I really do like the Doctor he 1st saw but I felt he was rushed and I just don't like that. I also felt my concerns were not being validated. Anyhow, Sara Husarik saw us today and she was so sweet. She is mother of 6 children, her husband also works there and is a Doctor.


Anyhow Camden's stats:

Weight 10pounds 12 ounces
Length 23 inches long
Head 15.5in

Sarah said his nasty cough was not in his chest thank goodness. His lungs sounds crystal clear and to come back if the cough is not better or gets worse. To continue with saline in his nose and the humidifier, all of which we have been doing.

Camden got 4 shots, but both were combined into two, so really only two shots one in each leg (he screamed!) and then an oral med which he SUCKED down!! So far no fever and he has been sleeping since. Poor guy.

Camden really is a very happy baby! Talks a lot to us, smiles SOOO much!!! He loves Nathan and Breonna. When they walk into the room and he hears their voices he tries to look for them.

Pictures soon...I hope. I need to load them and time is not something I have a lot of these days!

Lots going on

It has been awhile since I have blogged and a lot has been going on over the last week and a half. Nothing exciting really just with the holidays I find my time consumed "getting ready" and attempting to "plan". It doesnt work well I am finding.

The kids are doing great. Breonna is signed up for another season of basketball, this will be her last year playing elementary basketball. I am sad to see her move on to Junior High.Breonna will start working with a tutor in the next two weeks in hopes to get her math grades up and reading comprehension up. Nathan, is Nathan. He is doing well. Getting good grades and very into his music and skateboarding. Nathan is great at turning everything into a "joke"...gotta love that! Camden is exactly two months old today. My baby is getting bigger! He is sleeping WAY better, "talking" and cooing at us more and more. He lights up when you talk to him. Unfortunatly, Camden has a nasty cough he started on Friday. We are praying it does not turn into croup. He has his 2 month appt tomorrow. Camden will also get 3 shots, which I am not thrilled about as I don't want them to affect his "getting better" process with this cough he has.

Overall things are great here. We are hoping to get into see Santa very soon and get the kids picture with him. Since its Camden's 1st Christmas we are so excited to get that picture done. Of course Nate and Bree are not so excited :)

Will post pictures later!

There are only 25 days until Christmas

well starting tomorrow that is. I am looking for some ideas for "hard to shop for people". If you have an idea or know something would you mind sending me the link or posting it on YOUR blog? I was on a blog today and she had some WONDERFUL ideas from a holiday bazaar she went to too. I LOVE the wine bottle cheese plate. This *IS* something I am going to get for someone. Not sure who but I ordered one!! I will attach a photo to what I am talking about but you can also go to the website Edge Expressions to look at more of their great items.

I would love to see your ideas!!

(wine cheese plate!)

Camden Randoms 3 (7 weeks today!)

Camden is seven weeks today!

Camden's New Toy and being 7 weeks

Well Camden is 7 weeks today. It is kind of bittersweet for me. We tried for so long to get pregnant and have a baby (7years) and it never happened. However, Floyd and I were blessed with being able to adopt Camden. When we found out we were going to be parents to Camden I realized, while I do want to experience pregnancy, morning sickness, cravings and labor having a child was more important to me . Camden has been a blessing. At 7 weeks he is talking a lot, smiling more and more and really does have some great contact with people and faces. He lights up when his dad talks to him. And he knows when I am in the room. Camden loves Breonna and Nathan and just stares at them when they walk by. The best part, he is sleeping a little longer these days at night. Last night he went to bed about 8ish which is earlier than normal for him, he woke up about 9:30 had a bottle and went back to bed until 1:30, woke me up at 4am...this is where I go a little nutty...he is awake and eats, get a diaper change and then wants to stay up for about 30 to 45min. This has to change soon. Though he will go back to bed and sleeps until 7:30ish eats and goes back to bed until 9ish. Camden is then up most of the morning. He is getting bigger. While I love the new things he is doing it still makes me sad that he is getting big SO fast.

Camden has a new toy! We got him the Baby Einstein Neptunes Floor Mat. Since he was loving his mobile and its not portable we decided to get it. It was supposed to be his Christmas present BUT I couldnt wait and I am glad we didnt wait. Here are some photos and short video of him "playing" with it. (not sure why the videos are so grainy)






New Toy from Nicole Powell on Vimeo.

Giving thanks for what you are thankful for

Today the daycare kids and I were doing a craft where they had to tell me what they were thankful for. Many of the kids said sill things like " toys, dolls, pudding, rocks and tissues" a few of my older kids said meaningful things like "mommy, dad, a sibling or an animal". It of course got me to thinking about what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for:

* A warm home to live in. There are so many people losing their homes right now and I am very thankful to have ours.

* Kelli,John and Zack. They are Camden's birthparents and brother. Without them we would not have Camden. I can't imagine life without Camden at this point. I am so thankful to John and Kelli. I don't think I will ever be able to express, show or tell them how thankful I truly am.

* My health. I have struggled with my weight for years now. But I am still around and kicking.

* My husband. Floyd is my everything. He truly does try his best to be there even when I am being a little nutty. I thank him for that.

* Nathan and Breonna. Without them I wonder if I would be who I am today.

* My father in law. He is still after all these years fighting a losing battle. But I am thankful he is trying his best to continue to fight.

* My job. Even when I feel like I could scream and run away I am thankful I have my job still. There are many people losing their jobs and I am so very grateful to still have my job. I guess that would be mean I am thankful to the parents who continue to bring their children here into our home.

* My parents. They are so amazing, so supportive and so loving. Through the adoption, through everything they have ALWAYS been there with NO strings attached. My parents are amazing people and I hope to be that for Nathan, Breonna and Camden.

and last but not least...

* My life. Overall it is just a wonderful one. Filled with tons of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, hardships and wins, wonderful family and friends and so so so much more.


Tell me what you are Thankful for this Thanksgiving year.

The Iron Chef

Last Friday I was asked by Breonna's school PTA to come and be a "taste tester" for their Iron Chef cooking thing. I was excited to go. I had not heard anything about it, but I was happy to leave work for a few hours and be a "judge" and taste some cool new foods.

When I got to the school there was a line down the hall into the main lobby of the school of children holding their food entry. I was a little leary seeing all the desserts being labeled but no worry, there was bound to be more things there. After about 20min of watching the line of kids slowly come to a hault we all moved into the cafteria. Camden was with me and he was passed out so I was good to go. When Anita (the lady running the Iron chef) announced there were three different areas and they were 1. Pies 2. Cookies and 3. Other I *knew* right away I did NOT want to be in the "Pies or cookies" area to judge. I just have this thing about chocolate. It is not my thing and all the pies and cookies were of course chocolate. I opted to be in the "other" catagory. Well I got all the paperwork I needed and headed to my section and I about friggin died. I was in chocolate HELL. The other section was a ton of chocolate desserts and I had 25 of them to "try". All but ONE was chocolate. It was horrible. I wanted to leave, or cry. It was too late to ask to be in another section because the other two sections were just about done. They only had about 4 to 10 entries. I was screwed......I taste tested WAY too much chocolate. Some where pretty good others were so nasty! There was one I tried with two other moms and we all about puked. It looked like a brownie platter with blue frosting on top, it looked okay. Then as I was biting in I knew I was in for it. I bit into something chewy and gooey. The other moms looked just as ill as I was feeling...I couldnt bear it anymore and I spat it out into a napkin. I had to look to see what I bit into and it was FRUIT someone put FRUIT into a brownie...chewy fruit! It was a chocolate FRUIT CAKE!

Well an hour later and three bottles of water later we were done. We added up the points, gave our bonus's and low and behold my best friend's daughter won! Check out the winning entry here on Michelle's blog

Sleepy time..

I love Sunday's. It usually means everyone under the age of 18 is in bed and asleep by 9pm. Sunday's mean a quiet night earlier than every other day of the week.


(Nathan out fast! He had a friend stay the night last night and I believe they were up way past 2am. Amazing how there is never a fight after a friend stays the night when its bedtime the NEXT night. Sometimes that makes it all worth it! Nathan was asleep by 8pm)



(this little one will be up in about 2 to 3 hours so for now we enjoy the peace)



(Breonna the one who fights sleep. Finds something to do every single night in order to keep her eyes awake. But alas she is out.)

The house is quiet and still.

.....now I just need to get the husband to actually go to bed.

A small tid-bit of news..

For the 1st time ever Camden has gone to sleep in his crib, woken up and put himself back to bed without me going in there to give him his binky.

The small stuff is what counts!


And ummmm in other news..Christmas is in 1 month and 2 days. How soon is that? I am however getting excited about it. It means I will have from December 24th to January 2nd off from work, my kids will be home from school and we will all get to enjoy hanging out with one another. I am super excited for that. I love when there are no daycare kids and Nathan, Bree, Floyd, myself and now Camden can just relax and hang out with one another.

With Christmas coming also comes our 3 month post placement homestudy for Camden and then soon following an adoption date for Camden! Keep us in your prayers!!

Camden videos from his birth

Here are a few videos of when Camden was born. I finally figured out how to share them on here. Enjoy!


Camden 2 from Nicole Powell on Vimeo.


Camden 10/7/08 from Nicole Powell on Vimeo.

Bath Time

When Camden was born and we gave him a bath he would scream so loud the entire time making bathtime not so much fun. Eventually Floyd and I decided he may feel more secure and safe if we were in there with him. We were right. Since then Camden has enjoyed his baths much more and Floyd and I have got some great bonding time in with him. Here are some pictures of Camden and mommy taking a bath.

Here is Camden talking to Mommy.

Camden not so thrilled about this bath idea.

Checking out the thing infront of Daddy's face

Camden talking to Daddy now

One of the new things Camden has started to do it smile and chatter to his mobile. Of course when I finally got the camera and got it out he wouldnt do it. But he looks cute watching "his friends" dance above his head.

11/22/08 Mobile from Nicole Powell on Vimeo.