Halloween Pictures

Breonna, Nathan and Camden

Well here are our Halloween pictures of the kids. Tonight my mom came over as planned and just loved on Camden. Floyd took the kids trick-or-treating. My good-good friend Angela (and Auntie to our kids) came over with her mom (who I havent seen in FOREVER) and her daughter Alexia. Angela, her mom and Alexia took advantage of the neighborhood goods and went around the block for a bit. By the time 8:15 rolled around Floyd was tired of walking around with Nate, Bree and their friends and Alexia and Angela had long returned from their quick trip around the block.




Breonna, Camden, Alexia and Nathan

Three weeks ago yesterday

Camden was born at 9:39am. I cannot believe it has been 3 weeks already. The time has gone by much too fast. I have tried my best to be able to slow down and remember to sketch every minute that passes with him in my mind and on my heart. I have tried my best to not say "I can't wait until Camden can do this or that". If I say it, then it will happen in the blink of an eye and I will of been sure to miss everything else in between. Enjoying every single moment is what I am trying to do. Even when I am so darn tired of not sleeping I just keep thinking eventually this won't happen anymore and I will be wishing it still did. There is something about having the peace and quiet of the still night in the house and it only being Camden and I awake. There are nights he will lay awake wide eyed just starring and I as tired as I am I just love it. Camden can hold his head up really well. He loves to sit up and stare at things. Camden almost looks like he is perplexed by the blankness of a corner on the wall. He will sit starring at it, scrunching and relaxing his forehead, opening his mouth and then shutting it. All reflexes I am sure but adorable nonetheless. Tonight while Floyd and I were in bed watching t.v. Camden was awake, wide awake and just starring at us. He would fix his gaze on something and just stare. I love it. Silly huh?
For his baby shower he was given a rain forest crib toy. It hangs on the crib slats so its at his level. Anyhow, he loves it. He loves the noises, the lights and movements. He laid and watched it tonight for a good 15min before he passed out. This morning at 4:50am he was wide awake and I was exhasted so I laid him in his cradle and turned it on. He watched and eventually fell asleep because I didnt hear a peep out of him until 7:30am.

Halloween will be here in a few days. I have hopefully recruited my mother to come over and hold Camden while I pass out candy and while Nathan and Breonna go with Floyd to trick-or-treat. I don't really "need" my mom here. I have passed out candy for many, many years at home while Floyd took the kids around the neighborhood. I actually just want her here. I want her here to be with Camden. I love seeing her with him. He is growing up so fast and even though we only live roughly 30min from my parents its hard to make the trip into Tacoma often. I just want my mom here to share in his life and be there. She is an amazing mom to me and a wonderful, wonderful Grandma to Nathan and Breonna and now to Camden. I just really want my mom to know him and love him and I want him to really know my mom, my dad and my sisters. Our next step is introducing Camden to Floyd's mom and dad.

Well I am off to bed. Its getting late and Camden is squirming. I will post his 3 week picture sometime this week to this post, so check back for it!

My ears...

should just fall off. They hurt that bad! I have spent every single day in the doctors office since Friday afternoon. The first doctor gave me the WRONG meds, the 2nd doctor agreed with the 1st doctor that those were the right meds and then today at ENT the specialist couldnt figure out WHY IN THE WORLD they would give me those meds! So I have been in pain and NOT getting better. I am now on the right meds, thankfully! I should be feeling better very soon.

Apparently on Friday our mural lady (who has cancelled 3 times now) came over on Friday to take pictures of Camden's room. She hopefully will be back over in November to paint the rest of the stuff on his walls. We still need a firefly, tucan and his name on the walls! I am excited to get it all done.

Tomorrow is Tuesday and tomorrow Camden will be 3 weeks old. He is doing great! Growing great and eating so well. He still has his nights and days mixed up some, but I don't mind so much. Its great bonding time for him and I at 2am. He wakes up about 2ish and stays awake for about 30min to an hour sometimes just starring. We talk and snuggle, its been wonderful. The plan tomorrow is to take pictures of Camden, Nate and Bree with their pumpkins and then get Nathan and Breonna's costumes!

Fun filled Tuesday here we come :)

A "me" update.

Well I have an outer fungal ear infection. How I got it I don't know. How I feel? HORRIBLE. The pain is horrible. The medicine the Doctor gave me is not working, though its only been today that I got it. Please say a little prayer this all clears up soon. I don't know how I will survive the weekend. My ears feel clogged/plugged. Ish! Horrible feeling.

So, today after all the daycare kids were gone I sat down to read my email (its a nice feeling). And I found an email from on of the Pastors from the church I have been attending with Michelle. Last Sunday I went to church with Breonna, Camden and my friend Angela and her daughter. Every week you fill out a little blue card and toss it in the collection plate letting the church know you came and update any information you need to update as well as add a little prayer request if wanted. Well I did I add a prayer request reguarding Camden and his birthparents. I just want an extra set of eyes and prayers on this family (birth family) to make sure they are adjusting okay. I know its hard for them, because its hard on me thinking about then and wondering if they are all doing okay. Anyhow, I got an email from the Pastor congratulating us on Camden's adoption and letting me know he was praying for us and Camden's birthfamily. It was nice to know someone on the other end of the collection was really reading those requests. It just made me feel good. The Pastor also told me about their MOPS program which I am super interested in. I think I might actually start going and getting involved. I need to get out and do something for me and Camden. I want too. I think MOPS might be the best start for us.

:)
Nicole

Halloween is approaching.

Well it will (of course) be Camden's first Halloween this year (duh!). Before he was born I bought a cute Halloween outfit at Old Navy. It was not a costume, just a cute outfit. I bought it in 3-6months instead of newborn. I was anticipating he would be much bigger at birth, I was wrong. He will not fit in it during this Halloween. I have been debating on returning it or not, but it seems like too much of a hassle seeing as how I do not have the recipet and Old Navy requires one even to exchange sizes.

He will wear this for Halloween:

I am not sure what Breonna and Nathan will be. I believe Nathan will just find some funky mask and Breonna well, not sure. We fight about it every year. She always wants to be some blood sucking, creature from way beyond this planet...or a devil which I won't allow. I will get pictures of all three of them up here SOON.

Happy "almost" Halloween!

Camden is 2 weeks today.

Camden is two weeks today! He is currently 8 pounds 5 ounces. Still wearing preemie clothing but he is fitting into some 0-3month sized clothing, but they are still really big. We have to pull the pants WAY up if he is wearing a two-piece. Overalls he swims in. His feet are super tiny, but his socks make them look HUGE! Camden does have some LONG fingers.

Nathan and Breonna are doing great. Breonna is a HUGE help with her little brother. She loves him. She is always wanting to hold him and carry him around. Nathan is good with him too though he is so busy with school and football he comes home gets his chores done, eats dinner, showers and hops into bed most nights. Nathan really is becoming very independant. We do have to still constantly remind him to get his darn chores done, but overall he is great kid.

Tonight was Breonna's parent/teacher conference. She is doing well. Breonna needs to work on not worrying about everyone else, as always but overall she is doing great. We are very proud of her.

Nathan is playing football. He is loving it. Doing great at it. Floyd and I both hope he continues to play into the coming years. Grades wise Nate is doing great. Nothing new there!!

Floyd and I are doing well. We are tired. Floyd has been wonderful with Camden and helping with the daycare. I will say I am more tired and more emotional. Its still hard to believe we have a new baby around the house. Looking at Camden just puts me in awe everytime.

HAPPY 2 WEEKS Baby Camden!

Camden Robert - LeRoy Powell

has landed safely on earth and in our home. It has taken me 2 weeks to write this. I have started 5 or 6 times only to end up in tears. I am so happy he is here, healthy and home with us.

I am going to make this a fairly quick post as nap time at the daycare is nearing an end.....

Camden was born October 7, 2008 via c-section at 9:39am. He was born at Valley General Hospital. Camden was 7 pounds 14 ounces and 20 inches at birth. Small and skinny and so so so cute. He just has this face and these very deep dark eyes that draw you in. He is really a beautiful baby.

Camden was born at 9:39am and in our hearts and arms at 9:56am. I was in love. Camden's birthdad came into our room and when Camden was wheeled in and John, his birthdad handed him to me. It was unbelieveably the hardest thing I have ever done and that was to take this baby from his arms. Floyd, my mom, Michelle, my three sisters, Terri, Shirley and Zack were all in the room with us. We were there while nurse bathed him, gave him his shots and eye meds. Soon after I got to give him his first bottle. He ate so well and burped like a grown man! Floyd and I were lucky to be able to room with Camden at the hospital. Camden's birthmom chose not to room with him and as sad as I was to know that I was happy Floyd and I would be able to start bonding with him at once. And we have. The hospital discharged us on Wednesday evening and we spent the next 24 hours at home waiting for our lawyer to call us on Friday morning.

We got the call on Friday morning that everything was "a go" and we would just need to complete our 3 month post placement with Joni in January. Camden's first doctors appt was that Friday afternoon. He weighed 7pounds 9.5ounces and was perfect.

Camden has made my life. His little footprint is stamped on my heart forever. Both Nathan and Breonna are all over him and Floyd is IN LOVE with him.

Camden's birthmom and birthdad are amazing people. I know they LOVE this child SO SO much. Camden will forever be on their hearts as well. Eventually I hope his first mom and first dad will call so we can meet up. In the meantime I will be sending pictures to them. I went online and made two photo albums for them to send. Just gotta get them back from Wal-Mart's print shop and away in the mail they will go.

*~*~*~* Happy Birthday *~*~*~*

Today is my husbands birthday :) He is 33 years old today!

Highlights of his day thus far (and its currently 6:37pm)

3:17pm - He woke up!! Can you believe that?!

*Breonna and I went shopping and to lunch*

4:46pm - Took the dogs out to play

5:25pm - Showered

Currently is watching a movie with the kids....and probably wondering "when is dinner!"

We are off to Samuri's apparently :)

Happy Birthday Honey! I love you and I feel blessed to be able to share our lives together!

Worried...excited...nervous....happy...

Well we have 6 days until this little man is due. Soon and so scary. Our homestudy has passed once again and now we have to wait for the judge to finalize everything. Which kinda sucks passing the buck onto yet another person to deal with. Ugh! We have no reason to worry, but its always worrisome when you have no control. This judge could be having a bad day and be like "nope not gonna happen!" Ugh! UGH! Why is this all so complicated?!?!

Baby shower is planned for 11th. Excited for that....and nervous!


Birthmom let me know this baby "needs a good grounding" once he is born. He has been giving her hell. :) Not moving for hours at a time, increased heart rate here and there...stinker! She has been in the hospital twice in the last 2 weeks because he was being a lil'brat! We will make sure to ground for the next 18 to 20 yrs in our hearts and home...


Please say a prayer all goes as planned and we don't get a Judge who is having a bad day! Bah-humbug!

Nicole