Christmas Tidbits

I know, I know. Three blog posts in one day. I'm just getting caught up. Slacker you might say? Well, I'm just too busy reading all of YOUR blogs!

We had a great Christmas. I am SO happy Abe is finally here to make our holiday season brighter than ever before. Adam and I decided to have a super low spending cap for our gifts this year so we could send my mom and dad to see Cirque Du Soleil's Beatles "Love" in Las Vegas. But, apparently Adam has magical powers and got a "super awesome" deal on the latest iPhone for me since my last one clunked out. Who has every heard of an iPhone for under $50 bucks? Magical powers indeed!

Anyhow, here are a few Christmas pics (more to come):

Abe & Canyon

Abe likes to hang out with his BFF, Canyon. They giggle and stare at each other every week while his mom, Tammy, and I chill.

Abe has started to love his jumper. His favorite part is gnawing on it since he is teething.

He sure can be a little devil..

...but I can't get enough of him.

California..

We recently (well, 2 months ago) flew down to San Diego to visit Adam's dad. While we were there, we went to the BYU/San Diego game. Abe had a major freak out right as we were getting out of the car, but slept on his Aunt Jen's lap for most of the game (thank goodness).

A trip to San Diego wouldn't be complete if we didn't go sailing at Mission Beach. Of course, it's never a dull moment with the Kolowich family, especially when they think it's funny to flip the sailboat. Luckily, I wasn't on it.

We then went to the beach to watch the sunset and to give Abe his first dip in the ocean. It was a great day with just our little family unit.




We ended the trip with a canceled early morning flight and a 5-hour delay at the airport. Poor kid is exhausted, as were his parents!

Abe @ 3 months..

A few days after his 3 month birthday, Abe rolled over. He decided to only give us a sneak-peek because he hasn't really done it since! He also loves to rock his BabyLegs and hang out on the quilt my friend Deb made.

He is growing like a weed and showing his cute personality more and more each day.

Pure Happiness...

...here are a few pics from the last month or so. Abe is feeling much better and is a very happy baby (most of the time). I hope it lasts.

Koy made up a song to sing to Abe when he was still sick.
"Ne, ne ne, ne"

Cousin Cassie is a great little helper.

Abe's presidential pose.

Happy Happy!

He's getting so strong!

Lovin' the cheeks.

Wow!

I know I have talked with a lot of you about what has been going on with Abe. About 5 weeks ago we took Abe to Primary Children's ER since he was projectile vomiting and dehydrated. We spent 8 hours in a small room in the ER. In the room next to us there was a juvenile delinquent restrained and swearing loudly for 3 of the 8 hours. They hooked Abe up to fluids through an IV (which took 3 times to put in), did a catheter, and almost did a spinal tap. The worst part of all of this was that they wouldn't let us feed him. So, Abe screamed, and screamed and screamed. After numerous tests, they decided it was Pyloric Stenosis (which oddly enough my older sister and my nephew Koy had as tiny babies as well). They finally decided to admit him at 10:30pm (we had been there since 2pm) and put him on the surgery list for the next day. Since we were an add-on surgery they weren't really sure when the actual surgery would happen so they made us starve Abe until after the surgery. By the time they wheeled him away, he hadn't eaten for over 24 hours. The surgery was a success and we were able to give him extremely small amounts of glucose water and then formula--which didn't make Abe happy at all. Here are a couple pictures of Abe right before his surgery. Poor guy, he is so exhausted:

After Abe came home, we had to deal with severe reflux and more tummy problems. So, the screaming did not stop. The surgeon said sometimes the antibiotics given to babies during surgery can mess up the good bacteria in their stomachs. He is now on medicine and special formula.

Even writing this blog, I don't want to re-live any of it, so I wanted to make this entry as short as possible. My mom and sisters have saved my sanity. Adam was in Korea for 2 weeks and my mom, Rachel and Dana tried to console both me and Abe during the last few weeks. I am so grateful for them. Breakdown after breakdown, they have helped me hour by hour.

It is now five long weeks after the surgery and Abe seems to be doing a bit better. He is a very smiley baby and we are so happy to have him in our lives:

By the way, I blame Primary Children's for Abe's new found ability to SCREAM. If this entry doesn't exactly make sense, I blame exhaustion.

A little piece of heaven..

Seriously, the best day of my life....

Abram "Abe" John Kolowich

30 June 2009, 7:45am

7.1 pounds, 21 inches

He is already up to 7.11 oz. It's amazing how much he has already changed. He looks just like his dad. When I asked someone to point out one thing that looks like me they said "He has your hair line." Oh well, I'll take anything! I hope to post more pics soon! He is a really mellow kid and we hope it lasts!

Big and beautiful...

...isn't that how you should feel when you hit 38.5 weeks in your pregnancy? I was at Ikea the other day and caught a profile of myself in a mirror and almost died laughing. Down 2lbs one week, up 4lbs the other--all this yo-yo-ing really does a number on me!

I really can't complain too much. I have felt pretty good this whole time, but these back pains and lack of sleep are getting a bit old now. I like to politely "hint" to my baby in my belly to "GET OUT!" His favorite thing to do is kick me over and over in my ribs during church when we are trying to sing. Adam thinks he likes the loud out-of-tune old lady who always sits behind us every week, but I am beginning to think that this kid and Adam are already plotting to gang up on me and take over the house!

I find myself hoping for contractions. Is that crazy? Isn't it show time already?

Oh yeah, so many people have asked for pregnancy pictures so here you go. Keep in mind this was taken on a good day, it's usually how I roll--

The happenings....

Once again I haven't updated my blog in quite a while.  No excuses.  Here are a few things that have happened lately:

*We found out we are having a BOY!  I guess I shouldn't be surprised because I have 20+ nephews and only a few nieces.  We haven't decided on any names.  I have a feeling it's going to be a challenge.  Adam is still adamant that we fit in "Oscar" somehow.  (Yeah right).

*Adam and I went to a military ball at the capitol a couple of weeks ago.  As we walked in, we both realized that the last time we had been on a date in that building was 13 years ago for Adam's prom in 1996.  He claims I asked him to take me home early all those years ago, but all I remember is that I didn't know any one since I went to a different school and that I couldn't stop giggling at a girl in our group whose dress was way too low and whose fake eyelashes kept falling down.  

We had a great time.  Adam loves to get his groove on and I like to stand back and watch him in all his glory.  I didn't really shake my tail feather because I thought that would look weird since I am 6 months pregnant.  I mean really, who wants to see a pregnant lady do the running man?

*We were able to insert ourselves into Rachel and TJ's Disney vacation.  Adam and I had enough sky miles to make a quick trip and we had such a good time.  Hopefully they didn't mind that we tagged along.  Their little boy, Koy, was so cute that we just can't wait until our little guy is old enough to go!   I forgot my camera so my only pick is from my phone:

I haven't been on "It's a Small World" for years.  I heard they shut it down for a while to put in bigger boats for the ever-expanding American body.  I must say that I appreciated the extra room and I promptly stuffed my face with a caramel apple right after---in appreciation of Disney's effort to cater to our population, of course.

*That's it for now!  On to working on the nursery!!!

I can't wait..

...we find out if we are having a little boy or girl in two weeks.  This whole experience is weird (yes that is the best way I can describe it).  

Adam and I have yet to have a serious conversation for naming our new little one.  Names of "consideration" have been: Chattanooga Choo Choo Kolowich, Mr. T, Electric Boogaloo Kolowich, Koolbabe Express Kolowich, The Real Deal Kolowich (but we would have to insist on pronunciation "rill dill" since we live in Utah now) and anything that will make our little one have the initials "A.O.K."  Adam thinks he is really funny sometimes:)

I think once we know the gender, we will start to think seriously about it.  Any thoughts would be appreciated....Obama Kolowich any one?