Happy Fourth of July!!!!!

Hi Everybody!!!!  Happy 4th!  Our kids begged to spend this day at the beach.  I'm starting with this picture because Kirk and the boys are playing some good ol' American Baseball.
 

 

Most of the day looked like this, but it was still 70 degrees regardless.
 

Kirk loves volleyball, so he is teaching the kids to play.  He and Reece play the most.
 

 

 

This is Georgia's private kitchen below where she concocted this....
 

a beautiful cake for her mother, so sweet and very tasty I must say....  :)
 

Boys and their digging...
 

 

Gwyneth is waiting patiently for help because she seriously couldn't get out by herself, this may not actually be the safest thing, but fun for sure...
 

You'll never find Gwyneth anywhere without a book and I'm not exaggerating.
 

Loving daddy....
 

and loving mommy.  I love this girl.
 

My dad joined us for the day as well.  All my kids love their grandpa.  They always beg me to tell the adventures I've had with my dad because there are many.  Now they are having their own fun with him.  A few weeks ago he took my two oldest sons camping for a few days.  They hiked, fished and went boating.  My sons thought they had died and gone to heaven.
 

We had a fun, low key day at the beach in remembrance of this countries birth.  I love the freedoms we enjoy but also the vast opportunities we have as Americans.  I love my life, my family, friends and experiences so far that have shaped who I am.  I love this picture below.  She loves my dad.
 

I try to stay organized.  Another great day was had with family and a sweet creation of memories......Meanwhile back at the "ranch" a.k.a, the hospital......
 

William is doing really well.  He has had one rough week so far.  His PDA (patent ductis arterial) opened really big and caused a large heart murmur.  His cardiologist spoke with us about him having a possible "minor" heart surgery.  We will know more about this in a few weeks.  Needless to say I had a lot of emotions about this.  Mainly just wondering about the act of surgery on such a small baby at all.  This was really nerve racking but it's life in the NICU, I"m learning very quickly.

 

Here's the big man at 3lbs 4oz.  He started at 2lb 3oz.  He has gained over a pound in about two and a half weeks.  Luckily I have so much milk and he takes his feedings through a tube very well.  The nurses told me I have to start freezing all of my own milk because they don't have room for it there anymore.  I'm starting to run out of room for it too, it adds up quickly.

Currently he is progressing really well with his breathing, growing and feedings.  We won't know about the need for surgery for a few weeks.  He is really strong and he "likes what he likes" so the nurses tell me.  He does the best on his tummy and he makes it really clear when he's uncomfortable.  One of the nurses told me that the older nurses have nicknamed him "Wild Bill."  Just when I was telling my mother in law that William no longer gets the nickname of Bill....I was cracking up.  Wild Bill because he tries constantly to pull his breathing apparatus out and he fights the nurses a lot when they try to get his temperature and do his vitals.  In my journal I wrote that it's a great nickname so long as he is in the hospital...!

Usually Kirk and I visit him in the evening after we put our kids in bed.  When Kirk can't come with me I take one of the bigger kids and they stay with me and visit for a couple of hours.  We are coming to love Will so much.  He is so sweet to look at and hold.  I can't believe this is my life right now.  And by this I just mean that life can turn around and bring some very unexpected paths.  I feel like I was headed in one direction and then suddenly was forced to make a "U Turn."  Like I mentioned before it's just a different journey.  I am coming to love the nurses and I've picked a few primary nurses.  A primary nurse is a nurse that you feel suits your baby well. So far they are all good but there are a couple of special ones from what I can see.  I am feeling less and less traumatized these days and more relaxed with my new life.  I know William is going to come home quickly and in about three years I might be wishing he could revisit his little plastic incubator....if he stays like the "wild Bill" that he is now that is.  :)