Halloween 2009

Camron's first "sugar free" Halloween sucker...looks like he loved it!

Special "Genie" D

It's not Halloween unless Amelia is a princess!

Kids and their Pumpkins...yeah, Chase said he was "too old" for Halloween...darn!

Our sweet little bear!

Now on to Thanksgiving....

Funny Little Camron

I finally had the camera nearby to catch Mr. Camron laughing. Moments earlier he was grumpy and crying. He was sapposed to be napping....naughty boy!

Johnson Update...

Chan the Man

Camron last week...Daddy and his cell phone always taking pictures!
Camron on Daddy's lap writing to Uncle Spencer for FHE.

October 2009: Abbey's special 10th Birthday cake!
Four generations: Grandma Moffitt, Mom, Me, Ang, Camron and Addyson.
Chan and Abbey boating on Labor Day

August

• Cindy Lou came to visit for Camron's blessing. She drove 3 kids to Utah and I followed with Chase and Camron. Our trip was so fun! Love being with family!


• Camron received a name and a blessing on August 3.
  


• Flew with my best friend, Jen to Utah for a "Thema and Louise: Playing in Park City" adventure! You'll have to see the hotrod my dad rented for us...WAHOO!
  


• School started for the 4 big kids. Chase-8th grade, Chandler-7th grade, Abbey-4th grade and Amelia-2nd grade.
  


• Chandler started football! It was fun to go to the games and watch him play.
  


• Abbey and Chase joined their school bands. Abbey plays the flute and Chase chose the Baritone. They are enrolled in lessons and are doing great!


• Camron has been home 2 months and weighed in at 8lbs.
  

September

• Beginning of Merit Badge College season. Enrolled Chase and Chandler in two colleges where they worked on 4 merit badges. Now to just get them finished....


• Chase earned his LIFE SCOUT rank! Only 6 more months and a project until we have our first Eagle Scout. So proud of you, Chase!


• Chandler earned his FIRST CLASS rank! He is on his way! Way to go Chan!


• Evan ran is 5th marathon in Logan! Time: 3:43 (I think...) Until 2010...


• Camron went to his 4th month appt and weighed in a 9lbs 12oz, 21 inches long.
  


• Life continues....football games, band practice, lessons, scouting....life is busy but happy!

October

• Abbey D turns 10! She opted to have $$CASH$$ over a party. Smart girl! We had a special cake made for her "double digit" birthday!


• The entire family (with the exception of Camron and Evan) enjoyed the stomach flu. Chandler lost 12 lbs, Abbey lost 2 lbs and I lost 8 lbs. It's a great diet, but I wouldn't suggest it. It was a long 10 days!


• Getting ready for Halloween! So far, we have a Snow White and a cheerleader. I can do that...


• Trying to figure out what to do for the holidays...
  

Camron's Blessing

What a busy weekend that was...Evan was working, we had the NICU Reunion and the Johnson's came to town for the baby blessing. We made it through! As always, we love when the family comes to visit. It went by fast, but I'm sure we can lure someone else out soon!
Sunday, Aug 2 was really special for us. It seemed like that day would never come. We have been through some dark moments in the past few months. But, on Sunday, I was looking back on those days and I was able to see that even though our experience was a difficult one, we were given so many little tender mercies. Our Heavenly Father didn't leave us alone through any of it. We were blessed with a small, but very healthy child. We had an outpouring of love and service from our friends. The best doctors were always on call when we needed them most. Our family has been healthy and we were able to visit Camron everyday. Plus, because I made the right choice back in 1992, I married a man that holds the Priesthood and lives worthy of it. He was able to take little Camron in his arms and give him a name and blessing. I wonder what I have done in my life for my Father in Heaven to bless me with so many wonderful gifts. I know I am loved and that He is mindful of me.

So, Camron failed his oxygen test. He was in "safe range" only 70% of the time...DARN! We can't totally get rid of his tubes and heavy tanks, but we are allowed to disconnect him when we leave the house. PHEW...like a diaper bag, car seat, purse and keys aren't enough to carry.

I thought this pose was so stinkin' cute. Mr. Hangin' Out in the Swing...

I also had to add the picture of Camron drooling on my bed. The only time he sleeps that soundly is in the middle of the afternoon! Good timing because I need to get things picked up, start dinner and make things look semi-clean before Ev gets home.

It's about time...

Yes, I am actually updating! Camron was released from the NICU on June 16th, just two days after his primary nurse said that he was ready. Well, he might have been ready, but we were NOT! Sunday night we were told that he would be able to go home on Tuesday, if all his tests went well. So, Monday all I did was run around town finalizing preparations to have our little Cam Man home. Tuesday the 16th came and all went as planned and we were able to bring him home. It was a LONG 6 weeks and 1 day. I can hardly believe that all of this drama is over. I miss my NICU friends (aka the fabulous nurses) more than I thought I would. They became like family to us. It was difficult to say goodbye, if you can imagine that. It was impossible to put into words how grateful we are for all that the doctors and nurses did for our little Camron. We won't forget how well they did their jobs.

Sooo...now that Camron is home things feel "right." We are in our sleepless routine of feeding, changing and loving. He is a peaceful baby and the only time he tries to get our attention is when he's hungry!

Yesterday we went for an eye exam at the Children's Hospital. They had to dialate his eyes and use a retractor to hold his eyelids open. They were checking to see if the blood vessels behind his retina matured. With a preemie, one of the more common problems is with their eyes. Luckily, his opthamologist said that everything is progressing normally and we won't have to do that barbaric looking exam until he's 12 months old. PHEW. Friday is 2 month shots and a room air challenge to see if we can get rid of his oxygen (and all the heavy equipment that comes with it!). Once those things are done, we can say ADIOS to doctors until September!

As of June 26th:

Camron's weight is 5 lbs 10 oz

Camron's height is 18 inches

Time Sure Flies....

Sweet Camron in his box...he always looks that snuggly!

Just hangin' out...Anyone have thoughts as to who he looks like?

Ev went to see Camron one night and this is how he found him. He is Johnson Cute!

I can't believe the last time I posted an entry was on May 11. I am not THAT busy...I just forgot where I stashed my camera's cable. Argh!

Well, school is out now and so I have two lives to live. One is with my busy and easily bored kids at home and the other life is at the NICU with my sweet angel boy. I have loved the frozen meals that have been dropped off! Thank you to our friends who have been so thoughtful! The freedom that those meals give me...ahhh...one less thing to stress about.

So, to update...I am healing great! I think I overdid the "trying to get back in shape" thing, though. I have been out walking and one day I tried to "jog". Well, if you have ever had a breastfeeding body you will know why I decided that walking was best for now...not fun! Then, I did a set of bicycle situps....yeah, another DUH moment for me. My incision area is still a bit twingy. I'll figure out my new "self" soon enough. :)

Camron is 16 and 3/4 inches long and he is 3 lbs and 14 ounces as of last night at 8:30 pm. Over 4 lbs and he will go to a "big boy" bassinet. He is still on oxygen and gets his feedings through a tube. We are working diligently on helping him learn the "suck, swallow, breathe" reflex. That is his big job right now. At 28 days old (as of today), he is right on track. We are hoping that he will come home within the next 4 weeks.