MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

So instead of sending out all the Christmas cards I am doing our Christmas letter on line. And now everyone will have this address so they can stay up to date on all the things we are doing through out the year. If you want to read the old posts you can see what has been going on in 2008.

This year has been full of a lot of fun and exciting things. We really have enjoyed living in Smithfield. It is nice to be back home. Brent has been going to school which is a blessing and a trial at the same time. Hopefully he will be done in a year with undergraduate and we will be trying to apply to dental schools.
Dallan has been growing up fast. He played little league this summer and loved it. He is a great player and is looking forward to playing next summer. He also made the big move into Kindergarten. He loves school so much. I hope that it continues. He is reading and tries to read everything he sees. He does really well. And he is such a big help around the house.
Allie is turning into such a little girl. She loves getting dressed for church. She says she is like a princess. I've started making her some new hairbows and she loves them. She is learning her ABC's and counting to ten. She loves to sing and is such a good singer, even if she doesn't know the words she will try to follow along. She loves going to nursery and can't wait till she can go to school like Dallan.
Our newest addition is Cody. For those who haven't been keeping up on what we have gone through read the old blogs. :) Cody has been full of excitement since he came out. He is doing really well. He got sick just before Thanksgiving and is still trying to get over it, but he is doing well. We have turned into hermits a bit, because we are scared of Cody getting sick and ending up back in the NICU. He is growing so fast and is already over 12 lbs. His cheeks are getting chunky and very cute.
As for me I am trying to keep up with life!! I had a good routine down before Cody came and now I am lucky to get a shower in during the day. The house is a disaster, Allie's hair is usually not combed and I have Dallan running everywhere trying to help. I hope soon that I can get things under control. :) Everyone told me three was hard, but it really is HARD! But I love them all. And wouldn't trade them for anything.
So we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!! There have been time after time when we just wouldn't have made it without our faith in our Saviour. He is everything to us and I don't want to try to live this life without Him. So we are trying to find ways we can help others around us this season because that is what Jesus would do. We are so grateful for the gifts He has given us, the newest our baby son, healthy and here with us!!!!

So here are some recent photos of the kids!!!

So we tried to get some pictures of the kids and Cody. Of course when we started Cody started screaming and wouldn't stop. We tried some family pictures too and he is screaming in every single one of them. But here is one of the kids and one of Cody by himself.

So we are doing good. We are still very glad that Cody is home. He is struggling with some reflux and Colic. So mom and dad need to get some ear plugs. We got some medication that hopfully will help him feel better and be a little happier.

Dallan and Allie are doing great. They love to help with Cody. Dallan is doing so well in school. He just loves to go and Allie can't wait til she can go to school like Dallan. Allie has finally learned her ABC's and is starting to carry on quite the conversations.

Brent is trying to survive the last few weeks of school this semester just to start again in January, but at least he will get a small break.

I am trying to stay sain. :) I am looking forward to the annual shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It will be a much needed break.

This is Dallan and Allie's first time seeing Cody (except through the glass at the NICU) So they were really excited to see him home. They are the best big brother and big sister anyone could want. They are very attentive and want to help. They also know the rules about cleaning their hands before they touch Cody.

I took this picture today as Cody was laying on my chest. He loves to be held. In fact he screams most of the time if you put him down. He screams a lot when you change his diapers too. But I think that is because that is when the nurses would poke his heels and do all the test to him. So he has bad memories. He is getting better. He looked so content this afternoon I just had to try and get a picture and I think it turned out okay.

As for everyone else we are doing well. Trying to get back into the hang of life. I am trying to figure out how to get anything done between feeding and changing Cody. Poor Allie wants attention and Dallan is awesome and helps out so much. Allie would love to be able to take care of Cody.

Here is a funny tid bit. I am breast feeding and I've explained to the kids that moms body makes milk for Cody and that is all he can eat right now. Allie asked me to do something and I told her I couldn't because I had to feed Cody. She thought I said that she had to feed Cody. So replied in panic that she didn't have milk in her belly to feed Cody and he would hurt her if he tried to eat from her belly. There is no milk in there!! She was so upset. It took me a few minutes to convince her that she didn't have to feed Cody, I was going too. :) All in the eyes of a three year old.

Welcome Home Cody!!!!!!

We made it!! This afternoon Cody got released from the NICU. We had a great day yesterday and a great night. Yesterday Dallan and Allie were able to come up and see Cody through the window. The nurse took him off the oxygen to wheel him up to the window and didn't put him back on to see how he would do. And he did it all by himself! So we just had to make sure he was eating well. He has been eating wonderfully and this afternoon the Doctor came and gave him the okay to go home. We were really excited. We had been planning on tomorrow.

So Thankyou everyone for all your prayers and support!!! This has been the hardest trial for us to watch our baby struggle so much. Love ya all!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

For us it has been a really good Halloween. Here is Luke Skywalker and Princess Leah. They both just love thier costumes this year. They have been to a few different parties so they have definitely gotten a lot of use out of them.

And to join the crew, the NICU has costumes to dress the babies in and fittingly they had a little Yoda costume. So here is our little Yoda doing very well today.

I really appreciate Brent doing the blog yesterday. I had to go back and spell check it and I'm not so fond of some of the pictures he used, but for his first time ever blogging he did good. Although I don't know how he made everything a link?????? I love you Brent, thanks.

Like I said earlier today has been a good day. When we got here this morning we had good news. They took one more xray and the air in his chest is slowly decreasing so Cody's body is taking care of it by himself. So unless there is another turn for the worse, the doctor is not going to worry about it anymore. Also the pressure of oxygen Cody is on is decreasing as well, so he is doing more of the breathing himself.

This morning the nurse also decided we could try breastfeeding. The biggest worry is him asperating the milk into his lungs. We got to nurse really well this afternoon and did again this evening. It is such great progress for him. Hopefully in a few days no more feeding tube.

We are so gratefull for everyones thoughts and prayers. We have received so much help this last week it is unbelievable. Thanks again. Until tomorrow. bye

The last 30 hours have been some of the hardest. It started when we got a phone call from Cody's doctor on the way back to the hospital. when he found out we were on our way he waited untill we got back to talk to us rather than over the phone. you can know that that is never a good sign.Cody had lost his IV. Normally this is not such a big deal except that he has been stuck


4-5 times in each hand and food and every spot had failed. There was nowhere else to go. With no where else to go it was time to consider a more agressive approach to be able to get some nutrition in him. Cody's doctor wanted to use a type of IV that would follow his vein all the way to the heart. This line would be one of the last chances they would have to be able to get Cody the nutrition and medications that he needs. A wonderful team worked on Cody for a few hours trying to get in the needed lines but it was useless because either the vein did not have a direct coarse to the heart or it would not be strong enough and the vein would fail. Finally one of the nurses got another IV in his scalp and they were able to resume the nutrition and medications after several hours without anything at all.

In the efforts to establish the iv there were a few X-rays taken his doctor found Pneumothorax (An air pocket outside the lungs. Some where along the way Cody had blown a lung and was leaking air into his chest, and his lungs were beginning to collapse. The big blue nose that he wore (the c-pap) was to help create pressure in the lungs to keep them from collapsing in when he exhaled but now it was posing a danger by adding to the pneumothorax. Now what do you do... If you leave him on the c-pap it could push more and more air into the space between the lung and the ribs and if you take him off then his lungs could stick together from the inside and not expand to allow air in. The decision was made to take him off and put him on low flow oxygen. (seen in the picture above) To our relief Cody's ability to breath did not get worse so we watched him through the night. If he got any worse he would have to take a ride on life-flight to another hospital where the really sick children go.



Needless to say it was another sleepless night in the NICU. Cody did really well. The Doctor had started to feed some of the breast milk that we had been stockpiling through the tube into his stomach. At about 3 am after his feeding he woke up for a few minutes. It was good to see his eyes and hear him breath so well. He was stable enough that we came home for a few hours rest.



We went back about 9am when they let us back into the NICU. They had taken another X-ray and the air pocket in his chest was smaller. The low flow Oxygen pressure had been reduced a lot and Cody was doing very well. After lunch Mommy got to hold him again. It was a welcome moment of hope. Cody and Mommy as you can see were verry happy to be together again.





It's a good sign to see your child awake and responsive after what he has been through. Seeing him so happy and comfortable after such a hard day and night was a big relief to us. this next picture was when he was on the C-PAP. It's quite a difference with the picutre above from today.



for family home evening we carved our pumpkins with the kids.... they had a grand oll' time.





I guess this one ate just a little too much halloween candy.....


This is a good image to remember from today



Happy Baby!! Thank you for all your prayers. We know that the Lords hand is in all of this and that he will work all things for the good of his children if they will be humble and turn to him. Remember it's not about how the trial ends, we know that the day will come that we will see an end to all of our trials, So it is not about the way the trial ends. the scriptures teach us that what matters is the enduring trials well. So remember no matter how this trial ends, (and we know that it will), I pray that we may be found worthy having endured in faith trusting in God, Who's watchful care we are in.

Well this has been a really crazy week. Thursday we noticed Dallan's loose tooth really needed to come out. The new one was already behind it. So we gave him an apple and had him start biting. It took most of the night to convince him that if he gave dad one shot he could get it out really quick. He finally agreed and here is his tooth and the hole it left behind. He is way excited to show everyone at school and now he knows the Tooth Fairy is real!!!!



Friday October 24, 2008 We welcomed Cody Allen Palmer to our family. The doctor started me because last week the Ultra Sounds estimated Cody to weigh 8 lbs 6 ozs and we were afraid there would be problems if we waited too much longer.

We checked into the hospital at 7:30 am and he came shooting out at 3:40pm. The labor was pretty uneventful. We just waited around and once he decided to come he pretty much just fell out. So it was easy that way.

Cody was 7LBS 12 OZS and 20 inches long.

So he surprised us all by not being as big as we expected.

When we were being moved to our room the nurse noticed that Cody was grunting a lot and said we needed to check that out. Well, Brent went with Cody and they were gone for a long time. Cody's doctor came in and said there was a problem with his lungs so he was sent to the NICU. The ICU for babies.

Unfortunately that is were he still is. He has pneumonia for sure but there is some other problems they are trying to figure out. As of this morning they will probably be doing a spinal tap to check for viruses.

It has been hard not having him with us and Dallan and Allie are wanting to see him so badly but have to wait. They are not allowed in the NICU. So we will try and keep everyone up to date. It has been hard to call and talk to people. (especailly for me. I'm a hormonal mess) But please keep us in your prayers. Here are some pictures for everyone to meet Cody.

This is one of my favorite pictures. Right after he was born. He had his eyes wide open and they are big and bright like Dallan's. Brent was trying to get a picture or them but the flash made him close his eyes everytime.

Cody and Mom cuddling to get warm.

Here are some pictures from the NICU. His feet are very long. He wouldn't keep his foot tucked in and had it propped out. I am guessing this is the foot I felt trying to escape the last few months. He is definately a kicker. The second picture is him hooked up on the CPAP. It helps keeps his lungs inflated. I think it looks miserable. Poor boy. He is a fighter. He gets so mad at the nurses when they have to change his diaper or run tests. He has already pulled out one IV. Hopefully he will leave his new one in. It doesn't help to have to be poked so many times.

We will try and keep this updated for everyone. Love ya!!

Amazingly I am updating this blog. I enjoy looking at everyone's blogs but never update my own. So we had a great summer. We did a lot of camping and working on remodeling a couple of rooms in our house. But now school is in and we are back at it. Dallan started kindergarten. He is so excited and doing so well. He loves going to school. Brent is back in school as well. He is stressed but doing well. I think there is a light to the end of the tunnel somewhere, but we just aren't sure when. I am at home still getting huge!!! I am ready for this baby to come out so others can enjoy him as well. :) He is a kicker and moves like crazy. I asked the doctor if there was a concern if he moved too much. :) Allie is trying to do homework at home and learn her ABC's she loves to sit with Dad when he does his homework as well. We are staying busy and happy. We hope you all are as well.

Dallan with his big catch. It was too heavy for him.




Allie and her cousin Naomi

Allie let me put curls in her hair the night before. She really liked the bouncey hair.

Dallan his first day of Kindergarten!

This summer has already been full of events and surprises. Dallan started T-ball and has loved every second of it. He has been pretty good and just loves the game. We have had fun going to all the games and watching all the kids learn. If you need a good laugh attend a t-ball game. They are great!!!

Dallan running to third base.

Allie and her Aunt Alice enjoying the game.

We have also had fun being outside. Dallan is trying to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels. He did really good his first time and rode by himself a lot without knowing it. Brent was trying to keep up.

Dallan and Brent

Allie is finally enjoying slides. She also loved riding in her Uncle Steve's boat and will spend hours in it if we let her. Next time I'll take the camera on the boat and get her smiles.

And we just had our Ultra sound! The kids thought is was so cool. Dallan was trying to figure out how they got the camera in mom's belly. And it is ...........................

A BOY for those who can't tell from the picture. We were all surprised but Dallan. He was the only one that said it was a boy. So I guess he gets his wish for a little brother. We also got some other really good pictures.

This was one of the first images we saw. "Saying I'm number 1" He already has a cocky attitude.

And here is the big head! Ouch!

And it appears we have a thumb sucker on our hands. We haven't had one of those yet.

Well, I'm sorry for the long time without a post. I will make an excuse that I have just been feeling rotten but here is the reason why.....




We are expecting our new arrival in November. Dallan and Allie seem to be excited about it. Dallan really wants to know how they got the camera in my belly to take a picture. :) Allie doesn't really understand what is going on but she will figure it out when she has to share some of the attention around here.

Easter Weekend

Well, we had a great Easter Weekend. It was fun to be around family again. Dallan and Allie were so excited for all the festivities. They got to go to two Easter Egg Hunts plus the Easter Bunny hid eggs all over our living room. Dallan still is finding a few that they missed. So here are some fun pictures of the weekend.


Here is Allie at the Albertson's Egg Hunt. She was taking her time picking up the candy one by one.


Here is Dallan and Allie with cousins. Wesley, Jamie, Savannah, and Katelynn.


Cousins taking egg coloring seriously. They were all excited.


Easter morning Dallan and Allie looked great in their new outfits. They even matched. I didn't plan that. I let Dallan pick out his own tie. Allie got a ton of compliments on her dress. She looked like a little princess.

So our ward had a pine-wood derby for the family. Guess who got first and third place!!! Dallan got first and Brent got third. According to Brent the guy that took 2nd was over weight so that was cheating.



In this picture Brent's car beat Dallan's by one wheel!

This is Dallan beating the guy that beat Brent's car. Because Dallan came from the losing bracket he had to beat him twice. So the next picture is of the final race where Dallan took 1st place!


Here is our winners in the Palmer family!!