Torin Mattias Frazier is here!

Sorry this took so long to post! I didn't realize it was still a draft, awaiting photos!

Our beautiful boy has arrived! Torin is a big boy, weighing in at 9lbs 9 ounces and measuring 21" long!! Crazy! I knew I was bigger than with Keely as my belly button popped out this time around and I was a little nervous that the two week course of prednisone for my asthma flare this past month was going to bulk up the baby too. He looks just like Keely did as a newborn but has a head of strawberry blonde hair (which I predicted, based on my terrible heartburn). He's also super strong--when the pediatrician was examining him while he was on his tummy, Torin lifted his head up and looked around...the doctor was like "ummm...he shouldn't be able to do that yet" and was quite surprised! The surgery went really well, and although we got bumped for an emergency case I still "got" the anesthesiologist that I requested. Torin is healthy and nursing fantastically. Our friend Mike lent us his awesome digital SLR camera so we've been taking lots of pics, hopefully to uploaded to our flickr account soon, so keep checking! Keely pretty much ignored me and Torin yesterday and wouldn't let me hold her :( although I think she was pretty overwhelmed by a roomful of people (over 6 visitors), a new place, and just waking up from a nap. This afternoon when she visited she at least gave me a kiss, though wouldn't sit next to me, so we're making progress :)

Savoring the moment

Keely's been in a pretty great stage lately (for the most part, barring the occasional temper tantrum). I've been trying to enjoy the time I have with her, knowing that I won't be able to give her my full attention for much longer. It will be life-changing when we bring "baby brother" home...I remember when my sister joined our family. I was a doted-upon 4 1/2 year old, well used to being an only child. So it was somewhat traumatic having to share the attention with a baby. I don't think Keely quite understands what's going on (although she always tries to pull up my shirt when we talk about "baby brother"), but it will certainly be a transition. I hope that being so close in age, hopefully she'll just roll with the punches! Anyhow, she finally lets us put stuff on her head (hats, a hairband, tiny pig tails) and looked so cute with her big flower headband while toting around her purse with cell phone, keys, and wallet. It's fun to see her starting to pretend and imitate.

Pumpkins

We finally made it to Stoney Ridge Farm to check out the pumpkin and gourd patches! We tried twice last year, to no avail (they were closed both times). Keely and I made the trip out with Aaron, Meg, Ian, & Sara. These beautiful pictures are courtesy of the very talented Aaron Nelson, of Evantide photography.





Keely and I carved a pumpkin--she enjoyed pulling out the guts and moving them from one pile to another. The seeds were super yummy all roasted up!





We had a great time trick or treating with friends...the little ones started out in a wagon, but soon Keely was walking up to doors holding out her little bag for goodies!

Our Little Wheezer

So I realize it's almost been a month since blogging--gosh we're terrible at this!

Well, we have a little wheezer on our hands and it's not cute little Wheezy from Toy Story...nope, Keely has asthma! She had been battling a cold and cough and I didn't think much of it as she's had pretty frequent colds since starting "school" at Hillcrest. But one evening she was running around getting into everything (per usual) and I noticed a wheezing sound. At first I thought it was my mom's geriatric dog, but upon closer inspection it was Keely! She wasn't actually having any difficulty breathing or appear in any distress, but I called the pediatrician and they recommended bringing her in as wheezing is never normal. Unfortunately, the appointment was at 8pm (I called around 5pm) which is well past her bedtime so I decided to wait and she how she was doing the next day. Being a nurse practitioner, and having asthma myself, I wasn't too worried as she wasn't in acute distress. Anyhow, sure enough, Saturday morning she was wheezy again and coughing tons, so in we went. I was hoping it was just bronchiolitis from her cold but ends up she had an ear infection, and sure enough what appears to be asthma! Super bummer. We got a nebulizer machine delivered to the house to give her asthma medications and picked up antibiotics. After several nights of giving breathing treatments every four hours (I guess getting me ready for having a newborn again :), we're down to just morning and bedtime and she's doing great! Hopefully she won't need daily maintenance treatments, although with frequent colds and in daycare, she may throughout the winter season the doctor said. We'll play it by ear!

So on top of that, I've been sick too (thanks to Keely for bringing home all the germs!) and had an asthma exacerbation too. I've been started on oral steroids, so hopefully things will clear up soon! I'd love to feel better and fully (well, that may be a bit much, but at least more) rested when time comes to deliver "baby brother"...just 2 1/2 weeks away!

And of course, crazy us, have also put our house on the market this week! Not ideal timing of course, and if not a lot of interest or bites by the holidays then we'll probably pull it off for a bit. We just want to take advantage before winter hits. We'd love to downsize and move into the neighborhood where we're part of starting a new church...so we'll see what happens! God is good!