More Grand Babies! - Welcome Heath Edward!!

Jules and Norm welcomed a new grandson on January

30th. Heath Edward arrived at 7:37 am (8 pounds 12.4 oz. 21" long), he and mom Joni are doing fine. Dad Jason and big brother Brock are also doing well.

Here is Joni bright and early (around 5 am) on the 30th.

Joni & Jason decided that they didn't want to know if they were having a boy or girl in advance, they preferred to be surprised.

That is why the celebratory WELCOME cake that KC made had both Daphne & Heath on it. KC crossed off Daphne with purple icing as soon as Heath was born.

Jason had the camera for the next couple of shots. I'm guessing it was about 7:35 am. I'll introduce everyone later. They were a bit busy here.




Heath was born letting everyone know of his arrival and displeasure with the accommodations.

The boy has a LOUD voice and uses it frequently!

Heath with his proud and happy Mom & Dad... Their first picture together.

Proud papa, Jason, introducing Heath to his big brother Brock. Brock wasn't real sure what it meant at first but warmed to the little addition quickly.

Knowing Brock like I do, I'm sure that he will teach Heath all sorts of things that their mom will frown upon. I already heard Norm conspiring with Brock about taking Heath out on a motorcycle and snowmobile.

Here Heath is getting checked out. I don't know why they try listening with stethoscopes though. We could hear Heath screaming through the glass!! He was very unhappy that the stethoscope wasn't warmed up first.

I have often wondered what it looked like from the other side of the glass. We gnomes don't have babies in aquariums.

Ok, time to move on and let the little guy get a bath and some privacy...

Sheesh

Once Heath was all cleaned up he got to meet the rest of the family in the room with Joni. It fell to his Dad & Grandpa to change the first "dirty" diaper and it was definitely a two man job! I wasn't as close as these guys and I was VERY happy to be on the other side of the room! How can such a small person stink that bad, especially since he hasn't eaten any eel sandwiches yet?

The brothers together for the first time.

I told Brock I wanted to hold Heath too and get my picture taken with him. Brock said no because he wasn't sure I was strong enough. Really? Another vertically challenged comment, from a two year old?

I had to get my picture with Norm and Heath.



Cute kid!

I don't know what they were giving Joni for pain but clearly she should share...

There were so many people (family & friends) that came to see Heath while they stayed at the hospital. Of course we all know too that if you go to the hospital to see Heath it is standard procedure to get your picture with him. Boring!

I think getting your picture with a celebrity is more memorable and better to talk about at parties. Besides, this is my blog, not Heath's. He is only a baby and doesn't type or have his own blog yet.


I'm not saying that Heath isn't a good looking kid, he is. And I'm not just saying that out of fear of what Norm or Jason would do to me either. Honestly, I'm more worried about what Jules and Joni would do to me. But I think I'm very photogenic. Downright handsome if you ask me and we all know that I'm a celebrity.


Amma

 However, to stay in the good graces of the family...

 Heath and his grandmothers.



  

 

Amma June



Brock as we all know calls his grandmothers "Amma"

Now for the celebrity photos. I do autograph prints if you would like (for a nominal fee of course...Why should athletes & movie stars be the only ones to make money off a signature? They're way over paid already! Easy now. Before you try to tar & feather me, I have a 50/50 deal with Brock & now Heath for all proceeds)



Jamie & me

Jamie (Margaret's niece) was there telling us about this program that the hospital does for new moms and the babies. I was so smitten by her good looks that I couldn't remember a thing she said. I thought that only happened to other people when they met celebrities, not to the celebrity themselves.

This is Doctor Karen Federici, of Family First Physicians, in Genoa. Karen is Brock & Heath's doctor. I don't know how age challenged guys like Brock & Heath get their own doctor. Must be something about them being celebrities too.

This is Lois and Madison. Lois was showing Madison the ropes on how to be a first rate nurse. I told Madison that I could show her a thing or two about nursing also. Lois glared at me. I couldn't breathe. Getting on Lois' bad side does not seem healthy. Clearly Lois is the best nurse to learn from.

This is Doctor Bryan Kruskol



AND

Doctor Paul Dubrick.

They look a lot better in these photos than they did in the first one. I told you I would introduce them properly later.

I think the masks and hats just make them look scary. I think they wear that stuff to scare the babies into crying so they don't have to hold them upside down and whack 'em to get them to cry. Bryan & Paul were Joni's doctors. Joni must think she is a celebrity too! She had to have both doctors from Prairie Point Obstetrics taking care of her.

I can't help but think that my status as the celebrity has been drastically challenged. Maybe we are all celebrities to some extent or another.

Hey, these things really work. I think it helps when Heath is sleeping too.



Rock Star Status...

 

This is Heath's Aunt Sara, Jason's sister. Sara qualifies for rock star status which is higher than celebrity cause she'll womp me if she doesn't.

 Jason's nephew Cody. 

Notice that Cody seems a bit nervous? He wasn't sure what I was going to do and taking his eyes off me freaked him out!

I love having power like that almost as much as my power over the girls.

Speaking of girls, Cody's sister Kendra and me. Kendra is a lot better looking than Cody too. Plus, she gave me one of the chocolate cigars that Norm III brought! How cool is that?

Oh yeah, Jason, his sister Julie, me & Brock.

Celebs all the way!

I think this one has Christmas card potential.


The proud grandparents and their boys!

One thing everyone should know... Be careful when a two year old photographer gets the camera. Some of the craziest shots are found when the pictures get developed.

Brock was telling me how to hold Heath when I get the chance later and the importance of being a good big brother.

Then he did something without warning that just stunned me...

I really DO love that boy!

I love this picture

They are going to be the best of friends...



Watch out world, here I come!

If Heath is anything at all like his big brother the world is already a better place.

Talk to you soon,

Travis



A Real Retirement Celebration! January 2012

Jules has been after Norm for a while to get certain tests done before he retired so they would know they were all healthy and ready to go. Well, Jules finally shamed him into going and getting the last test, a colonoscopy. Jules already had the procedure done so Norm couldn't keep chickening out. Norm finally succumbed to the pressure of Jules, Doc Velez and all of the kids, they got him to undergo the procedure on December 30th, 2011. 

Their doctor, Nitzet Velez is a great person and an especially tolerant and personable doctor. She treats you and makes you feel like a member of her family, not just another patient. She even put up with Norm and his stupid jokes. What I really liked about her besides being so nice was that she seemed to be a touch wacky like Norm & Jules. You can meet her in person at the DeKalb Clinic and maybe even get her autograph.

This is "Doc" (that's what I called her) and me when she was explaining what she was going to do to Norm. I couldn't help but snicker a few times. He SO deserved that, but I digress. Doc had already explained everything to Norm & Jules but she took the time to explain it to me too. My snickering was a bit juvenile and because I didn't understand how really important this test is. Everyone over 40 should get this test done, it might save your life. Its really a painless procedure. You go in, fall asleep and when you wake up its all over. It couldn't be any easier!

Anyhow, Norm retired on January 3rd, 2012! A time to celebrate right? Absolutely, but not yet. The celebration was put on hold until they got the official okey dokey from Doc Velez that Norm's test went the same way as Jules' did, clear. Well, that unfortunately didn't happen...

When Jules & Norm met with Doc Velez on January 5th, 2012 for the results of the test, they weren't what Norm & Jules planned on. Norm had to go and have something called polyps and something else that looked like a coral reef and was like the building blocks of cancer. Not actually cancer, but something that if left alone would probably grow into it. So, instead of just cruising off into the retirement sunset, the chucklehead needed to have an operation and have part of his colon removed first so they could make sure it wasn't cancerous. I couldn't figure out why Jules wasn't mad at him! Talk about ruining someones retirement plans! 

Doc Velez is very special and understood the news wasn't what Norm & Jules (or anyone for that matter) wanted to hear. She spent a lot of time answering all of their questions and assuring them that the operation should be no problem. She also spent a lot of time explaining all of the various steps and what would be done while the operation was going on. Doc Velez is a talented and well respected surgeon, but she possesses an extremely kind and caring bedside manner. The surgery was done on January 18th.

So, while Norm was off snoozing in some operating room we were left to chill in a worry room. Sorry, waiting room.

At least we tried not to worry. Playing with Brock was a big help.

Teaming with Jules and whipping Joni & KC at Yahtzee was a bigger help!!

Five fives, ha! Yahtzee! Read 'em and weep girls....

Oh yeah, this is suppose to be serious. Well, here he is after Doc made sure he didn't have any more cooties in him.

I couldn't figure out why he didn't look any better. At least he didn't have his lips all blown up like balloons like the Hollywood people when they have surgery.

This was all of us shortly after he came back to the room, except Jules who was taking the picture.

Norm had a LOT of help too while he stayed at the hospital. Besides Doc, there were gas passers, RNs, LPNs, alphabet soup people, all sorts of people who's only goal was to make sure Norm was ok. What a spoiled brat! The chucklehead is getting all this attention and all he did was sleep!

These are some of the special folks that made sure everything went as well as it did.  



Me and Ashley

 



Linda and Me







Brock showing me on-line train videos



Not everyone was serious all the time. That would be no fun then. Besides, with no cancer it was truly a time for celebration and thanks!

We couldn't get past the guards with the beer though. We lost five cases before we gave up. I think someone tipped them off. Those nurses are a tough bunch!

I stayed the first night in Norm's room with him just to make sure he was going to be ok. The chairs convert into something that looks like a bed. It felt like some sort of a torture device from the dark ages but still felt better than sleeping in the closet or on the floor.

The following day we just sat around and waited until Norm decided to go against Doc's wishes and bail. I'm not sure how he did it but he convinced everyone that he was ok to go home.

I think the nurses were just as happy to see him go and didn't put up much of a fight.

We were told that Norm HAD to leave the hospital in a wheelchair so they sent Misty up to collect him. While we were heading out I told Misty I forgot something in Norm's room and asked if she would run back and get it for me. I think she was on to us because we barely got set up for the wheelchair races when she returned and grabbed both chairs and said no. She was nice about it though. But I still would have whipped Norm in a race, he just talks a big game.

That was it, he escaped into the night and spent the next few weeks at home recovering and driving Jules nuts.

I hope he heals up soon so we can start to enjoy his retirement. We already know that it will be a LOT longer now because of what we went through and for that we are eternally grateful to everyone, especially Doc Velez!

Travis