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HITTING THE TRAILS WITH DADDY AND HIS LITTLE CAMPERS

gavinsdaddy

July 2010

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A DAY WITH GAVIN

Jan 19, 2007 12:37pm (EST)

Today im just hanging at home with Gavin. He is feeling alittle under the weather . He is a wheezy has a cough and a temp. Some albuterol and childrens motrin and he is good to go. You know that he's under the weather when wakes up and ask you for a treatment. Weve just been watching some tv and playing with cars and trucks. It has been a fun day just hanging with him and playing. Gavins vocabulary is getting much better. He has only seen a speech therapist twice but his speech is developing pretty quick. He makes sure that he is Mater and as he would say Lightening McCeen [McQueen] while we watch Cars for the bizilionth time. He hasnt quite got the q,s down yet. He calls his brother ninten[ Quinten]. Close enough. Ive been in the bathroom with him today a couple of times to give potty high fives and watch him dump his potty chair and flush it away. He is really getting the hang of potty training. Tonight is the biggest basketball game of the season. Panorama Panthers play our biggest rivals the Guthrie Center Tigers. we are playing them at home. They are only 7 miles from us. Usually there are about 2000 fans packed in the gym and Quinten and i are going to be two of them. It will be loud and the whole building will shake. I love that atmoshere. Nothing better than small town rivalries. Sounds like we have more snow coming in Sunday . Winter is reminding us that this is still Iowa And we will still get our fair share of snow. They are saying about 4 to 6 inches here in our area. Well its one and i need to get cleaned up and out of my p.j.s so i can catch the Jerry Springer Show.

Hope you all have a warm and safe weekend! Peace and love ,Steve

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Gavin Today

Silly Gavin

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YES SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jan 16, 2007 06:40pm (EST)

Yes snow !! The first thing out of Gavins mouth. He wanted to go out and play so bad. All day he stood on the back of the couch and looked out the window. I said that when Quint gets home he can go out and play. We waited for Quinten to get home from spending the night at my brothers house. When Quint hit the front door it was time to go out. The boys got dressed and out we went all bundled up. The boys wanted to go sleading but dad had a better idea. I said do you want me to pull you on the sled behind the mower. You've all seen me blog about it or talk about my dare devil boys. They both got that evil twinkle in there eye and it was on. As we were going down the street through the yard and over the hills I could here them whooping and hollaring! Quinten said dad try to dump us off. I managed to ditch Quint but Gavin held on like a pro bull rider. After about a half hour they got board and decided that they wanted to just play. When we were done we all went in and snuggled under the blanket. Crystal missed all the fun she had to work Sunday. Thank you to all that answered my interactive blog, that was fun! Peace and love. Steve

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (5) | Permalink

MUSIC AND EMOTION

Jan 12, 2007 06:59pm (EST)

The boys and I just got back from Mc Donalds. One night a week just the three of us go out to eat. On the way home we were listening to some music rockin' out like we always do. The boys love the music loud like I do!

When a song came on that made me fill up with emotion. The song was "She's Everything to Me" by country singer Brad Paisley. It describes Crystal to a T. Music is a very important part of my life. I used to be very active in music in high school. I was a baritone/ tenor that missed all state by two stinking points.

I also played trumpet ,trombone, drums, and the bass guitar. I used to D.J. in school that was alot of fun. Sad part is I don't play anything at all anymore. I'm so happy to see that my boys love music. I love all forms of music. From J.T. to Hank Williams Sr. to SlipKnot. I like a variety of music. Here's my question. What moves you? When you here that song on the radio where does it take you? This is kind of an interactive blog. Do you remember your 1st concert. Or your favorite stile of music growing up. If you want to put some of them in your comments. Here are mine. My 1st concert was Quiet Riot at the Iowa State Fair. I loved glam bands or hair bands growing up. Like Poison or Motley Crue. I am really easily moved by songs sometimes I cry when I hear Kenny Chesney "Who You'd Be Today" it makes me think of all of you on here who have angels in heaven. My heart just aches!

Then I love to listen to Creadence Clearwater Revival when were camping, sitting around the campfire watching my boys eating smores and getting all sticky and messy!!!! I love to watch them dance around and swat mosquitos, they love camping so much! Whats sad is I don't remember the 1st song I heard when the boys were born. Of course my favorite song right know is Rodney Atkins "Just Like You" a fun loving song about a dad and his son and growing up. Here's one that will date me, Bust a Move by Young MC. I just wanted to do a blog about something that has an effect on us all. Music stirs emotion,it can bring back good or even bad memories, take you back to another place in time. I love to here songs I listened to growing being referred to as oldies. Quinten is listening To Ozzy right now. How funny! I'm gonna go for now and rock out with the boys some more!

Peace and Love, Steve

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The Boys Rockin'

Quinten & one of his favorites

Quint the Country Star

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (7) | Permalink

LEAVING FOR THE FIRST TIME

Jan 08, 2007 05:49pm (EST)

Two nights in a row !!! It's amazing! Don't anyone have a stroke!! After I read my comments today it gave me an idea for this blog. I can remember the 1st time Crystal and I went out for dinner and a movie leaving Gavin with a sitter at night. We live 45 miles from Des Moines. Thats along way when leaving your preemie at home with a sitter! We always had sitters during the day but I was only 10 min. away if something would happen! Not an hour away. After giving our long list of orders to Crystals mom and dad we took off. Wow we thought this will be great!

No kids!!! 10 min. out of town we called, did we tell to this or that and they would say yes you did. I think they wanted to say he'll be ok relax! They never did and we only called every 1/2 hr to make sure things were ok.

As we ate we tried to talk about other things but it always came back to our boys. We cut the night short and came home early. Leaving Gavin was a very difficult thing to do!!! It has gotten much easier to do with time. It just takes time, lots of time! I know letting him go to school will be hard !! After being there to protect him we will have to leave him in the hands of people other than family all day. Do you think they will let us sit in the corner and watch him all day! Just to make sure he is a ok, and he isn't getting picked on, or doing the picking.

As the little milestones become big mile stones I hope that it will be a little easier to sit back and watch him spread his wings and fly. Not being so nervous that something bad will happen to him or Quinten for that matter. Letting go takes time. Take all the time you need! Later , Steve

pics
Quinten's 1st day of school
Gavin's 1st 4th of July

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (3) | Permalink

BABY-SITTING!!!!

Jan 07, 2007 04:49pm (EST)

High all hope your new year is going great. I've been keeping busy especially with the ambulance here lately. Do you remember having to find your 1st baby sitter. One that would not be intimidated by bells whistles and oxygen tubing. I remember having a funeral for Crystal's Grandpa 2 days after we were home with Gavin. We got a nurse from the hospital to watch him. Lucky us! She said he just slept and she read a book. We were able to use family and friends for awhile to get us to summer. Then we new that we would have to hire some sitters to keep him at home as long as we could before he would have to go to my moms for day care. we were able to keep him home for a little over a year until he was about a year and a 1/2 . We put out the word around town and found two great baby-sitters! This small town rocks! We thought that it would be hard but it was easy. The criteria for watching our little miracle was lengthy and overwhelming but they took it and him head on! 1st thing was the issue of infection and illness. If you are or think you will be sick don't show call and we will make other arrangements. Next was the had to be 1st aid and CPR certified. They also had to read up and understand his equipment and that signs and symptoms of potential problems that as you all know cold go from bad to worse in 2nds. They were instructed to call 911 1st and us 2nd if Gavin started to have any trouble. Trust me I told them if that pager goes off for Gavin I would be coming. Let me tell you these girls were great and when they went off to college we sure missed having such reliable sitters. My mom does a great job with Gavin! She does the very best she can to keep Gavin healthy! It must be working. He is doing so much better this year with being sick that is than he aver has. He is getting bigger and stronger and healthier!!!!!! So I think I'm gonna start a preemie baby-sitting service!!! What do ya think! I'm more than qualified! I'm a medic. I living the preemie life style.

Only requirement I have is we need great movies, frozen pizza, chip, candy, and pop. I'm also good house keeper. Now I've been known to act like a 5 year old so I would fit in great.

I also have 9 nieces and nephews with two more on the way. Uncle Steve is there favorite. At least I'm the one they all pick on.

I think I would be great at it. I've all ready offered to Darcy a dozen times so she and Randy can get a much deserved night out, even all day and night out. So if you have another parent close to you that could use a night out offer the time to help them! Let them get a few hours out. There is nothing more reassuring than knowing that the person watching your children is used to having a preemie around. It would make me feel better. It would also give the grandparents a break from being the main sitters for us! I hope your week goes well. Peace and love. Steve

The Grandkids 2006

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (6) | Permalink

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Dec 24, 2006 04:13pm (EST)

I just wanted to do a short little blog to say that i hope you all are enjoying your holiday season! We have started the rush of going from one dinner to another. Gavin and i are at home hanging out right now while Crystal and Quinten are at church. The boys so far are making out like bandits and im enjoying just watching them have sooooo much fun. Tonight the boys will set out cookies and milk for santa and reindeer food for all of santas deer. Santa loves oreos and milk.

In the morning im sure we will be up before the crack of dawn. The last two years i left to go on a ems call on christmas morning. Crystal got a bad ear infection last year too. So we are hoping for an uneventful morning. We will have many new pics of the boys on christmas morning. We are also going to have a new years party here. Should be some good pics from that also. Peace and Love.
Steve

Pics are of the boys and our tree. My kind of Christmas lights Panoras 1st out squad at an accident. And by request a pic of our tub that we used for bath tub races.

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Ambulance

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (6) | Permalink

OVER PROTECTIVE

Dec 19, 2006 08:23pm (EST)

I remember bringing Gavin home like it was yesterday. I was so used to having someone there that took care of him that I was very nervous bringing him home. I can remember making sure that I missed every bump, made real slow turns and drove white knuckled for an hour to get home. Now if you've ever road with me you would know thats not my stile of driving. I just got my baby boy out of the hospital I wasn't going to put him back in because of my insane driving. If I could of put a giant air bumper around the van I would have. At home I stayed up in his room most of the 1st night. Sooooo scared that something was going to happen. He was up all the time trying to adjust to his new environment. As he got older, I found that I'm less protective. I don't worry about things as much as I should. Even though I did yell, "Gavin don't kiss her" at my mom's house as he was getting ready to kiss a snot nose little girl! You'll get sick. He just laughed and kissed her as soon as I walked away. A chip off the old block! I guess I'm realizing that no matter how much we try to protect him that he's growing up and I wont always be there to protect him. Tough to swallow. I should know that after watching Quinten grow that they start to get so independent even at seven there are times that he will say I don't need your help dad I can do it. That sucks! I'm the daddy and its my job to help. Now I'm learning to stand in the shadow and guide them. Let them be independent but be there to give them help when they need it. Yes they grow to fast and when I'm 50 they will still be my baby boys! I will always be there to guide and protect them. Thats my duty as there dad. I hope you all have a happy holiday season! Steve

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (8) | Permalink

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 05, 2006 08:20pm (EST)

Hello all. I hope everyone is well. It got up to 50 today. It almost felt like summer!

In ems you don't get alot of good calls. We always see people when they are at there worse. Sometimes you get stressed or we call it burnout. You see so much bad that it just gets you down. Then comes along those calls that re-energize you. Well I have had two of those this year 1st one was about 6 months ago we brought a woman back from a heart attack. 1st time in 13 years!! I've done alot of CPR calls over a dozen in fact and this was the 1st save that I was part of.

But nothing compares to my call Sunday night. I got to do something that I've always wanted to do. Panora ems delivered its 1st baby enroute to Iowa Methodist. We delivered a 6lb 5 oz, 19 3/4in. 36 week bouncing baby boy!!!!! Literally bouncing down the road.

We get alot of yelling screaming, moaning and groaning in the back of the squads but there is nothing better than hearing the sound of a newborn babies 1st cry, what a sweet sound. It was like that baby was our own. We were met at the back door of our squad by the NICU team and labor and delivery. All the way through the ER we were getting hand shakes and congratulations. This definitely makes up for all those bad calls. Mom and baby are doing well and I cant wait to go see that little boy when he gets home. Hope you all have a good week. See ya!
Steve

Picture below is some of Panora's EMTs. left to right. Andy, Paul,Alex the boys uncle, Me and Dennis. Paul, Dennis, and myself were on the call. This is a picture before the bath tub races at Panorama days.

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (8) | Permalink

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE!!!

Nov 29, 2006 08:12pm (EST)

Hello all i hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Work is getting pretty crazy right know with the cold weather starting. Where do we go from here was a question that i found my self asking alot when we were in the nicu and still today. I'm sure you all have asked that same question. For every set back and every milestone reached we were asking these questions, Will it benefit him? Will it make his situation worse? What will his over all out come be. In the early days the question on my mind was are we being selfish in keeping Gavin here!? 2 weeks into gavins frail little life we were camping at Saylorville lake and our neo Dr Stenzel called us in. We new it wasnt good!!! The neos never call you. We hurried around and flew into the hospital. When we arrived Gavin was circling the drain [ Ems lingo for near death] Vitals were all bad nothing looked good! Everything that could be done for my little one was being done! There was nothing left to do. The told us that if his heart rate started to drop that they would unhook him and lets unhold him for the first and last time. Where do we go from here? Crystal and i had a long hug she was crying! I will never forget that moment. I didnt cry! I couldnt! I was aching and hurting so bad! I felt pain in my gut, my stomach tightened! I thought that i was going to be sick! I had been prepairing for this day from the time he was born. You can never be prepaired for that. The pain is so bad!! Ive witnessed people lose there love ones. That day i was feeling the same pain for my family and Gavin that i had seen others go through. It has truly made me more compassionate toward them!! I told here that i would be back and stepped out of the room I knew we needed to get our parents and close friends here. I made those few calls. I held strong not a tear. Back in the room as we watched our son of two weeks continue to crash I held Crystal tight and waited fot the worst. I was trying to make sense of what was happening. It was tough to do. I was prepairing myself to let go.

Not ready to do so but i knew it was going to be the best for Gavin. NO MORE PAIN for my little boy that has been clinging to life since day one, no more suffering! I was starting to except that this was it. Worst thing about that day was knowing that i was going to hold my baby for the first time and last, but i wasnt able to hold him and comfort him through his painfull 1st few weeks of life. Things became steadily worse. My beautiful and intelligent wife said to me what about steriods. DUUHHH!!!! Lets do it!!!!!! The staff said that it could cause a host of problems. Mortality rates were high and would more than likely have a brain hemorage. We this entire time said we would do whatever took to bring home!!!!! What a good descision that was. By that evening Gavin was turning around His vital stat were looking better!!!! I cant take any credit Crystal was thinking much more clearly that day . Thank god for that!!!

Where do we go from here? All any of us want for our kids is all that life has to offer. Its our job to help them achieve that. Sorry i havent been around much but i will be catching up on everyones blogs. I read as many of everyones blogs that i can. Even though i may not answer im alwys thinking of you and your families!!! Happy holidays!

Steve

Pic; The boys and i at the museum in Panora

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Posted by gavinsdaddy | Comments: (7) | Permalink

COLD, WINDY BUT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT!!

Nov 15, 2006 09:39pm (EST)

It was a cold and windy night at the state capitol here in Iowa last night!!!! Seeing all the pink and blue stars made it a beautiful night! Our family was joined by friends and family from our home town. Everyone did an awesome job. Listening to Shonda's story always moves me so much! Listening to Crystal stand up and tell our story brought tears to my eyes. Listening to her made me realize even more how lucky I am to be married to such a remarkable woman!!!!!!!!!! All of the little ones were so cute all bundled up! In true redneck fashion Gavin loved the four wheelin' in his stroller up and down the capitol steps. We are all blessed to have our little stars. By the way ours are laying on the counter still glowing tonight. I know this is kinda short but I need to get my beauty sleep for our chef auction tomorrow night. Later Steve.

Pics.
1 Gavin
2 Panora gang
3 Amy and Alexis
4 Carissa and Braden

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