Koa's first days home

Koa and I were able to come home from the hospital on Monday afternoon. It is nice to be home again. We are slowly easing into being a family of 5. Kai continues to want nothing to do with the baby, although he will now say the word 'baby.' Gabi has a really nasty cold, and so we haven't let her near the baby. This has been really hard on her. She wants to help out and kiss him. Hopefully in a few days she will be better, and I know she will be a great big sister and helper!

Koa's first night home he wanted to be held the whole night. Nathan and I took 2 hour shifts watching him. Last night he slept in his bassinet for 4 hours of the night. That was nice. He kindof has his days and nights mixed up. He will get there.

We got his bili levels checked yesterday and they had gone from 9 to 14.8. The doctor wanted to wait to put him on bili lights at home. Today we went again to get his levels checked. They have continued to go up. This morning they were 18.9. His doctor put him on bili lights. He has been the best baby. He loves the bed...he just gets all snuggly and has slept the whole day. He only comes out to eat. We are hoping tomorrow his levels will be lower and we can stop using the lights. What is with my kids and jaundice?!?!

Here are a couple pictures... This was the morning that we left the hospital. This was the onesie that Koa wore under his sleeper. He is so tiny, this is preemie size. I always look at the preemie outfits while shopping and marvel at how tiny they are, and just laugh that they would never fit my kids. Now, Koa is that size. I'll give him 1-2 weeks and he will be into newborn size.

Aren't I cute?

Another preemie outfit. This is the sleeper that he wore home. Daddy went and bought him some outfits after he was born. He did a great job!

Daddy and Koa resting after we got home. We have a picture like this of daddy and each of the kids. So sweet!

This is Koa on his bilibed. We had to put three blankets on top of him to try to keep him warm. He also has a space heater.

You can see the glowing lights under him. He is too tiny that his hands can't fit in the arm holes provided.

Up close of him. He has really done a great job just resting while in the bed. Hopefully the lights will make a big difference in his test results tomorrow!

More videos... These are from the hospital



This was taken after Koa had his bath. He did not like being out of the bath. Watch closely. You will see the nurse should have put a diaper on him quicker!

This is Koa's first hair wash. You can actually see him moving his head back and forth. He is loving it!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Welcoming Kekoa Fernando Riquino!!

Well, to say the least, our Valentine's weekend has been very busy! Friday I went for a routine blood pressure check at my OB's office, and found that my blood pressure was 148/112 and was sent immediately up to the hospital. My in-laws met me to take the kids, and Nathan met me to go inside. About an hour later they told us that I was being admitted for inducing. We were not planning on being induced until 3/11, so were a little shocked. Things started slowly. They started me on Pitocin, and Magnesium sulfate for my blood pressure. By 2 in the morning I was still only dilated a few cm, and was throwing up a bunch. At 2:30 our little guy's heart rate went down to 60 bpm, and they rushed (ran) down to the operating room. They prepped me fast for a C-section. Just as they were about to do the c-section, his heart rate went back up to 150 bpm. Little stinker! So, my doctor decided to wait to see what he would do. Then, because of the drugs I had been given, my blood pressure went down to 74/36. They had to stop the pitocin and give me other medicine to stop my contractions to try to stabilize me. They let me sleep for about 6 hours. I had to say that I was very out of it. I don't remember much of anything happening. In the morning they started my Pitocin back up again very slowly. By 10 am, I was dilated to a 4. By 10:40, I was a 7, and by 11:00 I was a 10. I was telling the nurse I was going to push...I don't think she believed me! Kekoa was born at 11:10 am, just as my doctor walked in the door.

We are very excited that Kekoa is a healthy little boy. He was born on Valentine's Day. He weighed 5 lbs, 12 oz (later 5 lbs 13 oz in the nursery), and was 19.5 inches long. He is a very content little boy. We have only really heart him cry when he was born, and right after. We are excited for you to meet the new member of our family. Kekoa is pronounced (Kay-Ko-Ah). It is Hawaiian. It means brave, strong warrior. We thought it was fitting. We will call him Koa for short.

This was taken right after Koa was born. There was a team of doctors waiting for him. He did very good.

We found out that Koa is a thumb and finger sucker. This was minutes after delivering. His eyes are still puffy.

Our new addition to our family. Sorry you can't see his face clearly.

I am still very puffy at this point. Gabi is a very proud big sister. Kai isn't so sure. He wouldn't even come to me when they came to the hospital. I'm sure he will in time love his little brother just as much as we do!



Gabi already helping mommy out.


Gabi and Kai with daddy in the hospital room.



Gabi and Koa.


This is when she first saw him. She was happily checking him out.


Koa has only cried when he was born and right after his bath. He is a very mellow baby. We are sure that will change soon. :)

This is one of the times he cried. He was good all through his bath, and then when they took him out of the warmer, he got mad. Nathan loves this picture. He looks like an angry old man.

Our content little Koa.

This shows how tiny he is. Nathan's hand is twice as big as him. It will take awhile to get used to how tiny he is.



Look how big the newborn diapers are on him.

The proud Grandma and Papa.

We found out today Koa is in the high risk level for his jaundice, so he was put under lights today. We are very happy about this. Having to come home with two previous kids and bili-lights was not fun. Hopefully the hospital lights will be all he needs, and we can all go home tomorrow!


All stretched out.

This is Koa's first bath. He was very content and didn't cry. Hopefully this will continue for baths at home.

Kai's Birthday Party

We had a family birthday party for Kai's second birthday. It was great to be able to spend time with family members.

Kai loves balloons! They have been bopping them around the house non-stop since we brought them home.

We had wanted to have a pirate themed party because Kai is always going "Argh" at people. They just don't make little boy pirate things. So, we went with another passion of his...trains. Here Kai is going "Ooh Ooh, all aboard."


Uncle Michael was nice and helped Kai open his presents.



Kai opened these puzzles and then decided he didn't want them. He was trying to rewrap them in this picture. Gabi has been playing with the puzzle for hours each day since the party!



Auntie Rachel and baby Brayden....who isn't going to be a baby for long. He turns 1 in just a month!

Kai got a remote control car. He was not happy that it would not do what he wanted it to do. There was a point during the party that he screamed and cried for probably 30 minutes. Very embarrassing when you have everyone over at your house! He finally calmed down in time to have cake.

Kai's Thomas the Train cake.

Thomas balloon.

Pirate balloon. We always get our kids balloons for their birthday.

Gabi got a new drawing board that she can practice writing her letters. She has gotten very good. She can write pretty much anything you tell her to. You just need to tell her how to spell it and she can form the letters herself. She will be very ready for kindergarten in another year and a half!

Uncle Jason and Brayden.

After singing Happy Birthday Kai started grabbing things off the cake.

Brayden showing off the conductor party hats.

Kai loves his Uncle Michael, will always go right to him....which is rare for Kai. He is very particular about the people he likes. Michael is so good to play with him! Funny thing is, Kai looks A LOT like Michael at his age.

Uncle Jeb and Kai being pirates. Kai almost looks more like a Cyclops. :)

The morning after the party we let Kai explore his new toys again. He loves his Little People's car track.

Nathan made everyone fajitas for dinner. This is just a picture of the aftermath. I think we dirtied every pot and pan in the house. It took three loads in the dishwasher to clean up! We loves his fajitas, so it is worth it! I will clean up anytime he wants to make them!

Kai "Choo Choo-ing" the following morning.

Kai was so overwhelmed the night of the party that he didn't pay attention to the small things, like the cards, clothes, etc. The following morning he discovered the card that his Papa picked out for him. It is of little kittens meowing Happy Birthday. He listened to it over and over for a LONG TIME! Check out the video below to see how excited he was. He just stood there opening and closing it over and over. Papa picks out the best song cards!

Birthday Videos

Singing Happy Birthday and Kai blowing out his candle.

This is Kai enjoying the card that his Papa gave him.

Kai turns 2!

Kai turned 2 this week. We can't believe that our little boy is growing up so fast! Nathan had the day off of work for Kai's birthday, so in the afternoon we went to the local aquarium. It is VERY tiny and low-key, but great for the kids. We have passes. You can get through the whole thing in 20 minutes. Here are a few pictures.

Gabi on the boat.

Kai likes looking at the murky water over the side of the dock.

I'm not sure what kindof fish this is. It was just sitting perched up on the rock. It is in the same tank as the jumbo stingrays, and sharks.

A shark swimming by.

Kai looking at little fish in the display tank.

Christmas 2008

Getting Ready for Christmas

This year we got a new pre-lit Christmas tree....one that you can't see through! Gabi helped spread out the branches.

We have a tradition of making Gingerbread houses for Christmas and Halloween. This year we thought we would mix it up and do a gingerbread tree.

Kai didn't want to help decorate, but he was very interested in checking out the finished product.

After checking it out, he had to try some out to make sure it was good. He liked the little candies that made the ornaments.

Christmas Snow-In

We woke up Christmas morning to this! This was the view after I opened my garage. About 2 feet of snow down the driveway!

The wreath on my front door. The snow was blowing sideways, thus why my wreath got hit.

We still had to make it up to Nathan's parents house, so about 2ish he braved the cold and started to snowblow. This is from the door on the side of the garage. Remember that Nathan is 6'5'' and the snow is coming up past his knees at this point. This was a LOT of snow! Funny thing is, his parents just 20 minutes away didn't get any snow.

Our back yard. You can see that the snow is half way up the fence in the back.

Christmas morning was very relaxed. The kids did not wake up until about 9:00. WOW! Then we gave them baths, got dressed, ate breakfast, and then did Christmas. That wasn't until about 11:00. It was a nice easy going morning!

The tree on Christmas morning before the kids woke up.

Kai was too excited to eat breakfast, so he just had his juice.

Gabi had a yummy chocolate donut!

The kids opening their stockings. We got new stockings this year. Even the new baby has one. (it is the one up in the top right hand corner. His is the only one without a name.)

Kai got a candy tube and a little doggy on top that makes noise and walks around.

Daddy helping Kai open the rest of his stocking.

Gabi got some new hair pretties.

Now moving onto the tree presents. Kai got dress up clothes from grandmom. These are the accessories for the firefighter costume. Maybe we can get him away from his sister's dress up clothes now!

Gabi got a Barbie movie.

Kai is into anything cars, trucks, etc. right now. This is his new race track.

Gabi is growing up. She is now getting interested in Barbies. This is her new Barbie Mariposa.

Kai's first remote control vehicle. This is a Mickey Mouse train that I picked up for him at Disney World when Gabi and I went at the beginning of December.

Kai is always getting into our real tools. He has unscrewed screws from door hinges, etc. So, this year he got his own tools!

Gabi got new fairy dress up clothes!

Well, I guess Kai will continue to use her dress up clothes. Isn't that masculine. A fairy that knows how to use tools!

Up at Grandma and Papa's house.

Gabi opened a new fun game. She loves it!

One of her top three wishes was this Bye Bye Chou Chou baby doll. She was VERY excited!

Thanking Grandma for the cool new toys.

Kai opening some presents up at Grandma and Papas.

Grandma made Gabi this adorable tutu. This is very special to Gabi. Kai is NOT allowed to wear it!

Christmas Videos