Cam's Birthday

Cam loving his sister. His sister eating his nose.


The 3 boys

Eric's creation

Pizza and friends

Riding a train..

Due to our vacation and some scheduling issues we did Cam's 4th birthday party a little early. The party was at Entertrainment Junction, and the kids had a blast. I cannot believe Cammy, my little Cammy is almost 4! Where does the time go. He's a great kid. Always making us laugh and so full of energy. His new moves are some strange round-off thing he does while Power Ranger fighting with his brothers and a running headstand onto the couch. I must also add that he is always the "pink" Power Ranger...sigh, some things just don't change. I also have to say that watching him with his baby sister is so much fun. He could not love her any more. They are so cute together.

Halloween

I've heard of the "Grouchy Ladybug" how about the grouchy flower???? Reagan was not so into Halloween this year, but she did a good job of crying to scare those teenage girl trick or treaters out of having babies!


Jack as Thomas. He did a little trick or treating, then decided riding with the beer was better.

Ethan as Lightening McQueen for the 3rd year in a row. Well, at least he's economical.

Sorry sideways again, but here's Cam as Mickey Mouse. He was an expert trick or treater, keeping up with all the 7 year olds! He likes his candy.

We had a great Halloween. We celebrated with our neighbor's in our usual fashion. Starting with Jim's Chili, then the men and their wagon's of beer...I mean kids...head out to trick or treat. The women stay back to "pass out candy" drink hot cider and rum... You get the picture.

Reagan's Baptism

I have no idea how to rotate this pic...sorry, but it's my fav of Reagan.


Umm is this what your supposed to do in church? Great grandma, what are you teaching Jack???

All the Caton kids in one picture. Pretty sure it's the only one in existence.

Eric's cake creation!

We had an absolutely beautiful day for the baptism. Reagan slept through the whole thing and the day went off without a hitch. It was very special to have our friends and family there with us.

Random Reagan Pictures

Jack and his sister. He actually seems to like her.


Her first bath...Looks a lot like Jack's!

1 week

This is how Reagan did her pumpkin carving

Happy 1 month! The time is flying!

Field Trips

Some of Ethan's class at the farm.


Ethan's best buddy from school

So 3 year old classes don't stay still for pictures.

Cam's pumpkin

Ethan and Cam both took field trips to different farms. Daddy was "lucky" enough to go on both trips. Here are some cute shots.

October Updates/ Randome Cuteness

Daddy's girl


A rare find...3 smiling boys in a picture

Kindred spirits

So I have a few posts to catch up on! We have been crazy around here. Along with a new baby we've had school, field trips, a baptism, Halloween, and a birthday! Phew, I'm happy to say we have a small break now. Actually, my wonderful husband planned a wonderful small vacation for next week! What an awesome 10th anniversary gift. I can't wait. We haven't had an alone vacation since before Ethan was born. So looking forward to it!

Cam feeding his sister

Ethan, so happy with "his" baby!

We're going home :)

One week old


So we had a crazy birth and hospital stay. It went something like this:
1. Uneventful C-section, Reagan came out looking great.
2. Platelet count taken immediately, Reagan started getting petechia and bruising.
3. Platelet count came back at 14, which is critically low.
4. Baby whisked away to receive IVIG
5. Mom brought to recovery, hemorrhage occurs.
6. Mom needs to give blood to baby, but her own counts are too low.
7. Finally mom convinces them to take blood.
8. Baby given blood platelets
9. Mom passes out and is given transfusion.
10. 48 hours later everyone is fine!
11. Thursday everyone goes home.

A week later it's just like none of it ever happened.

I cannot feel anything but blessed. I have two healthy children, who started with a condition that many don't survived. It's just a God thing. I continue to be so convinced of the plan that has been laid for us. However, this will be our last newborn, so I plan to savor every moment.

One Day

So that's where we are, one day before my C-section, just about 32 hours left. I really cannot believe it's almost here. So excited, and nervous. Just want to see this baby and know everything is okay. We've made it to the end and well here we are. I feel like this has been the longest pregnancy ever. Just kept wondering if we would get here and now we are here, but the end is the scary part. Many people have reassured me about the C-section, but to tell you the truth I could care less about that. I know I will be fine and I will heal. All I want to see is a healthy little Reagan. The rest will mean very little to me. We have planned and are ready if she has low platelets, if we can get her out unharmed we are good to go. I believe that by 7:45 Monday morning it will all be over and I hope to see this beautiful baby girl. Please keep her in your prayers.

Jack's First Day of Schhol

Okay so I'm a bit behind. Please forgive me it's been a little busy around here. Here are some pix from Jack's school. He is loving it. He has a great class and a great teacher, so I'm sure it will be a successful year.

Baby Scoop

So we went to the doctor today and had an ultrasound. So far everything is looking good. Reagan is about 6lbs and 18 inches. On the small size, but still in the normal range. We have scheduled our C-section for October 4th at 7:30 am...meaning I get to go to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning.

I ask for your continued prayers on the safe birth of this little girl and for her mother's sanity. This has been a bit of a challenge and lesson in patience. Let's just say I will be very happy to be done with a healthy baby in my arms.

I'm very much looking forward to meeting this little one, and being able to sleep, and not having my back hurt, and being able to have a drink, and most of all to have the stress of the pregnancy over with!

PreSchool for Cam

Who's happy about starting preschool???

So Cam has been asking about school since Ethan started. Thank goodness he finally got to go. Highlights were: wearing his light up tennis shoes, seeing his favorite teacher, and eating snack!

Jack gets to start next week.

A Busy Weekend!

Outside Movie Night with the neighbors

Labor Day weekend was a busy one. We started off by hopping in the car and heading to Youngstown. On Saturday we visited the Canfield Fair. I went to this fair every year as a child and it really was fun to take my kids there. They loved the animals, machines, rides, and food. Jack LOVED fair food!

On Sunday night we came back to Cincinnati and enjoyed a movie projected on the neighbor's garage. We had about 13 kids there and they had a blast.

On Monday we took a Coney Island Excursion tickets compliments of one of our neighbor's. The kids had a blast. It was a fun yet tiring weekend!

Ethan's First Day of School

Ethan and Cam ready for Ethan's big day!

Ethan at 6:30 in the morning!

Ethan at Annunciation.

Ethan started Kindergarten last week. I can't say I was super sad or emotional. Maybe a tiny bit, but he was so ready for something new. I was nervous about how it would go. Would he actually use their big restroom without an adult there, would he talk to anyone ect. ect? However, he seems to have done great. His teacher told me he was chatty the second day :) For most kids I would be concerned with too chatty, for Ethan this is great! He seemed happy and told me all about it.

He told me everything was his favorite part. He also told me how the school used to be a library and all about its history. He then proceeded to tell me that they sold milk in the cafeteria and that it sure looked good. He was very excited when I told him he could buy some if he wanted too. Ahh, it's the little things in life!

Next week will be the real challenge: 5 full days in 90 degree weather (no air conditioning of course). I fully expect to have a crabby kid. Hopefully the adjustment will happen fast, and he'll save the crabby for at home.

Reagan's Room

So we have actually finished Reagan's room. Now all we need is Reagan. Less than 5 weeks to go, and I am sooo ready to be done and have this baby! It has been a long pregnancy. I can't wait to feel comfortable, not sick, and to be able to have a drink again. 3 boys + one high risk pregnancy =one stressed and tired mommy! One month to go.

Trip to Noris Lake

Campfire

Daddy and his boys

Our "big" catch


Ethan loving his marshmellows.

Our computer is finally up and running again!

Last week, thanks to some good friends of Eric's, we took a family trip to Tennessee. We've been talking about camping all summer, but well I'm quite sure this pregnant lady has little interest in sleeping outside! So we went to Lake Noris and stayed in a friend's house while doing all the camping activities.

It was so much fun! We kept it simple. We told the kids the TV's didn't work, Eric's cell phone really didn't work, and we spent the time together. We mostly fished and swam, and had campfires. Ethan loved fishing and was really quite good at it. Cam loved swimming, and well Jack liked riding on the golf cart. He's really not much into the camping thing yet!

The kids did catch 6 bluegills. Mind you they were about 3 inches big each. Ethan insisted that daddy clean and eat them. That was so funny because it was about 1 inch of meat total. Watching him grill it made me laugh. He had to be really careful that the meat didn't slip through the grill.

The weekend was such a blessing. The kids were awesome and we really had a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to doing some more trips like that one!

Baby Stuff

So after finding out it was a girl I did have to have a little fun. We did fine a replacement for the airplane themed bedroom. I also had to buy one little girl outfit. I have a grandmother or two that I thought might be interested in these!

4th of July Weekend

Parade time!

Children with fire!

Our Float


A Festival

Jack riding the rides

I have to say the 4th has always been a sort of blah holiday for me. I don't know we always have a good time, but it just wasn't a real big thing. The last 2 years have been a bit different. I appreciate our country more now that we have Jack. I realize how lucky we are to live in a country that I could bring Jack here and let him have all the medical attention that he needs.

In China many people were shocked that we were willing to take a cleft baby. They weren't being cruel or mean or anything like that, it just wasn't understood. Their country did not afford them the opportunity to have the medical services we have. So many children die of starvation for a correctable condition. I feel very blessed that we have those opportunities here. I know the US is far from perfect, but I also know that my little boy will be able to attain his potential here.

As I spent the 4th with our close friends that have a little boy with special needs, a little girl from Vietnam, and their oldest daughter, plus our 3 children (2 of which would not have survived in many countries) I could not help but feel blessed. I hope everyone had a great holiday!