It's What Christmas should be about....being with family!

Chambers Family Christmas 2010

So it is New Years Eve and the family sat together for breakfast and took a look back at the events of 2010.  First off, we started with finding out that I was pregnant with our third and last child.  In the spring, McKayla had her First Communion, by Summer a long awaited vacation was needed before the arrival of Chambers #3.  We went to California to visit family and oh what a time we had.  It was the kids first time at a beach, Disneyland, Sea World, etc. Little did we know that five days after we arrived back home we would have a child.  Avery was born 10 weeks early due to the placenta abrupting.  Avery was in the NICU at St. Mary's in Rochester, MN for 2 months.  That was a test for the Chambers family.  She was able to come home on September 16, 2010. No sooner did we come home found that two new additions to the Rosales Clan came about.  Twins...who knew it was on my mother's side of the family.  We all were able to welcom Jasmine Jade and Kherington Samantha born on September 26...2 days after Avery's original due date. In October, I had to go back to work, but Halloween was in the near future.  We were visited by Grandma Connie who took the kids Trick-or-Treating.  Unfortunately, Avery got sick for her first Halloween and had to go to the ER.  She had an acute upper respitory infection along with double ear infection.  By November, Turkey Day came and gone as we had to be away from our families due to weather and precautions since it was RSV season.  December came a scare when we had to go back to Rochester as Avery needed surgery for a hernia.  They had to remove her right ovary, but she recovered well and will be able to have children someday.  Christmas came in a flash and our house is full of toys...again.  So now that it is the end of a year, we wish all of our friends and family a Happy New Year and hope that the coming year is a good one!

This is the scene of a crime....3 babies all in one household throwing a fit.  The two at the ends look as if they are not, but trust me they did!  We had surround sound!  From the left is Avery, Jasmine, and Kherington!

Nana with the twins Kherington and Jasmine.

Jasmine and Kherington during one of their naps...very peaceful looking! Don't be fooled, they have lungs of steel!

Christmas morning!  They look so innocent don't they?  Actually we told them to stay in the room until we knew that Santa had came ;)

Chambers kids having Christmas at Nana's. 

If anyone knows the Rosales family tradition, it is customary for the children to receive a monkey...literally!  Shawn, bless his heart, went out of his way to give the best present to his new nieces.  Let's play Where's Waldo, only you are suppose to look for two monkeys.  Can you find them? 

So here is Jasmine and Avery modeling thier "First Christmas" Sleepers.  Kherington had one as well, but she decided to spit up on it earlier in the morning.  We were able to wash it and take pics of all three girls.  Look at my daughter.  She knows how to show off by winking at the camera.

Don't know if they were excited about me taking a ton of pictures of them!

Christmas with Grandma Connie!

Our family got to spend the night at a hotel suite courtesy of Grandma Connie and Grampa Gary.  The children were able to see the presents that Santa left at Grandma and Grandpa's house and open up more presents from her grandparents. The room was very spacious and the kids had a grand ole time...how is this possible....

...because who can say that they had a heart shaped hot tub in their room on Christmas Day!

Someday he will appreciate this picture.  Caleb decided to throw a fit and hide in places so we could not find him.  Granted he really had no place to go since we were in a hotel room...he was try to convince us that he wanted to go into the hot tub...right now!

In the end we would like to thank all of our friends and family for their love and support and wish you a Happy New Year!

Winter is upon us!

Caleb showing off his new Batman PJ's!

With Christmas right around the corner, the Chambers kids are keeping themselves busy as best as they can.  Although Caleb asks daily, "Mom can we open the presents," each day, one can only hope that after Christmas he will be very preoccupied with his new toys for the next year.

Caleb, Avery, and McKayla at the City of Ceylon's Santa Days!

Each year Ceylon hosts Santa Days where all the good boys and girls wait to see Santa by being able to ride on Ceylon's fire engines and ambulance.  Of course Caleb went crazy knowing that he would be able once again to ride in the front and travel around town.

Caleb and McKayla in front of one of Ceylon's Fire Engine

Avery 4 1/2 Months

Avery is beginning to shine by talking a whole lot more, giggling when Big Sister makes a funny face, holding on to fun toys and always wanting to be sitting up.

It's still hard to believe that so much has happened to us within the past 5 months. If you were to ask Shawn and I how we feel about it, I would say it felt like as if we have been going through this a lot longer.  However, we are very blessed with a healthy family and cannot wait to see more of the family during the Christmas holiday!

Another Journey for the Chambers family!

Avery sure knows how to end the year with a bang.  On December 7th, our daycare provider showed us some swelling on Avery near her groin, so I took her to the ER in Fairmont.  She had bloodwork, an xray, and an ultrasound that took literally 3 hours.  In the end they sent us home not really knowing what she had with the only advice was to see our doctor or Pediatrician first thing...grrrr! 

We had a 10am appointment only to find out that Dr. T was wondering why we did not take her to Rochester...double grrrr!  Answer was b/c the !@#$% ER physician told us to go home.

So we got McKayla out of School and the Chambers family headed back to Rochester, MN again.  We arrived at St. Mary's Hospital and went to the ER.  Thank goodness they have wonderful doctor's, Nurses, etc. Avery had another ultrasound and found that she had a incarcerated right inguinal hernia containing her right ovary. We then were told she needed to have surgery called an oophorectomy right away and like that, Shawn, myself, McKayla, and Caleb waited patiently in the waiting room.  After all said and done, Dr. Potter told us that he was not able to save her ovary as it had been twisted and purple for some time. He showed us the pictures only to see that my daughter at least has one healthy ovary.  She was then sent to the peds floor and was welcomed by many lovely nurses who spoiled her rotten.

Avery after her surgery.

Avery had 3 laproscopy incisions and one regular incision where they removed her right ovary.

The first night the whole family was able to stay overnight on the peds floor.  With mommy staying with baby, daddy and the two older kids spent the night in a room that had 2 twin beds and a bathroom.  Although the beds were very uncomfortable, we were appreiciative of the nurses to help us out.  The second night however, they spent the night in a hotel which was roomier and had made things more comfortable for the three.

By morning, Avery was ready to eat.  She decided to eat a bit too much at first and projectile vomited on mommy.  So within moderation, the rest of her feedings went well and she soon showed signs that she was doing well as she was smiling, cooing, and moving around like normal.

Avery smiling and letting us know she is okay!

Unfortunately McKayla had to miss out on her xmas concert, but was a trooper.  Although she wanted to go, she also wanted to be there for her little sister.  Caleb was struggling to adjust again, but having the play area on the peds floor helped.

Shawn and McKayla playing video games in the play room at St. Mary's peds floor.

Caleb playing one of the many games!

So, to make up for things, we took them to the "House of Bounce" and had a great time!

Racing to see who makes it to the top first!

McKayla going down the "Cliffhanger"

Avery was finally discharged Friday morning.  She had shown signs that she would eat well and that her plumbing system was functioning. She also was visited by one of her NICU nurses, Tawnya, who we were very happy to see!  In the end the family had made it through another ordeal with a happy baby and a family altogether again.

Given the final papers to be discharged from St. Mary's!

What a year it has been!

McKayla, Avery, and Caleb

(4 months old)

Literally a year ago Shawn and I decided that we wanted to have one more member to our family!  We were blessed to find out in January that we were expecting.  We were told that we were due on September 24th.  Throughout the pregnancy we decided that we would not tell anyone the sex of the baby...of course everyone knows now that we had a girl.  We also did not expect to deliver 10 weeks early.  Being diagnosed with "Placenta Previa" the possibility of delivering early was possible, but to our knowledge, we expected closer to our due date. 

On July, 21, 2010, we had a beautiful baby girl named, Avery Isabella Chambers.  She was only 3lbs. 11oz. and was 16 inches long.  She was flown to Rochester, MN where she stayed for a duration of 2 months.  Once Avery was able to establish her eating habits and growing at a healthy rate, she was able to join her family and be at home on September 16, 2010.

First picture with Avery and Mom and Dad!

(3 days old)

And then there were three!

Mommy and Avery during kangaroo time!

(2 months old)

                            Mommy and Avery getting close to coming home!

                                         Our home away from home!

Since then, Avery has been developing at a premie rate.  Although she is almost 5 months old, she is the size of a 3 month old.  Avery is very alert when she is awake.  She will smile, laugh, and giggle from time to time.  Her Big Sister McKayla and Big Brother Caleb cannot get enough of her.  In fact, they are very protective of her.  At her last check up, Avery weighed in at 10lbs 13 oz, but we know she is over 11lbs. now. 

Caleb checking on Avery after her first night at home!

My how she has grown!

(3 months old)

Smiling for the camera!

We are getting ready for Christmas and cannot wait to be with family!  The kids also have new cousins added to the Rosales side of the family...identical twins courtesy of Paul and Bridget. They were born September 26, 2010.  Kherington Samantha and Jasmine Jade came into the world.  Now Avery will have cousins she can grow up with.

Hopefully we can keep friends and family posted with our blog and cannot wait to see how everyone grows within the year.