4th & Grant's Blessing

We had a great 4th of July weekend. Our cul-de-sac has a BBQ and fireworks the night before the 4th every year, so we had that Friday night. Saturday we got up early, dressed in sweats (!) and froze at the parade. That afternoon had a BBQ at cousins, then watched the fireworks that night. We didn't want to fight the crowd down at the river this year with a baby, so we drove up the hill a bit and watch from there. Little did we know that half the town had the same idea! It was OK for one year but definitely not the effect of being at the river. Fun day :)

Sunday (the actual 4th) we were able to have Grant blessed. Andrew did a wonderful job and afterwards we had a lunch at the park with family & friends.

Our summer is flying by so fast. A week from Sunday my parents are taking the girls and their cousin to Disneyland for a week. I am not looking forward to it, but they sure are!

Summer so far...

June (that feels like March) has gone by so fast with not much to report. With all the rain and wind we were stuck indoors for the first few weeks of summer vacation. If it wasn't for the finished basement and Webkinz (you buy a stuffed animal with a code to this kids website where they can take care of their animal) we might have all gone crazy :) Here's a quick update on the 4 'lil Huff's:

Hallie got her first highlights ever! I know this sounds a little ridiculous, but her hair is turning so dark and we both love it blond so I put some in with a cap kit. We didn't do much and you actually can hardly tell but it was fun :)

Andrew put up the pool a few days ago since it's finally been warm (not hot, but warm). This was just taken today with some neighbor friends.

These were from swimming yesterday, ha ha such models...!

Tyson & his BFF Jackson showing their muscles (& ribs!)

All the kids have been such great helpers with Grant. They all love to hold him and kiss him. Tyson has been playing t-ball (which I will get pictures of if I ever remember my camera), but we wouldn't be getting to the games on time if it wasn't for their help :)

We really can't tell who he looks like. He definitely has his own look, but this one reminds me of Hallie when she was a baby.

...but this one reminds me of Tyson- (I don't know why it turned).

These are some taken this weekend. They are all so cute I can't pick a favorite!

Grant's 1st Week Home

First of all, I have to mention that Hallie did awesome at her gymnastics competition Sat. the 15th. She got 1st on her floor routine, 3rd on her bar routine, and 1st overall!! She did such a great job. I wish I could have been there but thank goodness we have video cameras :)
Also, last week Janessa got first place in the jumprope competition for the girls in her grade!

Grant made it home Sunday morning the 23rd! That seems so long ago now :) He is doing well. He's had 2 doctor appointments since then & they say he's just as strong as any other baby. I am still super nervous though & haven't taken him anywhere. Here's a few pictures and hopefully we'll get some professional ones taken soon... He is such a good, happy baby and we are so grateful to have him in our family.

Sat. morning I get out of the shower & they're all watching cartoons together....man I love them!

Grant Michael Hufford

Sweetest baby ever. Grant was born last Thurs. at 11:34 a.m., weighed 9 lbs. 1 oz., and was 20.5 inches. Labor and delivery went really well and our big healthy baby was finally here! The kids were able to come see and hold him. Hallie was attached real quick, she wanted to hold him the whole time. Janessa was a little nervous because he started crying in her arms so she held him for just a minute and Tyson got a couple 2 minute turns. And the poor big sisters and brother haven't got to see him since.
Friday the nurses started noticing that he would turn 'dusky' (blue) when he'd eat. We kept watching him and Saturday morning he was put in NICU hooked up to monitors to watch his oxygen levels. They started ordering test after test trying to figure out what was wrong. His CT scan on his brain came back great although he does have a large soft spot on his left side that will have to be re-checked at 6 months to make sure it closed up right. They said not to worry about this and had nothing to do with his breathing. His test on his heart came back great. Then came the x-ray on his lungs which showed pneumonia. They said there must have been a small amount of bacteria in the amniotic fluid that sat there too long and started an infection. As bad and as hard as this was to hear, it was actually good news and easily treatable with no long term side effects. He has to have antibiotics through an IV for 7 days. So that is where we are at now. Day 4. It has been probably the toughest 6 days of my life. I drive to the hospital 3-4 times a day to feed him, then pump at night and they feed him that the next night. The kids are not allowed in the NICU so it is hard on them. I think Tyson seriously thinks we accidently left him there. He keeps asking if we'll go get him :). We feel very blessed that it has not been something more serious. We have been so blessed to have so many family, friends, and neighbors helping with the kids, bring meals, and many phone calls and visits. We thank our Heavenly Father for our sweet baby and look forward to being able to bring him home Sunday morning.

The first 4 pictures are more current. The rest are in order from birth-

Grant & Chloe. Our friends had their baby girl the same day and were in the room next door!

Updates....

3 more days!!! I realized we didn't have a single picture of me pregnant this time so Hallie took one this weekend- yikes! I can't believe I'm putting it on here but oh well... it is was it is :) Thurs. is the day so hopefully all goes well and I can some how have the energy and patience for 4 kidos. Friday Janessa's class put on a mother's day program that was so so so cute. They sang songs, made us a book from the whole year, had decorations, cake and was very well put together. She has a great teacher and I thought it was so neat that she would do this.

Basement so far-... My friend Hanna refinished a couple desks for the girls' rooms and also a shelf and bed for Hallie's that we got put up this weekend. I really love them all, she did a great job!

Hallie has started piano lessons this month also and is doing well. She is a quick learner and will probably pass me up in no time! I'm really excited for her to learn to play.

Poor Janessa's room is still quite bare. I really don't know what to do in here with the bright colors so it might be awhile. She is doing an awesome job at keeping it clean though, which I am so happy about.

Here's the toy area. It could have been a 3rd bedroom but we did a half wall instead so they weren't in a closed room playing (but still keeping the toys in their own area). This room I can see from the top of the stairs so it's been really nice.

View from other end of family room-. As soon as we get a TV down here the couches wil be moved differently but for now it's just a big play room. :) We had some friends over this weekend and we all have kids Hallie, Ness, and Ty's ages so they had a blast. We figured it might be the last time for a while ...

Tyson has his first t-ball practice today and he is so excited! I'm really anxious to watch him play. I'm sure it'll be quite entertaining :)

The 'big' girls 'hangin' out' -

Well, there's the last few weeks summed up. It's a busy next few days and I have a list a mile long so we'll see how much I have energy for :)