Congratulations DANCE MARATHON 2008

This past weekend FSU held its 11th Dance Marathon. This is where FSU students dance/stand for 32 hours straight to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network and especially Shand's Hospital. Shand's is where Hunter was treated after he was born. We went Saturday to see over 900 dancers participating. This was amazing. I believe when I participated 10 years ago there might have been 200 (not really sure). On Sunday night at the closing ceremonies they played a slideshow of Hunter's pictures (which are below) and I gave a speech about Hunter's stay and what we went through. I also talked about being a dancer for FSU's dance marathon 10 years ago. 10 year's ago they didn't have the equipment that saved Hunter's life, so we are so thankful for FSU's Dance Marathon and the Children's Miracle Network. I believe I am the first FSU Dance Marathon participant to become a miracle family. After that they announced that they raised $406,000. That is truly amazing.
This is Hunter being baptised at Tallahassee Memorial when he was 1 day old. He was completely sedated and paralyzed by medications. Here was Hunter's home at Shand's for three weeks. He stayed in this position for two weeks without being held. We were allowed to touch his feet and head.
These are all of Hunter's machines that kept him alive.
This is the first time Hunter opened his eyes. I believe he was 8 days old. His face was so swollen from medications that it was difficult for him to open them.
Here is Hunter (3 weeks old) on the C-Pap, this was a "downgrade" from the ventilator. He looks like a little alien.
After almost a month, Hunter is ready to come home from the hospital.

Hi Grandma and Papa

Nate can't wait to go to Venice next weekend. Here he is saying hello to Grandma Suzy and Papa.

Who Says White Boys Can't Dance?

Natalie this ones for you. Since I know you are off of BOTH feet right now, I thought I would entertain you. We all hope that you get better REAL soon. Hunter says he is going to teach his Aunt Natalie how to walk next time he sees you.



Nate just loves to pick up his guitar everytime we have music on and Hunter can't resist to shake his little booty. As you can tell in the video they didn't practice too much, but who needs to when you have such great talent as the Newell boys. American Idol here we come...

Hunter and Nate

Here are some pics of Hunter and Nate. This is what they do on rainy days....besides make me crazy. The weather has been bad the past few days, so needless to say, we have not gotten out much. We did go to Chick-Fil-A for kids eat free night. Poor Hunter was not able to eat the chicken that he wanted. He settled for his puree chicken pasta instead. He did enjoy watching Nate and the other kids play in the play area. Nate tries to keep up with the older kids, but he still isn't tall enough to climb some of the areas.

My Name is Hunter

Hunter is learning so many new things. One of his favorite words, next to dadda and mamma is Hunter. He loves to say his name. Here is video of him saying his name and waving hi. Sorry it is sideways, so just turn your head to the side and you can see it.

Congratulations

YESSSS!!!!! I passed my insurance license course and am on my way to taking the state exam. I am exploring the possibility of selling health and life insurance, and possibly mortgage protection insurance. It is something that I can do part time, be my own boss, and schedule my own hours. Whoever thought there could be a job less exciting than being a CPA? Of course it would interest me. A part of me is excited about exploring this new opportunity, however, a part of me is scared for putting a huge part of my life behind me. I studied so hard in school and worked even harder for 7 years and now I feel like I am starting over. I guess I can always go back to being a CPA if insurance does not work out. So for those of you looking for Health/life/mortgage insurance, be on the lookout for me when I pass the state exam!

What's going on

Ok, so I have been really bad at blogging. I get a little creeped out at annonymous blog surfers. But I guess it can't be too bad as long as you don't stalk my house....

Well, we have had a lot going on this past month. Hunter was in the hospital with RSV for 6 days. See the pictures below. Good thing he had diapers on because his little but would have flashed everyone with those baby sized hospital gowns. I should have taken one with me, they were darn cute. For you Auburn fans, there was a cute one with Tigers on it. We were finally able to put normal clothes on him once they removed his IV. Well, I think Hunter actually pulled it out. He knows when he doesn't need those darn IV's anymore. Are you wondering how Hunter got RSV if we stay at home. Well Nate was going to school 2 days a week (which he loved) and brought home the RSV. Unfortunately, that is a part of preschool and the doctor told us to take Nate out of school. Hunter's little week lungs can't handle another cold right now. We give him breathing treatments when he needs them. (The purple dinosaur on his nose is his mask for the breathing treatment.) He does not always act this good. It is really a 30 minute battle with Hunter and I (or daddy) and Hunter seems to win the majority of the time.

Poor Nate now has to stay home with me all week. Occasionally Nate asks about his friends at school. I remind him that his friend Diego is just accross the street and he can play with him. I feel like a hermit at home. I have now realized how many people touch your children and how many potential germs there are out there. I try to go to the park when there are no kids there, but amazingly the sickest kids coughing all over the playground and rubbing their snotty noses seem to be there. And they all want to touch Hunter. Once the cold season is over, hopefully we can come out of our 1400 square foot shell. It seems smaller and smaller each day.