Torin @ Home

Well today, Torin's 11 day birthday, is the first day we have not had to go to the doctor's/hospital since he has been born (minus the weekends). That makes for a good day!

This was the sign that we came home to when we left the hospital on the 5th. Uncle James and Lachlan made it. Torin loved it! : ) Since James was drawing Torin, he drew a torn piece of paper on Torin's bib. I got a kick out that! Silly 1st grader!

Sunday a bunch of family was over to welcome the 3 of us from the hospital. They cleaned our house and made us lasagna. THANK YOU AGAIN!!! James was SO excited to hold his new nephew! And he wanted him to suck his finger. This child can latch!

The fellas celebrated 'It's a Boy!' with some cigars.

Auntie Emi & Uncle Michael oogling over their nephew.

Labor day we enjoyed our first meal as the four of us. Auntie Janey and Uncle Bear made us a delicious meal! Thank you!

Having Torin with us has been full of precious moments. Cuddling a little baby is so therapeutic. I have heard a saying that says the first child is in your arms, the second child is on your hip, and the third child is on the floor. Perhaps this is true after the newborn stage, but right now, this child spends more time in people's arms then elsewhere. I'm not ready to give that up yet...

Beautiful Baby feet

Life ain't perfect, though. There are a lot of stressful and sad times too. : ( But a crying newborn is still SO cute!

Thursday the 9th, we had to admit Torin to the hospital to be treated for Jaundice. He was under the 'billy lights' for about 24 hours, so I stayed in the hospital with him overnight. It was weird to be in the hospital as a parent vs a patient. He was our sunbathing king. Perhaps we need to get him a gift certificate to Cabana Tan for Christmas....

Sci-fi Baby

Sunday Torin went on his first walk. Weezer was intrigued by this little guy all bundled up.

Here are the walkers! Thanks, for the awesome double stroller, Volkers! Sunday was such a beautiful day, I am glad we were able to take advantage of it. Torin slept through the whole thing.

On a side note, this was Lachlan's reaction to his first walk in the stroller.

Mama and Baby were pooped after the walk.

Lachlan stills loves his little brother. He has only tried to drag him off my lap a couple times... Cuddle time in the morning!

Our little Twins fan (who looks more like a Football player!) rootin on the Twins to beat the White Socks. Go Twins!

Of course life is busy with our 3 little pups, but we are loving it!

Love ya, mean it
Be here now

Torin Jerome Cahill

Our little Irish Blessing
born on September 4th, 2010
5:12 AM
9.7 lbs 22 1/2 in

Torin Jerome timeline:
Friday 9/3
2:00 PM Angela, Molly, Norma, and Michael go get pedicures. Angela tries to relax and tells Baby, ok, you can come whenever you are ready--Mama is ready now!
4:4 Angela starts changing Lachlan's incredibly stinky poopy diaper at the Cahill Sr's house with the whole family there
4:45 Angela's water breaks! But she is not sure if it was just an uncontrollable bladder thing...Molly said, it's your water! She sent me upstairs and took good care of me. : ) For a bit we all just stood in the hallway in shock and with such excitement that BCII was on the way! I was just laughing! I didn't know what to do...
5:40 Luke and Angela arrive at St. Joe's hospital
6:00 Arrive in room
One more shot of that Baby Bump!

6:45 They confirmed my water broke--we are stayin at the hospital!
8:30 Emily and Michael come and hang out for an hour.
10:45 Twins win! And Angela gets some Visceral
Saturday 9/4
1:30 AM finally some action! A severe contraction
2:15 The next severe contraction--at this point, I thought I would be laboring until Labor Day! The nurse started getting the room ready--I guess that was hopeful...
4:15 Dilated to 6 cm, kind of thinned out
4:45 Still dilated to 6 cm, all the way thinned out. I was ready for something to help my never-ending contractions. Too late for morphine, too late for an epidural, I will go with the phetynol (sp?) Though I debated this, because it would have to be a shot in the arm, and my veins suck, and I told the nurse that and I hate needles, but I guess I will endure it... Nurse called the Dr for the order and Dr was on her way. Emily arrives ready to support in anyway she can.
5:08 Dr comes, fully dilated! No time for the shot--that made that easy. Ready to push. Here we go!
5:12 and about 5 pushes later, Beautiful Torin Jerome enters the world as peaceful as can be. Luke let us know that we had another boy! Onto Mama he went, and we were able to bond right away. He was so quiet and didn't start crying for a few minutes. I just smelt him and said a blessing over him and looked at him and loved him and was so excited that he was now here, in my arms. That was such a beautiful moment.
5:13 Let the celebration of life begin!

As I stated before, I was so grateful in the Lord's timing with all of this. I knew that BC II, now Torin Jerome, would come right when he was supposed to. After my water broke and we got to the hospital, it was still hard to give it up, because I thought I would be laboring for a while, and I really wanted Molly, Aaron, and Evie to meet this little one before they were to catch their plane at 8 Saturday morning. I was grateful at least that they were there for the craziness of the water breaking! But fortunately, God has His perfect timing, and the 3 Volkers were able to meet Torin! Oh it was so special, and just about 3 minutes long, but they arrived at 6, and were able to meet this little one we were so anxiously waiting for. Thank you for your perfect timing, Lord!

Here is the Mama and the Dada with Baby inside

Here is the Mama and the Dada with Baby outside!

Our skin to skin time.

The scale said '9.7'!

Dad and Torin's skin to skin time.
(He was working his way down Luke's arm looking for something...)

Torin's first Tim Tam

Lachlan's first time hugging the baby. He knew just what to expect-Mama, Dada, & Behbeh

Our first posed family picture (don't mind the stylish Moo-Moo)

The Litany of our visitors. Thank you for coming and sharing your excitement!

Grandpa Jerome

Auntie Emi

Uncle Michael

Grandma Norma

Poppops

G-ma who was prayin this Baby into the world and arrived soon after he was born!

Auntie Janey and Uncle Bear

Anne, who came to the hospital even on her day off!

Hrad and Sue from SACS-so good to see you!!!

Karen, who the Cahill boys (the babies that is) like to flirt with!

After our guests left in the morning, we took it easy Saturday, and figured out how to care for a newborn again, and even slept a little. Lachlan came back with Auntie Emi and Uncle Michael and was so excited to see his Behbeh again!

We decided to leave Sunday afternoon. We needed to get back home and be a family. It was such a week of craziness, we decided that would be the best. So after having a few more visitors come, we went home. A beautiful clean house and excited loved ones were waiting for us. Our parents and siblings and my Godmother did a wonderful job making our chaotic house into a warm and welcoming home for our new little one. THANK YOU!!!

This is the same outfit that Lachlan wore home from the hospital.
I think this has become a tradition now.

One of Luke's nicknames for Torin is Squeaky Mc Squeakerson. Can you tell why? : )

Our dear Torin, we are so happy you are here in our arms. You are so precious to us, and we love you dearly. You are truly our Irish blessing!

Love ya, mean it
Be here now

Celebration of Life

Nora Jane's celebration of life was a week long celebration filled with family and wonderful memories of Nora Jane. Monday we spent at the Cahill Seniors' house remembering Nora and just being with each other. That afternoon went to find the perfect Princess dress for Evie to wear for Nora's party, and we needed to make sure Lachlan looked sharp as well! Tuesday we spent going through pictures and videos of Nora and of course just spending time together. Wednesday was her wake in St. Paul. There was Nora 'paraphernalia' all over the place, it was pretty cute. They had her hands and feet molded, poster boards of pictures of her, little sockies she would always wear, and some of her favorite toys all around the room.

Wednesday was also my due date. I needed to trust in the Lord SO much that the timing of this baby would work out. Every day I needed to lift it up, but then at the same time, tell Him how it needs to go--but then I would lift it up again. : )

Thursday was her funeral. The final closure of saying good-bye to Nora. It was at the Basilica of St. Mary's in Minneapolis. A big space for a big Spirit. Everything about the ceremony was beautiful from the music to the readings, and especially Molly's letter to Nora. Check out her caring bridge site-seriously it's tearjerkingly beautiful.

Molly reading the letter to Nora. Aaron by her side.

After the Mass we were invited outside for a bird releasing ceremony. Molly knew someone who has a homing dove and she offered Molly the use of it. To me it symbolized Nora's spirit leaving this earth to be with the Father.

Molly and Evie cuddling as everyone recesses out of the church. The bells started ringing.

Evie and Molly getting ready to release the dove. The bells are still ringing.

The magnificent bells are still ringing.

All were invited to go inside for some Delicious food catered by Chef Jeff who did Aaron and Molly's wedding, Grandpa Cahill's funeral, and our wedding. By now, he's tradition! And he is so good! These good lookin Cahill fellas were excited for the yummy food too!

Family picture, though you can't see BC II

We all looked so good in our pink and gray. There were several of these pictures taken, but this was the one where everyone looked the best--kids will be kids!

After leaving the church we went back to the Cahill Sr's where we had been pretty much living, and celebrated an Irish funeral in honor of Nora. We had some tequila, ole! But 2 of us were stickin to the soft stuff...

We did some more sharing, and Molly told stories of the hospital life and of Nora and of God's hand in all of this. We were there with some of Norma's siblings and friends. Then the Cahill children decided to move to the porch. It was a lovely evening with some chill in the air. Perfect for lighting up some cigars to continue our Irish funeral. (I had a Drs apt that morning, and was dilated to a 1.5 and I just had a few hours to go until I didn't care when BC II came. So I really tried to take it easy Thursday! I was very excited and grateful that I was able to out on that porch.) What a wonderful and memorable week. BC II's timing was AMAZING in all of this. I take such pride in having my child listen to me even before we have met face to face. I know this will continue on throughout his whole life...I can dream, can't I? : )

(These were not cigars, they are ceder sticks, so Evie and I kept smelling them)

We love you, Nora Jane, and we miss you. Thank you for all your love.