90 MPH winds= A lot of damage!

This branch missed this car by less than a foot!

Three trees in front of our building went down like dominos

Our friends the Evers. It's their house with the big pine blocking the front of it. (They still don't have power!) Everyone came out to help clean up all of the trees.

So yesterday evening we were sitting outside cleaning up our patio when the tornado sirens sounded, but the weather looked great. Andrew turned on the TV to see what was going on and it said 90 mph winds were coming, to get inside and to stay away from the windows. About 5 minutes later we could see the clouds just rolling towards us pretty quickly. I got out the video camera and started taping when Andrew said we needed to get inside. I called him a chicken and kept taping, he pulled me in, so I went to the back door to get more video. But as soon as I opened the door it started raining so hard and debris was hitting the glass. He yelled at me to get Benson and he grabbed Tanner and we all ran down to the basement. The storm sounded so loud. After a few minutes Andrew went up and said that trees were down. We all came up to see the damage and this is what we saw. There was hail the size of quarters, branches everywhere, I guess even a swing set went through someones window, and our power was out for almost 24 hours. The people across the street still don't have power along with many more people from Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Last night when we didn't have power, we got out candles for some light but I could only find one of our flashlights. So we drove to a Walmart south of us (who still had power) to get a lantern so we would have good light for the kids. I can see now why the church says, "BE PREPARED". It was a zoo in the camping isle. I got the last battery operated lantern, more than half the flashlights were gone, and people were going crazy everywhere. Many people asked me where I had gotten my lantern, which I had to say, "Sorry but it's the last one!"
Once I got the lantern I headed to get batteries that were also cleaned out. Luckily I remembered they keep batteries by the toys and bought the last two packs of D cells.

So a message to all... "BE PREPARED!" This was nothing compared to what will come!

Good Times

Finally going HOME

After six days at the hospital Benson is strapped in his car seat and ready to go home. As you can see, he is pretty happy about it.
Home as a family of four.
Big brother Tanner with little bro Benson
So after being home only hours the tornado sirens went off. We watched the clouds churn and the rain and hail the size of dimes come when Andrew started to get a little worried and had us all head for the basement. Here we are huddled around the TV to see what is happening with my sister Camille who came out to visit and help out the the baby.

Welcome home Benson.

There was actually a tornado warning while I was in the hospital and they moved us out into the hallway. Crazy Nebraska weather!

Benson after his first bath at home

Week in the NICU

Long days in the NICU but enjoying the time with family.
Benson's nurse Mary Beth with our glow bug.

Andrew and I totally love this woman. It was like having our mother's there with him, very very comforting. The one day everything seemed to go wrong with Benson's temp dropping again and slowing his heart rate was a day she didn't work. We were so glad to have her back to help him get better... which he did!
In the isolate and on a Bili blanket.
This beanie he got in the NICU. It has a red ball on the top. Tanner says it's a clown hat. The nurses called it a cup cake or ice cream cone. We just thought it was cute!
Tanner saying "Hi" to baby Benson
Trying to wake up.
Keeping bundled and warm.
The last night Benson had to stay, they let me stay in this room in the NICU with Benson. It was very comforting to be right there with him.

With having Benson's temperature low on and off, he also lost weight down to 4 lb. 10 oz., and had his Biliruben (sp?) go up, until he finally got some strength to stay healthy.

Good times then.. Bad news!

Trying to stay warm under some heat!
Tanner was so excited to meet his new baby brother. But the time was cut short when they said he would have to go to the NICU because he couldn't hold his temperature. After taking him down to the NICU a doctor came in and said he would be there for 7 to 10 days. As you could imagine I became a emotional wreck. I didn't want to have to leave my new baby!
Beautiful flowers from Andrew, cutest wipe case from Hannah Smith (friend who was still at the hospital for having her baby the day before), and gifts from the hospital.

Arrival of Benson Lorell Bleak- June 5th

Benson less than 24 hours old.

Wishing this was two or three weeks later!




Dr. Kirsch and Benson


Strolling me away on my throne after delivery.

At 2:11 PM on June 5th. Benson Lorell Bleak was born weighing 5 lb. 4 oz. and 18 in. long. He was 5 weeks early but very healthy and was able to go to the normal nursery. Until the next day when things started to go wrong...

Doug's visit and the new house!

Tanner's favorite spot to play in the new house is at the back door on the rug. I have no idea why... but he will pack toys down and just sit and play there for hours and look out the window. He didn't want to come up and nap the other day, and this is how I found him after about 15 minutes of silence.
My little brother Doug was able to come out and visit us before he leaves on his mission on the 25th of June. Tanner loved having him here and ALL the attention. He helped... or I should say did almost all of the painting of 3 rooms while he was out here and helped us move all of are stuff from one house the the next. If he hadn't of came the boys rooms would still be pink and purple and I would probably have boxes everywhere still. He helped out so much. Thanks Doug for everything! I still need to take pictures. We just have a lot going on right now!
Doug and I looked out the window to find the Oscar Meyer Wiener truck in the parking lot. We thought it was pretty cool since we've only seen it on TV, so we took Tanner out to get a picture!
Getting ready to take Doug to the airport.
Saying "Good-bye" for at least two years!
As soon as we pulled up and stopped at the doors of check-in. Our miles clicked over to 200,000. So of course we had to take a picture and wish we were getting a new car... someday!

We love you Doug! Hope you make the best of 2 years! Have fun!

We've moved!

Well we have been busy this last week moving! It's just down the street to a BIGGER place, but we are so excited! I will take pictures and post them after we finish painting and getting things a bit more organized!