Smiley

Well it has been much too long since we really wrote and told you about all the fun we are having here with Danica. I suppose we will start at the beginning:
I went to the hospital at 10:00am and they took me to the delivery room around 10:30 to do the prep work and to get the epidural started. Around 12:30 they transferred me to the operating room and told Tom to get in some scrubs and to just wait while they got things set up in the OR. It was a little bit scary in the OR because I’d never had a serious surgery before. There were like 10 people in there buzzing around doing different things; tons of machines beeping and such; I had to wear an oxygen mask and just laid there waiting to go numb. However, I just kept reminding myself that I was about to have a baby and I was so excited I just kept smiling and taking deep breaths. I could see my heart rate on a big screen and despite my nervousness the positive thinking kept me really quite calm. I had one great nurse sitting by my head and I kept asking her what was going on and she was pretty helpful. I also kept asking when Tom could come in because I didn’t want him to miss it (and I didn’t want to be alone) and finally the doctor said “Where’s the husband?” and they scrambled to get him. He almost wasn’t there in time! He came in right as they were doing the incisions. He was able to video tape some of it for me to watch because I couldn’t see anything.

At 1:06pm Danica was born! They had told me they would hold her up over the curtain so I could see her but when she came out she was a little bit blue and not breathing. They rushed her into the adjacent room and I sent Tom to go with her. He tried to video tape for a while but when the nurses panicked and started to push the emergency button he got too scared and turned the camera off. Luckily, just then Danica started to breath and they got her lungs cleaned out and she was fine. The nurses were young and Tom thinks that more experienced nurses may not have panicked. Needless to say I was a little stressed just waiting to hear her cry. No one told me what was going on so I was so relieved to hear that cry. A short time later Tom was able to bring her in and I got to see her! He held her while the doctor fixed me up. It took about 30 minutes and it felt like someone was sitting on my chest and my head was pounding but I am sure it could have been worse. After that we were all moved into a recovery room. I was able to hold and feed Danica and just try to rest while the feeling came back into my legs. I kept having contractions, which were really painful despite the epidural, so I guess my body hadn’t yet figured out that the baby was out! But within a couple of hours they moved us up to the mother/baby floor!

Tom went and picked up Hayden to meet his baby sister for the first time. When he came in the room he was excited to see me and ran over to give me a hug. Then he just kind of looked around confused and finally saw Danica in her little bed. Tom helped him look at her and it was really cute. I was feeling pretty good at this point because I still had an epidural pack that allowed me to feel my legs but kept the other pain in check. I couldn’t get out of bed due to all the things hooked up to me but that was just as well since I had no desire to move! We had a nice evening just hanging out in the hospital room together. When it got late Tom and Hayden went home and I had my first night with Danica. I was worried about how to care for her when I couldn’t even lift her out of the crib without a lot of pain but the night went really well. She was such a dream and never fussed except to eat or be held. I didn’t have to rock her or bounce or anything, she was just so content. I stayed in the hospital until Thursday and Tom and Hayden came to visit me every morning and evening. Hayden loved Danica right from the start and kept telling her how much he loved her and wanting to hold her. She kept being so calm and content and was eating like a champ. She was gaining weight before we even left the hospital! Coming home has gone really smoothly. We’ve had a lot of meals brought in and Tom has been doing the house work. I’ve just had to relax and play with Hayden a bit and hold and feed Danica so it’s been a dream week for me. We have no where to go and no one is coming over so we can just relax and sit around all day. Tom has taken Hayden on a few outings like to the zoo and such. On Monday night I ventured out with Danica for the first time and we took Hayden to see Santa Clause with the Debaltzo kids. However, Hayden didn’t like Santa and just cried and refused to go sit on his lap. Oh well, there’s always next year!

Hayden has adjusted to Danica beautifully so far so hopefully that will last. He just loves her and always talks to her and tries to read her stories and such. He pretends she can talk to him and always tell us what she is saying. Danica is a dream baby, she is so content to just sit in your arms and look at you. She sleeps well at night and has fun awake periods during the day. The only adjustment were working on is getting her to “go to bed” earlier because she likes to have her sleep cycles from about 1:00am to 1:00pm. But since all you really have to do is hold her (instead of walking circles around the room while she’s crying anyway) it’s not a big deal. I know it won’t last forever but I am relishing it while I can, she’s amazing! You couldn’t ask for a better baby! I took her to the doctor today for a jaundice check and they said she looks fine. She is only 9 days old and already weighs 6 lbs. 6 oz. and is 19.2 inches long, that is great growth!

So life here in Cleveland is great. The temperature is freezing but we’re staying inside so it doesn’t matter anyway. We’re getting ready for Christmas and are really enjoying all this time to just hang out together. Hayden can sing all the words to “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” Plus, he makes up his own songs that sound similar to Away in a Manger and stuff. Today when I was putting him down for his nap he was cracking me up because he didn’t want to talk about Christmas. He was insisting it is Halloween and he started singing “The 12 Days of Christmas” but he said “days of Halloween” and it was his ghost bringing him things. Funny kid; almost too clever for his own good really. His new line to anything he does is “Sorry, it was an accident.” That seems to get him out of anything!

Okay, now that I have written a novel, and Danica is about to wake up I will stop. I hope you are all doing well and excited for the holidays. We really wish we could be there with some of you to celebrate. Enjoy the festivities, we’ll send more pictures soon! Take care!

Tracey

On the memories of Gramma...only Brent, Marnie and Anne have submitted theirs....it is the 20th so time is getting short!!! That leaves Tom, David, Mike and Kim to contribute. Please send them to my e-mail...bstinch2@comcast.net.

Loved your tribute to Brooke, Mike. Very well deserved. I am so happy with all the spouses that my children have chosen...Each of you are perfect for the child of mine that you have married!

I am still fighting battles with HealthNet and Medclinics in Sacramento to get a referral to a podiatrist here to treat her sores on her feet. I have been working on this for over two weeks and her feet are getting more painful....She can't wear shoes at all any more. I am so irritated~~

Love you all,

Mom

As I announced several times to Adina on Saturday- I hate the cold. Give me a few weekends of skiing and keep the rest of the blasted cold weather away. So. Cal and a mini sound just perfect right now. Beautiful car Marnie.

Dave, I had my suspisions. The kids have just confirmed them. But if Mike needs a break then I will give it to him- we do have eternity.

Mike, I love you. Thank you for your blog. I couldn't be married to a better man and I feel so blessed to have you as my husband. Please hurry home as soon as your vacation is over. Believe me, I understand the need to get away from it all.

Buffy, I'm so glad your finals are over. Give Brent a big hug for us to get him through this busy time. Our address is 21915 NE 150th Ave.
Battle Ground Wa 98604

Okay, I love you all. Talk to you soon. Love, Brooke

I figured I needed to give you a reason to really feel sorry for me. :)

-
Marnie

Well, since I am away I thought it would be appropriate to thank my wife publicly for the last 12 years here on the blog. I am sure this group knows all to well that living with me for 12 years is monumental. Brooke has done it with grace, class and style (and a lot of patience and gritted teeth). She has raised three incredible girls amidst a lot of uncertainty and what seems like unending trial. She is an incredible woman.

I love you Brooke. Thanks for the last 12 years. You are the love of my life and a true friend. We are truly blessed despite all the challenges. I look forward to eternity with you.

Happy anniversary to all the rest of you as well. I am sure you have experienced some of the same feelings. I have to tell you that honestly, every year gets better. I think that is Brooke just making me a better man.

Marnie, your car is too cool for words. And, I think it fits you very well. Great choice. I have to say I am insanely jealous.

Whoever posted the SoCal disaster pic, I have to say I was busting up. That was pretty dang funny.

My phone is working again, for those I told it wasn't. So feel free to call and hear me ramble like a man who doesn't ever get to talk to anyone.

Dave, I am on vacation. The second worst vacation ever.

Really though, I cannot complain. At least I know firsthand that it can be a lot worse! I sing "Count Your Blessings" to myself all the time. Especially when I start feeling sorry for myself. At least I can ssy I can talk face to face with the girls everyday now! Technology is sweet.

Mom, thanks for the Joseph Smith book. It is fascinating and very easy to read. And, with all the delicious Jerky I think I have more protein in my body than Barry Bonds!

Well, I love you all and I cannot wait to spend Christmas Eve with you all on the corner of the room on the laptop. Or, you can hook the Powerbook up DVI-HDMI to the big TV. That might be fun.

Brooke, I Love You. Happy Anniversary.

Mike

With all the news on TV lately about the storms and bad weather around the country, we shouldn't forget that California has its share of devastating weather also. The attached photo illustrates the excessive damage caused to a home from a West Coast storm that passed through the San Diego area a few nights ago. It really makes us cherish what we have, and reminds us not to take life for granted.

And my address is:
4575 North Ave #8
San Diego, CA 92116

Real quick here wanted to add a post. Very cold and icy rain, snow, wind in Washougal. I doubt anyone will come in for treatment tomorrow, kind of a bummer.
Last couple of days they kids have said a couple funny things in prayers:
1) Anne, you have been referred to as the girl that is with Peter.
2) Mike, you are apparently on vacation and having fun in Korea. Sorry to break the news Brooke.
Every one take care and we miss you all.
Dave

I'm happy to be able to say that the fall semester is over... one semester left!
Brent and I haven't seen each other much lately with him working 12 hour days and my finals craziness and job. I'm trying desperately to get our apartment to not look like it was just finals as well as quickly get out Christmas cards (Christmas will be much more enjoyable without school!).
I don't seem to have current addresses for a lot of you... Brooke, Dave & Adina, Marnie, Kim.
If you would like a beautiful card from us, please email me with your address ASAP and I would be very appreciative. stinchpt@yahoo.com
Have a great week everyone and we will see some of you soon.
Buffy

Fun game, I am glad you got it.

Mike

Well with the move and finals and everything else going on, we have just not been able to find the time to be able to blog in a while. All is well as we spend the last 2 days packing in full force to be able to leave to Idaho at around noon on Monday. We can't officially move into our house until the 2nd of January and so we are going to be putting our stuff into storage while we are travelling and such. We are headed to LA to spend time with Brent and Buffy and Peter's family in Newport Beach and then we will be in Vancouver for New Year's and then will finally move into the house.

Finals went okay I would say, some good some bad. However I know I have 2 A's so far and will just have to wait until next week to find out the rest of my grades. Peter is officially finished with the classes part of school and will never have to take a class again if he doesn't want to. He still has his thesis to finish, however he is progressing along very well and we hope to have it all done with by April.

Congrats to Tom and Tracey and Hayden, hope all is going well. Can't wait to see Danica whenever that may be. We are chugging along in our pregnancy and can't wait to make our own announcement about a new grandchild. I am sure you guys will love her and will enjoy every minute. Speaking of pregnancy, I have had the absolute weirdest dreams lately, I can't really remember them all but Last night's was weird: I had a girl and for some reason Marnie kept wanting to take her with her everywhere and wouldn't let me have her. Then the Rat from The Great Mouse Detective stole my baby girl and had given me a ransom note to get her back for like 10 million dollars and I was trying to figure out how I would get that kind of money. Weird I know, my mind works in mysterious ways.

Happy Anniversaries to Tom and Tracey, Mike and Brooke, and Brent and Buffy.
Happy Birthdays to Hayden and Morgan.

I gotta cover all bases because it will probably be a while before we blog again. Love you all and can't wait to see those who we get to see in the next couple weeks.

Love,

Anne

For now, you should all use tstinchfield@gmail.com for my emails. The Dankus one is currently not working.
Thanks,
Tom

Tom...when I called I was going to also get your e-mail. The dankus one was returned to me...Can you put it on the blog or e-mail Dad or me with it?

Thanks,

Mom

More pics

full body

My baby sister!

Home!

The 3 of us!

Cute

Everybody happy at Disneyland!
Michelle, Matthew, and Marnie

Nice picture of the picture on the Tower of Terror

Is there something in that Christmas tree?
On the tram ready to go!
The awesome decor at the El Capitan for "Narnia"

Worn out.

another awake shot

Happy brother.

Danica is correct

So fun to have a brand new member of our family! The picture of her asleep and happy looks a bit like Hayden did...to me at least! I am assuming that I am the one that made the mistake and it is Danica...not Danika...Please confirm.

I hope everything is well with Tracey and Danica...and that Tom is surviving the total care of big brother Hayden!!!

We love you!

Mom

Congratulations to your family. I love the picture of Hayden hugging Mom before she leaves. What a cute kid. I love you guys.

Mike

Thanks for the pics! She definitely looks like a Stinchfield baby. Very cute! Can't wait to see more of her! :)

-
M

One last external hug.

This is the position that she was in for the last who knows how long.

asleep and happy

awake and happy

one more

No idea how to use this.

Congratulations! Can't wait to see pictures of the beautiful little lady! :) Hope everyone is well! Love you!

--
Marnie

Tom & Tracy,
So excited to hear about your new addition. Can't wait to see pictures of Danika!!
Buffy

Wink! 

Congratulations...and a few pictures! We're happy for you Tom & Tracey & Hayden - and we wish you a speedy recovery! Hope finals went well for you, Tomas. Give the little girl a squeeze for us and enjoy your time together!
Dave & Adina

A shot of our table that we just re-finished 

We are so happy for you all. We can't wait to meet our new little family member. Tracey, I hope you recover quickly. How are you spelling Danik/ca? We love you guys. Love, Mike, Brooke, and girls.

Could this be the namesake for my granddaughter? I dunno, but, she is cute...so this must be. Dad 

I am sure Tom will send more info later...but for those whom I could not reach by phone.... Danika Elizabeth was born at 1:06 pm today (December 12). She is healthy and Tracey is doing well. She weighs 6 lb .5 oz and is 18 inches long. When I asked Tom who she looked like...he said she looked like a baby!!!!

Love to all,

Mom

It is 1030 here and 1230 in Cleveland. 1200 was the magic hour when Tracey and babe were to go in for her birthing. Our prayers, family-wide are with Tracey, baby and Tom and Hayden. This is a tense time for all of them and we wish you all the best in bringing this little spirit into the world and your family. We are excited to see her. We will be pleased to know that both she and Tracey are doing well. God be with you. Dad and Mom

You are actually probably in the hospital right now seeing as it is 12:35pm there. I hope everything is going well! Let us know! :)

--
Marnie

Wish I could be with you....you are certainly in our prayers and thoughts. I am sure all will go well. Keep us posted as things progress!

Love,

Mom

(and good luck on your finals, Tom!)

Tom & Tracey - Just want you to know that we're thinking of you guys! Best of luck tomorrow - you'll be in our thoughts and prayers. Can't wait to hear the good news and see some pictures. Love you!
Dave & Adina

I just attempted to watch the first episode again of The Office (US). It is funny but it is an exact copy of the British version! Every event in the 1st episode is the same. I guess they took the same scripts and just modified for this audience. It is painful to watch the forced Americanization of it because I have watched each UK episode 4-5 times. Why didn't they come up with original content? Well, I am going to continue watching through the end of the 1st season, and hopefully original content will appear. If not, then yes Tracey, Jim and Pam get together after the second season and marry. Sorry to ruin it for you all:)

Mike

We had a great time at Hayden’s party last night, the kids seemed to enjoy the games and acting wild like pirates. I made simple costumes for everyone and they all looked so cute, it was great! They had to walk the plank, fill a treasure chest and find the x on the treasure map! It was a lot of fun. Today I had a sort of baby shower/get together with friends for lunch in anticipation of the upcoming big baby day. I can’t believe it will be so soon! We did decide on a name and I think Tom has told some of you but we’ll keep the rest of you in suspense until she is actually here! Luckily you don’t have long to wait!

I must add my agreement that I think “The Office” is hilarious; it really makes me laugh just to think about it. Jim and Pam are my favorite; hopefully they never hook up because it’s hilarious to watch them interact. Our neighbors across the street don’t have good TV reception so they always come over to watch The Office and Lost. Hayden is frequently not in bed yet and so he knows both shows really well and gets excited when he sees commercials for them, it’s ridiculous!

Tom has a lot of studying to do this weekend so I am trying to plan some fun quality time to spend with Hayden. I get so sad sometimes when I think of how our little twosome is about to be broken up. This morning he got up early and came and crawled in bed with me (Tom left really early to study up at school). Anyway, he cuddled up to me and said “Mom, we’re best friends.” Those are the moments that make everything else worth it. I just hope he still considers me his best friend once I am busy taking care of the baby too. It can be just as fun to be a trio; I just hope he thinks so too!

I hope you all have a great weekend. We’ll send out some pictures and such on Monday night if we can! Take care!

Tracey

Three years old! (Well in a few weeks!)

Hayden had a pirate birthdya party last night, he had a great time!

I have been drinking "Immunity Defense" Tropicana orange juice, about 3 glasses a day. Each serving has 240% recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C. Don't know if I am overdoing it, but I have not had so much as a sniffle so far this year. Might help.

Mike

Mike, I finally have a minute to say that I thought the caption was hilarious and the red hat that she bought along with the drag of puff the magic dragon made me have scary flashbacks to the party at the table with Alice in Wonderland. Hope that makes sense, it kinda just flowed out as a thought and my thoughts rarely have correct grammar or punctuation.
I was really kind of turned off by the first episode that I saw of The Office. But, we have watched every episode since and I just laugh when I think about it. Just the way they film it and the humor used is a crack up.
I had a horrible night sleep for the last few nights, with last night as the kicker with very little sleep and sweat/chill crap all night. It must have been the cleansing night or something, because I feel much better today. Something that may have contributed to the sickness was putting up lights out in the cold weather (I know it ain't as cold as Cleveland). It was a recreation of Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. I first the the roof on the first floor, then I got a wild idea to do the second floor roof, but had a difficult time getting up there. I put a ladder on the roof and climbed up with no problem (I know you are thinking "what kind of idiot would go up on the roof like that?!" But, you must remember that I worked two summers roofing, so feel somewhat comfortable up there). But, while I was up there the wind was a blowin' and it there was this huge bang of the ladder going head over heels down the roof and landing right where my car normally sits. So now here I was, no one else was home, stuck on the second story roof. So, with my cat-like reflexes, I jumped down onto the first floor roof. So I got down just fine. No injury and Adina reminded me that my disability and life insurance must be up to date. Anyway, funny story.
Today I had a full schedule, Chamber of Commerce meeting/lunch, and Implant course tonight down in Portland...glad to be home.
It was good to hear from you all, even though some of it was somewhat bitter. All be safe, all have fun....
Dave

Ok, so I turned in my position paper this morning before work. A 35 page work of art... actually, it's quite boring with statistical talk and such but it has beautiful summary charts in it! Now all I have to do is prepare my powerpoint presentation of the paper for Monday in front of the entire faculty and at least 40 students as well as cram for finals. Thanks for the good luck wishes, I appreciate it.
Brooke, what a story!!! If ya want to go to Disneyland, Brent and I and my family are going in May when they come for my graduation. Anyone else who wants to come is invited.
The Office fans: the Christmas episode was hillarious.
Love you all,
Buffy

I seem to remember Tom and Monty Python's Holy Grail obsession. Am I remembering things wrong here? American snob.

Well, I will have to watch the American version again, if I can stomach the part where I see them trying to hard to be like the real show. That is what I got out of the one episode I saw. But, you all can't be wrong, so I will have to try it out.

Mike

Dave and I have not seen the Brit version of The Office, but we are likewise huge fans of the American one. Dwight is also one of our favorites. If anyone has seen Galaxy Quest, Dave and I discovered that Dwight is one of the Thermian aliens in that movie. Pretty funny to see him in that role. Anyway - just thought we would put our two cents in...

Brooke - love that story. Read an article today that one of the best ways to "break it to them" is to combine it with an act of Christmas service. We are still striving as a family to figure out what it is we will do this year to instill that "Christmas is about giving" spirit. If you have any ideas or would like to do something together, please let me know.

Marnie - I e-mailed the pumkin roll recipe to you. Enjoy!

TNT - thinking of you guys! Enjoy your last weekend as a trio! We hope all goes well and just know that you will keep us posted. I won't beg you for a name, though - because none of our kids had a name until they left the hospital! :)

Take care all! Dave is under the weather and unfortunately has a non-stop day today. The kids have only one more day of school before they get a glorious 3-week vacation. That's right. Three floggin' weeks. I'm happy for them, I really am.

Adina

To whom it may concern,
I have seen both the brtish office and the american office and the american one is funnier by far. I know that the the plots of the shows are the same and that it came from there, but I am american, not british, and I think american things are funnier than those coming from the other side of the ocean. It is beyond my comprehension how somebody can honestly watch both shows and still come out saying that the first one is funnier. So, I think this one is funny, We crack up about it every day the next day. Thanks for the soap box. I have ten more reasons, Jim, Dwight, Pam, Stanley, the Temp, MIchael, Oscar, Angela, Toby, and Phylis. Thanks.

Tom and Tracey (even though she does not know it, but she does feel it)

Adina, can you email me the recipe for that pumpkin log thing that you made for Thanksgiving? Thanks!

--
marninthian@gmail.com

So Mike I have seen and heard of the British (original) version of "The Office". I actually saw that one first and LOVED it. Because of that I didn't even watch the American version at all (I don't usually like American remakes of British shows). But I just happened to watch the American one like a month ago and it is SO funny. I really like Steve Carrell but above all I love Dwight. He is the best part. I don't think it helped either that I started watching it on the Halloween episode when Dwight dressed as a Sith Lord. Too funny. Anyway, I have to give my respects to the original as being great.

Brooke I would take you to Disneyland with me if I could! Thanks for the Santa story, that is great! I can just see it! And Tom and Tracey I second the request for a name. Have you decided on one?

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as I can this month! Love you all!

--
Marnstance

Mike and I decided that it was probably time to tell Jane that there really isn't a Santa Claus. She is defending him to the death at school and I have come up with so many fabulous explainations for little issues of potential doubt that she still believes. I did think however that she might have some doubts. Oh, I was so wrong. I decide to tell her and then ease the pain with telling her she is going to get to help fill her sisters' stockings. So the other night we have some down time and I call her over and tell her I have a secret I think she should know. She says okay. I tell her it isn't a really great secret and that she might be upset that I've told her. She says it's okay and now she is begging me to tell her. So I look her in the eye and say "Jane, there is no Santa." The child bursts out laughing, positively hysterical, leans over hits my leg, totally cracking up. In between giggles she's saying "I can't believe you did that. You are so funny. Oh, so you and dad eat cookies at midnight, yeah right." I tell her again that there really isn't a Santa, she continues to laugh until I say it the third time. At which time she gets the most devasted look on her face that I have ever seen and I have no choice but to reply "Got ya." She laughs again, clearly relieved that her mom just has a demented sense of humor, hugs me, tells me she can't believe I teased her like that, and goes off to finish putting away her laundry. It was so cute I could have just died. So the magic will continue yet another year at our house and maybe she'll just have to figure it out on her own because I can't tell her again.

There is the story, as promised. Everything is going well here. Mike bought us a mac video camera and we have found a program that is mac/pc compatable. After 2 hours, almost stangling each other over the phone line (some of you may be familiar with my incredible lack of computer knowledge), we got everything up and running and the girls spent 45 minutes last night giggling and swapping crazy faces with their daddy. Priceless. I think it will help all of us with our homesickness.

Mike is going to be coming home mid-Feb for three weeks and we can't wait.

Buffy and all other students- Good luck on finals.

Marnie- I am going through major Disneyland withdrawal with no cure in sight. This is the longest I've ever gone since Mike and I got married. Have fun for me.

Tom and Tracey- I'm so excited for you. Are you ever going to tell us this little girl's name?

I love you all. Love. Brooke

The Last Shot of the M. Springs Lodge 

Houses 27, seats 80 for dinner 

Leasable 

Nice 

Snow at MT. Springs