Thompson Cousins

Caleb and Anaiah enjoyed meeting each other for the first time at Christmas. We spent Christmas at Erik and Michelle's house where we enjoyed watching Caleb open his presents as well as being with the rest of the family.

Ice-Skating

During the Thanksgiving holiday, Niel and I enjoyed ice-skating in the open at the Mission Inn marketplace in downtown Riverside. The rentals I had were uncomfortable, though, but Niel later got me my own skates for Christmas. Thanks, darling! Photo was taken by our dear babysitter Erin Land who was with Caleb, watching us.

Boys Playing the Piano

After our Thanksgiving dinner at Mom Lynn's, we had a riot laughing as we watched Caleb (11 months) and Dickson cousin Ethan (2 1/2 years) blast away at the piano as a rowdy duet. The boys went on and on, clearly enjoying our loud and encouraging reactions! Erin Land (friend and Caleb's babysitter) in the background.

Caleb's Ear Infections

We were just at the pediatrician's office. Caleb's strep throat and
fever are gone, but his ear infection in both ears still remain. (His
fourth one by the way). The antibiotic he had been on was apparently too
weak, so he's been prescribed a stronger antibiotic. This explains why
Caleb was often fussy and sleepless this past week. We'll be sure he
stays healthy, especially with the addition of Juice Plus fruit and
veggie powder to his pre-mixed food. By Thanksgiving he'll be back to
his cheerful self again.
Concerned Mom

Caleb is walking!

Caleb is finally walking! As you can see in this video, Caleb is making one of his first steps, and obviously enjoying his new found skill :)

Getting Caleb to Sleep and Talk

Click on video above. Caleb has been difficult to put to sleep these past few months. We kept rocking him or holding him until he fell asleep. We realize this isn't feasible ever since he's gotten heavier and we get more tired, so we now have finally managed to leave Caleb in his crib until he falls asleep on his own. It was a difficult road, but we got there! (More details are given through ASL in this video clip). Caleb is now speaking a few words such as "mama", "dada", and most frequently, "uh oh", when he falls down, drops something, or is looking for trouble (according to Nana Lynn). He also claps his hands, and signs something resembling "bird" or "diaper", indecipherable at this time. We enjoy being Caleb's parents very much!

Malpractice Suit

I met with my attorney a few days ago for malpractice suit against Kaiser Permanente for substandard care. My lawyer, Snyder Patin, collected almost all of my information and said it was a viable case. It is now going to be reviewed by a medical expert, and when ready, my case will go through arbituation. This won't involve judge or jury, but only three arbitrators, one representing me, one for Kaiser, and one independent person. This process might take up to 15 to 18 months, but I will keep you posted of developments.

Pirates Party

Niel and I went to a friend's Pirates Party where pirate apparel is
required. Caleb stayed home with babysitters- thanks to two darling
teenage CODAs! We haven't gone out much as a couple, always spending
time as a family (who'd want to stay away from such a cute, irresible
baby like Caleb??) We realize Caleb needs to get accustomed to having
sitters other than family for his own personal growth. After a great
time with our pirate friends, we came home to find Caleb long asleep,
the house squeaky clean, and the girls content with tales of how fun
they had playing with Caleb. All went well, and we definitely should do
this more often.
Love,
Erika

Caleb's Birthday & Many Births

Caleb will celebrate his first birthday on Saturday December 9th. Family
and friends, mark your calendars! We can't believe our baby has two
months to go before he's a full year old and toddler-like. We're blessed with many babies of the family who have arrived this year two years after Sean and Lisa had Ethan ... Naomi's Aedan Josiah (8/4/06), Mary's Audrianna Violet (8/20/06), and now, Erik and Michelle's Anaiah Ruth (10/19/06)! (Why all "A's" this year, by the way? We even had almost gone with Anders as the first name, but decided on Caleb Anders.)

October Update-Belated!

It’s been so long since we last sent an entry. We are all doing well, so here’s news in a nutshell:
-Today on October 19, 2006, our niece and Caleb’s cousin, Anaiah Ruth Thompson arrived! Although she is six weeks early and at three and a half pounds, she and mom Michelle are doing well. Proud Daddy Erik is with them, as well as both of Anaiah’s grandmothers. We have been praying for their safety every day and feel relieved now.
-Niel has been commuting one hour and a half one way daily to and from Irvine, where he teaches at our alma mater, University High School. He loves teaching there, dealing with a 99% teaching and 1% discipline ratio that he doesn’t take for granted. On his way home one afternoon, he got in a car accident. A restaurant truck, whose driver is 100% at fault, turned suddenly into Niel’s exit lane, ramming the front and driver’s side of our beloved 2006 Saturn VUE that is still to this day at the shop with repairs being paid by the restaurant auto insurance. Thankfully, Niel is all right, and that he was alone when it happened while Caleb was safe at home.
-I (Erika) had an unexpected C-Section for the removal of what is suspected an incorrectly inserted IUD and was ordered to stay home a month to recover. I’ve finally returned to work about three weeks ago, and am productive and fairly happy, dealing with many new changes at the school.
-Caleb attends a family-daycare center, run in the household of a deaf couple. His crying has minimized as Caleb got used to it there. I still breastfeed him before work, at lunch, and after school, so Caleb is still fairly at the breast exclusively, in addition to fruits, vegetables, and his latest favorites: asparagus, corn, tofu hot dogs, veggie tofu cheese, and linguini! Caleb will walk any time now, as he’s already doing so while holding onto parents’ pants or skirt, or on the sofa, and briefly letting go for a few steps at a time. Be sure to baby proof your house the next time we visit!

Surgery Aftermath

(August 17,2006)

Niel, Caleb and I just left Kaiser at 7 pm tonight for home after being
there since 11:30 a.m. yesterday. I can now remain seated with less
pain. It's a killer when I sit down, stand up, move around, etc. because
the stomach muscles are used. My stomach, lungs, collarbone, and neck
are bruised from the artificial gas used to balloon up my stomach for
the lariscopy camera vision. Breathing is difficult with the
aftereffects of full anesthesia, and the phlegm sitting in my lungs
which will lead to lung infection later this week or next unless I keep
breathing out of this plastic tube with a lever that goes up to the
level of inhalation required- very exhausting and dizzying. My stomach
hurts to the slightest touch, so I steer away from Caleb during his
active phases when possible. I cannot lift more than 10 pounds
(including Caleb at almost 19). And of course, there's the huge stitched
slash across my crotch hairline, with lots of heavy duty tape, won't be
fun removing later. I'm ordered not to lift, work or drive for 6 weeks.
I however will feel better in 2 weeks, I was informed. I need to drink
liquids and soft foods for awhile.

Now as to why all this???
It was a very long process for me, finding out one more bad news after
another, since last Wednesday when I had an appointment to have my IUD
removed, normally a simple procedure of pulling the string out. IUDs are
good for 5 to 10 years, depending on the type. After only 6 months, I
felt it was just too much pain to bear- ocassional stabbing sensations
in my stomach while breastfeeding, sitting, or standing, all at random
times. I've contacted a nurse about this but was told it was normal
because of breastfeeding. On that day, the IUD string couldn't be found,
nor thru ultrasound, until the X-Ray detected the copper "T" in my
pelvis. Surgery was scheduled the following Tues. (yesterday). I went
under anesthesia thinking I'd wake a few hours later with 2 small clean
cuts in my belly and ready to go home as an outpatient. Instead, I'm
told the IUD was found to have been improperly inserted past the uterus
into the intestines, and was complicated to remove so a C-section was
done. I spent the night bedridden at Kaiser for 1 1/2 days. I was
finally released after "passing" the test of sitting up, standing, and
walking- a very difficult feat that usually gave me fainting spells,
nausea and anxiety attacks for most of the day. I've been thinking about
the mistakes made at Kaiser:
1) the dr inserted the IUD into me and THEN gave me a brochure on the
risks involved and that I should take into serious consideration (too
late)
2) dr inserted way too far, pushing it past the uterus into the
intestine (so I technically never got birth control)
3) after insertion, the dr didn't use ultrasound to make sure it looks
right (found that my cousin, an ob/gyn in NY does this for double check
herself)
4) when I reported pains, they told me it was normal pain due to
breastfeeding w IUD (again if I knew that'd happen, wouldn't have chosen
IUD)
5) and now this... With loss of 6 weeks worth of work/income

Well, I'm glad to be alive, and recovering, and still able to bear
children. That's the most important thing. I've received wonderful
support from people all this time. Thanks for keeping me in your
thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Erika

Lake Tahoe

"Da ow" as the Indians called the "Lake of the Sky", which the newcomers mistook as "Tahoe". Our dog Amy sharing in our pleasure in this secluded beach site at Kiva Beach in South Lake Tahoe.

Thanks to Niel's dad Bruce, we stayed at his nice, humble cabin for a week. Dad Bruce had a barbecue ready for us upon our arrival. A few days later, we went out to lunch with Niel's mom Kathryn, along with Aunt Marcia, for her birthday. Close to the end of the week, Niel's Uncle Scott and cousin Danielle drove over for the night and took us out to the Catina restaurant. Such nice meetings with family in beautiful, sunny and cool weather! A great escape from Riverside which was 115 degrees!

Caleb Growing Up!

Sigh... Caleb is no longer a baby baby. It is evident this evening. He is as of this moment standing up against Niel, and had pulled himself up on his own. Just earlier in the bath room, Caleb pulled himself up to a standing position outside the tub! What's more, I wanted to read to him from this colorful baseball book, but Caleb took the liberty of turning the pages in the correct direction, using the correct thumb and index finger position! It's kinda the first time he didn't try to chew the book, as he now knows the function of books. I must've modeled a lot during my maternity leave! We're amazed and so proud of our lil' boy!

Lake Tahoe video

Enjoying a day on the beach at Lake Tahoe.

July 9 Wedding Vows

Niel and Erika exchanged personal vows again in front of their pastor and 80 witnesses, family and friends, atop a bluff facing the Dana Point harbor and the Pacific ocean.

Blue Dog Art Exhibition

On Saturday May 27th, Erika, Niel, and Caleb attended an art exhibition at the Del Mar Hilton to view the art of George Rodrigue who they are pictured with. Rodrigue is well known for his paintings of the famed Blue Dog. Erika surprised Niel with a purchase of a Blue Dog print (as shown in the picture) for an early birthday gift with Rodrigue's signature on it (the 1st of 500 prints!). It was such an exciting opportunity for them to meet the artist and view his paintings in real life, as some of them are valued as high as $100,000.

Thompson Reunion & Cecil's 80th Birthday

A Thompson reunion at Niel's grandpa Cecil's 80th birthday party in the Thompson hometown of Chico, CA. A smashing success with catered barbecued chicken, tri-tip steak, wine, beer, lots of A1 sauce, guitar-playing, cake, family re-introductions, and some apparent competition for Caleb-cuddling time!

Solid Food & Forefathers

Four direct generations of Thompson boys. Caleb successully eats solids for the first time- mashed oatmeal cereal with banana, as his daddy, grandpa and great-grandpa cheer him on. Plain rice cereal he hated, but this he likes!

Baby Caleb

Caleb is now 5 months old. Parenting him is getting more fun and exciting as he is now responding to our facial expressions, voices, signs, and actions. Caleb loves reaching for pagers and coffee mugs, clearly because his parents often have these in their hands! Caleb likes exploring his hands and feet, and his parents' faces, especially Daddy's goatee and Mommy's hair, and both of their lips. He is as active as he can be for a baby who isn't yet sitting up on his own or crawling. We love him dearly, and look forward to what he's able to do next!

Niel and Erika Thompson- Easter 2006

Mother's Day

Erika's 1st official Mother's Day, celebrating with Niel's mom Kathryn. We're amazed how much life changes beautifully in only a year, and we're now all mothers- including sister-in-law Michelle, who is expecting her firstborn this December 1st. I'm joyfully proud to be Caleb's mom!

Dickson Reunion

Uncle Ron and Aunt Dawn came to visit from Seattle, so the Dickson brothers (my dad Alan) and their families, including cousin Lynn (my mom) gathered at Sean and Lisa's for a reunion. Everybody certainly had a good time! The ping pong, guitar playing, drinks, the baby boys, and the delicious kabob bbq! Ethan was so cute when he tried to present the orange monkey to Caleb during his crying. Ron's song "I'm Alive" was inspiring so I memorized it for signing while he sang with his guitar. Uncle Gordon... He's a great competitor in ping pong, and I hope he was only joking about his broken toe! Sean and Lisa, thanks for a great party! (Photographer Dawn)

Carlsbad Beach

We met up with Niel's dad Bruce, Marion, and her family in Carlsbad where we had a pleasant, brisk stroll along the Pacific. Caleb, at a beach for the first time, was lulled to sleep by the sea air! (or by Bruce's voice?)

Racquetball Tournament

Niel and Erika played as first-timers in the novice division at the National Deaf Racquetball Tournament in Fullerton, CA, because it was nearby. Niel enjoyed himself even though, in his last match, he had to play against a "B" player who wasn't supposed to compete in the Novice division. Erika lost once, and had to play in the 2nd tier "Loser's Bracket" for a total of 10 games, to re-emerge in the championship rounds the next day to defeat her previous winning opponent, all squeezed in between breastfeeding sessions! Thanks to mom Lynn for carrying Caleb in a front carrier, so both of them could watch Niel and Erika playing.