Everything's Okray: January 2013

Since London was born a little more than six weeks ago life in the Okray house has been eventful and has definitely changed. When the doctors at Meriter Hospital released London and Amber on Tuesday December 11th, 2012 and we were finally able to go home we were then able to see how life would change with the addition of our little one. We were expecting the worst, but have been pleasantly surprised as to how well we've all adjusted and at how wonderful our little London has been.

Amber's mom stayed with us until Wednesday December 12th, 2012, but as she had been away from work for a week she needed to get back to Appleton to her fiance Steve and get back to work. Fortunately John was able to be off of work until the following Monday so those first few nights were a bit easier for us to share in the responsibilities of feedings. Luckily for us it only took a few nights of London waking up two times a night before she started sleeping for two five or six hour stretches throughout the night (which she continues to do) and that makes for a very happy and rested mommy and daddy!

During the first few weeks at home we had many visitors come to meet London and to see our new home. Here are a few of those wonderful people who came to visit:

Uncle Adam and London (Becky came to visit too)

Auntie Michelle and London

Uncle Adam and Auntie Michelle (future Godparents) with London

"Auntie" Cristina and London

The VanDenLangenbergs (Will, Sue and Jerry) with London

"Auntie" Amy with London (Drew, Tom, Megan, Sarah and Justin came to visit too)

"Auntie" Amie and "Uncle" Brian with London

"Auntie" Megan and "Uncle" Avery with London

After less than two weeks at home it was time for us to head out on our whirlwind tour of Wisconsin for the Christmas holiday. We traveled to Stevens Point, Appleton, Crivitz and Milwaukee during a nine day stretch. Here are some pictures of our "tour:"

First stop: Stevens Point, WI

Finally getting to meet Grandma Mary

Snuggling with Grandpa Mike

Meeting Auntie Melissa and cousins Jared, Justin and A.J.

Snuggling with Justin and A.J.

London's first Festivus

Next Stop: Appleton, WI

First Christmas Eve Church Service

Snuggles with Mommy on Christmas Eve

Sleeping on Daddy on Christmas Eve

Sitting with Great-Grandpa Norb on Christmas Morning

The whole Wene/Okray/Bartman Family

Meeting Brynna for the first time

Meeting Abby for the first time

Meeting Brittany for the first time

Hanging out with Jodi for the first time

Meeting Susie for the first time

Sleeping with Great-Grandma Betty on Christmas Day

Hanging out with Riley after Christmas

Next Stop: Crivitz, WI

Meeting Great-Auntie Eileen

Meeting Great-Grandma Georgene (we also saw Great-Grandpa Donald, Great-Auntie Dede and Great-Uncle Darryl)

Next Stop: Milwaukee, WI

London all ready for Briton and Maureen's Wedding

Our family at the wedding ceremony

Briton, Maureen and the rest of the Wedding Party after the ceremony

Unfortunately not long after the holidays Amber's family received some very sad news. Amber's Grandpa Norb (her mom's father) who was thought to have a bad case of bronchitis actually had Stage 4 Lung Cancer that had spread to many other parts of his body. Amber and London were able to go up to Appleton to visit with him during the beginning of his hospital stay and although he did go through one round of chemotherapy the cancer was to advanced and the pain of chemotherapy was to great. After the first treatment Norb made the decision to stop treatment and he passed away with Amber's Grandma Betty at his side on Wednesday January 9th, 2013. We are so very thankful that Grandpa Norb was with us for so many years and that he was able to meet his Great-Granddaughter London.

Great-Grandpa Norb and London

Great-Grandma Betty, Great-Grandpa Norb and London

After being able to celebrate Norb's life with family and friends Amber and London are able to have about a week and a half at home before Amber heads back to work. Luckily John is able to stay home with London until the golf course opens up in March.

Well I guess that is all for now. Until next time. Go Pack Go!

London at one month old on January 7th, 2013.

With all of the craziness that has been going on in our lives I wasn't able to share with you about the move to our new home. We closed on our newly built four bedroom, three bath 2600 square foot home in Janesville, Wisconsin on Friday November 9th, 2012. We were able to put a lot down so that our mortgage payments with escrow is actually less than our rent payment was per month!

Us at the closing.

Starting to move into our new home!

We officially moved in on Saturday November 17th, 2012 with the help of family and friends doing much of the heavy lifting. Amber got out of having to do a lot of the work since she was nine months pregnant. Lucky her! We also had family come in for Thanksgiving and we were able to get a lot put away during that long weekend. We tried very hard to get things put away as best as possible before London came into the world and though we're still working on arranging some items and hanging stuff on the walls we are very much moved into the house and are loving it! Here are some of the pictures of the house now.