Lasik Weekend

At the beginning of the year, we decided to get Lasik eye surgery for Travis. He has worn glasses or contacts since the 5th grade and was more recently having problems wearing contacts for any long period of time. We both were pretty nervous about the procedure but confident we found a good surgeon. We decided to have Hoopes Vision perform the surgery up in Sandy, Utah. So we stayed with our friend Nick's parents who live up the street from the office and made the 2.5 hour trip to Sandy. The surgery was pretty intense to watch. I was able to take some pictures from behind the viewing windows. Notice his eyeball on the TV screen in the background- so unnerving to watch! He was numbed up on his eye and was given some drugs to calm him/make him a little loopy, so he didn't feel any of the poking and slicing etc. As I watched the fine detailed hand of the opthamologist I kept thinking that there was no way I could ever be one myself! So much liability and fine details. It was truly amazing. The surgery went very well and he has 20/20 vision as opposed to the 20/800 he had before. It's such a miracle and blessing. He loves it and so happy all has worked out well.






While we were in the area, we introduced Dallen to his Aunt Sarah, Uncle David, cousin Jacob, frauntie Jocie and frauntie Becca (that's friend and aunt put together). :) We ran lots of errands and spent lots of time in the car, hence the picture on the front seat of my car. He's so happy in the mornings so we caught a cute smile of him in bed once too. It was so fun seeing everyone. We were pretty exhausted by the end of the trip from being on the go so much and happy to get Dallen back home, but overall it was a great trip!

Fillmore for the 4th

Savannah and Dallen

Looks like we were being a little too loud for Dallen. :)

For the 4th of July we had the Starley's over for a day and then headed up to Fillmore with them and their family for the weekend. Nick, Travis and Cael spent a lot time on the ATV's while Mindy and I hung out with our little ones. In Beaver we walked around at the Butch Cassidy Days Event, which I had no idea was going on, but ran into it while we were out. I guess Butch Cassidy was born here or something...I really have no idea. :) There were just booths of things to buy and eat, and one booth that was of the most interest was the reptile display; Cael of course loved this and I had just about enough after the first glimpse. I'm so not ready to have a son who likes bugs and reptiles etc. Yuck!

Then in Fillmore we stayed with Nick's grandma for a night and just spent time hanging out on the porch. Dallen seemed to enjoy being outside and was a happy little guy until his fussy evening time came. We did get out and head up the canyon to fish where I experienced my first projectile bowel movement from Dallen all over me and the truck. It was quite the experience. :P So even though I still couldn't do much (I was only 3.5 weeks postpartum), it was so nice getting out of the house and spending time with friends. :)

For the actual 4th, we had to come back to Beaver since Travis was on call that day. Beaver doesn't do fireworks for the 4th but they totally do for pioneer day. Not sure I agree with that, but at least I got to see some this year. Dallen seemed to enjoy them as well. He was all wide-eyed and awake for the whole show. :)

Travis threw Lily in. She got to the other side ok, but was too afraid to swim back because the water was moving too fast. So he had to go get her. :)

More Dallen...

Just a collection of pictures of and about Dallen over the last 3 weeks. Enjoy!

First diaper change by his daddy, with a little help from grandma.

Little guy in a big crib!

First meeting with Lily-she did and does great!

What is this doggy doing next to me?

Ah! doggy is way too close, too close!

First jog with daddy in the stroller

First bath- he hated it!

Ah- finally all warm

2 sleepy heads

Proud Daddy on a walk in the sage behind our house

Fishing with Dad at Puffer Lake

Chillin in his favorite spot- the couch

Family Visits

It was so nice having both mine and Travis' families come visit and meet Dallen so soon after he was born. David and Linda came 5 days after he was born and enjoyed a couple rides on the ATV and dinner Saturday evening. Of course there was lots of cuddling with Dallen too. Their visit went by too quickly so we're hoping to get together again soon.

My family came the following week for 1.5 days on their way to take Emily to BYU. Travis was able to get the day off and took everyone on long, fun ATV rides. It was fun hanging out with everyone and getting up into the mountains as well. Dallen's first outing was to Kents Lake and Upper Kents Lake where Travis and Joy tried to fish for awhile and we all just enjoyed the sites. It was so nice seeing everyone! - well almost everyone. (Jess & fam are still in TX, Sarah & fam couldn't come down from Provo during the week, and Jordan is on his mission in TN). Looking forward to having them again when we do the blessing and I'm all recovered!

Introducing Dallen Howard Hicks

Dallen was born June 7, 2011 at 9:59am in Beaver Utah. He was 6lbs 9oz and 20.5 in long. We decided to induce 8 days after he was due. All I needed was a little medication to get the process going and he was born 14 hours later. I was in "real" labor from about 3am to 7:30am- lots of contractions and lots of pain. Finally got the epidural around 7:30am and thought that because I was only at 4cm that it'd be another 4-5 hours before I'd be ready to push. Well Dallen had other plans and was ready to come at 9am, 1.5 hours later! I pushed for about 45 minutes and couldn't get him out fast enough- his little heart beat wasn't recovering from the pushing very well for quite sometime so the doctor used the vacuum to help pull him out. He came out head and shoulders at the same time which in turn caused me to tear pretty bad. But Dallen was good and healthy and there weren't any problems. It was an amazing experience and we are so happy to have him here!

First car ride- in the Tundra

Lily wants in on the cuddling

Milk Coma



Ooo Milk! :)