Surprise Baby Shower + Katie's Bachelorette Party!!

Two weeks ago, Karri Huber, Emily Rankin and Katie Cowles came to Menomonie for what I thought was to be a surprise bachelorette party for Katie, who is getting married in Sri Lanka on December 4th. Little did I know, the surprise was also for me! Karri was pretty sneaky and organized the two way surprise! Emily and Karri brought food, drink, presents and even decorated the kitchen. After some tasty treats, gift opening and a few baby shower games, we proceeded to have the surprise bachelorette party for Katie. She was surprised as she thought we were all getting together to surprise me! We dressed Katie up as a little red devil, played a few games and then went out on the town. Even though Menomonie is a one-horse-town, it proved to be quite the venue for a bachelorette party! Nels was even in on the action and created a pub crawl for us. And when Everett got hungry, Nels brought him to me to feed him so that I wouldn't have to trek all the way back home. Thanks, Babe! We had an outrageously good time meeting the "townies," crossing things off of Katie's to-do list, dancing and just hanging out and catching up. What a lovely surprise it turned out to be! It was awesome getting together with my Cobber gals to celebrate Everett's birth and Katie's upcoming wedding! Thanks for a great weekend!

Everett - Weeks 1 and 2

Wow! I am a mom now! It has been a whirlwind of adventure since Everett came into this world. Giving birth to him was hands down the most intense experience of my life. Yes, the hours and hours of labor were not always fun, but the moment he was born and I heard him cry, I fell in love. I can't be more excited about my new title, "Mom," and all the joys and responsibilities it entails.

After a few days in Phoenix, the Paulson clan hopped on a plane bound for Minneapolis to make our way to our Wisconsin home for the month of November. Everett was a champ and Bristol was just excited to go along for the ride. Being only 4 days old, Nels and I were shielding Everett from the masses of snotty-nosed travelers. Craig and Patti greeted us at the gate, a treat we hadn't had since before 9-11. We were soon off to Menomonie so that Everett could get acquainted with his Grandma Patti and Grandpa Craig.

The following day after Craig and Patti left, I suddenly came down with H1N1 symptoms. I couldn't believe I had swine flu!! But, luckily I know a few good doctors and Adrienne Kurland called in Tamiflu for me. I had my first dose within 90 minutes of my fever. I love you, Adrienne! I felt a lot better by the next day but wore a mask for the next three days so that I wouldn't get Everett or Nels sick. I was so sad that I couldn't kiss my brand new baby!

The drama continues. A few days later, poor Bristol got sick. We thought his autoimmune hemolytic anemia was back because his gums were all white, but after a trip to the emergency vet in St Paul, it turned out to only be an allergic reaction of some sort. Thank goodness! This was my breaking point. In the past seven days, I had given birth after a not-so-simple labor, traveled across the country, picked up swine flu and then my dog got sick!!! Really? When Bristol got sick, I just sat on the floor with him and cried. It felt good to cry.

Luckily, this would all turn around. Everyone has stayed healthy. Everett's bilirubin came down, Bristol perked up after a shot of steroids and some benadryl, I recovered quickly and Nels managed to get some sleep and start functioning a little better. I have really enjoyed all of the little moments with my family the past few weeks. It has been those little moments that have filled me with delight and seem to give purpose to my life. Dinner with Nels, giving Everett a bath, walking Bristol, and at the end of the day, all four of us snuggling in bed together. It is good being a mom!

Meet Everett Craig Paulson!

Where to start? I guess, I am a father. Yeah, I know. Scary. I am so impressed with Margaret though; it seems like she's been doing this her whole life. Thank God.


Everett is a really cool customer. Pretty low stress kid, actually, though he did not start out that way! We thought he'd come along a couple of weeks ago, to be honest (I blocked off two weeks from teaching with pre-recorded lectures for my classes to make a little window of time down in AZ though, luckily). When he did finally start making his way out he offered Margaret a 28 hour labor and repeated threats of a crash c-section (at one point the docs even had her arms pinned down on the operating table).

But here he is! 7 pounds, 8 ounces, 19.25 inches, looking kind of like his mother. So far he loves his hands, eating until he can't eat anymore (and then eating some more), and unpredictable sleep patterns (though he does go down pretty good when napping with his dad). He's been a huge hit with everyone (people like babies- imagine that, right?), including his Grandma and Grandpa Paulson (his namesake). He did have a bout with Bili Rubin. Not to be confused with Billy Martin. The doc this morning said he's in much, much better shape now (no lamps needed).

We are currently up in Wisconsin. (Everett was a champ on the trip up here.) I had to go back to work today. I was exhausted. People were not kidding about the sleep thing and kids. I don't know why I thought they were. It is nice having Margaret, Everett, and Bristol up here though! Life is quite a bit different now.

BTW- thanks a lot Arizona for your lack of H1N1 vaccines! We tried to get Margaret (a really high risk individual) vaccinated before coming up to WI, to no avail. So of course she came down with Mr. Swine Flu yesterday! She got medicated and masked up immediately upon recognizing symptoms, so it has not been too bad. We're getting shot up with the vaccine next Monday, because Wisconsin is on top of things. Good on ya, cheeseheads.

OK- we'll keep you all up to date, but in general I just wanted to let you all know that God blessed me to be a dad against His/Her better judgement (luckily I have Margaret in my corner I suppose), and we thank Him/Her and all of you for your prayers and thoughts. I feel very, very fortunate.

Much love,

Nels, Margaret, Everett, and Bristol

Babymoon!

Nels made it back to Phoenix on Friday, the 16th in anticipation of the birth of Baby Paulson. It was nice to see him after a month of being apart! What Nels didn't know is that I had booked the "Bundle of Joy Babymoon Package" at the Westin Kierland for Saturday/Sunday. After a nice breakfast on the patio and a quick stop at the mall to pick up swim trunks for Nels, we drove over to the Westin to check in. Nels's face lit up as we pulled in. We also had Bristol Bay with us because the hotel allowed dogs and we felt like we needed to celebrate his birthday, too (Oct 12) by not leaving him behind. Bristol got his own "Heavenly" dog-bed and a little doggy welcome package. After we got settled in, we decided to catch some rays. We floated along the lazy river, sat by the pool, read some of "The Happiest Baby On the Block" and just enjoyed being together. I did get a lot of funny looks wearing my bikini nine months pregnant, but I didn't care. I had my husband by my side!! We went back to the room and had the "make your own ice cream sundae" bar and chocolate covered strawberries. Yumbo! After hanging out with Bristol, we got ready for dinner. The package included dinner at Mastro's Ocean Club, a swanky restaurant/bar at Kierland Commons. The food was awesome, the service outstanding and the people beautiful (but of course we were in Scottsdale).

We went back to our room and watched the movie "500 Days of Summer." The next morning, we awoke to breakfast in bed before heading off to the spa for a couples massage. It was really lovely! The spa was fantastic and we even managed to catch the Vikings game before checkout. I highly suggest the "Babymoon" to any couple who would like to celebrate their last few days of peace and quiet before the hectic days of waking up every two hours to feed a screaming baby set in!

Baby Showers

I was blessed with not one but two baby showers in the past few months!

The first was actually a surprise. My sisters, Lenor and Rosanna, and nieces, Alyssa and Brianna, came out to visit soon after Nels left for Wisconsin in mid-August. I unfortunately had to work the weekend they came, but when I got home, my kitchen had streamers everywhere and I was greeted by "Surprise!" They had made food, a diaper cake and had all kinds of presents! I started crying as this was really unexpected. I had been feeling so badly that I hadn't done ANYTHING yet to get ready for this baby because of my crazy work schedule. It was a lovely surprise! After we indulged in some food and drink, we headed out to the pool to relax (and decrease my swelling.) This trip was the first time my sisters and I had been together for over three years! What a way to celebrate!

It was a quick trip for the Solberg's but Rosanna was lucky enough to stay for an entire week! She was a good sport making herself busy while I had to be at work. In the evenings, we had fun going out to dinner (Sauce, Postino's, Ajo Al's, The Parlor.) Yumbo! We went a little overboard near the end of her trip and got a good deal on massages at The Phoenician resort. We loved the pampering!

September 12th was Baby Shower #2 weekend! My mom and Patti flew down here to join the festivities. Melissa Lempke and Cori Norgaard organized everything and it was at my good friend, Adrienne Kurland's house. It was seriously one of the best days of my life! Mom and Patti stayed with me, which was really nice. After a leisurely morning, we headed over to Adrienne's. They place was all decorated and looked fabulous! The cake was unbelievable. My good friend and neighbor, Linda Conway, made the most amazing cake! It was out of control with the animals made out of Rice Krispy treats that were molded into animals and then frosted. It didn't just look good, but tasted good! Linda is so talented. It was so nice to be surrounded by my friends and family and they truly did shower me with so many lovely gifts! My mom took me by surprise when I opened the gift from her. It was a baptismal gown for the baby made out of leftover fabric and lace from when she made my wedding dress! Immediately, I broke down in tears, along with the rest of the guests! Mom, you are an incredible woman who continues to surprise me! All in all, it was a perfect day! The food was so good, all homemade by Melissa. The games were really fun. And it was just so nice to be able to see everyone and talk about the upcoming adventure of welcoming a baby into this world.

The next morning, I took my mom and Patti out to Sunday brunch at The Farm, a cute little place known for its food here in the valley. It was outstanding. They grow everything right there on the little working farm. They had a small gift shop where mom and Patti bought themselves necklaces as souvenirs from the weekend. Patti surprised me afterwards with a necklace, too (which I now wear ALL the time.) It was then off to the airport to drop Patti off. My mom stayed a bit longer and helped me with some things around the house, but then also needed to get back home. What a great weekend! Many thanks Melissa, Cori and Adrienne and for everyone who came to celebrate the coming of this child!

Fun in North Carolina

While this post is a little late, it surely doesn't minimize the good time that was had Labor Day Weekend, Sept 4-7! Melissa Lempke and I headed out to Winston-Salem, NC to visit our good friend, Laura van Poppel, for the weekend.

Since Melissa and I got in on a late flight into Charlotte, Laura met us and we stayed downtown for the night. We spent a few hours just catching up before collapsing into bed, exhausted from our travels. The next morning, Laura and I went out for some coffee and left Melissa to catch a few more zzz's. We then got ready and ventured out to Childress Vineyard for lunch in Lexington. What a beautiful vineyard! We enjoyed some cheese and crackers on the grounds before snagging a highly coveted table on the veranda overlooking the vineyard. There was even a band playing live music, but not what you would expect. Think Lynyrd Skynyrd and Allman Brothers style. We were sipping vino to Free Bird and Ramblin Man! We were in the South.

After a nice walk on the grounds and a stop in the gift shop, we ventured out to see Scott and Laura's house. It was so great to see Payton and Ian and how they have grown. It was also really nice to see the house and all the places that Laura and Scott talk about in their day-to-day activities. Scott had offered to watch the kids again that evening so we could have a girls' night out in Winston-Salem. It was pretty low key, but fun. We found a cute restaurant along an area where the community was having a little street festival. Good people watching!

That Sunday, Melissa, Laura and Scott had their Fantasy Football Draft, so we hung around close to home, ate some wings and finger foods and enjoyed laying low. Typical Sunday Night Dinner style, just like old times. Thanks for a great weekend, van Poppels! I need to bring Nels and Baby Paulson next time!

Updates!

So I have some catching up to do for all of you on the blog; much has happened since the 4th of July!

First, I took a trip out to Athens, Georgia to meet with some other researchers and work on a paper. It was gorgeous out there (it's such a cool town) and we were productive. However, the other cool thing is I got to see my cousin, Andy, for the first time in like 15 years! He showed me around Atlanta and I got to hang out with his amazing girls.

A week later Scott Johnson and I took our annual fishing trip. This year we did the San Juan River in New Mexico. It's one of my favorite fisheries, and I wanted to fish it one more time before moving from the southwest. Dave Rhine put us up kindly, and we had a good time hanging out with him and his wife Pam. The fishing was decent, though not gang-busters like it has been in the past for me. But Thoreau once said a person spends his whole life fishing without realizing it's not the fish that he's after. Luckily Scott and I embrace that saying, and the fishing is always secondary to having a good time together, away from responsibilities (which have been remarkably minimal for me this summer, thank God!).

I also took the time to hang out with friends before my big move. The one big trip I fit in was a up to the White Mountains with my old teaching buddies (aka the Vegas crew), Tom, Dave, and Paul. We stayed at Paul's dad's cabin and I introduced them to the wonders of fly-fishing. It was a very enjoyable last horrah with the boys, and it was so great that we were able to fit it in!

Margaret was unfortunately busy during this whole time studying for her big board exam. It was a relief once she got done, and we decided to have a celebratory trip. After she finishe the exam we took the time to go visit my Grandma in Ohio. It was the farm I spent my summers on (and where I learned to fish), and it will always be very special for me. We had a great time hanging out with Grandma Dorothy playing cards and just talking. We even had a chance to go back to my uncle and aunt's place on the farm and have a fantastic meal (they grow all their own vegetables and eat the fish they catch in the summer- all fresh!), followed by some good ol' gelato. An amazingly relaxing trip.

Of course, this trip also was the last one before my big move. The night we got back into Phoenix my little brother Pete met us at the airport. He came down to drive up with me, so we decided to take a leisurely pace and enjoy five days on the road! We hit the links the day before we left, and made some really great stops along the way. In Mexican Hat, Utah we "discovered" this amazing gem of a steakhouse just outside of Monument Valley. It was a really perfect break towards the end of the first day.

The next days were spent in Colorado where we fished the Roaring Fork river before heading to Fort Collins for a day and a half. We hit up the New Belgium brewery (that makes Fat Tire, among others) and I have to say it was the best brewery tour I've ever been on. It is an impressively green operation too- they even give all their employees bikes to take into work! The town was a lot of fun (I guess it was the template Disneyland used to create its classic Americana downtown) that night and the next day we fished the local trout stream for some wild browns.

The last couple of days were mostly driving (what else do you do in Nebraska and Iowa?), so it was really nice to arrive in Menomonie. I had forgotten how beautiful Wisconsin is in the summer, and the town is even better than I remembered (maybe partially because it's August and not December :)). Pete and I then went up to see my parents where he picked up a vehicle to take to Detroit Lakes. On my way back to Menomonie I stopped to see my brother Doug and Cindy and the kids, which was really nice. They're going to come out to Menomonie for part of Labor Day weekend, which will be fun.

Once I got back to Menomonie I arranged my office and apartment. I am renting the bottom level of this nice old house that was just renovated with new appliances, etc., and all my rent money goes to this amazing old Victorian theater in town. I can't wait to go see a performance there!

Last Wednesday my buddy Augie came up to visit me from AZ. We spent a few days golfing, biking, bowing, going to the MN State Fair, and just generally having one last fun go-around before my school year starts. It's a bummer that I won't have him around anymore, but it was really great of him to come up!

As I was getting settled in up in Wisconsin Margaret had a really nice treat down in AZ. Her sisters (Lenor and Rosanna) and nieces (Briana and Alyssa) paid her a visit! They had fun sitting by the pool and going out to some nice restaurants, and they gave her a surprise baby shower! It was really cool of them, and Margaret was touched to tears. :) I think it was a good little transition for her as well.

Anyway, that gets you all caught up to today! Now I am just getting to know my co-workers and the town. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful, and I feel like I made a good decision by taking the job at UW-Stout. Margaret is keeping busy with the chief resident position and is looking forward to visiting some friends out in North Carolina over labor day weekend!