Ava's Story

February 16, 2012

Ava Grace Burton was born on February 16, 2012 in Great Falls, Montana to Robert & Glenda Burton she joined her 2 brothers Blake and Zane. When she entered the world at 4:26 pm she weighed 1lb 7oz and was 11 1/2 inches in length.

Her story beings when I went in for a routine Dr.'s Appointment on Thurs. Feb. 16th at 10 am. I had the previous day been congested and had sinus pressure as i was starting to come down with a cold. The nurse in training at the Ob Clinic checked my blood pressure and it was high so he asked the nurse he was shadowing to recheck, she to got a high reading. Not sure the exact numbers just know the top was in the 200 range and the bottom in the 100's. The called the Dr. who was at the hospital delivering another baby. They sent me over to Benefis to be monitored. I called Robert to let him know i was being sent to the hospital for observation. I was admitted to Delivery and hooked up to a fetal monitor to monitor baby (didn't know it was a little girl yet), don't tell the boys they said they were having a little sister all along. They continued to monitor me and ordered an ultra sound on the baby about 2 in the afternoon. I called Robert to see if he wanted to come over to see the ultra sound since the 2 before he had not been able to make. He said he'd get through the shower and head over - he had stayed home from work as he was still getting over the cold i was coming down with. He managed to get through the shower and upstairs but sat down on the couch and fell asleep.

The baby was measuring 23 - 24 weeks instead of 26 weeks. A team of doctors came in and said that I need to deliver the baby that day. It was close to 3:40 pm and about time for the boys to be getting home from school, I asked the doctors if there was time for my husband to find someone to come stay with our boys and for him to come to the hospital since we live 2 blocks from the hospital. They said that would be fine but he would need to get there as soon as possible. I called  Robert and told him  that he needed to call Grama Cathy to come get his boys and to come to the hospital ASAP. While he was doing this the nurse prepped me for surgery. When Robert got there the Doctor's quickly briefed him handed him his scrubs, and wheeled me into surgery.

Little Miss Ava was then brought into the world - they quickly showed her to us and then began working on her, once she was ready to go down to NICU dad followed her down. I was the sewed up and taken to recovery. I was not able to go see her till Friday before Grama & Grampa Heitz and Aunt Lynn arrived.

The Grandparent's were informed of her arrival by Dad. The boys spent the night and most of Friday with their friend Andrew.

Pictures to be Added later - to be continued

Much needed Burton Update

September 2011 to March 2012

Ok its been quite a while since I last blogged. Lots has happened. I'll try to sum up what we've been up to.
I'll add pictures later.
We've been busy, we got to take a boat ride through the Gates of the Mountains, the boys have been busy with school and cub scouts. Selling lots of Popcorn in Sept. and Oct.and then delivering it all in November.

Zane had his 7th Birthday in Oct. he and a couple friends went swimming then we headed over for ice cream cake at the DQ.

Blake celebrated his birthday similarly with a swim party with friends and ice cream cake after wards.

We learned in late November that the Stork would dropping us a new little bundle due on Grampa Chezum's birthday the 22nd of May. Much speculation at to whether the newest addition would be a girl or boy and whether they would indeed arrive as scheduled ensued as we told family in Dec. and Jan. 

We enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas at home, a mild winter with no snow really for Christmas.

Grama and Grampa took all the Grandkids on the North Pole Express out of Lewistown in Dec. All the kid and adults had fun traveling to the North Pole on the Train. They enjoy playing in the pool and hot tub at the motel as well. They spent most of their time in the hot tub as the pool was VERY COLD.

The boys had their Christmas programs the week before school let out and this year we had to go a different day for each boy.  Due to conflicting schedules we did not make our annual Christmas trip to Grama and Grampa Heitz's. We also wanted to go to Grama and Grampa Burtons but that didn't pan out either.

In January Scouts resumed with Blake and Dad working on outdoor skills and practicing them at the Winter. Klondike up at Camp Rotary near Monarch Montana.

The boys learned to ski and got to go several times during Christmas Break and throughout January. Blake went with his 4th grade class and they both went during the District BSA learn to ski days.

Jan also included the making and racing out our pinewood derby cars. A family effort went into making the 1st-3rd place overall Trophies. The numbers were on sale at Micheal's and I was able to find a 1 and a 3. There were no 2's so we turned a S into a 2. The 3 decided to disappear before we could use it, so we returned to Micheal's for a B, the 1st B broke so we ended up getting a third B to turn into a 3.  The boys built their Derby Cars and raced them at the Pack Pinewood Derby we held at the Missouri River Manor. We had a couple residents come join us.

February brought Little Miss Ava Grace who was 13 weeks 5 days early. More about her later. We also had the Pack Blue and Gold with a cool presentation from Cubmaster Robert Burton and a neat opening ceremony by Andrew. We had good food, the boys earned lots of belt loops, awards, pins and camp certificate money.

The 1st of March brought District Pinewood Derby and the racing of Pinewood Derby Cars, Semi Trucks, and Boats. The boys are also working on their swimming belt loops and pin at swim lesson every Sat. and will get to participate in Scouting for Food the last 2 Saturdays in March.

And so it begins

School started August 31st. The day before school started the boys got to check out thier new classrooms, meet thier teachers and see who was in their class.

Mountain View School 2011-2012

4th & 1st Grades

 Zane sitting at his new desk, In kindergarten they sat in groups and moved around the room in stations as they had a base teacher but were taught by all 3 teachers. This year he is in one classroom  and his teacher is Mrs. Zimmerli and they have thier own desks.

 Standing by his name tag for his backpack and coat.  

Blake is a Mighty 4th Grader this year in Mrs. Shei's class - he was excited to learn that they would be getting thier own lockers this year.

Blake my 4th Grader

Zane my 1st Grader 

 

Brother's ~ I think they might like each other Not sure.

Always have to capture the backpacks, Blake and I started this when he was in Pre-School

I've tried the last 2 days of School to get the 1st Bus ride pictures. Hasn't happened yet as the bus as been very late, so late that I've had to take them to school, the 1st day they we're a little late and then right on time today. Hoping the bus will be on time tomarrow so I can get my 1st Bus Ride picture of the school year.

What handsome young boys ready for thier 1st day of School. 

End of Summer

To mark the end of summer we attended the Scout night at the Voyager's Game. It was a successful and fun evening even though the Voyagers lost. Blake and Zane had lots of fun with thier scout friends during and after the game. The Scouts (all ages), lined up on the field between home plate and 3rd Base for the opening ceremony. The 1st pictch was thrown by one of the scout leaders (aka Aaron W. of Troop 26) and one of our newest Tiger Cub Scouts (Deegan) got the opportunity to start the game with "Play Ball".

(Organizing for Opening Ceremony)

Blake participated in the Wet T-Shirt Contest - he almost won, still got to have the shirt anyway.

Zane decided to try the Slippery Noodle game and got a gift card to Noodle Express, i'm sure that will be his new favorite resturaunt since noodles are his favorite food.

After the game the boys helped pick up all the tennis balls thrown during the ball toss, so that they could get out in the outfield and set up thier tents. Approx. 40 Tents are set up by Scouts, Cub Scouts and Families. They then went on a tour of the Stadium and played a game of Capture the Flag, before heading back to thier tents.

After the game the boys helped pick up all the tennis balls thrown during the ball toss, so that they could get out in the outfield and set up thier tents. Approx. 40 Tents are set up by Scouts, Cub Scouts and Families. They then went on a tour of the Stadium and played a game of Capture the Flag, before heading back to thier tents. 

(Getting Ready for the Stadium Tour)

Pool Time

We got to go swimming at the Water Park with the Pack and with our school. The Pack had a swim party one evening and the school also sponsored an evening at the water park. Blake and Zane's favorite is the water slides. We tried out the flow rider, which was much more fun when Dad and Mom where there to keep them from getting sucked into the more turbulent areas.

Zane Chillin on the lazy river, he did get brave and come down the slide

Blake after he shot out of his favorite slide.

The boys also enjoyed time spent with Grampa & Grama Heitz and thier Kelly Cousins. Not sure what all they did, other than help pick Chokecherries one afternoon and play in the trees while we picked. Something about surfing down Grama's hill, sounds like it was fun.

Before summer vacation is officially over the we are going to the Voyagers Game and sleeping in the outfiled afterwards, scouting tradition. School officially starts the end of August and we'll go meet the teachers and find our classrooms the day before.

Melita Island

Blake and Robert went to Melita Island on Flathead Lake August 10-13 with 6 other Pack 26 boys and 4 Adult leaders. Since I didn't go, I'll let Blake tell you what they did.

Ready for the 1st Flag Ceremony of Camp.

Camp A Tee - Where the flag was raised and lowered each day.

While They enjoyed cooler weather and fun in the sun, Zane and I did too, we headed over to the water tower pool.

Zane warming up on his towel after jumping non stop in and out of the pool and going down the slides a couple of times.

Lewis & Clark

The boys got the oppurtunity to check out the Bateau that  Troop 466 from California was able to earn the money to have built and transported to Great Falls and then test out what it was like for the Corps of Discovery, Lewis and Clark used to navigate the Missouri River.

 

 Ben P., Travis S. James P. Zane B. & Blake B. waiting for the Ceremony to begin.

 I was running to camera's Blake is off to the left of Travis along with the some of Troop 466 who presented the Bateau to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

 Checking out the Bateau, this replica was about 6 ft shorter than the one Lewis and Clark had.