My Benny

These pictures were all taken in the spring of 2008. I had a bunch of extra photos lying around and wanted to post them because I can never get enough of my Benjamin. He is growing so fast and has really stretched out. He is wearing size 8 clothing at almost 6 years old. He also weighs about 45 pounds. It's getting harder and harder to carry this boy around. We love him though - can't say that enough.

Christmas 2007

During the Christmas Season, we were lucky enough to attend the "Make A Wish" Christmas party that is held annually. It was so much fun and very magical. Ben even got to see Santa and spend quality time with him too. He won this hat that he is wearing as well. The kids had a blast and can't wait to return again next year. Thanks Make A Wish!!!

(LOVE this picture)
Mom and Ben enjoying the party!

Halloween Costumes

2007 - Master Jedi with his storm trooper,

Princess Leia and Padme.

May the FORCE BE WITH YOU!:)

2006 - Karate Kids
2005 - Bakers

(minus the butcher and candlestick makers)
2004 - Return of the MUMMIES!
2003 - Frogs

Puppy Love

Not sure how much you love these puppies, but they sure love you!
Have you ever heard of pets resembling their owners???
Max especially loves to lay on/with you
Max keeps Ben company while he eats
Always room for one more I guess

Utah Trip Summer 2007

July of 2007 our whole family flew out to Utah to visit Steve's parent's, sister and my brother Ben and his family. We spent a total of 12 days there and loved every minute of it. Here is a picture of Ben as we were leaving NH.
Mom and Ben trying to stay cool in the 100 degree weather that Utah was having.
Family pictures in front of the flower garden at the Logan Temple
One of my favorite shots of Ben
Brothers
Ben's cousin Maddy loved to hold him
This was the only shade at a park that we visited
Grandpa...Ben and Grandpa have a special bond
Grandma holds Ben during his feeding
Aunt Suzanne and Ben - she loves to spoil him

Inside the Museum of Church History
Outside the General Conference Center
Ben
Two perfect beings
Ben all tuckered out from a day of sightseeing

5th Birthday

Another year, another milestone. We are thrilled to have celebrated another birthday with Benjamin. Most importantly we were able to celebrate it with him at home. He did have a short hospital stay just before his birthday but he recovered in time to be home. Ben had a lot of excitement surrounding his big day...he got a ride in the DHART helicopter, received his honorary brown belt in karate, visited Stevie's classroom at school where they sang many birthday songs to him, saw lots of snow and had a party with some of his doctors, nurses and secretaries at Dartmouth. It was quite the celebration.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!
A Birthday ride in the helicopter!
PICU nurses and doctors. They LOVE you!
Mom made you your own cake.:)
Dashi and Sensei Carl present you with your "Honorary" Brown Belt.
Can you believe that it actually snowed on your birthday? Crazy!

Your second mom (Becky Billin) stayed with you a night while I was home with your siblings.

Fall 2006 PICU Stays

In August of 2006 Ben was unexpectedly sick. This was an unusual time of year for him to become ill. On August 14 I noticed that Ben seemed pretty warm to the touch and so when I took his temperature it was 102. I listened to his lungs at that point and knew right away that he had a pneumonia. We got to the local ER an hour later and his WBC was 25.1 and his chest x-ray was the worst I had ever seen it. They took him by ambulance to DHMC where he was admitted into the PICU. That stay he grew Pseudomonas and beta-hemolytic group G strep. They put him on the vent and treated him with IV antibiotics. About 5 days into his stay he spiked a 104 fever - not really sure why because after it broke it never came back. He ended up staying 16 days. We got home the day before school started for my kids. I didn't even have all their school supplies that they needed. Less than a month later Ben was sick again. This time he grew out Haemophilus influenza and beta-hemolytic group G strep again. He was treated with IV antibiotics and placed on the vent until he was well enough to go home - 8 days later. Less than a week later we were back. Talk about overwhelming. Ben was sick with Pseudomonas, stenotrophomonas and MRSA. He needed the ventilator again and IV antibiotics. This time he reacted to the ceftazidime and so they had to resort to some odd-ball antibiotic to cover his MRSA and Strep. It was a very difficult stay because we had been in for the whole month. I missed most of the first couple of months of my kids school which was really hard for Kayla because she had started the middle school. During this stay we had Ben go through a couple of round of radiation to help control some of his secretions. Unfortuanately, we still haven't really seen an improvement.

Ben just after his bath...
So sick...:(
My cute boy...

Hutchins' Family Reunion 2006

In July of 2006, all of the Hutchins' gathered together for a monstrous family reunion - one that hadn't been done since summer of 2001. We planned this event for two years and when all was said and done I think it went off almost perfectly. We rented a HUGE house in Vermont - over 6,000 feet of living space for all 50 of us. My parents (Becky's), 8 of their children, spouses and 32 grandchildren were present. We spent 7 days in this house and because it was so big we never seemed to feel crowded or bored. It was great. There was plenty enough to do - swimming, pool, ping-pong, tennis, basketball, tv, indoor golf theater, games, biking, walking, etc. It was so nice to just be together and enjoy one anothers company. Some of our favorite memories were the morning announcements, family skit night, fruit spaghetti made by Aunt Kelly, Grampy's daily scavenger hunt, Mimi's gift bag and the pool tournament that Roger Jr. almost won - Uncle Steve reigns as champion. Here are some of the pictures from the week.
Ben hanging with his newest Cousin Gabe "The Babe" Hutchins.

All of the cousins - minus 2 who were being stubborn that day.
Hannah, Moriah and Ben pose for a picture.
Cousin PINATA!
Gabe and Ben - two cool dudes.
Morning announcements by the "Blues Brothers".
The indoor pool that we swam everyday in.
Steve and Stevie showing some SKILLS!
I LOVE family reunions.
Things got a little messy here and there - Ben, Jenny and Abbey enjoying the chocolate fountain that MiMi brought!!!