Catalina

Last Sunday, Liana and I left with some friends of mine from work for a three night vacation on Catalina Island. I had not been there since I was 20 and I didn't stay in Avalon so I was really looking forward to the time away. We rented a house which ended up being only a two minute walk from the beach and downtown. It was perfect for us. James unfortunately was unable to come because they were black out weeks for his school. We missed him a lot, but had a great time. We enjoyed relaxing days at the beach, boat tours, and playing games in the evening. Liana had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the vacation as well. It is definitely a vacation we will have to take again.

Long Beach Jr. Concert Band

Last Saturday, my dad invited us down to Bolsa Chica Beach to hear him in his drum corp. It is all people who were or are drummers in the Long Beach Concert Band. My dad started it when he was in Jr. High and is the oldest drummer to actually play. There was one guy older them him, but he didn't play. It is very cool. It is men of all ages and some of them are still in the current band. They all meet once a year at the beach to do this concert and it is so awsome. My dad's drum is the one with the orange tassles in the back.

He plays the snare drum and here is a picture of all the guys who are the snares.
Sophie loved it, but it was so loud that Rachel was afraid she would blow out an ear drum.

Liana didn't enjoy it as much. She hates anything loud.

Here is the fam before they started.

My dad getting ready.

The Domingo Family

Here is a small taste of what it was like. It was actually really cool and my dad was really glad that we all went there.

Vienna Joyce Swanson Arrives

Saturday, July 25 started with an early morning phone call from my sister Molly. She had apparently been violently throwing up since 2 a.m. and after calling her Dr. was on the way to hospital to get checked out. There was an original thought that this could be the onset of labor which we were all hoping for. Unfortunately, things did not go so easily for poor Molly. Apparently, she had some bad stomach virus that was also causing her to have a high fever. After a long day of feeling horrible and being monitored, her Dr. recommended that they do a C-section and get this baby out. With Molly's fever and all they had no way of monitoring the baby to see if it was fighting the same virus Molly had. A quick call from Molly sent my mom and I flying to the hospital with the news that a C-section was going to happen. After literally just walking into the hospital I get a call from Molly asking if I would mind going into the operating room with John. Anyone who knows Molly's husband knows he is a bit squeamish and she wanted someone else in there in case John went down. I quickly agreed and got gowned up.

John did amazing. It was quite an amazing experience to be a part of. Molly kept asking John how he was doing and John kept assuring him he was fine and kept asking her how she was doing. He did amazing and to be honest, I probably did not need to be there at all. He was a star. Unfortunately, because of Molly's fever they let Molly kiss her quickly and John got a quick hold and then they rushed her off the NICU to do tests to make sure she was okay.

Her she is. All 6lbs. and 14oz. and 19 1/2 in. They had her on a lot of monitors and even had her on an IV for feedings, but it all was just precautionary until they got all the test results back saying she was free of any virus. Molly continued to feel bad and not being able to hold or even see her daughter for the first 48 hours was heart wrenching. But she is a tough cookie and held up great.

The nurses in the NICU were great and took wonderful care of our little one.

Molly and Vienna got to go home on Wednesday and are both doing well. Here is James holding his new niece and Liana loving on her new cousin. Any new mom knows that there is a lot to get adjusted to, but overall Vienna is doing great and she has two of the proudest parents around. It has been absolutely wonderful to see her proud daddy John. He can't stop smiling or bragging about her. She is stinkin' cute, though, so I don't blame him.

We have waited a long time to meet you, little girl. Welcome to the family.