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Sunday, August 10, 2014

April

For Easter weekend we met Chris family and My parents in Boise.
It was wonderful. We swam at the hotel.
Carter jumped and jumped on the trampoline till he couldn't anymore.
We did the towns easter egg hunt, My parents took the kids swimming while chris and I went out to dinner
alone on a date.
Carter had a sleepover with his cousins.  It was a wonderful weekend.
I am about 20 weeks in the picture,

Seriously awesome weekend we had.








March

We love to play at the park, especially when there is no rain.
Grab a hat and sweater and you are set.
They love books, and we cram on the bed.  
Chris almost always does reading time.  I have been so sick and tired lately,
so I took the opportunity to read to them.

I also celebrated Chris and I 6th anniversary.  We went to dinner and saw a movie.  I am more in love with Chris today then I was when I met him.  He is everything to me and I love him.






February

Kennedy = mess
She found this cupcake and decided to have it without telling anyone.
There were plenty of ultrasounds.
Carter did a lot of art that he was so proud of.  We had to hang them up.
It snowed, so chris was late going into work.  Of course they had to build a snowman.








January

The month of january consisted of homemade ice cream.
Kennedy getting pneumonia right before we were to go to portland for her birthday
Chris stayed home while Carter and I went.
Carter is so sweet, he is always trying to take care of her.
give her kisses when she is sleeping
He tries to put her in her crib for nap time.  Seriously the best brother











Friday, May 23, 2014

January 2014

Jan. 17 I had made an appointment with my family doctor.  I was 6 weeks post miscarriage and I hadn't had a period yet.  I wanted to know what was going on.  I also wanted to know if I should take something to help me sleep or just continue to work through it.  She is a fabulous doctor.  She listened and let me cry and gave me some great advice.  And told me that if I was wanted to get pregnant sooner than later that I should not get on anything.  Just take Tylenol pm or an over the counter sleep aid.  So after talking we decided that we would take blood see where my HCG levels were and go from there.  That was a Friday, Monday was a holiday but she called me and said " your HCG level is saying your 5 weeks pregnant"  I asked her how that was possible she didn't know she said it was possible but such a small percentage.  So we decided I would come in in the morning and do more blood. If it went up that I was pregnant if it didn't then that meant something else was going on.  So we did blood and the next day Wednesday she called me and said that my levels have tripled and that I was pregnant.  She told me to get with my ob to have an ultrasound so we can guarantee it is a baby.  So Chris and I were in shock.  We were nervous and excited but really cautious. So i tried to make an appointment but the dumb receptionist did not get it.  She did not understand how we determine how far along we were because I didn't have a period and I kept telling her " exactly that is why I need to have an ultrasound to make sure its a baby and not a molar pregnancy and to see if that dates were accurate"  She just did not get it, finally after much convincing we scheduled an appointment for the next week.  The appointment came and there was my uterus, a sac and something, but there was not heartbeat. The doctor said we need to wait another week.  So we decided to call both parents and tell them what had been going on for the past couple of weeks.  It was a weird celebrate but not quite conversation.  So the next week we had to wait again and there was the appointment.  We went in had an ultrasound and there it was a little heartbeat.  At that moment we had a baby.  Due date was Sept 6th.  I was worried about dates and size but doctor was just not concerned.  Lets just see how baby progresses and go from there.  I was not sold.  I worried and cried and I wondered what was going to happen.  That same weekend we found out that Chris Cousin Jenny had miscarried and I was heartbroken for her.  That night I cried and cried.  I was so sad for her and how she felt and I was physically mourning for her and for me...still.  

I could not wrap my head around what was happening.  So far I was having a baby.  I was 10 weeks post miscarriage and i was 9 weeks pregnant.  I was planning for another one.  I thought in no way was this going to continue for the good.  Then I went in for my next appointment 3 weeks later and I am terrified that there will be no heartbeat.  So this time I brought my kids with me.  If something bad was going to happen I would have them with me since Chris couldn't come.  we had another ultrasound and there was a baby, not  a blob but a baby and a heart beat and I was calm.  All my fears just went calm and I called chris.

But then it was harder for me.  I had all these questions and there is not alot of answer from the church about it.  You ask people and everyone has a different response.  I wanted to know about the baby i had lost.  I wanted to know was that same spirit coming back was this baby a different one.  If we don't believe in abortion and a baby and body take form after 20 days then where was this baby and will it need another body because it didn't have the chance to take a breathe.  I had so much fear and no hope.  I didn't understand how I could be so happy to have another baby but yet so sad for the one I lost.  Was I not grateful?  I was a little upset with myself that I wanted a baby so badly but i didn't give myself the right time to grieve for that baby.  But let's be honest I had no idea that I could get pregnant that fast.  I figured like everyone else would.  You have a period, you ovulate and there you go.  My grandma marcroft told me to give me time and my body time.  I wish I knew now how it would have felt.  If i had been trying for months after a miscarriage there would be some fear but much more excitement and hope.  Here i was just drowning from hormones from being pregnant to not being pregnant to being pregnant in a month.  I was psychotic!!!!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

New York New Year's Eve

A wonderful tradition, at the church everyone just brings whatever they want.  We eat and chat and play games, the kids run crazy or play horse.  Then at 9pm  we watch the ball drop in New York.  We clean up and go home.  Then Chris and I get a pizza and watch a movie till midnight then we go to bed.  It is a blast and I look forward to it next year.




happy new year's, I hope 2014 brings the blessings and joys you ask and need.  Here's to a BABY!

Christmas 2013

Christmas was wonderful but different.  Last year we had dear Carrie with us and it was so special.  This year we were invited by the Carl's to there house for soup and bread with a few other families (The Roper's The Smart's, and the Richins')  We had some wonderful soup, the kids played and then we did the nativity and sang a few songs.  It was lovely and special.  After we left so that we could go to the botanical garden's in Bellevue.   A tradition we would love to keep going while we are here in WA.  We came home and got into our jammies and watched the Polar Express.   We were so taken care of by others.  Chris and I have lived pretty tight the whole time we have lived here.  We knew it would be like that but we made the decision to deal and make the best because in the end it was the best for Chris job.  It has been so far still a good decision.  Even when there are months we are not sure how to pay for food.  Somehow the Lord has provided for us.  Either we have had extra bonus' or me sewing for money.  December came and we were so tight.  We made sacrifices to not get anything for each other, the kids didn't need much and they were getting presents from Grandparents.  Well Christmas fell on a Sunday and that day we were given $200 in gift cards to a Fred Meyer.  Then we were visited by a secret Santa the next night.  A box full of food, toys and  $100 to Costco.  Our hearts were full.  We didn't need much and this was so much.  We gave thanks right then and there.  I made sure those gift cards feed us well into January.  We will never forget this Christmas, the love we have been shown and one day to pay it forward.










carter

Christmas Morning was special.  The kids were excited.  Not as excited as Chris was. He barely slept.  Carter loved everything and it was fun to see Kennedy more excited about stuff but occasionally she just wanted to unwrap everything.  We played and went for a walk.  I cooked my first ham.  It turned out delicious.  Then we had the Elders come for dinner.  We let them call there  families and Skype with them. I missed my family.  All of them, from Portland, to Boise, to Washington DC and all over Utah.







Saturday, March 22, 2014

Happy 33!

Today Dec 18th I turn 33!  I love birthdays, they are all about you and you are reminded by facebook, text messages, phone calls, emails and my favorite, snail mail.  I love getting letters in the mail.  Cards and some accompanied with gift!

Chris took the day off, he always does, what a nice guy.  He lets me sleep in, makes me breakfast in bed.  I always get beautiful flowers from my friend Sterling in Chicago.

Today we took the kids to the bounce house.  It was a blast.  We then went out to dinner.  Nothing big just spent time together.  Later that week Chris and I with Leone and Stephen went to Maggiano's in Bellevue.  It was delicious!  We were going to see a movie but there was never a good time.  I think the restaurant people need to get with the movie people.  If people have dinner at 6:30 and are done by 8 the latest why is the next movie showing at 9:50?  Just saying something needs to change.

I also was looking forward to being pregnant on my birthday.  I was excited I could order what I want and have dessert and now when your not pregnant you feel like you have to work on the few pounds you put on.  Now do you really want to go crazy during your pregnancy and eat what you want, no but on special days your are "allowed" too.  Well I am not having a baby right now so I am going to eat what I want anyones, because its my birthday.



Saturday, December 28, 2013

Time

I don't sleep very much.  If I fall asleep (unhelped) it is sometime after 1:30-2am.  Sometimes I think about what my day was like, sometimes I think about the last month, sometimes I just don't want to fall asleep.  When I am pregnant I worried about going to sleep because I would be so sick in the morning and than I would be probably grouchy.  Now I wish I was sick.  A sickness that goes away if I ate something.  My sweet grandma marcroft called me today. She and I share the same birthday and I love to visit her in LA when I can.  She and grandpa always would come see  us in NM or Utah.  Now she is to old to make those annual trips but she is still sharp as a whistle for being 96.  She cried with me on the phone and expressed loosing a baby herself when she was 13 weeks along 60 years ago.  She expressed that that baby was taken from me to reasons we don't understand, and regardless of why it hurts and to be sad or mad or whatever I was for as long as I want.  She told me to deal with it the way that I know best. I feel the  same with other news.

 I received some family news lately that is devastating.  News that I can not understand and I feel numb.  I am calm and fine during the day but night comes around and it is dark and quite and I am a baby needing comfort.  I think it is so weird that I am so calm during the day most of the time, sometimes I even forget it happened.  Then something reminds me that life is changing.  I know that time is not ours that we are privileged to have it.  Time is also slow on days when it should go fast and time is fast on days I wish it would stop.  Time....do I need it?  Does my body need it?  Does my children need it?  Why not now, why not July?  Tonight I ask why, tomorrow I will know that those answers will not be available to me and that I either accept that with faith and press on or I have a day with a tear leaks out every once in a while.  I pray for myself, my children and my husband that I will just press on until tomorrow night.

I love my kennedy, she is like a flower with fire power from Mario bros.  She makes me beam with joy and shake my head with frustration.  I am grateful for her fire power it will help her later in life.

My carter is joy with a song.  He is all boy with a tender heart.  He loves lions and I think he fits it so perfectly.  He calls a lion a sun bathing king.  Carter is like that, he is soft and lazy and enjoys the sun and then he roars and pounces.  Lucky me to be there mom at this TIME.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

A week to never forget ( very personal and maybe graphic)

I lay at night and my mind is in every direction.  I think about how my life has changed in such a short amount of time.  I think how much I think my future has changed. 

Last Friday the 6th I was scheduled for my first doc. appointment.  I was excited, I was 9 weeks and I was going to hear my favorite sound, my baby's heart beat.  Chris was going to meet me there.  For a min.  I was worried because I had woken up with a few spots of blood.  Everyone said don't worry.  Chris was worried, I was not.  I asked if there was an earlier appointment and there was. Without thinking to call Chris and let him know I had rescheduled knowing he had a busy day at work. I took it.  I dropped Carter to a friends and took Kennedy with me. Not having an OBGYN, I met a new doctor that was going to see if he could help me deliver my baby vaginally.  He said let's look and see if there is anything to worry about.  He did an internal ultrasound and there it was, my uterus, the sack, the baby and NO heartbeat.  He took measurements and adjusted the angel.  It was dead quiet in the room.  No noise but Kennedy crying for me to hold her.  I sat up and the doctor was stammering, finally I just said "just say it."  "There is no heartbeat, I believe this is a miscarriage" he said.  I was numb.  It was " ok what do we do now."  I had options and the one the doctor and I agreed on is I would give it the weekend because he couldn't do anything until next week anyways and if I didn't pass everything by Tuesday afternoon then I would go to Overlake hospital for a DNC.  I took my instructions and Kennedy and left. 

I called Chris's office over and over and could not get a hold of him.  So I called my mom and I lost it, I couldn't breath, I couldn't talk either.  I called Chris dad Bob to tell him and to tell everyone.  I pulled up to my friend Leone's house to get Carter and I called Chris on his cell and told him and lost it, He would be coming home early.  I called Gma Rass and I couldn't talk either I just cried.  I knew that I was having to tell all these people and I couldn't, so I let everyone else tell everyone.  I had told so many people from church and my friends because I honestly thought this would never happen to me.  I have other problems and issues getting pregnant and staying pregnant and having a baby was never one of them.  I will never take that for granted again.

I was left alone, while Kennedy slept and carter was at school and then I was just loved by so many woman in my ward.  The phone tree was applied and everyone knew.  At first it was really hard but it was such a blessing.  To know so many who had experienced this before and those who just loved me.  We have a private Facebook page for the woman in our ward and I explained everything on there.  I received so much love and encouragement it was so moving and incredible.  The next couple of days felt strange, I was cramping and bleeding like as if I had a really bad period.  I only really cried and let go and allowed myself to feel anything was at night when the kids went to bed. There was apart of me that figured if I didn't talk about it then it wasn't real.  That come July I was still having a baby and that I would have visitors come and see our beautiful town and place to live and experience Seattle in the best time of year.  That was going to change.

My dear friend Leone was blessing her baby Violet on Sunday and I wanted so much to be there for it.  So I was feeling ok to go to church.  I planned on only staying thru sacrament meeting.  I was afraid of all the hugs and conversations I was going to get if I stayed any longer.  (that's the part that was in denial)  But in all reality I was so crampy and uncomfortable that I left as soon as I had the bread and water.  Chris also gave me a blessing with Stephen (Leone's Husband).  It was a blessing that I was not expecting.  I did not feel any comfort and anything soft and warm.  I already knew that the Lord loved me.  I am not sure what I expected to hear but what I did hear was not what I wanted.  So I walked away feeling mad and bitter.  Honestly there are some parts of me that are mad.  I am mad that I have to start all over.  I am mad that I already put in so much time and for nothing...so I thought.

Monday came around and I still felt the same and figured I was heading to the hospital tomorrow.  At 11 I was starting to have random sharp pain that would stop me in my track and that took me to my knees, but there was not a lot of bleeding and the doc said there would be.  So I didn't think anything of it.  Carter went to school and Kennedy went for a nap and then it hit me.  For the next 3 hrs every 2-3 mins I was in the worst pain.  Pain that shot thru my stomach into my back that took me down.  My sister Tabitha called and helped me get thru the contractions.  It was unbelievable pain.  I was fortunate to not have my kids needing me at the time.  When Carter walked thru the doors at 3, the pain stopped almost immediately and I was grateful and then every now and then I would get one but manageable.  Then right at 4 I took a step and I was knocked off my feet in the worst amount of pain.  I stood up and had to immediately go to the bathroom, something was coming.  I sat down and out slid the perfect sack.  Everything was together there was no mess, no blood nothing just this perfect sack.  At that moment I knew and my body felt like a million dollars.  I called my doc and he sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound.  Chris met me there.  They couldn't tell me anything so we went home.  In retrospect I was able to have a vaginal birth.  I was able to experience what it is like to have that pain and then be released from that pain.  For the moment when it was all done I saw nothing but grace.  It is a feeling that I will take with me forever. 

Finishing my appointment at the hospital Chris looks and feels terribly sick. On the way home he throws up.  An hour later Carter starts as well.  So now I have both boys in the front room sick as a dog and me taking care of them.  Chris sent me to bed about midnight to get some rest and try to not get sick. I would hear them through out the night, and couldn't help buy occasionally come out to help.  About 5 am they were both done and sleeping.  Then I was awake, with nothing but my thoughts.  About 9:30 I feel it come on.  I am sick as a dog all day.  By the time 9 pm came around I had 4oz of water and 5 saltine's.  I couldn't walk without Chris helping me.  I was so mad! I just wanted to feel better.  Of all days for me to get the flu, why did it have to be today.  I woke the next day to little strength but my stomach was better.  Chris left for work.  About an hour later he was back to change his suit.  He had forgotten to clean the seat belt from his sickness when he cleaned his car.  I had him stay longer and get the kids breakfast and set up with cartoons.  I was ready for the week to be over. 

All week I have had my moments of anger, denial and pain.  My heart hurt for the loss, for what was going to happen next or worse what's not going to happen next.  In time I will heal and in time so will my body.  I have learned that I will never regret what it feels like to have a baby inside, kicking, rolling, hearing of the heart beat.  To have indigestion, and nausea, to have to pee a million times in the night.  To have my stomach stretch out and to have my body change in many ways we really don't like.  I have also learned that there are so many woman who do this all the time and have had there heart break over and over again.  To those women, I have more love and compassion and now understanding towards you.  My heart is forever united with yours.  I also hold my kids a little bit tighter.  It's hard for someone to remind you that you already have 2 beautiful healthy kids and be grateful, but I am grateful, extremely grateful.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Thanksgiving

There is a turkey trot that is run by a family in our stake, the organize a 5k were 100% of the proceeds go to the food bank.  We were sponsored by a lady in our ward.  She usually donates and this time she donated by paying for others who wanted to run in it.  I never run with the kids so I figured I could do a 5k with both.  I will say pushing a stroller weighing at least 85lbs is hard even if it is only for 3 miles.  I had a great time and was able to do it with other families.

Then I was able to cook my first turkey ever.  It turned out wonderful and tasty.  We later had a family the Williams over for pie and a game.



That weekend we got the tree set up and the ornaments all put on.  Kennedy is doing well but sometimes she just can not help herself.