The END

Just a quick post to let everyone know that after another round of blood tests yesterday I got a call from my OB's office letting me know that FINALLY my hormone levels are back to normal. I am finally officially not pregnant. What a relief. Yesterday afternoon I would have had my 12 week appointment. Had my body not started the miscarriage process on its own I would have gone in yesterday not knowing that they would go to find a heartbeat and there would be none. I would have measured 12 weeks but then when they did an ultrasound they would have found two formed, but empty sacs. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am that my body started the miscarriage process on its own and finished it on its own. I would have been so devastated to be that far along and find out it was not really real.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers along the way. Prayers have definitely been felt.

Heather and Mike's Wedding!

On Friday one of our best friends Heather got married to her new husband Mike. They were married down in Nauvoo so we were unable to attend the wedding but they had a reception last night here locally so we spent the night there dancing and celebrating. We were worried because the reception did not start until 7 but all three boys lasted until 9:45 when we left. Owen passed out on the way home but Jacob and Nathan were still going at 10:20 when we pulled into the driveway. Valerie and Chris and the girls were there too so we had such a fun night enjoying their company. They head out to San Diego Sunday where Chris will check into a new ship and we are going to sure miss them the next few months. Luckily though we will be joining them soon enough. Who would have thought we could get the guys to be able to geographically stick together for another tour!

Jacob is engaged! We are thrilled to announce that Jacob and Kinley are engaged. Are you laughing yet? A little background. About six months ago Valerie watched Jacob and Owen for me while I took Nathan to his preschool at night. While Nathan and I were learning Jacob and Kinley were role playing. Kinley is very much into princesses as every four year old girl should be. So they had watched sleeping beauty or something and then were acting it out. So Kinley pretended to be a princess asleep and Jacob "kissed" her to wake her up. Ever since Jacob has been telling Nathan that he is going to marry Kinley because he kissed her and now he "has to". Valerie and I have had some pretty good laughs over this whole thing but Jacob is as serious as a six year old can be. So, last night Kinley and Jacob decided they will get married. I took Kinley to the bathroom and she very proudly told me "Jacob said I could be his bride when I grow up! I will be grown up when I get to San Diego". I tried hard not to laugh and told her it would be a little bit longer until she was grown up but that was great. Then as we are leaving the bathroom I overhear Jacob tell Nathan "Kinley said she will marry me!". They were so cute and innocent and literally danced the night away. They would watch Heather and Mike dance a certain way and then try to copy it. Needless to say the four of us adults had some great laughs and were very much entertained. At one point Jacob even told Nathan "you can marry Kayden".

Here are a few pictures of our night. Don't mind the red faces and sweatiness it was seriously SO HOT in there. By the end our two families were pow wowing in the halls waiting for the cake to get cut. The kids were done but determined to see eat that cake!

We are so happy for Heather and Mike. Heather looked beautiful in her dress that Owen helped pick out:) (I had the privilege of going with her). We love her so much and are going to miss her when we move!




This was the first time they started to dance. We were in the receiving line waiting to congratulate the bride and groom and the music started and they got right to work dancing. Jacob was trying so hard to get Kinley to slow dance but I think she just wanted to do her ballet moves. So cute!

This was when the fast music started. Talk about hilarious!


Swing music started and I had to laugh when I saw poor Ian being clobbered by Nathan. They do this quite often. Nathan uses Ian's back pockets to climb up his entire body. This looked like he was trying to swing though. We REALLY need to get him in gymnastics when we get back to San Diego. We both really think he could go far. He is so so strong!








Owen hanging out at mommy's feet. I think this was practically the only time he was not held by me and Ian and boy was he a little heater!

Nathan pouting because HE wanted to dance with Heather (again):)


Totally off topic but I don't want to take the time to do another blog...here are two short videos of Owen the past few days.


This one I took originally for my mom so don't mind the references to his Grammy:)


He wants so badly to be able to crawl on his knees but just can't quite get it. He is ALL over though now. Ian said he was chasing the cat this morning:)

The Jeep

It occurred to me the other night that I never did blog or email pictures to anyone back home of Ian's new "baby" The Jeep. So here she is in all her glory. The boys LOVE riding in it with dad. I think they love having the windows down next to them while they drive, something they can't do in the van. Plus it is kind of a "boys" car so they spend quite a bit of time riding around with dad. Keira loves it too. Try as I might (and I did try) I could not get Ian to pose on the hood. He I think thought about it for a moment and then said "wait are you going to blog this? I think my big grin said it all and then that idea went out the window.

While I am posting a picture of Ian and his "babies" Here is one of him and the boys "watching" NASCAR.

Toothless no more!

Just a quick post as I am going on four hours of sleep and here it is already 10 pm again and Owen was in bed early according to the babysitter I had so who knows what time he will emerge tomorrow!

His first tooth cut today FINALLY. It just broke the gum but its for sure there. The other one is still a big sore and should be through soon. I am praying that his crying constantly will ease up but I am beginning to think he is just my needy one. Jacob and Nathan never were as needy as he is. It is a challenge especially because he is HEAVY but I would not trade it.

So here are just a couple pictures of him with Nathan (he loves to climb on anyone who is on the floor...well, really he loves to climb period) and then some of him trying to get into the train table. He has yet to try to stand but Lord help me when he does.






I spent a wonderful evening at the Temple with one of my best friends Heather. It is the first time ever I have let anyone watch the boys besides family or an adult. The kids had one of their favorite teenage girls come babysit and she said other than Owen crying (surprise?) the boys were wonderful. I think Ian and I NEED a date! Anyone want to pay for the babysitter next time:)

Thankful

I happened upon one of the groups that I lurk on on babycenter.com today and saw a post that one of the other members had passed away. She from what I understand was due to have a little boy in September and got a blood clot and they were unable to save her or her little boy. This just breaks my heart and hits so close to home too close.

At about 32 weeks pregnant with Jacob I knew something was not right. It turned out I had a blood clot in my left leg. Thankfully I listened to my intuition and went into the hospital and they were able to find the clot and start me right away on blood thinners and thankfully it never moved and dissolved and Jacob and I both turned out fine.

It is situations like this though that bring me back to the reality that this could have been me. It could have been Ian who got a call that both me and Jacob were dead. How horrible to think about but how easily it could have happened. I am so very thankful this is not the case and that I am healthy and Jacob is here with us not to mention Nathan and Owen. It makes me sit back and realize that life is a gift and even what it all comes down to is we need to be thankful for the little things.

My prayers are with this girl's husband as he goes through this tough time. I cannot even fathom....

Swim Lessons

I totally forgot to post any of these yesterday. I of course missed the lessons because Owen and I were at his doctor's appointment. From where they had parents sit Ian could only see Nathan so for now there are none of Jacob. They both LOVED the lessons though and are counting the days until Saturday. Ian said Nathan did wonderful and that he is for sure in the top half in his class considering there were some kids that refused to get in the water. He was very proud of himself:)

Its the little moments.....

Owen is still not feeling 100%. His two bottom teeth are SO close to cutting through. Ian said he was the happiest kid ever all morning but of course once I came home and the day wore on he began to go down hill. His new favorite thing to do is to sit on the counter while you are prepping food. It makes me nervous but I just make sure I stay within hands reach of him at all times. He loves sitting there trying to get into EVERYTHING. At least he is not crying!

I promised the boys I would let them go out to play. It was SO hot. Owen was miserable by the time we came back in and was quite upset as I was trying to get some bread dough out of the bread machine and into something to continue to rise. I asked Jacob to just talk to him for a few minutes so I could finish and we could head up for baths. Owen got quiet and when I came into the living room I found the two of them, well you can see for yourself. I just stood there and watched for a minute and Jacob looked up and said "what I wanted to make him feel better" (with his huge popsicle covered face grin) :) Poor Jacob was practically grunting trying to keep Owen from flipping off of him. It was adorable and hilarious all in one.

All day they have driven me nuts with whining and not listening and fighting.....etc etc but in that one moment it all just kind of went away and the love I felt for those sweet boys really shined through. I am so thankful for that moment today.

Miscarriage Status....yet again

So this morning I made the drive up to the doctor yet again. My numbers had dropped from 7something to 1something last week (have no clue exactly just know they dropped a lot) so HOPEFULLY this will be my last time getting stuck for this and they will have finished dropping. I should know sometime tomorrow.

So, time to get back to exercising and rid this nasty depression/baby weight.

I am doing pretty good emotionally. I am surprised that I am as sad as I am. I guess it is a case of the "could have beens". At the same time I am very relieved not to be adding another kiddo right now to our family. This move is going to be torture on Jacob and I really need to be able to focus on him as much as possible and trying to do that AND having two babies in the house is mind boggling to me. So for now (at least) I am very greatful for my three healthy boys.

Owen's 6 month checkup...grrr I mean 7 month check up

So I finally took Owen in for his 6 month check up and shots yesterday. With the miscarriage and everything else going on I just did not make it last month. So, while Ian took the boys for their first swim lesson (they had a blast!) Owen and I went up to the doctor.

Owen tipped the scales at 18 pounds 13.5 ounces and was 28 inches long. He is at about 60% for height and weight. It is funny because everyone comments on how HUGE he is and really he is just barely above average. He is doing everything he should be doing and then some for his age and the doctor said he is great and would see him back in August. He is "army crawling" across the room now and will turn himself in circles crying after me if I am trying to get anything done (fun!). He is sitting great now and is getting up on his knees and putting one knee forward but them does not know what to do next so he gets mad. I don't think it will be long before he figures it out. He already wants to climb anything he can (great another Nathan??!!!)

He already was not feeling well so two shots just added insult to injury poor baby. Here are a few pictures of our little guy from the past two days. He definitely is not his normal smiley self. You have to really work for those toothless grins.

Happy Father's Day!!

It has been kind of a long few days as Owen is not feeling well and has spent pretty much every waking moment fussing or crying or screaming since Friday. He had his check up yesterday so we know nothing is wrong besides teething and he got shots but man he is just inconsolable.

However, the boys were SO excited to wake Ian this morning with "breakfast in bed" (some raspberry danish) and their presents they made him last week in primary at church. The kids all made their dads ties and each wrote three things they love about their dad and then decorated them. It was hilarious to see all the dads today wearing 1, 2 and sometimes 2 ties:) Ian of course had his two so we put the two together and he proudly wore them along with a sticker that said "Super Daddy" and the boys each wore a sticker that said "My Daddy is my Hero" So cute.

Here are the three things the boys said they loved about their dad:

Jacob:

1. Takes me fishing
2. Takes me to Gameworks
3. He is a really nice daddy

Nathan:
1. building stuff
2. how my daddy hugs me (when I have bad dreams)
3. when my daddy holds my hand (this made me awwwwwww)

Ian sort of knew about them because he saw the package and after the boys ran down stairs he asked me if he seriously had to wear them to church. I burst out laughing and said YEP! I told him I would show him the emails I had been sent all week reminding the moms to have the dads wear them. He was a great sport and Jacob and Nathan were thrilled that he wore BOTH of their ties.


My PROOF that he was to wear it today:)


Can you tell he just woke up!? Don't mind the boys' attire they had just rolled out of bed too.

This afternoon we are just hanging out as a family and trying to help poor Owen to be more comfortable. We are going to enjoy some delicious fish tacos for dinner YUM and a yummy lemon pudding cheese cake pie thing we made up for dessert. All in all just a nice family day which is the best way to spend Father's Day I think.

Here are a few more pictures from last night. Owen "helped" Ian make breakfast for dinner (anything to get him to stop crying!) and then we went to our favorite place, the Glenview Dairy Barn for a soft serve.



Wait! Is that...is that a smile??!!!

Ramdomness with a new camera

So, while Ian and the boys played at Gameworks I brought Owen home for some normalcy of a bedtime. I left the camera with Ian to take more pictures (although I don't know why as he never does) and he lost it. I wanted to cry. I am as you all know a bit addicted to taking pictures of my kids. Ian felt so bad he went and bought me a new camera. We both really want an SLR but that is just not in the budget and I really wanted something small to cart around in the diaper bag. Seeing as our other camera was 4 years old just about anything now is double the quality. So he bought me a cute new little cannon. Then today low and behold our neighbor brought the old camera back. Somehow it ended up in someone else's stroller? I don't even want to know. After much debate we decided to keep the new one as when Ian goes to Maine he will want a camera too. Besides since he opened the box it would have been a 15% restocking fee to return it to Best Buy. It is one of the least expensive cameras but the quality so far exceeds our old Sony its great! So here is some randomness from last night and today.





The main event in our house. Lego building. Even Owen is getting into the thick of it. Jacob and Nathan are quickly realizing this week that if they build something and leave it on the floor it will quickly become demolished by a certain six month old:)

This is Owen's exercise routine. I think I need to get down there with him! He is also getting up fully on his knees and rocking. I am pretty sure within a month or so he will figure out how to move. He is definitely making headway scooting like a worm though!


Jacob wanted to show off his necklace he made at church. Then the boys wanted to take "silly" pictures so we thought we would see how the camera did with them moving. Not bad considering I have no clue what to do with this camera yet





I took the above pictures of Owen last night while Ian and the boys were out on a Jeep ride. He is such a sweet baby. He was so happy naked in his crib after his bath yelling and screaming. His new thing is spitting or blowing bubbles and his babbling is really starting to sounds like more than just noise. I love watching him grow and change each day. His gray tshirt he has on says "Ready or not hear I come!" Sums him up right about now.



These last two are just of the boys. I LOVE the one of Nathan. I still can't believe I have a blue eyed baby.

That is it for now. Hopefully I did not bombard you! I can't help it if is I am proud of my handsome men.