Michael's First Day in Preschool

What a big boys sitting at his desk! They are learing about colors & shapes the next couple of weeks which I'm proud to say Michael knows (phew). After that, well... He was so excited to go to school & really likes his teacher. It's so fun to see him grow up & experience new things.

Unfortunately, Lizzie was NOT HAPPY that she didn't get to stay at school too. When we got to Michael's class she found herself a desk & busied herself immediately with the coloring page left out. She screamed all the way home, poor thing. One more year babe -

She's so precious...

Sad News...

We just found out this morning that the baby has miscarried :( I had an ultrasound 2 wks ago & they couldn't find a heart beat, but thought purhaps it was because the baby was younger than expected. I did some blood work which looked positive w/ rising HCG levels, but this morning I went for another ultrasound & still there was no heart beat & the embriotic sack was shrinking. Now my body has to naturally expel the baby in the next few weeks or I'll have to have a minor procedure (D&C) to have the baby removed. So sad.

I've had a couple of weeks now to think about this possibility and after visiting the temple last Saturday I just felt so strongly that whatever the outcome it is the Lord's will & that everything will be OK. It's a sad thing, but I know things will work out in the best way possible because the Lord's in charge. I feel relief & comfort from that.

All Is Well...

This is Alaina waiting for the Children's Hospital staff to come and take her away for her surgery. They had her wear these adorable scrubs & a pair of "socks" which were more like leg warmers! It was an agonizing wait, but I was a big girl and didn't cry (too much) when they came & took her back to the operating room. What a trooper she is!


Here's Alaina about 18 hrs after the completion of her surgery. It took about 2 hrs & 15 minutes & they put in ear tubes & reconstructed her palate to correct the cleft. The weirdest part was when I heard her voice for the first time. It threw me off how different it sounds. She's doing fantastic though & recovering like a miracle child. She was laughing & bouncing in her bed just a few hours after she woke up from the drugs.

Her's a video of my angel after a late night nap. She had some trama w/ the IV when the fluids started leaking out her veins & into her legs. Made it swell up like a balloon. I'm so glad I noticed it! Poor lil' thing was screaming her head off for two hrs and I just figured she was in pain from the operation till I noticed her leg braclet was cutting off the circulation in her foot! Ugh. But all is well & she is my sweet, smiley baby again, whole and happy.

Happy, Happy Birthday Alaina Dear...

This is Alaina's birthday cake before/after pics. I've got them in reverse order, but you can hardly tell a difference anyway! Polite eater I guess ;) That's what I get for using white cake w/ light green frosting. Well, she's adorable anyway :)

Alaina just turned 1 on September 3rd and what a big girl she is!!! She's been walking for a solid 2 weeks now, but took her first official steps away from something at 10.5 months. And this video proves to those who have babysat her that she does indeed smile ;) What an angel baby! She goes in for surgery on her cleft palate on Friday Sept. 11th. We're anxious to have that done and over with, with a happier, healthier baby on the other side. Happy Bday sweet pea.

Kid Update -

Michael will be starting Pre-K this fall & he's VERY excited. He asks to go to school everyday. His latest quotes are, "Hey, get me some juice woman!" and "You saved us!" after I had killed an apparent man-eating spider. Funny boy.


Elizabeth maybe starting Preschool herself, but I'm waiting to hear back from the school district about whether there's an opening. She's talking much more and continues to surprise me with how smart she is. I'm trying to teach her colors & shapes right now. She's liking that. Hopefully her and Michael will have alternating school days so I can have more 1 on 1 with both of them.




Alaina is fast approaching 1 years old early September! Her surgery to repair her cleft palate was rescheduled for Sept 11th and we're anxious to be done & over w/ that. She took her first steps about a month ago & already seems to crave independence.

BABY #4 should be 7 weeks now and I'm sure is developing nicely. I'm anxious to have all my children around me.

Braden is doing good & just finished drivers ed! In SD kids get there license at 14 to "help on the farm". Scary if you ask me! 16 seems to young to me for kids to drive, let alone 14! He's really enjoying BMX racing this summer.
Zack just turned a teenager. Another scary! He did baseball this summer & is enjoying time with friends.
Rylee just got home about 2 wks ago & unfortunately her parents there are getting a divorce. She's had 2 mom's and 2 dad's for as long as she can remember. She's super sad of course, but hanging in there OK.

Another Angel...

...on their way! We just found out we're due April 8th and we couldn't be more excited. It's strange to realize this will be my 4th child. I mean, I just had my 1st not too long ago for Pete's sake! Michael will just turn 5, Lizzie 3.5, Alaina 1.5. My goodness - I'm going to be busy! I feel like I just adjusted to having 3! But I feel like our family will finally be complete with 4. Even after having Alaina I still felt like 1 was missing when I did a head count. So happy he/she is on their way! I have my selfish reasons for being excited I'm almost done as well, but what can you do. Happy times :)

Oregon Coast 2009

Awesome...



Lizzie & Daddy walking along the beach.

Tide pools always have cool finds. We even found a dead bird near one. Yum.

Cutest lil' sand baby I ever did see!

We got one windy day that made for a rough time at the beach, but here's Lizzie in good spirits anyway at our favorite spot - Beverly Beach.

This year we bagged tent camping & stayed in a cabin at a KOA in Walport (just South of Newport). HIGHLY recomment it!!! Great combination of camping & non-roughing it. They had 2 playgrounds and the BEST bathrooms w/ full showers in each one. Loved it!