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My boys...

Here are some pictures from a photo shoot with the boys! I just love pictures of my boys! They are growing up too fast! Hope the Grandmas and Pop enjoy! :)

Summer 2011

This was a very hard post to push myself to do. My blog has lost all meaning since the passing of Jay's dad! I know most or all of you saw my tribute to my biggest fan. He read this blog so faithfully. Every morning he checked in and if I missed several weeks, he would let me know via an e-mail asking for an update! However, I do realize that there were others that follow our blog and so I made myself today get a Summer post on! Sorry it a lot of pics. I just did the high-lights to catch you up! I will follow up with first day of school and our annual school clothes fashion show for the grandparents.
Enjoy!

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Tribute to my biggest fan!

It was a week ago today. We got the call. A call no one wants to get. We were blessing our baby last Sunday. We had just finished a fun time in I.P. at the cabin and we had a couple days left of our family fun vacation. As we were running around that morning, my husband got a call from his mom. My husband's dad had woken up and had had a really rough morning and she was taking him into the hospital. We knew it was serious because we knew, Gummy (that is what the grandkids called him), wouldn't miss the blessing for anything in the world. So we debated whether to go on with it but we decided since we were leaving in a couple of days we had better do it with all the family we could. So we blessed Connor and my husband did a wonderful job. Following sacrement meeting we ran to my mom's and grabs a couple items and headed straight to the hospital.

We had no idea the whirlwind of events that were about to take place. When we got into the hospital Gummy looked good and it sounded like they were going to admit him just to monitor his irregular heart rate. We showed him Connor's blessing outfit and read him the blessing that a lady in my parents ward wrote down for his dad. Gummy was very pleased. We stayed for a few hours. Twenty-four hours later, on the 4th of July, we took the boys in to see him and we decorated his room with pictures of the boys. He looked so different from the day before, just in 24 hours the uric acid had filled his body and he was in so much pain. An image I will never forget was my 7 year old helping him get a drink. It was a tender moment and Jayson was so tender as he helped his grandpa. Gummy looked tired and when they administered the morfin he drifted off to sleep. We slipped out with my husband's mom and said our goodbyes and told her we would be in tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 5th, we were all tired from staying up late to celebrate the 4th. My husband had plans to go in and stay with his dad that day so hopefully his mom could get a break. The kids woke up and Jay went up stairs with them. I was down with the baby when Jay came rushing into the room. He was crying and he didn't speak when I asked him what was wrong. He rushed out and into the Yukon and out the driveway. Later I would find out that his mother had called and said that they were taking Gummy to the ICU and they didn't think he was going to make it. Jay got the call on the way in that his dad had passed. On his way to the ICU he went into cardiac arrest and they could revive him.

Gummy was my biggest blog fan. He loved his "boys." Anything to do with the boys and he was right there smiling with pride. Even with the post about Carson putting marker all over his face he loved, he even sent me a picture of Jayson that same age with marker all over the face and reminded me we had similar boys there, similar mischeif. He knew these boys well and loved every inch of them. I will miss his love and support as my husband and I raise these boys. We will miss the little letters to the boys, always ending..."Give my two favorite boys in the whole world a big hug for me" (this was before Connor was born). There are many things that we will miss but most of all we will miss our visits. He loved to talk and hear all the news. We will miss his love and support.

To our biggest fan, we love you and we believe that families are forever and we will see you again!

Summer Vacation Kick off and more...

It is summer vacation here and to kick it off we had some friends over in the backyard and watched a movie on the projector and a white sheet. This is something I have been wanting to do for a while but we have never done it yet. It was fun, really we look like we are freezing but it was a fun, not too hot, not too cold night. There weren't any pesky bugs and we didn't have any frost bite when we got done. All the kids loved it and even the adults enjoyed it too!




Let's Here it for Soccer Season!!

Jayson is loving sports more and more. He really enjoyed soccer season this year and I only missed one game, due to weather. I was really proud of his get in and play hard attitude!!

Carson loved getting in on some action of his own!

Brother Time!

The boys have been loving there little brother and Connor is really fitting into our hearts, family and schedule. He is such an enjoyable easy baby and he is getting more exciting for the boys because he has some long wakeful periods where he will just look around and the boys have fun seeing who can make him smile. Carson is kind of overwhelming but he does love his brother so! A big hurdle, the bassinet is back downstairs and the big new crib is set up and ready to go for him. Kind of a sad thing taking it down, wondering if it will ever be used again! :(

This is one of the overwhelming moments, just left the room for 1 minute, seriously and this is who jumped in the bed! Little rascal!

Music to our ears!

Jayson is all done with piano, he has learned a lot and memorized his favorite song for the recital, Old MacDonald. He had to start all over in January so he really could grasp the basics but he is having fun and that is all that matters!

My Mom!

I adore this woman and this woman is my mom! Always thought I would be just like her and live right next to her mom. However we keep moving farther and farther from that idea, but mom and I keep on keeping on. Thank heavens for modern technology and I can call and talk to her. She is one of my closest friends and someone I hope to aspire to be like one day. I love you mom, where ever I go in this world, I always know that in a small town in Idaho you are there, praying for me and my little family, hoping nothing but the best of things for us!

Happy Mother's Day, mom!

Here are more for my mom...

Amy Moe Photography Photo Shoot!

This is the plus side of moving your talented friend to where you live! ;)

Here are some fun pics from our photo shoot...I am not posting my favorites because those will appear on his birth announcement!

Enjoy!

Happy Easter!

This is the cutest little Easter surprise we have around!

And my handsome guys! I am one lucky girl!

Poor little guy!

First of all, thank you all for your kind comments and well wishes for Connor and our family. So sorry, I had so many typos but most of that was typed one handed and in between kids and everything!

This post is to show you what trauma our little guy had endured to come here. When Connor was born he had a bruise that covered the top of his head and his cheeks were swollen and puffy. At first we just thought he was well fed and had his own little look compared to Carson and Jayson. When asked who he looked like when he was first born we said it he had his own look because he really didn't look like either older brother when he first came. We were then told that Connor had endured a lot while being stuck and trying to make it through those contractions. As a result the large bruise and swollen puffy head. We had no clue until today really how much swelling had taken place. I am posting a picture of his little face right after he was born and one that I took today prior to his doctors appointment.

At the doctors appointment today he measured 20.5 inches and at birth he measured 21 inches. Today he weighed 8lbs and at birth he weighed 8 lbs 9 oz and when he left the hospital he weighed 8lbs 9.3oz. It is normal for a baby to lose some weight after birth. However the doctor attributed some of the weight lose due to the lose in fluid.

Who knows what the poor little guy went through while he was stuck. These discoveries really makes me think what a tough little guy he is! Thank heavens for priesthood blessings!

Just fresh, so cute with his little cheekers!
We couldn't stop kissing those little cheeks!

Today, the swelling gone and I think he looks a lot like both his brothers now.

Welcome to our family, Connor!

Warning this is Connor's story this is mostly for journaling purposes and may give too many details, so if my brother Jake reads this and thinks this is too much info he can close out! ;) Last Friday, April 8th, the boys and I had a movie night without Jay since he had to be at church meetings. Since the end of the pregnancy we have been doing these fun nights once a weekend with the boys since it was easy and I didn't have to do too much and the boys thought it was fun to do a movie night with mom and dad. Our chose of movies was Gone with the Wind. I know, a little old for the boys, I did a lot of fast forwarding but Jayson wanted to watch an old time war movie and there are not too many shows I can think of that I want him to see right now that are age appropriate war shows and that happen to be on Netflix Instant Play movie list. After the show was over Jay was home from meetings and we put the boys to bed. We both were so tired so we all went to bed early. All through the night I had this dry cough and I remember not sleeping very well because the contractions I had had most of the night were not going away but they weren't that strong and too close together and personally I was sick of contractions, I had been having them so much I was numb to these. Then in the middle of the night I coughed and coughed and my water broke. I had never had this experience, my water breaking naturally so it scared me! I didn't know what to do except for wake up Jay and start crying because I was scared. Why I was scared, I still don't know, maybe because I wasn't prepared? I didn't have my bag packed, I started on the babies bag, but I didn't have a thing prepared. My house was A MESS and for any of you who really know me and have been to my house know that I pride myself on my clean house I work hard and strive to always have a clean house. It may have toys or clutter here and there but underneath everything it is scrubbed and germ free clean. However at that very moment it was disgustingly embarrassing! I couldn't leave my house like this and have my friends and family come in. I had so much laundry and now my bed was a mess. Next came the drive, the hour and a half drive to our selected hospital. Yes, we live in a very rural place and nearest town is an hour and a half away. Our OB of choice practices there and so we made the drive in rain at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. We were lucky to leave the boys with a good friend and then my sister-in-law, Nancy made the 7 hour drive up to watch the kids until my parents got there. With everything left undone, with the long drive, leaving my boys, bugging family and friends in the middle of the night and not having experienced my water breaking like that before I was a little shaken. My life has always been planned, everything I try to plan and control. I always try have everything go my way. Well this pregnancy has taught me it isn't my way. It has taken any sense of control I thought I had on my life and showed me who really has control. It is a lesson I had to learn. Finally we made the white knuckle trip to the hospital-Jay actually hit 90 at one point. I was wheeled up and checked in. Before I knew it I was hooked up to monitors and we were wondering how soon our little boy would be here. I thought around noon and I think Jay thought sooner. Well it went all day...this little guy climbed high. He climbed high to my right side and stopped all progression of labor. I came in dialated to a 5 and stayed that way for the majority of Saturday. With family and friends anxiously awaiting the announcement of his birth, each all was answered or sent with sad no progression news. It was very nerve-wracking for me because as time wore on the doctor came in to check the more C-Section was discussed. Many of you know I fear C-Sections, and I can't have one with my busy life and because of where I live far from family I just can't have one. (We found out later that he had climbed high because he had two knots in his cord and it was wrapped around his neck once-just like Jayson)! So I prayed, I prayed and prayed! I asked Jay to pray and he said he had already been praying. We both knew, he is very busy and there is just no help, everyone is busy. Finally it came to my mind to sit my bed upright and let gravity do its work. So I sat the bed strait up and I asked the nurse if that position was ok, she said that was fine but that I would lose my epidural because it would drain to my legs. Sure enough, I lost my epidural and all those hard PIT contractions were soon felt. I kept my position upright for an hour and the doctor came in and I had moved from a 5 to a 7. He was optimistic. Since we had progressed and he was optimistic I decided to let the bed back done and see if we could get the epidural working again. So I laid back down and the baby went into distress. So I had to lay on my left side. The doctor came back in to check later on and I was still at a 7. So he again said he would be back one more time and if I hadn't progressed with thin that time I would need to have a C-Section. So I sat the bed back up knowing any and all epidural would be gone but I need the gravity to work for me and push that baby back down so I could progress. The contractions were becoming more intense and closer. I could feel everything working properly and the nurse could tell the baby was down by the heart monitor readings when I had a contraction. Finally the doctor came in that last time and checked me he was happy, he said I was very loose and at an 8. He said he was going to go check on some other people and stick around for a little while to see if I would do this. Not even 5 minutes later I was in excruciating pain, the pain was so bad I was shaking. I told the nurse I need to push and she called the doctor and a she flew into action getting the bed prepped for delivery. The doctor flew in and I began pushing. Usually I have not had too hard of a time with my littler 6 pound babies, Jayson and Carson were both littler. However Connor was well over 8 pounds and my body was not prepared for such a kid. I pushed and pushed, he was stuck. I could feel he was stuck. Once last prayer in between contractions and on the last push it came to my mind to adjust my torso and at last he was out. He became up stuck and as Jay said he just flew out of there. Connor was born at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday April 10th. It was an amazing feeling to have felt everything. I will never do that again, I hope but when they put him on me, it was a feeling of shear joy and self accomplishment I had never felt. I endured such incredible pain and my reward, well my reward was sweet, a sweet little baby boy. He is beautiful and precious, no greater reward!! I am so thankful the power of prayer and for His watchful eye. Connor showed all the signs of being stuck. His little precious top of his head had a very large bruise and his face was very swollen for about 4 days from being stuck and my hard pushing. Shortly after he was cleaned up they gave Jay a bottle of sugar water for him and he stopped breathing, so yet again we had another moment of prayer while the worked on him but he pulled through and we had a wonderful staff that flew in and finally he pinked up! Connor is our 3rd precious miracle and we are just enjoying him and his brothers. It was been such a wonderful time for our little family! We just love our boys! My dear friend Amy, my sister-in-law and my mom are such angels! They cleaned and cleaned and did all my laundry! I am so blessed and thankful and embarrassed but thankful. It is hard for this girl to let people do anything for her but I am thankful those that jumped in and helped when I literally couldn't. My mom has been here a week and went home today. She has been such a joy to have around. She has made sure I have had the best nutrition and rest. She helped us with a flooded basement and helped with Jayson and Carson. I couldn't do anything, I was so beat up too, that I just had to swallow my pride once again and let others help were I couldn't. Yet another lesson I had to be taught!

Getting cleaned up!

Proud daddy, he looks a lot like his dad!

Connor 8lbs 9oz and 21 inches long!

I think every mom has had one of those days!

Zero words are necessary! Heaven forbid I should turn my back on this kid!

St Patty's Weekend!

In our town St Patty's is not just a day...it is a whole wild weekend. Our little towns claim to fame is the littlest biggest Irish celebration in our state and the world's largest Shamrock. Yes we even have a large stone off main street that they say is a "Blarney Stone!" So our town comes to life with lots of fun and festivities and yes, a lot of alcohol and parties. We pretty much try to stay away from the alcohol and parties but we do go to the fun things like the Dodge ball tournament, St Pats Parade and the Kiddie Carnival. Here are the pics and descriptions! Enjoy!
Thanks for all the comments on the last post! I love comments so keep them coming!

The boys loved getting together with their friends and watching the Dodge Ball Tourney.

Can anyone say Dodge Ball? Some our local friends on a team.

Watching the parade with our good friends and neighbors the Akindas!

Yep, that is a horse of a different color....GREEN! Poor white horse got in a fight with a can of green paint and I think the paint won! ;)

This is a silly tradition and I think for these people to parade down main like this they are already drunk. You wouldn't catch me alive or dead parading with them playing a toilet plunger!

Here is the Boy Scout float. Yes that is Jay in his Raiders sweatshirt and our friend Pati next to him...we called them the men in black, the Boy Scout Body guards!

This is the Shiners from our community. Jay has decided he wants to join them, not help raise money but so he can ride in one of those cars.

These kids were quite good on their unicycle.

This is Jayson's buddy's Dad's car. They live next door so we get to see this mustang quite often.

This is one of my YW...she plays the flute in the Jr High band.

A leprechaun in a go chart.

This was Jayson's favorite float. He was quite excited to see the machine gun the solider was carrying.

After the parade was over the guy tried to take the horse into one of the bars...yep, time to go home, everyone was getting ready to hit it hard again!

Kiddie Carnival...Jayson loves the games and Carson.....

Well Carson loves the animals they bring. He didn't play one game, except for the hoop shoot, and the rest of his tickets were spent on the horses and the petting zoo.

Jayson did take one ride on the horse though.

Carson on his 3rd horse of the day!

This is a fun pic of Jayson trying to be brave and hold the chick. It made him a little nervous as you may have noticed!

The petting zoo is a lot of fun for my boys, they just love the pony!

Carson loved the little chick and wanted to take him home. Along with all the rest of the animals too. Hmmm...my parents may know who that is like!


As you can tell, Carson is loving every minute of the animals, no fear!