Something I want to Remember

Brady wrote this on facebook last night after his date with Baylee (a day after the Connecticut Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, and I want to remember it/save it so I am posting it here.  It really touched my heart.   Here's what he wrote:

 

"Growing up, we had a tradition of going on a date every year around Christmas time with our parents. I always loved it. We decided to continue that tradition with our kids. I don't know who looks forward to it more, them or me. 1 on 1 time at a restaurant of their choosing, followed by shopping for presents.

Tonights date with Baylee was especially meaningful. I don't think she noticed me wiping ...

away a few tears as I reflected on the recent events. While my heart continues to ache for the victims and their families, my heart was filled tonight with love. Love for my sweet daughter that constantly makes me smile, and has me so wrapped around her finger it isn't even funny. Love for my other children that keep me going and teach me what true love is. Love for my wife and best friend. Love for the precious gift and opportunity I have to make memories with my loved ones. Love for Jesus Christ, whom I firmly believe embraced and loved 26+ precious new angels yesterday, and whose resurrection guarantees that we all will rise again. Love for my brother Jake, who is up there watching over his nieces and nephews (and hopefully his brother), and preparing for us to all be together again as an eternal family.

I'm so grateful for tender mercies like tonight to remind me of what is truly important in life. I'm so grateful for my parents always teaching me that memories are so much more important than things. Nobody will ever be able to take away my memory of a beautiful 3 yr old girl eating Mac n'cheese and singing out loud in the restaurant tonight."

Soccer 2012

Both boys played soccer this fall, Tayson's 2nd time really playing, and Camden's 1st on a team.  Both boys did Awesome!  I missed Camden's team party last night because Baylee wasn't feeling well, but Brady and Camden said that the coach said that by the end of the year Camden was playing as if he had been play more than one year already.  Camden felt so good!  We are proud of him and how great he did especially being his first year, he LOVES soccer (always has).  He scored quite a few goals over the season.  Tayson also did exceptionally well, we were very impressed.  He has become much more aggressive (in a good way) and scored quite a few goals too over the season.  Last game he scored both of the two goals the team had the entire game, it was a Tough team they played against.   
    Unfortunately we only have a couple pics of Tayson playing in a couple posts down because we happened to have the camera with us from the triathlon the boys did that morning (camden had missed his game to do the triathlon) and turns out that was the only day we remembered to have a camera, so we have no other pictures of either boy playing.  ughh.  We really need to get better at remembering to bring the camera, need to get a smaller one that is much easier to transport more frequently.
  

Random sleeping positions

Gotta love it when I walk in and find my kids asleep in random ways. Makes me smile!

                                           Not sure what he was waiting up for here. ;)  Apparently didn't make it.

Fall 2012

 

What we've been up to

So I realize it has been a LONG time since I've posted, not sure anyone will even check this blog these days, but might as well document still.  This year has been a whirlwind in one way and yet a LONG slow 2012 in another.  A LOT has happened!  Malia joined the fam on leap day, Trip to Disneyland/Seaworld in May, trip to Utah in June, trip to Idaho in July, Family from out of town visited off and on, in June we had the opportunity to buy a bigger home sort of fall into our laps (were not out looking to buy), packed up/cleaned, etc and moved to the larger home to rent in the meantime, Spent HOURS and HOURS and did I mention HOURS ripping out carpet, pad and subfloor in our old home to redo for renters (FINALLY completed this weekend!!!!!!! :) :) ), Searching for renters now (hopefully will have them in very soon . ;)  Just started purchase process of new home, Kids started school again a month ago and LOVE it,  I LOVE having two in school all day ;), Malia just turned 7 months, and now making another trip to Utah in Dec for my little bro's wedding.  Oh, and my niece, kids' new cousin, will arrive tomorrow!  We are all SO excited to meet her, and so HAPPY to only live 1/2 a mile from them.  And my mom is coming to visit in 2 weeks! Below are a variety of pics, didn't want to bombard anymore than what I have below, so not everything is on here, but some stuff.  No particular order.

 

 Both boys are playing soccer right now and loving it.  They are both doing great and definitely more aggressive this year which is fun to watch.

 This would be one of Baylee's best friends, Jeffrey.  Here they are cheering at the boys first triathlon that took place last Saturday

 Tayson and Erik (Jeffrey's big brother) after completing the triathlon.  They LOVED it!  What a great event this was!

 Tayson at the finish line, sure wish this would have been the finish line for my triathlon at the beginning of this month.  How cool would that be?!

 Tayson running!

 Camden, and Meagan and another friend at the finish of their triathlon.  They also LOVED IT!

 Camden at the finish line.

 Cam and Meagan getting on their bikes

 Camden swimming (both boys did great, but Brady had to run out with Cam to get him on his way, so wasn't able to be there for Tayson's swim, and he had the camera so no pics of Tayson swimming, but they rocked it!)

 Sydney, Hannah, Tayson and Erik, all great friends!  All four Rocked it!

 These two are a piece of work!

 All four smiling at one time!  Its a miracle!

 We haven't seen this face much the past 7 months, at least nothing compared to the other three, so when we get one, we've GOT to try to capture the moment!  After 5+ months, she FINALLY improved on the colic, and her stomach/gas didn't seem to be so bad.  We thought we were on the mend and on our way to a happy girl, but now she likes to just voice her opinion and Cry and/or Scream everytime you put her down or walk away and not give her attention.  AHHHH!  She wants to be held Constantly and this week, even more so is fully attached to her mommy, not wanting anyone else to hold her.  Baylee was very similar in this way and we were hoping Malia would be better about going to other people, but I have a feeling she is on the road to being the same way.  We'll see, as of now its hit or miss if she will cry for anyone/everyone else.  But basically this is why we say it has been a LONG 2012.  Accomplishing much of anything is almost impossible without her having to just sit and scream.  Unless she is napping (which she loves fortunately now! and so does mom!)

 Still working on that balancing. ;)

 A typical Malia face unfortunately, "how dare you put me down mom!"

 Ah, caught standing on a chair picking blackberries and eating them. 

 

 She has become a thumb sucker!  I know in 3 years I may be kicking myself, but seriously I couldn't be more grateful for it right now!  Her only way to self soothe herself at times.  It doesn't cure everything, but sure helps.

 

 She no longer takes naps, but over the summer she was run ragged at times and we found her out cold on the couch more than once throughout the days.  This time she was being so quiet I went in to check on her and found her sitting in the picture above hidden in the pillow, when I went over to look at her, she was sound asleep like this.

 She has been GREAT at entertaining herself when her brothers are not around.  I would go in her room and find her doing something new, such as sitting in the laundry basket playing her drum.  She keeps us smiling!!!

Camden also played baseball this spring/summer and LOVED it!

 

 

Well, that's all the time for now, but glad I accomplished something. Enjoy!

A Long 4 Months

     Well, I've appreciated all the advice we've received over the past 4 months.  I know everyone just wants to help and make things better and we've taken advice and tried more things that I can even remember or count. Sometimes it seems like there is an improvement after trying something, but then we realize it has nothing to do with what we tried. 

   3 weeks ago while Malia was screaming, I got a great glimpse of the roof of her mouth and thought it looked a little unusual.  Wish I could get a good pic to post, but this is the best I can do.  Anyways, she has her gums/jawline, but then there is another ridge that goes around on the inside of that.  I have no idea if that is normal, never looked in my babies mouths or any other baby's mouth for that matter.  I began to wonder if that was what was causing her to take in so much air when she eats.  Originally we thought she just sucked too hard.  We had switched her to bottle and pumping, because she was even worse when she nursed and had even more gas and fussiness. 
    Well, today she had her 4 month checkup and I was a little nervous as to what the doctor would say when he saw her mouth.  I was relieved to find out that he was not very concerned about it.  I had read a lot about high palates, etc and different suggestions as to how to help them eat better, etc.  Also read that a lot of babies with it when it is associated with other things, also tend to deal with malnutrition.  She does have a slightly high palate, but not too bad.  He said sometimes high palates are related to different syndromes and such, but doesn't feel that is the case in her case.  She is developing perfectly and growing great, definitely not malnutritioned! 
    Her tongue does slip when she is eating, but he wasn't concerned because she is still eating well and in a timely manner.  And she seems to be improving more little by little.  Her spitting up is reflux, but there is no acidity to it, so no need for reflux meds because they don't control the volume that she will spit up, but the burn, but she doesn't appear to have any burning (we did try the reflux meds, but didn't help at all, so it all makes sense).  She does not seem to be allergic to or have any big issues with anything dietwise, etc either.  So he has suggested that adding rice cereal to the bottle to thicken it might help to reduce the amount she spits up or make it easier to swallow it back down.
    He said she simply is Colic.  We've tried what we can and will wait it out.  And I feel peaceful about that, I'm DONE going crazy over figuring out what is bothering her.  She has definitely made improvements over the last month or so, but I know its still a long road.  I'm just grateful for the peace of mind that came today (along with what feels like a renewed dose of patience to continue on).  She is Healthy and having more happy moments during the day too, so I can't ask for too much more.
   I felt that we were warned before she arrived that there was going to be a period of DIFFICULTY!  When I was pregnant and feeling FABULOUS (seriously! by FAR the easiest pregnancy), I had the feeling that there was something coming down the road so enjoy it now.  And I DID!  And I remind myself very frequently of that as I struggle now.  Gives me the strength to hold on and not go insane. ;)
   These pictures are a big improvement over all the crying ones I got in the months earlier, she has more happy/content moments than she used to, so we will take it! :)  (Don't expect many to read all this, but wanted it for my record).

Malia Brianna

In some ways its hard to believe its been 3 weeks since this little girl joined our family, but at the same time in other ways lets just say its been a LONG 3 weeks. ;) 
   Malia joined our family the afternoon of Leap day.  Weighing in at 7 lb 8 oz (our smallest baby, though not by much).  She also has a LOT of hair, which is something new for us for a newborn.  She was breech for so long in the womb, turning just 2 weeks beforehand, so for the longest time she was most comfortable with her legs up as high as she could get them once she came out.  Her legs have finally begun to relax a little. 
    Most pictures of her are while she is sleeping, lets just say that is because she's not the happiest girl awake. So it doesn't cross my mind at the time to take a picture. :( 
   The kids adore her, and there are no jealousy issues with any of them, especially Baylee which is a HUGE blessing as we are dealing with Malia crying so much.  Hoping that improves in the near future and she figures out some sort of sleep schedule at night.
  This was by far my easiest pregnancy, and all along I wondered if maybe it was because the Lord knew we might have a difficult newborn coming or something.  So I have to remind myself daily how grateful I am the pregnancy was so enjoyable (to give me strength to handle these first few months that likely lie ahead).  The Dr. gave her a perscription to see if by chance she has acid reflux and see if it might help her to feel better and be happier, it took 4 days to get the compound pharmacy to finally get it completed which was agonizing, so hoping we might see some relief in the next few days.  If not, then we'll just have to wait out what is likely colic in the weeks ahead I guess. 
   Malia is still perfect and precious in every way.  We wouldn't change her for the world.  Labor and delivery went well, all things considered.  To put it short, the epidural did not work correctly but considering what others were going through on the labor and delivery floor at the same time as me, I was just grateful to be dealing with what I was dealing with, vs what others were.  It made it bareable when I needed it most.
   Life is good, even sleep deprived.  Brady's mother came and helped in the beginning which was great and then my mom came shortly after which was also great!  The extra help was wonderful and I am so grateful to both of them for it!  Wish they were still here. :)  Spring break started today for Camden and tomorrow for Tayson.  They are excited and even more excited that Tayson got a 2 hour delay this morning because of snow.  They enjoyed playing in it this morning.  I always have to laugh when school is canceled or delayed because of a little snow on the ground, so different from Utah, but that's fine by me.  I LOVE only having snow once or twice a year.  Crazy though that it is coming SO LATE this year.
   We've had some odd weather this winter.  It had been in the 50s for a while and then the day Malia was born it decided to snow.  Then 4 days later on my birthday it was in the mid 60's LOL.  I've heard there's been crazy weather all over the country though so I'm not surprised by our weather (such as hail in Hawaii).  Just would be nice if it looked/felt like spring this week and next for "Spring" break.
   Well, that's all for now, just proud of myself for finally finding time to post. YAY!