Oh man, we are tired!

SERIOUSLY??? WHAT THE EFF!??!

2009-10-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Who is that? Yeah, THAT'S ME! TODAY! 10-14-2009 AND I am wearing a nine west pair of jeans in a size 12!!!! ( I had a little assistance in the Lycra department!)
Yes - That's my butt too~ Brooklyn said I still have pointy things on my thighs - yes dear, thank Grandma Chrissy for those saddle bags

Still have a ways to go. I haven't been able to get to the gym since the end of July because of this back thing. So I am frustrated with my weight loss - but I haven't gained any weight. I am at just above 90lbs. And know that if I was able to do any cardio or weights I could be down at least 100 - but oh well. About the back I am going to have to have the discectomy - I have a disc that it herniated so badly between my l4 -l5 that it is pressing the peripheral nerve against the spinal column above. So it feels like I have a charlie horse from my left buttock to my calf - on a good day. So the Dr. will be cutting that part of the disc off and then clearing the disc between l5-s1 out as it is pressing on my sciatic. Fun stuff - don't be jealous! On a bad day it feels like a charlie horse on fire. I am going to try to wait until Christmas break, I can't afford to miss my chemistry class. Cholesterol update - it went up again. The only reason that makes sense as to why it goes up is that my parents passed down some crappy cholesterol gene. It is still in the 170's so nothing to worry about. And I just resized my wedding rings down to a 6.

ok the pictures below are for comic relief only

So I held on to this pair of Levi's from when I was not so fat. In hopes that someday I could wear them again. I put them on Saturday - and got a good laugh. They are sooooooo flipping high waisted - and sooo very tapered at the ankle - they bunch around my ankles and baggy in the hips. Not cute. Not flattering - at all! They have been retired!

So luckily I had a friend who was between a size 8 -14 in the year after she had twins give me a bunch of handmedowns- see the entire outfit above - so these levis can rest peacefully in the goodwill bag!

facebook officially killed my blog. sorry - i post pictures of the girls there - I will post some of the kids - eventually to my blog

Brian Kiley's latest video

2009-09-28T11:19:00.001-07:00

Really check this out. It is the funniest that I have seen him! Post a comment and rate it too - he is trying to get 1 million hits to the you tube

New Blog

2008-05-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of starting a new blog page because of all the viruses and spammer.

The new address will be:

http://ccstepros.blogspot.com/

It is currently under construction, but check back for pictures ... hopefully this week.

Erica

PICTURES

2008-04-07T02:13:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn crocheting. Thanks mom for teaching her this talent! She loves it and she is good at it!
This is her "Fierce" model face!

Almost April Fool's joke

Grumpy
Um...I need to reset that date - those were taken tonight
She has started making this fishy face - so cute!

I need a new blog name. I will be shutting this blog page down to get rid of the viri.

Please comment with a good blog name.

PICTURES

2008-04-07T01:17:00.000-07:00

Ryan, Lori and Don watching kids on Rodeo ride
Dance, Dance Revolution
Some shooting game??
She knocked out Mike Tyson! or a cartoon that looked like Mike

Rodeo ride

Mario didn't like it for a minute

Isn't he cute?
Naliea Before she knew what was going on
After she knew what was going on
Isn't she so cute?
Don and Brooklyn getting on this pod ride that she controlled - He was so nervous! He is going on it again for Lori after she has her baby, what a good daddy! He hates this stuff!

Ricky and Lori
Naliea and me stalking her
Crying out for "Ricky" when she hurt herself, not daddy - but Ricky!
Deidra and Rick
Ryan and Lori, see what I mean about that baby is going to have an awesome skin color? She is so beautiful huh?

Kids looking at koi
Mario and Brooklyn
More Naliea
More Naliea
More Naliea!!

Did I lie to you? Quince?

The normal Ava faces

Ava and Papa Steve

Our resident Cooper's Hawk. He eats the pigeons - not the quail that's what I tell myself. We have feathers and carcases in the back yard.
Happy Easter Mommy, I smiled!
Dying eggs
She is so pretty.
Easter

Is there a plural of Viruses??

2008-04-07T00:35:00.000-07:00

Perhaps ...Viri?

Do not open any of my virus comments, I had been deleting them, but I decided not to, thinking nobody would open them, and them my parents opened them. Then I was thinking, at least they comment - I just may leave them!

A quick update, it is about all I have time for....actually that's such a lie, I waste time all day, I just don't make time to blog. My goal after listening to General Conf. is to waste less time with my "Mind Numbing" activities, I would be such a better mom, wife, house keeper if I would dedicate myself to laundry and house work as I do to TV and the Internet. Somethings just hit closer to home I guess.

Ava had her 6 month appt and shots Friday - she is 26 1/4 inches long and 16.12 pounds. I just think this is GIANT because Brooklyn was only 24 inches tall and 19 pounds on her first birthday. But the percentiles say she is right in the middle of both.

Brooklyn just finished with basketball season, not winning 1 game. I have hope though because I made a deal with our eye Dr. to draft her on his team next year because they stomped us hardcore, he likes to win and he feels guilty for calling my by Don's first wife's name through our appt. I was letting it slide - but Brooklyn looked like her head was going to explode every time he said it, so when I corrected him he felt like crap, I told him it was OK he could call me whatever he wanted to as long as he drafts Brooklyn next year. We shook on it - we will see if he's a man of his word next November. She didn't even have a week off, we started football practice last week, she is going to play flag football this season. We have practice twice a week. She and her best friend Aria are on the same team and are the only two girls. I think that they play really well, actually I talked to the coach after the game - I am the team Mom and Don is the Monday practice assistant coach (he can't be there on Wednesdays) and the coach said that Brooklyn plays really well for the age, I kinda feel like he wanted to say, for a girl but left it out! HAHA and Aria is one of the better quarterbacks on the team, bet they weren't expecting that from our girls! I will have football pictures up on the blog soon, I haven't had my camera at practice yet.

Don is still working!! Yeah!! With all of the State budget cuts going on we hold our breath and pray and pray and pray that they Gov. doesn't do layoffs. He has 18 years in with the State so his seniority should keep him safe, but you really just never never know. He isn't getting any more overtime for the time being so that is good and bad. Good because he is home on his days off, bad because we are tight! Other then that he has only 1 more year of school and then he will be eligible for a promotion and pay raise so that is good!!

I am still not up to much. I had bronchitis for like 3 weeks? It's bad when your best friend calls you and you answer and then she asks to talk to you, because you don't sound like you! My training has been taking a hit while I have been sick. I have an inhaler and that seems to help when I can't catch my breath. I may have to transfer my donations to another race, as money at this time is super duper tight and I am not sure we will be able to afford the weekend in SF, we have to be there every other month already, and we are just doing back and forth day trips so we don't have to rent rooms, so I might have to do a race later on in the season so I can save up longer??

Ava is the crankiest baby ever!! It is nearly impossible for me to get a picture of her smiling. She is always so serious. She just stares you down, like, "Ok, is that good for you?? Keep trying." Her hemangioma seems to be going down nicely. We have an appt in SF next Monday to see if we can begin weaning her off of the roids. If it flares back up and grows again then we will kick her dose back up. If it doesn't then we will continue the weaning until she is off by October. You know we have so much to be thankful for. Her every other month appts in Reno are at a Pediatric Oncologist and it just breaks your heart to see what these little kids and babies have to go through. Most of the time these little kids who are there for their chemo are smiling and happy with the BEST attitudes! I admire that, but every time that we are there it is just a reminder that while this sucks for us, it sucks a lot worse for them, they would trade us for a hyper active birthmark any day.

Easter was nice. Quiet - and lonely. I miss having family stuff to do. I know my Dad's family is too big now, but until I moved up here I knew that every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas-Eve I had plans. We would get together at one of my Aunt's houses for a potluck. Maybe an egg hunt or something. It was just the 4 of us and Bill this Easter. I still cook like I have an army to feed - it is Easter you know. Don wanted to go to Vegas at the last minute but with the price of gas and I didn't want to leave Bill all alone - at least we have each other you know??
Anyway Brooklyn found her Easter dress on Ebay, she fell in love with it when she came across it, I told her she could bid on it and then I lied to her and told her it was pretty. It looks like Madonna's "Like a Virgin" dress meets Quince' dress (15 yr old Hispanic party). But it was only 5 bucks - and it will be a good story for her later!

We had family last weekend come up for Turlock. Don's Grandma turned 79 in March and has Lung Cancer so they wanted to get everyone together. We had such a good time at Uncle Jim's house and visiting with all of Don's Aunts and Uncles and Cousins. I followed Ricky's baby Naliea around with a camera trying to get her picture by the Koi pond...or any where smiling or looking at me and she is just as camera defiant as Ava is! All of Don's family loves her! She is so stinking cute.
Afterwards Don's sister, Shannon and her family, brother Jeff and his family, Ricky and his family, Lori and Ryan and us went to Boomtown(like a small Circus Circus) for some running off of kid and grown up energy. Then to Cabella's (like Basspro) then back to Boomtown for dinner. I had such a good time. I know Don did too, he really misses hanging out with his kids. He just is so busy and I take up so much of his time when he is home, I need to allow him to block time out so he can do stuff he wants to do. Lori is pregnant and she and Ryan just glow! I don't know if I have ever seen a happier pregnant couple. Don is so proud of her and I think that that baby will have the most beautiful skin color! So Don will be a grandpa again in October.

So....I am thinkin

2008-03-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

I have this crazy idea.

I have been mulling it over for a week or so. Ran it passed Don a few times, he is almost against the idea.

I want to organize a fund raiser for my cancer walk in July - I would like to get a the local paper there to document the event and have a hair salon on board.

I am thinking of shaving my head...bald. My hair grows back quickly. People who are getting chemo don't have that luxury, ya know. In a year I estimate that my hair will have grown about 6 inches.

Aren't we all just one bad hair cut away from being bald anyway? And I would get to do all the cute super short styles that I have never had the balls to try out.

The cons would be that no one cares about it and doesn't donate to my marathon - that would suck. But if I can get the paper there it would attract an audience that I would never have been able to reach.....

Please to all the blog stalkers in the world I need your advice.

Another Worthwhile Recipe

2008-03-05T18:44:00.000-08:00

I saw on Biggest Loser that they were eating Lentils, and that they were a great source of fiber and good for a diet. I found this Low Fat Recipe, we tried it, and everyone likes it! Yeah!! And it is super easy!

Lentil and Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

2 tsp canola oil
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
1 large celery stalk, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1 cup green lentils, rinsed and picked through *soak for a few hours to soften - or cook time is longer.
2 15-ounce cans reduced-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
4 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

PREPARATION:
In a large pot, heat oil on medium heat. Sauté onions, celery, and garlic until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle cumin and chili powder, cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add lentils, black beans, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 25 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
Serves 8

Per Serving: Calories 127, Calories from Fat 14, Total Fat 1.6g (sat 0.1g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 503mg, Carbohydrate 22.2g, Fiber 7.1g, Protein 6g

** SIDE NOTE
I sauteed onions, celery, garlic and then the cumin and chili, and added everything to a crock pot and let it just slow cook all day.

Recipes you will thank me for later!!

2008-02-29T12:47:00.001-08:00

I want to post 2 of my favorite recipes - you will thank me for them later!

WEIGHT WATCHER TORTILLA SOUP - Crock Pot

-This recipe was given to me by an old friend

In a crock pot add 4 chicken breasts (I use frozen)

Add enough water just to cover them.

cook the chicken breasts until they can be shredded, once shredded add the following

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

3 cans black beans - drained and rinsed

1 bag frozen corn

2 envelopes taco seasoning

1 16 oz jar salsa.

Cook until hot.

top with Low Fat Cheese &/or Sour Cream

and a few tortilla chips.

Yummy!!

This is easy! And makes plenty to be frozen for later

Classic Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

You will need:

2-4 Chicken breasts - cubed

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup cooking sherry

1-2 cans sliced mushrooms drained

1 box tri colored rotini

1/2 cup fresh parm. cheese

Boil Rotini

In a large frying pan saute butter and chicken, season chicken

w/ garlic salt and pepper to taste.

Add mushrooms to fry pan when chicken is cooked through.

Next add sherry and cream, stir and simmer

Boil sauce until it has thickened.

*alcohol has cooked off when sauce sticks together in pan.

Toss sauce and parm. cheese into cooked noodles.

Top with shredded parm, if desired.

Happy cooking!!

HOLY SPAMMERS!

2008-02-27T23:53:00.000-08:00

I AM GETTING SO MANY FLIPPIN UNWANTED SPAM COMMENTS.

ANY ADVICE?

MAY HAVE TO GO PRIVATE, THIS IS ANNOYING.

EMAIL ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES SO I CAN LET YOU IN.

EJSTEPRO@YAHOO.COM

TONS OF PICTURES!!

2008-02-18T22:45:00.000-08:00

Don and Ava Sleeping

Christmas in Hurricane. Tons of Fun!!!

How cute is this white outfit?? And this one too!
We have had a very wet winter. Tons of snow!

Brooklyn is playing basketball this winter, she is a really good defender!! Can draw fouls ~ would be great if she could shoot those free throws, she is getting better at offense

Another one of Ava sleeping, she is so peaceful when she is sleeping.
Pictures from Vegas when we went down for my Grandpa Chet's funeral. It is sad that we have to get together under sad circumstances.

The boys always have fun with my dad. This looks like Kyle upside down.
Brooklyn and Alexa playing cheerleaders.

Riley holding Ava

After the funeral we drove to Turlock(by Modesto) to visit with Don's family. This is Ava with Don's Mom.
Brooklyn's new hat from Grandma Pam Mario and Ava
Grandpa and Ava
More Ava

Crazy hair day.

Brooklyn and Aria
I am so thankful for Sean and Mandy!! They have been taking the girls for me a bunch so that I can have a few hours to go to the gym or do whatever it is I need to do. This day Sean came over to watch Ava for me and when I got home they were both crashed out! How cute is that??

The depression isn't as bad as it used to be, it is getting better. Hopefully I will have more time to post more regullarly.

I am still serious about my Cancer Marathon...145 DAYS LEFT

2008-02-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Just in case y'all were wondering!

I am still gung ho to do my Breast Cancer Marathon. I walk at least 3 miles 4 days a week. It is getting easier to do. I will step that up a notch in April when Ava is 6 mos old and can go to the gym's day care. I am planning to go to Vegas and do the Susan G. Komen 5K with Linda and Bailey Patterson in the May or June? Can't remember when exactly.
I still have 145 days to train for the big event and really need all the support I can get!

A slight bit of annoyance though, I have been really dedicated to this walk and getting to the gym and I still haven't lost one single flippin pound!! GRRRR Oh well - I will keep up the hard work and hopefully see the fruits of my labors sooner then later!

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/SanFrancisco?px=3858678&pg=personal&fr_id=1480

THANK YOU

2008-02-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of you who read my previous cry for help.

I took that post down, I think I got the help that I needed from it.

I saw my GP today - OB can't see me until March. I am on a medication now, may take up to 3 -4 weeks to work, he gave me 10 xanax to use if I need to numb myself before hand.

Thank you for all of your caring and support.

Have I mentioned...

2008-01-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

That I hate Don's job!?? I am extremely grateful that he has a job that he is able to earn enough money that I don't need to work. I still hate his job, for those of you who don't Don has to work over nights, for example he will go to work Tuesday morning and get off work at 8:00pm Wednesday night. Then factor in the drive home and he is usually home by 8:30.
I used to not mind when he would work for days at a time, it would give me time to hang with Brooklyn or catch up with all of my friends. That was before Ava, this child is soo needy. Ava cries a lot and doesn't sleep or nap really except for 20 min. cat naps (side effect from prednisone~insomnia) and when she isn't fussing she is being held ~ and sometimes even when she is being held she still fusses. It makes for a very difficult day when you are awake most of the night and then again the next day...oh yeah and your husband still isn't coming home because he is working overtime. He has shifts when he is literally gone from the house for 4 days straight. And we are coming up on another one of those types of weeks.
The OT is nice to have, but so is my sanity. Is my sanity the price we pay for a little bit more in the pocket?
I have been considering putting her in a day care a few hours a week so that I can at least go to the gym (they won't take her until she is 6 months) or just have a quiet house, be able to use both hands. I know many of you women have had worse needy babies, and I am a probably a whiner. I just have no coping skills I guess.

Let the training begin!

2008-01-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

Today was day 1 of my marathon training.
According to my training schedule I need to be walking 3 miles 3 times a week, whatever I can do in 40 minutes 1 day, and 5 - 6 miles 1 day.

Sounds easy enough right? I am sure that it will get easier as I go. Today Don dropped me off at the gym, too cold and snowy outside right now, I had an hour to do 3 miles. Some of you are probably laughing about this because it sounds SOOO simple!

I started out on one of the treadmills with very little frills. I load up my IPod to my Hip/Hop/Rap section and I am on my way. I get bored at the 1.5 mile marker, no matter how much booty shaking music I listen to to motivate me. I did the first mile and half in 29 minutes.
I rode the stationary bike for 2.5 miles and then decided I would take on the beast of a treadmill in the back of the room, it looked like it would be fun to use, and it was. It has a reverse incline function - So I would raise it to a 3 incline for .10 miles and then lower it to 0 for .10 and then lower it to neg. 3 for .10 miles. This helps with 2 things, simulating the hills in SF and then helping me keep my attention span. I finished on that tread mill doing another .9 miles. So I didn't reach my 3 mile walking goal in 1 hour, but I did almost 2.5 and I road a bike for 2.5. I feel good about it. Considering this is the first real physical activity that I have had in months.

MARY KAY FOR A CAUSE

2008-01-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

I will be donating 100% of all Mary Kay purchases from now until July 1st to my Breast Cancer Walk.
Now would be a great time for you to place an order through my website: www.marykay.com/estepro

Please forward this offer along to all of your friends or family and people in the blogosphere. I am going to need much support from everyone to reach my goal!

Thanks!!

Erica

169 DAYS!!

2008-01-25T22:32:00.000-08:00

I HAVE COMMITTED TO WALK A MARATHON AND A HALF IN 169 DAYS!!

It is for an excellent cause, I am walking the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It will be in San Fransisco July 12 and 13th.

My BFF Stacie suggested that we do it together both reluctant about the fundraising aspect of it. I am nervous that I won't meet the goal. But I needed a good reason to start excercising....one would think that the fact that I give the Stay Puff Marshmellow Man a run for his money would be reason enough...not so!

And as most of you know my other BFF, Linda Patterson, has been batteling this disease now for too long and I just lost my neighbor Sandy Beyer to Breast Cancer. I feel like I need to do something to show my support for them. My walk will be dedicated to both of them.

I will post updates on training and fundraising periodically. So stay tuned!!

To make a tax deductable donation to my walk please follow the link below.

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/SanFrancisco?px=3858678&pg=personal&fr_id=1480

Thank you for patiently waiting

2008-01-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for patiently waiting for a new blog.
Everyone I saw over this last week between our two trips we made reminded me that I haven't updated this in quite a while.

We had Christmas at my folks house, that was nice. Got to see everyone and then a bunch more family came by to visit my Grandma.

Had Christmas here is Carson, got totally spoiled. We had 18 inches of snow, which has since melted.

Ava is still cranky a bunch. The roids are not to baby friendly.

Grandpa Chet just died. He was 92. It was sad still. Brookie and I lived with him for a while between Salt Lake and Carson City. Brooklyn is taking it pretty badly. She knows about the Plan of Salvation but this is the first person she lost that she really is aware of, my Grandma died when she was 3. It was rough. We drove to Vegas last Tuesday for the funeral Friday. We had already planned on and paid for a room to visit Don's family in Turlock (about 20 min. so of Modesto) so immediately after the funeral we drove another 7 hrs to Turlock where we stayed until today. Our visits with both families went really well. I am glad that we did them both. I am glad that we are home too.

I am quite tired, I will through a ton of pictures up tomorrow, provided Ava lets me use both of my hands!

Love ya all...and just be patient for a minute longer!

2007-12-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

This is Ava's usual face. Crying. This blessing dress is 99 years old this year. Aww

Peaceful!

One proud Daddy. Don's blessing went wonderfully!

Jaren had enough pictures! "This is the face I make when I am sick of taking pictures!" That is what he told me!

Grandpa and Ava

Grandpa and Ava

San Francisco

2007-12-13T17:35:00.001-08:00

This is a sandwich shop by Ava's Dr's office. I love the TAB sign!

Ah...the Golden Gate Bridge. Keep in mind all of these pictures were taken from my sun roof and a few while I was on the phone with my mom.

This is from the Golden Gate Bridge Park?? I think?

I don't have many pictures of Brooklyn because she was on a picture strike. This one was from Pier 39, she was funny, we watched the sea lions there for about 30 minutes and she had made up stories and scenarios for them, like a sea lion soap opera. It was funny.
Who puts doilies in over their headrests???

Bidwell Thanksgiving Pictures

2007-12-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

No time for detailed captions. Maybe I do have time....but, I am tired!

Some of them are from our day trip to Virginia City. I love that town.
A few from us on top of the Heavenly Mountain Gondola ride looking over all of Lake Tahoe. It is absolutely one of the MOST beautiful places in the world. We met this Armenian woman named Margaret, she gathered all of us together to take a picture of us. She was a sweet woman. And the picture actually is nice. She frightened the little boys into submission.

The others are just at my house and the kids playing around.

Sorry these aren't organized! I am almost embarrassed about posting them! haha if you have questions about a picture, I will clarify. : )

Sorry Folks!

2007-12-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

I have no time to blog!
We had our appt with the Hemangioma Dr. in San Francisco on the 30th of November.

Ava's hemagioma had grown to 7.5 centimeters by 7 centimeters, that is how big the tumor beneath the skin was. The purple birthmarks had also grown more looking more moley and raised. Anyway, it had grown into her ear canal to where the ear drum isn't visible.
The Dr. had decided it was best to begin treatment ASAP, we were so on board! Finally a Dr. who listened to us.
Ava will be taking Orapred (Prednisone) and Zantac/Axid (which ever she will keep down) and an antibiotic, for at least 12 months before they wean her off. The side effects of the steroids are her adult height may be stunted because of the long term use of the roids, that is OK because we are short people, probably wouldn't have noticed she was short. She is going to pack on the pounds, she is already up to 12 pounds and 23 1/2 inches long- BEFORE the roids...and she was only 7 weeks old! That we will deal with. Her immune system will be weakened because of the long term use, which is why she take the antibiotic. We will have to be careful who she is around. And she will get "roid rage", not the Dr's term. They prefer to say that she will be unusually moody and "may not seem like the same baby" as long as she is on them.
This as one who has ever had a colicky baby will know - evoked fear into my core.
So pretty much I have no time to blog WHATSOEVER because she is crying....ALL DAY LONG!
She cat naps 10 minutes here 15 minutes there. But as soon as I try to lay her down she realized that she is no longer touching me and wakes up. I am emotionally raw. Verge of tears all day, actually as I write this my eyes are filled up with tears. I shower infrequently, I can't shower with her screaming her head off, so I have to wait for Don to be home. Car rides are fine while I am on the freeway, at stop signs, stop lights or traffic jams she cries, the car HAS to keep moving.
I was thinking of getting a part time job just to get me out of the house, but I can't put her in daycare, her immune system being weak, anything that can become pneumonia can be deadly to her and they would just put a crying baby in a play pen to be neglected all day. I can't even hire an old lady from church to hold her all day cause she would quit after a week of the crying. I am not myself. I am angry, ornery, sad, mopey, blah, tired, ugly, impatient, behind my eyes I am vacant, I am void of genuine emotion, unless of course it is anger and sadness, those I seem to be able to handle quiet well at the moment.
We will be going to SF every other month for a while. Our family vacation this year will be in weekend increments to SF. I am not complaining about that at all, I love SF. I love that we will be able to be tourists in short periods, we will have time to do every little thing we can think of. The steroids are only attempting to stop the growth of the tumor right now, after she is on the meds for a year we will wean her off and if the thing starts growing again she is back on the full does for another 6 months. If it doesn't start growing we will slowly wean her off. Then we can look into options to reduce it's size. It will eventually go away on its own and we may allow it to do that if it is not impeding her ear canal and hasn't caused any permanent damage to anything?? Who knows what we will do? I can't tell you that I will allow her to be on the steroids for much longer. I have to weigh the benefits for her versus the cost of my sanity. Pretty selfish huh? She does need to be on them until at least Feb. (that is our next appt in SF) I really don't want her hearing to be affected? So I will probably just have to tough it out.
Anyway - I am rambling because I can't come up with a clear thought.

I have a ton of pictures from when the fam was here and when we went to SF I will post later.

Please keep me in your prayers - I need the patience and tolerance. Ava too - it's not her fault she cries all the time, I know she is physically uncomfortable. ARGH!
other then that - we are all fine. Brooklyn is wonderful as always! She is my only sanity on most days.

Mcdonald's Rap

2007-11-27T00:07:00.001-08:00

This is hysterical!! A must see!

The Bidwell's are here!

2007-11-24T22:43:00.000-08:00

Ahh.....
So sweet! Look at those ANGELS!!

So my family has been up her all weekend. We had professional pictures done today. I thought I would throw them up real quick. I won't post Holly's, I don't want to steal her thunder, I will wait for her to post them. But they are SUPER CUTE!!
I will blog about it all later...maybe after a good night sleep? When do I start getting those again?
Us 2007
The people who made all of this possible!

This is a good lookin family!
The grandparents and the kids
Just the kids
Oh my goodness! She is almost 12!! I love this one!
My big brother and his family

Last weekends company

2007-11-19T11:45:00.001-08:00

We had Don's brother Jeff and his wife Julie and son Evan up last weekend.

It was nice to have family come up, it is always nice to have family and friends up. Brooklyn had fun playing with Evan.

We didn't do much else. Don had just worked 3 days straight and wasn't up to much entertaining.

Sean came over and they all had nap time! That was funny!

Oh we did go for a walk down the bike path and Brooklyn, Evan and Jeff climbed the freeway ramp...that's was we do for fun here in CC!

Colic, Hemangioma and Pink Eye!

2007-11-19T11:25:00.001-08:00

What's new with me you ask?

Colic, a rapidly growing hemangioma, and Pink Eye! Sweet! Don't you wish you were here?

Ava is colicy. At least that is what I think it is, she has been crying and fussing for no good reason. Stresses me out. It is usually at it's worst when Don is working his over night shifts. Not that I clean a whole bunch anyway, but I literally can't put her down sometimes. Driving and baths that is what we do when I want some piece and quiet. She actually doesn't sleep through any of it though. Just gets quiet. And that is all I need, as we speak she is laying on the ground crying. We had an ultrasound on her abdomen this morning to check to see if there are any other rapidly growing hemangioma forming on the inside of her body. We don't know anything yet about that and may not before the weekend. We weren't supposed to feed her for 6 hours! When I protested that they said at least 3, that was ok, she wasn't so grouchy.

Last week Brooklyn had been complaining about being sick. I have been giving her Tylenol Cold medicine. Saturday morning she woke up her eye was swollen, goopy, sealed shut by goop and red as can be. A $50.00 visit to quick care (we like to get sick on nights and weekends!!) she has pink eye. We missed church and the primary program yesterday, she missed school today as the lady in the office told me to keep her home and if she goes to school she will be sent home. She isn't supposed to be contagious anymore. Maybe tomorrow? She carries around Clorox wipes with her to wipe down everything she touches to try and make sure that we don't pass it on to any of the Family, who by the way will be here in just 2 more days!!

Hemangioma

2007-11-15T21:04:00.000-08:00

So I have been holding off blogging about this. This is at the fore front of my mind and I haven't been able to blog anything else because I am consumed.

Ava was born with a "strawberry birthmark" behind her left ear and kinda in front of her ear. I am not that worried or that vain to care about the strawberry mark. Ah, she'll have hair to cover it was my thought. Well over the course of the next couple weeks the strawberry became more raised. And then about 2 weeks ago I noticed that the area underneath her earlobe was begging to get swell. We had an appt on the 5th of this month with her pediatrician.

Confirmed what we already knew that it was and infantile hemangioma. It can grow for up to 18 months and there is very little that we can do about that. I was not satisfied with the answers that she was telling us, she referred us to an pediatric oncologist/hematologist. We saw her this last Tuesday. We know that it isn't cancer, that was never a concern, we just wanted a second opinion and someone to hear our concerns.

She assured us that our concerns were valid. Don is worried about it growing into the bone or something serious. I am worried about her being disfigured, that the hemangioma will not stop growing or will not shrink.

The hemangioma grows for anywhere between birth to 18 months and then it starts to go away slowly and perhaps completely by 3 to 5. So needless to say since no one can tell us how long it will grow and when or if it will go away and assure us that its growth won't interfere with her ear canals and facial nerves etc etc....argh...I probably wouldn't be ok with anything that they told us.

Anyway the new doctor that we saw it, did some measurements which it is currently 4 centimeters by 4 centimeters, and thinks it is advisable for us to get it further investigated. She has referred us to Dr. Ilona Frieden, she is at UCSF and has literally written the book on vascular anomalies and is a nationally renowned Dr. in this field. Her resume is quite extensive and I feel so honored and grateful and lucky that she is the Dr. who we get to see. I am almost star struck by her experience. We get to go to San Fransisco November 30th, which is the Friday after Thanksgiving to see her.

I am hopeful that she will agree to begin treating it, it is already quite large and is growing still, and for only being 6 weeks old, I hope they agree to begin treating it, again something that is normally not done unless the benefits out way the risks of an infant using steroids.

By the way...steroids not really what this chunk needs. On Tuesday she weighed 10lbs 7 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long! She gained 1 lb and grew 1/2 inch in a week! Holy Cow!! She is a giant!

Ha ha, anyway - I just have visions of my perfect little baby girl growing up to look like "Mask" not the one with Jim Carey, the one with Cher or Sloth from "Goonies".

Any way your prayers and warm wishes would be helpful and aappreciated!

From these pictures you really can't get a good feel for the size.

This is more of a ramble then a blog, my apologies.

Holiday Season!!

2007-11-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Let the HOLIDAYS begin!!!

Yesterday was my birthday. It is the gateway to holiday season. Well actually Halloween is the gateway to the holidays, but I like to think it is my birthday!

I turned 3o! WOW! It was a great day. Don had a day of surprises for me, he had an appt scheduled for me to get a massage first thing in the morning. AH! It was nice, especially since I can lay on my stomach again! He had his son, Ricky, here detailing my car (that is his job), it was a bit embarrassing having him cleaning my car since I had spilled Taco Bell nacho cheese between the seat and console and haven't been able to get it out...ok I didn't try, but still I was embarrassed! Even with the embarrassment my birthday was great!!

Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks and I am soo stinking excited to have ALL of my family come up to visit!! I am going to have a a great time and I can't wait!! My dad rocks! Ok my mom too! Without their generosity maybe I would have a house full of people or no people at all!

Christmas time will be fun also. We are going to Hurricane the weekend before Christmas to hang with my folks and the rest of the family. Don is back to insane OT schedule so we will be back here so he can work Christmas Eve he will be home that night and we will have Christmas morning together and then he is off to work, for how long we don't know exactly at the moment, but it will be for several days. So the girls and I are going to drive back down to Vegas and hang out with who ever is around to hang out with! Anyone want to volunteer a couch or two for us? Anyway I am looking forward to all of the family and friends I will be seeing in the next 2 months! YIPEE

New Pictures

2007-11-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

More random pictures of our family.

I love the pictures of Don and Ava. So sweet!!

HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

2007-11-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

Halloween was nice! Brooklyn had a few costume parties over the last few days not to mention trunk or treat at the church and then real trick or treating. Brooklyn was a pirate. and a mighty cute one! She walked around every time she got to dress up saying things like, "Daddy, scrub the poop deck." and other words and phrases she got from the book, "Piratology".

Ava was a jack-o-lantern. Look at how cute she is!

Later Ricky and Deidre brought Nalieah over. She was Raggedy Ann she is adorable!!

Lunch with Grandma

2007-11-01T18:04:00.001-07:00

Last Friday Don brought his grandma out to our house for Dinner and to see the baby.

It was a nice visit. Here's a few pictures of them.

I was playing around with the sepia color.

Ah... A Friend!!!

2007-11-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

I had a stinking great weekend! Becky came up to babysit me. well that was the plan when she originally planned the trip 3 months ago, but I am not in need of care taking. I was grateful for the friend though! I am so lonely for friends.

We did the NV Day Parade. George Knapp was the Grand Marshall, the theme was something about Area 51. I was the only person who knew who he was and why he was here for the Area 51 parade. We walked around the Capital building and Legislature building, walked through the leaves and a giant colon balloon. It was quite comical, it was there to raise awareness about colons and colon screenings. It was creepy! Sadly, I was unprepared with my camera.

We didn't do a bunch else. Just a lot of laughing. I miss my friends!

Ava Claire

2007-10-23T11:41:00.001-07:00

We went to church on Sunday. It was Ava's first time at church.

Happy Anniversary!

2007-10-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary this last weekend. First I can't believe it is only 2 years ~ it just feels like I was never without Don in my life. We were married on the 20th of October 2005 and sealed the same day the following year. So it is a special day for Brooklyn also.

We decided that already having a big month we would just take it easy. Don and I went to dinner on Friday night and had Aunt Mandy and Uncle Sean babysit the girls. We had an enjoyable night out and enjoyed our each other's company.

We planned an ambitious day trip to Sacramento for the family on Saturday. It isn't so much a long drive it is only about 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive. But we left later then we wanted and having the baby we had to stop to feed and diaper change. We only had to stop once though, so that was nice. Once we got to Sacramento we walked around Old Town Sacramento. It is like Virginia City, but larger...and not so creepy! But old board walks and lots of stores.

So I should have taken pictures in the daylight - oh well. The lamp posts are wrapped in corn stalks for the fall. It was very pretty.

We walked through a toy store and saw this bear made from Legos. It was pretty cool I thought that Jaren and Kyle would love it. I tried several times to get a better picture of it but this guy kept walking in front of me. Argh! So this is the best I could get.

We walked a pier down to the Sacramento River and saw turtles and snakes and even a Sea Lion. He was sunning himself right below us. He looks so cute! He has been living in the river for several months and likes it there because there is a ton of fish to eat and no competition.

Mary Kay Time Again

2007-10-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

I am out of stuff. So I will be placing a MK order this week.

Let me know if you need anything. The website is: marykay.com/estepro

Interpretive Dance Anyone?

2007-10-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

Our other rose blossom.

Just pictures

2007-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

4 Days Old

5 Days Old and Loving the hand!!

5 days old

1 Week Old

8 Days Old

I just took these pictures this morning. Our camera does a warning flash, and it always makes her squint. So I have very few pictures with her eyes open!

L&D Horror stories

2007-10-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

So as promised I will get to the horror stories of my labor and delivery.

The Dr. had sent us home Tuesday, doing a c-section didn't work for her schedule then, seriously...that is more or less what we were told. We came home frustrated. My mom's flight came in late Tuesday night. Boy we were glad she was here in the middle of the night!

I woke up at 4:00am to use the restroom, while there I noticed I was wetter then normal. I walked around the house, woke Don up, oh wow....and then I started dripping more and more. We got ready to leave woke mom and Brooklyn up to tell them we were leaving my water had broke.
We get to the hospital about 4:45am. This is exactly the situation that they didn't want me to be in for my c-section. I was in full blown active labor...duh...my water broke. The Dr. came to the hospital and reminded me that this isn't the "ideal" c-section situation, they really didn't want me in active labor...again, duh! I reminded her that they sent me home the previous 2 days when I wasn't in active labor and still dilated to a 4 and 5 respectively.

They got a hold of my Dr. who came to the hospital said we would do the c-section at 6:00am. I toughed out the contractions, my Dr. wouldn't give me anything for them- again why?? I was in a fair amount of pain. I was used as a human pin cushion - all morning. I have one pokeable vein. It is in the crook of my left arm. I was informed that this isn't the "ideal" spot to start my IV as I may bend the tubing, so the nurses proceeded to stab around trying to find veins, collapsing everything they hit. After 3 tries in my right arm and several in my left forearm, as witnessed by this picture taken the next day, they finally decided that my crook of my arm vein was ok enough to use. Ugh!!

I am now in hardcore active labor, and the Dr. would not authorize me to get anything to alleviate my pain or reduce my contractions - as I was supposed to be in the O.R. at 6:00am, I thought I could wait - and then at 6:30 I thought I was going to kill someone. There really is no reason, in my opinion, to allow a woman to go through all of that. I was already to the point that I could have had an epidural. The nurses told me that I would be going to the O.R. in about 20 minutes and I said, "Yeah, Ok, I heard that 2 hours ago!" So they tell me the O.R. is ready now, and that it is just down the hall to the right and another right and that I would be walking!!! They made me WALK to the OR, gushing water and contracting and in full blown active flippin labor! I asked for a wheel chair and I was told they could get it for me, but they thought I could make it. So I did. Between contractions I was still in good spirits though, I was trying to laugh and joke around with the nurses.

The anesthesiologist came in and had me assume the position, legs dangling chin touching my chest back arched. He began poking around with these long skinny needles that are only used to find the place where the spinal fluid leaks from, and then he would administer the spinal.

Well, I think I had the "B" team, the interns who only know what they are doing because they saw it once on "A Baby Story", He poked in my back for 30 minutes. Asking me what I was feeling as I would have shooting pains in one place or another because he had hit a nerve. Is this the moron that you want poking needles into your spine. Meanwhile I am getting more and more and more uncomfortable with every contraction. I was now crying, Don wasn't allowed in the room for this, I was begging for a Tylenol - something. I asked Dr. I am not a Dr. but I play one on TV, if there were any other options. He told me that they could do a general, but since I had to have a C-section I had to have a spinal or a general and knock me all the way out - but the general was too risky. I cried out that I was willing to assume those risks. The last poke he asked me again what was I feeling, and my response was, "Complete and utter contempt for everyone in this room." Then one nurse, Nurse Hatchet, said to me, "Listen, you are not the only one in here having a difficult time." Holy Crap! Are you serious?? To which I said, "Last I checked I am the only one in LABOR!" Out of frustration Dr. I bought the how to video one night for 4 easy payments of $19.99, agreed with me, the general is the best choice. My OB came to check me and I was at an 8. They laid me down, started strapping me down, took them still 10 - 15 minutes before I was out, but I knew that relief was coming, and I was laying down so a bit more bearable. I am not a complete whiner either, but come on!
So the picture above is my back where he tried to stick me, we counted the red dots there are at least 12 maybe more. 12 times!!
My OB came in with the other Dr.s who were assisting and gathered the nurses together to prep them for what was going to go on, "We are going to do a primary section followed by a TUBAL LIGATION." Now, she got it in her head that I was having my tubes tied, my last 3 Dr. appts she mentioned this to me and I was always really quick to correct her. Monday at our last appt, I talked to her about maybe an IUD, but never a Tubal. Underneath the mask, I yell out, "NO!! We are not doing that!" Then she tells the staff that this "must be a last minute change." "Um...no! IT was NEVER an option!!!" Hi, can you say LAWSUIT??

I am not sure how the delivery went, Don wasn't allowed in either. I was in recovery for 2 hours, where Nurse Hatchet told me I wasn't in any pain because I had gotten Morphine and Demoral. I was softly crying....I came out of it a bit emotional. I kept asking about my baby, Don and where my glasses were at, since they took them from me in the OR, she kept ignoring me. So I began to cry, another nurse asked her if she could help with anything and Nurse Hatchet told her that I have been "emotional all day." NO CRAP!!!

Once in my room things got better. I slept a lot. I got to see Ava and Don. Ah, relief.

My recovery has been awesome! Although I am a bit sore even today, I have been up and walking since the day after and feel like a million bucks compared to my delivery with Brooklyn. And no reconstructive surgery necessary!! SWEEEEET!!

AVA CLAIRE STEPRO

2007-10-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sweet dreams
Big Yawn!!

Three days old -

This post will be limited to pictures of our sweet baby. Horror stories to follow.
Ava was born into this world October 3rd, 2007 at 7:34am.
She is 7lbs 7 oz and 20 inches long. She is beautiful! She is sweet. Such a love.

Ava Yawning on Grandma's lap

So pretty much....

2007-10-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

I hate my Dr.!!

I hate my Dr.! It doesn't make sense at all. I call in today, still having contractions what should I do?
Go to the hospital - they say. We don't want you to dilate anymore on your own - since you are a scheduled c-section. Oh yeah, I thought, finally they are getting me. Still don't know why they sent me home yesterday.

The nurses at the hospital we all ready for us to stay. But my delivery doesn't really work into my Dr's schedule. Yep. She had 4 c-sections scheduled for this afternoon and I had only progressed a bit....maybe a 5...a bigger 4. So she sent me home....AGAIN!! How far dilated do I need to be to have them keep me? This is retarded!

I am in an especially ornry and grumpy mood today. I am not answering phone calls - I don't want to pull more people down then necessary! hahaha. But seriously! I am a grouch! I will answer emails and text messages though.

PRAY FOR ME!! PRAY FOR MY RETARDED DR. TO NOT BE SO RETARDED AND ADMITT ME ALREADY! Pray I contract enough and dilate enough that they don't kick me out of the hospital. It just doesn't make any sense to me. They don't want me to go into active labor - since that makes for a more exciting c-section. Why don't they just do it now????

GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Getting ready

2007-10-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

We had a Dr. appt yesterday. I am up 1.5 lbs, grrrr, grand total of 18 now?? Oh well still less then 20.

My Dr. is a woman, I dislike that. She doesn't listen to what I am saying because she knows the answers already. Anyway, I had told her that I was feeling really sick the last few days and I had been having lots of hard contractions but they never last longer then a few hours so I didn't go to the hospital knowing I had an appt Monday. She says, "well if they were real contractions then you wouldn't just figure you had an appt Monday. You would have gone to the hospital."

Or maybe, I am not a whining cry baby. So she checks me...."Whoa....wait.....you are dilated to a soft 4 and about 50% effaced. I guess your contractions were doing something." I remind her of the nausea and vomiting and she says, " Oh yeah, that happens when you are going into labor...blah blah blah" I hate that you have to be dilated to not be a liar. Anyway she said if I were to a 5 she would have admitted me yesterday. I am still contracting off and on. I want to make sure I am good to go before I go to the hospital otherwise they will just send me back home.

So needless to say we were running around yesterday packing bags, mine and Brooklyn's (to go to a friends house if my mom isn't here yet), installing car seats, putting up the playpen bassinet thing in our room, finishing up her room. It may happen sooner then later folks! I am going for a walk again today, last nights walk was very productive and I thought we were going to have to call 911 and have them wheel me off the bike path. So maybe tonight??

We got the BEST deal on this dresser! My sis in law Mandy made this blanket
price was $500.00 we got it mark down
clearance with a coupon for $220.00

Brooklyn crocheted this little lap blanket for the baby. She is very talented!

OH and since I can't reach my toes, and I wanted pretty nails for the hospital, I had Don paint my toes, literally my toes, wasn't supposed to be but ohwell can't fault the guy for trying..... progress. (can you see the paint all over my tips of my toes?)

Happy Birthday Don!

2007-10-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Don's birthday was actually a week ago.

He is 37!! Wahoo!!

Brooklyn and I made the cake and she decorated it all herself. Pretty good job, heh?

37 WEEKS

2007-09-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Two weeks from tomorrow! Yikes!

I am so scared and nervous! I will no longer be able to say to my friends with small kids, "Well mine is self sufficient." We are going to have to take care of a person soon. The only reason we need a sitter for Brooklyn is because we would go to jail if we didn't! I am nervous about the adjustment period. Don is equally nervous, having never had a baby before. His older kids were like 5 and 12 when they got married and Brooklyn was 7. Although he did have younger siblings he and Sean have a 10 year age difference. But still not his kid. Don is so sweet though, he is very excited about it. I told him that if we have company while my mom is here, we may have to pry the baby from my mom's arms to allow company to see her, and he said, "Your mom will have to fight me for her, because I am going to be the one holding her the whole time."

Isn't that sweet? I really can't wait to see my mom fight Don for the baby though, cause she will!

So here are a few pictures of me in my June Cleaver dress. I love this dress, it is so June Cleaver to me. They were taken today, so 37 weeks exactly! I took them myself so they aren't they best angles and stuff but you can see how large I am getting.

A new addition to the 4's...for your amuzement!

2007-09-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Before Sandy passed away we were talking about embarrassing moments in our lives. As I was sharing my gems, I realized that I had 4 that are truly embarrassing. So I thought I would add them to my 4 things list.

I will put these in chronological order, because ranking them by most embarrassing to least embarrassing would be too hard!

1. Oct. 30 1996 Becky Bedier (Medsker now) and I had gone to San Fransisco to see her then boyfriend. I thought it would be cool to spend my B-day in SF. He was in the coast guard academy and there was a costume ball at an old light house. I dressed up like a go-go dancer/hippie (pretty much a regular for me then). I had these white platform shoes that had a platform underneath the toe like 2 inches and a 5 inch heal that I was wearing. I was like..."Hey, I am almost 19...looking FINE....here with a bunch of coast guard boys I will never never never see again....I am going to work it out!" Walking into the light house you have to step up like a foot to clear the threshold...well my right heal never made it. I misjudged my clearance in those shoes. My heal clipped the cement threshold and I fell so hard and so fast I didn't have time to put my hands down to break my fall...luckily I have a face and teeth to do that for me! I jumped up as fast as I could...tried to play it off...went to the bathroom where my entire front of my body was beginning to bruise, my front teeth chipped, and eventually broke off, once back to Vegas, and for the rest of the night I wasn't "That hot girl from Vegas" Oh no....I was "that's the girl that biffed it down stairs."

2. 2002 - When I worked for KB home, my community was in Southern California. So a few times a year we had to fly to Cali for our KB Pow Wow. One trip I was wearing a black skirt with a thin elastic waist, no snaps, or buttons, just elastic to hold it up. I was also wearing black hose and a black slip. As we were standing up to off board my skirt stayed tucked under my knees which were firmly pressed back to the seat and as I stood up my skirt stayed in place and my body rose....I pants myself in front of strangers and coworkers! Luckily there My slip was still relatively in place.

3. March 16, 2006 I signed up to volunteer for the Special Olympics Winter Games up here at Kirkwood through my employer. It was cold and had been snowing all night the night before. I rode up with my branch manager, the branch manager from another office and our resident financial planner. We all walk up an icy hill to a lodge where we check in and get our S.O. volunteer credentials. The manager from the other office and I were assigned to the same place so we start walking back down icy hill to the road and I slip. I fall...I slide..pretty huh? I thought I had just rolled my ankle, maybe sprained it? It hurt pretty badly. So with the help of Linda we walk back up said icy hill. Now I encounter my boss and financial planner, being manly men they offer to help me up the stairs to the lodge to rest my leg. I do it by myself. They go about their duties. I rest my leg in the S.O. headquarters while debating whether or not they should call the paramedics for me. Meanwhile people are asking what I had done to myself, and my standard reply was,"Oh, I am such a retard. I slipped and fell on the ice." Ok so I proceed to call myself a retard oh about 7 times before I realize the looks that I am getting is because I am in the Special Olympics tent area! Argh! Foot in mouth. The paramedic comes to get me on her snow mobile and says, " I am required to ask, since I am picking you up here. Are you a S.O. participant?" HAHA that was great!!! I was asked if I was a Special Olympics participant!!!
I broke my leg that day. But it was hysterical.

4. Spring 2006. Just had a root canal. I needed to stop off at Albertsons and get some groceries. I was feeling mighty cute this day also. You know you walk a bit differently when you are feeling especially cute?
I go back to the bakery get a fresh loaf of french bread. Bakery lady says.."Would you like a hot fresh chocolate chip cookie?" Ohh...I hadn't eaten all day so I could have clean teeth at the dentist...Heck yes! I want a cookie!! I take her cookie and a bag of them. I devoured my cookie. I walk around the store, and I am noticing people looking at me and smiling. 'I am looking good today!' Man, people are looking at me smiling and almost flirting with me. I am feeling even better about myself - check me out! I pay for my items, walking out and I catch 2 firemen staring at me. 'I must be on one today - I haven't been hit on like this since I was thinner - and by firemen!!' I couldn't wait to get to the car to call Holly.
I pick up my phone, throw down my sun visor to get a glimpse of myself and how hot I must look today, only to see that I had chocolate SCHMEARED across my face and lips! The aforementioned fresh hot chocolate cookie that I devoured had oozed on down my chin and my lips, well being numbed up from my root canal I couldn't feel a thing! I had been pressing my lips together through the store trying to get feeling back into them which only spread the chocolate all across my lips. I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants! No one! Not one person even did a face brush..like you have a little something on your face! Nothing!
Oh well, what fun would that had been?

Your vote counts!

2007-09-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

Ha Ha! This is funny.

Mark Ecko is the fashion designer that paid $752,000.00 for Barry Bonds' #756 ball.

He wants your opinion as to what should be done with the ball at this point. Voting lasts until the 25th of September. http://www.vote756.com/marcecko/
Follow this link and make your vote count!

Seriously...make up your mind

2007-09-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

Just had my 36 week appt today. My appt was at 10:30, the Dr. finally saw me around 12:30.

Informed me that my c-section was "officially" scheduled now. Monday October, 8th at 7:30am.
So from the beginning of this process it was the 8th, then the 5th, then the 9th and now back to the 8th. At least it is one day earlier and not later!!

So for you that are counting...THAT IS ONLY 3 WEEKS FROM TODAY!! AY-CA RUMBA!!

Weight gain update: I gained 4 lbs in 3 weeks! Holy crap!! Taking my total gain to 16 pounds, I was on the 15 or less plan...but since I have surpassed that mark I will say less then 20.

Train wreck

2007-09-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

I am emotional. Are you surprised.

I cry - often - and at retarded crap.

I am more emotional now then at the beginning of this pregnancy.

E! True Hollywood Story, "Pink" Yeah not so much the touching tear jerker....ah, unless you are me. I bawled. Why? I don't know. Because I have a 5lb fetus sitting on my bladder, my stand by excuse for just about anything. Ah, the"Pink" story is soo touching.

I am a train wreck.

Scrumdiddillyuptious

2007-09-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

MMMM...Yummy!

Don has had to get dressed up a bit more for his interning for this class he is taking. I love it!! He doesn't have to dress up for work - and I am sick of the church clothes dressed up.

He is yummy! Look at him!

two little monkies jumpin on the bed....

2007-09-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn and fellow monkey Aria were playing on Aria's bunkbeds yesterday. Brooklyn was hanging on the side or something? She fell and hurt her wrist. The swelling hadn't gone down yet today so we took her into the ER. Not so bad on a Sunday. Our entire hospital stay only took 2 hours.

After a few X-rays, which the tech let her see everyone so she could see her bones, nothing is broken just badly sprained.

She was pretty cute about it, thinking she gets out of practicing piano. She asked if she could have her friends sign her ace bandage. Sure, whatever. You silly girl. Then tonight we put her to bed, she comes out. "It is really tight."

"Go to bed." "But, it's tight." "Go to bed. Adios. bu-bye." "Do you guys know anyone that has had these on before." We both give the 'oh, please' look. I have had 2 sprained ankles and a broken leg in less then 2 years, I am familiar with the ace bandage, to which she asks...

"Have you ever known anyone who's fingers fell off because it was on to tight?"

hahaha we both laugh hysterically- she is a bed time staller - big time! Worse then a small child. But still manage to get the words "Go to bed." out of our mouths. SUCH DRAMA!!!

Baby Shower

2007-09-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

I am trying to bury this post between others that I intend on posting today. I am not an ingrate - I am very grateful for having a shower.

My one and only friend, Rita, here in Carson threw a shower for me yesterday. We the ward member who I sold the house to. It was kinda her way of showing off what she's done to the house too, which I was cool with - then the pressure isn't so much on me to entertain.

The shower was attended by 6 people. 3 of which are nearly complete strangers from church and 3 were people that I am nice to. It wasn't a bad shower at all, considering that I am a total stranger. The company was enjoyable the food was good. Rita and Larisa worked hard at putting it together.

I was disappointed because I had no family and no friends there. It would have made a world of difference if it were in Henderson, where I have friends. I hate being stuck teaching primary for this reason, they called me to primary as soon as I moved in and I haven't got to meet any one else. Our ward doesn't have many enrichment nights or activities.

I have like 3 church friends, and I was sooo disappointed that they didn't show up. I sorta counted on them to come. I am not hurt by who came - but who didn't. Make sense? I am grateful for having had a shower. Don't misread that at all. It would have been different to have more support. Just paints a bleak picture for having support after baby is born too.

Busy Saturday...9/8/07

2007-09-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

So Brooklyn's game was yesterday at 8:30am. I don't mind the 8:30am games so much.

But they had pictures BEFORE the game! YUCK!!! So they had to be there at 7:30. Luckily for me, Don was home and took her and I arrived at 8:00.

Don is on a marathon work week. Death really does come in threes. Don's supervisor's gma died last Tuesday and she is taking 13 days off...really necessary?? She was 100 not that big of a shocker! Anyway...Wednesday his only other co-worker called in - his dad died and he wouldn't be coming back to work until the following week sometime. We thought that Don was going to have to be at work for 7 days straight. The big boss got someone to cover his shift Thursday and Friday so that he would be refreshed to work all this week, for those who don't know he works at a 24hr boys home and therefore, someone needs to be there 24 hours a day, and when 2 of the 3 of you are gone that leaves you!! So they are working on getting someone in a few hours Wed. so Don can attend Sandy's funeral.

Ok SOOO back to Saturday. Her game was good they tied at 0's. She played awesome! Mostly because it was the first game that Don got to see.

After that we came home she changed and we went to Virginia City with one of Brooklyn's friends to go watch the Camel Races. Yep...I said Camel Races. It has been going on for like 50 years or something. The races are the same weekend as the Hot Air Balloon Races, which we went to last year so this was our first year at the Camel Races.

I can't walk much due to the pelvic pain and stuff. So we stayed on one side of the road. Had ice cream and $3.00 bottled water, they jack prices up for the races. We sat around and watched the Camel Parade and then headed down to the Camel Arena - they actually sit on these stubborn animals and race them around a track. I guess the fact that they are stubborn is why it is so funny.

They also race Ostriches. That was hysterical - I don't think one person made it around the track still on their bird. Often times the bird revolting and chasing after the rider. Don't blame them though.

It was a fun and unique experience. Glad we went!

Soccer Season

2007-09-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

Soccer season officially started a few weekends ago. Brooklyn plays U-10 (under 10 yrs old) she is one of 2 returning U-10 players to her team this year. Which means all the rest of the kids are just 8, and at this level the field gets bigger and the teams are more aggressive. We lost our first game so horribly! I mean the other coach even told his girls to lighten up a bit, as they were creaming us! Our goalie would duck away from the ball, Brooklyn who was playing full back - or defense had possesion of the ball, ran it up to the other teams mid field and all of her teammates were behind her still down by their goal. She was screaming to them as the other team had 5 players on her,"Give me someone to pass to." The other girls were too busy checking manicures I guess?? She was so frustrated, she had gotten the ball with in scoring range if there was anyone else to back her up! They lost...9 to 0!! Pretty pathetic!
We had a more evenly matched game last night, by that I mean they sucked as bad as we did! hahaha, no just more young players - it was a good game 3-2 we won. That is good to get a win under our belt. Our coaches are these people who want everyone to have "fun" and winning doesn't matter. Um...yes it does! You are playing a sport! Winning matters. Maybe it isn't the most important thing in the world, but I don't want the coaches telling them that winning doesn't matter! Several of these girls wanted to name the team the "girly girls" Brooklyn put her foot down on that one, she wanted something more omminous and scary. They ended up with the "Dynamic Dolphins" she is still not thrilled with it but it is admittedly better then the girly girls. We have the drama queen to beat all drama queens on our team, she gets kicked in the shin (wearing her guards) or has a ball hit her and she falls to the ground and cries....for a second. Brooklyn will always yell across the field, "This is soccer get up and stop crying if you don't want to ." It cracks me up! I feel the same way!! So hopefully this team will shape up.
We have lost 2 - won 1 - tied 1. Not soo bad for starters.

First day of school

2007-09-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

SOOO CUTE!

Flashing her gold slippers...

School started the Monday after soccer started. Brooklyn is in the 4th grade this year! NUTS!!

It is so hard for me to believe that she is 9! GEEEZ! Starting this year they break up for math and reading so that they can be better taught on ability and also to get them ready for changing classes in Jr. High. She is in the excellerated math and reading groups. That is a relief to me - she sometimes will not try as hard as she should to be as smart as she is - if she is around friends who aren't as smart. She doesn't want to hurt feelings and stuff - so this way I don't have to worry about it! YEAH!

New C-Section Date

2007-09-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

My due date has not changed. My official due date is Oct. 14, 07.

Originally, when we had began to see our OB Dr. after our fertility Dr. dumped us, her day she did c-sectioins was Friday. So I was looking at Oct. 5, 07.

At my last appt she told me that she has changed her days from Friday until Tuesday now! UGH! I about cried. I know it is only a 4 day difference - but I am done now!

So anyway my new c-section date is Tuesday Oct. 9, 07. Unless I go into labor earlier and then they will admit me and just do it....praying for that one!

Sandy Beyer

2007-09-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

My neighbor Sandy passed away this morning.

I know she is in a much better place, that is so easy to say, right??

She was the epitome of grace and courage. I just saw her and although she was ragged and tired she was worried about her sons not coming to terms with her death yet. And was asking Brooklyn how soccer was going and school and asking me how the baby preparations were coming. Never once complaining about the pain she was in or asking for anything but a visitor and company to talk to.

In just a few weeks she went from being ok to dying. We can be grateful that she passed quickly and did not linger in pain. I just wished we could have been more help to them. I just feel like there is still so much we could have done for them.

What do we do now to help and comfort and support Bill and her family? Don said that the worst feeling after April died was that he felt ostracized - people not knowing what to say didn't say anything at all. What can we do?

Neighbor update

2007-09-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone for sending prayers Sandy's way.

2 weeks ago Saturday she took a walk outside - at night - alone and fell. She bled immensely, managed to get inside the house, clean herself up and go to sleep. The next day we visited, she seemed like the old Sandy just weaker.
Later that week she had a Dr. appt and was hospitalized. The brain tumors haven't shrunk and had spread to her spinal column and nervous system. The Dr. said they could treat it with Radiation and make her live a few more months but she would likely be unconscious and in a lot of pain. The treatments thus far for the liver and brain tumors have been so unsuccessful that they opted for hospice care at home where she can be comfortable for the days that she has left.
She is on morphine and so she is not to uncomfortable.
Most recently, Friday I think, we found out that her liver is now so swollen it is blocking off her other organs around it, it is really affecting her digestive system.
Bill is fighting with insurance companies - ugh! I don't think that any spouse should have to do that. They are telling him that they have to resubmit a new life insurance application for Sandy and it may take 2 - 6 weeks to process. She has had this policy for like 15 years with her employer - her employer relocated to Mexico in July, but all the old employees benefits should have remained the same as long as the premiums had been paid. He is stressing out. He wants her to die quickly and peacefully - but not before he gets this stuff worked out or he is screwed. It is so ridiculous!
Don had similar when April died. They had both been working for the State and she had taken a policy out a few months before she was diagnosed with cancer - well then she fought it for a few years and they continued to pay it. Then she died and the State tried to deny Don's claim for the money because she was diagnosed with cancer to soon after the policy was initiated. But they took the money for 2 1/2 years for the premium. Anyway it worked out, but it is not something a grieving spouse should have to put up with.

Keep sending your prayers and thoughts up this way.

UTAH FANS NEEDED

2007-08-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION ALL UTAH BLOGGERS!!
My best friend Brian is having a comedy gig in Utah, Orem actually. Please read the attached email from him and go out to support him if you can. I think that he is hysterical and clean comedy. Go support him!!!!!

From: Brian E. Kiley

Date: Aug 20, 2007 8:46 AM
Subject: Utah Friends- I NEED YOUR HELP!
Body: ************ATTENTION ALL UTAH LOCATED FRIENDS******************

As you have probably seen I am going to be performing at Wiseguys Comedy Cafe' in Orem this Saturday (August the 25th) at 9:00pm. It would be a great help to me if anyone in the area can come out and support me for that show and make LOTS of noise. I want the club to see that I have a loyal fan base in Utah and make them want to bring me back. Tell all of your friends and family and try and get as many people out as you can. After the show call the club and tell them you want to see Brian E. Kiley again! Heck...even if you cant go...call the club anyway!

I hope to be able to come back to Utah more often and perform for you...so please SHOW THE LOVE!

So you think that you have it rough?

2007-08-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

We have some of the best next door neighbors. The old fashioned kind of neighbors that will talk to you when you walk by and save the best Halloween candy for your kid. They have been Don's neighbors and friends for 10+ years.
They are older like 59 and 64ish. Sandy the wife had survived breast cancer back when April had it. About a year ago during one of her routine 6 month check-ups they saw that it had returned. Well that isn't all the crappy part. It had moved so agressively, no sign of it at the visit before. Within months it had spread to her liver.
In the last month they discovered tumors on her brain. She is so hopeful, so optimistic, so sure that she can beat it again. She just stopped working! She had been working full time as an accountant all of this last year, and she used to mow the lawn twice a week! She would take Friday off for Chemo and rest over the weekend. I guess now with the chemo and radiation(to treat her brain tumors) it has finally become to much for her.
They had 1 Black Lab and 1 Brown Lab. The black one's name was Shorty and the Brown dog Quincy. Quincy was about 7 and 6 months ago they found out that he had doggy cancer- I know the timing sucks! Shorty was old and blind and deaf and frail.
Monday Don was impressed to call them to check on them, he talked to Bill and Bill began to cry. He had to put them both down Monday. Quincy had developed new tumors and wasn't responding well to his treatments - Shorty was just old and was about to go on his own. How sad. Just when you think it is safe to wallow in your own self pity over whatever - but to loose his two dogs and knowing that his wife hasn't got much longer. You are loosing everything all at once.
We took them dinner tonight. Bill was working and Sandy had just gotten back from a radiation appt, a little weak and a bit shakey on her feet, but still the same hopeful and optimistic self as always. All smiles and laughs. She asked me how I was doing! I just wish I could be like that. So sweet and humble. It just reminds me that I have absolutely nothing to complain about!
I admire her stregnth so much

Don't I have 3 more years before this?? My desperate plea!!

2007-08-16T12:13:00.001-07:00

Lately Brooklyn has been arguing for the sake of arguing. Not about anything important. But she will just get a hair up her butt and decide that she is right about something and argue it.

She's really begun testing my patience. Monday we were at Target during one of my bathroom breaks I had said something about my cousin Andrea, you know Jordyn and Taylor's mom. She said, "Don't you mean McKenna?" "No, I mean Andrea." "You are wrong- it's McKenna." She says to me. I about wanted to rip her face off - but we were in a public restroom and there were too many witnesses. I said as firmly and calmly as I could, "Brooklyn, I am talking about Andrea, Jordyn, Taylor and McKenna's Mom. I sometimes know what I am talking about. And sometimes you are not right." That ended there pretty much, later she told me that she didn't actually hear what I was saying before she interrupted me, but had thought she knew that I was wrong.

This morning I was watching a video on VH1, it was "I want to be a rock star" or something like that, I had never heard the song before but the I stopped on the video because I saw Kid Rock and clips of Chicago. I said Brooklyn look, we've been there, and there. Just kind of fun stuff rewinding and looking at those places. Then there was a clip of the creepy parking garages that I had posted pictures of on my blog after the vaca, the locals call them the corn cobs, I said, "Oh there's the scary parking garages we saw from the river." She says, "We never saw those." "Ok, maybe you didn't but when we were on the boat doing river tour of the building we saw them." "We never took a river tour on a boat." Are you kidding me? My blood pressure and tension and anxiety levels are all going sky high. But I am trying to maintain my patience, maybe she doesn't remember. "Our last day there, we were at Navy Pier and decided to take the Architecture boat ride." "No! Mom that was a bus, we never were on a boat only a bus." Now I am at home, not a single witness - I really want to rip her face off. The fact that she is arguing with me about this is pissing me off, the fact that she is only 9 and is acting like she is 12 is pissing me off and that I slowly feel my control slipping from me and I am about to lose it like I haven't lost it since...waaay back is pissing me off.
I knelt down across the footstool so I am a good arms reach away, and said "Brooklyn, you are testing my patience today. Maybe you don't remember it. But DO NOT talk to me like I am stupid and like I don't know what the hell I am talking about. I will not tolerate this any more, your arguing just to argue with me." I am sure I ranted for a good two to three minutes, such a lack of respect!
I called Don at work and vented to him about it. Not really proud that I had a mild freak out, but proud I didn't slap her silly. I, We, don't know where this is coming from. It isn't all the time either just random defiance and arguments and only with me, which is odd because I am the yeller, the screamer, the stronger disciplinary force in our family, why would she choose to argue with me? I thought we didn't have to put up with this crap until she was at least 12? Does it start this young? Does it get better? What can I do about it? HELP! This is my sincere heart felt plea to all of you especially with preteen, teenage daughters. Is my putting my foot down and exerting control what I need to be done when she challenges me? In my head it seems like the right thing to do - otherwise it seems like it will get worse into adolescence???
HELP!!!

The Latest

2007-08-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

Don got home just in time for church yesterday. It is nice to have him there, I feel so single without him. I enjoy Sundays when he is home.

Last night was the meteor shower, Don didn't think that I would be able to stay awake for the event - we took lawn chairs, blanket & snacks in the Trail Blazer, went out to Washoe Lake and set up, popped my trunk and folded the seats down and made a mini bed. It was so cozy and a bit chilly actually. I was unable to stick it out until the show got good, we left around 11pm, but we still have about 10 shooting stars. We got to spend family time together; it was cool, unique and best of all...free!!

Today was another busy day. Don called in sick - not that he was - he is pretty much sick of working so much. Brooklyn had piano first thing, then I had my Dr. appt. NEWS FLASH ***I AM NOT DIABETIC***
My fasting blood sugar came back at 90 and that was good, I spiked after my glucose drink up to like 160 - I ended at 60. I crashed big time. My tests say that I have hypoglycemia. Not a real big deal though, I just need to make sure I eat a protein with my carbs to help sustain my levels. Everything else was A-OK. The Dr. checked me, I am soft but closed, nothing to worry about. My V.vericose veins are swollen and there is not anything they can do now that I haven't been doing already. It does give me a valid reason to not do much at one time. I have to do things in spurts.
I am officially 31 weeks pregnant, but if you ask me I will tell you 32 - I only have 8 weeks left to go because of the c-section, so I bump it up a week! :)
I have only gained 11 pounds total as of this week. I may make my goal of only 15 pounds, we will see.
After the dr. appt we went to Costco for lunch...um samples. Yummy and free!
We updated our registry at Target where I had to pee ever 35 minutes! Ugh! Even Brooklyn was annoyed. Oh well.
Then to Lowes, we ordered our storage shed! This is exciting - once we get the storage shed up then we can clean out the garage, then we can clean out the baby's room and move the office stuff to the garage and then I can get the baby's room together! YEAH!!!
Only 8 weeks from today is my C-section...CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT??

Oh yeah - I did have to make sure that the Dr. made one change in my chart, I had originally told her that we wouldn't be using a birth control after this baby as it was too hard to conceive. But..on second thought.....I wasn't 8 months pregnant when I told her that and all of the glorious side effect hadn't kicked in. I don't want to be that woman who doesn't think that she can get pregnant and then have them 14 months apart, that would not be good for anyone involved! She just laughed at me, which is her standard response to me.

Sorry, no pictures, it is better that way! :)

Wonderful to me

2007-08-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

I love Don. I love that he puts up with me and all of my hyper-hypo stuff and then puts up with Brooklyn too. We are like the little dog, come on Spike...play with me...huh? huh? Imagine that times 2! haha poor guy! I realize how blessed and how fortunate that I am having ended up with Don in our lives. He is the perfect fit for me and is the perfect Dad for Brooklyn. I am convinced this was the way it was supposed to have been. I am grateful for the choices that we made in our lives separately that led us to meeting each other, and for the divine hand that played the major role in it all. Don's marriage to April was a huge blessing for me, he had a training wheel marriage, for lack of a better word. She passed away tragically, but they didn't end on bad terms, you know? There was a lot of love there and still is. But it was a marriage that he was groomed and taught and the reason I have the wonderful husband that I have is because of what he learned through the joy, trials, challenges and life experience of his first marriage. I have told him it is almost unfair sometimes I think - she got an 18 year old piece of coal, worked 14 years on perfecting him and then she never got to reap the rewards of her training and efforts. I get the 35 year old diamond. Practically perfect in every way. :) Ahh...sappy! I just know this is the way it should have been.

So here are a few pictures are from tonight.

She is a "mother baboon" and was following him all over the house when he got home from school tonight "Grooming" him. Nerd!

Then he went to go have five minutes alone without us bugging him and to change clothes and she dropped to her knees and was an anteater. She is crazy all day long, but mostly when he is home. She knows who puts up with her silliness better.

Right now, I am preparing for sleep and they are only 45 minutes into Star Wars Battlefront II. They play this game for hours. He lets her stay up until midnight or so a few nights a week so she can play games with him. It is a unique bonding for them. It is pretty cute and funny. Better him then me!

Time for me to head to bed and let these kids finish their game!

Do you see a resemblence?

2007-08-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

The other morning I had to go work floor time at the office, which means Don had to drop Brooklyn off at Rita's on his way to work.

He called me after he had already dropped her off to inform me that she had came out of her room dressed like a boy. WHAT??? was the only thing that I could muster up.
"Yeah, she wanted to dress like a boy and I didn't have time to have her change."
Ok, so now what? So Rita doesn't usually go anywhere with the kids so no big deal right? Wrong! This day they went to the Children's Museum and to McDonalds and to the mall! hahaahaa

Having forgotten all that Don had told me in the morning, when she got home in the afternoon I just laughed and laughed and laughed, took a few pictures of her and laughed some more. She had all of her hair tucked up a baseball hat too! Even better! Then she asks me who she looks like. I say "A dorky boy" she says, "No, I look like Grandpa.
I am in the Hawaiian shirt and Yankee hat." So there you have it, I don't know if Grandpa is who she wanted to dress like or if that is just what she came up with. But she thought she looked like Grandpa and thought that was pretty cool.

Hey There, Aisha - Barry Bonds Parody of Hey There, Delilah

2007-08-09T21:33:00.001-07:00

The Ode to Barry.

This could be the best baseball song since "Take me out the the ball game."

The Four Challenge

2007-08-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

4 Jobs I've Had
I have had oh so many jobs
1. Costco Cart Pusher
2. Receptionist
3. Mortgage Loan Processor/Funder/ Closer
4. Quality Control Auditor for Credit Union New Accts

4 Movies I'll Watch Over and Over
I don't have the attention span to watch movies often - I do like a few I would watch over and over. #2, #3 & #4 are a few of Brooklyn's favs too so I really have no choice sometimes.
1. Tombstone - I'm your huckleberry
2. Chicago
3. Annie
4. Phantom of the Opera

4 Places I've Lived
1. Henderson
2. Hurricane
3. West Valley, UT
5. Carson City

4 TV Shows I Watch
I promised Don to not get us watching anymore useless reality TV
1. Top Chef
2. The Soup
3. Dancing with the Stars
4. The Last Comic Standing

4 Places I've Been On Vacation
1. Yellowstone
2. San Francisco
3. Chicago
4. Disney Land

4 Restaurants I Like
1. PF Changs/Pei Wei
2. Cafe Cabo/ Cafe Rio
3. Pizzaria Unos - Chicago
4. Anything Italian or Mexican

4 Websites I Visit Daily
1. Yahoo
2. CNN/MSNBC/FOX NEWS/Nevada Appeal/LVRJ
3. Blogger
4. GNCU - Banking

4 Places I'd Rather Be
1. Any beach any where with the waves lapping at my feet.
2. Getting pampered on a beach massage, pedicure, drinking a fruity mocktail
3. Camping in the cool mountains
4. Traveling across the country in an RV

4 People I Think Will Do This
1. Stacie
2. Linda
3. Holly
4. That's all of my friends

Not for the weak stomached

2007-08-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

So last week I discovered a wonderful new side effect of pregnancy.

I debated whether or not to blog this at all. But I think I have found a way to dumb it down and cream puff it up a bit.

First before the gruesome stuff - I had my follow up gestational diabetes test. I failed the first one before I went to Vegas. Your blood sugar can't exceed 140mg one hour after you drink that yummy glucose syrup. Well my test came back at 143. Not too high but anything over 140 you have to do the three hour test. So, I came prepared with my laptop and a video, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World - it is an old movie, but very funny! So the deal is they take a fasting sample and then you drink the stuff and then they test you once again every hour for three hours. You can't leave, you can't drink anything or eat any Tums no matter how much pain you are in because your stomach acid is eating away at your esophagus.

So, woke up drank a bunch of water the hour before, when you only have one "pokeable" vein it needs to be the best it can be. I check in, they take my fasting blood sugar. I drink the fruit flavored syrup and wait one hour. I was a bit amped at the beginning, all the sugar I think. My second poke they hit almost the same hole as the first. Needles don't bug me the poking doesn't bug me. But the second time was a bit tender. Go back to the lobby, waiting another hour - for my third poke my pokable vein had developed a swollen bruise so the tech attempted to locate another vein and that hurt! She poked around in my other arm for a bit managed to hit something she seriously got like 2 drops out. She had to call in her boss who had to try and hit my first vein again. She did it. It was getting very swore - went back to the lobby dying of thirst and my acid reflux was punishing me seriously. Crashing. I got so tired, couldn't even watch the movie any more. I slept. Last poke, the boss came in and did it, wasn't so bad. Immediately after my last poke I chewed a handful of Tums and called Don told him to meet me for a hamburger - I needed protein ASAP. I am waiting to hear the results. My next appt should be next Monday, I should have the results by then.

I have told Holly and Don and Becky that my body is punishing me for getting pregnant. It didn't want to do it on it's own and I forced it to. Now it will make me pay.

Here comes the part not for the weak of stomachs .... and my Dad. :)

I have developed varicose veins. Hmmm...not so bad, right? But they are not in my legs. Google it - You can figure it out. Every where - but my legs! Apparently anywhere there is a vein can get a varicose vein. There is NOTHING the Dr. can do about it. All I can do is keep the pressure off, laying around, baths, soaks etc.
It won't get better until the baby is born. And is anticipated only to get worse. Walking around WalMart or sitting to long will cause flare ups. Delightful! Now I know that there are more important calamities in the world. I am grateful to be pregnant. I am thankful for my blessings that I have. I have a wonderful husband who cares about me and loves me. So varicose veins should be no big deal.
This is surprisingly common during pregnancy - but women just won't talk about it much, because it is so embarrassing. So I am opening the door to the subject.

Barry Bonds

2007-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Ugh! I just turned the news on while I am preparing my primary lesson and getting my roast into the crock pot and I here Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's record last night. I have a total despise and disdain for the man, I switch to five different news channels and the story is the same. Blah blah blah. Is this all we have going on in the world to talk about is Barry Bonds? Tell me about the bridge collapse - isn't there a war going on didn't A-Rod do something?
My disgust for the man runs deep. I am not one of these people who just since he has been on steroids has decided to hate him, although that is a major factor in why I don't think his record counts. Holly and I had a run in with him.
We, Dad and mom and one of Jason's friends, were meeting Jason,our brother, at LAX, he had a four hour layover there between Salt Lake and Spain as he was going on his mission- so it was 1992 or 1993 I think I was 15 or something? Anyway we are walking through this enormous airport and we sit a black guy sitting around a planter box in the airport, not in security not in a private hiding place, but right there, he was skinny and he was wearing giant diamond earrings. As we pass him dad says, "He do you know who that guy was?" We of course had NO idea! He tells us that he was the highest paid baseball player of that year or something. We decide to go get his autograph. Side note * when I was 12 and in the 6th grade my dad knew a guy that played for the NY Giants football, we got tickets to the game and stayed in the same hotel as the team, so I was getting autographs all day long. I got to get Lawrence Taylor's autograph he was a nice guy.* So I was not too intimidated by a skinny baseball player who so obviously wanted to attention otherwise why would he be sitting so openly out in public. He had moved locations, he was now leaning against the side of wall/planter box by the time we got back. We approach, smiling and sweet. I don't remember how it came out from our end at first, something like, "Hey are you Barry Bonds? Can we get your autograph?" he said something like he would but - he didn't want to make a scene. Oh please! So as we were about to leave him and the sour taste was already creeping in my mouth a group of men got the courage to go talk to him and ask for autographs. He scowled at me and Holly and said which I remember pretty vividly, "Look what you started girls." Are you serious? I was 15 which made Holly 12? Holy crap guy.
Anyway so I couldn't care less about Bonds or this record that he is breaking. It doesn't count if you win the Tour de France if you had taken performance enhancing drugs, it shouldn't count in baseball either. Besides he is not even a nice person.
So there you have my BB rant. Better get back to my lesson and my roast.

Vegas .. The rest of the story

2007-07-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

Jaren waited up for us Tuesday night. We got in on time, but it took a long time at the rental car compound and then I had to race to Macayos to get some chips and salsa before closing time. They actually had locked the doors but they let us come in. Jaren was trying to avoid me and my camera - but I caught him!
I love this kid!

We hung out a bit Tuesday night ate - Brooklyn and I took turns tormenting Jaren!
Jaren is such the thinker. He thinks about space and the universe and was telling me the difference between Marvel and DC Comics. He wears Marvel comics underoos because he doesn't want everyone to know DC comics are his favorite. Or vice versa.

The next morning before I took Brooklyn to Carli's and long before my surprise party I spent the morning trying to get Kyle to like me. And forget about Nathan! That kid HATES me! : ) I don't take it too personally though - he seems to only like you if he is actually sitting on Holly.
I managed to get this picture of him looking at me and not crying. Holly must have been nearby.

Kyle is one of us. He doesn't wake up too friendly! He was fine with me after a few hours.

Wednesday was spent mostly hanging out. Thursday morning we went to IHOP for breakfast. It was yummy. When we were leaving I had put Kyle on the hood of the car and he took off - straight for the windsheild and out of arms reach. I had my life flash before my eyes! He is going to hurt himself up on the roof and Holly will kill me! I coaxed him off and then he told me he wanted to go climb on all the cars! Oops - look what I started. He is just so cute though. Holly was trying to put him in time out and he was telling her to go to time out - "NO! You go to time out for two minutes!" Then he would sneak out and peak around the corner to see if she was watching him. Holy crap it was hysterical! I had to hid my face more then one time while Holly was disiplining him, just because he is so dang cute! He can only get away with that for a few more years anyway.

Brooklyn and I met up with Linda and Bailey at the outlet mall and did a bit of school clothes shopping. We got really good deals at the Levi outlet. I had to use Bailey a few times, she is 12, to tell Brooklyn that something was cool or cute or something so she would buy it. I no longer know what is cool and it would just be a waste of money for me if I tried to buy her clothes on my own. We had a late lunch and then back to Holly's to sleep. We had a long week with the wedding and company and everyone leaving Monday and with us leaving Tuesday to go to Vegas.

Friday we hung out at Holly's house until their family went to Utah to get some much needed R&R. We visited with my 91yr old grandpa. Played some pool at his house. He said that I look the same. I wasn't sure what I would get from him, he is often painfully blunt when he thinks you are getting fat, I was relieved. He is an awesome old man. Lots of old time stories about the ice man that would deliver ice for your ice box. I don't mind his stories, I do mind sitting in his stiffling hot house. We ran by Jason and Tara's for a quick visit with them - then to Becky's so I could see her boys. We raced to the airport to get there in time. I had registered with SWA cell phone update service. After we returned our rental car and checked our bags it was 8:30 our plane was supposed to leave at 9:30, I finally got my cellphone ding...our plane was delayed until 10:15. We ate dinner hung out. Boarded our plane at 10:00 - not to actually take off and leave Las Vegas until midnight! We had to siton the plane at the gate for 2 hours waiting and waiting for other passengers planes who had been delayed due to the weather in Vegas. We got home after 1am, Don was so sweet to pick us up - because I was too tired to drive. He dropped me back off at the airport Sat.am on his way to work to get my car. It is so nice to be able to call Don and have him come save my life.

Anyway, I didn't take many pictures at all while we there in Vegas. But we had a good time visiting everyone.

VEGAS BABY... PT 1 BAMBOOZLED!

2007-07-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Vegas Tuesday night. Brooklyn had plans to spend all day with her friend Carli, who lives in Henderson. All morning I was calling/texting all my friends, which isn't many any more, to see if someone wanted to meet me for lunch.
Linda didn't answer, Lindsey had a working lunch, no one home at the Brown's. Oh well, they all know I am here for just a few days - I was almost getting hurt. But all hope was not lost, I still had Holly. My mom was coming in from Utah to visit us for the day. Nice of her, I thought. So Mom, Holly, the Boys and I went to lunch. Pretty uneventful day. I was meeting up with Becky for dinner at one of my favorite dirty pizza places in Henderson, we set the time to meet at 6:00. Holly takes a shower and gets pretty for the grocery store - I thought maybe she just needed to feel good about herself, my mom bought a new shirt and purse to wear while she was there, nothing to unusual. They head off to the grocery store. I try to leave with them, not wanting to be late and have to hang out with Mark! : )
Becky calls the house as I was outside. I was mildly annoyed. She knew I was leaving right now...why is she calling the house!?!?! UGH! So we RE-Verified plans and I was on my way. I was hotter then snot, sweating all day. Did I mention it was 110 - give or take 10 degrees my entire trip with min. 30% humidity (as high as 50%) while I was there. So pretty much I wasn't looking cute. We get to the Enzo's pizza, Becky is pointing out airplane flight patterns to me and asks me if I want to go to Trader Joe's. If I wanted Trader Joe's I would have gone....but I went to be a good friend. We walk around almost aimlessly. We finally get to Enzo's we take a seat towards the back of the restaurant, I didn't want to go to far back there were balloons and stuff, I told Becky, "Let's take this table because it looks like there is a party back there." Ok, so we sit down, I start looking at the menu. I see a girl staring at me smiling, I say, "Becky, that looks like Bailey Patterson." Linda's daughter, Becky has never met her before. The girl keeps staring at me smiling...She's a little weird I think.
....OK so my clueless alarm is going off full force!
The girl is now giggling and I divert my eyes, it is a little dark and dank back there and my contacts were very dry so I wasn't sure I was seeing right. Then I catch a glimpse of Holly...I said "Hey, that looks like Holly" Becky, "Hmm...oh, really?" me "yeah, that's coincidental." We stand up to investigate since the little girl who looks like Bailey Patterson is still smiling and giggling at me. We walk around the wall and HOLY CRAP! My friends are there! That giggling little girl, who I thought needed to be medicated - was Bailey Patterson! Her mom Linda was there, my Mom, my second Mom Connie Brown and her daughter Jana, my marathon runner friend Lindsey, who is also pregnant was there, Holly and Becky too. Still oblivious to the reason everyone was there. I thought they had decided to get everyone together to visit with me, it wasn't until Holly I think pointed out the gifts and balloons when I realized it was a baby shower for me! I never never never thought that I could be surprised! Especially to this extent. No one even knew Lindsey! How did they get her there? Well Lindsey lives 3 blocks away from Holly and Holly had asked me what her name was weeks ago - I didn't know it was so that she could find her! HAHA
So all through dinner I was shocked! My shock was growing as I was realizing that I had been lied to all day throughout the day! Jeremy really didn't want Becky and I to go to dinner to hang out alone. Becky really didn't care so much about the airplanes and Trader Joes, it was all a distraction so I wouldn't see Holly and my mom parking and walking in with balloons! Linda wouldn't take my calls because she was afraid she would crack. My mom wore a new shirt to go shopping with Holly? Lindsey's working lunch was really a go buy a gift lunch! Oh geez! I was so clueless! Becky calling the house was to stall me so Holly could get a head start on me. I still laugh when I think about it. How funny! The best gift I got was being surprised! I think the masterminds were Holly and Linda and I still never figured out how they got in touch with each other! Don was clueless too - or I would have known about it.

((Linda...one of the Criminal Masterminds!))

((Holly...the other Criminal Mastermind and Lindsey - she so doesn't look like she is due in November!))

(( Becky..the great distracter!))

My ONLY complaint is that NO ONE gave me the nudge like...Hey you maybe wanna brush your hair...maybe a little mascara..shower even?? Haha so I look like crap in the pictures! Actually I only have these few pictures of the event I was too busy being shocked! You will have to wait for Holly's post for the better pictures. It was such a great time! Lots of laughs, good food, good friends.
I loved it! Thank you Holly and Linda and Becky and who ever else was involved! It was awesome!

(( Lindsey - Due right after Thanksgiving))

(( Jana and Rachel Brown with Brooklyn - this was taken later that night at their house ))

Sean and Mandy's Wedding Weekend

2007-07-30T16:07:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, July 22nd, Sean and Mandy got married. Sean is Don's brother - for those who didn't know.
The family all came up from California between Friday and Saturday. We had everyone over for a BBQ Saturday evening. It was so much fun! Shannon, Don's sister, her husband Mario and son Mario were here, Jeff, Don's other brother, his wife Julie and their son Evan, Don's Mom, Don's Dad, Ricky and his baby Nalieah and Grandma Abbie (April's mom), Lorelei and her boyfriend Ryan were all also here...oh yeah and Sean and Mandy came too for a bit, but her family was also having a BBQ so we had to share them. Besides us too. I think I got every one? The food was yummy! We did pork chops, chicken and steak, roasted red potatoes with bacon..mmmm yummy, salad and the dinner fixings. My biggest fear is having a cookout and not having enough food to go around so I always way over prepare! Don did all the outside cooking as I was melting away and had to take a few breaks to come inside and cool off.
The kids all had fun running around the back yard and jumping on the trampoline. The boys...Don and Jeff later joined in on that action. That fun ended when Don bounced Brooklyn and Mario almost head on into each other!
The wedding was BEAUTIFUL! Mandy's dress is gorgeous! Sean and Mandy both looked so happy and in love. Mandy's family is great and makes you feel like you are one of them, we quickly saw why we never see Sean anymore - with a family like Mandy's to hang around - why would he come here? :)
Brooklyn was the flower girl and Don was the best man. He gave a wonderful best man toast and he was quite nervous about it. Brooklyn was also nervous about being a flower girl in a non mormon wedding when you actually have to walk the isle and drop petals. They both did great. Mandy's maid of honor was her sister Bethany, she is 18 I think and like 5'11'' tall, she walked barefooted down the isle to give Don a break otherwise she would have towered over him even more! Thanks Bethany!!!
The ceremony was sweet. Mandy's youngest sister Alyssa (16) cried through and every time I would look at her or Mandy's parents I would cry too. The reception was fun and everyone seemed to have a good time dancing the night away.

So having not really quite got the understanding of blogger and the order that pictures post as you add them these are all in backwards order...
I was going to caption them all at the end of my post and now I have completely lost interest in it! If you want to know something ask me and I will tell you. I will say one of my favorite pictures is Mario taking refuge up Shannon's skirt.
And I got the hottest Stepro! The others are nice guys...but mine is nice and hot! HAHA :) Scroll down...you will understand!

This is Mario and Connor Dancing

MY DEAREST LINDA

2007-07-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

My Dearest Linda,
I am posting this hear as I am quite certain that you never read your own blog!

I need a new posting! New pictures even! I know the world wants to know about your weekend at the Hotel Del in San Diego, Bailey's summer of soccer, your cancer updates!

Love ya!
Erica

Soccer Camp Day 2

2007-07-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

Today was a much better day for Brooklyn! When I picked her up today she was in much better spirits! She was out playing hard. She is the one in the green socks. She is easy to spot out there!

She told me today that the kid who called her fat yesterday was trying to get her ball from her as she was walking holding it, he kept punching it and punching it and she was telling him to stop, then he missed and punched her arm. I got a bit nervous at what she was going to tell me next, then she told me that she grabbed him by his shirt collar and pulled him close to her face and said, "Don't you EVER punch me again!" the influction she uses when she tells the story is hysterical! She said that he just got a scared look in his face and walked away. This last year she has really found her voice in sticking up for herself and others, scares me sometimes she usually out smarts people and it is pretty funny, she told a kid last Friday at a day camp I had sent her to, he was being a jerk to her and her friend and he said "I will knock you unconcious" she said "excuse me?" him again, "I will just knock you uncounsious." her response is great "Oh yeah? Then I will end up in the hospital and that would really make my parents mad! And then my parents would sue your parents!" We wouldn't sue, but it cracked me up still the same! So yesterday these bully boys just caught her on an emotionally unstable day. I still worry about her and her getting her feelings hurt. That is the worst thing that a kid has to go through. But through these experiences she is gaining quiet a sense of self and confidence. I do sometimes worry that she will come home one day with a black eye when she pops off to the wrong person. I guess that is a lesson she will learn if it happens!

She came home today completly wooped! She woke up this morning complaining of sore leg muscles and then today it was even funnier, when I was on the phone to Holly, Brooklyn was trying to get off the couch and was making the funniest noises ever! Moaning and groaning. She needed/wanted help getting her cleats and shin guards off because she couldn't move her legs!

She also has gotten quite a bit of sun on those cheeks and shoulders. Sunscreen is rendered in effective no matter how much you apply and reapply when you are outside like that all day.

I love this face! It is precious!

Thank you all for your comments and concern about her wellbeing! I am sure that she will come out of it even stronger! But yesterday did suck. For this reason I think having boys would be easier! Guess I won't know though, huh?

Soccer Camp Day 1

2007-07-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Check out the body language. She has had a rough day, the kid I picked up was not what was I expecting. I was expecting a more jubilant and excited girl and this is what I get.

She had a rough night last night - not wanting to go to sleep and then an early morning today piano at 7:30 and then straight to soccer. So she is a bit emotionally raw I think, plus playing outside like that 6 hours wiped her out too. So I ask about her day once we get in the car and immediately with the tears she tells me it was horrible and she doesn't ever want to go back.
She tells me that she isn't the best player out there, in fact she is the worst. I said, "honey that is why you are hear, it has been a year since you played last" "yeah, but this boy on my team said we were loosing because I was playing. And when I didn't play and let everyone else do it we won." Oh no! I was getting misty eyed with her. Then she told me that a boy had been making fun of her name calling her Brooklyn Heights - and when that didn't bug her he called her Fat Brooklyn Heights. I cried right with her by then. Oh that was the worst feeling when someone called you fat! Look at her...she is not even close to being fat! I told her that she was practically perfect in every way!
Later I found out that they kept calling everyone fat and maybe it wasn't a direct insult.
Our primary lesson yesterday was about talents yesterday and I read them a story from Heber J. Grant and he talked about playing baseball and when he had started he wasn't very good at all. He was the 3rd string and had to play with kids much younger them he was, he decided that he was going to practice very hard until he was good enough to play with the older boys. He practiced until he couldn't move his arms any more. I reminded Brooklyn of the story and said that he didn't give up and neither should she. Keep trying and keep practicing and she will become better and better. She told me that it is hard for her to just "not be good at something". I guess this is an important lesson to learn in life too. She is very used to having to apply minimal effort and still be good at something. So this is a good lesson for her to learn. It is still hard to let them learn these lessons.

Look at this face! Isn't this the saddest face you have ever seen?

She is better now and is optimistic about tomorrow.

Tormenting Daddy

2007-07-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

With Don working so much over time, 84 hours this month to be exact, it seems that he gets no normal time from Brooklyn...me either really.
Who needs to be normal though?

Brooklyn torments Don from the second he walks in the door until she has to go to bed. Jumping on him, tickling him, wet willies you name she is the tortue queen. The Hussein brothers have nothin on this kid.

He is such a good sport!

So Don has been worried about his weight...I know, I know ladies...everyone gag now, throw tomatoes at his pictures, it works for me! hahha
So I thought I would help him out, well all of us really cooking healthier, buying more nutrious foods and such. So I found these Hershey's Dark Chocolate 100 calorie candy bars, this is Don's weakness! He flips for the Dark Chocolate. So I bought them and leave them out for him to see when he gets home from work, like a proud cat who is bringing home its latest kill for the inspection. He opens the box and takes out what I thought was going to be a candy bar, the box is obiviously very deceiving! It is more like a candy stick. What do you expect for 100 calories though right??
So, does it count if you eat 4 of them? Anyway...I tried! He acted like he was really appreciative of it.

Is the name game over?

2007-07-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Don settled on Ava as a first name a while ago. After we tried out Sophia and Lauryn. Then it was on to middle names. Brooklyn asked me yesterday why we even have middle names and I honestly don't know.
Brooklyn and my mom had talked names while she was down in Hurricane. And she suggested it to me as a middle name...hmmm I said. I mentioned it to Don and he said hmmm that doesn't sound bad actually. I know! It breaks Brooklyn's request of a 6 syllable name and the baby would have one more syllable then the rest of us.
We passed on Ava Lauryn and Ava Christine, Ava Fern.
And the name is.... Ava Althea. Althea is the name of my Great-Grandma. It has a flow to it and doesn't make my stomach turn yet.

As I write these series of blogs Brooklyn hasn't stopped talking. She is telling me about Marvel and DC comics - please just let me blog in silence!

Why not to home school

2007-07-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

I am very intrigued by the idea of home schooling. If you as the parent has the dedication needed to actually home school, and have a schedule for them to follow. And if you yourself are educated enough to benefit your kids insatiable desire to learn, yeah then maybe home schooling would work.
I looked into it - for the reason that I hate being home and with Don's schedule we could travel so much more if we didn't have a school schedule to work around. But knowing myself, my level of dedication to it, my education and Brooklyn's need for social interaction I decided it was not right for us.
Is it really for your kids best interest to not know how to deal with challenging people and situations that they learn through going to school? How far into home school are you going to be able to teach them? Will you be able to do it until Jr. High or High School? Or will they go back to some form of traditional school when their knowledge level exceeds what you can teach them - and then in their teen adolecense years when they are not wanting to change you will thrust them into jr. high or high school? I fear that too many parents take on home schooling without giving it such considerations.
Anyway the reason I vent/rant about this today is because at church we had a visitor, he is 10 and is the high counselor, over our ward's son. I asked them to read a piece of paper that I had given to them all. When it was his turn to read 8 words he could not. "I have the talent to make people laugh" was his sentence. He had to get help from the other kids. Are you kidding me?? I see home schooling is paying off for the family as during Sharing Time the 8 year old could not read either. This frustrates me and pisses me off. These kids don't look dumb, they are social kids, not your weird home school kids vibe at all! Their dad is a flippin dentist! The mom has some form of higher education as the dad mentioned today that they met while attending BYU. I think that it is a huge injustice to the kids in this case. Again if you can successfully do home schooling and your kids are right where they need to be, which you can get them tested for yearly at one of your public schools, then great! I wish I could do it too. Seriously if the school system is that bad, the teachers are too mean do something about it. Volunteer in the school in the classroom witness what it is they are learning, or not learning. Don't keep them out of school because you are fearful of life and then set them up for a lifetime of failure. I doubt that the 10yr old who can't read now will become as successful of a dentist as his father - I am sure that dentists need to read.
My rant is going nowhere, I know. So I should just wrap it up as I want to keep typing about what an injustice it is that this 10 yr old boy can't read! GRRR

Soccer camp

2007-07-15T15:49:00.001-07:00

Soccer camp starts tomorrow! I am nervous and excited for Brooklyn.
She wanted to do the full day camp, it goes from 9am-3pm. I know she is tough enough to last all day without whining...until she gets home! Haha
I remember doing volleyball camp and crashing every night the second I got home. And that was all inside. Then two days after soccer she has swimming practice and tomorrow at 7:30am she has piano. It is only 1 week and I am excited to see her at the end of the day...pictures to follow!

Don't call it a mud hut

2007-07-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn's last project in school was an Indian project. We read books and she wrote a short paper on them. Lastly it was to build your Indian's dwelling. She had the Pawnee Indian and they lived in an Earth Lodge...Don't call it a mud hut!

She is a perfectionist - big time. She wanted to do this project all by herself, we had talked to her about ways to build her mud hut, she had her own ideas in mind. She wanted to make the earth lodge using really just mud, sticks and grass - after all that is the way that the Indians did it. She tried several attempts and of course it wouldn't support the weight on top and would collapse. Increasing the frustration level. Finally, after several days and as many unsuccessful attempts at the hut, we talked her into using craft foam under the mud to have a support.
Turned out pretty well. Don't cha think?

Fetal Movement

2007-07-11T08:29:00.001-07:00

About my previous post, I really am thankful that I am pregnant! It was a long road and we weren't sure that my body was going to cooperate. So I am grateful. The side effects though, next time we will plan for a spring baby and get pregnant in the summer time so we can avoid the heat! : )

So I have a question for all of those mothers who have multiple kids or can remember their pregnancies. When I was pregnant with Brooklyn I was emotionally detached from what was happening to my body for the most part, I was still contiplating making so big decisions, this is one of the reasons I think I don't remember her pregnancy vividly. Oh yeah...and it was 9 years ago! :)
Anyway, I never felt her move. My placenta was in the front so most of the early movements I couldn't feel. Once I got to be big I could watch my stomach moving. But for the most part I remember her being a pretty calm baby. And now she is seriously the perfect kid. She is obedient, she thinks things through (too much), she has just always been a good kid.
Now Ava, she is another story! This kid moves all the time! She is a primadona already I think, she hates when I put anything on my stomach she kicks it, at church while we are singing she I swear flips circles over and over and over again to where I feel like I am going to get sea sick. Even this early on you can see her movements when they are hard. So my question is this, does fetal movement have any direct correlation to the type of baby they will be? Will she be high strung and hyper from the get go? Let me know what you think. Thanks

Stretch marks and other glorious things of being pregnant

2007-07-10T21:25:00.001-07:00

So I am 26 or 27 weeks pregnant now only 13 weeks left until C-section day. Things have been going really well the last few months. I don't get sick anymore unless I eat too much or too many sweets. I wasn't exhausted anymore, no more migranes. I was feeling pretty at ease with being pregnant. And then......UGH then summer hits us full force! I am hot and sweaty all the dang time. I don't even live in Vegas anymore! I feel like such a whiner! I have yet to brand my thigh with my seat belt, so it isn't that hot. We hit our record high last week at 106. Nonetheless, I am dying of heat exhaustion, to top it off I was in Fallon showing houses for hours twice the last week, the heat completely wiped me out! I am back to first trimester tired blah self.
Feeling better this week though.
I am sweaty mess, Secret Clinical is my best friend.
My cheeks resemble those of a raging alcoholic....apparently that is the pregnancy glow! I don't even have the happy buzz to make my unusually rosy cheeks worth it! Check out the rosacea :)
Stretch marks...my nemesis! Ok here is my biggest complaint, This is me pregnant with Brooklyn at 27 weeks, granted it was 9 years ago and oh...about 70lbs ago but I didn't get a single stretch mark, not a single one through pregnancy, it wasn't until I got fat (I am with ya Sue, please no one respond with ...oh your not fat! I am and I have to be OK with it for now) that I got stretch marks. Now already being fat and having only gained 7lbs so far this pregnancy, I am getting stretch marks! What? How is this fair? The answer...IT'S NOT!! (blah) Me know I don't need to stretch!! I am getting tummy stretch marks! So to all of those out there who just
love being pregnant....piss off!! Haha, no just kidding. I like being pregnant, I just hate the side effects!

Under construction

2007-07-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

So this is our new blog. Still working on it though.

I am so blogger illiterate. Still working out the kinks. Be patient.

Oh man, we are tired!

SERIOUSLY??? WHAT THE EFF!??!

Brian Kiley's latest video

New Blog

PICTURES

PICTURES

Is there a plural of Viruses??

So....I am thinkin

Another Worthwhile Recipe

Recipes you will thank me for later!!

HOLY SPAMMERS!

TONS OF PICTURES!!

I am still serious about my Cancer Marathon...145 DAYS LEFT

THANK YOU

Have I mentioned...

Let the training begin!

MARY KAY FOR A CAUSE

169 DAYS!!

Thank you for patiently waiting

San Francisco

Bidwell Thanksgiving Pictures

Sorry Folks!

Mcdonald's Rap

The Bidwell's are here!

Last weekends company

Colic, Hemangioma and Pink Eye!

Hemangioma

Holiday Season!!

New Pictures

HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Lunch with Grandma

Ah... A Friend!!!

Ava Claire

Happy Anniversary!

Mary Kay Time Again

Interpretive Dance Anyone?

Just pictures

More stories

L&D Horror stories

AVA CLAIRE STEPRO

So pretty much....

Getting ready

Happy Birthday Don!

37 WEEKS

A new addition to the 4's...for your amuzement!

Your vote counts!

Seriously...make up your mind

Train wreck

Scrumdiddillyuptious

two little monkies jumpin on the bed....

Baby Shower

Busy Saturday...9/8/07

Soccer Season

First day of school

New C-Section Date

Sandy Beyer

Neighbor update

UTAH FANS NEEDED

So you think that you have it rough?

Don't I have 3 more years before this?? My desperate plea!!

The Latest

Wonderful to me

Do you see a resemblence?

Hey There, Aisha - Barry Bonds Parody of Hey There, Delilah

The Four Challenge

Not for the weak stomached

Barry Bonds

Vegas .. The rest of the story

VEGAS BABY... PT 1 BAMBOOZLED!

Sean and Mandy's Wedding Weekend

MY DEAREST LINDA

Soccer Camp Day 2

Soccer Camp Day 1

Tormenting Daddy

Is the name game over?

Why not to home school

Soccer camp

Don't call it a mud hut

Fetal Movement

Stretch marks and other glorious things of being pregnant