Memorial Day Weekend!

We spent another great Memorial Day Weekend in Island Park with the Hills. It was a great time full of yummy food, good times, and WARM cabins! Every family had their own cabin due to sNOw. It was fun being all crowded together!

We spent a little time playing at home with Nic who was up trying out his new camper with his parents! Aunt Cathy has some totally cool water paints. Trudy and Hailee also fit in a tea party--no pics for some reason. It was fun, and we are SOOOO excited to spend more time with them this summer!

While at the cabin, we also took advantage of other modern convienences, such as the Wii. Cabelas Big Game Hunts was the popular choice.

Aren't these grandmas cute!! They were actively observing the Minute to Win It Games. (Normally this would be outside in the wide open forests, but this year, a garage was the arena.)

A very fun, relaxing weekend! Can't wait till next year!

Comforting

Can I just say that after the past few weeks, I am so comforted to know that whatever happens Curt will be by my side. With our surgeries, our work, the changes at the Inn, family drama and whatever, it is so good to know my best friend is always by my side. We miss him terribly when he is off working and I am wracking my brain to find a way for us to be together more.

We have so much loving support around us. I know that no matter how crazy our life has been or will get, we will always have each other. It is scary watching the most important person in your life have surgery or having to leave to have your own. I feel very blessed that everything went well. We have a lot of important decisions weighing on us and I am so lucky to have loving relationship based off of our faith in the Lord to rely on.

Surgey

We always tease that you can tell that I am pregnant because Curt gets a kidney stone. I think it is just a way for him to sympathisize with me or something.


Well the Monday before Easter, Curt got rained out from the drill and decided to come home for the night. He started feeling a little stomach pain on his way, but it kept getting worse as the night went on. By dinner time he was pacing with pain, throwing up, and hunched over with the cramps. He was just going to fight it, thinking it was another kidney stone. I finally couldn't take it and he was really scaring all of us. Hailee would cry and tell him to stop, but of course he couldn't. I got her all ready for bed and packed her bakpack. I threw a couple more diapers in the bag and hauled everyone to the car.





Hailee stayed with my dad and Carter slept while I drove Curt to the hospital. Curt was really upset and I just kept telling him, "count your blessings." Not only was my dad home to take care of Hailee, but Carter was sound asleep in the back so I could focus on helping Curt.





We got to the hospital and they got him on some pain meds. Carter slept the whole time. My brother AJ ran over and was able to get Curt a blessing, which comforted me a lot. I knew it wasn't a kidney stone at this point, and I was scared it would be something really terrible.





It turns out his appendix was about to burst. We were within hours of having a much more serious problem. Curt, Carter, and I stayed at the hospital for two nights. It was great to know Hailee was taken care of and that I could be there for Curt.





We were so lucky that he wasn't in the middle of a field hours away from us. I am glad that I was able to help him and that he recovered so quickly. He was back to work on Friday. I am also so lucky to have such loving people around to help us as we needed. Family is such a great blessing!

Well we had a great Easter.

We had a great Birthday and Blessing.

Then we had another Emergency Surgery.

Well it was only two weeks later that I decided to match Curt and have a surgery of my own. We had just finished having dinner at Big Juds for Hailee's Birthday. I started have chest pains and knew that it would be a long night.

I had my first chest pains like this right after Hailee was born. It lasted a couple of hours and I had to call Cathy in to help me take care of Hailee. It hurt so bad that I couldn't walk or even hold my precious newborn. Curt was at work delivering calves. I almost went to the hospital then, but it went away. I had a couple more attacks, but then nothing until I was pregnant with Carter.

I would have a few attacks every week towards the end of my pregnancy. Curt was home and he would help. I usually just ran hot water on my back and waited a few hours for it to go away. I thought it was heartburn. I then had Carter and a few more little attacks. Granted they were painful, and usually lasted the whole night, but I could handle it.

After Hailee's birthday dinner the pain came on fast and hard. I made it home and got both kids to bed. Then I was up the entire night in pain and vomitting. I really didn't want to wake the kids and cause a craze waking up my support system (Curt was out of town). In the morning I called and had Cathy help me get the kids to the sitters and my little brother, AJ drove me to Rexburg.

I spent the whole day getting tests done, and visiting with doctors. My galbladder needed removed.

My mom and Jack came that night to help take care of the kids and me. It has been extremely helpful to have them here. I hated being told I couldn't carry my kids. It was good to know that they were being taken care of, even if I couldn't do it.

The next morning I went in for day surgery and got it out. The surgeon said it was terribly infected and that it was important that I had it out. I went home a few hours later, sporting four new belly-buttons.

I cannot believe how sore I am. I don't remember being this sore with either of my children. It is hard to be told you can't carry your kids, when I do all the time. I have cheated and held them a bit but it really does hurt.

It was pretty crazy that Curt and I had our surgeries so close together. We must just be so connected that we love sharing our pain as well!

So in the end we know that NO I am not pregnant, but yes, we like to share the pain. We have matching scars (new belly-buttons according to Hailee). His are lower around his belly button and mine are up around the ribs. We had so much support during both operations. It is comforting to know that we were able to support eachother during these painful time periods, and that our kids were well taken care of.

I go back to work on Monday, and I am hoping to feel a lot better. Right now I am still on the pain meds, and it isn't a big help. Soon it should feel better. My mom is also headed back to work on Monday so it is going to be a pretty interesting week going back to flying solo.

Happy Easter!

My Easter Post is going to be pretty random. I am currently in surgery recovery and on some strong meds. I don't have the energy to get these pictures in the right order. But I promise it is all cute and Easter was a blast!

This is Hailee the day after Easter. I didn't have school and so we decided to play with some of the cool stuff the Easter Bunny brought her. She got these colored bubbles. They were really fun in the freezing wind and snow! I especially love how she was wearing capris and sandles the day before, but boots and a hat the next day. This has been a CRAZY spring! We tried to take a few family photos at Easter in our church clothes, but it is a little difficult. We have a few good ones, but mostly it is just us. We are amazing, no matter how the pictures turn out!

My Dad and Lorelie made a super tastey dinner for Easter. It is always nice to stop by after church and just relax. The kids love playing at Grandpa's, and I love visiting with everyone!

Curt was home for Easter, which was nice. He went back to work for a couple days after his surgery and you could tell he was pretty worn out. He was good to take a nap with the babe though! After having a surgery of my own, I cannot believe he went back as fast as he did. He is a pretty tough guy! It was great to have our family together over Easter!

My mom and Jack were able to spend Easter weekend with us. It was really a fun weekend, as most weekends are when we have visitors! Hailee was able to go on a couple of different Easter Egg Hunts. Grandpa Layne put on a great one for her. She got ALL of the eggs, and then wanted to hide them for us! She had more fun hiding the eggs than finding them.

We actually missed the town Easter Egg Hunt, I am just a little crazy these days:) She looked super cute though, and so we had our own Easter Egg Hunt at home!

This guy is just so much fun. He didn't get to find very many eggs at all, but he enjoyed watching his sister chase from his comfy bumbo!

Hailee and Carter got their new Easter duds from their Dad and I. They looked so cute in their little outfits. Hailee loves her new "high-heeled" princess shoes. Carter wasn't too hot on the tie, but he looked good.

Baby Blessing.

We blessed Carter on May 1, 2011. He was 3 months old and did fabulous! Grandma Kathy made him this adorable outfit, with a hat to match. He was so handsom!

These two lovely ladies in their matching pink and blue dresses. Christina and I were shopping together a few weeks ago and found these dresses. They were perfect for Easter and the girls make for a great couple of princesses! They just don't hold still for a picture very well!
My mom spent hours putting together this amazing afgan for baby Carter. It looked like a fun blanket when I picked it out, but I guess I didn't realize how hard it would be! It turned out really great, and I was glad to have something so special to wrap my special guy up in on his special day!

This is another attempt at a family photo. Hailee wouldn't stand up, so we squated down. It looks a little funny, but heck that is our funny little family. I think we are pretty darn cute!

Curt gave Carter such a beautiful blessing. Curt has been such a great influence in my life. I am so grateful to be able to raise our children together. He loves his family and does so much for us.

My boys are so handsom!

Hailee is 3!

Fun Facts on Hailee.

She is so smart. She is starting to draw her letters and match them to sounds and words. Her favorite letter is H and she can find it almost anywhere.

She knows she lives in Greentimber, in Ashton, in Idaho. She knows where her cousins and grandparents live. She knows the doctor is in Idaho Falls and the temple is in Rexburg. She knows where all the important places are in Ashton.

She is great with people. She knows people and their names. She talks to them in the grociery store and at church. She is very informative and caring.

She is growing up. She has been having pretty intense leg cramps these days. I shows in her clothes. She is wearing 3 T on top or in PJs and Dresses. She is only wearing 2T in pants and bottoms.

She loves big girls. She wants to be just like the girls she sees. She wants to go to school like them, ballet like them, wear make-up like them, and basically everything like them. Hopefully this fall she can get into a preschool, even if mom teaches it:) This summer she will start taking gymnastics and she cannot wait! I love that she is growing up, but hate that it has gone so fast.

She is such a big helper. She helps me pick up things, cook dinner, and play with baby. She has her moments, when she is three, but mostly she is adorable and loveable. She is great to vacume or dust. Those are her favorite tasks. She can fold towels, and puts silverware away. She also likes to hold baby while I do something.

We are SO lucky to have such a lovely little lady!

My baby turned 3!!! How does that happen???

Well it did. We decided it would mean so much for Hailee to have her family there for her party, but that it would be hard for some of them to come to Carter's blessing too. Easy solution... do it the same weekend. So we did and it turned out perfect!!!

This is just a fun picture. My grandma holding baby Carter. I love that woman! She is such a help when it comes to babies. She has definately done her share of child-raising! I would bet she is almost as good or better than the pediatrician!

Also, my cousin Chaz was able to make it up. She is so dang cute. I wish there was more time to get together with my cousins!

Trudy loved little Carter. She is a baby girl all the way. Good thing she will have her own baby brother in just a few months. We can't wait!

Uncle AJ was able to come and entertain at the party. He is such a silly goof. We are so lucky to have him around!

On the very top of Hailee's birthday wishes was that her cousin Nic would be there to play with her. She adores this kid and it is because he is so good to spend time with her!

This is Hailee and Carter the morning of her actual birthday. She was so excited to be 3! She did have a slight issue with the fact that there was no pink in her outfit. The girl likes pink, ALOT!

Hailee and her "best Friend" Aunt Cathy. I'm sure there is no suprise that Hailee wanted a Chocolate cake with PINK frosting. It also needed a few princesses on top. She only gets a little of those obsessions from her Aunt Cathy.

Hailee loved her party. She was beyond excited to just have so many of her family and friends at her house. She was happy just then, without the presents. Not that she wasn't happy with them:)

She would open each card with such enthusiasm. She hardly even needed the presents! She was so quick to run over to everyone and give them big hugs and say thank-you! She was such a sweet little girl. I was so proud of her!

She liked her cake, but she really wanted the same one as last year. She keeps asking for the tall pink one. They don't make it anymore, so I might have to figure out a replica version for next year...

She was a true princess the whole day. I thought with all the excitement, and with her being tired, we would have had a melt down. NO WAY. She went hard from early early to late late, happy girl the entire time!

WE LOVE HAILEE BUG SO MUCH!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!

Carter- Three Months

Well this little guy is growing like a weed. He weighed about 11 1/2 at his 2 month check up and has grown a bit more. He is still wearing 0-3 month clothes, but we are working in a few of the next size. He is also working inbetween Costco 1/2 and Costco 3 diapers. He started sleeping really well through the night right around 7 weeks. He has recently gotten his first cold, and thus is waking up a bit more during the night.

He is an easy little guy to spoil and love up on. He loves to blow bubbles and make "tractor" noises. He is quick to smile and give a little giggle. He has rollen over quite a few times from his belly to his back. He likes to be able to look around and follows sounds, Hailee in particular, quite well. He is trying his hardest to sit up and fights it really hard. He is getting pretty tough!! He loves his bumbo because he can check out the world right at our level. He also loves his Wrapsody, as does mom. We get so much done and get to be close all at the same time.

Carter loves to nurse and would do it all day if he could. I am trying to find a good pacifier so his sucking habbit could be soothed, but so far he doesn't really like them. He really doesn't like formula either, but has been a good sport and takes a couple bottles a day while mom is at work.

Both of us are looking forward to summer when we can be done with the formula and just nurse. He will also start eating some tastey "foods" here in the next month or so.