Wednesday, September 9, 2015

So Much Love!



We received so much love, notes, cards, flowers, gifts, and food from our family, ward, neighbors and friends when we lost our little baby. I was actually amazed at how much people cared about us. It was not an experience I'd like to have again, but I'm grateful for it. 

We got the genetic test results back about 2 weeks later. We had a little boy. He had Trisomy 18 (aka Edwards Syndrome) He had a 3rd chromosome at 18. Had our little man been born, he would have maybe lived a year. With Trisomy 18, most babies are mentally retarded, and have heart and facial deformities. After knowing all of this, my heart is at peace. I'm so grateful our little man didn't have to suffer here on this Earth. I'm grateful he is already back home safely with Heavenly Father. We loved him so much and we were so excited to bring him home with us, but we will just have to wait a little while longer:)

Friday, September 4, 2015

Glad That "Yesterday" is Past Tense

Today was just like any other. I woke up before the kids and got my little exercise of pilates and push-ups in. (I have been horrible at regular exercise so I thought it was a great time to start. I woke up every weekday morning last week and this week before 6:30am. Woot woot!) I rushed to get the kids off to the bus stop and help Aurora get ready for the day. While making lunch Mike text me and said they needed help at the store so me and Auri finished eating lunch with Daddy at Wood Creations and I worked at the front counter for a bit before we had to run off to my OB apt for a regular check up.

My PA (Johanna Rojas, a friend of a friend) is the one I'm seeing until I get further along then I'll see the physician. She started out with the doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat. She had a hard time finding it and I said, "Should I be nervous?" She said no that this happens a lot, the placenta was probably in the way. So we went to get an ultrasound to see the baby better. It again took her a while to find the heartbeat. After a little while I said, "Should I be nervous now?" She looked so nervous and said, "Maybe." She left to go find a doctor to get help. 

Dr Benham came in and confirmed, yes, the baby died. Darn it. What a sad moment. I listened to him and he explained to us what he thinks happened. The baby's body was all swollen. He is thinking that the baby had Turner's or Down's Syndrome and just didn't make it. It was the beginning of many tears.

I went straight to Mike to tell him the news. I was hoping to maybe find out the sex of the baby today. What a sad moment to share with Mike. Our little sweetheart was just too precious to make it any further. I cried, we talked, laughed, joked, and hugged. It was a good moment with my husband. I told him we have 1 out of 4 children that made it to heaven so far, not too bad odds! 

I told the kids when they got home from school. What a tender moment with them. Lincoln was heart broken. Sequoia seemed cool about it, but I know inside she was bummed. Even Auri seemed to understand a bit. Lincoln said, "So maybe the next time you get pregnant it will be twins and we'll have two babies!" Sequoia said that next time we have a baby we have to buy a double stroller (she is still sad I sold ours). I didn't think Auri knew quite what was going on until Mike came home and the first thing she said was, "Dad, our baby died." Awe... Then a bit later she came and rubbed my tummy and said, "They're going to get the baby out of your tummy." Oh man. She knows what's going on.

Mike took the kids to his soccer game while I got myself ready to go to the hospital and have a D&C. My friend Shanell gave me a ride there and Mike met up with me later while his parents put the kids to bed. (They stayed until 10pm, then my next door neighbor Kelcie came over to sleep on the couch so they could go home.) I checked in at 7pm with plans of an 8pm surgery. We seriously waited till midnight to get into surgery. But all went well. The doctor is running some genetic tests on the baby so we will hopefully know what caused the miscarriage. And it will let us know whether she was a boy or a girl. I had to stay after a couple hours to recover then we finally made it home a little after 3am. I was happy to end the day.

I am so sad that I don't get to raise our little baby here on Earth, but my plan I had starting out for the day was definitely not what God had in mind. I'm not angry, sorrowful, or bitter. I'm at peace knowing she is safe and happy. She doesn't have to go through this life with so many trials. I'm grateful she was able to receive her body and that I was able to carry her for a short moment. We've had to readjust some of the future plans we had, but it's ok. I know life never goes as planned or expected so I need to be prepared for change. Oh how we wanted another child! Maybe we'll have the opportunity to have another one some day, but for now, I sure love my 3 little babies I have now:)   

I'm amazed at all the love and support we have been shown so far. I was getting a bit overwhelmed from all the texts, visits, and phone calls. It's so strange to be on the receiving end of service. We had 4 freezer meals brought to our home, Dr Pepper delivered, treats, notes, candy, and Annie and Shelly both took Auri so I could rest (Shelly took all 3 kids and brought us dinner tonight, her service never seems to end. She is my RS President). Shelley Cottam came to give me a hug with an 8 pack of little mini Dr Peppers and roses. What a wonderful friend. What wonderful ward members, neighbors, friends and family. Oh my was it hard to tell my sisters and my mom what happened! I think I was sadder for them than for me. I love our bonds and the love we share:)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Kimi's Baby Shower


Baby Hallee

Kimi came to visit from Texas!! We came up to see her and get a big hug and see that cute belly of hers. Bonus getting to hold new Baby Hallee. Lincoln even missed the 3rd day of school just so we could see them! Haha! 
We love our Baley:)
HAHAHA! We were recreating our family picture we had years ago! It was so much fun posing and having a redo. What a fun cute family I have :)

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Father's Blessings

I'm so grateful for my husband. He very lovingly sat both Lincoln and Sequoia down and gave them each their first father's blessing. They are starting school in 4 days. The kids loved that they were so special to each receive their own blessing. The spirit was so strong in our home tonight. I'm so grateful that my husband is a wonderful father and a worthy priesthood holder. He is a great provider for our family and works so hard. We all love you Daddy:)

I also received a blessing as well tonight. I am 11 weeks pregnant so I received a blessing for both me and my sweet baby inside. It was a beautiful blessing and I already feel more peaceful and full of love. We are so excited to be able to bring another little one into our family. We already felt so blessed with the other three! These little munchkins are just so cute we want even more. And yes, all 5 of us want a little boy! If you're a girl, don't worry, we will still love you future baby! ;)

We are grateful to still be living in St George and to have our little family store. It's fun to be able to work with family, and yes, we all still get along! I love the Chinese program the kids are in. Sequoia is starting it this year. She is nervous, but I know she'll do well. Our school just changed it's boundaries two days ago and our neighborhood is no longer at Horizon. But since the kids are in the Chinese program, they still get to come and they will still bus them. Best of all, all the naughty children in the neighborhood won't be on the bus any more, woot woot! The bus stop seriously caused me so much stress last year! It's going to be a wonderful school year.

We have been reading the Book of Mormon as a family. What a special experience this has been. We are currently in Alma 43. Half way there! Our goal is to finish it before Lincoln is baptized. I love this time we have set aside every day to read the scriptures. I know it is helping our family. It's been some interesting trying times lately, so I can tell a difference when we read from that sacred book. And Sequoia has improved in reading in a huge way just by reading the scriptures, it's amazing.

I am still serving as the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society. (Going on about 3.5 years between both wards) I'm very involved and it seems like I'm constantly doing something with my calling, but I love it and love the blessing we as a family receive through the service, so bring it on! 

Mike was called about 2 months ago as the Assistant Ward Clerk over finance. It's been a good calling for him. He goes in, gets his job done, and gets to go home. Perfect for him right now. He still goes in during the week when the Bishop needs him, but it's mainly a few hours after church on Sunday. We are getting used to Daddy being gone on Sunday afternoons, but I'm grateful he is home and able to serve when needed.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Feeding the Ducks

~While Mike was home with the kids one day, he sent me a picture of Aurora. She just fell asleep on the floor while watching TV. Seriously never happens to our kids! So darling.
~I watched my friend's kids (Candice Chandler) while she was packed her house to move. We got to watch the baby as well! Aurora was so happy to hold him. She is a baby lover!
~Baby Hallee is here!! Great job Anna. She came in a couple hours. We are going up this weekend to go hold her for the first time. We are so dang excited! I love my nieces and nephews:)
~The kids and I randomly stopped by the Sullivan Soccer Park to eat our lunch and see the ducks. The kids had a blast. They got about 20 pieces of trash out of the pond. We are going to have to keep coming back. This is the same pond where Lincoln caught his first fish. 
~Auri had a little friend (Zoee) over while her mom was also packing to move. They are so cute together. Aurora is definitely the leader/boss with friends. Sheesh. 
~Mike is becoming quite the craft designer! He created this cute little Cinderella shoe. He did such a good job. Dang, he really does have it all! ;)