Decorating the Christmas Tree - Dec. 2013

Owen helping decorate the tree.

Love this sweet boy!

Somebody's excited for Christmas!!

Me with my cute boys :)

Owen feeling the baby kick!

November 2013.

Halloween 2013

Aidan dressed up as Woody, Connor dressed up as Sponge Bob, Owen dressed up as a teddy bear and Gavin dressed up as Venimous Spiderman.

Fun in Idaho Oct 2013

Family Pictures 2013

Fun with Photoshop :)

30 Weeks along Belly Post :)

It's been a year and a 1/2...

I haven't updated this blog for a year and 1/2...wow!  I think while I was pregnant with Liam I was stressed about if everything was going okay...that ultrasound that left so many questions also left me feeling paralyzed with uncertainty about the future.  Simple things like blogging didn't seem important anymore.  When Liam was born he was colicky...he would cry for hours on end...I had to be so strict in my diet...no chocolate...no dairy...nothing spicy...and even then...even then it was tough...really tough.  I could never put him down...ever.  He would immediately wake up and scream...and not stop screaming...I held him, nursed him, rocked him, put him to sleep and didn't dare move once he was asleep so he would stay asleep for his naps...he slept in our bed until he was 10 months old...it was only then that his tummy issues began to improve and we attempted to put him in his own bed...in his own room...which had never been used yet.  As difficult as this was...and it was one of the most difficult things Jason & I (and the kids!) went through...it was not without its joys...When Liam was held he was a lot of the time happy and calm...my mind is full of images of smiles and giggles and chubby toothless grins...chubby feet and hands and toes and most of all an overwhelming sense of joy and peace and whisperings of the Spirit that Liam is supposed to be a part of our family, that he's happy to be here...that we're blessed to have him here...that this trial of his tummy won't last forever.  I felt strength and help from unseen hands and the Lord easing my burden by helping me function on almost no solid sleep...and children who were patient and loving and willing to help...miracles were all around us and I don't want to forget the Lord's tender mercies in our life.  I am thankful.

Ultrasound Sept 2013

We got to have an ultrasound yesterday. It's always so exciting to see the baby kicking and moving on the screen. Everything looks good, but there is a little "spot" or small hole that showed up on the heart. The doctor said it will probably just heal itself up, and I can go in for another ultrasound at 28 weeks along to make sure that it has. He said it's very rare to have it develop into any problems for the baby. He did say heart problems can sometimes be a "soft marker" for a chromosomal problem or a heart problem, but that there are usually other "hard markers" that go along with it. When it's just a small hole in the heart like this it almost always clears up on its own before birth...in fact, he said one of the other doctors at his office doesn't even bother with a followup ultrasound because it almost always fixes itself without any problems. I keep trying to remember that to reassure myself that everything will be fine, but I am planning on the followup ultrasound in a couple of months to make sure.  He also said he sees this fairly frequently in his office sometimes as often as every week or two, so it's somewhat common.
Jason feels really good that everything is fine, and I'm trying to be really optimistic about it, but no mom wants to hear anything after an ultrasound except that everything looks perfect and that there are no concerns at all. The other slight concern is that the baby's umbilical cord is wrapped around his neck in such a way that it probably won't untangle before delivery. He said he delivers babies regularly with the cord wrapped around their neck and that it's not really a need for concern, it's just something to be aware of as the baby grows bigger to make sure I feel him moving regularly or I might need to do some non-stress tests. Most likely the delivery will go fine...they judge whether a c-section would be necessary by the baby's heart-rate during contractions. So...I left the office feeling great about seeing the baby on the screen and also overwhelmed by the other news! Jason feels very relaxed and good and says it doesn't make him as nervous as the last time we were pregnant when part of the placenta detached and we were at risk for miscarriage. I'm trying to remain positive as he is. He gave me a priesthood blessing of comfort last night and that helped. I feel like the baby will be healthy and fine...I just will feel even more reassured after the next ultrasound when the hole in his heart should be closed up. Pray for the baby if you can :)

Profile of his cute little face :)  You can also see his arm up by his face.

Crossing his legs.

His arm.

Fun at the Splash Park!

Aidan & Owen had fun at the Splash Park while their big brothers played soccer :)

Pure Joy! :)

Owen thought this was a drinking fountain! lol

20 Weeks Along...1/2 way done!!!

My Sweet Owen Face :)

Temple Trip with the Young Women

Here are my cute little Beehives on our temple trip...a few girls are missing, but most of them made it.  They're all just so sweet.  We went out for ice cream after the temple.