EKG

Here's an update.

I have been experiencing some heart palpitations(irregular or rapid heartbeat) these last 3 or 4 weeks. It's been rough at times because I feel like I'm running a marathon and I'm laying down! They usually last several hours and when they are finished I'm so tired I can't hardly stand. Sometimes when they come I get lightheaded and dizzy and have almost passed out. I discussed this "episodes" with my Dr and was told when they come again to go and get an EKG and some other tests done to evaluate my heart and make sure that the baby is ok when they happen.

So Wednesday Night we went to the ER because I was experiencing some of the worst ones yet. They hooked me up to monitors and asked a bunch of questions. Once I was able to lay down I started to feel better. All of the blood work and test came back as normal. Except that my red blood count was a little low, and so were my electrolytes.

The only strange thing was when I go from a laying down position to a sitting position my heart jumps from the 80's to the 100's and won't go back down. Then it will jump again when I stand and won't calm down! They told us that my heart was not beating rapidly or at a dangerous level. At the same time if I get up too quickly I see "stars" and feel like I'm going to pass out. But the Dr's were very concerned as to why my heart was doing this. So they gave me an IV and kept monitoring my heart. After the IV was done they tested my heart again with me going from lying down, to sitting, to standing. I wasn't dizzy nor did I feel like I was going to pass out. But my heart still continued to jump. They told me to drink LOTS and LOTS of fluids during the day and to take it easy. That doesn't mean I'm on bed rest, but if things get worse it might happen. They were still not sure why my heart was jumping and not calming down. But they were glad to see that if I laid down my heart would go back to a normal level.

So we got into the ER at 6 and didn't get released until after 10. Ben was a trooper to be in a little room with nothing to do. And try not to let his 2 year old hands touch any of the medical equipment! He was very busy and kept asking when we could go home. Dane was very kind and concerned about me and wanted me to be ok. I do have to say that I don't think it was very nice to give a pregnant woman so much IV fluids so late at night and then send her home to sleep. Because I spent most of my night going to the bathroom! Oh well. I do have to say I'm starting to feel better. I'm tired and don't seem to have a lot of energy. I still am having the same episodes, but am doing ok. It's nice to know that the baby is still growing and doing just fine and that this isn't affecting her at all.

Naming a Sister

So Ben was asking what we were going to name the baby. I asked him what he thought.

Mommy: Ben what should we name your baby sister?

Ben: Well . . . . I think Gipetto Kylie.

M: Oh well that's a nice name but Gipetto is a boy's name.

Ben: No I want it to be Gipetto Kylie.

And this is what he's told everyone who asks him what his new baby sister's name is going to be.

As you can tell he's been watching Pinocchino for a some time now. And keeps asking to see our friends Dave and Kylie. So between the two the name was born!

Poor little girl is never going to survive Elemetary!!! It's a good thing we have other names picked out and that's not our only option.

Mr. Grasshopper

So Ben has an invisible friend named Mr. Grasshopper. Mr. Grasshopper goes everywhere and gets in trouble all the time. Ben plays with him and anyone who is around him. He always is kind and introduces Mr. Grasshopper and then has him jump from his hand to whomever else is around and is willing to play.

There have been times when I've sat on Mr. Grasshopper and Ben has erupted in screams and frantically waving his arms! Yet through it all Mr. Grasshopper is very resiliant and seems to survive anything.

We have been working on going potty with Ben since we've moved into our new home. And so far he goes "peepee" very well in his potty. He's afraid of underwear because he says,"I'm naky Mommy! I don't want to be naky!" But it's nice to be able to have a diaper last almost all day! Anyways, I was hurring into the bathroom to use the potty myself. All of the sudden I had a little boy following me with his fingers pinched together, and his nose turned up in disgust!

Ben came in and with much attitude dropped some imaginary thing on the floor and started to walk out. This is how the following converstation went.

Mommy: Hey! What is that?

Ben: Oh it's just Mr. Grasshopper

M: Is he in trouble?

B: Yep, he was trying to go potty on your couch!

M: Oh!

B: Will you please help him go potty in the toilet?

M: Sure.

(As he turned with his eyes turned down and his nose in the air, he walked away shaking his head, and continues)

B: And please help him wash his hands! They are dirty!
(this was followed by a huge sigh of disgust!)

I just have to say I was grateful for already being on the potty because I was giggling so hard! He is just way too cute!

It's A . . . .

little Girl!

We just thought we'd share with everyone the wonderful news we found out today. Ben is very excited and keeps asking when the baby will be here. I keep telling him after his Birthday she'll come.

Life Today

So this last month has been a crazy month! I'll try to fill you in quickly and then hopefully post pictures once we've moved and have settled in.

1. Dane is NOT going to Student Teach in Star Valley, Wyoming anymore. We will be staying here in Logan for another year and he will Student Teach here. Then go where ever the Lord wants us to be. We are excited and Dane is a little nervous about getting started, but can't seem to wait!

2. Ben had a wonderful little Easter here at our house this last month. Poor Dane was sick with a migraine and didn't get to enjoy it as much as Ben and I did. But we hard boiled eggs, didn't get around to coloring them. Ben got to go on an Easter Egg hunt in our front room. And loved his Easter Basket! Dinner was yummy with Ham, Twice baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and deviled eggs. So far Ben has struggled a little with me hauling him everywhere to look at different houses and apartments for rent. There have been many days filled with tears and him begging to just go home. Poor little guy is still worn out and we are now packing up our house. So far potty training is slow and steady. I'm not trying to hard until we've moved. Then we'll really work on it!

3. We are moving in a few days! We finally found a place that we love and will love us too. We are so excited to have 3 bedrooms and a garage for storage and parking! We love the neighborhood and look forward to spending the next year of our lives there. So far I've had my Mom help me pack some boxes. I've organized things and am slowly packing a little each day. Dane keeps asking me where things went. I keep telling him he'll just have to live without it for a few more days because it's in a box somewhere!

4. We are finding out this week what we might be having. Our ultrasound has been scheduled a little late because I've been in the middle of switching Dr's and Dane finishing up school. We are hoping for a healthy report and maybe a gender!

5. DANE IS GRADUATING WITH HIS BACHELORS!!!!! And we couldn't be more proud of him. He is grateful for it to be done. He's enjoyed learning, just not the homework and special assignments that take a lot of his time.

6. I am slowly growing bigger everyday. I will post a "belly picture" soon so that you may all see how large I am getting and how HUGE I will be by the end.

Hope all is going well in your lives and that the Lord is ever watchful of your family and your needs.

Jelly Beans & A Movie

One night Ben wanted to watch a movie so bad. It was getting late and I didn't want him up. But the little boy was VERY persistent!! He kept asking and asking. So this is how the negotiation went down.

B: Mommy, I want to watch a movie pwease! I be a good boy.

M: Yes, I know you've been a good boy but it's getting late!

B: Mommy PWEASE!

M: If you go Pee in your potty I'll let you watch a movie.

B: (Marched right back to the bathroom. Took off his pants. Took off his diaper. Sat down. PEED!!)

B: Ok Mommy I get a movie now! And a jelly bean! (This is the treat we use to bribe him into going potty at least once a day.)

M: (I'm in complete shock as I hand him a jelly bean.)

M: Ok we'll get you a movie.

Creativity Unlimited

"If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next."

You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. (see D&C 46:11–12)

The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn't have to be perfect. . . . Don't let the voices of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.

If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 119

Mr. Fix It

Well lately Ben has had his tools out all the time and is constantly fixing everything around the house. I guess I don't need Dane here to take care of the "Manly" things around the house. I can count on Ben!

Ben is fixing his lunch tray.

And still fixing it without eating his lunch.

Helping Dad put together our "Newer" computer chair.

You work on the back and I'll work on the front.

Handing Daddy pieces of the chair.

Fixin' his potty that was broken earlier this year.

Just being a cute Mr. Fix It!

Which one . . . .

Well we are almost 1/2 way and are excited about having this baby! We want to know what do you think it will be . . . . a boy . . . . . or a girl?
Leave your comments and let us know what you think!

Precious Moments

This morning I stirred for a moment and noticed that Dane was home sleeping contently next to me. I don't get to see him very much these days from long days at school and full-time work into the night. I wasn't quite awake when I softly put my hand on his chest and felt sometime small and warm. The sweetest words filled my ears after I realized that Ben was awake and had crawled into bed and curled up next to his Daddy.
Oh Hi Mommy!
Good Morning!
Did you sleep good?

I love it when he makes his way to our room and snuggles in bed with us for a while until we wake up. I know that someday I'll miss these moments as Ben grows and no longer comes to wake us in the morning. As our family grows and these Precious Moments that Dane and I have with Ben all to ourselves will shortly be gone. As our little family of three becomes 4. I couldn't ask for a better moment today.

It was amusing to me as Ben roughly crawled over Dane's face to get to my side of the bed and cuddle with me. Dane was so tired he didn't even move or notice. Ben finally tapped Danes face and asked him for breakfast! I just laughed because Ben doesn't ask me to help him with anything when Daddy is home. I also find it funny that small tapping fingers will wake Dane, but having a 2 year old crawl over your face doesn't even make him stir! Anyways, when Dane is home, I am invisible. It's kind of nice for me and kind of annoying for Dane. But some days it makes me sad because I want him to miss me as much as he misses his Daddy. Just so that he'll greet me with enthusiasm and ask me all day long to come play with him! Filling Daddy with hugs and kisses and lots of wrestling around on the floor.

Well today was filled with soft and tender moments that I hope to treasure always.

Are you missing your toilet?

Well we have been!

Lately our toilet has been sinking into the flooring and when you go potty you go for a "Bucking Bull" ride! So our maintenance finally came and fixed our bathroom.

They had to remove our toilet,tear up the flooring, rip out the floor, replace the floor, replace the flooring, and put the toilet back in place. All of which took over 8 hours. To all of you who have been pregnant 8 hours is a long time to not have a potty! So Ben and I spent the day running errands, going to various stores, and then coming home so Dane could have the car to get to work. We are grateful to have our bathroom back to working order and to finally be free of the "Bucking Bull"!

I was going to post before and after pictures of the bathroom. But we left as they were coming and then got back when they were busily working in the bathroom. So there are no picture to post. Sorry.

Well to top things off Ben woke up the next morning, grabbed "his tools", and went to work on "his potty". He told me it was broken and needed to be fixed. Well that was yesterday and he's still working on fixing "his potty" today! Who knows how long that one will take!

We're Excited . . . . . .

to announce that we are going to have another baby due on August 10, 2009.
We loved the first one so much we decided to have another one!

More Pictures!

Making a camp fire with Dad.

Our fun backyard!

Our little garden of tomatoes, green beans, carrots, spinach, potatoes, cucumbers, and pumpkins!

Our home.

Summer Fun

So it dawned on me today that my blog has been really sparse and very boring!?
So here are a few pictures from Ben's Birthday this summer. I'm hoping to be adding more soon.

Ben riding his New Bike!


Blowing out the Candles


Birthday Cake #1: Spider.


Birthday Cake #2: Worm.


Yes there was a lot of cake. But we were planning on a lot of people, but only a few came. So we had plenty of leftover cake for days!

Coming Soon. . . . . . .

. . . . well you'll just have to wait and see on Valentine's Day!

SNOW!!!

It's snowing outside!!



Oh me!! Oh my!!



Do you know what that means . . . . . . .








SNOWMAN POOP! EWE!?

I love Play Dough.

Birdies

This is what went down the other day.

I had just laid Ben down for a nap in his room. Filled his sippy cup with water. Settled his "Dut" and "Mee Mee's" by his side.

"Good Night Ben, I love you."
"Luv you too Mommy."

I closed the door and went to clean up the table from lunch.

*CHIRP* (notice it was very loud)

Ben,"MOMMY!! There's a bird in my room! He's gonna get me!"

Mommy,"No Ben that's not a bird it's just the fire alarm telling us it needs new batteries. Go to sleep it will be ok."

Ben, "Ok."

So about 45 minutes later Ben finally went to sleep.

NOTE TO SELF: We are not allowed to even touch the fire alarms in our trailer or we will be fined $75.00. I called the Maintenance personal and told them to come and fix it today or the poor little birdie won't see another day!

We're Good!

Just so that everyone knows. . . . Ben is no longer contagious!

So we are open for visitors! Finally it's been over a week and it will be nice to get out of the house again, and bring Ben with me. He's gotten so antsy from staying at home. I'm sure he'll be happy to get out!

Sickness at Our House

So Ben came home from Star Valley feeling aweful. He has a horrible cough with snot everywhere?! Well the other night he started having fevers. That would come and go. Each time they came they got higher and higher?! So this morning he woke up again with another rash and coughing so hard he was almost throwing up, so I took him into the Dr's office today.

I wasn't shocked to hear the he had a really bad cold. But I was surprised to hear that he had Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever?! So we are very contagious at our house. No one is allowed to come in until his rashes are gone. Then we were told to wash all of his bedding and disinfect our house. So we will let you know when it's all over. Until then it will be some long nights and some rough days!

How is your New Year?

Update

Our biopsy results came in on Christmas Eve. Everything came back as normal. Which is a huge relief! He was still diagnosed with Severe GERD or Acid Reflux. Which is like have major heartburn all the time. He has been switched to a different medication to help heal the erosion to his esophagus, and beginning of his intestine. His sphincter muscles are also a little weak which could be the cause of his GERD. We are heading back to the specialist about the end of January to see if the medication is helping. We are looking forward to having him eating regularly and gaining weight again. He is starting to become more active and eats consistently all day long.

We are all doing well with our colds. Which have been miserable!? We are all up at night coughing, wiping our noses, and trying to calm Ben down as he cries because the cough hurts.

Our Christmas was wonderful and we enjoyed spending a week with our family. It was wonderful and very relaxing.