Sunday, February 28, 2010

this week

this week has a plan... and is yet a mystery to me.... what will it be like???
today we came home from church to discover a leak in the ceiling, leaking directly onto our computer and another one in Kourtney's closet onto her clothes. I'm sorry, I lied.. there were two leaks on our computer. fun. tomorrow I drive to St. Louis to do "pre-testing" as it is called. I get poked and prodded in preparation for surgery. tuesday I'm preparing the house, grocery shopping, making list upon list and getting my hubby all ready (and everyone else that will be at my house) for the time in which I will be incapacitated :( Wednesday we leave at 4 am to arrive in St. Louis by 6:30 am to get surgery at 8:30 am....

What's the mystery???
I'm scared. What will it be like this time around? What if the unthinkable happens? What if I become paralyzed? All of these what-if's that I wasn't afraid of before... I'm afraid of them now. The scary thing is that they're completely valid fears!!! I'm scared to be in a hospital without my husband... while he and my daughter are two and half hours away. Honestly, I'm scared to death of recovery. I remember what it was like last time, it was sooooo hard! It was so frustrating, humiliating, just all together sucked!!!

I pray everyday that everything will go okay, and that my intense fear will cease. It works, but the fear always comes back... I'm not sure why. I've thought that maybe surgery isn't necessary, but the way my neck has been lately, I know that it is necessary! I'm so glad for the support that I'm getting. Everyone is so great! Jordan, Mom, Angie, my other Mom... and everyone that calls, prays, thinks of us... it is all so greatly appreciated. I'm scared, but I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

I totally stole this from another blog I follow... it was just too funny not to steal and share. :)

How To Know Whether Or Not You Are Ready To Have Kids

My dear friend Alyssa decided to give me this "test" AFTER I was already pregnant and I was due in less than 2 weeks. Going a week over my due date doesn't sound that bad anymore!

Enjoy!

- Mess Test

Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

- Toy Test

Obtain a 55 gallon box of Legos (you may substitute roofing tacks if you wish). Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold and take off shoes. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream because this would wake a child at night.

- Grocery Store Test

Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.

- Dressing Test

Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all the arms stay inside.

- Feeding Test

Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal into the mouth of the jug, while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.

- Night Test

Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8-12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 3:00pm, begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00pm. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00pm. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00am. Set alarm for 5:00am. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.

- Ingenuity Test

Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and pot of paint, turn it into an alligator. Now take a toilet paper tube and turn it into an attractive Christmas candle. Use only scotch tape and a piece of foil. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty box of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.

- Automobile Test

Forget the BMW and buy a station wagon. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there. Get a dime. Stick it into the CD player. Take a family-size package of chocolate chip cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Run a rake along both side of the car. There, perfect!

- Physical Test (Women)

Obtain a large bean bag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Then remove the beans. And try not to notice your closet full of clothes. You won’t be wearing them for a while.

- Physical Test (Men)

Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

- Final Assignment

Find a couple who already has a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, and toilet training and child’s table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run wild. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

And here is another...

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Child

- Your Clothes:

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN
confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

- Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember breathing
didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

-The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and
fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean &discard
only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

-Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up
the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when their wails threaten to wake your
firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical
swing.

-Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you
can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with
some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

-Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need
it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain
about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

- Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby
Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

- Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call
home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a
number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.

- At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older
child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

- Swallowing Coins:

1st child: when first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the
hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: when second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for
coin to pass.
3rd child: when third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his
allowance!


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Someday we'll be longing for the simplicity of today....




Someday we'll be longing for the simplicity of today....


LOVING




































I LOVE...

  • I LOVE HOLDING MY BABY AND GIVING HER KISSES
  • WHEN MY HUSBAND MAKES BREAKFAST FOR ME
  • KOURTNEY'S SILLY SMILE AND FAKE LAUGH
  • READING MY SCRIPTURES AND WRITING IN MY JOURNAL
  • A CLEAN HOUSE
  • SCRAPBOOKING AND MAKING CARDS
  • TAKING PICS OF MY LOVED ONES
  • SNOW....(ON CHRISTMAS)
  • WHEN MY BABY LIFTS ONE OF HER BABY DOLL BOTTLES TO MY MOUTH AND SAYS "MMM"
  • SNUGGLING WITH MY HONEY
  • TWIRLING KOURTNEY AROUND IN CIRCLES
  • BAKING
  • MAKING DINNER FOR MY FAMILIA
  • READING READING READING
  • SCHOOL.... I LOVE SCHOOL
  • MY HOUSE, I HAVE A GREAT HOME
  • PHONE CALLS AND RANDOM VISITS
  • EXERCISING!!!!
  • BEING A MOTHER AND A WIFE
  • LEARNING NEW THINGS EVERYDAY/ LEARNING NEW THINGS ABOUT MYSELF
  • LEARNING HOW TO MAKE MYSELF BETTER... I'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE I MET JORDAN (HE HELPS ME TO BE BETTER AND I LOVE THAT)
  • LISTENING TO MY HUSBAND SING IN THE SHOWER OR WHILE HE'S CLEANING, EVEN THOUGH HE CAN'T CARRY A TUNE HALF THE TIME :) (ACTUALLY HE'S NOT THAT BAD WHEN HE ACTUALLY TRIES)
  • WATCHING MY BABY SLEEP
  • SPENDING ALL OF MY TIME WITH MY FAMILY
  • MOTHERS... THEY ARE GREAT!
OH, I LOVE MANY MANY MANY THINGS.... I LOVE MY AWESOME FRIENDS AND ALL OF MY FAMILIES! I LOVE THE GOSPEL AND MY SAVIOR! I LOVE MY DAUGHTER! AND I LOVE AND ADORE MY HUSBAND!!!



Friday, February 19, 2010

Scared but not afraid: Stuff Steph can't tell you that i know. by Jordan


Scared, but not afraid.. if thats possible. So the deadline is getting closer for the surgery and were getting more and more prepared. yesterday we got a new toy box for all of Kourtneys little toys and miscellaneous things, her parents gave us a couch that will help a lot and be more comfortable during recovery, we got a bed that helps as well, and i'm able to go to bed a little earlier and wake up earlier. still, we have a lot to take care of but im not too worried about it. My poor wifey, for the second time in 6 years needs to undergo neck surgery. Neck surgery is one of the most difficult there is. Unlike going in and, snip snip here, snip snip there, tie it off dab dab, stitch stitch, done, there actually going to have to asses the previous surgery, and find out what the problem was. then they'll have to fix, readjust, re staple, and re screw everything together. Then the real surgery begins. they'll have to find the new problem which is under the last problem, from the vertebra c4 to t2. So they'll have to start by taking bone out of the other side of her hip which they place aside for later. That scar will always hurt to the touch. then they have to get all these metal plates and screws and everything and fuse all of those vertebra together. which is a very long, delicate, extremely precise procedure. it includes very sensitive nerves that travel through out the entire body and one of the body's biggest blood
vessels. they literally have to be drilling and fusing and putting new bone in place all around these fragile parts. im not sure exactly what goes on during those 4-5 precious hours (thats from thee time she goes under, and only if everything goes perfectly smoothly) so after countless cat scans m.r.i.'s x-rays, doctors visits, phone calls, and days of extreme pain that i'll probably never experience, the surgery is over but then the real fun begins! from there 1 week in the hospital
in the old peoples part of the hospital with mean grumpy nears' hours away from friends, family, or edible food, especially since they don't even know how to spell celiac disease(haha neither does this things word perfect.). so then she finally gets to go from the bed at the hospital to the bed at home, were she'll be for a minimum of 30 days! then from there she can move to the couch every so often, YAY! and soon (2-3 months) she wont need help to eat or bathe! and hey it wont be long till she can hold her little one year baby daughter, and about 5-6 months before she can pick her up. the emotional sadness could be worse than the pain itself. so after many more months of physical and emotional pain, and about 1,000,000's of pills, her pain will go from a 15 out of 10 to a 5 out of 10, yay! i don't think I or most of us have ever had more than a 2 or 3 in our entire lives, Ive certainly never sobbed by myself for days at a time at the pain. my wifey is so wonderful. lately we have learned to understand each other so well, and it will definitely nice to be able to use that during these next..many months. she helps us stay so close to our heavenly father, and she is probably the bestest and most wonderful wife and mother ever. I don't deserve her thats for sure. i would do anything for her, through thick and thin. we know the risks of this huge procedure, it could make the situation worse, paralysis, and even other unimaginable things are possible, but like i said, i'm afraid but not scared. or was it the other way around. in any case we both know that God is on our side. If there is one thing I know,no matter what your going through, no matter who you are or what you've done, God is always on your side, all of ours' side! i Know that to be true. I have so many blessings, and would never want it any other way. I hope i didn't scare you my wifey. i know you are scared but i also know that you are the most brave and faithful woman i could have ever met. thanks for believing in me and loving me so much. Happy Valentines day!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ohio fun

Jordan sure did love being able to go see his sister.... much thanks to Angie and Shaun for giving us a ride! It is dearly appreciated! We had tons of fun in such a short amount of time.

Oliver was a blast to be around, he sure is a sweet sweet kid! Tulie Tu was sick, poor thing... but still much fun. I believe that girl has a heart of gold... she just likes mischief! :) Sawyer was pretty attached to Uncle Joey. It was sweet to see. I don't think he thought much of Kourtney lol. He did give her sweet kisses though, that was cute to see.
Kourtney sure does love her big cousin Oli. She had so much fun with him. When I thought the playing was rough, that's when she loved it the most! Funny how that works :) We have some good Ohio memories...


I loved the photo shoot, the yummy food that Logan (the best cook ever) made for us, and of course shopping at Gabriel Brothers!










Thursday, February 11, 2010

KeTchuP

Kourtney's Ode to Ketchup...

Ketchup my dear, i love you so.
With everything you clearly go.
Eggs, and toast, and chicken too....
heck, I'd eat you off of a shoe!

Ketchup dear, you're great to me.
what would my diet without you be?
plain eggs, cereal, and hotdogs too...
Oh no, that simply will not do.

Ketchup, I must savor you....
you are so good, a dream come true.
Can I eat you all the time???
on cheese and sugar maybe on limes???

Ketchup, I am true to thee...
I spread you everywhere, you see.
On my eggs, and tableware,
on my neck and face and hair.

Ketchup how I love you so...
I don't think my mom does though..




Monday, February 8, 2010

Chocolate...

Yeah, so, I am addicted to chocolate right now. I do this every so often... many girls do lol. I ate 2 whole snickers bars yesterday and if I'm not careful, I'm going to eat a whole pan of brownies today! OMG! Why can't we crave apples, or salad, or anything healthy that's not going to make us feel extremely guilty huh???? oye! Give me a break! (i would say of that kit kat bar....but i can't have those!!!) lol. well.... my daughter is getting into the garbage. the joys of motherhood!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Answers...

I've been praying for the past month that I would get an answer about my neck at this appointment (today). I did get my answer. and it scares the poop out of me! Another fusion?!!! The last one was so hard and so painful and the thought of it makes me cry and I don't know, I just don't know. I do know that I will have my husband through the whole thing... and that makes me happy, and relaxed, if even for just a moment. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for an answer, and thank you for my soulmate...