Little Easton

Our little guy is here!! Definitely earlier than planned, but he's here and healthy and we're so grateful!! We are so grateful for so much! We have really been blessed these past few months!
The shortened version, since I have already written detailed in my journal. The end of January I was put on modified bed rest. After a few days and an ultrasound my dr wasn't too worried so I was taken off modified bed rest but told to be careful and take it easy. February 15th I had a weekend hospital stay and given steroid shots to help baby boys lungs to develop faster since I was only 33 weeks and we weren't sure how long he would be able to stay in there. I was officially diagnosed with placenta previa. I was watched carefully, bleeding stopped so I was discharged with instructions of full bed rest and stay near a bigger hospital with a NICU. So mike came home from work a little early and packed bags for Kenna and I to have a 3 1/2 week stay with my sister in St George. We were working towards making it to 37 weeks and then we could deliver baby since that is considered full term in terms of babies development.
It was hard fully relying on someone else as my personal slave, especially someone who is not my husband and has a life of their own. But we made it through one week there before I had to make another hospital trip. I wasn't admitted but told if I had to come back we would likely do the c-section then. The dr didn't want to take any chances of it becoming worse, risking losing me and/or baby. Well the next night mike and brooke showed up surprising us! His bosses gave him Thursday and Friday off so they surprised me and came down. Which I am so grateful for, cause 3 am we were making another hospital trip. By 6 am we were in the OR prepping for c-section. I was exactly 35 weeks so they had the NICU team ready and waiting.
My new dr was prepared for the worst, thinking I could possibly have an acreta. Thankfully though everything turned out great, placenta was actually separately like it should not getting attached. My dr was extremely happy and we were all relieved! This c-section turned out to be the best, fastest, and easiest one of the three. It happened so fast that I didn't even know a nurse had taken Easton out to the NICU team, didn't even see her walk by, mike did. Baby wasn't breathing so good so he did have
to be taken to the NICU. When I realized they had taken the baby out to the team, I told mike to go
ahead, like usual. We had just been told the good news about everything going good and looking good so I think mike was now more eager to leave the surgery part and to check on our baby boy. Lol that is the worst part for him. But I know he's been worried about me.
 When he came to show me little man I was so happy he was alright, he looked great and perfect. Right after he showed me little man they took him to the NICU. I told mike to go with. I still wasn't quite done yet, but I didn't want baby to be alone, I could handle it. They were done in no time and I was wheeled to recovery room. Mike spent the next two days between my room and NICU to see Easton. While I was still in recovery room we had one of the NICU specialist nurse come talk to us about Easton's condition. They then gave him cerfactin, which is something his lungs would have made on their own in the next week or so if he was still in the womb. He also had a breathing tube down his throat until then. Then he just had oxygen under his nose. They also gave him caffeine to help. He made great progress pretty quickly and was completely breathing on his own and no IV by Sat night. He was also moved up to NICU Too up on the same floor as me. Before he was moved he was under the lights because he was looking jaundice and they didn't want it to get worse. But he was only under them for around 12 hours or so.
The next thing was for Easton to learn to eat on his own, since they had a feeding tube in since his birth. That proved to be a big hurdle. He was lazy and didn't want to try very hard. He had no trouble latching he just wanted the easy way. We were told by dr's and nurses that boys are the lazy ones and girls are the fighters. As was apparent seeing how their was a 5 to 1 ratio in the NICU Too.
Mike and the girls had to leave Sunday night so he could go back to work on mon. I was discharged from the hospital but was still able to stay there as a boarder. How long Easton and I were there depended on him and when he would eat. Monday morning it was looking like he would be there for at least a week, but Monday night he started eating and ate all night, he ate all day Tuesday as well, surprising everyone there. They all mentioned he was acting just like a "5 weeker". So Wednesday we were able to go home. The dr was worried about the difference in altitude so Easton was sent home on oxygen. That took time to get dealt with but we made it. It seemed like months since I had been home.
Now during this time mike was absolutely amazing. Not only did he get brooke up and ready for school including her lunches and getting her there, but he got her to her activity days, he did their laundry, baby's stuff that needed to be done ( other then what he thought I would like to do), he
finished putting together the furniture for Easton's room, he went to the mail, paid the bills that I
couldn't do, he did their grocery shopping, cooked all the time, did the dishes, and cleaned the entire house, and more. Before we came home he sprayed the whole house down with disinfectant. And still managed to talk to us/me every night. He was so thoughtful of what I would need or want, trying to do whatever he could for me to help make things easier. I am so grateful to have such a husband! It really helped make things easier. I'm so grateful for the blessing I received in beaver hospital that really helped me get through it all and so calmly. I know I would not have been able to do any of this without the Lords help and my Heavenly Father's. I know Easton had help and was watched over cause I was not one bit worried about him. I knew he would be alright and I knew he was in good hands. I am so grateful for the priesthood and worthy priesthood holders that are so willing to give these wonderful blessings! The bishopric gave Easton a blessing the night we came home which helped ease my mind as well. This was such a nerve wracking experience that it made mike and I nervous to not have a monitor on Easton at all, though we knew he would do good, but living with it for all of his life so far, makes things a little different. This whole experience has opened our eyes a little more to what others go through. We know we had it pretty easy, and yet it wasn't easy all at the same time. We are so grateful for the Dr's and nurses at Dixie regional and my high risk specialist Dr's and nurses for all that they did. I don't think we could have asked for better Dr's or nursing staff. This experience has strengthened my testimony and our faith. And it has brought Mike and I closer. Not that we would want to live through it again, but our relationship has definitely grown because of it as well as our faith.
So here are a few pictures.

His Incubator and under the lights

Up close under the lights, they did have a bigger thing that went
around the back of his head but then slimmed down to just the eyes

Everything he was hooked up to.
 Though some weren't attached any longer.

His room in the NICU where he lived for 3 days

When he was in "rooming" with me the night before we left

Kenna in my hospital room

Brooke in my hospital room

                                     
I need to add more, but i am still trying to figure out how to download them from Mike's Ipad. When I do there will be more of our little man.

Fun photo's

Cutting down the fallen tree across the road we were
to get Christmas trees.

Amy in her favorite spot!

One of Kenna's favorite things to do!

Brooke trying out snowboarding once again

Oh did Kenna want to be like everyone else and snowboard!
Such an awesome uncle to help her so she could too.

All that playing totally wiped her out...... for about 15 minutes!

 

She loves to be potatoe head!

Skyping on Christmas!!

Eating a bottle of peaches for a late snack!

Brooke dancing at the Town Birthday Celebration
the schools put on every year.

A self posed picture! 

A few fun photos from the past few months!!

Update

So we've had eventful past few months. The last of summer and into early fall we've been to our fair share of viewing/funerals (mike really hates funerals so going to a viewing is really big for him and close to his limit on what he can handle.) he had a couple people he knew really well growing up in July and August then in September his gramma passed away. It truly was a blessing, that poor woman was suffering so. Most of us were happy for her to finally be reunited with Grampa Boyd which is the only thing she's wanted for the last 5 1/2 years since he passed unexpectedly. We miss not being able to go visit her on Sundays or share holidays with her anymore but we know she's happy and watching from above. Mike and I were both happy that we came home early the weekend before she passed so we could make sure we went to see her since it had been a couple weeks since our last visit. She wasn't really there, more so than normal but brooke finally started talking to her. That is something she's been afraid of since Grama Rose was first put into a nursing facility 6 months before. But it was a big milestone for her and she was grateful she tried before Grama left this earth. Anyway then in later September marked one year since my uncle Jim's passing. That was a very emotional month for me! I thought about him more than normal. I think we have had enough death for one year!

Kenna's birthday was extremely fun! The girls loved it and we are all ready to go back even though it's only been a couple months, what can we say we love the zoo! Kenna had to have sedation to fix all her cavities in her mouth. That girl loves to brush her own teeth and her own way and short of her screaming, crying and proving how hard a 3 year old can fight you and win.... We let her brush with constant reminders on where and how. She is one independent when she wants to be! Needless to say she had a few cavities and being so young we had to sedate her to just do them all at once. Boy was that not fun to watch as she woke up and couldn't do anything! Then having to drive 15 miles back home with a child that desperately wanted to get up and do anything but couldn't without falling over completely was... We'll lets just say I was one worried momma. But she was quickly back to herself and running around and super excited because she happens to have 2 silver caps. Yeah my 3 year old has bad teeth like her daddy. We just hope that her big teeth when she gets them will be better.                

Brooke started 3rd grade and doing great other than she likes to talk to her one friend too much. We hate this stupid new math program they are making the kids learn. They are trying to make things more complicated for the kids and I wish they would stick with what worked for everyone before.
She's also had a few field trips already and had fun.
The girls had fun with the county fair once again. The derby was a little more eventful this year. The the rodeos were wet and really muddy. Brooke was baptized the end of September. She loved it and we enjoyed time with family! My hunt came and went but sadly didn't get one. We are, however, grateful for a good friend who so generously gave us a leg of his deer.
We also found out we are expecting a boy in the early spring. We were surprised but getting very excited! Though we have a LOT of stuff we need to get. Like nearly everything.... Lol. we're not sure how it will be raising a boy definitely in for new experiences.
Mike is still working his behind off since summer. He works his normal job then comes home to fix
everybody else's stuff at lunch and after work. When he's done with one there is always another lined  up. It usually slows down by now but he has gotten busier the past couple weeks. It's a no wonder he's so tired!
We've been able to go up and see family a little more this year or later part of this year. It's been nice! Selena had her farewell the Sunday before thanksgiving and she did great! We enjoyed a long weekend with my family including Christian......eating a yummy thanksgiving dinner, tree hunting, bowling, playing games and just enjoying each other. On Tuesday Sena headed to the airport. We didn't end up going because of the snowstorm but they took pictures so I am excited to see them. She's already been there a week and really enjoying it down there. Kenna doesn't quite understand where she is or what she's doing, but we are all excited for her and miss her already! Well that's basically it for now.

Summer

           Well summer is about over, school will begin again in less than 3 weeks. Our summer has been pretty crazy it seems. Brooke spent a good chunk of time up to my parents' and loved it. She hardly missed us at all, though Kenna missed her dearly!! We had some of my siblings with us during that time which was fun. We spent the 4th at my parents and enjoyed sweating to death but it was fun! We spent some time down with Shilo and saw Zions again hiking some trails, looking at ghost towns and enjoying some laser mania fun, we even got my parents to play laser tag and they had a blast!! Both girls enjoyed two weeks of swimming lessons! Kenna was brave enough to go off the diving board a few times with a life jacket and loved her teachers, well most of them. Brooke did awesome this year swimming much better and going off the diving board any chance she can get without a life jacket on.
            My poor garden has gotten neglected this year due to busy schedules. I've decided I'm definitely doing it at my house next year, because its so much more of a pain doing it down to the farm, the weeds get worse every year. I have the hardest time keeping up with them and its hit and miss with which crops will grow good vs mediocre or at all. But we are getting some peas and beans and onions and potatoes are doing pretty good. I am just grateful we have what we have and we still have some carrots from last year so.... we'll see.
            I didn't go on the Stake Trek, but I went up the two full days of girls camp. . It was so fun I loved being with the young women at girls camp again, since I didn't end up going last year. Our girls are just so amazing and we have a rather large number who will shortly be leaving us for college. Those girls were just barely into miamaids when I was first ever put in Young Women's, so it's a little bittersweet. They have all taught me so much these past years. They have shown just how everyone can get a long and be friends, it doesn't have to be nor should it be a seperation of ages like what I knew when I was in young women's. How I wish I would have been more like them. They have got such strong spirits and testimonies, they truly inspire me.
            We've had  a health scare with Brooke as well. She went to spend a week with my sister and came home after about 36 hours because she was so homesick. But all that week she was so exhausted and could barely stand, picked at her food, and started running a fever. We were worried it was her kidneys. Only come to found at from the Dr. (who also found a slight rash all over her upper body the day of) that it was viral. Nothing to be worried about unless things got worse. I hadn't ever heard of one like that. He said it was common this summer. Where the heck did she get it? Someone swimming? Well then why didn't Kenna get it? Or any one else she was around? Crazy!!! But relieved. She got better soon after. Whew!
            Had a pampered chef party for my friend Sandy who just started selling it a couple months ago. She made some yummy stuff!! Mike has been working his butt off like a lot of summers. Only he's been doing a lot of side jobs for friends here at home too. So he's almost always working I think. We've had major issues with our laptop that make us more annoyed since our first one lasted 5 years and at least still works just really slow while this one is putting out after 2 years. We'r hoping it can be fixed and non expensively... ???               We still have lots coming up in the next couple months but enjoying time as its flying by.

Getting Bigger

I figured maybe I'd post again. I'm so up and down on this blog... anyway seeing another blog I decided I should update on the girls, they are getting entirely too big (as I'm told that often now).....

Brooke- is now in 2nd grade and so so smart!!! She still loves dress ups and playing outside and she's really into having "shops" now where people can buy things. Her fashion sense is beyond me!! lol Some of the stuff she likes I cringe at, she is so girly!!! It is a little weird having to buy such frilly like clothes.. Although she still loathes her hair being done, at least by me for sure.  And I'm not quite ready for her to do her own hair. I think it's part of the control freak in me I like things to look nice or orderly as much as humanly possible and I'm not ready for her to look like an orphan girl. But I'm working on it, especially when my patience is wearing extremely thin. But she is growing up and I'm not quite ready to have to start worrying about real life stuff that goes on and thinking the teenage years will be upon us before we know it. Anyway off on a tangent. She is beautiful and so full of things clicking inside her brain and new ideas!!! Best of all she's finally starting to like playing more and more with her sister. Yeah!! Also she is becoming more of a blonde, I think its the redhead in her. She still likes to push my buttons and I don't know why. But her and her dad spent a few days alone which was really good for them about a month ago. I think they need more time together.

McKenna- Nearly 2 1/2 and still ALWAYS on the go. You cannot keep that girl pinned down. Honestly everywhere we go she wants to be totally on the move, especially when shes tired. And lately she's tired a lot, she doesn't like naps anymore especially since we made her crib into the toddler bed. I have been so reluctant to do it, because I knew how hard it would be to get her to stay. Well I decided it was past time though I am regretting my decision. Its so weird how opposite her and Brooke are. Brooke was in the toddler bed not long after she turned 1. But for all McKenna and Brooke are opposite, Kenna is learning a lot of traits from her sister, that I'm not so happy about. But she still keeps us laughing a lot with her antics. She is absolutely crazy and daring and silly. The only thing she is afraid of is falling off counters or things of that nature, which is funny because she hasn't ever fallen off anything like that. Everything that has hurt her, including seriously she isn't afraid of she goes back for more... It is amazing!! She is still just as clumsy or accident prone whichever you prefer. She has now had to have a set of stitches and almost more 2 other times. She's had many scrapes and scratches and constantly has bruises on her poor legs (I think its an inherited trait...sadly my legs don't look much different half the time) from falling and running into everything. She still doesn't watch where she is going half the time but getting better. We've had the dr look at her ears just to make sure she didn't have some inner ear balance problem, but nope its just her. lol. She is so tall and big for her age. She now weighs 33 lbs. and 36 1/2" tall. She can fit into most 4T shirts and some 4T pants, though not all. She has an amazing vocabulary though she still doesn't say the first letter of some words instead substitutes it for some other letter. We're still working on the alphabet and numbers and colors etc. But she likes to count and sing the alphabet. She still loves to dance and sing now. She is much like her sister and loves dress ups and shoes!!! She loves outside still and going places all the time. She is still a mommy's and daddy's girl.

As for Mike and I nothing much has changed for us, we too get another year older in numbers with each passing year. We cannot believe how time flies by so fast!!! We are just trying to make our lives better for the future and still have fun in the now with our kids. Still have work to do. Mike still works his bottom off to provide for us. We're hoping for some big changes soon, but the future is unknown and we are just waiting patiently. I still have emotional times when I think about my uncle and I miss him, knowing I won't be able to talk to him for quite some time. I definitely took his life for granted as I do so many others. And that is something that has held me in gratitude the past couple months. The Christmas party was a little hard this year without him, but we were so happy to see most of his family there, though it definitely couldn't have been easy for them.
I've also still been enjoying my calling as the YW secretary/personal progress leader. Though the personal progress side of it, still feels overwhelming when I try to figure out what all I can do to try and help the girls want to do their p.p. But I work with such amazing ladies!! Their strength is so encouraging and boosts me. We are still working on our little house. It seems the more we put into it, the more issues we find that need to be fixed. Mike is about sick of it, as am I, but he's the one that fixes most of it. That's what we get for buying an old house right.