Goodbye 2012

  2012 has been quite the year for us. We started out the year unemployed and desperately searching for a new job. We we're scrambling to finish our basement with the little bit of money we had. I had just had a baby, and I was still recovering from my c-section. Things
looked really bleak and unpromising. Shawn had searched all over the Utah Valley area so we could stay in our house, but there was not much out there and nothing was promising.
I had hoped that somehow, someway, we would get to stay in Payson. We were slightly upside down on our house so selling would hurt us also. The more we looked into the prospect of moving, the more we realized renting would be our best option.  We secured a job in Albany, Oregon and moved there in February. We soon learned that the schools were a lot worse than originally thought. It took more time to get them in school than it should have and the schools were very lowly funded. For the first time as a mother, I felt like I was making the worse decision I've ever made. I looked into other options, but nothing else was better. I prayed things would work out, but I was so unhappy.  Shawn wasn't enjoying his job either and the negative energy there played off at home also. We we're not happy and we kept asking why the answer to our prayers were to move to Oregon.
  This year we have experienced miracles. Because we moved to Oregon we broadened our area of search for purchasing a clinic. In June, Shawn saw a listing in Wyoming and thought about it for a while. I didn't even know he had requested information, or was even looking at a practice. When we looked at the listing together, it became clear the the biggest down side was location, or so we thought. We wanted to be closer to family, but this wasn't going to make that happen. After visiting, we knew what we needed to do. There were so many miracles in the process of purchasing the clinic in Laramie, WY and so many times  right before the miracle, we thought things wouldn't work out. Time after time we experienced the Lord's hand making a way for it to happen.
  The school here is awesome. The teachers truly care, and put in the time to show how they care. Our ward has been welcoming and encouraging. Shawn's staff is amazing and so helpful. As we get to know them more we feel so blessed to have such wonderful people working for us. We know that with out Shawn being laid off in Utah, disliking Oregon, and everything in between, we would not be here. The Lord opened our hearts and helped us achieve our dream and he placed us in a place that we can raise our children and feel safe. With gratitude we say goodbye to 2012 and all the trials, struggles and hardships that really were miracles and pray 2013 is just as good to us.

Day 4: Priesthood

I feel so blessed to have been able to access the power of the priesthood all my life. There are many who have the blessing of having a righteous worthy father who hold and bear the priesthood in the home as a child, but do not have that blessing as an adult due to no fault of their own. There are also those who were not raised in the church and as such, did not have those blessings as a child, but now as an adult have that blessing through their husband.  I have both. I love the miracles that can be performed through the Savior's power, the Priesthood power. There have been times in my own life when I have needed a physical voice to give me comfort, direction or a blessing of healing and I find that in receiving priesthood blessings. It is also through the power of the priesthood I was able to follow the example of Jesus Christ and was baptised for a remission of my sins. As an adult, I made covenants in the Lord's House, The Temple, and did that through the power of the priesthood. I served a mission to teach people about the saving ordinances that were there for them through the power of the priesthood.  Through the priesthood, I was married, sealed, to my best friend and together we became one and started a family, an eternal family that even death won't separate us. My life has been filled with rich blessings from heaven through the Priesthood all because a boy who at 14 didn't know what church to join. When he sought the Lord's help through prayer, he was instructed to not join any of them, and that he had a work to do. Through Joseph Smith, Heavenly Father restored Christ's church back to the earth, the same church that existed in the times of Christ. I am so thankful to have the knowledge that He lives and loves us and blesses us daily so that we can become all that we are to be. The priesthood is His power and through Him and the priesthood power, we will return to live with God one day. Of this I have the utmost gratitude for and a testimony of. I share this with you, whom ever you may be, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Our Heavenly Father's plan

Growing up I had lots of Aunt's and Uncle's. Some lived far away and I didn't ever get to know them well. Most of my Mom's family was that way. My Dad's family lived near us all of my childhood. We did a lot of thinks with my Uncle Bill and Aunt Lynn and their 2 kids. I remember Christmas', birthdays, camping trips and Thanksgivings with them. I have other memories with other family, but a lot of my extended family memories are with Uncle Bill and Aunt Lynn. Bill is my Dad's only sibling. They are pretty close and always have been. A short time after we moved to Idaho, Bill and Lynn followed moving up into the mountain to a small community of Garden Valley. When I was on my mission, Bill and Lynn got a divorce and it really surprised me. They loved each other, but just couldn't live together anymore.
A few months after Shawn and I got married, Bill remarried and that's when Aunt Valerie came into our family. The years since Shawn and I married has made it to I don't see our family as much as I use to, so our relationships are a little different, but I still love them.
I got a call Monday afternoon from my mom and she was letting us kids know that we needed to keep Bill and Valerie in our prayers. Bill was at the VA in Boise and things with his Colon cancer were not looking well. I didn't hear anything Tuesday and by Wednesday morning, I was wanting to know something. I called my mom, and I could tell something was wrong just in her voice. She said she just got off the phone with Valerie and the Doctor told her that if family wanted to see him, they needed to come now cause he didn't expect Bill to make it through the day. Immediately I felt a need, a strong desire to be there. I called Shawn at work and he started looking for airline tickets for later that day. I was able to get some exceptional ladies
to watch my kids for 3 days so I could leave and by 1:15 Wednesday afternoon, I was in the air.
This has been such a special experience to be near my family during this time. Today, I got to spend the morning with my Auntie Lynn and we sat with Uncle Bill while Valerie and her kids took off to Garden Valley to get some very needed things. We were there when Kristy, Bill and Lynn's daughter came to see him. This was a bit more special than a normal visit. Kristy has been in jail for the last couple of years. She getting out March 23. We were having trouble trying to get her to the VA before he passed, but felt it was so important for her to say goodbye. Bill's Doctor called the Warden of the Jail where she is and was able to get her to the VA to say goodbye to him early this afternoon. It was a huge answer to all of our prayers. Heavenly Father truly has had his hand in this and we have seen it.
Tonight, Valerie, Dad, Mom, Amy and Robbie (Valerie's kids), Jodi, Michael and I were all in his room, talk, visiting, and remembering memories. My dad and Michael gave him a priesthood blessing and he was told that when his time is up, he shouldn't hold on to life, but to move on to the next. It was a very moving blessing. As we got ready to leave he got restless and started grunting and kept trying to move. It was the first time since yesterday that I saw him voluntarily open his eyes and communicate with Valerie. We all hugged him gently, said our goodbyes and when we had all hugged him, he relaxed and went back into him non responsive state. It was very emotional. We're not sure he'll make it through tonight, but one never knows these things.
Tomorrow my Grandparents are flying in from Portland. It is going to be a very hard day and very emotional. I am so thankful for my loving husband for helping me be here. He is so supportive. I am grateful for the ladies who are caring for my children while I'm away. They are having so much fun right now. I so thankful I didn't miss this opportunity to gather with my family and be apart of something so Holy and spiritual. This is the plan of our Heavenly Father. We all will die. We all will leave our loved ones for a time. I am so thankful for my knowledge of life after death and the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches us that we can be an eternal family. Such peace in times like these come from knowing my Savior Jesus Christ and knowing he made if possible to return to live in Heaven after this life with our Heavenly Father. As sad as it has been to know we are saying goodbye for a time, that's all it is, is a short time. We will see each other again. We will be together again. He is be pain free and in a better place. I am grateful to have known Uncle Bill. I am thankful he's my uncle. He will be missed, and thought of often. But we will be happy, cause that's what he would want.

We are getting a Temple in Payson!!!

President Monson just announced today that Payson is getting a Temple. It will be right next door to our church we attend right now! We are so excited!!!

What a year it's been!

It is no seceret that this year was a big busy year for us. Here is a good overview as to what we are saying good bye to as we welcome in 2010! We hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and are blessed throughout 2010!

January


We had one of the biggest snow storms to start off the new year. We enjoyed sledding, building a snow cave and having all sorts of snow fun.

February Mason started back to Early Learning services after regressing from the progress he made while in the program over the summer of 2008. He went back to ELS 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. We also met with the speech therapist once a week until he turned 3.


March We spent the first part of March spread out over Idaho. Emma and Mason spent 2 weeks with Grandma and Grandpa's while Paige and I joined Shawn on his insane job hunt. We traveled from Pullman, to Nampa. Paige and I then joined Shawn in Buhl, Idaho. From there we went to Pocatello, Blackfoot, Rigby and then to Idaho Falls. Paige and I got to see the Rexburg Temple and we spent plenty of time looking a homes. Paige and Daddy even found some time to play in the pool together. That was a nice evening. All these job interviews and no good offers. There was a good purpose for this though.

At the end of March Shawn had a 2 week vacation and we spent part of that time going to Portland, Oregon to visit with my Grandparents. It was the last time we would get to visit them in their home. Since then, they have moved to a Assisted Care home.

April

On Mason's 3rd Birthday he started his first of day Special Ed Pre School. His teacher we already knew as she was working on the ELS team with us. He was so excited to learn that he got to ride the school bus. Even better, Shawn was home to be there for this big 1st.




We celebrated Mason's 3rd Birthday a few days later and had some friends from our play group and Mason's class at church come to eat cake and play. Thanks to our neighbors for letting us use their trampoline and the kids had a great time.

May

We accomplished what we went to Pullman for. Shawn graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Veterinarian. He worked since Jr. High to get here and it was a wonderful day for all of us.

We finally got everyone in Shawn's family to come for a visit. We were missing Monica's husband Seth due to having to work, but she and their little boy came and it was good to see everyone.

June

We said good bye to this place and jumped in the truck and van to head out on a new adventure. We didn't know what to expect in this new phase of life, but we were together and that is really what mattered.

July The kids and I went to Idaho for a week to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. We also got to spend time with my sister and her little boy. We really should learn that traveling right after moving doesn't go together, but it seems like the thing we do.

Shawn and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary right after we got home from Idaho.

A week later we found ourselves at the Spanish Fork Rodeo. Shawn had to work at the rodeo, but it was also a little birthday activity for him. We really had fun. We really stayed up TOO late.

The next day was Shawn's birthday. The kids made his cake. He loved it.

August

We went to Nampa, Idaho at the beginning of the month for a short weekend. Shawn celebrated his 10 year high school reunion. It was nice to see old friends and catch up on how everyone was doing. Some things never change.

I celebrated another birthday. This year we were in Idaho for my birthday and it was nice to spend my b-day with all my family.

Mason started back to school and was SO EXCITED to ride the school bus. We loved his bus driver and aid on the bus while we were in Springville. Emma could hardly stand it that Mason was starting school before her again, but she knew her turn was coming.

September

We took advantage of the only weekend we could and went camping for the first time in Utah. We choose a quite little spot not too far from Heber City and really enjoyed ourselves. Next year, we are going to take some vacation time and go longer. The kids really had a lot of fun and it was nice to get away from our everyday stuff.

We took the only time we had for camping this month. It was a short camping trip, but was well worth it. The kids had fun, we had fun and our family tradition continues on.
After we got back from camping, Emma started school. She is in Preschool this year and absolutely loves it. It is the saddest day when she doesn't have school. Getting her out of bed in the morning... well, that is another story. She defiantly is not a morning person.

October

Paige turned 1 year old. We were all sick the whole week of her birthday. When we got better later in the week we celebrated her special day with Grandma Clausen who came to visit for the weekend. It was nice to have Grandma with us to celebrate Paige turning 1.

And of course we had Halloween. We all got dressed up, and Shawn too all the kids our trick or treating until Paige couldn't handle it anymore and she got to help me had out the last of our candy. Halloween this year was fun, cause we had lots of ghosts and goblins come visit our house.

November

We bought our first house this month. It was such a relief to finally get the process of buying a home done, and even more of a relief that we no longer felt like we were in limbo. The ward we were living in supplied much help and packing the trailer didn't take as long as we were thinking. The ward we moved into, came out to help and dealt with bad snowy conditions to help us get into the house. It was quite the adventure.

A few short weeks later, Emma celebrated her 5th birthday. We had a small family party and enjoyed the quietness of her small celebration.

December

We kicked off our holiday celebrations by having an open house and inviting all our neighbors. It was so much fun getting ready for this night, and was even better that we were finally meeting our neighbors in the dead of winter.

We took our first trip to see the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake. It was one of our best outing with the kids and despite the cold, everyone had a good time.

Christmas Morning was wonderful. Christmas Day was relaxing and allowed time for reflection on the birth of the babe that changed the world and our own daily lives. We are ever grateful for his selfless love that has brought us all we enjoy.

I'm Back...

I only wish I could tell you that we have a job and we are moving to a certain place, but I can not. I know, I know.... you are thinking "isn't that what you took this "vacation" for?" I can explain. Shawn interviewed in 9 different clinics in 4 weeks. 2 of the clinics he was at for 1 week. He learned a lot at each place...things he liked, and things he didn't. Of the 9, only 4 are looking to hire someone for sure. He has a offer at a clinic in Blackfoot, Idaho. We are waiting to hear back from 3 other clinics. He drove some 2400 miles this trip, ate out countless times, and slept in 6 different places. I met up with Shawn in Buhl, Idaho located about 20-30 minutes west of Twin Falls. It is a small, quiet, friendly little town. The people at the clinic there were so warm and friendly. I spent the two short full days I was there looking at the real estate market in the area and have a really good idea what we are looking at paying for a house with some acreage. I think that I looked at everything around our price range in the two days, and found 1 place that I could see us calling home, but it isn't the ideal house that I was hoping for. From Buhl, Shawn and I drove to Twin Falls to stay over night with Shawn's sister and her husband. We were able to go do some sealings at the Twin Falls, Idaho Temple Saturday afternoon. That was such a wonderful experience. It was nice to slow down for an hour while we were there and really feel the peace the Temples have to offer.
Sunday afternoon we drove from Twin Falls to Blackfoot, Idaho. We drove through the worst snow storm that I have ever driven in. There were a few slide offs, and roll overs, but we took is slow and we made it there safely. We stopped in Pocatello, Idaho to use the bathrooms, and to feed Paige. I was nursing Paige in Walmart (all covered and showing nothing), when the front end supervisor came up to us and told us they have a "private" room for us cause people get concerned when a mother is nursing out in the open. So, here's the thing about this...Paige averages 7 minutes when nursing. I had already been sitting there for 5 minutes, and so I told her that I was almost done. But she insisted and so I followed....let me tell you...that private room was a JOKE! It was the room behind customer service called the electric room. NO kidding. They put my in a tiny room with electrical cords, 2 way radios and who knows what else just to make a few maybe uncomfortable people feel better about them selves. If you are one of them...sorry. I think that yes, a nursing mother should be private. Usually I would nurse in the car, but with the snow and the low temps, I decided it would be more comfortable to Paige being inside. Maybe I should have just stayed in the van and that would have been more comfortable than this dirty electrical room they called "private". Give me a break. Ok, now I am getting off my soap box.
Shawn spent 3 days in Blackfoot, I again, looked over the area and found a house that I could easily see us putting an offer on if we were to take the job there. I also found my dream home, but it is out of reach at the moment. In a few years we could afford it, but I would be uncomfortable trying to make the payments work right now. From Blackfoot, Shawn interviewed at a Clinic in Pocatello. The last interview was in Rigby, and while Shawn was there, I drove up to Rexburg to see the temple there. We drove that afternoon from Rigby, to Nampa. Emma and Mason were so happy to see us, and we them. Saturday morning we were on our way home by 9:30 and made it home by 3:30. I am happy that the last 4 weeks were successful. I feel like we did what we wanted to and that we are anxiously waiting some more results. Shawn has 2 weeks here at the teaching hospital at WSU and the 2 more weeks of vacation. If by some chance, we don't feel like any of the offers are what we should accept, some how Shawn will be off to North Dakota to interview at 3 or 4 clinics there. Please keep him and the possibilities of staying in Idaho in your prayers. I am not super excited about North Dakota, but if we are suppose to be there, I will go.
It's good to be back. I have browsed your blogs when I had down time and really enjoyed reading about the things going on in your lives. I love the fact that I can be so far from people I love and learn so much from and still have contact and reassurance that I am not the only one feeling a load on my shoulders that I am not sure I can carry. Thank for sharing your lives with me.
I have lots of picture....and will share them in the days to come. For now, I am off to bed, so I can get back to working out at 5:30 am tomorrow.

It won't be like this for long!

Wednesday afternoon I was driving to Moscow to take Emma to Walmart to get herself The Little Mermaid polly pocket. The kids were in their seats talking to themselves as normal. I am usually listening to the Classical music station in the car, which brings up the conversation between Emma and I about what instrument is being played. It can be a fun guessing game. For some reason, I felt like I should change the station over to the Country Station. I like country music in most forms, but not all of it is good, especially for little ears. The stations was starting to play a song from Darius Rucker called "It won't be like this for long". I think that the spirit spoke to me to change the station cause this song, in many ways, hit home to me, right to the heart. I added to my play list as #1, so take a moment to listen to it if you haven't already heard it.
Many times I get flustered trying to get my kids to be good. I get upset when things take much more time than they should. When Emma is being creative and using her imagination, she usually makes a horrible mess and I have a constant war in my head about disciplining her, but then if I do, and I smashing her imagination? For example: The scene- We are eating lunch and she is throwing bread on the floor. "Emma, what are you doing?" "Feeding the chipmunks Mom" came the reply. "There are not chipmunks in the house, stop throwing food on the floor".
This scenario has replayed at different times though out the day for about a week now. The animals are always different, mice, rabbits (which we have out side as pests) deer, penguins, horses, dogs... you name it. This child of mine is obsessed with animals of every form. I am sure she gets it from her Dad, but what do I do.
Back to the song.... I realized while I was listening, It won't be like this for long. She won't always be throwing food on my floor to feed the imaginary animals in our house. She won't always be innocent. She will grow up before I know it and I will be wishing that I had just enjoyed her a little more.
Mason, well, Mason doesn't talk. He was getting better, then he stopped all together. I don't know how many times I have told myself that he isn't going to start Kindergarten and not know how to talk. It will come. He will get it. I have so much frustration due to his inability to communicate. I feel like so many people judge me, even though, it isn't my fault. But it won't be like this for long. He is a wonderful little boy, and I was reminded to just enjoy him as he is, and help him to learn, but not to push him for what he isn't ready for. He will talk, he will learn to dress himself, he will grow up, and I will want him small again.
Paige is a great night time sleeper. We have some bumps in the road every once in a while with changes etc. but who doesn't? There are days thought, that I feel like everything I do with her is wrong. I just don't get what it is she is trying so hard to tell me. She doesn't want to eat, she isn't wet, she won't sleep, I keep burping her...nothing comes out and yet she is still crying. I would claim colic, but there is not consistent. It is hit and miss days and there isn't really any pattern. The the song came on and made me realize, before I know it, she'll be talking up a storm and I won't get in a word edge wise. She is only my baby for so long, and that is that. She has grown faster it seems to me. I try so hard to just enjoy her, but I need to do better.

I have not had the lyric of a song hit me like the lyric of this song did. I need to be better in just enjoying the journey. So, since I don't have a New Years Resolution... (cause I don't believe in setting them at the start of the new year, or waiting for the new year to change) this year, I am going to try harder to just enjoy life, and remember It won't be like this for long when things start getting hard.

Time for Celabration

I've been thinking about this post for quite sometime now. We got the call yesterday that Shawn's results were in for his Idaho Veterinary Board exam he took back in November. HE PASSED! Although, it isn't a surprise to me, and I am sure Shawn would say it is no surprise to him, but it sure is a big relief. I can't tell you how ecstatic I was when the Idaho Veterinary Boards office called. I was some what afraid that she wouldn't tell me the results cause Shawn wasn't home, and I didn't think that they would tell someone else besides him. Thankfully she did. As the news started to sink in, I realized the reality of Shawn being Dr. Shawn Sanders.

He has worked hard to get here. Ever since I have known Shawn, since Jr. high, his dream was to become a Veterinarian. I am so grateful to have him as my better half. He teaches me that it is okay to have dreams, and even better to make them come true.

I am dying to get out and celebrate with him by doing something fun, but I don't know when that will happen. He called his parents and mine last night to let them know, and then crawled under the house to figure out the heat tape measurements for our pipes. When he was done with that, it was back to work, editing he's Senior Paper which, he is presenting next Thursday. After that, we will hopefully find a job and graduate and get on with life.

Congratulations Shawn for the success in almost obtaining your licence as a Veterinarian. (it will be in your hands after graduation) I LOVE YOU, and am so proud of all your hard work.

Blessing Pictures

I meant to post these pictures weeks ago, but you know that life gets in the way of doing what you want all the time. Paige was so beautiful on her blessing day. Thanks to my Mom for making Paige's blessing dress. She does a great job on blessing clothes for the grandkids.

Thanks to Michelle with Treasured Portraits for taking the time to take these for us.

All ready to Harvest

I looked out my back window as the field behind our hosue was being harvested. I saw this tractor just sitting there and thought to my self "that is a little strange." Then out of no where the combine comes over the hill harvesting the wheat. It was somewhat interesting how the 2 work together to get alined and harvest the crop.

Spring Fever

We had some appointments in town this morning. I try really hard to make it to the park when ever I go to town now that spring has made an appearence. Today I also packed lunches so we could picnic at the park. Last time I did the picnic idea, Mason ate nothing and ran around and played. This time I tied him down in the stroller and he ate wonderfully! This isn't the park we usually go to. Actually I have only been to this park once before today. I don't know why either. It is really fun, and has very beautiful landscaping. Here are a few pictures I took. It was such a fun morning.

Emma and Mason eating at the picnic table.
The PB & J! Mason's favorite sandwich! He ate so well!
No messes here!
This is so good!
Swinging on the big boy swing!

Look at that little face.
Emma at the top of the fun slide
Almost there....
Here I am...as Mason laughs his head off. Only if these pictures could capture the sound also!
Mason heading down the slide.

The big twisted slide Mason and I went down also, but it isn't so much a big person slide. I don't think that I will be doing that again soon. He sure had fun though!

I am glad that I took the time to take some pictures so that I could remember this morning better, but also so we could share it with Daddy and you!

Charity, The pure Love of Christ

If Charity, the true meaning of Charity, the pure love of Christ, isn't written all over this story I don't know what is. I hope that I can raise my Children to do the same as the girls in this story did, if the opportunity ever presented itself!
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/8091708?MSNHPHCP&GT1=39002

Surprise, Surprise!!

We're expecting again!

I know this may come as a surprise to a few of you, especially because I was so set on waiting until we were done with school before we embarked on this journey, again. The spiritual promptings that we hear from time to time, had a lot to do with this new baby of ours.

The story is really neat, and if nothing but for my sake, I am going to share it.

The General Relief Society Conference held right before the October General Conference every year is something that I look forward to. This last year was no different. I came home a little distressed and bothered, not because of something that was said, but the spiritual promptings I received while in attendance.

I told Shawn that I wasn't going to go back to another General Relief Society Conference if this is the promptings that I will come home with. Then I told him that I felt like it was time for us to have another baby.

Shawn just smiled at me and didn't say anything, probably because he knew that I would beat him if he said what he was thinking. I did a lot of praying. The thoughts that were going through my mind sounded something to this effect: "This is really bad timing, We are going to be in the middle of 4th year clinical rotations!" It really isn't that I don't want more babies, it is I just had myself believing that we were waiting, and with that, this caught me off guard. I knew someday we would have more, I just didn't want someday to be now. The timing for this prompting couldn't have come at a better time though. Shawn had just started putting together his rotation request schedule, so with more prayer, we put down a priority vacation at the time we felt the timing would be right. I talked to my Dr. and asked how reasonable it would be to have my IUD removed and try to get pregnant during one cycle. He told me that it could happen, but the odds were a little against us. I schedule the removal date, only to have a spiritual prompting come a few days later. This time I felt like I should change the removal date and make the date sooner. So I did.

We had one cycle to get pregnant on. That sounds really demanding, and a little selfish, but I will explain.

Emma and Mason were both delivered by emergency C-Section. This one will be scheduled. I don't want to go through a C-Section with out Shawn with me. If we were to get pregnant one month before we wanted to, there would have been huge possibility that he would have been on a 4 week rotation 2 hours away from home. If we waited a month, we would be on a 4 week rotation in Caldwell, Idaho. My insurance won't pay for a scheduled C-Section in another state, in a hospital that they are not contracted to. So I would again be here by my self.

This timing was critical. Here is the tender mercies of the Lord: We conceived exactly when we needed to. I decided to take a home pregnancy test on Valentines Day. I figured that if it were positive, I would put the test in with Shawn's card, and if it was negative, we would wait and see if I missed my period. I had a home test from a box we bought back when we got pregnant with Mason, but with out realizing (until that morning) it was expired. I got up at 5:30 and took the test. My heart sank when I saw "Not Pregnant". I laid in bed for a half hour, then got up to make breakfast. Before Shawn left for School, I told him. He said that we should get another test because this was expired. We went out that night and got another test. When we got home Shawn wanted me to take it right away, but I didn't think that I could handle another "Not Pregnant" in the same day.

I took the test at 11:30 pm (WAY past my bed time) and left it in the bathroom. Shawn got up and looked at it, then brought it to me and it read "Pregnant"!! I took another one 2 days later just to be sure.

Our due date couldn't have been more precise. The due date is October 25, 2008.

We had our first ultrasound on March 28, 2008 to measure the baby and find out by growth how far along I was, and the measurements were about 5 days different than the calculated due date. By ultrasound, the due date is October 30. We get to schedule out the delivery date a week before the due date, and that week is the 1st week of the 3 week break Shawn has. Heavenly Father couldn't have been more mindful of us, and the situation we have. My faith to follow spiritual promptings has strengthened, and I am more aware that when we are asked to do something, there is a way prepared to accomplish that which is asked.

Today was my 2nd prenatal appointment. My Dr. couldn't pick up a heart beat on his little machine, so we were sent in to have a quick ultrasound. We saw the little strong heartbeat, 154 bpm, and it was amazing to me how much this little person grew in two weeks.

Here is our first ultrasound:

Here is our second from today:
Emma is really excited, although it is conditional. She wants a "sister baby" and not a "brother baby". If we talk about the baby maybe being a boy, she ignores the conversation, and when asked if she would love a brother baby, she says "no, only a sister baby!" We will hopefully find out in June what we are having.

We are very excited about this little one. The time waiting for this baby to arrive will fly and before we know it our family will have grown by one!

"Tender Mercies"

Tender Mercies

• Emma and Mason feeling close to normal! ~ After a week of throwing up, diarrahea, and tummy cramps, I am more than ready to get back to our daily activities as the kids are I am sure!
• Not having to visit the ER shortly before dinner last night~ Major tummy cramps for over an hour, had me thinking that we were headed to the Hospital with Emma! After a priesthood blessing and some snuggle time with Daddy, the cramps calmed down, and we went to the Dr. appointment instead of the dreaded ER!
• A husband who knows how to work hard~ he sure has a positive attitude for all that he carries on his Sholders!
• a home to keep us warm~ even though it has A LOT of drafts ( can't expect a tightly sealed home if you live in a little trailer, but at least we have our own home and it is not an apartment)