Life and all that it includes lately

As far as all these pictures, some are self-explanatory, but as is with all holiday seasons, I don't have much time to rearrange so I'll just post. Weston LOVES his Grinch shirt. He would wear it everyday if he could. He was super hyper one day and tore off his shirt. Since he has no bum, his pants frequently fall off. I told him to pull up his pants...so he did :)

He saw Santa on Saturday with his friend Audrey and it was like America's funniest home videos with the one child much louder than all the rest: "It's Santa! Santa! Where's my dinosaur?!" I've been getting the question a lot lately, "Is he always like this?" Hmmm...yes. He talks your ear off if he feels comfortable, but he can be a little shy. I wanted to put the last three halloweens for Weston. His first, he was in the hospital. Second, my little ninja. Third, Dash and this last one, he was a tiger. We went trick or treating last year, but this year tops it all. He tried to make conversation with everyone and next year, I vow to take my video camera as with Santa, too.

So here is the update on our lives. We had a good Thanksgiving at my Aunt and Uncle's house. I took a little spill on their steps and a few days later had some bleeding. I went in for an ultrasound and everything is A-OK - except they thought it was a girl for a minute. Imagine my dismay, when something decided to show its ugly head to confirm it was another boy :) Feeling good in pregnancy except ever since about week 20, the days and weeks seem to be going by in slow motion.

Possible baby names: I hesitate to share with you because it is rare that Doug and I agree on names and I do not want to confuse you that your opinion actually makes a difference :) My top 2 names are strongly vetoed by a certain husband (Theodore/Theo and Brooks). Doug's top name is last on my list (Van, short for Donovan), but still on my list nonetheless. We do have 3 names we agree on: Trace (#1), Kipton (yes, from the Bachelorette) and Shannon. Trace is number one, but we don't really have a middle name set because I don't like single syllable first names with single syllable middle names, make sense? Kipton, I love love love and it would be Kipton Paul (my dad's name), which I think just sounds fantastic. However, I do NOT like that Kipton sounds so similar to Weston. If I had a child in between the 2, I would not mind so much, but whatever.

Gluten-free update: Weston is doing really well on the gluten-free diet. He is a true trooper and goes along with everything I say he can or can't eat. He is so smart. I cannot even begin to tell you. He has been giving himself his medicines out of the syringes himself for a while now. However, now it is, "What's this medicine called, mom?" I say, "It's prograf or propanolol" whatever the case may be. AND NOW... it's "What's this medicine called, mom?" prograf "What does it help me do?" it helps keep your liver healthy. "And where is my liver?" etc. etc. There is no end to his questioning until I say that's enough. When we had cookies with Santa, I just asked for a little bowl of frosting instead of the cookie lol! He took a couple spoonfuls like it was ice cream and called it good. He probably had less frosting than the other kids did on their cookie and he didn't feel left out at all.

We had labs done this morning and as I walked into Primary Children's and saw West's excitement to all the Christmas trees decorated, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude. I remember being snowed in at the hospital and all we have been through and how grateful I am for Weston and his endurance in this life. We went and had labs, which he seemed especially upset about and, as a result, so was I. We both had breakdowns, but mine lasted much longer.

We have been very crafty lately. Weston has been making Christmas cards and ornaments, frosting gluten-free sugar cookies (which are, let's face it, basically an edible plate for frosting), finger-painting (which apparently is just painting because a certain toddler does not like anything on his hands), etc.

Excuse my complaining...

Well, I've been meaning to blog for quite some time, as always. I had an experience yesterday from a wonderful friend that is so worth blogging about...

First things first, yes! We are pregnant with little boy #2! We are slightly disappointed no girly girl is coming and it is still beyond my comprehension to imagine my family with 2 little boys! However, we are so excited nonetheless. I have several friends who have 2 boys and several friends who have just entered the 2 kids world that I am learning lots from, except for what to name this little guy.

Pregnancy #1(West): 1st trimester = exhausted. I could have slept 24 hours a day and still been tired. 2nd Trimester= nausea. I only threw up a few times. 3rd Trimester = my honeymoon trimester. I felt awesome and enjoyed spinning to get rid of some of my water. My torso is so long that my stomach doesn't project outwards as much as you other ladies. Don't envy me, my behind and hips pack on the excess, but it does make for a more comfy trimester. However, during the 3rd trimester, I was terrified to let that baby come out.

Pregnancy #2 (boy, name TBD): 1st trimester: exhausted and puking. 2nd trimester: still puking! I finally went on a prescription because I just could not handle how much I was throwing up. Somehow with this baby, though, we are so much more excited because we have little Weston to show what we could possibly have at the end of this pregnancy. Baby #2 is growing right on track and I have a wonderful Dr. this time. With West, my placenta was calcified. That means the placenta stopped giving him nutrients and acted as if I was really overdue when I was actually induced a week early. So we will be doing extra ultrasounds and stress tests throughout the last trimester. I am 20 weeks and my stomach isn't as big as it was with West, however, still gaining everywhere else, yippee. But I'm not nearly as emotional or depressed as I was with Weston and it seems to be flying by! I am due March 12.

Now onto not so fun news to explain why I have been complaining via facebook about the gluten-free diet. I mentioned how Weston was getting tested for Celiac Disease, which is where your body cannot process gluten. I really doubted he had it, but his blood test came back "elevated". The NP said since his white count is so low they cannot do a biopsy to officially diagnose the disease, but would like me to put him on a gluten-free diet for the next 2.5 months until his next appointment to see how his growth will or will not change. So I thought it would take me a full week to get my act together, but we are already in full swing gluten-free. It bites. I spent a long Wednesday morning spending money we don't have at the grocery store purchasing the gluten-free meal plan I created. It takes a lot more planning to plan not just dinners, but also breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I spent all of yesterday cleaning dishes and recleaning them as I cooked and prepped many gluten-free ideas.

Excuse my impatience for those people who say, it's not so bad, bla bla bla...The NP who called, having no kids of her own, said it perfectly as she overheard my stifling sniffles, "I know this is the last thing you wanted to hear and deal with on top of all of his other medical problems." I wanted to hug her to thank her for knowing exactly what I have been thinking.

Grateful for my family: Growing up, I had the kind of mom who knew how to handle every one of my life's minuscule problems. She still does. However, she now has raised me to be able to handle these things on my own. She hasn't given me much advice and has been out of town here and there so I have been dying to talk to her. However, she comforts and listens and supports and gives my the spiritual direction I sometimes lack. I have felt her guidance without talking to her this week that she raised me to be a half, poor version of her :) I can't believe how quickly I have gotten my information together without even attending the nutrition classes yet and I believe that is her example and preparation and of course of lot of Heavenly help.

I also have the best siblings in the world. Many people might think 6 kids are too many, but they are my absolute best friends and I am grateful to parents for giving me them to continually listen to me complain!

Grateful for my friends: I had a friend immediately call me when she found out on fb about the issues. Yesterday, West saw another friend and her daughter walk by so he was already halfway out the door to say hi. I was completely embarrassed by my appearance and just really worn out. I was wearing sweats and hadn't even combed my hair that day. I insisted to her that I had showered and to excuse my appearance, being covered in dough and other cooking messes. She caught me at a weak, exhausted moment as I began to cry and tell her my frustrations. She hugged me and was so sweet, of course. Then I tried to get Weston to eat leftovers from our gluten-free meal 2 nights ago (spaghetti squash, quinoa meatballs, and homemade marinara), but he refused since he declared the first time he encountered it that "This all looks really yucky." Get used to it buddy. So he had an omelet and green beans :) Doug came home and somehow the tears surfaced again as I apologized for the mess even though I really had been cleaning up after myself and Weston all day. He hugged me and told me not to worry about it because that's the kind of husband he is. Weston thinks it's a game when I try to get hugs from him, and, thus, now refuses to do so. When he saw I was crying though, he made me come over and receive a hug, because that's the kind of kid he is.

As I prepped myself in the mirror for a leadership meeting, Weston was on the toilet (YES! He's finally potty trained!! Despite all the digestive problems!) and he poked his head out and smiled at me. I laughed and he said, "You're not sad anymore?" I told him no because he had given me a hug and those always make me happy.

Then the doorbell rang. We opened the door and my sweet friend (I just know it was her) had gone straight to the store and left 2 bags full of gluten-free treats, breads, mixes, cereal, etc. Oh the tears really started to flow then!!

I know all this gluten-free stuff isn't so bad, it is just super overwhelming especially to a pregnant lady who hasn't felt like cooking for the last 4.5 months. My attitude is still struggling, but I am surrounded by wonderful people in family and friends and could not ask for a better life in all reality.

Now if you didn't read over any of this or if you did, congrats! - But here are some pics from the last few months highlighting my cute family.

Awesome Art Project

This is my new fave thing to do with West when he wakes up from his nap. You HAVE to try it!!!

Instructions can be found on Our Best Bites. Here is the post I found it on. All you need is milk, food coloring, dish soap, and toothpicks.

Cool Liver Info

I went to West's check up today at the Liver Clinic. Nothing much up, just scaring me into taking care of him better (even though he hasn't been sick for a looong time now - thought I was doing pretty good) and watching for bleeds since his white count is low. He tested positive for EBV, which basically is a virus that effects his white count. If he has a severe bleed, he could be in trouble getting the white cells in quick enough before he loses too many, etc. I get made fun of or get people upset around me as I am probably the epitome of a hovering mother. I wish they had to go to my appointments with me and receive the guilt trip I do - even though it seems like a world record that we've only had one hospital stay at all since West's transplant.

Anyways, I came in contact with a girl from California who had a daughter with Biliary Atresia, the liver disease that West was born with. I told Dr. Book and the nurse about it and what a neat experience it was to get to talk to her. Then she gave me this Utah liver blog and I checked it out. It seems like they have such a great support group now and I never really had anyone to talk to!! It is so surreal to have people describe the exact feelings using sometimes the exact words I have used for the anxiety that I still suffer from. A lot of which I felt while reading some of the blogs and reading this article that I had friends tell me about also that was in the Deseret news (for clarification - I had much criticism and shock at their DNR, but I discovered after reading their blog that she was asleep for a month when they had the bleed before).

I also thought this was amazing/ridiculous. I apologize if this completely grosses you out, but I was fascinated and had to share. It is a picture of the little girl in the article's scarred, diseased liver. It is green because of all the bile build-up.



I know it has been forever since I have blogged. I have had plenty to blog about, but lack the motivation to get back into the blogging world. Maybe this will launch us back into that world, who knows?

We have some really exciting news to share soon...but in the mean time, keep us in your prayers...Weston is being tested for Celiac Disease next week. I really don't think he has it, but of course there is a permanent paranoia that exists at the possibility of it coming back positive. Especially since they took part of his intestine to create his bile duct - that influences his digestive system also. There are already so many foods he can't have - beans (like kidney, black beans), corn, oranges (any kind), grapefruit, blueberries, grapes, peas, raisins, and dried fruits and anything else that might cause his diarrhea to flare up. I have recently discovered a new one to add to that list - yogurt. You'd be surprised at how just knowing you can't have it in the house makes you want it that much more.

However, I have to laugh when we are in the produce department at the grocery store and West says in a toddler's loud voice: "Hey mommy, this is an orange!"
"Yes, honey, it is. Good job."
"We can't have those, they make you poopy!"
"Yes, honey. Good job."