Happy Bday mr. luva luva!

Happy Birthday yesterday to my man Dug E. Fresh, the Freshness! He is such a good husband and father that he is "celebrating" his birthday week by working at the outdoor retailer's show which is not fun at all. He got to see Weston for about 5 minutes this morning and that's the most all week.

I just wanted to give a shout out to Doug and why I love him so much. The fact that he will work probably at least 45 hours in three days not to mention 2 days at his normal job, just so we can get ahead a little in the finances :) & again next week, yucky.

He is such a good dad! I love that he called me the other day and said, "Oh, I can't wait to come home and put Weston on my shoulders." To which I replied, "What? Where did that come from?" He said, "I was just looking at his picture and can't wait to hear him laugh when I get home." Now if that isn't the cutest!

Someone told me a few years ago, "My son needs to find a girl like you to marry. Someone who enjoys sports as much as you do." I went on to explain that her son just needed to be more like Doug. He explains sports so well and tells me about all the players and their lives to make it so interesting.

He has put off school so much just to support our family. And, fingers crossed, he'll finish this year!

He is so strong in the Church and helps me whenever I'm feeling down.

When I was pregnant, stupid Mooja ate my shuffle and I bawled! Doug gave me his shuffle, which we have yet to replace.

He gets along with everyone in my family! & they adore him! In fact, I think Doug's best quality is that he is such a people person, everyone he meets thinks he is just about the coolest, which is probably true!

The only thing I don't like is that he no longer laughs at my jokes. I think he just pretended he thought I was funny so I would marry him. Oh well, Weston thinks I'm funnier than him hehe. I love you Doug Happy Birthday!

Happy Babies!

Lisa blessed us with a visit to SLC for her friend's wedding and Mickell and I took advantage and through her a shower. We had quite a turnout, Lisa and her twinners are popular! Here are some pics...
This is a framed pic of the twins' ultrasound pictures and a letter from Adam that was REALLY cute and almost made ME cry :)
Also, I had 2 pictures of cute lil' lisa that said, "What's better than one Lisa? TWO!" with some green and pink jelly bellies that we were eating for days after.

Lisa's friends Caisa and Mickell got her matching pea coats and pink beanies. They were too cute. This is just one or should I say "two" of the cute matching outfits that she received.










Cute clothesline from all the siblings.






Party favors with Lisa's due date: strawberry mentos and, of course, double mint gum ;)



And last, but definitely not least THE FOOD with my mom's FINE recipes of mini dulce de leche cheesecakes and spinach artichoke dip, my fave, yum! I have yet to email my cousins who requested the recipes. I will, I promise.


And here is Lisa's big belly and here is Lisa with Weston. Thank you to everyone who came, we had a blast with the games and food and seeing old friends! & Thanks to Jamie for all the fab ideas. The memory game was a blast (see Lisa's blog).

Everybody's doing it...

This is the latest fun post idea going around and I've had a blast doing it on other people's blogs so we'll give it a try...
1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you have of me. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! It can be the first memory or just the first thing that comes to mind. If you haven't met me, then leave a memory you have of Doug.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

July

Before July ends, I thought it might be a good idea to post what we did in July. My dad came in town and brought with him Weston's new friend the pig who snores and wiggles his ear. Weston loves it.

















We also went down to Albuquerque for the 4th and spent some time out at my parent's pool. I really didn't know how West would react to the water, but he loves it! We've gone to our own pool here a few times also, where some of these were taken. Hopefully, I don't get in trouble for posting my shirtless hubby without permission. White & freckly is the new tan, I keep telling him. My mom lovingly coined the nickname "Whitey". Thanks, mom. He'll never live it down.












But the trip did tucker him out. He had a hard time not sleeping in his own crib and believe me when I say for the second time, I will not be taking that drive ever again. Here he is with uncle Aaron and Aunt Kristen. And here he is on the table at the bowling ally.












We received some free tickets to the Real Soccer Game the day before Pioneer Day. I was worried how West would behave. Let's just say, the guy sitting next to me said, " You have such a good baby. I don't think I've ever seen a baby sit all the way through a game." My response, "I don't think anyone has ever said that to me." Haha. We laugh because Weston is so active and social and has been so sick, that he requires a LOT. But it was so nice to be able to go out . On the way back to the car we laid on the grass and watched the fireworks, I think we had way better seats than anyone in the stadium. My two studs:












Happy 4th and 24th to everyone! The next celebration....somebody turns 30 next week! And it ain't me folks :)

Pregnancy Nostalgia

Not likely...but I'm verrrrry excited, Lisa's friend Mikell and I are planning Lisa's shower for this Friday and I can't wait! I am stealing all of Jamie's fab ideas and things are kickin into high gear! I was at a party supply store today and there was this cute 9-10 year old little girl there getting candy like me. Her mom was probably at least 6-7 months pregnant and completely cute. Whenever I see pregnant women, I no longer think they are cute, I think they look miserable because my pregnancy was so hard. I wish I had taken belly snapshots like Lisa, I never did because I was so embarrassed! Anyways, the point of this story is this mom and daughter were talking about how cute and active Weston was. The little girl said, "Mom can we go to 'some store'?" I don't know what store.
The mom said, "No, honey, my back is killing me and my feet are really getting sore. I just want to go lay down for a little bit and then maybe we can come back out."
Little girl, "Please, mom, I'll carry you!"
Mom, "Yeah, you're gonna carry all 150 pounds of me, I don't think so."
I laughed so hard out loud at her and said, "Oh, yes, I feel your pain." The girl then proceeded to offer to get a shopping cart to tote her preggers mom around. So funny, just thought I'd share!

Just that time again

It's just about that time again for a new post. Since, I don't have the patience to download our pics from the 4th of July yet, I will save those fun and, at the same time, nightmarish stories for later.

But Weston has been SO FUN this last week. He got a blood transfusion on Thursday. His second in two weeks. He goes in for an MRA, which is similar to an MRI for his veins. They will basically sedate him, light him up and send him through the machine to take a look at the blood flow. They did discover that Weston came down with an infection that affected his spleen and increase in platelets and such. I'm not sure if that was related to the decrease in his blood count or not. They haven't answered that question for me. So there is that update.









This is just a really cute picture I like. Weston has started to crawl and we love it! He wears himself out appropriately now, he is not teething at the moment & is sleeping 12 hour nights. I walked through the PICU waiting room last week and horrifying memories came back to me of getting 20 minute naps at 7 am on the waiting room couch which is by no means an actual couch. And now I am so grateful for my life until I have to starve my baby on Weds all day for this MRA :) fun fun. They usually schedule these things in the morning so I just wake up and take West in, but he is scheduled at 3 PM and can't eat for 6 hours prior.

We also made it through 2 1/2 hours of church without having to take Weston out! And we have church right at his nap time 11-2. So we are on a roll. I'm preparing for the worst.

I found this sequence of pictures particularly hilarious. Weston loves to go out to eat. He is so fun at restaurants (that word sounds and looks really weird right now).




















Sharing is good. Only, he is much like his dad in that, he is a tease. He pretends that he wants to share with you and then takes it back.


Every time he is smiling, he has noticed the camera.








And he starts to get full and sleepy. :) The end.

Mooja cont'd

Before we get an overwhelming amount of responses and offers to help us out, shortly after this last post, Doug mentioned the post to a friend at work who has answered our "plea for help". Luckily for all of you, you are off the hook.

A Desperate Plea for Help!

So we are in desperate need of someone to watch this little guy. No, sorry folks, not Weston, Mooja. We are going to Albuquerque next week for the 4th and are quickly discovering everyone we know is also going out of town or having company. Before you quickly exit of my blog pretending you never saw this post, let me just tell you a little about our dog, Mooja.

He has the stupidest name ever, which is why we were so nervous about naming Weston (fortunately, I still say we didn't mess that one up). He is soooo good around babies and kids, he doesn't lick faces or hands, he sits, shakes, rolls over, and is completely house-trained. He lets Weston pull his ears, tail, paws, mouth and even lets Weston hit him, so now we are struggling with Weston how to be "soft" because Mooja does not even care. Mooja may allow that because he know he can get the most food from Weston.

He isn't allowed on furniture and doesn't shed....that much. He'll sleep all day if you want him to. He sleeps in his kennel at night. He eats once a day unless you leave food on the ground. He is the best vacuum. He doesn't bite or bark unless you are teasing him and purposely trying to get him to bark. But he is easily silenced. He is also the smallest full-sized beagle you've probably ever seen. He is so friendly. If you have a yard, feel free to throw him out there all day. If you don't have a yard, he is an inside dog, anyway. And if after one week, you want to keep him, that can be negotiated through me :)

Now, here is what we are willing to offer as compensation: yard work, babysitting, any kind of food or dinner for you and your family, lifetime friendship, we'll watch your small to medium-size dog when you need it, we'll wash your cars, I don't know we're just trying to save a few bucks on taking him to a kennel. Also, if you can only watch him for partial week that would still help us out. As much as I love Mooja, I am not taking him on a 10 hour drive again to ALB. Last time I did that, I was pregnant and almost left him in Moab.

In Other News....

In case you don't live in UT or you simply don't care about our predicament, which is fine also :) Here are some other updates in our lives.

Weston got his drain out about a month ago and also went off all his diuretics, so his belly just ballooned! And we were so frustrated because he was just so uncomfortable again, but Dr. Book came back in town and took care of business as usual. She put him on a different combo of diuretics (which help him pee better, because his kidneys struggle) and he had an ultrasound a few weeks ago and another scope yesterday. He didn't have to have the sclerotherapy done, which treats the veins in his throat because his veins are doing much better. The veins are oozing a little blood just from the surrounding tissue so it was a long day, because they had to give him blood and fluid for hydration.

The bad part is from the ultrasound, the spleen is still fighting to pump all that blood and fluid through because his veins are so tiny and the liver was so big. So at a future date, we may have to consider a surgery called a "shunt", not exactly sure how to explain it, but to say it would redirect the blood flow. However, it's also possible the problem may fix itself as Weston gets bigger and his veins get bigger, so we're scheduling an MRI to take a look at all his veins, which he will have to be sedated for. How educational is my blog, if you take the time to read all this nonsense :) But to be honest, Weston has never been funner and he is so close to crawling each day! He is learning to clap, pull himself to his knees, dance, nod (not just shake his head), wave, and throw temper tantrums. And he has 3 teeth total - two and a half on the bottom and another half on top :) And now he is eating everything and also off formula and onto a more expensive milk pediasure, fabulous.

Also in other news, I have the best parents ever. I bought toilet paper the other day for the first time in really I think a year. Every time, my mom is in town, she buys laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, and a roast for my freezer. I have yet to buy laundry detergent. And, of course, all this is purchased with Dad's money so I must thank both of them. I was so caught off guard that we didn't have any toilet paper and it was a sunday, so I had to use paper towels for a day, Doug refused.

My mother is now officially not only the voice in my head, but in Doug's also. Said Doug when performing this trick with Weston, "I can hear Grandma Kaye now, 'What are you doing to my grandson?!'" Grandma Kaye's response upon hearing this story, "I have accomplished what I set out to do."

Sorry this post is so long - I'll try to be more frequent!

Weston's Birthday Bash

Here are some pictures from the big celebration. We received so many fun presents from family and friends. Thank you thank you thank you!










We pretty much just asked for books, which was so great! Weston loves to read and loves his new books. I wrapped them up so he would have something to unwrap on his birthday, and boy was he mad at me for taking them away.

















Not to toot my own horn or anything, but this train is probably his favorite toy. He was so excited. It is Tigger & Pooh, of course!


























And Nemo Birthday cake from Coldstone, yummy!









I think Weston had a hard time opening fun things and then having us take them away. He didn't quite understand it and actually enjoyed the ceiling fan and his balloon the most.

Time for a new post

Ok, well, it's well past the time for a new post, but with several trips up to the hospital for labs and being essentially camera-less and more excuses than that :) I have not. I have many things I'd like to post, but we'll start with this.

Happy Birthday to my little buddy Weston! He turned one on 6-6. We are amazed at how fast it went by, and then realized that 1/3 of the time was spent in the hospital so it was bound to speed by. We had a fun birthday celebration all weekend with friends and family. As Weston turned one, he has learned many new things. Here is one of them.

title-less

I could not pinpoint a title for this post, you may have your choice: "good news, bad news", "yummy yucky" (like the book :)), "uh-oh, yay!", "sad, happy", but here goes:

Completely Violated...

So sad that on mother's day, while I was away, Doug being a great pet-owner took Mooja to the dog park and upon returning to the car, found the back passenger window busted and someone had stolen his golf clubs! I cried, yes, I cried for Doug's golf clubs. We don't have a lot of nice things for ourselves, but Doug's clubs were something he had and loved. I am so sorry for him! Now, I am greatly appreciative of the donations and collections we received for hospital bills for Weston, but now I think I may start a collection for new clubs for Doug. It's all related...quality of life you know. Just kidding! But we will scrimp and save and maybe put a little of that extra tax refund towards some new ones someday. On a MUCH lighter note...

There's no such thing as too many girls, right ladies?

Lisa and I have opposite fears now. I am afraid, because I want a little girl so badly (someday in the far, far future) that I will have all boys, in which case, I have all my boy names picked out just in preparation. Lisa, now that she is having 2 fraternal twin GIRLS, (that's right Jamie, let the advice roll in) will only have girls. I had five sisters and I love them all (on most days) and of course I love my only brother (every day upon his graduating high school). And also my only blond sister, Kristen Lee :) We are so excited for you Lis, you will be the funnest babies mama :)
















I'm so sorry ladies, I know this was almost 3 years ago, but it's the only picture I have of all of us at Kristen and Aaron's wedding. But we look fab, because we were dressed by the best :)

Happy Belated Anniversary!

Happy Belated Anniversary to my lover! I am such a great wife, I ditched Doug for our anniversary and mother's day and left him flying solo for a week while I went to ALB for Kacey's graduation. & Weston & I missed him like CRAZY! We went to Cheesecake Factory ALONE a few days earlier, but we didn't do much other celebrating. We have been married for four years on May 7. It's been a great ride, so we figure we'll give it another year or two :) I love you, Doug, my baby daddy! Here's to skinnier, tanner days....ah....

Not for the Squeamish

These photos are from Weston's last scope he had done, but I thought they were too cute not to include. On Friday, we were hoping to be in and out of the hospital, but the poor thing was so sore. It was soooo sad! He can't eat for six hours before he has these done so usually it is a nightmare. But he really did so great! I mentioned to Dr. Book how fussy he had been and was just worried that something else is going on. Afterwards, I looked into his mouth and felt quite foolish as I discovered his top teeth are coming in. I was relieved to know there was a reason.

We stayed the night because Weston needed more pain medication for his throat. These are the latest pics that they took when they went down. I'm sorry if it is a little graphic for some readers, but I think they are really interesting. That big vein is what is causing the most problems and the reason they have to keep going down. I know I have explained it before, but just to recap: the blood gets backed up from a non-functioning liver and takes time to get caught up. So they inject chemicals into his throat to collapse the expanding veins so they don't bleed. We will go at least 6 weeks before the next time since his throat was so sore this time.

Getting Crafty!

On a lighter note, I am by no means creative! And we've been living in this apartment since Weston was born and I STILL haven't finished decorating. But gradually I am getting there. But being creative is definitely something I have to work at even though I really enjoy it. For Christmas, my older sister Lisa made me this really gorgeous wreath and ever since my door has been so lonely so I created this little number and quite proud of it. I spent the last month looking for an actual wreath and ribbon and flowers on sale at Hobby Lobby & Michael's. I love it, the only problem is now I want to spend all my time on my front porch! And every time we come home, I say to Doug, "Don't you feel so much more welcome coming home to that on our door?" Usually, I don't even get a response.

I also made this, which I don't love as much, but I'm still proud of:















Felicidades....Dobles!!!

And last, but definitely not least...congrats to all the many preggos that I know, especially Lisa & Adam who are expecting TWINS! Better you than me :) I am so excited to be an aunt to these little guys (or girls we'll find out in a few weeks).