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."

Here we are

So I thought instead of trying to catch up on all the happenings, that I would go backwards and start with the most recent.

Thanksgiving, we went toCalifornia and visited with Doug's family for the week. It was so nice to go after knowing Doug would soon be employed by Wells Fargo as personal banker!!! We are so blessed and it is such a huge relief to have this out of the way. Now for me, I have to try to pass my MT exam again. I get 3 times to pass and have 2 attempts left - I definitely underestimated how difficult it was so hopefully, the next time around will be better. For clarification, I passed the objective part with flying colors, but the subjective is very difficult. So good luck to me. Doug is almost done with all his finals and did really well in all of his classes.

Weston is speaking all the time - jibber jabbering away. He has this high-pitched voice that gets him a lot of attention.

Here are a few pics from our trip to Cali - We went to the Zoo, the aquarium, thebeach, etc. My favorite was when we saw seals at the beach. West had never seen or learned about seals. We taught him how they barked and he kept putting his hand behind his ear like an old man and saying, "Say again?" Hilarious.

I'm sorry, but that first picture just shows me that I have the all-time cutest boy ever (minus the bruised teeth). Yes he bruised his teeth, we need to get him to the dentist to get checked out because they are really yellow/green.We used to have a dentist in our ward before West even had teeth and he told us to watch for that because of the jaundice from the liver problems, the teeth can sometimes get that way.

Weston with Grandpa Mausser and an otter and with Uncle Grrrrant.

Anyways, we did so many fun things this fall having Doug home. My days seem so much longer without him home, but I do get so much more done (sorry, babe, it's the truth.)

We went to Wheeler Farm with some friends and went on a hayride and picked out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. We went to Gardner Village with Grandma Mausser and visited the petting zoo. We laughed so hard as West was not afraid at all of the animals. He would put his hand under the goat's chin and pull the goat's face

up to his face to look at him. More to come because surely you have to see the incredible DASH!

La la la

One of these days - I will do more to my blog than just change the background :) Doug got a job!!!

That's all for now - sorry today is not that day :) Maybe tomorrow.

Update without pics

I know - it's no fun, but it's all I have time for. I have been waiting for weeks to be able to put this background up!!! Does this mean I can buy the candy pumpkins? or candy corn? Please, Doug? I don't even care if I eat it, I just want it on my table. Weston wants to be Dash for Halloween and it makes me feel good every time I say to Weston that I'm going running, he replies, "Fast like Dash?" Yes, you smart boy, I am as fast as Dash :)

Other cute things West says lately: "I do!" It just means yes really, but I think it's funny. Also we went up and had a picnic at Brighton last week and we had just watched the movie Brother Bear, which takes place in Canada. West is sitting on Doug's shoulders and says, "Where's the bears, eh?"

Also hilarious: When Doug took him to the grocery store and West really freaked him out by counting. Doug knew he could count to ten, but then he kept going and counted to 20. Doug comes home, "Where did he learn to count to 20?! He all the sudden just kept counting, 'eleben, twelb, thirteen, porteen, pipteen...'" My little boy genius. I just thought I need to keep documenting all the funny things he says so I can remember forever...

Not hilarious: Doug taking Mooja and West outside and Mooja lifting his leg and peeing on Weston's legs. The look on West's face: I really don't think I liked that.

We're still kickin'

Hellooooo - I know I am world's worst blogger. We are in the middle of switching computers and I am finishing med transcription certification still. But we're still alive and kicking....with these new kicks that we got for Weston yesterday. He's not a baby anymore (sniff). He looks so grown up in them!










We are still unemployed all 3 of us, Weston informed me yesterday. Last night, he sat on my lap and said, "I'm going potty." This was just after I changed his diaper and I looked down and he had gone pee in his diaper. I said, "Now, I know you know how to go potty. You just need to go potty IN the potty so we can stop buying diapers. It will save us a lot of money. Because Daddy doesn't have a job and mommy doesn't have a job." He chimed in, "And Wennon no job." Wennon or Weddon is how he says his own name. He knows whats up, just doesn't care because he is happy we are all home together! Well as soon I am certified within the next few months - fingers crossed - you'll hear more from us! Here is a recent pic Carol, my mother-in-law took when we went to Disneyland (and had the time of our lives!) last month.










Also, in other great news - West had his first immunizations since he was 2 months. We have a lot of catching up ahead still and with still the possibility of a stent or a shunt to help redirect the blood flow sometime this year - we hope since we already have hit our max out of pocket for the year. He has a cold right now and so I am trying to pump him full of juice. We were both sitting outside drinking Capri Suns. I said, "Hey! You drank all my Capri Sun!" He replied, "It's okay, Mommy, because I'm sick." Smarty pants - we love him.

P.S. The Juicy Lucys were the best homemade burger I have ever had. Don't worry we didn't eat all day until we had dinner :)

Juicy Lucy

Aaron got us hooked on the show Man vs. Food on the travel channel. It is awesome! Well, Doug and I have been on a really big health kick this summer. We haven't had a free day in a while so we decided for Doug's birthday, we would take a break and indulge on this. We're going to attempt to make our own. Basically, it is two patties with cheese in the middle. The picture doesn't make it look nearly as good as it did on the show. Anyways, we'll let you know how it goes :)

I know, we're disgusting...but I'm pretty sure the last cheeseburger I had was on Mother's Day. That makes me sad. I deserve better and the Juicy Lucy is going to take care of that for me.

ALB Zoo

We have had 2 trips to Albuquerque, NM to spend time at the pool and BBQing and just having a blast. Our first trip was in May for Doug's and mine 5th anniversary (still going strong) and Mother's Day (Thanks for the Chi, Doug! Maybe it would prove more useful if I did my hair more than once or twice a week.)

Anyways, one of the funnest things we did on that trip was go the Alb Zoo. It was absolutely amazing and Weston L-O-V-E-D it - as you will be able to interpret from the following pictures.
Weston, here, is trying to talk to the girl next to him. Such a social little bug.










Weston & "Gnama" (the g is silent, so it is pronounced "Nama"). It is so fun now that Weston can remember all his aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. However, it makes prayers really long having to bless everyone separately (Uncle Aaron). And he knows when we forget and lets us know.




Nice shirts Grandma and Weston!



I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it.....


















And Weston's hat that he would insist on wearing everyday if I didn't hide it. It's the only item of clothing Doug has ever insisted on buying for Weston.












Just one part of one trip for you all to enjoy ...

Alright, alright, alright

So it has been a CRAZY summer to say the least. Wow, we have had so much fun with family and friends. I will be jumping around quite a bit in my posts for the next little while as I have a lot of picture catching up to do. We have taken 2 trips to Albuquerque, NM to spend time with my family. We celebrated Weston turning 2! I can't even believe he is two. It rained for 27 days out of the whole month of June which matched some of the news we received this summer.

We loved going up to see family up in Spokane, WA, but did not love the reason we were there. We attended my Grandpa Briggs's funeral and it was so nice to celebrate and remember him and testify of the knowledge we have that we can all return to our Father in Heaven someday. We love you Grandma Briggs and wish we could come see you more!!

The most recent news that has hit us was what I was being so vague about in our last post. I wasn't ready to talk about it because it has hit us pretty hard. I'm sure many in the SLC area have heard about Beneficial Financial Group closing down and leaving Doug jobless at the end of August. We are nervous, scared, and relying a lot on our families and each other for faith. It is scary, we just hope that Doug can find something even better! I'm sure he will wipe the competition out there - he is so great! The best part is that I found out on Facebook, of all places! I texted Doug that I read an article and that he needed to call me ASAP and he filled me in. It was quite humorous how I found out. Not that funny, though, I guess :)

So with that, we will try and get caught up on our lives. For as many hardships we encountered this summer, we have had just as much fun swimming and playing with family and friends and we want to share that with you also!

Weston helped me make his cupcakes and car cakes for his birthday:

He also helped destroy them:
He shoved his fist into them, you can see the blue one is propped up in the front. I cried. Yes, I cried over cake. Mooja ate the first one I did, which looked amazing and took me only one try! The next 3 days, I spent tirelessly baking and decorating only to have Weston shove his fists into each cake the night before. It hurts just thinking about it. We had a really fun swimming party for him and he received a lot of great gifts surrounding all the manly subjects: cars, cars, oh yeah, and tools. Maybe by age 3, I will forget the stress and work that went into even this small party and want to do another one :)









More to come soon!

Lately

Oh sheesh, I know it has been forever. The problem is our ancient mac computer, which I use for all my pics, died. I just don't see much of a point in posting unless I can brag about how cute my little boy is! I also have been unable to locate the software for my camera to download it to our PC.

I don't have much time right now, but I will try to find that software (yeah, I haven't even really tried). It has been a fun, but really hard summer for us. Weston is healthy so far, but may eventually need a stent put in. He is jibber jabbering away and imitating EVERY word. Yes, that has gotten me into trouble a few times :).

We have had a lot of ups and downs the last few months, which I won't go into detail about yet, as they are still very fresh. Just keep us in your prayers and hopefully you will hear more from us soon.

Happy Father's Day to my dad! We love you so much and just think you are the best! Happy Father's Day to my baby daddy, who is so strong, funny, wonderful, and who becomes better each day that I know him.

Mooja & Me

So Doug and I acted like a couple of teenagers who don't have to work or take care of an almost 2-year-old this weekend and watched THREE movies -sheesh. One of the movies we watched was Marley and Me. Thus, we were feeling pretty guilty over Mooja how neglected he is and such. We start spoiling him a little, letting up on the couches to snuggle, going for long walks, going to the park, we even gave him bone from our ribs from dinner tonight!

What do we get in return? Another Marley and Me moment as Mooja doesn't even go to the door to tell me he has to urinate and goes right over to the love seat, lifts his leg, and showers the carpet and love seat. Now maybe you pity the dog because we hadn't taken him out. Wrong. He had been outside for an hour earlier. Not only that, he KNOWS that if he is going to go and we can't take him out at that moment (not that this happens all the time, but used to happen when West was first born and I couldn't take him when it was freezing and Weston was awake, etc.), but he goes to the kitchen at least and pees in there on the tile, where it is easier to clean up. Apparently that wasn't good enough of a spot for him. I'm sure you're laughing at my plight, but I am infuriated.

April Life Update

Time to update you on the latest in our lives...This week is a big one. I'm dreading it more than I dreaded last week. Last week, we had 3 snow storms and that was truly depressing. I hope they are all done. Weston decided to forego his nap on Friday, so he fell asleep in the car at about 7 pm on our way home from running some errands. He likes to have a bowl of crackers or cereal next to him in his carseat. Dead asleep, I look back at him and his hand, holding a honeycomb, makes its way up to Weston's mouth, takes a bite and chews. Weston is still asleep. Doug decided maybe that is why we can't lose weight, maybe we're eating in our sleep too! It was so funny.

Anyways, I have a funny face boy who cracks me up and is talking a lot and who will be very sad on Wednesday. We go in for a scope, to check up on all those veins. If they need work done to them, we will be staying the night at least one night, boo. The worst part is that it is at 2:30 in the afternoon and Weston can't eat or drink anything for 6 hours before!! We are not looking forward to it :(

Our other computer is out of commission for the next week so we don't have any pictures for a little while. I am still med scribing away and got a month extension so sorry for the lack of recipe posts on the recipe blog - I do have several I have tried that we've loved! So I'm excited to put them up soon without pics because of the lack of the other computer. Sorry we're boring right now - much love and Happy Easter this weekend!

The Dream Team

Someday, when Stan Van Gundy retires from coaching, this would be the best commentated game ever...

Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy, and Avery Johnson, respectively:





















I'm sorry, did I say BEST? I meant, MOST ANNOYING. I know most of my gals may not be familiar with these fellas, so just ask your hubbies.





















Your hubbies will also be impressed that I thought of this so-called "dream team" post all on my own. I wasn't super into sports when Doug and I got married, but he just explains things so well that he makes everything really interesting. He would be the GREATEST commentator. Anyways, Jeff Van Gundy's and Avery's voices really make my skin crawl. Mostly Jeff's just bugs me because I think he is stupid without any basis whatsoever. And we happened to be watching the Magic play the Celtics tonight and I heard Stan Van Gundy's voice for the first time and came up with this post, which I dedicate to my bro-in-law who is a die-hard Jeff Van Gundy fan. Also, I wanted to leave this post as is without this paragraph of explanation, but Doug said it require a background story. I'm the blogger, Doug. Stay out of this.

Sidenotes:

1. Does anyone have any lunch suggestions for my toddler??? He is getting really tired of PB&J on whole wheat bread.

2. I taught Weston how to say "happy," and it's the best word he has learned yet.

3. Thank you "kessey" (out of the mouth of the babe weston) for coming and playing. I miss your face already kace!

MIA & STRESSED

I'm glad my absence had been noted even if it was just by the two people who read this, but still, at least I was missed! There are several reasons why I have been MIA and STRESSED - in no particular order here they are:

1. American Idol is four hours a week right there.
   
2. New calling! Yeah! I have a new calling as the RS secretary which is fairly involved as opposed to my old calling of nothing because I was and am a mom of sick kid. But I LOVE it. I love being involved with people and being able to help and know who needs my prayers and service.
3. Though we are home from the hospital and Weston is doing tons better and talking up a storm - he has had lab draws and follow-up appointments to attend and to schedule - we have an endoscopy in a few weeks to keep an eye on the veins in his throat to ensure they do not rupture again without knowing.
4. I have to write letters to all Nursery Parents that use our building nursery. I have to put up signs in the nursery to wash hands and sanitize things. I also have to wipe the toys down each week to ensure my little boy doesn't land BACK in the hospital. There are a lot of nasty, old toys and books in the nursery!
   
5. I have a difficult time differentiating between who is smarter, the dog or Weston. Weston brought me a chewed up piece of blue crayon that Mooja had been chewing and says, "Uh-oh!" I stared confused at the blue glob until I could put two and two together as to what it could possibly be. Weston then smiled and said, "Fruit snack?" which sounds more like "gook-gak" but I knew what he was saying as he tried to put it in his mouth.
   
6. I still have to do our taxes!!!
7. My house is a mess, I can't workout, I am sick and cannot sleep because I am beyond stressed all because of #4.
8. I am currently getting certified to become a Medical Transcriptionist from home! I am very excited and I love it. I am zooming through a lot of it because Weston has trained me so well on all his medications. Yet, I am still behind and had to get a month extension on the first part since we were in the hospital last month. So Doug has been absolutely the BEST at working overtime for a little extra cash and taking care of Weston so I can lock myself in our room and work.

So that is where we have been. After this month, I will be starting the second part which will end in July, then they will place me in a job - which is part of the program I paid for. Hopefully, the economy and job statuses (yes that is the correct plural form of status, I looked it up) won't effect my ability to get a job once I am certified. Also, the plan is to go back to school this summer and finish my last four classes this summer and next year. I know, I'm biting off more than I can chew, but it's the best time to do it, or so logically it is. Here are some cute pics of Weston in the hospital.

What we like to call "happy feet" -











Maybe all these issues are just preparing for Weston's future occupation ?? perhaps-








I read a few books in the hospital and one was a really good book by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks called Three Weeks With My Brother or something. It is about a lot of trials that the the two brothers have experienced. It was so great to put everything I've been through in perspective and to use the trials appropriately. A definite recommendation. I was crying at one part of the book and looked up to see something like this and I cried even harder.

















We were so blessed and continue to be blessed by our Heavenly Father. I was blessed with the most amazing family. Friday the 13th, I received a pick-me-up package of the CUTEST books from my Grandma and Grandpa Briggs and Aunt Laurie. One book was about saying "I love you." It is so appropriate that Weston said "Luvdo" to me today for the first time!!! Other times, he usually laughs and goes to give me a kiss. I'll take either one. Also, my fun, fun sister Kacey is coming next week to help watch Weston while I finish my certification. Honestly, what sane 19-year-old girl gives up her spring break to watch an almost two-year-old?? This one-




(from last year's spring break - can't wait to see your cute face kace! love you!)

My cute little stud was so sad the first week that all he did was lay down, watch Winnie the Pooh, and eat his cereal. We didn't dare leave him at night by himself. After a few bad experiences, the second week, we requested to move to ICS - the cancer unit because we know the nurses and they KNOW Weston. (He is sort of a legend) And I felt so much better with them so we left him there at night. The nurses all said similar comments about "Well, this is who everyone is talking about!" or "Well, your nurses can't say enough good things about you." As soon as his rash went away, he began to feel so much better and he was SO good. He didn't even whine at all. Now maybe that doesn't seem as miraculous to the rest of you. Just imagine your child at 21 months and if he or she had to stay in their crib or in your arms at all times: no walking around at all since he was attached to an IV the whole time. Now you know why when I told Lisa how good he was being, she asked, "Did they give him a sedative??" Nope, a higher power was definitely at work here. Doug gave Weston and me blessings the week before and everything worked out fantastically. Not exactly the way we wanted, but we felt loved and blessed nonetheless and we were able to endure with as much strength and grace as we could manage. I'm convinced that one of the million reasons we were blessed with our trials is so we could have such amazing experiences that I cannot even begin to mention them all. I just hope and pray I can be worthy of them. So there's my update and it officially took me all day to do. Weston would even do this first picture to his nurses - now maybe you can get a glimpse of why they loved him so much.

Tagged

I don't usually do these, but my other computer is broken and I wanted to put a post up so this will have to be it. We are home from the hospital, by the way. We got home on Saturday. We are exhausted still, but very happy to be home. The best things that have happened since we've been home is that Weston has learned his own sign language of pointing at something and then pointing at himself very franticly so that I will let him have it (i.e. the last few bites of my pizza haha) and we taught him to say "hey, baaaabay!" like that but he is saying "hey, baby," if you can't tell. Maybe we'll get him to say to Audrey :)

Tagged ~ My Firsts

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Greg McGrath. And Heather and Steve made fun of us for being two mormons dancing really awkwardly at a school dance. That's really embarrassing thinking back on it. Thanks for reminding me, Heather.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? Does facebook even count? We don't talk, though :) Doug's the only man on my mind.
3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? Yet to come. JUST KIDDING. Never have had one.
4. What was your FIRST job? Atlanta Bread Company. I was hired based on my older sister Lisa's "caliber."
5. What was your FIRST car? Champagne Honda Accord. As if calling gold, "champagne" makes it any uglier and we still have a "champagne" Honda Accord. Thanks mom and dad! It may be what we call "lucky," because of all the dings and missing luxury items that have fallen off, but I'm grateful for it every time it passes safety and emissions.
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? My friend Jess. We took Weston and Audrey on a date to Wendy's to the dollar menu.
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? Rebecca Blooomwood, I'm reading all the Shopaholic series and I couldn't wait to find out what happened.
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Mrs. Mc something? Let's Macgyver :)
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? I flew from Seattle to Spokane when we moved to visit my BFF Adrienne.
10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Adrienne and yes we do! For some reason - probably because she's always been really good at letters and emails and is still the bomb.
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over? No idea, probably the Johnson's house though, lip syncing to Whitney and playing Nordstrom and Bon Marche on shoe boxes :)
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? Lisa, my sister, called me.
13. Whose wedding were you in for the FIRST time? My own actually. I was the first to get married, does that count? If not, my brother, Aaron's.
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? I read Shopaholic. Maybe I'm lame, but I didn't like the first two books all that much, she drove me crazy, but she's becoming quite addicting to see what stupid thing she's going to do next.
15. FIRST tattoo? None - but one time, Lisa and I went to Vegas and talked about getting tattoos. We were in a casino and she said she would get a star and there were rainbows and stars all over the carpet and I said, "I would get a rainbow." Good thing I never went through with that one!
16. FIRST piercing? My ears when I was 13.
17. FIRST foreign country you've been to? Canada family vacay I'll never forget :) A kid as high as a kite jumped our houseboat and Paul (my dad) got him in a double chicken wing and through him overboard. wow.
18. FIRST movie you remember seeing? Little Mermaid.
19. When was your FIRST detention? Yet to come. But once the Riverside High School secretary called me to the front office and I thought I wasn't going to graduate because it was a few weeks before and I was tardy. She just wanted to compliment me on my literary magazine article. I was so nervous, though. I had never been summoned to the principal's office before.
20. What was the FIRST state you lived in? Washington State.

Tag you're it: Tricia, Adrienne (b/c she better say I was her first BFF), Lisa, Kristen Lee, Jodi, and anyone else who wants to do it. And Carol - she should do it too.