A good time

Hahaha! Do this! Really. SO FUNNY! Call the Nestle Crunch Hot line at 1-800-295-0051. When you are asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, just wait quietly for about 10 seconds and you will smile. Promise! keep going and press 4, listen to the options, then press 7, hilarious!!! (if you comment on this after listening, don't give it away!)

This really is worth it. It made me giggle and just make sure you press 4 and 7 the first time.

Neonatalcardio ultrasound

Ya, the title is a big word for me to write, but it's the only announcement I really have and didn't know how to title this. On Tuesday the 17th (so ya a week ago, I'm behind).

Just as a background, even though I'm sure everyone already knows, Kyle has had four open heart surgeries for a few different things (pulmonary atresia, hypoplasty right heart syndrome, had a enlarged heart, and a few other things that were either caused from or linked to the other things. Ya, I've done a lot of research, good thing I like things to do with health.) Anyway because of all of this, our doctor told us he wanted us to go see a doctor in Salt Lake that could do a specialized ultrasound of our baby's heart. The reason for this was first of all, because our doctor wanted to know, and secondly, because if she has any of the same conditions as Kyle, we would not be able to have our baby in Logan and would have to go to Salt Lake. Even though there is no evidence that any of his conditions are hereditary, there is also very little evidence that it isn't hereditary. In fact, they don't really know what causes these conditions.

Now away from all that stuff, on Tuesday, we had to go to Primary Children's Hospital to visit with a neonatalcardiologist and have the ultrasound. Kyle was calm throughout this which was a good, because I have been extremely nervous about it. Even though I knew how rare the conditions were, I have still been freaked out that something would be wrong. We sat in the waiting room for about 30 minutes and with each minute I was getting more and more nervous, letting my mind run away with what if's.

Finally someone brought us into a room to do the ultrasound. As I lay there and watched her trying to find the heart, my mind continued to freak out. Finally after chasing her around for a while, the ultrasound tech was able to find her heart and zoom in on it. She took a long time and a lot of pictures of different angles of the baby's heart. She would talk to us, but said she wasn't allowed to really tell us anything about the findings in the heart. Ya, that was not so comforting to me. Finally she said that she got pictures of every part that she needed and went to get the doctor. He came in and looked through all the pictures, and re-looked at some.

He said that there was nothing he could see that was wrong. Thank heaven. He said that just as a side note, that doesn't mean there isn't anything however. Because some of Kyle's conditions have to do with the pulmonary valve, he said that some things won't be possible to detect until after she is born because right now my heart and lungs are doing everything for her, but he doesn't feel that we have any reason to be concerned about that.

He then asked us if we wanted to be involved in a special study that Primary Children's was doing with U of U about heart development and heart defect detection. By doing this they took 3D pictures of the baby's heart. He said that the type of ultrasound he was doing would not harm her in any way (I was a little leery because I've heard so many things about 3D ultrasounds) and that it wasn't the same type of 3D ultrasound that is used in shopping malls. It was actually pretty cool to see all the parts of her heart.

Anyway to make a long story short, in spite of my freaking out, everything is looking fine and I'm not as worried. I'm just happy for technology these days, and the ability for doctors to find things sooner and before birth. Everything right now is feeling normal to me (although I don't recall having braxton hicks at all with Braxton) and she is an active little girl.

National Adoption Month

So November is a month that represents a time of year for being thankful and really rings in the holiday spirit (sorry Halloween but you just don't give that warm, fuzzy, lovey feeling that Thanksgiving and Christmas bring in), but November also represents something very special to me. November is National Adoption month, and many newspapers in Utah and Idaho take a section out of their paper at least once a month (or more than that, if they're like the Herald Journal) to dedicate it to adoption. Now a days everything has a ribbon (you know the yellow ribbon for the soldiers, the pink ribbon for breast cancer) well adoption also has a ribbon. It is the white ribbon. I have started my "adoption awareness" advocacy for this month. I have written an article to be published in one of the newspapers, I am going to participate in a adoption panel (where birth mothers are asked to speak to people about their experience with adoption. I will be speaking at a class that couples that are planning on adopting take), and I am also part of an online blog. If you would like to see this blog, click here. Kyle and I also plan on joining FSA (Families Supporting Adoption) this month, and I'm hoping to become a lot more active. Anyone can join FSA, so if you're interested, go ahead and join.

It was also two years ago in November that I decided to place Braxton with his amazing family. I can't believe that two years have gone by, and that I have survived it. I love seeing how big he is getting and sometimes can't believe that he'll be a big 2 in just a few months. I am so thankful for him and for his family. I have so many friends that have also placed babies, that the couple that adopted their baby didn't keep promises that were made, and don't allow the birthmoms much contact, if any. I know that to each their own, but it is really hard to see girls struggle when they were promised something much more open than they are receiving. I am so thankful that Braxton's family is understanding, and caring, and give me information about him and pictures of him. It has really helped me these past two years. I am also thankful to have a husband that is so understanding about my past, and has about as much love for Braxton as I do. It is a real help to have him there to support me.

Our first fall and Halloween

This is our first fall and Halloween as a married couple (obviously). I am going to try to be better about taking pictures and blogging (as much as Kyle is not liking his picture being taken all the time). Earlier this week we went to a corn maze and a pumpkin patch. It was kindof cold but fun. We even bought a decent size pumpkin.

Later in the week I went to a potluck so I decided to make a pumpkin cheesecake with a brownie crust. It is really yummy. If you would like the recipe, go here.

We baked the seeds from our pumpkin tonight while we (he) carved it.

And here is our cute (actually kinda creepy) jack-o-lantern.

And jut to finish up, I'm going to try to start decorating for every holiday, so here are some of my Halloween decorations.

If you can't tell what the last picture is, it's a black boa thing with purple bats and then little ghost lights.

So we went to the doctor this morning...

And found out that we are having a girl! It's not 100% accurate, but looks very very likely. We're extremely excited. Here are some pictures of her feet, and of course, her.

18 Weeks

This is what I look like recently. Luckily I am able to cover it up better when I'm in public, but at home, not wearing as much support on my belly, this is it.

Good Song

This is a really good song. I did cut some parts out of it, cus it's from a musical, but I wanted to post something. Read all of it because it kinda has a twist on the thought at the end.

Thank Goodness

from Wicked

(intro skipped)

We couldn't be happier, right dear?

Couldn't be happier, right here.

Look what we've got, a fairy tale plot.

Our very own happy ending

Where we couldn't be happier, true, dear?

Couldn't be happier, and we're happy to share

Our ending vicariously with all of you.

He couldn't look handsomer.

I couldn't feel humbler.

We couldn't be happier.

Because happy is what happens

When all your dreams come true.

(slight skip here also)

That's why, I couldn't be happier.

No, couldn't be happier though it is,

I admit, the tiniest bit, unlike I anticipated.

But I couldn't be happier,

Simply, couldn't be happier, well - not simply -

'Cause getting your dreams

It's strange, but it seems

A little - well - complicated

There's a kind of a sort of cost

There's a couple of things get lost

There are bridges you cross

You didn't know you've crossed until you've crossed.

And if that joy, that thrill,

Doesn't thrill you like you think it will

Still - with this perfect finale

The cheers and ballyhoo

Who wouldn't be happier?

So I couldn't be happier.

Because happy is what happens

When all your dreams come true.

Well, isn't it?

Happy is what happens,

When all your dreams come true.

Here Goes

Well I haven't blogged for a while and I know I need to get pictures of the wedding up but I figured I might as well fill a space with a little something.

We're due March 17, and will find out what we are having on October 21. Any guesses about what the baby might be? There is a poll at the top of the screen if you want to vote.

Week at a Glance

I haven't posted in a while so I figured I would. My week this week has been pretty simple but full of fun stuff for me.

Monday: I went to work so nothing really new there.

Tuesday: Kyle and I went to Logan for voice lessons. I have been taking them, and since we are in singing in church together on Father's Day my teacher was willing to help us sing together a little better considering we've never done it before.

After voice lessons we went to Willow Park in Logan. If you don't know what Willow Park is, it's sort of a small zoo with mainly birds but some other wild animals as well. We got lost trying to find it (due to my "misunderstanding" Mom's directions). It was nice to just kind of wander around without crowds of people. Of course we both agreed that some time this summer we plan on going to Hogle Zoo and Dinosaur Park.

After that we went and got sushi at a place I've never been to before in Logan. It was really nice, but kind of pricey. Mmmm...sushi....worth it, and then we met my favorite roomie, Callista, and her little brothers and went to the movie Up! It is so cute. We thought about going to the 3D version but because of the lack of time, we decided that 2D would have to be fine.

Wednesday: I didn't do a whole lot this day. On Wednesdays and Thursdays I go to the high school to help with the drill team in the morning. I know it sounds lame, but it gives me a chance to exercise.

Later that evening Mom and I went to Montpelier and met Ralph, ate pizza, and went to the movie Night At The Museum 2. Mom said she liked it better than the first one, although I'm kindof think they were a toss up. I really enjoyed both of them, and the second one is as good as the first.

On the drive home, Mom and I decided to drive down the east side of the lake. About half way, we saw something moving on the road. As we drove past, we saw 4 or 5 baby skunks eating a dead bunny. They were so cute that I made Mom turn around so we could get some pictures of them (but she'll have to post those).

Thursday: Was quite an adventure. I had to bring Nakota to the vet this morning. He was in a carrier but managed to break loose while in Logan canyon. At the vet, we found out that he weighs 14.2 pounds (more than doubled what he weighed three weeks ago at 6.2). After looking him over the vet told me that he is in perfect health, that he is a little chubby but better than he was when she first saw him. At the first appointment she told me that because of his size and weight that she guessed that he would be about 40 pounds when he is full grown. After his check up today she said that she thinks he may be "slightly" larger. She estimates now that he will be around 65-70 pounds. That is a little more than slightly. He's going to be a big puppy.

Tonight Mom and I are going to go to dinner with a friend of mine and her mom. I hope the rest of my week works out as well as it has started. And I'm excited that this weekend AnDe, Zack, Elvis, and Tyson will be coming home.

It's A Change

Well, I got my hair cut. That is about as blunt as I can get. I sat in a chair for two and a half hours while they chopped my hair off. It had grown down just barely past my waist and so I decided that it was time to start growing it out over again.

Nakota does not like the phone....

Nakota either really hates the phone or he was just informing us to answer it.

Some videos

Here are some videos someone sent to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF01BQAcj8E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz41YxNiHEg

Nakota

I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd do a little post on Nakota's fun today. I've been feeling bad about leaving him in his kennel for the past couple of days while I'm at work (also because of this and because of his "babysitter" coming to get him, I'm afraid he's starting to like Kyle more than me) so I decided to take him around with me all day.

First we went to visit Kyle at work where he played in tall grass chasing bugs.

Then we went to visit Mom at work where he just slept and got to lick the left over gravy from Annette's dish. He was so happy about that, and kept trying to "convince" Mom to get him food.

Finally we went to Kyle's house where he was able to go for a canoe ride. Carp must me spawning right now because there were a ton in this shallow swampy area so Kyle and Leo (his little brother) got out of the canoe and were catching them with their hands. Out of curiosity, Kyle put one in the canoe with us to see how Nakota would react. Nakota sniffed it, and patted it with his paw, but when it jumped he made a run to sit as far away from it as possible.

Surprisingly he wasn't completely frightened. When Kyle put the fish back in the water and it started to splash around, curiosity got Nakota. He looked over the edge of the canoe and was whimpering and attempting to jump out. Instead of letting him take a nose dive into chilly water, I got out and set him down by me on the sand and started to walk to deeper water. He whinned a little but then started to swim around and chase the fish with Leo and Kyle.

When Kyle walked out he followed him, and the poor thing was so cold because of the wind and his being wet. He ran to Kyle and was crying trying to get someone to cuddle him. Of course, Kyle had to baby him.

Afterwards, we got home and he slept by me for a good hour and a half or so. Now the poor thing has to face a bath to get all the sand and dirt out of his fur.

Just to Clarify

It sucks and it's hard to not be engaged anymore but I want to clarify that Kyle and I are still friends and still plan on spending time together, this is more of a taking a step back and making sure this is what we both really want. You will all probably see and hear about him (whether his is a good or bad thing, you can decide). However, we are planning on trying to date a little so if anyone wants to set me up, go for it ;).

Just In Time

So I am no longer engaged nor am I in a relatinship. Kyle and I broke up but we're going to see how the summer goes and depending on certain things this might change again.

But look who I got just in time. His name is Nakota. He is a husky and a complete doll. He is a really good puppy. My roommate and I are renting a house in Logan in the fall and it does have a yard and kennel. We've already set it up and will be signing the papers in a week or so.