The Bugs Spot

Happy Halloween!

2011-01-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

Halloween is one of my most favoritest times of the year! I love the decorations, the dressing up, the crisp fall air, and well, the candy! This year, Izzy chose to go as Princess Jasmine. Aunt Jan saved the day with a perfect (and modest) Jasmine costume. I went online to get some quick Princess Jasmine makeup and hair tips. Izzy critiqued and primped until everything looked just perfect. Little diva:) Bones dressed appropriately as Abu, Princess Jasmine's sidekick. He made the cutest, chubby faced monkey you've ever seen! I couldn't get over him chasing his tail:) Scott spent HOURS finding the perfect Handy Mandy costume for his disguise this year. He even went so far as to have a special hat and shirt made. The bummer of the costume was, that not a lot of people were familiar with the show, and thus not familiar with the costume. Oh well, we 'got it.' Scott and I got to go out trick-or-treating this year with both kids, which was fun. What was NOT fun however, was the torrential downpour that sent us running for home after only visiting a few homes. Lucky for us, the kids aren't into trekking miles and miles for candy. And really, grandma spoils them with enough treats to last for months. All in all, another Halloween for the books!

Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

2011-01-21T15:06:00.000-08:00

I started singing like Tevye when typing the title to this post. Good old Fiddler On The Roof! This post has nothing however to do with the song, and everything to do with the words. Tradition! Traditions run deep and steady in our home and are an important part of who we are. Too, they give us wonderful things to look forward to in our otherwise mundane lives:) Fall provides an excellent setting for many of our family's traditions. And I wanted to share them with you. Enjoy!

2011-01-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

The annual Kentucky Fried Rat Fest is one tradition that is bound to stay around for years to come. We can no longer fit on our 'hidden high spot' in the mountains; Nor is it very safe for the youngest members of our clan. So we have graduated, or migrated rather, to one of the many campsite spaces at Mueller Park. The kids think this is pure heaven, and even I, with all my camping phobias, love this tradition. The campfire gets made, the food gets eaten, smores are cooked to perfection, and the kids can run, scream, and play at will. We all love the mountain air and beautiful scenery that surrounds us. Dad usually has a bit of wisdom to share, mom a few tears to shed (when contemplating the blessing of her children and grandchildren), and the siblings typically have plenty of sarcasm to last the whole night through. It's as close to perfection as it gets! Gotta love family!

2011-01-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

Another tradition of ours is going to the pumpkin patch with the kids each year to pick out the best pumpkins for carving. It could be such a great photo op too! But no one wants to hold still with all the festive Halloween decorations everywhere! Really, the kids just like running around, chasing each other and climbing on everything. They couldn't care less about the pumpkins or pictures. However, we are hopeful that one day, they will learn the true art of choosing that 'perfect pumpkin.' For now, we're just happy that they are happy!

2011-01-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

Grandma Lisa started, what we hope will be, a new Halloween tradition. She actually did this with Gabe and Izzy last year, but invited all the grand kids to join in the festivities this year. She spent HOURS online finding the most fun, creative foods for the kids to build and eat for Halloween. There were witch hats, made from cookies and kisses; mummies, made from hot dogs and crescent rolls; spiders made with marshmallows and licorice; bloody fingers made from string cheese, almond pieces and ketchup; ghosts made from peanut butter cookies and white frosting; scary mouths made of apples with sharp almond teeth; and dirty worms made from Oreo pieces and gummy worms. The kids didn't seem to mind the atrocious concoctions of food coloring, nor the mismatched dinner choices. They had a BLAST!!! And everyone ate until they were sick. We love our fall traditions!

It's Just Another Manic....Sunday?

2011-01-13T18:04:00.000-08:00

This last Sunday started off the same as any other Sunday, well except for the time change. We went to nine o'clock church at the first of the year...SOOOOO much better than one o'clock! Anyway, upon getting to church, Jace and I went into nursery together, Izzy went off to CTR's and Scott headed in to teach his lesson. Just as Jace and I were making some major headway with the four piece puzzle in front of us, Scott came bursting through the door, ranting about some VIP from the church that was coming to Sacrament meeting and demanding to know what songs we were singing so that Brother Moriyama could type up the program. Was he serious? First of all, the VIP was probably a nice Brother from the Second Quorum of the Seventies...and not that this is not a big deal, but relax! Program or not, the show would go on! And secondly, I have no idea what songs I picked. That was two weeks ago. They cannot possible expect me to remember that far back in my life. I have trouble remembering two hours ago! So, I had to run home to look up the music on my computer. As soon as I got back, Scott left again. Not more than three minutes later, Jace pooped his pants. Nice. Did I have a diaper with me? Of course not. So, I picked up Jace and headed out to find Scott and the car keys. He was sitting, eavesdropping really, next to the bishops office, pretending to be going over his lesson for Sunday School. No new news on the VIP, he explained. Great! I don't care. I've got poop here and no diaper to change it. Grabbing the keys, Jace and I now set off for the car. By some miracle, I happened to have one diaper in the glove compartment, but no baby wipes. Antibacterial wipes would work, right? Sure! Diaper changed, and back into nursery for coloring time. Five minutes later, Scott was back. What now? Oh nothing to big....just the announcement that Elder Eyring would be the VIP joining us in Sacrament meeting! What?!? He's totally one of my favorites...if we're allowed to have favorites. His speaking abilities are amazing. And he's coming to our Sacrament...and I'm leading the music. I. Am. Leading. The. Music! I'm going to be within arms length of an apostle of the Lord...the first counselor to the President of the Church. I think to I'm going to be sick. Play time in nursery drags by. Should I leave early? I've got to get the number tiles put up for the songs. I need to make sure my hymn book is marked accordingly. I need to fix my hair. (Deep breath) I need to chill out. Singing time and snack time come and go, and Jace and I leave in search of Izzy. We all head to the chapel together to meet Scott. Only Scott is not there. I can't take my two kids on the stand. What if Elder Eyring comes in to find Jace crawling all over the chairs and Izzy hiding under the piano? That'd be real slick! And what's even better, I don't have the song numbers! I know, I know. I went home to get them. But I didn't write them down for me, I wrote them down and gave them to Brother Moriyama! And there is not a program to be found. Lovely. Here comes Scott. I rush up to him to ask if he can get the numbers. Sacrament is about to start. He runs out to find the list, and sweet Hannah Green from the ward comes to sit with my kids while I get things ready on the stand. I've just finished putting the numbers up when a hush falls over the congregation. I turn around to find everyone standing silently, watching Brother Eyring and his wife enter the chapel. It. Was. AWESOME! Talk about feeling the Spirit hit you head on. Wow. The meeting started, I sweat through the songs wondering if I'd picked the right hymns for an apostle of the Lord, the Sisters that spoke were amazing, and then suddenly Elder Eyring was there...standing at our pulpit. He's much taller in real life than he appears on t.v. But his voice is the same, and immediately I'm pulled under the spell of his words. He told us how if President Monson were present, he would have said 'amen' to each word sung and thoughts shared that day. He said that the meeting he'd just sat through was one of the better Sacrament meetings he'd ever attended and that the Spirit had taught us well. He then went on to say that whomever had picked the music for the day had been truly inspired! That was me! Many people turned to look in my direction. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He told of the hectic morning he'd had because of a 'situation' that he was put over. He explained that there were planes involved that didn't get to the right places and pilots that didn't show up. He said that it seemed people were undermining his authority and that he was frustrated that things were not going as planned. And then, just as he's gotten ready to come into the meeting, a call from Elder Packer had assured him that all was right, that the problem was resolved. Elder Eyring chuckled and said, "I just had to remind myself, once again, that I am not in charge. The Lord is in charge. And His will, will be done.' I couldn't believe it. Here was this man, as perfect as a man can get, admitting to all of us that he still has to remind himself sometimes that he is not in charge; that the Lord sees the bigger picture. That was an awesome moment. He went on to talk about missionary work and the importance of serving. He told the YM that 'of course you want to serve. Why wouldn't you want to enter into a two year relationship with your Father in Heaven? It will be the best experience of you life!' He talked about the miracle of calling two of his granddaughters to a mission and that he knew, without a doubt, that they'd each been called to their perspective areas for a reason. One of his granddaugthers had gotten very sick on her mission and was going to have to go home. However, it just so happened that her mission president was in direct contact with the only man in the world who had knowledge on the specific disease and who had studied it directly. Because of this, she would get to finish her mission. He then went on to say that he knew he was supposed to be in our meeting house, in our ward, on that Sunday. He explained that he'd been given a book by one of the ward members upon getting to the church. When he opened the cover, he saw that that book had been signed by HIM when he was a Deacon. He told about growing up with the church when the ward was so small that it met in his house. He talked about the day his bishop had all the Deacons sign this particular book. He explained how four years later, when he was First Assistant to the Bishop, his Bishop had taken him on a visit to one of the less active members houses. He'd been surprised and a bit shocked at the gruff way his Bishop talked to this single sister. But after they'd left the house the Bishop opened his scriptures and taught that 'tough love' is sometimes the only way. The Bishop said that this lady was living in filth and poverty for no reason. She had the means and a way, but had given up. But the Bishop knew her potential and knew that if she'd turn her life around, she'd help many others. Brother Eyring then got very emotional as he went on to say, 'how could the Lord have known, back when I was a Deacon signing this book, that one day I'd walk into the Centerville 7th ward and have the book be handed back to me? How could the Lord have known as a shy 16 year old, assistant to the Bishop, that by going out on that visit that day, I would learn how to care for the poor and the needy. How could he know that 50 years later, I would be called to the First Counsellor in the Church, presiding over the care of the poor and the needy? I'll tell you how. Because the Lord knows each of us. He knows our needs, our wants, our desires. He knows our sorrows and our heartache and our trials. He knows our beginning and He knows our ending. He knew mine, and He knows yours.' He then finished by bearing his testimony of the gospel and by promising us that if we would only be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, we would know happiness beyond all comprehension. It was amazing. It was another testament to me that the Lord calls and qualifies his servants. And his words hit me so strongly. I know that the Lord knows me. He knows everything I've gone through, and all that I continue to struggle with. He knows where I'm going and how I'll get there. And He is there to hold my hand, every step of the way. Thank you Elder Eyring for reminding me. The church is true, and I love it with all my heart.

A Soccer Girl, Mini-Mine, and There's Only ONE Lagoon!

2010-12-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

So look...I've gotten a bit behind on the whole 'blogging' deal. I have so many pictures that need to be shown, and so little time to get them ready. I know, I know...whah, whah, whah. Anyway, I've grouped the last of our 'summer' pictures here so now I'm only 6 months behind...But, it's like I always say, 'good things come to those who wait!' And it doesn't get 'gooder' than this!

2010-12-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

I have NO IDEA where the fascination with soccer came from. But, Iz was bound and determined this year that she would be playing the sport (if you can call soccer a sport...) I had my reservations, but figured, at the very least, she'd be getting good exercise, right? I truly have nothing against soccer, it's just that my family has had long standing tradition of 'knocking' soccer players, so the idea of my daughter playing the sport took some getting used to. However, after her first game, I was sold. She pranced and flitted around the field for the first few games, having absolutely no concept of what she was doing. But gradually she started 'getting it.' She'd maneuver her way into a play, or actually steal the ball! And then there was game 5 when my baby made a break-a-way move and scored her very first goal. Her victory dance was priceless! She talked about that goal for days. Something that makes her that happy is worth keeping around. So, I guess we're soccer fans now...

2010-12-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

We went to Swiss Days this year and came across a booth that sold onesie church shirts and matching daddy/son ties. They. Were. Adorable. We couldn't pass them up! Of course we settled on yellow...daddy's favorite color. That Sunday, Daddy and Jace dressed to impress and they were so darn cute we just had to snap some pics. Just look at my two handsome boys!

2010-12-15T18:33:00.001-08:00

The summer days ended with a family trip to Lagoon! Izzy had been to Lagoon before, but this was Jace's first experience with the rides...and he LOVED it as much as his sister. Aside from me freaking a bit about the germs on each ride and insisting on wiping the kids down every 13 seconds, everything else was just peachy. The weather was beautiful, the lines weren't 'too' long, and the kids lasted for the few hours we were there. The only problem Izzy had with the whole excursion was that she was not quite tall enough to ride the White Rollercoaster with her dad...oh well...maybe next year?

The Pre and Post Show

2010-11-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here we have the fashion show at Grandma Lisa's (the Pre-Show) and the first day of school (the Post Show). Izzy talked about 'mobeling' her clothes MONTHS before school was actually set to start. We started collecting new clothes at the first of the summer, and having to wait until fall to show everyone was like torture for my poor child! What can I say? She's a ham....takes after her dad. She loves the limelight. We love her!

2010-11-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the new school outfits that Izzy 'mobeled' for everyone prior to starting preschool. This is an annual tradition for us now, and Izzy has quite the following. She LOVES the attention...in case you couldn't tell:)

2010-11-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

And here we are...posing for the first day of school pictures. It's gotten to the point where Iz has mastered all the standard poses. Now, she tells ME how she'll stand for me to take her picture. What can I say, she loves the camera, and the camera loves her! She also LOVES her preschool. Mrs Addie is a dream. The class is small and Izzy is getting a lot of one on one attention. She's even started reading! I love the things she comes home and tells me about what she's learning. She's growing up too fast. I tell her everyday that she has to stay my baby forever. She replies, "We'll just see about that;)"

From The Mouth Of Babes

2010-08-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

I. Don't. Feel. Good. It seems like for the better part of 10 months now, these have been my most frequently spoken words. Though I try not to express them as often as I'd like, I am more than sure that my family tires of hearing them. Problem is, no one truly understands what I feel like but me. Others try. Others empathize. But no one, no one but HIM, truly gets it. And so I stumble through the days and weeks, hoping and praying, smiling and crying, pleading and wondering, when the pain will stop.

Through all of this, I have missed out on a lot of living. I find that I'm not nearly as interested in some of the things I used to be. Social situations are a living nightmare. Light and noise are dulled by ear plugs and dimmers. I try not to get discouraged. I really do. I know that I've let myself slip in many areas. I find my lack of motivation startling at best. My reliance on my Heavenly Father is great. Without him, the reality of falling asleep and never again opening my eyes becomes all too real. But I am weak. And though I beg and plead for answers and help, I often fall short when it comes to doing the simple things He's asked of me. Church. Three hours. Once a week. Not a lot to ask. But on Sunday's I'm so tired. Scott is finally home and I can lay down and rest. And that is all I want to do. Some Sundays the pain truly is too bad for me to go anywhere. Some Sundays I could try a little harder, push through the hurt, and make a better effort. Some Sundays, I just don't care anymore.

Today has been a hard day. This week has been hard. My headaches have been constant, crippling at times, running one into the next. Last night while helping Scott prepare his lesson, I insisted on working in the dark. The light hurts my eyes. How fitting that this weeks Sunday School lesson should be on Job. Job, who was handed one trial after another. Job, who suffered more than any one man should ever be asked to suffer. Job, who never faltered, never waivered , never lost sight of Him, his Savior. It is a remarkable story. And one that leaves me feeling a bit weak and ashamed of myself. Nevertheless, I too know that my Redeemer Liveth. I know without a shadow of a doubt. And I'll never deny that fact.

By eleven today, my headache had pretty much reached it's potential. I'd been walking around turning lights off, and had yet to remove my ear plugs. I was not going to church. When Jace went down, I was going to sleep too. In sleep, I feel no pain. My mom called, asking about my preference in rice for dinner this evening. She really called to see if I was going to church. I know she worries about my attendance. I told her I'd try. I lied. Not even Mom's guilt got to me today. Hurting too much.

As Scott was leaving, he bent over to kiss me goodbye. He didn't offer to find a substitute for me...someone to lead the music. The air was thick and silent between us. My husband, my lover, my friend; the one who understands my pain more than anyone else; who has seen me suffer; he knows I'm sick, he knows I hurt, and still, I can see the pleading in his eyes, "Please try Brianne." When I don't say anything, he tells me he'll find someone to lead. Just like that. No judgement, no criticism, only love and devotion. I should have told him 'no'. I should have said I'd pull myself together and go. But I didn't.

Finally, Izzy comes in to kiss me goodbye. She is a mere 3 inches from my face, stroking it lovingly with her hand. I love her more than life itself. She is my perfect creation. And just as I think she's about to leave, she stops. What she said, I'll never forget. "Mom. You know what would make you feel better? Just getting up and coming to church. If you don't lead the music, everyone will wonder, 'where is Brianne?' I know you hurt mom. I know your head hurts a lot. But if you come to church, Heavenly Father will make it better. He will help you mom. Mom, you should come." What could I say? How could I possibly tell that angel of mine 'no'? Deny my mother? Easy. Deny my husband? Done. Deny my baby girl? My pure, without fault, child of God? Never. In that moment I knew, I knew that my Heavenly Father was using Isabelle as a mouthpiece to speak His will. I saw it. I felt it. And I knew it. What could I do but wordlessly shake my head 'yes'.

And so I am going to get ready for church. I'll put on the minimal amount of makeup, clip my hair up, leave my earplugs in, and make my way to the meeting house. Because Isabelle told me that my Heavenly Father would help me. And I believe her.

Birthday Pics

2010-08-18T09:31:00.001-07:00

Here are the latest pictures of Jace and Izzy. Target did a really great job at capturing their little, or big rather, personalities! I know I may be a bit biased, but I think they're the cutest kids on the planet!

2010-08-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Ah, little Bones...well, not really so little:) He's my bigger boy! All grown up and one years old;( He's such a fun baby and his generally always happy. However, he was a bit leery of the photographer at first. Luckily, he warmed up and gave her some of the ole Wetsel charm. His signature look is the tongue out pose along with the scrunched up nose, mouth open, pose! We sure love you Bones!

2010-08-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

Here are Izzy's 4 year old pictures. Yes, I know she's really almost 4 1/2, but hey, better late than never! She had so many compliments on her shoes! Gymboree really came through with the dress and shoes. I made her fun hairbow to match. She's such a ham...and she LOVES the camera. Can you tell? Love you baby doll!

2010-08-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Aren't the two of them just adorable! Jace IDOLIZES his sister, and she thinks the world of him. They are sooo cute with each other. Love my two babies:)

Zoobie

2010-07-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

We had a day at the Zoo thrown in the midst of things this summer as well. Jace did visit the Zoo last year, at about 4 weeks, but he told me that he didn't remember much about that visit. So, one sunny afternoon we loaded up the kiddos and set out on a family excursion. I'm not sure what Jacer man thought of the sites. Frankly, I think he was equally impressed with the live and pretend animals. Oh well. Izzy had fun pointing out all her favorite animals and rushing us from exhibit to exhibit. I really like the zoo...just sayin...

Birthday Boy

2010-07-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

Let's do a little spotlight on Bones now, shall we? Ya'll know Jace's nickname is Bones, right? It started way back when...as a little new born tyke the kid weighed 9'4...skin and Bones:) There ya have it. Bones has just sorta stuck. Anyway, back to the good stuff. Jacer man is growing and changing so much every day! Most noteworthy is the fact that he turned ONE on June 10th! We celebrated in true Baseball fashion. Hotdogs, cracker jacks, big league chew, peanuts, nachos, etc. It was a grand ole take-me-out-to-the-ball game-time! The best part of the whole night was Jace smashing, or should we say 'grand slamming', the cake that grandma Lisa made. Love these pics!

Look Who's All Growed Up

2010-07-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

Back in June, ok, really it was like the last part of May, but who's counting, right? So, like I was saying, back at the end of May, my baby girl GRADUATED from preschool. My little girl, all growed up! She looked so smart and sassy sittin there in her white pettiskirt and jean jacket, hair flat ironed that morning. Who is this beauty? I get teary eyed even now as I think about how fast she's growing up. I am ever amazed at the things she learned at preschool this year, and thank Marsha Anderson for all her hard work. It was a great 'first school experience.' I was so proud of her as she sat up big and tall, singing, signing, and spelling the words to all the songs. Here are some of the moments I'll never forget.

Loser That I Am...

2010-07-13T14:03:00.001-07:00

Wow. Really? No pics since April? One little measly update? Un-freaking-believable! Who's runnin' this show boat anyway? Right. That'd be me. The momma. Brianne. Ya well, see, it goes like this...I've been busy. Honest! Really, really busy. Our 'little' business venture has turned into a full blown, every minute of my life, venture. Not that it's a bad thing, but it does put a damper on many other areas of my life...like blogging! And now, I'm WAY behind. Oh well, I'll do the best I can to bring ya'll up to speed on the latest and greatest pieces of info from the Wetsel family.

Shameless Plug

2010-05-14T21:27:00.001-07:00

Ok look. I realize it seems like I've really been slacking on the whole blogging front for the last little while. Let me assure you, this is not the case. In fact, quite the opposite is true. My sister Brooke and I have recently attained our own business licence and are now the proud owners of 'Butterfly Wings and Tiny Things.' We are quite proud of ourselves! Our first boutique will be held next Saturday, May 22nd. We have filled our days and nights (literally) with projects, details, shopping, organizing, building, creating, cutting, gluing, ordering, spending, searching, venting, complaining, fixing, and perfecting our latest venture. I am currently in the process of making the business blog which will feature all of our amazing inventory. I would really love for you to go and visit the blog, check out the products there, and give your insight and/or suggestions. Keep in mind, many projects are not listed yet as they are still in the making. However, just so that you know what to expect, I'm going to share with you all the items we are offering....and they are....magnet boards, tutu's, handmade dolls, monsters, purses, wings, halos, wands, picture frames, hair bows, beanies, and hats. This weekend, I promise to take pictures of our freaking awesome bows/beanies/hats, and our fab tutu's. (We've got most of them made, I've just slacked off on the pictures.) Anyway...I just wanted anyone out there who reads this blog to know that I haven't forgotten about you. No, no. Not at all. It'll just be another week or so before I can get back to real life;0 Happy days!
Check us out at....butterflywingsandtinythings.blogspot.com

In A Nutshell

2010-04-30T09:40:00.001-07:00

I love Easter. It signifies newness and growth, spring and warmth, the Savior and His love for all of us. We spend a huge amount of Easter completing favorite traditions, some of which have been passed down for decades. Easter had a lot of activities packed into just a few days. Here are a few highlights centered around the things we did. I hope the pictures reflect to you the moments I hold so dear. Enjoy!

2010-04-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

2010-04-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

This year, the children had to wear their new Easter clothes the week before Easter because Easter Sunday fell on General Conference Sunday. It was a little chilly out for Izzy in her sleeveless dress, and the flowers were not quite up to par in Mom's yard. But nevertheless, we donned our new duds and took some great pics. Seriously, how cute are my kids? No really. I'm loving their new Easter clothes. One of MY favorite parts of Easter is the kids in their adorable outfits! Another one of the Easter traditions.

2010-04-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Undoubtedly, the most important tradition for our family in preparation for Easter is the pasta making. This skill was passed from Great Grandma Rose to Grandma Lisa and now to her kids and grand kids. Everything is made from scratch. The freshly made sauce simmers for days, making mouths water every time we enter Mom's kitchen. The meatballs are rolled into perfectly round balls (and yes, I'm every bit as anal as my mother at ensuring this) and fried in time to soak in the tomato sauce over night. The dough is kneaded to consistency, or at least attempted to...Scott and his Popeye arms make this a bit challenging. And the day of Easter, the pasta is cut and pressed into noodles and ravioli. The fourth generation (izzy and bones) now love taking part in this tradition and eagerly agree to help with whatever chores are asked of them, as long as a little dough ball for eating is given as payment.

2010-04-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful part of the festivites leading up to Easter is the dying of the Easter eggs. This year, all five babies were able to participate. There were no major catastrophies, only a few broken eggs, one minor dye spill, and several colored fingers. All in all, a great time for everyone!

2010-04-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

We started off Easter Morning by following clues that lead to Izzy's Easter basket. Wouldn't you know it? That silly bunny hid her basket right in the shower! Then we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's for the annual Easter hunt. Izzy is getting to be quite the expert at finding eggs. And Bones, well Bones just likes to eat them! Family came over that night for Easter dinner. It was a wonderful couple of days of family, fun, and traditions. See you next year!

A Last Ditch Effort

2010-04-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

Look people. Give me a break. I may be nine and a half months old and a little slow on the whole crawling scenario, but I have an excuse. I have a whole lot of girth to carry around with me. At nine and a half months, I'm weighing in at an astounding 24 lbs. As you can obviously understand, this makes traveling from point A to point B rather laborious. Up unitl now, I've managed my movement tactics by simply rolling everywhere. I think it's worked out fine. Mom seems to think differently. She's concerned that I haven't met my milestones appropriately. And so, to appease her every stressing mind, I've given this crawling bit my best effort. I'm not guaranteeing to stick to it, but for her, I'll try. One arm in front of the other, or, whatever...

2010-04-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

Round one went pretty well. I'm a little on the slow side, but I'll get it. Mom's phone is a great motivator.

2010-04-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

I gotta take a break.

2010-04-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Ok. Here's my second try. I mean ya, I'm getting the gist of the whole thing, but look at my cheeks man! I'm roastin like a toasted cheeser! This crawling business is a lot harder than it appears. No wonder I've been putting it off for so long. I like being carried around much better. Easier on the heart. But Mom will never go for that now that she's seen me at work. Busted!

2010-04-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

That's it. I'm spent. Maybe tomorrow I'll try again. Maybe.

Home Away From Home

2010-04-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

We LOVE St. George. In fact, if we weren't so very attached to our family here, we'd move there in a heartbeat. I have loved St. George since my early teens, when I'd go down and tear up the town with one of my best friends, Lindsey. It holds a very special spot in my heart. And, for me, driving into St. George feels like a coming home of sorts. Naturally, I'd want to share this feeling with my family. My aunt and uncle have a condo there. My grandpa lives there. And, Scott has friends who own a house there. Not to mention, Brooke's in-laws have a home in St. George as well. We have plenty of places to stay, and not enough time to get away! But, our two families managed to sneak away for a long weekend and had a wonderful time. Here is just a few pictures of our excursions while there.

2010-04-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Rip-roarin' and ready to go! The kids were so happy to be outside in the sunshine! This was a porch swing outside of the house we stayed in, and the kids loved playing on it. Bring on the fun St. George!

2010-04-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

The fountains in St. George are one of our favorite spots to play. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate so well. The people that were there enjoying a little peace and quiet were bundled up in hoodies and blankets. Now really. It wasn't THAT cold! I suppose we're just used to the winter weather up North...tough skin! Anyhow, the kids were fearless as always, and jumped right in the water. I'm sure everyone there thought we were terrible parents for letting our kids play. Let them judge...I DON'T CARE:) All I care about is the fact that the kids had a terrific time, cold or not.

2010-04-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Izzy would have stayed in the pool the ENTIRE trip had we let her. The girl is part fish. She has absolutely no fear and loves to swim with her water wings, back and forth, the length of the pool. I love that she is independent enough to do this. Scott is so good about playing with the kids and they squeal in delight when he throws them up into the air and catches them for a splash landing. Even I got in the pool to play this trip. (Sorry, no pictures of that event...they're in my 'adult only' folder:) Plus, this was Jacer Man's first time in the pool. From the look of things, I'd say we have another water baby on our hands. The pool definitely made the trip!

2010-04-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

We'll be back St. George. We LOVE you!

That Which I Love

2010-04-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm in a really good mood today. Don't ask me why. There is nothing special about the day. We've had the usual morning at home. I've been cooking, cleaning, straightening, bathing, dressing, changing, wiping, scrubbing, feeding, showering, and entertaining, just the same as I do every morning. Typically by now, 10 a.m., I am ready to throw in the towel, crawl back in bed, and pull the covers up while Jace snoozes. But, not today. Today, I am sitting on my bed, my made bed, looking out my window at the beautiful spring morning. I love the sun. It's healing. It makes me happy. And this got me thinking about the things I love today. I'll list a few for you, for me, for...whoever.

I love Jace's stinky, slobbery, morning breath, kisses. Nobody lays a wet one on me like Jace.
I love that Izzy cuddles next to me in the morning when she is still drowsy with sleep. She drapes her legs over mine and we lay there tangled while she tells me about last nights dreams.
I love that my husband shuts the window before he leaves to work because he knows the sounds of the chirping birds ANNOY me at six in the morning.
I love the sun. I love everything about it. The heat, the sweat, the sunburn, the summer.
I love my lotion. It smells like apples. It makes me feel sweet. ('Feel' being the operative word)
I love that my grandma, Izzy's great grandma, comes to get her every Thursday for dance class.
I love that when I got into the shower this morning that the soap scum build up that has been forming in our 'luxury' shower had been scrubbed away...by my husband.
I love that Jace went down for his nap this morning without a fight.
I love the way Izzy plays with her brother. She is his biggest fan, and he hers.
I love my new blue toe nail polish. It's rockin!
I love that my hair was done yesterday so that today all I had to do was rat and spray. Easy peasy.
I love my new book, 'The Girl Who Played With Fire." It's the second book in a trilogy. Lovin it.
I love that the book I'm in the process of writing has not played out in my mind fully. This way, it is a surprise to me as well as to those who are reading along with me.
I love that my sister tells me every insignificant detail in her life. What's on the calender for the next 9 months, how she needs to get a lunch box for Gabe to take lunch to school in, her need to start on girls camp crafts/ideas, her frustrations, her kids problems, her problems, and everything in between. It makes me feel important.
I love my parents. I love that my mom takes an active role in my kids lives and calls everyday to ask how they are. I love that my dad invited us over for Chinese food without any prompting from my mom. I love that my mom thinks I'm better than I really am. I love that my dad tells bedtime stories to Izzy that take me back to a time I remember well. A very happy time.
I love my house. It's not big. It's not small. It's perfect for us.
I love that Izzy reminds me everyday to read scriptures to her.
I love that Scott will drop anything, anytime, to meet my needs. He is selfless, he is kind, he is generous, and I am deeply in love with him.
I'm learning to love myself a little more everyday.
I love my Savior. I love that he has provided for me all the things of which I speak.

I pretty much love my life today. Just wanted you to know....

I.R.W.'s Ode To A.J.

2010-03-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

My grandma is my favorite friend;
I love her and she loves me too.
Each day we get to spend together,
There is something new for us to do.

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

Last week we built a fortress,
To house the wicked old queen.
Grandma acts out her voices
All scary, nasty, and mean.
I play the part of the princess,
Locked in the dungeon below.
Next grandma turns into the prince who rescues me,
And away from the fortress we go!
We ride away in the sunset,
Far away from that old fortress.
And grandma doesn’t even scold me
About the room that’s now a mess!

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

I LOVE when Thursday comes around,
Because this is my ballet day.
Grandma takes me to my dance class,
And I always ask her to stay.
I like when she watches me dance,
She smiles so big and wide.
Seeing her be so proud of me,
Makes me feel all warm inside.
After class we like to visit Jackie
Who works down at the book store.
Jackie thinks it’s great that grandma visits with me
She says that’s JUST what grandmas are for!

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

For a special treat last week,
Grandma took me to see her friend Rob.
He’s the man that styles her hair,
He does a fantastic job.
I sat up in the big styling seat
And watched him work on Grandmas hair.
He washed and curled and sprayed it nice.
He treated her with lots of care.
I loved the smells, the sights, the sounds,
Of all the hair stuff on the shelf.
And Mr. Rob was so kind to me,
He asked me questions all about myself.

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

Sometimes, when mom has a lot to do,
Grandma comes to stay at my home.
Mom goes out to run her errands,
And me and Grandma are all alone!
Candy Land, Hungry Hippos, and Simon Says,
Picnics, dollies, and dress up too-
With Grandma playing at my house,
There’s no end to the things we can do.
And she never gets all tired out,
The way that Mom and Dad sometimes do.
She plays and plays and plays with me,
And always teaches me something new.

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

Now, my very favorite thing to do
When grandma is here or when I go there
Is to pick out a whole stack of books,
And climb up on her lap in a comfy chair.
It doesn’t matter if the book is long or short,
Or if the pages look old or new,
Grandma makes each book come alive
With the voices and actions that she can do.
She takes the time to explain to me,
If there is a word I don’t know.
And she never gets angry when I ask lots of questions,
She says asking questions is how we grow.

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

So now you know why grandma’s my favorite friend,
And why she always will be.
She makes me feel special and glad.
I’ll always love her, and she’ll always love me.

We have a special thing you see,
A special thing, my grandma and me.

Cherished Moments

2010-03-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures we got taken of Bones at nine months. Tif, as always, did an amazing job. I love her style and the way she catches my little boy's features. Enjoy!

2010-03-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

In The Time It Took To Grow A Baby

2010-03-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Our big boy is already nine months! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I can't believe how much he's grown. I can't believe my baby will not be a baby very much longer. Here are his stats from his last Dr. visit.

Height: 28 inches
Weight: 23 lbs (no mom, not 30!)
Head: 47 cm

We know he's big, hence his nicknames...The Big Easy, Big-E, Bigglet, Little Big...but big or not, he's still a baby to me.

2010-03-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here are the happenings, the likes and dislikes, the can-do's and can't-do's, and all the other stuff we want you to know about Jacer Man.

Food. He LOVES it. I don't think we've met a food yet that this big boy doesn't like. He especially loves sharing Honey Nut Cheerios and Brown Sugar Poptarts with Mommy in the morning. He'll kneel up right onto my lap, mouth wide open like a little bird, waiting for the next tasty morsel of food to be dropped into his mouth. He loves to sit up to the table, in his highchair, when we're all eating dinner and eat bits and pieces off of our plates. He thinks he's three already.

Sleep Habits. We went through a bit of a rough patch there for awhile, okay, really since he was born:) But honestly, this poor guy has been sick as much as he's been healthy, and therefore I attribute his lack of steady nighttime sleep to this. But, as of late, he's been going down at 7:30 each night and sleeping until 5:30. Daddy gets up with him to feed him a bottle at 5:30 and then he usually goes back down for two more hours. He takes an hour nap in the morning and a two hour nap in the afternoons. Ya. I know. I'm pretty darn lucky. But only as of late....

Health News. I'm really not exaggerating when I say that Jace has been sick as often as he's been healthy. First off, when he was born, his APGAR was only a 2. He wasn't breathing on his own. He spent his hospital stay connected to machines to help his little body fight to survive. Upon coming home, he spent his first week with us strapped to a Billiruben Bed. At 28 days, he was admitted in Primary Children's Hospital with very high fevers. Diagnosis: Parainfluenza. At six months we were back up at Primarys' with RSV. Late night suctions, breathing treatments, and coming home connected to an oxygen machine for another week, ended this bout of sickness. But, not for long. Two months later, the family got hit HARD with the stomach flu. Jace quickly became dehydrated to the point where he was so lethargic and fatigued that he couldn't even stay awake. And you guessed it...back up to Primary Children's. IV fluids, blood tests, etc, and we were back home the next day. It took us a solid week to build Jace's appetite back up to where it should be. Done yet? Not quite. Two weeks ago we took a family trip to St. George. Jace had a cough. It got worse. Scott ended up taking him to the IHC hospital in St. George where he was diagnosed with an URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) and Croup. More suctioning for the entire trip, a high dose of steroid medication, and lots of hot baths, finally helped to move the mucous out of his lungs. So as of right now, we're two weeks in the clear with Jace's health. I'm not holding my breath.

Playtime. Jace loves to play anything with Isabelle. He LOVES her so much! And she is the BEST big sister. She dotes on him all day. Not only that, but she can get him laughing like no one else. They have a special bond. He loves exploring, putting everything into his mouth, tub time, playing 'Who's Rockin The Boat', and when Daddy throws him up in the air.

Toys. Jacer doesn't have a 'favorite' toy right now. But, he loves to read books with Mommy. He likes his animal train and toys. And, he does not sleep well without his Sleep Sheep noise maker.

Anxiety. Entering separation anxiety age. He knows when I leave the room, and he doesn't like it. But, as long as I'm in his site, he'll stray as far as possible.

Temperament. Jace has gone from a quite needy, crabby baby, to a typically content and happy boy. He doesn't like having his face cleaned off. He hates when I try to clean out his eye gunk. Suctioning his nose is a wail fest. But, other than that, he's pretty easy going.

Updates. Jacer has five teeth. Two bottom teeth came in at 8 1/2 months. THREE top teeth came in all together at nine months. The fourth, a bulging front tooth pocket, is bound to burst through any day. Jacer man has had three hair cuts. We spike his hair, so it's important not to let it grow too long. Also, after crawling backward for nearly a month, Jace has finally put the car in drive and now zooms around everywhere on all fours. We attribute his late crawling to the extra girth he has to lug around! He's already pulling up on things and loving to stand, so I'm sure we'll have a walker before we know it. And, Jace has mastered the concept of picking up food off of the tray and putting it into his mouth. It's so fun to watch is concentration as he works so hard to accomplish such a small task. Lastly, Jace is rarely quiet these days. He has a lot to say. Dadadadadada was his first and favorite word to shout out. He also has Mamamamama and Nanananana under his belt too. We're not sure if he gets who Dada and Mama are, but we sure love it when he uses the words!

2010-03-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Daddy and Izzy love you baby boy. You bring us such joy and laughter every day of your little life. We cannot imagine life without you. Thank you for hanging in there with us through all the in's and out's, the up's and down's. I promise it'll all be worth it one day. I know this because YOU are worth it...every bit of it! Love, love, love you...

Somewhere, Over The Rainbow

2010-03-24T14:24:00.001-07:00

2010-03-24T14:20:00.001-07:00

Lucky, that sneaky little dude, visited our house again this year. He leaves his green footprints and four leaf clovers all over the house! What a mess! And the clues...oh the clues. We have to follow all his clues, to find our own pot of gold, our own stash of green goodies. I love it! Izzy looks forward to it almost as much as Scott does (afterall, the Mt. Dew bottles are green, and Lucky always leaves several of those lying around:) We missed our green dinner this year because we left for St. George the morning of St. Pats. But, nevertheless, it was a grand time...and a tradition that'll keep coming back.

2010-03-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

Ballerina Girl...You Are So Lovely

2010-03-24T14:12:00.001-07:00

2010-03-24T14:08:00.001-07:00

Sister Sue had her second dance recital on March 12...the same day as her birthday! We opted to celebrate her birthday on the 13th so she could focus all her energy on this dance recital. And boy did she do an amazing job! She dances on the stage like she's an old pro. There isn't an ounce of stage fright in her body. I hope she stays that way. She is delightful to watch. I smile even now, just thinking about her focused concentration on the lead dancer and her desire to do everything just right. Our little Ballerina Girl. Izzy, you truly are, so lovely.

2010-03-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Impossible..Things Are Happening Everyday..

2010-03-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

Izzy turned FOUR on March 12th! My baby girl is so big now. She had a great birthday this year. I'll let her tell you all about it...
(Isabelle's birthday typed by Mom, Mommy, Momma, as dictated by Miss Rose.)

2010-03-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

There's all the decorations for my Cinderella party, right Mom? My balloons, my presents, my ribbon on the ceiling. We had to choose blue and pink and yellow, right Mom? Those are the colors that match my Cinderella party. That was a good party, right Momma? I loved my birthday Mom. I'm four now Mom! But you don't want me to be four, right Momma? You want me to stay tiny! But I can't! I'm growing and growing and growing. Look at me in my Cinderella dress Mommy. I look beautiful, don't I Momma? I have on blue eye shadow to match my dress, right Momma? Cinderella has on blue eye shadow too, doesn't she Momma? I love Cinderella.

2010-03-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

He, He, He. Look Momma, it's you and me. I'm sitting on your lap, huh Mommy? We just ate our lunch, right Mom? That was a BIG sandwhich Momma. How did they make that sandwhich so big? How did you fit it in the car? Where did they get all that cheese? That's a really big sandwhich, right Momma? And look Mommy! There's my new Barbie car. I love my new car. It's pink. Pink is my favorite color you know. But Bones broke one of the mirrors on my car, right Momma? Daddy will have to fix that. There's my books Mommy. Meggy and Pasty and Brocko gave those to me, right Momma? I love books Mom. I love the necklace, right Mom? Cause I love fairies. They're pretty, right Momma? He He. Me and my Dada. I'm all snuggled up in my new blanky. My new Pink. Grammy Ann made this for me, right Momma? But how did she sew this pink ribbon around the edges Momma? It's so soft and cozy Momma. I love my new Pink. Look! My Fairytale book. Gramma Lisa gave this to me. I love Rumpelstiltskin the best Mom. He's so funny, right Mom? Mom? Can we look at the book store for another Rumpelstiltskin book? I love that one the best Momma. I love my books Momma.

2010-03-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

And we MUSTN'T forget the cake, right Mommy? Grammy Lisa made it just special for me. Chocolate cake with a blue Cinderella dress, just like mine, right Mommy? Look at me blow those candles out Mom. I was nice to let Gabey help, wasn't I Mommy? That cake sure tasted yummy to my tummy Momma. It was a great birthday, wasn't it Mommy? When's it my party again Mommy?

I'd Like To Buy A Vowel

2010-03-04T20:47:00.001-08:00

I like to think that I am a clean person. Okay, so I'm really an unnaturally clean person. I make it a point to always keep a clean house. Not only does this include the daily straightening, picking up, wiping off, dusting, rearranging, scenting, loading/unloading, and organizing of most items in my home, but it also includes the once a week, top to bottom cleaning sessions. I wouldn't say I'm a germ-a-phobe per se, but I'm definitely cleaner than most. This neuroticism stems from my mother, who learned the fine art of cleanliness from her father, and so on and so forth. Some call it a sickness, and perhaps it is. Now, why am I blogging on such a subject? I'll tell you why. I have come to the conclusion that perhaps, with all my good intentions, I have done a disservice to my family. Why, you might ask? Let me give you the low down on the last four months of our lives, and then you see if you can figure out why.

November 7th...Mom becomes severely ill with symptoms of body aches, fevers, dizziness, and horrific headaches. 2 trips to the InstaCare, 1 trip to McKayDee, and a wonderful, all inclusive 1 week stay at IMC, all pointed to viral meningitis. The time leading up to and during my hospital visits, was two weeks. The recovery from this illness...still ongoing. The headaches plague me daily. Some days are better than others. At the first of February, I felt like many of my symptoms were reoccurring. So, back to the ever-so-helpful Neurologist for some more not-so-helpful advice. Yes, the meds they had me on from my hospital stay should still be taken. No, I never should have stopped taking them. Yes, this is the reason for the terrible headaches. Yes, they failed to MENTION that I should stay on these meds. And yes, because of their stupidity, I would now be dealing with a whole other problem. Post Meningitic Psuedo Tumor was the Neurologists best guess. But he doesn't really know. Best case scenario, I take meds the rest of my life. Worst case, I go blind. Just like that. So, we schedule an appointment with an Neuropthamologist. Of course they can get us right in...in mid March. No rush people. We're only talking about my eye sight here. Week two of February, Izzy starts vomiting one night. Scott doesn't do vomit very well, so Mommy takes over. My baby girl has high fevers, chills, body aches, and is in pretty bad shape. So, we take her to the Dr. It's Strepp. Sweet. Highly contagious. Next up...Jace! Jace starts with a runny nose which quickly escalates into a terrible smokers cough. He wheezes when he breaths. His breathing is labored and rapid. A trip to the InstaCare tells us that we need to get him to Primary Children's. Awesome. We get to stay overnight in RTU in the same room we stayed in when Jacers was 28 days old and at the hospital with Parainfluenza. The memories aren't so great. Test results are positive for RSV. No spinal tap or cath this time around. Just a giant tube that feeds through his nose and down into his lungs to suction out bucket loads of snot. Ya. He loved that. The next day we get to come home, but Jace has strict orders to be on oxygen. My 8 month old baby has an oxygen tube taped all around his face because he keeps trying to pull it off. Three nights of oxygen and a visit back to our primary care Dr, and we are finally in the clear. Or so we thought. My headaches are just about unbearable now. We call the Neurologist and ask if he can call in a Lumbar Puncture to check my spinal pressures. Now people, you have to know that for me to ASK for one of these baby's TELLS you I'm in pain. We head to LDS, set up for the tap, and wouldn't you know it, the pressure is normal. Awesome. Now what? Well, we wait until mid March to see the Neuropthamologist I guess. I'm down for a couple days after this because for some reason it has made my headaches quadruple in pain. Sunday night I finally join the land of the living. Can we catch a break now? Nope. Not yet! Izzy says her stomach hurts. Her stomach always hurts. I'm not too concerned until I hear the dreaded gag/cough followed by Scott frantically carrying her into the bathroom to finish what she's already started in the bedroom. I'll never look at ribs and potatoes the same after cleaning up that mess. I was literally scooping up the mess from off of her comforter and carrying it to the toilet. The barf juices saturated the comforter, the sheets, and the mattress. Sweet. How do we get the smell of vomit off of the mattress? I scrubbed it for a half hour, then I had to lay down. I was getting queasy myself. Scott, who again does not to well with throw up, sleeps down on the couch, and Izzy joins me in my bed with her barf bowl. 17 throw up sessions and one completely sleepless night later, the vomiting stops. But, she is very lethargic and won't eat anything. Tuesday early evening Scott starts throwing up. Tuesday late night, I go in to answer Jaces cries to find him covered from head to toe in baby barf...I swear he rolled all over in it. Strip the crib, run the tub, more throw up, and he goes back down for the night. I'm doomed. I know it. Destined to be next in the vicious virus that has attacked our house. And sure enough, Wednesday at about 4 in the morning, I start up the trend. Four sick people. No one to take care of us. We were in bad shape. Luckily, Scott is feeling a bit better at this point. He stays home Wednesday to rest and help with Iz and Jace. Thursday (today) we are still having no luck getting Jace to keep anything down. He hasn't had a wet diaper since Tuesday night. He vomits up anything we give him. We call the Dr. Guess what? They want us to take him to Primary's. No, I'm not kidding. I. Am. Not. Kidding. I wish I was kidding. So, high ho, high ho, back up the hill we go. We're on a first name basis with the staff now. We're pretty much regulars. Jace is checked in with severe dehydration, critically low levels of sugar, and hypoglycemia. Awesome. Here we are again. RTU. Not in the same room...thankfully. Poor Jace is so lethargic. He just lays there. No smiles. No talking. No nothing. I just want my family better!!! I leave to take Iz home, who, on a side note, is still not feeling that well. Scott stays with Jace in the hopes that he will make a quick turn around and be able to come home. Scott and I phone each other all day. Jace has eaten an ounce of formula. We have a wet diaper. He just smiled. Things were looking up. At 9:30 p.m. Scott calls to tell me they are coming home. Hallelujah! I'm afraid to even say, 'what's next?' because I know that inevitably something else is bound to hit us. It's just our luck lately. But at least for this small moment we are all home together and all feeling pretty good. Tomorrow? Who knows.

So, back to the cleanliness bit from the beginning of this blog. I have come to the firm conclusion that if I just let my kids lick the slides, pick their noses, and bathe once a week; if I let my home become cluttered, germ filled, and dirty; and if I refuse to keep up on immunizations and medications; then perhaps my children and I will be better off. Maybe I really have ruined them by not letting them get near germs. Maybe. Probably not. No, I realize that this is not the case. I realize that this is just one of the trials my family has to pass through. We seem to have been hit pretty hard lately. Scott and I are convinced that we are being tried like Job, only just strictly with health related issues. I find it easy to get discouraged and down. I know the Lord must have a purpose for these trials. I know there is something we are to learn from them. It's probably patience in afflictions. And I SUCK at patience. But my little brother told me the other day that in our trials lie opportunities. Opportunities for progress, happiness, and spiritual growth. I think this means that I have the opportunity to rely more fully on the Lord and trust that He knows all things. I have the opportunity to draw near to Him and to plead for His grace and mercy. And that as I do these things, I will have the opportunity to be happier in my life. And that's what it's all about.

So, I guess I won't quit the house cleaning obsession just yet.

Bone Diddy

2010-02-24T15:11:00.001-08:00

2010-02-24T14:55:00.000-08:00

Jace is growing leaps and bounds everyday. And by growing, I mean GROWING!!! At 8 1/2 months, our 'little' boy is in the 93rd percentile for weight, at an astounding 23 lbs. He is in the 93rd percentile for height as well. Could we have a baller on our hands? Do I dare even hope? I am amazed at his constant transformations. While he's not quite crawling yet, he is getting around quite nicely by rolling and scooting...backward. I'll put him down to run the bath water and turn around to find him in the next room. The kid is as curious as can be. He wants to touch and explore everything. And inevitably, it all ends up in his mouth. Could this be the reason he's been sick ALL WINTER SEASON? We had another Primary Children's visit a few weeks ago and got to spend the night in RTU again...same room as last time...not so memorable. Jace had a bad case of RSV. Now, while they didn't have to cath him or spinal tap his back, they did have to stick the hose down his throat and into his chest SEVERAL times. I think they suctioned enough mucus to fill a small garbage bad. (Sorry for THAT visual:0) He came home on oxygen and had to wear it for three days afterwards. Boy, that was fun. He didn't try to pull that out of his nose every chance he could. Poor guy! Sometimes I wonder if he wonders what on earth he signed up for. His little (again, little is relative) body has been through so much. I hope we are through the worst of it.
I treasure his smiles, his coos, his slobbery kisses, and his sly looks. He is full of life and will undoubtedly give us a run for our money as he gets older. But he's worth it. Oh yes. He is definitely worth it.

2010-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

sNOw BuNNy

2010-02-06T21:16:00.001-08:00

2010-02-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Izzy and I are alike in many ways. We both love cheesecake, fish sticks, singing, reading, bubble baths, and playing outside. We love to play practical jokes, laugh really loud, snuggle, and hang with Scott. But there is at least one thing that is quite different about us. She LOVES the snow, and I, I do not. She'd be out playing in the snow everyday if I'd allow it. She loves the magic of it all. She loves to eat the fresh snow and make snow angels. She loves to build snowmen and hear the crunching sound under her feet. And most of all, she LOVES to go sledding. Lucky for Iz, Scotty is a really good sport and is always willing to play with her in the snow. He doesn't mind the wet, soggy, stinky, mess that inevitabley follows playing in the snow. He doesn't mind the frozen appendages, aching legs, runny noses, or windburned faces. He really is a 'dream' daddy.

So, I'll stay inside and make the hot chocolate. I'll clean up the wet mess. I'll take a hot bath with Iz to warm her up. And I'll snuggle with her after all is said and done and listen to her tell stories of how great her day of snow play was.

But, I'll definitely leave the icky play-in-the-snow-stuff to Scott.

2010-02-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

2010-01-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

2010-01-27T20:44:00.000-08:00

We just got our pictures back from our product photo shoot. Tif did an amazing job with all the kids. I wanted to post a few of Iz. Look at my baby girl! Could she be any cuter? If she can't sell the products, I don't know WHAT can. We send in our application for Swiss Days this Saturday. Wish us luck!

2010-01-27T20:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

2010-01-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful this year. I love Christmas time and was so happy to finally be feeling better so that I could enjoy the festivities. Scott and I decided to scale way back on Christmas for ourselves and concentrate on our kids and others outside our small family. This felt right. I'm glad we did. Scott and I did treat ourselves to our annual Kurt Bestor concert. I am amazed each time we go at the talent that man possesses. He truly knows how to bring out the Christmas Spirit in me. Scott and Izzy also got to take a trolley ride down at Thanksgiving Point with Grandma and Grandpa Wetsel and cousins, to see all the pretty lights. Izzy wants to go there every day now! But mostly this Christmas season, we just enjoyed spending time with family and loved ones and thanking our Father in Heaven for our many blessings. It was a Christmas to remember.

Christmas Eve was at my parents house this year. Mom decided to reenact the Christmas story. We used to do this every year when I was growing up. But, as time passed we all grew too old. So, we had to wait for the new generation of children to be born and grow to the appropriate age before we could start the tradition again. I guess this was the magic year. Grandma Ann and Mom sewed all new costumes for everyone. Nothing is done half a#% in this family! Izzy had the privilege of playing the part of Mary this year and Easy played the baby Jesus. Iz practiced her line over and over to make sure it was just right. Biggy didn't have to do much practicing. We just had to make sure he didn't outgrow the 'manger' before show time. The play came off with only a few glitches that made the show absolutely perfect! Izzy delivered her line, "Oh Joseph. I can't go any farder. Wets just take duh stable." Biggy was indeed too big for the manger, so he sat up for the majority of the time and cried. The two sheep (Lincoln and Brock) pulled off their sheep hats in the middle of the shepherd scene. Angel Zoey lost her halo and wings as she 'flew' over the manger scene. The Wisemen looked more like women coming from a spa than wise old men. And Josie, the 'star', made her way down the stairs on her daddy's shoulders. But it was all as precious as could be.

2010-01-22T14:21:00.000-08:00

2010-01-22T14:15:00.001-08:00

This was our little Jacer Mans first Christmas! He had as much fun with the boxes, bows, and wrapping paper, as the presents themselves. He loved helping his big sister tear the paper off of the boxes, and was super curious about everything we placed in front of him. Among his favorite toys were his Fisher-Price tool box, his squeaky animal book, his ball set, his family picture book, and his stuffed piggy. We are a bit concerned that if he stays as curious as he is now, we may have to invest in an iron gate to circle our Christmas tree next year! But, despite it all, Jace definitely brought the 'wonder' back to Christmas for us this year. Love you Easy!

2010-01-22T14:14:00.001-08:00

2010-01-22T14:07:00.000-08:00

Izzy made a haul this Christmas! The gift she wanted the most was a pink laptopper. Santa came through and she is now the proud owner of a Cinderella laptopper. She was in heaven! Santa also brought her an EasyBake oven. Iz feels very grown up now as she helps mommy make and bake her own goodies. He also brought her a soccer ball (because as of late she's decided that's the sport she'd like to play). Pink binoculars, a play dough ice cream maker, a Cinderella doll and house, an art set, and lots of clothes, were also gifts from mom and dad and family. Our favorite moment with Izzy this Christmas was, when sitting amidst the chaos of paper and boxes and bows, presents and goodies galore, Iz stops everything and says, "Merry Christmas Mudder. Merry Christmas Fadder." And it really was.

2010-01-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

The Family Love-In

2009-12-31T10:53:00.000-08:00

2009-12-31T10:44:00.000-08:00

We have a yearly family tradition that takes us to Mueller Park each fall for dinner and a spiritual thought. It started out with Dad, Mom, Me, Brooke, and Luke. We'd hike the trail to our 'secret spot' and nestle in for a night of family togetherness. Now that we've grown in numbers, it's a little more difficult to make the hike. It's also quite impossible to fit all of us in that 'secret spot'. But, the tradition must carry on. So, we adapt and improvise and now find ourselves making a fire, munching on Kentucky Fried Chicken, roasting marshmallows and singing Kumbaya. The spiritual thoughts are interjected at random moments by Dad. The kids love the fire, the parents love the outdoors, and Mom just sobs knowing that we are all together. One big happy family.

2009-12-31T10:36:00.000-08:00

A Pile Of Leaves

2009-12-31T10:13:00.000-08:00

Izzy loved the leaves from our big tree this year. She wanted to rake them up everyday and jump in them. I got some darling pictures of her one day when she was doing just that. Here they are!

We're Going On A Witch Hunt

2009-12-31T10:06:00.000-08:00

It is a long standing tradition in our family (3 years now) that we attend 'Witchfest' at Gardener Village every October. Izzy fell in love with the witches the first year we took her and they fell right back in love with her. Now she dresses the part and is every bit as scary as they are! This year we went with Uncle Gus, Aunt Broodge, Gabe, Lincoln, Aunt Megz and Brocko. Next year we have planned that the mommy's will dress up too. We love it! It's always a haunting good time!

2009-12-31T09:56:00.001-08:00

In My Darkest Hour

2009-12-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

It all started on Scotty's birthday, November 7th, to be exact. We were out at Lone Star for dinner with the family and I just didn't feel right. I had the body aches and felt a bit out of it. I'm sure my parents thought it was a case of the 'Sunday Blues'...you know, the old 'getting sick on Saturday night so you don't have to attend church the next day' kind of thing. Well, I did not go to church the next day. In fact, I stayed in bed all day. Didn't even go to my mom's house for dinner that night. Monday I woke up with the body aches and feeling extremely dizzy. We decided it was time to go to the InstaCare...my FAVORITE place. A side note: why does the InstaCare suck so much? You wait and wait for someone to talk to. When you finally do get around to seeing a live person, it's like a guessing game for them. I swear, I could be a Dr. at the InstaCare. Just give me your symptoms and I'll make an educated guess on what you have and send you happily on your way. Anyway. This is pretty much what went down that night at the InstaCare. They swabbed me (stuck a q-tip clear down my nasal passage into my throat actually) for swine flu, wrote down my symptoms, did a chest x-ray and an EKG (because I was experiencing some chest pressure), and some blood work. An hour later, everything came back normal. There was a pending blood test however that they wouldn't have results to for a couple of hours. They told me to go home, keep taking the Tylenol and Advil, get some sleep, and wait to hear about the remaining blood tests. Gee, thanks. I needed to pay $35 for that advice?

We did go home and got into bed about 11:00. At midnight, Scott's phone rang. It was the InstaCare. One of the blood tests, the D-Dimer, was extremely elevated. Normal is 0-500. My score was 5,500. The Dr. informed us that this was life-threatening, a sign of blood clots, and that we needed to get to the ER immediately. Super. I called my mom and dad who, of course, came at a moments notice. The Dr. called back 10 minutes later to make sure we were leaving. She again told Scott that this was a critical situation and that we needed to get to the ER as soon as possible. I told him to ask her if I should just leave my sleeping kids or wait for the grandparents to show up...

We left for McKayDee shortly after midnight. I was freaking out a bit and though Scott's exterior showed a calm and collected man, I know he was scared too. I don't know what I expected when we got to the hospital. A team waiting for me. A bed to be wheeled in on. Flashing emergency lights letting our Dr. know we were there. Something. But, it was dark and eerily quiet. The attending was calm and collected. I wanted to scream at her that I could die at any moment while she sat there popping her gum and attempting to make small talk. After being checked in, I dressed in the hospital gown and the waiting began, again. The first people we saw were the phlobotomists...of course. Now look, I am not afraid of needles. I've been poked so many times in my life that I could be the poster child for pincushions. However, I have learned one thing from being poked so many times, and that is, my veins blow. They are terrible. Those special people who get the opportunity to poke at me know what I mean. Finding veins in my arms is next to impossible. I tell the phlobotomist this every time I need a blood draw. I did the same that night at McKayDee. And wouldn't you know it...she did the same thing that every other flippin phlobotomist does. She went for the arm vein. It's like they have something to prove. "Well, we'll see about that." "I'm a trained blood sucker." "I can certainly find a vein." "Sit back and watch the master at work." Whatever. So, I laid back, offered up my arm, and waited for the inevitable moment when she'd look at me and say, "You're right. You are a hard stick." This time was better than most however because not only could she not find a vein, but after 'fishing' around under the skin for a bloody half an hour, she finally hit a small vein that she tried to shove the IV into, upon which she blew out the vein entirely. Blood spurted everywhere. All over her, all over the bed, all over the floor. I almost laughed. Almost. She left in a hurry and sent someone else in to do the blood draw...from my hand...just like I'd requested in the first place. After more blood work, more X-rays, and a thorough exam (haha) from the Dr, I was declared 'fine' and 'ready to go home.' Okey-dokey.

Tuesday through Saturday are one big blur. I just know I got sicker and sicker. Wednesday the InstaCare called and wanted me to come back in for some more blood work, but I never saw a Dr. I lay in bed wondering what was going on. I was so weak and tired. Wednesday night the headaches started. I've never had a migraine, but from what I've heard, I was experiencing migraine like symptoms. My head hurt so bad. My eyes hurt. My neck hurt. And loud sound hurt. It was debilitating. My mother-in-law is a nurse at Alta View and had been checking on me daily. By Saturday she'd had enough. If this was just a virus, other family members should have gotten sick. No one else was. If it was just a virus, it should have run its course by now and I should have been feeling better. I wasn't. She called in a favor to one of her friends, Dr. Tweed, and asked him to meet us at Alta View just so he could take a quick look at me and see if he had any ideas. I had not been out of the house since Wednesday. I hadn't really been out of bed. Driving down to the hospital was terrible. I hurt so much. The light from outside was crippling. I just wanted to know what was wrong with me. Dr. Tweed took one look at me, and said I needed to get back into a hospital for an MRI and possibly a Lumbar Puncture to check for Meningitis. Awesome. I knew I should feel alarmed by all this, but my head hurt so much that I couldn't think about anything but the pain. They decided we should go to the new hospital IMC, because it had the latest and greatest state of the art stuff. I remember getting there and sitting in the lobby waiting for Scott to check me in. I had my sunglasses on and my hood up, trying to block out light and noise. I felt like everyone was staring at me. I hated that. We got checked in and finally taken back into a room in the ER. More waiting. Bobbye asked about my pain level on a scale of 1-10. I told her I was at a 32. No joke. After an hour or two we saw the Dr. on call. He ordered a CAT-scan, not an MRI, because he said the CAT-scan would be quicker and get us the results we needed faster. I just wanted something for the pain. Finally a nurse brought me in some meds. I think it brought the pain down to a 25 or so. I was just grateful for a bit of relief. Unfortunately it didn't last long. Hours later, more blood draws later, I was finally taken in for the CAT-scan. It was quick and painless. And then we waited some more. When the Dr. came back he said the blood work looked good and so did the CAT-scan. He was at a loss. He had no idea. He again said he didn't think it was Meningitis but decided he'd do the Lumbar Puncture just to rule it out since everything else was coming up negative. Having already experienced 3 epidurals, I was well aware of what to expect for this procedure. It didn't make me anymore comfortable with it however. I was at least reassured by the Dr. however because, as part of his internship he'd had to do hundreds of Lumbar Punctures. So, I wasn't dealing with an amateur here. The first thing that came out of his mouth after he'd gotten the needle and cord in place was, "Well, that's certainly interesting." Scott asked what he was doing and he explained that he was measuring the pressure of the spinal fluid. Scott explained that he couldn't see where the cut off was for my pressure. The Dr. said, "See the fluid spurting out the top? Her pressure is above the level of my manometer." He took 10cc out of my spinal fluid to be tested and then explained to us that normal pressure was 15-20. A manometer tops out at 55. My pressure was above that. What did this mean? He had no idea. He was going to page the Neurologist on call and talk it all over with him. We met with the Neurologist a while later who stated that though he did not know exactly what was wrong with me, he knew that I was very sick, and that I would not be leaving the hospital that night. And thus my darkest hours began.

It seems to me as I think back on my time in the hospital, that time moved at a snails pace. Everything was done slowly. Methodically. Precisely. I do have to give props to the attending who put my IV in at the hospital. He, the first one EVER, listened to me about my veins and but the IV in my hand. It was smooth, efficient, and nearly painless...which was good because I couldn't handle much more pain...or so I thought. I can't remember a lot about what went on Sunday through Wednesday. I do remember being surprised that I was still in the hospital...I'd never stayed in a hospital so long. I remember worrying briefly about my kids. And I remember a lot of blood draws and tests being done. I had 3 MRI's, 2 ultrasounds, and another CAT-scan. I remember being quite nervous about the MRI's because of their enclosed nature. The Dr. gave me something to take an edge off the nervousness. However, as usual, I found that the pain overruled any other emotion I had, so the nervousness
didn't last long. Everything came back negative. The MRI's looked good, the scans, the ultrasounds, the blood work, it was all clean. I was a mystery. The Neurologist brought in three other specialists to work with me. There was the Infectious Disease Specialist, the Rhumetology Specialist and Internal Medicine Specialists. Each time they'd come to visit they had these huge binders with the name WETSEL written on them. They were full of paper work, labs, results, etc, all about me. I felt like I belonged on the show House. All the Dr's were coming up blank. There best guess was Meningitis. They assumed a virus had gotten past the blood brain barrier and into the spinal column. This caused the increased pressure and intense headaches.

Up until Wednesday, I rarely opened my eyes. I could barely turn my head or lower it to my chest. I spoke only when I had to. Mostly I prayed. I prayed so many prayers that I'm sure the Lord grew weary of hearing from me. And when I wasn't praying, I was singing 'Abide With Me' over and over and over. I would not allow myself to grieve or to ask 'why me?' I knew the answer. I knew this was a trial for me and that there was no reason to ask. All I asked was that He be with me. I begged Him not to leave me alone. And He never did. These were my darkest hours. I knew I couldn't handle one more drop of pain. And with this thought came the sure knowledge that the Savior had suffered this for me. He had suffered this incredible, debilitating pain. This pain that made me unable to eat, that caused me to throw up regularly, that nearly blinded me. And here I sat, knowing I couldn't handle one more DROP of pain...but He, He handled my pain, and your pain, and all of our pains. Our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pains. My testimony of the Atonement grew leaps and bounds in my darkest hours.

The Dr. ordered another Lumbar Puncture for Wednesday. The plan was to take out some of that excess spinal fluid and see if that would release some of the pressure and pain from my neck and head. Again, this Dr. was shocked by the level of my pressure, which was still up around 60. He drained off 32cc and sent it to be tested. Almost immediately I noticed a bit of a difference. I could open my eyes for one. I could also turn my head with just a little of discomfort. This was good news. But now the question was, how to keep the spinal fluid at an acceptable level. Spinal fluid replenishes itself just like most bodily fluids. So, my pressures would be back up shortly. If the levels kept coming up, there was talk of a possible shunt. The Dr's were also concerned about my liver count that continued to climb. A biopsy was to be scheduled for Thursday if they didn't see any changes in that count. This, of all the procedures, scared me the most. I really did not want a chunk of my liver cut out. Wednesday also marked the day that the Dr's told me if I didn't start eating food, I'd have to have a feeding tube. Really? Did they think I was honestly TRYING to starve myself? The mear smell of food made me want to vomit. But, I was bound and determined to try. After eating part of a turkey sandwich, and having it come right back up, I decided I'd try later:-) I was so tired of throwing up. Every time I did, the headache tripled in pain. Thankfully, after I'd rested all afternoon, and after having some relief (finally) from the latest Lumbar Puncture, I was able to get up and walk around the hospital floor. I was also able to eat most of a grilled cheese sandwich! It tasted like heaven:-) Things were looking up. Until that night when my IV became infiltrated and my hand grew to the size of a cantaloupe. They had to move the IV, which presented another problem. Where to put the IV when my veins were in such bad shape? I already had bruises up and down both arms and hands from where I'd been poked (including places they'd poked and failed and blown out veins). I told my RN that I was a hard stick and asked if she could send someone who was really good at placing the IV's. Let's just say that 3 nurses later, one of these nurses being the supposed 'best they had', 8 needle pokes, and 4 hours of time between midnight and four in the morning, the IV was finally placed. And my head felt like it was going to pop from the stress of it all. That was a really, really bad night.

Thursday brought good news however as we learned that my liver count had gone down just a bit. Luckily it was enough to stop the biopsy order. I was also able to eat a little more and avoid the feeding tube. And though my headache never went away, I could open my eyes and turn my head again. Thus began my slow recovery. I still had to have blood draws several times a day during the next few days as they continued to test for the cause of my afflictions. Some of the tests included HIV and TB. You can imagine my shock when the said they wanted to test for HIV. Wow.

By Sunday morning, the Dr's determined that I was well enough to go home. Hallelujah! I was discharged with the diagnosis of Viral Meningitis and Transminitis. I was also given about 40 medications to take:-) The Dr's warned me that while I was well enough to go home, I still had a long recovery ahead of me. I was just grateful to be leaving and going home to my family and children who I'd missed terribly. All in all, I got out of the hospital with about 32 blood draws, 3 MRI's, 2 Ultrasounds, 3 X-rays, 1 CAT scan, and 2 Lumbar Punctures...not to mention having been tested for over 100 viruses.

During my stay I knew things were bad. I knew that my family and loved ones were very worried. I learned some of my closest loved ones had made tentative preparations for taking over the care of my children should I pass on. But not until I was home and recovering did I learn of my moms, my aunts, and my sisters extreme fear that I was going to die. I was very aware that my life was in my Fathers hands while in the hospital. I was even aware that I might not ever leave the hospital. But I distinctly remember one night during my pain and haze, having the thought come to me "Choose to live." And I did. I tried my hardest to be positive in my mind. I tried not to question my Heavenly Father as to why this was happening to me. I tried not to whine and beg. I knew this trial was for me. I knew it was a test of my faith. And I knew, if my faith was strong enough, that my Savior would deliver me. He did.

It's been nearly 8 weeks now since my first symptoms. I wish I could say it's all been smooth sailing. I had to return to the hospital for a blood patch when we learned that the last Lumbar Puncture hadn't sealed properly. I also had to get back on the medication that makes everything I eat taste like metal and makes drinking carbonation impossible. About a week after I got home I lost some hearing in both my ears and got a terrible ringing noise instead. We learned that hearing loss is quite common with Meningitis patients. Thankfully most of the hearing has returned. Now if the ringing would just leave:-) And the headaches, though now on a much lesser scale, are still plaguing me. But even those are tolerable and something I'm simply learning to deal with. I won't complain. I feel so blessed. Our family has had so many angels who have stepped in and taken over where I couldn't. We had family in our home for the first month, taking care of our kids. We had meals brought in from the Relief Society for 5 weeks. We experienced the miracle of hundreds of prayers being offered up just for us. And we had others offer their time, talents, means, and skills to bless our lives. It truly has been life altering, life changing.

And so, out of my darkest hours, came a great deal of light. A great deal of understanding. A great deal of peace. A great deal of hope. I have felt my Saviors love. I have a much greater understanding of His sacrifice for us. I thank Him for sparing my life, for giving me another chance to prove myself to Him. He has saved me and I will sing His praises all my days.

Halloween Spooks

2009-11-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays. However, i have to admit that having children has changed that...a lot. In fact, i would dare say that Halloween ranks up in my top three holidays now. I know, i know. There really aren't THAT many holidays to choose from. But, top three is better than dead last, right? But alas, i digress.

So, yesterday was Halloween. We spent the morning in Orem watching our cousins complete a half marathon. Why anyone in their right mind would choose to run, let alone run a half marathon, is beyond me. But we are, if nothing else, a supportive family. So, we showed up to cheer the cousins on. They did great. Aside from my children getting off of their schedules, which makes mommy crazy, it was a fun morning.

By the time we got home, Izzy was more than ready for the Halloween festivities to begin. She had been able to wear her 'Belle' costume twice already, and had LOVED being that princess. She couldn't wait to get into that baby again! And so the preparations began. Hair curled, the 'Belle bump' (her bun) in place, make-up applied, and the finally, dress adorned. Left to admire herself in the mirror, she was now content for a bit while i dressed the rest of us. Jace was easy. Zip that froggy cosutme up and go. And now we had the princess and the frog. Cute. I know. Scotty was a biker dude. This was really nothing out of the ordinary for him. In fact, he was worried no one would think he was even dressed up. But, he did look rather tough in his bandana, tat sleeve, spiked braclet, and leather jacket. This just left mommy to get ready. My she-devil costume consisted mainly of lots of eye make-up and a wig with horns. Add a pair of spikey earings and a bat necklace and we were ready to rock!

We headed off to have our traditional soup bowl and scone dinner at my moms house. Afterwhich we made visits to Grandma Ann, Janny, Cindy, and some neighborhood friends. Lucky for us, Izzy doesn't have the desire to trick-or-treat very long. She's just happy to wear the costume and pose for pictures. By seven o'clock we we done...'put a fork in us' done. My over stimulated, no napping, sugar high bouncing off the wall kids, were ready for a knock out. We said goodnight to everyone and headed home. After a brief, but substantial meltdown, Izzy was down for the count. All Jace wanted was some milk and some peace and quiet. And Mom and Dad? We just needed a few minutes to unwind.

It was a good day. It was a great Halloween. Let's do it again next year.

2009-11-01T19:58:00.000-08:00

Rollin'. Rollin'. Rollin' With the Hommies.

2009-10-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Jace is a big boy. At just over four months, the little tank weights 17 1/2 lbs. I swear the kid is getting straight cream when he feeds. And he feeds often! Anyway...we keep waiting for him to roll over. Iz was rolling back and forth by now. But, she was quite a bit smaller too. Well, the other day, to my complete amazement and shock, he rolled. Hasn't done it since, but hey, it'll come! Here are some pics i got of the big moment.

I think I'll give this rolling over business a try!

Look at me mom! I'm getting it!

Mission accomplished.
Time to rest.
I'm out.

A Camping We Will Go?

2009-10-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

I. Am. Not. A. Camper. I make no excuses nor do i try and hide this fact. I grew up in a home where camping was the equivalent of staying overnight at the Motel 8. I mean we NEVER went camping. Well, there was that one time when we took the boat out to Starvation Reservoir and Dad put up the tent for us to sleep in. I lasted about 2.5 seconds until the claustrophobia took over and i ended up in the back of the van with my mom. Seriously, the tent was closing in on me, blocking off all the air to my body. Camping. I just don't like it! I hate the bugs that inevitably end up on the inside of the tent. I hate the dirt that gets tracked all over the bedding. I hate sleeping bags...can't move in those dang things! I hate waking up in the morning and feeling like i can't move because I'm frozen in place. I hate having no where to pee or wash my face...and no, that stream just across the way WILL NOT cut it. I hate the thick coat of dust and grime that gets all over me, and having no way to get it all off.

Because i hate camping so much, it would be just my luck that I'd marry an avid camper. Scott LOVES camping for all the reasons i hate it. He is Mr. Outdoors to a 'T'. Lucky for me, and not so lucky for him, he has never pressured me into camping. Poor guy has enough gear to last him months in the outdoors and he can't even get his wife to enjoy the blasted activity. Oh well, such is life. You win some, and you loose some. He definitely lost on this one.

All this being said, you're probably wondering what in the world it took for me to agree to go on this overnight camping trip with Scott, Izzy, and Gabe. And I'll tell you. Nothing! It took nothing. I agreed to give it one last try, just to appease my husband and to make a fun memory with the kids. (Not to worry though, i already had my mind made up that i was going to hate every minute of it.) And really, how bad could one little overnighter hurt?

Scott went to the campsite early to set up the tent. I picked up the food for dinner and packed up our necessary items for the night. I think i overdid this from the look on Scott's face when he pulled up to see three duffel bags, a toilet, movies/dvd player, and enough treats to feed an army, waiting to be loaded into the trunk of our car. What? I say you can never be too prepared. Now, i have to say that i took my bad attitude with me all the way up to the campground. But, when we got there, i sort of caught the spirit of the thing. My wonderful husband had blown up our air mattress and covered it with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, down comforter, and other blankets. He'd fixed us up so we'd have power so that i could 'pump' at night. He'd even hung a light so that i could read in bed. He had the kids bed all ready to go too...complete with dvd player ready for them to watch. I have to admit, i was impressed. We ate dinner, went on a bike ride, took a walk, watched a movie, read stories, and ate candy until we were about to pop. And it was...fun.

That night as I lay looking up at the stars (because this tent has a mesh top...thus allowing PLENTY of airflow for my claustrophobia) i turned to Scott and said, "Not that I'm willing to do this all the time, but really, this isn't too bad." And really, it wasn't.

Johnny Jump-Up

2009-10-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Ode to Johnny

2009-10-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

You sat in the dark, in the dust and decay,
Wondering when it'd be your time to play.
Two long years you waited around,
Hoping and wishing for that joyous sound...
The sound of people coming to find you,
To clean you all up til you shined like brand new.
This could only mean one thing!
A new child would fill your soft swing.
And who would this chubby little one be?
Who would you cradle and finally see?
A fine bouncing boy seemed just right for the task,
Now 'Johnny' would be used once again, finally, at last!
Oh Johnny how we love what you do,
You keep our boy busy, our little Jace Andrew.
For he loves to jump up and down in your seat,
He likes the lights and thinks your toys are quite neat.
So Johnny, don't you fear and don't fret,
A better toy for our Jace we haven't found yet.
So we'll keep you hanging around for a good long while
For we just love the way you make our boy smile!

2009-10-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Dog Days of School

2009-10-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

Isabelle started school this year. I don't know where the time went and how it is possible that my baby is old enough to leave me for three days a week to go to school. The first day was a lot harder on mommy and daddy than on Iz...especially daddy. We both shed a tear or two as we watched her take hold of her new teachers hand and walk away from us. However, she is LOVING every minute of school. The teachers were so impressed with her vocabulary and understanding of new concepts that they moved her from the three year old class to the four year old class. I am amazed at the things she comes home to tell me everyday. She is learning and growing so much. She knows all her letters and numbers to 20. At home we are working on writing the letter and learning all the sounds. I think she's a genius, but i may be a bit biased!

Growing up, we used to have a 'fashion show' before school where we would model our new school clothes for our grandma, aunt and cousins. I thought it would be fun to continue this tradition with Iz. So, a few days before school we went over to gramma and grampas to 'mobel' (as Iz calls it) some of her new school clothes.

After these pictures, I've posted a few of her first day of school. Do you think she likes the camera?

At The Fashion Show

2009-10-19T21:33:00.001-07:00

First Day of School

2009-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Case of the Missing Camera

2009-10-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

So, not long after Jace was born, we went swimming over at the pool by Brookes house. I, of course, took the camera so that i could get pics of the kids. Upon leaving the pool, amidst the chaos of picking up after not one but two kids now, we left the camera. Now, we weren't really worried. Afterall, we live in Centerville, Utah, people. Everyone here is kind and caring and honest, right? WRONG! Some dirty rotten theif stole our camera! We posted signs, we sent emails via the Home Owners Association, we checked garbage cans, sidewalks, flowerbeds, etc. We even went so far as to say in one email that we didn't even care if the camera was returned...we just wanted the sim card! This card held ALL, and i mean ALL, Jace's new baby pictures. We were sick. Holding on to the hope that someone would at least do the right thing and return the camera, we bought a few disposible cameras to tide us over. Months later, we are still without the camera. And, to make matters worse, the disposible cameras we bought got exposed and the pics there were runined too. So, terrible mother that i am, now the only pictures i have of Jace are from when he was about one month on. I know it's not all my fault...but i did leave the camera at the pool. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Here are a few of our favorite pictures of 'The Big Easy' that we have taken, using my parents camera, over the past few months. Enjoy!
img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KGxfOc1dfP8/St0shnYVXjI/AAAAAAAAACw/AY-uPeLl_y0/s320/july-oct+09+196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394516884678073906" />

Why the title Bugs Spot?

2009-10-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you're wondering why we chose the title "The Bugs Spot" for our blog. Well, the answer is simple really. We named it after our baby girl. We have called her 'bug' for as long as I can remember. I can recall my mother being appalled that we'd call her a 'bug.' "She doesn't look at all like a bug!" she'd say. Little did mom know that the nicknames that have come since...kitty, bunny, tiny, mooch, and mama...would have little to do with her looks either. She is what she is. The nicknames are what they are. And that is that.

Miss Rose

2009-10-19T08:52:00.001-07:00

Those of you that know our family, are pretty well aquainted with our three year old daughter, Isabelle Rose Wetsel. She is 3 going on 16 and has a lot to say about just about everything. She started preschool this year with all the other 3 year olds at Centerville Acadamey. However, after only 2 days of school, her teacher Ms. Marsha phoned Scott and I to tell us that she was definately in the wrong class. Though she was the same age as the other kids, her vocabulary and actions were far above them...no kidding? And so, she was moved up to the four year old class with her cousin Gabe. She loves school and we are constantly amazed at what she's learning and all the things she can do.

I wanted to write down a few of our favorite "Isabelle-isms" for you to read so that you too can get a taste of what our 'tiny bug' is all about.

*One day while drawing pictures of the temple with her daddy, Iz pointed to the top of her temple and said, "Look Dad! It's the angel Ramona!"

*The other day she came out of her Grandma Wetsel's house singing "I'm A Single Baby" to the tune of Beyonce's "All The Single Ladies."

*When Scott was preparing to give his first lesson in Gospel Doctrine, he was very nervous. Iz, always picking up on the emotions of those around her says, "Dad, would you like me to say a special prayer for you?" This was followed up by one of the sweetest, most simple, heartfelt prayers I have ever heard. Truly brings new meaning to 'become as a little child.'

*When Iz was 'snuffing' the other day (a thing she does when she's fake crying) i turned to her and said, "Izzy, what's the matter? Are you sad?" She responded in kind by saying, "Oh Mom...I'm just so happy! That's why I'm crying." "Why honey? Why are you so happy?" I said. "Because my mommy gets to stay home with me all the days now and not have to go to work anymore." This was a day of 'mommy paybacks' for me.

*When singing 'I Love To See The Temple' Izzy sings the words, "I'll prepare myself while I am YUM" (instead of young). We don't have the heart to correct her.

*After getting in the car after preschool one day, Iz says to me, "Mom. I'm stressed out!"

*And finally...the other night, Scott and I are laying in bed when Iz enters our room and climbs up on the bottom of the bed. Holding up two fingers she says to us, "Ok Mom and Dad. You have 2 choices. I can either climb up in your bed and sleep with you, or, one of you can come down to my bed and sleep with me. What's your choice?"

There are sooo many more things she says and does everyday that crack us up. I've started to write down everything so I won't forget. Suffice it to say that she is the light of our life. We love her so much. She is the BEST big sister and loves her baby brother with all her heart. We can't wait to see what the future holds in store for our princess. Love you bug!

The Big Easy

2009-10-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Four months ago, we added a new member to our family. Jace Andrew was born on June 10th at 3:30 in the afternoon. I'd like to say it was an easy breezy delivery, but I'd be lying. After two epidurals, my blood pressure dropping to critical levels not once but TWICE, and Jaces' heart rate plummeting twice, we were ready to throw in the towel. When the little guy finally decided to show his tiny face, we were relieved and grateful...but for a short moment. We soon learned he wasn't breathing on his own. He was whisked away from me before I even had a chance to say hello. I was told that his APGAR was 2 pretty much all he had going for him was a weak heartbeat. They rushed him to NICU where he was placed under an oxygen box. He had tubes and needles all over his poor body. My dad and Scott were able to give him a blessing of healing and comfort shortly after that. They couldn't put their hands on his head because he had to remain under the oxygen, so they placed their hands on his tiny chest. Three agonizing hours later I was able to be wheeled into the nursery to see him. Looking back, I don't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. He was so helpless in that bed, covered with all sorts of foreign objects. I sobbed for hours after that. I couldn't even hold my new son. I stayed in the hospital for 3 days. During that time, I was able to visit the nursery whenever I wanted, and could hold him and breastfeed him after a day or so. The doctors told us to plan on having to leave him at the hospital for some time. I was devastated. But through faith and prayers and that wonderful blessing, a miracles happened. Jace made a huge turn around. After a large panel of tests on his lungs and other organs, the doctors were stunned to tell us that he would be able to leave the hospital with us. I can't remember ever being more relieved.

It hasn't gotten easier. As soon as we got home, we noticed Jace's coloring was off. More tests, more needles, and more doctors. Jace had a quite severe case of jaundice. Luckily, we were able to have a special bilirubin bed brought to our house for him. I don't know what I'd have done if we'd have had to take him back to the hospital and leave him there. It was hard enough that I could only hold him when I was feeding him. He had to be under lights at all other times. Those were a difficult four days as well.

28 days later we were back with the doctors. This time at Primary Children's Hosptial (details to come at a later date). We have a baby who has been sick almost half of his life. He has reflux and colic and is not a very content little guy. But, we wouldn't have it any other way. When he looks up at you and smiles that great big smile, there isn't a better feeling in the world. And I'd go through a million hard deliveries, doctors visits, and tests, to have him in our home. We love you Jace!

Welcome to the 21st Centruy

2009-10-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ok. So i realize that everyone and their DOG has a blog. I also realize that i have been putting off doing this for some time because I'm a bit handicapped when it comes to technology. I mean really, it took me months to master facebook! But, i'll give it a go. If we get pictures posted, it'll be a miracle;-) But, we're here....the bugs spot are us!