Still Waiting!

This little guy is definitely testing our patience!  We will have been here two weeks already on Thursday.  Doctors wanted me here at 36 weeks since I delivered early with the first two, which I stretched out as long as possible and came closer to 37 weeks.  We’ve had 3 appointments since then and things don’t seem to be changing much :/  I’m starting to get the feeling that he may just torture us to the end and make us wait until his actual due date!  He’s definitely showing me who’s boss!

In the meantime, we have been very busy with the kids, taking them to new places and having lots of fun with Grandy Sandi’s pre-school projects!  And I have to admit, as much as I’d like things to be different and would love to be able to be home, I am very grateful for this time.  If I had been home, Grayson would have been in school and I would have been at work and would be my usual “turbo” self on the days with Colbie.  This time has literally forced me to slow down and really enjoy my kids and the little moments that I often miss because I am too busy.  And none of this would be possible without the immediate support of the Andersons, my parents and my amazing husband.  I am so grateful to all of you, as well as to all the friends and family back home for all the love and support.

So on to some pictures!

We already carved a pumpkin.  We cut it exactly how Grayson drew it on paper for us.

My mom & I took the kids to the Phoenix Children's’ Museum last week, which I would absolutely recommend to anyone with young children!  So many great hands-on projects and creative rooms and play areas for the kids.

Going through the tricycle carwash!

Playing in a fort.

This was the kids favorite room… a play grocery store, with real shopping carts, groceries and check out stands.  Grayson really enjoyed being the check-out man for all the other miniature customers!

Playing with Grandy Sandy’s homemade play dough.

Got to hang out with baby Camdyn at a BBQ Friday night.

Another fun trip to the train park!

Went to a Pumpkin Patch in Scottsdale on Sunday with Brittney, Shawn, Camdyn and the grandparents.  Horse rides, petting zoo, hay rides and tons fun for the kids. 

Of course Grayson had to pick one of the biggest pumpkins!  But thanks to Colbie, she just wanted a “baby pumpkin!”  We got to hang with Papa for the weekend too!

Just a few of Mrs. Anderson’s many exciting and fun pre-school projects for the kids… making dinosaur panoramas, thanksgiving turkeys, Indian villages and plate bulls!  The kids are loving every moment of it!

Hangin’ with Grandy Sandy (a.k.a. Mrs. Anderson!)

Colbie having a long and serious conversation with Papa in her new slinky go go girl “punzel” (Rapunzel) dress!  She kept saying, “wait a minute,” “I’m not finished yet,” and also told Papa that “my babysitter likes to fall asleep!”  Surely she wasn’t talking about Grammy!!

The pretty flowers Blaine sent me last week while he was away :)

Hoping and praying my next post will include a picture of our NEW BABY BOY!!!

All Settled In!

We made our official “move” up to Phoenix last Thursday and have been busy making our trailer our new home in the Anderson’s backyard!  I have to admit, as comical as this may look, it is quite cozy and comfortable and we are so grateful to the Anderson’s for opening up their doors to us and letting us make this our home away from home.  With the open space for the kids to run around, ride bikes and just be kids, while also having great restaurants, shops and of course the hospital within such close proximity, it is an ideal set up given our circumstances. 

We are parked in their old barn area, which is sort of behind their back yard.  It’s a great shady area, again with tons of space for the kids to run and play.  You can kind of see in this picture…their old horse barn is to the left and their immediate back yard is to the right over the vine wall.

Blaine came up for the weekend and then had to head back to work EARLY this am.  We took the kids to the Stillman Station/ railroad park Saturday.  We’ve been lucky to have such gorgeous weather lately so it was a great day at the park.

We had two more appointments on Friday, one meeting the catheterization doctor for  the first time (whom we loved!) as well as another ob appointment.  We learned that our little guy is already approximately 6.4 pounds, head down and considered past pre-term stage, so that was re-assuring news.  Besides a couple follow-up appointments every week, we now just have to wait, wait, wait until this little boy decides he’s ready to come out! 

 

The weekend before we left we celebrated Blaine’s 34th Birthday.  That Saturday Grayson gave me quite the scare which landed us at the Urgent Care.  He somehow managed to land head first on the corner of a brick, giving himself a pretty deep cut that resulted too much blood for Mama and some butterfly stiches!  Here he is the following evening at Blaine’s birthday dinner, clowning around as always!  Sister thought these were pretty funny too!

The kids helped me decorate the table.  Can’t you tell…. we’ve got superhero masks, fangs and who knows what else we found for party favors!  Just what Blaine wanted for his birthday!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the cooler weather!  We thank you all for your continuous thoughts and prayers :-)

Two more weeks :/

Grayson had his five year check up with Dr. Crawford last week and measured in at 44 inches, 44 pounds and an overall healthy boy!  I was feeling good until I took him in for his follow up dental appointment to learn that our healthy boy needs a pulpotomy, crown and 3 fillings :(  As his mother and a hygienist, I am feeling pretty ashamed!  The funny thing is, he really isn’t into sweets like his sugar monster of a sister is!  I am dreading her first appointment now :/ 

I took Colbie in for her second hair cut and she sat up in the chair like a big girl, staying calm and still for the stylist.  I hate to cut her hair, but it is so so fine (poor girl got my genes!) and with all the swimming this summer, it was a must!  She is still enjoying ballet, thanks to brother’s weekly support!  Since I last posted, the only boy in the class dropped, so Grayson has decided he no longer “loves dance,” but simply does it to be a good sport and help Colbie!  We’ll see… the kid actually has some moves and I think secretly, he still likes it!!!

This is from the beginning of the month… finishing off Grayson’s birthday cupcakes and showing off their black war paint as a result!

Haircut time!

Clinging onto brother for dear life!

Looks like we may have a front wedgie!

Grayson’s been riding his bike (training wheels free!!) for the past week thanks to Yuma finally seeing some cooler days!  He sort of got the hang of it last spring, but due to our lovely Yuma summers, we really haven’t had the chance to go for any bike rides since then.  This past Sunday, it really seemed to click for him as he is now able to start, stop and turn by himself.  I still hold my breath every time I watch him take off, but so far, he is doing awesome and no major cuts & bruises!

Blaine & I had our final follow up appointments in Phoenix yesterday with the cardiologist and my ob before we go for our “extended trip.”  Our good friends, the Andersons, have been kind enough to offer their home to us during this time.  We took the trailer up yesterday to keep there for when the entire gang is up at the same time.  With the kids being kids as well as such early risers, I think it will be nice for everyone to have a little space and privacy.  We can’t thank Sandi and Donny enough for their kindness and hospitality and allowing the Griswolds to park their hillbilly “RV” in their beautiful back yard!  You guys are the best & we love you!!

Our appointments went pretty well.  No more major negative news on the cardiologist’s end, which makes our little guys a pretty good candidate for the least invasive procedure for this particular condition following delivery.  The procedure that he will probably be getting is called a radiofrequency perforation of his pulmonary valve.  Of course, they have to do a couple more echocardiograms once he is born just to be 100% sure.  We just pray that nothing changes at this point and that more importantly, our little guy responds well to the surgery and regains his strength surely and quickly.  The ob appointment went pretty well too, despite my spike in blood pressure.  The doctor agreed that most likely this was just a result of a LONG day (we had left at 4:30) and lots of sitting in the car.  Thankfully, he let us go home, as I promised to try to take it easy & visit the ob here a few times in between. 

It’s so crazy to think that we only have two more weeks here at home before it’s off to Phoenix now.  Still so much to do, pack and prepare before we leave.  I feel like our first two pregnancies sort of felt like an eternity and I couldn’t wait to get to my due date.  This one has gone by entirely too quickly and I keep wishing I could slow time down.  I of course can’t wait to meet this precious little miracle and just have to remember that it’s not on my time and it’s definitely not in my control.  As hard as it is, I have to remind myself to slow down, have faith, let go of the worry and put this all in God’s hands.  As a good friend told me, “Faith is not believing that God can.  It is knowing that He will.”  And something tells me He will!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY GRAYSON SCOTT!

 

I can’t believe our big guy is already FIVE!  Where has the time gone?! I know every parent asked themselves that same question, but seriously!!  So I tried to get out of throwing a big party this year, but I just couldn’t resist.  He’s been nagging me for the last year or so about his next birthday party, the buddy’s that we wants to invite and how he wants a batman “hiyatta” (piñata)!  Well, we skipped the hiyatta, but we did throw a fun little super hero/ batman themed party for him at jumpoleenz.  Here is the invite and some pictures to share:

Before and after! Here we are having a meltdown after sister thought she was helping him blow his candles out!

I’m sure all the mom’s loved that I picked black frosting!

SUPER HERO FAVORITES:

Favorite food: pizza

Favorite color: blue

Favorite super hero: Batman

Favorite show: Caillou and Curious George

Favorite past time: anything outdoors…. swimming, riding his scooter, playing ball, working on his tool bench in the garage when it’s 115 outside!

We are so proud of our little super hero.  Again, I can’t believe he is FIVE!  He is becoming such a kind, caring and determined little man.  And don’t get me wrong, he totally has his stinky moments too (like meltdown yesterday when Colbie blew out a few of his candles!)  There are still plenty of those!  But what kid doesn’t?!  Happy Birthday GG! We love you so so much!!

“DON’T FORGET TO PRAY FOR PIGGY”

I have a cute story to share about Colbie and our recent trip to Phoenix.

Almost every night before we eat, Blaine usually leads us in a prayer.  For the past 2-3 months, Colbie has had a very specific request to “pray for the piggy.”  Nine times out of ten she interrupts Blaine or I & gets pretty upset if we don’t add, “and please watch over the piggy.”  Grayson does have this little stuffed animal pig, but the funny thing we hardly ever see Colbie play with it and it is by no means her favorite toy.  We really don’t know where this came from. Nevertheless, for the past two months, thanks to Colbie’s persistence, we have been praying for the piggy.

Blaine and I spent last Thursday and Friday in Phoenix for several more Doctor visits, hospital tours, and just getting more prepared for the upcoming months.  Our last stop on Friday was to meet the baby’s surgeon and get a tour of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. We will be delivering at Good Sam and then transferred over to PCH within about a week of delivery for treatment, where we’ve been told we will be spending about a month or so….hopefully less.  When we get off the elevator for the tour of the floor that our little guy will be staying, our guide points out that it is the fifth floor, also known as “the piggy floor” and she points to a big statue of a pig right by the elevator.  It has something to do with pig valves often used in human heart valve replacements.  So needless to say, I couldn’t hold back my tears when I saw the giant “piggy” and immediately thought of Colbie and how, thanks to her, we have been praying for this little piggy for a good two months now. God definitely works in special ways and this was just one of those eye-opening and re-assuring moments for us. 

All things considered, I guess you could say we received good news at our follow up eco appointment in that while the valve still remains blocked, the cardiologist did not see any negative changes that often go along with this condition.  We are still hoping for the simplest of procedures, but understand now that the treatment plan is still dependent upon how everything looks following delivery.  We had another ultrasound the same day with the ob and learned that the baby is growing well in all other areas and is already bout 3 1/2 pounds, so that was good news.  We were also given a better idea of how and when delivery will take place so we can sort of plan for the next few months.  Looks like we will be moving to Phoenix a little sooner than expected, but that’s ok.  As overwhelming as things feel at times, we rest assured knowing that ultimately this isn’t in our hands and we just have to trust that everything will be ok…. and deep down I know it will be.  We are just going to keep positive and continue our daily prayers for this little piggy!