Visiting Taylor

How has it been four years missing you. We love you Taylor and will never forget how you have changed all of our lives for the better. We can't wait to see you again!

Jake 3 Years 2 Months

Jake Oliver your a month older and each month you have more stories to tell and jokes to say, we love your little personality shining through. Jake at 3 years 2 months old...

1. Jake loved playing with Hunter. Jake had his cousin come and stay with us for a couple of days around Easter,  Jake was in little boy heaven. I already thought we needed to get Jake a brother but I think watching Jake with Hunter really emphasized that he truly needs some boy time. Maybe one day.

2. Jake celebrated Easter. Jake loved hunting for eggs this year and was so ecstatic about his Easter basket. Jake is so fun with holidays as he fully understands whats going on. Jake will be such a blast this year for Christmas.

3. Jake loved Disneyland. Jake is Disneyland obsessed by watching it on YouTube, now that he knows it exists and is a real thing he can go to we have amplified that obsession times a thousand. Jake kept saying that first day, "Just like YouTube" with everything and it was so funny. Jake's favorite ride was of course Lightning McQueen (Radiator Springs Racers) but he had a few others that he really loved too: It's a small world, Mators Junkyard Jamboree, Meeting Lightning McQueen, Mator and Buzz Lightyear, both Toy Story rides (Disneyland and California Adventure), Goofys Playhouse, Winnie the Pooh and of course running around Animation Studios. Basically the whole park was Jake's favorites and he asks to go back to Disneyland daily. In one of the parades Jake saw Captain Hook and Jake shouted, "Hey Captain Hook" and then he spit at him (thank goodness he didn't hear but my goodness it is hard to punish a little boy when it was so funny haha).

4. Jake is saying the darnedest things. Jake is so funny and I wish I remembered everything he says. On the way to Disneyland he did say a couple of things that were really cracking us parents up though. When Andie was getting sick I told Daddy to stop, Jake pipes up saying, "We can't stop in the middle of the road, Mom your funny" haha no buddy you are the funny one. Another time Jake asked for his iPad as it was charging in the front of the van. I told him it was at 76% so he could have it and he states, "That is sick" in the coolest little voice ever. Also on the trip we were in the parking lot to the Mesa Arizona Temple and across the street was an LDS church. We turned around in the parking lot so Jake saw the temple. He then states, "WOW, Jesus Christ". I think he had Mom and Dad laughing at it for the next hour. I love you my boy.

5. Jake is very impressive. Jake got a finger poke at the WIC office and guess what this little boy impressed the whole office. Jake didn't even flinch when he got his finger poked, it was like so casual. I think my mouth literally hit the floor, good job my baby boy!

6. Jake has a sword obsession. Jake was in heaven with all the little swords and light sabers in Disneyland. I am pretty sure on Jake's bucket list is to one day get a sword of his very own haha until then he will continue to improvise with measuring tapes and get all tangled up (joking).

7. Jake is growing. Jake is getting so big and I can't even call him my little boy anymore. Jake is 34 pounds and 38 inches tall, he is in the 60% for average height and weight combined. Jake is in 3T clothes but I am sure we will be moving him up to 4T shortly. Jake my boy stop growing, I think its all the cheeseburgers without the bun that he eats haha.

8. Jake is scared of the canyons. We were driving through the red rock canyons and I am pretty sure Jake was having a panic attack telling Daddy not to drive us off the road. Jake wasn't a fan of the steep drop offs and Mom wasn't either.

Jake my boy you are very much loved by your Mom and your Daddy. You bring us so much joy and we can't even imagine life without you front and center in it. You give us energy to continue on each day and the smiles you bring into our home are countless. I love you so much my big boy and please slow down and never grow up!

Mothers Day 2017

Mothers Day is such a special day when you have those little cuties to spoil you. This year we had so much fun by celebrating with food, playgrounds, a new necklace (LOVE) and of course my yearly wish of a picture with just my kiddos. It was so fun to celebrate my 5th Mothers Day!

Andie's legs got stuck in here and Mom had to climb in to help while Daddy pushed from the outside haha.

Mom's Wrist Update

Oh my darn wrists. Last I wrote about was I got an arthroscopy and MRI on my wrist. I went to the doctor and got the results back from everything expecting them to at least find something. Guess what?! NOTHING was found. When they looked very very closely they might of found a few small tears but it shouldn't be causing everything that was going on.

I was given a choice between taking some medication which would make me gain weight quickly and might not even fix any of the problem as its experimental and then do surgery after if needed OR I could jump straight to the exploratory surgery. I chose surgery as it felt right at the time.

Surgery is scheduled for the doctor to go in and explore whats going on in my wrist. If we can find whats going on with the right wrist at that point we can then look at the left wrist if its acting up a bit more and see if its the same thing there. So everyone cross your fingers they will find SOMETHING!

Radiology Tech

Zachary has been working towards going into Radiology Technician schooling. We have had this our goal for the past couple years. We knew it would be a long process but my goodness we didn't realize just how hard it was going to be. We have been told one thing and then last minute it would switch therefore prolonging our ultimate goal.

When Zach was going to SLCC he finished his recs and then was told he would have to wait a year before applying for the radiology program. We waited that year! He then went and tested in with a nursing exam type test. He failed by 1 point in the English portion of the study. This made us a bit upset but you can repeat once. Zach studied English so much that he was completely confident, he was told he would only have to do that portion of the test he failed and NOT the whole thing again.

THAT WAS A LIE!

Zachary went in and had to do the whole test again and he hadn't studied for everything else and ended up passing English but bombed some of the other courses. We were so annoyed and tried to fight but it was useless. We then would have to wait TWO YEARS or switch schools.

We decided we would have him switch schools so he only had to wait a year instead of two, mind you this is now two years of waiting around (eye roll). At the other school they required a bit more classes he took while waiting. Time finally came around in December to apply to get into the program by getting referrals, resumes, letters, references, immunizations, etc. This was a stressful time as it was when we were going through a loss of job, our 2nd miscarriage (in a row) and of course did we mention our house being flooded out. The application was submitted three days before the deadline though.

Right before Disneyland in April we finally got a letter in the mail that would ultimately tell us if Zach got into the program or not. We were so anxiously sick and excited to rip it open, so we did just that......HE WAS WAIT LISTED!!!

Thank goodness our Disneyland trip was only a few days later because this was turning out to be a horrible, no good, very bad year. Disneyland did lift our spirits some but then we returned home and remembered real life and would have to decide what our plan B would be. THE DAY AFTER we returned home I got a call on my cell phone (mind you I never answer phone calls from unknown numbers) and I got a prompting to answer it.

I answered the phone so confused on why I would get a prompting to answer. "Is Zachary there". I answered back very slow and confused, "Noooo". Silence as no one spoke. I finally stated, "but I am his wife and can give you his number?". They replied, "That would be great, see this is (his school) calling about the Radiology Program". MY MOUTH DROPPED! I quickly gave them Zach's number and then sent him a quick text to answer his phone if he got a call shortly.

Then next thing I know I got a call from Zach and HE GOT IN TO THE PROGRAM!!! We both just wanted to start crying then and there because of the trials we have been through thus far just getting to this point. Zachary is going to be going to the Radiology Tech program and we are SO EXCITED!

Brooklyn 1 Year 6 Months

Brooklyn you are already a year an a half old and I am struggling realizing you are half way to two years old. I won't have a baby anymore and usually I have one coming. You will make the best big sister one day but until then you need to slow done princess. Brooklyn at 1 year 6 months old...

1. Brooklyn is a soccer fan. Brooklyn is so good when it comes to kicking a soccer ball around (even other guys who watch her skills are so impressed). Brooklyn loves playing with balls outside and always seems to gravitate towards the black and white ones. Brooklyn is going to be my little sports star!

2. Brooklyn went and saw her first baptism. Brooklyn watched her cousin Jessie get baptized and in Brooklyn's eyes she wanted to go and play in the water too. I never realized how much kids love to watch baptisms.

3. Brooklyn celebrated Easter. Brooklyn didn't quite understand Easter this year but she enjoyed getting an endless supply of chocolate and of course an Elsa doll of her very own. Brooklyn wasn't to interested in finding the hidden Easter eggs this year but it was still so cute to watch her get so excited with her basket.

4. Brooklyn loves puppies. Brooklyn ever since Christmas when she chose out her very own stuffed animal from Grandpa and Grandma Redd has been loving puppies. Of course when it comes to real animals Brooklyn will still keep her distance but stuffed animals are the bomb.

5. Brooklyn went to Disneyland. Brooklyn did so well on the drive to Disneyland and actually didn't complain much in the car and slept so much. Brooklyn was very hesitant with all of the rides and it took her a day or two to warm up. Brooklyn ended up really enjoying the Winnie the Pooh, Ariel and It's a small world. Brooklyn also enjoyed pointing to all the characters but didn't want to be to close to them.

6. Brooklyn loves to say cheese for pictures. Brooklyn has the best little photo cheesy smile and it's the cutest thing ever. I honestly hope Brooklyn loves these all when she is older because she has a ton because Mom loves it just so much!

7. Brooklyn waves to everyone. Brooklyn is very much a people person but she has to warm up to them before really being comfortable. Brooklyn will wave to everyone and its the cutest thing to see other peoples faces light up as they wave back to the cutest little baby girl ever! Brooklyn also is a pointer. When she points she will pat her hand on you over and over again till you look at her then she will point at whatever she wants you to look at. It's the cutest thing as she keeps patting and patting. I love you my princess Brooklyn.

8. Brooklyn is uneasy about swimming. Brooklyn went swimming twice while we were on our vacation in Disneyland. Each time Brooklyn had to be right up close in moms arms and no where else but leaning against Momma (Brooklyn gives the best hugs). On the Disneyland trip Brooklyn was a Mommas girl and it was the best feeling in the world. Brooklyn doesn't remember Mom being at home to much since I am always working at the sleep clinic. Brooklyn enjoyed all the time she got to spend with Mom for a change.

9. Brooklyn is growing up so quickly. Brooklyn is weighing in at 23lbs and is 33 inches tall. Brooklyn is about 75% for both her height and weight combined, I don't know where my baby went. Brooklyn is also talking a lot more clearly and basically can understand what anyone tells her and is able to relay messages back quite well.

Brooklyn Riley my princess you are growing into such an amazing little girl. You have this love for people and life that I strive to be like you each day. You have taught your mother so much already in your short life and I can't wait to continue to watch and learn from you each and every day. Brooklyn I love you so much, never forget that you mean the world to me!