Alex's Birthday and Reinventing myself

 Alex turned 15 on March the 15th (again, his golden birthday).  Our dear friends Adam and Crystal Zurligen  made this cake for him and I thought it was the sweetest thing ever.  Not only that, but it tasted delish!!!  Carrot cake is Alex's fav so that's what the field was and the baseball was white cake for the kids (who prefer white cake).  I was touched that our friends would do that for us.  It was a fun night and Alex really felt spoiled, I think.   He also got a basketball hoop for the trampoline, which he spends every waking moment on, unless he's playing baseball :).

Adam presenting the work of art

So my fifteen year old is growing up and I'm falling behind in keeping up with him.  He started baseball recently, is on two teams and is busy as could be.  Oh, he also has maintained his honor roll status and recently finished learning a song on the piano that is, in my opinion, very difficult.  It took him most of the year, but hey, it was worth it, and is beautiful.  He is also playing the guitar and has quite a bit of talent.  He is always writing songs and coming up with new things to play on both instruments.  He is the light of my life.   My first born and my dear friend.  He is a teenager, so don't get me wrong, we have our tiffs, but this kid is a dream!  He starts drivers ed in a few months (once baseball is over) and is excited to drive...his mom is excited too, I must say.  I will be happy when he can drive himself to all these practices!

All of us on Alex's birthday (except me--someone needed to take the picture!)

Crystal and little Radley having bouncing fun on the trampoline.



My sweet friend Crystal, who knows way too much about me for how little we've known each other.  She tolerates me well,  and beautiful boy Radley.



So what's new with "Reinventing myself" you ask????  WELL.....I have taken up quilting.  I got a fabulous new sewing machine from a sweet undisclosed source and took some lessons.  I love doing the quilting and have already finished 3 pieced tops.  It's very fun and lets me be creative.

A quilt I made for a friend's new baby.  It turned out okay, but it was hard to sew on flannel that thin!!!

My first quilt I started at my class.  I wish you could see the print of the fabric.  It's all birds and bird-related it's beautiful if I say so myself.

What else is new this last few months?? Well, I have started to swim a lot.  I am at the pool almost every day and I'm trying desperately to teach myself to swim....you know, the "real" way with breathing and the whole bit.  It's something I've never been able to do.  I'm getting better.  I usually just use the kick board a lot and snorkel, but I can feel my lungs getting stronger, not to mention my legs and arms.  It's something I look forward to everyday.

One more new thing is that Martin and I have almost completely got our adoption work started and going.  We haven't got an agency officially but have done our home study through LDS Social Services.  It's taken a lot of paper work and a lot of classes and a lot of fingerprinting down at the police station (which is the closest I hope to ever get).  It has been an eye opener.  The classes especially have been fun and we have learned a ton.  So how do we adopt without an agency?  Well, if we get a designated adoption we would be allowed to go through LDS, but otherwise we might be paying some major bucks, but it's worth it.  We hope to be ready to start with our adoption blog and pass out cards (yes, they have pass along cards for adoption) and hopefully putting a profile on "Parent profiles."  So look for that coming up.  In the mean time word of mouth is our best friend.  If you have any leads for a birth mother who is looking for a loving family to adopt please pass on our name and even this blog.

We love you all and hope everyone is doing well!!

Heather

Dear Family and Friends


It is with great joy that Martin and I would like to share with you the recent decision our family has made to pursue adoption. We are sure this may come as a great surprise to many of you, but after much prayer, fasting, and confirmation we feel certain that this is a road we are meant to now travel at this time. This letter will share a few of the things that have led us to this monumental decision. We hope that you will read and consider these things with an open mind and heart.
We have felt for a long time that there is a fourth child meant to be in our family. I have known there was a fourth since the minute Isaac was born. Our family is not yet complete. The spirit has over and over again reconfirmed this feeling. Yet we have been confused as to how best welcome this spirit in to our home. I have some health concerns, and as you know pregnancy is extremely difficult for me. Those avenues have not led us to where we want to be. We have spent agonizing months and years trying to make sense of how to deal with health issues and how in the world I would be able to have a healthy pregnancy. We feel this is no longer a feasible option.

We have spent a great deal of time researching adoption, talking to friends and professionals about the process and what all is involved. We apologize for not keeping you in the loop about our thoughts on this topic, but as it is such a personal decision we decided to keep the decision between Martin and I until we had received confirmation about what we are supposed to do.
We are certain that you may have opinions on the decision we have made. Please know that we love you and value your input. But also realize that we have already made a decision with the Lord’s help, and ask that you respect our decision to move forward with adoption. This is a highly sensitive topic for us obviously.

The next steps for us are to choose an agency to work with. We will most likely choose LDS Social Services. We then will need to complete an extensive home study designed to certify us as “good parents.” I wish I could tell you what kind of a timeline to expect – we have been told the process can be very quick (from a matter of weeks) to several years. We are in this for the long haul, and however long it takes we will be glad to welcome one special, chosen child of our Heavenly Father's into our home.

We love you all and are grateful to share this amazing, and somewhat scary, new chapter in our lives with you. Feel free to ask us about the process at any time as I’m sure we will be eager to share details. We know you will welcome this beautiful new baby into your hearts with the same love you have Alex, Olivia and Isaac.

All our love,

Heather and Martin

My Daughter, the Twelve-Year-Old

I'm a couple of months behind on my blogging.  I regret that but onward and upward, right?

Olivia turned 12 on December 11th, 2010.   She had a great time inviting some close friends to her favorite restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen.  I think they all had a fun time.  I wasn't feeling great but I was so glad that I was able to go and see her with her friends.  I liked seeing how they relate with each other and the differences between their personalities.  That's a fun thing for a mom.

I also remember the day she was born and how happy I was to be over the sickness that had racked my body for nine months but also to see this beautiful, fat little girl that has become the sunshine of my life.  She has always been positive and happy, which is something every family needs!

So, now I have a girl in Young Women's, loves makeup and "her" music.  She keeps growing and that's just bitter sweet for me.  I think I will blink and she'll be graduating, going to college and getting married.  I want it to slow down a bit.  She mentioned to me the other day that she tells me everything.  That was so amazing to hear and I am thankful that she is so patient with a mom who sometimes gives her less than she deserves.

Some cool things about Olivia (the 12-Year-Old Version)

1.  She loves Taylor Swift.
2.  She loves art and being artistic
3.  She is an accomplished pianist and is continuing to gain knowledge and talent in her music
4.  She has a roommate named "Tinker," the cat.  Tinker loves her so much that she lives in Livi's room and never leaves.  Partly, this may be because of the mischievous "other" cat that inhabits our house and torments Tinker.  But with Livi, Tinker finds peace, happiness and contentment.  I know she is grateful to Olivia for that.  I love to see them at night snuggling together while Olivia reads.
5.  Olivia loves kids and babies.  They are drawn to her because she hangs back and lets them come to her.
6.  She is an awesome big and little sister...no matter what her brothers say!
7.  She continues to be an "A" student and I never have to remind her to do her homework.  She is a self-starter and responsible.  She really barely needs me.
8.  She recently has left her fear of swimming behind and become confident in the pool, something she has struggled with in the past.
9.  She gives me a hug and says she loves me every night without fail right after she reads her scriptures (she never misses).
10.  She is a planner and a journalist and is always writing something.  She is a talented writer.
11.  She is confident and has much integrity.  Nobody will get her to do anything she doesn't believe in.

Livi got a new haircut over the Christmas break and it's funny how all of a sudden she is this grown-up Young woman.  I love you Livi Bug!

Bull's Eye!

We've had a couple of injuries incurred in the past couple of weeks.  First of all, Isaac and Alex LOVE to wrestle, fight, and generally rough house.  It drives me crazy usually but sometimes it's cute.  Alex is really good and kind to Isaac when they are going at it and so nobody gets hurt.  But sometimes accidents do happen.  Isaac got a knee to the cheek a couple of weeks ago from playing and it bruised up his eye too.  At first when I told him I think he'd have a black eye he was worried that he would be made fun of at school.  But when Alex and Martin told him it was a sign of "manliness" he got really excited.  He then kept asking me hopefully, if it was getting blacker....which it did for a couple of days.

My bull's eye 2 days post-incision

In other news I noticed a bump on the back of my knee a week ago that looked and felt like a giant pimple or ingrown hair.  I didn't think much of it until I kept waking up all night in pain because of it and could barely walk!  The size of said "blemish" had expanded quite a bit and it hurt!   It looked like a gigantic bull's eye--and it kept growing!!  Martin suggested I see the doctor and boy, am I glad I did!  The doctor told me it was an ingrown hair, pimple, or some type of insect bite that had gotten infected...and HOW!  My leg felt like it was on fire.  It felt like it was in my muscle so that every time I bent the leg a little bit it hurt.  (Just so you know you really stretch the skin on the back of your knee when you walk...trust me).   I got some antibiotics and the doc sent me home with instructions to lay off the leg for a few days.  Well, I already had my workout gear on, and my leg felt alright that morning so I went off to the gym.  Big mistake!  Later, my leg was so swollen I couldn't even bend it.  Flash forward 2 days and I'm in the doctor's office squeezing the very life out of Martin's hand as the doc lanced the sore to relieve some of the fluid.  The oozy stuff just kept on coming out.  It was really disgusting.  She had to really push throughout the sore and cut into the abscess to find all the infection.  I was glad I had my back to the doctor and couldn't see it!  I then had to have a "drain" put in to continue to drain the extra pus.  It is still at this moment draining so much that it runs down my leg if I don't cover it up!  TMI???   It is the grossest, most painful thing ever!  I am so glad I got on those antibiotics as soon as I did or I could have been in real trouble.  I think of the infection my Dad had gotten and how it spread to his knee and I feel very glad that I listened to Martin and got into the doctor as soon as I did.  Dad must have been in so much pain to have had the infection spread to his knee.  I cringe just thinking about it! 

I hope this doesn't make you too sick!  Hahahaha!   It's definitely been a hard week and I hope I can get back to life next week!   Whoo knew a tiny little sore could cause so much trouble?!  It was really miserable.

A Bunch of Muggles on All Hallows Eve

We had so much fun this weekend.  It was Halloween on Sunday, of course, but the weekend was super fun from the beginning of Friday morning to the last trick-or-treater Sunday night.  I can't remember a funner weekend.  And no, it hasn't got anything to do with the fact that I accidentally took my AM medications in the PM and vice-versa.  Did I have more energy?  Yes, but I also slept about 2 hours Friday night.  By the time Saturday night came around I could barely sit up straight.  That's how it goes when you take so many pills that you need a pill sorter (like my 69 year old Dad) to keep your life organized.

I am the room coordinator this year again for Isaac's class (don't ask).  It was awesome fun to get to plan the party for his class.  He has been so excited.

 When that party was over, I hate to say it, but I went home and slept about 3 hours.  I was exhausted!  20 seven year old kids to entertain is not always easy.  How do their teachers do it?

Friday night we did our annual pumpkin cutting adventure.  What can I say?  I was groomed as a master pumpkin cutter by my very own Father.  I didn't get out the chain saw this year, the size of my pumpkin required much less this year.  However, Martin thinks it's funny that I can gut 4 pumpkins in the time it takes him to gut his own.  Jealous????  Yeah, I got skills.

Martin, Alex and Isaac's pumpkins.  Guess which one's Isaac's.

Livi and my pumpkins.  Mine's the tree and Livi, who loves owls, is the owl.

Saturday morning we were off to the big city to the Pacific Science Center to catch the Harry Potter Exhibit.  The kids were so excited they didn't sleep.  I didn't sleep, but that was for another reason...(see above).  We had so much fun waiting in line for the exhibit.  The excitement was thick enough to cut with a knife, especially from Isaac.  It's too bad he was the first one to be severely disappointed!  He was bored within 15 minutes of beginning the tour.  It was a little advanced fan-wise for him.  The other 4 of us were so into it that we looked like complete idiots ooohing and aaahhhing at the different costumes and props.  I am seriously a Harry Potter geek.  I got goose bumps when I saw Professor Dumbledore's dress robes!





Isaac BEFORE his severe disappointment reared its ugly head!



Saturday night we all loaded up and headed off to the trunk or treat at the church.  It was fun and no better place for the kids to get their fill of candy.  You'd think they wouldn't need to get any more, but the next night found them all off collecting more.  It was ridiculous!  Livi's candy weighed 10 pounds (she weighed it).  Now what is she going to do with that much candy???  I guess just be a  kid.  And that's what I felt like this whole weekend.  It was so much fun and we will remember it for a lot of years to come!

Harry Potter, Juan and Livi the Roaring 20's flapper at the trunk or treat!

"Ay, Caramba!"

"Stupefy!"

A bunch of lovely ladies

A Mish-Mash of Emotion

My emotions have been (a-hem), well, difficult to deal with lately.  I have had an especially hard time the last month or two.  It has been hard to have Dad sick and in the treatment center.  It's been hard to leave family behind after spending a long time with them in Utah this summer.  It's been hard to figure out what our next move should be in our family's infertility battle.  I'm dealing with these emotions and coming to terms with them.  Here's an update on all those fronts!

I have been going through pictures again!!!  I found a lot from this summer that I consider to be from the BEST DAY EVER.  I've been trying to explain to my shrink why I had such a hard time coming home from Utah this past summer.  I have no idea what the answer is to that question, but maybe if I show him these pictures he'll get it better.  How can you not have fun and be happy when you watch children having such fun!?

Dallon

Olivia looking lovely as ever

Alex, who became super-swimmer boy

Dallon and Isaac jumping in tandem (well, trying to at least)

Isaac looking like Mr. GQ

Erin and Phoenix being sweet sisters



A pod of cute swimmers



Pretty Savannah

My Dad goes home tomorrow from the ""Country Club," as he calls it!!  It's actually the care center he's referring to that he's been in for approximately 100 days following his stroke.  I'm so excited and happy that he's going to be able to sleep in his own room and see family members every day! 

Dad and Mom with my kids at the "Country Club"

  Alex has been playing "Fall ball" this year and he's been having fun.  Most games were rained out but we still had fun cheering him on when we could!

Our infertility journey has taken a hiatus this summer.  My body needed it and so did my psyche!!  My Doctor told me last May that I needed to get my BMI down several points before attempting In-Vitro fertilization, which is the next stop for us.  When you hear you're too fat that is NEVER a fun conversation.. just in case you have never had one.  However, since this was not some kind of revelation for me I knew it was the best thing for me, even putting aside my wishes for more rug rats.  I've lost hundreds of pounds in the past (most fat people are super good at losing weight), but this time I wanted to try something different, something that might actually stick.  So I dug in, increased my work-out intensity (turns out I've been taking it too easy on myself in my routine work outs), and cut back on my calorie intake and I lost 20 pounds (give or take).  I'm half a point away from the BMI I need to be at to do the procedure!  Get this:  I did it sans Weight Watchers, Personal Trainers, Nutri-System, Jenny Craig or hypnosis (all of which I have done in the past).  Plus, this is something I can stick to easily.  Now I know this is a drop in the proverbial bucket for me in terms of what I should lose, but I'm happy with finding a way to take it off slow and sure. 

So, this is what's been in my emotional pool lately.  Just thought you'd like to know!