Easter Sunday

Erik and I lay in bed last night going over the days events, Easter just felt different this year.  The boys are at such a weird age for Holidays.  Do they still believe?  Do they not believe? Do they  not believe but don't want to say anything for fear of not receiving gifts?  Do they not say anything because they feel the Holidays changing as much as Erik and I and they don't want to loose "that" feeling as much as we don't want to.

We started Saturday with coloring eggs, they were excited as always for about 15 minutes at which point they took a t.v. break.  One hour later  I had lay down the law and make them come and finish their eggs; 4 went un-dyed.

They weren't as excited when they went to bed that night, I usually have to pump them full of melatonin on holidays to get them to sleep, but they went down just fine.  Easter morning however they were up at the crack of dawn whispering in their room wondering what kind of tasty treats  were left for them; also probably wondering how a little tiny bunny could magically leave the whole world treats in one night.  Or is it not a tiny bunny but a 6 foot creature that maybe they should be more afraid of than excited for.

Finding their eggs was much like dying their eggs, they were done half way thru; maybe I provide too many!  The rest of the day was mostly relaxing, sitting around the house playing, watching t.v., and getting a few things done.

Grandmas house for dinner was nice as always, dinner was delicious, dessert was even better; maybe because I don't eat dessert that often anymore.  The kids played ball out back and did their PaPa easter egg hunt.   Each grandchild gets 10 eggs with $1 in each egg.  I love the money thing, my kids need more candy like I need another diet coke.

The days events are done, the kids are down for the night and Erik and I are laying in our bed feeling that it is just not the same.  Our little family is growing up and while some parts of that are great other parts, like holidays really suck.  Maybe in a year or two we will have that renewed life, that excitement again..............

Happy Easter.

PineWood Derby

Alongside homework, teaching combat, dad heading out of town, and baseball practice we had our pinewood derby last night.  Our experience at the pinewood derby taught me a lot, one is that I am growing up a little:

Carters car had the fastest speed in all four races on all four tracks, he beat out every car he raced against, and he went the furthest on the track every time.  In fact he went further and got there faster than anyone else ever did.  For some reason he did not win, maybe there was error in that of the girl that was averaging the numbers or maybe I just don't get the way that it is done.  This is what I know; I was already so upset from a number of things that had happened that evening, my blood pressure was already way up.  When I asked and heard he wasn't in the top 3 I took a deep breath then told Carter.  He was visibly upset but as I went over to gripe and complain to my mom and dad I noticed what Carter did.  He went on playing with his friends, he stood there as the awards were won and he cheered when 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize were handed out.  He didn't give it another thought, he is a boy, he was having fun and he wasn't going to let anything stop him.

Who am I,  even as his mother to teach him to behave any different than the way he just did.  He was a good sport and a good looser even when he knew he probably should have won.  I don't know if that is a quality that can be taught or if it a quality that he just has but I am so proud of him.  Maybe I should take a step back and a deep breath every once in a while and let my kids teach me a few things.  Carter is a strong boy with a gigantic heart.

Life in the fast lane, or at least it feels that way

Here we are in the middle of April with winter, spring, and summer all in the same day.  The boys are in Baseball, practicing three times a week,  games one or two times if the weather will allow.  They have the pinewood derby tomorrow for which they are not ready, we haven't had the time or the DAD to make a car let alone two cars.  They will be just fine using their amazing cars from last year; Erik spent enough time on them to count for 2 years anyway.

I feel busy as all get out trying to put together the pinewood derby even though I asked to be released nearly 2 months ago, oh well.  I also have teacher appreciation next week that I am doing for the PTA, it is going along fairly smooth and so far hasn't consumed to much of my time.  I am also trying to kick my own butt at CrossFit.  I have some pretty lofty goals that I hope to reach by the end of the school year, when I reach my goals I will create new ones.  There is always room for improvement.

Erik is busting his butt non-stop.  Even if he isn't at work in the O.R. or at his desk his mind is going a million miles a minute.  He has been home for 4 days from his two and a half week adventure and he leaves again tomorrow.  We are starting to miss him.  This is a big lifestyle change for all four of us, we are used to being together all of the time.  It is going to take a while to get used to but I know we will, and I know it will be worth it.

Here is to hoping that it will stop raining and snowing.  Lets hope that we will soon be watching the boys play ball and that I can get my garden planted in the next couple weeks.  It is going to be a great summer I can feel it.  Let the adventure begin.

Where is spring, I think it's lost

9 days until Easter, the first day of spring was March 20; that's 3 weeks ago.  Here I sit home alone while Erik is training for his new job and it is snowing outside.  I would love to show the great pictures of our spring break that was nine days long, but we don't have any; it snowed the whole time.  In fact in 36 hours we got over 14 inches of the wettest snow ever.  Erik was bummed he wasn't here to go boarding, I was bummed that instead of riding our beach cruisers up and down the boulevard I was judging the boys in an indoor slam dunk contest; do they know that I can't judge honestly for fear of hurting ones feelings?  So, in lieu of this years spring pics you are getting exactly one year ago today.  April 14, 2010.  Please be aware of the difference so when I think back and wonder why I was so depressed spring of 2011 this blog will remind me.

This is not spring, though they look very happy we all know there should be no snow

Ice outside, if we did this today we would be doing either Hot Cocoa or using the snow to make a lemonade Icee concoction.

Yes, April 14 2010 we were having a lemonade stand while I worked in the yard

No snow what so ever.  The leaves and plants are on their way out.  Gorgeous.  This is what spring should be.

When the Bubbas were born

When the boys were first born I kept a Journal in the form of a calendar.  One of the nurses told me how much it would mean to me one day if I would just jot down a couple of details each day.  She told me how hard the next chapter of our lives was going to be and that I would most likely not remember little details.  Here is what I wrote:


Monday(Labor day) September 3, 2001
Carter and Riley are born.  Riley is 3lbs 15oz. 16 inches long
Carter is 4lbs 7oz 17inches long


Tuesday September 4
Carter is on a ventilator, Riley is on oxygen.  Both boys have I.V.'s


Wednesday September 5
Babies are good, I am discharged from the hospital today.  The boys will remain in the NICU


Friday September 7
BillyRubin is high on both.  U.V. light is turned on


Monday September 10
Billy lights were turned off. Both boys are nippling and doing Awesome.  Feeding tube is last thing to go


Wednesday September 12
Babies put in the same crib.  They LOVE it!


Thursday September 13
Carter has a Bellyache.  Riley is doing great.


Friday September 14
Boys are separated Carter is sick.  At 10p.m. he is transferred to primary children's hospital with N.E.C.
*special thanks to the amazing nurse who caught this so early.

Saturday September 15
Riley is doing good.  Carter is taken in for surgery at 9:30 p.m. It's a success, now it is time to heal.

Sunday September 16
Didn't see Riley today.  Carter doesn't look so hot.  Nurses say he is "hanging in there".  Erik and I are both emotional.

Monday September 17(2 weeks old)
Went with my mom to see Riley, he is doing awesome.  Saw Carter two times, his color is better, he is still in pain.

Tuesday September 18
Riley is doing awesome.  He weighs 4lbs 13oz.  My Mom saw Carter, he opened his eyes.  She said he looked good.

Wednesday September 19
Riley is doing good, Carter is hanging in there.  I wish they were at the same hospital.

Thursday September 20
Happy Day!  I got to breast feed Riley today.  Carter got his ventilator out.  Both babies are doing awesome.

Saturday September 22
Carter got his ART line out, his anderson tube is looking good, it might come out soon.  Riley weighs 5lbs 3oz.  He loves to breast feed.

Sunday September 23
Riley got his N.G. tube out.  Carter got his anderson tube out and is starting breast milk tonight.  AWESOME DAY!

Monday September 24( 3 weeks old)
Carter had an echo.  His P.D.A. looks smaller.  Riley will come home on Wednesday.  Both boys weigh 5lbs.1oz.

Tuesday September 25
Spent the night at Ogden Regional Medical Center

Wednesday September 26
Riley came home today!  Carter could come home in 1-2 weeks.

Thursday September 27
Carter's PIC line came out.  I put him to breast for the first time, he latched on well.  Riley was left with my Mom for the first time.

Friday September 28
37 weeks gestation.  Riley went to the Dr. he weighed 5lbs 8oz

Tuesday October 2(4 weeks old)
Carter comes home with a colostomy  bag.

Friday November 2(5 1/2 weeks after leaving primarys)
Carter goes in for his takedown.  Couldn't feed him since midnight.  He was starving.

Saturday November3
He looks so cute and chubby, he must have gained a pound.  I didn't even recognize him after surgery.

Wednesday November 7(5 days later 10 1/2 weeks old)
Carter is sent home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Riley 

Carter

Carter  

Riley

My first time seeing Riley, hours after delivery 

Trying to decide who will be Carter and who will be Riley.  I think we were inspired.

Erik & Covidien

Erik Got a new gig as the Sr. Hernia Specialist for Utah, we are so proud of him.  What a great example he is to the boys that if you work hard in school and in life you can accomplish all of your dreams.
Erik has been in Connecticut for 9 days and counting, by the time he is done it will have been 2 weeks.  This is where he is being trained for his new job, I don't know if it is the hardest thing he has ever done but I am assuming that it ranks right up there.
Over the past few years Erik has worked from home where we have spent nearly everyday all day together.  Him being gone for so long has really taught me to appreciate him more.  I have always known what a great husband and father he is,  he contributes more to this family than you could ever imagine; no way would he ever let anyone label him a 50's dad.  He will get in there and help me with anything from diapers to laundry,to breakfast burritos on Sunday morning.
We can't wait for our Dad to come home so we can embark on this next journey of our lives together.
Thanks, Erik for everything you do!

Remember how cute they were?

Riley Bear

Carter

Riley

Riley, Carter, & Shane.  This is about the time uncle Shane started to touch Carter!!!

Do they get much cuter?

Ya, she is not mine!!!  Love you Kaylee

Uncle J.C. and Carter

Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world

Gramzie and Riley

Looks like Cart's can't get that head off the bed

Always holding hands.

All smiles 

Lunch time

Always a smile

Look at those cheeks

See, still smiling

Carter

Kauai, Hawaii

If there was ever any doubt as to wether or not he was a boy, here is the proof.

And a cute one at that

Erik was wearing a red swimsuit, don't tell him but when I was taking the pic I thought that guy in the red swimsuit was him,  OOPS.  I know your belly isn't that big, sorry honey. 

Riley loves bodyboarding.  I always new he was a tough kid but I had no idea just how tough he was until we went on this trip.  He had absolutely no fear, he would have gone out further than Erik if we would have let him.  The only reason he ever got out of the water was if we made him.  No wave was too strong or too powerful.  Kinda scares me a little.

And no matter where we go there is always time to throw the football, and always a dad that is willing to throw it.  Thanks again Dad