I Believe in Miracles

I was extremely nervous to move to Arizona.  It was around this time last year that Cory and I were getting things squared away for the big move. I was so scared to leave my comfort zone! We lived close to both families, Cory had a steady job, and his school schedule was pretty predictable.

I don't think the transition would have gone as easy as it did with out the help of my brother and his family who lived close by. I love them so much!

Cory has made some really close friends during this past year of school. They are all amazing people!!! One of his friends is married and had 3 kids when we met. His wife was due with their 4th. She and I have become the best of friends along with a lot of others.

Anyway, it was so fun to watch my friend go through her pregnancy because they weren't going to find out the gender until the baby was born. I couldn't imagine doing that. Those who know me know that I can't keep suprises. . . . . that is unless I'm promised to. I do know how to keep a promise. I like to make that very clear! Well, when my friend had her baby I was able to go hold her shortly after. And since then, I've always had a special place in my heart for this little girl! Whenever I'd go over to their house, she knew to just give the baby to me. Her husband would say, "coming over to get your baby fix?" She's left her baby with me a couple times to babysit too, which has always made me feel good. I think it takes a lot of trust to leave your baby with someone. She is the most adorable baby!

On tuesday, I had missed calls from Cory. He came home and told me he'd been trying to get a hold of me for a while. My friends two month old was in the hospital and had been stung twice by a scorpion. I was in shock! Cory told me that they had said it was okay for me to go see them in the ICU. I was balling! I wanted to be strong for my friend when I got to the hospital so, I was just fighting it back the whole time I drove there. The first thing I did when I got there was give my friend a huge hug. I lost it then. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through something like that! Then I went to her baby's bed. I knew there was nothing I could do. But, I just wanted to be next to her.

I was able to go see her on wednesday, and then on thursday which was my birthday. The most special things on my birthday were 1) being able to spend time with my darling kids who I love so much 2) being with my husband who is the most generous and unselfish man I know 3) seeing this little baby open her eyes and taken off ICU status. I have seen the miracle of  this tiny little baby fighting  for her life. She has been such a couragous little girl! I've been trying to explain to Raegan where our friend and her family have been lately. It's been sweet to teach her more about Jesus and why her mother believes in talking to him and asking him for help when we need it. I am so grateful that my friends baby is okay. She will be home soon! I am so grateful for all of the Doctors and Nurses who have taken such amazing care of my good friends! Their knowledge and skills save lives everyday!

My friend has been a true loving mother to her daughter during this hard time. I've seen her go without sleep and with constant worry. But, she's been so steady and comitted to her daughters recovery.  I believe in Miracles.  The miracle of prayer. The miracle of a Parents love for their child. The miracle of modern medicine and the knowledge and skills of those in the medical field. But, most of all, I believe in the miracle of Heavenly Fathers love for each and every one of his children. I felt the love he had for this little baby everytime I saw her in the hospital. I knew he was watching over my friend and her family!

Fun Times in the Desert

Cory went shooting the other day with some of his friends. He had such a great time! This last picture is him wearing his hat from Hondurus.

New Haircuts

I cut the kids hair today. I gave Raegan a trim with some cute swoop bangs and a bit of layers. Easton, we just chopped it all off. I was so sad to see his longer hair go. But, it's starting to get hot! I think they are the two most adorable kids on the planet!

72 hour kits

My friend has been working on her 72-hour kits which got me thinking we needed to do ours. It's always seemed too overwhelming but, I really like what she did. So, I just copied. Helped me to finaly get it done! Raegan was a big help!

Happy Birthday Easton

Our friend that came to Easton's party only had christmas wrapping paper. So, they turned it inside out and drew this picture. Looked awesome! Easton had such a great day! We love him so much and are so grateful to have him be part of our family!

I love:

1. When Cory lays down when I'm posting on the blog and listens to my playlist. I am proud of all the songs!
2. Putting a new movie in our movie collection. Only movies worthy of the movie collection are allowed in my movie collection.
3. Right when the kids wake up and their hair is all messed up and they just want to snuggle. And then they start getting grumpy and I want them to go back to bed.
4. Watching Cory with Easton at swim lessons.
5. When Easton says fish (fith), thanks (hanks), love you (yuv oo), mickey mouse clubhouse (icky-outh-uh-ouuwwth), drink (geenk), mommy (ma-yee), daddy (da-yee), blanket (geek-ee), mine, NO, night-night, and rocks.
6. When Raegan asks me, "Mom? Are you my best friend?"
7. When Raegan sings.
8. Phone calls.
9. The church
10. Nice people
11. The Ellen Show
12. Organizing
13. Girls nights out.
14. Nice weather.
15. The way Easton runs.
16. Going to Idaho.
17. Being with Family.
18. Being with Friends.
19. My Grandma Seegmiller
20. Being Married to Cory
21.When someone likes something I cooked.
22. When Raegan tries to get mine or Cory's attention and says, "guys? guys? hey! GUYS!"
23. That Cory teaches the kids so many things. I'll come home and Easton will know how to count to 10 or what a certain animal says. It's hilarious how he taught them what a turtle, dolphin, giraffe, butterfly, fish, or ant says. Whenever Raegan asks me what an animal says that doesn't really make one, I just say, "go ask your dad" and he makes something up. It's hilarious.

Quick Notes. . . .

*I was at the grocery store today with Raegan. She said to me, "Mom, you are the bestest of them all of all the mommy's in the whole wide world." Cute, huh? Well, after a cute hug she looked up at me and said, "Can I have some Ice Cream?" We weren't even down the ice cream isle and I didn't think that she was trying to bribe me. Maybe she was? Kids are often smarter than we think.

*Yesterday Cory, the kids, and I went for a walk. The weather was great and we had fun walking around the ATSU campus which has the most beautiful palm trees! Easton woke up at 3 a.m. with a temperature. I checked it at 9 am and it was at 103. I took him in and found out he had an ear infection. The Dr. told me that she thinks one of the tubes is out in the infected ear. We'll just have to watch and hope that they don't keep coming back. The poor kid was so miserable. But, he is extra cuddly when he's sick. It's nice because normally he doesn't like to snuggle. I told the Dr that I have been really concerned about Easton's health. With the viral infection in his lungs 2 weeks ago, tubes in his ears, ear infection now, eye infection when he was little, etc. I have felt like I'm a bad mom. I try my best to feed them good things and keep them away from germs. I've just been really sensitive about it. She made me feel so much better.  She told me to keep making sure that he gets Vitamin C, fruits, veggies, etc. She also told me about this Kifer stuff. It helps boost your immune system. Easton hates it. But, I made him take some.

Just Playin'

Sometimes you've gotta do what you've just gotta do to entertain these little tikes :)

Phoenix

 I was at the Doctor yesterday in Phoenix, about a 20 minute drive away. It was an appointment at an ENT for some sinus problems I've been having for the past, oh about 15 years! Along with a deviated septum and a cyst in the sinus cavity. They think I might have chronic inflamation or allergies which cause the sinus's to swell, become blocked, and then create a lovely sinus infection! I get them often and they are not fun! But, I do feel hopeful about the treatment plan.
Traffic was horrible driving out there and there is an exit to the LEFT on the freeway that I always miss. It's good I still got there on time. So, on top of finding a babysitter for while I was gone, driving out there and missing the left exit a couple times, waiting in the office forever, and then 5:00 traffic on the way home, I was  fine with not doing anything else the rest of the day (plus having the doctor stick a camera up your nose and spray who knows what up there wasn't fun either. But, I put my "big-girl pant" on and was just fine). Well, I got home and all I wanted to do was play with Raegan and Easton. And they, like always, were willing. Their favorite thing is to jump on the bed. So we sat there for an hour reading, playing, and hanging out. It's so nice having those two little bugs to turn my day around. I gave Raegan a cute little cupcake pillow today because she smashed her toe really bad. When she got it, she hugged it really tight, then gave me a hug and said in her tiny little 3 year-old voice, "Thanks mom! YOU"RE THE BEST." Then she said, "I can't wait to show dad!" She is such a darling!

Getting Better

At first, Easton hated getting his breathing treatment. Now, he LOVES it. He even likes to hold the mask up to his face by himself. Cory has been taking care of the kids most this weekend while I've been getting a lot of busy-work stuff done (I've thrown some me-time in there too). I came home before the kids bedtime and started getting Easton's machine set up for him before he went to bed. Cory sat down on the chair with him ready to go. I told him that I'd do it and that he needed to go take a break. He said, "no- it's okay, I'll do it." I thought he was just being nice and told him, "no, go take a break, I'll do it." After going back and forth, I got the idea across that Easton's Daddy wanted and loves to take care of his kids and for me to back off. It's no lie that any parent, not matter how much they love their kids, needs some time away. But, I am amazed and at how much Cory loves and cares for them.

Can Opener

I haven't wanted to get an electric can opener for a lot of reasons.

 1. limited counter space.
 2. I can't handle dealing with cords.
 3. have other things I'd rather spend money on.
 4. pretty much the counter/cupboard space thing.

I do have good amount of space. I just don't want to use it for a can opener. It's a wierd little quirk that I've always had.

So, for the past long long while, I've been using the .88 cent kind from walmart and it'll break. Or, I'll use a more expensive one and then it gets all rusty from me not keeping it dry. I've gone through probably about $25 worth over the years.

 Well, I came home today to see my poor husband scavaging through the kitchen trying to find something to eat. I'm not the best in that department of home-making I have to admit. I try. I really do. Maybe not hard enough. But, I'll get there one day. I did make some yummy stuff this week. But, after teaching Raegan not to color on the walls for the millionth time, Easton to sleep in his new toddler bed, laundry, Cory's school schedule and lots of decisions in that department, and the list could go on and on  I, a lot of the time - use P.B & J as an excuse for dinner. I did try and put V8 in Easton's sippy cup today. That was a definate no-go! He just threw it. All three different times that I tried different mixtures with the water and apple juice. I can't believe that I'm admitting all of this. It's good therapy. I really am trying to be better in this area, though. I think it's important.

ANYWAY, it's taken a long while to get to the point. About the can opener. Cory finaly found something to fit his appetite after a long day of school, cleaning the apt, taking care of the kids, etc. It was a can of chilli. He pulled out the cheap manual can opener from the drawer and started opening the can when it busted in half. That was the end of it. I knew I was in trouble, so I grabbed my purse, drove to walmart, picked a good electric can opener not really looking at the price, and then went to subway and bought us dinner :)

Easton

Easton got a cold a couple days ago. Last night at about 10 p.m. he woke up crying. I went and checked on him and he was really hot and breathing heavily. Cory and I gave eachother the usual, "what do we do?" look. We decided to just see how he was through the night and then take him into the doctor in the morning. So, I rocked him in the chair and finaly got him to sleep for a bit. He seemed to be doing fine. At about 2 a.m. I was so tired and went to ask Cory if we could switch shifts. I fell asleep and Cory came in at 5 a.m.telling me that Easton's fever was bad and he wasn't able to get a good breath. He was wheezing really bad. Raegan and I are both sick so, I stayed at home with her and Cory took him in to the Banner Gateway Hospital just across the street from us. They took a look at him and decided to get a chest x-ray and do a breathing treatment. They gave him some sterioids to help strengthen his lungs. The breathing treatment worked, thankfully so he didn't have to be admitted. Cory said that Easton flipped getting the breathing treatment done. He kept crying for his mom. When I was giving it to him later in the day, I thought it was funny that he kept crying for his dad. While he was at the hospital, Cory said that he was playing with the nurses. Whenever one would walk in he'd cover his face with his hands and then yell, "Peek-a-boo" or "Hi" really loud. Anyway, tuesdays are the longest day for Cory in school. He goes straight through without hardly a breath. Poor thing is exhausted. My mission today was to just keep Easton happy. Which meant, let the tornado tear the house apart. Which is exactly what he did. Cory called me on the way home from school and said that one of his friends was coming to help give Easton a blessing. Although the place was an absolute mess, I was so grateful to have that for my little guy. In the middle of our disaster apartment, I sat on the chair and held Easton while Cory and his friend gave him a priesthood blessing. Peace filled the room. And peace fills my heart thinking about it. I am so blessed, as imperfect as I am, to be where I am in life and to have what I have. This experience turned out for the best and will keep going that direction. Thank you to friends and family who have been there for me today. I am blessed.

I love how he always crosses his feet.

Yes, those are my ginormous shoes he's wearing.

He put them on all by himself.

Best way to entertain a two-year old.

 Opening and shutting the pantry door yelling, "peek-a-boo".

 He took all of these plates apart and then stacked them back together, over and over.

 He didn't like my meatballs and rice. It's okay, bud. I didn't like them either.

Disney on Ice in Phoenix

Getting ready to go see Disney on Ice the Princess Classics.

Where do we go?

Mommy and Me.

I can't tell who's more excited, Cory or Raegan?

Raegan had a great night!

Visitors!

Raegan's Cousin, Amber visiting from Washington

 Raegan's cousin, Spencer.

 Left to Right: My sister Carrie, Raegan, My Bro-in-Law Derek, niece Amber, Easton, nephew Spencer.

 This is what I get to wake up to every day, Palm Trees and Blue Blue Skies! It's starting to get hot here, though!

 Easton has really started to talk a lot the past two weeks. His favorite thing to do now is say "cheese" for the camera. That's what he's doing in this picture right before we were headed out to go swimming.

 It look like he's throwing a fit in this picture but, he's really yelling, "cheese" for the camera. Look at that vein on his neck!

 "Cheese"

 My sister, Carrie, who was here from Washington. Her husband was here interviewing for a job in Prescott (about 2 hours away) and we got to have them over for a bit. So good to see them! Raegan almost fell asleep getting a piggy back ride.

 Okay, so this picture is disgusting and I debated whether or not I should post it. You can tell which one I picked :) Well,  right before company came to stay the night, the toilet stopped working in the guest bathroom. Wonderful, right? Well, after a lot of work (not on my part) this is what was discovered stuck in the pipes - Easton's bath ball. I wonder who flushed it down there?????

 Cory goes to school with someone who has such a neat family! They have been such a blessing for us to get to know. We love having their kids over (Camilla, Tucker, and Hayden). They came over today while their mom and 3 week old little sister were in Safford (a couple hours away). Easton, once again, is saying "cheese" for the camera. I'll never get over how stinkn' cute it is!

No More Crib

The good thing about being a parent is watching your kids grow up. The bad thing about being a parent is watching your kids grow up. Easton graduated from a crib today and I'm not gonna lie, it hit a soft spot for the mom. But, I like that I can sit next to him while he's sleeping. I'm working on getting him a toddler bed. For now, he's doing just fine on his mattress. Cute little guy! ( I like the therapy that blogging does, I feel better about my boy growing up now that I've vented).

The 3 People in My Life Who Make Me Smile the Most. . . . .

Little Miss Raegan likes to climb into Easton's crib with him and play when they're supossed to be napping! It's so cute, though. They jump up and down and when I come in they wonder how I knew. Just because the door is shut, kids, doesn't mean mom can't hear you!

Oh, my. He was in heaven sporting that thing! It only lasted 2 days because he couldn't handle my making fun of it. I couldn't take him seriously with anything! It's not a good look, babe. Loves, though!

I thought if I hid the candy in the cupboard full of canned vegetables and things, she wouldn't find them. Nope, the little stinker is smarter than her mother! And this girl loves to be naked. All the time! And doesn't mind answering the door that way either. I'm trying to teach her. Trying. Trying. Trying.

Bath time is starting to get fun. The kids don't scream and whine about having to wash their hair like they used to. They actually play now! They both hate getting their nails clipped! It's a battle everytime! But, they love our little system we've got going. I wrap them up in their towels, put them on the couch to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I go get all their stuff. I love them!!!!