Blood clots and pregnancy don’t mix

We had gone camping with my mom and dad up towards Mt. St. Helens and my inner thigh became sensitive and sore. After it became swollen and more pink, calls to drs, two different  ultrasounds, I was finally diagnosed with a blood clot that was 1 cm from my femoral artery. I had some superficial ones down stream from that which were the swollen ones that hurt, but I had to start two daily injections in my belly of a blood thinner, Lovenox. I hate needles and over a week later I still haven’t brought myself to give my own injection .  Luckily my dr husband does for me and  does it without bruising me. It doesn’t hurt as bad, I just can’t seem to do it yet. I was told to remain on these injections until 6 weeks postpartum so it will be a lengthy amount of time. The swelling has gone down and I am much more comfortable. I am grateful that Garrett reminded me to push the issue and make it urgent to figure out what was going on. This could have turned into a bigger problem for sure. I felt the Lords hand in using other to push me to go get the help I needed!

July 4th with family

Visitors

Activities in Washington

Beach fireworks

Vacations galore

Idaho

Colorado

Florida

My kids...

They are addicted to the Facebook messenger photo options. They think it’s hilarious. Ok, I really do too! We laugh so hard when we sit around and take turns watching how silly our face becomes. Case in point...

Ethan

Mackenzie

Cody

Paige

Rough day

Today was just one of those days. Yelled too much, couldn’t seem to get stuff done, kids fighting, Paige micromanaging, wasted food in lunch bags, water bottles full of good water left for days, the garage was a disaster, kids whined about wanting cereal to eat while I was maki g dinner so I just caved... and to top it off, our Disney cruise to the Caribbean was cancelled and they refunded money in 12 different transactions and were $2400 short... needless to say when Garrett called my heavy heart burst and I melted. I hate complaining about my day especially when he just had gotten off work, so I usually steer clear and try to just keep upbeat but today I was done. I was in the kitchen making our family favorite cheese rice (rice a roni) and he said to just stop what I was doing, go change clothes or shower, and get ready to just go out and get an Icecream  to step away from it for awhile. And that was exactly what I needed. In that moment I needed the support and time to just be still. Luckily here in Ridgefield the MOD pizza was just opening so I was able to enjoy a nice pizza the way I wanted it, while listening to a movie...that’s sometimes how the Lord works, he sends someone else to lighten our burden and uplift us. Garrett is my best friend and his love for me is felt when he knows exactly what I need. 

Baby 5 is alive:)

Randomly the last two weeks I have thrown up a time or two, and have regularly been tired. I had random pickle cravings and when Kenzie’s and my cycle didn’t match up I had a hunch. I had taken a pregnancy test a day or two before my expected cycle but it came out negative so I wasn’t too hopeful. I took the test on Saturday March 6th and while waiting for the results, I covered the window and braced myself for what was to show up....  PREGNANT!!!!  I hid the test and thought about how to tell Garrett. I bought prenatal vitamins and stuck them on my shelf in the bathroom closet with all my makeup. When we were getting ready for the day I told him to look at the new vitamins I had bought. He grabbed them and turned them over, read the label out loud and then, a little taken back, looked up at me wide eyed and asked if I was pregnant. He was so excited and hugged me tight and kissed me so sweet. He thanked me for giving him this baby and for doing this for him!  The rest of the day was just sweet gestures and talk of doing this pregnancy all out! Current due date if this little one is November 12th, 2021!!

 

Our sweet Mia girl died

The kids and I were home as we usually are and I was in the tub taking a bath. The kids frantically called for me and told me that Mia, the guinea pig, was lying on her side and not moving. We frantically held her gently and the girls and the boys became pretty upset. She was awake and took a few bites of some food however her arms and legs were not moving. You could see her little body trying and nothing was happening.So sadly I called Garrett and we decided to see how she did throughout the day but unfortunately her condition did not get any better and we had to send Mia up to heaven.Garrett so sweet we saved her and blew dry her hair and constructed a sweet wooden box that he lined with some velvet fabric. The next morning I knew would be rough as Paige was aware she might not of made it through the night. First thing in the morning page awoke and came straight to our room, asking how Mia did. It was so heartbreaking to see your sweet little page so upset that her pet had died. This was the first pet I had owned that I could remember that had died and wasn’t given away. I was very emotional and cried out of sadness for our pet, but also out of sadness for my children. There’s nothing worse than not being able to comfort and take away pain when it’s in your children’s eyes. The next night we had a cute little funeral for her and everyone was able to say their goodbyes, Garrett gave us we listen to talked about our bodies and our spirits and used an object left sun with a glove to helpThe kids understand that her body remained but her spirit moved on. We sang a song and the girls each took a rose from her little service and we buried her on the side of the house. 

Elmo visited me

Not long ago I was having a particularly hard day. I was lying in bed with tears on my cheeks feeling hopelessly undefeated. I prayed for some comfort and some relief. I pleaded with the Lord in prayer for some comfort for my soul. As I slept that night I had dreams but the end of my dream was the answer to what I was seeking. I was in my dream with my children with me and I turned a corner, when I looked ahead and there was my grandfather Elmo, grandmother Ruth, along with uncle Don and Aunt Betty. They looked as though they had been waiting there for me and had such peace about them. As I walked forward it was my grandfather Elmo who left my grandmothers side to hold out his arms for me. As I embraced him I placed my head close to his neck and ear and could feel his loving embrace. He softly whispered to me, “I’ve missed you.”  As I was hugging him and receiving the comfort I needed I was awoken by one of my children. As I tended to their needs I couldn’t help but feel gratitude for the Savior sending my family to help me when I needed it. It was interesting that is was grandpa who I haven’t seen in so long who reached out to me. They all looked so happy and peaceful. It was a tender moment to feel his embrace and know he is aware of me and loves me.

My birthday

Garrett always knows how to make me free special on my birthday. I woke up to our traditional Mickey Mouse clubhouse birthday song, an air horn, decorations and donuts. My favorite sign said “you’re the crypt keeper” from the movie freaky Friday. He got me my dolce and gabana- the one perfume, candy, and said we get to have a date to pick out a Michael kors purse. Me and the kids ran to the store and the. the park to play. Garrett received his COVID vaccine after work so he got home to us eating my favorite meal: fettuccini Alfredo ( Olive Garden meal with salad and breadsticks). He had the kids go with him to the car and when he came back they had roses, a cake and cream puffs for me. Garrett explained that the dozen white roses represented purity and virtue, and the single red rose was love... but added to the white roses meant unity and that we had the deepest love. This arrangement should perhaps be sent once in a lifetime. What a beautiful gesture knowing my husband feels this way about me and showered me with love on my birthday. Kenzie helped make me a German chocolate cake and we had such a yummy spread of treats! R

“

Misty comes to Washington

Aunt Misty arrived on Jan 15th and we had such a great time having her visit. We went to Molton and Lucia Falls, played Rockband, outdoor fires and knife throwing, got pedicures, games and good food. We even made sugar cookies and made royal icing to make them fancy! That was a good learning experience and know what to change for next time. 

Violin lessons

Paige has been asking relentlessly to do violin lessons. A woman in our ward moved in who has played violin with a symphony and was looking to take on students. I surprised Paige with a lesson and she was beyond happy. She loved her lesson, picked up what was being asked and more, and hugged her teacher at least 5 times and said thank you and I’m so excited! She mastered the beginning of twinkle twinkle within 30 minutes :) I’m excited to see where she goes with this!

First born received her patriarchal blessing

Well, we hit another milestone tonight. One that always seemed so far of and yet, here we are. Kenzie had been praying about when to get her blessing and in her dreams one night received confirmation that it was time. Bro. Eckhardt gave her a beautiful blessing. The spirit was strong and it touched my heart as a mother to sit and listen to the things that lay ahead for her if she stays on the covenant path. She most definitely has lots of missionary work to do, will be a mother to her own and others, and is one who has good intellect, a good heart and is empathetic. Her blessing is not mine to really describe but I wept throughout and know what a special daughter of god she truly is. 

Mackenzie Jessica- age 14

Fishing with Dad

Garrett took Ethan fishing at Kress Lake today and while driving had some questions:

E:dad, what day is today?

G: today is Thursday

E: Can we fish every Thursday? 

He loves spending time with Dad and was really looking forward to the one on one time with him. 

When I asked how it went he said, “fishing went great!” He had my close my eyes and used the fishing net to scoop them out so I could see the two trout.