Le Bus

My Mom and dad just bought a bus for their spring break trip to six flags. Alan and I aren't going to make it, since Alan can't get off work, which is actually ok by me.  I don't know if I'd feel up to roller coasters by then anyways.  The bus is a small handicapped bus, and dad has been making requests for everyone to come up with designs.  

This is my vote.





















I think dad's a fan of it.  We'll just have to see how it turns out.    I've also come up with the following designs.

Which one is your favorite?

Guess what?!?!

Guess what!?!?!

We're preggo!

It was actually a total surprise too!  I Haven't had a period since I miscarried back in December, so we took a little break to work on our foster care stuff and just let my body start a cycle again on its own.  About 2 months ago I went in to check and they wanted to start me on progesterone to cause a period.  I started it in February, with no success.  They then gave me a shot of Progesterone that they assured me would work in 5 days of less, and that also didn't work.  I went in on Tuesday to do an ultrasound to see why I hadn't had a period, and they told me that my uterine lining was thicker than usual, so the situation was really bizarre, because everyone starts their period on this medication.  They decided to do some some blood tests to see what my hormones were doing.  They called me back a few hours later to tell me that the reason why I wasn't having a period is because I was between 4-6 weeks pregnant according to my HCG levels!  I could not utter a coherent sentence for about 2 minutes.  I was in so much shock!  I hadn't had a full period in nearly 4 months, and low and behold we were pregnant!  I freaked out a little as I went on a rebellious stage after the miscarriage and had stopped taking my prenatal vitamins, but now we're back on track with those.

After speaking with the nurse I immediately called Alan.  I was at work when I picked up the phone, and several of my cooworkers heard me say "Oh my gosh!  Are you serious?!" and I wanted him to be the first to know.  Alan was super stunned when I called him, because he wasn't expecting it either.  He's been wonderful about it, and I think he's more excited than even I am.  I can't walk within arms reach of him without him rubbing my belly, and he hasn't called me Ani since we found out.  Instead it's "Mommy"  which is a shock whenever he says it.  We have our ultrasound to see how far along I am Monday at 1:15.  I'm hoping they'll be able to see something on there.  We're ok if we don't see a heart beat, I just want to confirm that we have something growing in there.

It's kind of hilarious, as two other girls on my team of 11 people are pregnant, and the only guy on our team's wife is also pregnant.  4 out of 11 is crazy, and most of the rest are too old to have kids now anyways!  I have girls on my fertility group asking me to send them a bottle of water from work.  It does have me a little freaked out, because one of the girls, Emeline, has a three year old daughter who told her she was having twins.  Low and behold, when they went in for the ultrasound there were two distinct fetuses in there.  This same child has also predicted that I will have twins.  I'm tempted to discount it, because we weren't on any fertility meds and twins don't run in my family, but it still freaks me out.  The thing that also worries me is that her HCG level was 3000 when they went in for the ultrasound for her twins, and mine was 5000 on Tuesday and they didn't see anything when they checked my Uterus.  They weren't really looking for a baby, and it would only be about the size of a lentil, so they could easily have missed it, but high HCG levels are one indicator of multiples.  I just hope it's not triplets!

I haven't really had any Nausea yet, which is awesome, but I have noticed other symptops.  My sense of smell has intensified, food (Particularly Chocolate) tastes differnent,  I have been a little over emotional, and I have had some weird cravings.  My dinner last night consisted of a pound of broiled asparagus (Yummy!) a boiled egg, and sausage with cheese.  Alan has just been laughing at all the crazy things I've been eating.  I still hate dill pickels though, so at least that hasn't changed.  A week ago Alan and I had an hour long argument about something he said that really just set me off, when normally I wouldn't have thought twice about it.  Poor guy.

We are planning right now to go with a Midwife for our birth.  I've felt really REALLY good about not going to a hospital, and I would plan on a midwife assisted home birth even if we find out we're having twins.  Our preferred midwife has had experience with twins, so if everything looks good I would love to stay out of the hospital.  I've had too many bad experiences with hospitals not respecting the wishes of their patients, particularly when it comes to medical intervention.   I also have a feeling that if we have twins we would be really pressured into a scheduled c-section if we went to a hospital.  I do not want to do a c-section until after a trial of labor, even if it's a breach birth.  I know that God will direct us in which way is the best way, and that if a hospital is needed we will be know that.  I'm feeling really calm about this pregnancy, and I know it will all work out for the best whatever happens.  I plan on keeping a regular journal on here of everything, so updates and pictures will happen as we go along.  See you Monday with more news!

Announcement!

We have an announcement to make! Alan and I have decided to adopt!  We are in a situation where we could financially handle a baby, and it truly feels like the next step in our family.  We have been blessed to have many wonderful examples of adoption in our lives, and are thrilled at the idea of finally becoming parents. 

We know that the journey will be hard and may take some time, but we know without a doubt it will be worth it.  Despite all the love and joy we have had as a couple, children have always been the missing factor - the thing that truly makes a family.  Complications have prevented us from having children, and we are thrilled to have this option available to us.

Right now we are in the process of getting signed up with LDS family services, and are also contacting Utah Foster Care to become Certified Foster parents.  We would prefer a child under the age of two, and would love a child of either gender.  At this point we are open to all options, and are working on getting our paperwork completed to qualify for international as well as national adoptions.  

Even with all of the options we are pursuing right now, we know that all of you will be out greatest asset.  The most successful adoptions are via word of mouth, and we hope that if you hear of someone considering adoption, that you will think of us.   Additionally, if you have had any experience with adoption, we would love your advice

We are so incredibly excited for this opportunity, and cannot wait to welcome a little boy or girl into our home and hearts!  

We have started an adoption blog here.  I haven't finished all of our bios and such, but this is the address for it:

http://achingforanarmful.blogspot.com/

I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!

This post is dedicated to all of the little obsessions in my life.  
*Note, these are listed not in order of importance or level of obsession, but merely in the order that they come to my mind today.


1.  Rainy days.
I know, this is cliché, but for me a rainy day is not an obsession in enough itself.  I love rainy days with no work, school, or other obligations, and when my house is clean.  Days where I can cuddle up in bed with my hubby reading a good book with the window blinds open and the rain streaming down the windows.  A day where the rain becomes an excuse to be comfortable.  These days are kind of rare lately (especially the no work and clean house part) and they are some of my all-time favorites.





2. Technology
I an a bit of a tech freak.  I LOVE figuring out how to make computers/phones/TVs/technology in general do what I want it to.  It's such an empowering feeling!  Some of my latest tech enhancements are:
*BTW, no laughing at this.  You may have known how to do these things for years and good for you, but don't steal my steam by saying it's juvenile or easy as pie.  However, if you have a better way to do it, that I would LOVE to hear!*
     1. Hooked up my entire tv surround sound system to work with my tv, dvd player, and comcast DVR.  Next, I will connect it to my computer so I can use it as a 2nd monitor.
     2. Found an amazing appstore in Amazon's appstore.  They are offering a free download of one of their paid apps each day.  All you need is an Amazon account.  I have been using it for about 2 weeks now and have had no problems with it so far.  Plus, since Alan and I use the same Amazon account, he can download any of the ones I've ordered for free on his phone as well.
     3. I just downloaded a whole bunch of stuff from my dad's computer, including a bunch of photos and music that I thought I'd lost.
     4. My cricut now works perfectly with my computer thanks to sure cuts a lot!  I LOVE this program!  It is so easy to use, and can cut any font on your computer using the cricut.   It was $50 to download, which is less than most cricut cartridges. You can also cut anything based on a JPG image, so you can use any clipart you can find.  As a warning, Provo craft is suing Sure cuts a lot for copyright infringement, and the last I heard they had reached a settlement where all future updates to Sure cuts a lot will not be compatible with the cricut.  So all of 
those SCAL users out there make sure you check before you do any updates to it!
     5.  I have reorganized my external hard drive, so that everything is where it should be, and is all properly labeled.  This is something I have been meaning to do for a long time, so it really is a relief to have it done.   
     6.  I have copied about half my DVDs to my computer in .iso format, which is basically a virtual copy of the entire DVD, special features included!  This is great for Pixar movies in particular, which have so many special features and shorts on them.  Now to find a program that will copy them in AVI format so that I can easily watch them.  My plan for these movies is pretty far in the future, but I plan to get an android tablet sometime in the future, so we can load all of our movies on there for roadtrips.  Plus, when we have kids it will be really easy for them to just touch the movie they want to see to play it, and we won't have to worry about them scratching the dvds.



3.  Crafting
This one encompasses the areas of Crating, Cooking, Sewing, Scrapbooking, Interior Decorating, Thrifting, and all of the other things featured on the amazing blogs I follow!  I can't believe how creative you all are!  I hope that if I ever get rich enough to not work full time, I would be as enterprising and ingenious as you are, rather than ending up with a messy home and my butt permanently glued to the computer chair or the couch in front of the TV.  Seriously, this is why I do not work from home, even though my work would allow it.  I would never get dressed.  EVER. Ok, maybe on Sundays for church, but that's only once a week.  


There are so many things I want to try!  One of my first priorities is going to be making me some new clothes.  I mean, I certainly have enough clothes to wear, but I cycle through the same clothes over and over, and they are all so plain!  I have maybe 3 shirts with any sense of style to them.  I really want to make me some more skirts too.  Particularly ones as amazingly simple and adorable as this one from No Big Dill



Isn't it gorgeous?  The best part is that it's so easy!  just one seam in the back and then an elastic waistband!  The fabric she uses is also really low maint, no ironing required!  Wrinkles just add to the skirt's character!


4.  Blogging 
It's really a relief to put some of my thoughts down.  I was importing this blog into facebook, but honestly, I prefer forcing people to go to my site to read it.   I get so excited when I get a new follower, and I love seeing new comments!  I can be free to express my thoughts, and if anyone has a problem with what I say, they can just stop reading. ^_^  I have had a goal lately to include at least one picture with each post, and I really think that it helps.  I know I have a tenancy to skip most posts without a picture, and I don't think I'm the only one.


5.  Becoming an authority on random subjects.
OK, so maybe not an authority, but I love to know enough about a given subject that I can offer an opinion on it.  Some of my favorite topics as of late have been childbirth, foster care, 
adoption, technology, crafting, medical, blogging, etc.  It is so nice to know things!


6.  Camping 
The worst thing about this winter is that I have not been able to go camping!  As tech savvy as I am, it is so nice to just get away from everything for a while!  It's especially nice going with a bunch of family, with all the dogs, and a river nearby!
  
Family picture right before going down the green river.  This was after 5 days camping with no shower, so please forgive the crazy hair on all of us.


7.  Playing Cards
For years my family has played card games as a family.  One of our favorites in my family is Nertz, especially now that most of us kids are old enough to play it.  I can't tell you how many times I pulled out my cards at debate tournaments.  I always had at least on deck in my purse, and I now have an entire box of them in my car.  My love for games was only strengthened when I married Alan, because his family also are avid card players.  It's the main activity at camp-outs, and in the above picture the table behind us is covered in card decks.  Our favorites include Nertz, Hand and Foot, Mormon Bridge, Golf, and Slamwich (which is called Egyptian Ratscrew when played with face cards) 


8.  Roadtrips
I think this is the one I have been craving most as of late.  I really REALLY want to just get in the car with Alan and drive to some far off location.  Seattle is first on my list.  I went on a Seattle road trip soon after graduation and it is to this day one of my favorite memories.  There is something so freeing about driving through the country with a good audiobook on the radio and a friend by your side, eating snacky foods and stopping at random little tourist locations on the way.
  
Alan and I went on a roadtrip to Cali on our honemoon, and despite all the disasters along the way, it was still a blast!

Outside the San Diego Temple just about to head home from the trip.




What are a few of your favorite things?

Have you ever prayed for the strength to live through a day?

Have you ever prayed for the strength to live through a day?
That was my day today.  Yesterday we received news that Alan's Grandpa Vance Calder passed away yesterday morning after suffering a massive, though fortunately very quick stroke.  He and his wife of 65 years this August were alone on a Mexican Rivera cruise at the time.  He passed within a few minutes of the first pains of the stroke, so it was as painless of a death as one could hope for.


Right now Alan's uncle Steven is flying out to meet Grandma.  He will board the ship, then they will travel to the next port, which is a larger port and is more able to accommodate them.  Because he passed away on the ship, they do not have to have the Mexican government release his body, which is really fortunate.  


His affairs are all in order.  They have the headstone, casket, and plot all purchased, so our main concern at this time is getting his body back home.  We will update when we find out more. 


We love you Grandpa!

At our wedding in September of 2008



Whittling in the rain while camping in 2010.



Always the fisherman!


At the Flaming Gorge Dam in 2010 with Glissy and Ginger in tow.


At the BYU-San Diego game in 2011.  Thank goodness BYU won!


I married into the family, and Vance always treated me as nothing short of a Granddaughter. Some of my fondest memories are of going camping with them, and watching him skunk us all in cards. We always figured that God was cheating for him. You could always count on Grandpa finding some old stick to whittle on at every camping trip, and you could follow his trail of wood shavings all over camp. He always used pet names like sweetie, honey, little lady, and beautiful, and somehow always managed to give me a kiss on the lips goodbye, no matter how much I tried to direct him to my cheek. ^_^ I fondly remember him going river rafting with us last summer, sitting proudly at the head of the boat, with Grandma beside him and Ginger wedged in between them.