Ear tubes for little D.

What a looooong morning we had on July 21. After poor Little has suffered through ear infection after ear infection since he was 5 months old he finally got tubes placed in his eardrums. It was by no means a serious or complicated surgery and I'm so thankful for that. It was sad to see our little guy all doped up and to have to watch the Dr. carry him off to some unknown place that we weren't allowed to go. I can't imagine having a baby with health problems and sending them off for major surgery where you don't know the outcome. I am truely thankful that my children are healthy.

We had to be at EIRMC in Idaho Falls at 5:45 am (I didn't know this time existed!). They admitted our little guy and got his vitals and things like that. After 2 or 3 more nurses came in to do their parts and ask their questions D had had it. And he fell asleep. The anesthesiologist came in to describe how they'd be putting him under and to ask if we thought he'd have separation problems when it was time to take him and I said "yes" because he's such a mama's boy, hehe. So they brought in some meds for him and we had to wake him up. We gave him the medicine and started to walk down to pre-op. During this 3 minute walk his head started bobbing, the meds were taking effect....so sad! I hated to see my little buddy like this. His eyes and head were rolling around and his body was totally limp. SCARY! The Dr. came to pre-op and talked to us. Then the anethesiologist came and took him. We walked down the hall behind him watching him take our baby and this is when the tears came. I knew he'd be fine, and I knew we'd see him again in less then an hour but this was still one of the hardest things I've done. He was just looking back at me with those droopy eyes and I wanted to run up and grab him and say "never mind! we don't want the tubes!!!" and take him home. But the Dr. turned to go to surgery and we had to walk on to the waiting room. The LONGEST 45 minutes ever!!! The Dr. came in to talk to us after about 30 and said things went perfectly and gave us instructions for afterwards and later that day. I guess while we were in the room talking to the Dr. they paged us to come to recovery so we didn't hear it. They called Jake's cell and we left the waiting room. As soon as I opened the door I could hear D crying. So we walked faster. Poor little guy was scared to death with two nurses he'd never seen before, and he was starving (we weren't allowed to feed him after midnight). We fed him a bottle and he downed it so fast and then was mad that is was gone. He cried for about an hour straight while the nurse kept coming in to monitor him and was doing his check-out papers. We could tell he didn't feel right and this was making him mad. He wouldn't really open his eyes and he didn't even stop crying when we'd walk around with him. He was just mad! As soon as we got in the car he feel asleep. We were out of there by 9 am. We came home and he slept until noon...and so did we! Overall it wasn't bad and I'm hoping this will help him. We haven't noticed much of a difference yet. He still has his cranky times and he still pulls at his ears a lot. I'm hoping that after they heal he'll be more comfortable and happy!
Before surgery when we were doing tons of vitals and waiting.

Such a tired boy with his bear the hospital gave him.

Looking a little out of it after they gave him his medicine in pre-op.

Finally eating afterwards, he was starving!!!!


We love our little D so much and we feel bad he had to go through this. But, if it helps it will all be worth it.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Have you seen any of these Mormon Messages? I'm sure all of you have. I've been meaning to post one of them because I love them all but when I saw this one I just HAD to post it today! So thanks ML for sharing it. It made me feel uplifted and hopeful. So all you mothers, just take 3 minutes and watch it, I promise you won't regret it.

Lots of Firsts!

Just a quick post since I haven't posted forever and because today was a big day for little D. Today he figured out how to sit up from a laying down position, crawl, and pull himself up to standing. HOLY COW! I can't believe it. We have waited so long for him to any of the above and then today he does everything, it was amazing! I haven't witnessed him pulling himself up but Jacob and Kirsten (his grandma Davies) both did. His crawling is still slow but he can definitely do it and he crawled all over this evening just looking at everything from his new perspective, so cute! I am just realizing we might need to change our whole night-time routine. We've always just layed him on the floor and he falls asleep but right now it's 10:00 and everytime I lay him down he just flips over and sits back up, hmmm.

We also got his ears checked yesterday since his pediatrician thought we should tubes and they looked great (which I suspected since he's slept through the night for two nights in a row now). So she's giving him one more chance. One more ear infection and we're off to the Ear Nose and Throat Dr. for our consultaion. Hopefully since it's summer time now he won't get sick anymore, hopefully.

In this picture I was trying to get a shot of his two little baby teeth on the bottom. Of course he eluded me. But it's cute so I posted it anyways.

He loves to kneel up next to things and play, he'll sit in this position forever.

This was how I tested him tonight to see if he really could crawl. I put the number two forbidden object on the floor (number one being the cell phones) and sure enough he crawled right over to them. What a rascal!

In other news Leah and I took a mom's only (plus baby Stella) trip to Salt Lake City. We planned on taking pictures everywhere we went but we only ended up with one picture at PF Changs. We also went to IKEA, the Cheesecake Factory, the Fashion Place and Layton Hills malls, and we stayed in the Hilton in downtown SLC. It was so much fun and is now going to be an annual or semi-annual event!!!

This last weekend we had our Landon Family Reunion at Cherry Hill. Once again I didn't take as many pictures as I planned on taking but here are a couple. Chels loved it and talks about "Cherry Mountain" everyday.

She thinks she can swim now that I bought her this little floating donut. She's so funny.

First (of many) haircuts

Just a quick post here. We cut D's hair for the first time last night. What a difference it makes! He looks like a big boy now, even though I know he's not. He's such a cutie.

This is how he feel asleep one night. This does not happen often. It was a once in a blue moon thing.

MAMAMAMA

Little D is getting so big. He nows babbles Mama over and over and over again. It's still a debate over if he really knows what it means or not. But I can tell you that he definitely knows it gets him attention. He also says it in the middle of the night when he wakes up. Then Jake tells me "He wants his Mama", nice cop out right!

Little D also just got his first tooth. He's been working on it for a couple weeks now and yesterday I noticed that it had finally broken through. He's been a pretty good little trooper. When he first got the bump he was fussy but he either got used to or it stopped bothering him because he's been a happy little camper lately.

Poor sick baby.

What a crazy last couple weeks! D has been sick for a good 10 days now. It started with an ear infection and ended with RSV. He has been suprisingly happy through everything though. We've had some long nights but after he would wake up and eat he'd go back to sleep so that was good. He's such a stinkin' cutie and we love him so much. Chels is a wonderful big sister. She entertains him while I'm showering and she cleans up his toys and takes his diapers out for him. I have to admit I have some pretty amazing kids, and I love them. We're very blessed.

D loves his walker. He can make it go pretty much anywhere, with teeny tiny steps.

We are still giving him albuterol treatments with a nebulizer (sp?). He's still very weezy but we've been taking him in to get his oxygen levels checked and he's back up to 97 so that is very good. We'll just keep giving him his treatments and hopefully he'll be back to health soon!

One day, while I was at work, D fell asleep like this. Jake quickly took his picture. So cute.

Our kids have many Care Bears. D's was given to him for Christmas and it fits him perfectly, Grumpy Bear, haha.

Cabin trip and other happenings.

We were finally able to attend my family's yearly get-away to the cabin! We have never been before since we've always been gone but this year we went and had lots of fun. The cabin we rented this year was in Ashton and it was so beautiful. It makes me remember why I always claim that winter in my favorite season. The cabin was soooo nice. Jake really, really liked it and vowed to someday own a house identical to it. Most of the weekend was spent sledding down the big hill in the backyard. It was really fun. We would all sled down and then someone would stay at the top to come down and give us all a ride back up with the snowmobile. That's the best kind of sledding!!!
The drive up to the cabin. So pretty!

The cabin with my dad out front.

One evening Jake got the laptop out meaning to teach my nephews Jake and Braxton this hunting game. He didn't know that all the kids would love it! They each took turns picking which animal to hunt and then shooting it.

The Sunday while we were there was Valentine's Day so my mom made this nice dinner and had the kids all be "servers" and take our orders and serve the food to us. It was really cute. They even made us invitations the night before and hid them under our pillows. Chels loved it, and then she feel asleep right before the dinner so she missed serving us, hehe.

The view of the Tetons out the front window. Is it any question why Jake loved this place?!?!

My dad holding D and Kaymn.

D and Kaymn playing. They are the closest in age, maybe they'll be good friends someday.

Jake just chillin'. Being out of the Air Force has been good to him :)

Playing Pictionary Man, that game is a lot harder then you would think!

I would have to hold the sled while the rider climbed in. Only once did I let the sled fall over the back and it was when my brother Doug was climbing in. He fell, but I got smushed!

Me and Chels watching the sledders. Chels did not love it like I thought she would. It scared her to be in the sled and she didn't like walking in the deep snow. She'll probably move back to CA when she's older!

My mom did a birthday dinner for me and my nephew Jake. So this is us singing Happy Birthday.

In baby D news. He is now almost sitting up. He only tips over if he gets excited about something and forgets what he's doing. He'll be 6 months on Sunday, crazy! We tried to switch him to regular milk based formula this last weekend since his pediatrician told us to try it around 6 months. So I mixed milk based formula with his normal soy based stuff. Huge mistake! He was so fussy and uncomfortable. It reminded me of when he was 6 weeks old all over agian. He kept squirming and arching his back and just crying and crying. I called his Dr. yesterday evening and told her what was going on and she told me to go back to soy based. So I will be going to the store today to buy that! Poor kid, I guess he hasn't grow out of his milk allergy yet.

Chels is having a blast being at Grandma Davies house everday with the daycare kids. Even on the days she doesn't have to go she asks if we can go to Grandma Davies' house. She can now write her whole name (not just Chels anymore). She is such a good kid. She can be really whiney lately though and I know it's because she is getting spoild rotten by Grandmas. We'll have to figure out how to mellow her out.

Jake is doing really well in school. He keeps stressing about all his tests but then he comes home with a 93% on it, makes me sick how smart he is. He finally got his hunting license last weekend so I have a feeling I will never see him on a Saturday again. But, it makes him happy so whatever!

I'm still working my two jobs. I like dressing up and being professional one day and then throwing my hair in a ponytail and having fun at Winger's the next. It's a nice variation. I'm having major issues with feeling guilty that I'm not with my kids all day everyday but I just keep reminding myself that this is what my family needs right now. I was feeling really run down and wiped out but I thought it was just because I'm working two jobs. Come to find out I'm still low on iron like I was when I was preggo so I started taking Prenatals and iron supplements again and I'm starting to feel a lot better, phew!

Well this turned into a novel! Can you tell D is napping, haha.

Quarter of a Century

That's right, I am now 25 years old. It seems sort of weird. I suppose I am now closer to 30 then 20, but oh well! I'm looking forward to what the next 5 years will bring. Who knows where we'll be living or what we'll be doing!
D-man just chilling out. I love this little shirt!

I cut Chels' hair about a week ago. It's a little shorter then I meant for it to be, but it's cute. And so much easier to manage!

Me and Chels on my birthday (Feb. 1). I actually had the day off from both my jobs (which was strange because I didn't even request it off). It was an awesome day. I went and spent time with my bestest friend Leah and had lunch with her. Then that evening we just hung around the house. It was a great day!

We had this balloon floating around and the baby thought it was hilarious when you'd bump it around. He laughed and laughed. I got a video of it. Maybe I'll try downloading it someday.

D loves his blankie. More specifically, his soft football blankie.

One late afternoon Jacob and I were sitting around and he asked me "where's Chels?" I realized I hadn't heard from her in a while so I went looking. She had crawled under the table and fallen asleep like this. What a silly kid.

Another view.

Catching Up

Days are passing by so quickly! Today Little D is 5 months old. I can't believe that it's almost been a half of a year since he joined our family. It doesn't seem like that long. He has now perfected the art of rolling from his belly to his back and he can sit up by himself for a few seconds before he topples over. His head is getting bigger and bigger everyday, haha, just like his sister's did! But we don't care, he is still the cutest thing ever.

I am still working at Wingers and next week I'm also starting a part time job at Key Bank (as long as I pass the background check). Having two part time jobs is going to kick my butt but it will all be worth it. Jake is doing well in school so far. His Precalculus class is giving him a hard time but he is so smart that I know he'll be fine.

I'm getting the question, "How do like being back in Idaho" a lot lately. I guess my answer is, it's OK. It's weird to go to town and see people I actually know. I've realized I have a lot of fair-weathered friends also. People who used to always tell me how exciting it would be when I finally moved back but now I never hear from them. It's weird having actual friends and family around again, I always feel stressed that I need to make everyone happy, but on the other hand they don't give me the time of day when I do see them. I hate constantly wondering "did I do something to hurt their feelings?!?!" or "why is she mad at me?!?!" Sometimes I miss it just being me and Jake and the kids. This new life will just take some getting used to, and maybe I shouldn't expect so much from "friends". Anyways that's my rant for the month :)

Catching one of his half grins.

We had a sleep-over with the older girl cousins. I hope they all had fun. Grandma had to buy them all matching jammies and then we watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which is actually a really funny and cute movie!

Looking so cute on his tummy.

Chels got really sick again last week. She was throwing up all night and then she developed a horrible cough. Luckily she is back on the mend. This picture was while she was sick, her cheeks are all rosy. Now Little D has a cough, I hope it doesn't turn into anything more.

All ready for church a couple weeks ago.

Spoon Feeding

Our little man is getting so...hungry! He's not chunky whatsoever, his legs are still skinny little chicken bones. His cheeks are chubby, but that is a family trait among my nieces and nephews. But poor little guy is always starving. He is now drinking 6 oz bottles every 3 hours, give or take a 1/2 hour. He is also waking up in the middle of the night again and when he does I can hear his little tummy growling. So I gave in. I bought him some cereal and baby food. He'll be 4 months in 2 weeks so I figured, he's close enough! The first night we gave him cereal and we filmed it and took tons of pictures but when I put my card in to the computer to look at them they somehow all got deleted :( So these pictures are from night 2 of spoon feeding. This time he got squash and he actually seemed to enjoy it a lot better. And the best news of all...he slept straight through until 4:30 this morning!!!!!!
Yummy squash (not really, I tasted it).

I also had taken tons of cute pictures of Mister smiling and even one video with some giggles. But, you guessed it, they all got deleted too, I have no idea what I did! So this is all I could get out of him last night and since I was the one doing the entertaining and the picture taking it turned out a little scary...but still cute! Look at those cheekers!!!

December again

GAH! I am so behind on my blog. So let's catch up:

A couple weeks ago Marriner got really sick with the stomach flu. Poor little guy was sick for a week straight. He would throw up after every bottle. We eventually switched him to Pedialyte but he hated that stuff. It was a hard week and I am so thankful that he is well again. I was really scared for a couple days that his Pediatrician would admit him to hospital for dehydration since he couldn't keep anything down. Luckily it never got to that point! He is back to his normal self again. He's getting so big. He's almost 4 months now. We have been able to get some giggles out of him and they are so cute. He has the funniest laugh. I will try my hardest to catch it on video.

Right when the baby started feeling better Jake and I got sick. Ours only lasted a couple days and it just happened to be on the weekend so we were able to stay home and rest. What a nasty flu bug! Chels never got sick, and I hope she continues to be healthy.

Dec. 8 was Jake's birthday. I am a horrible wife and I didn't take any pictures of him. We had a big family dinner and celebrated all 4 birthdays that occur in December. On the night of his birthday we went to El Mirador, his favorite Mexican restaurant. I also got him the new Dan Brown book but he is sneeky and he found it before his birthday. Last night we went out to eat with his family to Johnny Carinos after he got off work. He says he feels old, but he's only 26.

We went to the ward Christmas party this morning. Chels has now talked to Santa 3 times. The first time she saw him she told him she wanted a moving kitty (one of the Fur Real ones). The other two times she has seen him she told him she wants Puppy in my Pocket with a house. She might have to get Puppy in my Pocket after Christmas with money she gets from Great Grandma Evans because the first, official order to Santa was for a moving kitty ;)


Chels and Marriner with Santa at the ward Christmas Party.

Making sugar cookies for the Relief Society Cookie Exchange. Chels had to make her own plate to take. OOPS, mom "forgot" to bring them...

Isn't this the cutest little face you've ever seen? The baby looks pretty cute too.

Name that baby.

Can you tell who this is? My Mom's computer is set to cycle through her pictures for the screen saver and this picture popped up. I was surprised to see how much Marriner looks like Chels when she was a baby. I swear they are the same child, except Chels was a lot happier. I think she was a couple months older then he is right now in this picture though. We didn't come to my parent's house until Jake was deployed after Christmas so she was at least 4 months old here. Sometime in the middle of the night when I'm feeding Mister I have flashbacks of feeding Chels since their looks are so similar. Maybe I'm hallucinating from the sleep deprivation, or maybe I'm going crazy but I seriously always call Marriner a "her" or a "she" in the middle of the night, hehe.

First Snow!

I bought this shirt when I first found out Marriner was going to be a boy and now he finally fits into it, yay!
Chels usually has to take a picture by herself whenever I get the camera out. This was the one she took of the baby.
On Saturday morning it snowed! I woke up to feed Marriner at about 5:00 and then while he was laying on the floor I dosed back to sleep. Then Jake got up to go to work at 7:00 and woke me up so I could look outside. I was so surprised to see snow!!!

Chels LOVED it! She was begging me to go outside from the minute she looked out the window. When we finally bundled her up as well as we could (we have no snow clothes for any of us!) she ran right outside and scooped up a big handful. She shockingly exclaimed "It's COLD!" haha. This was the first time she had ever played in snow. She's seen it before but only during those early fall snowstorms while we were visiting. There has never been enough to actully go play in. I don't think she had any clue that snow was cold and wet. She still had fun though after the initial shock wore off. She played until her litte nose was running and her hands hurt. Then we made her come inside. She was right back at it later in the afternoon though!