Spooktacular!

I love the fact that Halloween is on a Saturday this year. Gramps and Nana were able to spend the day with us which meant Gramps could carve the pumpkin, something I am not good at. Gramps can carve about any shape within reason, of course. Austin's job was to clean out the guts. By the look on his face you can tell that he is not enjoying pulling out the pumpkin's slimy insides.

One thing Austin did enjoy was pushing out the shapes Gramps had cut to make our pumpkin's face scary!

Austin dressed as a Nerf Tag Dude and I dressed Haidyn as a pumpkin. It is the same outfit I put Austin in on his first Halloween.

Idaho Falls Pumpkin Patch

Mom and I took Haidyn and Austin to the Pumpkin Patch this afternoon. It was a great autumn afternoon. The sun was out and it was farely warm for October. There were large piles of pumpkins everywhere. I really liked the white pumpkins and stopped to take a picture of Haidyn with some of the smaller variety.

Austin enjoyed the maze the owners had made out of large haybales. He ran through the course several times and then began jumping off of the large haystacks. It took some convincing for him to jump by himself, but after the first time jumping he had no fear.

Mission Call

My parents were at my house in Preston today when my brother called to tell them that there was a letter from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the mail. We quickly headed to Idaho Falls and gathered everyone together so Mom and Dad could open their call. They have been called to the Canada, Vancouver, BC mission. They will enter the MTC on December 7th and will serve for a period of 18 months. This should be interesting. My parents will be in Vancouver for the Olympics and for the dedication of the Vancouver Temple. I can't wait to visit. I was a child the last and only time I was in Vancouver. Good luck Mom and Dad.

Great Grandparents

Haidyn met her great grandparents for the first time this weekend. (L to R: Kenneth and Dorothy Chase and Lucille Searle) Grandpa Chase really likes babies and was so excited to finally hold his great granddaughter.

I love to make her SMILE!

There is no hiding the fact that Austin is excited about having a sister. He lives to please her and really enjoys the fact that she is starting to smile.

Back to School Carnival

Austin had so much fun at the back to school carnival. He played PLINKO and won a free hamburger and a free milkshake from Arctic Circle. Austin's favorite activities involved the inflatables. He spent hours playing on those. These pictures show some of the activities at the carnival.

7 months of a fast paced lifestyle

So many things have changed in the past 7 months. In my last trimester of pregnancy I was diagnosed with tachycardia a condition that includes increased heart rate and shortness of breath. It was awful and kept me from doing so many of the things I love. Due to the tachycardia, my specialist decided that he did not want me to go into labor, so I was induced at 38 weeks. After two days of laboring, Haidyn was born on a Wednesday night. That night she was taken to Primary Children's Hospital and two days later she had her reconstructive surgery. We spent the next two weeks sitting at her bedside in the NICU. What a roller coaster of emotions that was. Haidyn is now almost two months old. She has grown 2 inches and has put on a little more than 4 pounds. 38 weeks pregnant newborn

Austin holding Haidyn for the first time, two weeks old six weeks old

Happy 10th Birthday, Austin!

I cannot believe that Austin turned ten this week. It seems like just yesterday I was at the hospital having him. For his party, Austin, Conner, Hunter and Dusty went to the Cache Valley Fun Park to play games. After the Fun Park, they went to McDonald's for lunch. They had a great time playing and eating. I am so glad that Austin has good friends that get along so well.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!!

First, let me apologize that I have not posted in over two months. Right aftermy last post we found out that we are finally expecting. Yes, after all that we have been through with multiple doctor visits, applying for adoption, and surgery, we have been blessed with having our own child. Yes, it is a blessing despite how sick I have been. I am now on my fourth nausea medication and pills for insomnia. I still weight less than when I first visited the doctor almost eight weeks ago even though I can eat and keep most of it down. I have even managed to land myself in the hospital three weeks ago for dehydration. Most days I get to the point where I feel I cannot keep going and then my mom brings me back to earth with her wisdom and love. Don't get me wrong, I am excited that we are having a baby and I am just so sick and tired all the time that it is overwhelming! Travis has been very supportive. He cooks every night after working all day, does laundry, picks up my many prescriptions, and even does the grocery shopping. Austin has really been a big help too. He loves to give me hugs and if I forget to say thank you he will always say "your welcome" until I do. He will be a great big brother! I will soon be sixteen weeks along and I pray everyday that my health will return and I will feel a little more normal! Until next time...