Good news on Zoe

Just a little update...

Last night Zoe was taken off the ventilator, the breathing machine and is doing well. It sounds like later today she will be moved from PICU to pediatrics. We are so thankful she is doing well. She sounds horse and a bit squeaky from the tube down her throat, but that will get better over the next few days. She is awake a lot more and doesn't cry but moans and is comforted being held. We can wait to see her smiling face again soon.

Update on Zoe

Wow, what a weekend. We came up to Gilbert Friday for the Memorial Day weekend to spend some time with Derek's brother Phils family because they are moving to Colorado in a couple weeks. Too bad that's not really what's happened. Friday Zoe started coughing but didn't think too much about it because it wasn't bad. Friday night as Laurel put it she sounded like a chain smoker when she coughed. Derek and I had a sleepless night with Zoe between her coughing and a congested nose. By Saturday afternoon her breathing wasn't sounding good. Stephanie brought her nebulizer over so we could give her breathing treatments. We've given her these treatments before when she was in the hospital back in December, so we thought they would help her. After another long sleepless night Derek and I took her to the ER Sunday morning at Banner Gateway. They immediately took her back and 6 people were working on her right away. Her oxygen level was low, it was 74 when it should be at 100. Because she needed to be admitted to the hospital but they closed the Peds department back in February she was Air-vaced to Banner Desert. I can she how a helicopter ride would be fun but under the circumstance it wasn't. All day yesterday she struggled to breath so at 5 last night they but her on a breathing machine to help her breathe. She's in PICU and will be in the hospital for 3-7 days. We are lucky it happened while we were here because we have had so much family support taking care of Maeley and Chase while we've been at the hospital. Thank you to everyone who is helping us out and to everyone who is thinking about her and praying.

Maeley's art project

Last weekend I bought some foam cutout stickers for the kids. Wow, they sure were a huge hit. After covering a piece of paper Maeley peeled them all off and put them on the ottoman. She categorized them buy object and then separated them by colors. What a smart kid. The next morning she began putting them on Zoe's shirt front and back but then Zoe took some off and began eating them. Maeley then got the idea to put them on her head instead. What a silly girl.

Look at her face, seriously she is so freakin' cute!

Zoe's head was quite covered.

Fun filled weekend in Gilbert

Kari & Marc (Derek's sister and her husband) had invited Maeley to spend the weekend with them. After tring to figure out the best way to meet half way Friday then again Sunday we decided it would just be easier to come spend the weekend up there.

Kari, Maeley, Me, Zoe, Todd (he is Kari and Marc's brother-in-law)and Chase making cookies

Marc and Zoe

We went to a park in Chandler that had a splash pad. Maeley liked it, Chase on the other hand did not. I think he would do better in a pool verses water splashing on him.

Maeley was having a great time.

Kari trying to convince Chase to get in the water.

I think he looks so cute in his swimsuit.

Maeley rock climbing

Me and Zoe

This is a small fraction of what we actually did over the weekend. I wish I had our camera with us on Sunday afternoon at my parents. They got irrigation while we were there and the kids played in it. We've never before let them do that. They had a blast and were soaked afterwards. Maeley had such a great time she would jump up and land on her bottom in the water. Next time I need to bring extra clothes with me or at least their swimsuit.

Pictures of Chase and Zoe

About a week ago I found Chase standing on the front rail of the crib looking in at Zoe, who had been napping. Because she was smiling and laughing at him I put him in the crib too. I got some pretty cute pictures of them.

I love her big blue eyes. By the way, I can't talk about her pretty blue eyes anymore in front of Maeley. The other day Maeley pretended to switch eye balls with me. She told me she wants blue eyes like me and Zoe. It broke my heart. I felt so awful. I really love Maeley's eyes, they are just like Derek's. I tell her that but she still wants blue eyes.

Oh, and those cheeks. They are so kissable!

Of course, watching her birds. Sometimes we take the birds down so she can play with them. It's pretty funny because she will shake with excitement.

What a cute boy!

He is always hugging her and kissing her.

Zoe ignoring Chase and looking at the birds.

Zoe's 6 month pictures

Saturday I got Zoe's 6 month pictures taken. She is so darn adorable.

I love this picture.

She is laughing in this picture.

Then there are some funny pictures, like the following two.

They added the fairy, which I'm sure when Maeley sees she will love it.

Zoe and I

We bought a new flash for our camera over the weekend and Derek was playing with it and took some cute pictures of me playing with Zoe.

I love Zoe so much. She is a wonderful baby. She brings so much happiness into our family. I simply can't get enough of her.

100th post!

Wow I've made it to the 100th post. It didn't take as long as I thought it would. I don't have anything spectacular to say, but I'll list the reasons why I enjoy blogging.

-I've heard from several people that you can turn your blog into a book, so this has become my journal.
-I blog for the grandparents. We don't live near them anymore so I blog to keep them posted on what the kiddos are up to.
-It's fun to stay connected with friends and family and reconnecting with those I have lost contact with.
-I like reading comments you leave. Sometimes it gets pretty lonely here in Tucson without friends and family around.

What every parent wants...

their kids to love each other.

I love that our kids love each other. Maeley and Chase mostly play well together, of course there are arguments. When I ask Maeley who her best friend is her first response is Chase. When the older kids wake up and Zoe is already awake they go see her first before me. Chase is constantly loving on Zoe, sometimes too much. I love how they look out for each other. If one of the kids gets a snack or drink they ask for one for the other. Maeley tries to teach Chase how to do new things. It's so fun to watch Zoe watch Chase and Maeley. She is easily entertained by them. I'm not in a hurry for her to grow up but it will be exciting to have the three of them to play with one another. I really love being a mom and helping my children learn and grow. I hope they continue to love each other throughout their lives.

Chase going in to give Zoe a kiss. Zoe looks concerned.

I was getting ready and put Zoe down on our blanket and came back to find Maeley cuddled up with her.

I had Zoe on the couch one morning and when Chase and Maeley woke up they joined her.

I often find Maeley and Zoe holding hands...how cute is that?

It's moments like these that make all the bad moments tolerable.

For Mother's Day Derek let me drag him to a few stores on Saturday when he would have much rather stayed home. Then we had another fun movie night watching Night at the Museum (the kids loved it). On Sunday he made breakfast and gave me a nice outfit which I love. After church he began to make Chimichangas for me. The recipe takes about 3 hours to make, by the time dinner was ready both of us weren't really even hungry anymore. We have enjoyed leftovers though. All in all it was a nice day. Thanks Derek for making it special for me.

What happens when mom is sick

Yesterday I was sick with a stomach bug and had no energy to do anything. Derek had gone to work as if it were any ordinary day. I got Zoe down for a nap by 10 and thought if I turned a movie on for the kids it would keep them entertained while I took a nap. Wrong, they were both in my bed...bugging me. So that failed, then I decided I would turn Barney on TV (we don't really like our kids to watch that much like most shows because they are annoying). That was great for Maeley she was glued. Chase on the other hand only lasted a few minutes and was then asking for a snack. He chose Honey Nut Cheerios, so I got him a bowl, left the box on the counter and went back to lie down. A little while later I went to check on the kids. This is what I saw when I came down the hall to the family room.

Not fun. The Candyland game was all over and the entire box of Cheerios I had left on the counter was now all over the room. Notice the broom, apparently he knew he made a mess and tried to clean it up. I immediately dropped to the floor and called Derek. Thankfully he was able to get a co-worker to drive him home (he carpools and this is not his week to drive). The afternoon went so much better having Derek home to take care of the kids while I did nothing but lay down. Thank you so much Derek for taking care of the kids as well as me...and for cleaning up the huge mess. I love you!

Spending time in St. David

On Saturday the girls and I hung out at my sister Marie's house while Derek took Chase to the Mud Bog. It's always nice to spend time with my sister, wish we could do it more often. Maeley had a great time playing outside and loved all the animals, especially the baby goats.

Maeley happy as could be holding the baby goat

Mayla

me and Zoe

Zoe and Kyla

Kyla loved holding Zoe and making her smile and laugh. She is such a good little mommy. Look at her holding Zoe on her hip.

Maeley and Mayla

Chase holding Grant

Thanks Marie for spending me these pictures!

!!! mud bLog !!!

Yesterday, Chase and I went and watched a bunch of trucks, jeeps, quads and even a dirt bike try and forge across a nice muddy pit. It was the San Pedro Offroad Association Mud Bog. I heard about it from a guy at work a few months back and was super excited to attend my first ever mud bog. Since this is the desert, they don't happen as much as say up north or on the East Coast. Anyway, Chase was super excited before we even went and he sat there the entire time watching the mud being flung everywhere. I've never seen that kid sit for that long on his own accord. There were 38 vehicles that attempted to cross the pit. There was a stretch of bumps that they went over first, but they were only timed on crossing the mud pit (or distance if they couldn't make it the whole way). The ten fastest vehicles then came back (after they made the pit much deeper and thicker as it was looking a little too easy to cross by the end of the initial 38 passes). Of the final ten, only the last guy was able to make it across.

I got a little sun burned behind the arms, but was able to shade Chase so he didn't get burned at all. He keeps saying "trucks" and wanting to look at all the pictures I took. It was a lot of fun to spend time with my son and I look forward to more activities like this. Enjoy the "dirty" pictures I have included.

This was the truck that made it through in the end. Good fun.