EaSTeR!

So I didn't really feel like cutting and pasting so these are not in order, but they are still here after a long time of no posting. We really haven't taken pics in forever since I have not really been in the pic taking mood.

This is after church on Easter morn. We tried to get a pic before church when we "thought" they would be happier and the lighting was better, but that didn't work. So to get this one, we had to bribe them with a chocolate bunny(of course Jake smiled when he hears that) but Kenz was really tired as you can tell. She loved getting all dressed up like a "princess" and I was really looking forward to getting some cute pics of her but it never happened. So I think we will be heading to Target soon for some better pics. Jake loved his new outfit and thought it was really cool that him and sis matched. After she put her dress on she would twirl around and say, "I so pretty!" I love it. Now she just needs to start letting mommy curl her hair.
Our handsome little man
Hunting for eggs Sunday afternoon. It was kind of cold so it didn't last long. Jake just wanted the candy anyway.

This pic really describes sis! Putting her Easter basket in a dumptruck. So Kenzie!

Lounging with candy in one of her "outfits". We are not "allowed" to dress her anymore.
The kids super cool bunch of dyed and painted Easter eggs. They were so proud!
Sis would just put a little paint on.........
.........and Jake wanted to paint the whole egg
So on the day before Easter, we headed over to Nolan park for the annual Eagle Mountain Easter egg hunt. It was more like the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Thousands of kids. Not enough eggs. Thanks, but no thanks for next year. This is Jake inspecting his one egg he got after being trampled on the first one he tried to get. Kenzie didn't get one. She was holding on to us for dear life and would not cross "the line" to go for one. I didn't blame her. Shear chaos.
Oh I love my sister. I will share my candy with her. Maybe. Luckily there was a guy going around with candy for the kids baskets so everyone at least got something.

It's Been FOUR Years!

WARNING: This pic is not for those who have a weak stomach!!

Every year on March 4 I feel the need to celebrate. Four years ago today, Mike had his "big surgery" on his leg. It was a very long day, 6-1/2 hours of surgery followed by a week or so in the hospital. Mike's mom came to live with us for a while to take care of him, since I was still working full time and was preg with Jake and Mike needed full time care after he left the hospital. I feel like I could write a novel on those few months, so I am thinking of what is most important to say. That time in our lives was difficult, only been married 8 months and preg with our first child. We were also fearful of the unknown, what would lie ahead for us in the coming years, etc. We were suddenly burdened with medical bills and just getting to know each other in a way no newleyweds ever should have to. I don't remember Mike complaining much, but that is just Mike. He has so much faith, and I know that is what got him through those months. Our wonderful doctor, Dr. Scott, said Mike's surgery was one of the biggest surgeries you can perform. Mike got through it amazingly well, and I know this trial was given to him because he could handle it. He had 3 more surgeries after the big one, and after all was said and done, they could not remove ALL of the cancer cells. There was a small margin left of low-intermediate grade cells. We knew we had done all that was possible, with the exception of chemo which we decided was not the right path. This type of cancer does not respond to radiation, and the doctors were unsure what type of chemo would work because it is a "rare form of a rare cancer". This was decided after 2 trips with his mom, one to see doctors in Seattle and one to see doctors at Stanford. After much thought, prayer and blessings, Mike decided to just let things be. He would choose to keep his leg and move on with life with hopefully no more surgeries and no chemo. The last day of his IV meds and meds in general came on the day Jake was born. We both had an IV after the delivery! This was such a special day for us, one of new life and one of letting go of the previous few months. Four years later, we know the chances of the cancer coming back are virtually none, but we still pray daily that he will live a long and healthy life with us. I am so blessed to have him here with me, and our children. We couldn't do life without our daddy! We are grateful for him and his persistance and strength. He is a huge example to me that we as people can get through anything. He also finished all of his classes that semester at BYU! He had great teachers who let him do a lot from home once he was feeling better.

Mike's cancer was called Parosteal Osteosarcoma. I think I spelled that right! His tumor grew from the outside of the tibia inward which was a huge blessing. Most grow from the inside of the bone outward, which is usually a not so good outcome since the cancer has been in the bone longer. This cancer attacks boys around the age of 13 and young men about 24. It is not hereditary. It was also a blessing that it grew on his tibia where he could easily see the growth, since a lot of times this cancer grows on the back of the femur which usually results in the person not finding it in time since there is more fat and skin back there.
Mike had a large skin graft taken from the top of his right thigh and placed over the surgical area. This is all graft that had to heal and that his body had to "accept". It looks so good now! He will probably have one more very small same day surgery next year that will help him run without any pain. It's so amazing to me what the human body can go through and still heal itself.
We love you daddy and are thankful every day that you are here with us!

Baby # 3.......is killing me!

So I was going to wait til 12 weeks to post this......going to try to keep a secret this time, but as sick as I've been the secret was out a long time ago. I don't think this baby is going anywhere. Well, I hope not but I have been sicker than I've ever been before and the doc said that's a good sign! I saw the doc today for the first time and things are looking good so far. I have had one ultrasound and there is only one baby in there, and he or she has a perfect heartbeat(this one is going to be a surprise). I feel like Bella, with a vampire baby sucking the life from me! Literally. It's been difficult to get out of bed or to even open my eyes on some days. I pray daily this won't last long but I know it's not in my hands. That's one lesson that's been hard for me to learn over my life(being the control freak that I am), but the more we go through as a family the more I realize I just need to have faith, do what I can and let Him take care of the rest. It's been so hard to not be able to take care of my family and do even small daily tasks. It's also hard for me to ask for help, but we have the BEST ward and neighborhood who have jumped in to help and I have no choice! My mom, who is also the BEST, came and took care of EVERYTHING for a week while Mike was gone. I am so lucky to have her as a mom. The kids love her and Jake cried when she left. They ask for her instead of me now! I know this has been hard on Mike, and I am so fortunate for a loving and helpful husband who will do anything for us and never complain. He is such a hard worker in and out of our home and he will do anything to make sure we are taken care of. When I lay here and think these four walls are closing in on me, I try to remember this too shall pass and we will get through it like we do everything else we are given. For all of you awesome friends and family out there, and you know who you are, THANK YOU for all you have done. You mean the world to me. Thank you for taking my kids in, for all the phone calls, and for just being our friends. I hope someday to be able to repay you for all you have done.

Winter in Cali

This first picture pretty much sums up the whole trip! Outside in just a diaper, throwing a ball to the dog.

January in Cali was not as it usually is, which there were no complaints from us! The weather was REALLY warm(like 79 all one week), sunshine and lots of green grass. We spent 2 lovely weeks there with our families. Mike worked in Sac all week, but we were able to see him on the weekends. Here are a few pics from the trip. I just love the sunshine in these pictures, it makes me happy. I will post some more later of some of the fun places we went and friends we saw.

I LOVE this picture. I love the exposure.


Our princess sure doesn't mind getting dirty!
Jake ran and ran at the park in Chico with his cousin Ty until he dropped. He is now ok with having his picture taken and I am loving it.
We played on the swings more than anything. Even into the night!
ALSO........we are selling our Honda Civic, so if any of you know anyone who needs a little car with good gas mileage let us know!