Claire Update

Claire one year ago...before we knew

Claire 2 weeks ago


Today we had an appointment with a Pediatric Neurologist at Primary Children's Hospital and I am happy to report that all was well. I have been trying for about 10 months to get into this Dr. that I had so many people tell me was great and I just want to tell you that he was as good as people told me. If any of you have a need for a pediatric neurosurgeon/neurologist Dr. Filloux is the one to go to!

He spent 45 min with Kent and I looking over all of Claire's MRI's from last year and explained exactly what he thought she would be capable of doing and why certain things were happening. Can I just tell you how great it was to have someone who really knows the field explain to us about our daughter! AMAZING! He told us a couple of things that just brought a smile to both our faces. One is that he thinks she will be able to speak all in good time. He is not 100% sure as nothing is certain with the brain but he thinks that because of the size of the hole the other side of her brain (the side with the language) is probably overworking to compensate so the things that should be coming naturally such as language is just going to take longer. I am happy to wait with the idea that it will come in it's own time. He also said that the part of her brain that controls cognitive thinking such as learning disabilities, reading, etc. is totally fine and that as long as her speech develops then she should be good to go to "regular" school. (I put it in "" because come on, is there ever anything regular?)

Another good thing he told us is that she is at low risk to have seizures as the hole is inside the brain and not on the outside. What a RELIEF!!!! In all it was such a great appointment and I can't say that for every appointment that we have had on this journey but the good ones make it worth all the bad ones.

In all to sum it up this season has been a season of tiny miracles in our life and this appointment and the info we were given would be one I would chalk up on that board of miracles! Merry Christmas everyone! Hope your season has tiny miracles scattered throughout as well.

We are having.....

So I was told this week by a few people that you don't blog about having twins and then just never respond after that! I apologize that I haven't posted sooner about the pregnancy but seriously I have been so tired and just void of telling you all anything that those of you who have been pregnant before don't know! Morning sickness sucks! Being tired sucks! Having your kids being babysat by Dora and Max and Ruby sucks!

However today we found out information worthy of blogging as well as making all the above complaints about pregnancy worth it. We found out this morning that we are 100% sure that we are having a BOY and 90-95% that we will have another GIRL!!!!

I am thrilled to experience motherhood of a son and more than happy to have another little girl. They are also healthy and measuring totally on schedule. They are about the same size and are measuring about 16 weeks. (I will be 17 weeks on Saturday~) The Dr. told us that they are two totally different people and that they both decided to come down at the same time rather than take turns. I laughed because they both probably knew that if only one would have come then the other might never had made it here. We might have stopped at 3!!!

So, now we need some help. Does anyone have any name suggestions at all? We are totally stumped especially on the boy front. We are open and would appreciate any ideas! Emma has offered Clementine and Hal and those two are both out of the running so sorry for those who were going to suggest them!

Thanks everyone. I have included a picture of me pregnant at 13 weeks and one at 16 weeks. (As a apology to those who have actually wanted to know how it is all going!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE!!!

Today Claire turns 2. It has been a bit of an emotional time with me (hormones I think:) but to look back on the year we have had with Claire and our family I can't help but be amazed at how courageous and unbelievable my 2nd daughter is.

It has been fun to watch her grow and learn and discover new ways to do things that most of us take for granted that our kids just know. Such as walking and talking. I am happy to report that our goal was to have her walking by her second birthday and while it is not the mode of transportation she chooses on a day to day basis, she can walk down the hall when she needs to. She has also started to say a couple of words such as "go", "whoa" and most recently "bye".

I know all of you who have kids will understand my next statement...My daughter has taught me more in this past year than I feel like I have learned the past 5 years. I am so grateful to have her in our family and to have her smile brighten my day!

WE LOVE YOU CLAIRE!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

love,
mom, dad and emma

New Additions

Does life ever stop getting crazy or do you just have to adjust?

For the past couple of months I have been trying to wrap my head around the prospect of having 3 children. Yes, Kent and I are expecting. I feel like it took me a couple of months because of how everyone tells you how hard 3 is. So you can only imagine what happened last week when the Dr. told me that we are actually having 2 babies! TWINS!!!!
It is very crazy and I can't believe it but that is what is happening in our house. We are only a couple of months along so hopefully everything will go well, but we are looking at doubling our family in late April, early May. We have no idea how we are going to do it and are once again just realizing that we will have to adjust and just go with it. We feel that if Heavenly Father has blessed us with these two babies then he has faith in us so we should have faith in ourselves.

So here is to having 4 kids 4 and under!!!!

Food Storage Anyone?

So since recent world events have been happening, (you all know of them, I don't really need to remind) Kent and I have once again been reminded and kicking ourselves for not being better prepared. How long have we been told to get our homes, families and lives prepared by having food storage and how long have we been procrastinating?

We have decided that procrastination is no longer an option, so we are going to take the plunge and get our rears in gear. I have found out today by researching our options for the year supply of food storage that we are not alone in this boat! While that makes me feel happy that we are not the only ones, I also realize that we need to be quick about it so that there is something left for those of us in the procrastinating arena.

Here is my question to the blogging world. What do you do for food storage and emergency preparedness? I have checked out the websites www.providentliving.org as well as the Emergency Essentials website. (just a side note, if you live in Utah and go to there store things are much cheaper than online) I have been to Costco this morning pricing out things I would feel my family would eat as well as the idea of having a separate freezer in the garage. Does anyone have any other ideas? I am open to all suggestions and please...don't judge us because we have been listening but not acting for far too long. :) We all ready know that!

My Little Equestrians

For those of you who don't know this little known fact about me, I used to ride horses. When I was in grade school I was a member of Crestwood Pony Club, which is an organization that teaches young kids how to care, ride and compete in English riding. Growing up in cowboy country did not really make you popular among the horse people and to be honest I never really LOVED it like my sisters did. Which is why I find it so interesting that my family is into horses once again this time with a small shetland pony, a huge Norwegian Fjord and a husband and dad who is allergic to horses. Yes, Kent has told me that I am solo on this route of lessons.

So yesterday Emma had another riding lesson at Grandma's barn on Pocket with her awesome teacher Mitchell. (another Pony Cluber, and a lot better than me!) Then today Claire had her therapy session on Rebekah Dill at the National Ability Center. Both of my girls are doing great and really enjoying the horses. I am enjoying the time that I get to spend with them riding. It is amazing how things come full circle isn't it.

I have included two pictures, one of Emma on Pocket and the other of Claire on Dill. You will have to click on Claire's picture to see her but yes, she is riding the horse backwards. Something I never did or tried!

Packs Pumpkin Patch

Last night we went to the pumpkin patch as a family. It was so much fun and one I really enjoy. I am so into traditions and love making new ones with my own family. This is one! We have been going for 3 years now, ever since Emma was born and it is so much fun to see how each year Emma gets more excited. This year was no exception!

She was pretty choosy about which pumpkins she took and which ones didn't make the cut. Eventually though she chose the ones that would grace our front steps and I must say she did a very good job. My little designer and fashionista is something else!:)

Claire update...she took 10 steps this past weekend and is starting to get a little more courage every day. I can't wait until she is up and going. She is also starting to try and say a few more things. It is amazing to me how excited Kent, Emma and I get at each and every sound she makes.