I know...

I've failed to keep my blog up to date. I have to admit that Facebook has taken over. It is easier to keep updated and I've become lazy, but I'm back! I know it's a bit unusual to update my blog at 3:00 in the morning, but I have to do something while I'm up feeding Taylor or I fall asleep.

It was very nice to have Spencer home for a couple weeks during Christmas break. Now he is back to school and so am I. I know--I think I'm crazy too, but I'm only taking a couple of online classes through Utah State and it helps to be able to do my homework and stuff while the kids nap or at night when they go to bed. So, I guess I'm an Aggie now too. Life is crazily busy as usual but I'm starting to get the hang of having two kids. We still have good days and bad days but time is flying by so I'm trying to enjoy every moment. I LOVE President Monson's talk from October Conference--"Finding Joy in the Journey." I'm trying to take his advice:

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

We try to get sleep whenever and wherever we can

Taylor Emma is Here!

Taylor Emma was born on Monday at 7:15 pm. She weighed 5 lbs 9 oz and is 19 inches long. She is a tiny one! We are in love with her already. She has had Daddy wrapped around her little finger since the moment she was born and Dylan seems to be surprisingly happy about having a little baby at our house. I am tired but Spencer is taking good care of us even though he is sick. It is so much fun playing dress up with all the cute, pink clothes!

Here are some pictures of her at the hospital. (If you click on the collage, it will make the pictures bigger).

Dylan's Photo Shoot

Dylan has discovered how funny it is to pose for pictures and then look at them and laugh at himself. Spencer took these with his cell phone.

P.S. He apparently has also learned to stash food he doesn't want to finish. I discovered this a couple mornings ago when I was putting dishes away. I was wondering where his corn dog had gone the night before...

5 Days and Counting...

I am scheduled to have an amnio done on Monday morning to see if the baby's lungs are ready. If they are, my doctor said he will do the c-section that evening between 6:00 and 7:00. I can't wait! It's been a long nine months but in a way it's gone by fast too. It's weird if you think that I've been pregnant for a third of Dylan's life! I can't wait to meet our little baby, Taylor. So pray for us that her lungs are ready and she can join our family on Monday.

Halloween Happenings

(Sorry. This is going to be a bit long because I haven't blogged in a while and I want to share our Halloween Happenings with you.)

Okay, so I have never been a big fan of haunted houses and things like that. I am a chicken. I will admit it. But, the American West Heritage Center here in Logan is doing a fall festival thing and we decided to go to it because it sounded fun and there's not a huge variety of things to do on a Friday night around here. They had a haunted hollow thing (which I was not even interested in). They also had some fun stuff for kids that Dylan loved. They also had a "Charlotte's Web" themed corn maze. I've always said that I would never go to a corn maze because I would feel claustrophobic. Well, we decided to try it anyway. It was just starting to get dark but I didn't think it would take very long to get through it. Well, I found out that I was right. I hate corn mazes! I did feel very claustrophobic. Not to mention I am almost eight months pregnant, needed to go to the bathroom and we were trying to push a stroller through the dirt paths. I am just grateful that Spencer was there because he's the one who led the way and got us out eventually. It felt like hours but I'm sure it was only about a half hour. I probably would have curled up and cried and waited til someone found me if he hadn't been there. It seems I have a horrible sense of direction. Anyway, now I know for sure that I do not like corn mazes and I will never attempt one again. (By the way, Spencer had never been to one either. When we were done, I asked him if he liked it and he said, "Not with a pregnant wife and a two-year-old." I don't blame him one bit).
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The other thing we did was a Pumpkin Walk North Logan City hosts a thing at the park where people have carved elaborate pumpkins. They also make displays out of pumpkins. There were some really creative displays and pumpkins. Here are a few pictures of it. (There were also some cute cutout things that the kids could get their pictures taken in. Spencer thought he fell in the category of "kid" also).

For Halloween, we went trick or treating at my sister's house so Dylan could go with his cousins. He had so much fun! He still says "trick or treat" randomly. I guess he's hoping to get more candy. He dressed as Tigger and I was Pooh I figured I fit the part with my gigantic stomach. Anyway, it was a fun Halloween season. I love the fall and I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving next, even though Wal-Mart is already playing Christmas music on their speakers.

Dylan dancing to Collective Soul

I'm So Grateful

We had a very scary experience Saturday morning. Dylan woke up as usual at about 6:50 and Spencer got him out of bed and brought him into bed with us. We usually have him lie in bed with us for a bit before we actually get up. I noticed right away that he felt hot. His head and back and stomach were really warm. I mentioned it to Spencer but he was still kind of half asleep. Then, about ten or fifteen minutes later, Dylan started shaking. I looked at him and his eyes were rolled back in his head and I knew he was having a seizure. I told Spencer and he held him while I called 911. The seizure probably only lasted a couple minutes but it seemed like forever. We were scared because he wasn't breathing very well and his lips were turning blue. Spencer gave him a Father's Blessing while he was having the seizure. Finally, it ended and he was suddenly really tired and confused.

A policeman came to our door really soon after it was over and then an ambulance came. They checked him and said that we needed to take him to the hospital to have the doctor do tests since this was the first seizure he's ever had. Dylan was not happy about being strapped into the carseat they had attached to the stretcher, but after I got into the ambulance with him, he calmed down a bit. I told him we were riding in a firetruck (he calls ambulances firetrucks too). He seemed to think that was cool. The nice EMT was trying to distract him and he said, "Dylan, do you like balloons?" Dylan said, "Hmmm" which is his way of saying "yes." So the EMT blew up a rubber glove like a balloon but it scared Dylan and he started crying again. Poor EMT was just trying to help but I think Dylan was scared it was going to pop.

We got to the hospital and they had to take his blood to run a bunch of tests. They didn't get enough blood the first time, so they had to poke him twice. Then they had to put a catheter in him to get a urine sample. It was horrible! I felt so bad having to help hold him down while they hurt him! It gave me just a taste of empathy for parents who have chronically ill kids who have to watch that happen over and over to their precious babies. I felt so helpless. It also made me realize how difficult it must be for Heavenly Father to watch us go through physical and emotional pains but knowing it is for our good in the long run.

In the end, they decided it was most likely a seizure caused by his fever, which was most likely caused by a virus, and sent us home. My parents and Natalie and Luke came up to see us that afternoon and my dad and Luke helped Spencer give Dylan a blessing. Before the blessing, Dylan was feeling sick with the virus and he was crying and couldn't sit still. He wouldn't eat and he wouldn't even let my mom hold him, which is very unusual. Almost immediately after the blessing, he ate his lunch and even started running around a bit and playing with his toys. It was truly a miracle.

So, even though that was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. It also humbled me and made me realize how much the Lord loves me and is looking out for my little family. I am so grateful for the fact that Dylan was in our bed when he had the seizure so we were there to realize what was going on and comfort him when it was over. I am grateful for the EMT's and the 911 operator and the doctor who helped us. I'm grateful for the peace of having the great medical technology we've been blessed with. I'm grateful for the Priesthood and that Spencer is worthy to adminster blessings to our family. Lastly, I'm so grateful for Dylan. He has such a sweet personality and he gives his love and forgiveness so freely. I'm grateful that he is ok and that I have to opportunity to be his mother and this experience has made me realize that I should not take any moment I have with him for granted.