Family Reunion in Yellowstone

We had a very fun family reunion with the Aird side in Yellowstone National Park. We actually stayed in the KOA outside of west Yellowstone. We camped along with the Waters, the Evans, Ben and Eboni and the Evans. It was pretty fun for the most part. We road tripped it with the family plus Max. We weren't sure how Max would do, but he was a really good dog 98% of the time.

Here we are stopped in Idaho Falls,  ID.

 It was really pretty. Next stop, Yellowstone.

Old Faithful

 Tyler waiting for Old faithful to go off.

The kids were pretty amazed at the show. It really was fun to get together with most of us. Of course, it wasn't without drama. I won't go into details, but we lost Amberly for a while when she missed a turnoff on a hike (a long six mile hike that Spencer said was about a mile that was infested with mosquitoes that nearly killed me and I was angry). We lost her for over four hours and had a family prayer on her behalf at old Faithful. Also, some miscommunications about meals and time to meet. I was rather frustrated with a few family members by the end of the reunion.  

Tyler with some downed trees.

 Michelle, Eboni and Me

 Michelle and I setting up camp.

Michelle, Eboni, Me and Amberly

 Mom and Dad, my family and Ben and Eboni

 Me and Alyssa after the long frustrating hike. She didn't want to hike anymore, but we still had to hike all the way back to the cars.

 Checking out some bison in the parking lot.

Randy and Alyssa got the closest.

 Jake and Tyler at a hot pot

 Isaac, Winnie, Amberly, Clara, Spencer, Eboni and my dad. All gathered around the campfire.

 Boston, Savannah, Michelle, Jake, Sarah, Lily Isaac and Winnie.

 Mom and Dad

 Our campsite at night. Alyssa and lily

 Checking out a waterfall the next day.

The second day, It rained and rained. Unfortunately, water got in our tent and we spent a lot of time trying to dry things along with sleeping bags. It was cold and a bit miserable for a bit. I sat and cried in the tent while family gathered just outside my tent for a campfire. I guess that's the way pregnancy and its hormones go though!

 My morning sickness was pretty bad. After the first night camping, I (apparently) woke up Eboni in the campsite next to us with my dry heaving! Yeah, it's that bad and that loud. I didn't sleep all night because I am so big and uncomfortable, plus I was cold, plus Max was laying on my legs and I literally couldn't roll over on the cot! It was ridiculous. Anyway, I looked at Randy in the morning and I said "I need you to book a hotel room for me/us the next night. There was no way I could do the second night and not sleep again. I was exhausted and so so sick.  He was sweet and looked at hotels, but opted instead to just ask my parents if I could sleep in there camper with them for the second night.
Also, as we traveled from one site to the next, I went with some of my kids in the camper with my parents.  I told my mom about the horrible night I had and she suggested I rest in the bed in the back of the camper. I totally fell asleep even though my dad was driving fast and crazy and I rocked back and forth. You would  think with my nausea that I would've been so sick, but I am on a couple of heavy anti nausea medications and sleep was first and foremost in my mind. They parked and I slept while everyone went on a hike. It was amazing!.  When I woke, she made me a turkey sandwich and I rode with the rest of the kids on the way to the next hike.

 Max and Alyssa asleep in the car.

 Artist paint pots.

 Alyssa, Lily and Jacob in the camper

 On the way home from Yellowstone we stopped at Earthquake lake and the visitors center there. It was really cool and probably one of my favorite stops.

 Max enjoyed every time he got to get out of the car. Unfortunately Yellowstone doesn't let you take dogs to a lot of places. He could get out at earthquake lake though.

 Everyone asleep while Tyler pouts in the van.

 Another hidden gem. We stopped near Ashton ID at Mesa waterfalls there for lunch. It is June 7th, so it is  our 13th wedding anniversary!

 look at how cute we are! 13 years of marriage and baby number five on the way! Incredible. I feel about as good as I look by the way. haha.

 Max was a little restless in the car without a specific spot. He wanted his spot to be on my lap, but being pregnant AND holding the dog isn't something I wanted to do most of the way. Finally, on the last leg of the trip he found a good spot on my pillow in the center console between Randy and I.

Church Friends

I love it when these two are best friends. Here they are at church together reading and getting along. 

So, something noteworthy has happened recently as far as church goes. I have been so sick and frustrated as Randy is at school so I have to do a lot on my own. Don't get me wrong, I've had lots of help. I have had a lot of help especially from my mom and my sister Michelle. I've even had some people in the ward bring me dinners and offer to help me clean the house. Anyway, being the primary president as well as trying to take care of four kids plus being so so sick everyday throwing up and generally not wanting to get out of bed has taken its toll on me. 
The bishop and his counselor came over to my house to sing happy birthday to me a couple of weeks ago. The house was a disaster, Randy wasn't home, the kids were crazy and I just didn't feel well at all. They sang and gave me a card, and then they left. About 20 minutes later, I received a call from bishop Schwab. He mentioned that he wanted to talk to me and asked if I could come to the church and speak to him in his office. I got the kids settled and went to meet with him. When I sat down he asked "Is being the primary president killing you?" and my response was to just burst into tears! Yes, I bawled. I told him that "No, the calling wasn't killing me, but everything altogether WAS killing me.": I kept praying to Heavenly Father asking for something to give, something to be taken off my plate. I just couldn't handle everything anymore. Bishop said that after leaving my house, he had the strong impression to release me from my calling. But he was surprised by that feeling because he assumed things were going Ok for me. He knew I was sick, but didn't know the depth of my suffering. I wont get into the details, but there was (still) a lot of crying on my part and we agreed that it was best for me to be released from my calling. I told him that I would've never asked to be released, but that I was SO thankful that he listened to the spirit that night. He advised me to take this time (time without a calling) to become closer to Tyler."He needs his mother especially right now before he becomes a teenager"  So I'm taking that to heart. I'm sad and relieved all at once. Even though it has been difficult to be the primary president, I have grown a lot. Hopefully I can focus on the most important thing in my life right now...my family. 

Boy or Girl Baby?

It's official. Our baby is a boy or a girl. Unfortunately we don't know which one. Randy has convinced me, slightly begrudgingly, that we should wait and see what the baby is when it is born. So we got to see this little peanut, well, all except his/her private parts. The baby's due date will remain the same (Oct 23rd). It is growing just as it should be size wise. I made the ultrasound technician write down the baby's sex and put it in an envelope. That way, if I can't stand it anymore and I bug
Randy enough, I can still be able to find out what it is. (I still think it's a boy though).

 Cute right?

 We went out to lunch after the ultrasound. Here is Randy holding the envelope with the sex of the baby inside. He wouldn't even let me hold it because he was afraid I would try to get a peek. He was right to be afraid.

 

We thought everything was fine with the baby when we left the ultrasound appointment. They gave us no hints that they found anything, but unfortunately, later that day, I received a call from my midwife telling me that the baby has a varix on it's umbilical cord. To explain a little more, here is the email letter I sent out to the family asking for prayers.

Hey everyone,

Randy and I wanted to let you know what is going on with our baby. We have talked with some of you over the phone, so this isn't news for some.

    We went in for our 19 week ultrasound on Wednesday and left feeling great because everything looked perfect! I was a little bit frustrated, however, because we didn't find out the sex of the baby. but that's neither here nor there. Later on though, after a doctor and my midwife had reviewed the ultrasound, I received a call from my midwife. She told me that everything did look great, heart, brain, limbs, size, kidneys etc,  but they found what they call an umbilical cord varix.
    She explained it as kind of like a small varicose vein on the umbilical cord. This is extremely rare. one study I read said that  they found 2.8 cases in every 1,000 pregnancies. The problem with the bulging vein is that it can grow bigger and burst at any time. If, in fact, it does burst, the baby will die. If it doesn't burst or even grow bigger, the baby is likely to be fine. A lot of times UCV comes with other abnormalities such as a small baby, cleft pallet, clubbed feet, down syndrome, and many other things. These don't seem to be present in my baby and that is a GOOD thing. What we are going to do from here on out is have regular ultrasounds to monitor the baby and see if the varix is growing. There really isn't much else we can do. I am now considered a high risk pregnancy so I'm sure I will switch to a high risk doctor instead of sticking with my midwife. Most doctors have not dealt with this issue,which makes me nervous. I am also likely to be induced as soon as I make it full term (37 weeks) because once the baby is out there is no cord, therefore, the baby is fine. 

    So, there's our news! not great news I know. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. I'm worried of course, but there isn't anything I can do. Like all things, it is in the Lords hands and I'm praying to be OK with whatever Heavenly Father decides needs to be done. We would appreciate any prayers, any research on this little known topic, and just to know that our family is supporting us come what may.

Thanks everyone,

Heather

I'm worried, of course. I know there is nothing I can do about this now, or ever, and that worrying does no good, but it is scary. Every time the baby moves I sigh in relief because I know it is ok. It is going to be difficult to wait another 10 weeks before I have another ultrasound with the high risk doctor.

Memorial Day Fun

For Memorial weekend, we went to Randy's co-workers home and got to see, feed and pet the lost little lamb that he found in the mountains. We also had fun looking at his horses and dogs.

 After the "Lammy show," we went to the air museum. I learned a lot, but I mostly learned that Randy knows a LOT about airplanes. The kids had a blast.

 Trying out the pilot chair

Randy is Home!!!

For his masters program, Randy went on a trip to Germany and France for ten days! While I was excited for him to go experience this, I was sad that I wasn't up for going along (and it cost way too much!). We talked every day via facetime and skype, but I just like having him home. He did come bearing gifts, so that made it all the sweeter having him back.

This was a box of chocolates from France.

 This is a necklace that Randy picked up for me (with the help of some other wives on the trip.) They did well.

 Jacob and Tyler got these cool knight figures.

Of course, he brought home a lot of chocolates!

 This is a scarf Randy bought me in France. Lily wants to keep it, but it's MINE! haha

 Lily and Alyssa got matching dresses from France. Lily  is telling everyone that her daddy buys dresses from Paris (It wasn't technically Paris, but who's going to argue with her.)

 Of course he also brought home some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. These are VERY tasty. We should buy them out of the country more often!

 Alyssa in her dress... and helmet. That's normal right?

Thanks Randy! We love our gifts, but more importantly, we are so happy to have you back home!

Baby Bremner

I felt my little peanut kick for the first time today! This is so fun when I'm not throwing up! I hope I'm feeling better soon!