He smiles!!!! :)

We have been waiting for Braxton to smile for what feels like forever. My other two kids seemed to smile at a very early age so I kept feeling bad because we couldnt get a smile out of him. But he was holding out on us and let me just tell you it was well worth the wait!

Halloween

I always try to do a theme for Halloween and this year we had a hard time comming up with one since we have an addition to our family that we had to add in. After a few weeks of thinking we decidedd on the Mario theme. LOL So Sky was Mario Braxton was Luigi and Abbie was Princes Daisy. We thought it was cuter than princess peach. It was fun to take them trick or treating and see peoples expressions when they say that we even had a baby luigi. Of coarse they got TONS of candy and had lots of fun! :)

Princess' everywhere!!

Abbie turned 5 and I being the best mom in the world almost forgot until about a week and a half before. With all that has been going on I guess I got side tracked. When we asked her what she wanted to do for her party this year and she said a princess party..... SOOOo that is what we gave her. She invited a bunch of friends and we had a "Royal Ball" I had a friend come over and style all there hair then some cute girls in my neighborhood painted all their nails, we also had them make necklaces. It turned out really good especially for last minute planning. :) She got lots and lots of awesome gifts.
We are so blessed to have our sweet princess in our family she keeps us all in our place and makes us smile all the time! We love you Abbie!!!

1 in 9,000

Yep I am the lucky 1!! After I had Braxton the day we got home from the hospital I started to have lower back pain. I new instantly that something was wrong but I ignored it, by the time Friday came I was in so much pain I could barley walk Nate and I researched on line lower back pain after labor and thought maybe it was a pulled muscle or something to do with the epidural?!?! I started doing ice and heat packs and I had been consistently taking I.B profin and Tylenol nothing was helping. That night I decided to go in to the ER to get checked out I was sure I had a kidney stone. My AMAZING friend Sherry took me while Nate stayed home with all 3 kids. After I got all checked in they started checking all the possibilities. I went back for a ct scan and that's when I started to get scared! I was in so much pain it was unreal. They came and told me they needed to do another scan but this time with the dyes they wouldn't tell me why so of course I got very nervous. After that it took them FOREVER to come talk to me and tell me what was going on. The Dr. came in and the first thing he said was" I have never seen this before" Never what you want to hear! "but you have a blood clot in your ovarian vein" UMM okay what does that mean? "Well we are going to admit you into the hospital and put you on blood thinners right away" I was on very strict bed rest for the first 24 hours I couldn't even get out of bed to use the bathroom (bed pans are so not fun!) We found out that only 1 in 9,000 woman get this after a regular child birth.
The next day is when the fevers started and I would have horrible aches and the cold chills and shivers. So this is when they decided I had an infection, we tried numerous antibiotics and nothing was helping so we did MORE blood work and that's when we found out I had Septic Pelvic Thromboses (sp?) in other words the blood clot was releasing bad toxins into my body and causing an infection. After 3 long horrible and painful days my fever of 103.7 finally broke. I had to be fever free for 48 hours for them to release me.
Nate was so amazing those 5 days I was there, he stayed with me to help me with the baby. They let me keep Braxton with me since I was only 4 days post pardum and I was nursing they even put me in the pediatric unit so he wouldn't be exposed to all the germs on the medical floor. The hospital was so great the nurses were amazing and I felt very well taken care of! Our wonderful neighbors and friends took care of my other 2 children while I was there and I am so so so grateful for them all! The love and support that we were shown is nothing short of amazing. I am happy that this is behind us I know I have a long road ahead before I am in the complete clear but the worse in behinf us!

Braxton Richard Blass

Our sweet Braxton joined us in this world on August 8th 2011. He surprised us by coming 4 weeks early! My water broke around 10pm on the 7th I called Nate to come home from work then quickly started to pack our bags and called my sister to come get the other kids. When we got settled into our room at the hospital and set up on the heart monitors they told us his heart rate was dropping so I was moving from side to side and was put on oxygen. They started me on pitosin to try to hurry the process then when I was about a 5 I then asked for my epidural I wanted to go as long as I could natural but because it was just a slow process I decided to go ahead and get it. I regret it because the anesthesiologist was so rude and it was the most painful epidural I had ever had I am still having pain on my spine from it!!!!! I continued to move along slowly and when I got to a 6 I started to feel a lot of pressure I asked the to check me again and they kept reassuring me I wasn't ready.... I finally said CHECK me cause I am gonna push!!! At this point my epidural wasn't working and I was in a lot of pain they checked and hurried and called the doctor in. I started to push my first push and the Dr. told me to stop WHAT..... I can't stop I did everything in my power to stop because he then told me the cord was around the baby's neck. When i could push again I pushed once and out her came! They didn't let me hold him and that was very hard after they checked his vitals and made sure he was ok they handed him to Nate and he handed him to me. That's when I saw it, RED hair LOL. He is perfect! Weighing 5lbs 4oz and 19 and 1/4 inches long. He was healthy and doing great! We were able to bring him home with us and we all just love him!

Meeting their baby brother for the first time

Our Fabulose Fourth

As most of you know the 4th of July is my FAVORITE Holiday! I started the count down and planning what we where all going to where a week or two before it came! My kids are at the age that they get very excited for it to and that makes it even funner for me to see them enjoy as much as I do! We started the day of with none other than the Clearfield parade, we sat with our friends the Wood family and Cook family. The weather was perfect, a cloudy over cast so it wasn't blazing hot but not cold either. After the parade we decided to go to Layton and enjoy some of there carnival the kids went on some of the inflatables and face paintings. From there we went home so my sister could come over for a little bbq (since I have lived in Clearfield I have bragged about how awesome their fireworks are and my sister said she wanted to judge it for her self I was so excited to show her that I wasn't lying and they didn't disappoint they were ridiculously awesome again this year.) Nate filled 300 water balloons and the kids had a blast throwing them at each other and Glade! :) We headed over to the festivities for the Clearfield fireworks and did more inflatables then just hung out ate junk food and talked with great friends. The Aardemas meet us there and the Cooks joined us later! the kids played and loved the glow sticks. Just as it was getting dark Nate asked where Sky was I looked at him with that dumb struck look and said what do you mean..... We lost Sky can I just tell you it was the most terrifying moment as a mother that I have ever had! I felt defeated as I looked around and saw thousands of people and didn't know where to even start. That is when I stopped in my tracks and folded my arms and cried out in prayer, When I was done I turned to tell Nate I was going to go report him as lost. When I turned around I saw him (Sky) crying and running to us, my first reaction was to also cry then I asked him where he was and why he left and wanted every detail. He followed me to a see a friend and I didn't know then he got detracted and kept walking when he realized he was lost he turned around and went back to the general area where we were and asked an adult for help, I am so proud of him that he handled it the way he did and so grateful he didn't fall into the wrong hands! Come to find out he was gone for almost 10 min before we even noticed I know I know that is horrible and I feel terrible about it.

the fireworks started shortly after we found him and the night ended with a bang! literally.... On the way home Nate rear ended someone but there was no damage so we both just walked form it! Honestly with all this it was still such a fun day and I still LOVE the 4th!

One year down one more to go!

I put Abbie in preschool this year, it is the same school Sky went to. She LOVED it. It has honestly helped her come out of her little shell so much! That is why I am a strong believer in sending your children to preschool. because yes I could have very well taught her the things she learned there, but I think it is so important for them to learn how to be social with out mommy around. We have absolutely just loved Miss Mindy she does a fabulous job with all the kids and is so happy to see them every morning. Abbie has grown so much this past school year and is looking forward to another year next year.
To celebrate there accomplishments they put on a little program, it was dang cute. Then Miss Mindy gave them each a certificate and shared a little something about each student. I am so proud of Abbie and how much she has accomplished. If you know her you know it is rare to see her without her clinging to my leg or shying away when you talk to her. The last few months she has become so much more independent and I have to admit as much as it makes me crazy sometimes having her try to "climb back into the womb" it is also hard to see her not "need" me as much.
We are so proud of you Abbie and love you so much!

Abbie and Miss Mindy

waiting patiently for everyone to get there certificate.

Abbie getting her certificate

Singing

Time goes by fast when your having fun!

It seems so weird to have a 7 year old, Skyler turns 7 on May29th but we celebrated it on the Saturday before. Every year for the last 3 he has asked to have a party at Chuck E Cheese I have always said no because of how expensive it is BUT this year being prego I wanted to do it since they do all the set up and clean up I thought that sounded heavenly! He invited 3 friends and all his cousins. so we had 10 kids all together. He had a blast his smile never left his face and he has talked about it ever since. As the birthday boy he got to go in the ticket blaster and try to catch as many tickets as he can he got 350!!!! He also got a crown a medallion and a BIG balloon! I am so happy we splurged and did this for him it really was sooo easy for me especially since Nate has to work and I had to be there alone. besides what isn't worth making your kids the happiest kids on earth for a day! :)

8 years!

April 24th 2003 Nate and I where sealed for Time and ALL Eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple. We have been through some crazy things the last 8 years. I feel so blessed to be married to Nate. I honestly don't know what I would do with out him. Our lives have changed so much through the years it has been a real roller coaster that I wouldn't want to ride with anyone else but him. To celebrate this year we went to Vegas and had tons of fun! When we got to Mandalay Bay to check in they said there was a problem and I thought we didn't make the reservations correct or something but it was a mistake on their part so they said they where up grading us for FREE to a 1100 sq ft. suit it was BEAUTIFUL! We hung out at the pool, shopped, went to Blue Man group, ate yummy food, shopped, walked the strip, shopped, went to a hypnotist, went to the Gold and Silver pawn shop ( the show pawn stars) it was pretty cool to go in and see all the stuff. we had tons of fun. I was exhausted from all the walking and being 5 months prego. I had to stop in all most every hotel to go potty LOL We always have so much fun together but miss our kids terribly so we where excited to come home after 5 days of fun in the sun!

Nate at the balagio fountains

Nate in front of Gold and Silver Pawn shop

As seen on t.v

At Blue Man Group Nate loved it I thoght it was weird!

M&M world

Our living room in our room

The Kitchen

YES that is a t.v in the bathroom! :)

The bedroom!

M I C K EY M O U S E

Nate and I wanted to take the kids to Disneyland, we couldn't decide when we wanted to go but it all ended up just falling into our laps. Our good friends where going over Christmas and they invited us to go at first we where thinking, no way we can't come up with the money that fast. This was just 6 weeks before we would be leaving so it just didn't even seem possible. BUT then our friends reminded us that he works for The Hampton and could get a a amazing deal on our Hotel. We also found someone who wanted to share tickets for Disney so we paid half the normal price it just seemed to be the perfect opportunity to go. So we surprised the kids Christmas morning with a Mickey suit case and a letter saying that we where leaving for Disneyland!!! We finished packing up and left that day. I think Nate and I where more excited than the kids. we drove straight there and the fun began.... We met up with our fabulous friends the Aardemas and had dinner that night then went back to their Hotel and just hung out. the next day was Sunday so we just went to the Beach and went and did a little site seeing. The big day was Monday we woke up extra early and got to Disney at 7 am. Sherry and I had bought our kids cute costumes to wear to Disney, so Abbie was dressed like Cinderella and Sky was a cool pirate. they where so dang cute! That first day was sooooo fun we had a blast even though the park reached capacity around noon which is over 80,000 people so it was busy but still so fun!! I am always in awe at the detail that they have with everything in the park even the bathrooms are magical! LOL

The next day we went to Univesal Studios which believe it or not was even crazier than Disney there where so many people there it was insane. We did the few rides there and then we left around 8. I really like universal I think it is so fun to see some of the behind the scenes stuff there! SKylers favorite ride there was the new Simpson ride we waited for EVER for this ride thinking it was going to be so cool but it was LAME. it was like a simulator ride! All in all the day was great and we where exhausted.

Back to Disney this time it was just our little family, it was one of our funnest days. Nate and I love spending time with our kids and this day couldn't have been any more perfect. We did everything we wanted and got so much done. The kids where so good that day and everything went smoothly. We watched the big parade and the new World of Color at California Adventures. the kids never seemed to get sick of being there and didn't want to leave. :) WE assured them that we would come back in a few days.

The next day we just took it easy slept in, went shopping and went swimming at the Hotel. That night we decided to go out just the adult and leave the kids at in the Hotel rooms. The two older girls agreed to babysit and we went to Dave and Busters and had a blast! I sure wish they had one in Utah because we had so much fun! It was a nice little break from all the kids. I am happy we were able to get out.

Last day of Disneyland!!!! Bitter sweet. It was News Years eve, and we were ready to party! we spent the day doing all the rides for a second time then that night was CRAZY! We watched fantasmic and when it got over there were some fire works. This wasn't the main even because it was only around 9:30 at this point there were going to be a huge fire works display at midnight. When we went to main st. to wait for midnight it was so insane we couldn't move. Our kids fell asleep so Nate and I decided to go back to our hotel and watch the ball drop on t.v! I know I know who does that when they are in Disneyland but honestly it was out of control busy! To be honest I think we were smart because the crowds got worse after we left. I LOVE Disneyland I can't get enough of it I would go back every year if I could. I am so happy we had the chance to take our kids again!

The next day we packed up and headed to Vegas. We decided it would be good to split the drive home up. We went to Freemont street had dinner then went to bed.BUT before bed there was one important thing I had to do........ I took a test and it came back positive!!!! I am pregnant with out third child and we are so very excited. (it explained way I was so exhausted at Disneyland) LOL It was a awesome way to end an awesome trip!!!!