Heal the Wound

Well I didn't think that August 29 was going to really be that hard of a day becuase we are so blessed and so happy for what has transpired becuase of it, but honestly it was a hard day.  A year ago to date we received the news that the little baby girl that we had been praying for for the past 7 months was not going to be joining our family.  On my way to work I couldn't help but relive the day and where I was at and what I was doing when I received the devastating news.  That definitely was not a great way to start off the day, but I just couldn't figure out why it still hurt so bad knowing that it had to happen in order for our perfect little princess Adelé and remarkable Allison to enter into our lives and family. 

After painfully getting through the day I went for my afternoon run.  The song that came across my pandora was just how I was feeling.  

I couldn't help but think how badly it hurt a year ago, but the way in which  the Lord has blessed us in that time is unbelievable. I am so grateful for the Lord and his ability to heal.  Through our temple attendance, scripture study, and magnifying our callings we were able to heal from this heartbreak. When we were in the moment and going through the trial we felt as though it was never going to end, but much like other trials that are this hard the blessing received is tenfold.   We could not have asked for a more perfect situation, but it does still hurt.  There still is a scar there and on August 29 I realized that my love for the little one is still there and I only hope the best for their family. 

Looking back it was only but a small moment compared to the joy we now have in our life! 

Believe

Now that all of our visitors are gone and all of the trips we need to take are done we are getting back into our regular life routine.  Some days I feel like am what I doing even making a difference?  I am trying so hard just to be a good mom I give everything else my second best.  It had already been a super long day we had had a young women's presidency meeting that morning before church, church, and then a young women's camp fireside that evening.  I had been having an internal debate whether or not I was even going to go to the fireside, I hadn't got to spend any time with Adelé becuase I had to teach so Oley took her with him to class this week, but when my dear little young women asked if I could give them a ride I couldn't say no.  As I was driving the girls to the stake center I was having a hard time feeling like I was making a difference in anything I was doing.  The fireside was long and when it was over I was more than ready to get the girls home. 

As I dropped the last girl off at her home this sing came on my Pandora station. 

As the chorus went through my head - "believe in what your doing, believe in who you are" "Father believes in who you are" I couldn't help but think that as long as I am giving everything my very best Father knows the intentions of my heart and will make up for the rest.  I know that there is truth to this statement.  The Lord has been extremely merciful to us and I know that as I continue to keep my priorities straight He will continue to bless us. 

Portland or Bust

Since we traveled to Idaho the weekend before we had not had a chance to make it to the temple yet this month, so we opted to take a little day trip down to the Portland temple.  Emily came with us to watch little Adelé while we were in our session.  We absolutely love Emily and were excited to take her with us down to the temple.  The Portland temple has always been one of my favorites.  So many memories were made on the temple grounds as a child when we would visit Grandma and Grandpa every summer. Mom would always take us to the temple grounds at least one day to walk around.  

I had such high expectations as we drove there I was starting to get worried that I was going to let myself down once we got there and it wasn't as magnificent as I had always dreamed.  To my delight it was not a let down at all, it was magnificent!  I absolutely love the Portland Temple!

It being a weekend in August there were numerous weddings going on so we walked the grounds for a little bit after our session and then headed to get some lunch.  

I am so grateful for the temple in my life and I hope that we can instill that love for the temple into Adelé.  She is only 3 months old has now visited 3 temples.. . Lucky Girl!

 While we were waiting for ICPC to clear we visited the newly renovated Boise, Idaho Temple.

At a month old we took her with us to the Seattle Temple. 

Fort Steilacoom

To start off I absolutely love living in the Northwest!  There is always so much to do we just don't have enough days in the week to do it all.  Because we planned to go to Portland on Saturday we decided we should probably take the dogs out and wear them out so they didn't go crazy being locked up.  What better place than the dog park to let them run and play! 

Dinky and Lily love going to this park becuase there is a huge little dog park where there are actually dogs their own size to play with.  This was Adelé's first experience of going to a dog park - a first for everything right!

Sick Baby

Our trip to Idaho Falls wore us all out but for Adelé it was much worse.  Not only was she tired but she was sick.  We got within 2 hours of our house and she threw up, so we changed her and hurried home.  She threw up once again before putting her down for the night and then again during the middle of the night.  I now can honestly say having a sick baby is horrible!  Our poor little bug didn't really want to eat anything and when she did she would just throw it up or have horrible diarrhea.  Monday was a rough day for Oley and Adelé.  When I got home from work it was no better, she was still throwing up but since she had no fever and was showing no other signs the doctor recommended we just continue to keep her hydrated. 

Our poor little girl slept, A LOT!  We tried to give her some pedialyte but she was not having that either.  But the doctor insisted she drink at least an ounce so I had to use a syringe to feed it to her.  Still no fever.  By Tuesday night she was still miserable and we were becoming worried.  I got home from mutual and she had thrown up on Oley again and so we decided we should probably give her a blessing.  She finally started to feel a little bit better by Thursday and she was ready to help me in the kitchen.  

 It was Allison's Birthday and we needed to get a card in the mail.  Oley and Adelé signed the card with her hand print.  Cute little baby. 

 

By the end of the day she was exhausted.  We are thinking that it may have been the change in water that upset her tummy.   Poor little baby! 

3 Months

It's amazing how much our life has changed in 3 months but also how quickly 3 months has passed.  Our little bug is getting more on a sleeping pattern.  She still takes a couple long naps in the  morning and then one sometimes two more in the evenings.  She definitely is starting to show preference towards things, for example her Hippo - she loves that thing!  She loves just to sit and be read too, although now days she is getting a little more talkative and likes to squeal when she gets excited.  I think the best part about being 3 months though is that she is so stinkin' smiley!  We love this little girl and couldn't image life without her.  The only down side is she now is starting to develop stranger danger.  She used to be just fine with others but now she gets very irritable, but settles right back down as soon as she is handed back to Oley or I.   We love her and couldn't have asked for a more perfect child!

Road Trip

Well the dreaded day came when we had to actually drive to the relay race I hadn't trained well for.  But I signed up so I was going to do it.  Now looking back had I known how physically draining the whole trip was going to be on me I may have never of dreamed of going.  But live and learn right.  We embarked on our journey on Wednesday night after I got home from work.

I got the privledge of driving the first half of the trip and Oley took over after dinner.  Lucky for him Adelé chose to sleep the whole 4 hours that he was responsible for caring for her.  When it was my turn she screamed and screamed.  It got to the point where we stopped at a gas station just to try to put her to sleep and every time we would put her back in the car seat she would wake up and scream.  Oh the joys of traveling with a 3 month old!  Welcome to Parenthood - right!

We finally arrived at Lauralynn and Doug's house in Boise in the wee hours of morning.  Oley had a birthday certificate to the Brazilian BBQ and so he wanted to eat there with Doug.  That morning we got to babysit little Kaylynn.  Cute little bug! 

I also was able to get some newborn shots of Kaylynn.  

Since our first adventure in the car was so successful we opted to wait till Adelé was asleep to finish our journey to Idaho Falls. Adelé did well the rest of the way.  Our dogs on the other hand were having anxiety attacks.  Last time we were in Idaho brought a baby home with us so when they saw us holding Laur and Doug's new baby they were unsure what was happening.  Poor little puppies! 

While in Idaho Falls we were able to see a little bit of my family but not for very long unfortunately, as well as Allison's for a short little time.  But what little time we did get was good!  I was unable to see any of Oley's family but he spent the majority of the two days I was running with them - Adelé got to spend some quality time with at least one set of grandparents, so that was good.  Oley is not as good at remembering to take pictures so there aren't any of Adelé the two days I was running.  But there are for the other days!

 Oley's mom does hand molds and was able to get Adelé's hands done while they were up in June.  Oley was so glad that it was the same as his. 

My mom absolutely spoils Oley.  He asked her to make an oreo cake for his birthday and what are the odds she did.  She's spectacular!

 Oden Loves his new cousin.

The run was rough!  I don't know how else to describe it.  I should have trained more.  The worst part was that I wasn't able to sleep that night and we were traveling back to Boise the next night.  But it was fun!

 The race ended in Jackson. Which was really pretty. 

My mom, Robyn, and Kathy were awesome enough to come and volunteer so I came home with them.  That night we had to return the van we used for the relay to Pocatello and it had to be there by midnight.  We got the van there by 11 but the airport was locked.  So we left the keys in our townhouse and hoped we could find someone to figure it out in the morning. We only made it to Twin Falls before we both had to stop to sleep a little before we continued onto Boise (less than 2 hours of sleep in over 48 is super rough). 

It is so nice to have that half way stop on our trip.  The next day Adelé was not a fan of her trip home but we finally made it! 

This is about how we all felt after her first long road trip.  Here's to another one in a month!!  Yippee!!