Our Little Ladybug has landed

Our little ladybug Ryley J joined our family on May 4th at 7:29 that morning at Lakeview Hopsital... She came into this world with a full head of hair (that no one could believe) and mommy was glad that her heartburn wasn't for nothing !!! She weighed 5 lbs 13 oz with was a whole pound more than her big brother who weighed 4 lbs 9 oz... The most memorable thing for me was actually hearing her first cries... With Hayden he was taken to the NICU so quickly to stablize him with his birth defect that I never heard those first amazing minutes of a newborns life, it still makes me sad to this day... Miss Ryley's back story While my dad was still living he had always said that he hoped that I would have a little girl just like me... Even before I was pregnant with Hayden he had told me this... Now once Hayden was on his way and his story began you kinda forget the small stuff of boy v.s girl and at that point you hope for health... Hayden (once here) became Grandpa's "little buddy" and the rest is history... Tony and I are firm believers in everything has reason for happening... Between the choices we made with Hayden and my dads passing we believe Miss Ryley was meant to join our family... Grandpa just had to meet "my little girl" before the rest of us Jump to this past September... Thats when Tony and I found out we were pregnant... Little Miss caused me greif from the git go... I was sick the whole time and I had Sciatic issues... She "kicked my butt" as Tony said the enitre pregancy... Now we were high risk only because of big brother so we had a few extra appointments and ultrasounds but once we were free and clear of any issues they let us be.. In November our 1st ultrasound was coming up to see if she would be like her brother or not. So being nervous as we were my amazing Doctor said go play at Fetal Foto and see if they can tell you if its a boy or girl just to take our minds off of the other appt... So we did... November 17 the 3 of us went there and the tech (after 45 minutes and continually telling us this baby is stubborn) she finally said "There it is you guys, we got the picture finally. We have the feet kicked up, that bum pulled up we've got 1-2-3 little lines THATS A GIRL, thats a sister and she is a stubborn little girl !!! Tony and I looked at each other in shock... Now the story with the ladybugs... From the moment I found out I was pregnant I started seeing ladybugs in the house which had never happened before where we live... Even outside they would randomly just land on me or even sit next to me while I worked in the yard... So once the ultrasound tech said it was a girl we took all those past ladybugs as a sign and the ladybug frenzy began... So here we are June 7th Ryley is a month and 3 days old and just so much fun already... She is a momma's girl, though she has daddy wrapped around her finger... Big brother Hayden is awesome with her.. The only problem I have with him is he constantly wants to hold, hug and kiss her... (Not a bad problem to have I must say) She's an eater in fact Hayden has knicked named her Chunkafooey only because shes filling out her little cheeks and newly double chin and legs... She loves to lay with Mommy all the time which limits me from doing things around the house but I don't mind only because I know how fast this will all end and before I know it she'll be 5 heading to "big girl" school just like her brother is this fall... She grunts like a like a little billy goat ALL THE TIME even at night which makes it hard for mommy to sleep with all the wracket :) 3 hrs comes fast when you are sleepy ( which is our sleep schedule at night) I am blessed beyond words of my family... She has completed our little Tanner puzzle and I look forward to our new life as 4...

Where has the time gone...

I was reminded by my best friend the other day that I am still to update my blog... OOPS a year and a half later and I'M BACK !!

What transpired in 2011 ??? HMMM lets see...

The year really didn't get going for us until April when I celebrated my 30th birthday... We had originally thought and started planning of taking a trip up the Oregon/Washington coast since we are huge Twilight geeks (and proud of it) with a jaunt over the border to Canada... As the realization of the magnitude of the trip came to realization we decided to down scale a bit and decided to head south in the warmth instead so VIVA LAS VEGAS we went!!! It was 75-80 degrees the first week of April and so much fun... It was Hayden's first vacation ever (that didn't include a campfire) and for Tony and I the last time we were down there was for a school performance in High School which we wont discuss how long that's been... HAHAHA... Tony's Grandma lives down there so Tony's mom also made the trip to visit her Mommy... Once we had mom and Grandma together we headed to our hotel... We ended up staying at the Excalibur.. Since we had Hayden with us we tried to make it as "kid fun" as we could for Vegas... That night we did the Tournament of Kings which we loved!!! The next morning we put on the walking shoes and hit the strip.. We of course had to hit M&M world for little man which he still talks about today... While we were there we decided to watch the M&M 3d movie they were showing and 5 minutes into it we were told that the fire alarm was going off and we had to evacuate the building which a store full of people all trying to escape out the fire escape was a little concerning but we made it out safe and sound and continued on our way down the strip (we did eventually take Hayden back there, which I recommend doing M&M world at night so much quieter haha)


... Our first day on the strip also found Hayden and I dancing in some little town center in front of a live band which I'm so happy Hayden did... He normally only dances in front of his mommy in the privacy of his own home so for him to bust a move in public was awesome...
We made it pretty far that day before we decided we better head back to the hotel cause of course the further you walk to further you have to make it home HAHAHA...

The next morning we had made plans to have breakfast with the Mom and Grandma and Grandpa Byron after that it was time for the opposite end of the strip and also PAWN STARS!! Yea buddy we love that show on History so we had to check it out while we were there... It was alot smaller than it looks on tv but now as we watch the show we say "Hey we saw that there"..


After pawn stars we went to the wax museum and checked that out... Hayden was a little stand off-ish with the statues for obvious reasons... At one point even Tony said "I'm waiting for one of them to jump out at me"...
We then headed to my most favorite part of the entire trip, the Bellagio fountains... It was a total bucket list moment for me and loved every second of it...
After that we headed back to the hotel for our final night in Vegas.. Which we decided to take the night jaunt of the strip which is 110% different that walking it in the day... Hayden and I talk about that trip still and cant wait to go back again...


The next couple months were pretty quiet here until August...

Tony and I celebrated our 8 yr wedding anniversary with a little Anniversary party which unfortunately also turned into a doggie wake... Macheezmo our "first born" kid had to leave our family for now and go play where he wasn't in pain anymore... He is missed so much but he was the most loyal and best dog ever and we only hope he realizes how much we love him...
But where comes death, comes birth and a couple weeks later we found out that we were expecting our next baby... Which is uncanny because we had to put down our dog Cheeka in 2006 the SAME DAY we found out we were expecting Hayden... Its weird how life does things like that to you... Our little baby girl is expected in just 11 short weeks already in May but she is her own little story for another post...

Hayden turned 5 in 2011 which still brings a tear to my eye only because I have no clue where the last 5 yrs went... His 5 yr doc appt was highlighted with the fact that his pediatrician stated that "he is free and clear of any "conditions" which would interfere with any scholastic or sport performance" since we are headed to Kindergarten this fall... I just am so over the moon proud, blessed and thankful for the boy he has already become and for what challenges he has already laughed in the face of... That day they told me he had a "birth defect" changed me forever but he reminds me everyday just how precious and great life really is no matter what...

Christmas was the most fun yet with Hayden... He kept starring up the chimney asking how Santa will make it down and making sure the fireplace was turned off before he did come... Christmas sure is better when you have little ones around...

I'm sure I've bored you enough for one post but I truly hope to be better at posting especially since lifes about to get a whole lot crazier..

Love to you all

To the closing of 2010

This will probably be the final post of the year since I haven't been the best at updating the blog this year...

You always reflect this time of the year on what challenges you have overcome and the blessings that were brought to you... A year ago I was hoping for a better 2010 than it seemed I had in 2009... But now I seem to be doing the same in hoping for a better 2011 than we had this year...

Death seemed to be the theme for 2010 for my family... First, in the passing of my Dad on my birthday this spring... And with the passing of my Grandma (mom's side) just in Oct... They are missed daily... It just shows just how precious life really is...

We have had some fun times this year and things to be thankful for too...

Tony and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary and he surprised me with a fun getaway to the Castle Creek Inn (Bed and Breakfast)... 7 years... Its amazing how fast the time really goes anymore... It seems that just yesterday we were the crazy teenagers that fell in love in a Drama class in High School at the age of 15 and 17 hahahaha... And now 14 year later we are holding on to one another still in love... I LOVE YOU BUBBA!!!

Hayden turned 4 this year... And he is as sharp as a whip as ever... There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't make me laugh at some of the things he comes up with... I am so unbelievably lucky and blessed to be his mom and for the journey he has gone through to be in my (OUR.. sorry honey) life... Its amazing how the life of a child changes everything... And for the better... You can't imagine what life really was without them in it...

The year brought camping trips, Jazz games, Broadway shows, and great times with friends and family that I hope not only continue next year but we do more of..

As I finish reflecting on the year I can do it with a smile and know that I came out stronger with it... I hope the last month brings your family and mine happy memories and times together filled with love and joy...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Love to all
Kenz, Tony and Hayden

Where do I even begin ???

Already half way done with 2010... Can you believe it??? Neither can I... Especially with what the first half has dealt my little family...

We started the year of course with the success of Hayden's surgery which Tony and I are truly blessed about... And Hayden is your typical 3 1/2 year old... To smart for his own good sometimes... But the surgeries didn't end there for the little one... Mid April had us having oral surgery to fix the "weak enamel"... (see "weak" blog back in March 2009) He is such a trooper just down the day and back up and runnin the next its amazing how resilient kids are... Hopefully he should be good for awhile in the surgery department...

I turned 29 this year... 29... WOW... But as much as I am shocked at where time went... Somethings I will never get back and by that I mean my Dad... My birthday has forever be changed at the fact that my dad left this world for the next on the same day I came in to it...

Unfortunately the last few years of my Dads life where not filled with happier memories but the childhood ones will last forever... Though its still hard to realize he's not here its peaceful knowing he's no longer stuggling with his demons and life choices... I love you Daddy

Now on a happier note we have had some fun times this year...

Tony and I with our friends Crystal and Mike went to see one of our (Tony's and My) favorite musicals (YES WE LIKE MUSICALS !!!) Leagally Blonde at Capitol Theatre... It was so much fun... As much as I would love to go see a musical on Broadway our little theatre will do for now...

We try to make it to at least one Jazz game a year and as big of Jazz fans as we are over here (all 3 of us) it was fun seeing Hayden cheer and yell for our team...


We also celebrated Memorial with Tony's family camping in Mona which was beautiful...



Tony's birthday with our amazing friends and family sitting around our BBQ and fire pit eating great food (Tin foil dinners... Our absoulte favorite) and smores... You really can't beat a quiet night like that surrounded by the ones you love...

Though summer has really just begun I hope the remaining part of the year brings more happy memories and times for my little family...

My Daddy can do that ????

Let me first tell you the back story...

It was the end of the 2008 Summer and Hayden began having an imaginary friend named Michael... He'd call Michael on the phone and talk to him and play with him... Everything you would do with a friend of the imaginary kind... We had no clue who Michael was or even where he came from but we thought it was cute so encouraged him and Michael to play... It wasn't until a few months later that Tony, Hayden and I were in a swim shop getting a new swimsuit for me and new swimming gear for Tony (who still swims sometimes since the good ol' Swim Team days of High School)... As we shopped Hayden pointed to a poster of all people Michael Phelps and said "Daddy, Mommy look its Michael"... Thats right my sons imaginary friend was and still is Michael Phelps and it wasn't until after the Olympics that Michael and Hayden could play and be friends...

So heres the update..

Michael still comes around every once in a while and plays but it was the other day that changed Hayden's thinking of Michael and Daddy forever... I pulled out our old camcorder and videos of High School and came across a State Meet Tony and the Swim Team were in back in 1998... I called Hayden into our room where it was playing and the following happened:

me: "Hayden come watch this"
Hayden: "What we watching Momma"
me: "look" as Hayden jumps up on our bed
Hayden: "we watching Michael???"
me: "No thats not Michael"
Hayden: "yes it is thats Michael he does this" (showing me how Michael warms up on the block)
me: "Hayden thats not Michael"
Hayden: with now a confused look on his face "Who is it then"
me: "thats your Daddy"
Hayden: now with the cutest shocked face ever "My daddy can swim like Michael??"
me: "Yep your daddy can swim like Michael"

Thats all Hayden could talk about the rest of the day was how Tony can swim like Michael... Hayden had to watch it again with Tony that night and has asked me everyday since if he can watch the video again... Tony's even thinking about joining a Masters program which would be an adult league... Could you imagine Hayden then actually watching Tony swim... (I think you should do it Bubba)


Tony back in '98

Surgery

Well its done...

It started Monday with us getting there at 6:30am to get checked in... We ended up waiting almost an hour before we started getting vitals and getting changed into our hospital jammies... From there we went to a second waiting room where we met with the AMAZING Dr. Brockmeyer and our anesthesiologist Dr. Tanner (of all names)... We chose to give Hayden a seditive before surgery just to make the seperation process easier on all of us... Once they gave that to him it was pretty much game over for him... He made us laugh so hard with the things he was saying once it took effect... He was trying to shoot spiders in his mouth and said that Tonys hand was candy and just had the giggles, it was so cute... It was then time to take him back and get started... At this point it was around 8:00am like they had promise... We then met some family and waited in the waiting room until a nurse involved with his surgery let us know that he went under alright and that they were officialy starting the surgery... Once we got word we headed downstairs for some food at the great cafeteria here (no sarcasm)... They had told us that they had blocked out 2 hours for surgery not knowing what might have come up when they opened him up though Dr. Brockmeyer had said his procedure would only be about an hour to an hour and a half... Anyways knowing this we didn't rush with breakfast though we should have cause when we checked back in with the waiting room they had said that Dr. Brockmeyer already came in to talk to us 45 minutes later !!! Thats right it only took 45 minutes... Since we missed him they called him up and I got to talk to him about how things went... He said it went really well and that he did have to alter the original scare a bit but the best news was that he said he only expected him to be here the night!!! I couldn't believe it only a night I was so proud of our little man... About 15 minutes later we got word that I was allowed back to see him in the "Wake up / Recovery" room... He was in bed number 4 and his nurse Mindi was trying to calm him down when I finally got there... She had said that Hayden was telling her he was scared but the moment he saw me he relaxed which as a Mommy made me feel great... Looking at his head it reminded me of his original surgery, it looked identical to it.. Dr. Brockmeyer had yet again done amazingly well... And to finally look at it and see a normal little boy head is such a humbling thing... We were only in recovery until 10:30am and off to his room... We stayed in the Neuroscience Trauma Unit (NTU) in room 2019 with the best nurses... We started with Jen (10th A.M) then Ryan (10th P.M) and finished with Kelli (11th A.M)... They were so great with Hayden... Hayden got a little sick to his tummy after the anesthetic wore off but he was a real trooper... He didn't even want any pain medicine except for right after surgery when he told us "My haircut hurts"... Ryan was nice with Hayden and I in letting us just sleep and not come and bug us like hospital stays can be so that was nice... It ended up being an early morning of course but we made it as fun as possible... After finally getting Hayden to eat some breakfast we took a wagon ride around the hospital which he seemed to enjoy... By the time we came back to the room Dr. Brockmeyer was making his rounds... He looked over Hayden and said he wanted to follow up with us in 4-6 weeks and that we were free to go in the afternoon after one more treatment of antibiotics... Since we had about 2 hours till that happened Daddy ended up taking Hayden to the play room on the 3rd floor while I got us all packed up... I then met the boys to play... After we did that we had a little lunch and a nap while we did our medicine... Finally we got discharged and made the trip home... I am so proud of Hayden for everything he has already overcome... I am so blessed and unbelievably grateful that he is my son...


This was taken Sunday after our surgery haircut and blood work at Primarys (his cool tattoo and bacelet)He had to keep them on overnight for the surgery so his ID tags matched the blood work we had done


His Cabbage Patch "Cy" needed bone paste too... Don't they look alike??


After his seditive


Hayden and Cy after surgery


Tuesday's wagon ride around the hospital

Surgery Class

Well Thursday the 7th was our Surgery Prep Class at Primarys... It started with an animated video showing the kids all about surgery... From there they took the kids and had them play with all types of Doctor stuff Stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and also gave them a baby to use them on (that he got to keep)... While the kids were doing that they talked to us parents all about surgery day what to expect on our end and to answer any question we may have... Once we were all back together we toured the surgery area of the hospital... An actual surgery room, the "wake up" room and also the recovery room... Since we were the only family staying over they showed us what kind of room we will have once Hayden's out of recovery... Over all I'm glad we went... I think Hayden got alot out of it he really seems to understand whats going on he's so smart... The cutest part was what Hayden wore... My mom had scrubs made for him as his christmas present... They say Dr. Hayden on them and they matched the actual staff at the hospital perfectly... Everyone at the hospital got a kick out of them... We plan on wearing them again Monday morning... Speaking of Monday... I found out yesterday that registration is at 6:30am which puts us in surgery around 8:00am... Sunday we have to get some blood work done so that they have his match ready in case he may need some (I really hope they don't need to use it)... As this weekend unfolds and surgery comes and goes believe me I'll post about it... I'm so glad I have this blog cause as Hayden gets older it will be here to read and remember his amazing journey...