Mecham Family

More of Porter

2010-12-17T12:28:00.000-08:00

Porter's first bath. Thank heaven my dear friend Andi was working and was able to come give him his bath.

We have a family tradition that of making a bear for each of the kids when they are born. Lily and Sam got to pick out Porter's.

Porter Weston Mecham

2010-12-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

Our sweet Porter has finally made his grand entrance into the world. For months we have been battling preterm labor, trying to keep him cooking as long as possible. Once we hit 36 weeks we were given the green light to deliver if I went into labor again. But for those that know us, you know that we never do anything the easy way. I went into labor when I was working a shift up at LDS hospital. Labor and Delivery put me on the monitors and saw that he was having some deep variables (deep but short dips in heart rate) with contractions. They recommended that I get checked at IMC as soon as possible. When I arrived I had a crazy bad contraction that would not stop. We put him on the monitor and his heart rate was in the 60’s. After about 14 minutes of complete panic and chaos we were able to get his heart rate above 100. We were later sent home and told to come back Monday for a Non stress test. The test didn’t go as well as we had hoped, he was not having excels in his heart rate without being “buzzed” by the acoustic stimulator. The decision was made to deliver him and I was sent to labor and delivery to be induced.

At this point Keith gets to the hospital, but oh my, what he showed up wearing. Because it was Monday all of the Air Force has to wear their blues instead of the usual ABU’s. Now this would have been just fine, I quite like seeing Keith in his uniform, but he was on his way to PT (physical training) and had already changed into his dirty sweats. The funny part is that he forgot to take his tennis shoes and was still wearing his shinny dress shoes for his blues. He was quite the sight. Thank heavens for Dallin who came to the hospital with a change of clothes for Keith.

After they came and broke my water everything went quite smooth and fast. After only 5 hours of labor and pushing for 2 contractions our sweet sweet little joined our lives. He weighed 6 lb 1oz 20.5 in long APGARS 8, 9. They think he was more 36 weeks then 37 weeks, but he did great . No need for O2 or anything. He is amazing.
I love that I was able to deliver where I work. I love everyone I work with and can’t imagine better people to entrust the care of my sweet little baby boy. They all did a amazing job and I will be forever grateful to them.
Now that we are home I feel so grateful for everything in my life. I have such an amazing kids and an even more amazing husband. What a wonderful world.

2010-11-08T05:30:00.000-08:00

33 Weeks down and hopefully only four or five more to go!! I know the picture is a little huge and disturbing. I am ubber short and so when I am prego I have nowhere but out to go. Even my OB made a comment at my last visit, “wow, you really do just hang right on out the front don’t you.” You would think that a man that works all day every day with hormonal pregnant women would know what not to say. That just him and I still think he is great. They have changed my meds and gave me some new ones so hopefully the preterm labor will soon be coming to the end and life off the couch can begin again. I have been so desperate to entertain the kids while I lay useless on the couch; I let them color my legs with magic markers. I now look like I have tattoos all over my legs, much to the amusement of the labor and delivery nurse I had yesterday. Hopefully we are in for smooth sailing from now until Porter makes his grand enterance.

Best Holiday Ever

2010-10-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

It is not a secret that I LOVE Halloween, it is by far the best holiday ever. This year Lily wanted to be a mermaid. I will NEVER sew a mermaid costume again as long as I live! But It turned out ok and Lily loved it.

Poor Sam, after all the time I spent on Lily’s costume I didn’t have the energy to do more and just bought Sam’s at the store. Thankfully he is easy to please and was thrilled to be Spiderman. His costume originally had a mask. For the last month he has run around the house in it like a Mexican wrestler, so when Halloween came it was nowhere to be found. It worked out for the best to just paint his face, I don’t think that he would have kept it on anyway.

We carved pumpkins this year. Keith’s brother Dallin came over and helped. He carved the princess and the frog pumpkin for Lily and a were wolf one. Keith carved the ghost for Sam and the Skull and cross bones. I carved the Jack skelington. It was so much fun! And the kids loved it. Totally going to become a new family tradition.

The Good Halloween Witch.

We started a tradition a few years ago when Lily became old enough to make the connection between trick or treating and gorging herself on candy until she is vomiting on my bedroom floor. After the kids come home from a very productive night of candy gathering they are allowed a few pieces of candy and the rest gets set out for the Good Halloween Witch. She comes during the night and exchanges their candy for a present. And Daddy wakes up with a sugar hang over the next morning. If anyone divulges this secret to my kids I will hunt you down and make you cry! And before you think that I am cruel, I do keep the majority of the candy tucked away for the kids to have later. This year I was kind of lame and didn’t get real toys for them. I ordered some Halloween books that I then forgot about and found Halloween morning and the PJ’s were in the Christmas stash. But the kids loved it. Thank Heavens they are still young enough to be easily entertained.

Mecham update

2010-08-17T21:07:00.001-07:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks here in the Mecham house. Last week someone broke into the house. ( while the kids were napping and I was in the shower). Luckily they only came in and took my new cute little pink laptop and some jewelry and left before any of us realized what was going on. Then the vacuum caught on fire. Yes, they catch on fire if you suck up too much baby powder that your two year old decorates his room with. Things got better from for the rest of the week. Keith came home yesterday and is not set to deploy again until next year. Finally the big news, we had our ultrasound today. We are having a very active and healthy baby boy!!! According to dates I am due December 25th, but by size I am due December 31st. so we are just trying to hit all the holidays in December. When you get stressed out just take a breath and realize that everything works out in the end if you just breath threw it. Life is good.

From the mouths of babes

2010-06-22T22:42:00.001-07:00

Today I noticed that Lily was calling Sam “Alice”. When I asked her why she was calling her brother by a girl name she answered. “Because maybe if he was a girl and didn’t have that odd extra finger down there, he wouldn’t be so mean to me.” How can you argue with that?

RN

2010-06-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

It is finally official, I am an RN!!! I took my nursing boards on Sunday, ( yes I know it is odd they held NCLEX on Sunday) I spent the next two days crying knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I failed it miserably. Then Monday night, just before midnight my buddy Danielle from nursing school called me and told me that my nursing license posted on DOPL. (The department of professional licensing.) which means I PASSED. I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack. I am so happy. I just wish Keith were home to celebrate with me. I will stay working in women services float pool on the maternity and labor and delivery units for IHC. It all still feels like a dream.

The cat is out of the bag

2010-05-06T06:25:00.001-07:00

The cat is out of the bag and throwing up violently all over the carpet. We are pregnant! Baby Mecham #3 is due Christmas day. Yes it is a shock and surprise but we are happy for Lily and Sam to get a new baby brother or sister.

MY Little Peanut and the peanut

2010-04-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

In January Sam got pneumonia in the upper lobe of his right lung. They treated it and all was well, except he still had a lingering cough and was wheezing more and more when he would play. When I would listen to his lung sounds there was little to no breath sounds in the entire right lung. We took him back to the Dr., they said it was probably asthma and we started doing nebulizer treatments three times a day. After months of treatment I was still not hearing and increase in breath sounds and took him back again and again and again. After being blown off as a crazy over protective mother with a stethoscope they finally took me seriously and ordered a chest fluoroscopy (like a chest x ray video so they can watch the lung expand) We scheduled it at the Primary Children’s at Riverton. It was shocking. When the image came up my heart sank. Even with him screaming his guts out with three people holding him down, his right lung did nothing. There was no air going in at all, but there was air in there that could not get out. They told me to wait in the waiting room while they called our pediatrician. Before I know it a surgeon was calling me telling me to bring him straight to Primary Children’s same day surgery to be prepped. Before I even made it home to call Keith, an anesthesiologist, same day surgery, our pediatrician, and another surgeon were calling me. It was a crazy and over whelming time. We got him up there, all checked in, dressed in his itty bitty hospital gown, and played in pre op waiting for an open OR. Note to self Versed and Sam don’t mix. They gave it to him about 20 minutes before they took him back to calm him and decrease the anxiety of a stranger taking him away from his parents. Yah, not what happened, it made him angry and freak out. We walked down to the OR with the anesthesiologist, gave Sam one last hug and handed him over. We had to bolt out of there as fast as we could. I could not handle hearing him screaming for us in the OR and there was nothing we could do.

About an hour and a half later they called us in the waiting room. The PACU nurse said “I have an angry little boy here that wants him mommy.” This was hard to hear over his very horse screaming in the back ground. We ran down the hall to the PACU, to find a half naked screaming and confused little boy on a big adult stretcher, pulling at IV’s and monitors. Keith picked him up just in time for them to say that only one parent could be back there. I didn’t even think about it and told Keith I was not leaving. Poor Keith, he didn’t argue and handed Sam over and went back out to the recovery area, I know that it was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do. After a quick breathing treatment we were able to take him to recovery to see daddy. What a wonderful and sweet husband I have, he loves his kids so much. They came out and told us what they had found, a peanut, yes a freaking peanut. They said he probably coughed while eating it and sucked it down into his right bronchial around Christmas time. Some scar tissue and inflammation formed around it and completely blocked off his right lung. They were able to remove it and clean out the scar tissue without any problems, they even gave us the peanut in a specimen cup. After a few more hours in recovery they agreed that we did not need to stay overnight as planned and sent us home around 1100 pm. Now Sam is doing great. I can’t believe how fast he recovered and was back to running around like a crazy man. I am so grateful to the amazing and wonderful nurses and staff at Primary Children’s. I am so grateful to have a healthy little man again. It is defiantly something that I never want to go through again. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and concern, and a huge thank you to Dallin and Jennifer for helping us with Lily. We could not have gone through this with out you.

Birthdays and Easter

2010-04-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again, Just as we recover from Christmas and winter we have Easter and birthdays. Sam’s birthday was March 23rd, but Keith was still deployed. So we took advantage of the fact that he is young and would not know any different if we just moved it back a little bit. We celebrated it the day after Keith got home, ( the day before Easter ) at Grandma and Grandpa Mecham’s house. I went the fast and easy route this year with cakes, so nothing fabulous this year. Little mister Samuel turned 2 this year and Lily turned 5. I can’t believe how fast it has all gone by. My babies are not babies anymore.

Easter!!!! I had to work Easter Sunday, and the weather was not really ideal for Easter egg hunting so we moved Easter to the Friday after. We took the kids to my parents for a egg hunt in the back yard and pictures. They were so cute. Sam got his first little man suit, I loved it!! but it almost looked like he needed a Louisianan accent while wearing it.

Lily’s birthday we actually managed to do on her birthday. I had my first day of nursing precept up at Labor and Delivery in Ogden, so poor Keith had to take care of everything on his own. She loved her party, and she make a killing in gifts. I am so grateful for so much right now, my hubby is finally in the same country as me, my kids are growing up, I am almost done with school. Life is good.

The kids and Keith's uncle Ron trying out Sam's big boy bed.

cars, teeth, and kids

2010-03-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

I guess I am way past due for a post. Fair warning to all of those that might read this, it may seem to be more like a venting section then an actual update. If this is going to bug you just stop reading now. There is nothing like laying it all out there to remind yourself that it could be worse and I have so much to be grateful for.

Keith is still deployed, so married single parenthood is in full swing. I have to say, not really a big fan. Hopefully he will be coming home the day before Easter, which really means that on Easter I will be saying that he will be home in a few days. I never count on the first date that the military gives us. I don’t think he has ever been able to come home on time before. There are always last minute changes.

School is, well school. I have officially reached burn out. I am so close to being done, but am having a really hard time giving a damn. To study has become like Japanese water torture. I love critical care, I find in fascinating that you can take a human body that is so mangled and with the help of a few machines and some IV drips, you can put them all back together again. It’s amazing and yet I am yet again dinking around on the internet instead of doing homework. Even now I am thinking of all the things I should be doing and just can’t find the will to care. I think that once I find out where my precept will be things will be different. Hopefully I will catch my second wind, because then I get to put all my knowledge into action and will find my confidence that I can be a great nurse or fail miserable on my face and become a hermit crab. We have a new dean of nursing and I think it will make all the difference for the program. She is great and it gives me hope for the fallowing nursing classes. I actually found myself not mumbling under my breath when someone asked me where I was going to school. Maybe my second wind is starting up slowly. It is so scary to think how close I am to being done. It’s exciting to think that soon I can walk in to a patient’s room and say, “hi, my name is Sadie and I will be your nurse today.” It is sad at the same time. I have grown so close to the other nursing students in my class. We have been through so much together and will miss them terribly. I actually considered picking up a second job just one day a week up at McKay Dee hospital just so I can see some of them every now and then. They really are a great group of people, and would gladly let anyone of them be my nurse if I were dying in a gutter, well with a few exceptions.

Cars. Oh the joy and pain that is cars. Keith and I have been throwing around the idea of getting a minivan. And well I decided I had had enough of cars breaking down on me while Keith was gone and went and bought me a new minivan, well new to me. It is a 2009 Toyota sienna. I love it, it’s so clean, and has all kinds of fun gadget, and the best of all the kids cannot reach each other anymore. It is perfect and it gives me giggles inside, well until the second day. I noticed that the brakes were making a weird noise so I took it back to the dealership to be checked. They took a quick glance and said that it was fine and that it was just the tire shine spray that had gotten on the brakes while it was getting detailed. They promised it was safe and sent me on my marry way. The sound got worse and worse, so it took it back. Later that day they said it was ready to be picked up and that they replaced the brakes and machined out the rotors. Tire shine spray my ass! I was grateful that they fixed the problem but was annoyed none the less. Then this morning while driving to school the check engine light comes on, the light for vehicle stability, and traction control all come on. So back to the dealership tomorrow we will go, high ho high ho. Some heads will be bitten off, high ho high ho. To own a van for two weeks and have to take it in three times to be fixed is not going over well with me.

Next lovely bit of fun. Anyone that knows me knows that not much in the ways of body functions bugs me. Vomit I am fine with, blood and guts it’s all good, but teeth and feet not so good. So this last week has been extra traumatizing to me because my upper left wisdom tooth broke off leaving a lovely exposed nerve. Oh the joy and the PAIN!!!!! It took about a week but I was able to get in to get my wisdom teeth taken out by a lovely man named Dr. Brain. No joke, Dr. Brain. He was awesome and let me go nightly night while he did the dirty work and ripped those puppies out. My dad was nice enough to watch the kids and pick me up when it was all over. Although I think he enjoyed watching me come out of anesthia, I get a bit goofy. Apparently I told the guy helping me into the wheelchair that my dad was coming to get me because my husband was a jerk and was on vacation without me. Once I could stand up on my own and feel my face again things were not so pleasant. They had to chunk out part of my lower left jaw and I felt like I had been kicked in the face by an angry garden gnome. Each day has gotten a bit better and better with the occasional set backs when I am stupid and overdo it. That is until yesterday. My lower left jaw has really been bugging me and I keep getting this gross taste in my mouth. So after some poking around, literally, I found a huge pocket of puss where my wisdom tooth used to be. Awesome. So today I have been packing it with gauzed soaked in everything I can think of to draw out the infection. Now remember I don’t do teeth!!! So to be pulling out puss soaked gauze is making me pray for death. Hopefully it will get better without having to do anything drastic. I have another dentist appointment later this week to see what the next step will be. Oh joy joy fun, everyday is like Christmas.

We are still staying with my parents for the majority of the week. It is easier on the kids so that I don’t have to wake them up in the middle of the night to go home to bed by the time I make it home from work and school. I sleep on the couch, Lily is on the air mattress next to me, and Sam is in the crib around the corner. It is so much fun… like camping every night.. I am losing my mind!!! But on the bright side, it is free babysitting, I am saving a ton on not having to heat my house, and I am reminded everyday why I moved out so young.

Birthdays. Sam will be two at 3:58 AM tomorrow. He is such a big boy, it makes me sad how fast he has grown up. Because he is young and won’t remember we have moved his birthday this year until after Keith gets home. So pictures will be coming soon.

Well that is about it for us here, sorry it was so long but I feel better getting it out of my head.

When mommy is away

2010-01-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

When I came home from school tonight this is what I found.

Let it snow, Let it snow, let it snow.

2009-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Today we decided to bundle the kids up and let Sam have his first fully suited up rump in the snow. The kids loved it and we learned a lot for the next time, including the need to duck tape Sam’s gloves on.

Keith blew up a tube and towed the kids around for a little bit. The kids loved it.

.... until they fell off.

Keith's Nightmare

2009-09-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

If you know me you know that I LOVE Halloween. It is my favorite holiday, and I have been known to take it a bit far at times. This year we are doing the wizard of oz; Lily is going to be Dorothy, Sam is going to be a flying monkey, Keith the scarecrow and I let Lily choose mine, which is the good witch. Everyone’s costume was fairly easy to find but mine. So as we are watching the movie for the 100th time (thanks to Lily’s obsession with it) I realized that her dress just looks like a bad 80’s wedding dress. So I hit up the DI’s and found one that will do, and am going to dye it pink in the bathroom tub. When I came home and showed Lily, like a girl, she just had to try it on. Hence the picture below. It gave Keith a lot of heat burn and a sudden urge to get a gun out and clean it. I think it was adorable.

My funny monkey children

2009-09-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, life in the Mecham house is always on the move. Things are going well right now, Keith is still home and should be home until they deploy again in the spring ( fingers crossed ). But with the military you never really know what to plan on. I am still trekking along with school, if everything goes well I will be graduating in the spring and hopefully be taking the NCLEX by the end of spring or early summer. Thank heavens it is getting close enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Some days it is all that keeps me from climbing a clock tower. But even with the prospect of losing my mind, I love learning more about nursing and can’t wait to finally walk in and say; “Hi, my name is Sadie, I am your nurse today.” Instead of, “ how is your pain? Oh you want something, ok let me go hunt down your nurse.” No I don’t really say it like that, but you get what I mean.
Keith and I actually had a day off at the same time this week, so we took the kids to Wheeler Farm. I always seem to forget how cool that place is. The kids had a blast feeding the ducks, riding the pony, the wagon ride, and seeing all the farm animals.

Lily loved the pony ride. She is still talking about how fun it was to ride Marshmellow, and how Marshmellow is her favorite pony friend. I may scream if I hear the name Marshmellow again today. But you have to admit, there is something so cute to see a happy little girl on a pony. sigh....

Lily just being cute. She actually stopped and said, "look mommy I am cute take my picture." and when I turned around there she was all posed and ready. She is so cute it kills me.

Yes, that is my little man helping daddy and grandpa tile the mantel for the fire place. He was playing in the pool and that is why he is half naked and not wearing shoes.

Silly little man. 18 months going on 18 years old.

Lily is now in full time preschool. I can’t believe how big she is getting. It kind of freaks me out to think that she is starting kindergarten next fall… My baby is all grown up. Lily absolutely loves preschool. Her teacher is the same preschool teacher that taught Keith in preschool. She is so wonderful, all the more reason to be sad when she goes to kindergarten.

Samuel is getting so big. He is almost 18 months and into everything, but all he has to do is give you that big smile and you just melt. I do believe that he only comes with two speeds asleep and running. It never ceases to amaze me how so much energy can fit into such a small body.

4th of July weekend

2009-07-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yes I know the 4th of July was a while ago, what can I say I am a slacker. Fourth of July was a ton of fun. We took the kids to Hogal Zoo on Friday the 3rd. Hogal Zoo does a military appreciation weekend for all military and their families where you get in free. The kids loved it! I don’t know how I was ever entertained going to the Zoo before I had kids. On the 4th I got cancelled from work, so we just bounced around BBQ’s with family. Lily stayed up with her aunt Keeley and watched the fire works for Sandy City. Then had a sleep over at grandma’s. We took Samuel home and went to bed. Yes we are party poopers. But it was a great weekend.

Happy Fathers day

2009-06-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

This was Keiths fathers day present.
This is a Bushmaster AR-15 modeled after the M-4 with the shorter barrel. It also has the adjustable rear stock. It is hard to see from the picture, but it has tactical rails on the front grip and there is a removable scope for it. Also this comes with the 22 cal converter kit so it can shoot the .22 and the 223s. He is a happy little boy.

Holy sweet mother of stamps

2009-05-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

This Saturday Keith and I decided to do a little yard saleing. There was a huge one at daybreak that was pretty much all of daybreak. We found some amazing deals. Keith got some big florescent shop lights for the garage and the shed for $5. We got a toy tool work bench with all the parts for $5. This pretty much filled up the car. We went home to off load and go back, as all of that was just from the first street of yard sales that we stopped at. We decided that 2 cars might be a better idea because we were looking for large yard toys for the kids. I made it back to daybreak before Keith. Once we found each other again we went back to shopping. There was a yard saleing stamp’n stuff. I thought it was a great deal. I got a set of large stamps for $15, mean while Keith was grinning like a little school boy. He then told me that the reason he was late getting back to Daybreak was he stopped at another yard sale on the way and got a few rubber stamps for me. We went back to his car and he opened the trunk. I just about screamed. He stopped at a yard sale that had a whole table of rubber stamps from stamp’n. they were all listed for $10 - $15 a box, ( still a good deal) he was not sure which ones I would like so he just asked out of curiosity how much for the whole table? The husband of the women saleing them said $100. DONE!!!! The women was not so happy and looked like she was going to throw up. She asked if he would at least go up to $120. Still done. For $120 my wonderful husband bought me 615 rubber stamps. Easily almost $1200- $2000 in stamps. We figure it was about .20 cents a stamp, and $1.80 a box. It is AWSOME!!!!! Me likely.

The Roof

2009-05-10T09:42:00.001-07:00

This weekend we helped to re-roof Keith’s parents house. We started stripping the roof on Thursday and Friday. And started shingling on Saturday. We have been very lucky to have such great whether, not too cold and just hot enough to give you a sweat and make you only slightly crispy. We ran out of daylight on Saturday so we will finish the little bit on the front and the rest of the back during the week. All in all a very predictive weekend.

Keiths Harry Potter Room

2009-04-20T09:13:00.001-07:00

Ever since we added children to the crazy Mecham mix we have tried to come up with creative ways to store and lock up Keith’s guns. We have evolved from a locked box under the bed, to a locked shelf that slid behind the armoire, to the new development; which I have to say I like the best. Keith decided one day when I was at school that he wanted to see what was under the landing by the front door. So he cut out the dry wall in the garage, and discovered a really good sized room. With a little creativity and a new door and lock it has become Keith’s new Harry Potter room. (room under the stairs). Perfect for gun, 72 hour kits, and Christmas present storage.
The room. Keith's guns are to the left and Sam's birthday present is on the right. It worked great to hide Lily's bike she got for her birthday too.

Lily posing by the door to show how big it is.

My Easter Babies

2009-04-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

We are almost done with birthdays!!!! We seems to like spring babies, and Lily and Sam’s birthdays are just a few weeks apart.
And apparently Easter tends to be an interesting holiday for us. Last year Sam was born Easter morning. March 23, 2008 at 3:58 AM. And this year Lily’s 4th birthday fell on Easter this year, just kind of funny I guess. Here are some pictures of all the birthday and Easter fun.

Sam's birthday came first, and he had a Knights and dragons birthday party. This was his cake that my sister Keeley, my mom, and I made for him.

Sam enjoying his cake

Sam opening his gifts after a little bit of cake clean up.

Lily's cake.

Lily all dressed up and ready to party. If you could not tell, she had a princess party. We did her birthday on saturday so that she would not get robbed of an Easter again.

Lily in Grandma Egberts front yard. She is such a Diva.

The Easter egg hunt in Grandma's back yard.

I have had an epiphany

2009-01-19T20:05:00.000-08:00

I have discovered something ground breaking. Truly an epiphany. Idiots that like to wear their pants half off their butts and show off their underwear, are just reverting back to infancy.

The death and resurrection of the Gollum

2009-01-14T21:17:00.000-08:00

Well, life is a roller coaster. But if it were not for the downs we would not enjoy the view from on top. So as you were subjected to my rant and raves in the last blog you have come to understand my distain for Gollum, AKA the green Saturn that my husband usually drives. Maybe I should explain the name. Well its green is a stick so it had to be a boy, and it harbors homicidal tendencies. So Gollum fits. Anyway this afternoon I got the kids all loaded up to head to the store. We were almost there when I realized that my wallet was sitting at home. So I turned around and went home. So far the car was running fine. Nothing really odd, that was until I tried starting it again. And the horrible sound of nothing!!!! The car would not start. After quite a swearing fest and a few kicks to the bumper I gave up and brought the kids inside. After a small panic of what was I going to do, Keith is off playing GI Joe. My dad is deployed too. My brother claimed to have no clue what to do. In my mind I was screwed. Thank heavens for great friends and family. I got a hold on a buddy of mine, Vairin, who came right over. Checked things out, even went and got the parts for me. Just as he was finishing up my brother in law Dallin, Keiths brother, yes the good one, came with his friend Andrew to help. I was so stressed that my two mechanics were out of the country, but I ended up with three. Things really do work out in the end. They got it running for now, but suspect a bigger problem to be dealt with soon, but at a shop. They gave me some great pointers and left. I was so grateful. To make things even better, I took the kids to my mom’s house. We had planned to go to the store together in different cars in case mine died again. Just after I got there my other brother in law Jon came over and looked over it again. He gave it a real good top to bottom check. He even went and got the fluids and filter it needed. The car survived the trip to the store and back home. I really am blessed to have such great guys in my life that are willing to jump right in and help. Thank you.

It always happens… Keith deploys, something breaks!!!!!

2009-01-12T20:41:00.001-08:00

So so sad is my week. So Keith was supposed to deploy on Tuesday, then the plane was having issues so it was pushed back to Friday; then Saturday morning; then Monday morning, and now it is for sure at 4 am Tuesday. So needless to say it has been an emotional roller coaster. To top things off my beloved car, my Toyota rav 4 that I have adopted as my 3rd child got sick. The clutch decided to go out just in time that Keith doesn’t have the time to fix it before he leaves, and we can’t afford to have an auto shop do it. To rub salt in the wound, I am now going to have to drive the Saturn while Keith is gone. I know, I know, no big deal. But you do not understand to the degree that I hate that car. It cries for a mercy killing every time you start it. and it smokes more than mt saint Helens. I do understand if you are thinking how lame it is that I am more upset that I can’t drive my car then the fact that my husband is running off to go play G.I. Joe. But I was prepared for Keith leaving. It’s almost the norm. the car was a monkey wrench in the works. I guess I should have expected it. every time Keith deploys something breaks. 1st time, the A/c broke and floated. 2nd the tub leaked all over the basement. 3rd I tried to move the motorcycle out of the snow while pregnant and almost killed myself and Sam. 4th the engine blow and had to be rebuilt and now this. I need a substitute handy man while Keith is gone. I feel better now. Thanks for listening to my rant.

My nightmare in the garage

2009-01-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

So ladies if you want something done, sometimes you have to do it yourself. So apparently Keith did not get around to defrosting the freezer. My dad bought half a buffalo and wanted to give us some. So to my surprise when I went to put it in the freezer this is what I found. But also keep in mind this picture is after I had done a good portion of it. I cannot really blame Keith; he has been really busy trying to get things ready for this next deployment. And the freezer is in the garage so out of sight out of mind kind of thing too. note in the picture the odd tools, the hammer, car ice scrapper, and wood chisel.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year, we woke the kids up early because we had to be at Keith’s parents at 7 am. They were not happy about waking up until presents were mentioned and it was fine from there. Sam didn’t care too much. Just watched. Lily went nuts. Later we went to Keith’s parents then mine. Later that afternoon we went to Keith’s uncle Scott’s for a family dinner. All in all it was a great day. Lily defiantly came out well. She is such a spoiled little girl. It was great.

Lily, thinking she is a movie star with her dress up kit

long day

Lily’s first gingerbread house

2008-12-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

Lily made her first gingerbread house this week. True most of the candy she ate, but it was still a ton of fun.

once there was a snowman

2008-11-05T13:11:00.001-08:00

lily making a snow angel
Lily's very first snowman

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!! This year Lily was a Uof U cheerleader and Sam was a BYU football player. I am a BYU fan, but my sister Keeley got this costume for Lily to spite me. And I will admit it is too cute to no use. So we balanced it out with Sam. They loved halloween. Lily was a basket case and loved every minute of it, and Sam was just happy to be out and about. He is such a mellow baby. So easy going.

At the Zoo with Daddy and Uncle Dallin

2008-10-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Keith took the kids to the Zoo with his brother Dallin so that I could study for my finals. They had tons of fun.

Lily loves the Rhinos.
Lily and Daddy, but which one is the monkey?

Lily and Sam with Uncle Dal Dal.

7 months and on the move

2008-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Our little man just turned 7 months!!! I can't believe how fast it has gone past. He has gotten so big. He has also just started crawling this week. It took him a day or two, but now he is a real speed racer.

Halloween time

2008-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

My m0m took some Halloween pictures of the kids in their back yard a few days ago

More pictures from Keith

2008-08-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

I am not sure all the details of these pictures. He just sent them to me. But ignor the odd date on the pictures. I think the camera is confused, or just mad because I would not let him take the nice one, so now it is feeling 2nd best.

3 going on 16

2008-08-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

My sister Jennifer was helping her sister in law move, and they were getting rid of this cute little car because it didn't work. Jenn and John being sweet, fixed it up and gave it to Lily. She loves it.

Our little missionary

2008-08-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Today when I was getting the kids ready for church I found this onsie that my mom bought Sam. It was perfect for Sunday. It a white onsie with a tie sewn on and a little missionary name tag. It was adorable.

The Neiswender Wedding

2008-08-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Tues August 12, 2008 James and Lauren were married in the Logan temple. It was a beutiful wedding, the food was wonderful, and the company even better. When everyone is all together it is easy to see how they have all stayed friends for so long.

After the temple sealing, they had a ring ceramony for those that could not make it to the temple.

crazy Russ, he was doing a little dance for Keith.

The car. I think they did a good job this time. nothing overboard.

2008-08-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

Sam has had kind of a hard time with eating solids until today. He went nuts for sweet potatos

What a hard life the Air Force is. HAHA

2008-08-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Keith is deployed again. Many of you know where, but I was asked to not spread it to far by someone else in his unit. He did send home some pictures to share. He is doing well and wishes he were home with us. Hopefully soon he will be.

Keith on the plane heading there

The View out his window

Sunday Fun

2008-07-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Today Keith had drill so I took the kids to church by myself. But as I was getting Lily ready I stumbled upon a dress that my dad bought for Lily the last time he was in Korea with the military, and we have been waiting for her to grow into. It was so cute. And she knew she was a princess today and was so worried about getting her pretty pink dress dirty.

I have finally gotten the A OK to borrow my father in laws bike and start riding it to work. I am so excited. Riding it is addicting. And it is a big bonus that it is such a pretty bike.

The world according to Lily

2008-07-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

While I was uploading the pictures from the camera I found a bunch of random pictures that Lily had taken when I was at work a few days ago. I thing they are great because, for one they are not too bad considering they were taken by a 3 year old. And secondly, she only took pictures of things that she liked, or meant something to her. I have to say I am very impressed by my little prodigy.

This is also the last time we have seen Keiths keys.

Keith doing dishes

Maggie, our huge horse of a dog.

Sam just chillin in his swing.

Samuel's first camping trip

2008-07-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

So this weekend we went camping with a few friends, Vairin, Marie and Elsa Wall, John Powell and his girlfriend Danielle. And Scott Silver and Crystal. I was so much fun.

We made Lily some binoculars out of toilet paper rolls. She thought it was the coolest thing to try to spot animals with them.

Sam being so cute. He takes after his daddy and loves camping.

4th of July

2008-07-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July. BBQ'S and fireworks, what else do you need in life? This 4th, Keith taught me how to ride a motorcycle. And holy cow it's addicting. We rode all the way to Alpine and back. It was amazing, but my arms are now burnt like a crispy critter. I think the best part was when Keith had to sneeze while his face sheild was down, not a good idea. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to fall off my bike. Later we did fire works at Keiths parents. Lily liked to watch, but was not so thrilled about the sparklers. Her special job was to pick what firework we lit next. she took it very seriously. She had to examine the box carefully before making her choice. Sam loved the fireworks. He would cry every time we stopped to light another one, and would giggle the whole time it was going. it was so much fun.

Hi

2008-06-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, to try to stay in touch a little bit better with ever one, we too have fallen into the blog spot fad. We will try to keep you updated on our ever changing crazy family.