A Long Update!

Life has been good to us this summer as Jared is home much more then he has ever been since the kiddos were born. We all enjoy having him around more. We have been able to do a lot of things together as a family and I LOVE IT!!!

Some great news for us is we FINALLY moved Kyson downstairs to be with Caleb. The transition wasn't too bad although they love to play together when they should be going to sleep, and Caleb often wakes Kyson up too early in the morning. It's ok though because it's SOOOO nice to have our room back!

Caleb is going to turn three in just a little over a month. That's crazy! He's turned into quite the talker although most people never hear it because he is quite shy around others. At home we have some interesting conversations though. I love to ask him questions and see his little mind working to find a good answer. He loves playing with all of his toys. He builds train tracks, plays with his cars, builds with his legos, and plays with all of his balls. He seems to love doing everything but gets bored quickly and moves on. He loves having a little brother and although he is too rough with him sometimes he always wants Kyson to play with him. If Kyson is in another room playing he will come and try to persuade him to play with him. Kyson is often easily persuaded because he loves when his older brother will share his toys with him and play with him.

Kyson just turned 15 months old. He hasn't figured out walking yet but I think he will soon. I got out Caleb's walker push toy and Kyson was doing great walking around the house with it. He would even let go and stand there for a while until he realized what he was doing and he'd sit right down. He just needs to build up some confidence and he'll be off! Kyson has also been teething a lot lately. He now has three molars and we are working on the fourth. I'm looking forward to it coming in and hopefully we can have a teething break for a while. Kyson currently says four words that I can understand...mama, dada, bu-bye, and ball. Most of the time he won't say them when you ask him to though, only when he wants to. Today he also started folding his arms while we say prayers. It is very cute to see him put his arms together and look at you like "I know I'm doing a good job!" If you say "Good job Kyson!" he will clap for you and gets excited. Overall I think he is growing and developing quite well. I don't worry about it too much even though he is a little behind. Next week I take him in for his 15 month check-up so we'll see what his Pediatrician thinks of everything. We haven't been to see his Cardiologist in over three months but he seems to be doing well on that side of things. I think we are planning on seeing his Cardiologist in about a month and I'm looking forward to finding out how his heart function is doing.

Overall we are doing well and enjoying the summer. We are headed up to the cooler country of Show Low and Pinetop this weekend. It'll be fun to see both our families and enjoy the cool weather!

And just for fun I thought I'd add a cute picture of my boys! I just L.O.V.E. them so much!

A GREAT day!

Why was my day so great? Well it consisted of three things that I enjoy.
1. I am a do-er. I can go and go all day long. The more we do the more fun I have.
2. I LOVE spending time with my family.
3. I get so excited about great deals! I know I'm frugal (probably too frugal sometimes) so when I feel like I get a great deal it makes my day!

Last Saturday was one of those days. Jared told me the day was mine and we could do whatever I wanted all day long. Whoohoo!!! To start off I got another culture pass (can we say FREE...Yipee!!!) and this time it was to the zoo. We started the day off pretty early at the zoo and had a great time! We spent most of our time on the Children's Trail with our kids. Here are some pictures of the fun we had:

Caleb loves tractors!

I was impressed that Caleb was willing to pet the goats. Last time we tried this he got very upset and cried for a long time. This time he was a little weiry but as long as we were close he did great!


Here are some of the animals. As we were leaving the park we decided to stop by the elephants one more time since they were never out when we went by. This time they were being fed so we saw them up close. I've decided they are really hairy and ugly!



I love this picture of the baby orangutan. "What are YOU looking at?"


After the zoo we went home and we ALL took a nap. It felt great after being in the sun all morning. When we woke up we went to see the movie "Up" with the kids. It was a little long for them and they were quite restless by the end but it was fun.

When the movie was over we headed to Taco Bell for some free tacos with the purchase of a drink since the Diamondbacks scored more than 6 runs the previous night. It was a great deal!

Once we got home we were all tired and just relaxed until it was time for bed. For me it was a great day!

What to do when it's triple digits...

Go to California, hang out at the beach, and spend time with family. We stayed with Jared's sister Stephanie for a couple nights and then we camped with my family the rest of the time. It was great!!! Here are my top 10 favorite pictures from our trip in very random order:

10. My brothers and sisters...yep all eight of us!


9. We happened to go the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park with Steph and her son Matthew. Here is my favorite picture of one of the animals. I have no idea what it is. It looks like a cross between a zebra and a deer! (There are black and white stips on it's back)


8. Beautiful view and beautiful smile!


7. Just because he's such a cute kid.


6. We celebrated Jared's graduation with an ice cream cake at camp. It was yummy!


5.Proof that Caleb loved playing in the sand at the beach.


4. Proof that Kyson loved playing in the sand too!


3. He also enjoyed eating some of it!


2.One of the worst parts about the sand is the fact that it gets everywhere. Caleb wasn't quite sure what to do about it.


1. No one gives out more smiles than this little man. This smile melts my heart.

Children's Museum of Phoenix

Last week I went to the library and I was lucky enough to get a culture pass to Children's Museum of Phoenix. Can I just say how awesome this place is? I want to go back. We were there for over three hours and if it weren't for sleepy children we would have stayed all day long! It is a great place for children and although it seems expensive ($9 a person) it is well worth the price! (Can you tell we had fun?)
Here are some pictures of the fun we had!

I am a Heart Mother

Lately I have been thinking about each day we spent in the hospital with Kyson last year. It was exactly one year ago today that he went back to the OR to get his chest closed. They had left it open to allow quick access to his heart in case of emergency and to allow some swelling to go down. As I have thought about that day and each day we spent in the hospital, I was reminded of a poem I originally read on a fellow heart mother's blog, The Simmons Family. I fell in love with it and I thought I would share it those of you who have not read it.

I am a Heart Mother
One day my world came crashing down,
I'll never be the same...
They told me that my child was sick..
I thought, am I to blame?
I don't think I can handle this...
I'm really not that strong..
It seemed my heart was breaking..
As, I'd loved him for so long.
I will not give up on this child..
despite your best "advice"..
I will give my child a chance..
No matter what the price..
And I will learn all that I need..
to help my child to thrive...
I'll even use that feeding tube..
My child will survive!
And he'll needs lots of therapy?
And he just can't gain weight?
Alright God I can do this..
I will not curse our fate.
The feeding pump beeps,( at 3:00 a.m.)
It serves as my reminder..
How many parents would welcome that sound?
Tomorrow Lord, I will be kinder.
Another angel earns their wings..
and I run to my sleeping child's bed..
I watch him then, for quite awhile..
(I bend down and kiss his head)
Then I cry for the parent's whose lives have been broken..
And I look to You wondering why?
Oh Lord, I just can't know your ways..
No matter how I try.
And yet, I trust You hold his life..
(and guide us through each day)
My mind says savor each moment he's here...
But my heart whispers,"Please let him stay".
From... pacing the surgical waiting room...
to sitting by his hospital bed...
From... wishing for a good nights sleep..
to learning every med..
From... wondering will he be alright?
to watching him reach out his hands..
with every smile, my heart just melts..
(despite life's harsh demands)
For all who see that faded line..
I look to them and smile..
You see my child is loved so much..
I would face any trial...
That same scar I trace with my finger..
(It's the door to his beautiful heart)
You must have known how much I'd love him..
(Just as You loved him right from the start)
A heart mom is always a heart mom..
(wise beyond all of her years)
And for those who have angels in heaven..
Our hearts share in all of your tears..
On Mother's Day I will remember..
You chose me for him(and no other)
And I will embrace that beautiful day..
When I became a "heart mother".
By Stephanie Husted

I have been keeping up with a lot of "heart baby" blogs lately. It is inspiring because each of these babies has an amazing story to tell. If I'm ever having a bad day I can read one of these blogs and I feel an immense amount of gratitude for Kyson and the progress he has made. For example the blog I mentioned previously is about Owen and he is currently waiting for a heart transplant. Then there's Jack who recently had his Fontan (the same surgery Kyson will have in a couple years). There's also Ethan who has had his Norwood and will have his Glenn within the next few weeks. Grant also has a very inspiring story and I was so happy to hear that his parents were finally able to take him home. There are many more I could mention and like I said they each have a fascinating story to share.

The day our lives changed

May 15, 2008.
Wake up and get ready to go take Kyson to two month check-up at Pediatrician.

At doctor's office find out that Kyson's oxygen levels are so low he's in critical condition.

Doctor calls 911 and we are rushed to Banner Desert Hospital by ambulance.

After some extensive tests, find out Kyson has a Congenital Heart Defect (HLHS, DORV) and will need immediate surgery.

Kyson taken by helicopter to Phoenix Children's Hospital.


Mommy and Daddy follow behind in our car to the hospital.

Meet all of Kyson's new doctors and speak with his heart surgeon.


Spend the next few hours speaking with Kyson's nurse and letting everything sink in.

Find a small room at the hospital to sleep in and prepare ourselves for Kyson's first surgery bright and early the next morning...

Thoughout the past year I have thought of this day so many times. I have marveled at how everything panned out. Why didn't my OBGYN see something was wrong with his heart in the ultrasound he did? How did Kyson make it two months without a single doctor discovering his condition? (From the time he was born until his two month check-up I can think of at least four different doctors who saw Kyson and listened to his heart and that doesn't even count nurses) How did I not recognize some of the signs given to me? For example he always had a different tone to his skin. He seemed to breathe just a little harder than normal. He was NOT happy... Even now as I type these things I wonder why. It has haunted me to think about how much he was suffering inside without us really knowing. There is one thing I have no doubt about though. The Lord had his hand in everything that happened. I have felt that so strongly so many times I do not doubt it. For some reason Kyson was supposed to wait until this dreadful day to be discovered. Why didn't he ever turn blue or stop breathing on me at home? It is an absolute miracle considering how old he was yet I know the Lord was protecting him and waiting for the right place and the right time. What a blessing it is to have that knowledge.

Kyson has taught me so much this past year. I am honored to be his mother. In this past year we have gone from this:


to this:

Pretty amazing if you ask me!

Jared is gone for the weekend on a fishing trip so my amazing friend Velika has offered to watch my kids tonight so I can go out and do something fun with my sister Jamie. It was Jamie's birthday Wednesday so we are going to celebrate! Thank you for being so thoughtful Velika. I have appreciated all of your kind acts of service more than you know!

Our garden

I have been wanting to plant a garden for a long time. Finally in March I convinced Jared to help me do it. I wasn't expecting much...it was our first try here in the desert. I will admit that my expectations have been surpassed. It is doing great! It's getting hot and I'm worried the heat will kill everything but I am enjoying it while it lasts.

Here is our tomato plant. It is huge and taking over the world!!! I'm looking forward to having home grown tomatoes. Now if they would just turn red I would be happy! Every day I go outside and stare at the tomatoes hoping for just a little hint of red. I'm not being very patient!

Here is our squash. It too is quite large. It makes me wish I had more room to plant my garden.

And last of all is our green beans. They seem to be doing well although the heat is starting to get to them.

There is one plant you can't see and that is my jalapeno plant. The tomato plant has totally engulfed it but it's doing it's best to grow. I'm actually surprised it is doing as well as it is. That might be the first thing we harvest. What should I do with a jalapeno?