First Haircut!

Everyone got haircuts for family pictures the other day. I realized when Ayla was starting her cup that it was her first ever. So I decided to snap a picture for memoires sake. 

She did so well. They lady kept saying what a sweet girl she was and the lady cutting her hair even got a hug! Ayla can be so sweet!!

October Birthdays!!

Well as most of you know we have a lot of October Birthdays in our house. 3 of the 4. So this year due to my surgery and completely missing Kael's birthday due to and ER visit, I decided to have a family fun party night.

I thought it would be fun to do a photo booth. 

When I was getting some things out of the party section at walmart, i came across this package called photo booth. It was $5.00 and it was so much fun!!

 after playing with the photo booth for a while, it was time to have dinner and celebrate!!

on birthdays we let the kids pick what they want to eat. they all decided on pizza. 

then we had special cupcakes for the birthday kiddos. 

as you can see 7, 6, and 2!!

 Then it was on to presents. 

Somehow I missed getting a picture of Cullan showing what he got, but it was a remote controlled helicopter!! He had a lot of fun playing with it.

 Then it was Ayla's turn. She is obsessed with YO GABA GABA so the next series of pictures are of her opening up the stuffed characters from the show!

Kael had already opened his presents on his birthday when Grandam Moe was here and they had some cake. So he just got a special cupcake. It was  a really fun evening. The missionaries came for dinner as well and were even good sports about doing the photo booth. 

It was a fun evening! 

We all had lots of laughs and made some happy memories together. 

Daddy-Daughter Date

Because of the field trip today, Garran picked Briea up from school. He had a little surprise for her. He had planned a little Daddy-Daughter date for them. I didn't even know he had planned anything until later. He picked Briea up from school and they went to a park and played for a while and then they went to lunch together. Briea LOVED it. She has not stopped telling me about it. She was in heaven spending the time with just her and Garran. I love that he does things like that. I know it means so much to the kids and it means a lot to me that he cares about spending time with them one on one. So glad I got such a great guy!!

I decided to add this. Garran was telling me about how sweet Briea was on their date. She wanted to hold his hand all the time and she was just being cute.
Then he told me this story:
"She told me (Garran) a story about this completely made up character called Briea Locks. She said that Briea Locks was a cute little girl. I (Garran) told her that I was cute when I was little. She said, "Really, What Happened?"
I guess there was a woman sitting behind them that overheard their conversation and started cracking up laughing!!

Yeager Farms

I was lucky enough to go on a field trip with Kael today to the Pumpkin Farm. 

It was freezing, but at least the rain held off until we were done. 

 Here are all the cute little pumpkins out front. I thought I would take a picture while waiting for the bus to get there. 

 and....they have arrived!

 The two kindergarten classes piling off the bus. If you look close, Kael is just coming off the bus. 

 Here is Kael with his class. They all look so cold...probably because it was.

 Farmer Tom. He is such a nice man. He came to talk to the kids and tell them about the day. 

 Off to the pumpkin play land!

 Conductor Kael.

 Cute sign for the farm. 

 The kids loved all of the play areas that the farm had. I have to admit, it would be an awesome back yard. 

 Of course they had animals, which Kael loved. 

 He had such a good time feeding them and talking to them. 

 Who is this handsome kiddo?

Oh that's right, it's just my adorable son. 

 lining up for the hay ride.

 pumpkin express ready to roll. 

 Everyone snuggled together for the ride out to the pumpkin field. 

 time to pick a pumpkin!!!

Kael picked his pumpkin and we headed back for the bus. It was good to because on the way back it started raining. It was a fun but chilly time!!

I know I know.

I know I already posted once, but when I picked him up...

He just looked older!!!

7.

Time really does fly. 

I remember this sweet little boy. It seems like just yesterday that I was chasing these little blonde bouncy curls everywhere. 

Now he is 7.

A big kid. 

He likes power rangers, transformers and all the typical boy things.

He is my little engineer. Always building things from around the house. Putting things together to make something new. I can not believe 7 years have passed by with him in our lives. It seems like not all that long ago I was holding my first born and never wanting to forget that new baby smell and all the sweetness that went with it. 

Happy 7th Birthday Cullan. 

We love you so much!!

out they come.

this kiddo's teeth are coming out faster than the tooth fairy can count. 

Cullan came home from school today with a little treasure box and inside was his top tooth. I personally think he looks adorable with all these little holes in his mouth, but I am his mom!

It's that time!!

it's my irish twins post!

for two weeks each year the boys are the same age. 

this year they are six...well until tomorrow. 

then cullan will be 7!

(fresh out of the tub)

germs

well i know that germs are not meant to be shared, but some how they got shared with us. i think my sickness is mainly allergies, but poor Kael sounds horrible. Some kind of germ has infected our house. I am miserable with head junk and poor Kael just is miserable. Here is to hoping these germs find a new home soon!

Protein, Protein, Protein.

Well if you have never been on this journey here is something new for you to know. When you are preparing for bariatric surgery and after, a word that will be drilled into your brain is PROTEIN!! 

You must have it EVERYDAY, at every meal. You have to have it for your body to rebuild and also to loose the weight. 

Before surgery, I had no problem getting my protein in. I actually liked the protein shakes. I thought they tasted pretty good. 

However, and if you ever go through this, you will hear this as well....Surgery changes they way certain things taste. 

For me...it was the protein shakes. I just can't get them down. I have tried different brands, flavors, etc. No Luck. 

So I am trying hard to get my protein in other ways. I have tried a couple different protein bars. That is harder than you think because while they say they are good for you, a lot of them are packed with sugar. No good for someone who has just had bariatric surgery due to dumping syndrome.  So I try to find protein bars that are 5g of sugar or less but don't taste like something that has been behind your refrigerator for months. 

They say before surgery your goal should be 60-80 g of protein a day. After you should be able to work up to 80-120g per day. That may not sound like a lot but when your stomach is the size of an egg, it is a lot to get down. On top of drinking all the fluids and such. 

I am not complaining. I do not regret my decision to have this surgery. All I am saying is that it is a learning curve. It helps to have friends that have gone through it. They are a wonderful resource to have. They answer questions and can actually tell you what they have experienced and what works. I am not knocking my doctors, because they are great. However, there is something different when you talk to someone who has actually walked the walk. So if anyone out there in blog land is preparing or just had surgery and is having problem with your protein...don't feel bad. You are not alone. I don't think I am hitting my goals either. But I am doing the best I can...and that is working so far. 

Curtis.

Well as you all know, I found out last year that I had an older sister. Shortly after meeting her, she lost her son. Today is his birthday and so in honor of him, she is doing a balloon release. However, we do not live close and do to my surgery, there was no way we could make it. So I decided to do one here in honor of Curtis. I hope that Victoria has a wonderful turnout to help honor Curtis.

I was trying to get a picture off all our purple balloons, but the wind was so crazy, this was the best I could get. I got one balloon for each of us. Even one for Garran who was still at school due to a visiting artist.

 Kael with his Balloon

 Briea with her Balloon

 Cullan with his Balloon.

(you can tell how windy it was!)

 Ayla had a balloon but was to busy running around and did not want to hold still for a picture.

Here is our video of our own little Balloon Release for Curtis.

Right after I turned this off, Ayla let go of her balloon. If you look really closely you can see a little dot over that red tree. That is her balloon!

Hoping Curtis has a Happy Heavenly Birthday!

Conference!

Oh my goodness. This General Conference was so great. 

Here are just a few high lights from things that I loved. There were so many but these are just a few I am pulling from my notes. There are so many more. 

• Quentin L Cook: "Parents need to step up. Do not be afraid to say no. To filter things and bear powerful testimony. Spiritual maturity MUST flourish in the home!!"
• Ann M Dibb: "I know it, I live it, I love it! Be doers of the word!"
• Dieter F Uchtdorf: (really the whole talk) but "Try to be your best self. Excelle to be the person we were meant to be. Let yourself be happy. Don't let external circumstances control your happiness. You are in control of your happiness. Don't ruin sweet and memorable experiences by rushing to the end. Enjoy the moment and happiness." LIFE IS NOT MEANT TO BE ENJOYED IN RETROSPECT! One sees clearly with the heart. Anything essential is invisible.
• M. Russell Ballard: Honey Bees. Imagine what could happen if we were all anxiously engaged to serve others? Daily compassionate acts for our friends and neighbors. 
• Neil L. Anderson: I really enjoyed his talk about the Gift of Faith. The whole talk was wonderful. I am just going to pull a few things I wrote down. "Fiery trials are meant to make you stronger but often can make us fall away. When you are feel week- Don't step away.". Another part I really enjoyed. " The world asks, How can you ask so much? Just as the Heaves are higher  than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways." Build your faith upon a rock!
•  Dallin H Oaks: Amazing Talk! I mean really, I wish I could copy and paste this entire talk. It was so good and so spot on. One of my favorite quotes, "The best gift we can give a child is Birth!". 
• Linda K Burton: "First Observe-Then Serve" I really enjoyed this talk as well. Something she said that stuck out to me to remember, " Sometimes we want to serve in our way and not in the way that actually needs to be done".
• Walter F Gonzalez: Seek essential truth with your heart. We must be plugged into the "Celestial Web". "We must always be quick to remember the Lord. Pride and iniquity easily sneak in"
• Jeffery R Holland: WOW! I mean what can I say??? This was an AMAZING TALK!! My notes are to many, but as soon as there is a link to the talk, I will come back and post it here. I mean, just a WONDERFUL talk. 
• President Thomas S. Monson: "The Lord is in the Details of our Lives"

Sadly I was am still feeling sore from surgery and laid down in between sessions and slept through part of the last session. I am going to go back and watch it on the internet. But this weekend was so wonderful with such great talks. Like I said I only pulled a little from my notes. But there was so much more that I loved! 

Did you have favorites?? Leave me comments and let me know which ones you like or what stuck out to you!!

birthday songs

Birthdays are always fun. Especially when you get fun videos from family and friends like this. This video was for Kael from Garran's oldest sister Jerusha. I love it. They are so much fun and it made Kael so happy to see all of his cousins and Uncle Joe! 

thanks guys for sending us a fun video. 

snap shot.

my mom was here helping with the kids while I am still in recovery. 

Let me just say that my mother in law and my mom have been amazing! 

I would not have been able to get through the last two weeks without them. 

They took great care of my kids and my house looked amazing! 

Anyways one morning I had road with my mom to take the kids to school and while we were waiting for it to be time, I snapped this picture on my phone. 

I love it. 

I just think it is cute. 

another one bites the dusts.

and another one is gone. 

the tooth fairy has been busy at my house lately.

rockin it!

went to Wal-Mart the other day while my mom was here helping. I just needed to get out of the house. I was getting a little cabin fever. However, I was not really ready to walk. So my mom said I should hope on the old Walmart Hog and take it for a spin. And I did just that. Rolled through the store, wave to folks as I went by. The worst part is, is that it beeps when you back up... Very annoying! 

Real Love Story

In society I always laugh at the things find important in love story. 

You know. All the love drama between the Kardasians, or Jersey Shore..

Well this is my real love story. Garran, curled up on a blanket next to me. Well he is on the floor and I am on the couch. This is not a first. Anytime I have not been able to make it to bed after surgery, Garran has never left my side. He stays with me in the hospital and doesn't leave my side when we get home either. 

I have a true prince charming. I am sure there are other good husbands out there but this is my love story and I love my prince charming. In a day where the divorce rate is 50% and marriage is not valued like it once was.. I find mine more important than ever before. Garran really is my best friend. I laugh, cry and everything in between with him. He has seen me at my best and at my worst. When I was getting nervous and asked him if he would be able to be at the hospital at all (only because it was an hour away, and right in the middle of a school year that not only is he a student but also a teacher.) His response, "wild horses could not keep me away.". Sorry ladies I have found a keeper and I don't plan on letting him go anytime soon. 

Here is to true love and real love stories. 

6

I can't believe it is here.

My little Lion Man is 6 years old. 

I can't imagine my life without my sweet boy. 

I call him my lion man because he is loud and rough and strong like a lion but soft and sweet and tender at the same time! 

He is a great little boy and I am proud to call him ours. 

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Birthday Kiddo!!

We love you!

(ps. due to sickness and pain I missed the majority of his birthday today. So that is why I have no pictures or great stories. I am going to make it up to him in the very near future. He was such a good sport and I am so thankful my mom was hear to sing Happy Birthday to him while I was in the ER)

Thanks Mom!

look a little to familiar???

Yep that is how I was feeling too. 

Since Friday I have been having this abdominal pain, but it is really in my very low abdomen. No where near my incisions or surgery location. 

Everything with my surgery is going great. 

Let me just say this...The hardest part after surgery is getting all of your water! 

WATER-WATER-WATER!!

You can only sip, but you have to drink a ton. 

It is hard. At least for me. 

Anyways, back on track.

Garran decided to take me to the ER when I was doubled over in pain around 5pm tonight. I felt horrible because it was Kael's birthday today and I had already missed somethings do to follow up appointments. Anyways, when we first arrived, everyone was thinking it was my appendix. I thought to myelf..."Wonderful! This would be just my luck!!". 

Luckily It is not my appendix. They diagnosed me after a CAT scan with severe abdominal pain. I know right. Not much help. They gave me some pain meds and sent me home. The pain meds don't do much so I guess I will just be giving it some time. 

Other than that.. Things are going well. 

Met with the surgical nurse today and she said my incisions were healing wonderfully and the dietician said I was down 13 pounds from the last class I was at!

That made me feel good. 

As for weight loss they said that this was pretty much how it would go. 

In the first month you will about 20lbs.

Then after that you will loose between 2-3 pounds a week. 

That is music to my ears. 

I am trying to be as honest as I can about my journey since this is my journal for this part of my life. 

I am an open book so if you have questions, please feel free to email me or leave me comments here!!

I will update again soon!!

a change.

i know that I had played with the idea of changing my blog address before but now i really need to. there have just been to many random things going on. I dont want to go private because i have to many people that check in here and there, and I love that they do. So a change will be coming soon. If i have your email, i will be emailing the new address out or you can check my facebook page. since i can control who sees that i will post it there as well. Hope this is not to confusing for anyone!! thanks ;0)