Kennadee Turns Five

I can't believe my little girl is 5 years old!! I have been telling her for the last 3 years that we would take her to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday and this year we finally decided to take her and her cousins. We had a blast. The kids all played games and got lots of tickets to get prizes with. We sang to Kennadee and ate cupcakes. She got to open her presents and then we went home. It was so fun!!! 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

Miscarriage/Blessing

As some of you know we were finally able to get pregnant. All along the way I was having problems. See this link for more of the story.
I went in for an ultrasound last Friday and found out that there is no sign of the baby. They aren't sure what happened. They don't know whether it is a Molar pregnancy (which she said isn't as likely) or what it is. I went in on Monday morning for a uterine tissue biopsy to see if they can figure out what happened. They are also trying to figure out if I need to have a D&C to get it all out. I am hoping that I don't have to do that.
I had a Priesthood Blessing that gave me tremendous strength and comfort to get through this enormous trial in my life. I wanted to write this down so I don't forget. The blessing went as follows:
Our baby had the choice to be born now and have a pretty big trial to deal with in their life or they could wait and come later and not have this specific trial. The baby counseled with the Lord personally and decided to wait and come later. The baby also knows that it has caused us some pain in our lives and will be with us to comfort and uplift us in this hard time.
This blessing came as great comfort to me in my life. It is so nice to be able to know what happened.
So many people have sent us gifts and cards to help cheer and lift us at this time. I wanted to thank you all (you know who you are!!) for your love and support and prayers!!

Christmas

This Christmas season was full of lots of fun. We baked cookies and other treats, I made homemade stockings for the teachers at Russell's school and filled them with the goodies. I made homemade stockings for the three of us because our stockings were pretty singed from our old fireplace and they just didn't look good anymore. Our great Elder's Quorum President came and hung our lights for us since Russell couldn't do it and had been super bummed that he wouldn't be able to do it this year. We received tons of goodies from friends and family but surprisingly neither of us gained any weight! Mid December we took Kennadee to see Santa at the mall. We didn't get the professional pictures there because they are ridiculously expensive but thankfully at this mall they let you see Santa without paying for it. So Russell sat back and took a picture from afar. 

                                      

The weekend before Christmas was our Ward Christmas party. It was pretty fun we ate good food and visited with friends. Then Kennadee got to see Santa and sit on his lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. It was pretty funny.

Christmas Eve we went to the Mildensteins house. It was really nice to just be with family. Diana was going to have more people there but Gabe had been ill the day before and Nathanael had an ear infection so she just wanted to keep it low key. It was nice to have our traditional Clam chowder (she even made me a portion without clams) , corn bread, veggie tray, cheeseball/crackers, and lots of treats.

It was actually really cold that night and had snowed a little (nothing stuck) during the day so we enjoyed a nice log on the fire. The children loved sitting and looking at the fire. It was really windy outside so the flames were dancing in the wind coming down the chimney it was really cool.

Kennadee and Nate enjoyed the fire as well. Such a cute picture!!

We had our traditional Christmas Eve program reading from the Bible and reading my Great Grandma's Christmas story and some other stories. We also sang a few Christmas songs. Then we opened our traditional Christmas Eve pajamas. For some reason I didn't get any pictures of Kennadee opening hers. But this is what they looked like:

Christmas morning Kennadee came down the stairs to see what Santa brought

Some of her favorites were Pet Shops, Ice Age 3, play food, a rubix cube, and a huge Hershey's kiss. She also got a Dora electric toothbrush that immediately after we were done with breakfast she went and brushed her teeth with.

Me with my stocking

Russell with his stocking

After we opened presents the rest of the day was spent eating and watching movies and I spent 2 and a half hours putting together Kennadee's toy kitchen!! We also spent some time at Russell's mom's house for dinner and games. Overall it was a pretty good Christmas season. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!

Thankfulness (A little late)

Right now I have so much to be un-thankful for. I am really having a hard time and have so much going on I don't know how I am still standing. This morning I was looking through blogs of everyone's Thanksgivings and I decided that I should probably for myself if nothing else write down the things that I am grateful for. So here they are:

I am so thankful for my savior. I am so grateful for his sacrifice that I may be forgiven of my many many imperfections so that I may return to my Heavenly Father one day.

I am also so thankful for my Heavenly Father who buoys me up and lifts me through these tough times. I am so grateful that my prayers are heard and answered and I have faith that one day the prayer I pray the most will be answered.

 I am so grateful for my handsome/wonderful/adoring/sweet/caring/protective Husband. I am so grateful that he holds me when I cry, loves me despite my imperfections, does things with/for me even if they don't make sense to him, plays with our daughter,works so hard to support our family, will do anything to make us happy, is a worthy priesthood holder, and I am so thankful to have him in my life! (love you hunny!!)

 My little angel daughter who loves to dance, sing, make up songs, play, help mommy around the house, takes care of Rudy, loves to play games, talk, be outdoors, and play with her friends. She is such a sweet girl and I am so thankful to have her in my life!

 Believe it or not I am so grateful to be in the Relief Society Presidency. It is hard work (especially right now) But it is good work and I love being a part of it. I am so grateful for Natalie, Jean, and Debbie it is so great to be in the presidency with these special ladies! I am so grateful for their many sacrifices for me and for the sisters in the Relief Society.

 I am so thankful for all my wonderful friends and family members who are praying for our family right now. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices made on our behalf. And for all the love that has been sent our way!

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 I am thankful for a roof over my head, food to eat, a car to drive, health insurance, a job for my husband, and all my needs being met.

Russell's X-Rays

Here are the X-Rays of Russell's foot. If you look right above the ankle bone you can see the fracture line on his bone. He broke it while playing football with the Elder's Quorum over the weekend. He is in a boot cast for the next 4-6 weeks. We have a follow up appointment next week to get more X-Ray's and to make sure he doesn't need surgery. Please keep him in your prayers he is really having a hard time.