cars and flowers

On our way back from New Mexico, our car suddenly stopped changing gears when it got above about 50 mph. After calling my dad, Jared's step-dad, checking the transmission fluid, and calling a car shop, we determined our transmission had a lost a gear. We were forced to drive the rest of our trip home at 50 mph. Not fun. Especially once it got dark and started snowing and we were going through Price Canyon. And I got a migraine. I blame all the sugar I was eating, plus the stress of worrying that our car wouldn't make it home. Those last two hours of driving were pretty much what I expect hell would feel like.

Anyway, we were very lucky to make it home safely without killing our transmission completely. And extremely grateful! Unfortunately, trasmissions are the most complicated part of cars and hence the most expensive to fix (thousands not hundreds of dollars). Fortunately, my dad is very generous. (We actually switched cars with him a few months ago so he felt really bad.) Yesterday we got it fixed and after picking up the car, Jared went to Costco since we hadn't been grocery shopping and were in dire need of fresh food. And the sweet man that he is, brought me home these:

It had been a long time since he had given me flowers and this bouquet is gorgeous--all green and white, just like the flowers at my wedding. And thinking about my wedding makes me happy. So many thanks to my husband for being so thoughtful. I love you, hon!

This pic was taken by Asher kinda. He really wanted the camera so I let him press the button while I pointed in the general direction of the flowers. I love how this one turned out!

back in the saddle

Today for the first time in about 2 months, I actually loaded the photos from my camera to my computer and played around in photoshop. It had been so long, I felt rusty. It feels really good to be motivated to be creative again. I haven't taken many pictures in the past couple months as I've fought off the pregnancy nausea, but I am ready to get back in the saddle again.

This photo of Grace is from a day a couple weeks ago when we took the kids sledding at Sugar House park. I haven't finished going through the rest of the photos from that day, but this one is my favorite. I had fun trying out some of my new Eye Candy Actions (one of my christmas gifts). I also used a few of PW's actions.

I need to just give another shout out to being done with the first trimester! I am so happy to be feeling like myself again instead of the blah Katrina I was for a couple months. More photos and regular posting to come!

hallelujah

The second trimester has begun!

And we saw our little baby moving around at our appointment yesterday. He or she has little arms and legs that were just wiggling all over. Such a sweet sight. I've even felt the baby move a bit already.

I have lots to catch up on around these parts. Hopefully next week I'll be back to regular posting. Hope you all are enjoying the holidays!

another rambling post

Man, I've been in such a blog funk lately. Actually, I've been in quite the general funk until recently and now I'm just too busy trying to catch up on everything that got ignored for the past month or so. I'm definitely beginning to come out of the fog of nausea which is such a relief as I'm starting to feel more like myself again.

Right now I'm attempting to get into the Christmas spirit by watching Love Actually, an annual tradition for me. I have not done anything Christmasy this year. No decorations. No tree. No baking. No concerts. No light gazing. It was all just too much when all my energy has gone toward making a baby from scratch and keeping a toddler alive and happy.

The good news is I am almost entirely done with Christmas shopping. I have just a couple little things to pick up this week. I must take a moment here to say that online shopping is a gift from the Christmas gods. I love it. Makes my life 100 times easier.

The other good news is that we are going to New Mexico for Christmas this year. We are leaving on Sunday and I can't wait! I haven't had a Christmas with all my family since before I got married. We are taking all the kids down there for a week. The only thing I'm nervous about is the 10 hour drive with 4 kids. Wish us luck!

I hope all your holiday preparations are going well! Sorry that its been so long since I've posted photos. Taking and editing photos has been another one of those things I've ignored lately.

segullah post

Hey Everyone, check out my post published on Sunday at Segullah. I somehow missed it until just now!

Bloom auction for a good cause

Looking for a way to provide service this holiday season? Here is a great opportunity. Head on over to BLOOM! I am participating in a charity auction that begins today, Thursday, December 10th, to benefit Claire and Benson Skinner.

As explained by their parents, "Benson and Claire were born with a rare genetic disease in which their liver produces too much oxalate--called primary hyperoxaluria. Claire's condition has progressed much faster than Benson's. She has been on dialysis since she was 3 months old and is on dialysis 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. She is now on the waiting list to receive a combined kidney / liver transplant. It is expected Benson will eventually need similar transplants."

You can read more about the Skinners' experience HERE.

There will be lots of great items available, and I am donating a mini family photo session and an 11x14 print of one of my poppy photos.

All proceeds from the auction at BLOOM will go directly to Claire's COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association) account to help pay for her transplant. Please head over to BLOOM Thursday-Saturday for the auction!

stuff

I started a post yesterday that didn't save because our internet was being lame. I decided not to feel bad about that though because I was mostly just complaining. You see, I've been feeling very blah lately and I was gonna tell you all about it. Instead I will just limit my complaining to the fact that although the nausea is letting up (yay!) I still can't find much food that actually sounds edible.... even though I am hungry. It stinks to be hungry but not feel like you can stomach anything. Makes me cranky.

Ok, enough of that.

Today I am feeling more chipper. For one, we are finally getting Asher sleeping better again! My boobs are especially grateful for this because we've now gone two nights in a row without nursing. Yay! Plus, now I'm getting more uninterrupted sleep which is always a good thing.

Also, I found out today that an essay I submitted to the Segullah Blog is going to published over there later this month. I'll let you know when they post it.

Thirdly, I'm actually feeling fairly motivated today to get some housecleaning done. I am going to tackle the HUGE mound of clean clothes on my bedroom floor. If I write it, it will happen, right?

Fourth, I think I need to say again that I have actually been feeling less nauseous the past 2 or 3 days. I'm hoping that means there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Lastly, in the hopes that it might give me an idea for something to eat, what is your favorite food? And for those who have been pregnant, what are some of your favorite things to eat while pregnant?

Thanks, friends!

amazing story of moms coming together

There is an amazing article on CNN about a group on moms who rallied together to nurse a baby boy who's mother died 12 hours after his birth. More than two dozen women have volunteered their time and milk to nurse Moses over the past year. I cried while reading of their generosity and love for this little boy and his family--many of them were strangers before they heard about Moses' need for milk. This is such a testimony of the power of community. Read it here.

pregnancy the second time around

In case you missed my thanksgiving post, I'm pregnant. Approximately 10 weeks along, with an estimated date of arrival sometime the end of June or early July. I find that this time around I am much less attached to the due date. With Asher I always knew exactly how many weeks and days I was based on that eventful "first day of last period" and the corresponding "due date". This time I'm more vague about it all because I realize more strongly how much of a guess it is. And since in Utah you have to be 37 weeks to have a home birth (more on that later) and I am prone to early delivery, my due date may be fudged a bit to give me a few days buffer zone.

Being pregnant this time has definitely been harder. I've felt more sick although I still haven't thrown up, so that's a plus. I have definitely had days where I wished I would if it would make me feel better. Tonight has been one of those days. The nausea also started a lot earlier than with Asher. I started feeling a bit queasy the day I missed my period. With Asher it didn't start until about 8 weeks. The biggest problem this time around is that most foods sound totally gross to me. But if I don't eat I feel more sick, so it becomes a vicious cycle. A few weeks ago I spent a couple hours making my yummy veggie enchiladas, only to take one bite and not be able to stomach any more. I'm a little chagrined to say that I actually begged Jared to go get me Wendy's and nearly cried I as so happy when he brought it home, frosty and all. It was delicious. How cliche am I?

I also embarrassed myself at the temple on Friday when I nearly fainted in front of a large room of people. Never had that happen before. Something about kneeling nearly did me in. Fortunately, the temple workers are dears and brought me some water and crackers.

Of course, even with all the first trimester woes, I am very happy to be expecting another little one. I know in a few more weeks I'll feel much better and the memory of these sick days will once again fade. I had my first visit with my amazing midwife Rebecca on Wednesday. Did all the paperwork and bloodwork and got to see our tiny little baby on the ultrasound machine. The baby's back was to us so it didn't look like much, but we saw that heartbeat fluttering away--a very wonderful sight indeed!

Asher of course has no idea what's going on. I am excited to see how he reacts to my growing belly and to see his understanding grow in the coming months. I am still nursing him and plan on doing so as long as I can. I did have more nipple soreness the first few weeks, but its actually gotten better recently. My supply has decreased somewhat but Asher is still definitely getting milk. I've just noticed that he is also eating a lot more solid food these days.

Everything does still feel a bit surreal. I will be really happy to get past the first trimester and hopefully start feeling better with more energy. I really enjoyed being pregnant with Asher. I hope I feel the same way this time around.

giving thanks: part 8

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Today I am thankful to be eating good food and spending time with my family. I am thankful for this wonderful country we live in. I am thankful for a home. I am thankful for love.

But today, I am most thankful that yesterday I saw a little heartbeat fluttering away on an ultrasound machine. And that little heart beats in the chest of the tiny little blob of a baby that will hopefully grow healthy and strong and makes its appearance in our family sometime in late June or early July. What a blessing!