LC Christmas Program

It was the LC elementary Christmas Program today. Each kid in grades K-4 wears a white cape with a red bow to represent the little angels they all are (and if you know my kid, he certainly is a little angel, lol). I remember back to my childhood days and we too wore the white cape and red bows...some traditions never die I guess. It is crazy to picture myself as a kindergartner. I had Mrs. Cook, who is still there today teaching and I can remember it honestly like it was yesterday. I remember there was this one time (maybe there were more, but I really remember this one time) getting in trouble and having to sit on "Lucy's Log" because Shannon Dykstra told me to color over a girls picture and I did. Yes, Shannon, I still remember that oh so well. :) I think of how I remember things from my elementary years and I can't help but think of Ryker and all that he will take with him this year and years to come.

Here is Ryker before leaving for school that morning, such a handsome little guy.

Surprisingly, he spotted me way up in the upper bleachers and put his hands out for me. He also blew me a kiss which was so sweet which you can see in the picture above.

3D ultrasound of Baby # 2...

Today we went and had a 3D ultrasound of our baby. I have always told myself if I had another baby I would get one of these as I think they are just amazing. Well, that day my baby was not being very cooperative (which makes me think I am having a BOY) so we didn't get many good shots of the face but it just means I get to go back another day and see him or her again...they let you come back to do them until you get the shot you are looking for which for most people is the face shot. I'm going back on January 7 and in the afternoon so that I can have lunch first so hopefully it is more active that day. Anyway, some of the pics we got are below. It is best to sit back and look at them and not try to analyze exactly what you see close up.

Here is a profile picture. If you put your hand over the right side of the image of stuff you can more clearly see the profile on the left. You can see the forehead, a closed eye, the nose and a chubby cheek...or at least it looks as though he or she may have some cheeks on him or her, that is what the ultrasound tech said too.

This is a picture of the baby's hand covering his or her face...already camera shy. ;)

And this is a profile body shot. You can see the arm bending down with the elbow resting on the knee. You can also see the shoulder and the belly. It's like it is in a "sitting" position.

It's the most WoNdErFuL time of the year...

With December and winter comes many things to do...and we LOVE to do each and every one of them. On December 4 there was the Lighted Christmas Parade in Lynden. I think it was probably the coldest day we have had so far but we stood out there freezing and watched the whole thing. The only thing I could of wished for was **SNOW** to be falling on that COLD night...maybe next year I will get my wish. Ryker loved each truck and trailer that passed and his excitement made it worth the endless shivering I did standing there.

The next day (12.5.2010) my mom, Treva and Karsyn, Jodi and Madison, Kara and her 2 girls along with her mom and me and Ryker (poor only boy) all went up to Abbotsford to go to Disney on Ice. Unfortunately my camera would not take good pics in there so I have nothing to share except the one I got of Ryker waiting for it to start. I still wanted to "remember" the day and event though.

And tonight daddy, Ryker and mommy all made a gingerbread house. This is one of Ryker's most favorite things to do this time of year. He loves to decorate it with the candy; of course it usually goes, 1 candy for the house, 3 candy's for Ryker's mouth and okay I admit it, I steal a couple too. ;) Ryker is always SO proud of his house when we are all finished with it and always wants his picture taken by it.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

Last month was just a CRAZY busy month. We moved and with that comes alot of work. There was also Thanksgiving and we couldn't forget about Ryker's 6th birthday. It seems like each day I was so busy with something and before I knew it we were into December. I spent alot of my time trying to get our new house to feel like a home. Things have been going pretty good but I have been starting to feel really overwhelmed so I decided to not even attempt to decorate this house (which if you know me you know this is just not me) until after Christmas...my most favorite time of the year and I just really want to focus on that and not stress about what pictures to hang where and what furniture goes here or there. I realized it just didn't matter...those things that stress me out make me look so silly, because really who cares, right? I did, however get to decorate for Christmas and although I would like to have been able to do so much more I am happy with what I have done. We went to Stoney Ridge to cut down our tree and that is always a fun time. Ben seems to think I should go an hour ahead of him to find the "perfect" one and then he will come and cut it down but his idea gets shot down and he partakes in my adventure. Ryker enjoys Christmas as much as his momma so we had a good time looking for that perfect shaped Christmas tree. In baby news all is well...I LOVE how active this baby is. I go to Seattle again next week just to make sure things are still going the way they have been. It is crazy to think I am now past the time I was when Ryker stopped growing. It is even crazier to think that if I make it to the 36/37 week mark that they want to deliver me at I only have 7 weeks left. I am filled with excitement and joy but at the same time get overwhelmed thinking about how much life is going to change. Don't get me wrong this baby is SO wanted and we can hardly wait for him or her to arrive but I just will get thinking about how different (and good) it will be to have a baby around again. I also get nervous for Ryker as I know it will be a HUGE adjustment for him. I just really want to be sure he doesn't feel left out or unloved because of a new little one in the home. For 6 years HE has been my baby and I don't want him to feel replaced. I get anxious when I think about it so I just need to remind myself that everything will be FINE...I have enough LOVE in my heart for a handful of kids. ;)

Here are some pics from Stoney Ridge and our tree all decorated.

BiRtHdAy PaRtY TiMe...

We had Ryker's party tonight at Little Caesars in Everson. They have a nice little party room and we were the only people in the place which makes it nice for our large and loud crowd. All of Ryker's aunts and uncles were there with the exception of Jodi and Jason and their kids. Nana and Papa, Opa and Oma and Grandpa and Grandma with the motor home (as Ryker calls them) were also there and we also had the Chanik and Hutchison families join us too. It made for lots of people and we went through CrAzY amounts of pizza and crazy bread but that is just how we wanted it. Ryker got many toys including a DSi...now hopefully Santa brings some games for it for Christmas. ;)

Really, 6 Years Already...

Hard to believe it has been 6 years ago already since the SCARIEST day of my life also ended up being the BEST day of my life. On November 26, 2004, we were blessed with our MIRACLE baby, Ryker, who made his debut 10 weeks early weighing 2 pounds 15 ounces. I still remember that day like it was yesterday and I thank God every day for giving him to us and for letting me live through it all. Being in the operating room getting prepared to have my c-section, they were inserting these tubes into the veins in my wrist that would get tubed all the way up to my elbows (this is still the greatest physical pain I have ever experienced). These tubes were so they "could try to revive me should they lose me" because I was starting to show signs of a stroke. I just remember praying that we would both be okay, especially my baby. Amazing, how my life hung in the balance but all I could think about was this baby of mine and the overwhelming amount of LOVE I had for him or her. As I was lying there, praying, I heard all these beeping noises and the voice over the intercom say "we have life threatening hypertension" and all of the sudden a swarm of doctors rushed over to get Ryker (who basically was poisoning my body) out, I just remember thinking I was not going to live to see my baby and saying a prayer to God to please make sure our families helped Ben with him or her (since we didn't know what we were having). I remember hearing "It's a Boy" and I was overcome with tears. I was still so scared as I didn't understand all that was happening but soon everything was back to "normal" for me and my blood pressure and I was told I would be okay. Praise be to the Lord! Happy Birthday to the BESTEST little guy ever....Ryker you are MY WORLD.

Happy, Happy Birthday & On This Special Day...

We took Ryker to Red Robin for his birthday. Kevin and Kara and their kids met us there and then my mom and dad and Jodi and Jason and their family ended up coming too. We had them sing to Ryker for his birthday and he thought it was pretty great...you can tell he was a little embarrassed too.

Fall Fun

With fall comes many things to do. Not only do we do Stoney Ridge and the Boxx Farm Pumpkin Patch Field Trip but there is also Pumpkin Carving, Church Harvest Carnivals and of course Trick or Treating. Some pics from our Fall Festivities...

10-24-2010...We got together at Jodi and Jason's for our annual "Rutgers Pumpkin Carving Spooktacular" It is a fun time where we all carve our pumpkins and have tacos. Usually we vote on the "best" carved pumpkin but for some reason it was overlooked this year, Oops.

10-27-2010...I took Ryker to my sisters church (Sonlight). Each year they have a Harvest Carnival where they offer snow cones and cotton candy as well as many games for the kids to do to get candy of course. It is always a crowd of people and it gets really HOT in there, but Ryker really enjoys it so therefore it is worth the sweat I break just following him around from booth to booth. This year he decided he wanted to be an Indian and if I can say so myself he sure makes one cute little Indian boy.

10-30-2010...For trick or treating we decided to take advantage of Halloween being on a Sunday in Lynden and went on Saturday through town. Only in Lynden do they say it is better to celebrate it on Saturday (which by the looks of town that night, most people did). We had plans on Sunday so it worked better for us to do it on Saturday night anyway plus it was nice to not have to rush to get home because school was the next day. We just went all around my parents neighborhood and Ryker got more candy then what he knows what to do with. Ben usually dresses up with him and this year he opted for the banana costume...nothing will EVER beat the year he dressed as Michael Phelps, nothing like him walking the streets of Lynden in a speedo with his child. I still laugh when I see those pictures. After trick or treating we went back to my parents for some pizza and my brother put his wig (he always dresses up too) on Ryker, it made for a good picture.

Ryker's Kindergarten Picture

I've been meaning to post this ever since we got them back. I don't know why but school photos always crack me up. I love his little missing tooth this year. I will cherish each year he gets them and I look forward to seeing how much he changes from year to year but I also get sad when I see them because it makes me realize that my baby is no baby anymore. School photos = Growing up! :(

Baby Update

So as many of you know I have been going to Seattle for extra close monitoring with this pregnancy. I don't know why but for some reason Seattle gives me more peace of mind and I am glad that my doctor here actually wanted me to go down there for extra care. Anyway, I have gone twice now (I go once a month) and I am pleased to say all is going well. I am 23 weeks now and am praying I can make it to the 36 week mark as I have been told this is when they will take the baby. Because of the c-section I had with Ryker (I was cut both ways rather than just the one way they normally do) they will not allow me to go past 36 or 37 weeks. So, if I do make it to then (fingers crossed and prayers being sent) well then that means I only have 13 weeks left. We are getting SO excited for our baby, THRILLED actually! I feel like I have waited forever for this day to come, where we would be blessed with another child and every time I feel the baby kick I feel like I need to pinch myself because I still can't believe it. I am still on edge and still check the toilet paper every time I go to the bathroom just to make sure there is no blood (sorry if too much info). I feel like once I hit 28 weeks (in 5 more weeks) I will be able to relax and breathe a little easier. I guess because in my mind I can picture survival at that point because I see it when I look at Ryker everyday. Even though I had him at 30 weeks they said he stopped growing and was more the size of a baby born at 28 weeks gestation. To all of you who have never had to worry while pregnant consider yourself SO lucky. I think we all worry a little bit as soon as we see the positive sign on the pregnancy test (must be the mom in us all) but to have a constant worry is just an added stress yet it is something I just simply can't help given my history. I'm open about my past pregnancies (I never used to be) but now I find it easier to talk about them and deal with them. I mean this is the 6th time I've been pregnant yet after 3 miscarriages and 1 ectopic this will be only my 2nd child to give birth to. Anyway, enough about my past, it's made me stronger in some ways and it definately has made me appreciate this new little baby that is on it's way even more. I still get teary eyed when I think about having another child to hold in my arms and now all I can do is pray that God will let this little life stay inside of me as long as possible so that I can take a baby home from the hospital and not have to wait weeks and go home with empty arms like I did when I had Ryker.

Here is recent pictures from my ultrasounds in Seattle. I may be biased already but I think my little baby has a pretty adorable little profile. We never found out what we are having, we LOVE the surprise but my prediction is BOY and Ben and Ryker both say GIRL. Time will soon tell.

VEGAS BABY!!!

Ben and I just returned home from a quick trip to Vegas. This trip was planned before I learned I was even pregnant. We went October 2 (my BIRTHDAY) to October 5 with some of the guys that he works with and their wives. We didn't know if I would be able to travel because of being considered a "high risk pregnancy" but thankfully we got the okay from my doctor here as well as my doctors in Seattle that I could go as long as I agreed to not be in the sun too much or do a lot of walking. Apparently both those things could make my blood pressure rise. I assured them I would be doing nothing but taking it easy and that if my blood pressure did rise it was only because I hit it BIG on the slots...which NEVER happened. We had a good few days away but in Vegas you can really only handle 3 or 4 days there and then you are ready to come home. My mom and dad actually were there the same time celebrating her 60th birthday which is the day after mine. It was nice to have them there too and my parents are the type of people that are actually fun to hang out with...they aren't too old to hang out and have fun with us youngins'

As hard as it was to leave Ryker, I learned that we need to do things like that more often. We don't leave him very much, especially overnight somewhere, and I know we have to be better about that. Not only is it good for Ben and I as a couple to get away but it is also good for Ryker. My goal is to at least once a year escape with just Ben on a quick little get away with just the 2 of us and I hope we can really make this happen!

Needless to say VEGAS was a blast! It's true you can still have a good time and be pregnant in sin city. ;) Sorry Ladies, the man below in the speedo is ALL mine. :) lol. Being the jokester that he is Ben had to take his speedo which is WAY too tight these days and give the guys he works with a surprise and a laugh when he whipped off his towel to ask if anyone wanted to go swimming. I tell ya, that man makes me laugh so much!

Fall Sports ~ SOCCER!!!

So Ryker decided he wanted to give soccer a try so I signed him up. It's a hit and miss as to whether or not he likes it. Some days he does and others he doesn't so much. He likes to goof off a lot (I know hard to imagine). I just try to not force him to do anything he doesn't want to do. I figure as he gets older he will make his choice as to what he wants to play. I don't expect him to play all sports, and maybe he won't play any for that matter. But HE should be the one to decide. I think sometimes parents want their kids to play sports more than the child even wants too and I don't agree with that at all. Every kid is different and they are not all going to want to be involved in sports. Just because mom or dad were good at sports and played them when they were younger does not necessarily mean their child is going to want to follow in their footprints. Let the kids make their own "prints" and decided what it is they love. Of course if Ryker plays I will be thrilled but that is HIS choice. I think sports sometimes overtake a child's life of being a kid and that is something I don't ever want my child to miss out on. Your only young once and they won't ever get these days back.