Playing catch-up

Wow i have really failed horribly at blogging these last few weeks. In my defense though, it has been a pretty crazy around here. In fact we are leaving in just a few hours to travel to ID for McKay's farewell. I'll post more about it later. Until then, here's a few updates:

We had a great Easter- My family (bless them) drove all the way here (9 1/2 hours...8 people...) to see us. It was fun to show them around a little bit of our new turf. We went to the Aquarium, which was cool, I'd never been to one and it kept everyone (even the babies) pretty entertained. The boys went on a tour of Investco field, and we did the usual Easter stuff. Of course it was great to watch conference as well. I absolutely LOVE conference weekend, I really look forward to it every six months.

Chanley's first Easter. (More pics to come)

Fun at the aquarium{disclaimer- so of course my camera's battery dies right before we get to the cool fishies...I was so bummed. So sorry for the lame fish pics}

We closed on our condo! We finally got into our new house last Thursday. It was quite the process. Every time we move I am reminded why I hate it so much. Actually it hasn't been that bad for me this time, because Ryan has done the majority of the work since I've been taking care of a sick baby. I've been able to pack a bit when Chanley is sleeping, but other than that Ry has moved it all. (I know, he's the best). On top of moving, I also had to prepare a talk for church on Sunday and prepare my lesson from YW...yeah it was kindof a stressful week.

We're pretty excited about our new place, its perfect for us. And we're very VERY excited to not be renting any more. It's such a liberating feeling to know you own your own place.

Closing day! Pic of us and our realtor (who was a total sweetheart!)

(Sorry for the poor quality pic...it was on self timer)

This is why I'm LUCKY.

How'd we celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Mint Oreo shakes, Netflix, and hangin out as a family.

Perfect.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Celebrate good times, come-on!!!!

So Ry and I have some good news! We put an offer on a condo and they accepted! We are so so excited about everything about this place. Things go pretty quick in the area we were looking at so we had to snatch it up fast. Its really sinking in now that we are actually doing this. We are so excited/nervous/scared/happy...ect. We've experienced every emotion in the book these past few weeks, but we are really excited about purchasing our own place! (Even though you feel your signing your life away when you sign all those papers) We're scheduled to close on the 30th so hopefully everything goes as planned. Cross your fingers!

Oh bytheway the video above is of Ryan and I boogying down at the thought of owning our own place!!! No more renting! Wahoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! Aww we're growing up... (tear*sniff*sigh) :)

Spring Fever!

Hello SUNSHINE! I'm so so ready for SPRING! I can feel it comin and I can't WAIT! Its been a beautiful couple days here in Denver!

Today I had a pretty bad case of SPRING FeVeR! I was sooooo pumped/modivated/excited/itchin' to:

-- clean our place from top to bottom...

--get more organized and make a 30 day meal plan

--sell all our furniture

--buy all new furniture

--clean out my closet

--get rid of a bunch of clothes and shoes I haven't worn in ages

--become more crafty :make new pillow cases for our bed/get a new sham and redecorate Chanley's room

--Also I'm SO excited for garage sales (I admit I totally love findin' little treasures and getting a BARGAIN)

Is this a bit obsessive??? Probably...but I can't help it! Spring is in the air!

The hospital...not Chanley's favorite place.

What a week! I am so so so so grateful it is over!! So on Thurs Chanley wasn't getting any better so I was getting a little worried. She had so much gunk in her and the bulb syringe wasn't cutting it. I called a nurse and told her all of Chan's symptoms and she thought it would probably be good to get Chan to a doctor that day. So Ryan left work early and we took her to a pediatric urgent care near our home. The doctor was a little concerned with her O2 level and could here some wheezing when she listed to her breathing. She also said that Chan had an ear infection! Poor girl! No wonder she was so miserable. The doctor diagnosed her with bronchiolitis and said she wanted Chanley to stay at the hospital that night. We ended up waiting 3 or 4 hours while they tried to find Chanley a room at a nearby pediatric wing.

Bronchiolitis is a form of RSV and the whole pediatric unit Chanley stayed in was FULL of babies with this. So here's a little rundown of the illness: your lungs have braches of broniolioles which are very small, especially in babies. They get inflamed and get filled with mucous and it makes it hard for O2 to get to that part of the lung, so the baby has to work harder to breath. So they hooked Chanley up to O2 and started trying to get as much mucous out of her as they could. They had this really nifty machine that kindof acts like a vaccuum and sucks the boogies out. It worked so much better than my bulb syringe. Chan hated every second of it. She would kick and wiggle and scream and cry and try everything to get loose. She was soon known as the "strong-willed" baby to all the drs. and nurses. They had an O2 moniter taped to her toe monitering her blood O2 level and Chan kicked it off every time they would put it on. She's a smart little girl, she learned pretty quick that the people in yellow masks and gowns meant bad news and would try anything to get away. She was such a good little sport though. There was either a dr, nurse, or respiratory dr in our room every hour, checking O2 levels, sucking boogies, giving her eardrops, giving her Tylenol, taking her vital signs, and giving her her antibiotics for her ear infection. It was a very long few days for all of us. Ryan and I got sick as well, and I soon discovered that the only thing worse than taking care of a sick child is being sick YOURSELF while trying to take care a sick baby. I stayed with her the whole time and slept on a fold out chair at night. Ryan took some time off work and would go home at night to sleep because there wasn't enough room for both of us to stay, and then would come back to the hospital as soon as he could the next morning. We ended up staying at the hospital a few days longer than we thought because every time they took Chan off the O2 she dipped too low. Steve Collis, a good friend of our was able to come to the hospital to help Ryan give Chan a blessing. I'm so so grateful Chanley was able to recieve that and that I married a man worthy to give that blessing to her. I have a strong testimony of the power of the priesthood -it has blessed our lives so much.

They let Chanley come home on Sunday night with O2, which hopefully she won't have to use for long. She has already improved so much since we've been home and is almost back to her old self, which we are so grateful for. Hopefully she continues to get better. Thank you everyone for all your love and prayers!

P.S. Hope everyone had a great Valentines Day!

My sick little babe :(

Whew it's been a very exhausting few days. I've decided nothing quite tugs at a mothers heartstrings than seeing your baby sick. Chanley started acting a little fussy on Sunday, and throughout the day developed a little cough. That night she didn't sleep or eat very well, and the next day she had a very nasty cough, runny nose, and was running a fever. There are times when she will just scream and be totally inconsolable. It seems to really flare up at night, she'll get pretty upset so we'll rock her and rock her until she calms down, and then she'll cough and start crying all over again. It must hurt her little throat to cough. You just want to cough up all that mucous for her-I feel so helpless! Needless to say Ryan and I haven't slept very much in the last few days. Last night Chanley had a temp of 102 and I stayed up most of the night holding her and wiping her head with a cool rag. Today I thought she was doing a little better, she took a few naps as long as I was holding her. But then later on she seemed miserable again. At one point I was holding her and she must have gagged as she coughed because she threw up all over her, all over me, the carpet, EVERYWHERE. Poor little girl. I wish so bad I could make her feel better. Well Ryan just went to buy a humidifier...hopefully that helps.