Fun in the orchard

Women's Conference

Audrie and I got to go to Women's Conference this year. It was too much fun. We left Wed. and came back Sat. We got to leave all kids at home and go shopping at the quilted bear, we got to eat at PF Changs and Olive Garden and oh yeah the classes were good too. It was so nice to get to sleep all night long without being woken up. We got to sit in the jacuzzi and relax. It was a nice break from reality.

The classes were really good, and Elder Oaks was the last speaker in the closing session. A common theme throughout the conference was that of service and the greatest service that a mother can provide is to her children. This takes priority over everything. I have been struggling to decide whether I should go to work or not, at the conference I just had a really positive feeling that my place is at home. I would be going to work to provide money for the extra things that we don't need. It is more important to me to stay with my kids and make sure that they get proper care and nutrition, and I would be devastated if I had to go to work and they were sick. I am so grateful for a hard working husband who provides for us so that I don't have to go to work, and who encourages me to stay home. Something else that was spoken a lot about was that the world puts motherhood on the back burner and other things have become priority. It has become "uncool" to stay at home and "just" be a mom. My reply to this is that motherhood is the hardest job I have ever had, harder than college or any job I have ever had. So world, yes I am "uncool." But I have the support of my Heavenly Father and I will never have the chance to raise my children again and I don't want to miss anything.

Abbie's 7th birthday

Abbie turned 7 on April 20th. She is getting so old. The day she came was a surprise to us because my water broke 3 weeks early which happened to be Easter Sunday that year. It was a nice surprise and that was 3 less weeks of being pregnant. She was 6.9 lbs so she was fine and we took her home the next day.

We just had cake and ice cream with family and I asked her if she wanted me to spend the money on providing a dinner for everyone or go do something fun-she decided that we should go get our nails done. So we had a mommy, daughter outing and went and got manicures and pedicures. She is such a cool little girl and she is so helpful with her siblings. We love having her around. She is one of those kinds of people that is nice everyone. The friend that she plays with the most at school is a cute girl in a wheelchair in her class, they get along so well. Anyway we just love her so much.

Happy Birthday Abbie Lou Lou!

Belly boo's 1 yr pics

Here are Bella's 1 yr pictures, they turned out so cute. I just love all of them. She was in such a good mood that day and it was really fun. Trisha Christensen took her pics-505-360-1302 or trishachristensen.com-she did an amazing job.

My poor bella boo does not feel good

Bella has had a fever, vomiting and diarrhea for four days. I feel so bad for her she has just been lying around since Tuesday. No energy, won't hardly smile, very unlike her. Poor thing she just looks like she's in a daze. She did finally start drinking again last night which was quite a relief. I really don't want her to lose any more weight, she only weighs 16 lbs. One good thing about it is that she will snuggle with me but I just worry about her. I hate it when my babies get sick, it just hits them so hard. :(

Seriously, how do people make it that have kids with cancer. I get worried sick with a sickness that lasts for a week. Some kids go through chemo and radiation for months, years-and what is chemo-POISON!!!! It wipes out their immunity causing them to become neutropenic which makes them susceptible to catching whatever they come in contact with. As soon as they get a fever they go straight to the hospital where they stay until the fever is gone and there are no signs of infection. Then the process repeats itself-these poor kids have to go through hell. Poor Kristoffer had to have a tumor that was wrapped around his kidney removed along with the kidney. He had to have a port and a feeding tube placed and the feeding tube became ulcerated and was leaking stomach fluids because his idiot doctor didn't check it right away. What I think is even harder is being in the parents shoes and being able to do absolutely nothing but sit there and watch their kid suffer, not knowing what is going to happen when their kid is diagnosed with cancer-are they going to be able to make it throught this? I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle it. So my hat is off to my sister who had to sit by and watch her 6 yr old boy go through all of this and more and still care for her other three kids at home. Takes a strong person.

Easter clothes

They all looked so cute today.

Miss Belly Boo

When I go to get Bella Boo up from her nap this is usually how I find her. She just sits there and kicks her legs.