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11.02.2014

A Tangled Halloween

As of right now Ever's favorite princess is Rapunzel and that's who she wanted to be for Halloween this year. And if anybody knows me, they know Halloween is my favorite holiday and we dress up EVERY year. Greg loves it. He does. Ok, love may be a strong word but he's a trooper every year going along with his wifes crazy costume antics. 

We all went as characters from Disney's Tangled.

Greg was Flynn Rider 
and Liv was Pascal the Chameleon

Ever was Rapunzel 
and I was Mother Gothel


My favorite picture of the evening. 

 Cutest chameleon I've ever seen!!



She even loved the hair. Wore it all night. 



A Princess and her Chameleon. 
Best friends.


Cutest family ever.
Let's see how long my kids will go for the family themed costumes.
Love them :)

10.27.2014

My First 1/2 Marathon


Just two weeks ago, I accomplished a huge goal for myself. I finished my first half marathon. It was the annual HITS Marathon of Oklahoma City. It was a really big event with so many runners. I set a goal about 4 months ago that I wanted to do this. I made up a 20 week training program and kept it on the fridge the entire time to keep me motivated. 

I grew up hating to run,especially in school.
  Horrible "fun run" in high school. 
But the last 4 years or so, I have come around to really enjoying the sport and decided to do something big. I started getting up early so I could run before Greg left for work. That too was something I didn't like; so not a morning person.
But in the end, it paid off and I'm so glad I did. 


This is about 6 am. Nervous...

...but so pumped! 


 Greg and the girls were waiting for me at the finish line; I was smiling and waving like a crazy person as soon as I saw them. 


Greg caught me sprinting to the finish line.


Completed 13.1 miles in 2 hour and 23 minutes. A personal best. :)



 Cooling down and feeling crazy. Crazy good. 


Can't wait for the next one. 

Seriously, hardest thing I've ever done but so worth the amazing feeling of accomplishment. Only now am I getting the feeling back in my knees and recovering fully but I'm already looking forward the next goal. 

10.24.2014

Our Favorite Month

October has always been my favorite month. Fall is coming, perfect weather and my favorite holiday just around the corner.

Halloween's the best!!

The girls and I made it to our first pumpkin patch here in Oklahoma. 


They had a pony ride and Ever couldn't have been more excited. She loves horses and ponies.



She was grinning the entire time.



She had to wander up and down each aisle searching for the perfect pumpkin.



 Liv was happy with the first one I put in her lap.



After finding just the right pumpkins, we headed to the petting zoo where Ever got to feed a bunch of animals. They had goats, llamas, pigs and sheep. She couldn't get enough of the miniature goats that just loved her. She would have stayed and fed them all day long. They both had a ball at the pumpkin patch this year. 

1.25.2014

Livie's Birth Story....more of a novel


So my due date for Liv was January 7, 2014 which was still 3 weeks away. I went into the doctors for my 37 week checkup just to see how everything was progressing. I was excited since today they were going to do a sonogram so we would get to see her. Dr. McQuillen came in and checked me out then started the sono. She kept telling me how great liv was looking except that my amniotic fluids were kind of low. After being quiet for a few minutes and taking some measurements of the baby's picture she says my fluid levels are looking too low for comfort. She looks up and smiles and says I think we need to have this baby sooner rather than later. I smile back, nodding in agreement and tell her I would love that. She gets up and says, "Great, I’ll call the hospital and see when they can get you in." I just sat there for a Second in shock, then snap back to it and utter "um...what?" I thought she meant maybe a few days early to be safe but no, she meant right then and there.

She left the room for a minute to go make arrangements with the hospital then came back in asking if I wanted to go straight to the hospital or wait a few hours. I was still in shock at this point and the only thought I could keep thinking about was the fact that we still had no idea what we were going to name her. I couldn't go to the hospital without a name for our baby girl. I was nowhere near ready for this to happen. Doc was giving me no choice since she said from the looks of things, she would feel better about getting the baby out tonight.

I leave the office, still feeling shocked and starting to panic. I call Greg at work and he doesn’t answer. Of course I then really start to panic just because he’s not answering. I then proceed to call him about 10 more times back to back while driving home. Still no answer so I call my mom to tell her the news. Her first reaction was great and helped me calm down. She started laughing and was just thrilled. She was so excited, she was making me more excited than nervous. I hang up with her as she’s now trying to see if she can book a flight ASAP to come out and help since we didn’t have anyone planning on being there for another 3 weeks.
Finally when I’m about home, Greg calls me back. He answers jokingly and says, “Saw tons of your missed calls, are you in labor or what?” I simply say, “Yup.” He laughs a little then asks if I’m serious and I tell him everything the Dr. told me. Of course today was one of his work days where he is about 3 hours away from home on a job so he was going to finish up quick and head home. So Greg finally gets home and we finish a few odds and ends at home and make plans to leave Ever with our friends for the evening. We go out to dinner to celebrate the news that we are now super excited about, drop Ev off at our friends house and head to hospital.
Once there it’s about 9:00 pm, we get all checked in and settled and they hook me up to the IV and tell me to get comfortable for a long night. 


They were instructed by the Dr. to induce labor so as to lessen the chances of complications from the low amniotic fluid levels. I was nervous to be induced from all the stories I’d heard about Pitocin. Lucky for me they have come around to a new way of inducing with a tiny little pill they quarter and insert vaginally. It’s supposed to be much easier on the body while still kick starting labor. I got my first dose of this pill around 11 pm and they said to expect another dose every 2-3 hours. By this point, Greg and I are both tired so we decide to try and get some sleep while we can. Around 1:00 pm they come in to check me, I was dilated to a 2 at this point and they give me another dose. About an hour later, I start feeling my first contractions. It’s the middle of the night and they are very mild and only about every 5 or 10 minutes. I’d count them lasting about 30 seconds and would usually fall asleep in between. An hour after that they check me and say I’m about a 3. Contractions are still manageable at this point. Sometime in the early morning is when things start getting a little painful. Around 6 am I’m really feeling some action and they come to check me and I’m about a 5.
My first birth with Ever, I never watched the monitors so I couldn’t see the rate and length of each contraction. This time the monitors were right next to my head and I couldn’t look away from them. I was holding onto the bed rail with one hand and squeezing Greg’s hand with the other while trying to breathe through each contraction. I had come into this birth never fully deciding if I would go natural, with no drugs again or opt for the epidural. About an hour later, the pain made the choice for me. It was about 7 when I told Greg I wanted the epidural but I was really scared to get it. Too many scary stories, but by this point I was exhausted as the contractions had ramped up to be so painful, I just wanted to be able to enjoy this labor a little more than my last. Greg told me everything would be ok so we went ahead and told the nurse. I had to endure a little more pain as the anesthesiologist was just called into and emergency c-section so I had to wait another hour and a half. That was rough. By the time they came in to give it to me I was dilated to a 7. I got into position leaning over the bed read for them to stick the needle in and I remember just holding Greg’s hand and looking into his eyes and asking him to prayer for me because I was so scared. I was shaking so bad they had to keep telling me to try to relax and sit still. Finally everything was done and I just laid back waiting for the drugs to take effect. It didn’t take long and I felt great. I was even able to get in a nap while waiting for things to really ramp up.

After about 2 hours of laboring, Greg and I just watching TV, talking and stressing over the fact we still didn’t have a name for our little girl. Around 10:45 the nurses come in to check me again and tell me I’m at a 9. I’m loving the epidural as the contractions are more bearable but I could tell they were starting to get stronger and faster. About 15 minutes later I’m getting really uncomfortable and the pain is starting to ramp up again. By this point I am having the intense urge to push and I tell Greg to get a nurse because I know she’s coming. It felt like my catheter had come out or something was going on. The nurses came in and said I still had a while but I was convinced she was coming right then.  She checked me to be sure and said I was a 9 ½ but she could stretch me to a 10, so she did. All the while, I kept telling them I had to push. I couldn’t not push. The feeling was too intense. The nurse told me she had called the Dr to come deliver the baby but she was at her office and just left. Whether that was true or not, I’m not sure. Because it was literally about 20 more minutes of this feeling of wanting to push I had to wait till she came.
The nurses kept commenting on how polite I was being for wanting to push so long. I do remember that though, but I was also begging for the Dr  to get there so badly. I’d look at Greg and just say, “Please, please, where is she? Please let Pam get here soon. Where is she?! I have got to push!” They nurses would just tell me to keep breathing and not to worry, that the baby wasn’t going to come out till they were ready. They had the whole team in there with everything set up and finally, our doctor walks, in and say’s, “let’s have this baby.” Those glorious words of, “Ok you can push” were finally heard. I started pushing and it wasn’t more than 30 seconds before Greg tells me she’s coming!

Then she was here. December 17th, 2013 at 11:52 am, our beautiful baby girl, Livie Anne Lee joined our family.


 She weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches of perfection. Greg got to cut her cord and they laid her across my stomach for a few seconds. She didn’t make a sound but looked at me with these big, beautiful eyes. In that moment, I knew this perfect little angel was meant for us.


 She was sent straight from Heavenly to be part of our little family. After I got past our first connection, I noticed how incredibly gray she was. She still hadn’t made a sound and had no color at all. They took her away to the little NICU station and started working on her. I saw them stick a tube down her throat and put her on oxygen. I kept asking Greg if she was ok and what was happening. Everyone around me kept reassuring me that she was just fine and just needed a little attention. Turns out she had gotten some of the fluids from the birth canal in her lungs and they needed to get it out right away. After a few minutes I heard her first beautiful whimpers and tears were rolling down my cheeks. I was just happy to finally hear my baby girl cry.


After all the cleanup they took her to the nursery to give her a bath and check all her vitals, I told Greg to go with her to keep an eye out. To Greg’s surprise when he came back in, I was elbows deep in my lunch. It was maybe a half hour after her birth and I was just ravenous. They brought in lunch while Greg was in the nursery and I just dove in. This is one of my favorite moments just because he thought it was so funny. After 12 hours of labor and I’m just over there eating to my heart’s content. 

Lucky for us, my mom as able to get a flight out the next day and she came to stay with us for a week. Day 2 in the hospital my mom brought Ever to come see us and meet her little sister. This was one of the best moments of my life. I’m so glad I was able to capture this moment as Ever met Livie for the first time.

 My beautiful little family that I couldn't be more grateful to have. The love we all have for each other was so apparent in that little hospital room, it was incredible. The instant connection Ever had with her little sister is something I’ll treasure forever. I’m so excited for these two to grow up together and be part of our family.
Overall, it was a beautiful birth. We had a great dr and wonderful nurses and it seemed 10 times easier than my first labor and delivery. So grateful to have her in our lives and loving every moment of having 2 little beauties in our home!


12.31.2012

Ever Olivia ~ 10 Months Old


Evie Girl,

It's Christmas Bug! Well, it was. You had your very first Christmas this year. You even turned 10 months old on Christmas Eve. This has absolutely been the best month by far. You are turning into a little lady. You are so big and so smart you don't seem like our little baby girl any more. I miss our teeny tiny baby that just laid there and looked up at us with those big beautiful eyes but I wouldn't trade it for the girl you have become. You are truly the happiest little baby I have ever seen. Every time I call your name, you turn around and just grin from ear to ear. We couldn't have been blessed with a happier, sweeter baby! The last two weeks or so, you have been sick but that didn't stop you either. Still happy as can be.

This month we got to do a lot of fun things for your first Christmas. We did lots of shopping at the mall and you got to see Santa! You were a little scared but we got a picture of you together about 2 seconds before you decided you were terrified. It was pretty cute. We also started our new family tradition this year and that is to pick a little angel off the Christian Church Association. We pick one little boy or girl and buy them the gift they asked Santa for. This year we got a 10 year old little boy who really wanted some walkie talkies. It was Christmas Eve this year and a lot of the stores were sold out but daddy was persistent and found some just in time. We are excited to continue this tradition with you and your future siblings every year.

We then had a big dinner with some friends at our house and you got to play with little Pepper and Gavin. They are your two best friends. We love them. We got this year's Christmas ornament and it is Baby's First Christmas picture frame for 2012. Another family tradition. The next morning it was Christmas! You loved opening presents and playing with everything. It was so fun to watch. We were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Lee out here with us this year. We picked them up in the afternoon that day and brought them home to have another little Christmas with them! You were a little hesitant with Grandpa but then warmed right up to him. You bonded with Grandma instantly! I think you might miss them just as much as we do. 

A few days after Christmas we all went to visit the Dallas World Aquarium. It was  lot of fun going with grandma and grandpa. You really seemed to enjoy it. All the people and animals held your attention the whole time. We also got to celebrate mommy's birthday with them here as well. You had more fun helping mom open her presents and eat  a yummy dinner.

You now have 7 teeth. 4 on top, 3 on the bottom. You are growing tall, just like your mom, and are in the 95 percentile for height. You have outgrown most of your clothes already! You are wearing 12-18 months but even the 12 month stuff is getting a little short on you. 

It's New Years Eve tonight as mommy is writing this and me and your daddy are so grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened to us this year. You have been the biggest, most wonderful gift we have ever received and can't wait to see what 2013 brings for our little family!

Happy New Year beautiful girl!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Driving around in your diaper box.
Hi Mommy!

 You love your bubbles.


 Your new Tea Party Set


Dallas World Aquarium


Relaxing with gramma and papa.

 Merry Christmas! 
2012

Happy 26th Birthday Momma

12.05.2012

Ever Olivia ~ 9 Months Old


Ever O,

This past month has been packed with all sorts of fun bugs. We started the month off by going out to visit grandma Polly in California. She lives on a ranch with lots of cows and horses and dogs so you had a prettybgoodntime out there being entertained by all that. Made momma want to get you a puppy for Christmas because younere so cute with grandmas little corky.

Later we got to fly out to Idaho to see grandma and grandpa Hammond and spend your first thanksgiving with a lot of the family. You Met your uncle Casey for the first time and already have him wrapped around your little finger. All your aunts and uncles couldn't get enough of you!

In the last 3 weeks you have gone from scooching to full on ninja crawling. It's like overnight you figured it out and now you are so fast I'll turn around for a second and you'll be down the hall or in the next room. Now that you have gotten so mobile you are loving to discover all the new "toys" you've been missing out on. You love the shelves that hold the picture frames and the bookcase with loads of pretty book to pull out. We put up the Christmas tree too and you enjoy pulling ornaments off that everyday. Even though I'm cleaning up twin the messes now, momma is so proud of you! I adore seeing you crawl and discover new things every day.

You are a champ at pulling yourself up on everything and have more recently learned how to manuever around the furniture. Mom and dad are convinced you'll be walking before your first birthday. Your balance is o good now and you are so brave that you'll crawl or stand up anywhere and try to get around. You are really good at finding mom and dad whenever we're in a different room. Your toys only keep you interested for so long then you'll wander around until you find us.

You are branching out with more foods. We give you bits and tastes of our food a lot but it's hit or miss lately. Right now you still love all your puréed baby food, veggie and fruit puffs, yogurt melts and your newest love, whole wheat waffles. At least it's sort of healthy. We try giving you all sorts of things but different textures seem to freak you out a little. We're working on it with. All those 6 chompers.

While we were in Idaho we did a little Christmas celebration as well since we all can't be together this year. You got to open a couple gifts from grandma and grandpa and it was so fun watching you open things! You got a little baby doll that laughs and you just love her! It has been a great month watching you grow and be around family! Everyone adores you more and more.

We love you a whole barrel full of monkeys lil nugget!

Love,
Momma and Daddy


 Grandma, you and Hunter

 Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen

 Loving Corky


Silly ma and pa

Your best lil bud Pepper!
Scouring the ads for Black Friday Deals with uncle Talon!


Loving on Grandpa Hammond
Snacking on Turkey day
Your first Thanksgiving in Coeur d'alene Idaho.


Auntie Em and Grandma

Our own Christmas morning a little early this year.
You loved opening presents!

All dressed up pretty for church.

Your uncles are smitten with you.

Family love.