The reasons I love Mother's day

My mom never really loved mother's day, so I have always just grew up avoiding the day. After I had kids, I still felt the same way. My first mother's day was when I as pregnant and it was NOT an OK day. After that it was much better. Dallas has always tried really hard. I struggled during the times of infertility and I avoided the day. Dallas, again, tried really hard. I, however, did not.

This year I made the personal goal to ENJOY mother's day and what it means. Yes, I gave birth to 2 little people. Each of them a Miracle in their own respect!  Tyler, 93 days early. Grayson, infertility for YEARS before we finally maxed out all of those meds and figured we would be pregnant with a 9 headed mutant. But nope, just one heart beat in that little chest!

So these are the reasons I love Motherhood-

At Shriner's on Friday- Grayson was afraid of the clowns so we became our own!  I love them both!



Grayson LOVES Tyler. He is giving him rubs. Tyler had a seizure and was asleep on the couch. He had a cold and Grayson was rubbing his face.



We have cam pouts in the "Tree room" and we like it!



Brother's hanging out, doing hard appointments together. Grayson's stuff was a lot rough. But we did it.. Because we can do hard things.



Making a tent with mom while Tyler is gone. BEST DAYS EVER!



Having close friends in the neighborhood that love each other. We LOVE the Talbots like our own family. We love them so much!~



We have seizures as a team.



We love Christmas in the desert on a farm!



Having snow ball fights with paper, where we stay warm!



Being a team means we can't see together. We were up close and personal with carvings from Italy. Our brother can't see, we do it together.


Trying to figure out this sleeping gene.... we just don't have that part together.



Riding together in a train!



Best Haircut a mom could ask for



Three of the most important Apples in my world!



These 2 are the reason that I get to celebrate mother's day. Though I don't have enough time in a day to show them that I love them with all my soul, I do! I am thankful for the 3 boys in my home. Thankful that I am the mom of 2 of them and thankful for the Mother of the other one!


Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and my Mother in Law. To strong women dedicated to their families. For that we are both forever thankful.


* As a side note, our neighbors in Utah just gave birth to their miracle baby who is now in the NICU awaiting heart surgery. With some other genetic issues going, they are really struggling. For those on my page, please pray for them. The mom should have a Happy Mother's Day amidst the hard stuff too!

Christmas Day- Again

After the FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa Labrum we started our normal night routine and got everyone in bed. I had taken the time to wrap MOST of the presents but we had a few last minute things to put together.

Before we went to bed we finished our very last ornament on the *Jesus* tree and laid out the stockings. We don't have a chimney so we just laid them out. Our Grandma made our stockings and we LOVE them. ( My 4 favorite christmas things are my icicles from my mom, our stockings, our Christ tree and my sister made me a Nativity)

This is our Nativity and our Christ tree. It is by far my favorite place each night!

Santa had done some last minute Christmas shopping like 3 days before Christmas so a few things needed to be wrapped. Oh and one night, while Santa couldn't sleep very well she ordered Christmas and all this STUFF came that I didn't realize I ordered. Ha! 

Every Christmas or birthday I keep thinking " Man I wish Nicky was here so I could pay her to wrap!"  But finally after years of practice and her not being around to pay off, I learned to wrap!

Grayson doesn't sleep through the night so I was hoping to be done wrapping before he got up and walked around the house. ( No I am not kidding about the sleeping through the night. ) He got up AFTER I put everything together. But as I was setting my camera and my remote, in walked the best picture opportunity 

This was on the back of the camera but it was PERFECT!!!

Tyler asked for very few things but his things were specific. Enjoying the spoils of the day!! 

We did get girl stuff for Christmas. Everyone loves it. The doc mobile was taken out and sent to the park as fast as they could get. They also wore their underpants all day!!!

Ther rest of the day was playing with our toys and making dinner and mushrooms and just being a family. It was GREAT. Our Grandparents were coming the next day so we were super excited to see them.

I never thought there was "enough" presents under the tree, but there was. I always think I do give enough to them, but I do. I don't require much to be a happy mom at times like this. There was plenty to go around.

This last year was nothing spectacular. Nothing fabulous and we just were here. Just like I like it. Drama ( mostly) free and surrounded by those who love us!!!

The year of 2014

I love doing years in review. It makes me go back and reflect on what we did and what we learned. Sometimes, you don't remember everything that happened. I think it also helps you look back and say that you did a hard thing. I would rate this last year as nothing big and nothing horrible. Just a year to get through. And get through we did.

January- We decided that we would try and hit our deductible in the first few weeks and we did surgery on Tyler's eyes AND hit him up with some botox. It was a long month with those casts but we did it. It meant sponge baths and extra therapy and a really ticked of buddy, but we got through it. We learned that we can do hard things ( again) and that we can get through it ( again) and we didn't need anything but our little family, some respite and our ward family for physical help ( again), but that we needed the love and support that our extended family was willing to offer (again).

And the fun part, me and Dallas were able to go to our very first Fiesta Bowl. It was great!! We are not over the top football fans but we were able to enjoy it.

We saw Daniel Tiger, loved it and got our casts off!

Febuary- Tyler had very bad behavioral issues and we were unable to figure it out. It would take a few more months before we got someone to listen. But we got it done.

Valentines came and went and other than a few kicked out of schools, nothing happened that I can think of. ( Which is AMAZING~)

March- We found a awesome family that wanted a bike for their little Lucy, and were able to give back a gift that we had been given. It was a great experience for us.

We went to the zoo with Tyler's school and had a wonderful time. It, however, was confirmed that this is not the zoo for a visually impaired kid, but we had fun anyway. Our vision teacher went and Grayson came with us and we were able to FINALLY ride a carousel. (Meaning, that was all Tyler knew was there so he would repeat it for days on end until the day of the event!)

April-  We attended Bumble Bee Ranch, in which we were able to ride horses, bucking bronco's and play cowboy games. It was a great place for both Tyler and Grayson. Grayson LOVED the Horses and was pretty sure he would ride all day. He still talks about Bumble Bee.

May- I started my official Senior year of College. I am to the point where I only have 2 classes or so left in my major. All family therapy ( which I love!) and still have the grade point average to get into Physician assistant school. I have to update my math and science because it has been a long time since I took them, but if not, masters program for Marriage and Family therapy so I can have a job when Grayson is in school. ( EXCITED!!!) We also played because we had time off for Easter,. I am a single mom when Apple announces anything. Since Dallas company has a close relationship with apple they know when major updates and releases are coming or when the company has a final date and he lives at the office, literally. Sometimes a bed it taken. So I become mom of the house and do my life alone. We also hired a new worker. LOVE her!

June- Seizures. UGH!! We had another botox injection and he had a seizure, putting us into the adverse reaction team at PCH. It also meant no injections for six months. It was hard and devastating and very sad for us. But, we can do hard things ( again) and we can do them on our own ( again) and we will gladly accept any prayers from friends and family that they can or want to offer. ( again!)

Oh and we can't forget our Pine Wood Derby!! Sweet!

July- We had to move. Our house was being sold. I spent the better part of May, June and July looking for the perfect house. We found one that was pretty close. It was a one story, had enough bedrooms and a few other bonuses and the biggest is that it is RIGHT next door to the park. So we packed up our stuff and moved 4 roads away, into the same ward. See!! Perfection!

Grayson turned 3 and we had our Grandpa here to celebrate. He loved it. Next year a big boy party. Who knows, maybe we will celebrate in Utah! ( not to live, sorry. It will never happen. )

August- We learned a little to much about CBC's, hematocrit and Iron levels. We also learned that Grayson has Thalassemia Minor, a blood/absorbtion disorder. We also learned that we can do hard things ( again) and we can do them alone, (again) and we gladly take any prayers that our friends and family are willing to give ( again) ( see a theme here!) Oh and I grew older ( and chubbier, again!) Oh and School started for our 3rd Grader

September-  Tyler turned nine!! Yep, 9! He is in third grade and loves it. He is hitting all bench marks for his grade level. He LOVES science and loves music and Gym. He shares his time in his small class, and his typical class for all his specials and because he does really well in Science he goes with his typical class for that. He also gets some extra vision this year and FINALLY we are behaving MUCH better. ( we have still yet to grow from 55 pounds and what we were height wise at 5!)

October- I tried my first drive to Utah with the boys by myself. Yep, you guessed it, I can do hard things ( alone!!!) and we can do it as a family ( or with myself) and we can have a GREAT time! ( after we drive for 12 hours we need a hour to destress!) But we did it. We spent a great few days in Orangeville and a great few days with the other family in Salt Lake and as much time with Nicky as we could. And we had Halloween and loved it. Trick or Treating was great this year and Tyler won best costume and Grayson kept changing his mind. I can officially say, I have a great costume bucket!

November-  Oh November!! We spent an overnight stay at Cardon's children because of an accidental overdose on Lamictal. We had a nasty rash and it was bad enough our neurologist wanted us in, ASAP! We also did a sleep study for Grays and we dealt with the Nasty thalassemia rages that come with not enough iron. We lived through Thanksgiving with no extra family here and had a really great time.

December- We started off with a visit from our grandparents and we LOVED it. We had something planned every day they were here. Grayson and Tyler LOVE visitors. It was also one of the first days that we were able to go to the Lights in Mesa and not have Tyler freak out. We had a wonderful Christmas and aside from the nasty throw ups we each passed ( every 12 hours) we had a wonderful time and to end the month we had the OTHER grandparents come. My sisters kids came with them and my kids LOVED it. I have never seen Grayson cry when someone other than me, left the house. But he SOBBED when Koy was leaving.

This year we have learned that " We can do hard things. That we can do them as a 4 family. We can ask for prayers but we can't expect anything more or less unless they want to give it, and we can offer what we can. And lastly, not judge but support and love. That is what we want so that is what we will give!"

We are excited to see what 2015 brings to us. We are celebrating 10 years of this little family, we are making it COUNT!!

My little baby is a Little Boy

July 12, 2011 at 4:46 pm our world turned upside down by a sweet little boy weighing in at 6 lbs 4 ounces. 3 years later at 25 pounds and more than half the height of the his older brother and is as spunky and stubborn as could be!

3 years doesn't seem like a long time. But lots goes on in 3 years. It goes by so fast. You look back and wonder where that baby went. Yet, you look at them and think they are still your sweet 1 year old.

Grayson's face hasn't changed much since his birth ( I don't think) It has come in and out as round and chubby. His hair has changed from red to Blondie and he has turned into a funny, funny kid, but oh he is a terror.

( Grayson says Glasses like "asses" and I don't care.. I giggle)

There are so many things that make Grayson Grayson.  Here is the list we came up with today:

• He is a momma's boy to the extreme. He sleeps with me still. Pretty sure if I still had a uterus and didn't spend time away from him in the hospital with a hysterectomy, he would still nurse. 
• He is FUNNY! Today, after him being caught actually biting and chewing through rocks AND swallowing them, we gave him 5 laxatives over the last 2 days. FINALLY it was kicking in the SECOND grandpa came in the door. He locks himself in a room. When I get the door unlocked he said " mom I need my privacy, tell poppa I will be down in a minute!"
• He is a terror!! He as some anger management problems. He hits, bites, kicks, destroys things in one sweep and if he is tired as could take down a nine year old and a fat momma. He slaps too. Oh he can slap.
• He is a helpful brother. He always tries to make sure Ty is included in things. He goes with Ty everywhere. He tells him every night that he is his best friends and that he loves him. He even tells people that sometimes he falls cause he has "cerebral palsy but that is ok."
• He tells us " I cuddle you" and will want you to lay down wherever you are and cuddle. He LOVES it. 
• He loves to help cook and pretend play. He is just sweet.

There was such a huge hole waiting to be filled and he did a pretty good job. He isn't as much medical stress as Tyler but he is so typical that he is always on the go. Even with the desire to have one more and that I am missing one, I wouldn't give up this baby for the world.

( Now for the random photos of the year!!! My favorites~)

One thing that has grown in the last year is my testimony of how much family means to me. There is so many things that we have gone through that has shown me that each one of the boys were in our home for a reason. My baby is perfect. He is going to great things. I am so thankful to be his mom and I hope as he grows older he keeps having a great relationship with his brother and that he will do his best to keep his sweet innocence for as long as possible.

He had a fabulous little birthday with just Tyler and Grandpa. His little friends were out of town/or mom is ready to have a baby. So we kept it low key, over "presented" him and watched him love on his poppa.

Thank you baby Grayson for coming to our home. Thank you Grayson for being Grayson.

*Thanks Grandpa for driving 600 miles to come eat KFC and cake. It was well appreciated. We hope your flight home is fast and you can get back to grandma the old lady/naked grandma, and you don't worry to much about how much she misses you!*

January

January was a bit more eventful for us. We started the year off with a trip to the infamous trip to the Fiesta Bowl.  That's right, we attended a football game. Dallas and I do not watch sports unless it is lacrosse but we were given tickets and decieded to go. We got a sitter, planned for an open ceiling and dressed for cold weather and ended up needing..... NOTHING. It was closed top and warm!

We had a blast. The tickets were decent and the game was not won by those who it was suppose to.

We had a great time and we enjoyed having a date. We even enjoyed the fact that the team that was suppose to win didn't. Sure made for some angry fans that actually cared. If AZ ever gets into the bowl, or a Utah team, I bet we could get a few of the grandparents and uncles down to visit us.

At Christmas I got SUPER sick. Like I had THE FLU!! The real flu. After our Christmas festives and breakfast and lunch was started, I achingly got into bed and literally slept the entire day. I got sicker and sicker and sicker. I was so worried that everyone would get it, but I was so thankful that this year that I made everyone else get flu shots, even Dallas, and then I didn't get one. I was SICK. So even during this football game I was misrable. I am pretty sure that I drank more nyquil than I ever have before.

We celebrated our Dad's birthday by having this awesome party here at home with yummy cake in which we ate deliciously. Our sweet neighbor watched the boys and I took him out to dinner and a movie.


That was the fun stuff of January