HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

Well, I totally feel bad that I missed my own mom's birthday...I could try to blame it on what's been going on here lately but the truth is, I was reminded several times throughout the day and just put it off. So sorry Mom! I just want to let you know how great we think you are and love you so much! We hope your 29th birthday was awesome...hey, wait, we're the same age!?! I'm glad I could catch up to you and I look forward to being here with you for the rest of our lives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, JILL, GRANDMA!! We love and miss you! We'll see you at the end of the month!

What's New in Our Family....

It has been quite a long while since I posted...this 2 kids thing really has had me busy and TIRED but I have been amazed at how I've adapted. If having 2 kids was like living on land and I was a fish, I would be a turtle...not very fast but able to handle being out of the water. Brody is getting better as every day goes by and today we got the wonderful news that he can go off oxygen so now we get to see what he really looks like. It has been really hard with his colic to hold him and soothe him with these stupid tubes and cords connected to him so now I can finally stop Brylie from unrolling the entire roll of toilet paper I just replaced while holding Brody instead of praying for patience and longsuffering while I fight with Brody's cords to put him in a safe place so that when I'm cleaning up that roll of toilet paper, she can't suffocate Brody with her own body while she innocently gives him loves. I am still quite paranoid and will continue to be until summer, I'm sure. In fact, I can only count 4 people outside of Brad and I who have held Brody. Brylie doesn't count either. She is such a darling little stink face! She makes me so mad and so in love with her at the same time. Sometimes I forget she is only one year old like when I ask her to do a task only a 3 or 4 year old would be able to understand let alone do. Then I get frustrated when she disobeys. Oh, the learning curve of a mom. Aside from all of this, we are getting ready to move. The date is quickly approaching! We should be on the road April 27th if all goes as planned. There isn't much time for me to be anxious although Brad will tell you I'll find the time and I can agree. That is another learning curve in itself. All in all, we are getting along very well and are very grateful for everyone's love and support!! Here are some pictures to prove how well we are indeed!

The Latest...

Well, I've come to the conclusion that we just can't go for very long without drama in our lives. Either drama needs us or we need it. After just 6 short days at home, Brody got RSV and is back in the hospital. He doesn't seem to be as severe as Brylie was although there are things in him I'm seeing that I didn't see in Brylie and things I saw in Brylie that I don't see in him. I guess everyone manifests things differently. All I can say is how relieved I am that he is in the hospital because there were many sleepless nights where I would sleep with the light on just in case something happened. I have never felt so helpless. Even taking him to the doctors for the 5th time in 4 days didn't instill enough confidence in me, I still took him back the next day when there were more symptoms or the symptoms seemed to be worse. I also am amazed at the beauty of intuition, better known as the Spirit.

Brody is on oxygen and monitors to see how his breathing is doing...he is doing very well on the small amount of oxygen he is on and is eating better than ever. His weight is good and he just needs to get all this junk out of his lungs so that he can breath better and stop coughing. That is his worst symptom, his cough. I feel so bad watching this little body cough so forcefully. Hopefully he will continue to improve and we will be home in 2 days. That is what it looks like now but you never know.

I have received so many phone calls from family offering their services to watch Brylie or to bring a meal or do "whatever you need". I am overwhelmed how much our family is loved. I thank you all for the wonderful words of support and love. We couldn't do as well as we are without any of you!

Brylie is doing very well with this brother idea. She is so loving and came over one day to Brody and handed him her toys. I know that even though this will be a difficult year, we will be forever grateful for the closeness in age. It's so neat to feel this bond between my family.

In other news, we have made the decision to sell our house and attend Baylor Law School starting in early May this year so we regret to inform you that we will be moving at the end of April to Waco, Texas. This decision was not made lightly as it has weighed on our minds for some time now. Aside from just not really feeling good about it, BYU would have taken Brad 3 years to complete where if he starts at Baylor this May, he could finish and take the bar exam a whole year sooner. At that time, we will move back to Utah where Brad already has a job under contract. We are so blessed and can see the Lord's hand in so many of the decisions we have been led to make.

Sorry I don't have any pictures this post, the hospital can only provide so much. Thanks again to everyone for you thoughts and prayers! We will keep you posted!

He's home!!!

So after a long 10 days in the hospital, Brody has finally been given the clearance to come home. He is doing very well and weighs more than his birth weight. He has hardly any problems eating which is why he was able to come home. We are so grateful to finally have our family all together at last and to introduce Brylie to her brother. She has known there was something going on but she never knew exactly what it was. We have been given the advice from the doctor at discharge to keep Brody away enclosed places and kids for 6 months. I don't know if we'll make it that long but we intend to try as these hospital stays are not easy to handle emotionally! Again, we would like to thank everyone who has been concerned and offered prayers on our behalf. We have seen the hand of the Lord in this experience and are more grateful for Brody than ever! Also, a big thanks to the moms who were so willing to take time out of their schedules to be with Cass and Brylie mostly and Brody too. We really appreciate the love and tremendous help. Enjoy the pics!