Carter's Hernia Surgery

A few months ago we took Carter to the doctor where he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. The doctor recommended surgery. Yesterday he had his surgery at Cardon Children's Hospital. Carter has been worried about his surgery for a while but he did awesome. We got to the hospital about 8am got checked in and changed him into is gown. We were very relieved to learn that they would put him out before putting the IV in. The child life specialist came in and showed Carter his oxygen mask and let him pick a flavor to paint on the inside. She also let him put stickers on his mask. We then watched a movie and he played with cars while we waited for the doctor. A little after 10:00 the doctor came and talked to us and then they took him back to surgery. He was in surgery for about 30-45min then James and I got to go back and be with him in recovery. Soon after that we brought him home. He layed on the couch for a few hours then he started trying to walk around. Once He felt comfortable walking we have had A hard time keeping him down. Last night he was showing James how he could walk and run. James told him he needed to take it easy. Carter asked him "Dad how do I take it easy?" Today he feels good and all he wants to do is play. We keep having to remind him that he needs to take it easy! Glad the surgery is over.  He won't take his surgical hat off or his socks or name band and he says he is Doctor Carter it is really cute!

Emily 4 Months

Today Emily is 4 months old. Can't believe she is already 4 months. She has the cutest smile and I love she always gives me a smile. She has THE cutest laugh and as of now Carter is the only one who can get her to laugh. She loves Carter and then I am a close second :) She watches Carter's every move! I love how she has to hold on to my finger when she is drinking her bottle. I love the way she always wants to talk. A lot of times when she is eating she will stop just to start talking. She rolls over on her stomach almost instantly when you put her down and she doesn't even really like her stomach. Sometimes she will play on her stomach and if she sees something out of her reach will kick her legs and sometimes get lucky to push off with one foot. She doesn't go far but it is a start. She grabs everything and drools a ton. She hates her car seat. She likes to be carried around I think mostly because she just wants to see stuff. I love her and love watching her grow! I feel so blessed to be her mom!

Sealing and Blessing

What a special day yesterday was! I was very emotional for about 2 days before then. I couldn't help but think that five years ago I was in a different place. I wasn't in a good place spiritually at all. We sat across from our second fertility doctor as he told us that we had slim to no chance of getting pregnant on our own or through fertility treatments. That was hard to hear and I really struggled during that time. Now five years later and I got to go in the Temple with BOTH of my children to have our daughter sealed to our family. What a blessing! I also love that Carter was able to go in and observe. He was so cute walking in the sealing room in his suit with his white socks. Then Emily dressed in her cute white dress looked beautiful! I really have a testimony that God keeps His promises. I will never experience pregnancy in this life but God made a way for me to still be a mother. I am so grateful I get to experience the wonderful miracle of adoption! I love my children's birth mothers in a way I will never be able to describe! My heart is so full of gratitude!

 

Adoption Finalization

On Thursday Emily's adoption was finalized at the court. What a happy day. Along with us our attorney Brent was there and Calli our Social Worker from LDS Family Services. Virginia (James's mom) also came for the day. The Judge was very friendly. I remember with Carter the judge wasn't friendly at all but this judge was. After everything was done she let Carter sit in her chair for the pictures. It was a good day! Love this little girl.

Primary Program 2014

Sunday was our primary program. I really wanted to get a picture of Carter all dressed up for church but he was so tired after church he wasn't going to let me take his picture. I love my calling of playing the piano in the primary. I get nervous for the Primary Program but the kids did so well this year. Carter had a part he said "and the hearts of the children to their Father's Malachi 4:6" we worked for two weeks with him and he did his part all by himself! So proud of him. The last song was "Families Can Be Together Forever" and to hear the whole congregation sing the words "Families can be together forever" oh what a great spirit was there!

Emily 3 Months Old

Wow can't believe our baby girl is three months old! She smiles a lot but when I get the camera out she stops smiling and it drives me crazy because she has such a cute and contagious smile I want to get it on camera. I guess it will have to wait! She is sleeping through the night most of the time. She usually wakes up around 5 or 5:30 in the morning. Sometimes she gets up earlier to eat but that is her normal. She is drooling a lot and loves to chew on her hands. She loves to play with her hands also so I love this pictures of her hands together because that is what she loves to play with. She will put her hands together and look at them and concentrate really hard and then try to get them in her mouth. So cute! She is still getting the hang of grabbing stuff. You can tell she really wants to grab whatever is in front of her and concentrates really hard but she hasn't quite mastered it yet. On the 16th of this month she started rolling over from back to belly on her right side. Now whenever you lay her on her back she rolls right over to her belly. But the thing is she doesn't really like her belly so she gets frustrated and starts fussing. Every once in a while she will lay and play on her belly for a little bit and try to grab the toys in front of her. Sometimes also you can tell on her face she is determined to move while she is on her belly.  Love that determination! She loves Carter and watches everywhere he is. She doesn't mind her bath but she really doesn't like her face or her head washed. She is wearing 3-6month and 6month clothes. I love her cheeks and her chubby hands! 

FHE

Last night we had FHE at Vertuccio Farm in Mesa. What a fun place! We walked through the corn maze. Carter remembered last year being scared to go through the corn maze when we went to the one in Showlow. Carter tried the pedal carts but they were a little hard for him to use. He rode the little train and jumped on the bouncy air thing they had. Went down the super fast slide and wasn't even afraid to go down the biggest one. Saw some animals. Had a duck race and road on the grain train. Then we picked some pumpkins. It was fun and Carter didn't want to leave! Emily was awake through the whole thing she wanted to be held so she could see everything. I was also impressed that when I went to buy a bottled water it only cost a $1. Usually at those kind of places they charge $2 or $3. It was a fun fall FHE!