~It's going to be a long one kids~

Okay so here it goes for a crazy week recap (feel free to skim and skip I mainly just trying to keep everything recorded for myself)!

*On Thursday December 18th I took Will back into see our good friend Dr Allred (our pediatrician) because I had this crazy feeling Will was getting sick again. Let me back up by saying that Will seemed completely over his ear infection and pink eye but did however develop new symptoms of a cough and weird breathing at night. It started back on Tuesday but didn’t seem like much until Wednesday night I started to get worried. I take Will in and everything looks fine. Lungs are clear, ears good, and O2 intake normal. Humm that’s kinda weird. Oh well I guess I deserve one free Over-Reactive Mommy-Pass this year! So I take Will home and go about my day. *That night Mike and I have our final ward activity to complete before getting released from the glorious Activity Committee, Hallelujah!! Were done ☺

*That night we get zero sleep because Will’s breathing is really being weird again. He seemed to be getting enough oxygen but it just didn’t seem right.

*So on Friday December 19th I call my brother in law Dr Thompson bright and early and explain all the symptoms and concerns. Little do I know he isn’t even listening to me because he can hear Will through the phone and can already tell his is sick! Half asleep, Justin says that it sounds exactly like Croup and to take him in. Props to Justin! All that med school must have paid off if he can diagnose in his sleep! So I take him back in and yep, its croup. Apparently I should have described is symptoms as a seal like bark when he coughs and wheezy when he breathes. Add that to my mental note of symptom explanations! Anyway, we got him some meds and he seems much better. He still has a lingering cough but nothing much to worry about (or so I think at the moment).

*Saturday we pack up and head for Idaho Falls. On the way we stopped at my good friend from high school Genessa’s house in Pocatello and had such a good time catching up with her! Her little boy Bridger is a month older than Will but Will seemed like a tank next to him! It was awesome to compare and just have fun chatting about mommy hood. I love it, we are two crazy moms doing and buying things we swore we never would!

*Then we headed to my sisters house in Idaho Falls and played with the kids and relaxed. My Mom called us to tell us that my Grandma Fullmer wasn’t doing too good and that we should head right over to my Uncle Lances house. My Grandma got really sick a few weeks earlier (around the first week of Dec) and so they decided to move my Grandma in with my Aunt and Uncle until she could get feeling better. Then on Wednesday the 17th she got really sick and a million tests later they found out she had Liver Cancer that was really progressed and a bunch of other things that were sick in her body. They sent Grandma home with no treatment and pain meds and didn’t project how long she would make it. Things were going down hill fast and I was not prepared to see my Grandma sick. When we got there it was so crazy to experience the whole situation. My Grandma didn’t look like Grandma and was really out of it. It was crazy and horrible. She kept talking to someone not visible to us and kept saying, “I think I’ll just go now”. At least she wasn’t in much pain. By far the hardest part was watching my Mom. But Grandma decided to hang on and fight. She always was one stubborn woman!

*Sunday December 21st we headed up to Targhee to go skiing for our 4-year anniversary. I know can you believe it? 4 years already! My sister Aimee was gracious enough to watch Will for us (Grandma Bev was going to but needed to spend time with Great Grandma now) and so we stayed over night in the lodge and went on a sleigh ride dinner. It was fun but I got sick at dinner and couldn’t wait to get back. The trip was good but I was always thinking we were forgetting something and kept looking in the back seat for Will. I missed him sooo much! Lame I know, its only one night but I just wanted to snuggle and kiss him.

*Monday December 22 we drove back to Idaho Falls and were relieved to find Will happy and content back at Aimee’s. I think she had plenty of help watching Will with Jess, Nat, and Ty entertaining him. Will did amazing though and even slept through the night for my sister. What a good boy!! Mike and I headed to my parents to shovel their driveway and sidewalks off and it turned into a 2-hour project! The snowstorms in Idaho were soo crazy the whole time we were there! My mom called us in a panic and said they needed help immediately with Grandma Fullmer so we headed to my Uncle’s house. We helped move Grandma and said our final good byes and headed back to Aimee’s. On the way back to Aimee’s house we got stuck in the snow so we put the trailblazer in 4 low and got out just fine. But one problem, the trailblazer got stuck in 4 low. Ahhgg I hate that car! We headed to the airport to pick up my sister Amanda and tried everything to get the trailblazer out of 4 low. But to no avail! So we headed back to Aimee’s and had a relaxing evening just being together and playing games.

*Tuesday December 23rd we got up early and Mike took the Trailblazer in to get looked at. We got it back later to but they kept trying to say it was the transfer case that was blown (like 2-3 grand to fix) so they just ended up getting it out of 2 low and telling us not to put it in 4 wheel drive for fear of it slipping back into 2 low. Annoying but we figured it was worth driving back to SLC so we can have the dealership here look at it. We then helped Aimee get ready for our 1st annual Family Christmas Party. Brandi came with the kids and we had a lot of fun being together as a family. We had dinner, exchanged gifts, played a white elephant game, and the kiddos put on costumes and acted out the Christmas Story while Aunt Amanda read it. It was soo cute. Will slept through most of the evening though and was greatly missed as playing baby Jesus.

*Early Wednesday December 24th, Grandma Fullmer passed away. She finally found peace and decided to move on. She will be greatly missed here on earth but we find comfort in knowing where she is. We then decided to stay and spend Christmas in Idaho Falls so we didn’t have to drive back up for the funeral Saturday. In the evening we tracked Santa online and hurried to get everyone in bed. Natalie yelled at us a few times to get to bed because Santa was coming!!

*Thursday December 25th, Christmas! It was so fun to be with the kids and watch them open presents and see the pure happiness of the day. It was awesome. Santa even found Will at Thompson’s house this year! Grandpa and Grandma B came over and we had breakfast and relaxed. Then we spent some time at my parent’s house but it was pure chaos with Amanda, Brandi, and the kids there. Needless to say we didn’t stay too long. Mike headed out for half of our time there to help my dad unload some fuel so he enjoyed the breather. It was still fun though to be with family and have everyone together. When we got back to Aimee’s house we watched movies and then both Mike and I got really sick. We both had upset tummies and felt really nauseous. Yuck not fun!

*Friday December 26th we packed up and headed up to Teton Valley for Grandma Fullmer’s viewing. The roads were pretty good and we didn’t have much trouble not being able to go in 4-wheel drive. We all decided to stay the night in a hotel (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa B footing the bill) and it was soo much easier for everyone.

*Saturday December 27th we got up and spent the day at my Grandma’s funeral, burial, and luncheon. It was a rough day. Grandma was such an amazing lady and I am going to miss her soo much. It was so amazing all the people’s lives she has touched. She is the most sincere, caring, loving, genuine person I have and will ever know. We then headed home and had a long drive from Teton Valley back home. Especially not being able to go in 4-wheel drive. Malad sucked. It was scary. But we made it home!

*Few that’s a lot of stuff to write about. If you made it through I am impressed!

Gingerbread Houses with The Scottbergs

We had our first annual Scottberg (The Scott's + The Sandbergs) gingerbread house party this last Sunday and had soo much fun! We love getting together and getting to know each other better. Mike made Will's gingerbread house in about 5 min, he is the experienced pro with 12 years practice from his fam, and then we just had fun with family. Thanks for all the prep work Grandma Stacy!



BTW I have tons more pics but my lappy is having major issues thanks to a lovely virus so I am over trying to upload them. Arrggg!!!

Milton Head!

Ok, so this is by far and away my favorite picture of Will. I love it, and simply had to share it!

Busy Body

We have been so busy the last couple of weeks and I kept meaning to update my blog but it just hasn't happened yet! So here we go!

1. Nov 21 we visited one of our favorite nurses Sarah up at LDS Hospital and they were all shocked at how big Will is! No one would believe he was a preemie let alone got so sick :) It was so fun and brought back lots of memories. We were so jealous of the new NICU though. Every baby now has a private room with enough room for mom to sleep in too and the private rooms are seriously half the size of the old NICU where Will was crammed in with 8-12 babies. Not fair!

2. Ash and I went to another Jazz game on Nov 26 but had to watch our man Korver on the bench with a hurt wrist. He does look pretty amazing in a suit though! Then when I got home we had our scary guy situation, icky.

3. I cut bangs and hate them. I feel 12 again. I cant wait for them to grow out.

4. This year we spent Thanksgiving with Mike's family. I love traditional Thanksgivings! We got to open our Christmas presents early from Whitni since she will be on the mish for Christmas. She made me the most amazing purse that I love!!! She is so talented. She also made Mike a beanie and knitted something special for everyone in the fam. Soo fun!

5. Whitni had her farewell on Nov 30th and she did so amazing! She said she was nervous but gave the most amazing talk ever. We had soo much fun with family after and played werewolves again. I love that game!

6. Mikes Dad treated us kids to a fun night of Sushi for Whitni's last family dinner Monday night. I do have to say I am FINALLY coming around to Sushi (three cheers for Mike), Takashi is amazing!

7. On Dec 3 we took Whitni to the MTC in Provo. Its official Hermana Scott is in the building people! It was so fun to watch Whitni start this next step in her life and she is going to be the most amazing missionary ever. We will miss her but cant wait for her to experience the next year and a half. She can already pray in Spanish and can almost bear her testimony too and she hasn't even been in the MTC for a week! Amazing huh?

8. That same night Mike and I went with Ashley and Clark to another Jazz game. Have I mentioned we LOVE our Jazz? Despite the fact that we lost and half the team is benched because of injuries, we had so much fun! It was such a good game and we even got free Jazz beanies that are super cute. Yay, go jazz go!

9. Thursday the 4th we took a last minute family trip up to Park City and stayed a night at the Stein Erickson Lodge. It was sooo nice and the perfect little getaway. Oops though, I forgot to take pics until I was driving away! Thanks honey it was perfect!

10. Friday December 5th our house was bombarded by the Thompson fam and my parents for the weekend. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I absolutely love having my family come down and we had a very busy weekend together. We started out by driving to Heber and riding on the Polar Express that evening. It was so fun to watch the kids react to everything. We got to drive the the North Pole, have a visit from Santa, munch on cookies and hot cocoa, and sing Christmas carols. It was the perfect way to really get in the Christmas spirit. Will was a handful though and didn't want to sit down so we had to stand at the back of the train and hold him for most of the trip.

11. Saturday we headed to Gardner Village and enjoyed the sunny and warm weather while we wandered around. My sister Brandi and the kids joined us and it was crazy with all the kiddos running around! It was fun :) The kids got candy canes from Santa and Mrs Claus and a special gift from Grandpa and Grandma. Then we relaxed at my house for a while before heading to dinner at The Garden before strolling through Temple Square to look at the lights. Luckily it wasn't too cold and everyone was bundled up pretty good. We then walked across the street and headed up to Mike's office for hot cocoa and an amazing view of downtown. His office is on the 23rd floor and has the best views of downtown,Temple Square, and the Capital. It was a perfect way to end the day!

12. In the middle of the night Will started acting really weird and wouldn't sleep and wouldn't stop being fussy. Naturally I freaked out and all the emotions of Will getting sick again attacked. Luckily I have a really calm hubby and we were lucky enough to have Dr Thompson in the guest bedroom and realized he was just getting sick with a really bad cold. I guess its the combination of his flu shot Friday, teething (oh yeah he got is first tooth a few weeks ago!), Mike and family being sick, being in the cold, and having his schedule all mixed up that I guess it was bound to happen. Luckily he is acting much more normal despite the added sore throat and cough, along with boogie eyes now too. Welcome to winter mommies!

13. Sunday we slacked and just spent time being together. Mike was good and went to church to teach his lesson and I was good and went to my scout meeting but other than that we didn't do much. The kids were cute and wanted to help Mike make dinner (he makes the best chicken marsala ever) and the rest of us just took turns with Will. Thank goodness for family :) Then sadly everyone had to leave except for Grandma. Thanks guys for such a fun time!

14. Monday Dec 8th my Mom was kind enough to watch Will all day despite him still being sick. I headed back to my old work for the day and helped Ashley out at her store for the big semi-annual sale. It was soo much fun and her store did amazing! It was fun to see old customers that happened to come in from my store and see old bosses and everything. I did miss my little guy soo much and it really helped confirm that I did the right thing to stay home and be a mommy. I love him soo much! Thanks again Grandma for being so brave! Will had a blast!

15. Early Tuesday morning Grandma took off for home to take Great Grandma to the hospital. Great Grandma (my grandma) is really struggling since the passing of Great Grandpa (right before Will came) and we just pray she will be comforted and not in pain. We love her soo much and hate to see her sick.

16. Tuesday afternoon I had my first Den Meeting with the Wolves. I can already tell we have our hands full but the boys are so much fun! To sum it up they are 8 year old boys, and all that it encompasses, but I can tell its going to be a lot of fun. I have a lot of ideas already and cant wait to put some of my talents to good use. Yay, finally a calling I am excited for!

17. Finally today I just got back from taking Will to the Doctor to check out whats going on with him. I found out he has pink eye and the start of an ear infection. Yikes! I was glad I decided to take him in before it got bad. Our Doctor was out of the office so we ended up going to another one that we had seen in the PICU, she was so impressed with how big Will is. She also said that after all Will has been through this was a walk in the park :) Yay, at least we caught it early so its less painful for little Will.

That pretty much sums it up! I told you we have been busy! If you made it through all of this your amazing, we love you, and enjoy the pics!

Time to buy a gun

Today I am thankful for safety. Let me explain why:

Last night seemed like any other normal night and nothing seemed out of place or off. I was lucky enough to have another girls night with Ash and we headed to grab diner and a Jazz game and had a blast! I got home around 10:15pm and started to tell Mike about the game. Bella was running around like crazy and so I figured she must have to go potty. I open the door and let her and she B-lines straight to the back of yard to the fence and starts going CRAZY. She is barking and growling and doing her best attempt at sounding scary. Let me step back and preface that Bella is not a yappy dog, she only barks like that when someone is on the other side of the fence. I immediately start yelling at her to stop and to come back in and look around to see if my neighbor is out or what could be causing Bella to act this way. Then I notice something strange. On the other side of our fence (not in our yard) I see what looks like the outline of someone standing there, facing me, looking at me, just an arm lengths from our fence.

I immediately get that gut dropping feeling that something isn't right. Meanwhile Bella is still going crazy barking right where I see this figure. I turn and yell at Mike (who luckily was right there in the great room) to get up because I think someone is there. Mike jumps up looks out and see two eyes reflecting back at him, exactly where I can see the figure and where Bella continues to go crazy. We yell at Bella to come in and she slowly starts backing away still growling and doing her best to protect us.

Because of how our porch is, the light reflects off of the awning and casts a shadow directly where this person was standing. Mike tells me to grab a flashlight and we head back out on the stairs. I still see the figure standing there, and Mike still sees the eyes reflecting back at him. Because our yard is pretty big the flashlight didn't really do that good of a job illuminating this guy standing there. Mike continues to shine it on him and yells "Hey" and finally the guy turns and takes off down the fence line.

I immediately call 911 and we lock all the doors and the realization of the situation starts to set in. I start shaking uncontrollably but manage to keep my emotions in check because I realize Mike needs be focused on protecting us not me crying.

We see someone approaching the front yard and Bella starts to go crazy but we realize its a Cop (so much for the element of surprise) and they start searching the area. They check our neighbors yard and the empty field behind our fence and even down the the trax station and don't find anything out of the ordinary. They thank goodness were very thorough and finally came in to get our story. They tell us to be safe, keep the doors locked, and call again if we ever see anything again.

We immediately say a prayer and check all the doors and windows again to make sure everything is locked. We call Mikes brother Rogan and he heads up to stay the night with us. Then everything really sets in.

Not only was this guy standing just behind our fence, he continued to stand there for a REALLY LONG TIME. That is the part that scars me the most is how un-phased he seemed by us potentially seeing him. He just stayed there. Watching. Until Mike yelled then he decided to move. That really makes us question what his motives were. He is definitely a pretty bold guy. Nothing makes sense in the first place of why he would even be standing there. If by chance he wanted to cut through the field, he would have used the gravel road, not struggle through the weeds and grass clippings behind every one's fences. Or if was drunk or just doing something sketchy he would have bolted when Bella started going crazy.

I could go on and on at how scary it was but its time to just be brave and strong and do everything we can to protect our family and little Will. We installed three more lights in our backyard and are heading off today to buy a gun. I am so thankful for the power of the priesthood and I know that it is because of the blessing Mike gave on our house when we moved in that prevented the intruder, or whatever it was, from being able to cross into our yard.

So fair warning to everyone, if you plan on playing any jokes on us be prepared to get shot!

Team Jacob

No haven't switched to Team Jacob but I do have a fun new game to share with everyone! It is called Werewolves and it is seriously the funnest game ever! It is like Murder in the Dark but way more fun and super easy to play. You need a minimum of 8 people and can go all the way up to 26! Mike bought the game a few months ago but we struggled planning a night to get together with everyone. So for his birthday (back on Halloween) we planned a surprise party the day after his birthday and got everyone together. It was so awesome that he had no clue what we had planned! Mike usually figures out what I am planning and this year kept finding the presents I had got him so he got everything a month early. By the time his birthday came around he wasnt expecting anything. We had so much fun surprising him and even more fun playing Werewolves. It is the easiest game to play but again so much fun! Thanks again guys for coming and we need to get together again soon! Those of you who haven't heard of it, go buy it, you will LOVE it!

Wolfmother

For 11 months Jamie and I have been just like Milton from Officespace. We were on the activities committee but the only the bishop and us knew that. Thus we had a calling but no responsibility. It was a thing of beauty. People would ask us about the upcoming activity and we would share all the details from the recent flyer as if we knew something they didn't. We would be congratulated for work we didn't do and never had to report to anyone. It was like being a CFO, my dreams had come true!

Well as we all know all good things come to an end. The Christmas party was upon us and the committee leaders asked who was on the committee. The dream came to an end and we were once again given responsibility. We were ok with this because Jamie learned early on to volunteer for the easy things (we design flyers REALLY well). We were going to make it through this activity with minimal work. Unfortunately the bishop had other plans (why in the world did we go to church for 5 weeks straight?).

So, to the point of this post, Jamie and I have new callings. Jamie is the esteemed den mother. I am the new Gospel Essential teacher. It is a thing of beauty. We are really excited for the new callings.

Yes, yes you do

Why yes, yes you do dazzle me! I am so happy to report that I was NOT disappointed in Twilight :) I loved it! I was worried because with how obsessed I was getting I felt bound to be let down but all I can say is it is such an awesome movie. There were so many little things I loved and thought they did a great job keeping close to the book. My favorite parts were definitely when the Cullen's enter the cafeteria for the first time, when Bella and Edward walk into school together the first time, and of course who didn't love the first kiss! I was surprised at the humor in the movie and thought it definitely made it even better. I thought the movie was cast really really well (with exception to Rose) and can't wait to watch it again! Some things were kinda cheesy (Edward in the sun, and when he smells Bella for the first time) but what can you expect :) We had so much fun at the midnight showing and were glad that we were definitely not the craziest fans out there!

And the clock ticks on........

Ahhhh! I am seriously going crazy today waiting for Twilight to open. I have never in my entire life been sooo obsessed with a movie/book in my life. The closer it gets the more obsessed I seem to be getting. I started Twilight again, yes its the third time, and finished the Midnight Sun partial draft in 2 days. I keep watching the trailer and listening to the soundtrack all day today. I have been an Internet junkie more than usual and have searched Youtube and Hulu to watch every clip and interview out there. My day has been very productive :)I am starting to wonder if I need help? While pondering that thought I wait, in my Twilight shirt, watching the clock...............

Grow Up Mom and Dad

The other night Will was so sleepy and was being such a little cutie we had to post this video. He had a stuffy nose so we were using this nasal aspirator to suck out his boogies and he was just being so silly. I think deep down he was just thinking how weird his parents are.

Did you get yours?

Hey guys so I am going to set my profile to private Sunday so let me know if you haven't got your invite. Post me your email address or email me at jamie.leigh.21@gmail.com.

This is me and my nephew Ty at Grandma Bev's Halloween Party! It was so much fun! We love how similar Will is to Ty and can't wait for all the trouble they are going to get in :)

My Little Rock Star

I am so glad winter is coming. I love the changing seasons and having an excuse to stay inside and read a good book (although its not as easy anymore :). Will looks so grown up in his little hat, I love it! I am so in love with him!!

Better the 2nd Time

PS I promise I didn't wake up at 3am just to watch the trailer........or did I?

Safety Dance

We too have decided to go private with our blog. We have had many friends go private lately and it got us thinking about the risks associated with blogging. Click here to see KSL's report on the dangers of blogging.

So we know its a pain but we too feel it is necessary to be safe and go private. If you would still like to view our blog please message me or send me your email address to my new email at jamie.leigh.21@gmail.com. I am trying to kill two birds here and update my contacts list so that's why I am requesting you send your email to my new one (even if you think Mike or I have it).

Ideal

As Michol and I look back over the past 6 months, we would definitely say a lot of situations could be considered less than ideal. Will coming early was such a shock and all that he went through was such a crazy experience. In hind sight though we are so grateful for the strength we gained as a little family. Not a day goes by that we are not thankful to be together and be supported by such great friends and family. We seriously love you guys!

We cant believe Will is already 6 months old! He is such a strong little man and is growing up so fast. He is our little tank and we love every minute of being his parents. We had a check up on Tuesday and our Doctor was so happy he didn't see us in between his 4 month check up to now, GOOD JOB WILL! Not only did he make it through Sept without any hospital stays but Oct too, keep it going little guy!

Will is doing sooo amazing though and I just have to brag a little bit. That's what these blogs are all about right? Will is right on track with his development and is still showing no effects from being in the hospital for a month and a 1/2 of his life. He can roll over (when he wants too, such a stubborn little kid), and scoots around on his tummy to get his toys, but mainly just enjoys standing. We are working on balance right now because his little head usually tips him over when sitting or standing. He still LOVES baby food and so far only refuses pea's and shows no signs of food allergies. Since we started baby food he has slept through the night and usually wakes up with a big smile on his face. I love it!

The ideal weight for Will's age is 17.7 lbs and height is 26.5 inches. Will is coming in strong at 20.56 lbs and 28.25 inches! The interesting part is that for his length the ideal weight is 20.5 lbs. So Will is 101% of his ideal weight for height. Crazy huh? I guess I didn't need a Doctor to tell me how IDEAL our little tank was, I already knew :) He also had a bunch of shots and as usual only cried for about 30 seconds and then was over it. It amazes me how resilient he is.



If you sent me your address be watching your mailbox for something fun! And there are 2 sides so be sure you flip it over and look on the back :)

That Mom

Yep I am officially "THAT" Mom!

I have definitely caught the Mommy bug. I just had to post some cute pics of Will in his Giraffe costume! He looks so adorable :) I am finding myself doing more and more things lately that I SWORE I would never do as a Mommy. I am posting pics of Halloween costumes, I have bought a swing, and I even broke down and got one of those those stupid shopping cart cover things the other day. I know, I know, lame! At least the shopping cart cover is black with skulls on it. (less lame anyone?) Next thing you know I will be posting about the cool new kid leash I got for Will (ya know those back pack things that parents strap on their kids and drag them around on). Oh well, count me in I guess!

I have so much to catch up since I was in IF! Will and I had such a blast! We are also happy to report that Mike survived his "fun" work trip to Chicago! Be watching for new posts, I will try not bombard you all at once :)

Abominable Snowman

You might be wondering what Will and I do all day now that things are finally normal. My days usually consist of trying to find something to do to entertain both Will and I. This is what I came up with the other day:I love it! I was actually going through Will's emergency kit and seeing what still fits and both Mike and I couldn't stop laughing at this! Will's puffy suit is actually one of the most practical gifts ever but we couldn't help feeling like we were torturing the poor kid. Does the movie The Christmas Story come to anyone else's mind? Man I love being a Mom!

Boating

A few weeks ago we braved taking Will boating for his first time. He did amazing! We thought for sure he would sleep the whole time but no not this little boy! He just sat wide eyed the whole time looking around. It was so fun. He fought the life jacket in the beginning but soon relaxed and forgot he was even wearing it. We cant wait for next summer!

The Korver Cheer Squad

It is my best friend Ashley's birthday this week and I was able to surprise her last Thursday with Jazz tickets! Let me preface by saying what a HUGE Jazz fan Ashley is. She knows all the players by name (even the newbies), stats (old and new), and any miscellaneous info you would ever need to know. Seriously, she has a big coffee table book full of Jazz info and she has it memorized from front to back. It's amazing!

We both also share a love for Kyle Korver! Go #26!!! If you don't know who Korver is your definitely missing out! The Jazz traded back in December and Utah has been in love with Korver ever since. He is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA and not to mention kinda HOT! We were yelling like crazy the whole game and snapping pics right and left of Korver and we thought other players too. We did manage to get a few of Shaq from the opposing Suns which was pretty cool. It wasn't until the end when we asked the guy behind us to snap our pic did we realize how obvious our obsession was. He said "Sure, I would love to get a pic of the Korver Cheer Squad"! Haha it was classic :) Love ya Ash! Thanks for being such a good friend!

So that's our new official title "The Korver Cheer Squad". Let us know if you want to join!

Not Again!

Hey everyone, I promise this is the last time I will ask for addresses. Okay probably not but I have found so many old friends on here and I need to get things updated! Email me at jamie_leigh_21@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Really?

I know, crazy huh? It started raining/snowing last night and this is what we woke up to today! At first I was sad because I feel like we didn't even have a summer but the more it keeps snowing today the happier I get :) I am so excited for ski season this year and already have my ski's out ready to get tuned up! Last year was torture because I was preggers and couldn't ski, so naturally Utah had the best ski season ever. Yay! I love winter! What's your favorite part about winter?

Bella and her Brother

When I first got pregnant we were concerned about how our spoiled Lola Bella would react to a baby brother in her little world. When we adopted her they told us she was not good around small kids so we were unsure how she was going to adapt. When Will was born we brought home his clothes everyday and let Bella sniff them to try to get her used to the idea. After 3 weeks of her seeming completely disinterested we hoped for the best! We both agreed if she was naughty we would give her up :( Let me sum up how her life is now:

She LOVES her baby brother soooo much! She sits patiently while Will kicks and pulls at her and seems to enjoy every second of it. She is so protective of him and always has to be right by him. When Will starts crying she always rushes in to see whats wrong and gets really mad at us if we are unable to consul him quickly. If he is in his crib she stands guard right in front as if to say "You better not hurt my brother, arrrggggg". It is so adorable. She is such a good doggie!

About a month ago she stole a little toy stuffed animal off of Will's baby papasan chair and quickly hid it so we couldn't find it. Let me back up by explaining that all the toys we give Bella she DEMOLISHES in just a few hours, seriously. Its so funny because the only toys that last are the ugly industrial ones for big dogs. So when we found that Will's was missing we figured Bella had devoured it and didn't think much about it.

When we were playing one night she was running around jumping all over the place and bolted under the bed. Mike and I looked at each other confused..........then Bella resurfaced with the stuffed animal in her mouth. The amazing part was that it was still in one piece! Bella is so proud of her "baby" and takes it everywhere. It is cute because when I take Will from room to room I tell her to get her baby too and she does! Its so sweet. It amazes us most that it is still in one piece! How can you not love this pic, Bella with her Baby!!!!!

There's No Place Like Home

Yep, you guessed it! I am heading home to Idaho Falls in a few weeks. I am so excited. I love getting to spend time with my family and being reminded how awesome they are. My sister FINALLY moved back a few months ago so I get to hang out with my awesome nieces and nephew again I have missed them so much! I DID miss my Aimee and Justin too, just a little, until I found out they bought BYU season football tickets upon their return..........GO UTES! Ha ha just kidding guys I love you even if you are cheering for the wrong team.

I am trying to plan a little more in advance than last time so I can actually meet up with some old friends so let me know if you want to meet up! I am planning to be in IF from Oct 24-30 and don't have much planned yet. Email me with your info if you are interested and we will plan something, jamie_leigh_21@hotmail.com. I will be staying at my sisters the 24 and 25 and then will be at my Mom's there after.

Yay, I cant wait to see you guys!

Man Tag

1. Where did you meet? In Provo which is funny because neither one of us were going to BYU. I was actually set up with his best friend Dave and Mike was tagging along with my roommate (his cousin). As soon as they walked in I saw Mike and thought "Oh I hope he is my date!" It sounds cliche but from the beginning I knew something was different.

2. How long did you date before you were married? Engaged after 4 months, Married at 7 months.

3. How long have you been married? 4 years in December

4. What does he do that surprises you? Everything! He knows so much about everything and something always comes up that I didn't know before.

5. What is your favorite feature of his? His amazing smile. I am a sucker for those cute little dimples!

6. What is your favorite quality of his? He is always thinking outside the box and working for something new. I love it! I joke that he is ADD but I love that he is constantly coming up with fun business ideas and is not afraid to think differently. My fav is still the daddy long leg business called "Who's Your Daddy". Love ya babe!

7. Does he have a Nickname for you? I cant think of any

8. What is his favorite color? I am a horrible wifey for not knowing this......Mike what is it?

9. What is his Favorite food? Sushi and fondant cake's, not together.....well maybe together :)

10. What is his favorite sport? Lacrosse and Jazz games, Go Jazz Go

11. When and where was your first kiss? Ha, Mike loves this one because I kissed him first and he loves telling everyone. It was at my fabulous apartment in Provo. After the awkwardness of watching 3 movies and wanting to kiss each other through all 3, I decided to just go for it. Seriously how many more movies could I sit through with my hot little man next to me! Mike was so cute because he had just got home from the mish and was all apologetic because he hadn't kissed a girl for a while and didn't know if he was doing it right. Needless to say I gave him lots of practice :)

12. Favorite thing to do as a couple? Travel, hike, and cuddle up and watch a movie.

13. Do yo have any Children? Our amazing little boy Will 5 months old, and our adorable doggie Lola Bella 4 years

14. Does he have a hidden talent? He is an amazing writer. He seriously should write a book.

15. How old is he? Soon to be 27 on Halloween

16. Who said I love you first? Me. I knew but it took Mike a while to admit it. Nothing like telling someone you love them and not hearing it back for a while...........

17. What is his favorite type of music? He is a total hard rock junkie, picture a ratty old Led Zeppelin shirt and an electric guitar, yep that's Mike! Surprising huh?

18. What do you admire most about him? He can have a conversation with anyone. Seriously anyone. I laugh when I pick him up from the airport and he introduces me to his new friend from the flight.

19. Do you think he will read this? Of course he loves our blog!

I tag anyone that takes the time to read this!

I Did It!

Yay! Will did it! He made it through the whole month of September without any hospital stays. It was overall a pretty normal month (note that there are no "" around normal this time:) and we look forward to many more non-eventful months just like them. We cant help but take a big breath of relief now that Will finally broke the routine. That's gotta count for something!

We are so thankful that Will was so strong throughout everything. He is seriously one tough little boy. I am amazed when I stop and think about everything that has happened in the past 5 months. It has been the hardest thing I have ever been put through. Most of all I cant believe he is still a happy baby! I am so in love with his smile (thanks daddy), his adorable birth mark above his bum, his chubby legs, his big hands and feet, his round little head, his blue eyes (thanks grandpa), and his determination in ALL things. What a handsome little man!

The Final Countdown

Before you start reading this, scroll down so that the music starts. It will make you laugh!

I am so anxious to get through today. I cant believe how close Will is. I know he is a tough little man and is going to make it, one way or another. I wake up everyday thankful to be Will's Mom and glad he is MY little boy. I always new I wanted to be a Mom but I had no idea how much it changes you. Every aspect of my life is different now. Not just my daily routine but my whole outlook on life is different, its way BETTER! It is amazing to experience and I wouldn't change a thing over the past 5 months. The good, the bad, and the ugly have all made us what we are today, STRONG. We are much closer as a family and realize how lucky we are to be together. Not a day goes by that we aren't thankful to have Will here.

48 hours

We are anxiously awaiting the October 1st to finally get here. If Will makes it through the next 48 hours it will be the first month of his life WITHOUT any hospital stays. We are keeping are fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

I have been experiencing some not so fun dreams the past week and hope that they go away soon. I keep having the same dream, in one way or another, that Will is sick again and in the hospital. No matter how hard I try I cannot get to my little boy and be with him. I keep getting lost, confused, or distracted in some way or another. The elevator will not stop on floor 4 where Will is at and I cant find the stairs. Everyone I come in contact with goes out of their way to be mean and refuse to help me. I wake up sobbing every time and cry even thinking about them.

I am not sure why I keep having this dream and hope its not a sign of things to come. Maybe its to prepare me to be strong, or to remind me how blessed I am. I am not sure which one. But either way sleep is not looking so good lately.

One Small Correction

We got Will's birth certificate the other day in the mail and I just had to laugh. Our little Will was actually born at 6lbs 2oz. It's funny because right after Will was born Mike swore it was 6lbs 6oz and I thought I heard 6lbs 2oz. Stressed and worried we assumed it was 6lbs 6oz and went on with life. I know its such a small difference but it is crazy to think about especially now that Will is getting so big! In the pic he is in a Preemie diaper and its huge on him, now he is in a size 3 diaper! I am so thankful to have such a big healthy boy! He may be a tank now but he sure is a cutie!

Oprah's New Best Friend

I have exciting news! It looks like my sister-in-law Whitni is heading to the South Chicago Mission and Spanish speaking! We are so excited for all of the fun new experiences Whit is going to have and the impact she will have in her area. Whitni is such an amazing person and has a special way of touching every one's hearts. I know there is someone just waiting for her to help them change their life. Whitni has so many wonderful qualities about her that you can't help but adore her. She is the most loving and sincere person I have ever known and has a way of making everyone in her presence relax and be themselves. She is never judgemental, hurtful, or gossipy and I love all these things about her! Whitni is also the best at making conversation and handling those incredibly awkward social situations so she is well prepared for the mish.

Whitni leaves for the MTC on December 3rd and we will miss her so much. We will miss her amazing cooking, her amazing vegan cupcakes, her crafty expertise, her contagious laugh, and everything about her. Although we will miss her we are so excited for Whitni to share the gospel and grow in so many different ways. I am so glad its only for a year and a half though, I am going to miss my personal stylist most of all! I am happy to report that Whitni will NOT be a frumpy Sister Missionary! She will definitely add a little bit of personality to her area. We love you Whitni and are so proud of you and your choices in life that have lead you to this next phase of your life. You are going to do great!

CHUNKO!

We cannot believe how much Will is growing! I am really starting to wonder were our little baby went. At our final lab draw yesterday the Nurse said, "Oh what a cutie! How old is he? A year?" Okay seriously he is getting big but not that big crazy lady. As annoying as it is, I am so thankful for such a strong and big boy we have on our hands. He is so tough and I would much rather have a big healthy boy to keep me busy! Labs went good and Will's white count is FINALLY in the normal range. That means his body has bounced back from all the med's and sickness and he should be done with hospitals and labs for a while. Will also had his hearing rechecked yesterday and we are happy to report he passed! So everything appears to be normal and on track. We are so excited to have things be "normal" again.


Will is changing so fast and its hard for me to keep up! He still hates tummy time but is now rolling over and is discovering how fun it is to stand (with our help) and check out everything. He has been on solids now for 3 weeks (don't worry our Doc said its okay :) and boy can the little guy eat! He loves butternut squash, banana's, and avocado's but isn't a big fan of carrots or surprisingly rice cereal. I spend most of my day trying to entertain Will as he has inherited Mike's A.D.D. It is so funny the things I come up with. Will's latest fav is lying under the bunk bed and looking up at the 80's retro mattress. Its awesome! It keeps Will busy for a whole 15 minutes! Will has also started teething. He started pretty much the day after his PICC was removed. Crazy but true. He is doing pretty good so far though, what a tough little guy! I am so glad things appear to be over and we can finally move on with "normal" life. I still am kind of living in fear but am hopeful Will is done. Seriously how much more can the little guy go though. He is such a stud and makes me laugh every day. I love being a Mom and am so in love with my little boy!

Little Will

Here is a video I put together of some of my favorite pics of Will from the last 4 months. It is crazy when we stop and think about everything he has been through so far in his short life. I hope this helps capture some of our emotions throughout all Will's struggles. Be sure you stop our music at the bottom left of our blog before you start the video.

Don't Jinx It

So I am NOT going to repeat my same mistake as last time and say how healthy little Will is. We had our follow up with Infectious Disease yesterday and they said everything is looking good! They want to redo labs in a few weeks to make sure his white count continues to go up (just a precaution) and also suggest we have Will's hearing rechecked. Not only is there a possibility of fluid build up from all the meds and fluids he has been given so far in his short little life, but also the one antibiotic's (Gentamicin) can cause long term hearing problems. We are staying optimistic though and just happy to have William............you know the thing I cant say right now :) They removed the PICC line and this makes both Will and Mom very happy. Finally (after waiting 24 hours after removal) Will gets to have normal baths again! He is such a tough little guy and I am amazed every day at his determination to get better. If your curious like me about what exactly a PICC line is I took a pic to show everyone. It is really amazing to see what it is exactly and I am so grateful for the advancements in medicine today. I am also posting the video of the PICC removal. This time when we left Primary's we made sure to have a little talk with Will and asked him to wait a while before heading back to flirt with the nurses. Hopefully he listens this time! The past 4 months have flown by and Will is getting so big. I am wondering where my little baby boy went!

Thanksgiving in August?

After looking back over my last few posts, I have decided enough of the Debbie Downer here. Sorry everyone! Instead of being so concerned about what goes wrong I NEED to focus on the positive. This week has been a really good week and I am so thankful when things stay non eventful! On Tuesday we were instructed to stop Will's meds due to his constantly low white count and are optimistic because this also means they are confident they have killed all the yuckies! We just have to flush the PICC line once a day and then hopefully at our follow up with Infectious Disease next Tuesday they will remove the line and send us on our way.

I am so lucky to have little William in my life and he has really showed me the important things in life. I have experienced so many raw emotions over the last 4 months and it has truly made me such a stronger person. I cannot imagine going through this without Michol and I am so glad life led us to each other. Looking back on different situations in life I can truly say the man upstairs was preparing me for Mike. Making sure I had to go through some tough things to truly appreciate such an amazing guy. Mike always has way too much to deal with and yet always seems to put our little family first. It amazes me every day.

Not to get all churchy but I have to express my gratitude for the guidance we have both received through all of Will's struggles. I am so unbelievable grateful for the priesthood and the true power that it can have. It has been so invaluable in little Will's life so far. It not only aided in keeping Will strong but it showed us the signs when he was getting sick both times. All the Doctors sat back in amazement at how fast "we" caught things and I know there was something more powerful helping us protect William. It scares me to think of what could have happened without the priesthood in our home. Every day I thank Heavenly Father for trusting us with William and giving us the opportunity to be his parents. I cant imagine anything more important to do in my life! Sorry y'all, you know I get irritated with people that always talk churchy but I just had to share a little with everyone.

Most of all thank you to YOU! If you are reading this you are a true friend and your love and support is more than words can ever express. We know we didn't always handle things perfect the last 4 months and are sure we offended some people but we just had to worry about us. Thanks for sticking it out with us. We love you and need you in our lives!

Why not make a quick stop at Primary's?

As if my day wasn't exciting enough on Friday, it only got better at Will's doctor appointment. As our Doctor went through all the basics and did his usual poking and prodding, we discussed any new concerns with little Will's health.
Let me back up and explain a little of what has been happening with Will. Last week Will started having some really strange and scary breathing episodes. He will be breathing fine and then all of a sudden he starts sucking in air really hard and fast (kinda like when they have been crying for a long time and are trying to catch their breath). Being kinda used to scary stuff by now I watch and observe Will and see that he really isn't struggling for air (not turning blue etc) but I call anyway and explain everything. They tell me to continue watching and if it gets worse to bring him back in asap. He continued to do this strange breathing once or twice a day but it didn't seem to be getting a lot worse. So I wait it out until our appointment Friday.

So at our appointment I again reiterate my concerns with William's breathing. With thorough discussion Doctor Allred decides it probably wouldn't hurt to do a chest x ray to check the placement of Will's PICC line. At this point I am pretty calm and not too worried about things. So I immediately head downstairs to the lab. The way they do a chest x ray on a awake baby is much harder than when he is sedated and drugged up. It is well worth explaining so you can understand my roller coaster of emotions. Stay with me people!

They have this little cart thing with a wood slab cut with a round hole with a little bicycle seat in the middle for the kids to "sit" on (probably not as difficult with an older child than with a baby). So I place Will on the little seat and try to sit him up as upright as possible. Then there are curved plastic pieces that they try to wrap around his body from each side and clip into place. Meanwhile I am trying to hold his arms above his head, support his head, and keep my arms out of x ray all at the same time. Sounds easy right?! The tech kept pushing his little body around and giving him nice plastic burns and pinches from trying to position the pieces correctly. The clips kept popping out of place and his PICC line arm is so scrunched against the plastic things he is screaming. So she finally gets the x ray and I head back upstairs slightly traumatized.

Doctor Allred pulls up the x ray and we check things out. I am getting pretty knowledgeable and can tell something just isn't right with the placement. Doctor Allred explains it looks a little "off" and says we might need to head up to Primary's and have them pull the PICC out a little. At this point I am starting to get a little worried but realize it probably isn't a big deal. So I wait while Doctor Allred calls up to Primary's. He gets the specialist on the phone and has him pull up the x ray. I am close enough to Doctor Allred's office that I can hear the whole conversation on speaker phone.

The specialist says things definitely don't look right and it appears the PICC has migrated in (which apparently never happens, we are really doing good with statistics lately) into the right atrium of William's heart and is pushing against the wall of his heart. So here is where I start to panic a bit. Then the specialist proceeds to say that it can severely damage the wall if not puncture it altogether. Ok so now I am really freaking out. Surprisingly still able to fight back tears though. The specialist says to repeat the x ray this time with his arms to his sides since this is normally how PICC placement is checked (not with arms above). So we head downstairs again.

This next x ray was by far much worse the second time around in the little contraption thing. Trying to pin his arms down and keep him sitting up means his little face and nose gets smushed into the front of the thing. Again the clips wont hold the plastic things in place and Will gets even more fun plastic burns and pinches. The tech decides to switch out the plastic things for a bigger size and we attempt again. Keep in mind the whole time Will is SCREAMING. We try again and in our struggles one of the plastic things pops off and hits the floor sending a dozen pieces flying everywhere. At this point I grab Will and say that's enough, there has to be another way to get this x ray. The tech decides to lay him down and get a nurse to help hold his arms down (why didn't we try this earlier) and surprise, it works perfectly. So we head back upstairs.

I wait while Doctor Allred tends to other patients and try to keep it together (as I am sure he is getting tired of seeing me have a meltdown every time we come in). We pull up the new x ray and get the specialist on the phone to check it out as well. To my relief, false alarm!! Everything looks good with the placement when the correct position is used for the x ray (thanks for the scare little techy). So all in all things are ok and no need to head to Primary's. We are still unsure what Will's new breathing is being caused by but are watching closely to keep him safe. Man I cant wait for things to be "normal".

Home Health 101

Ok so let me vent a little of my weeks frustration with the wonderful folks at Home Health. Here is how my week went down. Monday was the normal day for labs to be drawn and Will's PICC dressing to be changed. It was no big surprise when our Nurse called to say she would be late again. Not really a surprise since every week she is at LEAST 15-30 min late. She then called back to say she would not be able to make it since her car broke down. Ok I'll give her that one. So instead she sent another wonderful Nurse. This Nurse was at least way more efficient in drawing labs (its bad when we can pick apart everything they do wrong) but had some major difficulties changing the PICC dressing. Granted she doesn't usually work with Pediatrics but she left without the dressing even being pushed down and adhering to Will's little arm. Humm, so if I remember correctly that's a BAD thing in lieu of preventing air/germs/icky stuff from getting sent straight into Will's body and getting pumped all throughout him. Call me crazy but I just wasn't going to let this fly. I tape it down and wrap it up and called our normal Nurse first thing Tuesday morning (per her instructions if there were any problems with the dressing change). She of course didn't answer so I left her a message. My amazing nursing skills were holding up pretty well so I wait patiently for her to call me back. Finally Wednesday afternoon she calls me and lets me know she will come Thursday between 1030-1100am. I ask her if I should call the scheduling department and she says no, she will just take care of it. Ok no biggie, whats another day right? So we wait. And wait. And why not wait some more. With our nurses track record I plan on her being late so by the time 1130am rolls around I am a little annoyed. I call her up and she politely tells me she forgot and will not be able to make it. So now I am really getting upset. She explains that she will have the Nurse Friday come and change it. Ok so really, whats ANOTHER day? I told her Will had a check up at 2 so they needed be here in the morning. So this morning I wake up and wait, and wait, and wait. At 1100am I wise up and decided to call scheduling and double check things. To my surprise a Nurse WAS scheduling to come see us (yeah for something being done right) and they paged the Nurse to have her call me. I was a little less than ecstatic when Nurse #2 (the incompetent dressing change one) calls me back. She then proceeds to tell me to pretty much just put a band aid on it, wrap it up, and wait till Monday. Easy for her to say right? It's not her little baby that's sick. So instead of arguing to have her come and "attempt" another dressing change, I hang up and bust into tears. Seriously what are these people thinking? As if things aren't hard enough lets throw this in the mix too. It is frustrating that people cant just do their job. Ya know the job we are paying them to do. So Mike is going to "take care of things" and hopefully chew some peoples butts out along the way. Until the Will and I wait, trying to be patient.

Tech Savvy, or not

Ok so if you are looking at our blog before Mike gets a chance to fix my booboo's sorry. I thought I had our page updated and looking cute but I somehow messed things up a bit! Hehe, good thing for brainy husbands.


Oh and if your looking at our blog and it looks perfect, disregard the above note. I did it perfect in the first place :)

Cabin Fever

The toughest part about Will's IV therapy PICC line is our limited contact with the outside world. We are instructed to stay away from places like the grocery store, anywhere with lots of kids, and church (wohoo) in order to be as cautious as we can for little Will. As you can imagine this results in some intense cabin fever for BOTH me and Will. Luckily we have amazing friends to help get us out of the house and keep us sane! Last weekend we headed up to the Uinta's for some great fishing and fun. We love you Clark and Ashley!

Party On Rock Star

Last Friday was Aunt Whitni's fabulous 21st birthday! We had so much fun watching her open gifts and eating her amazing strawberry shortcake. We had a sleep over and got ready to go boating. Mike was generous enough to stay behind with Will (I think a little bit of guilt from the PS3 purchase the night before helped a bit:) and we headed to the lake. We had so much fun testing out our tubing skills and swimming around all afternoon. We were just getting ready to brave attempting to water ski when a huge storm rolled in. It was the worst hail storm I have ever seen! The little pellets stung so bad when the pegged your bare skin and it was pretty intense to be out on the lake. We still had so much fun though!

Mister Bones

Life seems to get so busy when we make it out of the hospital and don't have the wonderful nurses to help out. Sorry for the delayed post! Little Will is doing good and adapting well to being home again. We got released late Saturday August 2nd and it is so nice to be home. We are back acting like doctors again and get to administer Will's meds via his PICC line once a day instead of every 6 hours like last time. It is much easier on Mom to say the least! On last Wednesday Will went back into PCMC for a Bone Scan which was a little scary because of the need to be sedated again. Will was so tough and didn't fuss too much despite not being able to eat for many hours before. Will did great and came out of the sedation much happier than he did after his PICC line. I am sure it was due to a lot less pain! Will and I got to spend the next 12 hours yet again in another wing of the hospital. This time we had free snacks though! Will was watched carefully until given the ok to be released at 2am Thursday morning. We were both a little tired and ready for our comfy beds waiting at home with Daddy.

So the results are in. The bone scan and the immune deficiency tests came back completely normal! So its a relief and a frustration all in one. We are so thankful it is neither of them but we still have no idea what caused the relapse. I am trying not to be super paranoid over every little whimper Will makes but it scary considering all that has happened. It is turning out to be rather difficult. This time the Infectious Disease Doctors at PCMC are monitoring Will VERY closely and running labs every week to check his progress. The Ear Nose and Throat specialists advise that if Will should ever have another neck infection that surgery is necessary to check out what's going on inside. We also get to see our Pediatrician once a week and its a good thing we love him so much!

We wanted to say thank you to our families and friends who have supported us so much throughout all of our ups and downs the past few months. We couldn't have made it without all of the many prayers and fasts in our behalf. We recognize the sacrifice and we just want you to know how much strength we received from them. We pray this is the last of the struggles for little Will for a while and are thankful every day that we have him in our life!

Cerberus

Mythology has always been a great interest of mine. I love the stories, the symbolism and noticing artifacts of these stories in our modern society. In Greek Mythology Cerberus was the guardian of the gates to the underworld. Today we view underworld as meaning hell, however to the Greeks it was simply the afterlife. Heaven and hell existed in the same realm; just those living in hell couldn't enter heaven; however those in heaven could pass through hell and even had to in order to reach heaven.

As I was taking pictures of William our ferocious hound Bella decided she needed to guard her family. Somehow I must have appeared like a threat (must've been the extra slice of pizza). As she snarled and growled at me I was able to capture this humorous moment which I just had to share. Only afterwards did I think about Cerberus and how to some extent this picture does represent that entire process. Our little guy has had to pass through hell to once again be held in the loving arms of his mother. This I would say is the closest thing to heaven in this boy’s life right now. In reality it's the closest thing Jamie and I have to heaven as well.