Garrett Update

Garrett is a funny kid! I can't believe in just a few months he will be four! He certainly is a big boy and doesn't forget to tell us everyday when he is using the bathroom by himself, putting his clothes on by himself, or anything else he insists on doing independently. Regardless of what he says, he certainly has been going through a phase lately of "I can't!" whenever we ask him to do anything! Colin has gotten so tired of hearing that phrase that he threatens to put him in timeout every time he hears those words uttered from the precious mouth of our favorite three year old! I need to remember that as much as I want him to be a big boy, he is still little and I most definitely don't want him to grow up any faster than he already is.

Major bed head! We finally got it cut so that I would stop hearing the screaming when I needed to comb it for school!


Garrett LOVES animals! His favorite show right now is Go, Diego Go! He impresses us with the facts he remembers as we play one of his favorite games in the car, "I'm thinking of an animal..."and gives us clues to guess what it is.


Garrett is loving preschool and went on his first field trip to the fire station! He loved it!



This kid ADORES his sister! He cannot stop kissing, hugging, squeezing, tickling...anything to be close to his baby sister! Before Sadie was born I knew that he would be a great big brother, but I had no idea how much he would truly love her! It is so sweet to see him with her. Sadie sure is lucky to have such a great big brother to love and protect her!



This is Garrett's "ARRRGH" face! What a silly pirate!
Watch out! He is ready to take anyone on!

Sadie update

So it is time for some updates on our family! We have been having a great Fall so far and we were sad to see the snow come this morning. We are definitely excited for the holidays, but want to hold on just a little longer before the cold sets in! I can't believe how much our lives have changed in the last four months.

We will start with the little sis......Sadie is such a little cutie! We love her smiles, her giggles, her bubbles, her singing, and can't forget her HAIR!!! She is getting so big and brings so much happiness and love to our home!

3 month pink puppy picture 9/23/11


White out from the flash = crazy looking face!

Someone loves her big girl chair! :)


4 month pink puppy picture 10/23/11
She is looking at and "reaching" for her binky!

Cutest lil' punkin ever!

Our sweet strawberry!

When it rains, it POURS!!!

I know everyone has heard the phrase....When it rains, it pours. With all the crazy weather lately it certainly has been true. We were in the storm a few nights ago and we grateful that we could take cover and wait until it stopped to get to our car in safety. This summer I have watched the lightning storms in awe, let Garrett jump in puddles, laughed at Colin as he screamed while running through a downpour, tried to buckle in kids in the car while getting soaked and tried sharing an umbrella with a three year old.

Well, it has certainly rained at our house this summer....and I am not talking about water. These last few weeks have been a TORRENTIAL downpour of doctor's appointments. From Sadie's well-child checkups and Garrett's broken arm, to my diabetes doctor, and Garrett's new adventure with strep throat today! I am so tired of the doctor I could SCREAM!!!! I think I have paid enough co-pays over the last three months to equal a trip to Disneyland! I don't think I have had more than one week off since June that I haven't been to the doctor for myself or one of my children.WE have also felt an out POURING of LOVE from the "BIG BOY BROTHER" to the littlest sister. Garrett is constantly kissing, hugging, touching, squeezing, laying, cuddling...doing anything to be close to his sister ALL DAY LONG!!! There is no doubt that this kid loves and adores his little sister. We have had to talk to him about giving her some space to which he replies, "Sadie doesn't need space, she likes to be squished!" AHHHHHHH then the MOM needs some space and she DOES NOT like to be squished! :) She doesn't always have such a grimace on her face when her brother gets close to her...but she definitely knows she has to brace herself for the attack of SMOTHER the BROTHER! :)We have felt FLOODED with emotion for the love from our Heavenly Father and how he has blessed our family. We have definitely had our share of trying times these past few months, but what we have been through together has made us stronger. It's amazing to look back on all that has happened and I have the CRAZY thought in my mind, "it wasn't that bad!" Oh wait... it was, but the Lord doesn't give us anything that we can't handle...right?! :) A friend posted something today on facebook that said, "Things don't happen to you, they happen for you!" I loved it! So true! I am grateful for an all knowing Heavenly Father who knows me and knows what I need...and it is not always what I want!
Life has sure seemed like a HURRICANE lately with keeping up with two kids, the doctor's appointments, trying to "rest" so I can "heal", and wanting the house to be clean but having so little energy to clean it!

So, to quote one of my favorite country singers, "Tomorrow's another day, and I'm thirsty anyway, so BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!

Time flies...

My baby girl is two months old!

My big boy had his Preschool Orientation today!


More to come soon on the adventures of "BIG BOY BROTHER" and the Little Sis

Our little angel!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks to say the least. Our little angel decided to join our family on June 23 a few days ahead of our already scheduled c-section. WE feel so blessed that she came when she did and have constantly felt the love of the our Savior for our little family since she arrived. Without going into great detail of the whole ordeal, we would still like to share the story. I have had a few requests from those of you who don't do facebook to update the blog so you can see pictures of our little one too.

Sadie Lucille Lewis
June 23, 2011
11 lbs 1 oz. 22 in.
4:53 p.m.

I came in for a non-stress test that morning. After the nurse checked my blood pressure 5 times and it kept getting higher, they sent me down to labor and delivery for some additional testing. After some blood work it was determined that my liver was not doing well and that it was critical that I deliver that day. I was a little upset because we had our date already set for five days later and there was still so much to be done before she was to come. I asked the nurse how many 9 month pregnant ladies come in and want to go home...she replied "about 1 in a bazillion!" I said, "I am that ONE...send me home!" After talking to the Dr. I knew that it was important to have her come and little did I know that this was the beginning to a whole new set of surprises ahead.

Just a few short minutes after Sadie's arrival, it was determined that her oxygen levels and blood sugar were low and that she needed to go to the NICU. I was heart broken. I didn't want my girl to be away from me. I was assured that these things were "minor" but that she could be in there for possibly 48 hours. The nurses brought her over to me and I got to kiss her toes before she left for the NICU.

All those cords and plugs and lights on my baby...so sad!


Over 12 LONG hours later I finally got to hold my baby. The nurse was worried about me going to see her in my post-surgery condition, but I was determined! WE made it and it was such a sweet reuniting in the calm, peaceful hours of the early morning!

Just a few short hours later, we were anticipating the arrival of big brother, Garrett to meet his new baby sister. Because Sadie was in the NICU, there were restrictions on visitors. After a few panicked moments, phone calls, and the strong-will of a mother, Garrett was able to come and meet his new baby sister. All I can say is that it was LOVE at first sight!!!! This is one proud big brother!

On Friday afternoon we got some news from the doctors in the NICU. They said they heard a heart murmur and wanted to order a fetal EKG for Sadie. The emotional roller coaster started again with the thought of our sweetie having problems with her heart. We were thrilled to hear later that evening that it was determined that everything looked okay and that the murmur that they heard was "normal" and shouldn't be an issue.

Just when we were getting excited for Sadie because of her progress, the doctors had some bad news for me. My incision from my c-section was not healing properly and they needed to send me back to the O.R.! I was devastated. I didn't want to go back for more surgery...just when I was starting to feel better. I don't know what was harder at that point though...having surgery again or being denied my first ordered meal of "real food" because of the rules for surgery!!!! ha ha ha Everything went well during the surgery. It is going to be a slow and long road to recovery, but we are hopeful that everything will eventually heal the right way.

Sadie must of known how stressed her mama was because she decided she was going the show the doctors and nurses how strong she really was! Everytime we went to see her there was one less cord. The nurses kept telling us how awesome she was doing with her feedings and how much she was improving. Thanks to our awesome nurse, Patty who really made the difference. She knew how much we wanted her with us, and she helped make it happen so much sooner than we thought. At about 3 pm on Sunday our angel got to "come home to us!" Home was in room 311 upstairs and we couldn't have been happier to have her close to us.


It was sure hard being away from my Garrett for five days! He was such a good boy at his grandparents' houses. We feel really blessed to have both of our families close. It was nice to have visits from them and feel their love and support with everything that we had been through. From the flowers, and thoughtful gifts, and phone calls, to the priesthood blessings and special prayers said, we LOVE you so much! Thank you!

The next day our dreams came true when the doctor said, "YOU CAN GO HOME TODAY!" We were first worried with Sadie in the NICU and then my 2nd surgery that we would have had to stay a few extra days. It is nice to be "taken care of" in the hospital, but there is NO PLACE like HOME!!!


We have been home now for almost two weeks and they have definitely been a blur! From home health nurses coming everyday to our house, being readmitted to the hospital for 24 hours for an infection, multiple doctor's appointments, an almost third readmitting to the hospital (FOR ME, not Sadie) little sleep, I feel lucky to be alive! :) When I think of all that our tiny family has been through, I know I couldn't have done it without Colin. He has been the most supportive, helpful, unselfish, strong, caring, and giving person. He has definitely gone above and beyond the call of husband and daddy these last few weeks. I definitely feel closer to him now more than ever and am so blessed that he is mine! I love you honey! Just when I think I can't do it anymore, I look at my sweet children and adoring husband and think how truly blessed that I am!


It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it!

We love you, Sadie Lu!

These are a few of my favorite things!

I can't believe in just five weeks we will have 2 kids. I am so excited to meet our little girl. I know it will go by fast, but DRAG on too. With time ticking and so much to do before she gets here, I thought I would reflect on a few things I could not have lived without during this pregnancy.

So, this breakfast cereal has got to be my favorite of all time. The LOVE I have for this cereal intensifies X 100 when I am pregnant. A few months back it was on sale at the grocery store and I think I bought them out....all 20 boxes on the shelf were in my cart. I felt a little silly, but hey, when your favorite cereal is on sale and you eat it sometimes more than once a day because it is the only thing that tastes good to you when you are pregnant, you do crazy things!

TUMS! Need I say more?! Notice I chose the image with the bright yellow label "value size"!


The "BeBand". I have loved this stretchy band that helps support and cover up at the same time! It was nice to have in the first and second trimester when I needed some extra room before the maternity pants fit. Now it is great to keep me covered so things on my back side that I don't want others to see aren't hanging out! :) (This image is from Google, not a belly shot of me!)


PEBBLED ICE!!! Yum! This is something I loved when I was pregnant with Garrett and have really been enjoying the last few weeks with this pregnancy too! There is just something about the ice cold drink of water with small bits of crunch that just soothes my body and tastes so refreshing! Our ice machine to our fridge doesn't work, so I buy 10 lb. bags at the grocery store, put it in my freezer and use a hammer to break off the pieces to go into my water bottle! Sounds a little crazy, but SOOOO worth it!



My little wooden massager! There are some nights where I think that I will never be able to fall asleep because of the aches and pains that I feel. All I need to help me is this tool and a willing husband to rub my back with it. I love it because it gives great pressure and doesn't get tired as fast as my husbands hands do alone!


Dr. Robert Burr
Best.Doctor.Ever.
What doctor gives you his personal cell phone number? What doctor knows your cell phone number and home phone number? What doctor cares enough to talk to you almost every night for the past six weeks because he cares about how you are doing and wants to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help this baby be healthy????? Seriously, this man deserves an award. My diabetes has gone a little crazy this pregnancy! No matter how crappy I am feeling about my diabetes and the way things are going, he is always so positive and encouraging to help me keep going and not give up! Switching to his practice at Wasatch Endocrinology 4 years ago was the best thing I ever did! Thank you to all the nurses and staff there that make going to the doctor "enjoyable!"



Most of all, my favorite thing this pregnancy has been knowing that I am a mom. For awhile I thought Garrett may be an only child, but Heavenly Father knew the desires of my heart to have another one. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity in my life to give birth, raise, and teach my children. It is my greatest accomplishment. I am nervous about having two kids and being able to share the love between both of them, but I know there is nothing I would rather be doing right now in my life than to have such precious souls be in my care.

Sorry!

If think most of you know that I am not great at blogging. Well, last night Colin showed me a trick of how to upload and do it faster. I tried it and was so excited that I did five posts!!!! I was hoping it wasn't too good to be true, but found out this morning that none of the pictures posted!!!!! So, I have spent my morning fixing it for your viewing pleasure. I hope they all work now!