The Beals

Can you help?

2011-08-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

KEvin is currently serving in Korea. He has the possibility to come to Alaska for 2 weeks & I'm dying for the chance to see him! I'm trying to raise money for my plane ticket up there so I'm going to start a raffle: $1 gets you 1 entry, $5 gets you 6. I have to get at least $100 in entries to run the raffle. The prize is $100 gift card to my store

WWW.BABYBUGCREATIONSSHOP.COM

good for anything! If I get $400, I will give 2- $100 and if I get $600, I will do 3. The ticket is $800 so I'd love to get the full amount, but as much as I can get will help tons! if I can get $800 earned, I will give 2- $100 gift cards, 2 $50 gift cards & 4 $25 gift cards. these don't expire and can be used for anything, split into 2 or 3 orders or whatever. They can also be gifted to a friend, or used for yourself, or split half for you, half for a friend! If more than the $800 is raised, it will go towards either a 2nd plane ticket for my almost 3 year old (how awesome to go see his daddy!) or for a ticket later in the year for a visit to Korea! If the goal is surpassed there will be a HUGE surprise!

I will run the raffle through the end of august & will draw winners September 1. I really REALLY want to go visit so please help me make it up there!!!!

Money can be sent to babybugcreationsllc@gmail.com

Be sure to put your name & number of entries you are purchasing so I can keep track!

Thanks for your support & help to reach my goal! ♥ Ashley

www.babybugcreationsshop.com

www.facebook.com/babybugcreations

www.babybugcreations.blogspot.com

Hoping tomorrow forgets to come

2011-06-04T07:53:00.001-07:00

Every night I go to bed late and get up early, and not because I have a 6 week old, because I don't want tomorrow to come. Because tomorrow is one day closer to his leaving, one day closer to 365 days + A few that I will be essentially a single parent, because no matter how hard you try, you can't change a diaper thru the computer, or fix a meal, and even if he was in every room on the computer, I still can't just "run to the store real quick" with no kids.

In a few short days, we will start our journey of a year apart, living as separates, having different worries and activities. Would I have chosen this for us? No, certainly not now. I mean he is going to miss everything about the whole first year of his baby girl's life. Do I have a choice to let him go? No... Because when you're married to the Air Force, they controll what your spouse does, who they do t with Nd when they do it. So no, I didn't choose this.

I can't express what is going thru my head right now. Unless you have been in my exact shoes, with my exact situation, please don't try to tell me you know how it feels, because you don't. The longest Kevin & I have ever been apart was when he went to basic training when brok was 6 weeks old. & while that was rough, at least he was on us soil, & wasn't living an entirely separate life.

How am I supposed to be a mom and a dad? I'm going to have to get up alone every morning, get kids dressed and fed alone, and in a few months off to school alone, then run errands alone like dr appt and groceries. I have to make sure I have times right so I'm home for the bus, and therapies. And I'm the one who has to bathe kids, put them to bed, and do laundry, clean the house. I have to mow the lawn, pick up dog poop, make sure were all protected. & he gets to/has to be all alone, in a dorm room. It's just not fair you know?

I'm not super woman. I can't do it. I need my husband here, not thousand of miles away. He needs to be laying in bed with me.

Hug your husbands. Cherish those moments. I will miss his hugs, and kisses. Those tender moments when it's just us, before the baby wakes, or after the kids are asleep. I will miss our long talks when the radio goes fuzzy on the drive home, and having someones hand to hold. I will miss his snoring & his smells. I hope I remember those smells. I will miss watching him play with his kids, and I will miss his arms around me. I hope I remember how it feels. I wonder if I stuff pillows under the blanket & put a picture of him sleeping on the pillow if I will sleep better... I just want him here with us...

I hope tomorrow forgets to come...

All Taken Care Of

2011-01-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

As a busy mom, have you ever wished you had someone to help plan your meals for the week and create the grocery list? Have you ever wished there was someone who could instantly give you a great idea for a craft or activity to do with your kids when they (and you) are needing it the most? Have you ever wished you had someone to help you think of a last minute gift idea for a birthday or anniversary or other occasion? If you answered "yes" to any (or all) of those questions, than Mom's Taken Care Of is the place for you!

The Mom's Taken Care Of website does all of that, and more! Each week there are new recipes, grocery lists, crafts and activities, and great gift ideas to help you get through your week easier. Plus, if you can't find a recipe or craft idea on the site, you can send them an email and they will come up with some ideas for you! Now that's being taken care of!

BabyBug Creations has a discounted price of $11.95. Just go to www.momstakencareof.com/subscribe.html and click on “Special Price Discount from Sponsors”, use the promo code “4ourkids”. Make sure you select "Babybug Creations Ashley" to get this special pricing!
Don't wait...all moms deserve to be taken care of!

We are alive...

2010-12-01T13:50:00.001-08:00

I blame the lack of posts on a few things...

Most everyone knows but we found out in September that Kevin will be going to Korea for a year, in June 2011. We also found out in September that we are expecting baby #3. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, and this baby has been making me extremely sick and tired. Also in the middle of September, we bought a house. Yes, everything happened in September. Sept 1 he got orders, Sept 5 found out I was prego, Sept 8 found out he was for sure going, Sept 10 was supposed to close on our house, Sept 16 finally closed on our house.

In October Brok started at the Dysart Early Childhood Education Center, a specialized preschool for kids with special needs, and a few integrated "regular" kids. He is doing phenominal and rides the bus to school and home from school everyday. he has also been getting ABA therapy daily, and has made such great progress over the passed few months. He uses a PEC (picture exchange communication) book to tell us what he wants. He is now also able to make small marks on the paper with a marker, stack 4 blocks, nest cups, etc. Its amazing the progress.

Lukas turned 2 in October and is now starting to talk a ton more, and is getting too smart for his own good. He is daddy's little mini me, and is obsessed with bikes, and jets. He is such a sweet boy and I love him tons!

And baby #3 is a..... GIRL! I finally get my little girl! We had a tougher time decideing her name than with either boy, and it finally came down to Lukas deciding. He refused to say the other 2 names we liked and the second we asked him to say Kenadi, he said kk and kkeni. It's pronounced Kennedy. Her name is Kenadi Lynette Beal and she is due May 9, 2011, though we are shooting for mid to end of April so that Kevin can have a few more weeks with her. I am thrilled but it is so different to buy for girls than boys!

As for me, I am 17 wks along and am just starting to feel a little better, I have crazy heartburn and can't eat any sugar, if I do, I automatically throw it up. I live off Zofran, which helps me a ton, and I have to eat the second I feel hungry or else I am in trouble. I already look like I am ready to deliver, and actually had a lady ask me when I was due, I guess it's a good thing I never had that awkward stage of just looking fat. she is realy active, especially after I use the bathroom, or lay down, she has more room.

Kevin is busy as ever and is preparing to go to ALS, airman leadership school starting in January as a result of passing the test to become a Staff Sargeant. It should be interesting. He is also enjoying his new house, rebuilding the playground and organizing his garage and his workspace outside.

And that's what happened in the last 6 months in a nutshell. Maybe someday I will be better at this...

Really late & I should be in bed but...

2010-04-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

I missed blogging about Brok's 3rd Birthday... I am such a bad mom...

March 23rd Brok turned 3. Wow where did the time go. I remember the events leading up to him being born & how valuable the next 6wks were...

Some things about Brok:
~Wears a 4T/5T & size 7/8 shoe
~37.5lbs & 40" tall
~Started preschool on his birthday
~is getting better at using pictures to show me what he wants
~can kind of follow directions- Brok come here, Brok no, Brok get your cup

I can't believe my little baby is 3! My dear friend Mary took some awesome pictures of him on his birthday. He wasn't in the best mood until I brought the food! She captured his personality so well!

Since starting School, Brok has been able to sit for 15min at circle time, likes all things green (he was able to pick out a bunch of toys that he can mouth or smell & play with & they are all green!) & LOVES to go to school! His teacher said he is so cute & so loving & that he is well behaved! We have noticed that he is a different child in the last week. He will hold your hand & walk with you, he doesn't throw as many fits & is really Chill...

anyway, more posts to come but I needed to post these!

2 posts in 1 week? WHAT

2010-03-11T18:46:00.001-08:00

I was too excited not to share! I am published! My first ad in a magazine! EEK!

UTAH BABY GUIDE page 25

so little time & so much to do!

2010-03-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

It's march, where did february go?

~Brok started speech again with an awesome therapist
~Kevin started night flying- UGH
~Lukas learned how to say Go, shoe, ball & learned how to catch
~Ashley spent all her time running around like a crazy lady...

March is always a hard/happy month for me... 10 years ago march 8th, 2000 my dear sweet grandma took her last breath & left to be with our heavenly father, my little sister was not even 2wks old. Spring Break is always in March, which would be fun if I was in school... bittersweet. March was the last month where Kevin & I were simply a couple & not a family. March was the month where I became a mother. March was the month where I found out I would be a mom again... & march marks that time of year where the temps start going up...

This March is already in full swing. It has rained every weekend (only 2 so far), Brok has gotten his second ear infection. We met with the school district to determine Brok's qualifications for preschool. We found out that in 2 short weeks my baby will start preschool. I will no longer have simply 2 toddlers, but a preschooler & a toddler. We have planted a garden (well that was in feb but still) & we have bought a new computer & not had to put it on a credit card. What a month we have in store.

I can't believe that the time has come to send my boy off to school. I won't lie, I am terrified. What if he is as horrible for them as he is for us? He is going to have his own "aide" but I still wonder. What if he just cries the whole time? what if he doesn't want to do anything they are doing or doesn't want to eat what they are eating? and my worst fear? what if he breaks something or himself? This is so exciting & will hopefully get us on the right track to getting him ready for normal life, and possibly to communicate with us but I am terrified!

anyway, that's my thoughts for now... more to update as the month goes on!

what have we been up to?

2010-01-10T20:39:00.000-08:00

Just about everything! I will post pictures later so sorry this will be boring!

Nov:
~Kevin & I celebrated 4 years of marriage. We didn't get to go out, but we were able to enjoy some alone time after the kidlets went to bed & he surprised me with taking the night off to spend with me.
~We enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving at home just the 4 of us. It was fun and we enjoyed the family time.
~Lukas officially started walking- he's been walking for a while but during november, he officially decided he could walk like Bubba.
~We all had the flu, the swine flu & your common cold for several days. It was horrible!

December:
~We decided to spend Christmas at home, instead of visiting family. It was a lot of fun & we made some good memories as a family! The boys loved all their presents & we loved having a stress free (or relatively) holiday!
~We also made a decision to move into a cheaper rental home. We weren't really in the market to move, but couldn't pass up this deal! (more details to follow)
~We were able to go to the Insight Bowl on New Year's Eve. The boys loved going and watching all the people, especially the band!
~We marked 2 years since we were told that Brok was autistic the first time @ 9months old. What a great 2 yrs is has been.
~Kevin went back to working day shift. This was a major adjustment!

So far this year:
~We were able to march in the Fiesta Bowl parade! Kevin volunteered to march & be a part of it & spouses/family were invited to join in with. We had a blast walking & being a part of something so cool!
~Brok went to stay with Granny & Grandpa (Ashley's parents) for 9 days (he comes back tomorrow & we are so excited!)
~We MOVED~!!! This house is awesome! It's only half mile from our old house, but is out of the HOA, cheaper rent & the most awesome backyard! It is 5bd 3 bath 2100 sq ft. Yes, we just can't stay in one place that long, although we were in our last house for a year & a half. It has in the backyard, a basketball court, a swingset/jungle gym, 2 sheds, a garden, grass & a place for an above ground pool. This house is such a great layout as well & we are happy that the move is over!

That is what we have been up to these past few months! once we get everthing hooked up right, I will post pictures!

~~ As a little extra note- my mom sent this to me & I loved it so I wanted to post it here for all you to read!

***How an Autistic Child Thinks:
Nobody can see my disability. I look just like every other kid-attractive, walking, making sound's. They can't see how my neurons are scrambled in my brain. They can't see the misconnections between the left and right brain. Nobody can see I have autism.
Nobody can see that my body is sick. No one can see that my stomach is in knots from my digestive system not working. No one can that my body and mind are starving because my cells don't make the right enzymes to digest food. No one see that I suffer from low blood sugar because I can't properly metabolize nourishment.
No one can see that my body is attacking its own nerve cells from auto-immune dysfunction. No one can see that mercury lead and arsenic cannot be excreted from my body, so it keeps building up in my brain. No one understands that my body cannot tolerate normal enjoyments for children, like bright, vivid colors and loud noises. I desperately want to be a kid and enjoy these things, but my body just won't let me.
But everyone can see how inappropriate my behavior can be when I am out in public. Everyone can see how immature I can be compared to other kids my age. Everyone sees the 2-year old tantrums when things have been too overwhelming for me. Everyone sees my frustration from trying to cope.
Everyone sees my screaming and fighting. Everyone just assumes I'm being bad, not that my body hurts, my eyes are in pain from colors, my ears ring with loud noises not heard by others.
Everyone sees my tantrums when I don't get my way. No one sees that I can't explain my fear when I think I'm not being understood. Everyone may see my screams when my mom takes something away from me. No one can see that having something of comfort can keep my fears under control for me, and taking it away makes my nerves explodes in anxiety.
No one understands how hard I have to work to keep my behaviors from reacting to the chemical imbalances in my body that makes me feel horrible. No one can see that, no matter how hard I try, sometimes I cannot control it. No one can see the shame I feel after I've had a meltdown from my body's problems.
What they don't see I am a person. I have feelings and want to be loved and accepted like everyone else. What they don't see is that, when they look at me like I need a good spanking; I understand that I'm not capable of controlling my body.
What they don't see is that I scream because I don't know how to say "HELP ME"
What they don't see is that I hear every ugly word they say, but for the life of me, I can't make my mouth say what I'm feeling. But they don't see that as a disability. They say I am unmanageable. They say I am a problem.
But I am not a problem. I HAVE AUTISM. My mom has taken me to more doctors and specialist than you can ever imagine. She's read more books and done more research on my disease than parents would ever want. She has tried special diet, supplements, drugs and various metabolic therapies. She has PRAYED for GUIDANCE and asked for discernment on how to help my body. And behaviors, OH YES, has she tried everything to help my behavior.
Stop telling her all I need is a spanking. If spanking would stop all this, my mom would gladly exchange my disability for a spanking. She knows better than all of you what I need to help me, and what we both need is your understanding, not ignorance.
I just want to be accepted and understood. No blamed and ashamed, I want to be appreciated for my gifts. I do have some if you look more closely. I want to be cared for as a person. I want you to care, even when I act like I don't.
I want to be respected, just like you do. I want you to respect my mom and dad for all the hard work they have done to help me try to lead a normal a life as possible. I want you to respect my family and all the struggles we have to endure because of our love for each other.
I want to be LOVED like any other child. And need you to role model respectful behavior for me so I can be respectful too. I want you to love me just like God would.

Hello my name is Ashley & My child is autistic

2009-10-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

Which comes as no surprise to anyone but now that we have a diagnosis, we can get so many more services! among those services is
~music therapy
~EFMP aka Exceptional Family Member Program aka an excuse to become last on the list for deployment.
~ABA therapy aka applied behavioral analysis therapy aka hard work
~long term care

Does it change our day to day life? nope... He's still the same Brok he was before we knew. I will still deal with him the same way as I always did. Does that make me super mom? HArdly. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out because he is driving me bonkers. Am I the most patient person with him? uh no- you should hear us. But I will forever love him & wonder why I was chosen to have this challenge in my life. Heavenly father must think very highly of me to have given me such a special little boy to love & care for. Life may not always be easy but we can do it together.

I always wonder what he will be like in 2-3 years. Will he ever talk? will he stop the screaming? will he ever potty train? I can hope right? I mean we never thought he would walk either right? & now he is running! It just took him an extra year & a half to figure it out.

& then I think of what he will be like as a teenager. Will I have to remind him to shave? Will I have to remind him to do his homework? Ok that sounds like a normal teenage boy. but really, what will he be like?

will his brother & everyone else love him the way we do? Will he have friends? Will he do well in school? Will he get to enjoy the normal things every teenage boy does? crushes on girls? dances, sports? Will he ever win a trophy or participate on a team? Will he look forward to going on a mission? Will he be able to go?

& most importantly, is there someone out there who when the timing is right will love him & be patient enough with him that they can fall in love & get married? I know he's only 2.5 but these are things a mom wonders about ya know?

Brok you are such a special child in our home. You make our lives interesting to say the least! Would life have been different & harder if you had come into our lives second instead of first? Because we will continue to do what we have always done because we haen't known any different!

I love you son! Even though sometimes you drive us nuts, we will always love you! Thanks for having the faith in us to be your parents!

Love mom

Lukas Is 1!

2009-10-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ok I am a few days late but we were gone! Plus I now have stats!

I can't believe this year is already gone! Where did the time go my little? You are the cutest little kid ever (besides bubba you are tied with him)! I am completely in love with you all the time! You can make us laugh & smile at the smallest things!!!

Stats:
~29.5 in 33%
~18lbs 14oz 4%
~don't remember exact # but head is 73%

The nurses at the doctor said they are going to call you lollipop!

Things you can do:
~crawl like a pro
~go up the stairs all by yourself (& give mom a heart attack everytime)
~cruise along furniture
~stand up alone with no help for a long time
~clap when someone says Yay or Good Job
~put your hands on your head when someone says Oh No!
~say mama dada bubba nana nini (granny)
~copy when we try to say something
~drink from a regular cup (almost without spilling)
~drink from a sippy cup with a straw
~push a walking toy without falling
~ride your little trike thing backwards
~make "vroom" noises

Things you like:
~your binky- can't go anywhere without it & it's oh so cute!
~your green blanket- you know which is yours & which isn't!
~to jump like crazy!
~4-wheeling! You loved it on your birthday!
~food! Any & all food- & lots of it! I am always amazed at how much you can eat
~your mommy- when you want to eat or just need a snuggle
~your daddy- any other time
~bubba (aka Brok) I love how you guys play together!
~puppies! you love your dogs & love to bother them!
~life-

Little you are the happiest baby I have ever met- I loved you the minute I saw you & I can't believe how big you are already?! You are my little & you make me so happy! I hope that you had a great birthday & I can't wait to see what this year holds!

Age 1 month
Age 1 yr

Busy Busy Busy

2009-09-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

That about sums up our life! I feel as though I am constantly on the go... Life certainly doesn't slow down for sure...

~Lukas is practicing his balance- he is so scrawny on the bottom half that he can't support his top half! But he's getting better at letting go to stand alone! Cruises on everything & HAS to be on top of me all the time no matter what I am doing!
~Brok went down to once a month PT! This is awesome considering that he has had once a week for the past year! He is doing so well & has learned to use is voice- no words but he "yodels" & it cracks me up! He has also outgrown naps- he goes to bed around 545 & sleeps til about 7. It's awesome! He's pretty content to entertain himself during the day so I guess I am lucky that way!
~Night flying this week=BOOO! I hate night flying- he works @ 8pm all week- I guess the only good thing is we will miss the next 2 wks & when we get back, it will be over...
~VACATION!!! We will be in St George on Saturday! WHOOT! I am sooo excited! If anyone wants to hang out, you have my # or can find my email!
~I can't believe that my baby is going to be 1! Where has this year gone? I swear he was just a newborn... He is growing so fast & is a crack up! He says: mama (his favorite word), dada, bubba (brok), pup, buh-bye (& he waves too!) & he has this cutest little thing he does when he wants more- he pulls his fingers in like he's saying Gimme- cracks me up! ♥ this little dude!
~I got a new car! Oh yes- we sold our Santa Fe for way more than we could have gotten from a trade & bought us a 2005 Dodge Durango. I am in ♥! It is awesome! I can definately say it is my perfect car! The only thing missing is a DVD system but that can be purchased later! It has leather, 3rd row, rear A/C (a must here), tint, 6 cd- premium sound... Awe... love...
~our 4 year anniversary is right around the corner- Does anyone else ever feel like time flies? I am getting old!
~Temps are FINALLY going down- today was like the first day in who knows how long that it was under 100 (ok it was 99 but still). I can't wait for fall...

& I think that is pretty much it from us this week! Enjoy Lukas's modeling skills! He got to model these super cute knitted longies for our online store! YUM! he is such a ham!

What a bad Blogger!

2009-08-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

I just realized it's been a month- almost- since my last post! GEEZ! I have an excuse... Not only do I run a business but I have been chasing 2 kids!

That's right! Lukas is almost 100% a "toddler" he is cruising on everything, crawls like a pro when he can't cruise & is copying his brother. Let me tell you I don't know what I got myself into! I can't adjust my brain to think that this is normal, that he is doing great & is right on track! He also recently decided that he can climb stairs- EEK! I left him & Brok downstairs for under a minute to grab something & when I got to the stairs, he was halfway up! It scares me because he is so tiny still but he loves it! I think Brok was sent to me because I needed time to prepare for the whole walking/climbing thing!

Which he is so good at now! We walk everywhere, all the time & are into everything so much more! He is in a tearing phase, EVERYTHING gets torn. Which is fine unless it's something important. But Brok is doing GREAT! He is pretty much on track with most things except for talking & he still doesn't jump, but that's ok because he is still a beginning walker! I am just happy that he is walking! We are able to do so much more now! Like today, we went with our playgroup to Pump It Up which is a bounce house type place. There was a boxing ring
a basketball court

a giant slide

& an obstacle course that the kids could play on. I left Lukas home with dad & Had tons of fun with Brok! He had a blast! I was tired afterward because I had to climb up to the top of the slide holding him (all 30+lbs) but it was so worth it!

Anyway, They are both growing so fast! I can't even believe it! It's hard to think that Lukas is almost 11months old! Each day he changes! He has the personality of a nut! He has learned to copy what we say & is learning how to sign more & milk. He is awesome! Brok is such a great brother, he loves to play with him & they feed off each other- sometimes good, sometimes bad!

Kevin is working swing shift still, it's actually been really good for us, he works early afternoon to late night & so it leaves me plenty of time in the morning for errands, or evening to work. Business is good for me, I love it & I stay totally busy all the time, my customs list is full each round & I keep return customers! We are talking about putting in to be a recruiter which would bring us closer to home, which would be nice. He sews on his next rank the beginning of November & we are looking forward to that!

We are so excited to be able to come for a visit in about 3wks! We will be in Leeds/St George area Sept 19-26th & Vegas Sept 27-Oct 2nd or so. I am excited to see everyone & especially meet my cousin who is the same age as Lukas! It will be fun to have their cute little birthday party!

Here are a few pictures of Lukas's latest adventure- it was fun!
That's all from the Beals for now- I will try to be more on top of this!

I am grateful

2009-07-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

I am grateful today... I dont' know why today or what made me feel so grateful today because it hasn't been the best day really but I am grateful!

I am grateful that I get to stay home with my kids but that I get to be my own boss & have this fun business on the side! I am grateful EVERYDAY for this business. It has done SOOOOO much better than what I had dreamed! I just finished my first wholesale order (I am grateful for Sharni for that one!) & continue to have great success!

I am grateful for my kids, who constantly make me laugh. I am grateful for Lukas & his sweet little scruchy face! I am grateful for him being "normal" & easy going so that I can deal with Brok! I am grateful for the bond that we have even though sometimes I wish I had more free time to myself instead of you wanting to be held! I am grateful for the fact that you LOVE your brother! What great friends you will be! I am grateful for your little skinny chicken legs! I love you little! I am grateful for Brok- who never ever gives up! You have taught me way too much in the past 2 years! Wow... I am grateful for your special little spirit that you bring! I am so grateful that you are walking. Oh boy am I! & you are doing sooooo good! Recently we have started walking into/out of & around stores. It's awesome! I am so grateful that you are starting to copy us!!! YAY! I love you toad!

I am grateful for Kevin! I love how stupid we can be at night when we are both so tired that everything is funny! I am grateful for your hugs. I am grateful for your support & help with the boys while I work in my "cave". I am grateful that you spend 9hrs a day working at a job that maybe isnt what you dreamed of so tha we have the security of a paycheck! I love you Babe.

Life is good. I am just grateful! What a great great life I have!

The nerve of some people

2009-07-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a vent of sorts- it's on my mind & I really have no where else to tell about it... I know it's something I need to get used to but really?

We were at the commissary today, Brok, Lukas & I- with our friends Tab & Bray- but they were further back in line. Brok's in the back of the cart happily playing making noise- very loudly- he does his little shrill laugh/scream/noise thing when he mad or happy because he doesnt know how to regulate just a little bit. I hear this lady behind me at the next register say "Some people need to learn some respect for others" So I turn right around & say Back to her (I know I just added fuel to her fire but really-) "He has autism (not sure yet but probably in some form) he doesn't know any better or how to control it" So she retorts back with something like "Needs to learn respect for others, this is disrespectful" So I tell her again "He has autism, he doesn't know any better" She says "So take him outside, it's disrespectful to others in the building" (mind you he isn't doing his mad scream, just a happy LOUD noise) "I turned right back around & said "What am I supposed to do? I am alone & I am in the middle of checking out? I am supposed to take him out now? RIght" To which she says "I have kids & I just take them outside" I said back (& I am sure you can gather the tone of my voice right now) "HE HAS AUTISM. HE CAN'T HELP IT. DO I NEED TO WEAR A LABEL THAT SAYS MY KID HAS A DISABILITY?" She just keeps repeating that she has kids & takes them out & how disrespectful it is that he is being so loud. So I turn around one more time & say "You need to learn some respect for kids with disabilities. He has autism, he doesn't understand"

Seriously could people be any more rude? Do you really know what my life is like? Do you know what my child does ALL day EVERYDAY? No because you had yourself a little normal child that understood when it was time to be quiet, or understands a smack on the mouth or gets it when you say "Be quiet" If you are so sure you would handle things differently, please take him home with you, do my job for a day & see what it's like. See how he sits there & screams while I am typing this for no reason other than he wants to scream. & I don't mean throw a fit scream, I mean scream bloody murder like someone is killing you.

Fast Forward to a few hours later. We go out with our friends to get their windows tinted & we decided to hang out at the pizza place in the shopping center. There were a total of maybe 5 people who came in & out while we were there & no one seemed to mind that brok was on the floor crawling & walking around. UNTIL... This lady walks in, sees Brok & the first thing she says is "Oh, HI" in the most disgusted & rude tone ever. She was in the restaurant with us for maybe 2min & the WHOLE time all she could say was "That poor child, look how filthy he is. Oh that mother, what is she thinking" Seriously- do you think my child would be wearing CLEAN clothes & that my other child would look so well put together but still be so filthy? I mean really? If you paid an ounce of attention to him, you would realize that it was from crawling on the floor- the backs of his legs were spotless & so was his arms.

Some people are so ignorant & I just don't know why. My mom says it was just his day today & that I need to pray that they will be enlightened to the reality of the world we live in, that not every child fits the mold of what they think "perfect" is. Or that they will remember the words of Thumper from Bambi "If ya can't say sumthin nice, don't say nothin at all"

It must have just been one of those things that I needed to go through but even still as I sit here typing this out, I am so furious that someone could be so rude. Didn't their moms teach them manners? I mean I get if you are going ot talk about my kid, yeah he can be annoying but don't say it where A) I can hear it & B) while I am standing there...

That's all- sorry to unleash my fury on you... Jsut one of those days...

My favorite Diaper

2009-06-23T17:13:00.001-07:00

Ok I have to give a shout out to my favorite diapers ever!

Did you know that the average disposable diaper stays in a landfill for 500years?

Gdiapers are a great alternative to disposables & cloth- they are a super cute cover found in a variety of colors, with a snap in nylon liner & have the option to use a cloth insert or a flushable insert- which can also be just tossed- without the guilt of leaving it for 500 years! These inserts are comparable in price to disposables & are great if you aren't sure you want to do cloth but are tired of the leaks from disposables, the perfumes & the chemicals!

I have a great promotion going on right now- They have this great everyday pack of 6 covers- 3 vanilla & 3 orange that is offered for $70- which is still a great price- but I have a code that will take $30 off! That means you get 6 covers for $40! That is less than $7/cover! These are great for everyday use, or to test if you will like them! That great code is

g745Beal

I can also offer anyone who emails me letting me know they used my code, a $2 off coupon- you can take these to your local Babies R Us & get $2 off any product- There is a limited amount available so the first 10 to email will recieve them!

I Absolutely LOVE my gdiapers- they are seriously the best thing ever! So versatile & what a great way to start being more greeen!

Another milestone!

2009-06-03T20:26:00.001-07:00

We have taken steps- WHOOT! Knowingly too- not just the usual walking along the couch & forget to hold on, not the pretend I don't know how kind. Actual, factual recordable steps!!! He took some on monday- I was talking to my mom on the phone& he walked from the end of the sliding glass door watching me, to the edge of the couch- could I get him to do it again? no...

But today- Kevin was sitting on the loveseat & telling me about work last night & all the sudden he paused- goes " Ashley Look-" to which I turn from the computer to see him walking in a waddle type walk not holding on to anything- like you or I would walk around something. a total of probably 15-20 steps!

So we decided to try to get him to do it more- success! Doritos were key but he would take anywhere from 3-10 steps to get the dorito! & then while I was visiting a friend, he did it in her hall! & in the 3ft from her coffee table to her couch!

I am trying not to get too anxious or excited but there is a BIG chance he will be walking in the next week!!!! EEK!!! I am sooooo excited! What a fun thing! He is much preferring to walk over crawl & I noticed it last week at our playdate. He will stand up at the hall & walk along the wall down the hall, he will automatically stand up at the couch to walk instead of crawl around. I am sooo proud! After all this, I wonder if he is just stubborn! I honestly wonder if he's just slow in that he gets content & stuck in a rut & likes he life how it is! What a fun day in our family!

Good job bud!

Pictures to go with the previous post!

2009-06-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

Our little garden on the counter!

The back of my car with my new vinyl!

Brok's fat lip- this is the only pic we have

Lou drinking his cup- which he is so good at! But only for water or juice!

The lovely power steering leak on the road from my 45min of Visiting Teaching last week. Yeah- not good at all! Last night when we dropped off the car, I filled it to the max & then all I did was drive to the dealership- a 15min drive & when I got to the dealership, it was below the min!

Wow I am so bad at this!

2009-05-29T22:40:00.001-07:00

I used to be so good but now I feel like there is just not enough time in the day to get it all done!

I will post pictures soon...

Lukas is now a major mover/shaker- he has been known to "crawl" down the hall to follow brother

Brok & Lukas are more interactive with each other- Lukas will follow him, he will follow Lou- it's so cute to see them! Just today I was finishing up a sewing project & Lou had made his way into the front room & started screaming so I told Brok go find Brother & so he did & when he got to the front room- Lou had stopped crying! They are becoming such good friends!

Brok is learning to communicate with us better (or maybe I just understand him more). Like when he wants more of anything he claps & claps & claps... or if he wants something he comes over to the gate by the computer & grabs my arm. If he needs a diaper change he grabs under his crotch & makes a noise so I see him.

Kevin moves to a new location & gets new people/loses people from his AMU Monday. Not really sure why but he will be on the same schedule & hopefully it is a good thing

I opened a new online store (or 3 coming up) where I now have "in-stock" items & am going to be featured on several large popular sites- This business is taking off & I love it!

Kevin was weedeating the yard Monday & hit a rock & it hit the sliding glass door & it shattered it... well the outside pane... crappy- $279 to replace...

The car has a leaky power steering pressure hose. & some failing switch or something... gunna be $375 to replace- covered under warranty so we only pay $100 but add that to the rest of what we have paid... UGH I don't want to think about it...

Brok is expressing a desire to want to walk but won't do it...

We planted a few seeds last weekend... Beans, watermelon, tomatoes, artichoke & carrots- the beans sprouted on day 1 & are now over 12" tall... all have srouted at least one plant...

I finally put my vinyl letters on my car... wow...

Last weekend we went to eat pizza with Heather & Kevin Baker & as we were getting ready to leave, Brok crawled right in front of me as I was turning around & hit my knee- he face planted onto the tile & got a fat fat lip... now he has learned to lick his lips!

Well that about covers the last 2 weeks... Life is crazy- I don't know what to do anymore! Both my kids are mobile, my house is semi-clean, & my business is thriving... Life is happy...

Weight Stats

2009-05-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

Went to WIC today:

Brok is 28lbs 12oz, 36 in which means 63rd percentile for weight, 89th percentile for height
Lukas is 14lbs 14oz & 26in which meand 3rd percentile for weight, 50th percentile for height

Which means that in total not including carseat, diaper bag or the occasional grocery load, I carry with me 43lbs 10oz of PURE baby. Wow... where is all that muscle? I still feel like a weakling...

I am going to have some very tall kids! Poor Lukas is going to have a problem if the doc tries to tell me to feed him formula! I tried- he doesn't like it!

On another note- I put Brok to bed last night, diaper on, shorts on. Kevin got Brok up this morning, diaperless, shortsless & dry... diaper was dry & so far, no pee on the floor that we have found- does this mean we can potty train?

Has it really been almost a month?

2009-05-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

Wow... I really need to be better at this...

This month in highlight:

Brok took 2 steps by himself, none intentionally since then
Brok can't have any fruit juice :(
Lukas is a pro roller-over-er
Brok has a new bedtime of 730-8pm- MARVELOUS
Both boys wake up at 6am- every morning, on the dot, no matter what
I celebrated 1 year in business (& am doing another fun giveaway! check it out!)
Heather & I get together most weeks at least once a week
I moved my sewing stuff to the downstairs room
Kevin found out his AMU is moving down the flight line & that he is staying in it while other friends are switching to new ones.
Lukas turned 7mo & is trying to crawl
Brok has discovered he loves Bananas & Honey nut Cheerios & frozen burritos
We got Harley, another min pin
We are now on speech therapist #2 & DSI #2 for Brok (2nd times a charm?)

Pretty much this month has just been busy... Nothing exciting but a lot of busy-ness...

We have had to cut out all juice from Brok. He got an extremely bad rash that wouldn't go away so we decided to cut out the first thing that has always caused the rash... Well unfortunately it went away & hasn't come back so he can't have any more juice. He has also been switched to soy milk becuase of the same reason :( Also, his EI & speech therapists weren't workng out with us so we are once again starting over there! We just have bad luck with the first round! Brok is such a goof- he makes us laugh all the time! His new favorite thing is see thorugh stuff- he has learned that he can see thorugh anything that is relatively clear & we see him knee walking around with a plate on his face! Boy do we love him! Yesterday I came down the stairs & he had found some gum I had bought a week ago & was chewing a huge wad! Like he knew what gum was! What a nut!

Lukas is such an easy going baby... He is happy to be on the floor & play, he is happy to go down when it's nap time... Just very mellow. He has seemed to grow up this month, he looks more like a little boy vs a baby... Which is ok- he is still babyish to me! He is still extremely tiny, especially around his waist but this child can move! He has learned to scoot himself (almost army crawl but not quite) to get what he wants or to roll to get to it. He is pushing up on his hands & toes (like a pushup) & has realized he can fling his body forward that way. He has also learned to feed himself Cheerios- Brok & he will sit on the floor together & eat them. Cute! He has this new game he likes to play where he will push his body up as high as he can while in bed & peek-a-booing over the rail. It's so cute! This child has won my heart! I can't get enough!

I am busy as ever... just trying to get everything ready for my new stores opening on Hyena Cart (Simply Serendipity & Breath of Fresh Air Congos). Instead of doing strictly customs, I will now have a stock of items on hand... IT shoud be fun...

Besides that, there isn't much to mention... Harley is such a fun dog- he is so good! We love him!

Update again & another giveaway!

2009-04-15T19:44:00.001-07:00

Ok- I know 3 posts in 2 days! Wow! Read the other posts!

so here's the stats:
Lukas-6mo on April 3rd so today is 6mo & 12days
weighs in at 14lb, 14oz (& he even nursed & had a jar of food prior to going!)- in the 10th%
is 26in long 50%
his head is 17.9cm circumference- which is actually rather large 50-75%

This man is skinny! & my doctor is insane- he told me to feed him steak, eggs, cheese... all the things that I have forever been told not to feed a baby under age 1- so I won't because I googled it & even though steak would be fine if cut up teeny tiny- egg whites are not & yolks are not until age 8-9mo. & cheese is not good in large quantities... Anyway

And for the giveaway- check it out- not my things but I am hosting it! www.babybugcreationsllc.com- very cute items from extrememly talented mamas!

Easter

2009-04-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

We are alive!

2009-04-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

It has been a CRAZY CRAZY few weeks!

We have done sooo much!

Lukas:

Blessing
saying mama
drinking juice
Eating pizza & cake for the first time
having a half birthday
outgrowing his 0-3mo clothes (about time!)
had his 1st Easter

Brok:

turned 2
learned to sign "more, cracker, cookie, please" and throw his cup at me to get more milk
learned to walk with a walker toy
took 2 steps alone
had 3 birthday parties
Had Easter

Kevin:

had a week off
visited his family
started working back to a somewhat decent schedule (2-10)
got to sit in the back of a super old plane
enjoyed his family
forgot to lock the doors on his car
got his stereo stolen

Ashley:

took a week vacation with 2 kids under 2 (ok kevin was there)
sister came to stay for a week
family came to stay for 3 days, ended up staying for 5
uses cloth diapers on her kids
finished stocking her stash for the diapers
started & finished over 20 orders in a week
Got to see all her old work friends
feels like she has no time!

Basically it was a very good passed month & even though we have been CRAZY busy, I wouldn't have traded it for the world!

Brok is progressing so well... He now has all the building blocks to walk, it's a matter of doing it... He will walk with a toy- We had worked on in in therapy but she had to hold onto it so when I was working with him I tried to get him to do it but he just took off! I remember thinking he is going to face plant but he did so well & does it all the time downstairs! Now we're trying to wean him off that & to walking alone.

Lukas can now say mama & it is his favorite thing to do. He also fit into the same blessing outfit that Brok wore when he was 2wks old & I think that he actually almost fit it better! He is still our tiny dude! We have his 6mo on Wed.

Kevin is just working away while I hang out at home... Which I rarely do! I feel like I am constantly on the go! I pick up & take an 11yr old girl from school and so I leave at 830am & get home around 9, then pickher up at 230 on mondays & 330 T-Fri. It keeps me on my toes!

Enjoy this slide show of all we have done!

Lukas's blessing

2009-03-25T22:42:00.001-07:00

Sunday March 29. 2009
2:30 pm
Leeds LDS chapel Relief Society Room

Come if you want! We'd love to have you!

PLEASE READ the other post!

The past 2 yrs- I Love you Brok

2009-03-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

Where have they gone? I could swear I was just pregnant with you! I was wondering what you would look like, who you would be like & how I could love someone so much!

& then you were here & my life has never been the same! You were sent to me to teach me patience & how to love. I don't know what I would do without you! The past year has been something to remember!

You are my special kid- You make me laugh & cry & want to pull my hair out! But overall I just have an overwhelming feeling of love... You teach me something new everday! You are my hero- when you fall, you don't give up- you get back up & keep movin... I am so proud of all you have accomplished... From last year when Dr Harsha told us you had autism, to now where we know you have sensory integration disorder so much has changed! You couldn't even hardly sit up! Now you are crawling around like a mad man & cruising around all the furniture! you are sooo close to walking! You couldn't hold your bottle, let alone drink out of a cup! Now you are a pro! You can use a cup with a straw, & can even sometimes with help drink from the dixie cups during nursery!

you Couldn't talk, now you can say mom & can sign more, please & eat! You LOVE to read your pink ant book & to swing!

Brok, I love you! I love how your eyes light up when your dad walks into the room & even more how even though you are a daddy's boy, you still will always love your mom, I love how you cock your head to the side to look at us when we pick you up, I love how you can fall asleep on the floor- anywhere, anytime- even in the pizza place! I Love how you are content to play with silverware or wires! I love how you can laugh & cry in the same breath! I love how you steam roll or plow over your brother & how much he adores you! You are so special to me & I want you to always remember that!

Happy birthday bug! you are my baby & I can't believe that it has been 2 yrs since you came into my world & left your mark! You have taught me so much about myself & about life & I am so grateful that you chose me to be your mommy! I love you Brok Grant Beal!

2 year stats:

28lbs 3oz

36in

crawled at 16mo
cruised for the first time at 17mo
Became a big brother at 18mo & 3wks
climbed stairs for the first time at 19.5mo
climbed onto the couch first time at 22mo
climbed down the stairs first time at 23mo
opened the toilet for the first time :) at 23mo

ps- this is a day late but we are visiting Granny & Grandpa so I couldn't use the computer!

This week in my life... sorry- it's long

2009-03-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Will live forever...

I am going to vent so please bear with me...

How does my day go everyday?

6-645am: feed Lukas for the umpteenth time, Brok wakes up screaming even though he went to bed at eleven pm

7am: get kids out of bed, drag my butt to get out of bed as well

715am: Lukas goes back to sleep, Try to keep Brok quiet so Kevin can sleep

730am: get ready for the day- 5min on me 35min getting bag & Kids ready to go- feed Lukas really fast

8am: Leave house to pick up Takara for school

815am: pick up Takara

830am: Drop off Takara- Listen to kids screaming because they want to be home

9am: figure out something to do for an hr before the playdate

915am: wander around Target or Michael's for an hr with screaming children, Feed Lukas while walking pushing the stroller with Brok- covered of course

10am: Playdate- Few minutes of solitude & peace until Lukas realizes he is tired & hungry & Brok gets mad because he can't go outside

NOON: Pack up, head home & hope that Kevin got enough sleep to function

1-130ishpm: Many days this is the therapy hour, with Brok screaming.

2pm: feed Lukas, try to squeeze in some work, put Brok down (if Kevin doesn't have plans to go do something) where he will scream once again because he doesn't want to sleep

3pm-4pm: usually once again, out & about with Kevin, trying to get in that "quality family time"

5-7pm: Eat, Brok naps-if we're lucky, Lukas eats, eats & eats some more, clean, possibly shower, maybe work

8pm: Kevin begins getting ready for work, Brok screams for an hr straight, wants to go to bed but I won't let him because he will be up at 5am

830-9pm: Kevin leaves for work, I start getting the boys ready for bed, feed Lukas, finally give up on Brok staying awake, put him screaming into his bed only to have him get out & get mad because he is locked in his room

10pm: feed Lukas, hang out with Brok hoping he will just crash on the floor

11pm: Brok is out, try to get some work done

1130pm: Feed Lukas & debate about going to bed yet

12am: finally get to sit & relax, maybe get more work done, maybe read

1230am: Feed Lukas

1am: get into bed

130am: fall asleep- if I am lucky

2am: feed Lukas

230am: sleep

3-5am: feed Lukas every 40min, go back to sleep

530am: get text from kevin saying he is off, or he climbs into bed

6am- starts all over again

I am mentally, physically & emotionally exhausted. I want to curl up in a ball & cry- I haven't had time to finish a project in one sitting in who knows how long... I don't even get to sleep in on the weekends because he has to keep some of the same hours so that his body isn't all messed up- that means that he stays up til 3am & yet I still have to get up in the mornings- I understand saturdays, fine because he works til 530am but seriously? He can go to bed at midnight & still get more sleep than I do on Saturday nights & still feel the same hours wise but he wont... & when I ask for help, he says he is tired... HA! I don't think he knows what tired is! He gets a straight at least 5hrs of sleep once we leave in the morning- but not like it matters, even if I did get to sleep in, he can't keep them quiet or doesn't seem to think it's fair so I never get to actually go back to sleep...

& the crappy part is that Kevin is on this schedule for another month at least! We get a short break for a week to go home but even then it's going to be an adjustment!

sorry for venting, I just had to get it out... It's so frustrating to me- not to mention that instead of him being able to have a shot to get off early once in a blue moon, due to the fact that he had a class the first 3wks of feb, & then the first week of night flying had another one day class, they are all so mean to him so he never gets off early- This week he is working the snack bar so that is a definate 530am quittin time... ARGH!

& another thing to make this even worse? They still don't have Brok's test results back- Part of them are back & are normal but we are still waiting on others... GRRRRRR

On a lighter note- I did get a new double jogger yesterday- we went to return a piece to our gate & I saw it out of box up there & asked, nothing wrong with it, just a return & they gave 10% off plus I had a coupon for $20 off a jogger so it came out to be $165.18 instead of $220! Plus, $30 we had in cash from returning the thing! It's awesome!

& Brok can now go up & down the stairs- alone, without falling- he has gotten so good at that! We had a yard sale on Saturday ($200+!) & so we just put up the dog food & water & left him inside, checking every so often. I checked on him once & he had climbed up so I just checked a few min later to be sure he wasn't by the gate & he was downstairs- I thought Kevin had brought him down & then I realized that Kevin was putting up signs! :) Good job buddy! I am so impressed with his progress- the sensory makes him a completely different kid! It's hard to believe that my baby will be 2yrs old in 13days! Where has the time gone! I love you Brok!

Lukas is doing so well at sitting up, he still needs support but he is getting to be so big! He is a major cuddler! He is also starting to want to bring his knees up- I know it's a good sign but I can't chase 2 kids around!!!

I also started to use cloth diapers this past week... I have a couple friends who LOVE them & I have always been afraid to try- I did some research & realized that the cloth diapers were not so scary! I use a brand called Gdiapers that have a flushable insert- they can also be tossed like a disposable but they biodegrade in 50-100days versus 500yrs... They have an outer cover with a plastic liner & then you just put the insert in & put them on! We use cloth inserts @ night & they are still not as bad! I have found a new love- Brok always got bad rashes, he hasn't since we started these! YAY!

Anwyay sorry for all the ranting, I hope that these next 4wks go fast!

GiveAway

2009-03-02T22:08:00.000-08:00

I just posted so PLEASE read that one too but I am hosting a give away on my site & want all my mommy & blogger friends to participate! Check it out & maybe one of you can win!

http://www.babybugcreationsllc.com/

I am also featured in a giveaway on www.thelittlewindowshoppe.com

Chaos is the story of my life!

2009-03-01T08:30:00.001-08:00

What a few weeks it has been! I swear I dont know where the time goes!

All about Brok's appt:

Absolutely nothing! We had to drive 30+min to make it there during the worst time of the day & then we waited for 20min to get called into the room & another 30+min to see the doc! Then when the doc came in it didn't get much better... It was a resident doc who is the developmental pediatrician, he asked all the medical histories, etc & did all that stuff, he kept saying it wasn't Mental Retardation (ok soooo obvious) but never said yay or nay for autism. He kept saying that it was a blanket term for if they cant find something else wrong. So then he leaves and another 15+ min ago by, still trapped in this tiny room, & he returns with the pediatric neurologist who goes through all this schpiel about how they don't like to use the term autism & how Brok may or may not have it blah blah blah- still nothing to jump about, no diagnosis, no hope, NOTHING! Then he starts saying well we're going to test for chromosome abnormalities to see if there is something there & then if it comes back as nothing, we'll do some more invasive ones & oh yeah, he's going to need to have his hearing tested & oh yeah, he needs to have another pyschoeval through DDD. Anyway so still no answer, they took lots of blood from him & we get those results back on Wed. I guess we'll see what they say... I can't say I am relieved or disappointed... it seems like a big circle of never-ending nothingness...

As for the rest of the time, we have been doing really well with the sensory, we found the coolest swing at ikea that is perfect for him, it's a pouch but has an inflatable pillow thing so he still sits up & we hung it in the baby's room (since he still sleeps in our room). Brok LOVES it! & i see it making a difference! If he gets really fussy, I swing him & he calms, even if it's just a few minutes of swinging, it makes a huge difference! He is more receptive to learning because he has that input. He doesn't get upset near as much & is learning more & more! We also decided to take off the side of his bed- he is now a big boy- because he would scream so early to get him out but now he just gets out on his own & plays, gives us another 15-30min of sleep at least! YES! This is how we found him the first night, sometimes we still find him like this! I put his crib bumpers on the floor next to the bed anticipating a fall! Now we have a giant stuffed dog that he sleeps on if he falls out! & yes, naked kid, it's soooo hot here lately! He also discovered that he likes thin mints, I thought they were safe on the ledge but he climbed on the couch & got a hold of them!

Lukas is now also in the crib, in our room, next to the bed, with the side off... He wasn't sleeping well in the pack & play (not that he does much better in this) so I decided to make the change- he does better, sleeps for a long chunk when he first goes down but he eats all night! He is still a little skinny kid, the size 2 huggies overlap halfway around him- but we love him! He is learning so much! He can now roll back to stomach & a few times has gone all the way back to his stomach! He can also "sit" unassited for about 30-45 seconds. He is really good at it! He loves to play with toys, & everything goes in his mouth, it's really funny to watch! He can put the binky in & out too! He loves the solids & can finish a stage 2 size jar no problem! His favorites so far are sweet potatoes & chicken, apples & chicken & ham, pineapple & rice! Yumm! He is a pretty happy baby for the most part & as long as he is fed & paid attention to he is content! He LOVES to snuggle especially when he gets really tired! So cute!

I have been crazy busy... The other night I made something like 9 rags, 8 diap/wipes & 3 crayon rolls... & the next night it was 12 rags! I am anticipating more & more business since 2 of the sites I am featured on are going to do write ups about me this week... YES! Besides that I am sick, once again, but I can't tell if it's allergies or just lack of sleep causing a weakened immune system... It's not as bad as it has been & for that I am grateful!

Kevin has had to work the most awful schedule this past week & this week... They are night flying which means days goes in around 11 & gets off around 8ish & you guessed it, He goes in around 9ish & works til around 330-5AM! That means he sleeps til noon & with a toddler, I have been trying to be gone for that time frame! It is so awful because I feel like a single parent! I put them to bed each night &get up with them each morning! Brok has been really good though & for that I can't complain too bad! Though to top off the worst schedule ever, he also has weekend duty & today they are doing a flyover so he had to work! & not just a few hours, probably til at least 2. Which means I either brave taking them both to church, alone, or we don't get to go :( I still haven't decided if I am brave enough yet- Brok is a handful, especially during sacrament! I know there are plenty of people to help but I feel bad that they are either being interrupted by him or having to take him out! We shall see!

Anyway, that is our life the past few weeks, it seems I never have the time to update like usual... I will *TRY* to post more when we know about Brok's results!

another 2 weeks have come & gone

2009-02-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

What have we been up to?

Well- Lukas had his 4mo appt with the doctor- He weighed in at 12lbs 14oz & is 24in long. He is still soooo little but growing consistently. He Loves the baby food- the only thing we have found so far he doesn't like is the peas- but who does right? He is such a doll & I am so glad I get to spend all my time with him! He has learned to roll over (in this picture I started him laying longways in the bed onhis back) and will spend tons of time on his stomach holding his head up- he loves to watch anything & everything! He also LOVES his seahorse toy- I found him like this the other day when I put him down for a nap!

Brok is continuing to do well with his therapies & progress- he has stood several times alone for a few seconds & the other day we caught him standing for about 30seconds. I know it's not much for anyone else but to us it's impressive! One day he will just take off! He has an appointment with the developmental pediatrician this week to see if in fact he has any issue other than the sensory integration disorder. We have a feeling it's going to be autism even if it is a bit mild. He is learning some pretty tricky things lately, climbing on the couch, using items to climb- ie his sing &go choo-choo or the baby car seat to get onto the coffee table, & has found that he likes having boundaries- we finally gated off the section of the loft I use as my craft area/office & it has been so nice! He is growing so fast! I was watching a video from when he was first given to me & it made me so sad he is getting so big! He had his first valentine exchange at our mommy group & it was so fun & cute! I love my little bug! He decided the other day he wanted to be a baby again so here he is sitting in the baby seat.

I have been swamped with orders- I was featured in a giveaway on leelou blogs & I have been going CRAZY trying to keep up with it all- of course it is wonderful & my business is growing so well! I am so stoked! One of my best sellers is the Birthday outfits- this one is my favorite! She called me friday & needed it saturday- luckily they don't take long! It is so fun! I love what I do & find it so rewarding! I have also started taking & picking up a girl to/from school & it has helped so much! It makes me get up & get going! WE also hosted a playgrounp at our house last week & had so much fun!

Kevin has had class for the past few weeks & it has been wonderful! He leaves around the same time I do in the mornings & is home by around 1 or 2 so we are able to have nights together- it will be an adjustment to have him back on the night shift! He also got rid of our orange buggy we have had sitting forever- a guy wanted to trade his 1993 Honda Accord for something & we gave him the buggy & some $$$ for it. Now Kevin drives that or the motorcycle everyday so I have a car! YES! We are also trying to sell our 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe if you know anyone- it's basically a brand new car!

We got our taxes back last week & bought a new mattress! We had been sleeping on one we bought with a set of couches for $45 when we first moved here last year & it needed to be replaced! there were serious indentions where we laid & I felt every movement! The new one is latex & I can't feel anything! It is wonderful! Here is a picture of it onthe frame to give an idea of how big it is! We ended up taking off the frame because it was too high! We also found a great deal on craigslist for a TV/DVD/Surround sound combo- $400 for a 32" LG flat panel LCD tv & a new surround sound system- AWESOME! We are putting the rest into savings!

That is all for this week- I will post again after we go to the doctor this week!

I Love Giveaways!

2009-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Ok guys- so I have to say that I am so excited! Leelou BLogs is hosting an online baby shower- she is about to have a baby anyday- & One of my products is included! I am so stoked that she included my item! If you want a chance to win some freaking amazing things- not just for babies- visit her site!

http://www.leeloublogs.blogspot.com/ Or click on the link on the right!

I hope someone wins something! (if you do share with me!) :)

This past week

2009-02-01T18:47:00.001-08:00

Not too much going on here-

We went to the zoo with our mommy & Me group- tons of fun for Brok & the kids!

Brok did really well at his first real session with the OT- He spent a while in a swing that is like a sheet Tied up at the top & he loved it- he swung him for about 5 min in a linear motion then did big circles & then smaller ones while doing big ones- which he loved! Then they bounced on a big ball & did some puzzles & did a teeter totter activity where they helped him balance. Once they did that about 40-45 min into his session they finished with swinging on a swing that is a 3x3ft square board- he just did a half circle motion & Brok was screaming for a long time then all the sudden- SILENCE! He had calmed down! He did that for the rest of the session & then Brok & him went over & HE LET HIM PUT ON HIS SHOES- no fighting, no screaming, just calm- it was amazing! & for the next 2-3hrs he was so peaceful & content to just sit! It was AMAZING! We now have him on what they called a sensory stimulation input diet- every 2 hrs when we can we do 15min of sensory input and then read a book or something- this has worked a little- he LOVES to spin in the computer chair & bounce on the trampoline- I am so excited now! I can see that there is hope!

On a side note- Look at these pictures of Brok- I put the boppy on the floor to give lukas some tummy time & by the time I got him on the floor Brok had grabbed his pink ant book (Thanks Athena!) and sat in between the boppy to read! So CUTE!

Lukas also had an exciting week! He started solid food today & as far as I can tell LOVES it! I fed him carrots & rice cereal- I am so proud of myself! I got a coupon for $1 off 4 jars of beechnut food & they were 40cents each at Wal Mart so I got 4 jars for 20 cents! WOOHOO for me! Anyway- he had a blast eating it- though he wasn't too sure at first- I think he enjoyed it! I am excited to see how that will affect his sleeping pattern! He also let my mom feed him a bottle of formula- just a little but enough to know I can maybe have hope to go out without a baby! & Another first was the jumperoo- he LOVED it- doesn't know how to do the toys but he will stare at Brok playing with the toys- they are so cute together!

My brother Casey also moved in with us this weekend- He is 20 & needed to move out of my parents house- this was good because my parents & little sis got to come down for the weekend & my wonderful photographer of a mom got some super cute shots of Lukas! It makes me so sad that he is growing up but to me he stll seems so small! We have his 4mo appt Thursday but I don't hink he has grown too much. He is SOOOO tiny! He still wears NB pants & 0-3 onsies- Check out this one that I made him!

anyway- besides that we haven't done really anything- had a super bowl party- the cards lost- oh well- woulda been cool but it's all good! Maybe next year!

PS check out my new skils on the sewing machine- I made this for our friend's little girl who just turned 2 today! Her name is Emma!

Who doesn't love a giveaway!

2009-01-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

Very Cute bags!

http://simplychicbabyboutique.blogspot.com/

Awesome FREAKING stroller!

http://inevergrewup.net/giveaway-25-bumbleride-indie-stroller/#comment-8150

Also check out the button to the right where my product will be featured in the giveaway!

What life is like for Brok

2009-01-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

So I know I just posted & Please read that one too but this is so exciting I had to post!

We have been having some issues with therapists... Brok is on his 2nd PT (physical therapist) & we had been having some serious issues with our OT (occupational therapist) so I called my case manager for DDD (department of developmental disabilities) & discussed our options... Basically our new PT is awesome & has done a lot of figuring with Brok to see what works & doesn't... Everyone has been saying that he has sensory issues- at first they thought it was aversions to sensory input (ie standing on his toes to avoid the whole foot on the floor) but she realized the other day through a simple activity- dried beans in a bucket big enough for him to sit in- that he CRAVES sensory input.

Well we started with a new OT today & he gave the best explanation ever for why he is the way he is! & those of you who know Brok will agree that it makes complete sense!

Imagine that you have just gotten off a rollercoaster- you want more & you feel as though you are still moving- still have that adrenaline pumping- That is what Brok is like 24:7. His body doesn't know how to regulate that input- his brain keeps saying I need that movement- therefore he moves- but he can't satisfy the need because he can't move efficiently or have that lasting effect- so he just keeps going to try to satisfy that need! When Brok does therapy- we can't keep him still- UNLESS- he has that input (ie swinging, rocking, bouncing on a ball)

The OT said that the reason Brok can't learn to do things normal is because there is that need & he related it to feeling hungry or having to pee- you can't focus on anything because you have that sensation- well once that sensation is gone you can focus on what you need to do- Brok has the sensation he needs to move constantly & that he needs that input so he can't focus on developing because he can't sit still- kinda like ADHD or ADD but not...

Anyway so to "cure" that he is going to start with finding where Brok's breaking point is- swinging intensely for 15min or bouncing- giving him an outlet for that sensory need & fulfilling it in a more effective way- & once he figures out how much he can/can't take- he will work down from there to make him "normal" or as close to normal as possible. He is also going to give him structured play- like stacking blocks & shape sorting- things a normal 2yr old can do-

Brok also likes to be in control of his environment- he will freak out when his therapists work with him making him do things because he is not in control... Another related thing to his sensory issue- he can't control it!

Basically with a lot of working- & definately won't be overnight changes- he can become just like everyo0ne else! PHEW what a relief! We have a referral now to go to the developmental pediatrician so that we can learn if for sure he does have any issues but it's looking like there is a strong possiblity that he really doesn't!

YAY for people who know what htey are talking about! How a child gets like that I will never know but I can't deny it has been an experience we will never forget! I love my special kid!

Wow...

2009-01-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

My life seems to just be getting more & more CRAZY!

We have had a lot of ups & downs this past few weeks... I can't seem to find the time or the energy to sit down & catch up!

We took our first trip to the zoo- ok well the 2nd really but last time it was just Brok & I with the kids I used to watch & he was like 6mo old. Brok had a blast! They have this zoo by us that is called the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium & it was so awesome! We got the year pass for Christmas & plan to use it often! Some highlights of the zoo:
-playing with the crazy cracked out monkey: he was in a cage all alone & was so cool! He acted like he was on drugs & was obsessed with Kevin & trying to eat his finger! We could all put our fingers out for him &he would just shake them but Kevin's he always tried to pull through the cage! He loved Brok!
-The Grey Hornbill bird eating Captain Crunch from Kevin's hand & then almost landing on Brok trying to eat it!
-The Skylift ride- boring but still cool- It was so warm!
-The touch tanks- Brok got to pet starfish, horseshoe crabs & sea urchins- It was so freaking cool!
-Petting the Sting Rays!: There was a larger pool- like the size of a swimming pool- that had sting rays in it & you could reach in & they swim by you & you could touch them! Even Brok got to do it which was the coolest thing!
We LOVE the zoo!

We also have battled sickness- AGAIN! Last year we didn't get sick hardly at all & this year it won't go away! I managed to escape it but this past weekend it caught up with me! Boy was I sick! Still am really but feel much better today!

Lukas is afraid of the dark- I kid you not! He will not sleep at night in his bed, but if I hold him, he is fine. I know it's not his bed because during the day he sleeps in it just fine! & not a long time either-just regular naps! So we have determined that he is afraid of the dark! He is such a different baby than Brok- He loves to be held & to cuddle! As much as I hate having him sleep in bed with me- He is so stinking cutE!

We joined a "Mommy & Me" group. I met 2 ladies through hosting my boutique that are part of a group of women with kids ages 6mo-2yrs & they invited me to join their group- We went to our first meet-up last week & had a blast! Now I have more friends & Brok gets to socialize! Plus there are more mommies that are either prego or have babies Lukas's age so they can all grow up together!

I don't know what happened but since I got my sewing machine for Christmas, I have learned to make so many things! I can now make onsies with appliques, burp rags, nursing covers (the BEST!), binky clips & boppy covers! So if you know anyone having a baby or if you are I can make it for you!

& Guess what happened this morning! So we hear Brok crying this moring around 530ish... My first thought is ok he'lll cry himself back to sleep- after 15min he didn't so I got up & went to go get him out of bed- HE WAS ALREADY OUT! Don't ask me how he did it but the kid who can't walk can now get out of his crib! We didn't hear a thud & the dogs didn't freak out so our only thought is that he can climb! We will see how he does tonight & see if we need to move to a big boy bed! EEK I am not ready for that!

What cute kids!

2009-01-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

I just had to take some time to just say how much I LOVE my kids! There are days when I feel like ripping my hair out but then there are times when I can't believe how cute they are & wonder where they get it from!

Brok is a doll! He gets so excited about the most silly things! Today he was so thrilled while he was in one of his therapies & I brought up a bucket of dry pinto beans! He could have played with that for hours! Or how when I was in the shower he comes & opens the curtain & gives me the best smile! One of the most rewarding & heartmelting things is how excited he gets when his dad walks in! He is his best friend! It makes me love the both of them even more! & it is the cutest thing when you are holding him on your hip he leans forward to look you right in the eye. & then he gives you the BIGGEST smile! What a crack up! I feel so bad for the kid. He has 4 therapies a week from 4 different people who are really just trying to help but he doesn' t understand that! I can't wait for them to be over! He has speech, occupational, physical & early intervention therapy... & this child just pushes through it! He is such a good big brother & is always concerned with if his brother is crying. Like this picture- I was in the bathroom & I heard Lukas screaming & I thought "Oh man what did Brok do" & I came out to see Brok consoling him! He had climbed onto the wrapping paper box so he could see better. This kid never ceases to amaze me! He is learning so much. We taought him to wash his hands & so when you put them under the water he interlocks his fingers & rubs them together to get them clean!I just can't wait to see what else he learns! I look forward to the next few years!

& then Lukas... What a little baby! I don't know how come he is so tiny but I am so in love! He had his 2 month appointment today (though he is 3months) & he only weighs 11lbs 11oz but he is 24in long. He has the cutest smile! I love to just sit & talk with him! He loves to read & like his brother loves music! He just discovered that he can hit his toys on his play mat & they move & make noise! It is so fun to watch him grow! I can't believe he has only been in our life for 3 months. What did we ever do without him! He is so cute! He is in love with his pacifier! He could suck on that forever! & he has to be surrounded by blankets! He has them all in his bed & loves to grab & cuddle them. & this child LOVES baths & being clean! He goes through 3 outfits a day! It is such a new experience for me! I never knew that my heart could hold enough love for both of them!

Right now I am just feeling like I am so lucky... I have the best kids & husband. They are everything to me! I love them so much!

Take the time to read this!

2009-01-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

This legislation will force myself as well as many other small business owners to shut down. It is the end to resale stores, thrift stores & homemade gifts!Please read & send this letter to your senators & congressmen!

Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA

A Proposal From the handmadetoyalliance.org:

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small parts, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and updating their molds to include batch labels.
For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers, however, the costs of mandatory testing, to the tune of up to $4,000 per toy, will likely drive them out of business. And the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007. Toy makers won't be the only ones impacted by the CPSIA, the thousands of US businesses who offer clothing, jewelry and other gifts for children --in essence-- the entire children's industry will be as well.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of toys that have earned and kept the public's trust. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade toys will no longer be legal in the US.

Thriving small businesses are crucial to the financial health of our nation. Let's amend the CPSIA so that all businesses large and small are able to comply and survive!

- Cecilia Leibovitz (Founder, CraftsburyKids.com) Dec 12 @ 07:04PM PST

From: [your name and address]

To: [your congress person or senator]

Re: Changes needed to the Consumer Product Improvement Act (CPSIA) to Save Handmade Toys in the USA

Dear [your congress person or senator],

Like many people, I was deeply concerned by the dangerous and poisonous toys that large Chinese toy manufacturers have been selling to our nations families. And, I was very pleased that Congress acted quickly to protect America's children by enacting the CPSIA.

However, I am very concerned that the CPSIA's mandates for third party testing and labeling will have a dramatic and negative effect on small toymakers and in the USA, Canada, and Europe, whose toy safety record has always been exemplary. It will also devastate small manufacturers of children's clothes and other handmade goods for children.

Because of the fees charged by Third Party testing companies, many manufacturers, especially makers of beautiful wooden toys and unique children's clothes from Maine to Oregon will be driven out of business. Their cottage workshops simply do not make enough money to afford the $4,000 price tag per toy that Third Party testers are charging.

I urge you to quickly request the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make some very reasonable exclusions in their interpretation of the law as they continue their rulemaking process. For example, manufacturers should be able to rely on testing done by their materials suppliers instead of paying for redundant unit-based testing. I would also like to see an exemption to third party testing requirements for micro-businesses similar to the exemptions granted by the FDA for small producers under the food labeling laws.

If you feel that testing should still be required, then the CPSC should be made to offer free testing services for small manufacturers.

These toy makers and crafters have earned and kept the public's trust. They provide jobs for hundreds and quality playthings for thousands. Their unique businesses should be protected. Please visit www.handmadetoyalliance.org to learn more about this issue.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[your name]

Where oh where has the Beal family gone?

2009-01-02T16:42:00.001-08:00

Everywhere you can imagine!

This post will be followed by pictures as soon as I can find the camera...

In the past few weeks we have...

hosted a boutique at our home
Kevin turned 24
traveled to Las Vegas & elsewhere to visit family& friends
gotten sick, gotten better & gotten sick AGAIN
learned that Lukas HATES formula & that it is not a good smell
Been able to sleep in til 830 or later everyday
had over 9days off in 2 weeks, paid without taking vacation time!
screwed up our paycheck royally...
Had our first major fall from brok

& pretty much any & everything else!

December has been a whirlwind for us. From boutiques to sickness to holidays... I honestly feel like the month wasn't even there!

I won't tell about everything but here are a few good stories!

We had an awesome Christmas... Because we had so much trouble with our car, one of the guys from Kevin's work nominated us for being one of those "Christmas Angel" things where they give you gifts... We were hurting & since it was the first year that Brok would really know what presents were, we were glad to accept... It completely blew our expectations out of the water. They were so generous & giving. In lieu of gifts for their workers, they donated it to us. We received gift cards to wal mart in large amounts, gas cards, food, & gifts. One of the best gifts was an annual memebership to the zoo that is right by our house. We will definately be using that! It was such a kind & selfless thing they did that it was easy for us to turn around & "re-gift" one of our gift cards to one of our friends who have been there for us on many occasions! (you know who you are & we love ya!) We were also able to go see family for Christmas & had a blast! Kevin had the 24-28th off as well as the 1st-4th. It had snowed a ton the week before we were there & it snowed on Christmas Eve & Christmas! It was AWESOME! I got a sewing machine & some clothes, Kevin got new tires for his bike & a blanket, the boys got tons of clothes & sweet toys!

One thing I can't forget to mention is that my wonderful husband celebrated his 24th birthday Christmas Eve, & most of it was spent driving! But we love him & he got some good stuff (all mountain biking: a bike repair manual, a mountain bike movie & a year subscription to a biking magazine)

Brok has gotten on a way better schedule recently... At least for us. Most parents would hate what I am about to say but it works for us! He takes a mid-morning nap around 11 or so for about 45 min & then a longer one around 5pm. He usually wakes up from that between 7 & 8 and is then up with me til between 10 & 11. But that works because Kevin usually works til then or later! & the best part is we get to sleep in! YES!!!!

Lukas tried formula for the second time & it all ended up coming back out... ON ME! Oh well, I guess he just keeps nursing! That's ok, I love the bonding time!

& last but not least... Brok has known how to climb the stair for about 2 months. but he slid down 2 stairs about a week after he learned & has not done it since... Until right before Christmas. We were downstairs hanging out & I guess he got bored so he climbed all the way up & now does that every time we are down there... The other night he was climbing up and got about halfway there & I am not sure what happened but he cam crashing down... HARD! He had fallen down approx 6-8 steps... Imagine just like you see on TV... It scared me so bad, I threw my cup of water down & ran to check him... He was MAD that I had gotten him up & proceeded to climb right back up to the top! What a trooper! It still scares me that he could fall & break something but for the time being,there is not a scratch or scrape on his body! He has accomplished one goal set by his therapists- standing at a toy flat footed for 1min. He did 3! We are getting somewhere...

That is all from us... We are alive & well... Hope everyone has a great new year !

Goals for 2009

cleaner house= happier family & more organization
budget= savings
Brok=walking

Things we are looking forward to in 2009

3.9% pay raise (approx $250)
Brok walking & turning 2
2 years in the Air Force & another pay raise
Lukas walking & turning 1
4yr anniversary
& anything else life throws our way!

Holiday letter

2008-12-30T07:33:00.000-08:00

Ok so I am late on this & we have apparently disappeared but I promise I will post Christmas pics & a new post sometime this week!

Here is our letter- sorry if you didn't get it & sorry if you did & have to re-read it!

Hello again! Wow where has this year gone! I swear it was just 2007! Time flies when you are having fun! We have lived in the Phoenix area for a year & survived the summer, Phew! We moved into a new house in June, bigger & closer & more of what we wanted in a house. It is 2.5miles from Kevin’s work & that has been nice with only having one car!

Kevin reached his one year mark in the Air Force in May of this year & has decided that working around the jets is not as fun as it may seem. He has gone from being on day shift (anywhere from 6am-4pm) to working swing shift (anywhere from 1pm-3am) and loves the new schedule. He is the motorcycle safety rep from his AMU (aircraft maintenance unit). He spent a good part of the year working on his CDC’s which is a large training test. He had 5 booklets of between 200-500pages & he had one month to study each & memorize what was in them. At the end of each month he took a test so that he could get the next booklet. After he had all 5 he had another month to study ALL of them &take a larger test. He passed with flying colors in September and is now a “Level 3”. He can now get called to work on any aircraft. He has also taken back up his pastime of mountain biking. He doesn’t get to ride much but loves to have a hobby! This next year he is looking forward to Below the Zone & the possibility of sewing on a new rank!

Brok is still growing like a weed. We have had quite the year from him. In January at his 9month appointment, we were told he had autism though both of us knew he was too young to officially diagnose it. He was definitely slow to progress as far as sitting up and talking but we never imagined… That led to an evaluation in early February from a developmental specialist who ruled out autism and was diagnosed with a muscle issue called hypertonia. Basically his muscles have always been flexed since he was born so he was overly toned. He finally started early intervention therapy in June & started physical therapy & occupational therapy in August.. He has since progressed to the point where he is crawling like a pro & stands on any & everything. He has learned to cruise the furniture and climb the stairs so our goal for the next bit is to WALK! He loves to eat- anything & everything, total boy! He loves water & has learned that the bath is a fun place! He is a total ham & we love it!

On October 3, 2008 Lukas Eli Beal was born! He weighed in at a pound and a half smaller than Brok, 7lbs 3.5oz, and was an inch shorter, 20inches! He is a very happy baby who enjoys eating, sleeping & pooping as well as snuggling and crying. He is on a schedule… if you call it that. He will sleep for 2hr chunks only but at least it’s a start. He is our tiny guy, but has a personality that is something else! He hates being dirty whether it’s diapers, clothes or no baths!. We didn’t know how much love we could have! Brok adores him & seems to be concerned when he cries. He also wants to play with him already, steamrolling and wrestling with him. I can’t wait to see how they play once he is a bit bigger!

I spent the majority of this year pregnant from… January to October so I was extremely pregnant through the HOT, HOT summer here! I started the year still nanny-ing for a family of 3 boys but when I had “morning sickness” she decided to stay home & so did I! I was pretty bored being at home all day (most of the time stuck at home with no car out in the middle of nowhere) so I took up a hobby that quickly became a business… I am now the owner of BabyBug Creations LLC. I started with making custom nursery letters and have since branched out into the burp rags, tutus & crayon roll arenas! I can’t say it has been easy or very lucrative but it helps pay the bills & keeps me from going stir crazy! I attended my first boutique a few weeks ago & hosted my first as well. I have had time lately to read which has always been a favorite pastime for me! YAY for books! I am looking forward to possibly finishing my degree (hopefully) & to watching my boys grow this year!

As for the dogs, they are same as always, fat & lazy! The dogs spend their time hanging out upstairs with us or outside basking in the sun!
They LOVE the Phoenix heat!

Check out our family blog www.kevinandashley.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!Kevin, Ashley, Brok & Lukas (& Patches & Zumi too

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21T16:02:00.001-08:00

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Another week, another post...

2008-12-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

So this weekend at the boutique was quite... interesting... I did not do well. It was a good experience & I learned a lot but wasn't really worth my time. Besides the fact that there was more than one vendor with the same items (definately a no-no), there had been little to no advertising. It was so SLOW... Friday there was a total of probably 30 people that came through & I sold one set of burp rags for $15 & a custom name- to a lady who was working there! Saturday was even slower... At least until we vendors decided to take the advertising into our own hands. WE ended up making HUGE signs & for the last few hours a lot of traffic came through. I ended up only selling 4 rags saturday... Not a total bust but not the best... Part of it was due to another couple ladies also selling burp rags, who by the way left @ noon on friday & didn't show up til 2 on saturday, & theirs were more expensive so the lady who was hosting the boutique was promoting theirs more (hello more money for her) within the first 15 min of being back on saturday, they had sold $100 worth... yeah crappy! But as I said, I learned a lot & am now going to host my own on Dec 19 & 20th!

Other than that, we are all feeling better, our car got not only a new A/C compressor but also a new radiator... I also had to get a new phone... it radomly decided to stop charging & then when ?I went to check why, the port is coming loose... & when it shut off & turned back on, iut was just a blue screen... So i get a new one! I bought a Palm Treo off ebay...

I have a play group this week @ my house for the early intervention kids. IT should be fun... I am not really sure how it's going to work but hey- ya live & learn...

& I apologize for the scatterbrained-ness of this post, I am extremely tired & my fingers are freezing... it hsn't gotten too cold here yet, like 40s but we haven't turned on our heater & strange as it is, the heat doesn't rise! My loft is SOOOOO cold all the time!

auto pilot?

2008-12-03T11:04:00.001-08:00

so i was definately not paying attention just barely & i put brok's diaper on lukas... it's sad when you go on auto pilot from changing diapers!

What in the world?

2008-12-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Where oh where has time gone! I am usually so good at posting at least once a week! This past couple of weeks I have to admit, I have been BUSY!

A few highlights:

Brok is cruising on anything & everything now, he LOVES it.
Lukas has started to smile & talk to us
Kevin feels better :)
I feel better
We got to go home for Thanksgiving!
Everyone got either the flu or food poisoning...
I have a Christmas Boutique this weekend!

Brok has found that he can get around better if he cruises along the furniture... Which is nice for us except he has now entered the terrible 2s and we can't have ANYTHING on the couch we wouldn't want him to reach! Just yesterday I was feeding the baby & Kevin was in the bathroom & we came out to find that he had found this old loaf of crusty french bread (it was supposed to be hard & crusty) and was snacking on it... Wierd child!

Lukas... where has the time gone! It has been almost 2 months since he joined our family & I still can't remember what it was like without him! He is a doll (except for when he doesn't sleep at night!) and such a good baby! He is content to lay on the floor or in his pack n play & hang out there! Brok loves him too... or loves to steam roll him... He has such a personality... He HATES to be dirty in the least... Brok & I like to hang out in our jammies during the day but he has to be changed right when he wakes up or he gets so mad! & sometime throughout the day he will get really fussy for no reason & I change his clothes & he is content! It is hilarious! He also LOVES the bath! He is getting to where he will talk to us & I love to sit & listen to him!

Yes, it's true, Kevin is feeling better... It still hadn't gone away on Thursday so I made him go back in & they did a CT scan... Nothing in his brain but the doctor gave him some medication that made him feel tons better... it was like speed or something! I took a nap for less than 2 hrs & when I woke up he had the whole downstairs cleaned, dishes & all & had done the whole garage! It was really funny!

I am feeling better... I can actually account that to Kevin being off work for 3 days with this headache & allowing me to take a 2-3hr nap... oh I love sleep!

I was pretty bummed this year... I wanted to go home for Thanksgiving to spend time with both our families & I really really didn't want to cook a whole dinner for just the 3 of us or go out to dinner... But with the financial situation from paying for all the car repairs it wasn't going to be possible... That's when my sister decided to offer to pay for half our gas & since gas has gone down so much (now we are paying $1.75 as opposed to when Lukas was born $3.15) it was going to be perfect... & then my old boss gave us $50 for a gift from having Lukas & everything was perfect! We left late Wed night & drove to Vegas for Thanksgiving with my family & then Friday headed to visit Kevin's family Friday afternoon. It was a good trip & we had a blast! Thanks to Mike & Jen for letting us stay @ your house! You are great! While we were visiting up there however, we were driving down the freeway & we hear this noise that sounds like rocks hitting the underside of the car... It was like half mile keeping hearing it & so Kevin decided to pull over, I get out & the car is SMOKING! I freaked out thinking something was way wrong! Well Kevin gets out & sure enough there is a belt shredded! The A/C compressor went out & on our car, there is an external pulley that connects to the power steering pulleys & it runs it all. The A/C compressor has a clutch that disengages when it is off & the pulley spins freely however since it ciezed (I have no idea if that's how it's spelled) it was stuck not spinning therefore shredding the belt. So kevin luckily was able to drive it off the freeway to his friends house who is very mechanically inclined (once again, thanks so much Mike!) & they figured out the issue. We ended up just using the car with a belt made for a non-A/C car & it works well jsut no a/c... I guess if it was going to happen, it happened at a good time! We were able to get it fixed easily, drive it home & it is winter so we don't need the A/C. It is covered under our warranty so we have an appointment to take it in next week!

We all ended up getting sick though either from the flu or food poisoning... Kevin & my grandma got it first on Friday morning & then it progressed through everyone else. I got it Saturday & it was awful! I feel much much better today!

I found an ad on craigslist that was a lady who does vinyl lettering & so I visited her site & found out she was having a Christmas boutique this coming weekend. Normally she would charge a $35 fee but this time is free so I decided to try my hand at it! I am so busy this week preparing but here is a preview of what I have done! I am proud of myself & I can't wait to see how it goes! I made burp rags & holiday letters as well as recipe & coupon boxes & frames!

Let's see how the rest of the week goes!

Title of this post.... UGH

2008-11-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

Some good things about this week:

Brok is completely cruising FAST along the furniture & is getting into EVERYTHING
I dyed my hair darker... now I just need a haircut
I had my 6wk post partum appt on Thursday & I found out I weigh less than I did before I got pregnant (why is that? I eat 10x as much) which was nice. Kevin was not feeling well but wasn't too bad yet... I was fine & so were the kids!
I found so many of my friends from high school in the blogging world! Yay for catching up!
I have only had 2 cans of soda in the last 2 wks! (maybe that's why I was smaller)
Lukas's thrush is GONE!

The theme of the rest of this post... SICK, SICKER, SICKEST...

Little did I know... It all started on Friday...

Brok, Lukas & I had a playdate with kids from early intervention (one of Brok's therapies) well really only one kid. It was a lot of fun for Brok, he got out of the house, got to interact with kids his age & ones who have been through what he is going through. It was really good for me to meet this mom because her son will be 2 next month & just started walking & still doesn't talk either... She gave me encouragement in saying that her son went through the same steps as Brok & that cruising was a close step to when he first started walking. I felt great & looked great (I actually got ready for the day) Then about 2pm, I started feeling stuffed up, my nose was "leaking" but I was still feeling good. Then it came to about 330, Kevin was leaving for work & I started to feel dizzy & had the worst sinus headache. NO FUN! But I chugged through it until Brok went to sleep at 9 & i followed with Lukas. Kevin was still at work & didn't get home til midnight. When he got home, I was so stuffed up, had a horrible headache & couldn't barely move but still had to feed Lukas... After I did that I went into the hot shower thinking that would help... nope... Since I am breastfeeding I can't take anything but it got so bad that I couldn't even sleep... it was 2am & I hadn't slept at all. So I tried to find a tylenol, nope don't have any... but after I had given birth the doc gave me vicadin so I ended up taking one of them & sleeping a little bit til at 4 Lukas was up again & up til 630. Then Brok woke up at 7 & well that was the start of an awful week. I am so SICK!

Brok & Lukas both got somewhat of a cold but since they are littler, they are SICKER than me...
I still haven't gotten better & I still don't get any sleep. I am stuffed up, Have a horrible persistent headache & feel like death... But that's the least of it!

Yesterday Kevin woke up with a migraine... which is not a normal thing for him... & this is a migraine to end them all. I have NEVER seen him in so much pain. He was crying for me to call the doctor or to go to the ER. He was seriously debilitated. So besides that I am still sick, I now have a hubby who is the SICKEST of all! He went to the doctor who said because he never had one before it was a concern & is sending him back today to check because it is still not gone away.

So as you can see, not a fun week... How is it that when I get sick, someone gets sicker? Why can't I for once actually be sick? I would love nothing more than to just curl up in bed & sleep.

Hopefully this next week will be better...

Another Week has come & gone

2008-11-12T20:22:00.000-08:00

I officially hate the night shift! It goes by sooooo slow!

How is it that I feel like my weeks aren't long enough? I swear I was just writing about our anniversary!

SO... the highlights of our week:

We FINALLY got our money back from when the lady stole it. YES!

Brok started the TERRIBLE 2's way too early

Lukas has thrush

Kevin didn't work much (or so it seemed)

I got 4hrs of sleep in a row... but for only one night

We thought about getting a cat, had a lady bring one to us & it freaked out at the dogs, at the babies & finally at Kevin... bye-bye cat

Kevin's phone went on the fritz, 2 times before it finally died

We sold the Enduro motorcycle!

YEs it's true, the lady that "accidentally" pressed $100 cash back on our unfinished transaction got caught & offered to give the money back... She didn't have anything on her record so we didn't press charges but I did make sure she knew it wasn't right what she did... Imagine the surprise on her face when 6+cops showed up at her house & cuffed her! Bet she will never do that again.

Brok has the WORST attitude. He has an ear piercing scream & has learned that it wears on eveyrone's patience very quickly. Not to mention that he has learned to manuver himself around the furniture to get into things. & ridiculous what he can get into! This week alone he has: dumped a cup of water on himself, dumped out the entire bag of chips, knocked off the bowls & spoons from our dinner (he LOVES spoons/forks & has collected somany of them upstairs that I thought we were losing them!) & get this one- pulled an entire bowl of taco soup (don't worry, it was cold because yet again when I sit down to eat, Lukas needs to be fed) onto himslef & the floors WHICH I JUST CLEANED! Not looking forward to when he starts walking as much as I am looking forward to it! Watch out world, here he comes!

Lukas had some white on his tongue while my family was here but since he is a spitter, it always looks like left over. Well I started noticing it creeping up his tongue on Friday night it was all over. I hadn't thought about what it could be until after the doctor had closed... It wasn't affecting him eating so we decided to ride out the weekend... by Monday morning it was all over! Poor guy... So I called to get an appointment- The whole base had training all day & then of course Veteran's day was yesterday so they were closed til today... So I got a referral for urgent care & tried to take him... Not a single urgent care takes babies under 4mo except the nighttime pediatric one... so @5pm I had to take him... He is on nystatin liquid 3x a day & I have a cream I have to use on me before he feeds... it has since cleared up & is getting better, YAY! He surprisingly weighed in at 10lbs 3oz with clothes & a full diaper so probably around 10lbs. I guess he is doing well!

Last week was CRAZY! Monday Kevin didn't work very long, Tuesday he ended up getting to get off early because Wednesday from8am-4pm he had a class (which got out @ 12) & then Thursday night he was on the crew that got to go home early & Friday his squadron had their annual Thanksgiving Feast @ 130 so he got off @ around 630ish. Monday (as in 2 days ago) was base wide training so he had to go in @ 730am & was off by 3 & then of course yesterday he had off. So as you can see though he worked, he didn't work... However, tonight his jet is seriously broke & he will not be home til around midnight or later.

Once Lukas Started the nystatin, he slept soooo good. That night I went to bed when he did & either I was really out of it or he slept from 10ish-230ish. YAY for me... but then last night it was every 2hrs again!

About 2months ago Kevin accidentally dropped his phone in the toilet, luckily it was under warranty so he got it replaced for free & then the other day he couldn't view his pictures without the phone resetting so they are sending him a new one... But then Saturday or someday soon after he went to pull out his phone to text me & it reset but got stuck on the verizon start up screen. So he is now on phone replacement #2!

& about the cat... yeah random & not something we will try again!

& the enduro is a motorcycle Kevin's dad bought but never rode so he brought it down for KEvin to either ride or sell. WE have had it listed on Craigslist for about 3wks & a guy came on Sunday morning & bought it for $800! YES!!!

Tis all for this week... More to come next week!

PS- I learned how to digital scrapbook! SOOOO FUN!

A lot can happen in 3 years!

2008-11-04T20:43:00.001-08:00

Make sure you read all 3 posts! I had a lot to say!

Get married-check, November 4th, 2005
Get sealed-check, Novemeber 11th, 2006
Have a baby-Check, Brok Grant Beal, March 23rd, 2007
Join the Air Force-Check, May 8, 2007
Move to Phoenix for our first assignment-check, Oct 2007
Have another baby- check, Lukas Eli Beal, Oct 3, 2008
Enjoy an anniversary?

Well if you can't tell, today is Kevin & my's anniversary... We have been married for 3 years today... We have had our ups & downs but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have the best husband. He works so hard at a job he doesn't care for just so I can stay home with our boys. He treats me like a queen & puts up with all my complaining. He doesn't dwell on my not so keen house keeping skills or cooking skills. He is AMAZING. I love you Kevin!

We didn't get to spend much of an anniversary together because my family just left this morning & he had to take a nap so he can work this new shift (swings which are good on some days & bad on others, like tonight) and he won't be home til probably around 4am or maybe earlier/later. (*he actually got to come home early because he has a class tmomrrow) However, one of the best parts of having my family visit is that I actually feel somewhat comfortable leaving my children with them... I mean I feel good about it but it is wierd to leave Lukas & Brok... Up until I had Lukas the longest I had ever been away from Brok was when he spent the night at my friend Heather's. He was 17mo old & I had been apart from him for maybe 4hrs total, if that. Well since it was our anniversary & since we knew it would be a while before we got to do it again... I left BOTH my boys with my mom. We went to dinner at Applebee's & it was delicious... Wierd but very good to get away. That was nice... Kevin also let me get a few new pieces of clothing. I say let because I won't allow myself to spend the money I would rather spend it on the boys. I found out that I am a size smaller than before I got pregnant (YAY!) and that I look good in heels & can actually walk & function in them. I am a flip flop girl all the way but I look really young. People thought my sister was Lukas's mom & she's only 17...

Anyway... here are our pictures from 3yrs ago & from today... my have things changed... if we had only known then what we know now... I would do it all over again! My life is WONDERFUL! THEN... Wow I was skinny & young looking...

Now...

Lukas is 1 Month old!

2008-11-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

Make sure to read all of my posts! I have a bunch today!

I can't believe it's been a month since he joined our lives... I remember when Brok was this age thinking aobut Kevin leaving & feeling like I wanted another baby soon but with Lukas, I feel complete... it's kind of wierd... I Love this little guy... he is so sweet & still so much of a baby (Brok was over 11lbs by this point) that I don't have those baby blues missing the sweetness.

This past month hasn't brought much change from him, he only weighs like 8.5 lbs, if that maybe a bit more but is long.

Things he LOVES:

his binky, I think I have 4 of them & he will go at it if I put it in his mouth.
his mom- she feeds him, she loves him & she can't handle letting him cry! :)
His blankey- my kids LOVE their blankets & they have their own type
laying on my back massage cushion-he's in 7th heaven
EATING- every hour, on the hour except from 9pm-midnight & 3-5am where he sleeps. However, the 3-5 block he has to be on my chest
his swing- he hangs out in there when I need an extra hand! Thanks for that gift with Brok aunt becky!

Things he HATES:

his cradle-not sure if its the movement but he is not diggin it lately... he'll sleep for about an hour in it, eat then sleep again... can't tell if it's cause he's hungry or what...
his car seat, but only with the strap things on it... they hug his face too close & he can't move his head
the fan, he likes to look at it but not lay under it like Brok did.
FORMULA- this kid is not diggin it.
his feet confined-i.e. footie pajamas
swaddling, unless it's loose- again the foot thing

other than that he is a pretty easy baby... We will definately keep him! Enjoy the pictures! I certainly do. My mom did a great job!!!!

Halloween & a fun weekend!

2008-11-04T18:36:00.001-08:00

This was such a fun year! Last year Brok was a dragon but he was still too small to really get it & no that he did this year but he had fun walking around with his Auntie Brooke & LOVED eating the candy!

We tried to get him to dress up as the alligator as originally planned but he wasn't having that.... so here are my pictures wrestling an alligator LOL. Then we tried to make him a football player but got as far as getting the black under his eyes & he wasn't going for it so eventually he became a clown... my little brothers all wore this costume when they were Brok's age, so it's over 20yrs old!

Lukas was just cute in his little "This is my costume" shirt & witch hat. Kevin & I dressed up as a vampire & Countess but we never got good pitures. Oh well, I looked retarded!

My family got here on Friday afternoon & my sisters helped Brok carve a pumpkin. He wouldn't reach into the pumpkin but liked playing in the guts in a bowl.

It was good to have my family visit & stay for more than a weekend. They got to go out to the flight line with Kevin on Monday & they loved it. I think my dad was in 7th heaven! Here are some pictures from that day. When you are within like 10ft or something of a running jet you need to have ear protection on (trust me, it's worth it) & I was going to try to get out there with Brok but he wasn't having the ear things. However, Lukas was not bothered at allby the ear things. Brok also did not like the loud noise of the jets... But what's new...

If you can't see, that is Kevin's name on the inside of the jet. How cool is that?

Other than that it was good to have my family here becuase they gave us a break from always being with the kids. They helped with diapers, feedings & holdings so we could enjoy our days (not that we don't already but sometime it gets mundane) My mom also helped me make some easy meals & freeze them for the times when I don't have time to cook! (like everyday) I even made one tonight, stir fry with rice which was AMAZING! I am not a chef but I do like to eat homemade food!

2008-10-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

This is a totally lame post but i feel like super woman today! In the 9hrs kevin was @ work I... paid off 4 credit cards/loans & paid my power water & cable bill, bathed Lukas (which is a big deal for me cause i'm afraid of him slipping or getting hurt even with the baby bath), cleaned up the loft, vacuumed my floors, steam cleaned my carpets & finished a complicated order of letters! Not to mention the normal mom duties of changing diapers feedings & playing! Plus i successfully got brok to take 2 good naps & ate myself! I know totally lame but i feel proud of myself for accomplishing so much! Ps i am so in love with this little guy! I don't remember much about when brok was this little but this guy is soooo stinkin cute! & brok is still my freaking cute kid! He LOVES his brother!

What a week!

2008-10-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

I survived!

Yes, I did it... I officially spent a week with the boys alone all day while Kevin worked... It wasn't easy at first but it did get better... There were some issues I had like how to carry Lukas & Brok in from the car (grab Lukas's seat out of the car, put it in the garage, grab Brok & then Grab Lukas again), How to feed Lukas while trying to keep Brok from pulling everything off the table, & how to handle it when both of them screamed at the same time... But I am alive & we are no worse for the wear!

I Love this picture! He has the curliest hair ever! I love giving him a bath just so I can see the curls! Who do you think he looks like? Everyone when we go out says like his daddy but my aunt & mom say like me. All I know is he looks nothing like Brok!

This week was pretty fun... Nothing too exciting happened...Excpet for... On Tuesday night or maybe it was Monday I was talking to my mom on the phone & Kevin was watching TV & I happened to look over at Brok & I saw what looked like the insides of a wet diaper so I freaked out & then when I looked again, it was really VASOLINE! After Lukas's circumcision we had to put massive amounts of vasoline so it wouldn't stick to the diaper. I had left it on the floor many times before but this time I guess it was too much to handle for Brok. He had emptied the thing! It was all over him, his legs, the floor, his shirt, EVERYWHERE! & currently it is coating the bottom of my tub... Kevin took him in & scrubbed him while I cleaned up the floor out here... I thought I could escape the mischief becuase he wasn't mobile but I guess not!

Lukas had to go to the doctor again on Thursday ( a week after his 2wk appt where he weighed 7lbs 5oz & was 21in) because he had a goopy eye, turns out oit was just a blocked tear duct, but he weighed 8lbs 1oz with clothes on so around 8lbs so he is growing despite all the spitting up he does.

Friday Brok had his 18mo appt & he weighs 24lbs 11oz & is 33in long. He is solid! The best part of his appt is that the doctor thinks he is normal. He said that some people will jump to conclusions just because a child doesn't follow the "normal" and that he seems to be fine. We asked about the walking, he said that because he didn't crawl first but scooted on his butt that he will walk later, it's not a big deal. We asked about the talking thing (he only says mom) he said taht is fine, that if by the time he is 2 he doesn't say like dad or ball or a few other words he will have him checked. So that was really cool!

We also went to church for the first time since Lukas came... I forget that he is only 3wks old! It feels like he has been here forever! Brok got to go to nursery for the first time & he loved it! We checked on him several times just because we worried how he would do not being able to walk like everyone else & everytime we checked he was taking someone else's something or other! But he definately enjoyed it & it was nice for me to just have to worry about Lukas during sunday school & relief society!

This week will be fun becuase it's Halloween & my family is coming to visit! YAY! It is wierd that my family hasn't seen Lukas at all. I will be sure to post pictures of the obys! We haven't decided on a costume for Lukas but have some good ideas & I might have an outfit for him... Brok is going to attempt to be an alligator but he doesn't really car for the costume so we will see what he ends up being!

What a sad & greedy world we live in!

2008-10-20T13:02:00.001-07:00

As if our life wasn't hard enough, i just checked our bank account & realized that when we bought groceries this week we were overcharged by $100! & kevin had forgotten to grab the receipt. I called to find out what happened & was told he had requested cash back & that since it was self check he was responsible for grabbing the money which he didn't know he had requested & that the person behind us picked up the money. How ridiculous is it that we are now out that money all because someone was so dishonest & took that cash? Obviously he didn't know he'd left it or he would have gone back for it! & who in their right mind would think the machine would magically spit out money? I am frantically calling the store to review the tapes & hopefully this mess can get cleared up with the simple fact of showing he didn't get the money! & to whomever took that money may karma send it back your way
I hope you needed it as much as we did!

********UPDATE**********
Since I posted this yesterday, I have contacted the police who contacted Wal Mart & they have since review the tapes & discovered that Kevin hadn't finished his transaction & that the lady in line behind him had noticed & pushed to get $100 cash back & walked off with the reciept & cash. She then proceeded to pay for her stuff with her debit card & so now we are waiting for a supeona (sp?) for the police to get the information from her debit card & to go after her... Hopefully she can be tracked & we can get back our money.

The brothers together @ last!

2008-10-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

I know it's a bad picture but everyone has been wanting to see them together! Besides the fact that brok doesn't sit still for more than 5 seconds & i have to hold Lukas things are going well! Kevin goes back to work tomorrow Eek! It ought to be interesting! Brok has become curious about Lukas trying to pull him & wanting to touch him but when i try to get him to hold him or look @ him he doesn't want anything to do with him. He has become kevin's best friend! We went bowling last night with our friends & it was all i could do to contain brok! He wanted to find his dad & didn't want to sit still! He is pulling up on everything & is moving along furniture. We have also walked in to get him out of bed & He's been standing up in his crib. So maybe sometime soon something will happen! Anyway I'll try to get better pictures!

rub a dub dub

2008-10-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

so i went downstairs for a drink & kevin was supposed to be watching brok. i came back up to find brok sitting in our tub... he's tried before to get in & out but never successfully. he loves to go stand at the edge so it's not unusual to find him in our room but this was priceless. funny thing is he didn't hit his head or get mad! guess we'll have to keep our door closed from now on!

2008-10-13T15:46:00.001-07:00

I finally caught him with open eyes! I know everyone wants pictures of the 2 boys together but right now brok is sick so We've been keeping our distance. Luke already has a stuffy nose poor guy so we didn't want to make it worse. It was nice to have visitors this weekend. Kevin's parents came! Now it's back to just the 4 of us. Kevin goes back to work in a week & i'm nervous because the next day is Brok's 18mo appt & the first time I'll have to take both boys out alone! I guess it's then or never! I am adjusting to the no sleep again. I forget how often they want to eat! We've been pretty consistent @ 2hrs apart & hopefully he'll start going 3hrs when he gains a little weight! He is a pro @ nursing now but NEVER seems to be able to stay awake! Wouldn't that be the life! That's all from our household this week! Luke has his 2 week on thurs & gets circumcised :( poor guy!

2008-10-09T13:09:00.001-07:00

Here's our skinny little monkey man. He is so tiny! We went for our 3 day check on monday & he was only 6lbs 10oz! I know a lot of my friends That's there normal sized kid but not me! No one in either of our families that wasn't a twin has ever been so small! But he is a cutie! We'll keep him! Brok is getting more used to him, the other day luke was crying & brok found his cord & thought he was upset because of that! I love it! I'm adjusting to 2 kids- I've actually spent a couple hours with just me & them & while hard it's going to be fun! I can't wait til luke is a little bigger & they can play! It's still wierd that he's not even a week old! I feel like he's been here forever! I can't remember life without him even though i do remember feeling guilty about brok getting less attention. But he still gets it & in his own way i think he understands! Kevin's parents come tomorrow so i
might have time to upload pictures! Ps he wears clothes but the diapers are too big for him & he leaks!

We are home!

2008-10-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

I don't have pictures uploaded yet but here are 2 I sent my mom. He was just seconds old in the first one & about an hour in the second. We got to come home yesterday around 5pm... What a relief! I hate to say it but I can't stand the hospitals... I mean how do they expect you to rest when they come check like every 5 min! Plus it doesn't matter how many kids you have, they still act like you know nothing!!!!

Anyway... It was a very easy labor (ok well once I got the epidural) We went in @ midnight-ish to get started... What they did was put some white cream on my cervix that makes it thin out or something like that & then you have to lay for an hour, walk for an hour & lay for an hour... That was HORRIBLE! I thought the contractions I had for a week were painful... But until like 330, I had to bear with it... Then she checked me after the 3rd hour... still no change so they did it again. Another awful 3 hrs... Still no change so they started the pitocin around 7 & checked me @ 730, I was @ a 2... around 830-9 my doctor came in and broke my water, strangest sensation ever and then I was able to get the epidural! Thank goodness for medication... I applaud any woman who can do it natural! I was happy & wonderful feeling after that & progressing fairly fast, around 1.5-2cm every hour and a half or 2 and then at 230-245ish I was at a 6, so my doctor has this trick (which definately works) where he fills back up the sack with saline which makes the baby float again & most of the time will cause you to progress faster... So by the time that happened, around 315 I kept getting the sensation that I had to pee everytime I would get a contraction which I shouldn't have felt so they got the epidural topped off around 330, took 10min to kick in & I was at an 8-9 around 345... That's when the pressure started... I knew it was coming & fast. My nurse wasnt in the room & my doc had gone back to the office (right across the parking lot) & I told Kevin to call & tell them I needed to push... So by the time they came in, I was not able to hold it in, I pushed once hard & the nurse & Kevin saw his head, tons of hair! The doc came around 350ish and I pushed 3 big pushes & his head slipped out! One small push, with no problem & he was completely out! Kevin said it was like a slip n slide for him... Way easy for me! He is a gorgeous little one, so tiny to me & we adore him!

Brok didn't meet him til yesterday but it was so cute to see them together & we got some good pictures! They don't really look related! Brok was bald except for a little hair & Luke has tons of dark hair!

The first night was a little rough, I keep forgetting that with Brok we didn't have him home til he was 4days old so I'm expecting things to go smoother but he is still trying to figure out the nursing & my milk hasn't had time to come in... Overall, we have noticed he doesn't like his back & that he LOVES to lay on Kevin's chest to sleep...

I am feeling rather good considering it hasn't been 48hrs yet (still so strange) and mostly only hurt where I had the epidural, just a small pain, nothing huge! I am still getting used to the idea that I have 2 kids... & 2 boys at that!

I will get pictures soon!!!

Lukas eli beal 7 lbs

2008-10-03T17:30:00.001-07:00

Lukas eli beal 7 lbs 3 oz 20 in @ 356pm. Healthy as ever & cute as a button! Mom is also doing well.

I am sitting waiting to

2008-10-03T12:51:00.001-07:00

I am sitting waiting to dialate & decided to play a game. Guess the baby weight! My guess is He'll be here between 3 & 5 & will be over 9lbs!

Just a little update (no baby yet)

2008-09-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

Still no baby! I guess he didn't want to win the race because I have a new cousin (see picture) Maxwell Bradford Allen Neal was born on Monday & is doing well... He is in NICU to help with breathing but is getting stronger & is maintaining temp & weight. & My friend goes in @ 2am tonight to have her little girl Lola... We are dog sitting their cute little chihuahua Princess...

Lukas will be here hopefully (cross your fingers) by Friday afternoon at the latest... I should have known... our kids like to come Fridays... Brok came on Friday, Luke will too... I am nervous, anxious & excited all rolled into one... I can't wait to meet hime but am nervous to be away from Brok that long & about how fast it'll go... & anxious to get it over with... It's just gunna be me & Kevin... This week is CRAZY busy for my family, my youngest brother's first football game @ home, my sister has homecoming & thier car keeps dying (hmmm... must run in the family) so they won't be coming for a few weeks... Kevin's parents may come but more than likely not...

Other than that, we decorated for Halloween (it's like a thing with KEvin's family... They go all out, especially his sister & brother-in-law, & we have the perfect front yeard for it! We have this little rock flower bed thing we turned into a graveyard & are still working on the grass... but it's turned out well so far! We are also replacing our clutch now in the car... Yipee... but by now everything should run well & should be 100% new so we basically bought a new car... Let's hope... $4000 into it, not including tires, tune-up and all the oil we have had to replace the past month as well as rental cars & car payments/insurance... Isn't life wonderful!

The next time I post will hopefully be pictures of baby Luke!!!!

Maxwell Bradford Allen Neal 7lbs 12oz 20in long 8:55am CST Monday Sept 29!!!!

Our life as we know it

2008-09-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Sooooo... This little story starts around 620am on Thursday the 25th of Sept.

Kevin left for work around 545am & right away Brok was up. He was in a bad mood & I didn't have the patience to deal with him... But I fed him some cheerios and milk & he seemed content... Around 618am I started feeling very crampy & uncomfortable... So I decided to try to time my contractions. Now I wasn't sure they were all contractions but they would start in my lower back & slowly go to the front around the bottom and up to the top before they would subside... I did it for an hour while playing tetris & they were pretty regular, between 5-7min each... I didn't want to get my hopes up so I timed for another hour... still regular... I let Kevin know what was going on & he said go get monitored but since I have Brok, I kinda couldn't go alone. So I monitor for around another hour, they aren't getting closer together but are strong & definately 5-7min apart. So he comes home & we go get monitored. They watch me for an hour an a half and sure enough they are regular... BUT I am only to a 1 & my cervix is only halfway forward... Soooo I get sent home to walk around the mall, eat and rest til they are 3min apart or my water breaks... So we go out to the mall & I get some Jason's Deli (MMMM Delicious!) but while I am inside ordering, Kevin decides to check the oil... Dipstick handle comes off in his hand... so he's thinking Great... He goes to start up the car again & it sounds like it's going to keel over. We decided to head back home to the mechanic & have them check AGAIN for an issue... They think oil pump but looked up on this mechanic site where companies post bulletins about their vehicles & come to find out...

Hyundai needs a special oil filter!!!!!

In most vehicles, when you turn on the car, it automatically sprays oil into the top of the engine to lubricate... Hyundai doesn't... their oil filter has a check valve that holds the oil in the top of the engine to have constant lubrication... Therefore, if you don't have that filter, everytime you start the vehicle, you are damaging it... So all these months of regular maintenence & it's actually damaging the engine...

So we call our warranty company & ask about the oil pump & they cover it so we decided just to take it to the dealership... However, we had to leave it there... So here I am in early labor wihtout a car...

Then yesterday they call & say that because the oil pump was indeed bad, it had damaged the lower part of the engine so our warranty company had to pay for that... 26hr job (meaning 2-3 days of labor, & if someone doesn't have the engine, shipping time) Luckily they cover a rental car as well...

So while we are waiting to get the approval for a rental car, I decide I want Taco Bell... Its 2.17mi from my house to there so I think, Ok, I will walk... It's 1230 in the afternoon but I walked Brok & I to Taco Bell & ate lunch... That wasn't too bad... Then I had to walk back, facing the sun, listening to a child scream because he has to have his blanket on him & won't keep it from blocking the sun... I barely made it inside... Then we find out we need one more reciept for an oil change so we call all the places we can think of where we got it changed & found the reciept then faxed it in... Hallelujah we have a rental car...

So I am still contracting regular 4-5min apart & I decide to go to bed... I slept awful! I woke up at 530 feeling tons of tightness & sick to my stomach... I have now been measuring contractions for an hour & they are getting closer together... YAY! We may have a baby before the weekend is over!

My aunt & one of our close friends are also scheduled for this week to have their babies so now it's a race... & appartenly Lukas doesn't wanna win!

Countdown begins!

2008-09-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

We officially are schedule for an induction to begin at midnight on Thursday Oct 2nd. Hopefully he comes sooner but now I can say only a week or however many days! YAY!!!! It was going to be this coming SUnday because they moved up my due date a few days but the hospital said it wasn't enough to matter so I get to wait :(

He is at a 0 station (that means he is halfway to down all the way) but my cervix is still backwards so until that changes, chances are he won't be coming until they start me...

I'll keep you posted!

Still no dang kid!

2008-09-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

I swear he just likes to torture me! I go back to the doc tomorrow & I guess unless he decides to make an appearance soon, I will be scheduled for sometime around the 3rd of Oct (which my sister is going to LOVE because the 4th is homecoming & she got asked) I really think he is just intent on keeping me in pain! I know I was anxious with Brok but this is really riduculous! I keep waking up going "Today's the day"then of course it's not & then I have to think "less than 2 weeks, less than 2 weeks" but that doesn't help any because I get more impatient that time doesn't go faster! ARGH!

My aunt is having her baby next Monday via c-section (he is all the way up under her ribs in the transverse (side to side) position) and I want him to have his own birthday but I know he is going to come on somone's birthday!

As far as contractions go, they seem to be regular & they definately hurt but not enough that I can't sleep at night... Which is frustrating!

I just want to pop him out already! I am tired of waiting to meet him! Brok & I want him to come play NOW!

Oh what a fun day for us!

2008-09-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

So I woke up this morning around 5-515 to get Kevin's lunch made & couldn't hardly move or walk. I had serious pain in my pelvic area & I felt really sick to my stomach. I made it down the stairs and got Kevin's lunch made but I was still feeling some serious pains. I didn't sleep well last night because I was so uncomfortable so I finally broke down & called the doctor & he told me just to go to Labor & Delivery to be monitored & checked because it could be a numerous list of things including labor, bladder infections, pressure from the baby, you name it...
So we get all packed up (Brok was awake thank goodness) and go to the hospital. They hook me up to the monitors and I lay there in pain for about half hour... Nothing exciting going on... little tiny contractions every once in a while but nothing too major... & I was only @ 1cm so they send me home on bed rest (how am I supposed to be on bedrest with an 18mo old?!) and said to go to my reg appt with my doc... which was this afternoon... So I tried to get some rest, luckily Kevin's work said stay home, take care of her... I went to my doc still in serious pain & he just said there's not much he can do but that I am more than likely going to have him soon... He couldn't find his head because he is so far down (he had to measure from my bone to the top of my uterus) and he said the longest I will go is Oct 3rd... IF I make it to next week, he can then schedule my induction (let's hope I go sooner, 2 wks is too long!) But he isn't sure I will make it that long...

SOOOOOO keep me in your thoughts that it will go fast! I am starting to contract harder & more regularly so hopefully soon! I'll keep everyone posted...

We have Pull-Upage!

2008-09-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

So randomly last Wednesday after a rough day of therapy & Brok not working well with them, I was sitting on the couch eating dinner or somehting & I heard him grab the cheeto bag off the couch, I didn't Think anything other than getting it away before he dumped them out but when I looked....

HE WAS STANDING AT THE COUCH!!!!

All it took was a bag of Cheetos to get him to pull himself up! I thought it was just a fluke that he wouldn't do it again so I pu them back on the couch & what do you know, again!!!! WOOOHOOOO

I didn't want to get my hopes up so I thought I would keep it to myself but... since that day, He has been pulling up on EVERYTHING! including a 6in off the ground tote bucket (which he got stuck because it wasn't tall enough to let go & fall) the couch, the bed, the tub, you name it, he pulls up! & the thing is, I don't think it's even from the therapy! I think he is finally realizing he can do things! The only thing is that sometimes he forgets that he can just fall back onto his butt & get down so he will scream til we figure out that is the issue. He also can't figure out how to grab something off the couch & fall to eat it... For instance, animal cookies, he wanted them soooo bad & when he got up to get them, he didn't want to let go but wanted to eat them! He's funny!

But YAY for Brok! We might be getting somewhere! I'll try to get a picture up soon!

Does anyone else ever feel this way?

2008-09-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Soooo.....

This seems to be the story of our life...

Our car is still broken :( After we took it in to them last week due to it dying on me when I would press the clutch & brake together & they cleaned the throttle body, it was still making a strange noise. When you hit 2500-3000 rpms it would sort of knock like something was hitting something else. Kevin's first thought was a rod which is really bad... So back I went to the mechanic (it's pretty pathetic when you walk in & they know your name) and they heard the noise & figured out it was pulleys that should have been replaced when the original issue, the timing belt, was done. Because when you replace a timing belt you have to figure that they pulleys have the same amount of miles on them as the timing belt so the bearings can go bad. Soooo.... I called the dealership to make sure that they hadn't replaced them (if they had & were just bad parts, they would have had to fix it free) but htey only had replaced the timing belt. Therefore we had to fork out another $650 for the pulleys & the tensioners to be replaced. So they fixed that & had no noise until of course Kevin goes to pick up the car & he still hears it. When we go back to get his motorcycle, he tells the guy @ the front about the noise, he hears it & says bring it in tomorrow morning... So once again, back to the mechanic I go once again today... It's around 1030 or 11 when I get there because I figured I had better go to the store before because who knows what the issue is. They all go out there (picture 4 or 5 guys standing around our car revving the engine) and listen for the noise which I can hear from inside. No one can figure anything out but that one of the parts they replaced came to them bad. So they take off the top & bottom cover of the engine, watch the pulleys & sure enough they are loose again. So they take off all the other belts around & watch just that one to be sure. Very little noise... But they notice the front cam (or rear) is wobbly. So he lets me know that they are going to take apart the cam to see why it's wobbling. (by now its' been at least an hour if not more) Once they do that, he brings me in the cam shaft cap & shows me how it is scored on the part that the shaft goes through, not a good thing, that generally means the shaft is bent. & since it is bent, it is causing the wobbling which made the pulleys loose which made the belt flap & cause that noise. So now we have to replace the cam shafts & caps but you can't get the caps from Hyundai so they are having to get a whole new head (which we just had fixed so ours is perfect) so now it's a treasure hunt. Find the cheapest head for our car & win the prize...

Sounds like fun huh? & all because the stupid timing belt broke. There is no way of knowing whether or not the actual belt broke due to malfunctioning pulleys & that could have caused the problems or if it just broke or what. & the most stupidest part of it all is that the only thing covered under our warranty is the pulleys... & who knows if they will really reimburse us because it wasn't done @ the issuing dealership because I didn't know this til this morning AFTER I HAD GOTTEN IT FIXED. I guess it's better than nothing but it is so frustrating.

I HATE BEING A GROWN UPPPP!

Who doesn't like free jewelry?

2008-09-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Jessica's blog & her stuff is super cute! Check it out & leave a comment ot be entered to win!
http://jewelrymakingideas.blogspot.com/

***update on the contractions-there isn't one! still going strong!***

I am having a rough time!!!

2008-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

So the past week or so, I have been having contractions... But the thing is that they aren't regular enough to do anything about them other than wait them out... But they are so strong! SometimesI feel like just going to the hospital to get some pain med cause I can't do anything to relax my muscles! I asked the doc aobut it & they said "oh it's just braxton hicks" or "you're just practicing" but really? My mom said everything is more pronounced the second time around because your body already knows what it's doing but I am seriously not sure my body knows! LOL. I just feel so uncomfortable & can't relax! It's hard too because sometimes I feel awesome so I start a project or go out of the house, they hit so strong all the sudden I can't hardly finish what I am doing! Has any other mom had this issue before? He can come out anytime really & I am sure he's fine since the doctor guestimated he's already close to 8lbs if not yet (he told me he is between 7-8lbs based on my history of babies & my size & that if hemakes it to @ least 36wks he will be totally ok) so I am ready for it but it's not happening & I am in a lot of pain!

I tried with Brok the castor oil, walking, sex, you name it but with this one, I havne't done any of them becasue I don't want him to come too early and don't want some of the same problems I had with Brok!!!!

any ideas on easing the pain? or distracting me?

The new favorite thing

2008-09-05T08:09:00.001-07:00

So I guess Brok finally figured out that he is a big boy because every time I walk into his room now after nap, in the morning or last night even after I put him down for bed, He is sitting up in his crib!
We put him in a "time-out" if you will becasue he just kept freaking out last night & he ended up falling asleep. I had laid him on his back because it was around afternoon/evening nap time so I was somewhat hopeing he'd fall asleep, which he did, so at around 7 or 8 I went in to get him up for an hour & he was sat up in his bed, sleeping! He is such a goof! But I guess at least he is learning something! He had figured out how to sit up himself a while ago but this time around, he figured out it's easier from belly to sit himself up.

His new favorite word is Mum, trying to say more & mom together to get something to eat...
What a nut!

This is so dumb (& to answer why)

2008-09-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

& I know other moms with younger kids will think how lame but for the first time EVER

I walked in to get Brok up from his nap (well he didn't really sleep but played) & he was SITTING IN HIS CRIB TYRING TO PULL HIMSELF UP!

Ok so he's a little behind but for me that is super exciting because it shows progression! We have been doing therapy for a long while & even though I see some progression, nothing too encouraging as far as walking or standing so this is AWESOME!

******I had a few people ask why he can't do the normal things... There have been so many reasons I have been given, but the 3 biggest things are autism, cerebral palsy & hypertonia.

His intial diagnosis is hypertonia, that means his muscles have too much tone & his joints don't know how to work right, I imagine something like arthritis? It's because since birth he has had something flexed, whether it be standing with his toes pointed when we'd hold him or etc. He was a very fast learner when it came to holding his head up & rolling over, but from there, it was slow go. His muscles are just very tight.

The reason for the other 2 is that I guess just he's delayed... The cerebral palsy has only been said by his physical therapist & while it freaks me out, If you look up the literal definition, it means brain paralysis. Basically, the part of his brain that is sending the signals doesn't connect with the actual muscle. For us, it is normal to think something & automatically do it but for him, he knows his brain is saying lift this leg, push up, etc but it's not connecting to his muscles. Nothing has been officially diagnosed there, but I can see where he would get that idea. The autism, I really don't see anything except his being delayed in mobility. He is super smart, he will look at you & make eye contact, he is learning new words & signs everyday (just started with putting his arms up & saying uh, uh) and is very social with us. The reason they say that it could be autism is that he does this stimulation thing with his hands & he can't walk... though again really the only time we hear it is with his physical therapist...

I don't really know what it is or why he is like htat, I know he has a very stubborn personality which contributes a lot but other than that, he is just my special little Brok & we love him no matter his problems!

Not so long of a week

2008-08-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

This week was, well not so long :)
Monday we took our car to a mechanics shop right around the corner, which everyone recommended to us & they gave us a quote for what it would be to fix everything- $1400. Which is better than $1700-2200 right? Luckily Kevin's parents were eager to help out with that. So they took it apart & got it to the engine shop & I called to keep the rental for longer.
Tuesday Kevin woke up so many times in the night with really bad diarrhea & stomach cramps feeling super nauseous. He couldn't eat & was def in a lot of pain. So he called in sick, which in the Air Force requires you to go to the urgent care clinic... So he went & was put on quarters, or was quarentined to the house for 24hrs with viral gastroenteritis. Yippee for me, Brok also had that. The shop called & told me that our cylinder had a 4000th of an inch crack in it so it had to be machined & that was going to be an extra $130.
Wednesday they woke up feeling better, but I sure didn't. I had cramps & was sooo naeous I drank almost 2 full liters of 7up because as long as that was in my stomach, I was fine. The mechanics shop called & let me know that our car was going to be done that afternoon! YAY that was fast!
Thursday morning I was still feeling awful & naseous as ever, luckily no diarrhea for me but we picked up the car & guess what? to replace all the valves, machine one of the cylinders & replace 2 belts it was $1569. But we have a car that runs like a champ, better than before! I spent a lot of the day just being sick... no fun... There was a very electrical storm that blew in around 9ish on Thursday, the lightening wasn't in bolts but was just constant along the sky. Then the wind kicked up & it was blowing soooo hard that our 2 sliding glass doors felt like they were going to break. It blew over our BBQ & our umbrella for the patio table. I guess across town it did a lot more damage than that, powerlines were down, streets were flooded & 100mph winds were recorded. It was CRAZY!
Friday, Kevin worked 9-6 & I had to return the car before 6 so I took it back and luckily he got off before so he could meet me. We also found out that his new permanent schedule (let's see how long it lasts) will be 6am-2pm meaning he will get home aorund 3pm. YAY!

& then today we did a whole lot of nothing, had 2 people come look at our jeep, no takers yet... hopefully someone does buy it! I am feeling better & Brok's awful molar finally came in so he's doing better! YAY!

I can't make it a picture but click the link!

2008-08-30T20:39:00.001-07:00

It takes all the words from your blog & makes them inot a fun bubble. The bigger the word, the more times its used! Suprising to me!

Another chapter in our life (sorry long again)

2008-08-24T20:05:00.001-07:00

When Kevin & I started dating, he was riding a motorcycle & one night he left late & ended up running out of gas. He called me to come get him & buy some gas & I remember him saying "welcome to my life, are you sure you want to be a part of it?" Well this is another wonderful thing in our saga!

So we had a rough week with the new puppy. No matter what I did, he couldn't figure out to go poop outside! & he would go anywhere & everywhere... Then he got really chewy & decided to pull out Kevin's golf shoes & chew on the strings... But when Thursday night rolled around, & I'll tell you about that night in a bit, we got home & all of Kevin's shoes, not mine or Brok's (though he did chew Brok's too) were chewed on with broken shoe laces, that was it & I knew he needed a home with someone with more patience to crate train him or give him more attention. So I put an ad online & he went to a good home with a family who lost their min pin of 6yrs when it got hit by a car. Goodbye little petey!

So back to Thursday... I decided KEvin & I needed a weekend away, with no dogs & no kid so my wonderful friend Heather & her hubby Kevin offered to watch Brok so we could spend quality alone time (we haven't had an alone night since Brok was born & I have only left him for maybe a total of 5hrs his whole life). So Wed I booked us a suite in a hotel downtown for the "romance package" & was planning a whole huge dinner & surprises. Kevin had to work really late on Wed (midnight) & Thurs was pretty crazy too so I thought I would wait til around 4 to go to the store to get our food for the weekend. So I go & get our stuff for this wonderful meal I was oging to make (pita chips with artichoke dip, salmon with a maple syrup glaze & rice, & peaches & cream plus chocolate covered strawberries) & come out to a hot car. So I turn it on to cool off, unload the groceries & go to back out of the parking spot to go home... Only I didn't make it even halfway out & the car completely dies. I was like oh great. So the nice men next to me pushed me back inot the spot & an Air Force guy comes & tries to take a look. He can't figure anything out & I was beginning to panic! I called Kevin's phone not sure if he'd answer (he didn't) & then tried to call his work & had to call him to come figure it out. So here he is on his motorcycle, Brok & I have been stuck for almost an hour & we can't figure ANYTHING out. He goes home to see if he can get his jeep to start & luckily it does. So he takes out the battery & goes to get it tested. It comes back as totally drained so I am thinking YES! He puts it back in & NOTHING! so it's now close to 7, we've been there for almost 3hrs & Kevin decides we are better to get it towed to the dealership to have them look & fix it & hopefully it's covered under warranty. So around 745-8pm, the tow truck comes & he says it looks like a timing belt. He tows it to the dealership, we pay him & leave it overnight. Luckily Kevin's jeep runs long enough to get us home & everything. it's now after 9pm. I call to try to cancel our reservation at the hotel because we will need the $$ to get the car fixed & I can't...(& now you know why it was bad that his shoes were chewed)
Friday morning- They call me to say that it is in fact the timing belt & because that is "maintenance related" it's not covered under warranty. So its' going to be $340 to fix. So We fix it. I get ready for the day, start cooking everything (*now this is a BIG deal for me becasue I don't cook usually) and the dealership calls to say some other belt needs replacing, & if I did it then it would be $300 less than if it broke a diff day. Ok so we're now up to $385. I continue to cook, my friend Heather comes to pick up Brok & we hang out til it's time to get the car & then she takes me there & will take Brok with her from there. On the way to get the car, they call again to say they started the car & it seems that when the belt broke, it cracked/broke a valve & the 4-cylinder car is now only running on 3, & that it will be $1700-2200 to fix that... GREAT! I drive it home very cautiously...
We decided not to worry about it & enjoy our night away so we eat dinner, which turned out so good, I have never made salmon nor used this recipe so it was good that he liked it & then I packed up our minimal stuff for the night & we rode the motorcycle to the hotel! It was a very nice room but missing our sparkling cider... So we get that, then we hang out & I get the munchies around 1030 or 11... The hotel DIDNT have vending machines!!! only pop machines... so I went without & around 1230-1am, I start falling asleep & Kevin tries to turn off the TV with no luck! If you press the power button on either the remote or TV, it mutes it, press it again & it resets it to the menu. So he tries to unplug it but it's in this really heavy armoire thing. So I call the front desk & they send a fat security guard to "fix" it which he tries everything we had tried... Keep in mind it's 1am, I am in my garments covered up in bed & Kevin is trying not to punch the guy. He calls another guy up to try to fix it who does the SAME THING! Like we're all retarded! Needless to say, around 130 they finally "fix"it & get it unplugged...
Saturday morning they sent a tech repair guy to fix it & he knocks on our door around 830 even though we have a DO NOT DISTURB sign out! Anyway we had a good breakfast & swam & then went home & tried to find a place close to get the car fixed but everything is closed so I decide instead of being stranded (the jeep is totally dead) I will rent a car... Luckily the airport rental booth was open & I got to get a car but that was an ordeal...

So that is where we are in our life now... Waiting in limbo for the car to get fixed... Driving a Chevy Equinox & trying to make the most of everything...

PHEW thanks for reading!

HUBBY TAG~

2008-08-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

1- Where did you meet? Our friend Mary Elizabeth. She liked his friend & him but couldn't decide which better so when they both called to say they were coming over @ the same time, she called me to rescue her.
2- How long did you date before you were married? I think it was something like 4mo, a little more but we didn't have an "official" starting to date time. From the first time I remember thinking he was my "boyfriend" til we got engaged was 28days & then after that it was about 3mo til we were married I think.
3- How long have you been married for? 2 years 9mo & some days
4- What does he do that surprises you? He will start cleaning up my messes
5- What's your favorite feature about him? I love when he gets excited about something & when he plays with Brok & he gets so excited & happy.
6- What's your favorite quality about him? He wants to be the best hub & father.
7- Does he have a nickname for you? What is it? Just babe or if I am having a blonde day, retard, in a nice way.
8- What's his favorite color? I honestly don't know, but prob blue or red.
9- What's his favorite food? Salmon probably.
10-What is his favorite sport? Extreme mountain biking or bowling or dirt biking/4wheeling
11- Who said I love you first? He did - we were sitting on the couch cuddling & he goes "guess what?" I said what & he replied "I love you".
12- When and where was your fist kiss? On the couch in my apartment, sometime within the first week I think, when he got back from working out of town.
13-What's your favorite thing to do as a couple? Well we like to 4-wheel & ride the motorcycle(*yes I still do even being 8mo prego)
14-Do you have kids? How many? Yes, Brok is 17mo & Luke is 32wks & 3days only 7wks & 4 days left(hopefully sooner!)!
15- What's a hidden talent that he has? He is a great cook. He is also way more creative & has a better eye for design than I do.
16- How old is he? 23 almost 24. But sometimes he groans about pains like he's older.
17- What's his favorite type of music? He like pretty much anything but he listens to a lot of rock at work & we listen to country at home.
18- What do you admire most about him? He is good at admitting his faults & wanting to change.
19-What's his favorite past time? other than . . . Well he likes to bowl & ride the motorcycle...
20- Do you think he is going to read this? prob not.

All I can say is...

2008-08-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

I LOVE MY HUSBAND!

He got me the best present I have ever gotten!

I had my prego massage & pedicure today- miraculous! It was soooo relaxing & my feet are sooo soft! I love it! The best part? It was sooo cheap- now I know $100 is a lot for some people & generally for us it is too but it was 2hrs long! $55 for the massage & $45 for a spa pedicure where they also massaged my feet! AWESOME!

Another Exciting Week for us!

2008-08-11T18:34:00.000-07:00

What A week it has been!

Brok & I have been really busy between babysitting again, M, Tu, Th, F & teaching English again that we haven't had any time to just SIT! I got another student added to my group so we have 3 kids, 14, 16 & 18yrs old. It doesn't feel like they are learning anything but I guess they are becasue he invited the 3rd student! Anyway it has been very very busy!

Kevin also has been busy this week. On Wed he took the final part of his big CDC test before he takes the BIG one. It has been a rough 5 months for him, studying hard & reading over 1500pages of information about the most boring things. But it will advance him from a 3level to a 5 level.

I had a doc appt this week as well & you will all be glad to know that I only gained 1lb. Baby Luke kicked her really hard when she was trying to measure my stomach so hard that her hand slipped off. SErves her right for calling me fat! LOL.

We also had an eventful weekend. Brok has been using just a normal sippy cup for about a month now & it's been great but he isn't so good at holding it up enough to get a drink so he's been having to lay down to drink it. Well this weekend we decided to try the kind with a straw that you have to bite to suck... At first it was *@!! becasue he just kept screaming but then we handed it to him all the sudden & he figured it out. Never have you seen a more excited child. He got the biggest grin on his face & he was so happy! It rocks becasue he can sit up to drink it & he can drink in the carts at the store! He loves it.

BEFORE

I also decided it was time for a hair cut for him... he was fairly bald when he was born, with only a mohawk of hair coming from his 2 calicks in the back of his head so this was #1 & I think it was more upsetting for him than me. I didn't want to get rid of his cute baby hair but it was over 3in long & starting to hang over his ears. So out came the buzzers & his hair is now about 1/8in long thanks to dad's messing up the clippers! But he is sure looking like a big boy now! I was amazed at how long it was & then at how blonde it was in comparison to Kevin's becasue as soon as Brok was done it was time for Kevin's. You'll see the contrast!

AFTER

He also learned how to give kisses & that he really likes KEvin's nasty Sweet Chili Lime Doritos a lot!

Hopefully this week is a slower one (but it won't be) and that we can take a break!

PS this is

PETEY

What a week!

2008-08-01T16:15:00.001-07:00

WOW! I finally have a second to sit down & write about everything that has happened this week!

To start, I was already behind doing orders of letters because I got 22 in 2 weeks!!!! Good news for me but I was a little overwhelmed! So I had a big week planned doing letters all week but that changed with the most random phone call of my life.

I had my information posted on a website for looking for a tutor/babysitter/nanny before we moved here & I haven't had anyone say anything so I completely forgot until sunday afternoon I was sitting around doing nothing & a guy calls who can speak broken english & asks for Ashley the english teacher. I hung up causeI thought he has the wrong number. He calls back & speaks more clearly, He is a member of the Taiwanese Air Force that is stationed here at Luke & his cousins are visiting from Taiwan & need help with english. I told him I didn't speak chinese but he said that they could understand me so I agreed to meet with them to see what I really needed to do. When they got there, It was an 18yr old boy & a 16yr old girl who failed their english in school & in order to get into college you need to know english so I basically had to help them put the words that they know into sentences that make sense to you & I... Sounds like fun right? Except I have them from 9-12 & 2-3 Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Fri. I ran out of stuff to do Tuesday around 10! I have gone through my teaching supplies to see what it says about teaching an ESL student & it's different than teaching say someone who speaks spanish... I can't figure out how to communicate with them. He can speak well but she can't understand me... It's been an interesting week but I guess I am helping because they want me again next week... It's pretty good money ($250 a week) & it's not really hard so I guess I can't complain... It'll also look good on a resume...
On top of that- I have been watching that little boy Brok's age but this week she didn't need me til Thurs... & so this is how my schedule went! Wake up @ 630, make Kevin's lunch, eat breakfast, get ready, get brok up, get him ready & breakfast, go pick up Lucas (the boy) watch him for 2hrs, scramble over to pick up the Taiwanese kids, figure out what to do with them for 3hrs, drop them off, run home eat, pick them up again do something retarded for an hour, come home, paint letters til 10 & go to sleep!!! AHHHHH!!! What a crazy week...

& on top of that, we decided we wanted another puppy or dog so we searched for a long time & on Monday found the cutest dog ever! He is a mix of a schnauzer, dauschound (sp) & something else but he is small & long & super cute! The best part is that he doesn't shed!!! YAY! His name is Torpedo, Pedey for short & he is super good! He only barks when he is rough housing, knows lay down, no & outside & is already potty trained with the dog door (for the most part) He is 4 mo old & he fits. He is a goof ball, he sleeps on his back with his head on one of our pillows just like a human! We love him & brok does too!

So besides that, nothing else exciting is going on... We ar getting Patches shaved tomorrow & both Zumi & her groomed which is awesomE! Brok's therapy is helping him a lot & I am just getting BIG! I need to get a picture but I never think about it til late at night! I only have about 9wks left (ok 11 technically but Brok came 2wks early & was HUGE so let's pray 9 or less!) & I can't wait... I hope he comes around the end of September...

A Lil of this & that

2008-07-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

So... this is going to be a "rant" of sorts because I am a little bitter!

Through this pregnancy I was shocked to not gain any weight until my 6 &1/2 mo appt & so when I 9lbs from my 5mo to my 6&1/2 mo appt I was like "sweet!"... Well the nurse practitioneer came in (this was 3wks ago) & said "oh well you gained 9lbs & since you were still a little overwieght from the 1st baby, you need to be careful what you eat & to exercise more... So I took it personally & thought she was saying I was fat (doesn't that sound like what she siad) so I honestly over the next 3wks, watched what I ate & walked as much as I could (I spent 2 days walking around the mall, took up walking to the mailbox which is around the corner, & watching a little boy Brok's age & chasing him) & I knew I was going to gain some more weight... But when I went in today I had only gained 5lbs... now that makes 14lbs over 7mo & that breaks down to 2lbs a month... which I thought was good... Except the nurse practitioner didn't think so.
This is how the conversation went:
NP: Oh, 5lbs in 3 weeks, we need to watch that.
Me: Yeah most of it is baby cause look, I am pretty much double what I was last appt
NP: I promise you, your baby didn't gain 5lbs in 3 weeks cause he is going to be only 7lbs or less when he is born.
ME(inserted hastily & very very rudely): No, try 9lbs or more, I have big babies & they run in my family.
NP: Oh well we aren't going to let him get that big
ME: Then you are going to have to get him out in about 5wks or less cause I promise he already weighs 3lbs (or close to)
NP(quickly moving onto the next subject): Let's check his heart, Oh, his little knee is poking out, it's so hard there.
ME: yeah it's been that way for 2 days
What does she do but push extremely hard on him trying to get him to move
ME: I've been trying that for 2days he's not moving, he doesn't have the room & that hurts
(she pushes more)
ME: that hurts!
NP: that's just part of being preg, it's just normal preg pains (uh-huh like I have never been preg before right?)
NP: good it's 145 (his heart), between 130-160 is good, see (holds up the little microphone thing) 145
ME: yeah I am not concerned.
NP: so let's measure your stomach now
I lay down, she measures...
NP: well he's measuring big (DUH) you are 29.5cm & you should be about 27.5cm.
ME: yeah well I have big babies, my first was 2wks early & was 9lbs
She looks @ me like I am crazy
NP: ok so we'll see you in 2wks @ 30wks, then 32, 34 & 36 wks then once a week after that. YAY you're in the 2wk appts. Let's watch that weight, 1lb a week is good, anymore than that & we get worried, also don't forget to take your iron pills, they did tell you about you being anemic right?
ME: well no, they just said get some iron, here's a prescription & go get it & what am i supposed to do? I eat well, I walk alot more than before, I can't really help how much I gain!
NP: well so they did. & you finished the antibiotic> not having anymore pains or anything?
ME: no, I never did before & if anything, It made it worse.
NP: well we like to be cautious.

SO... needless to say, I left in a bad mood, not excited at all & very frustrated about everything... I mean am I really that fat? do I look fat? really? I know that your weight should only be a certain amt for your height but seriously? & honestly, if my doctor didn't take forever for me to be seen (everytime I have seen him I waited for 2hrs) I would never see her again. I plan on talking to the doc about it because that it ridiculous!!!! So now I am afraid to go to the doc because I don't want her to tell me I am fat again... My blood pressure & sugar are ok so it's not affecting that...

Anyway, Thanks for letting me rant...

Good news here-Brok is now off the bottle totally & sleeping 10+hrs @ night... He is also doing well with his early intervention therapy. He pulls himself up on me & tries to everywhere else, he is just not sure how, or maybe it's not the how... I want to get inside his little brain... He is just so stinking cute! I love him to death!
I also got swamped last week with orders, 15!!!! It was amazing & I am slowly working on getting them all done!

Let's play a game!

2008-07-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. HAVE FUN!

I am interested to see the many different memories people have of me... hmmmm....

Good Birthday!

2008-07-13T10:29:00.001-07:00

So Friday was my birthday for those that didn't know & it was a LOT better than last year! Last year Kevin had just started classes & gotten in trouble for not having pens he needed, his belt having one little gold scratch on it, & not having his hair short enough so after spending the day alone, I had to spend the evening running his errands!

This year, I woke up to make Kevin's lunch but he didn't need me to so I just laid in bed & read! Brok woke up when the garage opened so I didn't get to sleep but he was being so good so I didn't mind. Kevin got me a pregnancy massage (I have been so sore with this guy) and a spa pedicure gift certificate so I will get those in the next few weeks!
Brok went down for an early nap because my friend from high school, Heather (Richardson) Baker & I went to lunch & the mall. She lives out in Mesa & she & her husband Kevin are so good to come to hang out with us even though it's so far away! We had a delicious lunch at Jason's Deli where I had the best turkey sandwich & tomato basil soup I have ever had! Then We hit the mall & though we didn't spend much money, I got a cute outfit for Luke @ Pumpkin Patch & a new shirt for me!

Kevin then took me to dinner where it was supposed to be a date but our babysitter (my friend that we had asked @ like noon) fell asleep & our house was for some reason super hot so Brok came with us. We ended up going to TGIFridays & it was delicious! We rented a movie & went home to find out that for some reason our AC had died! AH!!! It wouldn't have been so bad had we not had a 2-story house. Luckily, it wasn't too too hot (I remember when my parent's AC went out the summer before my senior year & it got to be over 100degrees) so I wasn't that bad but it was pretty uncomfortable. Needless to say, I was totally lethargic because the heat & fell asleep around 1030... Overall it was a good day though!

We called an AC repair guy as soon as we could in the morning yesterday & because I told them I was 7mo preg & we had a little guy, they came so fast! He crawled up in the super hot attic & found out our main curcuit board that runs the fan & ac was bad, all the relays were stuck open. So he bypassed it until we could get permission from the landlord to fix it & take it out of rent next month! Basically the fan always stays on & the AC runs normal now. It was so much better to sleep last night!!!!

As for anything else exciting... I found out I am anemic & that I MIGHT have a UTI even though I never felt any signs... That is fun tons of pills for me.
We also decided it was time for Brok to not have bottles anymore so we "threw them out" & he is trying to figure out the sippy cup thing... Which I have no patience for & I feel so bad for him but oh well huh? He also has new shoes he gets to wear that don't let him point his toes & he is getting better at pulling up to standing! YAY

Our 4th of July Weekend

2008-07-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

So Last year at this time I had just moved to Texas alone & was still getting used to the idea of living without a husband... Kevin was still in Tech school & unable to live with us except on Weekends... but at this point he still couldn't leave base at all & had to wear his camo uniform all the time except for at the dorms (yeah long sleeved HOT material & boots in the heat+humidity?) and had to march everywhere... On the 4th last year while he had the day off, they bussed all the students to Burkburnette (about 15 miles away) to watch their fireworks... but in their nice dress uniforms. I had to drive all the way out there alone & since no cell phones in uniform (at least while in school) I walked around for like an hour before I finally found him & then we had to act like we weren't married (again no PDA in uniform) & the mosquitos were ridiculous!

anyway so we thought well this year is going to be better because A) he's not in school so he got to be a normal person in "civilian clothes" & B) no mosquitos... Well turns out that our "friends" or those who appear to like us when it's convenient for them, didn't want to BBQ or go bowling (which that's what they do & it was $1 a game for part of the day) or do anything with us... not so bad right? well we just decided to spend the holiday as a family & enjoy the fact that Brok was older... Except...

IT'S ILLEGAL TO LIGHT ANY TYPE OF FIREWORK IN ARIZONA EVEN SPARKLERS!

So that was a discouraging factor but we thought there are so many places to see fireworks we can watch them either on base or out on our balcony... NOPE! The wind kicked up around 7pm & it's still light out so by the time we went to the base 20 min later, all the festivities & the fun had been cancelled due to the wind (I guess fire danger which I do understand but come on!) & then we get home after getting some dinner & what do you know, it's lightening out so there were NO FIREWORK shows on our side of town! :( Oh well huh...

Yesterday we got to sleep in the latest we have slept in since having Brok & spent the majority of our day helping Kevin's supervisor move (ok, I just sat there & watched but he helped) & today we went to our new ward & WOW! Already the relief society president, bishop & a few others know who we are which to us is amazing because we were in our ward in Buckeye for 7mo & the bishop asked every week if we were new...

Overall it has been a good weekend & tomorrow is "family day" for the base but Kevin has weekend duty & so he has to go in for a few hours & I am watching a little boy Brok's age for 3 hrs but it will be good to be home & relax!!!

Hope everyone had a good 4th & stayed safe!

New Blog for BabyBug Creations!

2008-06-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

Come Check It OUT!

www.babybugcreations.blogspot.com

Tell me what you think!

New House tour

2008-06-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Vacation pictures & some cute moving ones

2008-06-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

These are the pictures of Brok's first 4-wheeler ride! He thought it was fun until dad gunned it a bit too much & it scared him. Of course Kevin was extremely excited to get back on one & to take his son! (we later went on a ride which I love doing)

These are the family pictures with my brother included, I will have to find a before picture & an after picture!

This is what the Jeep looked like taking our bed to the new house! It looked like it was wearing a cowboy hat! LOL! Brok was all packed up & ready to go!

Home again! (sorry long)

2008-06-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

We had such a good "vacation" if you call it that (why is it called a vacation when all we do is go, go, go no matter how long we take off!) but it was so fun to get home & see family.

We started our trek on Sunday the 8th to head to vegas for a few days to greet my brother as he got home & it was a pretty good drive, except it seems like it takes so much longer to get there than to get home! Brok was ok, as long as he was asleep or stuffing his face. We got there & had fun with everyone...
Monday I got to go get my hair done by my friend Lindsey Duffy (we have known each other for so long & then she married a guy Kevin went to high school with) who is like the only person I trust to do my hair... It was... fun, I got a perm but we used bendy rods so it pulled so hard & then by the time it was done & the stuff was on, it hurt worse than ever & we couldn't get the bag over! So that was fun... She had also added some lightened strands just to give it flavor... It was good because Brok & her little girl Lizzie slept the whole time until about 10min to the end. Overall, it turned out good & I love it, now I am forced to do my hair instead of just a ponytail or braid everyday... Kevin went bowling (his new favorite hobby) with my brothers & did pretty good...
Tuesday was pretty fun, I can't remember a whole lot except I delivered letters to a lady & made signs for my brother... then around 6ish that night we went to the airport to wait for my brother to get home! He arrived at the airport around 730 (it was a long day for him because instead of flying out of the airport where he was, a plane had crashed (he said fell off the airport) so they had to drive to a different airport on a bus to catch a plane there but he got lucky & got first class the whole way!) & to be honest, if my parents hadn't been walking with him, I wouldn't have recognized him! He is so skinny! He is a big guy, about 6ft 3in or so & before he left he was over 200lbs when he left but now I would say between 150 & 180. He thinned out a lot! Plus he looked more mature & older! It was good to see him & introduce him to Brok, since I got pregnant after he left. When we got home, it was funny to see how the dogs all reacted to him a well! My parent's dog meli who they have had for close to 6 yrs wouldn't come near him, even after he changed out of the suit. She would cower in the corner & hide... My dogs who have never seen him, & who usually bark were so excited & anxious to see him! it was funny.
Wednesday we headed to Utah to visit all those up there & it was beautiful weather! Compared to our 110+ here the whole week we were gone, it was like 80-85 & we spent tons of time outside on the grass in the shade @ Kevin's parents. Brok loves the grass & was soooo good there. It was so nice there that when we decided to go swimming in the hotel pool, it was too cold for me & Kevin but Brok wanted to get in so bad so Kevin braved it & took him... We spent time visiting with friends & family & really enjoyed the time we had there.
Back to vegas on Saturday, we spent the rest of our time there to hear my brother speak. We were originally supposed to leave Tuesday but decided Sunday to go home on Monday evening so we could have all day Tuesday to get moved in... So we ended up leaving Monday @ around 8pm & got home around 1am..
Tuesday we moved into the new house... Well we moved our beds, TV, & necessities for the next few days... It was quite the day, starting when we got up around 8ish & went to load the cars in already 90degree weather. HOT! We get our Kingsized bed strapped to the roof of kevin's jeep & everything loaded to go... Kevin starts his jeep & I pull out waiting for him to go first. He forgot his wallet so he turns off the jeep & when he tries to start it again, it won't... so he takes out the battery & we take it to be charged (sounds a little less stressful than what it realy was like) & pray that is what is wrong... We take my load in, wait for the battery to charge & then hook it back up... It works! YAY! so we get our beds to the new house & get situatated... Everything was going so good... Until we woke up yesterday & he went to leave for work only to find it won't start... Apparently his alternator needs to be replaced... YAY for us...

But the day did get better, I got errands run, hooked up our cable & internet & then we got to take a break & go to his bowling league... & Guess what! Kevin was 1 strike from a perfect game! He scored a 290 on his first game back! You can bet that for as excited as he was, he was very upset it wasn't perfect & now claims it will haunt him forever!

there will be pictures of all this fun in a few days once I get settled & can get the pictures loaded! thanks for reading & it was good to see everyone!

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

To all the dads out there. We had the opportunity this past week to spend time with mine & Kevin's dad. They have had great influence on both of us.

I want to say how grateful I am for Kevin & the great dad he is to Brok & will be to Lucas. He is great & it's been fun to see how Brok has grown to like his dad better than me! LOL. I think he gets bored with me & when his dad walks in he gets so excited! Today he hasn't wanted me, just his dad & it's been so cute!

Happy Father's day to all father's & future fathers out there!

Last official night in this house!

2008-06-07T19:19:00.001-07:00

We are excited if you can't tell...

& WE LEAVE TOMORROW TO COME HOME!

YAY

I am so excited for a break from life, even though I am taking all my stuff to make letters cause I still have a lot of orders to do but it's going to be a blast!

See you all soon!

Finally

2008-05-31T22:37:00.000-07:00

I am so done with the housing drama it's not even funny. But the good news is we are officially moving out on June 18th (the exact same day I moved out of my house in StG last year, kinda wierd) & into a way better perfect house!

We looked at a rental on Thursday not thinking anything would change & we would have to pull a lot of money out of savings to get into another one but WOW is all I can say, someone was definately looking out for us!

This house we are moving into is the EXACT model of the one we wanted to buy except for it only has a half bath instead of a full downstairs. Which is ok by me as it has a HUGE walk in pantry! We fell in love with it the second we walked in & the best part is, ok well the 2 best things are that the landlord is an F-16 pilot (different squadron but no worries if he is going to pay his payment or not YAY) and that he is willing to let us make our deposit in payments so that we can not stress about getting it all paid plus turning on utilities (which is ridiculous nowadays) We are definately thankful for this house! It felt more like home than the other house. *just a funny side note, the guy has a 15yr old daughter who was wanting to go to a friends house & he said be back @ 630 so we can go to dinner & she goes we are going to dinner & he honestly said "I aint got nutin to cook with here YO!" & then after she walked away said to us "you gotta say yo or they don't understand"*

anyways, this week is going to be a very busy one for us because in 7 beautifully hot days we will be heading HOME! & then right when we get back, we move so I got a lot of packing to do as well as Brok has therapy & I have a doc appt with a new doc (apparently in the middle of my care even though they work in the same practice, the woman I was seeing is no longer contracted with our insurance) But it is all worth it!

Anyway, I will keep you all updated & can't wait to see all my fun friends! We miss you all!

Another week in our CrAzY life

2008-05-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Since last Thursday when we went to look at a rental for us, it has been a flurry of craziness.

But first I can tell you the fun stuff! Monday we had a bbq for Memorial Day with 4 families from Kevin's work, The Doidges, the Wenzels, & the Stanleys (ok with us it makes 4). It was fun! The Stanleys have a little 4 or 5 week old boy named Lucas Gunner (called Gunner) who I got to hold & play mommy to because their 2yr old was going crazy & trying to escape! I loved it but it made me even more anxious for our little Luke to get here! He is an active baby! I feel him all the time & he lets me know when he is hungry with a little flip in my belly! Brok didn't mind the little one & it was good practice for having 2 kids!

Back to Thursday. We decided to look at this house that was $1100/mo a little more than we wanted to pay but it's less than 2 miles to Kevin's work so it would save us close to $150-200 a month just in gas (we spend close to $550-600 now) & it is perfect. It is a 4/2.5 with a loft & a HUGE backyard. When I say huge, it's big, it's on a "culdesac" so it has a pie shaped lot. It has about a 20ft square plot of grass surrounded by pea gravel. Along the back wall is a fireplace type thing & a fire pit with seating. There is also what should have a bbq built in but is just the island thing. It has an rv gate on the side & the neighbors have a 5th wheel trailer, a boat & a trailer full of 4-wheelers parked along their side yard (to give you an idea of how long it is) It has all tile downstairs with a formal living room area when you walk in the door & a living room area with a built in entertainment center & get this, a wine cooler fridge built in by the TV spot (not sure why but it's cool for sodas & stuff) It is a really nice house. So we fill out the application & pay the fee (pointless fees if you ask me) and wait to hear if we get approved. The prop manager who showed us the house told us the deposit was $1375 (1.25x rent) with a $200 "non-refundable admin fee" (another stupid thing in the city of phoenix, unless you get lucky, you gotta pay anywhere from 200-500) making our total move in cost $2475. Which is a lot but we figured it was worth it. Well they call us on tuesday to let us know we got approved but because our dogs, the owner now wants a $1650 dep and they sent me a move-in cost sheet which has a rental tax! We have to pay the city a 2% tax on rent! how retarded is that. As if that weren't enough, the 1st of July is a Tuesday ?& we can't move in on Tuesday so we have to pay $150 for June rent as well! & I call to see about utility deposits, it's going to be over $500 to get electricity & water turned on! How ridiculous is that!

Anyway, we now have a dilema, do we pay the money & rent the house (it's going to save us gas remember) or do we find another house to rent. So today we go to look at another house about 2.5 mi from his work which is $100 less a month & is owned by a military man & well, I have decided that while you can get a good house for a good price here, the fees & deposits they charge are outrageous!

I have also gotten slacky on my orders of letters & so I am playing catch up so in the last 2 days I have finished 5 names totalling 32 letters... I guess that's what happens when you take a break!

So the weather?

2008-05-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday it was our first 100+ degree day, Monday set a record by being 110 degrees after the frist day of hitting 100 & then yesterday & today it's under 70 degrees!

Talk about desert weather! Up in Flagstaff, which is like 2hrs from here, there is tons of snow on the ground & it's cold!

I can't believe the change, I wish it would be cold like this one day a week during the summer so I can go run errands! It's too stinkin hot!

I need help!

2008-05-23T12:41:00.001-07:00

So Brok has this new thing he does where he literally screams bloody murder when he gets mad, & it is getting on our nerves. It doesn't matter if he is in the store, in his bed, on the floor, nothing, if something happens to tick him off, better cover your ears!

I do not know how to fix this. I have put him in his bed for time out where he just screams louder, I have said no, swatted him lightly, nothing phases this kid.

Have any other mom's had this issue!

He has also decided that he wants to wake up every 2 hrs at night, so not happening for me, I can't get up in the morning as it is! Anyone have any ideas why? I have let him scream but honestly, he doesn't stop. He was in his bed for 2hrs one day screaming so loud & I know he's tired but it seems like he jsut forgot that he likes to sleep.

The only place he will sleep is his car seat in the moving car but with gas how it is, well I am not going to drive more than necessary!!!!

HELP!!
Any ideas before we lose our sanity?

It's

2008-05-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

Still a boy...

I didn't think it would change & we can officially say we are having a boy (though we have been for a while now). I am very excited, they will be such good friends (we can hope right?) think positive & it'll happen! The only down part is that while I have a ton of baby boy clothes, most are meant for a complete diff season! Now not that it gets cold really here, though it does get cold enough for jackets, but after like 0-3 is up, the clothes I have change to summer! Now lets just guess he is as big as his brother, well, I have to buy all new clothes! So it could be interesting. As far as everything else, the only fun part is that we can get a new double stroller. I want the Kolcraft Contours Options double tandem one that has the seat arrangements that can be 4 different things! It comes with a bar so an infant seat can fit, then the other seat can face in or out (you or to the front). It also includes another seat part so when they are bigger, you can have them face in towards each other or back towards you or one each way or both to the front. Sounds confusing I am sure but really it is the coolest thing!

I already have a cradle, a pack n play, a swing, tons of toys, & a crib so really it won't be as expensive as last time...

I want a healthy happy baby, like Brok was, & this time I am only hoping he's a tad smaller! (For those of you who don't know, Brok was 8lbs 10oz & 21in long & my placenta was another baby itself) But we'll take him either way!

As of right now we like the name Lucas Eli, Luke for short. Eli is my great great grandpa or something to that effect & we just liked Luke but didn't think it sounded good with Beal. Anyway it could change as more & more I hear that it is a popular name!

This week is almost over (sorry it's kind of a novel)

2008-05-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

Wow... Can I just tell you that this week has been a rollercoaster ride!

It all started on Tuesday morning when I woke up to see Kevin off and went in to check my email before Brok woke. Now normally, I just look at it & go get him up. No not this time. There was a nice little email from our landlord making false claims & letting us know that she started the eviction process on us for 2 very, wrong reasons. The first thing that she claimed was that she hadn't recieved rent for the past 2 months (April & May) and the second was that she was turning off the utilities because we hadn't been paying them (they are in her name)

Now, none of this is true mind you but I am having an emotional breakdown at this point. I quickly let Kevin know what was going on & was then left to deal with it.

The first thing I did was to call her up. No answer. So I send her an email with the check numbers and the dates that they came out of our accounts and the list of confirmation numbers from paying the utilities. I also asked what was our fear, when did we need to be out. I called her every half hour for the next 2 hours to no avail & she wasn't answering texts either.

Finally 3 hours after the first email, she emails me back saying she will double check her account for that deposit and that I need to immediately go pay May's rent (which I thought I had paid since I know I went there to pay it but for some reason lost the check) along with any fees per our contract. So of course, I go pay rent & then I also send her copies of the check's backs where it has her account information on it saying it was deposited.

6 hrs into the whole ordeal as I have been frantically trying to find us somewhere to live that we can afford & letting them all know what is going on & after calling & texting her constantly, she calls me. She tells me that she can't find the deposit into her account for April but that since I have the checks, she can take it to her bank, that she recieved may's rent & that she cancelled the utilities shut off.

At this point I am so frustrated that I am trying really hard not to get upset not to get angry & to make her mad but I firmly let her know that this was not acceptable. Every month since we moved in, if for some reason we were late with rent, she let me know so not telling me for a month was suspicious. I told her that I didn't need the stress of having to worry about this with the new baby coming & that it wasn't fair to me to do that without any sort of inclination something was up. I also let her know that I knew her 2 other rentals had foreclosed & asked if ours was next. She firmly told me that No, she saved the house, that it was close but that she had negotiated to get it worked out. Ok, still not really what you want to hear but I am not going to argue. She also said we could work something out to use our Deposit as a rent payment should we decide to leave a month early so we could be settled before the baby comes. Ok, nice lady right?

Fast forward to tonight, Friday at around 730pm. Kevin and I walk out to get the mail. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until we open the box & find some interesting documents. There is something from a lawyer's office addressed to Parties in Possession & our address. My first thought was "Great she filed eviction anyway." But since legally we are the addressee, Kevin opens it to find a Substitution of Trustee notice & all other documents related. For those of you who don't know what that is (we had our suspicsions but weren't positive, thank goodness for my old boss & their immense knowledge) it is the beginnings of a foreclosure, or preforeclosure. It stated that our house would be auctioned on August 7, 2008 (90 days from the recorded date) Another paper attached let us know that she had not been making her payments since 12/01/2007. You can guarantee that sparked some interest considering we pay our rent every month right? So it goes on to say that the reason for the foreclosure is because she has missed her payments of $778.04 since 12/01/2007, this month was month 6 & that all other payments, late fees, liens on the property, etc hadn't been paid either. Well, she has 2 mortgages so this is her first. I call up my old boss & what do you know, this means she has to pay everything past due & up til August 7,2008 in full (without interest, late fees & any other amounts alone is $7002.36) or the house will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Not exactly a nice lady? Yeah so not that I am discrediting her in anyway but who can deny that it looks mighty suspiscious... So now we get to go find out what is really going on & more than likely find us a house to move into. Yay.

Rewind to Wednesday. I am searching online just messing around when Kevin gets the idea that we should get pre-approved for a home purchase loan & that I need to find us a house. Ok, easy huh? Since we pretty much knew what we wanted, I found a house perfect for us! It has 4 beds, 3 baths & a huge grassy lot with a deck off a loft! Not to mention that the master is upstairs (a must for us since our kid can't seem to sleep through the night) and it's like 2200sq ft. It is only listed for 137,000 and is only 10 min from the base (as opposed to our 30 min drive now) and is in a good neighborhood with low HOA fees. So now we are waiting to see what happens with that...

Thursday comes & I put my listing up on Craigslist for my letters, & I got an order for 39 from one lady & 10 from another and a prior customer has ordered again & said she is addicted to them! How sweet is that!

One high light of the week is that I got a business license so now we can claim on taxes I am self employed (not always a good thing) but we get to write off part of our rent & utilities every month. So that could be interesting. My business name is BabyBug Creations LLC

Tomorrow we have our 2nd ultrasound which should confirm a gender (I am not thinking it's gunna change) and should be pretty fun! I will keep everyone posted & Keep us in your prayers! We definately need all the help we can get at this point!

Late mother's day

2008-05-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

So I had a really good mother's day... I love being a mom... It is so fun to see how much Brok grows each day! He is a character... for instance, yesterday we had some friends over for a bbq & he was just quietly playing on the floor when all the sudden he was across the room with a phone book just tearing out the pages! He ripped out so many pages (it's ok we got like 3 of them & our neighbor's house is empty & their books are still on the porch) that it really looked like a tornado came through the living room!

I got a very nice card from Kevin & some really pretty flowers... He also did my nasty dishes that I had been putting off doing! YAY!

Overall, it was a very fun day. Brok was well behaved & we had fun with our friends (2 married couples that kevin works with the guys, one wife is preg due 2 wks before me with a girl & one has a 15mo old girl) It was a blast!

I also wanted to say thanks to my mom for supporting me in all I do, I know it's hard for her to have us pretty far away (not as far as others but still a trip!) & not get to see her only grandbaby(soon to be babies) as much but she loves them & us. She is a great example to me! (she got the best gift which any mom with a missionary gets, to talk to him, & he comes home in 29 days from today)

My mother in law is also great, she raised Kevin to be such a good man... It's funny because he grew up in a home with only sisters (though due to age, they weren't living @ home most of them) so he learned a lot on how to support a wife.

Hope everyone had a great day as well!

I am so pathetic

2008-05-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

But this is exciting for me!

I was sitting on the computer in the office yesterday & brok was playing quitely on the floor. I turned around & noticed him reaching into a tote bucket (the big 18gallon ones) that has all the baby clothes in it. All the sudden he pulled himself to a kneeling position. It scared him so he stopped but then I encouraged him to get his toy he dropped & HE PULLED HIMSELF UP TO STANDING!

WOOHOO for Brok! He fell after that so he is scared but he has been reaching up a lot since then so hopefully it happens again soon!

What a Week!

2008-05-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

So this week I was super busy getting a brochure ready to mail to Camille Jennings of my previous letters I had made so she could take them to The What Women Want Expo in St. George & Man! It was so much harder than I thought! But I got it done & Camille was awesome to do it for me! Thanks Camille!

We also got a phone call from the AzEIP (Arizona Early Intervention Program) to get our therapy for Brok (finally after 3 months of waiting). Our case manager came out on Friday & basically just had me sign some forms & went over what we wanted from him & how soon. She left me with a list of Physical Therapist to call because usually there is a wait list & so I got right to work. I found one to come! Hopefully by next week someone will be coming in once a week to work with him! He also gets a Developmental Specialist to come work for an hour every week, basically they just play with him in a way that encourages him to walk & goes along with what the therapists will be doing! We think (or hope) he'll be walking within a few months! He will be with the program til we move, & then still will get help from wherever... When he is 2 &1/2 we meet with the school district to determine if he is @ his correct developmental age & if so AWESOME! But if not, he'll get put into a preschool with other kids who are in the same boat. It will be good either way!

Another exciting part of the week was that Kevin's AMU for work had a campout at the lake. It isn't like camping in Utah though, don't let it fool you... There were no trees & it was so hot! But it did cool off pretty good at night. It was ok for us, not too boring but definately not the party everyone else had. They all pretty much drink & even the high ranked officers over their group were so drunk one actually passed out... We were already in bed but I hear it was pretty exciting down there. Brok loved camping. He had a blast! Except for the waking up & being hungry like he does but not getting a warm bottle! I ended up sleeping with his milk curled up next to me so warm it up! Kevin had told me it wouldn't be too cold there so all I brought blanket wise was 2 little flannel ones... we couldn't share & neither of them were long enough to stretch out fully but hey, we had our huge tent (THANKS MOM & DAD) & the air mattress so we can't really complain! We went out on a boat yesterday with some friends & had fun, there was a 250,000 boat crashed against the side of the rocks, like it had tried to turn but hit the rocks. It was empty so it was more of a spectacle than really any excitement but hey, it was fun! Lake Pleasant was really cold so we didn't swim but we sure had fun!

& also, I forgot to say but I quit working like 2 weeks ago... I had a strong desire to stay home... & I was so sick that I was having a harder time working!

Anyway, this week was fun & the coming week should be too. I have a doc appt on Thurs where they should schedule another ultrasound & we'll get to hear the little one's heart... He is very active! I love it, I can feel him sloshing around!

My Fabulous F-16 Ride!

2008-04-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

It was so fun! It may seem really lame because it wasn't flying or anything but how many people can say they got to ride in one? I mean it is likely never to happen to me again! My pilot was Capt Keith "Cracker" Carson. He has been flying approx 9yrs & I got to talk to him before so I was confident in him.

First we started the day @8am doing EGRESS training (learning how to bail if there is a problem) No, we didn't get to practice ejecting the seats, good thing too cause it is not very fun if you have to, the canopy shoots off & then your chair shoots out all in something like 6 seconds, if you can imagine... But we did get to practice jumping out, it didn't get any pictures of it but it was fun. They hooked us up to harnesses, imagine like a full body rappelling harness, over the shoulders, under the butt cheeks. Then they hooked us to practice cockpits which are about 4ft off the ground (from the part where you would have to jump), in a real jet, it's about a 7 or 8ft drop. We got strapped in @ the shoulders & lap then had the helmet & oxygen mask on attached to the "tank". Then they give the signal (EGRESS, EGRESS, EGRESS) & by the 3rd time the pilot says it, the canopy should be open far enough to get out so while he says that you are trying to unbuckle yourself (& trust me it isn't just a button, it's a lift flap, push down with your thumb to release) & climb out of the cockpit... & the cockpit is deep & fairly narrow... So you can imagine. We were supposed to practice with gloves but since everyone in my group was smaller, we didn't have gloves that fit! The first 2 girls that tried to "jump" got stuck on their harnesses hanging. Their feet were about 6-12in off the floor & there really was no way to get back up! It was funny but @ the same time they kept reminding us to think if it was a fire or something! I didn't get stuck but I can vouch that it would not be a fun thing to have to bail out!

After we finished the EGRESS training, they took us & did a slide show of what to expect, not that you can really expect the ride but they tried... Except they didn't use terms we understood! how funny huh? All I remember is that they gave us scripts & that I would have to talk to the other wives riding!

Finally around noon, we went to life support & got fitted with our jumpsuits & helmets/masks. That was pretty funny! There were 3 groups of 4 wives, the first was student pilot wives (their hubbys were graduating that day after 28mo of training), then was the instructor pilot wives & then the maintainer wives... Well most of the pilot wives were pretty tall & very slender, the maintainers wives, well they are normal women like me, a little rounder in the mid section! Which of course is not like the pilots who are also tall & slender! So our suits were a little tight around the mid section & very long everywhere!

We then met up with our pilots & rode out to the jets, ready for the ride... Kevin was the crew chief on my jet (yes it was planned) so he got to help me into the jet (shown in the picture) & I got to see all that studying we did way back in school put to use! He fastened me into the plane & then we got our helmets on & it was time to go! Those planes are so manueverable! It took tight turns I would have never thought it could! Since my pilot was "#1" I got to say a whole bunch of stuff to the other wives in their jets, checking radios to make sure we were all on the same frequencies & to the tower or ops or something saying we were ready. We taxied to the end of the runway where they checked to make sure nothing was broke yet (actually happens more often then you might think from where Kevin works to EOR) & then we lined up on the runway. The pilots pushed the throttle keeping the brakes on until it was @ 90knots(about 100mph) & let off the brakes. While it did push me back in my seat, it wasn't forceful @ all. It was however one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life! We taxied again to the other EOR to check again for any malfunctions & then back to parking! One of the best moments was after we finished, we were down @ EOR & I had to say something like "Dog house, top dog 1(me) down with 4. Top dog 1 code 1" & then each of the girls said in sequence "top dog 2 code 1" etc but top dog 2 said code 2, top dog 3 said code 3 & then top dog 4 said code 1... I know doesn't make sense to you but to our hubbys code 2 & code 3 mean their jet is broken, code 3 being serious. Now imagine none of the pilot wives messed that up just the maintainers wives... & that would have meant that our hubbys didn't come home for a long time!Yes that is me with my helmet & oxygen mask on! Over all it was a blast & definately something to remember! Enjoy the pictures, it was so fun!

So....

2008-04-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

I just opened an Etsy store... I sell wooden letters you know that hang on the wall... So go check it out!

& I got put on a diet for this baby! I thought it was bad with Brok but this one is so much worse! He is very picky & lately I have been sooooooo sick! I get these headaches & I feel dizzy, weak & sleepy... So she put me on a... no sugar, high protein diet! I have to eat 6 small meals a day, instead of the 3 reg ones, & have tons of protien each tiem... Which is not going to be easy as I can't eat nuts... Soy nut butter she said to try so we'll see... But 100% whole grains everything from my bagels for breakfast to sandwiches... & I have had a huge craving for stew lately & now I can't just eat the rolls, it has to be healthy & I can only eat fruit but not too much cause the sugar... AH! I hope it helps cause the phenegren did not this time & I am tired of being sick!

We Get To Go Home!

2008-04-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

My little Brother gets home from his mission on June 10th & we were concerned we wouldn't get to go because of Kevin's big tests but we get to take 9days & Go! From June 9th or 10th to the 17th! Yay! We will be in Vegas until the 12th & then back in Vegas from the 15th to when we leave! This is him defending the truth! J/K! One of their members or something is a police so they got to dress up. Brok has never met Kyle so this will be exciting for all of us!

Brok's getting a.......

2008-04-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

Baby Brother... The Long thing to the left is his little leg bone but that bump in the middle there definately looks like a little boy!

At least it appearst that way. We had our ultrasound yesterday & it was so neat! The tech was awesome & since I asked if we'd be able to see parts yet, he took the wand & looked for us... It appears that there are little boy parts there, though it's still not 100% because he has seen ones that look like it @ this early but at the actual one to find out sex it was just a swollen little girl part but we know it's a boy. I was hoping to get lucky but in KEvin's family boys are super dominant (9 including Brok to 3girls) so it's luck of the draw! We are excited either way! He is healthy & happy, just kicked back & relaxing. We got 6 pictures 5 profile & 1 of his parts & it just amazes me that we could see so much detail even though he is only 8& a half centimeters long! We got to see his brain, his teeth(inside his gums of course), his ear(or what will be his ear) his nose, his fingers, his spine, & his heart beating... even in his parts picture we saw his little leg bone! It's amazing just how little they are & yet in 9months can become an 8lb baby! We are 14wks along & that puts my due date @ Oct17th. Hopefully He comes earlier! My sister is hoping for the 2nd as that is her birthday! I'm just glad that I have 9 days less preg than I thought! LOL

Brok is very excited... I think he gets it, at least to some degree because lately he has been rubbing my belly when he cuddles with me. They will be best friend's I am sure! When we were listening to his heart, Brok stopped playing with his bead toy & just listened!

I have the pictures but my camera died so they will have to wait. Looks like we won't be needing many clothes! Except that after the 3 months clothes which Brok only wore for like 2weeks, it's mostly warm weather... oh well...

Dr appt #1

2008-04-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

So it was the awaited day!!!! I have been anxious to go just due to the fact that twins run in Kevin's fam (2 sisters have twins) but it was GREAT!

My doctor is super good! She was just one the military referred me to so I was a bit nervous but she was awesome! She took everything I said about my problems with Brok & had me do extra blood tests & everything so that she could keep dibs on me... She also used the little portable ultrasound machine with the tiny 6in screen to check how big the baby was (to get an idea of how far along I am, if I was 12+ weeks we can see a heart & hear the heartbeat) Well I am definately 12 weeks at least, she said it looked like a 4th month fetus not a 3rd month which could mean I might be further along than 12 or 13 weeks... We have a date & size ultrasound schedule for a week from this Sat to check everything out... I am excited that I may have less pregnancy than first thought!!! LOL anyway...

Everything was good with the baby, we didn't get to hear the heart but saw the baby. It is a mover! She couldn't get it to sit still for nothing! Finally it paused for about 30 seconds & then it lifted a tiny hand & wiggled it back & forth like it was waving! How cute! I haven't seen an ultrasound this early on in a preg before as I just had one @ 18wks with Brok so it was fun to see it! It has a big head & a big belly but definately is shaping up to be a good sized kid! (no 6lb babies for me!) If it's anything like Brok, I am in for a ride!

Brok was screaming the whole appt, we are weaning (or trying to) off the bottle especially at bed time & he is super angry with us! But while she was doing the ultrasound, he was staring at it like he was infatuated or something! It was cute... I bet they are the best of friends...

Kevin thinks that he saw some boy parts but I highly doubt it cause it was so tiny & the baby took up a lot of room but I guess only time will tell! I get to go for a taxi ride in an F-16! how cool is that!

Birthday slide show

2008-04-05T10:10:00.001-07:00