The intermediate old house

Finally....The old New house!

So I've dedicated this whole blog to our house, and what it looked like before, because there are so many, and I don't want to overload this computer. part 2 coming soon.

HOME?

Well, it's been a while, and I keep waiting for this uninterupted time to catch up my blog, but i'm yet to get that, also I don't have my computer to put up pictures, but here goes anyway.

So, we bought this house in La Mirada, and have moved out of our dream home in Brea. I was so sad to leave our ward, and i was just starting to get into my routine in Orange County, but, that's life I guess. We moved out about 3 weeks ago, and moved in with my parents. We thought It'd be about a week...three and counting. We wanted to fix the layout before we moved in, so we knocked down about 6 walls and realized they were supporting walls.

How did we find out you ask. Well, after my brothers were done taking out their aggression on the walls, we noticed the ceilings were starting to droop. "KIDS, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!" But, that was fixed thanks to Mark, Randy, and a couple of giant beams.

Well, when the walls were opened, we noticed some of the wood had been completely hollowed out by termites, and then realized the damage was quite extensive. Again, thanks to Mark, Randy, and A LOT of 2x4's the problems were fixed. 1 week later.

On to the plumbing...wait, what,the plubming needs replacing too? Uggggggh! Another weeks worth of work.

BUT, we're on the down slope now. The holes have been patched, and the ceilings redone, so we should be ready for paint and carpet by the next couple of days.

All in all it hasn't been too bad. We're tired, but all doing well, and even kind of excited about our new (for us at least) home. I'll try and get pictures soon

The Pictures

Savannah, ready to go and get this over with! (with mommy & daddy by me, of course)

Minutes after surgery


With our Hero and miracle worker Dr. Court B. Cutting


A wagon ride makes anyone feel better


Saturday, back out on the town

We're OK

I'm so sorry for not posting earlier, but we've been house bound because of the rain, and we didn't have the internet.

Savannah's surgery was on Tuesday from about 8:30am until about 1Pm. Mark and I read books the entire time and that seemed to pass the time pretty well. I read a book name Moloka'i, and I don't know if the book was that amazing, or I was just that emotional, but that was hands down one of the most heartbreaking books I've read yet, and I've read Where the Red Ferns Grow.

They let us see her immediately after surgery, and she kept sleeping for about the first 30 minutes, then she woke up and decided she'd rather be asleep again. Last surgery she cried and really didn't know what to do with herself, but this time it was as if she knew the routine. She'd wake up and moan a little, check to see if she was being held, and doze right off to sleep again.

That first day after surgery is really the worst. They had her arms with the restraints, her leg strapped on a stint to hold the IV in, she had her tounge stichted and connected to the black strings on the side of her cheek, and her mouth was as swollen as could be.

I can't say I did too much that day though, because I was back in our apartment sick with who knows what. My tonsils were so swollen I had trouble breathing, and I had an outrageous fever. I've had the appointment set twice now for a pre-surgery date to get them out, but have always "chickened out" at the last minute, but this time, I think I've had enough.

Mark really was our rock that kept it together for us that Monday and Tuesday. He strolled around town with Savannah at all her pre-op testing, and cared for her that whole first day after surgery. It is in those moments that I remember how blessed I am to have found and married such a wonderful man, capable of such love and devotion to his family. You're the best Mark.

She came "home" on Wednesday afternoon, and refused to drink anything. She was in and out of sleep all day and most of the night, except for a few crying spells. We thought we might have to take her back in to the hospital the next morning because she still refused to take so much as a sip of pedialyte, but by about mid-morning she decided she was thirsty and ready to drink.

It's so hard to see her just sitting there with no energy to do anything and not be able to do much about it. She seems like just a shadow of herself. She wasn't really herself up untll about this afternoon when she was Marks Laptop and crawled her way to it to bang on the Keys. I think she's almost back to her normal energy level, and we welcome it whole heartidly.

As with everything else this past year, we thank everyone whose shared everything from a meal, toa prayer to their homes with us to help our family and baby achieve the resulst that she has

OH KIERA!

A couple of days ago Kiera had a conversation with me I just had to write down. I hope I don't embarras anyone.

Kiera: Mommy, why do you have a different last name than abuelita?

Me: Because when girls get married their last name changes to whatever the boys last name is,

Kiera: What's Timmy's last name?

Me: Barney

Kiera: What's Jonathans last name?

Me: Dewlley

Kiera: Mommy, I want to be KIERA BARNEY!

Me: Oh Kiera.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Today is my hubby's birthday, and every year I (and everyone else in our family) have the same dilema....What to get him. We all know he likes Star Wars, and so he's been given every calender, figure and book that has to do with Star Wars. He liked the Lord of the Rings, and so, likewise we're overloaded. So this year the I decided....Food. So I made him breakfast, but he was up before I could take it to him in bed. Kiera chose to give him a hat, Mason picked glasses, and Savannah gave him a belt. I think he felt as special as we tried to make him feel. We love you Mark and all you do for us! Happy Birthday!

MENU

2 Eggs over easy
1 piece of toast (unbuttered)
Belgium Waffle w/fresh strawberries & blueberries
Fresh squeezed Orange Juice
Fruit smoothie
Maple syrup

Getting nervous

So the day is getting closer and closer, and I find myself getting increasingly more emotional about the whole thing. For those who don't know, Savannah's going in for surgery next Tuesday to have her palate repaired. We are going to New York again to have it done by Dr. Cutting. We are so plesed with how her lip turned out, and are hoping everything turns out just as well this time.

It's been a while....

A lot has happened since my last post, nothing earth shattering, but milestone in our family. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, so.....speak away



We had our annual Valentines Day party. (our biggest yet)







We went to Cancun with the kids




Friends have come to visit



Isaac came home from his mission!







EASTER!!!

Say hello to my little friend

For the past 8 months I've attached myself diligently to this lovely piece of machinery every 3 hours (yes even at night). Now, I won't lie and say I don't skip a session every once in a while, but the pain of engorgement is kind enough to remind me of my lapse. When Savannah was first born and the realization struck that she would never be able to nurse, no matter how hard I cried or prayed, I thought if I could just make it her first surgery, I'll call it a day and be done with it. Her first surgery was suppose to be at about 3 months old, but didn't end up happening untill she was 6 months old. At that point I was half way through, so why not just keep going. Her next surgery is May 6th (yes, her birthday) and I hope to be able to make it till then.

Why pump? The difference between one ear infection, and a never ending ear infection, that many times leads to hearing loss. The antibodies passed along through breastmilk also lessen the chances of infection on the incesions, and help speed up healing time. After her next surgery she will have to be on an all liquid diet for a while, and what better liquid than breastmilk.

Pumping has been the hardest most unforgiving commitment I've ever had to make. I've endured engorgement, mastitis (infections), cracked nipples, blisters and other uncomfortable moments because of it, but like anything that we've done for Savannah, I hope to be able to someday say to her, we did EVERYTHING we possiblly could for you, and know that it's true.

I pump therefore I am....tierd

The Pink Eyed Monster!

Yes, pink eye has struck our household. We spent Wednesday Morning at the doctors(yes we, all 4 of us) only to go back on Thursday for immunizations and flu shots for all. (myself excluded) Can't tell you how um fun that was. So we are quarentined. Not all bad. I kind of enjoy not being able to go anywhere these days. For those fellow Nick Jr. watchers, what an exciting night it was on Monday as the new Backyardigans movie premiered. We recorded it and didn't get to it untill Wednesday, but the suspense made it all that much better. We had popcorn, cookies and cream puffs(kiera's favorite) and had a movie night. I didn't get any pictures, but Savannah somehow (mason&kiera) got a hold of a cream puff while i went and got the popcorn, and had a blast smooshing the heck out of it into the carpet. Pure Delight best describes her expression and how could I be mad at that?

Yummy!

I've come to the realization that I'm not going to ever have a good chunk of time to "blog", so bear with me as i speak through pictures. I'll post a short comment on each, but that's as much as I can do for now.

Savannahs first experience with solids.


Clearance time at Target