The Woolstenhulmes

Crafty Crap....

2011-06-20T17:36:00.007-06:00

Growing up my mom always had a craft room. There was so much stuff in there that we dubbed it the "crap" room. As an adult I totally understand how that can happen. I have so many unfinished or not even started projects. Since I don't have space to donate it all too I have a "crap" closet. And don't even ask for pictures on this cram full closet. However, this weekend I did one of those projects in my craft closet. A few weeks ago I got this way cute coordinating fabric.

Cute huh?

So there it sat in my "crap" closet until I could figure out just the right thing to make. I knew I wanted ruffles so I googled a few ideas. I saw a picture of something I loved made a pattern and wahla!!

This will be so cute on Amelia.

Because I had leftover fabric I couldn't waste it. I decided Amelia's cute cousin should have a dress too so I whipped this one up! Amelia helped me model Ambree's dress.

Love this one too. We are going to Idaho for a wedding so we are going to have to take some cute pics in beautiful Victor!!

P.S. ignore my halfway reupholstered chair and if you blow the picture up ignore Amelia's dirty face.

Water Baby!

2011-06-09T21:59:00.002-06:00

Look how much fun Amelia had at Grandma's in the sprinkler!

Who would have thought that this little girl would ever love the water? If you know her at all you would know that it has only been a few weeks since she wouldn't scream in the bathtub! Now she can't get enough of it. Amelia was the only brave grandbaby at Grandma's. None of her bigger cousins would get wet, look at our little water baby!!

Hey look! I have been spotted!!

2011-06-07T22:50:00.002-06:00

So I mentioned I subbed in the sunbeam class on Sunday. Well in all my time actually teaching the sunbeams before Amelia was born I never had so many funny things said to me during the 2 hours! First of all the lesson was on being thankful for smell and taste. After showing the 2 sunbeams that were there all the animal noses I showed a picture of a "people" nose. I said the picture was just like their nose and like mine. The cutest girl goes NO!! Your nose is different it has spots on it! LOL. Ok so no hidden fact I am covered in freckles. When we drew pictures of ourselves she insisted that I didn't put enough spots on it. So of course they had to add more, and more, and yes even more. I didn't realize my spots were so entertaining!! After pictures she kept looking at my arms and legs and even trying to look under my shirt for my many spots! Oh man. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny!

These 10 little things...

2011-06-05T23:12:00.002-06:00

Why is it that on Sunday everything goes missing? I have compiled a list of 10 things that I have noticed are ALWAYS missing on Sunday.

1. Amelia's shoes-seriously out of 4 pairs why can't I find 2 of any?
2. A slip- I only have one and I never seem to put it in the same place twice.
3. Sippy cup- Probably the biggest neccessity for a 3 hour block. This one I blame all on Amelia for carting it around the house!
4. Scriptures- Where did we read them last, living room? bedroom? (crap did I just giveaway how lousy I am at reading my scriptures?)
5. Nylons- I usually find 5 pairs all with runs in them. (truth be told I detest nylons so I usually don't look very hard for these)
6. Josh's Church Shoes- I can't believe I can make a list this long. I bet you think my house is incredibly filthy!
7. Hairspray- Why don't I just do my hair in the bathroom?
8. Josh's church pants- He never wants to wear the pants that are clean!!
9. Church toys- I can only find the noisy obnoxious toys, once again Amelia's fault she stuffs her toys in every crack, crevice, and drawer!
10. Car Keys- Why do they always run away? Now this isn't a Sunday only thing we are constantly losing our car keys. If I wasn't always running on a clock 15 minutes behind we would just walk to church. But as I listed above I spend all my time looking for everything!!

Today was no exception! In fact I had to sub for the sunbeam class so in addition to running behind I had a lesson to plan. Since our sacrament meeting is last Primary is first. So I HAD to be on time. Josh stayed home and looked for Amelia's other shoe and her sippy cup and joined church around Sunday School time. Maybe next Saturday I will set things out and be all ready for Sunday.................... OK probably not.

OOOOoooPpps. My bad.

2011-06-02T13:45:00.003-06:00

So apparently my bitter statement from my last post isn't all that flattering. So I recant.I am actually quite happy to be home with Amelia and so far this has been a good move in my life. To keep myself occupied the last couple days I have been working on advancing Amelia in the Parent Magazine Photo cover shoot. If she is one of the 10 finalists we get a trip to New York City to shoot a cover. You can vote once a day per computer or device you own. Such as your phone, tablet, netbook, laptop,etc... Here is the link.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.parents.com%2Fcategory%2Fvote%2Fphoto%2F885162&h=effe6

And if you are feeling so kind as to share this as your facebook status and promote Amelia to your friends and families... please please do so!!

To be famous...

2011-05-31T23:10:00.002-06:00

Just wondering if anybody knows how all those other bloggin' moms became so famous? Because if I was a famous and had lots of advertising the fact that I got FIRED today wouldn't hurt so bad! Yes thats right I got fired. BOOOOO!!! Basically because this is the internet and it is forever on here I won't post the details. I also read that bad mouthing your past employers is great way for your future employers to cross you off the list (as if being fired from your last job is going to get you far). So despite the fact that they FIRED me I won't say anything negative at all.

So now I need to be interesting, funny, creative, with mounds of wit, so I can be a popular stay-at-home mommy blogger. Since I have like 1 follower I can pretty much say that is a big ol' shot in the dark. Oh well.

Life Sucks then you die. Guess I will have to get over it.

A Peaceful Celebration....

2011-05-31T22:46:00.002-06:00

It isn't very often that peace and celebrate go hand in hand. However, we just celebrated our little Adalyn's 2nd birthday. Its such a peaceful time to sit at her grave and think of the happiness she brings to someone up there in Heaven. I saw a rainbow he other day on my way home from Idaho. I couldn't help but think of her and for a brief moment I knew she was thinking of me too and looking at that same rainbow....

Mostly Amelia keeps me busy enough that I don't get the chance to just sit and think about Adalyn. It was nice to spend some time and dedicate it to my firstborn. We actually weren't able to put flowers on her grave until today but we planted flowers at home last week in her honor and that always brings me a lot of comfort. Til we meet again angel babe!

Use it or Delete it....

2011-05-24T22:52:00.003-06:00

That was the ultimatum given to me by one nameless sister in law. After many threats of this useless blog I guess I will update! I joke with Josh that the only reason I have a blog or facebook is to enter all the giveaways. If I won any of them than maybe it would be worth it, lol!

I haven't blogged since November and now its May (in case you weren't aware). Pay attention for the next few lines of the Woolstenhulme November to May run down (in no particular order. Thanksgiving, Sis in Law wedding, Christmas, Lots of Christmas, first teeth, first steps, new nephews and new nieces to be, baby blessing, new (local) job (for Josh), they canned my horrid boss (yay), Amelia turns 1, trips to Idaho, anniversary get away, new apartment, birthdays, birthdays, birthdays, Elise demands a raise (and GETS it :D), decorating new apartment, diets, failed diets, gardens, school, true health eating reform, Amelia walks, talks, and is the greatest joy of it all.

Now I am sure I could fill in a whole lot more details on the last 7 months but really it all boils down to that. We have been so grateful to having things fall in place the last couple months. I think after 3 years of marriage I have FINALLY learned how to budget. We are paying off huge chunks of debts and we are potentially saving to buy a house. I want to have a pretty sizeable down payment! It always blows my mind why I couldn't figure this out sooner but than I realize I am only 22 and most 22 year olds still live off their parents. Don't get me wrong we HAVE lived off our parents at some points, lol, but well now that I have got it all together (somewhat) I can just say we are moving on up from here.

I am a big blog reader and like to read all the sewing projects, especially from bloggers who transform their current wardrobe into a whole new one. Well Saturday I took my first stab at it. Now I am a pretty adapt seamstress thanks to my Mom and Stepmom, yet thats going off patterns and fabric from a bolt. Re-working already made clothes was not something I have done before. But I did take a light linen shirt that had a stain on it and cover it up with ruffles. Once it gets washed from the most recent wear I will post pictures. Are there any good blogs you follow with super easy money saving, sewing, cooking tips?

The {big vision} giveaway...

2011-05-18T15:26:00.002-06:00

I am entering to win a HUGE photog giveaway. Even if I don't win all these vendors were definitely worth checking out. 2 of the vendors are even from Utah. Woohoo Utah!

Check it out. (but don't enter, lol I want all the chances I can get... heehee jk)

http://finishedvision.com/blog/the-big-vision-giveaway/

Check this out...

2010-12-16T19:36:00.002-07:00

I am again trying to win Jeni's awesome giveaway. Check her out at http://www.fancyschmancyboutique.com/

My life.

2010-11-07T01:24:00.002-06:00

It has been awhile since I posted. That really is nothing new. The new part about it is why I haven't posted in what seems like forever. Typically I wouldn't post because I was just too lazy. Now my life has gotten me legitimately busy and leaves me no time. So here I am posting to tell you about my life. Josh and I successfully are back at my moms house. It was such a relief to be able to catch up on some debts that we haven't been able to handle since his horrid pay cut. In the midst of moving and all that I was offered a great job. I barely had to interview and they would pay me really well. It was hard to leave Amelia but I have to be honest when I say I love my job and really missed working full time like this. Honestly between my job, being organized, unpacking, trying to be a better daughter and clean my mom's house more often that has kept more than busy. I fill like I have nothing to say and report back on even after my long absence. I will post some halloween pics soon though. Amelia was just so darn cute in her costume!

Because I want to win...

2010-09-21T22:43:00.002-06:00

A lady I know makes some way cute things and is doing a giveaway! Check her facebook out!! And cross your fingers that I win!

http://www.fancyschmancyboutique.com

Do you ever just feel like screaming?

2010-09-21T22:27:00.003-06:00

Cause I certainly do. This past month I have had so many days where I just wanted to scream. First, way back in August, our car broke down. We were told by a mechanic shop it was our alternator and it would cost 600 bucks. Cough Cough blow to the gut there. Ya right I can't afford that! So we found another mechanic who said 300 than had my grandpa get a used part for us and my brother put it in. Hooray! Not so much, on our way to Ogden it broke down. Turned out there was a fried battery wire causing all our problems. 120 dollars later car runs fine. That was my first few scream worthy days.

Next, Josh's boss freaked out on him and told him he no longer had a job. Well crap. After stressing all day she called and apologized for losing it and told him he still had a job. Good my scream day ended. We went to Victor for Labor Day weekend and had loads of fun.

Tuesday after Labor Day Josh has to meet with his boss. She gives him the option of stepping down as manager or they will do it for him. So now we are back to crap. This means Josh has taken a huge paycut. Scream Scream Scream

Than peach days came which meant the peach queen pageant. I stressed stressed stressed than scream scream scream again. That was over just meant I could go back to the job thing. Aggh, so now we are scraping pennies (even more), begging my mom to let us come live with her again (no response yet), and praying for any job of any sort to help!!

Now that you have got to hear my screaming I am going to share my pictures that I promise have no screaming in them..... well i think not anyways I can't say for certain on Amelia.

I should post shouldn't I?

2010-08-10T22:55:00.004-06:00

I have the cutest little blue eyed babe in the world and should be showing her off yet it's been forever since I posted! I am in trouble with some grandmas.......... good thing I am better at facebook.

Well we have had one crazy month. We spent lots of weekends in Idaho. We went to Victor for the 4th of July and Josh's high school reunion. It was just too much fun who on earth wanted to come back to reality? Afterwards I went to Pocatello for Relay for Life Fundraisers. I had been making bows like crazy to sell for Relay I swear my thumbs were bleeding. Then we went back up to Pocatello for the actual event. It was way fun, Exhausting, but fun. My most recent adventure was going with my mom to Provo while she had a conference. It was such a blast hanging out with my sister's in law during the day. We made hair bows (I just can't get enough)and just had all out fun. My mom's conference paid for our meals and we even got to go see "Annie get your guns". I spent time shopping at the DI and getting the best ever clearance sales. The only problem with that is that you can get lots of things for cheap but you still can spend lots of money, it just feels more justified. Now this is not all that is going on but I feel I have shared my piece and am going throw in an overload of pictures sooooooo.... ENJOY!!

Never Ending Drama.......

2010-06-23T23:28:00.002-06:00

Story of my life. I have lots of drama, not in the high school "I-hate-you-for-stealing-my-boyfriend" kind of drama. But real life hard core drama. In the long run it just means I have more stories to tell so I guess I will take that as a good thing. Anyways, back to my drama of the day....

I had my 6 week post-partum checkup today. No worries I am healthy. In fact I have lost 30 pounds since Amelia was born, yay for me :). Sorry I keep getting off track, back to the drama. First thing when my doctor gets there is he tells me to come look at my chart and the placenta test results that came back. He says "look at this you had an infarct" a what? I swear it sounded like some other word. Well apparently I had an infarction of my placenta. A blood clot had formed at some earlier point in my pregnancy and stopped blood flow to a big chunk of the placenta and killed it. I was in shock. My doctor goes on and on about how lucky we are that baby is here safe and sound yadi yadi yada. Holy crow, I am sooooooooooo relieved today more than ever. After google-ing blood clots and infarctions we are truly blessed Amelia was born full term alive and healthy. I know I shouldn't worry about what the doc. said but I am just really disturbed by what could have been.

On a side note some stinking German dude started rubbing and filing my nails and making them looking all pretty and nice today at the mall. Somehow all that led to me buying a jar of expensive lotion. One day that German dude will get what he deserves for giving me mini mani and making me spend money I just don't have to spend.... Errgggg

Cutest Socks Ever!

2010-06-12T22:46:00.004-06:00

I have an addiction to a particular brand of baby socks called trumpettes. They are ridiculously expensive but incredibly cute. I have had a hard time finding them in Utah, typically they are sold back east, I could get them online but I never want to pay for shipping. Well I went into a cute boutique store in Ogden yesterday and my awesome husband pointed out that they sold trumpettes there!! (hooray, even though I am sure he wished he kept that to himself after I bought a box of socks heeehe). So anyways I am excited to have some new trumpette socks that Amelia can wear.

Love this little babe!!

2010-06-10T17:01:00.001-06:00

Amelia is getting so big! Here are some adorable pictures. (If you think otherwise, keep it to yourself!!)

Somehow I made it......

2010-06-08T23:25:00.002-06:00

I have felt very emotional over the last few weeks. I had a healthy baby girl who is growing and melts my heart. At the same time I can't help but think of the baby I lost just a year ago. We drive thru the cemetery often and it brings a semblance of peace knowing I ache for something real. As Adalyn's one year birthday came and went I was sad and lonely. I was in Idaho without Josh and though I had a great time it is only him who I can share my grief entirely with. She was the little angel I don't get to see grow and get big. I want everyone to know about that first child of mine yet I don't want to open myself to all the questions and pity. I hoped to do so many things in honor of her this year. I read a book that the family had a little celebration each year on the birthday of the baby that had died. I so wanted to do that. I wanted to plant a huge flower garden full of pansies and petunias, but because I am recovering physically and financially from having a baby I didn't do that either.

All of these things I wanted to do seem somehow insignificant when I realize I made it. I made it thru the hardest year of my life. I recovered from losing a child. I still grieve and I can admit right now that I am crying while I type this. My grief goes on and yet I am still making it. I am not typically a share all but I felt compelled to write this and tell those around me my grief is minimal compared to the joy I find in knowing that Adalyn is eternally mine and one day I will be able to be with her again and watch her grow as I do my little baby now.

Pictures!!

2010-05-25T17:21:00.003-06:00

We took Amelia's newborn photos this week and they turned out so precious.

Amelia also endured her first bath. I still don't know if she knows what exactly to think about it.

As promised...

2010-05-19T14:52:00.001-06:00

I have now been out to the cemetery so here are the pics of Adalyn's headstone. I love it, it is sooooo pretty.

She is Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-19T10:00:00.004-06:00

Amelia Jean Woolstenhulme was born May 12th, 2010 weighing in at 7 pounds 5 ounces and measuring 19 and 1/2 inches.

It was a long day for us while we waited for her to get here. We checked into the hospital at 4:30 am and after a few scares and a prep for an emergency c-section I was able to deliver her on the operating table naturally. (big relief.)

We already love this little girl so much and the funny things she does. We can't decided who she looks like more, mostly I see Josh but than I can see me too. She laughs in her sleep, so adorable, scratches her throat like her mama (don't ask why I do that I get it from my dad). She had her first check up today and she has gained 6 oz., the doctor says it usually takes 2 weeks for a baby to get back to their birth weight so she is very healthy. Hopefully it means I will have a chunky baby, love little chunky babies (who doesn't!!)

On a side note Adalyn's headstone is up and I am going to go over to the cemetery later today and will take some pictures to post.

Ya shouldn't of said that.....

2010-05-10T07:04:00.002-06:00

On Friday I had a NST as usual. Everything went great and my doctor came in to the hospital before I left to check on me. I had been having some contractions and he decided to throw out there that he was on call all weekend and really wouldn't be surprised to see me come in this weekend in labor. Now why do you say that to a anxious pregnant woman? Really?

After having mild contractions all day Saturday I had some other problems come up Saturday night. So Josh and I headed to the hospital. Everything I thought was wrong turned out to be okay but the baby's heartrate was far too high and wasn't coming down. So my doctor decided I better stay overnight. Because I was having contractions I was checked to see if I was dialated. Sure enough I was! Only to a 2, but for being 2 and 1/2 weeks away from my actual due date that wasn't too bad. After 3 hours the baby's heart rate finally calmed down to her normal baseline, what a relief. All night the nurses kept telling me that the doctor would probably just decide to induce me in the morning and get my labor really going along. Especially considering that I was contracting and dialating. Well as you probably guessed he didn't induce and I am still very pregnant, very hormonal, and very ready to have this baby!

I know it is all about being safe, but it was one long night of watching monitors and seeing all these different things not being good (not to mention the contractions) I really thought we would be having a baby. Such a bummer.

Finished

2010-05-08T09:50:00.003-06:00

We finished the dresser. All I have to do now is add the knobs.

Setting the date.

2010-05-04T23:27:00.002-06:00

I decided I should blog mainly because it feels like the appropriate thing to do! I have had a pretty good last few days. I have no energy but I still feel like getting things done. This is probably in connection with the baby being scheduled to be born next Wednesday, May 12th. I am so ecstatic. Only a week left!!! I am excited to hold her and all that comes with that but my biggest relief is to be done with pregnancy. It has been extremely hard on me and my body is about one thread away from unraveling completely. The newest symptom I have developed is intense insomnia. Some nights I am only getting an hour or two of sleep others I am not sleeping at all. Like last weekend, the night before my baby shower in Pocatello, I was awake the entire night. Finally around 10 am on Saturday I slept until 12 pm. That was such a relief!! Especially since I needed to find some energy for all my friends and family that I was about to see. The shower turned out really great and I am so grateful I have family that love me enough to throw me one.

I think I am all ready for this baby to come. Josh and I found a place to move into and we can start moving in next week. We are both excited to get back into a space of our own (and if you have a couch or two we could borrow until I get my new ones the beginning of June that would be super). Josh sanded down a dresser we were given that was pretty beat up and today we have been painting it for the baby's room. I figure I will have everything ready to go so that while I am in the hospital next week all our loving family and friends can transfer our stuff from my mom's (and our storage bay) to our new digs. I will post pics of the dresser when I get it all done!!

Fulfilling my promises

2010-04-24T01:00:00.003-06:00

I promised to upload some pictures so here they are :) Some of the convention and cupcakes, a cake for my little bro's b-day (don't look too close), a picture of me and my mother in law at my baby shower, and my favorite bridal pic of my little sister who is getting married tomorrow. So really here is pictures to go with my last few pots. ENJOY!!

Just a Zap.....

2010-04-22T00:00:00.003-06:00

Today was weird. The weather was funky, sunny and rainy, than just sunny, than pouring. No single weather description for the day. I had to work and got some projects done and it was pretty relaxing. But the weirdest thing for me was my doctor's appointment this morning. I went in for an ultrasound and had to sit and wait for the baby to move enough so I could get a good score this time. After the tech pestered her for a few minutes she finally moved a little bit. I am sure she was sleeping I mean it was 9 am why wouldn't she be? So we passed the ultrasound this week but only just barely. After the ultrasound I had an NST. And once again she was being a little lethargic and not moving much so after about 15 minutes the nurse came in and told me she was just going to give her a little zap. A zap? What the crap does that mean? Well its this little thing that vibrates on my stomach and wakens the baby. And it sure does wake up the baby, I think she jumped from my uterus to Texas and back. After the initial shock she stopped moving again so they zapped her again! This time she stayed moving the rest of my NST, so she was just being stubborn and lazy. But how weird is it that they actually "zapped" my baby. It just feels so inhumane. Hopefully she doesn't develop PTSD from this experience............

Long. Long. Week.

2010-04-09T05:51:00.002-06:00

I am sitting here awake at 5 in the morning. If anyone who knows me knows that 9 am feels early to me than I am guessing I have your pity. Now I don't know why I can't sleep yesterday or today but I might as well update the world on my life.

For the exciting news yesterday was the county Republican convention. My mom is running for County Clerk and had to get 60% last night in order to beat her competitor and not have to go to a primary. Well.......... she did it!! Yay. She won by 85% which was a county record. Because no other party affiliations filed she has little campaigning to do before the general election (where she will be the only name on the ballot) and in January she will take office. I am so happy for her but maybe more happy for myself because it is all over. I was getting worn out from helping her in her campaign. I made 21 dozen cupcakes for the convention and they were a huge hit. Now if my camera weren't up the stairs I would post pics. (sorry that is my laziness)

As for the weekly doctor visit, let me tell you it was a roller coaster ride this week. I was sent in for my regular appointment on Tuesday and was supposed to get a special ultrasound but they canceled it on Monday than when I got to the hospital for my NST on Tuesday they decided to go ahead and do it anyways. Okay, that worked for me. In this ultrasound it needed to last 30 minutes while they checked the baby for certain things. In that time the baby needed to move so much, practice breathing, change heartrate, etc... At the end of the 30 minutes the baby gets a score out of 10 with 8 being a passing score. So we finished up in radiology than went over to labor and delivery for my 45 minute NST. Two and half hours later I was still being monitored told I needed to stay until my doc. got there and that was it.

It was more nerve racking not knowing why I was stuck there than anything else. I finally called my doctor's office wanting any information on what was going on. The nurse told me that the doc. was coming over to talk to me because the baby scored a 6 on her ultrasound and he wanted me to see a perinatologist. Darnit. I have had to do the whole perinatologist thing before and trust me not having one this time meant great things. Needless to say I start panicking. Doc. came in a few minutes later and told me the baby had scored low due to lack of movement. Serious? I had been feeling her move for the last 2 hours how can this wiggle worm inside me be lacking movement. Jeez. He told me he wasn't too worried about it but because I had bad history he wanted me to see the perinatologist anyways, immediately.

So Josh and I trecked down to McKay-Dee and saw the perinatologist who checked her all out and determined she was still healthy and just to count her movements (pff, like I am not already)!! By 4 pm I had been at the hospital for almost 6 hours. So exhausting but I am thankful for watchful doctors who worry about me and my baby and don't take anything to lightly.

I am realizing now what a long post this is but I just have sooooooo much more to say. Probably my favorite part of this last week was getting new things. I got my carseat and stroller on Monday and as explained before I didn't have to pay for it. After doing a thorough examination of my seat and stroller I officially love it. I also ordered myself this baby bath tub called a puj tub. It was ridiculously expensive for a baby bath tub but it looked so awesome in parenting magazine I had to have it. Bonus on that too because I used some left over babies r' us gift cards to buy it too!! Schweet. Than I used another gift card to buy new sheets. I absolutely love sheets and good sheets at that. I had a gift card and bought myself and Josh some divine egyptian cotton sheets (now all I am thinking about is being back in bed in my amazing sheets). But perhaps the biggest new thing I am looking forward to is my Cricut. Yes I said Cricut! I found it on ebay for 40 dollars and am impatiently waiting for it to get here. I am going to Cricut my heart away the minute it arrives!!!!

Being Big...

2010-04-01T23:05:00.003-06:00

Had another Doc. appointment on Wednesday. Everything is still going super fab. I am measuring at 35 weeks though. Which in its own way is a huge relief, after weeks of nightmares of going into labor early it is nice to know that it would be completely okay if I did!!

I have spent the last couple nights out on the town with my mom working with her in her campaign. Politics sure are interesting, I like to go and hear what candidates have to say but at the same time I find it all a dirty practice. It is hard for me to think that some people really do think less of you if you are a democrat or vice versa. I never thought that political party affiliation made or broke a person. At least I don't have to always play in the political field and I can get over all the seedy comments people make. Keep wishing my mom luck and if you haven't already become a fan of her political profile page on facebook!!!

Results

2010-03-30T13:53:00.002-06:00

I decided I should blog about what they found out about my sugar problems. Because I am sure there are millions out there that are just waiting in anticipation, heehee ya right. But for those of you who do read this I am going to give you good news and let you know my sugar levels came back normal. Not sure why I was spilling sugar in my urine but Doc. says it doesn't matter as long as my blood levels are good. YAY. I go in again tomorrow for my weekly tests. Hopefully they go by reasonably quickly.

On a positive note for me I was able to get my carseat and stroller. I have been eyeing a set for 3 months now but it was just sooooo ridiculously expensive. Leave it to me to want the most expensive one. Anyways so it kept going on and off decent sales and than the price kept dropping and dropping so I knew it was going to get clearanced out but I still didn't have money for that right now. Well little blessing for me came in disguise of the republican party. Most of you know that my mom is running for election to County Clerk. After the caucus night last Tuesday they had to enter in all the names of delegates and attendees that were there. Unfortunately for the republican party all the peeps who usually do this are all running for election and conflict of interest says they can't be involved. Which left me, daughter of a famous politician (heehee) with lots of free time to put in these 500 names of attendees. After spending 3 days on my project I turned the papers in and they gave me a gift card in appreciation. Not just any gift card but a gift card to cover the price of my stroller/carseat completely!! Yay for blessings. So now I have ordered it and it should be here on Monday. I may find a doll and take it on walks around the block just to break in the stroller before baby gets here..........

Ahh crap.......

2010-03-27T00:07:00.002-06:00

That is what this week has felt like, just a long big sigh of "ahhhh crap". I had my weekly appointment with my doctor on Wednesday and am happy to report that after my NST (non-stress test) the baby was declared super well and healthy! Hooray for baby. I was not soo healthy, this is where my ahh crap comes in, I had an infection. And some sugar spilling in my urine, whatever the crap that means. So after getting lectured on why I still haven't gone in to take my glucose test my doctor made me swear I would go do it. So that was what I went to do today. I did the 8 hour fast and went in and drank the nasty drink....... than I puked it right back up. Darn. So I get to fast again and eat jelly beans instead. I hate jelly beans. Hopefully after I down those the test will say the sugar problem is a fluke and I don't have gestational diabetes.

On a bright note I am having a baby shower tomorrow. Hooray. I am very excited and totally looking forward to it!!

My latest endeavor!!

2010-03-21T23:58:00.002-06:00

All week I have been working on a project for the unborn babe. I stole the idea from Josh's cousin and just tweaked it a little. I love the colors I picked out for her nursery and think this will fit right in............

So in love with it, being completely vain but who cares? It's stinking cute!!

The importance of today....

2010-03-19T09:39:00.002-06:00

I don't know if anyone realized but at midnight tonight New Moon is being released on dvd. I could tell you I am excited but if I am taking the time to write about it on my blog I suppose my excitement is fairly obvious!!! Woohoo :)

Doctor visit.

2010-03-16T23:40:00.001-06:00

I went to my doctor today for my weekly routine visit, which now include non-stress tests. Turns out he didn't have me do a stress test but some other long named test that requires me to sit in a super comfy recliner for 30 minutes. (painful right) Well this test monitored the baby's movements and heartbeat and typically would monitor my contractions but doc. felt it was not needed today. I was at the doctor for an hour and a half for this one little test! He warned me from here on out to plan to spend 3 to 4 hours each week at the doctor's. Makes me really grateful I never did find that full time job. Anyways, getting off-track here, these 4 hours are going to consist of the following tests (and I have no idea what they are really called, this is just my interpretation): first i have to do a non-stress test which they do over at the hospital, than i go to doc.'s for my fetal tracking whatever, than from there I will have an ultrasound, following that doc. needs to do tests to make sure I have the correct amount of amniotic fluid, and lastly some bio-physical makeup thing which I am still not sure what that is.

So this will be my Wednesday activity from here on out. If anyone has some good reading material suggestions I will take it, seeing as I will be sitting strapped to monitors a few hours every Wednesday!!

Keeping up.

2010-03-11T10:45:00.003-07:00

I feel like I have finally gotten on top of all the things I say I am going to do and than I look around and realize that what may be done is nowhere near what needs to be done. It's all about keeping up in my life. I feel that if I can just wish it I can have it, if only wishes were fishes... ya ya I know.

On a sidenote I am working again. Not much just 3 days a week at the local scrapbook store. It has been alot of fun so far and great for me to be out doing something again. Josh's work has him running all over and tied up so much that he has become my little workaholic. That is fine as long as by May they let him slow down a little. We went to Josh's brother and his wife's baby blessing, well rather we found the place in time to have the sacrament. Sorry guys we really really tried to be there!! Then last Sunday my sister had her baby blessed. It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I am glad for a day off, how lame is that? I am too exhausted to be working full time so I am glad that I won't ever be asked to!!

I go to the Doctor weekly now, which doesn't feel like much of a change because I swear I have already been going weekly for something or other. We are just running tests and checking on baby often, everything still seems to be going okay. I start my non-stress tests next week and depending on how those go I may be up to going twice a week to the Doctor. It is a good thing everybody at the Doctor's office is very friendly or I would be one irritated grumpy lady!!!

The funniest thing I hear lately is when people tell me that I must be so tired of being pregnant. I want to laugh and say "really? ya think?" it's one of those questions that seems obvious to me! Hopefully my manners can last another 8 weeks.

This basically shows my exact daily sentiments.

Bow-nanza!!

2010-02-23T22:21:00.003-07:00

I have been filling my time this last week by making bows. I started late Saturday night and have been going crazy since. My sister has got in on the action with me so I have a hobby buddy now. I have had to work really hard on Josh to like bows on baby girls, specifically our upcoming baby girl, and he is actually excited for it now that he can see my lovely creations.

You can see the lighting is terrible and I had a hard time getting my prego belly out of the pictures but all in all I think my bows are pretty cute!!

Shot up and Broken down......

2010-02-18T23:25:00.002-07:00

This week has felt like a doozy! I haven't done much beyond sit on emotions and ride the coaster, and there is nothing I can do do stop it! I had two of my first beta methasone shots this week, one on Tuesday and one Wednesday. They weren't the worst shots ever they didn't even have to do them thru my stomach so at least I got off easy there. I have another shot scheduled in a few weeks for the final dose. Other than that baby has been doing really well. Until tonight.....

I have been waiting for my paranoia to kick in and send me to my doctors or ER at any given time, well tonight was it. Truth be told I was having chest constriction and problems breathing so I didn't go in just for reassurance. After dealing with the breathing problems I got some sharp pains in my stomach and just started bawling. I was terrified and that is putting it lightly. My mom called Labor and Delivery and we went in to get me checked out just in case. They aren't sure what the pains are from but after checking on the baby at least I was mentally in a better place. I got to come back home with strict orders to rest and be lazy. (What a tall order right?? lol)

I have a feeling this won't be my first emergency run to the doctors but I am just grateful everything really was ok and that I have that liberty to go in and they won't look at me and say I am crazy but do everything to make sure all is ok.

It's over!!

2010-02-12T14:02:00.004-07:00

I am soooo happy to be home right now. I just finished the planning of the 2010 Kick off Event for Relay for Life, and I am absolutely exhausted. To my greatest relief everything turned out wonderfully and without any snags that weren't to hard to fix. Now I can breathe again and look forward to my shots next week (eek). Thanks again to all those who came out to support Relay and to my in-laws who came down to Victor to help me out sooooooooooooooooo much!!

Texas Roadhouse Dancers who performed at the event! Great Job!

"Give Cancer the Boot!!" centerpieces.

Mother in law Deanne, super helper!

Cupcakes and boot cake made by Paula Ames of Cake Creations.

The reliable unhireable.........

2010-02-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, that would be me. I am not a hireable person.........

Note to self that job hunting while 6 months pregnant is going to severely deter prospective employers from hiring you. I know the economy is bad and even in a good economy a pregnant person such as myself would have a hard time getting a job. So if I haven't found a job by the end of the month I will just give up and wait until after the baby is born. Until than my mom thinks I should make things and sell them. What should I make and sell? I have nooooooooo idea. Any ideas???????

Moved.....

2010-01-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

Josh has been telling me for a month to update our blog. I told him if he wanted it updated so bad than he could just do it himself lol. Well obviously he didn't so here I am in the middle of the night blogging away!!

We are officially moved to Utah. Hooray!! I actually have loved staying with my mom, it has been great to be back near her after so many years away. My sister had her baby right before Christmas so we get to listen to her alot. And trust me, it is hard NOT to listen. She is currently dealing with a colic phase. Josh stresses out quite a bit about his cute little niece. I have to remind him that other than a few remedies my sister can try there isn't much even doctors can do about colic. It definitely is getting in alot of practice for the both of us!

I will be honest though, it is not fun listening to her cry. Everyone tells us we will be sooo practiced at parenting when our baby gets here. Honestly, I don't care if I am good or not as long as I get the chance to try this time. So bring on the failures as a parent, I will appreciate every last one of them!!

Speaking of the unborn child of ours we have picked out a name for this child. If you are not a facebook friend than you may not have heard that......................

As for the name you will just have to know someone who may know the answer to that. I feel like being tight lipped for the moment!!

After we had our ultra sound we were soooooooooooooooooooooo relieved. I can't emphasize the so enough there. The ultra sound specialist found no abnormalities and no echogenic bowel. I felt like crying right than and there at the doctors. Now we still don't know the cause of Addie's death so I am still being monitored like a hawk. I have already gone in twice more this month since the ultra sound and I go again next week. Following that appointment I have an appointment to get poked with a giant needle. This is going to help the baby's lungs mature faster in case of early delivery. I can honestly say I am freaking out, I do NOT want to be poked!! I know, I know, its all for the baby. I hereby forbid people telling me that and that it is all for a good cause. Instead you must feel sorry for me and the giant needle going to be stabbed in my belly, heehee.

Other than that our lives are really doing well. Josh's job here in Utah is good for him despite it not being quite as wonderful as we had hoped. He started later than they said he would, the lady who hired him was a real flake, and didn't get the 40 hours a week promised to him. After the whole stress of that he is finally working about 30 hours a week and looking for a job. As my dad says "nothing ever turns out the way it was supposed to", and we are definitely seeing that. On the bright side we both had interviews today for jobs and our crossing our fingers. I won't say what they were for (I don't want to jinx it) but I will keep everyone posted on what we hear back!!

P.S. they fired the flaky lady who hired Josh, thats karma for you!!

Crazy Life......

2009-12-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have avoided posting for 3 months..... These reasons could be- I'm lazy- I'm busy- and we just aren't all that exciting. But here I go I am going to post our exciting life these past 3 months. Josh and I have been slaving away at our jobs, it seems to take up far more time than we ever expected. Around the end of September we came to the conclusion that we needed some change in our life. That change turned out to be a move to Utah. Josh found a job down here and will be starting around the middle of December. I am still looking for a job and will be staying in Pocatello until the end of the year. One of the benefits to being in Utah will be being so much closer to my OB. Yup, I am pregnant again. I am considered high risk so I have an OB in Utah that is very familiar with my type of case. I loved my previous OB but Pocatello, in general, has its limitations when it comes to perinatal care. We expect that we may be able to find out the gender on our next appointment, which is December 14th. It all depends on how developed the baby is so we will see. If not I have an appointment two weeks after that where they will do a full ultra-sound measuring baby from top to bottom. Little nerve wracking considering the history we have had...... But many many people have assured me all will be well, for now I am relying on their hope alone.

For thanksgiving we went to Utah for the Larsen family, this is Josh's extended family on his mom's side. Because the dinner wasn't until Friday Josh's parents came to our house and we had our own little dinner on Thursday. Deanne was great and showed me how to make a turkey, and was kind enough to take out all the nasty parts and get her hands dirty, not exactly what I would be very good at being so sensitive in sight and smell......

Really for a 3 month absent that is all I have to update on. Just wish us luck in our move and finding me a job. I am hoping to drop down to part time just to ease my stress load a little bit. Now because it is December I am officially going to start a Christmas countdown!! Only 21 days left!

P.S. I am also going to post a poll for all those who would like to take a guess at our baby's gender!

Just a blog...

2009-09-02T11:43:00.000-06:00

I decided that I am just going to blog. Some may read or some may not but I don't care. I feel like ever since Addie died I am trying to find different things to blog about. Last night I finally came to the conclusion that why should I? She is what I think about constantly, she is who I am now. So I guess anyone who reads this will have to bear with me and read about Addie.

It's true that our lives our so busy right now. It is only Wednesday, but by the end of the day Josh will have already worked 30 hours. I often wonder if we are busy for a reason, perhaps maybe to keep me distracted from my continuous thoughts of my daughter? I still know it was her time to go but knowing that doesnt make it any easier to liver without her. Did you know it has been 3 months since we buried her? 3 months!! That is a 1/4 of a year. I have already survived 25% of this "first year" amazing and ridiculous all at the same time. Three months ago I was still pregnant, Josh was still just a lowly worker, and I still had my gall bladder. That is just the tip of the list, I am sure it could go on and on.

I decided that I want to establish a fund or foundation of sorts in honor of Addie. I will call it the Adalyn Grace Foundation. I have no idea how I would go about doing this but I know I want to do it. The main purpose for this foundation would be to provide for other grieving parents of stillborns or early infant death. I know every time I go visit her grave I see all the other babies there that have little sticks for markers, seeing Addie's little plaque is hard but I know she will get her headstone in a month or so. We had so much help from our families that made it possible to have a beautiful graveside service and proper burial. I want that for the other people out there who don't have such a strong support system. So all in all I want a resource available to those families to be able to get headstones instead of markers, to be able to have beautiful burial clothes, and pretty little caskets with sprays on them. Each baby that is laid to rest in that cemetary is so special and they deserve to have the best.

I guess those are my thoughts, and I know that right now we are not in the place to be starting a fund for that but it is definitely in my ten year plan! (And yes I really have a ten year plan)

Busy.... Busy... Busy

2009-08-22T02:03:00.000-06:00

A quick update on our life. It has been hectic. I had my gall bladder taken out the first of the month, at the same time work was up for recertification from the state. All in all such a bad week to have to take time off! Good news though, was my staff passed. Which is a good sign I am doing my job. The same week I had surgery my brother Alex came to stay with us. I was a little worried that he would add strain to the recovery for me but he was such a huge help! He made me lunch, granted it was only mac n' cheese, he picked things up for me and always gave me a turn to pick a tv show. Which for any 9 year old giving up cartoon network is a big thing, especially him.

Josh also got a new calling, he is now going to be in the Elder's quorum presidency as the secretary. We spent a few days wondering what the stake could want with us, turns out that was it! Josh is really excited for the change and looking forward to the blessings that could come from this.

We both are starting classes up this fall, for Josh it was the plan all along, but for me it is just a little adjustment to the twist in our life. I am excited to be getting back in after my time off! Well wish us luck!! (We'll need it lol)

Life...

2009-07-21T23:56:00.000-06:00

It seems like the month of July has just flown right by us!! I blinked and suddenly its July 21st. Which of course means Addie's due date was tomorrow, granted our plans would have likely meant her being born a couple weeks ago. Nevertheless, this was her date of entrance into the world. I thought I would feel more sad when it finally got here, yet, the peace that I had 7 weeks ago still holds today. I am so glad that it will probably last thru my entire life here on this earth. Granted we have still had moments that have been tough and always will, but the overriding emotion is peace. We are so blessed to have had the time we did have before she died, regardless of it all being in the womb. I talked with my grandmother, one of the greatest women I know, and she told me of how when she lost her little baby Berdine that her and my grandfather had been given so much strength to get thru it, almost as if they were given that strength to help others who were grieving their loss as well. She has been such an example and strength to us now, I love everything about her!!

As for the rest of our life Josh is still stressed out about work. I am sure I don't make it easier for him, he strives so hard to do such a perfect job! I got a great haircut, makes me feel so pretty. Heehee. We went and saw the Harry Potter movie, we loved it. We are glad we have the means to go out on dates every now and than. We have had an abundance of people over for dinner in the last week. This included the missionaries and my cousin and his wife. It has been such fun to be so social. I may enjoy it more than Josh he loves just staying home and spending time with me, I completely don't deserve him!! I did get a little flu bug yesterday, had me home from work puking anything I put in. And once again my amazing Josh came to the rescue, so worried about me and making sure I had anything I needed. I love this man, I probably don't say it enough but I sure do!!

Fourth of July!!

2009-07-06T23:34:00.000-06:00

So this is my obligatory 4th of July post. It actually makes a good excuse to make myself post... (I try to find reasons out of it.)
We spent the holiday up in Victor, which was great fun. Having never really spent any time there being a tourist we chose the perfect time for me to have the opportunity. We got up there late Thursday evening after doing some shopping for myself (so needed), with Josh's new promotion he and I both had 3 day weekends. Friday we went out to the antique fair in Driggs with his mom and sister. We just liked looking anything there was completely out of our price range, not to mention the crazy vendors. Afterwards we went back into Victor and stopped at craft fair. I bought a purse, I am an addict lol. Josh got some books even though he probably would have gone back and got a knife if we had more time. I am betting by the end of the summer and more fairs and what not he will have gotten himself one though. After all this we had planned to go on a short little hike that Deanne had taken her young women to earlier in the week, but rain kept us from going so we just picked up Royce from work and got lunch at O'rourkes instead. We spent the rest of the day just visiting. We had grand plans of a dutch oven feast over the fire pit but again, the rain kept us from doing it. So talented Deann just did the yummy dutch oven on the stove and I made the dessert in the oven.

Saturday morning I was determined to see the balloons. Regardless of the fact that meant I had to be awake at 6 am. So we got up and drove to Driggs all the while watching the hot air balloons in the air. It really is quite the sight. We came back ate breakfast and took a short nap before the parade. The parade was cute and quaint, afterwards we went and had lunch in the park. We went back to Royce and Deanne's and relaxed played games and BBQ'd. We didnt go to the firework show, noone but Josh had the real desire so we just set off a bunch of bottle rockets instead. We went to church the next morning and left soon after so we could make a pit stop in IF and came home completely wiped out but full of fun!!

In other news, well there really isn't any other news. Josh is settling into his promotion even though it stresses him out alot. We are getting ready for Relay for Life which is the 10th, I am on a committee and we have both volunteered to help with the event so we are looking forward to that. We passed the month mark from Addie's death, this was both dreaded and anticipated on our part. We just keep holding on to our memories and moving forward. Before you know it we will be on to her one year birthday. It seems time just flies by!

A moment in our arms... Forever in our hearts.

2009-06-03T08:58:00.000-06:00

Most everyone has heard by now that our little girl died. She was born Friday May 29, 2009. She was so beautiful, it was very hard to know that we won't see her again in this lifetime. At the same time we know without any doubt that she is with her Father in Heaven where she is meant to be. We loved our little girl and cherish the special spirit she has. We spent some beautiful time with her body before the service. We were allowed to dress her in a blessing gown and say our last goodbyes. It was very emotional but so peaceful seeing her. Afterwards we held a graveside service for her in the Brigham City Cemetary. They have a little area called babyland, where other grieving mothers and fathers have laid there angel babies to rest as well. The spirit at this service was so strong and all the people who turned out in support of our trial was amazing. I felt so much love, not only from the family and friends in our life but also from my Father above. I know that He loves me and He will help me thru this trial He has given Josh and I. I cannot say that it is easy but the blessing to carry and give a body to such a sweet spirit has been an honor.

I love Josh and feel blessed that he is the man he is and has been right here with me facing this same trial. I am thankful for this gospel and the opportunity I have to have it in my life. Without the knowledge of eternal life and eternal families I would not be able to cope with the loss of my Adalyn. I am thankful for my mothers', who without hesitation have been here for us and helped thru our grieving by their brave examples. I am thankful for our fathers' who have shared in our loss and emotion just as any other. And lastly I am thankful for all the other great family that have been here for us and mourned with us.

I felt the silence the morning she was born, yet I felt an undeniable peace in my heart that I will see her again and have the opportunity to raise my sweet angel baby, my sweet Adalyn Grace.

P.S. Her dress was made with so much love and devotion by her Grandma Bryant.

New Doctors, New Experiences

2009-05-06T21:36:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that its only been a month since I posted last. We spent the majority of our weekends in Utah dealing with the stress of life. Which to elaborate on that I guess I better start out at the beginning. So we have had a couple of follow up ultra sounds since we first found out about the baby's echogenic bowel. The first was on April 7th, they found that her bowel was dialated even more. So once again I set up another appointment with the specialist that comes to Pocatello from Salt Lake. That appointment was on the 17th. In only 10 days between the appointments her bowel had gotten even bigger. After the specialist saw this he felt that the reason for the dialated bowel was an obstruction and that she probably would require early delivery in Salt Lake. He set up an appointment for us down in Salt Lake to meet with a whole other slew of doctors. On the 27th we headed down to Utah, where we met Josh's parents for lunch and went to University of Utah hospital and met with a high risk OB specialist. She did another ultra sound checked the bowel and answered all our questions. All in all she was great, she let us know that the baby wouldn't have to come early and I wouldnt have to have a ceasearan. HUGE RELIEF on both counts. She decided that I need to be living in Utah by 36 weeks in case of early delivery and at 38 weeks they would induce me. After that appointment we headed over to Primary Children's to meet with the pediatric surgeons. The surgeon showed us some of the ways her bowel could be obstructed. She told us that the average stay after a bowel obstruction surgery was about 6 weeks, however it could be less or it could be more. From there we got to take a tour of the NICU where she will go to stay until she is fully recovered. The nurse giving the tour was a great help, and even though we don't like the situation we are in we feel completely confident in the doctor's we have been blessed with. The good news out of all of this is that most likely once they fix the obstruction Addie will be able to grow up healthy and enjoy a lively childhood.

Beyond hospital drama we got good news that Josh got the promotion, yay for us!! We also spent time in Utah for my mom's birthday and my brother Alex's birthday. We decided til our next appointment we are going to stay grounded in Pocatello. We are all but sick of traveling! We also hit our milestone 1 year anniversary. It has been a year of highs, lows, and a truckload of new experiences. We will keep plugging away at our next truckload for the next 100 years, I'm just so excited for what more can come... ;)

You know you're pregnant when...

2009-04-08T22:49:00.000-06:00

You go 3 days in a row with comments like "oh look at you, you've popped", or " aren't you so glad you've started showing? Now people won't wonder why you have gained weight", or my favorite "oh look at that belly! Is it hard yet". Of course all these statements are accompanied with a nice belly rub, and if anyone knows me you know my absolute favorite thing in the world is to be touched (I am hoping you hear the sarcasm). But it is official, I am pregnant and I look like it too.

I have to whine and say I am sooo tired of being pregnant. I only hit this point in the last month or so. Realistically when you think about it I should be done being pregnant by now, with the miscarriage last summer than the limited amount of time between pregnancies, I have been pregnant or dealing with pregnancy related issues for over 9 months now. By the time Addie does get her I will have been pregnant for over a year, I understand completely why God created a 9 month gestation period. Its long enough to get the baby born healthy but not too long that the mother goes insane. So if at any point in the near future you find me living with old mother hubbard just know it is because I passed that pivotal 9 month point... a month ago, my sanity is hanging by a thread and a good husband. :D

Enough of my spouting, we had the ultra sound yesterday afternoon. And really thats about it. No new answers, she is still growing really well. Unfortunately her bowel is still growing a bit too much to. Good news is that it hasnt gained in speed of growing, it is still growing at the same pace. We still haven't heard when interviews are being set up for Josh's position but I am betting it will be sometime in the next week. I wish it would be sooner rather than later. Patience is a virtue, I know. Other than that very little excitement here in Pocatello with us Woolstenhulmes.

P.S. Danalin, Addie is short for Adalyn and when you do have another girl I have no problems sharing.

2009-04-02T20:30:00.000-06:00

I was thinking about it and decided it was probably a good time for a new post. Honestly we have been swamped with everything. We moved into our new home 3 weeks ago Saturday, and we love every bit of it. Royce and Deanne came up the weekend before we moved and helped get our old apartment up to par so the actual move would be easier on us. My dad, brothers, and grandfather, oh and of course Josh did all the moving on Saturday. With the help of my grandma and stepmother we got almost everything unpacked in those first couple of days. It feels nice to be all settled in.

As far as baby Addie goes we haven't really heard anything new, which isn't surprising for the most part we will just have to be patient and wait til she is born. I do have to schedule an ultra-sound in the next couple of days where they will just check her bowel again. She is kicking good and hard now all the time. Josh finally got to feel it a week or so ago and let me know that he was so glad because he was getting completely jealous that I got to feel her move all the time. It made me laugh pretty good especially when I reminded him I get to feel everything all the time, not just her moving around.

On a sad note our family had a bit of a blow, my uncle passed away unexpectedly this last friday. He had lived a very hard life full of drugs and alcohol, yet recently he sobered up and gave our family a good 6 months of sobriety. He slipped back into old habits in the last week or so of his life which caused his death. It was very hard to watch all the members of my family and their grief, knowing that he died this way. I hope that if anything comes out of his passing at all, it will be that others may recognize their own addictions and seek for help before it overtakes their life.

One last tid bit is that Josh has decided to apply for the management position at the group home he currently works at. He has been a shift supervisor for a long time now and we are hopeful that he will get this promotion. We will let you know as soon as we hear anything :D

Patience, Faith, and Echo-what??????

2009-03-06T21:23:00.001-07:00

I wanted to wait until after today to put this bit of information up. Because today we met with the perinatologist. He comes to Pocatello once a month and meets with pregnant women who have been deemed as "high risk". Some may know and some may not that after our ultra sound on Tuesday the technician informed our doctor that our baby's bowel was a little too large. This is typically called an echogenic bowel. My OB than told us some things that this could mean, it could mean either A. Its just a large bowel that will self correct itself and nothing will ever come of it, B. Our baby could have cystic fibrosis, or C. our baby could have a chromosomal defect.

Of course my immediate reaction was to break down and cry. My OB continually tried telling me to be positive and think that nothing would really be wrong. But really after you give a woman that kind of news what do you expect? So he told us a couple of things we could do, we could meet with the high risk specialist or do a panel of screens for genetic defects. We told him we would definitely meet with the specialist and than let him know on the testing. We went in today and met with the specialist, he did another ultrasound and showed us the problem with the bowel. He let us know due to the fact that our baby is growing normally otherwise down syndrome was very unlikely, I think the number he said was a 1 in 8,000 chance of it (echogenic bowel is often a sign of down syndrome). But he once again said that cystic fibrosis could take play in it and we could take the blood tests to see if we were carriers. After telling him either way we are having a baby, no matter what, he said the best thing for us to do right now is to start planning for her college tuition in 18 years.

So technically we didn't get anymore answers today but it just added to the blessings we have recieved that everything would be okay. Yes there still is a chance our baby could be born with problems, but isn't that always a chance? Josh and I both know that with faith in the Lord and His promises and patience in the next few months we will have the most beautiful little baby girl come July.

Drumroll please....

2009-03-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

So just in case you haven't heard we got the ultra sound... and we are having a little girl!! Her name is going to be Adalyn Grace Woolstenhulme. He re are a couple of pics :D

This and That...

2009-02-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

I cut all my hair off on Friday. I am absolutely excited about it, I wanted to cut it off last month when I went in but peer pressure overruled and I kept it long. I have been trying really hard to keep my spirits up the last couple of weeks, I have never felt great about my self image and since I have gotten pregnant it has only gotten worse, lol. So in effort to keep feeling good my best gal pal and I got our nails done, painted my toenails, bought some new shirts, and of course the haircut (which always includes getting my eyebrows waxed). It has been fun to splurge on some absolutely ridiculous things and I am happy that Josh loves me enough to let me, though he probably has no idea why I want them :D.

Other than keeping busy trying to feel pretty we are just starting to pack to move. It is nice to think that I will be out of this apartment in a matter of weeks and into a house!!! Both Josh and I feel very great about the move and have absolutely no reservations and we know this must have been divine guidance. I thought about trying to move our appointment up to this week just so I could shop for baby things when I am in Utah this weekend but decided to practice my least favorite virtue, patience. . . So, alas, the gender discovery will still be March 3rd. I think I can wait that long don't you?

One day I will be better at this...

2009-02-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

I really want to become a good blogger... You'd think that I never login or anything but that's definitely not the truth. I am a definite blog stalker who spends more time looking at other people's blogs than updating my own. But for my new goal is to be able to update so all those people out there can keep up with Josh and I's wacky lives...

We had another Dr.'s appointment where we had yet again another ultrasound. Everything looks healthy and strong. I have just started feeling some movement in the last couple of days. Can't wait til Josh can feel it too. Other things that we have done this last month are finding a new place to live. My dad's last renters in a home he owns just by the west bench of Pocatello had trouble paying there rent so he now has an open home. He practically begged Josh and I to move in so he could have some responsible renters in his home. It is the cutest little house, as I was telling Deanne it is a 3 bed 1 bath, 2 story home, white with green shudders. My dad just recently put in a fence in the backyard which is such a plus (its a high privacy fence). Josh is very excited because 4 years ago when my dad lived there as a bachelor he put in an area for a garden. Josh has already been thinking about what things he will be planting come this spring. As soon as I get the opportunity I will post some pictures of our lovely home to be come March 15th.

Another drama that I added into our life happened just under 2 weeks ago. I hit a car. That's right, and not just any car, a PARKED car! I will tell the story but please remember I am pregnant... I was not feeling the greatest that morning I tried eating something but my stomach just didnt settle. I decided, however, I just couldn't wait any longer to go to work. Not even 5 minutes later I knew I was going to lose my stomach. I pulled over swung my door open but my seatbelt locked and I some of my vomit made it onto my car door. (eww gross I know) So I figured I would stop at the gas station at the bottom of the hill and clean it up. I shut the door and started driving again. I began to heave again but this time there was nowhere to pull over, so my plan was to roll down the window. Yet, on my door was vomit I was trying very hard to push the window down button without touching the vomit. Before I could get the window down I heard a very distinct bam. Of course I hit a car, typically when you are staring down at the window lock for long periods of time you probably aren't paying any attention to the road and it isn't a surprise that you hit a parked car. Well the damage on the other car came to $500 so we opted to not file a claim and keep insurance low and just let our dented car be dented.

That in a nutshell is our comings and goings for the past month. We find out the sex of the baby on March 3rd. So stay tuned for the big announcement!

It's been awhile.....

2009-01-10T22:49:00.000-07:00

So we have not posted in a long time and much has happened since then! We went to an early thanksgiving at Josh's parents in Victor than spent the real holiday in Pocatello with some of my family and we finished up the semester, yay for that!! We had a Christmas party with Josh's family at our place than went to Utah for another get together with all the Larsen family and spent the rest of the weekend celebrating with my mom. For the actual Christmas day we spent it once again in Pocatello with my family and brothers, which for the two oldest this is their last Christmas at home before they head out on their missions in a few months! It just seems that they were new deacons passing the sacrament, crazy how time flies from right underneath you. We spent the rest of the holiday break just working and enjoying life.... and as many of you know we hit 12 weeks with this pregnancy!!!! We are way excited to be at the "safe" point and are very hopeful about our future lil' one thats coming in July...We just had our 12 week appointment last week and everything is looking great! We did have a small scare when I caught some sort of flu bug and threw up for too long and got overly dehydrated. After 2 days of trying to keep any type of fluids down and a whole bunch of love from Josh I was able to stop and get back on my feet. I just hope it never gets me again. (lol so does Josh). Thanks for everyone who has kept us in their prayers and minds, its been great having all the support and love of everyone thru this pregnancy!

Weekend Warriors....

2008-11-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

So we finally spent some time and finished up the little things left to be done in our office over the weekend which included putting all of Josh's old mission stuff on display. What a nice feeling to have it all done. Here are some pictures of our office before and after......

Before......

Pardon our dust.....
My horribly messy craft table...
I just decided to just get rid of it and
stop using it as a junk collector...

And Voila!!! After...

It is so much nicer to spend time in here now that it isnt just a big storage closet... Granted I still want a new desk that wont show all our mess but I am settled for now. A few of the other things we did this weekend were refinishing our bathroom cabinets, they went from blah blug blee brown to crisp calming white. We also rearranged our whole living room and kitchen, it feels so much more open and cozy like. I am finally feeling like my home is coming all together... I will get some more pics up of our house when I take some more. lol

2008-10-29T00:08:00.000-06:00

Wow two updates in a row.... well this isnt actually an update but something hilarious that Josh and I stumbled upon whilst blog stalking. Lo and behold.......... itty bitty baby wooly! isnt she just a doll?

What do you think about my little new baby itty bitty baby wooly?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

Holy Update!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-27T20:44:00.000-06:00

Wow its amazing we are updating our blog!! Well despite the fact that it has been over a month since we updated our blog there really isn't much excitement in our lives. We have just been working away. My new job is stressful and really makes me work on thinking nice thoughts, lol, alot of my staff do silly things and truly test my patience. It is great to be able to come home and just be with Josh, literally ALL my headaches go away when it is just him and I. Granted it doesn't happen very often and even when it does I get a million phone calls from work anyways. Well enough venting about my silly staff.... Josh is doing really good he is looking for a seasonal job to bring in some extra money for bills until he starts back at school in the spring, lets cross our fingers...
We have been so busy just trying to find time to sit, lately we have been borrowing old classics from my grandparents and watching a movie late at night once or twice a week. It has been so fun not only because the movies are great but it is like our designated "couple time", as cliche as that sounds. We are still teaching our primary class and sometimes they too add to my headaches, ;).
The only really new update we have is that my sister Crystal had her baby and she is the most gorgeous baby ever. I guess I am a little biased, just wait when we have our own baby that will be the most gorgeous baby ever. Anyhoo she is getting blessed the first weekend of November and we will be heading down to Utah for that. Since I am the proudest Aunt in all the world, once again biased, I am going to finish my post with a picture of that adorable little creature.

Little Ashtyn Brooke

Okay so I posted 2 pics... I couldnt resist

Life and its many anomalys....

2008-09-21T20:25:00.000-06:00

Well I have been told on many occasions that I needed to update our blog. So I figure today was as good as any to buckle down and do it. Many of you know that I had a miscarriage. It was very hard and still makes me sad, however, I know that I will have a baby one day even though it isn't as soon as I thought it will happen. I have had several blessings and they have helped Josh and I both know without any doubt that this happened for a reason.
On a happier note, I got a promotion. YAY for me!!! I am so excited about this, I now am a supervisor of about 20 people. I basically get to make sure they are doing their jobs and that all my residents needs are met. Something exciting we are doing at work is our Halloween decorating contest, I chose witches for our theme so if you have any extremely cute ideas with witches involved pass it along (I really want to win this competition).
And than of course their is school, blah blug bleeh. I have no desire or motivation for this semester at all. Josh is not going mainly cuz school is so expensive and we did not have the funds. So I am just praying it will go by super fast and I will pass my classes.
This past weekend I went to Utah to spend some time with my mom before my sister has her baby, We spent the weekend making cards so we could have a decent supply on hand. It was a ton of fun just to play and make cards. Not to mention they were all just adorable cards. All in all a spectacular weekend.
Last Friday Josh had an interview with Costco, the position they were interviewing for was part time but we still think if he gets it he should take it and just work 2 jobs until the spring semester starts and than hopefully by than they will have a full time position open and he can start bringing home the big bucks, haha.
Happy Autumn everyone and thanks for checking in on us and helping us out!

The Test of Faith...

2008-08-15T00:30:00.000-06:00

It has been awhile since we have updated our blog and I figured its about time that we update everyone on our lives. I had the wonderful opportunity to play the piano for Josh in sacrament meeting a couple of weeks ago. He sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" he did such a beautiful job that Deanne had us sing it again for everyone the Saturday after Serenity's wedding. It was a wonderful experience I am extremely stage fright and have avoided playing for many years but Josh finally moved me to do it. And of course Josh's lovely voice covered up any of my mistakes.

We also had the opportunity to go thru the temple with Serenity and attend the Sealing of her and Matt. What a beautiful day it was and such a happy thing for them.

Many people have been asking how my pregnancy is going. To be honest, not very good. I have had alot of sickness often carrying thru the whole day. But sickness I can handle. It was just in the last couple of weeks that I started spotting. To me an amateur any blood at all is no good. But my doctor and nurse says it is completely fine. I still struggle with it afraid I am going to lose the baby but in my heart I know I have to have faith in the answer I have been given thru prayers and blessings that everything is fine. What a true test for me, when all I want is answers now the answers my prayers give me is to be patient and have faith everything is fine. It is never a surprise that the Lord tests us in the hardest ways, how would we ever learn if he only tried our strengths? Patience is never been one of my best qualities and the complications with the pregnancy have me relying completely on patience and faith. Thank you everyone for all your prayers, I appreciate everyone being so supportive in this waiting game to see what will come out of this struggle.

Oh baby, Oh baby, Oh baby!

2008-07-06T23:23:00.000-06:00

So if you haven't heard the news yet Josh and I are expecting. I am only about 3 and 1/2 weeks along so its still pretty new to us too. We actually had this whole plan to wait until after Serenity's wedding to tell everyone but my mom told everyone so I guess the secret is out. We are way excited about this addition in our lives and just pray that we will be great parents. I am due in mid March and should find out the sex in October (my guess is a boy). Thanks for all the well wishing!!

Hooray for Summer!!!

2008-07-03T23:23:00.000-06:00

School is finally out and I feel like I can take a big breath! We spent the last weekend in Victor with Josh's family camping, and this weekend we are going down to see my family and go to Seri's bridal shower. It feels like life will never slow down. In the next month we have a million and one things to do. My little brother is coming to stay with us while my mom is at girls camp, he just can't stop talking about his excitement, mostly for Josh and the wii. After that we have Seri's wedding and than I am throwing a baby shower for my sister. And just when I think we get to breathe school will start back up for both Josh and I. What a summer right?

Wedding Pictures :D (for real this time)

2008-06-12T10:09:00.001-06:00

Here are some more pics mostly of the family:

2008-06-12T09:42:00.000-06:00

Well that slideshow I put so much effort on to get working really doesn't work. So I am just going to post some of our favorite pics and you can go look at more on my facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22367&l=e5023&id=509789003

Anniversary time......

2008-06-01T21:21:00.001-06:00

It's so hard to believe we have already been married a month! And what a month it has been, Josh and I have been so busy with work and school that seeing one another is really a rare occasion. However, my class is almost done and maybe than we can get more than a glance at each other. We have been very busy on making house including a remodel of our bedroom it went from 80's plaid to a modern marvel, jk, we are very happy with the way it turned out. Its been such a fun month adjusting to marriage and we want to thank everyone for helping us and making it happen. I promise I will get up pictures as soon as we get them back which should be sometime this week.

Moving on Up!

2008-03-30T23:37:00.000-06:00

So we changed our wedding day. YAY!! Mostly for us and not our parents. Lol. We Moved our wedding date up to May 2nd due to conflicts with school and other feelings that it would just be best. Hopefully this doesn't throw off anybody's plans and you will still be able to make it. The wedding is still planned for the Rexburg temple (until they tell us when they open on tuesday that there isn't any time available). We are really excited, I'm still adjusting to the shock that in 4 weeks I will be married. Josh won't stop babbling about all the plans so I know he is just as excited as I am. So if we don't already have your addresses please send them our way so we can send them out next week. Love you all! Josh and Elise

The Countdown!

2008-02-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

So it has been almost two months since Josh and I got engaged. All I can say is wow. It feels like it took a year to get to this, officially now I have started the countdown, 105 days until I get married. Sometimes its hard to believe but most the time its hard to be patient and wait for May. There isn't much new happening in our lives just planning for the wedding, this weekend I am going to get my dress in Provo. On a sad note Josh's care broke so we will be buying a new one a little earlier than expected. I hope everyone is having a lovely Valentines Day!!
Thanks for everything. :D

The engagement

2008-01-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

How he popped the question... my version

I had suspected for a few weeks that Josh was going to ask me to marry him, the big clue being that we had looked at rings at the beginning of December. After talking to my mom we settled on Christmas being the big proposal day. However, by 10 o' clock that night I had virtually given up on getting a ring. Deciding to look on the bright side I asked josh if we could go play in the snow. Little did I know that he had a little excursion planned for me. As we walked towards duck pond Josh walks off the path and points to the tree and hollers for me to come over, me being the girl I am told him no. ( I did not want to go trudging in 4 feet of snow). After much convincing on Josh's part I reluctantly walked over to the tree where he had an ornament tied to the tree with it was a piece of paper saying how much he loved my eyes. I got a little teary eyed realizing that the proposal that I thought wasn't going to happen was happening right than. I hugged Josh and we continued walking to other trees with ornaments and other pieces of papers with things Josh loved about me. At the end of the trail there was a fire, marshmallows, and chocolate... oh and of course a big giant present. Josh told me he had one more gift for me, full of excitement I began ripping thru the big present than thru the one inside that and the one inside that and so on and so forth until finally I pulled out a ring box. Josh than took the ring from me and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course how could I refuse such a wonderful man?

How I popped the question.... the way I remember it.

It all started when this wonderful girl started to text me out of the blue at first I thought that she was very annoying. As time went on I fell in love with her, and I wanted her to be a part of my life. One day we had nothing to do so I brought up the question to go ring shopping. To my surprise she said that would be a wonderful idea. My heart racing as we entered Jensen Jewelers to look at engagement rings. I could not believe that I was in a ring store looking at rings with the most beautiful girl in the world. We found the ring that she loved, and when I looked at the price I about passed out right in the middle of the store. As we left the store I was shaking with excitement and anxiety. As I was driving from the store I was thinking about all the different ways I could afford to pay for the ring. We went to a lot of different places trying to find the right ring, but couldn't find on that I could afford. Finally my mom called me and told me that she found one that was exactly what she wanted and it was within my budget. I was so ecstatic I met my parents in Idaho Falls and went to Kay's and bought it. We then planned how I was going to ask her and I came up with a wonderful idea! I was going to have her walk around my parents' property and go on a scavenger hunt type thing. My dad and Micah hung ornaments on trees and attached to the ornaments there was a note that had something that I loved about her. Then on Christmas we went to a movie in IF and on the way home she kept asking me if I was ever going to pop the question and I kept telling her all in good time ( little did she know that it was going to happen that night). When we got home she asked me if we could go out and play in the snow, and walk around a bit. I was really scared that someone leaked the news that I was going to ask her that night. My mom kept trying to stall her, because she wanted to go out that very moment, but Micah and Dad were still working on the final touches. When we went out and looked for the first ornament I had to convince her to walk through the 4 feet of snow to look at the note, she thought that I was going to show her a dead grouse. When she read the first note her face lite up like and angels and she knew then what was happening. We then proceeded to all of the other notes my heart was pounding as we drew closer to the fire and to where the ring was. When we reached the big box that had the big box in it my heart was about to jump out of my chest. As she started opening the box I wasn't scared anymore just excited for what was about to happen as reached the small box and I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said yes with tears and happiness in her eyes.