The Homers

and then there were four...five, if you count Marley :)

2011-08-18T20:36:00.006-07:00

Update # 2 =

Our family is expanding....and so is my tummy!

We are excited to announce that we are expecting baby # 2 in November!!! And.......it's a GIRL!! We couldn't be more thrilled! :)

Please excuse the quality of the next few photos. They are actually pictures taken of the ultrasound pics they printed out for me because I was having trouble uploading the photos from the CD they gave me. I also realize that the next photo is kinda scary looking at first, but I had to post it because I thought it was so cute. She's yawning. (How amazing is it that we can capture moments like this while baby is still in utero?!)

I had to see a perinatologist and they did an ultrasound in 3D so the following photos are from that appointment. We never had a 3D ultrasound with Hudson so it was unbelievable to see these shots of her.

Long time, no see....

2011-08-15T11:35:00.010-07:00

Okay so it has been a while. For some reason whenever I plan to blog something always comes up and I feel like there is something else that needs to be done. I finally realized that instead of feeling like I have to blog for hours to catch up, it's totally okay to just do quick updates here and there. Slowly, but surely.....and hopefully I will catch up.

Update # 1 - Hudson

Hudson is 17 months old!!!

He seems so grown up and it's been so much fun to see him learn new things each day.

He talks a lot (in his own little language, of course). He knows how to say momma, mom, daddy, dad, hi, juse (juice), dog, duck, ball, nana (banana), giaf (giraffe, he usually calls most animals giraffes), bird, manny (as in Handy Manny from the disney channel), uh oh, and probably a few more....I'm just drawing a blank right now.

He loves his signing time dvds. He knows how to sign daddy, grandpa/papa, eat, more, banana, cereal, cracker, milk, baby, and bird.

He is such a happy boy, but definitely takes after me when I was little....he NEEDS his sleep! He sleeps an average of 11 hours a night (8pm - 7am) and takes two naps throughout the day.

He is a very lovey little guy. He is constantly hugging and kissing us and he blows kisses to just about anyone. He is also very sensitive. He gets his feelings hurt if he thinks he did something wrong or if he thinks he is in trouble.

He seems tall for his age. He has always been in the 80-90th percentile for height.

He has a ton of hair!!! Torrey is a little jealous.

He had his four front teeth on top, his four front teeth on bottom, and two middle/back teeth (one on each side) on bottom for a total of 10 teeth!!!

He still hums ("mmmmm") when he eats. It's as though every bite is just so delicious he has to let everybody know about it. He has definitely become a more picky eater, however, over the last few weeks. If he could survive off a diet made up of bananas and cookies (preferably, banana cookies) he would be a happy boy!!!

He drinks A TON!!!! So much so that we thought he might be diabetic! He can easily down 8 full sippy cups throughout the day! I feel like I am constantly filling those things up.

He LOVES books! His favorites are Spookley the Square Pumpkin (yes, he is STILL obsessed with Spookley), Six Little Ducks, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear. It's fun because he is starting to get to the point where he will bring me a book and sit down on my lap for me to read it to him.

His favorite shows are Spookley the Square Pumpkin, Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Special Agent Oso, and much to our dismay...Care Bears. Not that we hate the care bears or anything, but their voices can be just a tad annoying.

He loves music and he LOVES to dance!

He recently learned how to ride his firetruck by himself!

Here are some recent pics (I apologize that some of them are a little out of focus):

*Funny Story:

So I mentioned above that Hudson hums when he eats...well, a couple weeks ago we were downstairs in the kitchen and I was cleaning things up after breakfast when I heard "mmmmmm", "mmmm", etc. coming from the pantry. When I looked over towards the pantry the light was off and the door was practically shut so I was a little confused as to where the "mmmmm" was actually coming from. I continued to hear the noise so I walked over to the pantry, opened the door, flipped on the light, and found this...

(notice there are actually TWO cookies in one hand and one in the other)

I sure do love my little cookie monster!!! :)

Update # 2 - coming soon!

Hudson's PAR-TAY!!!

2011-03-14T17:08:00.006-07:00

We had a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed birthday party for Hudson

on Saturday March 12th.

THANK YOU to all those who came to help us celebrate!!!

(and THANKS for all the cool gifts!! you guys are WAY too generous!

we really appreciate it!)

the birthday boy!

mommy and hudson

daddy and hudson

aunt christy and uncle brandon

mike and lindsay (aka - the chippa)

cassie

jeff, holly, and alyssa

dad (with his "hudson" t shirt on) and torrey

Hudson was sooo funny eating his cake. In the beginning he did not want to use his hands so he would just bend forward and nibble of the corner. It was SO CUTE!!!

YAY!!!

By the end he was much more comfortable using his hands to mush the cake around!

Hudson's nickname is duck. He LOVES ducks. This was a little pink duck (that Tyson refers to as a "sister duck") that Hudson got from the Bordens. He loves it!!!

A duck humidifier from grammy and grandpa!! (This is his second one already. Long story...)

all the kiddos (tyson, alyssa, hudson, and emmett)

Thanks again everyone! It was a blast!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUCK!!! We love you!

Dear Hudson Luc,

2011-03-14T16:19:00.003-07:00

Dear Hudson Luc,

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY little man!!!!

Wow. Where has the time gone? And where has all your red hair gone?? I miss it! I love the picture posted above because I get to see your BIG BLUE EYES (well, big blue EYE, but you know what I mean). It feels like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital and yet I can hardly remember what life was like before you were here. You have been such a blessing to our little family and we love you SO SO MUCH!!!

It has been so much fun to watch you grow into the handsome little one year old that you are today. You have mommy and daddy wrapped around your little finger and your smile/laugh just melts my heart (especially with those two little "chicklet teeth" of yours). Part of me wants you to stay just as you are, with your cute little "gummies" (your top gums that have no teeth yet) and your chubby little hands and feet, but each stage has honestly become my new favorite and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Thank you for reminding me what life is all about. I am SO proud to be your mommy and to have you as my little duck. You are the apple of my eye.

love,

mommy

Happy Birthday Hudson!!!

2011-03-14T15:47:00.006-07:00

On March 11, 2011

our little guy turned ONE YEAR OLD!!!!!

March 11, 2011

What a big boy!

This is him giving me a kiss from across the room! SOOO CUTE!

Hudson and I went to the zoo with some friends for his birthday! Debra Jo brought her two little boys Tyson and Emmett, and Whitney brought Garrison and Delaney. Other than the fact that we were practically attacked by bees at lunch and it was VERY warm outside for the middle of March, we had a blast!!!

Emmett and Hudson (they are 6 months apart)

This pic was taken at the sting ray pool. We got to pet sting rays!!! I didn't know that sting rays liked to be pet, but it was fun!! I tried to let Hudson have a chance to pet them, but his little arms just wouldn't reach. He did enjoy splashing his hands around in the water though. :)

I didn't get as many pictures of all the animals like I did last time, but those were just a few neat shots.

(ps - I promise I don't go to the zoo all that often, but this is what happens when I don't blog for 6 months. You end up getting two zoo posts back to back. Oh well.)

Lions, Tigers, and Bears...Oh My!!!

2011-03-03T00:15:00.005-07:00

In October Hudson had his first trip to the zoo and it was a blast! Debra Jo invited Lindsay, Hudson, and I to join her and her boys on a trip to the Phoenix zoo. I always LOVED going to the zoo when I was younger and I still enjoy it just as much!

Hudson and his buddy Tyson

The giraffes!!! They are my favorite. Hudson's room has a giraffe theme so I decided that feeding the giraffes was a must!

Isn't she SO cute?!?! I just love their BIG black eyes and their LONG eyelashes!

The whole group :)

Aren't koala bears adorable?!?! I just want to cuddle with them.

Thanks guys for an AWESOME trip to the zoo!!! We had so much fun! Lets do it again soon. :)

Hudson's First Halloween

2011-03-02T23:16:00.005-07:00

First of all...let me just explain that if you don't understand why it's March and I am just now posting about Halloween, please refer to my previous post. Better late than never, right?! :)

So my little guy was a zebra for his very first Halloween and he was SO stinkin cute! Our ward had a Trunk or Treat and neither Torrey or I had ever been to one of those so we decided to take Hudson. My parents came too and it was so much fun! Aside from the fact that Hudson couldn't participate much yet and practically slept through the entire thing, I am glad we went. Can't wait for next year (or THIS year if you want to get technical)!!

Better Late than Never

2011-03-02T22:58:00.002-07:00

Ok Ok, I know. I have been SO horrible at blogging lately. I really REALLY need to play catch up. I mean, I haven't even blogged about Halloween yet. How sad is that?! It's almost St. Patricks Day. And my baby is almost 1 YEAR OLD!!!! Aghhhh, how did that happen?? Anyway, I think sometimes blogging gives me anxiety because I feel like I need to make every post some big elaborate thing. So instead of just making a simple post, I avoid it at all costs! I have decided I need to change my thinking and because of the fact that this blog has become somewhat of a journal for me and my family, I am setting a goal to become more diligent. Soooo what am I going to do about it, you ask?!?! I am going to make it a goal to make a post for every day in March!!! Do you think I can do it?? Sheesh, don't all say NO at once! I think if I can do it, I can get totally caught up on everything that has happened over the past few months. So, let the "March Madness" begin!!!!!

Look who's crawling...

2010-11-15T05:32:00.009-07:00

I have to apologize, I know it has been WAY too long since I have blogged, but somehow the time always gets away from me and before I know it.....8 months have passed!!! That's right, my little guy is 8 MONTHS OLD!!!!! How did that happen??? It seems like just yesterday we welcomed little Hudson Luc into our family and yet at the same time, it seems like he has always been here and I can't imagine life without him.

8 MONTHS

height: 28 in +

weight: 18 lbs +

eating habits: breast/bottle feeding and eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (Seriously wondering if it is time to stop breastfeeding. Torrey's friend and his wife stopped by yesterday and she was holding Hudson. He took one look at her chest, smiled, and then started pounding his little chubby hands up and down on her chest. AWK-WARD. We all just laughed.) Breakfast = fruit and oatmeal. Lunch = mixed veggies + a grain of some sort (rice, pasta, etc.) and more fruit. Dinner = other half of lunch and we have recently introduced meats....ewwww. (I for one, think that baby food meats are SO gross, but he likes them and that's all that matters I guess.)

sleeping habits: sleeps like a champ! HALLELUJAH!!! Bedtime has recently moved up to around 8-8:30pm and he sleeps until 6:30-7:30am. He has really been a good sleeper since the start (aside from when we went out of town when he was 3 months old and paid the price for the next 3 WEEKS after we returned home. Going on vacation is seriously over-rated after you have kids. Just kidding.....well, sort of). I give a lot of the credit to his sound machine. A.K.A. - my bff. It has a "womb" setting on it that I turn on for him at night and during the day while he is napping and he loves it!! It is so nice because I can lay him down while he is still awake and it helps him fall asleep on his own. It has also helped him to learn how to sleep through the little everyday noises that go on throughout the house like the phone ringing, the vacuum going, and Marley barking her head off!!! On a side note, we just had to lower his crib, which makes him feel so much more like a "big boy" and less like a baby to me :( . On another side note, he SNORES!!! Like an old man! It's usually only when he his sleeping in his car seat, but it's pretty funny.

clothing: 6-12 months

diapers: size 4

teeth: still NON-EXISTANT!!! Aside from the fact that I love love love his little gummy smile and as cute as I think he is with no teeth, I really wish they would make an appearance sometime soon because he has been "teething" for months now!! And it stinks!

nicknames: duck, ducky, luc-luc (pronounced luke-luke), little guy

milestones: "talks" a ton, especially when we are in the car, sits up on his own, usually rolls or scoots to where he wants to go, officially crawled this past week!!!

fun facts: He usually likes to be held facing outwards. He ABSOLUTELY LOVES music! Current favorite songs include the Spookley the Square Pumpkin soundtrack and the little jingle from that Southwest Airlines commercial, haha. He loves to watch Spookley the Square Pumpkin, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and the Baby Einstein DVD's. He thinks that Marley's tail wagging is quite possibly the funniest thing he has ever seen. He hates (and I mean HATES) having his face wiped off after he eats, which I have come to hate too because he makes such a scene about it that if we are out people turn around and look at me like I am pinching him or something. When he cries he rolls his tongue on the roof of his mouth. We call it "the helicopter" and it's hilarious (mainly because it is something most adults can't even do and he does it PERFECTLY)! His favorite toys include his binky with the giraffe attached, "sophie" his teething giraffe, elmo, and his dragonfly or frog. He loves his jumperoo! He loves it when I read to him :)

Hudson, I love you to pieces!!!!

I can't get enough of this little face! He sticks his tongue out when he gets really excited and I think its so stinkin cute!!!

Prunes.....go figure.

2010-09-25T09:10:00.003-07:00

Hudson has recently started eating baby food! It has definitely been a work in progress that we started experimenting with a couple months ago. I'm glad our pediatrician recommended we start introducing fruits and veggies early (just on occasion) because it has taken the whole two months for him to "like" eating. When we first started I got one package of each of the fruits and every few days I would introduce a new fruit. Which was is favorite, you ask?!? PRUNES!!! I thought at first it was just a fluke so I tried and tried to get him to pick a new favorite, simply because prunes are SO MESSY. But no, he LOVES them! I would struggle everyday with trying to get him to enjoy eating and he was just not a fan of it, unless it was prunes. He can't get enough of them and I can't shovel them in fast enough. So who am I to deprive him of something he LOVES just because I can't stand the mess......and the stains. Besides, how can you not LOVE this face...

The Best Two Years

2010-08-15T14:53:00.006-07:00

Two years ago today, Torrey and I were tying the knot! Forever!! I can't believe how fast time flies. So much has happened over the last 2 years. This past March we welcomed our first little kiddo named Hudson into our family. He is the apple of our eye and I can't imagine life without him. I also can't imagine life without Torrey. He truly is my best friend and I love him more and more each day.

t -

Thank you for everything you do for Hudson and I and for working so hard for our family. Thank you for making us laugh and for reminding us what life is all about. You are the best husband and daddy a girl could ask for. I love you Torrey. Happy 2 years!!

all GROWED up!!

2010-08-09T15:28:00.005-07:00

I gave Hudson his very first haircut last Friday. It was definitely a work in progress that practically took the whole day to complete. It was kinda scary too, so I am pretty sure that I am not going to attempt it again without some help. I am a little sad because I think he looks so much older, but I think he looks absolutely adorable!! Oh how I love this little man.

Man's best friend

2010-07-29T11:07:00.005-07:00

Our dog Marley absolutely loves Hudson! She is always so concerned with where he is and what he is doing. When he is in the swing, she has to go over and make sure he is okay. When he sneezes, she runs over to sniff his face and make sure everything is alright. When he was first born I was burping him and I think she thought I was hurting him because she started growling and barking at me until I stopped. She obviously got over that real quick. It can actually get kind of annoying sometimes because when I am holding him, she follows me around and watches my every move. I have tripped over her many times. Every night when I give Hudson a bath, Marley comes in and sits right next to me and stares over the tub to keep watch over him. The other day Hudson was laying on the floor playing and Marley came over and laid down right next to him. It was so cute! Hudson managed to grab a fist-full of Marley's hair right between her eyes and pulled pretty hard. Marley could have cared less. (I was right there to supervise, of course.) I have a feeling they are going to be best buds :)

Trip to Utah

2010-07-12T11:13:00.006-07:00

Last month we had the chance to go to Utah to visit Torrey's family. We packed up the car and made the 10 hour drive (which turned out to be more like a 12-14 hour drive) with Hudson and our dog, Marley. They were both so good in the car, I can not complain and Torrey and I had so much fun just chatting and singing to the music! We had so much fun just relaxing and hanging out with everyone!! The weather was absolutely wonderful too! While we were there Torrey's sister, Desi, took some pictures of Hudson. They turned out aMaZiNg so I wanted to share a few (ok, more than a "few", sorry I couldn't resist)...

Here are a few pics from the family BBQ that we had while we were there... I love the expression on Hudson's face in the first one! Soooo cute!!!

Hudson at 3 months...

2010-06-11T18:02:00.005-07:00

Our little guy is 3 months old today!!! I can't believe how time flies. Here are some of his 3 month stats... (warning: this may be quite boring for anyone other than me, but I want to remember these things so please bare with me)

- at his last check up he was in the 85th percentile for height and the 50th percentile for weight

-the last time he was weighed he was 13lbs

-everyone comments on how long he is

-most people can't believe how much hair he has!

-he has the longest eyelashes (seriously, boys always get the long eyelashes...rude)

-he is still in 0-3 month clothes, although he is about ready to outgrow the length

-he smiles a lot!!! we are also starting to get an occasional laugh out of him (so stinkin cute!)

-he likes his swing

-he loves his mobile

-he has recently started watching little einstein dvd's and he loves them

-he also loves watching mickey mouse (disney channel)

-he "talks" a lot, which I can't get enough of

-he can roll from his stomach to his back

-when he is tired he loves to be cuddled with a soft, fluffy blanket...works like a charm!

-he rubs is ear or sucks on the back of his little fist when he is tired (don't worry, I already have been to urgent care with him because I thought he might have an ear infection, but they said both ears look great! oh well, better safe than sorry!)

-he has mastered the "pout face".....and it's so darn cute!

-he sometimes has issues with gas, but nothing that a good burp or blowout won't fix :)

-he is sleeping well (cross your fingers, please). the past week he has slept from about 9:45pm to 5am!!! hallelujah!!!

-and, he LOVES his mamma!! --not to toot my own horn or anything ;)

The past 3 months have been amazing, I am so in love!! We are so grateful to have Hudson as part of our family. He melts my heart everyday.

This is his new thing.....he puts his little fists out in front of him, moves them around like crazy, and stares at them as if he is in awe of his hands. So adorable!

Torrey's Graduation

2010-06-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Torrey graduated from ASU on May 14th!!! I am so proud of all his hard work and dedication! Torrey's family came in town and we spent the week just relaxing and hanging out together. It was so much fun having them here!

my two favorite people

torrey's family

kris, mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, torrey, hudson & I

desi, and bob

torrey and his youngest brother, bob

my family

lindsay came to support torrey -- thanks lins :)

and I just love the look on my little man's face in this picture,

so stinkin cute!

Congratulations Torrey!!! I love you so much and I am so proud of you!

April showers bring May flowers.....I hope.

2010-04-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

The month of April has been kinda crazy for my family and I am anxiously awaiting May's arrival. On April 8th, my grandma ("Nani") passed away very unexpectedly. She suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke (massive brain bleed). Nani had dementia and it had definitely worsened over the past few months. She also had cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration so her vision was very very poor. About 3 weeks before she passed away she had cataract surgery and her vision actually improved slightly. On Easter Sunday we took pictures together and she was able to see Hudson. It was a really big deal that she was actually able to see his face. It meant so much to me. Nani had such a cute sense of humor and we miss her so much.

Today was a very very hard day. Our cat Max (short for Maxie) has been very sick and we had to put her to sleep this morning. She was born with a bad bladder and after 8 years of strict diets, medication regimens, and surgical procedures it was time to let her go. I know some people may think that she was just a cat, but she was much more than that to me. She was a part of our family and I miss her more than words can say. It is such a strange feeling to have control over the life of another being (even if it is just an animal) and it was so hard for me to make the decision to put her down. How do you know when they have had enough? I feel so guilty. Pets are so much fun and they bring such joy into your life, but I hate this part. It is miserable.

I love you Max and I miss you so much.

Today, our nephew Ben had to have his second open heart surgery. This one was even more extensive than the last. He had an EKG last week and there was a little change that concerned the doctor so Ben was sent to Primary Children's for more testing. The testing showed that his left ventricle was failing so surgery was necessary. We have been on iChat all day with the family at the hospital, which is wonderful I might add because it makes us feel like we are actually there with them in the waiting room. On a happier note...the surgery went well and Ben is in the ICU doing good. They had to leave his chest open because of the swelling that will take place, but they hope to be able to take him back into surgery to close it on Saturday. Keep him in your prayers.

Sweet Sweet Baby

2010-04-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hudson's newborn pictures were taken last week. You can view them online by going to this website...

www.s7foto.com

click on families, fashion, and fun

then click on client slideshow

enter the password "Hudson"

enjoy!!!

Hudson Luc Homer!!!

2010-04-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hudson arrived on March 11th at 6:32pm. He was 8lbs 8oz and 21 inches long.

"Hudson" is a family name on Torrey's side and "Luc" (pronounced Luke) is short for Lucius which is my Dad's middle name.

My due date was March 8th so when March 8th came and went and still no baby, my doctor decided to schedule me for an induction on Friday, March 12th. I was dilated to 3cm for the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy and I would have contractions all the time, but they wouldn't stay consistent. On Thursday morning I began having contractions at about 4:45. They were about 6-7 minutes apart at first, but they quickly progressed to only about 1-2 minutes apart within an hour. I wanted to take a shower and do my hair, etc and Torrey was looking at me like I was nuts! I would straighten one or two pieces of hair and then stop to make it through a contraction. When it got to the point that I was practically down on the ground on all fours trying to get in any position I could to relieve the pain, Torrey insisted we head to the hospital. So we arrived there at about 7am. When we arrived I was 4cm with a bulging bag of water. Fortunately I was able to get my epidural not too much later (thank goodness!!). I can't say enough about how nice the epidural was! I was feeling the contractions in the front and back and they were so close together that I just couldn't get a break. Just as the pain would start to let up, another contraction would start. I was checked again right after getting the epidural and I was 5-6cm. Because of the epidural, I was able to relax and spend time talking with Torrey, my Mom, and sister. It was actually pretty "fun" (compared to the way the morning started). The labor continued to progress and I was fortunate enough not to need pitocin. The contractions stayed 1-3 minutes apart the entire day. The next time I was checked I was 8cm. Although my bag of water was still bulging, it never broke on its own so at about 4:45 in the afternoon my doctor came in and broke it. I was completely dilated at this point so I began the pushing process. I pushed for 1 hour and 15 minutes and Hudson arrived at 6:32pm!! The whole process went so much smoother than I had ever imagined. I was very pleased that the labor only lasted a little more than 12 hours. My family was at the hospital waiting, but it was just Torrey and I in the room for the delivery. It was the most amazing experience ever!

He had some fluid in his lungs right after delivery so he spent a few hours in the special care nursery being monitored, but he was just fine.

The proud grandparents!

Our little family

Friends...

Taking our little guy home...

First day at home and first sponge bath (at home)...

We feel so blessed to have Hudson as part of our family. It feels so amazing to know that he is really ours! We are absolutely in love with him!!

Baby Shower

2010-02-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

First of all, I wanted to give everyone an update on Ben...........he made it through his open heart surgery and is actually already at home recovering (and doing GREAT)!!! Thank you for all your prayers!

On January 30th two of my best friends, Lindsay and Debra Jo, held a baby shower for me! They did such a GREAT job. It was so much fun!!

Thank you Linds and D-Jo, I appreciate all your hard work. You guys are awesome and I love you so much! Thanks for being such great friends!

Thank you to everyone else who helped with the shower too:) I appreciate you all so much!

Here are some pics...

The yummy food!

The ADORABLE diaper cake (that must have taken forever to make!) Thank you so so much!

Lindsay, me, and Debra Jo

me and Debra Jo

me and Lisa

my Mom and I

my sister and I

Nani (my Grandma) and I

The cute bedding my Mom and Nani gave me!

The clothes line filled with adorable outfits from everyone! Such a cute idea you guys!

Jodi, Debra Jo, Lindsay, Jenny, Cassie

Christy, and Kelly

I can't thank you guys enough for such an AWESOME baby shower!! It meant so much to me!

Update on Ben

2010-01-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

The photos above were taken last night. He is absolutely darling.

These photos were taken this morning before surgery. His surgery was scheduled for 11:30am, but was pushed back to 2pm so they should be just getting started right about now.

Keep him in your prayers.

Ben

2010-01-28T17:20:00.001-07:00

This adorable little guy is Benjamin Homer. He is our newest nephew. He was born on Thursday, January 21. Shortly after he was born, the doctors discovered he had a heart murmur that turned out to be caused by a condition called aortic stenosis (narrowing of the vessel). He was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City to have a balloon procedure done right away. The procedure allowed them to stretch the vessel, but unfortunately it caused there to be a tear in the valve which needs to be repaired. They were going to try and wait a couple months to perform this surgery, as it is very serious, but his condition has worsened and he is scheduled to have open-heart surgery tomorrow morning. Ben is only a week old and his tiny little body has already been through more than most. Please keep him in your prayers!

SURPRISE!!!

2009-12-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I think it's about time that I blog about our exciting news! Some of you may already know, but we are expecting our first baby the first week in March and we are so excited!! The pregnancy has been going very well. I'll admit the beginning was pretty rough, lots of nausea/vomiting and absolutely no energy, but it's amazing how fast you forget about that once you start feeling better. I have been feeling great the last few weeks! I am 27 weeks now and time is flying!!

These are pics from our latest ultrasound which was at 23 weeks...

Here is a belly pic from 24 weeks...

My new obsession...

2009-10-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of this album lately!! It's kinda funny because I am normally not a huge fan of Scarlett Johansson, but I am now! I like Pete Yorn so I gave it a chance and I love it!!!

October!!!

2009-10-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say how much I LOVE October! It is my favorite month. I actually love the last 3 months of the year, but there is just something about October that I look forward to every year.....probably PUMPKINS!! I love anything and everything pumpkin! Now, if only we had trees that change color around here, Fall would be perfect. I'm just grateful that the weather is starting to cool off! "Happy October" everyone!!

Our little rag-a-muffin!!

2009-07-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

This is Marley doing what she loves most these days..... having Torrey give her piggy back rides around the house.

3 little "chippas"

2009-05-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was organizing my photos when I came across this picture and it made me smile! This photo was taken in Hawaii when I went for Lindsay's graduation from BYU. This trip was so much fun, despite the tropical storm that we had to endure our entire stay! Talk about a bad hair day, it was more like a bad hair week!! Love you guys!

WOOHOO!!!!!! The underdog WiNs!!!

2009-05-20T23:19:00.000-07:00

This American Idol finale was the best ever!! Absolutely incredible! There were so many awesome performances by amazing artists!! I am so happy for Kris, and I know Adam will do well also. They are both so talented! Go Kris!!!!!!!!!!

It's a tight race!!!

2009-05-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

I think that the bottom three contestants left on this season of American Idol are AWESOME, but I have to admit that Kris Allen is my favorite!! I think that his version of "Heartless" last night was amazing! Go Kris!!

I feel sick to my stomach...

2009-03-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

Most of you probably already know, but let's just throw it out there. I am addicted to The Bachelor. Yes, I know. I need to get a life. I can't help it. I'm not sure why I really watch this show. If you look at it's track record it sure hasn't been very successful. I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic. Anyway, I am so mad at Jason right now!! How could he do that to Melissa?!? She deserves so much better. She wasn't even my original pick (I actually liked Jillian), but I felt so bad for her last night. When else would you have to break up with your fiance on national television and then watch him kiss another girl 20 minutes later.....leave it to The Bachelor! I think I speak for Melissa when I say....HOW RUDE!!!

"A pirate's life for me..."

2009-01-05T22:57:00.001-07:00

We had quite the scare on Friday. Torrey was at home working out with an exercise band and it slipped off his foot and came back and hit him in the face. I was at work, but Torrey said immediately after it happened he blacked out. He could not see at all for a few minutes. He had excruciating pain in his left eye and he felt as though a part of it might have been cut off (I don't do well with eye trauma so when he told me this I almost keeled over). He still could not see, but he made his way to the bathroom. The vision slowly returned to his right eye. When he was looking in the mirror he could tell that his entire left eye was extremely bloodshot, but the iris (the colored part, around your pupil) was filling up with blood. He was so scared that his vision might never return in this eye. He knew that he needed to get to a doctor quickly so he drove himself to Mercy Gilbert ER. He was seen by a doctor within minutes of arriving to the hospital. He then called me at work and fortunately, I was able to leave right away. I met him at the hospital. The doctor told him that he had a "hyphema" which is bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye. The staff had arranged for him to see an ophthalmologist in Gilbert right away. They gave us his discharge instructions and then I drove him to the appointment. All the discharge papers said was "Your injury has caused you to develop a hyphema, which is bleeding in the front of the eye. Hyphemas can be very dangerous." Needless to say, after reading that I was very scared. We both were. The ophthalmologist examined his eye and said that he thought Torrey would recover fully from his injury. He said that it might just take a few days for the blood clot to be reabsorbed and for the blood that had collected to dissolve. He said that there is, however, a risk of developing a "rebleed". If he were to develop a rebleed, his entire eye could fill with blood and he would need surgery to drain it. A rebleed can cause glaucoma and even cause him to lose his vision. We were determined to do whatever it takes to avoid a rebleed. So what's the treatment.....total bedrest! So Torrey has strict orders from the doctor to be a couch potato for 5 days! The medication (steroid eye drops) that the doctor gave us is helping to relieve his pain wonderfully. The good news is that his eye seems to be healing very well. What a relief.....and a blessing!! The thing I found so interesting and scary was that the ophthalmologist told us that Torrey was the second hyphema case he had seen that day caused by an exercise band. Can you believe that? So much for his new year's resolution to get in shape!!!

It is hard to see his eye in this picture because it is so incredibly sensitive to light. He has been wearing his sunglasses practically 24/7. Yesterday it was 10:30pm, all the lights in the house were off, and Torrey was laying on the couch with his sunglasses on trying to watch tv. Poor guy!
So this is what his eye looks (or looked) like!!! Gross huh!?!

(Did I mention that I don't do well with eye trauma?!)

2008-12-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

Marley Moo!!!

This is Marley (aka "Marley Moo"). She is the newest member of our family. She is a golden-doodle (which is a golden retriever and a poodle mix). We have had her for just over 1 month and we love her so much!!

Marley has the sweetest personality...... and lots of energy!!! She definitely keeps us on our toes!

This photo was taken right after we gave her a bath. She has so much hair that we have to blow dry her and this is what she looks like right afterwards. A little POOF BALL!!