A quick trip to canada

So we had been in Fort Collins for about 5 days when we decided we would help MaryEllen drive up to Canada to see her sisters 50th wedding anniversary. She could not fly up there because she does not have a passport yet and you have to have one to fly out of the country. So the only way she would get up there is to drive, since you don't have to have a passport for that, you only need a drivers license and a birth certificate. And Don could not get that much time off of work to help her drive. So off we went. It takes 2 days to drive there so we drove up to billings, MT first and stayed the night and then drove the rest of the way to Calgary the next day. We were able to go to the party and enjoyed seeing all the family that I have never met due to them not being members of the church and so they don't have as much to do with the family.

Then we went to Fernie, BC for the adult family reunion. You are not supposed to bring any kids with you, but we had no choice in the matter so we enjoyed the kids too. We spent 2 1/2 days there and then drove home. So all in all a fast trip, 4 days driving and 4 days "playing and visiting."

So here are the fruits of our trip.

This is Bryan and the group that went on a hike.
Bryan and Kambria...can you see her face?

This is the Titan. The world's largest truck.

A couple of mountainous pictures. It is BEAUTIFUL in BC
So that is a few of the pics.

quick update...moved again

So I don't have time to write all the details, but I thought I would let you all know...we have moved up to Fort Collins again. We are living with Bryan's parents while Bryan searches for a residency. We needed a change and don't feel like it was very wise to have a lease on an apartment until we know what the residency situation is more like. Bryan is working hard on finding a residency but still nothing has come up yet. A lot of contacts have been made and progress is happening as far as learning which sites are available, but still nothing has been offered. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we search for the next stage in life! Until that happens we are having fun and staying busy in Fort Collins!

Kambria's 2 year photo

Since Kambria turned 2 on August 21st, we decided to get her yearly picture done...

These are the results.

New haircut!

So I got tired of having the same hair cut that I have had for a long time AND I wanted short hair due to the fact that I have less time now with 2 kids. So here are the results.

The first 3 photos are fine...and then the fourth photo is when I went to striaghten it....I was upset and could not get it to go the way I wanted it.

I first went and had it cut as little longer...then about 2 hours after of trying to style it the way I wanted it...I did not like it and went back and had the girl cut it shorter. It was supposed to be a posh like a-line hair cut and did not exactly turn out that way...but I like it none the less. and let me tell you it is A LOT easier to do...straight or curly!

So the end result after all the pictures, is a little shorter and layered.

a Kambria update

So I thought I would share a little update on Kambria...
Bryan and I went and saw the movie Momma Mia and enjoyed the music so we got the cd. We played it in the car and Kambria decided she like the music too. The first song on the cd has the words, Honey, honey and Kambria KNOWS this song. We could be listening to anything and then put this cd in without saying a word. And within the first two or three notes of the song she yells out, Honey, honey!!! And the second song is Money, money, money, and she knows this one too! It is quite fun to watch , or rather listen to Kambria have this AMAZING talent! And on top of that to know that I had NOTHING to do with it...;o)

More pictures of Weston

So I am FINALLY feeling up to doing something. It has been a week being a mother to two kids and I think I am starting to get the hang of things... Now I did not say it was an easy thing, but just that I am getting the hang of it. It truly is different than just being a mom to one kid!

I am grateful to have the help of my husband and mom lately. They have been so good helping me out with Kambria. She is a doll, but is turning into a two year old. She in WHINING at EVERYTHING!!! She wants to help me in anyway possible, but then it turns into a power struggle and she ends up getting into trouble. So we are working on that.

She has gone back to sleeping in her big girl bed after wanting to sleep in her crib like the baby for a few nights. She really is a doll and I love her dearly!

Here are some more pictures of Weston. I can't help but take so many. He is just so darn cute. I even have gotten him smiling on one or two occasions! That was a miracle! Hopefully you don't get too bored with them.

Weston D. Fairbanks

We are so excited to welcome Weston to our family. In these last few days we were wondering if he would ever come, (that is if we would ever get a green light on the c-section). Well, finally on Thursday night he came. As Eliza has mentioned, she was scheduled for a c-section on Tuesday, but ended up not having one due to a fever she couldn't get rid of. Well, the fever finally broke late Tuesday night. She went into the doctors Wednesday to be monitored and talked to the doctor. She said if all went well that night and the fever didn't come back she would shoot for Thursday around 6pm.

Thursday afternoon Eliza decided she should try to get some rest before we went to the hospital, so she laid down with Kambria for a nap thinking she would get at least a couple of hours before we had to check in at the hospital. Not but 30 minutes later the doctor called and said she wanted to do it at 4pm. Eliza didn't get the rest she wanted, but we thought this was great, the sooner the better. So we head to the hospital, check in, they get Eliza hooked up to an IV again, all that fun stuff...only to find out that we have to end up waiting 'till 6:00pm anyway. It turned out that there were a couple of the same doctor's patients laboring so the doctor had to wait for them, nice timing huh?!


Anyway, they finally took Eliza back to the operating room and got her all prepped and put in the spinal block. She said it actually wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. I was able to watch some of the surgery, (I wasn't as woozy as the first time). I was able to see her pull Weston out from her belly, what an amazing thing to see. As soon as he came out everyone in the O.R. gasped at his size. We had no idea and surely weren't expecting such a large baby.


Weston was 10 lbs. 1oz. and 21 inches long. Nothing like the 7.10 Kambria was. I think Eliza was quite grateful she didn't do a VBAC after all.


Dad was able to bring Weston over to mom as the doctors finished sewing her up.



In case you were wondering, the initial D. stands for both Grandfathers, Don and Dirk.What a sad face!
Who would have thought he would have been so big. Eliza sure felt like there was no room in the inn. :)

Kambria is such a proud big sister. She is very protective of her big little brother.Proud Mother. (You did GREAT Eliza, I love you so much)

FRUSTRATING DAY!!!

So I thought I would update those of you who are wondering....I have NO baby yet, and it is 8:30pm pm the night of my scheduled c-section!!!! Talk about a frustrating day. I went into the hospital Monday with a headache and fever. They sent me home and said just take Tylenol and come back for your c-section tomorrow. Well I went in this morning at 5:30 and got prepped for surgery...shaved, catheter and all....and then waited, got a fever, had Tylenol given to me, waited some more...had an amniocentesis to check on the baby's well being, waited some more...got another fever, was given Tylenol waited some more and then finally sent home. So yes I am sitting at home with a baby still in and all in all a frustrating day!!!!

Since the doctors don't know why I have a reoccurring fever and think it might be something viral, they decided not to introduce it to the baby, but to let my body work through it. So upon sending me home they said they want to see me not have a fever for at least 24 hours, if not 48...so Thursday maybe Friday I will have a baby... Still planning on a c-section unless my water decides to break and I go into some serious labor...My sister in law Leah thought it would be cool to have the baby on 8.8.08 which is Friday's date! I just want this baby out!!!!

So we will keep you posted as we know more info.

Kambria's surgery

So I have not mentioned it a whole lot before, but today Kambria had her eye surgery to put stents in her eyes so that they don't water and make her look like she is crying all the time. So we started he whole process last night. She could not have anything to eat or drink once she went to bed. She did not eat much fro dinner so I tried to get her to eat some milk but to no avail.

Sow she woke up this morning...asking for apple juice. Of course she could not have anything and that was so hard for me to have to tell her she could not have anything. We drove out to Children's Hospital in Aurora and began the process. We had to be there at 8:15 for her 10:15 surgery. Bryan and I were VERY impressed with this hospital. You can tell it is a newer hospital, but none the less, VERY friendly. We checked in and instead of them pointing to where you should go they walked you there. And then they were so friendly and nice when they checked us in again for insurance. Th lady was very impressed with how Kambria was talking at not even 2 years yet. We think she is smart but it is nice to hear it from complete strangers too. ;o)

Then we got escorted to the next waiting area where the surgery would be. We waited for a while and then went back to the prep room. They gave her some little pajamas/gown to put on. They were quite cute.

Then we were allowed to go to the little playroom and got to play for about an hour while we waited for the surgery to begin. They had a lot of fun toys, but the one Kambria liked the most was the big playhouse. There was even a doorbell on it.

After waiting for a while, the surgeon came and talked to us as well as the anesthesiologist. Then they had Bryan put his jumpsuit and hat on as he wanted to go back into the room with Kambria while they put her under. I did not want to go back for fear I would break down crying. so it was good that Bryan was there.

The operation itself took only about 20 minutes and then they came and got us to tell us that Kambria had woken up not but a couple minuted later. She of course was crying, but immediately wanted apple juice. She downed it quite fast and then we gave her a Popsicle. She downed that one and wanted another...and later in the recovery room wanted another. So she ate quite a few of them.

We watched some TV in the recovery room while they periodically checked her vitals until it was time to go home. We were discharged around noon and as we were coming down the elevators, we noticed a bunch of people in the atrium. So we went to check it out. They were having an ice cream competition. so we got to taste 3 different flavors and then vote for our favorite. So that was a fun treat.

As we were walking out the front doors, Kambria said she wanted cheese...unusual request so we took her to get macaroni and cheese from Noodles, while Bryan and I got Chipotle. It was a successful day! Now we just hope that the stents stay in her eyes for the required 6 months and that it clears up her watery eyes. Wish us luck.

not much going on...

Bryan's graduation day from Northwestern University...

Bryan with his instructors.

So I have been told that I need to update our blog. We are now back in Colorado...just waiting around. We drove back from Chicago on June 28th and made a quick stop in Carroll, IA to see our friends Nate and Sarah and their new addition Allison.

Then we drove to Fort Collins, to spend time with Bryan's family...which the turned into a fun weekend driving to Utah to spend time with the rest of his family, but Kambria and I got to FLY!!! it was so much better than spending another 7 hours in a car.

Kambria ended up getting a fever. And then Madalyn got a fever and ended up having hand, foot and mouth disease. poor little girl! But it was a fun weekend trip.

We also got to spend a little tiem that sunday afternoon with my Grandma Jetta and Aunt Sherie! It was fun to have Kambria see her great grandma, and great aunt. It was time well spent.

Then we came home and have been waiting for this little baby boy to come...I am getting all the more anxious and he could not come any sooner... I told the doctor today that I would like to have a scheduled c-section after much thinking and praying about it...but after talking with the PA, she said they would not take a baby any earlier than 1 week...so she said August 5th...but we will have to see what the scheduler says later this afternoon...i would prefer um Monday!!!

Here is Kambria with her favorite snack...popcorn!

And so we have just been trying to stay cool...here are Bryan and Kambria at a friends pool...while I sat and watche don the sidelines!

As far as Bryan and information on his residency...we have none. We thought there was a couple that might work out, but nothing has thus far. So we are just praying and waiting and hoping that all his diligent efforts in searching for one will pay off...sooner than later.