a little of what we've been up to....

eric....
working his tail off.  there was a lot of "new" this summer in the programs that he has created and is carrying out.  this is eric's "creative" side and it's great to see them pulling off all their plans. he has been amazing considering all he is dealing with.  work is great but full throttle, wife at home with kids barely surviving until he gets home...not to mention just piled on stress!!!  he's very good to us. he hiked with the kids up devil's head this week.

me...
i am moving along....17 weeks now....in many ways this has been my best pregnancy yet because of all the help that we have had!  we have been very blessed but it is still very hard.  i have to get up and MAKE myself eat, and move around and get out of the house.  my mom has been a rockstar through all of this.  she makes me food all the time and is a shoulder to cry on when i have melt downs.  one person who can truly relate and she's an amazing listener.  she has also had my kids over at her house just about everyday this summer.  they adore her and i am so grateful to have someone meeting needs that i can't right now. these are things that keep me sane even though they are very hard to do.  my mantra has been, "just take the first few steps and there will be help with the rest..."  i am attached to a zofran pump which feeds into my belly 24 hours a day. my belly looks like a bruised up pincushion and i have to change out my site every day of two.  i am also on a scope patch (behind my ear) and reglan (taken the traditional way..pill). the combination of these has given me the best results i've ever had.  still nauseous 24/7 but not throwing constantly.  i haven't put on any weight but i'll pat myself on the back that i haven't lost any either.  we find out what we're having on aug. 15.

maryn....
is dancing in her first big production dance recital this weekend.  she is excited about it although she had informed me that she doesn't want to smile because she doesn't have a great smile these days!  haha...i love this girl and have pep-talked her into smiling....we'll see if she really does. she climbed all the way to the top of a 40 ft. rock wall at Copper Mountain this year! she is the loveliest little thing.  she has struggled more than the boys with me being sick.  it's brought out a little defiant side in her.  she wants me to be normal again.

caleb....
can't wait to start kindergarten next week!  i am looking forward to more structure with school everyday. he is growing up a lot.  he has become very responsible with younger kids...ie josh and colton.   he is very little trouble and lovely to have around.  he is going through a phase of different fears and trying to sort things out!

joshie....
is so big and so little at the same time...not a baby anymore and likes to do everything "all by myself".  he won't eat anything other than mac 'n cheese, chicken,  and chocolate and regular milk.  i am looking forward to this phase being over....on the other hand, i am really enjoying him right now. he is so full of enthusiasm and joy for life.  anytime i wonder why i'm putting myself through this again, i snuggle up with joshie and know that i wouldn't trade him or maryn or caleb for anything in the world.

things i haven't mentioned that we've done this summer....

• went to Idaho to visit grandma mary and grandpa blaine
• yellowstone national part for a day
• matthews reunion at jordanelle in utah
• visited evan and jodi on the way home
• copper mountain resort for a day with grandma jean and grandpa roy

all in all, not too bad for a summer with a lame mom!  can't believe school starts soon....it's nice to know we've survived the summer...