Porter has noo-MOH-nyah

I just got home from the hospital where Porter was admitted over night for pneumonia. Yesterday morning when he woke up he was acting very tired, clingy, and he would not eat. A few hours later he had a fever and after I gave him tylenol he fell asleep. I noticed that he was not taking full breaths, like he was in pain, and when I asked if something hurt he pointed to his tummy and side. I immediatly thought his appendix was going to burst because that runs in Andy's famiy. After a few more hours and more fast breathing I called our doctor and took him in. The doctor immediatly could hear in Porter's lungs that he had pneumonia. I was shocked, and even more shocked when he said he needed to go to the hospital to be admitted and have an IV. Porter was not getting enough oxygen into his lungs. Andy and the kids and I drove straight to the hospital to admit him. He was so scared and yet he was trying so hard to be brave and not cry. When I was sitting with him in the waiting room while we waited for a wheel chair to take him up to the pediatric floor Porter broke down crying. I asked him what was wrong and he said "I'm going to miss you." Tears flooded my eyes but I felt like I had to hold them in to be strong for Porter. I stayed at the hospital a little bit longer but it got late very quick, the girls were tired and room 4012 at St. Johns West Shore is not the place for our whole family of 5. It killed me to leave and be home all night, but I knew he was safe and in good hands with his dad by his side.


We told Porter he was so lucky to have an E.T. finger.


He was very careful with the hand that had the IV, he kept it rested on his chest.


The machine that measured the amount of oxygen he was getting.


Andy carrying the girls in to go and visit P-man.


Carlee had lots of questions for Andy about the hospital, what was happening to Porter, and where you go to get a treat.


Tessa in the elevator, we had the kids wear their Halloween costumes to the hospital to help make Porter feel excited and get his mind off of being sick.


I love the hospital gowns for kids, they are so cute, and I love the underwear shot as he was getting his stickers off of the table that he got for being so good while they took his x-ray.

Porter was doing so well at lunch today that they told him he could order anything he wanted off of the menu. He chose chicken fingers, fries, applesauce, fruit, and water.

Feeling silly with the friut.

He watched so much TV in the short amount of time he was there, movie after movie after movie.

Porter was so excited to call Andy and tell him he was going home!!

Porter and I being silly with the camera while we waited for "transport" to take us down to the car.

Even though you cannot see it on his face, he loved riding in the wheel chair, it made him feel extra special.

Porter was amazing through this whole thing. Even when he was so scared and crying, he did everything he was supposed to. He amazes me more and more everyday. He is doing very well now at home and we are so grateful that it was only one night and that he is okay.

Self Portrait....

The other night Porter took a toilet paper roll out of the garbage and decided it would be a wonderful canvas for a drawing of himself. I have so enjoyed watching Porter grow and seeing his coloring and drawing evolve. It is amazing how he can wirte his name, know that he needs eye, nose, and a mouth, and I especially love the hair he drew. It is so fun to see how people look to him, especially himself.

The music in me....

Tonight was a weird night in our house. Things have just been off for us with Andy doing his internal medicine rotation, something I cannot describe well. I feel like everyday just passes, I don't know what we do, but we are always doing something.

After dinner tonight I was messing around with our blog and asked Andy if there was any music that he would like me to add to the playlist. This conversation turned into an hour of listening to music. Fast songs, slow songs, the kids were running around the table, sitting on our laps, we were just all listening to the music, it was great.

I just felt like sharing with everyone how important music is to me. I think back on my life and I cannot imagine it without music. Being an only child and living most of my yougner years with a single parent, I spent a lot of time in my room playing by myself. I was alone, but I always had my radio. I listened to everything from KISN to KOST to KROQ (I cannot believe I remember that).

Listening to music tonight made me think about the music that has made who I am today. I think that music helps me to say what I can't. I added a song tonight called Breathe by Angels and Airwaves that is so how I feel about Andy. With him being gone so much I am able to tell him to listen to it and hopefully he will get the point that I love him so much.

When I here Chirstopher Cross I think about my mom, Old Man by Neil Young makes me think about my dad, U2 is sooooo Andy, Sarah is Julie, church hymns are Kay Lee, Aubrey is Black Eyed Peas, La La has it all especially the Boots with the Fur, D Britney and Dixie, Blink and 311: Starkey (great Park City memories), Janet reminds me of Summer, the list goes on. Music literally moves me. It has the ability to make me feel sad or so pumped that I feel like I can run 8 miles an hour on the treadmill.

For all of you who don't know about Pandora, it is a web site where you can listen to music for free, they have everything and you can create as many radio stations as you like. To check it out click here. Thank you Devin for introducing me to it, I love it.

I feel like I am a very open-minded person when it comes to music, so if anyone has any favorites I would love to know about it. I think one of my favorite things about peoples blogs is the music. It is interesting to hear what people have added to their play list and I think it shows how they are feeling.

I know this is a weird post, but tonight, the music was in me, I just had to share.

She can be chocolate girl....

Today when Andy came home from his 30+ hour shift he was so kind to bring doughnuts from the hospital. After we all had the rare opportunity of taking a nap, we woke up and were in need of a treat. Porter suggested the doughnuts which I thought was great because there was a chocolate with tons of frosting, who needs the doughnut part. Porter, Carlee, and I shared and as I walked away I heard Porter with his going to tell on Carlee tone. I walked into the living room to find Carlee laying next to Tessa, both covered in chocolate. Carlee said that Tessa could be the chocolate girl for Halloween and as you can see Tessa did not seem to mind.

3 months already!!

I cannot believe that Tessa is 3 months old already, where does the time go? She is so much fun and brings so much joy into our lives. She is laughing now and loves to have conversations with anyone, she is such a happy baby. We love Tessa so much, especially her rolls. I don't think I could count how many times a day I call her chub, chubo, rollie pollie, or chunk. At her two month appointment she weighed 15 pounds 9 ounces and was 25 inches long. I have never had a baby that was literally off the charts for their weight. She is a tank! Tessa is amazing, we have been blessed to have her.

Tessa loves her bath, it is so funny to see her kick and get excited. It is a great time for her and her Daddy to bond, he is usually the one that gives her a bath. I love sitting in the living room and hearing Andy talk to her and laugh because she is splashing water all over the floor. Sorry about the naked shots, but I had to show her rolls.

Oh Deer....

So tonight Porter and I were headed out to play in the back yard for a minute and as I stepped out the door I heard a noise. I looked up and saw two deer standing right next to our swing set. The deer turned their whole bodies and took a couple of steps closer to me. I wondered for a minute if they were going to walk up to us, they were so close. Porter had quick and quite running skills and got the camera and we were able to get a few shots. When I took the pictures, the noise of the camera scared them and they started to walk away, when a third deer started to run into our yard!! So much fun! We saw them last night too, thanks to Carlee's good eye, they were in the front yard eating my hydrangea's, big ol' stinkers they are, but still beautiful and fun to see.

Weekend full of fun

This weekend was wonderful, beautiful weather, daddy was home, and fun things were happening. Andy got off of work on Friday and I was able to head to the mall with a friend without the kiddos!! It was so nice to be able to just look at things and not worry about the kids running around or getting lost. When I returned home I saw Carlee's clown wig laying on the grass and thought nothing of it, until I downloaded the pictures from the weekend. This is one of the pictures I found....

The wig that Porter is wearing is part of what Andy is going to be for Halloween, minus the mustahce. Any guesses?

Saturday morning we got up and headed down into the metroparks to the Youth Outdoor Odessey. They had golf, fishing, bike repair, crafts, radio disney, bingo, and food!! The kids each got a "passport" and for each activity they did they would get a stamp, and at the end of the day you could turn in your passport and get a prize. One of the best things about this Odessey is that it was free, which is something back home in Utah, that does not happen to often.

The colors are amazing this time of year, the tress look like they have been painted red, yellow, and orange.

Andy and Carlee doing a little pitching.

Porter at the putting station.

This was the casting section. There were a bunch of fake fish out on the grass that the kids were able to catch.

Andy attacking Carlee, like usual, he is always playing with the kids.

Sunday, it was so nice to have Andy here, it doesn't happen to often where he is around to help get out the door to church. We had a totally lazy day, where I was on the couch all day due to a cold, but it was nice to just have Tessa and Mommy time. Later in the afternoon Andy made a fire and we did smores. I am a little nervous at how professional Porter and Carlee are at making smores.

Millions of apples, apples for me....

Saturday after Carlee's birthday party we went to Apple Hill to do some apple picking. It was such a beautiful fall day. You know when the sun is out and it feels warm on your face, but you are surprised by the chill in the air so you need a jacket, it was just like that.

I love this picture of Porter and Andin because it completley shows who they are and how they play together all of the time. As soon as we got out of the car and they both saw the tractor for the hay ride, they were in full super hero mode, they were sure it was going to get them. Andin is saying "Awwwww what do we do!!!", and Porter is thinking of a master plan.

Devin holding Cambria and Carlee waiting to get on the hay ride.

These are Carlee's new shoes that I love, yes, they are silver and soooo cute!

The fam on the hay ride.

Porter loves Tessa so much, he always wants to be near her and touching her.
Carlee had her head resting on her hand while we waited to get to the apples, so cute.

Tessa May doing what she does best, smiling.

She is just so chubby, I want to kiss her cheeks all of the time.

I was trying to take a picture of the orchard and all of the rows when Andy jumped in front of the camera, gotta love him.

Andy is such a great dad, he always makes everything funner for us when he is able to come and do things with us. I know that I would never have attempted to put Carlee on top of my head in an attempt to get the perfect apple, Andy just has no fear.

Porter and Carlee loving eachother.

The apples are so amazing right off the tree, it is crazy how with a simple rub on the shirt, it shines so much that you can see yourself in the apple.

I love the photo-op boards, they are so funny and so is Porter.

We had such a great time and got a ton of apples, I don't know what to do with myself and the apples. I need more apple recipes. I love this time of year and how it gives more opportunities to do fun things as a family. I also love seeing other peoples blogs with their apple picking pictures, so much fun!

Happy Birthday to Carlee!

Carlee, you are three today, holy cow!! It is weird to think back to where we were three years ago today, in Maine, and right about now, we were headed to the hospital. Carlee I love you, you are so funny and becomming such a cute little girl. You make us laugh every day with the funny things you do and say. You are so excited about being three and when we talk about your birthday you just smile because you cannot come up with any words to describe how excited you are! I love you so much Car, you are the best daugther and sister in the world, even though you will not leave Tessa's ear alone!

Happy Birthday ABC

Happy Birthday Andy!! I cannot believe that you are thirty today, it finally came after all of these years of teasing you. I want you to know how much I love you and think so much of you. I am so lucky to have you in my life and to be married to you. You bring our family so much joy and happiness. Not only are you a great husband, but you are a wonderful father to Porter, Carlee, and Tessa. I love you more than slurpee's and a back rub. -Shay

Think of the happiest things....

it's the same as having wings.

Here are Porter and Carlee sitting with the invitations to Carlee's birthday party that they helped make. If you cannot tell, they are fairy wands. I used my Cricut machine to cut out the heart shapes and all of the kids names. Then we hung curling ribbon from the stars that had the information about the party on the back of the tinkerbell paper.

Carlee had her birthday party yesterady to celebrate her turning three!! We had so much fun, the kids were such a treat to watch. First when the kids got here we sat around the table and made our own magic wands. Andy went to Lowes and got some clear plastic tubing so we could put shiny pipe cleaner, star sequins, and jewels down inside them, and then we sealed the ends with colorful modeling clay.

Sadie showing us her wand.

Then we headed to the living room for a game of "follow the fairy". I found a great set of fairy wings from the dollar store for yes, one dollar! I think the biggest thing with that game was to hit your wand on the floor or to swing it around as fast as you could. Porter was definetly the most creative by putting his wand on his head trying to balance it, pretty funny to see.

Carlee and Sadie waiting their turn for follow the fairy.


Porter and Cambria listening to the rules of the game, Porter was so cute in the wings!

Carlee having her turn being the fairy and swinging her wand around.

Tessa watching the action.

After the game it was time for cake. I love the screaming and the excitement that follows after you ask the kids who wants cake. It is like a tornado, the noise of the running and their voices as they tell eachother where they are going to sit and what piece of the cake they are going to eat.

The tinkerbell cake that Carlee wanted.

I love the look on Carlee's face here, she looks so happy.

The cupcakes, I left them white so that they could choose which sprinkles they wanted put on.

All of the kids devouring the goods.

Carlee looks like she is really enjoying her cake.

After the cake, we all know, it's present time!!

Carlee got some great gifts at her party, she has played with everything non-stop, it really is like Christmas all over again, not just for the kids, but for Andy and I too. It is so fun to see your children so happy. Thank you to everyone who came and helped us celebrate Carlee's special day.