bed rest

on april 9th 2010 i went to the doctor because i was feeling a some cramping and pressure. i really didn't think it was a big deal, and when i called to talk to the nurse she almost didn't even have me come in because she said it was "normal" but she changed her mind at the last minute and said why don't you just come in and get checked out. so i did and i will never forget when my doctor checked me and told me that the pressure i was feeling was in fact NOT normal. i was 3 cm dilated and had a bulging bag of water. i was 18 weeks and 5 days along. they took me straight the hospital and after many tears and medical tests to see if there was an infection in the bag of water causing my body to get rid of the pregnancy... the doctor told brett and i that if we really wanted to he would try to stitch up my cervix and stop the baby from coming out. he said he really wasn't sure if it would work. he warned us that it would be very difficult to stitch me up because i was completely effaced and there was barely enough tissue to stitch. he said he was also going to have to push the bag of water and the baby's head up and out of the way to place the stitch with out breaking my water. he gave us a 5% chance that he would be able to get the stitch in and that the baby would then make it to a survivable gestation. but he said he would try if that was our wish. and it was. he said he would try as hard as he could. as i saw him pacing around my room in worry as to whether he could save my pregnancy i prayed very hard. and i left it in the lords hands. when i woke up from surgery my doctor told me that he was able to get the stitch in! he was very pleased with the stitch and later told me that he believes that there was some"divine intervention" involved. i feel so lucky!! so now the stitch is in and i am on bed rest. bed rest for 4 and a half months.... right now i am laying in bed only getting up to go to the bathroom. my muscles are aching as they are wasting away, my hair is a mess, my mind is wandering but my heart is full. full of hope. and my belly is bouncing with a baby that kicks and turns. to him maybe everything seems normal. i hope so. for now i will do the only thing i can do... stay in bed hoping and praying that this baby i feel kicking around inside of me gets a chance at life. a good life.

Las Vegas

At the beginning of April Brett and I went to Las Vegas with our best friends Jeff and Carrie. We stayed at a fabulous resort off of the strip. The resort had a movie theater, shopping, restaurants, a spa and pool etc. We spent almost all of our time at the resort. We loved the spa. It was such a relaxing trip!!!

Brett and I on the Strip.


Carrie and I in our robes at the spa.

I'm 17 weeks pregnant and starting to show!!

Lounging by the pool...

Brett and I at the pool

Carrie and I having girl time at the pool.

Enjoying the sun and sipping on our virgin pina coladas!!

Brett and Jeff hanging out in our Cabana... There was a flat screen TV and stocked fridge. They watched College Basketball games all day!!

Brett and I in the Cabana

yum.... room service

Easter

Madison all ready for church on Easter Sunday in her pink Easter Dress. She kept calling it her "booster dress".

Madie with all the eggs she collected from the NICU easter egg hunt at my work.

Me and Madie with the Easter bunny!!

Here are the easter eggs she decorated!!

Decorating eggs with dad !!

Connor's Farm

In March Madison and I took a road trip to visit Hailey, Brandon and Connor in Eastern Idaho. They moved back there in the fall and we had not gone to visit them. I was very nervous because it was my very FIRST road trip all by myself. I did a pretty good job and Madison was well behaved.

Connor told Madison he lived on a farm and to be ready to get dirty!! She was pretty excited, but she only lasted about 10 minutes out on the "farm" with Connor before I heard screaming/crying and came running outside to an very upset little girl. I thought she was hurt, but when I asked her what was wrong she said "I got dirt on my shoe". And that was basically it. She was over it. She came inside to hang with me and Hailey for the rest of the day. Connor, on the other hand, stayed out until dark. And that is his usual routine :)

Madie and Connor with the cows.

Madison did really enjoy the chicken coop. Here she is with two of the eggs she collected.

Aunt Hailey helping the kids collect eggs.

YUM! Fresh Farm eggs! Madison loves eggs :)

These pictures are blurry!! Here we are at the Cheesecake Factory... celebrating Leslie's Birthday :) I was so proud of the "Happy Birthday" banner I made her! I'm so lucky to have such good girlfriends!

Happy Valentines Day

I just love these pictures of Madison! She looks so grown up!

Madison making Valentines for her class mates! She gave them play dough with their cards.

She picked out Princess Valentines!!

Here she is at school, delivering her Valentines to everyone!

Brett's 31st Birthday

Madison was really excited for Brett's Birthday this year. She really wanted to make him a "Lightning McQueen" cake. She talked about it for weeks before his birthday! I decided that would be a little difficult... so we made cupcakes and got a Lightning McQueen car and sprinkles to go on top. Luckily, it did the trick. She was pleased as punch with the result. And I think Brett liked it too ...

making cupcakes with mom

The finished product! Happy Birthday to Brett!!

good bye 2009

Here are a few more pictures from 2009... some of my favorite.

Madie Chillin' in her carseat with her hat and sunglasses!



Hugging my cute girl after completing the Prison Break Half Marathon in October.



Madison at her first Dentist Appointment




MY "HC" girlies :)



Family Photo in Snowbird, Utah


Madison and I hanging out at Roaring Springs!!


Madison playing in the backyard



The Ward siblings at McKay's Mission Farewell.


Me and my Grandpa, one of the sweetest men I have ever known...
He passed away in April.
We miss you Grandpa Paul.

Me and my hottie in Maui!!!

Madison wearing her dress-ups at her birthday party

Good Bye 2009!

bowling and sushi

After Christmas my dad took our family out to sushi and bowling. My dad hates bowling but he was a really good sport! We had such a fun time with the family that day!! The sushi was delicious and the bowling game was the bomb.

DISNEYLAND!!

We decided to take the long way home from Arizona and go on a little family trip to our favorite: Disney land!! I really enjoyed spending time with just the three of us. Madison was so sweet. She loved it as usual. We feel so lucky to be her parents.

Here we are in front of the castle at night.

Madison's balloon crown and bracelet the waiter made her while we were having dinner in Downtown Disney.

Madison with her favorite princess!! They look like twins :)

A family picture in front of It's a Small World. This was Madison's very favorite ride. It was fun to see it all decked out for Christmas. There were thousands of Christmas lights and all the little people inside were dressed up and singing Christmas Carols.

Me and my sweet daughter in front of the Tea Cups

Madison and Brett on the Carousel

I don't want to leave!!!!