November, you will not be missed

November was a long, hard month for us. Going to need to refresh your memories on stuff before I can get into Nov...

Back in June, we found out that Breeann had some dilated intestines. This dilation made it so she could not absorb or move her formula/food very easily at all. Here's where I first, publicly, told about the dilation. Anyway, so then end of Aug., Bree and I made a trip out to Omaha, NE to see what her team would be able to do to help her dilation. OH MY! I just realized I never blogged about what happened out there!! Just mentioned it in another post. SO, summary of that trip was... her drs. were not able to say what they could do. They couldn't do all the testing they needed/wanted because during one of the test, they found Bree had some pneumoatosis... air pockets in her intestinal lining. We ended up being in NE for a week and a half because of it. It was a miserable trip! Anyway, after that trip, we didn't hear any from NE until first week of Oct. Bree's dr. here in UT emailed us saying NE agreed to do another STEP procedure on her. Here's a YouTube video for those of you, like me, who think that stuff cool! Breeann has had this surgery 3 times already... once before we got her. I want to say she was about a month old from what I was told (Oct. 2012). Her second one was when she was 6 months old (March 2013) and she was still in the foster care system. Her third one was right after we finalized her adoption, July 2013. Okay, I think that's enough of refresh... on to Nov. :oP

Nov. was busy preparing and getting out to NE for Bree's surgery. We arrived in Omaha on Nov. 16. Gave us a day to settle in and do a day of appointments. We knew after surgery, we wouldn't be able to "play" for a bit, so we went to the Mormon Trail Center

 And the Kainesville Tabernacle, but I didn't get pics there apparently.

Nov. 18 was the day of surgery

She didn't fully wake up until the next morning. She was miserable and out of it! She didn't feel good at all for a few days, but in no time was back to her spunky, cute self

She was only inpatient for a week... got out the day for Thanksgiving!! Luckily, just in time to be able to have fun with Dad and decorate for Christmas before Jared had to go back to UT. 

 This was, I believe, her first time eating after surgery... all she now will eat is yogurt.

 This year, we had a very special visitor join us!!! Her name is Christina Marie :) Thanks so much Aunt Jeni!!!

That really does sum up our Nov. Not a totally fun one, but ended up good :o)

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

We all know I'm not the best with words, so bear with me here. I've been working on this post for a while :P but I just can't seem to find the right words, so here ya go, with my attempt.

I just have such an immense amount of gratitude for all of you, our loved ones. With Bree's health recently back on the roller coaster (more on that later too), there has been so many people that have helped us! Watching Ayden, calls/text, letting me vent/talk, a meal or two, etc. We received a few awesome packages, letters in the mail... Just a outpouring of love from everyone! It was just a huge reminder of how extremely blessed we are. I try to show that appreciation by paying it forward/back or at the very minimum sending a thank you message. But it just seems so completely inadequate for the love and service that has been rendered to us. Please know it is all sincerely appreciated and noticed.

Frequently I get asked, commented to that people don't know how we do it. Honestly, our success is, first and for most, is Heavenly Father. Our prayers and fasting, as well as the prayers and fasting of you all, are definitely heard, have been answered, and felt. No question in my mind that Breeann wouldn't be here and we couldn't make it through without all our faith. Secondly, our success is also you guys, our loved one. We couldn't do it without the help you guys give by your help of lifting our burdens. So thank you a million times over, for everything!!! We love and appreciate you all so very very much... even if we aren't the greatest at expressing it.

I wanted to add a couple of music videos because... music. lol Music is how I best express myself, feel closed to Heavenly Father, and stress relief. I wish there was a thank you video, but I couldn't find one that I liked :P Anyway~ this first video is how I feel about our situation.

Not easy, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Breeann is such a huge blessing to all those who know her and I consider her our "beautiful heartbreak". I know we'll make it through.

This next one... I think is more to help remind me that Breeann, and everyone for that matter, really is in Heavenly Father's hands.

We have our "mountains" in life, but He is aware of all, and in charge. He may not answer our prayers how we want it to, but He will answer them according to His will/plan. 

Thanks for baring though this post. You guys really are awesome!!! Love, and appreciate, each one of you!!! 

Our October

Our October was both hard and fun

We got to see both birth mom's! I need to get the other pics off Jared's phone :oP

One of Ayden's new favorite things is mattress slides! Or as he calls them, pillow slide.

We got to play a fair amount at Thanksgiving Point! My poor children are having a hard time getting Thanksgiving Point and the actual holiday of Thanksgiving.

Now comes the not so fun part. On the 12th Bree's IV started getting really hard to push medications into. By the 14th it was like impossible. Her specialist was the one on call, he said to bring her in and they'll work on it.

Well, after an extremely long night for both her and I, the outcome was that there was no saving the line and we needed to replace it! 

Poor baby woke up extremely miserable. She use to wake up just fine, but not anymore. Anyway~ there was a couple good outcomes of that visit! One is we got to see Dr. Downey!

He's the surgeon who took care of Breeann the whole time she was NICU, so the first 4 months of her life. He did her original bowel resection (cut out all the bad intestines, making her short bowel), he put in her feeding tub, several of her IVs, and has done a couple of what's called STEP procedures on her. I personally think we have him, as well as her specialist, to thank for our miracle still being here. 

The other good outcome is ... we found out one of Bree's IV sites has opened!!! As you may, or may not, remember, she was down to one site!! We were so panicked and worried about her IV access site. But in June we found out one had opened, and we just found out a second opened! So of the 4 sites, she now has 3!!!

After all the hospital stuff settled, we had fun watching Jared carve pumpkins

And make a scarecrow. 

My amazing hubby carved 4 pumpkins and made a scarecrow just to make Ayden happy. Isn't Jared the best?!?!

We play dress up quite a bit these days... which is perfect for Halloween!! 

Yes, the kids are still both going to preschool. :o) They absolutely love it and momma loves the break. hehehe

For the church trunk or treat and school the kids dressed up as cowgirl and captain america!

But when it came to going trick or treating on Halloween, Breeann decided she wanted to be spider girl. I should have gotten a forward facing pic. Oh well.

Honestly though, my kids had so much more fun passing out candy, then going trick or treating. They were both so thrilled every time someone came to our house and they loved putting the candy into the bags.

Overall, I'd say Oct. was an alright month to us. Hope it was the same to all of you as well! :o) Love to all

Ayden's 4th birthday

Ayden John... what can I say, but he keeps me on my toes! lol

He woke up VERY upset that he wasn't "4"... so Dad helped him out.

 He got to open a present ... lunch box... so we could have a picnic lunch.

 This kid actually had 2 parties! lol This one is with the Payne's on Ayden's actual birthday. It was a joint with our nephew.

 The day after his birthday, Ayden and I went on a quick trip to Las Vegas ... where we had a joint party for Ayden and our other nephew!!

Ayden had a blast and really got birthdays this year. It made things really fun! He kept saying for a couple of months what he'd want for his birthday. He got spoiled and was happy with how it turned out.

Now mushy about Ayden: I love this boy so incredibly much! He has taught me so much about having to have patience... not that I have it yet, but I'm getting there! lol Ayden just loves life, loves people, and loves! He's not very affectionate... it's like pulling teeth getting kisses from him... but he does have a real love for people, especially his family. He gets really concerned when Bree's inpatient, Dad's workin late, or Mom's having that rare night away. He's getting to have quite the imagination. He'll dress up in a super hero costume and be quite upset if we don't refer to him as captain america, or which ever one he's dressed as. He loves learning too... Constantly asking questions about how things work, what is that, and what happens with this. I just love this boy and his tender, adventurous spirit. Ayden, we love you and so so glad you are our forever boy!!!! happiest of birthdays to, my son!!

Breeann's 3rd birthday

Excuse me while I go be in denial about my baby being 3! I know it shouldn't probably seem that big of a deal, BUT IT IS!!! For Breeann, a little girl who wasn't suppose to make it out of the NICU, to now be 3 is huge. She's such an angel... but we'll get to that in a bit.

For her birthday, she asked for elmo brownies... and Jared delivered! 

 We just had a little, low key celebration with a couple friends. She actually wasn't feelin 100%, so we felt like we needed to keep it low key.

 We got to see Momma Alyssa!!!!

 More presents! I'm tellin you, this girl was spoiled.

Now, for the mushy: Like I said, Breeann really is our angel. Granted, girl's got sass and is so dang stubborn!!! But deep down I know that's what has kept her here with us. She has got to be one of THE strongest fighters I know. She is growing into such a little lady to. She loves her hair bows. She is so smart and independent. She will just go play by herself for a while. She and I butt heads quite a bit (hey, I never said I wasn't stubborn too :oP ) BUT I love this little girl so dang much. I want to savor every min. we have with her... because, let's be honest here, who knows how much time we have left. I want to just snuggle her and kiss her all the time. I have no doubt she was sent her to teach me, and others, more then she needs to learn... if that makes sense. Breeann, we love you so much baby girl!!! So dang grateful and blessed to have you as ours!!! Happiest of birthdays angel!!!

Sept. ... better late then never?

Yeah, I'm slacker! I don't know why but I've been having a hard time getting myself to blog about our Sept. It wasn't a bad month, I don't know what it was. Anyway, here it is...

Finding out Bree did not react to milk on her allergy skin test

 But then gave her mac n cheese

 Yeah, we're taking it slow, doing more cheeses type thing to see exactly where she's at.

Having a blast at preschool!! Their teacher emails me pictures.

 Having fun at the Domo Tailgate party!!!!

 Gotta eat brownie (or was it cake :oP ) batter!!!

 Getting so big... or not :oP At their 3 and 4 year well child checks

 A little girl who kind of had a rough month, but made it through without having to go inpatient!

 Picture day at preschool!!!

 Borrowing a kayak and having fun before it gets too cold!!!

I think that about sums up our months... other then Ayden and Breeann's birthdays! Which, in my opinion, those deserve their own post SO! Be lookin for those.