Christmas Cheer

Last night we decorated ginger bread houses. The kids were dying all day to do this. They each got to pick out candy at the store. Here is Wyatt. He got to decorate his own house. I usually pride myself that my kids are candy kids and can handle quite a bit of sweets (we always have some on hand) but, Wyatt ate so much he threw up. That was the end of his house decorating.

Tad and Cori were partners.

Kamden and me. He wanted the cover the entire house with candy. And that's how it ended up.

Wyatt felt much better after he threw up and got his jammies on.

Kamden has been off track since before Thanksgiving, and will be until Jan 5th. I have been trying to think of fun things to do around town. We loved ChuckECheeses. We went in the afternoon, and no one was there. It was great.

Cori and Kamden waiting for their pizza.

Wyatt ran from Chuck crying. I don't think he'll like Santa this year either.

He did like this ride though, this was his favorite. Thanks Grandma Pam for coming with us. We had so much fun.

Things Are Lookin' Up

So, last Sunday morning, Kamden disappeared and we could not find him anywhere. Our house is not very big, and after ten minutes of searching, we were starting to panic. All the doors were still locked, and no one had come or gone. We kept yelling his name, no response. Well, we finally found him under our bed with the suitcases pulled all around him. It was not ten minutes later, he kept asking me for the phone to call someone. I said to him, "you only know our phone number, who would you call?" Our phone number is not the only one he knows, yeah that's right, he knows 911. How embarrassing to have the dispatch call you back.
Well, this week has gone much smoother. Kamden has made lots of friends at school. He even had a play date with his friend named Camden. We are getting back into a routine and feeling more comfortable at church.

A Little Bit of This and a Little of That

So much has happened this month, but the most important is Kamden turned Six! Yahooooo! It seems like just yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital. Six years has passed in a flash. Kamden has taught me so much in six years. Above all else, he has taught me patience, but he has also taught me to be more care free, and to love what comes natural. He has taught me what true love is, and that I truly do love another human being more than myself. Love ya Bud!!

Kamden is a spoiled boy, this year he finally got more toys than clothes. He is quite the little paleantologist. As he opened each dinosaur, he told everyone the scientific name of that dinosaur.

Not the greatest picture of the three of us, but I ended up in each picture because he wanted to open every present on my lap.

We went to see Madagascar 2, so this cake was only fitting. I usually make my kid' cakes but, this year, well what can I say? I was a little busy and Kamden loved the cake even better.

Here is our Halloween party at Grandma's house

And all of us minus Brock and Bonnie (refer to Bonnie' blog).

Wyatt is already eating his candy.

Aren't they cute? Kamden came up with his wizard costume on his own and of course Cori is a princess and this lion fits Wyatt's personality great.

And we had to include our dad's dear pictures. Cori is the brave one.

Gross, I know....But, I married him.

Wyatt really did love it.

And just more playing....

Movin' On Up!

Sometimes I feel like I can't post because I don't have any pictures, but here goes another boring post without pictures. Great new to share: We sold our house!! I knew when I found out that I was having surgery we would sell. So basically, Tad gets to do all the packing and moving. I can help a little here and there, but the big moves are up to Tad. We sold a week and a half ago and we have been frantic to find somewhere to live. I did not want to get an apartment, and I for sure did not want to have to live with someone. We made an offer on a house we loved last week and lo and behold they came back with a counter offer that was more than the house was listed for. Who does that? Little did we know they actually did us a favor. We found another house that we love even more, they took our offer, and now we have a house to move right into. We are so excited, so nervous, and ready to move. We have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
Luckily I am feeling so much better. This is my last week of having a babysitter! I am so grateful for all the help from my mom, mother-in-law (and father-in-law), and Tad's sister Amy. Our kids have been so spoiled and I have not worried for a second that they are well taken care of. We owe all of these family members big time. Thanks Again!

I Feel Good

I waited until today to write this post so that I could honestly say that I do feel pretty good. It has been the longest week of my entire life. I am sure that most of you have heard by now but, surgery went great. The team of surgeons called the pathologist into the surgery to test the tumor right then. They also wanted to make sure they got enough of the tissue removed in case it was cancer. The preliminary report showed no cancer. I remember when I woke up in recovery, the doctor told me the tumor was benign, but I thought I had dreamt that until I saw Tad a few hours later. I was hoping to only stay one night in the hospital, but two night later I came home. It is incredible what they let you come home with now. i had a tube going into my belly button that was draining blood and fluids and I had two other tubes going into my stomach that were pumping pain medication in constantly. I finally got to shower on Friday. This was truly the highlight of my week. That gave me the biggest boost yet. So now that I am tube free, I am feeling much better. I am sick of sleeping on my back, but I think that will take a good long time to get to my stomach. It feels like someone has just taken all my insides out and tried to put them back together again. Although, I am sure that is what they did to me. I can tell I feel just a little better everyday. The hardest part of all of this is not being able to hold my babies. I hate feeling dependant on others and that is exactly what I am. Good thing my kids have a nice dad, great grand parents, and nice aunts and uncles. Poor Wyatt just keeps holding his arms up to me and crying. That about kills me. We have been so blessed through this trial. Heavenly Father has truly been watching over me. The timeline of my life leading up to this is beginning to make more and more sense to me. I can't imagine feeling like I have, so sore and tired, and thinking I had cancer and I had to return for treatments. I feel like a weight has been lifted with the news of no cancer. I know I can do anything now because of this news. I can do hard things.

Another Update

Since I started posting about my medical issues I will keep everyone updated. This keeps me from having to repeat myself. I met with the surgeon yesterday. I am scheduled for surgery on Monday. The doctors did not want to do a biopsy of the tumor. They said it needs to come out anyway, so we're headed to the OR. The tumor is located in the lowest muscle in my abdomen. Because of this, they have to go in and take the entire muscle out and then do reconstructive so my guts aren't falling out. So I will then have a man made muscle in my stomach. The good news in all of this is that only about ten percent of these types of tumors are cancerous. Tad and I feel like the odds are in our favor. I will have to stay at the hospital at least one night and maybe two. The hardest part is going to be not lifting anything over ten pounds for at least four to six weeks. Wyatt has got to weigh 25 pounds. Good thing I have such a great husband, family, and friends. Thanks for everyones prayers, phone calls, and willingness to help. We couldn't do this without all your help.

4-Wheelin'

We really needed to get away, so we decided to go 4-Wheelin for the day. We made it to the top of Willard Peak. It was such a great view and a pretty ride. The kids are all so good on the bikes. Even my crazy busy Wyatt holds so still. They make it easy to take them.
They really do love each other.
Wyatt loves the bikes! He slept half the way up. The bumpy roads put him right to sleep.

Grandma and Grandpa came up with us. We helped them break in their new bike. Got it good and dirty for them.

School Fun

Kamden really started school last Friday. This is Kamden and his friend Cameron. They are so lucky to be in the same class.
What good student watching their teacher, Mrs. lawrence.
This isn't the greatest picture, but here is Wyatt. He wants to be as big as the other kids.

An Update to My News

I finally heard from the Huntsman Center, I have an appointment next Friday. This first appointment is to meet with a surgeon that specializes in cancer. I sort of panicked when I heard this was where I was going, but I have since calmed down. They reassured me that there are plenty of people that come in with benign tumors. I have also realized that if this is cancer that we are dealing with, then what better place is there to go? I guess I will go to the experts on cancer and put my trust in them. If you know me well, you know that I am not a real emotional person, well, this has brought every emotion to the surface. The other day I couldn't quit laughing about this. It didn't feel like we were talking about my body. I felt like I was talking about someone else, and I just felt bad for this person we were talking about. Yesterday, my emotions turned to tears. I couldn't help but think of the things that lay ahead of me. I hate to be away from my kids even for a minute and the thought of having to leave them with family and friends while I go to doctors appointments about kills me. My tears would not stop. Today, I feel ready to take it all on. I have a strong body and a really high tolerance to pain. I know I can do anything. A lot of people do this everyday, and I can too!

Dance, Dance!

Today, Cori started dance class. She has been so excited. The first thing she said when she woke up this morning was, "Is today my dance class yet?" She got a new leotard and we found tap shoes and ballet shoes. Doesn't she look so dang cute!
Here she is at her class. She is a very coordinated kid. In fact, the teacher kept saying, "look at Cori, do what she is doing." She did not get that from me or any in my family. She is way better than I ever was.

My News

I am sitting here on the computer waiting for the Huntsman Cancer Institute to return my phone call. It has been almost two weeks since I went to the doctor because I found a large lump in my stomach. At that doctors appointment, the doctor rushed me in to get an ultrasound, and then three days later I was having a CT scan. The day after the CT scan, we thought we heard good news. The doctor thought the lump was a hematoma. An easy fix, we thought. Well, this past Monday I was sent to get an MRI at the hospital just to get a better look. Yesterday morning, first thing, the doctor called me and said I have some kind of tumor. He was very straight forward and let me know that this tumor could be benign, but it also could be cancer. So, I guess I feel like we are back to where we started. We still don't know a whole lot. I am super frustrated just waiting, but regardless I am headed to the University of Utah sometime this week or next. Tad and I are just hoping and praying that this tumor is not cancerous and that we can get it taken care of and back to our normal life.

1st Day of School...Well, Kindof!

Here is kamden on the first day of kindergarten. The elementary school finally opened after being under consctruction. I'm still not sure that it is done, but it now has kids in the middle of the construction. Now, Kamden is not an early riser, but he was up quite early, got dressed all by himself (unusual), and ate breakfast. He then waited in the car for twenty minutes until it was time to go.
So, we were off to Mrs Lawrences kindergarten class. I sat in a meeting for twenty minutes while Kamden went on a tour of the school. Then, that was it for the day. Can you believe that? On the drive home Kamden was a little upset and said, "mom, you said it was my first day of school, and it wasn't." He doesn't really start school until next Friday after testing this week. We might have a long week for such an excited boy.

Our Summer is Never Going to End!!

Everytime we take our kids to the library to check out books (which is quite often), Kamden comes out of there with encyclopedias about dinosaurs. Now, story books about dinosaurs would be fine, but no, these are just informational. He knows right where they are located at our library and he doesn't even go to the kids books anymore. So when we get home, Tad and I secretly race and volunteer to read Cori's books. We thought this week was Kamden's last week before school started, but now school has been postponed for another two weeks. So we'll just keep playing. Needless to say, this is one of Kamden's favorite placed to come.
Kamden always proudly announces that when he grows up he wants to be a Paleontologist.
Because Kamden has made himself an expert on dinosaurs, he knows which ones are meat eaters and which are plant eaters. He was not about to stand by any that are meat eaters. Here is Grandma Pam and Cori, they don't know this guy is a meat-eater.
Cori is so sweet and tries to love what Kamden loves.

We miss McCall!!!

Dear McCall,
We are so sad that you moved! We will miss seeing you all the time, but we will look forward to when you come home to visit us. You are the best babysitter ever, and the best nurse ever too. We hope that Cori grows up to be even half as sweet as nice and as pretty as you. If she does, we know we succeeded in raising her. You will do so good at college. You are so smart and "you can do hard things." Have the time of your life because it goes by fast, play hard, but study hard too. Find cute boys, but be good to your girlfriends. We love you more than you know.
Hugs and kisses,
Liza, Kamden, Cori, and Wyatt

The Best Vacation Ever!!!

Okay, so I am doing this out of sequence. This is our last day in Cali. Here we are at the beach. This was everyone's (except for myself) first time on the California coast.



I didn't take anyone's swimsuit because my kids are quite afraid of the water. After about two minutes, the kids were soaked from head to toe. I guess they just love ocean water and not pool or bath water.






Wyatt wanted to eat the sand. He couldn't understand why sand was stuck all over his wet body.
We made it to Disneyland!!! Here is McCall, Jamie, Oliver, Kamden, and Riley with their 3-D glasses on.
Wyatt like to put the glasses on. Isn't he hilarious?!
Cori's favorite princess is Ariel. We stood in line for awhile, but it was worth meeting a real princess.
Kamden's favorite is Lightening McQueen. This is the Pixar parade. (Sorry McCall about including your bum in the picture.)
Cori and Riley got to talk to more princesses. This was the best part of the trip for Cori.

Before we got to Disneyland, the kids had no idea what Disneyland even was! They thought Lagoon was fun- no comparison. Here is the happy bunch in Mickey's house with the Big Cheese himself.

All three kids were so good. I think they were in awe of all the activity going on around them. Kamden and Cori were so brave. There wasn't a ride they didn't dare go on. That was quite a shock. I wouldn't say they are the most daring kids in the world.

Here is Kamden and Cori locked on the Dumbo train. Aren't they so dang cute?

This is the end of our first day there. We're still looking happy and ready for more.

This really describes them to a "T" Our Goofy and our sweet princess.

We went to Disneyland with my sister Jamie, her family, my mom and dad, and Kade and McCall.

Here is all six of the kids in front of Pooh's honeypots. We had such a fun time and we can't wait to go back!!