The Dinosaur Pool

Our very own pool-- kind of...
I bought this really awesome pool for Lil complete with 100 toys and a slide!... Nate got it all inflated..... the part you do not see is an arch over the slide with a gint dinosaur head on it that can spit water from his mouth. Well, as Lilly headed out onto the deck to swim, she exclaimed

"I stay in da house mom, it's too scawee! too scawee mom!"
So later that day, I borrowed Parker because I KNEW he would like the pool-- and then maybe Lil would too.-- But no, he was scared of the dinosaur head as well... so it has been removed.
I left as Parker arrived to rent a movie and pick up dinner, when I got back, the dinosaur was gone, and the two toddlers were standing on either side of Nate, dumping water on his head. For a moment, all I could do is smile... he is such an amazing dad and uncle.

Check out my Slide Show!

Unborn Baby Update

I gotta tell ya, I just CANNOT wait to have another little baby that's all mine! Lately I've been reminiscing and it makes me anxious so then I stop... I just hate waiting for good things to come!

I saw my doctor today to hear what he had to say concerning the E.R. report. He did not order a follow up ultra sound and said with this small abruption, there is nothing he would be able to do different anyways.... so I go back on June 24 and get a script for the 20 week peek. In the e.r. last week, Nate swears he saw some testicles.... and the tech gave us a 75% that it was a boy-- but that percentage isn't high enough for me to run out and start shopping....so I guess Babies r Us will have to wait...Thank you for all your well wishes and concern... it really means a lot to know there are people thinking about you.

Sunday Schinanigans

Sunday dinner at the Briscoes turned into, borrowing swim trunks to take a dip at the Briscoes,
and jumping on the tramp at the Briscoes,
and for some, it turned into no clothes, peeing on the fence at the Briscoes....

(Thanks for having us over!)

Top Chef?

Yup.... I thought the EXACT same thing you are thinking right now..... is that sanitary? A little girl baking baguettes in only her panties?... and with no hair net?
... then I noticed her washing her hands,,,,
she had so much fun that morning!- it seemed as if she had rediscovered her kitchen.
'Ta-Da!'

Target Trauma

I neglectd to write and tell you about the other major thing that happened this week on Tuesday. So there we are (me, Lil, Rachel, and baby Paisley) walking into Target for some fun shopping.... now, honestly, I don't know what the hidden variable is with Target, but everytime I go, with anyone (my mom, Tonya, my sister, by myself) and Lilly is with me, she acts completely rotten and Tuesday was no different. I quickly found a cute little lip smackers purse complete with lip gloss and strawberry chapstick. Lilly sat her naughty bum in the cart and seemed to be content with her new stuff. I noticed she was chewing on the lid to the chapstick (which was unusual) and quickly had her remove it and I explained that doing so was 'dangerous'. She seemed to understand and I felt as if a little fear had been instilled as well. About 90 seconds later, I see she is choking (on the lid no doubt) but she was still getting air so i wasn't calling for help yet. I stayed calm, took her out of the cart, and started pounding on her back. A few seconds later, it sounded like maybe she had swallowed it. I flipped her around to look at her face-- and to my horror, she was not geting air anymore. The lid lodged deeper and she was Really choking. This is when I started yelling "Help! Help me! Somebody!". I have taken I would say 4 CPR courses since high school- but let me tell ya..... when it is only you and your child in the lingerie department at Target, and it's go time, you really probably don't know what the hell you are doing. I started pumping away. I thought breaking a rib might be the worst thing to have happen-- (that is unless she choked to death in my arms..) After what seemed like eternity, the lid came up covered with blood. This is about the point my sister arrived after hearing my cry for help, and when I fell to my knees in tears holding my baby. I know you're wondering if anyone else came running to help-- the answer is no. (thought provoking i think) so... what a week it has been. I true reality check for me. I think everyone of you reading needs to know, i love you and would be devastated to lose any one of you whether it be to a chapstick lid or anything else. stay safe, look both ways, and drive happy!

The Big Scare

On Wednesday, Lilly and I were visiting my little sister and her sweet baby in Preston while my parents were out of town. I ordered chinese take out and after, Lil and I laid down for a nap-- something I desperately needed. I woke up about 20 minutes into the nap with pain on my right side below my belly button. I thought I probably needed to take a crap or something.... so I did- and the pain stayed the same. I was a tad concerned at that point because the portion of my abdomen where the pain was, seemed to be enlarged and really tender to the touch. No rebound pain- so I knew it wasn't appendix related... all I could think was that it had something to do with the pregnancy... so there I am laying in my mom's bed trying to stay calm, holding the area with my hand down my shorts. In walked my cousin, who apparently just had a miscarriage last week and seemed to be concerned as well and advised calling my doctor in pocatello just to let them know..... so i stand up, walk out to the kitchen, pick up my cell phone, flip it open, and all the sudden my knees seemed like they would give out if i didn't lay down. Called the doctor from the comfort of the couch and, of course, he, nor his nurse were in the office. As I was walking back to my mom's bed, I break out in an intense sweat and the nausea hits me like a truck. I think I started freaking out only because things seemed to be going down hill REALLY fast. I called my mom to see how far away they were, in case the babies needed to be watched and as I was talking to her, freaked out jen turned into, psycho crazy in pain jen. Rachel got me dressed to go to the hospital and my aunt kathy came for the little girls. In transit to the er i could feel my eyes starting to roll in the back f my head-- the pain felt like a continuous labor contraction with the intensity of being dialated to maybe a 5 on pit with no epidural. I had convinced myself I was losing the baby. As the nurse wheeled me into a WAITING ROOOM!!!-- and told me it would be a while--- I became completely unglued. That's right about when I started verbally abusing hospital staff. She took me into a room that didn't seem to be used very much and I am sure it was not hooked up to the buildings central air because it was cooled by a dinky tabletop fan.... I as I am wailing curse words in pain... the nurse is asking VERY important questions like...what nate's birthday is ...... and if i'm nauseated (keep in mind I am Still holding a large garbage sack up to my face that i had brought from home)... so then they move me into the ER OB room and that is when the devastation set in because I figured they thought i was losing the baby too. as the nurse leaves, i start hucking my chinese take out over the bed rail into my garbage sack lovingly held by rachel. a little later, as I was blowing ham fried rice out of my nose, the nurse wanted a urine sample.. i declined and after vomiting, just like that the sharp pain went away, my eyes focused, and my body started shaking uncontrollably from cold chills. The ultrasound tech was, of course, out of town, so I sat in dull, throbbing pain until he arrived from pocatello (80 miles away) After normal blood tests, and the ultrasound, it was discovered that i have a ' marginal placeta abruption ' and there is fluid leaking from the placenta. Apparently that can be very painful and could correct itself but we'll have to watch over the next weeks ahead. This could have been one of the worst experiences of my life. Every emotion was involved and if anyone has any extra prayer time, send some my way- I'm hoping this will help itself and not become a larger problem.

Father's Day Weekend

1 wading pool, 2 awesome slides, and 4 very happy kids.

Thanks to Aunt Renae and Uncle Ken for purchasing the slide and inviting us over for fun in the sun, lunch, and with a 400 pound weight limit, the kids weren't the only ones getting wet.
Waiting patiently for the water fun to begin with Boden and Marley.
Take a good look at that face...... she's petrified!
Nate hasn't lost his touch. Paisley was so tired at the lake and we offered to stay on the beach while everyone else went tubing-- she cried and cried and cried... and soon enough surrendered against Nate's chest.
Holding Hands

ODE to DADS

Saturday afternoon we met up with my family in Preston for a picnic and a little water fun. Nate had fun wake boarding and slolom skiing. Lilly was flag girl on the boat and floating with her dad in the tube off shore. Rachel, Jason, and Miss Paisley were there to take part in the fun too. I wish I had a picture of Paisley in her zebra striped bikini to show. What a sweet baby! That night we ordered out chinese and sat on the deck watching a big fire being fought out behind mom and dad's house on the hill (country entertainment I guess). We all went to church the next morning and ate great big steaks for fathers day lunch. Another reminder to those special men in my life that I love them and appreciate them and everything they do.

Nana and Lilly looking up at the clouds.

Parker Came to Play

It was so much fun having Parker over to play! The three of us ventured into Wal-Mart for groceries and something new to play with. These two kids definitely know how to get attention that's for sure! They started yelling my name at the top of their lungs-- "JEEENNNN!!!" and then they would giggle like crazy in between the chanting. and I couldn't persuade them to stop either. When we got home, they cuddled up on the couch and watched Monsters..... until it was time for naps (a 2 1/2 hour one to be exact). Nate came home and we fed the kiddies some very tasty... but not so healthy Wendy's chicken nuggets and chocolate milk. Then we whipped out the new soft disc shooter guns! They we entertained until the end. That toy was great! They each got a gun, it didn't hurt to be shot even in the eye, and they could load and shoot all on their own. Thanks for coming to play with us today Parker! We love you so much!

Looking Back and Forward

Not even a day old and THAT is the most beautiful child I have ever seen to date! Nate and Lil accompanied me to the doctor's appointment today. We all got to hear the baby's whooshing heartbeat and it has really given me the peace of mind I was hoping for. After having a relatively easy birth and healthy baby with the most agreeable disposition, the second time around, you really wonder if history can repeat itself in such a miraculous way. My official due date is December 24th. I'm so excited to have our family of four together for our first Christmas at our own house (or maybe the hospital).

Beauty and the Beasty Curls

Are these curls not the sweetest craziest thing ever?
Headed off to church-- Nate snapped a few pictures outside

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Lilly saw the pink sleeping beauty dress up in the store complete with shoes and didn't waste a minute putting it on... and eating in it, and sleeping in it, walking to the mailbox in it, and all the while I was subject to the 'clank clank clank' of the plastic high heel pumps 5 sizes to big flip flopping. There was also a Snow White dress up ensemble and for the second time EVER-- she came to me and communicated that she wanted the "blue snow white dress at da store please"........And I couldn't and didn't say 'No'. Now we have two new dressups and Lil' is loving everyday. Now the hair you are seeing in a couple of these pictures is a different story. Lilly's hair is thin (there aren't very many indivdual strands) but coarse (each strand feels like horse hair) and let's not forget the lack of growth we are experiencing but so desperately need with that unruly natural curl. Although, if you were to spend any amount of time with Lilly you would see the hair fits her.

Sawtell Camping Trip

Last weekend we had the best time camping at Sawtell. We hauled the new camper and four wheeler for some 'clean camping kinda fun'. (which is my kinda fun) Miss Lil' is our fish in water. She would have stayed in the pool all weekend had we let her. We brought her little four wheeler for her to ride around but come to find out- she's still leary of driving herself. (that is unless cousin Parker was carting her around on it.) We also spent a day in west yellowstone and while we were walking off my terribly bad pregnancy gas contracted at dinner, Nate and I unknowingly walked into a little shop that brought back honeymoon memories. Three and half years ago, I stood in that shop begging him to but me a honeymoon momento (a gorgeous silver and gold braided cuff bracelet) he was very firm in telling his new wife 'No' (we were broke apparently)-- Anyways, my sweet husband whipped out the cash and lovingly bought me my honeymoon momento, now titled 'The Love Bracelet'. This story just goes to show you, I always find a way to get what I want even subconsciously walking around west yellowstone. What an incredible guy I lured in! I love you Nate!