August Fun! Anniversary Trip and Adoption excitement.

Baby Count Down Chain

We are so excited for Aleana to come that we made a paper count down chain,  I think we are down to 32 days until Aleana arrives!

 Taking down the links, look the chain is getting shorter!

  Our 6th Anniversary Trip

 We took an Anniversary Vacation down to Price were Curt and I met, dated and lived for the first year of our marriage.  We have been married for 6 wonderful year!

Here is some pictures of the park we helped build and helped recruit volunteers to help build.

This is the student center at the College we used to call CEU, but is now USU Eastern.


This is the room where Curt and I officially met at Club rush the first week of school

walking into the student center

 Our service group were we did service together and got to know each other better  

Mr. Wildman one of CEU'S Mascots

 My old dorms, were I lived when I first went to school while Curt and I were dating. 

 we had a fun trip it was a nice walk down memory lane, to be reminded about how we got started.

My First baby shower

My Friends Damaris and Heather Holmes put on this shower for my friends and family in Logan.  It was so much fun to see  friends and family.  Thank you Damaris and Heather!

 My good friend Nicole who just adopted his cute baby boy

 I am excited to use this, it is a Cook Book for toddlers and babies along with a food processor.

I got a lot of cute clothes, blankets and other stuff, thanks everyone!

Here are a few more entries from my journal.

Monday August 6^th 2012

         I had a neat experience today. Curt and I took Jesica to our first doctor’s appointment with her.   It was a little awkward  when we first picked her up because it was the first time we had seen her since we met her at the Face to Face with Charity and Sara.  We had each talked to her on the phone a couple of times but not for very long.  The most recent conversation was about seeing if we wanted to see an ultrasound and seeing if we wanted to set up an appointment to go to a place called fetal photos in Ogden.  We were both excited about the idea of possibly seeing an actual ultrasound, rather than just the pictures if the previous one.  

         Once we got on the way Jesica pretty much talked the whole way, telling us about the problems they have been having with their dog eating the carpet and having to lay new carpet.  Letting us know about the challenges of the pregnancy, of how the baby moved a lot and how it felt like she was scratching her uterus with her finger nails.  She also told us about her horrible heart burn not letting her sleep and not letting her eat anything except shredded wheat. 

         When we got to the doctor’s office Jesica checked in and then we just waited until it was our turn. While we were waiting Jescia showed us cute pictures of her little girl Brooke and told us about how she had gotten sick and had a seizure that caused her and Jeremy to take Brooke to the hospital. I know that she loves her daughter and regrets leaving her.  I can tell she also love the baby she is carrying but knows that she has made the right decision to place her for adoption.

          When we got into the room Jesica climbed up onto the table carrying her little briefcase organizer thing, she said that she feels important carrying it and that she brings it so she can write things down and put things on the calendar.  She seems to be pretty organized and on top of things.  The doctor came in and started the checkup by asking her how she feels.  She told him about the heart burn and he gave her a prescription that would help, and I hope that it does. She also mentioned that she has sharp pains that she thinks are contractions and they are worse when she is up doing things.  He told her to rest.  I would not mind if the baby came a little early but not to early that it will endanger her life.

         During the checkup the doctor asked who we were and she said that we were the adoptive couple and that we were adopting the baby.  He was excited for us and asked us about our process.  I think Jescia may have felt a little uncomfortable with this. 

         Later Jesica asked about setting up another ultrasound and he said that they only do that if they find out it is medically necessary.  However when he went to measure her stomach he found it was measuring big and it was cause for an ultrasound, we are coming back tomorrow for an ultra sound! 

        Then the doctor took the heartbeat of the baby, at first I did not know what it was but then I realized it was our baby girl’s heartbeat.  It was so cool to hear it and I knew for sure that there was a baby in Jesica and that little baby was going to be ours!!

         After the appointment Jesica had to talk to the finical aid rep.  While we were waiting we got on the topic of what the baby looked like.  Jesica said that the baby had her nose but a little more turned up and pig like, like the birthfather Mike.  That was the first I had heard her talk about the birthfather so I asked a few more questions.  She told us that people told him he looked like the guy Fred from “Drop Dead Fred”; I will have to find a picture.  She said that he was about 6’1” and very white with reddish brown hair.   Now I know a little about the birthfather, I hope I can get little more info as time goes on.  

          

         While we were waiting for Curt to get the car Jesica and I stopped to look at baby clothes outside the gift shop.  She was all excited about some of the clothes she saw.  Then she looked at me and said “Now you get to do this too”.  It made me excited and gave me hope that everything was going to go through because she was referring to me being excited and shopping for clothes for the sweet baby girl she is going to give birth to.

         On the way home she told us that she has been so board that her and Jeremy went out and bought a goat and that it is living out back at Jeremy’s mom’s house.  She said that her little girl Brooke loves the goat and gives it kisses.  She is excited about getting free goat milk and told Jeremy’s mom that it will be a great lawn mower.   I think it is fun to hear all these cute stories about Jesica that I can hopefully share with Aleana someday.       

Tuesday August 7^th 2012

         Today was the day I first saw my baby girl!!  Well at least the closest thing to seeing her until she is born.  We got to see the ultrasound! It was one of the coolest things ever.

         I picked up Jesica about 10:00.  As we drove I asked her about the heart burn medicine to see if it worked.  She said that it worked better then she thought it would and that she got to eat a big bowl of menudo.  Which I think would be gross, but she was excited about it. I asked her if she saw her goat and she said that she was not planning on it but that Jeremy's mom called while they were picking up the medicine and said that there was a three point buck in the back yard with the goat.  She said they headed over but that the buck was gone by the time they got there, however Jeremy’s mom got pictures of it.

         I called Curt when we got to the hospital and he came to meet us.  While we were waiting Jesica was saying that she could tell the baby was upside down with her feet at her ribs.  We could see Aleana’s little hand pushing against Jesica’s stomach.  We also could tell Aleana had the hiccups. It was funny to see Jesica’s stomach giggle.

        Curt got there and Jesica was surprised how fast he got there.  We explained that Curt just worked up stairs in the business office.  She said “Oh good, so if I go into unexpected labor someone will be there fast”.  I am guessing she wasn’t us there for the delivery!  We will have to wait and see for sure when we have the hospital meeting in a few weeks.

        We were called back and took to a room by a nice young man who was going to do the ultra sound.  He said that he was a student and would be doing part of the ultra sound and observing.  He also said since he was learning and that he would take a longer look at the baby.  A few minutes later a nice young women came in to assist.  They were really nice, funny and made us feel very comfortable.  They asked Jesica who we were and she introduced us as the parents of her little baby.  It is reassuring to have her call us that.  They asked us what the babies name was going to be, Curt wanted me to tell them but for some reason I was really nervous to say the name in front of Jesica, so I made Curt tell the name.  Lucky everyone liked the name even Jesica.

        I thought it was really amazing when we actually got to see Aleana’s heart beating.   It is amazing to see how well her body works even when so small.  Aleana was upside down with her feet up near Jesica’s chest, so it was a little difficult for the ultra sound tech to get good pictures.  It was funny when they would find something like a hand or a foot the lady would say isn’t that cute, so there was a joke going back and forth between the guy and the girl about saying cute.  It was really funny when they lady was trying to get the 3D pictures of Aleana’s face the guy kept saying oh that is just so cute.

It was neat to see the brain, organs and the body parts, but I loved being able to see Aleana’s face and get a picture of what she will look like.  Jesica was cute and kind of emotional when seeing the pictures because she realized how much Aleana looks like her two year old Brooke. She kept saying “She looks so much like my like girl”, “She has Brooke’s noes.”  I hope she is doing Ok, and going to be able to handle all of this.

It was also cool to see that Aleana was going to be born with hair. While the lady was trying to get a good view of Aleana’s face she pointed at white fuzzy patch on her head and told us that it was hair.  The lady said “mom better get those hair bows ready.”   I just smiled to myself.  We received a CD of the pictures so here is a couple of picture. 

        On the way home Jescia and I were talking about how cute she was and that she was going to send pictures to Mike to show that she has his nose.  We also talked about Aleana’s hair and how cool it was that you could tell she had hair.  Then Jesica turned to me and said “Your baby is going to have hair.”  That just made my heart flutter hearing her refer to the baby she is carrying as mine.

       I dropped her off and she said that she would be calling before the next appointment on the 20th to make sure we were going to take her.  I reassured her we would, I think she is still a little nervous about everything and wants to make sure it is all going well.  I am too, so we just need to keep in contact and help each other through the process, Heavenly Father will also be with us through it all

                                                 Tuesday August 20^th 2012

Today we had another doctor’s appointment with Jesica.  I picked her up and as we were driving she told me a little more about her daughter Brooke and her seizures.   She said it was a natural thing when a baby gets a really high fever to protect the baby.  Jescia said that she had it until she was two and that her first daughter had problems with seizures as well.  I know it is possible for any child to have seizures but with the history I will watch Aleana close.  Jesica also said that Brooke’s favorite color was purple and that is her new favorite word. She really loves her little girl. 

            When I first walked into the doctor’s office I saw my friend Liz who I recently found out was pregnant.  I had not seen her since her wedding and talked to her on the phone once.  It was fun to see her and catch up a little.  We saw her a couple more times around the doctor’s office and got to meet her husband again.

Jesica’s appointment went well we found out that the Aleana is growing healthy and is in the 42^nd percentile.  She is going to be a little on the small side, but I am ok with that and I am sure that will be fine for Jesica.  It was cool to be able to hear the heart beat again.  We already love her so much and can’t wait for her to be here.  

We took Jescia to get a cupcake at Temptation Cupcakes.  We were waiting at the light and Jesica asked if we had been there before.  We said no and then Curt asked if we wanted to go. We were able to get a purple one for Brooke.  I am sure she loved it!  It was fun to do something with Jesica besides just going to the doctors.  We found out that Jesica’s favorite Holiday is Halloween, she is so excited for the parties and the costumes.  We also found out Jesica loves Dr. Pepper and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups.

We also went to the temple to do sealing’s, it was nice to be surrounded by the spirit and be reminded of the sealing power.  We are excited to bring Aleana to the temple to be sealed to us.  After the session we took the elevator down to change and go get dinner, but the elevator came to a screeching stop and the doors slowly opened on to the second floor.  We took the stairs down.  While we were changing we both had the feeling that maybe the spirit was telling us that we should go to the celestial room, well I guess there could not have been a more obvious prompting.  

After dinner we took a little walk and enjoyed some quiet time on the bench out on the hill of the temple.  I love the temple and I am so glad I can have my family sealed together in those holy walls.   

Tuesday August 28^th 2012

We had another doctor’s appointment with Jesica.  I picked up Jesica and took her up to the hospital.  Jesica thought that the doctor was going to be checking her dilation so I just waited in the waiting room.   Curt came down so that he could ride home with us.  Jesica came out and said that everything was going well and they were going to check to see how the baby was coming out next week.   We got in the car to take her home and when we got to her apartment Jesica could not find her key anywhere.  She called Jeremy to see when he was going to be home and he gave her a hard time about losing the key.  She joked with him about her fish being alive and that he had to give away his goat.  We drove back to the hospital and she could not find them in there.  We decided to head into Hastings to kill some time, as I went to climb out of the car I saw something shiny on the floor and I reached down and saw that it was her key.  Jesica was so excited because now Jeremy did not have bullets to tease her with.  We decided to walk around the store for a few minutes.  We are glad that we found her key.   We are grateful for Jesica and our relationship we have with her.

Friday September 7, 2012

On Tuesday we had our Pre Hospital meeting with Jesica and the caseworkers.  We found out that she wants us to come up to the hospital right after she is admitted and wants us to be there the whole time so that we can have the baby in our room with us. She may even want us in the delivery room and I might get to cut the umbilical cord.  She wants us to get pictures and even have our parents come to see the baby in the hospital.  Then we are going to do placement the morning she get discharged from the hospital.  The birth and placement is going to be an amazing and emotional few days.

Wednesday’s doctor’s appointment was good and Jesica is progressing along well and the baby is healthy.  She is already 1.5 centimeters dilated and 50% efface so the baby could come a little early.  Which I think we would all be fine with, especially Jesica.  

We went over to Jeremy’s mom’s house for Brooke 2^nd birthday party.  We had a little birthday dinner with Jesica, Jeremy, Brooke and Jeremy’s Mom.  Brooke was so cute she loved her cupcake and the candles; she didn’t want to blow out the fire.  She also loved the party blower toy and blew it over and over.  She was so excited about her presents.  Her dad bought her a princess tent she loved and opened some of her presents while sitting in it.  Her mom got her a light bug that shines stars on the celling.  She also got bubbles, puzzles and footy PJ’s.  We got her a purple Dora Shirt with cute purple poke-a-dots sleeves.  She was so cute.  I am glad we could go because it was fun to spend time with everyone out side of caseworker meetings and doctor’s visits. 

That night I also went to Heather Dutson’s house and had a girl’s craft night.  Michalenne, Erin and Heather Holmes were there.  We made hair bows for our little girls.

 I am very excited for my baby shower tomorrow Debbie, Kathy and my mom have worked hard.  I also want to see what cute stuff I get for baby Aleana.      

Saturday September 8^th 2012

I had my second baby shower today.  This is the one Debbie, Kathy and my mom put on for me.  It was so much fun!  The theme was nursery rhymes.  Each treat was based on a different nursery rhyme.  The guests were asked to write a nursery rhyme to go with my gift and I had to guess what the present was, based on the nursery rhyme.  Some people got really creative and I had a hard time guessing and other we pretty easy.  So many people came, I had aunts, and cousins, Grandma Taylor, friends, neighbors etc.  It was fun to see old friends like Sable and Felicia who I have not seen in years.  Sable is going to do Aleana’s new born pictures, I am so excited.  Felicia brought her baby girl who was just precious.   We did not have enough chairs set up and people ended up sitting on the floor.  I spent most of the time opening up presents.  I got so many cute and wonderful things, I felt spoiled and Aleana is going to be spoiled.  I was excited about the present my grandma gave me, it is a Jenny Jump up; I did not even know they made those.  I am also excited about the vibrating seat my Aunt Jane and cousins got me.  I know I will use it a lot. I also got a tummy time mat from my mom’s cousins, a bunch of clothes, blankets, bath tubs, bath stuff, food, diapers etc.   I am really grateful for the love and support that we receive every time we turn around.  I am so grateful for Debbie, Kathy and my mom for putting this together; I will have to do something nice for them.

                                                  Thursday September 13^th 2012

I just got back from another doctor’s appointment with Jesica, hopefully only one more until the baby comes. Things went well at the doctors, Jesica and the baby are still healthy, but she has not dilated anymore.  So I guess there is not much fear that she comes during the baby shower on Saturday. 

 I found out that Jesica was married when she had her first two girls.  It is interesting find out bits and pieces of her life.  Jesica is getting so ready to have this baby and nervous that the baby is going to get bigger and hurt more to come out.  She is hoping that she will just have this baby on Monday while she is at the hospital for her next appointment.  She was talking to Curt and me before she went back for her appointment and told us that she is so ready to have our baby.  She also said that hearing the babies cry makes her excited that Brooke is not a baby.  I think she is also excited that she does not have to take this baby home and care for her with how tired she is right now and how tired she will be after giving birth. From the way she is talking I don’t think we will have to worry about her changing her mind.  

Jesica also told me that she is working on quitting cussing since she came to Utah; she said that it is harder than quitting smoking because it is a mental thing, but she warned me that she may swear in the delivery room because of all the pain and to be forgiving.   Also when we were driving over to the hospital an older couple was getting ready to cross the road and Jesica said that guy reminds me of my dad except my dad was taller.  It was this old white guy, now I am confused because we were thinking her dad was Hispanic.  Her life story is a bit confusing to me, but I love her.   

I remember Jesica telling me that she had dread locks before she moved to Utah, that little Willow tree could not have been more perfect because the girl had dread lock breads in her hair.  The lord was bringing her to us while she was still in Las Vegas with her dread locks.  This path of adoption was already being placed before her and the Lord was preparing us.  The Lord even had his hand in us picking out the perfect gift to touch her heart. 

We are getting so excited for this baby to come; I have packed and repacked the clothes I want to take to the hospital for Aleana to wear after she is born and for placement.   I don’t think it will be the last because I may get more newborn clothes at the shower on Saturday.  Ahhh! I am going to be a mom soon!!  

Monday September 17^th

          I had another doctor’s appointment with Jesica today.  Jesica was nice and healthy just tired and her legs hurt.  She is very ready to have this baby and we are very excited to have her join our family.  The appointment was good she is now dilated to a 2 and 75%.   She still has a little way to go, but the baby could really come at any time now!!

            On the way home she talked about her sister and mentioned how she wants to start her own bar and grill.  Jesica said that her sister is strong and determined and she believes she will do it someday.   Jesica said that she is more of a homemaker and that she wants to stay home and raise her kids.   She wants to be a PTA mom who comes to all the parties and makes cookies for bake sales.  Jesica said that before her mom had the rest of her brothers and sisters that she dressed as Elvira and handed out candy to Jesica’s class for Halloween.  Jesica said that she wants to be that mom.  It was a little hard for me to swallow seeing how much she loves her kids, and realizing how hard it must be to give up another.  I said you can go into Brooke’s classes and help with all the parties and she will love it.  She said that this is what she wants to do.  I hope that she is not changing her mind at all about placing her little girl for adoption.   It is her decision.  Although I still feel that the adoption will go through.

Curt and I started a project of redoing an old dresser made by Curt’s Great grandmother.  Curt sanded it down so that we can re-stain it and add new knobs.  We are getting so excited and hoping that we are ready for her to come. 

Friday September 28^th 2012

I hoped that we would have had a baby home with us by now, but I guess she is too comfortable or too shy to come out.  As of today she is 4 days late.  We are getting anxious for her to join our family, but more so we feel bad for Jescia.  Each time she goes to the doctors and gets sent home without having had the baby she gets more and more discouraged and upset.  To make things worse Jeremy is getting upset with her because the doctors have not induced her yet, he thinks that somehow it is her fault.  I felt so bad this past Monday the 24^th of September, she was going in thinking that they were going to induce her, but they just striped her membranes and sent her home.  For many that will put them into labor within a couple hours or a few days, but it did not work for Jesica.   She went back in yesterday for an ultra sound to check and see if the baby was healthy (she was and she weighs 8 pounds).  She was hoping to ask the doctor if she could be induce, however the doctor was in a delivery and did not even see her.  Now if she does not have the baby by Monday she has another doctor’s appointment, I hope and pray that they will induce her because by then she will be 7 day overdue.  I really just hope that she has the baby over the weekend and then she will be out of her misery sooner.  I think about her often and she is always in my prayers.