blogging

Okay, so a long time ago I thought it would be a good idea to post ads on our blog...why, you ask? Well, supposedly their is dough to be made in the blogging business, although I have to to see any....so, that explains the "Scientology.org" ad. No, I'm not trying on new shoes, still a mormon. Here's some pics you've been missing out on!

Updates

Oh, where do we begin...It can't be good when we have a lot to catch up on. I'm unable to post pics right now, but thought I could update our life journal for the past couple weeks. First off, I made some fabulous meatloaf.
So I'm at church, all 4 kids, by myself...Stan worked the night shift the night before so I was on my own at the lovely deseret. We're somewhat under control til Phoenix decides to run across to the couch across the "foyer"....yep, we sit in the foyer so I don't have to have volunteers chase my kids around the chapel. So the babies jump down and start heading for the hallway. I dart over and snatch up Peyton and put him on the couch fast enough to catch Bella before she's gone. Just before I turn to grab Bella, Peyton swings his head back and slams it on the wood chair-rail just behind the couch. I grab Bella anyway, and as I turn back, Peyton has blood dripping down his head onto his white shirt. My first thought...do I swing the chapel door open and scream "head wound"...or do I just grab the kids and throw em' in the van and head to the hospital? I opted for the latter. 5 staples and a dum-dum lollipop and we're good as new.
Within the week, Sicily was acting like she had an ear infection. It was 3 "cat-tails" which had to be removed under anesthesia for a low whoppin' 250 buckaroos! What a steal....how much does Euthanasia cost?
Carson started 1st grade. The day before I woke Stan up after only 3 hours of sleep and dragged him to a charter school to sit on a trial 45 min. test run to see if it looked any more appealing then the dry teacher he had been assigned to at his elementary school. It wasn't more appealing so I dragged Stan to his elementary to meet his teacher. He agreed that she was dry, but we've decided to give the lady a try. I thought it was a better idea then having him transfered to another teacher and then decide that she was no better and then want him transfered back. Then I would be the crazy mom that the principal uses as a teaching guide at his staff meetings titled "how to deal with the crazy moms that open their kids fruit snacks before her kid leaves the house because she's afraid he won't be able to get them open at lunch" seminar.
I had a baby shower for a cute girl at my work (Elise) who is having twins. She looked like she was having so much fun at the shower so I just said " I know you think this is fun and all (this having twins thing), but it's really not...all this, it's really not that fun." I laughed and so did everyone else, but really I was thinking "poor Elise, poor Elise."
Then two days ago we went to the Monster Truck Show. We got to see the Gravedigger live in action! And all the while we watched beer drinkers singing what they announced would be the National Anthem ...."I'm proud to be an American...where at least I know I'm free...and I won't forget...blah, blah, blah." Rednecks....feels like home.

BONUS!

Just wanted to share a really cool website. www.arborday.org All you do is sign-up ($10) and they send you 10 FREE trees! They ship them for free too! They ARE small, but you can't go wrong! Plant a tree today! Thanks Steph for the great website!

Meat loaf

So I'm looking for a good recipe for meat loaf...I know, I know, meatloaf? Allrecipes.com is the place of choice and the first one I come upon is "Cottage Cheese Meat loaf" by Maggie in Lindon, Utah. The description says 'Putting cottage cheese in meat loaf makes it wonderfully moist,' assures Maggie _____ of Lindon, Utah." The Let me just say, if you don't already know...FIRST cardinal sin in my kitchen is the word "moist". The SECOND cardinal sin is the word "pamper". I guess a bad combo would be to say "change that baby's moist pampers"...now do you see what I'm sayin'?! Anyway, cottage cheese in my meatloaf didn't sound good anyway...and when she describes it using the "M" word I've just decided to never go to Lindon on vacation either. So, Maggie from Lindon, you can take your cottage cheese meat loaf recipe and give it to someone who cares about more then dry, but less then wet hunk of meat.

Love and Hate

Two things I love in the past few days....Harry Potter and starting to finish off decorating our home....Two things I hate (don't tell Carson I said the "H" word) finding smeared poop in the carpet yesterday and finding smeared poop in the carpet today. The backwards diaper thing isn't working anymore...we have no choice left but to turn em' AND tape em'! They hadn't even pooped in their diaper, I guess they thought they'd save us the trouble of cleaning off their bum so they just pooped right on the carpet and did us an extra favor of smearing it in....gotta love twins.

Late night opener to Transformers was a blast, but a little disappointed in the flick. A lot of junkie stuff and practically all action and not much story....still worth seeing...maybe once. Bella has calmed down on the biting....interestingly after Peyton bit her back. We had such a blast at the Johnson Family reunion in Blackfoot. Good food as usual and fun to see all our cuz's.
We've enjoyed a few sleepovers from our neices Heidi and Whitney...they keep us young and updated on technology! I got to watch the Michael Jackson Memorial...if you didn't, you can still repent. Wished I could be at the Staples Center watching it in person.
Yard work, yard work, yard work...oh and did I mention lots of weeds and filthy heels from walking in dirt? Endless.
Wish I could be with the Farina family in LA this weekend....food and most importantly family!

I couldn't resist posting the pic of the mormons on the side of a casino...a little bit of irony there.

So we knew Peyton was allergic to Penicillin...so we gave him Omnicef for a little ear infection. It was a 10% crossover reaction and I guesss he fit in that 10% because he's now on more meds trying to control the hives!

Part of his allergic reaction included swollen knees!

This picture below was his allergic reaction to his sister biting him...it's amazing how your skin just puffs right up when you get bit by your vampire sister! This is a picture that includes 3 different bites from three different episodes...she always goes for his right arm for some reason!

This is a before picture of Peyton's hair before we cut in in LV. Gonna miss the curls!

He loves his new hair cut!

Another bite...left arm this time! i guess she was giving him a break!

Now Sicily got a haircut today by me (Aubs)...I'm pretty sure it's the worst doggie haircut ever, but I think I really impressed some potential homebuyers of the infamous "red house" when they looked over and saw me giving her a haircut ...the remains looked like I cut her hair with a cheese grater!

Our neice Heidi came to stay with us for a week...it was great! We watched lots of Deadliest Catch! And I got my signed T-shirt from Jonathan Hillstrand!!!! It says "Shut up and fish! -Capt. Jonathan Hillstrand" It is so awesome!!!! Then we went to the air show at hill air force. It was amazing! I'll post some pictures soon, but the internet is too slow right now in the car!

We had a reunion yesterday with my childhood friends who we haven't seen for around 14 years! It was awesome to see everyone and their cute families! Good BBQ Stan!

Now we are currently on the road to Vegas! Can't wait for the good food and fun! We'll let you know how riding in the car with 4 kids in 4 careseats goes!

Infertility 1

Okay, this will be the first of many infertility posts for my infertile peeps out there. Everyone who knows me knows that we had to use donor egg in vitro to get pregnant. Because of this, we get quite a few people calling us wanting more info on the process, procedures of infertility treatments. So, here's my story...hope it helps. In my case it's called Premature Ovarian Failure. Why do I have it? Who knows. Is it genetic? Who knows? Is there a way around it? You bet...sort of.
After a period (or lack of a "period"...ha ha ha) of test, exams, ultrasounds blah, blah, blah the conclusion was that my ovaries failed before they ever really got going. I was told by the specialists at the University of Utah Reproductive Medicine that donor egg in vitro was my only chance at becoming pregnant. Options were discussed about using known donors (such as my sister) or an anonymous donor provided by the U of U. Once given this information, my only chance was to use hormone therapy for development and provide estrogen to my body which protects my bones and does lots of other junk. Although sad about the diagnosis, I have looked back and realize my outcome was so much easier then others who struggle to get pregnant with perfect ovaries.
My diagnosis was at 18 years of age, without a single spontaneous menstrual cycle. But, I knew in advance what was going to have to be done instead of being ready to get pregnant and not able to figure out why I couldn't. This was my advantage (if there is any advantage). When we were ready to have a child, the U of U performed an HSG (hysterosalpingogram). It was done to visualize the patency of my uterus and fallopian tubes (basically wanted to make sure there wasn't a blockage anywhere). It wasn't too bad (kinda like being injected with karo syrup)...only a little cramping. After that and a few ultrasounds, blood tests, we were ready to go ahead with the donor egg in vitro program.
First off, we had a session with a psychologist to make sure we knew what we were doing. She discussed our options with using a known donor such as my sister. I have one sister and she's one of my best friends, but I wouldn't want to ever change that. Can you imagine your child being mad at you and saying " well fine, I'll just go live with aunt so and so because she's my real mom anyway!" So, we opted, as recommended, to use an anonymous donor. More to come...

Twins and best friends

This is why we tape Isabella's diapers now...everyday, everynap!
Notice anything unusual in this picture...Oh, yeah, there's no baby in one of the beds...hmm, where could Isabella be?

Oh there she is!!