Happy Birthday To my Savannah

I can't believe it has been 9 years since Savannah darling entered into my life. I was barely 21 years old and totally, well for the most part, and thankfully clueless.

She was an easy pregnancy, but it came about that she was a might bit small and so we started having ultra sound 2 times a week to make sure that all was going well. It was. She was just teeny.

When she was born, it was quite a shock. They pulled her out and started saying stuff like, she has asymmetry, she is small, etc...... and whisked her off to the nicu. There she was for 3 weeks, trying to eat, through a tube. She never got the hang of it in the NICU. She went home with a tube in her nose and we fed her for 6 months that way until they put in a tube to her tummy and we fed her for 3 years. You would never know she was failure to thrive judging by now.

She was diagnosed with Russell Silver Syndrome at birth and we went with it. Trying as we may to get her fat. And get her fat we did. Very fat. So fat in fact, I wondered why we still had to feed her so much, but I was new at this and didn't know any different. We did this for 3 years. Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapy all came in.

All the while Savannah was a bundle of joy. She was always a happy baby, nary a sound of complaint from her. She was spoiled from the get go. Through all the therapies and surgeries and school, she has been a delightful addition to our family. Her story is a long one. Too long to post on a blog and too long to post because it is almost 11 and I have a pounding headache. But a few things you should know a bout my Savannah.

1. She loves EVERYONE. She loves to say hi. She loves to ask questions. She loves to give hug. Like it or not.
2. She has the BEST smile EVER. You say say cheese and she immediately gives you the cheesiest take up your whole face smile. Every. Time. And the best is when you tell her to smile and keep her eyes open. She really can't do it. It's hilarious.
3. She LOVES babies. From the time she was little with Mikenna to Daxton to Isabella to her cousins. She will sit for hours with them. She is so good with them.
4. She is SMART. Don't let her fool you. We have one smart cookie on our hands. She is even learning to read. Honestly, I never thought I would see the day, but she is doing it. She is DOING IT!!!!
5. She is a big HELPER. most of the time :) If I need something (or a lot of somethings) done, she will do it (with some coaxing).
6. She is a good sister.
7. She loves to go to grandma's, get her mani's and pedi's, hold babies, dish out hugs, laugh and so many more.
8. She is a TEASE. DOn't even get her started. She will run you around in circles. She is hilarious.
9. She is a busy little momma, but we love her!!!
10. I wouldn't trade her for the world. Sometimes I feel like loaning her, but she is mine and I love her. She is my friend and my little shadow most most days. She loves to cook, bake, and just hang out with me.

And I can't believe she is 9!!!!!!!!!!

I know I need to post pics but my computer is being lame and I am super TIRED.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY SAVANNAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Ramblings

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SAVANNAH (November 1)!!!! I can't believe that she is 9. Its Awesome. We are getting her a bike, helmet, some pants, shirts, and socks. No. My kids aren't rotten. Ok. They are. But they are SOOOO cute.

We have been a little bit busy lately. I guess. Who knows where the time goes. I sure don'teth.

For Halloween Mikenna was Hannah Montana, Savannah was an elf and a nurse (she wore her Thomas scrubs) and Isabella was Lola. Just in case you didn't know that is Hannah Montana's side kick and just in case you didn't know who Hannah Montana was she is Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter who is a pop star on TV and she has her own show and she pretends to be not famous as Miley Cyrus, but she lives a double life as a famous person Hannah Montana, and just in case you don't know who Billy Ray is, he is a washed up used to be a country singer, but only had one good song, Achey Brakey Heart and it wasn't even that good :). Hence the washed up part, but as least he was famous. I mean I'm not famous. But that's ok.

Lately we have been partying. We had a little Halloween neighborhood thing. Did I mention that Halloween is SO not my favorite holiday? In fact it is my least favorite holiday. If I had to pick a holiday to flush down the drain, it would be Halloween. Ok so we had a party. It was "fun" "fun" for who? I am guessing the kids. I ran the cupcake/ cookie walk and the pumpkin carving table. It was a blast. Especially when Mikenna took over. NICE, why didn't I think of that before? Der. Next time. There was also a ring toss, face painting, and fishing. Lots of prizes and some candy. I think that the kids had a good time.

Last night we went to my mom's ward Halloween party, which always rocks. Our ward had a campout at Lo Mia.... I wish for them there would have been a better turn out, but my girls had soccer, and I would have let them miss it, except that it was picture day and last year we missed picture day for Savannah, actually last year I saved $30 by not worrying about picture day, but I get to spend twice that on pictures that will just sit in the cupboard, but as least we will have them. Maybe we will put them in the special boxes I have for the girls. Anyway, my ward went to Lo Mia and so we skipped out for soccer and pictures. I only felt bad for a moment today when the bishop and a few members gave me grief, but no regrets. They don't know the stress it causes me to take Savannah into an uncontrolled environment. It makes me crazy and I am already crazy enough. And old.

So the Halloween shin dig at mom's ward was fun. We ate too much chili, too much corn bread, too much treats, and too much candy. Isabella was in heaven with her little gift bag full of candy. She kept carrying it around and digging in it periodically carefully selecting the most delectable (yummy) piece of sugar that she could find. She called it Can-nee. SO adorable. She even wanted to take it to bed with her. Silly baby. You can't take candy to bed. She really complained about it. But I won.... not that I usually win, because I never do. She always wins. Because she is a baby. And she is cute. And Totally adorable. And I am easily swayed. In fact so easily swayed that Savannah has started to send Isabella to do her dirty work. Like if Savannah wants a snack she will say "mom isabella wants.... and she names what she wants :)" But I am on to her. Really on to her. Cuz I smart.

Da Wow Factor

I can't even begin to tell you about the rush that I had this morning on my bike ride. We rode about 35 miles. Up hills and down hills (which by the way is AWESOME) and I don't actually mind the up hills. They bring some measure of accomplishment. Kind of like life (oh here we go).....

There have been a number of uphills in my life when I spent a lot of time on my knees crying for help to make it through this one more hour, one more day, one more week. It is on the uphill that we take life a little slower, causing ourselves to dig deeper and deeper to see what we are made of. We cry out, "I will not get off this bike, I will not get off this bike, I will not get off this bike." Or "I will not quit." We push through the pain, even when we think we can go no more, and do you know why? Because we won't be on the uphill forever. What goes up must come down. It is the law of nature. It is the law of God.

Many occasions I have flown down the hill, trying not to be reckless, but one time I got too close to a mountain lion. Not much happened, he went his way, I went my way. Good thing I was going fast, but prolly not faster than he could have gone if he really wanted to get me. It is on the downhills we get complacent. Speed is awesome. Flying down a hill at 40mph is terrifying, but when you get used to it, it isn't so bad. :) Sometimes life is like that. We watch a show that we know we shouldn't (which I am totally guilty of) and it starts to mess with our minds. We start to think, oh that isn't so bad, there is just a little bit of ..... (fill in the blank). We still need to proceed with caution.

SO you see, life is like a bike ride :)

Ok seriously. All metaphors aside, I did do an amazing ride this morning. My brother thankfully came along. It was fun to have him and I hope that we can do it again. Running and biking are so different. I can really only run about 6 miles (more if I really wanted to but seriously, 6 miles of canal and I am about done for) and you don't get to see much "world" running. I used to ride with a good friend and we would pull our kids. Her little 4 year old would say, "Mom, I want to see da wo-old (world)" I think of him each time I am on my bike. I can ride 35 miles and see a lot of the world. I can enjoy my surroundings (unless it is pitch black,but thankfully for my really expensive light I can see every rock, groove, and shrub), breath in the fresh air, feel a "cool" breeze on a crisp fall morning, and burn a few calories doing it. I.AM.IN.LOVE.

Kids these days

As I sit here holding my almost 2 year old Kisserbella, I watch her sweet little red painted fingernails picking apart her melted cheese, tater tot, and egg burrito. Carefully she removes each layer of the tortilla to reveal the cheese. Because that is the good part. I snuck in some tater tot (because that is much healthier than just cheese) and egg (because everyone could use a little bit of protein) and thankfully she ate at least some of it. I love her. She is the sweetest, naughtiest, loving, full of personality, little almost two year old ever. But then I just may be biased.

The other day I went to the store (3 kids in tow) asking myself WHY? Why in the world take 3 kids to the store? Why fight 3 kids in the store when I could leave them home? What is the point? Why did I forget that the last time I took them it was a nightmare and why do I think that this time will be any different?

Well because I just love them and I miss them when they are gone and if torturing me and each other at the grocery store is considered bonding, then OK I will take them :). This particular trip turned out to be extra adventurous. Savannah knocked over 100 boxes of pasta on display in the middle of the isle while walking backwards cussing as Isabella for throwing one of her toys. Amidst all that Mikenna was pushing Isabella out of the car part of the cart (because they have those at Frys) and telling her to get out of the way and Isabella was yelling in disagreement and her purse fell on the floor and she wanted cheese but Savannah kept taking bites from it, oh and did I mention that she knocked over 100 boxes of pasta?

Follow all this up with Savannah having to use the restroom and me pushing a cart full of groceries that I had already paid for so it isn't like I could leave them or anything. Awesome.

You know that mother you see screaming at her kids and you feel so bad for them because they just look so innocent and cute and how could that mother be yelling at them? Oh ya. That was me looking in the mirror.

I love all the chaos. It brings me joy. Because if life weren't chaotic it would be normal and who really likes normal anyway?

Love you all

Adventures in Motherhood- Installment #1`

Oh the adventures that we have had the past week while the kids are out of school. This may take a few posts :) so keep checking back!

Saturday I didn't feel like cooking... who does anyway? The selection of the restaurant is always an important process. You know. Is it kid friendly? How will we be seated? What about the menu? Kids choices? Are there hot dogs? Burritos? Adult preferences? Any freebies as appetizers? Who to invite to go a long with you?

Well most of these considerations were thrown out the window when we chose to go to Olive Garden. It isn't really kid friendly nor is the menu great for my kids. No hot dogs. No burritos. Huge rolling chairs. Not to much child traffic. Therefore we were the only ones in the restaurant with the baby banging the fork on the table, tossing plates like they were frisbees, giving hugs to servers, demanding more food, less food, different drinks, same drinks, ice, no ice, matching cups, no matching cups, sitting on laps, crawling on floors, throwing food, and so much other fun.

Oh an did I mention that Isabella peed ALL OVER MY LAP???? I am not sure how that happened, but well it did. Diaper and all.

SO moral of the story. Go to McDonalds.... it won't cost you $70 and people expect your children to throw stuff, run around, and have bad manners :).

Terrible Tuesday

There is a new baby in the house.

Jaxon McKay Morris.

And he is adorable.

He got to come over and play today. I watched him while his mommy took a nap. And the Kisserbella was very bothered. A new baby in the house she said? (kind of). Well I am a baby. And I want my BaBa (yes that means bottle.... yes she is still on the bottle.... and no I don't care.... She is my baby and she is spoiled and well my other baby died.... so here we are. Its a good excuse to be a bad mother.) And she also wanted her binki (she doesn't have a binki, but she stole the baby's) and her baby (her blankie) and to sit on my lap while holding Jaxon.

I love her. Today was a "relax" day. I haven't had a day where I just took time to do nothing. Just Isabella. And we watched a little TV. She sat next to me and ate pretzels and cheese for breakfast (cereal is so over rated). She went to the store with me and the baby and ate an ice cream cone from McDonalds for lunch. I rocked today. I know.

We also took a nap together. Love. Her.