Valentine's update

So I feel bad we went by Valentine's day in a rush....cause it was a very busy week. The nice thing about that week was that I felt like it was Valentine's day all week.

I didn't share this with out ultrasound blog entry, but Chad was really busy that week with 3 tests. When he found out that was the only time we could do the ultrasound, I STRESSED him out! I felt really bad, but there wasn't another time that we could do it.

So with all the stress that comes with 3 tests in a week, we set out just to get through the week. I was trying my best to have dinners made when he got home and get up and make him breakfast. Cause I know he loves this! But in the middle of all the mess, I was afraid that Chad was so busy with studying that he wasn't having time to get excited about the ultrasound. I didn't want to talk about it much, cause I didn't want to be bothering him while he was studying or make him lose focus. But to my surprise, the morning of the ultrasound I had the most beautiful note left for me telling me how excited he was!! I felt like it was Valentine's day really, but it made my day and made me so EXCITED that we were going to find out that day. It was just an amazing experience. So Chad came and ate lunch with me after his test and before the ultrasound and then as soon as the ultrasounds was finished... off he went to study. I was so glad to have his support. I just love his little laugh as he's videoing the ultrasound too!!!

But not only was that it, I got flowers on Friday (13th)when I was at work! They are way cute. Now I don't know how many of you know that I'm kind of practical like my mother..... So flowers for any event wasn't really something my mom enjoyed, cause all she could see is that they cost money and while they look pretty, don't do much else. Well this is how clever my husband is. He took an old vase that he'd bought for me with past flowers and then went and had the flower arrangement made in it!! So it was much cheaper. So I got beautiful flowers (that Chad had to beg me to throw out last night) and it didn't cost that much! He's a Genius! I'm sure lots of you understand that predicament while you are in school and are trying to scrimp and save! But it was great. So then I actually had Saturday off work, but Chad needed to study and we had just a quiet day at home and enjoyed getting to spend some time together.

So while Chad was studying I decided I was going to make the CUTEST valentine's day card for him, cause I'd been a slacker. Well I got to work and everything just wasn't coming together. So Saturday he didn't get a card. Sad huh! I'm horrible! So then the next day I finished the one I started and made a much better one too! So here are the pictures. Hope you enjoy! Sorry you can't see the cute dry embossed detailing in the picture.

This is the one that I ended up liking better!!

The Name of the Game....

The Name of the Game. . .OR For the First Time
So Chad and I did this little game and had so much fun doing it we were just laughing (and I was crying I was laughing so hard.) So I hope that you guys try it. Especially with someone else to laugh and comment with!! Chad’s answers are in Blue and Mine in Red!!

Here goes:
INSTRUCTIONS:1. Put your Ipod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the NEXT button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? She thinks my tractor’s sexy (Kenny Chesney) The Worst Day Ever (Simple Plan)
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Just the girl(The Click Five)
Ghosts (Nick Lachey)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? I do it for You (Nick Lachey) She’s Not Just a Pretty Face (Shania Twain)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Peace and Love (Blessed Union of Souls)
Brother I’ll Follow You (Dale Murphy)
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? We weren’t Crazy (Josh Gracin) Wish You Were (Kate Voegele)
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Not a Day Goes By (Lonestar) Fall For You (Secondhand Serenade)
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? High on the Mountain Top (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) Facing Up (Kate Voegele)
WHAT IS 2+2? Unbelievable (Josh Gracin) Nothing But Cowboy Boots (Blue County)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Your House (Jimmy Eat World) Breathe (Faith Hill)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? God’s Been Good to Me (Keith Urban) Where Do You Go (No Mercy)
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?? Sunday Driver (Blue County) Window To His Love (Julie De Azevedo)
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?? Unanswered Prayers (Garth Brooks) Come On Over (Shania Twain)
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Cry (Faith Hill) My Child (Plumb)
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Up (Shania Twain) Oceano (Josh Groban)
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Love Story (Taylor Swift)
Get It Faster (Jimmy Eat World)
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Stay Beautiful (Taylor Swift) Me and You (Kenny Chesney)
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Of all the Gin Joints in all the World (Fall Out Boy) This One’s For The Girls (Martina McBride)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? The Love Song (Jeff Bates) Fearless (Taylor Swift)
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? Change (Taylor Swift) To Make Her Love Me (Rascal Flatts)
HOW WILL YOU DIE? I Remember (Kenny Chesney) Rehab (Rihanna)
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? Every Mile A Memory (Dierks Bentley)
Stronger Than The Storm (Jenny Phillips)
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? My Worst Fear (Rascal Flatts) Strike It Up (Black Box)
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? Don’t Waste Your Heart (Dixie Chicks) I Look At You (George Strait)
WILL YOU GET MARRIED? Little Town (Lonestar) Lamb To The Slaughter (Jimmy Westbrook)
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? One (Faith Hill) Good Morning Beautiful (Steve Holy)
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? For the First Time (Kenny Chesney) Don’t Be Stupid (Shania Twain)
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? Thanks You Baby For Makin Someday Come so Soon (Shania Twain) Dearly Beloved (Faith Hill)
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? I Get It (Kate Voegele) Love Gets Me Every Time (Shania Twain)
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Missing Missouri (Sara Evans) For The First Time (Kenny Chesney)

Neat little clip

My mom forwarded this to me in an email, but as I took the time to load and watch it.....it changed my attitude towards my day. Instead of rushing to get things completed, it let me appreciate the time I could have to be guided to do what He'd have me do. It was worth the 7 minutes it took, so if you need some perspective, enjoy!!

The Results are......

Well today marks the 21 week mark, but not only that we were able to go for the ultrasound to find out the sex of our baby!! It was such a wonderful experience. We were amazed at the things we were able to see in action with our little one. It was amazing how much bigger everything seemed this time around. So the poll came out to be close with 57% as a girl and 43% as a boy. So to draw out the suspense, I'll tell you some of the details of our appointment.

We first saw all the basics of the baby. Then we saw my favorite part, the heart. For most of you, you already know that I worked on a cardiac unit the first 5 years of my nursing career. It's something I loved to do and miss being at Pullman, where it's all shipped to other hospitals. I've seen many ultrasounds of hearts looking for different heart problems. So it was crazy that even through my layers and then through the baby's that you can see the details that you can. We saw all 4 chambers of the heart and could see the mitral and tricuspid valves opening and closing as they should. That to me is a miracle in itself!! And Chad was able to hear the heart beat for the first time too. Then we started going through and see all the bones in the upper extremities and even saw the ribs as we moved from object to object. Here's the first part on video if you're as fascinated with the heart and what ultrasounds look like.

Were able to see the nasal bone when we got a great profile picture and then inside the head we saw the lateral ventricles. I'm not sure how much that means to most of you but we all 4 ventricles (or spaces) in our brains, so we saw 2 out of the 4. Then they measured the circumference and the width of the head. We then got to see the spine from top to bottom and were informed that it all looked good.

The ultrasoundographer, Sheryl, then asked us if we wanted to find out what we were having and we told we did!! She asked us if we had any guesses and I told we thought it was a boy, but that I had dreamed that it was a little girl. I even told her my dream. How embarrasing. If you want here's a video of the conversation and how we found out!!! Hope you enjoy!!! Sorry it's at the very end .

The umbilical cord and all 3 vessels are in place working as they should and the lower extremities also look good. We were informed that the baby was about 10 ounces at this time. So it doesn't explain the 4 pound weight gain I've had over the last month. So here are some more pictures from today, showing you the little Budha Belly I'm getting.Through this entire experience, it never ceases to amaze me how God has arranged the birthing process that allows His children to gain bodies. What miracle and blessing it is for us to have an opportunity to have one his children in our own home. We just hope and pray that we'll be able to be the parents that He would have us be.

Women's Conference in March!!

So since we've been back, I've been meeting with the rest of the Stake Relief Society Presidency to get the Women's Conference all planned. I was able to get in on designing and making the bookmark/invitations for conference.

We got permission to use such a beautiful picture of Christ comforting a women, by Jean Keaton. What is way neat, is the picture is one she drew of her twin sister when she was going through some rough times. Can you imagine the power that picture must have for you if the women in it actually looks like you? I think it's powerful by itself, but I can't even imagine...

But we're getting so excited about the speakers and classes that we have lined up that I can't even pick which ones I'm going to go to. I'm still hoping that I have time to hit as many as possible!!! And we're having a lunch after the classes too! So please invite others to come, so no one misses out!!!

It's Saturday March 7TH, FROM 8:30 TO 12:30 with lunch to follow at the LDS Stake Center in Moscow, ID up behing Staples!!

Dr. Visit #2

So when I got home from our great time with our families, I had another Dr. visit to see Dr. Minudri. Which turned out to be really fun because it was the first time that I've had the chance to hear the heart beat. Chad didn't end up coming cause I didn't think anything that exciting would be happening. But the heart rate was about 160, which by wise tale says that it could be a girl. So within a few days I had a crazy dream....

Now just because I'm a nurse and know better than this is what makes this so funny. I had a dream that I came into the hospital to do the ultrasound and my friend Deb Cooper, (who actually does tons of different things at the hospital like Pulmonary and Cardiac rehab, pulmonary function test and so on, but she is NOT a ultrasoundographer) did our ultrasound. And when she got to where the private areas were on the baby it would turn into a cute little pink heart. She went on to tell me that if it was a boy that the heart would be blue. Funny huh!! So I think that heart rate thing really swayed me, but I've had lots of people tell me that I really know what sex the baby is? But I want to get everyone else's thought before our real ultrasound which in next week!!! on the 10th. So in the right had column is the poll!! Wish us luck!!!

I realize that I haven't posted any pictures of me being pregnant. So I finally had Chad take one. I haven't cause I'm not really that big. I was surprised that I wasn't bigger than I was when we went home. I really could have kept the secret a lot longer and not told anyone. So hope you enjoy the picts!! These were taken at 19 weeks.

New Year's with the Joos'

So we spent the next week with my family and got in on the family tradition of getting a big sub sandwich for New Year's. When we headed up after New Year's Eve's party at Chad's families, then we got to come to the house full of neices and nephews and brothers and sisters waiting out the time for the New York apple to drop! It was fun to watch Kaia and Halle stay up. Halle did great until the last few minutes and fell asleep about 5 minutes before the apple dropped. What a cute girl!

For New Year's day, we went over to my Aunt Mel and Uncle Larry's house and got in on using there neighborhood pool. Thanks to Greg and Amanda we had swim suits to borrow!!! We just enjoyed the time that we spent there. We then had a potluck and even got to play some Guitar Hero World Tour. Another addiction was created! I don't know why all those rythmn games just get me. We found that Chad does better on the guitar and me on the drums!! I love it!! Now it's on my list for the next splurge we make!! Listen to me. I'm feeling a little worldly as I'm writing all these posts.

We also got to be in IF for my youngest brother's, Ryan, ordination to be an Elder!! It has been so fun to see the maturity that he has obtained since going to college, but also how much fun he is having and how the gospel has become important to him!! He loves going to church, which isn't necessarily too surprising. Sometimes you just think the youngest will always just be the same little sibling you've always had. But what a neat opportunity!! Needless to say I just cried like a baby!! Can I blame it on the coming baby? I wish.


We also got to be in on the Joos family home evening. They were nice enough to do it while we were in town. We had a great evening and my dad had prepared a great lesson on the Priesthood and it's responsibilities. It was great to listen and realize what a great Priesthood holder I have in Chad. It just makes me feel so blessed to have been able to find such an amazing guy!! Thanks to Mary for the blind date!!
We also got talking with my family about building houses close to each other and have consecrated property for all the use and some of the benefits that come from that. We decided we'd call it Joostopia. It was fun to sit talk about how much land we'd like to have what we'd do with it if we had it and how we'd set up our family neighborhood. It'll be interesting to see if any of this ever comes to pass. I'm all for it, if we can get a job close to were everyone else wants to be too.

Demetri and his game controllers or is that Ryan's cord to his electric guitar. I'm not sure, but they're sure entertainment.



Chad and I decided that we'd try to spend some more individual time with each of my siblings families (and some of Chad's that we don't spend a lot of time with) if we had the chance. Where Chad and I didn't date long before we were married and moved to Pullman, he hasn't had much of an opportunity to get to know some of my siblings as well. So we decided that to do so, we'd focus on the individual families, hoping that it might make it easier to get to know them. We were able to spend an afternoon with Greg and Amanda and played some cards and had some good discussions about various things. Greg is just finishing this Spring with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and applying for a Pharmacy program for the Fall. It was something I though would be such a great fit for him when I first became a nurse and suggested that he look into it. He's such a brain and so smart he'd be able do such a great job!! We're excited to see him get into and get going on it!! Demetri and Darrion were down for naps at the time so we didn't spend as much one on one time with them, but it's fun to see them grow and developing. What cute kids.

Chad and I then went to see his brother Reece's family. We spent a evening there and ate chicken enchiladas for dinner and played Pictureka. Pretty fun game for a group. We had fun and got hooked up with movies for our ipod and iphone. Yeah! Just a nice relaxing night and Chad got to go see Camaro, his horse!! What better way to spend an evening.


We were able to go up and spend an afternoon in Rexburg. We originally planned to meet up with my brother and cousin and Chad's niece and nephew and go out to lunch. But the only one that was available was my brother Ryan, so we went and enjoyed Bajio's with just us. It was fun to see him in his element. We then met up with Shandarae and helped move in a little bit of her stuff, buy her books, and show her campus. Now I didn't feel like it had been that long since Chad and I were there, but that place has changed a bit. It was fun to see things growing but I find that I couldn't remember buildings names. How horrible I'm getting old brain already. Then we dropped some stuff off for Natalie and visited with her. She had just finished with an I-team meeting and was hanging out at her apartment. It's just fun to see her love life in all it's stages and just getting the most out of it!!. We then caught up at Derik's apartment and to see his place too. It was a great afternoon.

We then went out and spend a night at Derek and Britt's house. It was so much fun to see how excited the kids were to have us come. Even Cage, who has a hard time with girls, was pulling my hand and getting me into the living room. The excitement had rubbed off and him and he was excited to see us. We are acutally the first people to ever come stay in there hoiuse there in Archer. Since both the Joos' and Wards' live there in Idaho Falls the don't get visitors. We had so much fun just spending time with the kids playing wii play and wii fit, eating and munching. It went by so fast. We got to stay up and just talk with Britt and Derek. One of my very favorite things to do is just catch up and talk. We even got on the internet and started looking at land to build our Joostopia!! Man it's amazing just how land alone can add up so quickly! It was great fun to imagine what the future would hold. Too bad the student loans damper that a bit.

Christmas with the Christensen's

So after our crazy drive from Pullman, we were able to head out the next day to Blackfoot for our week with Chad's family. We really enjoyed all the events and had the pretty typical Christmas party that we always have, which is always fun to enjoy! We enjoyed the Nativity production and all the kids plyaing there parts, we enjoyed watching everyone open their gifts from the gift exchange. Our favorite being Erica's present to Collin. She had teased him the night before about giving him a barbie for the gift exchange and went and wrapped up an old barbie from Grandma's basement for him to open. I'll never forget his face and he held on to the hair of the Barbie as he pulled it from the bag!! But Erica then gave him his real present which he was happy to have... a little helicoptor!!Maycee being an angel for the program, until she found out that it was on her head.

The entire nativity!!

Between Christmas and New Year's, Von and Tonia's kids came and stayed out at grandma's. It was fun to have them and I'll never forget Hailey Paige's saying "Your so much funny!!" As she giggles. What funny kids. It was great to see Dillon and be amazed how his speach has improved since he got tubes in his ears. He's just growing up so fast! Then we had to wish Amanda luck as she went in to get her own tubes in her ears, too. Didn't turn out as well since the anesthesia didn't work quite right with her.

It's always great to see those kids get excited to go out with Uncle Carlos to tend to the cows and farm duties. And even better when then decide they want to sleep over at Carlos' house!! Sorry girls and Derik!! It just makes for a peaceful morning to sleep in.

Kreal had brought his snowmobile with him and then went up with Annis and Jimmy to Island Park around New Year's. SO of course it came out early and was pulling kids on tubes. Shayla was so excited to do this and was trying to get people to do it even in half light. She didn't want to miss out on the fun because her and Erica had basketball practice the next morning.
Chad even took it out for a spin and found that he quite enjoys it. Another toy that we're going to want after we're done with school. Where is all this money going to come from?

For Christmas ,Chad got me Dance Dance Revolution 2, since I enjoyed playing at Stacie and Kreal's house so much this last summer. But all the nieces and nephews got in their fair share of time with it. I was glad it was such a hit. It kept them entertained for hours at a time! Justin stated that (when we had to pack up) we needed to visit more and make sure to bring that game back. See our nieces and nephews really do mis us!!


Janet, Chad's mom, also made all her grandkids homemade crocheted hats. I loved the girl's hats she made and decided that I was going to learn how to make them. I've done good so far, but now I haven't finished it. I need to get on it and then I can show you all a picture. They are very cute and hopefully mine will be too.

Some of Chad's friends from high school and their spouses got together for dinner one night at a Mexican restaurant. It was so fun to see them all and what was going on in there lives. Seeing the new additions of children and the new additions on the way with me and Ashley. We just thoroughly loved spending time with them all and hope that we all end up back closer to them all in the grand sceme of things so we can have more nights like it!!

Christmas day drive!

So this year Christmas was my holiday to work at Pullman Regional Hospital in the ICU where I've been working since our move to Pullman in '06. I knew this well in advance, but had asked for 2 weeks off starting with the day after. One of my very nice co-workers, Tessa, offered to give me her on call portion of the holiday, which meant that if there were no sick calls in the ICU that we would be able to drive home that day!! I was really excited for the opportunity, but Eastern Washington had received so many snow storms that we had no idea what roads were even going to be open. So when I called in at 5am and found out we were free to go, we did some research and plotted our course or home.

We had opened our gifts the night before but had to get the Christmas tree down and ready to go out on the curb while we were gone. We had been looking for weeks coming up to Christmas for a place that had chains for our tires, just in case the 4th of July pass got bad. But to our luck no one had any since none of the shipments were coming through as expected. I still had to finish packing too, so by 09:15 we were on the road, after we made sure that we had food and water to survive if we did get stranded in our car. It was slower going most of the way which made a normally 9 hour drive, almost unbearable!!!


Chad was nice enough to drive from Pullman to Missoula. The hardest stretch for him was from Moscow to Sandpoint, ID area. Only having the single lane highway made it hard to pass people and the roads weren't excellent. So it took us about 2 hours to get that far. But after getting on I-90 we at least had a clear right lane with slush in the left lane. SO then again we have to pass the overly cautious people that would only go 40 MPH. To do so we'd have to slow down to cross over into the other lane and then speed up as much as we dared and then slow down to get back in the right lane. What a white knuckled ride. I really think that Chad was relieved when we got to Missoula and it was my turn to drive.

So we stopped in Missoula to get a bite to eat. I though for sure there would be something open. BUT NO! We ended up going to an Albertson's and got a cold deli sandwich cause they didn't even have the warm food area open that day. So a word to the wise, don't expect anything to be open on Christmas! I was shocked and a little jealous since I've been working Christmases for what seems like forever.

After our quick break, it was my turn and it took me a while to get the passing cars thing down, but we really had a little better roads and some more straighter roads than what Chad had to drive. I really made good time until we hit the junction near Butte to get on I-15 and it started to snow and by that time it was getting dark. Things still weren't too bad. We were really being cautious and decided that we'd only let the gas tank get to half empty before we would refill. So we stopped in Dillon to get gas and Chad went into the gas station to check on the update for south of Dillon. The report wasn't real great which made us nervous, but I had a good feeling that we'd be okay. So I talked Chad into going on and I drove the rest of the way while Chad tried to sleep to get rid of the horrendous headache he had. (Which isn't a good sign cause he gets back headaches with storms. But he did sleep for an hour, which is amazing for him and under the great driving conditions, I thought he'd be too nervous!)

So on we went and it did get to snowing pretty well, but there wasn't a ton of traffic and so I had 2 lanes of snow packed road that I could drive on and didn't do to bad just staying between the 2 sets of reflector lights on either side. We got to the Monida pass and there was an area that had some little drifts. But not bad we were able to drive through them without any difficulty. I also noticed that all of the snow plows were on the North bound side so I'm assuming that they had just got done with our side, so the drifts could have been really bad. We hit Dubois ID and that was when the winds picked up and the open area gave us some visual difficulties. But we were able to make it to my parent's house that night after 11 hours on the road. Not too bad!! We were just glad to be done!!

Oh Man! Not a whole month.

Well I'm just writing to apologize for not writing in FOREVER!! I really just loved getting all the cute notes from our last blog that I wasn't in a big hurry to post anything else! We're overwhelmed with the love, encouragement, and support of our family and friends.
So Thanks so much for the well wishes. I think we'll need them.

I've got a few pictures to share about our Holidays and we sure have some good stories. So I'll get on it....and get them posted.