Not expected

Warning, this is a very personal post, but I felt like I needed to write to remember and to share with others who have been there or worse.

So in the middle of the crazy ending of the school year, Chad and I were greeted with a surprise pregnancy. We had discussed that we were ready for another, but figured the best time would be to try after we got settled in Chubbuck. But apparently the Lord had another idea and we were pregnant with #2. It was shocking at first, but we were excited right from the beginning. Despite being on BCP and stopping and then bleeding and not thinking anything would be able to survive, we managed to have a positive pregnancy test in April. Debating if I should even get into see my Doctor in Pullman or wait til we get to Chubbuck, well I tried to get appointment and couldn't get in to see Dr. Minudri until the week after graduation. So since we were moving the few days after graduation I new that we wouldn't be able to go that route. But no big deal, my pregnancies have been quite simple, I don't get morning sickness and only get hunger pains if I don't eat regularly. I know I'm really lucky.
So we decided that when we got settled in at our new place we wanted to share with our families as soon as we got settled.  So we scheduled a barbecue on the pretense of being a house welcoming party, but dressing Kherrington in the Onesie we made her.

So I know it's blurry, but it says "Big sister in charge," with "Coming November 30th, 2010" on the back
They were taken with my phone and she was moving.

So we were really excited to tell our families and share in our excitement, even though we were just shy of the 12 week mark.  Well the night we announced our big news, I started bleeding and ended up bleeding at varying degrees for the next week and few days.  Meanwhile I had so nicely accepted the offer of babysitting my brother's 5 kids so my parent's could go with them to Hawaii.  It went really well considering, but maybe I should ask Chad since he was the one unpacking and making garden boxes and watching 6 kids... all so I could take it easy.  What a great husband/Dad!! 

Considering what was going on, we couldn't really take our time in finding a new OB/GYN, so we went with the first suggestion that was given to us, to find that we weren't to thrilled with the office staff and nurse and didn't even want to go to the next visit that would be with one of the PA or NP, since the Dr wouldn't be in til Wednesday. (We were scheduled to fly to Connecticut on Wednesday)  So we went searching again, only to find an office staff that gave me more information on the phone than I had received at the previous office visit.  And to find that the Dr. had a cancellation and so we got in on Monday the 24th instead of the 25th that I would have had at the other office.

So we had well over a week to stew and worry and really understand possible outcomes of what was happening.  When we went into the Dr. on Monday, we were so excited to have such a nice easy to talk to Doctor.  And even though he was the one that told us we had lost our baby, I'm so happy to have found someone I'm going to like so well!!  He was amazing sensitive and great to help us understand the follow up that was needed, along with comforting us.  And he said it was okay to go to Connecticut.  I don't know if I would have been so happy if our trip had been cancelled.  He also mentioned that when people found out the news that we'd be surprised with how many people have experienced the same thing.

As we've been looking back on the situation and trying to glean everything we could learn from it we have found quite a few blessing in the midst of it.  It has been a very big eye opener of what a great blessing to have family close.  First of all, my sister-in-law and brother that live in Pocatello with us, offered to make us dinner (all 8 of us) so that I wouldn't have to cook that night.  It was great to not worry about it.  Also the concern of family and the expression of support during the miscarriage and after we found out the bad news.  We found that it was ironic that we  started having problems the night we told our families.  At first we had just wished we had waited another week before we said anything, but quickly were so glad to have the support we were given.
Another thing that has been good for us is to have the empathy for others that have had difficulties with pregnancy.  We have 2 sets of close friends that recently have or are close to losing a baby.  It has been a very good thing to be able to understand to a small extent some of the pain and overwhelming sadness that can surround you in those type of circumstances.  It makes your prayers more fervent in their behalf.  I now know the feelings or what if I hadn't done...... fill in the blank, like help move in the piano during our move!! I can just understand the regret that comes with it.

It has shown me
It has also really helped us to really take the time to enjoy having Kherrington!!  What a blessing she is to us, just as all of God's children are.  Even though we have been hurt, we wait excitedly for when we will be blessed to have another baby enter our lives!!
And by the way, just cause we miscarried, doesn't mean we don't want to help you celebrate your expecting babies, etc, please share the news!! 

Student loans! Oh hate em!!!

Investment help from Mint.com

So as some of you know, I'm really liking the Mint.com for our finances and I was reading today about the student loan debt and just found it to be totally true!!  It almost nailed our student debt.  Now that we've sold our Pullman home and just about to close on our house in Chubbuck, that hefty payment will come due soon.  Thanks heaven to be out of school and have to abled working bodies!! Thank goodness we don't have the beer debt on top of it!

Pullman Spring 2010

About 2 weeks ago we had such great weather, and Kherrington loved every minute of it.  Daily rides in the stroller around the neighborhood and spending time outside.  So sad to see the rain come and ruin it all last week.  Here's to hoping Chubbuck has better weather for us!!

A daily Activity

So Kherrington loves to help her mom around the house, but her favorite thing is to unload the dishwasher. Here she is helping Chad. She hears that opening of the door and she comes crawling at full speed into the kitchen and unloads all the utensils all over the floor. It's so fun to see her so happy, even if I have to pick the utensil off the floor when she's done.

Kherrington's first swim- Mar 2010

So while we were home, we were able to take Kherrington for her firsst swim.  I have no idea, but even when I was pregnant with her, I really wanted to go swimming, but thought that I would spare everyone from a pregnant woman in a bathing suit.  So I didn't and we never got the chance to.  So Kherrington got to wear the same swim suit that I did when I was a baby.  She also loved the water.  Not a real big surprise since she loves the bathtub already.
Thanks to Aunt Melanie and Uncle Larry for letting us swim at their pool. We had a blast!
We got to play with all my brother's and their families, except for Ryan who's serving a mission in Georgia and Brek who is in Salt Lake.  Missed you guys.

So much to do...the time is coming too soon.

So I just downloaded picture off my camera, and they date clear back to the first of the year....  How can that be.  That means I haven't really blogged anything in the present time in months.  Sad sad news.

And really there is so much other things I should be doing now, like PACKING!! But the plan is to get some boxes this afternoon and then maybe I can get started with that one.   The other thing I have on my planner today is that my coworkers are through us a Going Away party!  Isn't that so nice.  They are like my family away from family.  They were the ones that threw my baby shower and spoil me like crazy.  I'm really going to miss them so much. I've made some really great friends here, and I hope that they take the opportunity to come stay with us for a vacation sometime.

As the time has gotten closer for us to move, I have been really much more sad than I had ever thought that I'd be.  I mean really Chad is done with school and I no longer have to be the main breadwinner.  I thought I'd be jumping up and down.  But I realize that I'm going to have to find another job, and I can't even imagine finding the great friends and work environment that I've found at Pullman Regional Hospital.  And the customer service is always great!  I'm so proud to be a part of it.  The staffing is ideal and I'm not sure there are other facilities that are as dedicated to customers instead of making a profit as they are.

I was able to do my year evaluation with my boss the other day, and she was so encouraging to me.  She was told that me that I'd be able to survive just fine in a bigger ICU, where I'll be having a phone interview next week.  It makes me nervous.  So say some prayers for me please.

But with all of this said.  Chad and I are really excited to starting this part of our journey...(and realize that we should have been even tighter on our budget and not have had as many student loans).  Isn't that always the way it goes though.  You don't realize until when you have to start paying them back how much there is to pay.  But it'll be nice that I can get a job also and just focus on the loans and pay them off faster. The other thing that we're loving already is the housing market and cost of living being more what we're used to.  Just waiting for all our financing to go through for the house that we found and have negotiated on.  So again pray that I get hired for the job, so that for sure we can get our loan!!  Yeah I don't have an ulcer from worrying about this at all.  I'm just extremely happy (blessed) to have our house in Pullman all set to close on the 14th of May.  Now just to go start packing.

The Plan

Okay so we really do have a plan, but I've ben so busy trying to get crafts done for the fair.  There have been no posts on either blog!!
 So for those of you out there that don't know.  Chad got a job in Chubbuck Idaho.  Now to start this post off.  Chad and I both made the mistake of saying we'd never live in Pocatello (and Chubbuck is a little suburb of Pocatello).  So therefore God put us in Chubbuck.  We thought we had several option between Rigby and Blackfoot, but all of them didn't quite turn out as we expected and we also came across this clinic in Chubbuck that has a great idea of what it takes to help a new graduate Veterinarian start practice.  He's amazing already and we haven't even moved there yet.
So Chad will be working at Bannock Animal Medical Center.  It was built in 2004 by Dr. Rowntree.  He's originally from California and then moved up to Montana and had a practice there for about 13 years) and then built in Chubbuck in 2004.  He already has one associate, Jamie Rantella, a graduate from WSU 3 years ago, that he just made partner in January. The crazy thing is that it's a small animal clinic.  Chad always though he'd do a mixed animal practice.  Dr. Rowntree told him that after a year if he'd like to get a Vet truck and do farm calls that he could and that if all went really well with the addition of large animal then they could expand!!
How can you not take that offer.  So it looks like if all goes well, we'll be setting roots in Chubbuck ID.

So we're really excited. If anyone is interested here's a link to the website for Bannock Animal MC.
we're really excited to be close to our families and only 45 minutes away from a temple instead of the hour and 15 plus that we have now.  Then to realize that we're just over 2 hours to SLC International airport.  Which should come in handy as we save up to go to Guatemala when the temple is dedicated in the next couple of years.

I would link to pictures of the house that we are in contract for, but they already took them off the web and now I don't have any. :(  So I guess you'll all have to come visit us instead!!

An amazing HusBanD!!

So that last few weeks I've really been trying to count some of my many blessings.  I've been reminded over and over how great of a guy I was lucky enough to marry.

Like I had said, I've been thinking for several weeks, but just last Thursday, we got news that was the icing on the cake.

Chad passed his NAVLE or nation board exam for Veterinarian, and also the WSU CPE test!!! Now Chad was really nervous about both of these.  More for the CPE test, since he was told that only 40% of the class passes the first time.
Chad took the NAVLE on December 6th and then got a call from Idaho State on last Thursday January 14th, telling him that he passed his board exam.  And only the evening before did he hear about passing the CPE!!  What a relief for him.  He told me he had been praying and praying about it.  Which I find so endearing.  I had said a few prayers before he took them, but I knew that our Heavenly Father would bless him.  Chad has been so diligent during Vet school.  I'm sure even longer than the last 4 years, but I didn't know him then.  But I've been impressed with his study habits.  He never slacks off in anything really.  That is one the things that I most admire in him.  But because he has always studied hard I knew that the Lord would bless him to do well.

Okay so I wrote that at the end of January before we even went home for Chad's rotations.  Well now I have even more to say.  This last weekend was Craft Fair, and I was pretty ambition this year and came up/stole from Stacie lots of ideas.  Thanks Stace couldn't do it without ya. But we did really well and that's all because Chad has been painting things for weeks.  And then even during the craft fair he was helping me weed more vinyl to put the finishing touches on things.  He basically had 14 days in a row of no rest, between 1 week of overnights and then rotations and coming home to paint all night.  What an Angel!!  I love you CHAD!!

8 month update. March 1st

Again I know it's late, but I need to post this so that I can remember.  So we've been back home in SE Idaho for the last several month while Chad has been on Vet rotations.   One month into our stay, and on her 8 month Kherrington got to try on her Nike tennies that Chad and I had picked out months ago.  We had a great deal of buying a pair of shoes and getting a pair half off.  I didn't need any shoes so we looked in the kid section to see what we could find.  We thought they were so cute!

So the day we pulled them out she also started crawling.  She'd been up on her hands and knees for weeks, but not going anywhere.  She never did the army crawl, but once in a while would push with her right hand and then lean forward to lunge at things.


Sorry for my cheesy laugh. All I can chalk that up to is the crazy happiness that kids bring to your life!!

Valentine's Day Ski Trip-Sat. Feb. 13th

For Valentine's Day, we went night skiing on the 13th!!  Since we are at my parent's for several internships/SIPEs, we went to Kelley's Canyon.  My dad works at the INL and they had an employee discount night so skiing was only $15.00. Now Chad and I haven't ever been skiing together.  The last time I was skiing was in 2003, and the last time I had snowboarded was in 2005 when I was still learning how.  So it had been a while, we were both a little nervous
My brother Derek, his wife Brittney, and their 3 oldest kids(all girls), my dad, Chad's nephew Derik, Chad and I all went.  We had such a good time overall.
The first half of the night we all skied and we were going all over the hill.  Kaia, Halle, and Ellisi all did really well and I sure had fun watching them go down the hill.  They are all pretty new to the skiing, but they did great.  Chad and I each got to take turns going up the ski lift with them.  It was way fun, just to be with each of them and see what they'd choose to talk about on they way up the hill.
Once we were trying to pick which run to go down and Halle decided that she wanted to go down the one we had chosen not to go down, so I ended up going down the run with her to keep an eye on her and we met the others half way down the hill.  She did really well for how steep it was and did end up going a little fast and then ran into the unused snow on the sides and she wiped out.  But up she went, on her way!  There was no stopping them.
We then went in and had dinner and Dad had already bought us a meal ticket through work. THANKS DAD!!  So we enjoyed an hamburger and fries.  After dinner Derek and I decided to trade in our skis for snowboards, Derek using Brek's board, and I strapped on my board that hadn't been used in years.  So Derek and I decided to stay on skiers lane and didn't go anywhere above that.  Ellisi got hit in the head by another snowboarder the first run after dinner and was done, so Halle and Kaia paired up with Chad and Derik and skied all over the hill.  While Derek and I stayed where we didn't have any cat tracks.
I was amazed at how much harder I had to work at the snowboarding.  Man I was sweating like crazy.  Then on the second time up the ski lift, Derek got caught by the lift chair and we went crashing.  Wow did I bang up my knee.  So then every time I biffed it on the way down the slope, I would always hit that spot.  So then I would try to land differently and then I would hit my butt so hard!!  I couldn't believe the beating I was taking.  It was crazy that as I was working on my carving, that the turn from my heel side to my toe side came easier to me, when it used to be the most difficult side for me to do years before.  But I did get much better.  Once when we were heading down to the lodge, I was situated with my goofy foot first and on the bunny hill (which is flat, I hate flat on a board!) I ended up catching an edge and ate it hard.  I actually even hit my  helmet on the snow just a little.
I also got to see Anna and Lisa Meyer, my good old buddies that were helping me learn how to board before I met Chad and moved away.  I talked with them for a while waiting for Derek, Chad, and the girls to come down the hill.  I finally found them on my way into the Lodge.  But they wanted to stay right by me and I made them ski ahead because I didn't want to wipe them out, or let them see me eat it again and I knew I would.  But wouldn't you know as soon as they went ahead then I was able to get to the lodge without any problems.
Now after we got home and the next day was another story.  I was so sore all over, but really my neck was stiff.  I ended up visiting my uncle Larry for a few chiropractor adjustments for my WHIPLASH!!
Can you believe it.  I got whiplash on the bunny hill!!  I was stiff and sore through my neck for about 1.5 weeks.  It was crazy, but well worth it.  I realize I'm way out of shape and need to do that type of thing more often, Skiing and boarding, not the whiplash.