2 1/2 months behind....

I am way behind!
We welcomed Lacey to our family May 27. It was the best delivery ever. The pain meds worked. I have never been numb before. It was amazing! It was also my shortest delivery, only 13 hours! She is amazing, my husband was just great. We seriously had no problems at all. We felt angels in the room, and I know Heavenly Father was looking out for us on every thing that happened. I felt calm, and most of all peace. I could have taken a nap when I was dilated  to a 10, I mean how does that happen? My mom was down here helping mike with the kids. They still were in school. She is amazing. A huge thanks to her. Mike took time off to be with us, I sure appreciated that. We came home on Friday.
Over the weekend we had a lot of family stuff happen. Mikes grandpa (the one we lived with), was hospitalized, and so was his brother. It was hard to know where to be! My sisters came down for a visit, helped clean sheets., and made us yummy food. Thanks guys!
Mikes grandpa did end up passing. He died at home. He was such an amazing grandpa. We miss him.
Mike got surgery this week as well. We were a hot mess, but it all worked out. I was not in a lot of pain, so I was doing things like normal. We cared for Mike, and now we are all better!
Lacey ended up in the hospital due to a fever. I guess babys with fevers go to the ER. We ended up spending the night for observation.....everything was fine, and her tests all came back fine! Thanks goodness, what a scary 24+ hours. I spent the night too, and cared for her, she was a good little patient.
Our summer has been movies, some water slides, plays, play dates with friends, swimming, shopping, walks with the baby, and hanging out with cousins. For the most part we have been at home though. I am glad that they got this special time with Lacey. They are both so good with her. We all love her. She is such a blessing in our family! Now we can't imagine life without her. They always want to hold her, and bath her, and hold her again! Lacey is a great baby. She is so calm, and very sweet. She hardly ever cries, and she SLEEPS! Yes, she sleeps thru the night. It has been nice.
The kids are ready for school, they miss there friends. It starts so soon!
That was a quick update....but everything is good! I had some mommy blues at the beginning but got a blessing from mike, and everything is good now. We love being parents and watching them grow up! It happens so fast.
It's true.....
the days are long, the years are short, so short!

                                          she loves to take selfies.....she is a GREAT big sister!!!

                                                              she is such a great baby.

                                                                      sweet baby!

                                                                   proud big brother!

Update on medical stuff:
Mike does not need surgery on his shoulders!
Jess' CT scan came back normal! The lesions on her liver have not changed, no cancer!
Jess' x-ray came back okay. No rheumatoid in her back.
Ultra sound at the end of the month on her hand, to check for inflammation.
Her rheumatologist thinks she had fibermilgia. I don't know how to spell it, I still kind of am in denial!

We are back to playing Volleyball, and Mike basketball, and me, I'm running again, and doing exercises to strengthen and tone. We are happy when we are active! Kids love to tag along and watch, and sometimes, join in!!!

Time goes on, ready or not!

Ready? Not even close!!!
It seems like time has just gone by so fast! I remember when we first found out we were having a baby, and now it is 15 days away. 15 days. I cannot imagine what my life, our life is going to be like. We are busy getting ready, washing, and packing diaper bags and mommy bags, getting the crib all ready....and trying to stay in the present. Our kids need me in the present.
I don't know how I am going to mother three kids, I mean I already love her, but I want to make sure the older kids have enough time with me and know that I love them..... but sharing the time between the three....I hope it's not too tricky. I hope that I can figure it all out. I hope my heart  can grow and reach where it needs to. I am not sure if that came out right, but I am just scared, I want to give all three what they need.
I am scared:
of labor
of going back to the baby stage
of waking up a lot, and not losing my mind
of not being good enough, for any of them, mostly a good wife....
of my health
bleeding out and never getting to mother again.....the most scary one of all. I have gotten my platelets checked regularly and they have been behaving. They just have to be above 100 to go into labor, and last week they were 150. I hope they stay up.
of the older kids going to school and me not working there. I loved it, and they have told me they have loved it as well.
I am just scared, terrified, happy and getting chills. I am not sure what the future has prepared for us. I know that Heavenly Father does.I know He will take good care of us. I need to remember that faith more often. I need to remember the miracles that happen daily, and not dwell on the scary things. I know things will work out, and I know we have had nine months to prepare for her. We are almost ready, but emotionally just not yet....I will keep praying, and having faith. I need to, my family needs me to.

1 month!!

1' month until we meet this little lady!
Time to get stuff ready!
May 27, she will be here.

just a little update!

This pregnancy was so hard physical  in the beginning, now I feel it in my emotions! It is a roller coaster for sure.
I am still trying to be pretty active. We went on a hike, I play volleyball, elliptical and run when I can. Today was a feel good to run day. It feels so great, even though I am a bit slower.
I started working out after those terrible first 12 weeks!
We have march, April and may and two or three days in June. I feel like that is still a long time. We are nervous, and anxious to meet her! Still no name.
Hailey and ryker are so funny and growing into wonderful kids!! They are awesome to be around and keep me laughing...I love my family! Mike is so busy and keeps up with everything. He is great. He provides for us while playing with us and getting projects done.
Thanks for putting up with me!

it's a......

Girl!
We are excited, and feeling great! We are all getting emotionally ready for her. I am feeling much better, just tired every now and then. I am swollen sometimes too. 

We already love her!
Typing on a tablet, sorry for the boldness....

It Really has been a long time!!

A lot has happened lately! So busy, and so many directions. I am sure a lot of you reading this feel the same way. Summer is over, and so is fall, but it is still awesome weather here, and so on with the park days, basketball, skateboarding, really nice runs, and great walks. I hope to take them on a hike, but they are not interested.....I will keep trying.
Ryker is loving the first grade...he is doing great! He is in the school choir and is loving the fact that early morning practices are over! His performances are today, and then it is the pizza party, so that will be fun. He is reading and doing great at sounding words out, he is writing great, and has a great mind for math! He still gives me hugs and kisses, in front of anyone, he is awesome! He loves to play with his action figures still, loves sports, anything outside, and anything new! He is still shy sometimes.
Hailey is doing well in third grade. She is having a lot of fun, and making great friends. She is reading so well.  She knows a lot of her times tables! She knows a lot of silly songs that helped her learn them so well. She is so fun to be around. She is a wonderful little girl, I mean big girl. She also did choir and participated in all the performances. Hailey got glasses over the summer, and this has seemed to help her to SEE what is going on! I am glad that we were able to catch this before the school year started. She looks fantastic!!
The kids are bot into minecraft. They love it and would play it for hours, if I were that nice. They are good at getting their homework and reading done before anything else goes on.
Hailey and Ryker play soccer in the fall and spring. Hailey does not do gymnastics anymore. She was having respect issues at home, we hope to fix that before her teens! She loved that so hopefully she can learn to be respectful always so she can earn that back!
In September I started a job for an hour a day at their school. It is nice, we all have to be on time. We have only been late a few times. I enjoy it. I also enjoy bringing in a little money, very little.
Also in September we found out we are having a baby! We are due in June. I am 16 weeks along. I am feeling much better. Those 12 weeks killed me this time. I mean, on the couch, can't eat, can't cook.....doing a lot better! We will find out in January what we are having. This was a big shock, but a blessing too. We were so sad in February when they told us not to have anymore. I mean, there is a 7 year gap, we thought we were complete, but it was just sad to be done and that was that. I was having a really hard time. We looked into adoption, and looking at what agency to go through, and just never finished. I almost got rid of all the baby clothes, and then we found out! It is great news, scary, but really good. We will have to start over in many ways, but it will be a nice adventure.
My platelets are up, the baby is a platelet maker. The hematologist and OB are watching me, and they will watch closer as it gets to be at the end. They are happy that we are having a baby.
Mike is still working hard for our growing family! He is awesome. He is working out and eating healthy. He is loving Volleyball lately. He is just trying to keep up with all of us.
I will try to be better at posting.....

summer update

We have been busy!
Swimming, going places, volleyball, plenty of late nights, and trying to keep up on mom homework! Oh, and a few play dates too.
My health has been better, not great. I am still tired a lot, and fighting to keep my platelets up. I don't have a lot of energy, and they suspect rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus too, but I am focused on the blood for now. I am uncomfortable most of the time, but I try to ignore that. I am trying to workout more, but running is sadly not a part of my life right now. I am trying to be a good mom,and save my energy for them. I do the house work and the laundry, and I also do all the yard work. I am glad I can still hug and bend down to play with the kiddos each day!
We just celebrated twelve years of marriage, and we have a few trips planned. Before we know it kids will be in school, man I have gotta do more with them.

LIfe, lately.

I always feel I start posts With well, a lot has happened!
I cannot believe it has been so long!
For Halloween the kids were witches,harry potter, Dracula, and anything else they were loving at the moment. Halloween is rykers favorite!
Thanksgiving was celebrated with the Palmer side, at Holly's. Ryker was so sick, he had pneumonia.....so sad, and so scary!
Snow came, and so did the cold, yucky air! With rykers lungs, I have grown to really be aware of air quality....man inversions are bad news.
Christmas came, too fun to celebrate with kiddos.  We spoke to the missionaries of the families, and opened presents. Favorites were I pads, guitars, clothes, baby dolls, and basketball shoes.
New years came, we stayed up until 11:30, we watched avatar! Ryker loved the blue men, and Hailey and i played games, and watched the rm! We were getting ready for my sister coming home the next day from her mission!!!
New years day, brought more shoes into our life, and a fun new sister home! We got home late, but so worth it! She is amazing.....cannot.believe.she's.home.
Then it was back to school,  and a new routine. Oh, we thrive off a good routine.
February was sad.....grandpa miller died. We went to Arizona for his funeral. We got to see so much family......he would have loved to see everyone laughing and being with each other! We traveled without radio, DVD, or really anything the whole time.  We read a lot of books and explored a lot of the beautiful scenery.
I also went in for physical,  early on. They found that my platelets are low. Like really low. Platelets are in your blood and make your blood clot. I don't clot. I was tested after i returned from our trip, yep super low. I was started on 60mg of prednisone. I was at  ten, and at the end of the week they were 149. 9 above normal. 140-440 is normal, I have been off and on exercise restrictions due to the heavy bruising. I have been diagnosed with itp....basically they don't know what causes it, unknown bruising and red dots.

Did I have symptoms?
Tired
Achey
Felt out of shape
Headaches
Big, huge bruises overnight
Littles red dots


Most of those are just being a mom....I didn't know that anything was wrong. I was so scared when they sent me to an oncologist hematologist. I was told not to Google anything!
They tested me for autoimmune diseases,  asked cancer questions, lots of things. So frightening.
I just pushed thru the pain of exercise, of life, and many other things.
Now, I am still on 40mg,   they tried the taper, I dipped to 104....I go in again on Thursday to see him, just not a weekly blood test that has become my new normal.
I am super active....this new life has been hard. I so badly want to do everything that is so fun and easy to me....but i do
n't feel that good😕 that is a tough pill of pride to swallow.
The effects of pprednisone are mean. They are moody, hungry. Weight gain, headaches, insomnia, tired, but they are platelet makers.....my body eats platelets..I have an autoimmune disease, and I am 32.....wow.

Well, ryker is sick with viral bronchitis so I'm sleeping, or not, in his room. We started a new steroid for him tonight. I get really scared when he or Hailey is sick.....mamma bear comes out!

Hopefully we can be Palmers not on steroids soon.,..saying a lot of prayers, and trying to count our blessings.

Hopefully I can count the miracle's and remember them.

Found out what was wrong.
Ryker didn't have pnemonia.
We are warm.
We have had so much family support.
We feel prayers.
We have each other.
We are at home, half asleep.

I will update better.  We are doing good, hopefully we will all be hiking the mountains, marathoning, I will take anything, soooon!!!

toilet time out

I just wanted to document what happens when the kids talk potty talk. They sit in the bathroom for a while, depending on the word and the laughter it causes, and then they get to tell me why they were in there.
They don't like to sit in the bathroom, so hopefully this will get them saying nice words always.

Haileys Baptism

Hailey was baptized on Oct. 12, 2013, by her daddy. She wore my dress that my mom made for all of  her girls. She puts there initials on the dress hem. She looked so beautiful.
We were very blessed to have warm weather, and a ton of friends and family come and celebrate. She was so excited and couldn't wait to be a new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.:)
Her aunt help lead the music. Her Grandma gave a talk on baptism. Her uncle gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Her aunt and cousin gave the prayers. She was also confirmed by her daddy.
We were so pleased with all that happened this day. I was so happy that she has made this decision, she knows so much about the gospel. We have read the Book of Mormon, and she has a testimony of the gospel. She knows it is true.
We took her out to get  her favorite food, it was a very special day.
Thanks to everyone, near and far, that sent a card or a gift, or was there to support Hailey.
I can't believe it is this stage already, they are growing up too fast.

She has had three teeth pulled and spacers put in as well. She has  5 teeth missing right now. I hope some will grow in before she loses anymore. I don't know how she eats.
This has been a few huge months in Haileys life! She is quite the big girl, and such a great helper! We sure love her and wouldn't want to live life without her......I love you so much.

time flies, when you don't blog!

Ryker has turned 6.
Thanksgiving came, and so did Pneumonia to poor Ryker. Sleepless nights came too.
Christmas came and went, and so did New Years.
My sister came home from her mission.
We are de-cluttering fools over here.
We are back to a routine!!!

Good, now we are up to speed, kind of.

Hailey is Eight!!!!!

I cannot believe she is eight! I truly live by, moments are long years are short motto. I love her more than anything. I hope she had a fun birthday. We had a party yesterday, with her ten closest friends, and the microphone, and her very own playlist. Wow, that was fun. We had snowcones, and cupcakes, and a lot of screaming, the good kind. :)
Today, I took her class some treats, and got to brag about her......then by her teachers suggestion, I took her to lunch.
Tonight we took her to her favorite, Chick Fil A! I had a lot of laughs with her today, and a lot of one on one moments, mommys favorite! I hope she had a great day!

8 things about Hailey: (everything duh!!!!)

She loves to dance and sing
She includes everyone
She is very nice
She is loving
She is caring
She always is wondering what is going on with people
She is the best
She is the one that made me a mommy, that is really special to me, and so is my Hailey Baby!!!!

                                                     Happy Birthday. Eight will be so great!!!!!

kindergarten has begun!!!!:/

Ryker has sure been ready to go to school himself, and loves to greet Hailey.

The hug!:)

 Ryker was sooooo ready to start school today. He looked and acted the part quite well.

He was like "the sun is in my eyes mom!"

                            After this picture, he told me, I might run in to class, okay mom.

 Here he is sitting at his desk, all ready for the morning. He forgot to hug me, I had to ask for one!

He was all done with school, which he LOVED!!!!

                              Walking him in to class, how bittersweet......I had to fight the tears.

                         He was all smiles, he had to tell me everything, and I loved to hear it.

Here is Hailey, we were watching a you tube motivational exercise video, and this was the face of shock!

This is the result of the video.......he was trying to do cool tricks with the laundry basket.

This was his attempt of a pull up......we were trying to do pistol squats all day.....wow, amazing.

 

They are just growing up so fast.

 

After I dropped them both off, tear, I went and helped Haileys teacher get settled. I made the folders for homework, wrote down homework stuff, and just filed certain things.....thank goodness I did not have to leave the school.

I need to work into this new routine, baby steps. I hope other moms and dads have these feelings, and that I am not the only one.

I am hopeful that my kids got the best teachers, and I do trust them, and am so very grateful for them. They truly are an answer to sooooo many prayers.

Next up:

SOCCER POSTS. We are in the season now, the crazy soccer practice, and games season, but they love it, and they are so worn out from exercising so much, I think it is great to see them in action.

First day of school, and kindergarten assessment day!:)

 Hailey was more than ready for school this morning. She went to bed at eight, after laying for an hour she fell asleep. She woke up at two, three, four, and finally at six. She was all ready, and they rode bikes and I ran behind with her book bag on my back! She says her clock is super slow, and that she was ready for the awesomeness to start!

 Walking home with my little guy, he was so thrilled to have done so well on the kindergarten assessment. I cannot even believe they are this age already. Who ever said that days are long and the years are short was so right.

            Our zinnias have done sooooo well this year. This yard view makes me smile so much.

                                         The colors are amazing, and I love how tall they get.

                                                It almost hits the house, some are super close.

 another view of them, cannot get enough of them, I may have packed them in too tight, but they are so pretty, I couldn't help it.

pictures I found on the camera. Hailey sure knows her way around the computer. She sure loves the violin player on the Mormon channel.

                                       they were having a party for their stuffed animals.

 It's hard to catch this boy in a picture these days. He is always on the move.

                                             Hailey and tattoo baby. This baby is so loved.

                    my attempt of having them both in a picture before taking her to school.

While I am sad that they are both growing up, and they won't be around me all of the time. I am so proud of both of them. They are both so great. They are kind, loving, and so caring. I could not ask for better kids. I am so proud of what they have become.
This makes me think of the card I received when Ryker was brand new, I got it in the mail from Grammy Robin, it says, under newborn feet, Imagine where they will go. I did imagine, and now I can't believe it is happening.
We did it, and now we are doing a new chapter, I am sure we will look back and think, wow, We did that too!

conversations with Ryker

I was on the phone today with his school. We were setting up kindergarten assessments. He came in, asked what that was. I explained to him that it was a time where he could tell the teacher his letter sounds, and read, and write and spell his name. I tested him, he knew all the letter sounds, and he reads sight words. I then said spell your name. He said it starts with an H, but I don't know how to spell it. I said, what? That is Hailey's name, silly guy. He said no, that is H for Harry Potter, and I don't know how to spell that name! This shocked me, I laughed soooo hard!

I assure you, he now knows that he can not go by a different name at school, and he does know his name, and he can spell it and write it!!!

He also knows that he is hilarious.......this could be a struggle.

We are getting ready for a few last summer things, and then it will be getting kids ready for school, and missing them. I even might miss the fighting,..maybe.

pictures! and updates:)

I forgot to say that I still go for a run daily! I am loving this weather.....so fun to run in. I wake up so excited to go, and I come home and feel ready for the day. Mike wakes up and exercises as well, sometimes basketball, and sometimes lifting weights. He is liking too, we feel a lot better when we are active.

 

 Guess who might be wearing some make up now? For those who have known me for a long time, know that I have not worn make up in 10 plus years! I finally felt like it was time, to cover up some stuff and have a more polished look......not for everyday quite yet, but maybe someday. MAC products are great!!! My mom and I went shopping and I just felt like being brave! I am still learning how to use it all, wow, there is a ton of stuff to know and such a technique is needed....this might not be much to you, but it feels like such a big difference to me. Make up makes my face itchy!!! Anyone else?
I even do my hair now!!! Small steps, ya know:)

This is what was going on while I was mowing the lawn, they both were eating cones, they sure love their ice cream.....I do too.

Summer is in full swing around here!!!! We are loving our Van, and even have a few places planned to go! We feel super happy and grateful:)

Doing our thing!

We have not had many spare moments, but when we do, it's all about lounging around, watching the Disney channel. We go to many parks, go on many walks, eat a lot, and try to go to sleep on time. The kids have done great reading and doing math packets this summer! I still am trying to teach them daily, they need to exercise that brain! We mow many lawns, and weed a lot too. We have been to my parents house a few times as well.  We have been to a few water parks, and splash pads too, it has been a hot one! I try to have one down day a week, where we stay home and just chill!!!
My Grandma is not doing well. We went up on Monday to see her. She is 97 years old. She is amazing.....she is so lovely. She has been without my Grandpa since 2004, what an anticipated reunion! We do believe in Families Forever, and we will see all of them again. I really believe this, and that is what gives the biggest peace to people who have lost loved ones. we can see each other again, and be with them again. These are the blessings of the Temple!
Hailey is always wanting to learn how to do something. She is a really nice helper. She is too funny! She wanted to learn how to do her own laundry, and start the dishwasher last night. She is always wanting to learn a mom job, as she calls them! She always wants a play date!! We have had a few of her friends over, it is fun to see them play. A couple of days ago, her friend said that she didn't want to be a mom or ever get married, and she doesn't want children. This bothered Hailey, she said I want to be a mom so bad, and I really want kids, and I for sure want to get married someday, and be a grandma too!!! I just love everything about her. I cherish these slower days and nights with her.
Ryker has been into Harry Potter lately, he dresses as him daily, and even puts a scar on his forehead! He tells everyone that he is the real Harry Potter! He is also in to Napoleon Dynamite.....I know right? Well a few nights ago at dinner, Mike said something, and Ryker looked at him, and said, "you can leave." We all started laughing soooo hard!!! Ryker has great timing.
A few nights ago we were looking at Vans, we came home, and Ryker was talking to me. He asked if I liked the Van, and I said I did, but wouldn't buy it from the man, because he rubbed me wrong. He was so concerned, he said "where did that man rub you?" I quickly explained myself. He is such a fun little man, I am going to miss him when he goes to school. He just graduated from preschool. He did so great this year!
Hailey loves to watch movies as well as TV, she is for sure mine! It seems as though she cannot function, we may have to do something about this......at least we have managed this long to keep video games out of the house! I think we would all get addicted.....no time for those silly games!
WE just got a VAN, WE ALL love it! It's a blue Kia Sedona, it is in great shape! Mike sure knows his cars. I really like the cargo room, I need it to haul all of their stuff, bikes, and other stuff. It is going to be great for trips as well, CANNOT EVEN WAIT!!!!! No DVD, NO POWER DOORS, NO PROBLEM! Less things for my kids to play with, and more conversation.....we have always been a NO DVD kind of a family.....this might change, don't quote me!

This morning some van talk happened:
Hailey: can we go to breakfast in our van? at least a ride?
Ryker: I could not stop looking at the van last night, I kept getting out of bed! I love this van!
Hailey: I want this car.....
Ryker: It is our car!
Hailey: (pretending to be a mom friend)
You know when you sleep and you forget you have a van, ya, this happened to me this morning, funny right?

Too funny!!!

Busy Summer

We have had a busy summer so far.
soccer camps for Hailey and Ryker, whole month of June!
swim lessons-now over
running club
going to visit grandparents
cleaning and decluttering the yard and home
homework-reading and writing and more reading and math. got to keep their minds working!
waterslides with cousins
waterslides with us
late nights
fireworks
cuddling
friends
bike rides
water anything!
outdoor plays
movies
Mom fail....no pictures of anything, we have been living in the moment!!! I need to do better.


This week I am hoping for more waterslides, more sun, more hiking and less late nights!

I love summer, and this is one is the best so far! My kids make me laugh so hard! I love staying at home and having fun with them. Their dad is awesome like that, he works so hard for us, so this is possible. I hope he knows how much he is loved and how much we appreciate him. I need to tell him more!

Field Day!!!!

Haileys' team won first place in the relay, and won again against the whole first grade girls!!! I was so proud of her, and her friends! They were so happy and really excited to win as well.
She also participated in the 50 yard dash, she is a speedy runner! Ryker and I were so happy to see her run her heart out!
Ryker got to do some events too. They had fun with the tug-o-war, and even won that too!
She had a great field day, and so did we:)

                                                She is getting ready, getting set and going!

                                   She was playing "down by the banks", it was fun to watch:)

                                                                Her winning relay team!

                                           A bunch of her friends! So much fun to watch:)

                  He was playing with a piece of wood, on tar, like a car! So fun:), such a boy!!!

                                                                        getting ready!

                                                  waiting for relay member, place #2!

                                                    great job, great form! amazing:)

                                                little girls just trying to beat each other!

                                                                   number one!!!!

                                                  wwwwwaaaaaaaahoooooooo hailey!

                                                         her class! what a great time!

                                                             sharks and lifeguards!!!

                                                         they are tugging, and war-ing!