some park pics

We went to Oxbow Park a couple of days ago. It was really fun and except for the public displays of nudity (not ours) and the annoying kids (not ours), we really enjoyed ourselves. Em prepared a really good hero sandwich and we just sat by the river and played in the sand. The water wasn't too cold, and there were big fish jumping around. It was fun. Kami is in most of these pictures as she stayed pretty close to where we were spread out at. Gracie went and made a friend and would not come out of the water most of the time.

I told Grace and Kami to wave- neither one decided to wave at the camera.

We had some rootbeer. Kami is kind of a soda fiend.

Gracie and Lance - proof that Emali was there, as Kami does not know how to use the camera yet.

Look at this adorable girl! Kami

I had to include this picture, taken the day before Sydney was born. These two fight so much but I think they are starting to come out of it. They can't seem to leave each other alone. Today they sat under the same blanket and held hands for a little bit while watching Cinderella.

Syd Smiles

So our baby girl has started smiling for the past couple of weeks. It is quite infectious! G & K still run to her every time she wakes up and smother her with loves. We LOVE her!

check another

Quarter 8 (split 1) is officially over! YAHOO!

We got to go celebrate at my all time fav restaurant, Claim Jumper. Check out Lance's delish chocolate shake--and that whipped cream--YUM! But more importantly we, I mean he made it. Ok, I really mean I made it. I made it without strangling one of my children, or something like that. I am really proud of Lance, don't get me wrong, but we survived Portland during finals week, without a Dad. I think we are going to make it. whew!

Great Job, Babe!

Now two full weeks of both of us at home! LOVE IT and can't wait!

Results of Bilateral Myringotomy with Tubes and Adenoidectomy

Thanks for all of the prayers! Gracie is recovering well. She had a previous tube with a polyp and nasty stuff behind it. That was replaced as well as the tube that had fallen out. The adenoids were HUGE and so it was necessary for her to get and IV and intubation so she could get those (adenoids) removed. She was pretty funny after she got the Versed she was hallucinating a bit, telling me that there was an ant crawling on her hand and such. The worst for me was the waking up from recovery. It's the part I dread the most for myself (for my own surgeries) so I was dreading it for her. She was very brave and settled down as soon as I got to her. Thanks to my dear friend, Kristine, I didn't have to worry about Sydney. She (K) brought the baby to me when she was hungry and then stayed with us until we went home. Thank goodness for friends! We stopped for a milkshake on the way home, and then pulled over just as we left the parking lot for a puke clean-up break. After we got home she asked for pancakes with peanut butter and asked for a second and third, we only obliged to the second for fear of puking again. Then had a million Popsicles followed by dinner of a bowl of rice krispies, 2 slices of pizza, and 2 slices of cheese. Where did this appetite come from? After a dose of the tylenol with codeine elixir we are ready for bed!

Ready to go with the cute hospital jammies

Trying to wake up...

The first of many, MANY popsicles

Surgery

My (first) baby is going in for surgery tomorrow to replace tubes in her ears and possibly remove her adenoids. Although this is a fairly routine procedure, it is still surgery and she does have to go under general anesthesia. Keep her in your prayers!

Just because

I love her

Thrush and Chunk

First of all, I hate thrush! Second, I love chunky babies!

Sydney has gained a bit of weight in her short little life thus far...

August 3 (birth) 8 lbs 1 oz.

August 11 (8 days old) 8lbs 4 oz.

August 26 (3 weeks, 2 days) 9 lb 7 oz

August 31 (4 weeks) 10 lb 4 oz

There you have it! And you also have a promise of more pics of my chunk-ier baby!

Sydney's Blessing

August 31, 2009

Sydney Kay Mollenhauer was blessed in our home in Portland, OR.

We were blessed to have "Grumpa" in town and thought we would take the opportunity to bless Sydney. I am so grateful to have the Priesthood in my home. What a sweet blessing it was. She is such a special girl and we are so happy to have her in our family!

43 days later

This made my day:

Seeing this:

And not this:

Total cost of rental car: $1859.32

Total cost of repair: $3893.23

Pain and Suffering: Not sure yet, but dang it, it better be worth my 43 days!

Note to stupid drivers: Please don't back up into someone passing you in a parking lot! PLEASE!!

Another Gracie Makeover