Update!!!

Well, it is officially that time of year for our family. TAX SEASON!!! At least Andy has a job, unlike the many Americans who seem to be getting laid off weekly. Andy is working some interesting hours. Early mornings, later than normal nights and working from home for two to three hours every night. I feel really badly for him. Not only does he have to his actually job, but he has to help me a lot and take care of Kaylee more than he would be if I was not pregnant. Gosh my man needs a vacation, maybe we will get to do that in September. I felt so bad last night that I actually went to the grocery store around 9pm for the few things we needed. My good friend went with me for safety. It was kind of really funny since we are both pregnant. Her husband said he wanted a detailed list of what pregnant ladies buy at the store at 9:00 at night. I bought the usually things except for the cinnamon rolls, and my friend well I have one thing to say fruit pies, HAHAHAHA. Just in case you were wondering Andy offered several times to go but it would have meant him staying up until 1 or 2 am to finish his work, and I was not having that. I did okay my legs were killing me after I got home so it meant sitting with them up for awhile before bed but that was it, not to bad for limited activity.
Pregnancy update
I am doing okay. I got sick from some virus and had to have fluids on Monday, but I am feeling better now. I unfortunately have been losing weight again and I know the DR is going to get all over me for that. There is little I can do about it since it is so hard to find food I can eat and not be sick. Even things that used to be okay are giving me troubles these days. Baby is doing great so all is relative. It is hard to believe that I will be 31 weeks on Saturday….so that means I will have this baby sometime in the next 6-8 weeks. Gosh I can do anything for 6-8 weeks considering what I have managed over the last 30 weeks.
Dr Appt.
Well Dr is seriously tweaked at me today, I lost 7 pds in two weeks. I wonder does he think I am dieting. I’m not by the way, I just can’t eat a lot of anything and I have been struggling to keep stuff down. I also struggle everyday with a horrible taste in my mouth that makes it impossible to eat or drink. Oh well I only have a few weeks to go, yippee!!!!
House
While sick we are trying to update the house by painting. I am not painting but family is doing it for us. I am trying to take pictures but I am seriously failing. I realized that I did not get a single before picture of Kaylee’s new bedroom. When it is finished I will take a picture. We are going to move furniture this weekend to officially move Kaylee into her new bedroom. Then the work starts in the baby’s bedroom. The people before us wallpapered his room with cheap wall paper so it will take some work to get it off the walls. I am defiantly a paint person not a wallpaper person.
I think that is all for now! I will write again next week after our ultrasound. I am still trying to scan baby pics. I guess I am not very good at using the new equipment.

December 2008

Well as you can tell by the title I am behind on my blogging by many weeks. December was a mixture of emotions along with very bad,bad and good days. We visited Disneyland the first week of December with Lois (Andy's mom). We had a great time although it was VERY busy the whole time we where there. I was very surprised by the crowds, we will never again go during the week of the candlelight precession. Although it was fun to watch, I have seen it now do not need to see it again.

Kaylee and Andy relaxing before the fireworks.

Lois saving seats before the fireworks. We had wonderful seats.The castle all a glow!Andy and I being silly! Kaylee on It's a small world.

We returned to AZ and I became VERY ill. Had a hard time doing anything without throwing up. Lost more weight and saw the inside of the hospital three times, YUCK! Doctors finally figured out my blood pressure was to low due to being over medicated. We adjusted my meds and I started to feel better the day before Christmas Eve. We spent Christmas eve with the McLaren family and Christmas day with the Rottmans (my family). We had lots of fun but it was a little overwhelming for me and I spent the next week laying down trying to recover. That brings us up to date through December I will post again later today about January and bring you all up to date. Love you all and thanks for all of the help and prayers.

Andy watching football, I think.

Kaylee reading her new Fancy Nancy book.
Andy and Kaylee getting ready for presents at home.
Kaylee and her "funny" piglet.
Kaylee smiling for the camera.

Well it is official !!!

Today we had our ultra sound to determine the sex of the baby. The verdict it is in and it is a........BOY!!!!!!

Update but no pictures

We have truly been blessed with all of the compassion and care of friends and family recently. This is our first holiday season without Leroy and I can admit it has not been the easiest so far. Lots of reminiscing about Leroy and trying to keep things as they have always been. Like Thanksgiving eve dessert with Lois. It was still painfully obvious that someone was missing. Thank you all for your prays, e-cards and calls you will never know how much I needed the prayer and uplifting gestures from you all.

As for Kaylee she is doing great. Loving preschool and swimming. Loves hanging out with Grandmas and Grandpa whenever she gets the chance. She will continue with preschool this winter and will either be swimming once a week or dancing we still are not sure which to pay for since she seems to change her mind daily at which activity she wants to do.

I am doing better, still throwing up just not as often. We will hopefully find out on Thursday if we are having a boy or girl. I am hoping for a boy as this is the last biological child we will be having. :) Anyway that official makes everyone up to date with us in warm AZ. Have a great 22 days of shopping left until Christmas.
Love, Stephanie

Since September 1st……actually the end of August

Well, let’s start with the big announcement…….I’M PREGNANT!!!!!!!! This is an enormous blessing for our family as we have been trying to conceive for over two years (the natural way). It is VERY true that it is God who opens and closes the womb according to His divine timing. It is also true that God knows what is best for all of us because if this had been during any other time in the last two years we would have had very different circumstances, trying to deal with my Hypere*mesis Gravidarum. Thank you Jeanette for you kind words of wisdom.

Now for the not so fun stuff. About a week before I even realized I was pregnant I started feeling ill. I even went to the doctor thinking I had some kind of an infection. For those of you who do not know me very well I can easily get sick. A couple of days later we found out I was pregnant, which explained why I did not feel well. Unfortunately, by August 29th a mild case of morning sickness turned into a full blown case of Hypere*mesis Gravidarum. Hyperemesis is morning sickness 24 hrs a day to the extreme, think morning sickness on roids vomiting 10-15 times day, dehydration, unable to eat anything, etc. By August 30th Andy was very concerned that I was dehydrated so off the ER we went. Ban*ner Gate*way’s ER is fantastic, spent several hours getting rehydrated and was sent home to contact my doctor. I started taking Zo*fran hoping for the best. By September 2nd I was already very dehydrated again so off we went again to the ER. When 12 hours after the ER I was becoming dehydrated again my OB decided to admit me to Des*ert Ban*ner for 4 days. I was given a zo*fran pump that was supposed to help control my nausea it did just the opposite. After two full days we removed the pump, I know it has done wonderful things for some it just did not work out for me. I still have two marks on my legs from the injection sites. I then faced several days of heading down hill. Andy and I met with my OB on a Thursday and his advice was to go home, rest, stay hydrated and eat crackers. I wanted to scream I was so disappointed in his medical advice. I spent the next 4-5 days struggling to keep anything down even sips of water. This brings us to September 16th (Andy’s 34 birthday unfortunately).

By Tuesday the 16th my heart constantly felt like it was racing, Dr Ross (primary care physician) with Tiff’s help prescribed blood pressure meds, hoping that might aid in my throwing up. Andy came home around 12pm at this point I was getting worse by the hour, my chest burned, I was throwing up regularly things were really bad. Tuesday evening I was slipping fast and then faster down a hole I could not get myself out of after 2 hours of vomiting 15 times Andy called 9*11 for help. I was taken to Ban*ner Gate*way around 1:30 am then later admitted under a new doctor for Hypere*mesis. Dr. Holmes my new OB has been great. He as taken a very active interest in helping me get better or at least managing my hypermesis. I was diagnosed with Hypere*mesis (already new that), high blood pressure (already knew that also) and pregnancy related acid reflux. I spent the next 5 days recovering. By Sunday I was sent home with new medication and a new outlook on this pregnancy. I prayed for God’s healing not only for me but my whole family, especially Andy and Kaylee. I had not taken care of Kaylee since the 28th of August. I did great for a week felt better not great but better. Then I got some type of infection most likely a U*T*I and quickly went down hill again. Was readmitted to Gate*way on Thursday the 2nd of October, given IV meds and fluids and then went home on Tuesday afternoon.

Today, I am doing sooooooo much better. I am eating regularly keeping everything down, most of the time. I even had Mex*ican food today(Sunday). You always know I am feeling better when I am getting bored easily and craving Mex*ican food. We see our new doctor Tuesday the 21st of October and as of Saturday the 11th I am 12 weeks. I pray that everyday past 12 weeks things get better and better. When I was pregnant with Kaylee I started to feel more like myself by 15 weeks.

I am looking forward to getting better, taking care of Kaylee (getting to be mommy again), getting bigger as the child inside grows. I lost 28 pounds in the first trimester of the pregnancy I am looking forward to gaining in back in a healthy manner. Most of all I am looking forward to being Andy’s wife and taken over the many responsibilities he has graciously taken so that I can get better.

Thank you to all who have prayed for us, I beg you to continue to pray as I am not completely health but will be soon.

Just in case you are wondering we are due April 25th this should make for an interesting tax season.

July and August

Sorry guys no pictures of my new hair or the house yet. I promise to take some this weekend and post them before Monday. I thought you all would enjoy a few pictures from Kaylee and I adventures over the last few weeks. Kaylee enjoying chocolate ice cream when we moved in. David, Megan and Kaylee on our first Thursday babysitting day. We also went to a splash park in Fountain Hills, super fun. Last but not least Kaylee's first swimming lessons with Casey. ENJOY!!!!

PS For those of you who are interested April Steiner-Bennet made the finals, and came in 8th. She has had an amazing adventure. I can't wait to hear all about it when her parents come home. 8th in the world is pretty special.

Ice Cream TreatDavid,Megan and KayleeSmile for the camera

Splash park

Ready to swim

monkey crawl

jumping in for the first time from the wall

Olympic Dream

Hey everyone! We have been very busy unpacking, organizing and yes taking care of the pool, which has left little time to blog. However a special event has encouraged me to blog today. I am sure most or some of us every 4 years think what it would be like to be an Olympic athlete. Well, for our dear family friend April Steiner Bennett knows now first hand. She currently in Beijing as an Olympic pole vaulter for the US track and field team. Her event will air both Saturday the 16th and Monday the 18th. She won silver in Eugene,OR to make the team with an impressive jump of 4.60m or 15'1.5". She is sending emails to update us on all of the fun she is having along with the famous people she has met. The following are updates from April along with a picture of her and former President Bush. Enjoy!

PS on a side note I cut my hair big time, thanks Jenel, it is super short in the back and I am loving it. I will try to post a picture tomorrow so you all can see my new do.

From April on Saturday,August 9,2008

Hey peeps... I'm driven only by lack of time in the day, to some mass emails just to let y'all know how things are rollin out here at the Olympics. Can you believe it... I am sitting in Beijing, China and feeling like I am on top of the world! The Olympic Village has a sort of magical feel to it, passing other Olympians from other countries and wondering what their sport is that made their dream come true. As well as getting to know our own team (595 members!) and all of their disciplines... its fascinating. The Chinese hospitality has been fabulous. I believe that I am 15 hours ahead of Arizona time so its crazy to phone home, and talk to mom and dad who are a half a day behind me! Funny thing happened today, George Bush Sr. made a trip to BNU, the university which the Americans have taken over as a training site for all of our teams, and apparently he took on one of the Table Tennis athletes (ping pong)! He stepped in and watched the Judo crew in one of their hardest practices this week, then he made his way out and of coarse... who wouldn't stick around to shake the hand of a President of the United States! So I waited near his car, mingling with secret service, patiently waiting to give him a gift from the US Track and Field team, just some team gear and a couple track hats. So when he came out, he didn't hesitate to come over to our little group and shake hands, Adam Nelson who is a Shot Putter (2 time Olympic Silver medalist!), they chit chatted for a bit, then it was my turn. He is sooo sweet. and has the charisma that a sweet grandpa has. He shook my hand and I introduced myself as a Pole Vaulter, then he told me a silly pole vault joke and when he finished and we all laughed, he pulled me in, mind you that he never let go of my had through the entire joke... and spun me around so I was backwards, and gave me a great big hug! ha. It was priceless. Then as he got into his car, he rolled down his window... he had put on one of the USA Track and Field hats that was in the bag and yelled.. 'APRIL'! and gave me a big smile and wave... he was so wonderful and just loving his trip! That was the highlight of my day :)So much more I could spill but I will save some for later... what an amazing experience, and really, its all about the journey right?? I am anxiously awaiting that Olympic moment..walking into the stadium in the opening ceremonies and feel that Olympic energy I have been waiting for since I was 12 years old! The torch lighting was amazing and the process put me in tears... . its real.



SAWEET!

From April on Sunday, August 10,2008

Wow.... was the Opening Ceremonies not INCREDIBLE!!! I mean, they couldn't have had a more appreciative, patriotic, young buck out there marching with the US team besides me!!! I am just all grins from ear to ear. The Ceremonies definitely took a tole on all of us as athletes. First we marched into the Fencing Hall, just the US team, and had an amazing introduction and meet and greet with the CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, his pops.. (we already have met him!) and Laura Bush as well. WOW... I guess I was told by a secret service agent its the first president to actually visit the Olympics on sight for the Opening Ceremonies. Unbelievable to be a part of that. Then, coming off the high of being in the presence of some of the most powerful men in the world, looking sharp as ever in our Ralph Lauren Polo suits, we began the long process of marching to the stadium. And let me tell you, summer in Beijing is not the most conducive weather for Sports suits.... we were all sweating like you couldn't imaging. Several hours of sitting waiting marching, snacking here and there, and the amounts of water that was consumed in the process by all, wheeew... talk about initiation to the Olympic Games... how tough are you really!!! And all of the athletes that marched were troopers. We stuck it out together, sweated our hearts out to see and experience that Olympic moment, the one that hits your soul, your heart, our dreams coming true, no matter how drenched we were in our own sweat, knowing we were tough and we have all been through rigorous workouts. And all of the sudden, Colbi Byant, Carlos Boozer.. and all the NBA guys and gals that are high profile athletes, over the coarse of a few hours, became human, and celebrated with us, as people, not as these enormous icons, because they were toughin' it out like the rest of us, wanting to experience that same OLYMPIC moment. It was incredible. We were one United States Olympic Team. And so we entered the stadium to the chant of USA..! USA...! USA! And not only to enter a stadium, this is MY stadium, the one where the dream is going to play out to my family and friends and coach and the world! Its making me tear up thinking about it again. The moment happened for me, that Olympic moment, that realization, deep down that its here, and the Games are about to begin... this moment happened as the Olympic torch was on its last stretch, before the runner was hoisted up to the ceiling... and made the final lap to the torch... that was the moment i balled!! With excitement, all the sudden the sweaty mess we were swimming in wasn't there, I couldn't feel the aches in my feet. Just the torch, the stadium, the cheers and tears, and Jeff Hartwig (he is our stud male Pole Vaulter who is 40 years old and finally experiencing his first Olympics!) He looked at me and said... with a HUGE grin, "You are lovin' this... aren't you..!" and he was chuckling a bit too, like a little kid. Priceless. Let the games begin, let the dreams play out... IT's ON NOW! And to keep updated on the rest of the US teams, be sure to visit: http://www.usolympicteam.com/

Thank you again for sharing with me!