We did not die... just in case you were wondering

So it's pretty pathetic that it has taken me eight months to post. Honestly, I think I'd given up on the whole blogging thing. At first I didn't post because shortly after the new year I was put on bed rest due to complications in my pregnancy. And even though I had all the time in the world-- I just didn't feel like boring the blogging world with all my woes. I mean who really wants to read about shortened cervixes, preterm labor and meds that make your face feel like it's on fire, kidney stones and stents, etc etc etc. Everything reached the pinnacle and on May 5th I saw my doctor and was immediately schedule for delivery that day. The babies arrived four weeks early but completely healthy and absolutely adorable if I must say so. And I must. :)



We named them Zachary Kenneth and Charlotte Hope. Zack was born first at 6:11pm weighing 5lbs 4oz. Charlotte arrived two minutes later at 6:13pm and weighed 5lbs 13 oz. They are wonderful and perfect and actually almost four months old now. (I know, I know I am so slow).

In my defense though, the excitement didn't end there. Two weeks after they were born we put our house on the market because Reed was offered a job in Chandler Arizona. So for the next three weeks we dealt with all the "fun" that comes with selling a house. The next month was spent packing up all we had accumulated in the last 8 years of living in Oregon, along with driving to Utah for two family reunions.

CHUGG REUNION @ BEAR LAKE UTAH




BELL REUNION @ ZIONS NATIONAL PARK


Even though the month of June was insanely crazy, everything managed to work out. Our house sold and we managed to fit everything in a 28ft trailor (it was a very tight squeeze) and then even more amazing was the fact that we survived the 21 hour drive to Arizona with five kids under the age of 8 in the car. And just to spice things up a bit, school started five days after we arrived in Arizona. So admist the unpacking and chaos, Nate started third grade and Jocelyn started first grade. They both love it and are enjoying their new school.




Although it was terribly hard to leave Oregon and all of our wonderful friends and family, there are some very nice things about being in Arizona. Most weeks are filled with going to my parent's house and spending hours in their pool. As you can see even Charlotte has made her debut into the pool. (So has Zack, I just don't have proof of it.)



Anyways, I think that gets us back up to date. I still think it's pathetic that it's taken me so long to post. But then again,after rereading this a couple times-- I think I might have a good excuse. :) And really this might be the way to go with blogging- just one gigantic post twice a year. :)

One more picture of these sweet babies.... even admist the chaos we really have been so blessed.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and yours all the joy and happiness that this wonderous day has to offer as you celebrate the birth and the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sneak a Peak

I admit... I'm one of those people who just can't wait. If there's a way for me to sneak a peak at a gift and discover what it is- I'll find it. It's kinda a two edged sword though because I LOVE surprises and my curiousity just ruins the surprise by peaking! Back to the point, because of some health issues- I have had quite a few ultrasounds in the last few weeks. And just a few days ago, when I was almost 17 weeks, the ultrasound confirmed the gender of our babies. The tech said because she was completely POSITIVE she would write it in the charts. So we were able to sneak a peak almost a full month early. We're delighted to announce we are expecting:

















(I am really tempted to buy these shirts for the babies at www.trendsintwos.com Aren't they adorable?)


We are so delighted! Nate is the most ecstatic out of all of us because he can hardly believe he is really getting a brother. As we were doing the ultrasound, we could see Baby B (the girl) was poking her finger at Baby A (the boy). We took it as a sign of things to come!

Time to come out of hiding

I know it's been forever since I've posted. Life has just gotten away from me and honestly at some point I got so far behind, I just didn't have the energy to catch up. So with that being said, I'm not catching up. You'll just have to imagine the great summer we had, Laynie turning 2, Reed graduating, and all the other fun moments in between.
But just so this post is about something other than my lack of posting... here's our most recent news.



So yeah... sometime in May we will be expecting not one baby but two... we're delighted, excited, anxious, and terrified all at once. That's normal right?
We won't find out until after Christmas what the genders are but Nate is already pushing for two boys. I told him to just be grateful if we get one- like he originally prayed for. But he quickly amends his thoughts and says, "But I'll still love them even if their both girls." Phew.

Anyways, here's to hoping I post again before the twins are born. But don't hold your breath. :)

She is her Daddy's Daughter

You how sometimes life just needs a little more excitement? Well we got ours today. This afternoon, while I was cleaning the kitchen, Jocy was out playing on the swingset. All of a sudden I heard her screaming. And not your typical scream. My first thought when I heard the blood curtling scream was, "This is bad. She must have broken something," When she came running in holding her arm, my second thought was a brief prayer that it wouldn't be a compound fracture with any protruding bones. I just knew that if it was protruding, that Jocy wouldn't be the only one requiring medical attention. I cautiously examined her arm and was relieved that it looked fine. But even with resting, ice, tylenol, and popscicles she was still complaining and crying. Really it was the disinterest in the popsicles that confirmed the diagnosis for me. So off to the doctor's office we went. After taking x-rays, he confirmed that she had broken both bones in her lower arm, the raduis and the ulna, and would need a cast. As she was picking out her cast color, she was asking me questions about what was going to happen. I told her that I wasn't sure because I'd never had a cast. She looked at me and said, "I bet daddy has." Yeah... he has definately had a cast before. I think I'll wait to tell her how he once had one broken arm in a cast and the other arm in a sling with a dislocated shoulder. Both at the same time, caused by two seperate incidents....Yes I think that is a story for another day. Don't want to give her any ideas. :)

50th Birthday

So the greatest woman I've ever known turns 50 today. Can you believe it? She doesn't look 50. Whenever we are out shopping together, someone often comments on how we must be sisters. I'm not sure if that is a compliment to her or a dig to me. ;) But my mom really is the best. She understands me, she listens to me, she encourages me. She is a great example to me of sacrifice and service. She is a hands on, get down on the ground & play, make every outing exciting kind of grandma. My kids are lucky to have her and so am I. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Boston

A quick update. Reed is getting his MBA from Babson. It is a school located near Boston, MA. The school flies professors out here to POrtland once a month and the students attend classes all day Friday and all day Saturday. The rest of the classes are done via conference calls and the internet. Anyways, Reed graduates in September but like many other schools they only have one graduation so his class was invited to attend (30 of the 40 students in his class were there.) So long story short :) We both went to Boston in May.
Honestly, Boston wasn't on my list of places I HAD to see before I died. But I was SO AMAZED. I loved it. It was a beautiful city, rich in history, and traditions. We had great food and so much fun being together- just the two of us.
Here's a few quick pictures. I won't bore you with my entire travelog but if you haven't been to Boston you really should add it to your list of places to see.