Jake Lindsey Molly

just for you, em

2012-01-28T22:33:00.003-07:00

you asked, we delivered.
now you owe us a post! or at least email us a picture or two.

love you!

Owen James

2012-01-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

Owen James Christensen

1.12.12

5:17 am

8 lbs.

21.5 in.

christmas

2011-12-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

...christmas post...
...a work in progress...

Christmas Eve:

Christmas Morning:

surprises

2011-12-16T12:00:00.005-07:00

...This week has been quite a roller coaster ride...
We got an early Christmas surprise we weren't expecting this year. Lindsey went into preterm labor Monday night.
Things are looking good now. Back at home and on bedrest and medications but labor is stopped :)
We'll be making several trips to the hospital and clinic this next week to be monitored, but by Christmas day (only 9 days away!) we will be 36 weeks. At that point-all interventions will stop and we'll see what happens.

I had been up sick all night on monday. Starting feeling yucky around 11...and by 1 I was not doing good. Throwing up, diarrhea, and my stomach was contracted tight all night long. I was thinking I was unlucky to have the flu after just barely getting over a cold we had all had the past week--not that I was going into labor. By early morning, I knew it was serious.We called the doctor first thing Tuesday morning and they sent us straight to Labor and Delivery. We got there at nine, expecting to get hooked up to an IV to be re-hydrated and monitored for a short time and then sent on our way.
After a few hours and a lot of fluids being pumped in, they checked me. My contractions were staying consistently 2-4 minutes apart. I was at a 3 and 70%. They started me on antibiotics and medicine to stop the contractions (nifedipine). I also got enrolled in a study for betamethasone (a steroid given to help the baby's lungs devleop). Usually this is only given if you are under 34 weeks (I was 34 weeks and 2 days). It is a blind study so we didn't know if we were getting the real thing or sugar water-but were happy we had the chance.

By three o'clock I was at a 4+...contractions continuing at about the same rate.
All the doctors and nurses were telling us that I would most likely be having the baby within the next hours or days-and that my chance of leaving the hospital without delivering was very slim. (I was very much wishing my mom and dad weren't a million miles away. I sure rely on their comfort and advice a lot and not being able to talk to them was hard.) Their goal was to hold me off until Thursday so that the steroids could have their full effect(48 hours)-but that this was a lot to ask/hope for. This was the hardest part. The neonatologist came in to let us know what we could expect.

Then my fever got up high enough they decided an infection in my uterus needed to be ruled in or out so they new if they should push for a delivery right away or try to hold it off. Enter: amniocentesis. Thankfully, the tests came back showing no bacteria and high glucose levels (both good).

Jake's dad stopped in on the way home from work and they gave me a blessing. This is where things really started to turn around. (I am so grateful for Jake. He is such a wonderful husband and father. I am proud of the man that he is and so lucky that he is mine!) That night, my contractions slowed to 5 minutes and became less intense. By Wednesday afternoon I was down to every 7-10 minutes. I hadn't progressed any further and my fever was gone. I was able to move out of intensive care and into the maternity wing.

The "too much to ask for" came true and I was able to leave Thursday. We are so so grateful. What a blessing it is we live when we do. Technology is an amazing thing.

Where was Molly for all this? She came to the hospital with us (thank goodness my purse was full of gummy life savers, a granola bar, pink mentos...haha.She really was a trooper. She was happy to get to sit up on the hospital bed with mom a little and hang out with daddy.) She stayed until around 11 when Cami so graciously came and picked her up for us. (Bless her heart! It is finals week and she had been feeling under the weather herself.) Molly played at home with Cami and her cute roommate, Kira, until 4-when Jake's dad was off work and headed home. They all met at the hospital where I got to squeeze her for a few minutes and then off she went with Grandpa. She was pretty excited about all the fun things she was getting to do. I was grateful for our wonderful family-but sad to send her off.

I am going through serious withdrawals as we speak. I miss my molly. It has been four days without her and it is killing me. She will get home tomorrow morning and I can hardly wait. I've missed snuggling under the Christmas tree with her this week-and can't believe we only have a week left before Christmas is here.
It is going to be hard to not be able to take care of her like I am used to for the next little bit-especially being Christmas time.. But I'm sure when we all have this little baby boy here safe and sound-it will all be worth it.

Thank you everyone for your prayers (we felt them!), support, phone calls, visits, emails, skypes :) etc.

Dear Molly,

2011-11-07T20:45:00.003-07:00

We can't believe you are 22 months old. Your second birthday is just around the corner. Its hard to believe that sweet day you were born was almost 2 years ago.
The past few months have been the best. You are at such a fun stage-and are bursting with more personality than ever (hard to believe) :)

A few things you love...
*Babies. Tiny and Little are your favorites, but you are usually toting around several.
*Animals. You love to be kissed by dogs. You will stick your little nose and puckered up lips into Gus's cage and ask for kisses-and are pleased as punch when he delivers.
*Cereal. "leerlul" You would eat it for every meal if Mom would let you. You also love peanut butter and think it is the best when you get to stick your finger in the jar. You still love chocolate. You also think dum dums (enunciated-very clearly-"dum bums") are awesome. You love getting them at Mom's doctors appointments.
*Outside. "Whyyyy" is how you say it, and you beg for it often. You also love rides in the stroller "lolar"
*Dancing. You can twirl, shake, wiggle, and bounce with the best of them.
*Getting dizzy. You discovered what this word meant at Nana's and Papa's house a month or so ago and it was so funny to watch you make the connection between the word and the feeling as you spun around and around and around. You thought it was the best and laughed so hard.
*Helping Mom in the kitchen. You especially love to rinse the dishes and help stir when I cook.
*Reading books.
*Talking on the phone.
*Visiting your grandparents. (They love you so so much!)
*Hide and Seek. Your favorite places to hide are under your highchair, behind the rocking chair, and under all the pillows on the couch. (You sometimes hides good enough that I really don't know where you are--until you finally can't hold your laughter in)
*Ring Around The Rosies.
*Singing. You love all the little actions songs. You also sing made up melodies to yourself throughout the day.
*Hugs and kisses. I love how you give little "love pats" so often through out the day. Most always when I pick you up-you give me a hug and pat me on my back. You have also started giving little pats of affection other places too--today on the top of my head. You always have such a loving look when you do it. You crack me up.
*Being "sneaky." You put your finger to your mouth (like, shhh) and slowly creep-bending your knees an exaggerated amount with every step.
*You are starting to like TV. You really like Dora and will sit through most of an episode-you also like Franklin and Sesame Street (but only when Elmo is on).
*Emptying and playing in cupboards. You love to put your babies and animals in the kitchen cupboards. The other day we went to Ikea and you thought it was the best that there were isles and isles of cupboards, shelves, and drawers to hide Tiny in. It was remarkable to me that you always remembered which one he was in.
*When Daddy comes home.

Things you are learning...
*You can spell your name. "mem" "oh" "lul" "lul" "why!"
*Your ABCs. You know a lot of your letters and love being quizzed on them. You point out all the letters you see while we are driving around or in stores. "mom! mom! 'mem! oh! another one! oh!" etc. (One of my favorite things you say is "uh ONE uh wuh"(another one) Daddy and I also love the way you say W "buh duh buh")
*You are talking a lot more. ...but still a little lazy in this area :)
*To brush your teeth. Sounds funny but it is so cute to watch you scrub. You are getting pretty thorough.
*To play on your own. You have become much more independent the last few months. You are getting quite the imagination. You put your babies to sleep (without me knowing) and then tell me "shh" if I talk louder than a whisper. You burp your babies, feed them, tuck them in, you name it. And they go everywhere with you.
*Colors. Your current favorites are yellow and purple.
*Shapes.
*That mommy has a baby in her tummy. You are so sweet to give him kisses and hugs. You are sure his name should be "Owen"

Silly little things...
*You wake up every night needing some water "wawa." You guzzle a cup and then lay right down and fall right back to sleep.
*You have the best morning hair.
*The way you say, "Ohhhhh (insert any name here)"
*You cannot stand having the lid to the milk sitting on the table. When someone is finished pouring-it must go right back on.
*You say, "peepeepeeeeeze" (puppy dog face and all) for pretty please when you really want something.
*The way you say "uh-huh, yeah" and "uh-uh, no" while shaking your head yes or no. Your eyes (and entire face) change dramatically between the two.
*"Ding dong, knock knock knock" You love getting visitors and get so excited when the doorbell rings.
*The joy you get from slurping up your spaghetti noodles, hands frozen a few inches from your face--you never touch them as they slowly slurp up into your mouth.
*The way you say "puh puh uh" pucker up
*The way you grab my cheeks with both hands and turn me to you if you have something important to say or need to give me a kiss.

Molly, we love every little thing about you. Time is going so fast-we wish we could push pause for a while. We are so lucky you are ours. We love you forever. Thanks for so perfectly being you.

xo!

Happy Halloween { 2 0 1 1 }

2011-10-31T23:39:00.002-06:00

Gardner Village

Nana came down and we met up with the Jacklins at Gardner Village.

Molly got a new doll, "Tiny," who she loves just as much as her other favorite, "Little."

(She now sleeps with both--along with Bubba and/or a few extra other stuffed animals/dolls occasionally.)

She loved the hulla hooping witch and time with Nana and the cousins.

We've had our fair share of Halloween and Fall inspired meals and treats this year.

Molly and Mom have had fun making Halloween crafts together too.

Molly got two new Halloween books this year-"The Five Little Pumpkins" and "Biscuit."

We've read them both every night since we got them :)

Carving Pumpkins :)

Molly was a pumpkin this year.

We enjoyed a quiet Halloween night together-just the three of us.

Molly absolutely LOVED Trick or Treating.

R E A L S a l t L a k e -soccer-

2011-10-31T22:48:00.002-06:00

We got to go to our first Real Salt Lake soccer game with Tanner and Grandma and Grandpa.

Molly thought it was way exciting.

We all had a fun time cheering them on.

They played Portland and tied 1-1.

We also got to watch Tanner in his State Cross Country meet. He did awesome and even improved his time from last year. Bear River took 4th. Way to go Tanner.

St. George Century

2011-10-31T22:29:00.000-06:00

10.15.11

They did it!

100 miles. 4500 ft elevation gain. scorching 90-something degree weather.

Jake's 2nd century of the year...4th total :)

(They started right by "Capaletti's"--a fun italian restaurant we ate at for lunch. The food there was so yummy. We would definitely love to eat there again)

Relaxing---and cooling off after the ride :)

Steak and Shrimp dinner-complete with pasta and veggies.

(The leftovers made a delicious steak and eggs breakfast the next day)

It was so nice to eat outside by the fire!

Visiting the Temple grounds.

A little peek-a-book with Nana and Papa.

I. LOVE. THIS. FACE.

Playing on the red rock in Snow Canyon.

A quick stop at Shelley's on the way home.

We were spoiled with homemade pizza and breadsticks as well as a yummy peach dessert. We also got to skype with Emily-which was a definite highlight.

our Manti get away

2011-10-31T12:44:00.001-06:00

We spent Labor Day weekend in Manti at Grandpa's cabin.

And couldn't get enough of the horses. She loved "Peppah" (Packer).

As always, there was plenty of good food to go around.

Lots of relaxing.

And fun with Cousins.

Shelley, David, and Scott were there with their families too--and we got to see "Papa Jo and Papa Neil" too.

Jake was happy to got to help do a little handy work. They fixed the roof.

Molly's 20 month

2011-09-22T10:24:00.001-06:00

ok...so I took these pictures three weeks ago.

Now she is almost 21 months.

Here are some thumbnails of some of the others I took.

She sure is fun to photograph.

She is at the most fun age right now.

I just can't get enough of her.
Journaling to come...

It's a . . .

2011-09-22T09:52:00.004-06:00

. . . B O Y !

We found out on September 2nd and couldn't be more excited!!!

It will be so fun to have one of each.

He is cute and we love him so much already.

The ultrasound tech was great and spent a lot of time.

Everything looks perfect. He's healthy and on schedule for Jan 22nd...ish.

Love those tiny hands.

A 3d shot.

Wearing the umbilical cord as a scarf...

They even sent us home with a dvd of the entire ultrasound. Technology is amazing. ...maybe we can figure out how to post a little clip if we can fix our cd drive.