Just Feeling Restless

This is the story of my life these days. I am not sure what it is...maybe the season or the holidays or the crazy events that have taken place in our lives recently, but I am one restless momma. It is strange to be so busy and feel this way. Q keeps me on my toes all day long, and when Nick gets home, she wants nothing but Daddy, so that is when I can actually DO things without an attachment.

I have projects to work on and people I want to see. I have presents to think about and a birthday party to plan. Our house is never spotless and the laundry is never done. I am searching for interesting recipies and easy crafts to keep me occupied. I have a growing stack of books to read and a lot of sleep to catch up on. So, why am I so restless?

Perhaps it is because I am always distracted. Projects get started, but never seem to be completed. My head is racing a million miles an hour, and the only time I am focused on one thing is when I am in the gym. I need a chart that is a huge TO DO List. I need someone to come and look at my list and tell me it isn't out of control.

Then again, maybe I am not busy enough. I am home with Q all the time. We go to the gym and run a small errand or two on a daily basis, but then we are home together all day. Maybe I am experiencing a little cabin fever. Maybe if I was busier, I would accomplish more. I have always performed better under pressure. Now that I have no deadlines and grades aren't due and papers aren't piling up and I don't have an essay to write or copies to make or lessons to plan, maybe I am slacking. Except, I don't miss that stuff. Okay, maybe I miss planning lessons and reading books and regular adult interaction, but I wouldn't trade it!

So, for now I will be restless...I will make that long list and even cross off a few things. Or maybe, I'll go help a little girl figure out how to crawl. That sounds better...crawling.

Oh, Life!

Sometimes it feels like the universe is trying to break me in two. It is at those times that I try, try, try to count the many blessings I do have because they are plentiful! So, in additon to the craziness that is already happening, Nick totaled the Tribute on his birthday. Sigh! Luckily, our car insurance company (Progressive) was AH-MAZING! They had our rental car to us and the Tribute picked up within 24 hours of our call to them. We picked up a check and shopped for a new car over the weekend. I am now driving a 2005 Ford Escape. It is a bright red, and I am liking it more and more as time goes on.

We have managed to do some fun things here and there, however, so I will share some pictures from Q's first Halloween and her first snow! She had a really fun time watching all that was going on around her.

Her first Trick-or-Treating expereince was at the Spooktacular that the City of Broomfield does at the First Bank Center. She wasn't really into the candy part, but she was very into the people watching part. She is so good when we take her out in public! Thank goodness for that!

She had a fun time helping Mom and Dad carve pumpkins this year. She held the cut out pieces for us and chomped on them too. We had a big pumpkin and a little one this year...both turned out great!

We also have had some snow, which I missed so much while we lived in Texas. Quincy seemed to like it! Here she is all dressed up to go and play in it for the first time. I love this hat and mittens. Both are too big, but she'll grow out of them before I am ready!

It just wouldn't be right for her to play in it and not eat it! She seemed to like it. I think it helped cool her gums...we'll see some teeth one of these days.

She also had to stand in it for a minute! She has super cute snow boots, so we had to put them to use. She will be my little snow bunny yet! I love the snow and the feeling that white blanket invites. It is good for my soul.

Fun Family Fall Days

Well, Stef inspired me to post something today since she did. I can't be outdone by my sister, now can I? I am not really going to update all our happenings from the last few months. We have been very busy. Q is growing like crazy! She is pushing 20 lbs., and she really, really wants to crawl. I am excited for that and NOT excited at the same time. Once she is mobile, we are in for it! Shockingly, she is incredibly vocal...and LOUD! She loves entertaining the whole room and gets upset when all eyes are not on her. (Hmmm...I wonder where she gets that. Nick and I are so shy, quiet and reserved.) While attending an Open House the other night, she stole the show from the Elder we were wishing well. It's a good thing she's so cute!

I am loving these fall days. The trees are gorgeous! The air is...well, how do I put this? The air is just fall-y, and I love it! There isn't a day that goes by that I am not grateful to be back in Colorado. We have been trying to do as many activities with Q outside as possible. We go on family walks, and we recently took her to Anderson Farms, a really great corn maze/pumpkin patch.

We made it a true family day and brought Uncle Adam and Aunt Kara along with us. I had never been to a pumpkin patch, so I was excited, but I don't think my excitement could match the excitement of our girl! Q was laughing and yelling and screaming before we even made it in the gates!

She rode a pony; she picked a pumpkin; she witnessed the birth of twin goats; she posed for a million pictures; and, she loved every minute of it! My goodness, we are blessed by her presence and her personality daily!

There are lots of changes coming for the Sadler's, and I have to take a minute to thank our family and friends who have already been so supportive. I would be lost without the love and support from people near and far, and I never want to seem ungrateful. Our journey will be long, but somehow, through faith and love, we will make it to the other side--one step at a time.

Summer Happenings

Wow! I sure have not touched this all summer. Oops! I guess that means a quick summation of all our going's on all summer long. Complete with pictures, of course!

We took a trip to Utah for a weekend full of famly fun and Lisa's baby shower! Nick, Q and I made it to The Mug which is essentially a Rootbeer Float shaped concession stand that my brother-in-law, Eric, helps his sister run. It is great! Located in a prime spot in Provo Canyon. If you are ever there in the summer months, check it out!

Quincy met Maggie, whom we all love through the many stories Holly shares. She is Holly and Eric's niece, and such a cute character!

We spent the Fourth of July in Casper with Nick's family. This is the first time Q met her Great-Grandma Boyer. I think they like each other! Don't worry, Q didn't get her glasses, not for lack of trying!

On that same trip we spent an afternoon with the Sadler side of the family as well. Q is playing here with Nick's cousin, Jayme, who came to see everyone all the way from Washington State. She and I had met briefly once before, and it was so great to spend time with her and her daughter, Jordyn.

Ahhh, yes! The family pic with Great-Grandma and Grandpa Sadler, Nick, JB, Jayme, Jordyn and Quincy. Jordyn didn't want her picture taken at this particular moment. :-) She is a pistol!

I should have taken more pictures up here, but here is one that I took of Q and her Grandpa Desi at the Halasz cabin. It really is so peaceful up there! I really enjoyed being there with everyone. (FYI, they are talking to Uncle Bob.)

We took the opportunity to take Q to the outdoor waterpark in Broomfield! The Bay! We love The Bay! It really is very little kid and family friendly. She enjoyed it more than she is letting on here. Later in the summer, Aunt Kara and I took her again. And we will go one more time when Aunt Stef, Uncle Matt, and MJ get here!

If you have known me for any length of time, you know that there are two girls who are my SISTERS FROM ANOTHER MISTER. Amber and Kristie and I are doing our best to manage our busy family, work and personal lives and still see each other. We had dinner, and this was the first time that all three of our kiddos were together. M, C and Q are just adorable! I love those two little boys as much as I love their momma's.

Another cousin! We were blessed with a quick visit from Aunt Jessie, Uncle Matt and W! This is Nick's step-sister's new baby boy! He is such a long, skinny string bean, and too, too cute! (Note: Matt was watching the US Women's Soccer team play in the World Cup Finals. He could not tear his eyes away!)

We spent more time swimming with Meagan (Parker) and her little ones. I will post pics of our babies together, but I have to wait for Maeg. She has them.

We took Q to the Denver Zoo! This was her first Merri-Go-Round ride. She seemed to enjoy herself! Check out the rosie cheeks! It was a hot one!

There is more to share, but it will have to wait for another day! We had more visitors, and played more games, so I will post about those soon! Also, we do have another new baby in the family! Aunt Lisa had her little girl. We will make sure to post lots of pictures when we have all the girls together at last!

Q and her Uncle Adam

I am a BAAADDDD sister! I looked at the blog last night and realized that there isn't a post about Q and Uncle Adam. Why? Perhaps because he and Aunt Kara live just across town and can see her whenever they want! Perhaps because I'm still a mental mess (does pregnancy brain ever go away?). Either way, it is unacceptable! Especially since I love watching my little brother (yep, I said it!) with my daughter. He is great with her! She loves him! (And her Aunt Kara too!)

I also realized (ahem!) that we don't have pictures of Q and Aunt Kara yet! What is wrong with me?! So, Aunt Kara, get dolled up so we can change that! Q and you need to pose for the camera! We love you guys!

The Hike...that just about killed me!

Someone needs to constantly remind me that I lived in Texas for two years! I--well, we--tend to forget that the altitude here is different, and we need to adjust. We attempted to go for a rather small hike one weekend. It turned into an even smaller hike when I thought my lungs were going to explode while trying to make it up a hill with 15 extra pounds strapped to my front. So, we turned around and just walked around the park, played on the swings and slides, and took in the view! Here are a few pictures from the outing:

 Daddy and Q before we left the house! They are such a good looking pair! I love them!

 Mom and Q taking a break! Mom got tired easy!

 Family shot!

I love the mountains! I love the rolling hills! I love the flowers! I love the dafodils! I love the fireside, when all the lights are low! 

Q meets Aunt Lisa

The last sibling on my side to meet Miss Q was Lisa. She came to visit us--along with her hubby, Hondo--for a few days in May. It was so good to see her. She is having a baby in July, and I was anxious to see her belly and feel my new niece kick and move. The highlight, of course, was having her meet Q!

My pretty daughter and beautiful sister! Life feels more complete now that Q has met my sibs. We still have lots of people to see though, so there will be more fun updates to come!

Good-bye, Texas

I have kind of been dragging my feet to write this post, but I'm sure why. It wasn't a huge secret that I didn't LOVE Texas, so it suprised especially me when leaving was so hard...and it was hard. I guess it makes sense. My family really started in Texas. We made some good friends. Honestly, I think that the ordeal, trauma, and joy surrounding Quincy's birth allowed Texas to sneak its' way into my heart. Yes, I know, I know...all you people who tried to tell me that Texas is great...I still wouldn't say great, but I can say that I will hold a special place in my heart for Texas--and especially Baylor.

To those friends we made and left in Texas--thank you! Thank you for taking a crazy Colorado girl into your lives and letting me be me. Thank you for being great examples of who and what friends should be. Thank you for supporting my hubby and I through what felt like a lot of crazy, strange and surreal experiences. Thank you for loving my daughter as if she were your own. Thank you for sharing your kids with us. Thank you for being exactly who I/we needed to make life in a strange and new place bareable. I do love you all, and I will miss you!

Obsessed

Is it shocking that I am obsessed with my daughter? Nope! I have an app on my phone that takes old looking pictures--Retro Camera--and the following are just a few I have snapped recently! She's so stinkin' cute!

The many faces of Quincy Anne!

Due Date Come and Gone

Yesterday, January 30, 2011, was Quincy's due date. Saturday, January 29, 2011, she turned seven weeks old. I honestly cannot express the whirlwind of emotion that flowed over me yesterday as I marveled at the miracle that is my tiny and perfect daughter.
She is growing, growing, growing! Q hit six lbs, and we expect that she will quickly hit seven! She has spent the past few days more and more awake. Q quietly observes her world and listens intently as Mom and Dad (and Aunt Stef right now) sing to her. She loves being talked to, and I am just waiting for her to join in the conversation. She acts as if she wants to burst out and tell me her life story! I am so ready to hear it.
We have had lots of visitors the past few weeks. Grandma and Grandpa Halasz came to spend some time with their first grandchild. It was nice to have Nick's mom and step-dad with us. They loved on our girl plenty, and I think her Grandpa Desi was quite taken with her. JB and Savanna came to spend some of that time with us as well. It is really wonderful how in love with Quincy her Uncle J is. She is one lucky girl to have him around! (Not to mention Savanna who loves my daughter as much as we do!)
The day that Grandma left, Stef and Miki Jo came to visit. The picture above is Michaela and Quincy's first meeting. Michaela is a giant compared to our little one! They are so cute together. Miki Jo isn't always sure what to think of this new cousin of her's, but she will tentatively reach out to touch Quincy's hand. It is very sweet. I am so glad that Stef is here! Mom had to leave before Quincy came home, and I didn't realize how much I needed a sister here until she got here! They are supposed to leave tomorrow, but with a snowstorm on the way, we will see if that happens. I'll take them for an extra day!
Q has been pretty congested the past few days. She hasn't really appreciated her Mom and Dad sucking the stuff out of her nose, but she does breath so much better after. She also took her first shower with Mom so that she could have the benefits of a little steam. Our bathroom is too big to just let her sit in there with the shower running. She loved it! I haven't seen her so relaxed during a bath since her first swaddle bath in the NICU.

Here is a new video of her listening to her Aunt Stef sing her a song. She is precious!

Our Growin' Girl

Baby Q grows and grows and grows every day! She is up to 3 lbs 14.8 oz, and we are thrilled! We can't wait to have 4 lb baby. She is amazing, and I am so proud of the progress she makes daily. As I chatted with the doctor this morning she made it clear that our biggest obstacle in getting her home will be teaching her how to eat. Don't worry, she gets fed, but we have just begun to bottle feed her. She isn't sure if she likes it, and it tuckers her out. Sometimes she eats quite a bit and other times she won't eat more than a few millileters. However, we won't push her to eat more than she feels like eating. Our nurse last night told us that when the babies control how much they eat, instead of being force fed like they used to, they come home faster. We are all for her coming home faster! So, now our prayers have a specific focus...please help our little girl to learn how to eat and to continue to grow healthy and strong!

Christmas Eve

Our little girl was visite by a very special man the other day. When the nurses first told us that Santa came to the NICU to visit the babies and take pictures, I was beside myself. I am often overcome with emotion these days, and the thought of having a picture of our miracle with Saint Nick was something I wished for deeply. My mom was with me, so we were able to take the picture posted above, and I just love how it turned out! We have copies from the hospital that Daddy will be able to take and hang up at work. The hospital staff really takes care of us. For example, when Mom and I went in to see Quincy tonight our nurse had presents for her parents. FOR US! I felt like we should be showering her with presents--and that still wouldn't be enough to show our appreciation--and here she is giving me homemade chocolate treats!
As of today Baby Q has been moved from her isolet (incubator) into an open air crib. This is a very big step, and I am very nervous about it. She is so strong, but I am worried about pushing her too hard too soon. I want her to be successful, and I don't want to have to move her back into the isolet...it would be a step backward. I am just a nervous mommy. She continues to gain weight daily, and we are thrilled! I can't wait until she hits four lbs.
I am sitting here watching The Muppets Christmas Carol with Mom and Nick, and this is the first traditional Christmas thing that we have done this year. It is so strange to think that tomorrow is Christmas. I will be spending the day back and forth from the hospital--Christmas in the NICU--who would have thought that this is where we would be? No one plans for these things. No one. So, I promise to try and focus on those things I should be most grateful for. There is so much. I know that. My little one is being watched over by a host of special angels--both those we can see and those we can only feel. I have my mom here. I have a loving and uber supportive partner in all of this. I have a beautiful daughter! This is a Christmas when I should just be very happy, and I am! This is also a Christmas where I will be very sad. Not because I have any right to be, but quite simply because I want my girl to be home.
Please know that I am grateful for this time of year. I am thankful for a baby born in a manger. And I am thankful for a baby lying in a crib growing, growing, growing every day.

Our Girl

My mom took this, and she posted it on Facebook. I am adding it here for those family and friends who do not have Facebook. Enjoy! I know I could watch it over and over and over again.

Some of God's Greatest Gifts...

I had to post this one as my heart is so full of love from my Father in Heaven. As I have looked back at the events that have or have not happened to Nick and I since we got married and started our life here, I realize that we have been watched over and blessed...all in preparation for this challenge in our life. Here are just a few examples.

1. I don't have a job. For a year and a half I have questioned why I don't have a job. I'm qualified enough. I'm a pretty great teacher. I had quite a few interested parties this summer, yet no job. Flash to now where I can't IMAGINE trying to be a mom with a baby in the NICU and worrying about a classroom too. I love that I don't have to worry about that. I can focus all my time and energy on my baby!

2. I literally stumbled across my doctor by accident. I had no idea who to go see or even really how to find a good doctor. In my random search, I came across my doctor's partner--who no longer delivers babies--and was referred to Dr. Read. He has been a true angel through this process! He was the only one who was able to calm my angry and frantic husband, and EVERY nurse we worked with in the hospital sang him praises! We are so blessed to have someone with his compassion and expertise working so hard to take care of me.

3. My darling friend, Ruth, reminded me today that had my long term sub job actually could have made the PIH so much worse. I would have been working everyday until Thanksgiving. So, when my long term sub job ended early, it was actually a blessing in disguise.

4. The week before this all happened I had been offered a sub job that would have lasted the entire week. I accepted the job, but afterwards I didn't feel right about it. So, I told Nick that I just didn't feel good about taking the job, and he supported me cancelling it. I would have had to worry about calling in sick for a job last minute AND I would have been on my feet all week too. That probably would have been bad.

I am sure there are countless other ways we have been watched over and blessed in preparation for all of this. I am so overwhelmed by the love I feel continuously right now. I am an emotional mess, so when I burst out in tears (and this happens A LOT) please know that my heart is really just full.

This is a picture of daddy's first diaper change. He is really good at it! Thanks to my friend, Angela, for documenting this for me!

Jen, Baby Q, and how Nick is the best hubby ever!

We have been busy this week getting the house ready for Christmas. Nick put the lights up on the house while I gasped and sighed and handed him the light clips! Needless to say, he didn't get hurt or fall despite his precarious perches. The lights look very nice! We like to keep it simple.

The inside of our house is also simply decorated, and I love it. We have our six foot fake tree, and some decorations. I got some new candles this year, and they make our mantle sparkle.

So, after getting all this finished this week, we were ready to settle into shopping and shipping off Christmas cards and gifts. The cards are in the mail! The gifts will have to wait. We have been sidetracked for what could be a very long time.



Thursday morning at around 2:30am, I woke up with some severe abdonimal cramping. They felt kind of flu like one minute and as if I was suffering from extreme hunger the next. So, I got up and went to eat something, hoping that would help. It didn't. Around 4am, I began to wonder if there was a pattern to this pain I was feeling--I have never felt contractions before, so I started timing them. I did that for about an hour before waking Nick up and filling him on what was going on. We called the on-call nurse around 5:30am. She thought I might have the beginnings of a virus that is going around, so her advice was to take a warm bath and try to get my stomach to relax. If that didn't work, then we should probably head into the hospital to get monitored.



At this point, I am 32 weeks pregnant, and up to this point, I have had a happy pregnancy. I sleep a lot, but I was lucky enough to not get morning sickness. We had some spotting issues, and while scary, they eventually went away. My weight, my blood pressure--everything has been great until lately.



When we checked into Triage and the nurses started checking things out, their first worry came because my blood pressure was REALLY high. 212/96 is not healthy. It came down in small increments, but it still isn't great. My last blood pressure reading was 141/72. My labs came back with elevated liver enzymes and protien in my urine. This was the expected result. All this does is comfirm what we alreay know. I have preeclampisia/PIH/toximia (it is known as all those things). If the protien levels in my urine spike out of control--to the 3000 level or above--then we will talk about getting baby out soon. We are not even close to that yet.



Honestly, I feel really good. I am tired, but otherwise, I feel very peaceful right now. I haven't felt this at peace for a while. In fact, for the past few weeks I have been very anxious about this pregnancy. Now we know why. And in thinking back, at the beginning, I was given a very wonderful blessing and felt a deep impression that the trials we were facing that day when I was afraid we were losing another baby, would not be the only trial to come--that before this baby came, we would have another curve ball thrown at us. Now we know why. Last week I was offered a week long sub job for this week, and I told Nick that I really wanted to take it, but something was holding me back--I just felt that it was a bad idea. Now we know why. I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me and who is with me every step of the way right now. I feel His influence constantly around me and through the prayers of others. We want to thank you all for that. Thank you for thinking of us, calling, checking in, and coming to visit. We are so amazingly blessed by those around us!

Thanksgiving 2010 Prep



Source: Right From the Heart

As this is the weekend before Thanksgiving, Nick and I are gearing up for some truly fabulous people to come and spend the Thanksgiving holiday with us! We will have a house full of family because all four of my sisters, their significant others and our one niece will be here to celebrate with us. That makes for ten people sleeping at my house, and we hope to have one more person for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. I am beyond excited, and it goes to show how truly wonderful my hubby is that he is almost as excited as I am! Bless him for loving my family so much! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! I love to take the chance to focus on the things and the people I am most thankful for, although, the cartoon has it right, it should be a focus for the entire year!
Last weekend, the lesson I taught my Laurels at church was on Gratitude and Thankfulness. As I was preparing, I was reminded of a lesson about being thankful that I was taught by my very wise Beehive advisor, Sister Garfield. She told us that when someone paid us a compliment, to simply smile and say, "Thank you!" It boosts your confidence and makes the person who complimented you happy as well. I was thinking about that this week, and I notice that as people send compliments my way these days, it is so hard to smile and give thanks. So, that is my goal for the next few weeks/months as I grow bigger and bigger: to accept the compliments of others with style and grace.
This weekend, as Nick and I brave the grocery stores, I will be thankful for the opportunity to have all my sisters here. I will be thankful for the chance to spend the day planning and cleaning with my favorite person. I will be thankful for the people who are working so hard to make the holiday shopping as quick and as painless as possible. I will be thankful for and do my best to spread some holiday cheer to those who need it most!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Week!

A Weekend at Home

Nick and I split up for the weekend and each went to visit our own families. We would have liked to both be in the same place at the same time, but well...we weren't.

I know that Nick had a nice time visiting with family and seeing some of his friends, but since he didn't take any pictures, and he isn't here to contribute, that is really all I can tell you. Maybe I will be able to get him to post a little something later...notice the MAYBE.

The reason I went home that weekend was to be in Montrose for Mom's 50.5 Birthday Bash! Her birthday is actually in January, but who can really travel or have a truly fun party in the dead of winter? So, she had a Half-Birthday Party instead. It was really a fun treat for her and for us! So many people came, and we had a lot of fun together.

Mom's first surprise were her aunts from Michigan! They flew in special for her party. These are my grandma's sisters, and they make a special sister trip each year to see one another. This year, the MI bunch came to CO! It was so great to see them all!

From left to right: Aunt Joan Kelli, Aunt Patti, Holly, Me, Grandma, Lisa, and Aunt Linda

Another special MI treat was Mom's cousin, Judy! She came, despite the crys of her children, to come and visit for the weekend. It was so nice to her here too, and I know Mom was thrilled!                        

Again, left to right: Lisa, Kelli, Eric, Holly, Me Dad, Judy, and Mom.

The party was a great turn out, and Mom (well, all of us, really) got another surprise when Bishop and Sister Moses walked in the door! I guess that all Siser Moses wanted for her birthday was to come to Mom's party! They moved to New Mexico years ago, so this was no small trip for them! It was really great to have them show up. They were some of the last to leave, and sat talking with Mom and Laura (Mom's bestest friend who came from Broomfield) until 11:30pm.

Holly had a genius idea to make Mom a Memory Jar. She got a pretty vase, and we filled it with 50.5 memories we had of our mother. It was fun to think of them and write them, and even more fun to read. We laughed and cried, and Stef was even ther via Skype!

Here are some more crazy picture from the weekend because that is how we do!