"Belly Bumps"

Well since I'm nearing the end of this pregnancy (9 days to go, but who's counting), I guess I better share some belly bump pictures...But first of all I need to share what an awesome 9 months this has been. Yes, you have your sick time, uncomfortable time, your body stretched in every direction, and not to mention trying to figure out how to get out of bed and how to reach those shoe laces. But this is nothing when it comes to realizing the wonderful prize you get in the end!!! To be honest, this little miracle still feels like a dream and it will until I get to hold her in my arms and give her sweet little kisses!!!

I love being a mom and getting a chance to do this again...well...I have no words to express the happiness, honor, and deep gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for allowing/trusting another one of his sweet spirits into our home.

I have to say...having older kids to share this experience with has been so much fun!! Bryson and Rylie are going to be a great big brother and sister! You can see the love they feel for her already!!!

Now we just wait....wait....and....wait for our sweet little miracle to decide it's time to join us out here in this crazy world. But I hope she knows how much her family will love her and how excited we are for her to join our family.

19 weeks

It's been so much fun sharing this experience with my baby sister. Just 1 week apart from each other! But she knows...if her little boy comes first...her big sister may not be very happy!!! JK

33 weeks and counting...

38 weeks...and waiting!!!

I'll keep you all posted...

Catching Up....Again!!!

So I've fallen behind again!!! I promise I will try to do better. It's been such a busy month and a half!!! We've reached our half way mark with Baby Girl Carpenter...yes, I said girl! Little Ry is sooooo excited....Bryson it took a day or two for the news to set in, but he's excited now! In fact, it's him that wants to touch my belly everyday and ask..."How's little sister today". As I'm writing this we are actually 23 weeks along...however this picture below is at 20 1/2 weeks. Here's our sweet little miracle...she's an active little thing! I can feel her kicking everyday which I love!!! It's a nice reassurance that she's growing and doing well. Ultra sound looked great! Now it's just the waiting game for that lovely blood test after she's born to see if her muscles are healthy as well...

We finally made it to Temple Square with the kids this year...it's the first year we been able to take the kids and they loved it!!! Not only the lights but both of them loved walking through the visitors center and the tour of the conference center....the spirit was definitely felt!

On December 5th, my handsome Bryson turned the big 12... I can't believe I have a 12 year old. What an amazing birthday this was...not that the party was huge or anything...it's the responsibilities he has taken on as a 12 year old. He was ordained a deacon and received the priesthood...what an emotional/exciting/proud moment that was. I can't express the feelings of watching your son pass the sacrament for the first time...and to watch the other young men/ward members take him under their wing to guide him through the process. A truly humbling experience. Bryson now attends YM too...and he loves it!!! I can't get the lift up in the van and say good-bye fast enough...he's already headed for the front door of the church!

Another year of Tavaci...Rylie was soooo excited to be in the older group this year. She was given a speaking part at this years Christmas Concert and did amazing!!! I am so proud of her!

Christmas 2010!!! Spent lots of time with family and friends!!! Love this time of year!

Wishing you all wonderful Holiday Wishes and a Happy New Year!!!

Buckle up for some CRAZY adventures with the Carpenters!!!

Well, since I haven't blogged all summer, I have a lot of catching up to do!! So many fun and exciting adventures to share!!! The summer flew by...but I have to admit, we had a lot of crazy fun!!! Like I said....CRAZY fun!!! (Talent show at one of our family reunions...sang and danced to "The Dancing Queen")
What a handsome man!!! My grandpa dressed up in his uniform to do the flag ceremony at the "Child" family reunion. I sure admire the love he has and shows for our country!

More time spent hanging out with the fam at the "Yates" family reunion...sitting around the fire.

fishing...

Swimming...

and playing until you just can't keep your eyes open any longer!

Swinging at the "Carpenter" family reunion... Rylie loved it! Bryson, as tough as he is, didn't want anything to do with it...so no pictures of him :(

BBQs with the family...this has got to be one of my most favorite things to do in the summer!

Burley Spudman Triathlon with my sis...

Getting ready to start....

That's us out there somewhere...I'd have to say the swim was probably my favorite part this time. No pictures of the bike or run...Erik had to put his EMT training to work due to a terrible biker vs. spectator collision. Oh well...glad he was able to help, but I think it traumatized Bryson (he witnessed the whole thing)...poor guy!

Little Red Riding Hood ride...My sister and I went for the 80 mile distance this year. We had such a great time riding for a wonderful cause!!!

First day of School...both kids were so excited!

Bryson's first day!

Then we took a fun drive to Colorado to visit my brother and his family. We had a wonderful time spending time together and enjoying each others company!
Took the kids to the temple...
Mom and Dad!!! What a cute couple!

And now for the biggest adventure of them all.... Ready???? Are you sitting down???? Ok, here goes...

Yes...the picture below does belong to us...this beautiful little spirit will be joining our family around April 28th...

Yes...crazy adventures happening at our house but we are buckling up for a roller coaster ride that will far out way anything else!

Now that you've heard the news....and have brought your mouth up off the floor...we want you all to know how excited we are to share this ride with you!!! So for now....buckle up...here we go!!!

Summer Fun at the Carpenter Home

Wow...summer is here and the busyness begins!!! Not sure where the time goes but I'm having a hard time finding it. I've put together some pictures to update everyone on some of the fun things we've done so far this summer...from family pictures to the Little Red Riding Hood bike ride, and last but not least MDA summer camp for the kids. FUN! FUN! FUN! Now on to July... for us that brings FAMILY REUNIONS!!! I'll keep you posted on all the fun!

Family photos

Took the kids up to Star Valley this last weekend to visit my sister and get family pictures. My sister's friend (Rebecca White) is a wonderful photographer and wanted to enter the kids into a photo contest (photo contest of children with special needs). We were able to sneak in a few family photos too. We had such a fun time!! Rebecca put together a cute slide show of our session. Good times!!! (See "Saturday Session" link below)
Saturday Session

Collin Raye - She's With Me

Very Powerful song....thought I would share it with all of you!!!

Special Day for Rylie!!

We had such a special day on Saturday...Rylie was baptized!! She looked so beautiful in white and she was glowing with excitement. It's hard to express my feelings as we prepared for this day...a little bit of anxiety, excitement, and most of all pure happiness!

To explain this a little more, let me go back about 5 years ago....

March 15th, the day before Rylie's 3rd birthday. The day had seemed pretty routine; respiratory treatment, bath, got dressed, and played with toys. As the day went on Rylie began to cough and show signs of respiratory problems. By 2:00 pm she had spiked a high fever and began struggling to breath. I ran her into the clinic...she of course was admitted. I spent the afternoon/evening with her until around 10:00 pm or so. Erik was there to spend the night with her. She had continued to decline. I hadn't been home long when I get the phone call that most of us hope never to experience. All Erik said was..."GET HERE NOW"!!! He wouldn't tell me anything else!!! But he had a reason...he knew that if I really knew what was going on, I may not have driven in a safe manner. I parked the car and went running. As I reached the pediatric floor it was full of hospital personnel. My mind was going a hundred miles an hour "what's going on...where's my little girl"...

Rylie had coded not long after 11:00pm. Her heart and breathing had stopped and CPR was administered. Erik tells me how he woke up to the nurse saying CODE BLUE. He jumped out of bed to our sweet little girl laying so still in the bed, a pale white color, with no life in her. The code team worked on her for what seemed like forever....then all of a sudden the sound of beep beep beep from the heart monitor began. Yeah...that's a whole other feeling that I can't explain!!!! The life flight team from Primary Children's arrived and she was quickly rushed off. It was a touch and go situation for the next 7 hours or so. After arriving at Primary Children's, she still wasn't stable...could not get her blood pressure stable and the ventilator was doing all the breathing for her. This event led to a 2 month stay in the ICU and another code blue while there. I strongly believe she is watched over, protected, and comforted by a much higher power. I am so grateful for my knowledge of this and the comfort it gives me as well.

One night in particular (1 month into her ICU visit from events above), as I again was called just minutes after arriving home from a long day in the ICU with Rylie. The nurse says "Rylie's crashing, we've had to put her back on the ventilator". So off I went ...another frantic drive back to Primary children's. This time it was different...Rylie had been struggling to breath for over a month now...her little body was tired and needed help. She was on 100% oxygen and still dropping. Options were limited. Multiple doctors surrounded her bed trying and hoping for a miracle. At the same time her oxygen continued to drop. I again turned to my Heavenly Father...I knew my little girl was slipping away. Her little body had fought long and hard with physical limitations to begin with. I knew she needed his help. Within minutes after, one doctor came up with an idea to switch a setting on Rylie's ventilator. Her words were "This is old school, but it's worth a try". Sure enough...within an hour after Rylie was stable again and continued to progress everyday after that until she was finally able to come home!

Rylie spent her first 3 years of life in and out of the hospital fighting through situations like the events mentioned above. So for this wonderful event to happen on Saturday...let's just say, it's a milestone we didn't know we'd get to experience....but so grateful we did!!!

LOVE YOU BUGS!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

Rylie was baptized by her dad and uncle Mike
All of Rylie's wonderful friends came to share this special day with her. We sure love each and everyone of you and thank you for being apart of Rylie's life!!

Congradulations Rylie! You are such a special little girl and I am honored to be your mom!!!