5k, 32 week belly, and school!

Mindi and I (and occassionally other stragglers) have a tradition that we do the Utah hoomecoming 5k. This year, being 32 weeks pregnant- I didn't want to miss out. I haven't been able to run as easily this pregnancy as I did with Ava- I have had to stick to less pounding workouts like the eliptical... Well, I decided it couldn't be that hard so I signed up...... It wasn't my finest moments (let's just say I went PRETTY slow...) but I finished and am glad I did it and carried on the tradition.

Next, tonight we get to watch my friend Natalie's baby boy, Bronson. Oh boy! Ava was such a huge "helper" I am seriously scared. She literally tried to pick him up a thousan times and cover his face with blankets! I had to watch her like a hawk. Good preparation for the new baby that's coming..... He is so cute though! He looks so much like Natalie (sorry Sam!)

Lastly- I am so happy to say I have officially completed 3 out of my 7 rotations and don't have to do a 40 hour/week full-time rotation until February. And even then I only have to do 12 more weeks and then I graduate! I cannot be more thrilled. I am giving another big seminar this Tuesday and after that, it should be pretty relaxed, smoothe sailing until the baby comes. The countdown has begun and we couldn't be more excited!

The belly in all it's 32 week glory!

Homecoming weekend!

One of our favorite things is to go to U of U football games. It is so fun! Ava has always loved it too so we are so lucky. It was a little harder this time because Ava sits on our laps and my lab is getting quite a bit smaller. We sat with Mindi and Jonah for most of the game and the kids had a blast. Especially feeding eachother M & M's. We can't wait until the next game. Go UTES!!!

After the game, Ava and Jonah enjoyed running around the Olympic pavillion...

Fun weekend in Midway

Thanks to our friends, the Zittings, we had the funnest family vacation in Midaway last weekend! They let us stay in their condo at the Zermat for the weekend and we were totally spoiled. It is such a fun, clean, nice resort. We started the weekend with dinner at Spin Cafe with the Mulcocks (thanks for making the trek!) and it was so yummy. The next day Luke went golfing with his friends and Ava and I did some quality shopping in Park City at the outlets. We got so many fun things for the new baby. Then we went and picked Luke up and had lunch at Chicks diner, which was also so yummy (especially the scones!), took Ava back for a nap, and afterwards went for a family swim. We ended the night with dinner at our favorite place at Park City Mountain Resort, Baja Cantina. If you haven't been there we highly recommend making a special trip- it is so so good!!!! We went home the next morning and made it to church. What a great weekend. Thanks so much Natalie and Sam :)

State Fair

We had the FUNNEST time at the State Fair a few weeks ago! We went with the Rice's and Mulcocks and the kids had so so much fun. It was a rainy day and we were a little nervous, but decided to brave the rain anyway..... It was discount night at the fair thanks to 2 News and since we braved the rain- we got so so lucky! It wasn't hardly busy and the kids rode rides for an hour and a half nonstop and they loved every minute of it. We ended the night with the ever delicious funnel cakes. What a fun time- can't wait until next year :)

Labor Day- Monday

First, we hiked Donut Falls up Big Cottonwood Canyon with the Rice's, Mulcocks, and Mechams (happy birthday Cherianne!). It was a perfect length, pretty perfect temperature, and the kids did quite well!

We barrowed this handy little backpack carrier from some friends and Ava rode in it not too much, but it came in handy when she needed a little break!

Donut Falls (please don't judge me. I didn't have any clean maternity shorts! And I wasn't about to do my hair and make-up to go hiking!)

Natalie and Mason

The fearsome kid hikers! Watch out....

After our hike we ate a super super yummy breakfast at th Milcreek Cafe with the Mulcocks and had more good times!

Then Ava took a nap and I went to the mall with my friend Renea and scored some great things for everyone in the family

This evening we went up American Fork Canyon with the Rindlisbachers and the Redds. It was yummy and fun :) The kids had a blast!

This activity seriously kept Ava occupied for about 30 minutes

Jonah can't wait until his new baby cousin gets here so he isn't quite as outnumbered!

Baby Mya :)

Could Ava get any dirtier while out in the woods....

The thing I love about Jonah is that you can tell he's smiling just by looking at his eyes!

And the favorite activity of the night- eating unroasted marshmallows straight off the roasting stick!

Labor Day Weekend- Saturday

We had a fabulous Labor Day weekend! We were all a little under the weather on Saturday, but Sunday and Monday we felt much better. We did a lot of relaxing, socializing, and having fun. It's always good to get reenergized and to have some fun! Our weekend started with a very fun Date and friend night. We had dinner at the Asian Star with some friends and then hit "All About Steve." I HIGHLY recommend the restaurant (it's one of our favorites!), but the movie should definitely be reserved for a desperate RedBox night!

Saturday we met Mindi, Gaige, and the kids for a picnic and then went to the Kennecott Copper Mine. Ava slept during the picnic, but loved the copper mine. There were so many trucks and tractors and lots of room to run and explore (pictures of this to come since I forgot my camera...) After the copper mine, Luke and I took Ava to Gardner Village to ride a pony and to do a little shopping. It was a fun, relaxing time and Ava, of course, loved riding "CJ."

Introducing.....

The newest member to the potty-trained club! It has been about a month now with no accidents so I feel confident I can say Ava is finally potty trained- hooray!!! Here are a couple potty pictures just because I think they are so funny....

Boy did I speak too soon!!!

Holy cow! What a week of sickness we have had. So when I last posted Sunday night- I was marveling about how sick Ava had been and being glad she was getting much better..... I couldn't have been more wrong. Sunday evening she took a turn for the worse back to fever and an added sore throat. It was so sore she would tremble a little when she would swallow and she woke up about 5 times during that night. Luke took Ava to the pediatrician's office and unfortunately was only able to see the worst doctor there! Her strep test was negative so they said all we could do was keep her comfortable. The next evening, her respiratory symptoms started.... She got a developed a loose cough and would cry about her mouth and ears hurting every time she coughed. It was super sad! She again, woke up about 5 times that night- fortunately Luke took one for the team and slept two whole nights on the floor in her room so that I could get some very unrestful pregnancy sleep. Wednesday I thought she was getting better and she had a better night, but woud still cry about her mouth and ears and she as coughing a little. Through all these days, we could barely get her to eat anything and were lucky that she would at least drink.... Yesterday (Thursday) my mom watched her (since we have kept her out of preschool all week, Luke and I alternating days off, and we both needed to work and couldn't justify letting her go to preschool and possible infecting other kids with this "super sickness!") my mom said she ate much better and seemed to be doing better. When I got home from work- she was like a new child. She was playing and talking (oh, yeah- our little jabbermouth had been quite mute for the past 3 days due to sore throat) and singing and we had a fun night. I put her to bed and she woke up an hour later.... Luke went in and panicked because she was breathing hard. When I went in, she was breathing fine and we put her back in bed..... At midnight- she again woke up crying and this time I was in there and she was gasping for breath- it was so so scary! Luke and I took her to the emergency room where she was given an inhaler to essentially dilate her throat and lungs. They did a chest x-ray and determined she had a respiratory virus and reactive airway disease. AAAHHHHH!! All this meant was that we were sent home with an inhaler, mask, and spacer and told it was contagious. Perfect! Luke and I have both had a cold we presumed we got from her for a few days now..... I am happy to report that she is doing considerably better today and all anxiety is alleviated now that she can breathe with the albuterol inhaler. As for the reactive airway disease- I think it means she has really mild asthma so that when she gets sick like this it may be harder for her to breathe. I am not sure I really think she has RAD, we'll see what her actual pediatrician thinks. Anyway. That's the story about ava's 2nd visit to the ER (the first being at 2 weeks when she somehow contracted RSV) I will post some pics later of our little adventure.