I'm Back!

I'm back! I haven't been a complete stranger to the blogosphere because I have Hudson's cute little blog (deargoobs.blogspot), but lately I have been thinking that I miss journaling our activities and keeping up with everyone via our blogs. By the way, do people blog anymore or was this just a little fad I took part in for a while? Regardless, I'm happy to be back. Life is busy, life is great, but that's all for another day. For now, I'm happy as a bug in a rug being a mommy, a wife, a student and a labor and delivery nurse (in that order for the most part). So... pretty please put me back on your blog reel?

To clarify...

One day while floating down the river in good ol' St. Anthony, I was thinking about my daily schedule and had a startling realization. I Pinterest, I Facebook, I blog stalk, and I author two blogs... landonandche, and deargoobs. Doing the math in my head arose a startling figure. I was spending SO much time on this computer writing about the boys in my life, but not actually DOING things with the boys in my life.

So I got rid of Facebook, and I decided to devote my efforts to Hudson's blog (deargoobs) instead of this one. Don't get me wrong, this blog has had a GREAT run and I plan on printing it out for posterity's sake, but I wasn't always writing it for ME anymore. But instead for the 100 people who were allowed to read it. I can't say that I don't miss this blog, but I have found great rewards in spending less time on the internet. Mainly in this little man, who is growing like a weed by the way and absolutely ruling over every cell in my heart.

Until next time,

I'm a real nurse!

Don't mind the hideousness, this pic was taken at 3:13 am
Well, I finally did it. I'm a legit, true blue, seriously serious nurse. I did my capstone in the labor and delivery unit at the University of Utah. I talked to the nurse manager about perhaps getting a position there and she gave me a firm, "Sorry, we don't hire new grads." I was SO disappointed but had accepted the reality of my situation (no job prospects at all) when I got a call from her offering me a job! It's been so crazy trying to learn all of the procedures and protocols but I am so happy and I love my job! The plan is to work here for a year before going back to midwifery/women's health nurse practitioner school next August. Hooray for graduating and getting a REAL paycheck!

The elephant in my mind

For the past few weeks I have been looking at my blog thinking, "I need to update that." I could post about the NCLEX, my new job, the 4th of July or some random thing about Hudson. That's what I have been telling myself to do, but I know that would be avoiding my feelings and the REAL subject on my mind for the last two weeks. So as much as I have been wanting to avoid this post and pretend this has not really happened, it is time to face it. Two weeks ago my beautiful, hilarious, witty and fantastic Aunt Linda passed away. Her death has left a huge hole in my family and I can't imagine life without her. She was 9 months pregnant with a darling baby girl. They have listed her cause of death as an "amniotic fluid embolism" although we have not received the autopsy report to confirm this.

I have spent the last weeks feeling confused, angry, and devastated. I wish that at times like this we had answers. I wish I had a complete understanding of God's plan for Linda and for her children. I have researched and contemplated how and why this has happened, but I know I just have to have faith that there is something going on that is much bigger than me and my broken heart. Please pray for Linda's husband, children and struggling baby Charlie. The next few months are going to be extremely difficult for them.

Arranged Friendship

To those of you who know me, it's no surprise that I would call my cousin Kim one of the closest people in my life. We have been through so much together and she is always there for me. As luck would have it, we had babies very close together and we are determined to make them best friends as well.

They spent most of the day basking in the sun, getting their tan on and gossiping about their latest flings.

But then they realized they are both interested in the same girl and things got ugly.

Let's hope they are able to move past this and make up soon ;)

Manscaping...

So last night when I was reading to Goobs, Landon was in the bathroom ahem manscaping. Admittedly it went on much longer than usual but I was not concerned. He had a serious job to do after all. He was beginning to put an italian jeweler to shame in the chest hair department. In any case, he soon came frantically bursting into the bedroom shouting, "Look what I did?!" I did not immediately notice the problem but was quickly directed upward. In the heat of the moment, Landon managed to shave off half of his eyebrow!

In the panic, I assured him that I could cover it with some makeup for school today. But don't worry, he took it upon himself and filled it in with a little black eyeshadow. Looking good...

Running With Angels

Last year my great friend, Natalie, and I found out we were expecting babies just days apart from one another. We had so much fun comparing symptoms and watching our bellies grow together. When we were 13 weeks pregnant, however, Nat found out that her precious baby had some problems. After receiving news of more complications, Baby Kaiya was soon diagnosed with Trisomy 13. She was born Oct. 21 and lived a few precious moments before returning home to her father in heaven. It was a huge blow to this amazing couple but they have always handled the situation with so much strength and faith. They have an amazing testimony of eternal families and look forward to being reuinted with their Angel Baby. Today we were able to celebrate Kaiya's memory and support a great cause by walking with them in the Running With Angels 5k. It was such a beautiful day!

Hudson even sported an "I ♥ Kaiya" muscle shirt...

It was humbling to see so many people running for babies that have passed. I absolutely cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a child. We love you Justin and Nat and are so grateful for your friendship and your great example!

In Bed

We are home in bed today. My little Love Bug has come down with the Cold Bug! Poor little thing, check out this snot...

Although adorable, he is feeling very anti-social.

We hope to re-emerge soon!

Congraduation!

Well folks, it finally came.... and then went. I graduated from Nursing school! I could give you a big, "Woohoo", but it just wouldn't quite sum it up. Strangely, I cried all the way to the graduation and halfway through it. I don't know if this is a normal reaction or not but I am a melancholy personality so it doesn't seem that out of character for me. I feel sad that this chapter in my life is over. I have spent so much time trying to get into the program and then suffering through it, I almost don't know what to do with myself.

I will say this... nursing school brought me some of the best friendships I have ever known. This is Carly. She and I started our pre-reqs together in Orem over 4 years ago and have laughed, cried, complained and rejoiced together more times than I can count. The thought of not seeing her everyday breaks my heart.

I had a lot of family members come to support me and it meant the world to me. These people are great to have in my corner.

I personally feel that this day really belongs to these two.... Landon has been such a good sport about helping me with Hudson for the last 4 months and hung in there with the B.I.G. miserable and overwhelmed pregnant nursing student. As for Hudson, at two weeks old his Mommy was leaving him for 12 hours at a time multiple times per week. I'm so grateful that this is over and all of my time spent at the hospital will now result in a paycheck!! Yippee and Go Utes!

What's in a name?

It's official... Hudson has a name. Hooray! We finally blessed our sweet little man on Easter Sunday. I have been given a lot of grief about waiting so long (some suggested he might just walk up himself) but I was very cautious about taking him out when he was so little. It was a fantastic day spent with people we love and Landon gave our son a very sweet blessing.

Goobs was lucky enough to be blessed at the same time as his best friend Jace. That way our family would only have to come down once (speaking of which... both of our families live far away, and yet they ALL came to the blessing. I can't tell you how much this meant to me.) Hudson is very loved.

Sorry Aunt Carol, this is the only one I have of all of us :) You look beautiful!

I love you Hudson. You are such a sweet blessing in our home. It was so neat for me to listen to your Daddy bless you with special things. Some of them were:

-That you would be healthy

-That you would be baptized and serve a mission

-That you would be an example to your siblings

-That you would recognize the blessings of following the gospel

-That you would be a worthy priesthood holder someday

I'm glad we finally have that taken care of! It was a LONG time coming!

The Pursuit of Happy-ness

Do you ever have a moment where you think to yourself, "I'm going to remember this moment forever"? I have done this a few times in my life. Sometimes because the moment is overwhelmingly surprising, exciting, sad, or stressful. But it is rare for me to have a moment of complete content and sublime happiness, like I found the proverbial "pot" at the end of the rainbow. I had one of those today.... and it was beautiful.

It's my last day of school, the closing of a hugely important chapter in my life. It's a bittersweet beginning to my career and some time with my baby before I go to grad school. I thought I would celebrate by going on a walk with Goobs to the park. On my way there the birds were chirping, the sun was shining, my son was cooing and with tears streaming down my face, I thought how lucky I am to be so very blessed. So at the risk of sounding proud I want to say that I love my life, I'm grateful for all of the amazing gifts I have been given but don't always deserve. I'm grateful for my education and this beautiful baby I have been entrusted with. I'm overwhelmingly thankful for Landon and his support through the hell they call, "nursing school."

I have no idea what to do with myself tomorrow, for I have defined myself as a "student". But whatever I do... I feel overwhelming comfort knowing that this smile and the man I love get to accompany me.

Ready, Set, Hunt!

We had such an exciting weekend! We finally blessed our Goob-a-Loob (I know, I know... don't judge me) more on that later and we went to a super fun easter egg hunt!

Because everyone was in town for the blessing, we thought we should host an egg hunt for all of the little ones. Minus the light rain, it was a complete success!

This is Hudson and Jace (my cousin Kim's baby) they are best pals already and even shared a blessing day! I can't wait to see if their crazy shenanigans can't live up to their mothers'....

My darling Grandma and a wiped out Hudson

Max was a little tired... so Cortney assisted him ;)

Classic

I know I have said this before, but I really think I have the best family in the world. I don't know many people that are still so close with their extended family but we still do everything together. It was such a fun day and the kids made a haul in Easter candy... in fact.... I don't have photographic proof of this, but we went to Sizzler later and 2 of the kids barfed all over the table and then one puked all over Kim's rug the next day. Hysterical!