Corie - 2 Months Old

Corie turned 2 months old on February 17, 2011. Month 2 flew by fast for me. Month 2 also seemed to be a rough month for Corie. It all seemed to begin at the end of January. She started to show signs of a cold but, it got worse and worse. Her coughing spells were scary! So, at around 3am on February 1st, I took Corie into the emergency room. When she cough, she'd cough continuously for 30 seconds or so and would start to turn a deep, deep red and nearly stop breathing. She'd also throw up flem and her milk like crazy!!! They swabbed her throat to test for strep, although they were sure it would come back negative since it is rare to get strep as such a new baby. While we were waiting for results, the Dr. had Corie get suctioned so that they could run another test to look at RSV, etc. So, the respiratory therapist came and suctioned Corie but, failed to keep a sample so, Corie was tortured for nothing. The test results came back as positive for strep. They immediately put her on antibiotics and set up a follow-up appointment with Corie's pediatrician for a week later. The week following Corie's emergency room visit was tiring. Corie continued to stay pretty sick, coughed a lot, and I had to take her in to get suctioned nearly every day. I felt so bad for her and felt helpless as her Mom. On Monday, February 7th, we saw Dr. Marsden. He checked Corie out and decided to swap her for 2 tests. The first one for RSV and any other breathing illness. The second one for whooping cough/pertussis. Dr. Marsden said that her coughing spells really concerned him. He also said that clinically he had no reason to test Corie for whooping cough. However, something in him just told him to test her anyway. The results for the RSV test came that night and it was negative. I was relieved and didn't think she had whooping cough. The results for that test have to be sent to SLC though and can take 2-3 days to get results. Well, 3 days later I get a call from the health department. I guess if something like whooping cough is reported on an infant, they have to follow-up and check on the condition of the child and what measures have been taken to heal the infant. Well, the problem was that I hadn't been notified of the results yet and was now in a panic. I called Dr. Marsden and he hadn't received the results yet himself so, he looked it up and sure enough, Corie had whooping cough/pertussis. So, to treat that you have to treat everyone in the family. So, Mike, myself, Connor, Rylie, and Corie all got put on a very strong dose of Zithromax for 5 days. Dr. Marsden said we are very lucky that Corie didn't end up in the hospital. He feels that because she had been on an antibiotics for 10 days (from the strep throat) that it may have helped her to heal quicker. Also, you only have a small window to catch whooping cough and to be able to treat it with medicine. So, we caught it in time, rather than having to have it just run its coarse. Luckily, Corie is doing SO MUCH better now!!!! For a few weeks, she just wasn't herself. She was very irritable, unsettled, and just not happy. Now she is smiling more and more, content with herself, always hungry again, and her cute/fun/quirky personality is back. I'm so relieved she's improved so much and am so happy to have my sweet baby girl back!!!!

Snow Canyon Hike

My Cup Runneth Over!

The last few days, in the life of being a mommy, have been tough for me. I think the lack of sleep, mixed with having sick children, and myself being sick, have contributed greatly to this. My Mom also left on Sunday. Figuring out how to take care of three children and stay happy has been a difficult thing for me to figure out. My mornings start out GREAT and I'm motivated and stick to a routine. However, as the afternoon rolls along I become overwhelmed, stressed, tired, crabby, and just DONE with being a Mom and a wife. Tonight I was feeling particularly low, feeling sorry for myself, frustrated with my kids, and just being so frustrated. Then, I came across a blog that truly touched me to the core! I now find myself so very, very grateful for my children!!!!!! Without them I have no purpose. They are who I live for each and every day. I love their smiles, their laughter, their excitement, and their joy. I love to listen to them, when they don't know I'm near, and to hear them playing and enjoying one another! I feel so blessed and honored that I have been blessed with 4 children!!!! Each of them have brought so much joy into my life and each individually add a spark to our family! I need to really do a better job of keeping in mind that they are a gift from my Heavenly Father! It's a miracle and meant to be that these children are part of our family. Each day that I have spent with them is precious! You never know what you've got until it's gone. While I have experienced this once already, I have lost sight of it many times. However, tonight is not one of those nights. I love my children so very, very much and my heart is so full right now! I look forward to sneaking into their rooms tonight, kissing their sweet cheeks, and giving them a hug.

Corie's Blessing Day - February 6, 2011

Corie, my Dad, and me

My Mom, Corie, and Me

Myself, Corie, and Mike

Mike & CorieMyself and Corie

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We had Corie's baby blessing this last Sunday (February 6, 2011). Mike gave her a beautiful blessing!!!!! In the circle stood Mike, his Dad, his brother Shawn, my Dad, and my three of my brother's Ken, Greg, and Matt. We were so lucky and felt blessed to have so many family members there and friends to support us! The day couldn't have been better! The weather was gorgeous and the perfect temperature. Except for one glitch (Rylie choking and throwing up all over), the day went exactly as planned. After the blessing we all headed over to The Relief Society Hall for lunch. We served lasagna, salad, and rolls. For dessert we had ice cream and my Dad picked up cookies from the Pepperidge Farm bakery factory in Richmond. We had a great day and so much fun! The only thing that would've made it completely perfect is if all of our family members could have made it. However, I know that if they could've possibly made it and circumstances were different, they would have come. We definitely missed them and thought of them! It wasa wonderful, beautiful day and feel so happy, blessed, and grateful that we have Corie here and a reason to celebrate! WE LOVE YOU, CORIE!!!!

It Takes a Village To Raise a Child!

Corie and Grandma Jeppesen

Corie and Grandpa Jeppesen
Corie and Uncle Ken Jeppesen
Corie and Grandpa & Grandma McGinnis
Corie with her cousin Chelsey and husband Ryan

Corie and Aunt Stacey McGinnis

Corie and Aunt Shannon McGinnis

Corie and Aunt Sam Jeppesen

Corie and her cousin, Shelby Jeppesen

Corie with her 2 cousins, Anna & Shelby Jeppesen

Uncle Ken helping cousin David hold Corie

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I am very blessed to be part of 2 amazing and wonderful families (my family and Mike's family)! Each of them influence me for good in many ways and I'm so grateful for their examples and what they have to offer. Being a Mom is tough for me and a struggle but, it helps to know I can rely on and ask for advice and help from my family! I am so grateful for the all the support we receive from our families. I love my family so very, very much!!!!

My Angels!

Connor's Christmas Sunday outfit
An outfit Grandpa & Grandma McGinnis gave Rylie for Christmas
I love to dress my kids up! Meaning, I love to dress them in fun, cute clothes! When I saw the suit Connor is wearing, I just had to have it for him. I think he looks so handsome and reminds me of Mike in it! Rylie's outfit makes me giggle! Forever she wouldn't let me put it on her. However, I decided to try again and she LOVED wearing it! She kept twirling and dancing around!

Corie 1-Month-Old

On January 17th, Corie turned a month old! Time flies when you are having fun....with your new baby! Right?!?! It's been a fun month with Corie! I love and adore her so much! Some fun little facts about Corie's first month are:

• At her last Dr. appointment she weighed 10 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long.
• She has begun to smile and coo.
• She guzzles her milk down like she's trying to win the gallon challenge.
• Usually, after each feeding, she gets the hiccups.
• We are pretty sure her nickname will be squeaky because she is always squeaking and making funny noises.
• She absolutely is fascinated with her tongue and is always sticking it out or making funny noises with her tongue.
• If I am having a hard time getting her to fall asleep, I just have to cradle her in my arms and pat her on the back and she'll usually fall asleep.
• She has reflux and has to take baby Zantac twice a day.
• She has the McGinnis curse and sneezes a lot!
• She is constantly falling asleep with her eyes open. She looks like she's looking at you but, isn't. I'm pretty sure she's always dreaming of heaven because she smiles in her sleep a lot.
• If she doesn't want her binky, then she makes a face like she's swallowed a lemon.

Bumbo Baby!

A couple of the people Mike work with surprised me with a couple of awesome gifts when Corie was born. One was my amazing diaper bag and the other was the Bumbo chair you see in the pictures. Corie looks so cute and makes me laugh in the chair. She's so tiny still and to see her sitting in this chair makes me laugh.

Corie's First Visit to Church!

This last Sunday was Stake Conference. I have missed not going to church and knew it would be a good opportunity to go to church and take Corie, since we wouldn't be there for very long. Corie did awesome in church and was very reverent! :-) Didn't even make a sound! My Dad found her cute dress! I had been looking for a Sunday dress for her and had searched all over but, by the time I went looking for a Sunday dress (after Christmas), it was too late to find any. My Dad suggested we try one last store (Osh Kosh) and there it was! I love it on her!!!!

Corie's 1st Bath!

I was so excited when Corie's umbilical cord fell off! That meant I could finally give Corie a bath! I love to bath my babies because they smell so dang good after! Lucky for us, Corie seems to love her baths! I think it helps that we have the big cover-up for her body, that my friend Brittany gave us. It keeps her warm so she relaxes!