Long Lost Friends, Reunited!!!!

Connor & Sky
Rylie's infamous "Cheeeeese!" face

Connor, Sky, Rylie

Tiffany, David, and Cassandra

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Some of my best friends, from Michigan, were in UT a few weeks ago. I happened to be up north visiting my family at the same time they were in the Ogden area! I am so happy and grateful that we were able to work out a day that we could get together and hang out! I have many, many fond memories of the Arrington's. I have missed them IMMENSLY! We met up at McDonald's, like the good ole' days, and let the kids play while we caught up and just jabbered. I got to meet Tiffany's adorable new baby boy, Cammon! What a sweet, perfect, tiny little guy. It was so great to just hang out again! After lunch we went over to David's parents house to swim and cool off a little! It made me realize, even more, how much I miss them! However, I am so grateful we've been able to keep in touch and see each other a couple times since we moved back! I can't wait until the next time we see each other!

Hyrum Parade-July 5, 2010

Looking for the parade to come!

Ready for candy!

She's already got the princess wave going.

The fireworks crew at my parents house.

The campfire!

We went to the parade in Hyrum this year. I have to say that it was the longest, boring 2 hours of my life in a long time. It was a pretty lame parade with hardly any candy. It's okay if it's a lame parade but, you do need a lot of candy and it was lacking. After the parade we went to my Grandma's house for food and fun and hanging out with family! We then went to my parents house and had a swim party in the backyard, ate more food, and just enjoyed the afternoon. Later that night we had a campfire, made smores, and set fireworks off!

Logan Fireworks - July 2, 2010

We sat in front of the football stadium to watch the fireworks this year! We had a GREAT spot and it was right next to the Jamba Juice tent! Mmmmm! My brother Matt and also my brother Greg and his family met us there to watch! The kids had a great time and I just love the Logan city fireworks! Such a good time! One of my favorite moments was the airplane flyover! That plane was HUGE! So glad we were with my family to celebrate the 4th of July this year!

17.5 week Ultrasound/Check-Up

Went in for a check-up today. We had a scare for a few moments. My Dr. was unable to find the heartbeat. He checked for a few minutes and couldn't locate the heartbeat. Scared me to death!!!! So, he found the ultrasound tech. quickly and had her do an ultrasound. Luckily and thankfully, she was able to find the heartbeat just fine. We found the baby's head is currently located just above my belly button and it's legs towards my hip bones. Every time I took a breath he/she would move so they think that is why the Dr. had a hard time finding the heartbeat. They looked at the baby's brain and you could see the baby's hand popping up and down, as if he/she was waving at us. So grateful and relieved that all is well! No more scares for me, PLEASE!!!!!

17 1/2 weeks along!

I'm 17 1/2 weeks along right now and will be 18 weeks along on Friday. I wanted to make sure I documented that I felt the baby move, with 100% assurity, yesterday evening as I lay on the couch watching some TV. I have thought that maybe I felt movement here and there but, this was an obvious kick and flutter in the lower, right side of my stomach. It was such a great and awesome feeling and I look forward to feeling that again soon, I hope! As far as changes or things I've noticed this pregnancy.....I'm not as sick as I have been but, I still seem to have afternoon/evening sickness. Mornings start out pretty good but, afternoon comes and I feel just icky and the worst time is at around 11:00pm. Oh my goodness!!!! I feel awful! If any of you have been on the white roller coaster at Lagoon too many times, you'll know the feeling I am referring to. Anyway, I get hungry quite fast and if I don't eat the instant I feel hunger pains, then I suffer the rest of the day. I also have noticed that I am, so far, carrying this baby much lower than I have my previous other 3 pregnancies. I'm sure that will change as the baby grows but, it has just been interesting. It's time to bite the big one and by some maternity pants & capri's or something! No real cravings but, I do have to avoid taco's. I have an appointment in 2 days. Last time I was there they said I would be able to find out what we're having this next appointment. We're not finding out, again, but I'm still anxious to see the baby. I always get anxious and nervous when it comes to appointments. Mike and I are just so nervous and anxious that we'll go into our appointment and find that something is wrong or has happened. So, it will be good to go in, get an ultrasound, and see that all is well.

So Far This Summer We've........

SWIMMING LESSONS

PLAYING WITH COUSINS

GOLFING WITH DAD

SWIMMING PARTY WITH COUSINS

Although it is only June, we have been having a great time trying to stay cool. I know a lot of my posts involve water but, you have to do what you can to survive the heat down here. What's great about St. George is all the splash pad's, pools, and other ways to stay cool! So, now June is almost over and can't wait for next month which will include more swimming, the 4th of July, camping, and who knows what else!

13 Weeks Along!

I've decided, for journaling purposes mainly, to blog each week of my pregnancy to note how I'm feeling, changes, etc. I kept a journal of all my other pregnancies but, this time I've been slacking so, I'm going to start now. So here goes week #13. Up until now I've been very blessed to not be NEARLY as sick as my other pregnancies. However, where I haven't been as sick, I've made up for in other areas. My face is COVERED in pimples like no other! I need to be on a commercial for Proactiv, after they clear up! I've been very, very depressed, moody, unmotivated, and just a slacker in every area of my life! I just feel like a chaotic mess and feel like my kids and husband are suffering because of it. I know Mike understands and doesn't think anything of it but, I worry about my kids and what they must feel and think. Next week I'll begin my 2ND trimester. Some changes I've noticed this week is that my nausea has increased in a big way!!!! I do okay in the morning, still nauseous but, okay. However, my afternoon and evenings are pretty bad. Last night I was so, so sick and just collapsed on my bed in tears from exhaustion from being so sick! Mike was so cute and kind with me. He came in and gave me a blessing, rubbed my hair back while I cried, and cut up an apple (helps to ease the nausea). He was so sweet and sat there until I finally cried myself to sleep. The other annoying thing that is going on is that strange taste in my mouth thing! I must brush my teeth 8-10 times a day and chew cinnamon gum like crazy, to mask the metallic-like taste! GAG!!!! Eating is an issue too, even for ME!!! I find myself getting EXTREMELY hungry every 3-4 hours and if I don't eat right then, I'm deathly sick. It's tough 'cause I truly don't want to eat but, I must! I hate to complain and whine because the miracle of a pregnancy and a child is beyond comprehension and I'm so very grateful for each child I'm able to carry! It just gets hard to be tough sometimes and I have definite moments of weakness. This too shall pass and I have to keep my eye on the ball and remember the reward for this. I haven't noticed any change in growth in my tummy, which isn't saying much. At my last Dr. appointment I had lost weight so, that was good for me to hear. So, we're moving right along. Slowly (thank heavens) but, surely!!!!!

Baby McGinnis at 12 Weeks

Measurements of baby at 12 weeks.
Heartrate of baby was 162 bpm
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I had a baby check-up appointment today. To my surprise they decided to do a quick ultrasound. It was so fun seeing the baby on the screen and it was especially funny to see the baby had major hiccups while we were there! The baby is looking great, measuring 2 days ahead, and was moving like crazy!!! Heck, I even lost 2 lbs.! SWEET!

New Addition to our Family!

View into our living room as your walk into the front door.
Our new "baby"!
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No, we didn't have another baby.......not until December anyway. We've loved the couches we had in the past but, they were getting a little too worn in, if ya' know what I mean. I mostly got tired of both the readjusting of the cushions every 5 minutes and sinking into oblivian whenever I or someone else sat on the couch. The single seater couch totally snapped in half, which my amazing husband fixed! So, one day Mike came home and informed me of a couch he really wanted. AS you can see, this thing is pretty big and long. You can seat 8 people on it comfortably. So, we didn't know how we were going to fit it into our weirdly shaped townhome. So, we looked at other couches, etc. but, I could tell that Mike just loved the original couch (seen above). So, we said heck with measurements! Let's just buy it and hope we can make it work. So, we got it home and after rearranging our furniture 3 different times, we finally got it to fit into our house! Wahoo!!!! We have loved it ever since and are so glad we jumped in and bought it! It's super comfortable! In fact, we have all fallen asleep on this couch at one time or another!

Piano Before & Afters

BEFORE (Aug. 2009)
AFTER (May 2010)

BEFORE (Aug. 2009)

AFTER (May 2010)

BEFORE (Aug. 2010)

AFTER (May 2010)

BEFORE (Aug. 2009)
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Finally, 9 months after the fall of my piano, we have a perfect, fixed piano!!!! I cannot even begin to explain the happiness I feel inside! A huge sigh of relief came over me when I saw the fixed piano and when it was moved safely and put back into my home!!!! It looks just like new and like we just bought it, even though I've had it for 13 years!!!! Welcome back old friend!