five years ago...

In two days my baby girl will turn FIVE!  That will deserve a post on its own...all about Lucy!  But tonight I can't help but remember where we were five years ago.  Five years ago today I was admitted to the hospital.  After about ten weeks of tears, prayers, fingers crossed and anxiety we were told that it was time to be in the hospital.  I was prepared for the long haul.  I could do bed rest.  Bring in all seasons of the O.C. to watch in bed (a task that Blake still suggests monthly), hang out and get as close to 40 weeks as possible.  I was up to that challenge but it really never was a discussion.  I think my doctor knew all along that baby girl would be coming soon.

Tonight I was scheduled in the Special Care Nursery at LDS.  The SCN has babies usually older than 32 weeks and typically with non threatening conditions.  A lot of the families I've met have been there less than one week.  After I introduce myself and tell our story many of the parents look at me wide-eyed and say "79 days!  How could you do it?"  Well, let me just say, I don't know how the HELL we did it?!  But really, we had no idea what else to do.  These sweet parents always follow up with something like "we've been here four days - I have nothing to complain about compared to you." But I always tell them than one day is a day too long.  Not having your ideal birthing experience is not fair.  Every situation is unique and every one is just as important.  As I walked into the hospital tonight, back to that same 4th floor it kind of all hit me again.  Where we were five years ago and that feeling we had of the unknown.  The hospital lobby is in the middle of a remodel but it still smells the same to me.  The elevators are the same.  Even one of the security guards we had to sign in with each night to visit our baby is still working there.

I met such a sweet couple tonight.  They just had their first child, about six weeks early.  They were tired and still in a blur.  I remembered that feeling.  I remember just wanting so bad to have someone tell me she was going to be okay.  But not until she had been there about a month did I feel certain we would take her home.  This couple had questions too and the poor mom was feeling the guilt that preemie moms are all too familiar with.  I told her she did such a great job.  She carried him this far and he's doing well.  I also listened because really that's the most important thing.

Last week Lucy was begging for some toy she saw on tv.  One of the light up stuffed animals that projects stars on the ceiling.  She said she'd start staying in her bed if we got her one.  Well I remembered I bought her a ladybug one on her first birthday.  She didn't care about it then so it was packed away with all of the "baby" stuff.  Opening all of those totes brought back so many memories...but really happy memories.  I was overwhelmed at the cards, notes, letters from so many family and friends.  Wishing us well, wishing Lucy well.  Never in my life have I felt so loved.  I came across Lucy's name tags and care charts from the NICU.  We had such great nurses who helped me learn to find my voice and be Lucy's advocate.  My wonderful friend Lacey went to such work and made me scrapbook pages from pictures I had posted online and compiled everything together - she did so much for me during that time.  My parents and family spent so much time with Lucy and I came across notes I made each evening about Lucy's weight and any information my mom or me would note during a visit.  I tried to explain some of these items to Lucy.  She's older now and is starting to understand why some of this stuff is so important.  But I know I have years and years to show her and share with her all of the love she got before so many people even met her.  She got her light up ladybug and still came to our bed that night.

A lot of these memories and thoughts have been written by me before.  Maybe each year I'll have the same stuff to say but for some reason...five years ago seems like such a long time.  We've all come so far and we're continually blessed with such amazing family and friends.  Lucy will start kindergarten in the fall, she's in the middle of her first "crush", she's a master of the eye roll and for some reason has started calling Blake, "Big Jo".  She's a normal, beautiful, brilliant five year old who probably doesn't need her mom to get weepy every March and show her the hospital id she wore around her ankle.  But it will always be there.  That mix of memories, anxiety, hope, love.  The start of our family.  

My doctor came into our hospital room very early on the 30th.  Like around 4 or 5 in the morning.  She told me she felt it was best to deliver later that day.  She was leaving out of town in a couple of hours but wanted to come in and check on me.  Blake was asleep in the room and after she left I sat alone. Just over 12 hours later my dream came true.

5, 5, 5!

It's that time of year again!

Time again for a bake sale, fundraising, hanging out with our favorite people and doing a little walk on a Saturday morning.

5, 5, 5

Lucy will be FIVE years old at the walk this year...

This will be Team Lucy Bug's! FIFTH appearance at the March for Babies Salt Lake event...

The event will be held on May FIFTH...

Five must be a lucky number this year!

Last year we had such an incredible outpouring of love, support and donations and we were the top fundraising family in the entire state (thank you, thank you, thank you)! We were so honored last year to be the Ambassador Family and we know that helped with our amazing total. This year we are just as excited to participate and give back to the March of Dimes organization. But we don't have to give speech and uphold any "duties" this year so this is our fun (relaxed) year. And, May 5th?! Cinco de Mayo! So that will just add to the fun!

If you can help support Team Lucy Bug! this year we will be so grateful. Once again my wonderful aunt Kim and cousin Alisa have been kind enough to host our bake sale. This was a huge success last year and I know many people are looking forward to picking up some tasty treats again this year. If you want to help support our team here are the details:

Bake Sale - Saturday April 28th 10:00-12:00pm

1840 East 1300 South

If you would be willing to make any baked goods to donate to this event please let me know! We received some delicious items last year and would love to sell your treats again. Let me know what you'd like to make so we know what will be coming! And if you aren't the baking type then you probably are the tasting type...so mark your calendars and come buy some treats!

Join our team and fundraise -

You can join our team online and use any of the tools provided on the site to do your own fundraising. Click here to join.

Walk with us!

If you don't feel like registering for the walk but want to show up with us that morning then just let me know you will be walking with us! We had over 60 team members last year and we'd love to see those numbers again. We do want to give a count to the March of Dimes how many participants to expect so letting me know you're coming is great! The walk is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. The location is This Is the Place Heritage Park and there is food, prize drawings and activities for kids.

Make a donation -

If you can't make it to the bake sale to pick up some yummy treats but would like to donate to the cause you can make a tax deductible donation HERE.

Thank you all for your support over the years. Every year around this time I really struggle with anxiety and a roller coaster of emotions (maybe that's why I've been sick for a week!). I've realized as Lucy's birthday approaches a lot of those feelings of fear, sadness and the unknown creep up just as though it happened yesterday. We are so blessed to have a healthy, happy child and we are so excited she will be turning five soon. But I will always be a "preemie mom" and the bittersweet will always make an appearance this time of year.

It's so therapeutic to participate in this event and know that all of the people who walked and raised money years before Lucy was born helped play a part in her healthy life. And we will continue to walk each year for those healthy full-term babies like our new nephew Everett. And we will walk for those other babies who will come early by no fault of their own or their mommy's. We will continue to support the March for Dimes and their mission to give all babies a healthy start.

special person

A couple weeks ago Blake and I were honored to be Lucy's guests at preschool. It was Lucy's turn to be the Special Person in the blue room. We got to make a "Lucy" poster with pictures of family and things she loves. She brought the snack for the class (apples and string cheese) and got to be the one to pass out the snack...how cool is that when you are four?! She got to bring her favorite story from home - Alice in Wonderland and with our help came up with a class craft to do with her classmates.

Lucy picked Blake to read her story to the class and she was so excited to bring a little bit of one of her favorite things into the room. She kept asking Blake to show her the pictures...like we haven't read this four thousand times already.

Lucy had to explain the pictures she chose for her poster and then it was a little Q & A session. Lucy was giggly and thrilled when her crush (Teagan!) had his hand up in the as the questions started. But a bit disappointed when he said "I was just stretching..."

We came up with the idea to plant tomato seeds with her class. These kids are cute! But it's so funny to see the difference between boys and girls. The boys didn't talk much and dug in quickly with the dirt and got the job done. The girls talked and talked! They asked questions, had to sit by certain friends, questioned where I bought the popsicle stick markers (and if I painted them myself or bought them that way...sheesh!) and seemed sort of competitive about the whole process. And that is one of the reasons I LOVE having a girl...

A bit dramatic...a lot of talking...and a little (or a lot: Lucy) sass!

I can't say enough about our wonderful preschool. My only regret is that Lucy didn't get to go there for two years. It is a great program. Not too structured but structured enough. She has learned so much this year and we've loved her teachers. I can't believe kindergarten registration is just around the corner. Oh, and who knew people talked about kindergarten like it's applying to college?!

cookie college

A couple of weeks ago while wasting some time on the facebook I noticed Gardner Village had a little contest to win a spot in one of their cookie college classes held at Naborhood Bakery. I entered Lucy and won! Cookie college was kind of a big deal. They had a tour of the bakery, rolled out their own dough, cut cookies, watched them go in the huge bakery oven and then decorated and brought home about a dozen (very average tasting) cookies. She even got a diploma and a free lunch that she told one of the cute bakery girls was "sick".

It was nice to get out of the house...we've all had a turn of not feeling the greatest and February is blah so we enjoyed our sunny (but freezing) afternoon at the village.

Do you every have those days (or sometimes just moments) when you love your kid so much you just cry? That was this day. I don't know if it's because her birthday is around the corner or if she's just the sweetest, best girl ever but I watched her as we walked around and I was almost sobbing because I just love her so much.

Thank goodness for sunglasses or people might have suspected a nervous breakdown.

And the award goes to...

me...

for the most correct guesses for our annual family Oscar party!!

Give us an excuse to eat a lot of yummy food, hang out together for a few hours and 'theme' something up and we really outdo ourselves.

This year we decided to do a Hawaiian theme in honor of one of the best picture nominees, The Descendants. So my mom went all out with a luau in February. Caitlin did shredded chicken sandwiches and a yum pineapple-ish cake, Blake did grilled kabobs and rice, Calah made yummy guacomole and my mom finished up with everything else: salads, fruit and plenty of movie treats!

Lucy wanted to be decked out in a party dress and counted down all day to go to the party...she may have been a bit disappointed when she realized the 'party' was watching tv.

Aloha!

Of course Blake and I swept both contests. He scored us a Jamba Juice gift card for winning Oscar Bingo and all of my studying paid off in guessing the most correct wins during the ceremony. Lucy should be so proud of her parents.

My parents are always such great hosts and really, there's no better way to watch a 3 hour award show than with our crew!

A few notes:

For being one of the nicest people on the planet I don't understand how Brinton can't stand Oprah...and Meryl Streep?!

My dad loves a good 'In Memoriam' segment

Blake knows every single person in show business (well, not personally) and every movie they've ever made - he really puts my celeb knowledge to shame

George Clooney was robbed! Really, The Descendants is such an amazing movie and he was so good in it. I never thought that much about him but after this movie...wowza! It should be out to rent soon so make sure to give it a watch - by far the best movie I've seen in a long time!

love is all we need

Blog, schmog.

Sometimes life is really amazing but really not that interesting to blog about. That's been us for the past month. Life is just moving along...preschool, work, family date nights, zumba therapy sessions, learning to read, Barbies.

Pretty much how things should be but no one really wants to read about it because they're doing it too. Sometimes I feel like documenting the mundane but not this month. I've just enjoyed living it.

But then one day you feel bad because the four people who read your blog probably are sick of seeing the latest post and one day I really promise I'm going to print "the blog" and I would hate Lucy to think that we stopped taking pictures of her for a month.

Lucky for us Valentine's rolled in this week and sparked some enthusiasm to update...

This year we did the 14 days of Valentine's again. A little treat, note, present in Lucy's mailbox every morning. I don't do well with junk toys but when you need 14 gift ideas something from the Target dollar section is bound to get tossed in. I think next year it might be easier (and cheaper) to have the Valentine fairy (or whatever this is called) to bring $1 a day.

The final gift on Valentine's morning was two tickets to see the musical Beauty and the Beast next month at Capitol Theater! I spent over an hour trying to secure some tickets. They weren't specifically for a Valentine's gift but when the treat cupboard was empty on Valentine's eve I decided it was the perfect time to tell her about the tickets. Sad for me she's insisting on Blake taking her. Her words..."Daddy just LOVES Beauty and the Beast...so we will go on a daddy/daughter date night and you can stay home and look at your computer."

Thanks.

This is what she got for that daddy she loves so much...

I looked to Pinterest for some Valentine preschool motivation but it just made me anxious. Too much cute stuff. So we just got some cello bags, Target treats, stickers and called it good. They turned out cute and Lucy loved taking "ribbon bags" to her friends.

I had to work on Valentine's but Lucy had a special afternoon with her Gammy and Poppa. They had a special lunch and fun treats!

After we picked her up we had a dinner date out and heart-shaped sugar cookies in bed. Because yes, she's almost five and still coming in to sleep with us...

...and as much as I complain about getting kicked in the neck all night some day she probably won't even unlock the door to her room. So snuggle in little Valentine, snuggle in!

trending now

On my yahoo home page they have a "Trending Now" sidebar with what I expect is supposed to be happening, searched or popular topics. Sometimes I think they're fake and yahoo just stuck some random thing in there. Because today...Herniated Disc Surgery. Really? I mean, I've had one but I really hope that's not a trend. So anyway, jumbled thoughts and all this is my personal trending now post.

Kindle Fire: Okay, I got one for Christmas and it's been the best gift ever. I have been so bad at reading the past year or so. There are so many books I want to read but I'm lazy and never make the time. I guess by not having to turn a page it's really made things easy for me and I've read three books since Christmas. Going along with this trend is the Hunger Games series. Leave it to me to be a year or two behind the trends but I started these after Christmas and I really like them. I've avoided them because of the futuristic/science fiction-y idea but they've been great.

Zumba: My cousin Alisa and I bought gym memberships on living social. She's a superstar and goes to every class but surprisingly I've got hooked on a few classes too. It really helps when it takes 2 1/2 minutes from my driveway to a parking spot to get to the gym but I really actually enjoy it once I'm there. My favorite is our Zumba class. Who knew I would have so much fun and not dread going to an hour long class which turns me lobster face red and a sweating mess. A lot of it has to do with the instructor...he's amazing! At the end of a long day it's so therapeutic to dance around with a bunch of strangers (and my cousin) to a latin-themed Pump up the Jam.

Downton Abbey: Last weekend my cute friend Stacy mentioned this PBS series on her blog. Stacy has really amazing taste so I knew this could be worth watching. Then on Sunday there was an article in the Tribune about the second series starting and how it was even better than the first. Well, in just a few days I'm almost finished with the first season and I have all of the second season set up to record on the dvr. I LOVE it!! The costumes and sets are spectacular and the different story lines draw you right in. This is highly recommended! The episodes are on Netflix but I've been streaming them from amazon for free...you guessed it, on my Kindle! Thanks Stace...

Bathroom cell phone pictures: Even though it hasn't been that much of a winter yet. There are still some long days. When the crafts are done, one too many episodes of Caillou have been watched the next best thing is to put on a little makeup and take pictures.

Noel Gallagher: The first gift I ever gave Blake was an Oasis cd. Then Wonderwall became our song. Well, the Oasis brothers have broken up but lucky for us we're still going strong. Noel Gallagher has started his own band and he really brought us back in with this song. Romance! So as I start packing for a mini vacay retreat with my bestie I'll leave you with the video. This one will be 'trending' for awhile!