Linkin's Eye Surgery :(

When Linkin was a couple of months old, I noticed his left eye would go crossed! I just kinda thought it would fix itself until his Doc in Utah said she wanted him to go see an eye doc at the Primary Children's Medical Center. So after a couple of months we got him in and they said he would need at least one surgery, maybe two. Then probably patching and several prescription eyeglasses! How sad! The Dr., Dr. Dries, said that if we get this all taken care of now while his little brain is learning sight then by the time he's a young man, he should have perfect vision! So on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 we took him to get his surgery done! It went very, very, well! He was super sad the day of the surgery but by the next day he was back to spitting and playing and being cute!! We can already see quite the difference just looking at him! I'm sure it's so nice not to have one eye always looking in the other direction!

Linkin's eyes before surgery

On our way in...

The "ele"vator :)

Kissin Daddy before surgery

Day after surgery! Lookin good!

Party Time

Drake & Kiowa had a little party for their birthday!! The girls of course chased all the boys and the boys shot nerf guns at all the girls!! They ate pizza, played "Red Rover, Red Rover" and jumped on their new trampoline!! What a blast!! Here are a few pictures and a little video of them!!

Kiowa & Drake

Drake's presents

Kiowa's presents

Typical girls :)

The BOYS!!!
Carson, Gunner, Dayne, Dax, Jaxson & Drake

The GIRLS!!!

Abby, Brenna, Kaitlyn, Madisyn, McKara, Alexis, Ryan, Kiowa & Peyton

Kiowa turned EIGHT!!!

What a doll! (Dakota, Kiowa, Drake)

Kiowa & her Mama
Justin, Kelli, Drake, Kiowa & Linkin

Kiowa's Scriptures

Oh my little baby girl!!! I cannot believe she is EIGHT!! It seems like yesterday she was a teeny baby in my arms...

March 9, 2001

On Thursday, March 8th, 2001 I went to my usual Dr.'s appt. and was told that I was dilated to a FIVE but since I wasn't "actively" in labor, they told me to just go home. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I could have gotten an epidural at that point!!! I was so mad but I went home and thought for sure at any moment my water would break or I would have horrible contractions, but nothing. So finally Friday morning I told my mom I was going to go to the hospital and tell them I was in labor and when they checked me, they would see I was at a five and would believe me!!! So I called Rex at work and told him I was going to go to the hospital at noon! He thought I was a little crazy but said he'd be there. So my mom and I headed up to the hospital and my little plan worked except when they hooked me up to the machine it showed I WAS having contractions!!! What the?!!! Well yay for me!! I couldn't feel a thing! I then asked the nurse if the doc on call would break my water and she said sure! So they got me all settled, broke my water and a couple of hours later my baby girl arrived!!!! I was so, so, happy!

I have always wanted a bunch of daughters since I had so much fun with all of my sisters!! However it hasn't worked out quite that way!! I can't complain though because she is the best daughter and little friend I could ever ask for! She loves to be with me at all times, whether I'm cooking, cleaning, or doing something fun, she is at my side! We have matching aprons so we can cook together and she LOVES to help me cook! It is so adorable!! She is the best big sister in the world and would do anything for her siblings! I don't know what I would do with out her! She even wakes up with Linkin on some Saturdays and lets me sleep in!!!! I am so very blessed to be her Mama and she makes every day a happy one for all those around her! I love you Kiowa Ann!!!

Drake turned TEN!!

Drake loves "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"
Drake & his Mama

Baseball & Glove from Aunt Kristy
Kiowa, Dayne, Dakota, Tylan, Madi, Drake, & Linkin

Justin, Me, Kiowa, Drake & Linkin

Rewind back TEN years to Friday, March 5, 1999...

I was lazily laying in my bed as Rex walked out the door. I had asked him to leave his cell phone with me since I had the day off and I had errands to run since we were having our "house warming party" that night. I wasn't due til March 17th so no biggie. Anyway I yelled goodbye to Rex and then screamed "WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Becaussseee my water had just broken!! Literally seconds before Rex walked out the door and I wouldn't have been able to reach him for at least an hour! We rushed to the hospital where after a few short hours (I think from the time we got there til I had him it was a total of 5 hrs?) my B E A UTIFUL baby was born!!! Oh my goodness I LOVE that child! From the moment he was born he has been the sweetest, kindest and most handsome little thing!! He is such a joy in my life! I laugh every single day because of something he says or does. He loves to make me laugh and he is always telling me he loves me or that I'm the best mom ever or how much he loves to hang out with me! He's got the best imagination and creates a ton of games that not only he can play by himself or that others can play too. He loves to draw, eat pizza, play video games and read like crazy! He's also recently started playing basketball, football, baseball and loves to jump on the trampoline with his friends and cousins! He is such a talented little man and I am so, so, blessed to have been chosen to be his Mom! I thank God every day that he is in my life! Drake is an essential in my life and I look forward to everyday thanks to him! I love you Drakey-pooh!

UTARD

Ok I haven't written anything since I moved to this place. Do I even need to mention that I HATE it here? I'm sure it's a nice place for a lot of people but I am homesick and depressed and I want to go back to my Arizona. *sigh* Anyway, the kids and I came up here right before Thanksgiving and moved in with my sister Kristy and her family. We stayed in the freezing cold basement and were only planning on staying for a few weeks. However, my sister's husband lost his job so we stayed to help pay bills. And since they had kept Justin for 3 months prior to me moving there, we didn't mind. Unforunately it was not my favorite time there. I'm not even going to go there. So the good news is we just moved into a rental about a week and a half ago. It's a 6 bed 3 1/2 bath house with a big backyard so we are SO happy. Kristy and her kids are staying with us for a little while so the big house was a must. They stay downstairs where there are 3 beds 1 bath and a big family room! It's working out nicely and the kids are all happy to still be together.

Luke Wilson

Today we got to hang out, ok, stalk, Luke Wilson a little bit!! Michelle called me this morning saying there was a movie being filmed downtown by her work so she did a little investigating and found out it is for "Middlemen" with Luke Wilson, James Caan & Giovanni Ribisi to name a few! So off Bradie & I went!! We got there just in time for Michelle to get off work and we walked over to where they were filming. We were across the street from the pub they were filming in when I turned around and there was Luke walking toward us!!! So I turned around and said to Michelle "Luke Wilson is walking right toward us and I'm not even kidding!" haha So we called Bradie's name and she turned around to take pictures and as he passed Michelle said "Hi Luke!" and he was all "Hi" and was all cute and smiley! AWESOME!! We are such nerdy, starstruck gals! :) Anyway we of course became friends with some of the crew and they told us where they are taping tomorrow which happens to be right down the street from us in Glendale, so Danielle and I and possibly Bradie & Stephanie are gonna go watch again!! WOO HOO!!! If anyone else wants to go stalk, er, watch then call me!!

Off to Scotland!

Today Justin left for Scotland!!! He is going for more training for his new job! I am so sad I didn't get to go this time but it is REALLY cold there so that makes me feel better! He flew from Salt Lake City to Chicago where due to weather his flight left about 4 hrs. late! So now he is finally on his way to London but they will have missed their connecting flight to Aberdeen so they won't leave London til about 1pm London time! What a pain! Anyway I still totally wish I was there! haha

Kiowa's Awesome Hair Do

We tried putting some rollers in Kiowa's hair. It didn't work too well. We had to use paperclips to keep them in cuz I didn't have any hairpins haha! Then after she came back from looking at her hair she told me "It looks like I fell in a trash can!". It was hilarious! Check out her pouty lip!

Kiowa on Marion marrying Indiana Jones...

*Flabbergasted* "She's marrying him?!!" "But he's not a normal human!" "He's an adventure human!"

Linkin rolled!

On Monday the 13th we had Linkin on my bed propped on a pillow and he rolled from his back to his tummy off of the pillow! He did of course have the advantage of being propped but then the next day while on the floor he rolled again all by himself and now every time I put him on the floor he rolls right on to his tummy! So cute!

Riot Zone in Rigby

I can't remember what this was called but it was fun and they had to hit a cowbell at the top!
My dad the race car pro!
Kiowa LOVED this thing! She's in the blue shirt.

Drake climbing the rock wall
Oh my goodness! It has been FOREVER since I got on thing! I see I started a couple of drafts but never finished them! This one is from my family reunion in Idaho over the SUMMER! haha So I'm just going to post the pics that I had already on it. :) We went to the riot zone in Rigby which is where my dad lives. It was a blast and the kids all had a ton of fun! I'll try to get more pics on when I get my computer set up!

Linkin Justin Giguiere

A few details I forgot to put in before :) He was born at 10:09a.m. and was 8 lbs.7 oz. and was 21.5 in.
OK so I am a little delayed in getting this on here but better late than never right?

So on June 4th, 2008 after having a fun dinner at my house w/ my mom, Kristy, Danielle, Travis, Nick, Steph, Drake, Kiowa, Johnny, Molly, Justin and myself... Justin & I went to the hospital for my induction appt. (Now, I am drawing a blank on who all was or was not at the dinner so I am just guessing on that part! hehe)

Anyway we got to the hospital pretty close to midnight and arrived to have a bunch of cop cars blocking the entrance and all around the hospital which was interesting but I was too excited to care or even ask so I still don't even know what was going on! We went straight up to our room and got hooked up to the monitors and IV's etc. We hung out and talked for a while and then Justin got sleepy and took a nap. I, on the other hand was WAY too excited so I just layed there and watched tv. Luckily The Four Feathers was on, so that was entertaining. We were there alone til Danielle and Stephanie came to hang out. I think that was around 3 or 4. I am so hazy on the details!!



So this whole time I've been hooked up to the pitocin drip and not having any contractions at all! I had been dilated to a three for a couple of weeks before even getting there though! So around 5 or 6 I was talking to Kristy about if she and my mom should head up and I was complaining about wanting to feel at least one contraction before I got my epidural when I had one! Woohoo! The nurse had told me that I would need to get my epidural soon or I might not get one due to scheduled C-sections! So I told her to get the anethesiologist ASAP!! :) I got my epidural around 6 or so and the nurse upped my pit. I think I was around a 5 by that time! I was getting pretty tired but of course could not sleep!! GRR!

We had to wait for Dr. Folkestad to get there before they would break my water and since his office is connected to the hospital it would be around 8 before he got to work. My mom and Kristy (Kristy by the way was only there for 2 days to see Linkin) got there around 7. When Dr. Folky got there he checked on me and broke my water which was at about 8:30. So after sitting there for an hour or so I noticed that I was having a lot of pain on my right side. My epidural had only numbed my left side anyway but I wasn't feeling any pain anywhere. So I rolled to my right which is supposed to make the epidural medicine move to that side but it just kept getting worse! OW! The nurse came and asked if it was just uncomfortable or painful and I said PAINFUL! By now my left side was no longer numb and I was crying everytime I had a contraction. The nurse thought I was probably ready so she checked and I was at a 10!!! WOOHOO!!! She told me to do a practice push and as I was pushing I suddenly remembered HOW to push so I relaxed and pushed and she said "WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! You did that TOO good! We need to wait for the doctor!!" That was at about 9:45. I, by the way LOVE the whole labor process!! So I was having a good time even with those hideous contractions! I just get way too excited to meet my babies I guess!

It was so annoying cuz I was super tired and couldn't stop crying so I hadn't opened my eyes since I first started feeling the contractions and by this point I couldn't open them even if I tried!! Justin was being so sweet and hadn't left my side except when I was in pain and he went out to tell the nurses to come check on me and he told her that there were a bunch of women telling him to get the nurse so he was doing what he was told! Something like that! It was hilarious!! So anyway he had one hand holding mine and the other one on my chest where I was holding on to him. It was so sweet and he was so worried about me. I am so blessed to have him in my life and I was so happy to have him there with me! It was so perfect!!
I love Danielle's and Justin's faces in this one!
Justin being so sweet!

Bradie had gotten to the hospital and she and Danielle were moving things around to get a good spot to videotape and take pics and Danielle leaned down and told me that the reason why my epidural wasn't working was because the stinking IV tree had been sitting on it and had put a kink in it! AH!! By this time though, I was ready to go and as soon as Folky got there I only had to push 3 times thru 1 maybe 2 contractions and he was out!!!! It was awesome!!! I could feel everything and it was amazing! Not that I loved the pain, but I'm sure I still had some epidural so it wasn't hideous! :) Anyway they handed him to me and Justin and I got to get a good look at him for the first time and he was adorable!!! My first thought was that he looked a little bit like Aubrie! It turns out that besides having my squinty eyes he looks just like his Daddy so that makes sense!! Although now when he is with Drake & Kiowa I totally see them in him too! Crazy! I love genetics!!

Dr. Folkestad
The whole gang!

Proud Nana

Bradie

Ok now that I've got the main part of the story out I am going to add the things I have thought of since then... For one thing this was the first time poor lil Stephie had seen a baby being born and so I'm sure was quite traumatized!! She was very sweet though and crazy enough one of her really good friends who is going to be a nurse was in the room! Somehow about 6 students ended up being there to watch and if I had been able to open my eyes or think I probably would have said "NO!!!" instead of "i don't care"!! haha

Michelly pooh got there RIGHT after the little guy popped out!! But she was very happy to get to meet him!!

Michelle

Drake & Kiowa got to come see him soon after he was born but the nurses had taken him to the nursery to check him so the first time they saw him was through the glass!! They were so totally excited!! It was adorable!! When he finally got back they had a great time holding him and we all got our picture taken together! We are still waiting for Linkin's other sister, Aubrie to get to meet him!! My beautiful niece Madi, also got to come to the hospital!!

Meeting Linkin

Kiowa & Madi

Big Sis

Big Bro

Happy Family

Later that evening we of course had our usual "hospital party"!! As many of "The Girls" that could come, came to visit us at the hospital. Nelly, Aly, Jen & of course Bradie & Michelle all met him that day! Thanks Jen for the awesome hospital shot! And thanks girls for coming and always being so amazing!