Kerrie, Matt, Jocelyn & Brinley

Brinley 8 Months

2012-02-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Brin is getting so big so fast! She is currently cutting her back teeth so she is back to drooling with a runny nose... good times. She is almost crawling and almost walking, not sure which one she will actually do first! She is saying Hi, Mama, "issy" for Sissy and Dada. She is a wonderful baby and doing Cry it Out worked wonders for us!

Brinley 7 months

2012-01-01T15:49:00.000-08:00

Christmas

2011-12-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful this year. The kids all had a fabulous time with family, friends, church and presents. It is one of my favorite times of the year, the smells, sights and smiles warm my heart no matter what else is going on in life. Despite times being tough the kids had more than enough and hopefully are starting to learn that there is more to Christmas than opening presents. Jocelyn really got excited this year about buying an Angel Tree gift and was really disappointed that she couldn't deliver it herself. Brinley of course didn't really understand what was going on but she was a trooper with the late nights, and groups of people.

I am reminded all the time of how much I am blessed. Bring on the New Year!

Good news!

2011-12-03T09:38:00.001-08:00

Matt was offered a job Friday with Conely Corp. as their warehouse manager. He is excited and thinks this will be a good fit for him. I am so happy that he found something that he will like and we are both definitely breathing a sigh of relief. I can't thank all our friends and family enough for all the support and helping hands. I love you all.

Brinley 6 Months

2011-12-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

Height 28" - 98%

Weight 18 lb. - 86%

Head 17" - 72%

Doctor's comment "She will be statuesque but not amazonian." Hmmm....

2011-11-03T09:14:00.001-07:00

I have not posted in a while because I have not had many positive things to say.

Our family is in a financial crises right now like so many other Americans.

We have had tough times before and have always been able to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and occasionally get ahead. We have not always had a lot, but we have always had enough. It is embarrassing to be in a situation like we are now. Our income is zero. Matt and I have both been applying for jobs daily but we are of course competing with the thousands of others who are out of work. Matt did get a part time job at the U that will start in the next couple of weeks, not much but something. If it were not for our amazing family, friends and church I am not sure how we would be surviving at all. This has truly been a humbling experience and we are so grateful for all the help and support that we have received. Times like these definitely make you count your blessings and although we don't have any money, we do have our health and a house full of love and laughter.

I debated posting about our situation and finally decided that putting it in writing might help me let go of some of the fear and shame that I have been feeling, plus according to the news we are definitely not the only ones experiencing this. Hopefully my next post will be full of good news, for now we appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts we can get.

Brinley 5 Months

2011-11-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

It is getting harder to get a picture of her holding still! :)

Brinley - 4 months

2011-10-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

26.5 inches - 98th percentile

15 lbs. - 76th percentile

head 16cm -- 37th percentile

Side note: Brin cut her first tooth October 6 and her second tooth October 9!

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

We went camping Labor Day weekend with our awesome friends and family.

Joss and Brin had their first boat rides (other than an air boat). Jocelyn loved it but Brinley wasn't too sure about the whole thing.

We went to Strawberry and it was nice during the day but so cold at night. I stayed with the girls the first night and we all froze so on Saturday night we came home and slept and then went back up the next morning.

All in all it was a really fun weekend!

Brinley - 3 months

2011-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas

2011-08-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Our annual trip to Vegas was wonderful as always. We spent the days relaxing at the pool which the kids loved of course. We also went to the aquarium, saw V the Variety Show, and spent a couple nights walking the strip. It is a trip we look forward to every year!

Happenings

2011-08-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Joss and Kiera

So much has been going on in the last couple of weeks...

Matt got a new job working construction in Wyoming so he will be gone working out of state every Monday - Thursday. It pays a lot better and I am hoping he will like it a lot more than what he was doing!

Unfortunately this means that I have to single mom it for those days every week. The girls and I are adjusting although with throwing Destinee into the mix last week it has been an interesting and stressful week. We'll all make it work though and I think it will be better in the long run all around.

We are going to Vegas next week with my Mom which we are all excited about even if we are just going to sit by the pool most of the time!

Jocelyn starts school in a couple of weeks and we are both excited! I signed her up for soccer, dance and tumbling and she can't wait! My Aunt is going to watch Brinley for a bit after I drop Joss of at school and I am going to go to the gym and get my body back - woohoo!

Destinee

2011-08-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

We have had Destinee (our first foster baby) back with us since last week. She is now 16 months old and full of personality.

Her Mom is back on drugs and pregnant again. They go to court next week where her mother will either be given another chance or her rights will be terminated. In Utah if your rights are terminated with one child they are terminated for all children that you have or may have. So if her rights are terminated with Destinee she will have to give up this new baby when it is born in 6 months.

The state wanted us to agree to be a permanent placement for Destinee. However, they also want us to agree to take the baby which I can not do with Brinley being so young. Jocelyn has also been a little overwhelmed with Brinley, Destinee, and Matt leaving to work in Wyoming. I am overwhelmed too at this point. So for all those reasons Destinee will be leaving us tomorrow to go either to her Aunt or to another foster family that will be willing and able to adopt her and her sibling. We love her and are so sad that she will not be staying with us!

Brinley - 2 months

2011-08-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Brinley's 2 month well child check...

Height 23 1/4" 82nd percentile

Weight 11 lbs. 6 oz. 68th percentile

Head 15" 31st percentile

Summer fun

2011-07-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have not been posting frequently because I can't find the cord to get pictures from my camera to the computer. I finally got to Walmart to get the pictures put on a disk so here are a few things we have been doing this summer...

Cousins at the Zoo

Sisters

Joss and Annie on July 4

Brin on July 4

At the Princess Festival

Fishing with Dad for the 1st time

Liberty Park

Brinley - 1 month

2011-07-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Another visit to Primary

2011-06-23T17:40:00.001-07:00

We spent Tuesday night in the emergency room at Primary Children's Hospital. Jocelyn went to bed complaining about her stomach hurting and a half hour later was throwing up everywhere. When this continued every 15 minutes while she was doubled over in pain we decided it was time to go to the hospital.
We were there for 7 hours while they ran tests and gave her IV fluids since she was severely dehydrated -all this time she continued to throw up every 15 minutes. Finally at 4am, after ruling out appendicitis they gave her some anti-nausea medicine and that did the trick.
It is so heartbreaking to see your child in pain and not be able to do anything to make them feel better. She was such a trooper, not a tear was shed when they gave her the IV. The only thing my poor girl asked for the entire time was a drink of water which they refused to give her for some medical reason. I just wanted to cry for her.
She spent all day yesterday in bed which is so out of character for her! We did take her for a followup with our pediatrician who told us that she was still dehydrated but on the mend. Thankfully she drank enough last night to avoid another round of IV fluids today.
I have had enough of hospitals this month so hopefully from here on out everyone stays healthy!

Dance

2011-06-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn took a tap/ballet class this year which she loved. The end of the year performance was a dance to Elvis' All Shook Up. It was super cute!

Pictures

2011-06-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

Brin

2011-06-07T09:46:00.001-07:00

Brin came home on Sunday afternoon :). We had strict instructions to take her to her pediatrician on Monday to make sure she was still hydrated and so that he could get a good starting weight on her. Her doctor said she looks great, she only lost 2 ounces from her birth weight which was good news. He decided against putting her on anything for reflux until we watch her for awhile.

Jocelyn loves having her here. Every time she cries Joss will run over and say "what are you doing to MY baby?!". She wants to help me do everything which is cute and she has had to pick out all the clothes we have dressed her in so far.

We are all just enjoying life right now which is just a wonderful feeling!

Baby Brinley

2011-06-05T06:13:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday, June 1 I went to my regular doctor's appointment and found out that my blood pressure was extremely high. My doctor told me to go home, get Joss situated and get back to the hospital because Brinley was going to be arriving that night. Matt and I got everything ready, were at the hospital at 5 and Brinley Tyler was born at 7:30 pm. She was 20" long and weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz. (the exact same as Jocelyn).

She seemed perfectly healthy and we had an easygoing first night until 5am when she refused to eat and started throwing up things reminiscent of the Exorcist. At first we were told she was fine, this was normal etc. and that they were taking her to the nursery for observation. That was then changed to the NICU at St. Mark's and then I was told that they were life flighting her to Primary Children's because things were more serious than they thought and St. Mark's wasn't equipped to run the kinds of tests that she needed.

The tests they have run so far have not shown anything that would require surgery and she finally started keeping food down so the IV and antibiotics have been removed. They are observing her to see if she can get enough calories on her own and then hopefully we can take her home.

It seems like every day they tell us that we should be able to take her home tomorrow or the next day and then something happens to push things back. It is the hardest thing not to have her home with us.

Jocelyn has just been amazing through this whole ordeal, she has rolled with the punches daily without acting out or getting upset. She is an incredible little girl and I am so proud of her.

We are so thankful for our amazing family, friends and church who have surrounded us in prayer and positive thoughts. We love you all.

No more binkies!

2011-04-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Matt and I made Jocelyn put her all her binkies in a bag, give them a hug and throw them away. She was not "ready" and was not happy at all. She was on a mood roller coaster all day, alternating from bragging to people about not having binkies anymore to crying her eyes out.

Nap time was a sad occasion, she cried quietly while alternately sucking on each finger and parts of her arm trying to find a replacement. Bedtime was heartbreaking with hysterical crying and attempts at bargaining. She finally went to sleep and thankfully only woke up once crying for her binky.

Jocelyn also has a lovey, Hop Hop, that she has carried around forever. For some reason she has connected the two in her mind and so she has gotten rid of him too. Every time I tried to pass her Hop Hop for comfort she tossed him aside and said he had to go too.

Today we have not had any tears (although it is not nap time yet). Hopefully it will be a better day since I went to bed last night questioning our decision and definitely not feeling like parent of the year.

We did let Jocelyn pick out a big prize for getting rid of the binky, at first we thought we would be going hamster shopping today but thankfully she decided this was what she wanted...

Easter

2011-04-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn loves all holidays but especially Easter. We have been having Easter Egg hunts around our house for months (ever since the decorations started coming out), she loves hiding them as well as finding the ones that Matt and I hide for her. She doesn't understand completely why we celebrate Easter but she loves all aspects of it, coloring eggs, the Easter bunny, candy, the hunt, dressing up for church, the egg tree she got to set up in her room and seeing the family at Grandma's Easter party.

Spring Break Trip

2011-04-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Great grand kids with Nano

Grand kids with Nano

Maddy and Joss holding their noses

At the city museum in St. Louis

City museum

5 generations

Making cake pops

Playing out front with Grandma Great

Sitting on a tank at the park

Part of a playground we found while stopped in Lymon Co.

Our trip out to St. Louis took 27 horrible hours. We drove through all kinds of weather, hail, snow fog, snow, rain - miserable. The return trip from Kansas was a much more humane 21 hours :). The kids were really good in the car, I think they handled it better than I did.

We had a good time visiting family in St. Louis, IL and Oswego, KS. It was wonderful to see everyone and the kids had a great time with their cousins.

Swimming, Jumping, Dancing

2011-04-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn is still in dance class although it is coming to an end. She will have her end of the year performance the 3rd week in May. We are so excited to see her on stage :). She has decided that she wants to take Gymnastics next just like her cousin Ellie so we will be trying that this summer.

We love exploring the different bouncing places around town. The first picture is of Joss and her friend Annie at Jump around Utah, a new bounce house place that is perfect for toddlers/small children!

The second picture is of Matt, Cayden and Joss at a trampoline place called Airborn, the walls trampolines, they have foam pits and even a dodge ball court.

Jocelyn started swimming lessons again with a new teacher, Miss Jamie and it has been wonderful!

She has learned so much in just three weeks! She can now jump off the side, swim underwater for a few seconds and then roll onto her back and float. We see progress every week and she is so excited to be learning to swim by herself!

Joss' 3 year old stats

2011-04-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Shaving like Daddy, thanks SpongeBob

I finally remembered to take Jocelyn in for her 3 year old well child check.

She is 3' 4" tall and 40.4 pounds, 99th percentile for height and 98th percentile for weight. We have a BIG girl! :)

Baby Brin

2011-03-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and scheduled a C-section for June 6. I was hoping to have Brinley the old fashioned way but after talking to several people who have done both and discussing it with my doctor decided that a second C-section was the easiest route. My only concern with it is not being able to pick up Jocelyn for at least 2 weeks, I guess we'll find a way! I was hoping we could schedule Brinley's arrival for June 1 but my doctor said they are not legally allowed to schedule it more than a week early unless there is a medical reason. Unfortunately being miserable is not a valid reason :). I am still surprised that this pregnancy is so different from the first. Jocelyn was so easy, I almost couldn't tell that I was pregnant except for the weight gain. With Brin I have experienced every symptom in the book, am still getting sick at night and still having terrible hip pain. I just keep telling myself it is almost over. I am so lucky to have Matt who helps out a ton and picks up the slack for me.

Destinee

2011-03-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I got an unexpected phone call from Destinee's (our very first foster baby) Mom. She was graduating from rehab and her and Destinee were doing great! They got their own apartment, she is going to school and Destinee turns a year old this month. I am so grateful that she called and gave us an update. She also said she wanted to keep us a part of her lives which is wonderful!

This last weekend we were able to take Destinee and keep her overnight. It was a wonderful visit, Destinee and Jocelyn had the best time playing and Joss was SO happy to see her again. She is already asking when she is coming over again so this is something that will have to be repeated often! Destinee is a smiling, happy baby (who sleeps through the night unlike my own :)) and I think she actually remembered us on some level which left all of us with warm fuzzies.

Since we are expecting Brinley we don't have the bedrooms to continue fostering until we are able to finish our basement. We are going to keep our license current so that as soon as that happens we can welcome another child. Until then we are in the process of becoming mentors for those foster kids who age out of the system and find themselves all alone with no support. We are looking forward to our future experiences especially since I think this is a part of the system that gets overlooked often.

Jocelyn is 3!

2011-03-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am so far behind in updating, life just seems to get away from me and I'm not sure what happens as I never really seem to accomplish much...
Jocelyn turned 3 on February 19 and we celebrated with family and friends at Classic Skating. It was so much fun! All the kids loved the bounce houses and huge playground as well as the video games. It is one of Jocelyn's favorite places to go.

Cute cousins!

For her birthday from Matt and I Jocelyn got a playhouse for outside (that we had been saving since Black Friday!) and this bed tent which she has spent countless hours in!

Jocelyn's favorite things right now:

Tea parties

Princesses

Helping Mom cook, set the table, put dishes away

Playing outside now that the weather is warming up

Disney movies

Her binky (sigh) and lovey

No more pull ups at night!

Playing with her friends and family

Preschool

Reading

Matt and I are so impressed with her all the time, she amazes us! She is such a big helper all the time, has the best imagination and is so smart! I can't imagine not having her in our lives and thank God for her everyday!

Last night

2011-02-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

Last night while sleeping Jocelyn started crying and saying "You're ruining my life". No clue where this is coming from but I sure didn't expect to hear it until she was at least 13. :)

Joss is over the top dramatic most of the time, usually it's cute and makes us smile but there are also those times when we just shake our heads and sigh. Her newest thing is to cry and exclaim "it's all my fault" when something doesn't go her way.

Good or bad we are certainly cherishing every moment with our fabulous little girl!

Princess Makeover and Jocelyn's 1st haircut

2011-02-03T15:02:00.001-08:00

Brinley Tyler Doane

2011-01-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

I think this is the name we have decided on. We let Jocelyn pick the middle name and she has been determined to name this baby Tyler for months whether it be a boy or a girl :)

Brinley is a form of Brynn which is Welsh for 'hill' and Bryne is the old English version of 'brine' meaning 'water of the sea'.

Baby :)

2011-01-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

Let the name "discussions" begin!

Christmas

2010-12-30T16:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas was absolutely magical this year. We had so much fun with Jocelyn and she was so excited about every aspect of the season. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, I love all the togetherness, the family gatherings, the decorations and lights - I wish the spirit of Christmas was truly with us all year long and I have promised myself to try to keep the spirit going as much as possible.

Some December highlights: (my apologies I can not figure out how to format all this stuff!)

* My grandparents came to visit for a week and it was wonderful to have four generations together

* Sledding!

* Jocelyn loved the Zhu Zhu pet she got

* *Jocelyn's school program

* She loves to dress up like a princess :)

* In front of Aunt Heidi's tree

* Gingerbread train

*Jocelyn singing in the Christmas Pageant at church

* Festival of Trees

* Zoolights
* having Jocelyn pick out gifts for the Angel Tree

* The end of my first trimester!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Katriel

2010-12-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

Katriel was finally able to go live with his Dad on November 30. We felt so bad for his Father who had been trying to get custody of Katriel since his Mother died. Because they were not married they had to establish paternity etc., the court dates kept getting continued and the state seemed to be taking its sweet time accomplishing what needed to be done. It was nice to see a happy ending that we actually agreed with.

Since we are expecting our second baby in June of 2011 (woohoo!) we will most likely not have any more babies come stay with us. The state requires us to have another bedroom if we have 3 kids in our home so until we are able to finish our basement our adventures in fostering will have to be put on hold.

Dance Class

2010-11-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn started a tap/ballet class this month and loves it! The class started the end of September so she has some catching up to do but she is enjoying every minute of it! She is the youngest but that doesn't seem to bother her at all. I am so excited for the recital they will put on this spring!

Baby Catrell and Ellie's Birthday

2010-11-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn went to Ellie's 4th birthday party on Saturday. It was a fabulous princess party and Jocelyn was so excited about it!

On our way home we received a call from DCFS asking if we could take a 13 day old little boy. His name is Catrell, his mother died Friday night from heart problems although she was living a rehabilitation center with him it was not drug related. He is a tiny little thing, born 3 weeks early. We most likely will not have him very long, he has older siblings that were already in foster care and they are trying to find someone who will take all of them so they can stay together.

Halloween

2010-11-08T17:29:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn was a ballerina (bowawina) for Halloween this year.

Two of our pumpkins.

Joss picked out her own bowawina costume for the church party.

Trick or treating at the Zoo.

Disney World!

2010-11-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

We went to Disney World for a week in October with my sister and Cayden - what an amazing vacation!

Jocelyn loved every minute of it (except for the air show that was going on over our hotel the first part of the week!).

We were able to go to Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney World for two days as well as hang out on the beach and go on an Airboat ride.

Jocelyn loved meeting Ariel, Minnie and Mickey, going on all the rides, the fireworks show over Cinderella's castle and playing in the sand. It was the BEST vacation and we can't wait to go back!

Triston

2010-09-14T18:38:00.001-07:00

We found out today that Triston will be going to stay with his paternal grandma on Friday. I am hoping this is the best for him but don't have the greatest feeling about it. She has already basically said that she is doing this so that after the adoption is final she can allow the Mom and Dad to raise him.

We are going to miss the little stinker for sure!

On a more positive note, Matt and I are going to see Gary Allen Thursday night and are so excited! Then we continue the weekend with lots of activities with friends and family, we can't wait!

Go Redskins!

Marcia and Joss having fun with glowsticks :)

Triston update

2010-09-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Triston will most likely be leaving us sometime in the next 2 weeks. They were able to establish paternity so his paternal grandmother will be adopting him. I hope this is the best thing for him but only time will tell. It will be harder to let him go than it was Destinee, only because they gave us the impression that we would get to adopt him.

Something that I find extremely weird.. the grandmother told me that after a weekly visit with Triston, if there is any formula left in the bottle the mother drinks it?! Ugh.

Jocelyn at the Wiggles

2010-08-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to figure out how to rotate it...

Jocelyn and I went to see the Wiggles, she had the best time!!!

Captain Feathersword gave Dorothy the Dinosaur Jocelyn's rose... so exciting!

Baby Triston

2010-08-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I received a call yesterday around 3:30 from DCFS asking if we would be available to take a 2 month old baby boy last night.... 3 hours later 2 week old baby Triston was handed to us. He was born July 20, is half Tongan, half white and cute as a button.

He was removed from his home right before he was given to us, Mom apparently was involved in the death of her one year old child 4 years ago. Subsequently she has lost 3 other children who were adopted by family. The case worker said the judge will most likely terminate her rights to this baby too. The Dad is in prison, so once paternity is established they will ask his family if they would like Baby Triston. If the answer is no, it is very possible that Matt and I will be able to adopt him :)

Changes

2010-07-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Destinee went back to her Mom last Thursday. It was a sad day for us, we will miss her a lot. I am hoping that the Mother or at least the Grandmother will keep us posted on how she is doing. We are now back on the "list" and awaiting our next placement. Jocelyn asks about Destinee occasionally but has stated that she would like the next baby that comes to live with us to be a boy. :)

Some cute Jocelyn moments...

Daddy: You are the cutest damn thing!
Jocelyn: I am NOT a damn thing!

Our niece Rachel is pregnant, Jocelyn was asking me if I had a baby in my tummy too. I told her no, did she want a baby brother or sister? Her response, no I want a Giraffe instead.

She has picked up a Southern accent somewhere, it is so funny to hear her say where, go, couch etc and sound like a southern belle!

She is obsessed with the Fresh Beat band. Ugh.

Jocelyn is having her first private swim lesson this Thursday. She is so fearless that is scares me, I am determined that she learn to at least get to the side of the pool by herself. I will post after the lesson.

Picture overload...

2010-07-01T20:36:00.001-07:00

The bear crawl at Little Gym

She is ready to go!

Mama Doane with Joss and Baby D

Fourth of July outfits

Playing with Blake at his 2nd
birthday party.

Playing in the fountains at Gateway

This is the house that Avon built...
All of my earnings from Avon thus far went to buy this wonderful playground for Joss. She spends hours everyday playing on it! Matt and I love that she has something to keep her occupied outside :)
This was also the grand prize for being potty trained.

June...

2010-06-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

I finally got a job! I start tomorrow as the office manager at Woody's Hardwood Flooring, Monday - Thursday, 9-3. I have mixed feelings, it will be nice to get out of the house and the money will be a lifesaver but I will miss being home with the girls and Matt so much!
Sadly I also found out today that Destinee will probably be leaving us sometime in the next month. Her mother is at the House of Hope and they really want Destinee to move in with her as fast as possible, somehow that is supposed to help her with her treatment, getting back to reality and all that. I am not convinced that it is a good idea. Personally I think more of a foundation should be laid before Destinee goes back to her full time... she has been clean what? a month?! And she is currently in an environment with 24 hour supervision but what happens when she's not? Hopefully the state will be keeping a close eye on things after the transition happens. We meet with the social workers, the House of Hope, Baby D's Mom on Thursday to discuss everything. I will post more after.
On a much more positive note, Jocelyn is out of diapers! She still wears one to sleep in but that's it! I am so proud of her I can't stand it. She is growing up too fast...

Binky Box

2010-05-14T11:54:00.001-07:00

Jocelyn was a Binky baby and has now turned into a Binky toddler. She is also extremely attached to her lovey, a pink square of satin with a rabbit head on it she affectionately calls Hop-hop. I have no problem with the lovey, I know that in time it will stay in her bed -not true for the Binky. I hate that she carries it around all the time, talks around it, cries for it, wakes up at night for it... and I don't like the looks we get when out in public either. Matt and I have tried several things, trying to get her to keep it in a pocket (that lasted about 5 minutes), taking it away cold turkey (that lasted until bedtime and we have never had a more miserable day). This week I decided to let Jocelyn make a Binky Box. She painted a small wooden box and I wrote Binky Box on the top. Every morning she has to put her Binky in the box and cannot get it out until nap/bed time. This has actually worked! We have had a few fussy moments, the first day especially was a little rough but now she is used to the idea and does not fight it at all. She actually gets a excited to pick a Binky from the box when it is time to sleep! The next step will be getting her to sleep without it... something I am not looking forward to!

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T14:11:00.001-07:00

See the Mother's Day post... look at the post from May 4, for some reason I cannot get it to change the date!

And today's visit....

2010-05-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

...is cancelled. Destinee's Mom relapsed on Monday and has checked into a detox center and her Dad sprained his ankle and that is preventing him from coming to the visit. We saw Destinee's Mom on Sunday picking her up from her Grandparent's visit and Matt and I both commented on how much better she looked than when we first met her. It's sad that she couldn't stay clean but hopefully she will get the help she needs. As far as her Dad goes, I can only say that nothing would stop me from seeing my baby after not seeing her for a week, especially not a sprained ankle!

Prayers for Mothers based on scripture

2010-05-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

I had to repost this.

Dear God,

In her face we see our own reflection. To love her is to love ourselves, to understand our complexities, our dreams, our boundaries.

We thank you for Eve, who stretched our thoughts and wonders, and who felt the depth of loss of her own son.

We thank you for the Mother of Moses, who risked the dangers of 'letting go' when she placed her firstborn in the Nile among the alligators.

We thank you for Sarah who wandered around the desert with her husband, became pregnant beyond her safety net... and laughed in the face of the future.

We thank you for the generations who followed the patterns of promise in the destiny of all those created in your female image, and for their children who helped nurture their siblings, their households, the communities and the churches in every age.

We thank you for the mothers of John and Jesus who suffered the loss of their sons in the way of the Lord. They shared their joys and their triumphs, their sorrows and their loss with the world. We thank you for your passion for this world in the way of the mothers and fathers of generations who suffered, sacrificed, bled and died because of their love and hope in the future.

We thank you God for our own mothers.

Happy Mothers Day - I can't think of anything that I would rather be than a Mother, it is the best thing in the world!

Updates

2010-04-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

We met with Destinee's parents and grandparents last Tuesday. It was an interesting experience... I walked up at the same time as they did and we were all eye-balling each other, I held Destinee up and said " I think this belongs to you", thank goodness they smiled and introduced themselves. They then had an hour visit with Destinee and after that the social worker, Matt and I, Destinee and her parents and grandparents had a team meeting. We went over what they would have to do to get her back and the grandparents got to put their two cents in. It was weird because you could tell that the Dad's parents did not think they should get Destinee back, it made for a very awkward situation since he was obviously very angry at them. Destinee's Mom has been accepted to the House of Hope, an in-patient drug treatment program and has apparently been doing as much as possible to get the ball rolling for her treatment plan. The Dad not so much, he seems to be dragging his feet and constantly complains what this is costing him financially.
So far my feeling is that Destinee's Mom might do what it takes to get her back so I am not getting my hopes up on her being a part of our family permanently. The best place for her is with her Mother if that becomes a healthy situation. I am trying to leave it up to God and not judge.

We had the girls pictures taken this week, I will post them as soon as I can.

Jocelyn's new thing is when Destinee is crying she runs to her yelling "I'm coming sweetheart". Too cute!

On another note - Happy Birthday to my fabulous husband. I don't know what I would do without him, he makes every day brighter for me. I love you Matt!

Baby D

2010-04-17T20:39:00.001-07:00

Meet Destinee :)
The nurses at the hospital have been calling her Desi, and we may continue that unless we find a more suitable nickname!
Jocelyn is so happy to be the "big sister" . She is so soft and gentle with her. Every time she cries Jocelyn runs and gets her a binky. Jocelyn also gave her a lovey that she doesn't use.
Desi was born with heroin fetal addiction and has spent the last three weeks being weaned off that with Morphine. The only apparent setback that she has suffered so far is a terrible diaper rash, the doctors said it was the worst they had ever seen. She is a tough little girl and has already been through so much! I was expecting her to be really fussy since she just ended her Morphine yesterday but she was just like a normal happy baby.
We meet with DCFS and the biological parents on Tuesday, not sure what that will involve. We are already attached to her so it will be heartbreaking if we ever have to give her back, unfortunately I think the ones most effected by that would be Jocelyn and Desi.
More later!

Going private...

2010-04-16T14:54:00.001-07:00

In order to post about Baby D I need to make our blog private. If you would like to be"invited" please send me an email! Thanks!

A New Addition

2010-04-15T19:14:00.001-07:00

Matt and I found out tonight that we will be bringing a new addition home from the hospital on Saturday. Baby D is a baby girl, born March 25. She was born with fetal heroin addiction and is finally ready to leave the hospital. We will get to go to the hospital and meet her tomorrow and then bring her home on Saturday. We are excited and scared at the same time.
The parents want reunification so if they succeed with their treatment program Baby D will be returned to them at that time. I am already heartbroken at that possibility although I wish them the best. If they do not complete their program we will most likely be able to adopt her. It is so hard not knowing the future but we knew that we would go through this when we became foster parents. As tough as it may be I am so glad we made this decision and can't wait to make a difference in this precious little child's life.
More to come...

Pictures

2010-04-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas etc.

2010-04-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

We were able to spend last week in Las Vegas thanks to my Mom and her timeshare. My Mom, Cayden, Marcia, Jocelyn, Matt and I all drove down last Friday... all of us in one van, thank goodness for portable DVD players and the Nintendo DS!
We had a fabulous time going to the Aquarium, Circus Circus, Treasure Island, the M&M factory and the swimming pool. Obviously it was a very kid oriented trip but we had a wonderful time. Jocelyn loved every minute of it. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as nice as you expect Vegas to be, it was a little chilly and very windy but we did manage a little time at the pool. Jocelyn loved the water, by the end of the trip she had almost mastered swimming with the water wings. I will enroll her in lessons again soon. :)

Yesterday Jocelyn went to Myah's 4th birthday party. They had a princess castle jump house and Joss had the time of her life bouncing and climbing the ladder to slide down. She has talked about nothing else since we left. Thanks Misty, Zach and Myah!

Congratulations to Marc, Terah, Lexie and Brodie on the birth of the twins Gabrielle and Danielle. I can't wait to meet my new nieces!

I start training for the Census next week, yeah!

Pictures will be posted as soon as I figure out how to get them off our new camera! ;)

Jocelyn is 2!

2010-02-20T20:06:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn on the Dora Big Wheel that Matt and I got her. She loves it!

Jocelyn celebrated her second birthday yesterday. She woke up and opened her presents from Mom and Dad and then we went to the toy store to spend her Birthday Gift Certificate that Toys R Us sends out. Later in the afternoon we went to see the Princess and the Frog. She slept for all but the first ten and the last two minutes of the movie since she had refused to nap earlier in the day. We finished off the night by going out to dinner with my parents to celebrate Jocelyn's birthday and my Mom's birthday which is next week.

Today we had Jocelyn's birthday party at the Little Gym and it was wonderful! She had a fabulous time with all her friends and cousins. Thank you to everyone who came and made her day special. I think all the kids had a good time and the Little Gym did an awesome job hosting.

I am amazed that Matt and I have a two year old. It seems impossible that that much time has gone by since she was born. She is an amazing little girl and the light of our lives. She is starting to sing songs, she tries to sing her ABC's and potty training is going pretty well, most of the time she can count to 5 correctly, she is speaking in sentences and is so expressive! I can't believe how much personality she has!

Her two year old stats: 37" tall (off the charts) 29.8 lbs. (90th percentile)

What Jocelyn is loving right now:

Her binky
Her lovey
Max and Ruby
Harold and the Purple Crown
Where the Wild Things Are
The Little Gym
Bubbles
Anything she can do outside
Going to the nursery in Church
Her Dora Big Wheel
Balls

Changes

2010-02-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, Matt was laid off from Crum Electric last Friday. We have made some adjustments and are hoping we can manage with the pay cut. I think I should start my job with the Census soon which will be so helpful in tiding us over until Matt can find a new job.

Although we will miss the paychecks from Crum, Jocelyn and I have been enjoying having Matt home with us. Last week we went for walks, to the zoo, story time at the library, built snowmen and spent tons of time blowing bubbles during the mild afternoons. Matt has a long 'to do' list that he hopes to accomplish while he is off work.

Another set back for my family, my Dad is closing the shop next month. His head mechanic turned in his two weeks notice to open his own shop and is taking the other two mechanics with him. After going over all the options we have decided that the best course to take is liquidate inventory and close the shop. My Dad has had the rug completely pulled out from under him by his supposed friend and business partner and we are all feeling a little helpless. Matt and I will do whatever we can in the next few weeks to help ease the transition. Hopefully in the end it will be for the best and Dad can enjoy his retirement.

Jocelyn will be two in less than a week - so hard to believe! She is so excited for her party and asks daily to make sure that certain people are coming. She is talking in small sentences and her pronunciation gets better all the time. This week at Little Gym she walked the balance beam all by herself without holding on to the bars - she was so pleased with herself!!!

Matt and I bought Jocelyn a fish tank a couple weeks ago in hopes that the white noise from the filter would help her sleep. Fat chance, but she loves feeding the fish twice a day and telling them good morning and good night.

January so far...

2010-01-14T13:33:00.000-08:00

Matt started school this past Monday and is a little overwhelmed but excited. He is taking three classes, English, Math and Economics -- nothing too exciting but they have to be taken. I am so proud of him for going back to school and pursuing the career he wants.
I am getting over a cold which I seem to have passed on to Jocelyn. I also had an interview this morning for a part time job with the US Census. I got the job and should start in the next few weeks. I have mixed feelings about this but am hoping that by working until August (when the job is over) we can be where we need to be financially and I can go back to being mostly a stay at home mom. I will continue to work at the shop and the Jazz games.
Jocelyn and I have also been attending story time at the library - she loves it! They sing and dance and play instruments, there are about 15 other little kids her age and it is free... what more can you ask for?

Counting down...

2009-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

It's almost Christmas and I am so excited! This year is going to be especially wonderful since Jocelyn understands what is going on. She has loved opening the doors on her advent calender and is eyeing the presents daily.

Matt had his second round of shots in his knees yesterday which will hopefully last at least another six months. Unfortunately the epidural he got in his back last week lasted only for a day. We are hoping to get a second opinion on the whole back thing in the next couple of weeks.

On a more positive note, Matt has enrolled at Salt Lake Community College and will be starting classes in January. He is going to be teacher when all is said and done - I am so proud of him for going back to school and pursuing his dream.

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree.

~Charlotte Carpenter

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

It is Thanksgiving morning and before I start to run around around getting things ready to go I thought I would post about what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for Jocelyn who is the light of my life and for Matt who is my best friend, my rock, and the love of my life. They both make me happier than I ever thought I could be.

I am thankful that Matt and I have the most amazing families. They are always there for us and tons of fun to be around.

I am thankful that we all have our health.

I am thankful that I have a job... even though I need another one.

I am thankful that I get to look outside each day and see the beauty of the mountains.

I am thankful that on Saturday Matt and I will have been non-smokers for 1 month.

I am thankful that the Lord is in our lives and has blessed us so much.

I am thankful for love, all kinds.

It is overwhelming to me how much I have to be thankful for - and when I start to look at all the good things in my life the bad things seem to just fade away.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Conversation

2009-11-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

This was the conversation between Jocelyn and I last night...

Me "I love you baby girl"
Joss "Love too"
Me "That's sweet, thank you"
Joss "Welcome"

It just warmed my heart!

October :)

2009-10-31T15:27:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween!
Jocelyn dressed up as a duck this year and had a blast! She picked up the trick-or-treat concept pretty quickly and was thrilled every time she got a piece of candy to put in her bag.

First time trick or treating

Jocelyn, Cayden and Nana

Quack Quack

Coloring on her pumpkin, Matt later cut a moon and stars out and she loved it!

Hanging at The Little Gym Halloween party

Our little duck

A couple of weeks ago we went to Seattle to visit our friends Jason and Holly and their little girl Brooke who is 6 months old. We had a wonderful time going to Pike's Place and just being able to relax and visit with friends. Matt and I took Jocelyn to the Children's Museum one day which was a huge hit. Jocelyn also had a fabulous time making Brooke laugh.

Jocelyn holding Brooke

Jason, Jocelyn and Matt (Joss was trying on Brooke's Halloween costume)

Joss and Matt trying to stay warm

Painting at the Children's museum

Ice cream at Pike's Place

Brooke

One of Jocelyn's new favorite things is the aquarium. I bought a pass that gets us in for a year and we have been going at least once a week. She loves it and gets excited every time we go.

At the aquarium

We have had a fun filled busy October and are looking forward to the holidays.

I have to apologize for the picture quality, our camera is slowly dying.

Coupons!

2009-10-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

I had to copy my sister-in-law Sarah and post a picture of my grocery savings this week for all the non-believers. :)

I got:

2- 3 packs of Popcorn

3- 3 packs of juice boxes

1- box instant oatmeal

3- boxes of cereal

4- boxes of granola bars

2- bags of chocolate chips

2- bags shredded cheese

3- cheese sticks

1- package American cheese

7- yogurts

1- bottle coffee creamer

1- package cookie dough

1- Welch's juice

2.5 pounds of grapes

5 pounds of potatoes

My original bill was $86.77 and I paid $36.66 - that's a savings of $50.11, more than half!

No!

2009-10-05T12:44:00.001-07:00

The inevitable has happened... Jocelyn's favorite word is now 'no'. I think I had heard the word no at least 50 times by lunchtime today. It doesn't matter what the question is, the first word out of her mouth is no... although she reserves the right to change her mind after she thinks about the question. I hope this phase passes quickly!

On a good note, Matt and I are now licensed foster parents! We meet with our coordinator this afternoon. We are so excited!!!

Love Hope Believe Dream

2009-08-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

To the right on the sidebar is a link to buy bracelets and key chains to benefit Cici and Christian. These little toddlers need all the help they can get. Please visit the links below to see their stories.
http://www.colofisch.blogspot.com

http://www.christiansjourney.org

Jocelyn, Matt and coupons galore!

2009-08-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn had her 18 month appointment this week and she weighs in at 25 pounds and 33 1/2 inches tall, still 95th percentile. The bottles have been gone for 2 weeks now and the Binky is next on the list. She is talking more everyday, I love hearing her try new words. She loves Elmo and the Wiggles, M&Ms, Mac and Cheese, tacos, spaghetti and pizza. I can not believe how much I love this beautiful little girl.
Matt had an epidural in his back two weeks ago and it worked! Woohoo!!! He is having so much less pain than before it is unbelievable. The epidural combined with the injections he got in his knees in July have made it so he is almost back to normal. We are so lucky it worked and it is wonderful to have my husband back!
We made our second trip to the grocery today with coupons in hand... the shopping cart was fully loaded and the original bill came to $162.00... after the value card and coupons we spent $50.00 and that included buying diapers and coffee!!! Between this trip and the trip last week our pantry is fully stocked, we won't have to buy a lot of our normal staples for a long time. I am so thankful that Sarah showed us how to save money!

Another overdue update :)

2009-07-27T17:36:00.001-07:00

Four generations

Cayden and Jocelyn on the Merry-go-round

Swimming with Marcia

With my Nano

Ready for the road trip (thank goodness for Elmo!)

Jocelyn and I spent last week in Kansas and Illinois visiting my family. It was her first airplane ride and she was fabulous!!! She either slept or was content watching Elmo on the portable DVD player. I was worried about her sitting still since she is normally so active but I couldn't have asked for better behavior!

We spent time with my Nano and family in Illinois and then made the 5 hour drive drive to Kansas to see my Grandparents and family there. Jocelyn got to spend time with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins in both places as well as three great grandparents.

The only downside was Matt not being with us. Hopefully he can come along next time and meet my family.

Jocelyn at her first ball game

Cayden and Max at the zoo

Fun in the sandbox

The fountains at Gateway

Joss' first time bowling

Doane Family Camp Out

2009-06-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went camping at the Sunrise P Ranch in Rupert, Idaho. We had an amazing time! It was Jocelyn's first time camping and I thought she did pretty good :). The ranch was wonderful, right on the river with a huge water slide, plenty of sleeping space, a log roll and playground... absolutely beautiful. We played volleyball, went on a wagon ride, enjoyed fabulous cooking, and most people even sang karaoke.
I am so thankful that Jocelyn gets to grow up with all her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents close by. I really missed that growing up and I am glad Jocelyn will get to know and experience what being part of a big family means.

Life update

2009-06-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have posted - it is amazing fast life goes by when you get busy!

This morning Matt, Jocelyn and I, along with the dogs, participated in our first 5k. I am so proud of us! We finished it and weren't last, in fact I think we were in the middle of the pack somewhere. This is huge for Matt who was having trouble even walking a couple months ago.

We also started taking classes last week to become foster parents. This is something both of us have always wanted to do and although it will still be six months or so until we get a child, at least we have started the process. There are so many children in need of a home and we are excited to be able to be in a place in our lives where we can help.

Although I have been anxiously awaiting summer, I was not excited to have to go through another one with no air conditioning in the house - and as of Monday we won't have to! Woohoo! After all these years living without it I am so stinkin' excited that we are not going to gave to spend the entire summer being uncomfortable at home.

Jocelyn is getting bigger all the time. She is starting to talk more and we are at the point in potty training where she is telling us right after she goes (sigh) but there are a few times a week she gets it right and that is so thrilling!

All in all we have been feeling extremely blessed lately. Everyone is happy and healthy, what more can you ask for?

Four wonderful years and counting...

2009-05-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

Matt and I celebrated our four year anniversary on Wednesday. I thought it would be a nice day - we'd exchange cards and have sushi for dinner as a treat... little did I know that Matt would surprise me with the most fabulous gift! He made me a book filled with pictures from our life together so far; marriage, friends, vacations, family, Jocelyn. It is incredible! It means more to me than anything else he could have bought or done. If anyone has seen the book Joey made Sarah, it is the same type of thing - what thoughtful men we have Sarah! Thank you Matt for making our fourth anniversary a day I will never forget!

First visit to the dentist

2009-05-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn went to the dentist today - thanks Aunt Elaine for getting her in so quickly and being so helpful! Jocelyn was much better than I expected, she cried during the x-ray but that was it! It turns out her tooth is still there... it has just been shoved back into her gums. Dr. Baker said he had never seen anything like it but that it should work its way back down and be fine. If not we may have to have it removed in a year or so but we'll worry about that later. I am so glad that everything is okay!

My poor baby!

2009-05-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

First tooth...lost

2009-05-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn lost her first tooth today although not the way that nature intended. She was running at my Mom's house and tripped as she is prone to do, only this time went headfirst into a wooden footstool. She has a fat lip, cuts on her chin and of course the front top tooth is gone. I feel so terrible for her! We have a dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon so hopefully some of my questions will get answered and my fears calmed. Pictures will be posted soon.

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful day! It started out fabulous since Matt kept Jocelyn entertained while I grabbed an extra hour of sleep and then the day just kept getting better. Matt and Joss took me out for a wonderful brunch at Market Street followed by a visit to the beautiful Red Butte Gardens. We then had awesome visits with our families. I couldn't have asked for a better day. Thank you so much Matt and Jocelyn! I love you tons and am so blessed to have you!!! XOXOXO

So big!

You can do it babe!

She did not like posing there at all.

Most of the time she enjoys cheesing for the camera!

She loved the fountains!

Blowing me kisses :)

Such a beautiful place!

Plan of Action

2009-05-04T15:24:00.001-07:00

Matt and I went to see the back specialist this morning and I think we finally have a plan of action.

He has a lot of irritation in his back joints so he will be going to physical therapy for the next 6-8 weeks. After that he will have steroid shots in his lower back which will hopefully solve the back problem. The doctor said that most likely the hip and back pain showed themselves because he went from an active job to a desk job which let everything stiffen up - and here we thought it was a great move for his knees to get out of the warehouse and at a desk!

He is scheduled to have shots in his knees in June. These shots are the consistency of hair gel and will give him added padding in his knees which should eliminate the pain there for at least a year. I tell him he's getting a boob job in his knees :).

Later this summer he will most likely have to have the surgery on his hips to shave off the extra bone growth which should take care of the hip pain. So keep your fingers crossed that he will be completely mobile by the end of the year! Woohoo!

Potty Training

2009-05-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

We started potty "training" Jocelyn on Thursday... what an interesting experience! She has gone to the potty four times so far in her little toilet. Out of those four times, three were good timing on my part and the fourth she actually let me know she had to go. So exciting!

I know the norm these days is to wait until they are older but after reading up on the subject I decided that now was as good of time as any. It turns out kids used to be potty trained much earlier than they are now, most by the age of 7-9 months until the washing machine was invented. Then the average age became 12-18 months until Pampers hired a doctor as a spokesman who touted that it was bad for your kids to start the process too early and you should wait until they are "emotionally ready". I would have started much earlier if I had know this!

I am hoping to have her completely "trained" by 18 months. It will be so nice to not have to buy/change diapers anymore!

Happy Birthday Matt!

2009-04-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Matt - you are a person who loves, who cares, who sees a person’s need and fills it. You encourage and lift people up, you spend energy on others rather than yourself. You are someone who touches each life he enters and makes a difference in the world, because ripples of kindness flow outwards as each person you have touched, touches others. Jocelyn and I are so lucky to have you and appreciate all that you bring to our lives. We love you more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday!

Just a quick update on Matt...

2009-04-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

We went back to the hip specialist today and he recommended that Matt see a back specialist. So... he is having an MRI on his back tomorrow and will see the back specialist on May 4. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this will yield some answers.

Busy day!

2009-04-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

We started this morning with Jocelyn's first swimming lesson. She was excited to go play with the kids and thrilled to be wearing her Dora swimsuit (she has carried it around the house for weeks)! It was her first time in an actual pool so I was a little worried about what her reaction would be. As usual with things that concern her I worried for nothing! She loved it - she kicked, splashed, attempted to blow bubbles and by the end of class was jumping off the side to me.

After swimming we hurried home and rinsed off and were off to the first birthday party of the day. Our friend's Mindy and Matt's son Owen had his first birthday party today. He and Jocelyn are about the same size and were so cute together today. I can't wait to get them together to play.

Unfortunately we could only stay a little bit at Owen's party since we had to be at Myah's 3rd birthday party at Jungle Jim's.

Jocelyn had a blast at Jungle Jim's riding the rides and watching all the kids. She can't wait to be big enough to run after them.

There was a jeep ride there that had a weight limit that kept any adult that eats from riding with their children. Matt assumed the role of overprotective parent this time while I was the more casual one for once. He did not want her riding without an adult. Jocelyn on the other hand thought it was the coolest thing ever. She turned the steering wheel, and waved and laughed. At one point she stood up in the cart and I thought Matt was going to hop the fence and run grab her. Thankfully he kept his cool and she sat back down. She did not want to get off this ride!

We had a wonderful time and the day flew by. I guess this is a taste of what it will be like when she's older and we turn into chauffeurs instead of parents!

Matt's doctor visit

2009-04-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Matt and I went to see the specialist this morning about his hips. From the Xrays taken today we found out that he does in fact have a hip problem that a scope would help but the doctor is not sure that is where all the pain is stemming from. Since Matt has been having a lot of back pain in the last few weeks the doctor wants to make sure the main problem is actually in his hips before moving forward. Matt will be getting an injection of Cortisone and Lidocain in both hip joints tomorrow in order to numb them for a few weeks. If the pain goes away then we concentrate on the hips, if it doesn't then a back specialist is the next stop.

We will keep you posted!

Jazz Game

2009-03-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last night we took Jocelyn to her first Jazz game. I was a little worried that I would spend most of the game walking the corridor since she almost never sits still. It turns out I worried for nothing - she loved it! She was facinated with the crowds, music, cheers, dancing, clapping and of course the ball bouncing all all over the court. When we went outside to go the bathroom and get ice cream she kept pointing back towards the doors obviously concerned about missing something. :)

Matt finally got to see his Knicks play, even if they did lose. He also got to see some of his old "regulars" that he hasn't seen since he stopped pouring beer.

We went to dinner before the game and Jocelyn figured out how to drink from a straw. It's like a light goes on and from that moment they will know how to do something for the rest of their lives. Amazing.

All three of us had a fantastic time and can't wait to go again.

Big Bed?

2009-03-23T12:59:00.000-07:00

Matt and I upgraded to a king size bed before Jocelyn was born and were amazed at the amount of space we had! We could go a whole night with out touching each other even when rolling over! The last few nights we have had Joss in bed with us from the middle of the night on and I am left wondering where all that extra room went, I mean she is not THAT big! Last night was comedy, Matt and I each having about a foot of the bed to ourselves with Jocelyn rolling around constantly - it was like a pinball machine, plus add two dogs who for some reason are the most comfortable in spots that limit our movement. Believe me I am ready for the next upgrade, or maybe the dogs and Joss can have our bed and we'll buy another!

2009-03-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Every night when I am trying to go to sleep I come up with all sorts of interesting stuff to say on here... but when the time comes to write something I draw a complete blank!

2009-03-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

We got Jocelyn's birthday pictures back today and they are wonderful! It is amazing how much she has changed since Christmas. She is talking more everyday, still pretty much gibberish but she does try to mimic what we are saying. We have a make up class at the Little Gym tonight and Matt gets to go with us for the first time. He is excited to see what she can do.

On another note, Matt had an appointment with the Orthopedic doctor today and finally has a plan of action, thank goodness. The doctor believes that a lot of the pain is stemming from his hips so Matt has to make an appointment with a specialist at the University of Utah hospital who will hopefully perform a scope on his hips to shave off some bone. Along with that he will have gel like injections in his knees to create some cushion there. The surgery should buy him about 10 years before he has to have knee/hip replacement. I will keep everyone updated.

2009-03-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on. Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots. I never looked in to teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

~author unknown

2009-03-02T11:19:00.001-08:00

Jocelyn had her second class at the Little Gym today and loved it just as much as last week. She had a blast climbing, jumping and swinging. She even made a little friend today and spent some of the class playing with him, he threw a tantrum at one point and she ran over to give him a hug. It was so cute! I will put up some pictures as soon as I remember to bring the camera with me...

2009-02-25T14:31:00.001-08:00

Jocelyn had her 12 month appointment today, she is 33" tall and weighs 23 pounds and is still in the 95th percentile. She had three shots, always fun, but handled them fairly well. Her doctor seemed to diapprove that she still gets a bottle so I guess it is time to wean her off of them... any suggestions?

2009-02-24T06:24:00.001-08:00

Last night I came home from work and the house looked even worse than when I had left. I said to Matt, you don't get any more done than I do! His reply? Well, by the time I got her to sleep I was too worn out, plus I didn't want to wake her up.
I am so glad he can understand how my days go...

At the Zoo

2009-02-22T07:43:00.001-08:00

Saturday we all went to the zoo. We had a wonderful time looking at the animals. Jocelyn loved the Elephants, and all the furry animals in the small animal house. We had a hard time keeping her from banging on the glass, she wanted their attention so badly!

Jocelyn's Birthday

2009-02-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

We had Jocelyn's birthday party Friday night and considering the fact that she had not napped all day it went well. She had a blast with the family, her birthday ball and balloons and discovered a love for M&M's. She loves all the gifts she received - thanks everyone!

Jocelyn Macel Doane

2009-02-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful little girl turns 1 today! I can't believe how fast the year has gone by. It is amazing how much she has learned and grown in such a short time. Jocelyn has an amazing personality and keeps us on our toes at all times. She went from walking to trying to climb her dresser like a rock wall in a matter of days. We can't seem to baby proof fast enough! She learns new words all the time, although her current favorite is 'ball', used to describe anything remotely round. If you try to tell her the correct word ie: orange, she will argue with you until you give in (or give up). She loves to be around people, especially if she is the center of attention. She is constantly checking to make sure people are watching her as she dances, plays, or does anything she thinks is funny.

It is also fitting that she slept thought the night for the first time last night! Hopefully that will continue!

We are so blessed to have her and can not wait to see what the future holds for us as a family.

First time for everything...

2009-02-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

After reading the blogs of our friends and family, Matt and I have decided to give it a shot. Hopefully we can manage to keep it updated so we can share our lives with those who are interested. Here we go!