it's been awhile, can you blame me?

Natvity


Santa came to our party!

Too cute! Low five!

Where is Ryan? Cheese!!

Love my boys!

So with the holidays the blog gets put on the back burner, sorry. Between parties, school, and of course shopping it is just hard to share my spare time on the computer.

Lately we have had some family fun bowling and we ate at the Mayan and the kids loved it! They loved to push the ball down the lane and loved seeing the boys jump from high rocks. Abigail kept saying "AWESOME!" in her low manly voice. We have been making cookies together to give to our neighbors and wrapping Christmas presents and trying to tell others. My fault, I keep asking Ryan what dad got me and he tells me. I love him!=)

Ryan has been loving school and becoming more and more independent. If he has to go to the bathroom during sacrament he tells me to stay there and he will be back, but I just can't so I follow him. He is just getting to big and it makes me happy and sad. Even though he seems to test his limits everyday he really is a good help to me.

Ethan is laughing more and more everyday and I just think he is the cutest thing ever! He has these big eyes all the time, it's like someone jumped up and scared him. He makes me laugh. He is a whopping 10lbs and so far the biggest out of all my kids. He has a cute little dimple on his left cheek and loves to bury his nose right in your armpit area to get some peace and quiet. =)

Derrek just works away to give of the things we need and want. He is a good provider for our family. We are hoping that sometime in the early year he can have two days off. =) We have planned a couple of vacations for next year and hope we can follow through.

Derrek is the love of my life and my best friend. I really hope he thinks I did well for his Christmas, however he has received quite a few already. I got him a router and a mitre saw because they were such great deals. He was right there and I told him he needed them, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten them.

I am okay. I am constantly tired and I seem to have a problem with my thyroid still. It is worse then the last time and it is getting very annoying. The doctors are going to give me something new and I hope it works out. I try my hardest to there for my kids but sometimes I drop the ball because my body won't let me move. It makes me sad and I hope I can be fixed. I am so grateful for my parents for helping me out when I feel like this and for letting me come to their house and unload. I am a very blessed person with a blessed family. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I know we will!

Halloween

Ryans School picture and the other kids.

Well we had a fun halloween and decided to be all themed together and we chose Aladdin.

Ryan-Aladdin

Me-Jasmine

Derrek-Genie

Abi-Abu

Ethan-The Rug

We loved it and had a ton of fun making them and wearing them every chance we could get. Thank you to my mom who helped me make them, I am not great at cutting fabris out but one day I might be.=)

We are very excited to be able to take another vactaion to California this year and we are leaving on Saturday. W ewill be going to Palm Springs and hanging out with my parents just lounging by the pool, playing, and of course eating everything. I am very excited and can never wait to get on the road, however this one will be different because we have a child potty trained and another trying to be. So let's hope they survive the drive. =)

Ryan also got his school pictures back today and I am very pleased with how they turned out. They also let me have my other kids pictures taken. They are so neat you don't have to cut them out you just punch them out! I was excited because I am horrible at cutting straight.

I don't manage my time as well with three kids and just like to sleep every chance I can, so posting has been last on my list but I need to give an update on my wonderful family!

Ethan is now smiling and has gained 4 lbs and is 4 inches taller. My dad says he can look like an old man sometimes with the faces he pulls, he is quite funny.=)

Abigail is and always will be a princess according to Derrek. To him this girl can do no wrong. She has got an attitude that dare I say is greater than mine. She has been loving singing lately and does so with her toy microphone. She will be our little entertainer, we love it.

Ryan is doing well in preschool and loves his teacher. He has been reading every night with daddy and loves to use his work book I bought him. Ryan and Abi wrestle everyday and jump from strange and high places. We have made many treats like: pie, cookies, and muddy buddy mix. The kids love hands on things.

Derrek is counting down the days until we get to go on our vacation to California in November. He has finished up all our yard work for the year and trimmed all the trees and bushes. Now we just need to clear out our garden for next years.

I am always at least 15 minutes late to just about everything I go to, because I pack my whole house in the car.=) I think I have depression again and my thyroid is all over the place lately. I have a hard time getting the house clean and food ready on time because Ethan has been having stomach pains and likes to be held. So if you do a pop in on me don't expect much.=) I am still in some pain from the surgery and have quite a bit of scar tissue so it's not flat yet or may never be, so that makes me sad. I have been playing Dinosaurs with the kids, hide and seek, and bubbles. I love my kids and husband and all the help they give, good and bad.

So lately I have been on a baking roll and have been making pumpkin pies from scratch and believe it or not they are delicious! I am very proud of myself because I have never been a cook, but lately I have tried many new things and they turned out well. I made a split pea soup that was yummy and some homemade salsa. I am going to try my hand at canning too in a couple of weeks. I am more sore now because I have been doing things I probably shouldn't but thought I could. So my stomach feels like I have done 1,000 crunches, if only they showed that result.=)

Ryan has been having a lot of fun at pre-school and has not had any problems so far. Our only struggle is that he likes to sleep in on his school days more than the other days. So let the nagging begin.=) He and Abi are fighting more because they can now do all the very same things. I really do have mini parents lately and it's driving me crazy! Derrek and I hope to fix that ASAP.

Abi has been counting and learning as much from as she can. He has been so good to try to teach her things. She is the best little girl when it comes to doing her hair, she will sit there fairly still for not quite 2 and let you do it. Everyday she wants me to touch up her fingernails to make them pretty. Can you say high maintenance already. She has been asking to go potty more and more and hopefully soon when I crack down on it, I will only have one baby in diapers! YAY!!

Ethan seems to have been growing like a weed to us, but I still I get people who think I am carrying around a doll. Do people really think that an adult would carry a doll around so gentle and caring? I love when he is awake because he has big, bright eyes with his tiny, little face. He is absolutely beautiful and I couldn't ask for a better baby. Most nights I ahve to wake him up to eat, just because I hurt. He cries more than the other two kids did but not near the amount of a regular baby. He doesn't fit into any of our cute "big boy" clothes, just jammies.

Derrek has been working and trying to help out where he can. I try not to wake him when I need help in the night so he can sleep. We are hoping that soon he will only have to work 1 job, only time will tell. We have been thinking about a big renovation to our kitchen/living room that will consume most of his free time in the summer next year. We both are excited about it if we can get it to work. That's all for now we are just trying to make it day by day with the adventure of three kids now.=)

Ryan's first day of Preschool

Was off to a not so great start with me having to wake Ryan up at least three times. It was Ryan's first day of school and he loved it! He was hesitant at first because Abi or I wouldn't be there but he did great. It's so nice to have it only four houses away and the lady is in our ward. I hope he continues to do well and to have fun.

Abi had a rough time though. They really are like twins and do everything together and she didn't get why she couldn't stay or why I didn't run to go get him when we picked him up. Once I get our schedules down I will be able to do fun stuff while he is gone and to have that one on one time with her.

Ethan obviously didn't get it and just wanted to sleep and I loved it!

Takes some getting used to...

So this three kid thing is getting better. I can usually get to places I am scheduled for only 15 minutes late. Yeah for me!=) I struggle to find the energy even though he already sleeps for 5 hours in a row at night. I am starting to think I have depression again, but at least I know the signs for it. My incision looks great and my staple marks are almost gone. I still have some lumps where there is still swelling and from the inside stitches. I am still tender as well but other than that I think I am doing well. I plan on getting back to my daily routine in the next week or so.

I am having Ethan's blessing on the 20th of September and combining it with Abi's birthday party. So it will be easier on me.

Ryan starts his preschool on tuesday the 8th and he couldn't be more excited. I am glad that my son already has the will to learn new things. We have been practicing with him on his writing and letters. He does really well considering he is only 3. I love that he has such a fun look in his eyes when he says, "can we get my work book out?" with a smile. He is a big help to me, sometimes too big, but help none the less.

Abi is my little mom saying everything I say mutiple times in her low manly voice. She continues to crack us up when she yells with her deep voice. She is also learning so much from Ryan. She has been counting along side Ryan. I wonder what she will do when we have to say goodbye to him at school....

An adjustment....

how big can those eye protectors get?!


someone got into Nana's makeup


I can't do anything without my two helpers.

he is her pet, really she walks him.

Tub time and they love it!

my three men, aren't they cute!

Well with the new addition obviously comes adjustments. We haven't had too many issues at all if any. The kids really like to give Ethan more loves than he can handle and we are constantly being told "to share Ethan" and to let Ryan hold him. Abigail practically falls on him because she wants to just eat him up. Because Ryan wants to help so much he hasn't taken a nap in a couple of days, which means I haven't had a nap in a couple of days. It wearing thin on me and I hope to get one today or mommy won't be a happy camper.

September 8th is when Ryan starts school and we all couldn't be happier! He is so excited and he knows where his teacher lives and everything. We are excited to see all the new things he will get to learn and especially for those five hours of him at school. It was perfect timing to have a baby, because of the transition of losing a toddler and gaining a baby for two days a week. It seems like it will be really fun for them and they get to have a themed party every month. I just cant wait to hear his excitement and all the stories he has to tell.

Abigail says a different word everyday and is a spitting image of me! She really knows how to tell people what to do just like I do. =) We will try to reverse this but I am not sure it will work out. Now if only I could get her to say "plethora," that ones for you mom. She has been cleaning up and helping me whenever I need it just like Ryan does. Hopefully soon I will be able to take the kids places without feeling pain, they really deserve it for everything they help with.

Derrek is back to his work schedule, which is hard for me to handle sometimes. I just have good days and bad days from this recovery thing. I try not to wake him for late night feedings so he can get more sleep, but it doesn't always work out that way.

As for me and the baby I am about 4 lbs. from my normal weight and baby is almost to his birth weight. I am sure he had a set back from his circumcision this week, so hopefully he gets back on track. He has been breathing a lot more normal now, but I still find myself waking up and making sure. My garden has taken a hit from the past 4 weeks from all my problems. The corn is not yummy, but we know we can grow it so next year will be better....hopefully. I have giant pumpkins and quite a few watermelons getting big too. I am just waiting for the dang tomatoes to get red! Next years will definitely be better planned out and none of this 12 squash plants and 25 pumkin seeds! =)

Baby Ethan Derrek Buchei

He was 5 lbs. 3 oz. 18 1/2 long. We had him at 1:25 pm by c-section. The surgery wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but it still isn't pleasant by any means. He was healthy until the last day when he would stop breathing. So pretty much I cried the whole night and couldn't take it anymore and called my in laws to grab Derrek and come give him a blessing. They got there at 2 am and worked the magic on us both and we both slept peacefully and he didn't have another issue with his breathing. Needless to day I am very tired and drugged up at the moment, but it was totally worth it. Ethan is a very special guy who has already brought us happiness. The kids adore him and love him to pieces. More to come when I feel better. Thank you for all the support and prayers for me and Ethan.

baby update

So I have been in the hospital all weekend and will be having an emergency c-section by the end of the week. I pretty much snuck out today because I did not want to be stuck in there any longer than I have too. I have had some bleeding and cramps and the baby is breech. I have had to take a couple of steroid shots to make sure the babies lungs can develop faster. I continue to change in dilation from big to small. My blood pressure goes extremely low and that can be scary when I think about it a lot but for the most part I am doing fine about it. I know when I go in and they tell me and prep me I will cry but only for a bit. At least I have time to prepare. Derrek and I both know and feel the baby will be fine and most likely will only be in the NICU for a day or two, at least that is our hope. Derrek will post something once we have the baby, in the meantime I am on my own kind of bed rest and am using my own judgement. Can't wait for you all to see my cute little Etahn soon. =)

Just mad

Well I am a bit disappointed. I went to the doctors and he didn't do much at all, in fact he didn't even do the things he said he would do like check me or do an ultrasound. I am upset because I went into the hospital thursday and they told me I have fetal fibronectin, which means I have a high chance of delivering within two weeks. Then I change my appointment with my doctor so he can check to see how dilated I am so I can have some sense of how I am progressing and if I should be worried. Obviously that didn't happen. I left crying. In the appointment he gave me the option of two drugs to help stop labor but they weren't guarantees either. One drug makes you dizzy and have massive migraines, the other gives you anxiety and tremors. I told him I didn't like either option. So he gave me anxiety, like I need more of that in my life! Than when I get the prescription I look and there a lot more side effects. Here is the list of the most common: anxiety, nervousness, tremors, headache, difficulty sleeping, nausea, rash, hives, itching, fast heartbeat, wheezing, and apparently there are more but can be less common or found in few people. It doesn't sound like much fun. I told him my contractions were not increasing in pain so I am mad that he gave me this drug that on;y makes me feel worse, in fact I just took one and it seemed to make me feel the pain more. Now I can feel just about all of those symptoms above. I am not shy about announcing that I am a big baby when it comes to things like this, but I honestly don't think I can handle taking these with the way it makes me feel and look after my kids. The heartbeat of Ethan is very good, but it would be nice to know more. Hopefully at my next thursday appointment will be better, if I last that long since nothing is guaranteed.

update

well I had a doctors appointment today and he said that I will probably have this baby in the next three weeks, so we will see. We are so excited and hope the time flies, especially me because I have not had so much fun this time around. He looks and sounds healthy and that's all we care about. His due date is about the third week of August, but everything is coming along quicker than what he had thought. I will update more when it gets closer.

an update

Well things have been crazy this past week for me. I have been cleaning like crazy for this baby, because I feel like he is coming earlier than expected. I have sharp pains and contractions all the time they are just not consistent enough right now. I have another doctors appointment on tuesday and we will see what he says. So I have all of his clothes out up to 12 months, I carpet cleaned the whole house thanks to my mother in laws cleaner, I scrubbed the walls down from the dirty kidlets hands, and have cleaned out closets. For some reason I thought I eould also arrange my food storage again, yep I am weird! I have also been attending to our garden. I am so proud of myself. We actually have everything growing and I couldn't be more ecstatic. However, my carrots are deformed because I put a bunch together so they curled around each other and they haven't gotten very long yet because of it, but they are very yummy and that's all that matters, right? Last week I found corn growing and saw the husks coming out of the stalks. I have already given my mom and dad some lettuce because no one told me that squash plants get HUGE! They are overshadowing everything around them and I planted like 12!! I find myself cutting the huge leafs back once a week. We have green tomatoes and can't wait for them to be red. Our watermelon is growing and I can't wait to eat the yummy sweetness. We recently planted out pumpkin plants and they are just as big as the watermelons already. Ryan gets so excited when he goes out to see "his" garden. Anyway it is all looking so good I don't know if I will be willing to share.=)

We are hoping to get some home improvements done in the kidst of having this baby. We want to install french doors within the next two weeks and to get a sprinkling systems set up. My brother came over and hooked us up with the electrical and now it's all up to Derrek. Slowly but surely I think it will be done by fall.

I have just such a great family who takes of me when I need it. I do find myself getting yelled at more by Derrek, but I guess it's for my own good. He really has just taken control of things here at the house when he is home and tells me to go sit down. I love him.

We have had many days at wheeler farm with the too close ducks and million rats, yuck!!! Also surprisingly many days in the hot sun playing on our inflateable jumper. What a good investment that was. Well that is enough for now and pictures to come when I have more time =)

Happy Fathers Day!!

The things that Ryan loves about his dad:

He plays with me.

He makes yummy cheese sandwiches.

Takes me on walks.

Let's me jump on him.

Let's me drive.

Buys me ice cream.

Reads me extra bedtime stories.

Takes me to the petting zoo.

Gives me a bath.

Say prayers.

Teaches me how to clean up.

Builds things with me.

The things Abigail loves about daddy:

I can jump on him.

He let's me shock him.

Gives me a tub.

Brushes my teeth.

Gives me treats.

Reads me books.

Gives me juice.

Digs.

Cuddles with me.

Say prayers.

By the look of the list I guess I, the mom, doesn't do a whole lot. =) With the little bit of time Derrek has with the kids because of work, he really does a lot for them. We make an effort to have one on one and family time together at night. Sometimes that means I am in bed before he is because Ryan wants him in his room longer and I love that they have a close relationship like that. They wait by the door after naps in hopes that their dad will be home soon to spoil them and play. They all fight to say prayers with him, even though we have no clue what Abigail says sometimes she tries. They tend to listen to him more and crave every second with him. Derrek tries to do different things on every day off now and they love it. They love the thought that dads car is still in the driveway. I love that even though it is his day off he takes care of me as well and let's me rest. He helps me with projects, even the crafts. He is the best daddy to these kids. I love and appreciate all that he does, and even the kids will tell him they appreciate him. They are always saying "I love you daddy." They love to get his phone calls and tell him about their day.

We love you Derrek and are glad that we are an eternal family!!

I have the best of the best!!

getting ready for the show


helping Ryan pull out the sword

at the beach getting water for the sandcastle

daddy holding on tight so no one falls in.

So with all of my preganancy issues I must say how blessed I am to have such an awesome husband and kids. Most days Derrek will come home and tell me to lay down or to get out of the kitchen. I feel horrible when he does but I also know that I need to do what he says for my health as well as the baby. It is very hard for me to accept help even from my cute husband and I am trying very hard to deal with it. I still try to do daily things and he doesn't like that much, but I feel like I am not doing my part. So now I only do small things and sometimes not even dinner. He is just so good to pick up where I have left off. Today I weeded my garden, which only took about five minutes. My corn is now 2 feet tall and who knew squash could get so big and with a huge flower (okay probably everyone but me.) I picked up the living room, did the dishes with my handy Ryan helper, and will do laundry when Derrek gets home. If I could only do this much everyday I would feel better about my duties as a wife and mother. I guess Derrek is just going to get one heck of a father's day present with he does for us.

Ryan has also been just such a big help to me lately. He will help Derrek bring me food, help load the dishes/wash, fold laundry, vacuum, water...you name it and he will ask to help. I think I should catch it on film with him asking to do chores so that down the road I can show him that he really does like to do chores!=) He says the cutest and funniest things to make me feel better. He will randomly tell me he likes/loves me and "you have a cute big butt!" because I tell him he has a cute little bum. He is such a sweet tender hearted kid and so smart, I couldn't ask for a better kid and example for the rest of my kids.

Abigail is growing, not exactly in height but in personality. She has learned how to say prayers, though you can't understand it sometimes she says it and is very proud of herself as Derrek and I are. She is full of spunk and a spitting image of me, so naturally she can be a little more princess than one likes to admit but that is her and she is perfect. She tries to dress herself and now she always wants to go potty with Ryan so I may only have to change one baby afterall.=) She knows what she wants and doesn't stop until she gets it and she can be dirty like biting, pulling hair, pinching. Yep, she does it all until she get what she thinks is hers. Poor Ryan....Hopefully with the new baby she will mellow out a bit, I am not holding my breath by any means just being hopeful.=)

I love my family and all they do for me and continue to do for me. I am blessed and couldn't ask for anyone better in my life than Derrek and the kids we have. He is a good teacher and example to them. I love to watch them play and for each of them to light up when they see each other. They make my day. I love you, oodles and oodles!!