Updates, Changes and Big News!

Well so far this year I have been failing on my resolution about blogging. What can I say life has been busier than ever! So lets play catch up for a mintue! In my last post I said we had big news; well we actually have quiet a bit of big news! First off in my last post I was suspecting I was pregnant, low and behold Parkinson baby #2 is well on its way! I'm about 18 and half weeks along currently. Due September, 18. SUPER bad timing, because that is RIGHT when we usually start spud harvest, which is also a pretty big deal around here.. who would have thought on a potato seed farm right!? We find out if its a boy or girl on May 4th! So stay tuned! We are pretty excited about the whole thing! We didn't think we were ready for another one, just like we thought we weren't ready for Raiden but he has been the best thing that has ever happened to me, next to my dear husband of course! So once we find out what it is we have LOTS of work to do to prepare for the little nipper. Next up on our news list, we are getting sealed! May 12th is the day we are 90% sure its going to happen on. Jud's brother Josh and his wife Tish are going through that day too! So we figured we would make it a family affair and go through together with them. What a HUGE blessing! I can't wait to have all of our loved ones gathered around us as we get to be a forever family! I can't even believe how much stuff this has taken off of me. I never knew how bad it was REALLY bothering me until we got our recommends. We have our stake presidents interview on sunday right before church. After that we just need to call in and say we are going with Josh and Tish and get all of our clothes! I can't wait to marry my amazing husband... AGAIN! We are already recieving blessings from it! I can't wait to say my family is mine forever! The last bit of big news is that I am now working part time! Because the farm is expanding and my father in-law is so amazing me and my sister in-laws Jamie and Leah are helping with all of the organic stuff now. This last year when we started planting we decided to plant a few acres of organics and see if we could make a profit off of it. It has all been a learning experience for EVERYONE! With over 34 different varieties to learn about there is enough said! We have been shipping since the first of February and have shipped so many potatoes. Each box has to be packed by hand by us three. Needless to say; we have some pretty long days! But this is going to be and has been such a huge blessing as well! We get out of the house for a little while, learn about everything, and get to make some money too while all of our babies get tended by their amazing grandmother. What a super hero to watch 6 babies usually about 4 times a week. All of which are under the age of 2 besides one who is almost 5, plus a couple of super little ones who were just recently born. Shipping is about done and sometime this week or next we should start planting the organics. Which we also get to help with and watch over along with the growing and harvesting season, then we start all back over! Job security for sure. SO if you want some delicious organic potatoes to eat OR some to even plant check out our web site www.grandtetonorganics.com before we run out of seed!! Well now that all of the news is said and done; RAIDEN is growing like a weed! Somedays I have a hard time keeping up with him. This last week we have both been SUPER sick and the DR. ordered us to stay home for a week. Finally today we were able to get out and see some family and friends, so we are both feeling much better. Raiden is now walking, completely off of baby food and we are trying... unsucesssfully to break him of his binky. What can I say the kid loves it, and so do I sometimes! He talks ALL the time and is starting to take just one big long nap in the middle of the day, but I cant complain because I usually try to lay down at the same time!

Me and Jud recently celebrated our 2 year anniversary! Man do I love that big guy! I can't imagine my life with out him and I can't believe how I love him more and more everyday! I couldn't ask for a better love in life! So to celebrate our anniversary we went down to Idaho Falls and stayed for 2 nights in the Red Lion Hotel! We didn't go too far but we had SO much fun! We went to the Museum of Idaho and looked at the new dinosaur exhibit! SUPER COOL! Jud loves dinosaurs.. which is something I learned on our trip, I think I'm always learning new things about him still! Then we ate lots and lots of food the whole time, went to a movie, walked around the river, snuggled and watch movies in our room, and we went to the army surplus store. Our room also had an AMAZING view of the Idaho Falls Temple right across the river. Beautiful!

After our anniversary we celebrated Raiden's first birthday! I can't believe he is already one! Time has flown by so fast. It was a bitter sweet day as we had all of our family gathered around us. It was a bit cold and pretty windy but we still had a hot dog roast, and then ate inside. He got way too many gifts and was totally spoiled, but I think it was worth it! With the help of my amazing mother and little brother we actually pulled it off, which I didn't think for a minute there if I was going to be able to do it! Raiden even got his very own cake and the rest of us had cupcakes and ice cream! A few days after his birthday we cut his hair! It was tramatic and he thought we were cutting his ears off from the sounds of his screams! But the poor little guy kept rubbing his eyes because his hair was in them, so we decided it was time. I'm still not sure how I feel about it! Since then he now thinks he is a big boy! Between climbing on everything, including me, and starting to jump and trying to run I dont know how I will ever keep up with this baby getting bigger and bigger inside of me.

The last pic of Raiden in Jud's tool box again is right after his new hair cut. We cut off almost an inch, and its still pretty long! Well hopefully I will be able to keep on my blogging now. HOPEFULLY! Then that way there wont be these HUGE posts to read!

Oh My

I have been AWFUL with this whole blogging this! It has been 5 months since I last posted!!! AH! Well here is a quick run down! Raiden is now 9 months old, CRAWLING, and definatly going to be walking within a month. He is SO busy! I wonder how I will ever keep up with him sometimes. But I wouldn't change it for anything! I can't belive the love I have for that little man. "You are the best thing thats ever been mine."

We moved! Yes we did it! We didn't buy the house but we actually moved up to the family farm where Jud works! What an AMAZING experience this has been! It's SO much bigger than our old house and we love it here! It's been about a month and a half since we moved and we couldn't be happier with our decision!

I'm hoping to take pictures and post them and we have some big news coming up so stay tuned because I'm sure I will be blogging about it! So look for some new posts! I'm determined to get everything updated and back on track!

One of my resolutions is to post AT LEAST every 2 weeks! I would shoot for higher since everything changes so much and so quickly! But I'm a busy momma so I wont set myself up for failure! But for now I'm headed to bed! Phew!

Up and Coming

I can't believe how much everything has changed since we have had Raiden. He has been such an amazing little boy! I can't wait to see what the future brings! He is so smart and I couldn't have gotten any more lucky to have this little spirit in my life and in our family. It still amazes me everyday that the Lord loved us enough and trusted us enough to send his most precious little ones to us in this day and age. I can definatly tell he is going to be stubborn and a strong little man. But for now I don't mind one bit that he depends on me for every single little thing. I love feeling needed and wanted; and when he looks back at me, even after I mess up or forget to do something, or even do something wrong, I can still see how incredibly much he loves me. My mother-in-law, Robyn, always tells me that it is the purest love; and its SO true. He is so innocent right now, and doenst hold any grudges, or remember something that I did wrong. He just accepts how things are and goes with it. Sometimes I wish I could be more like him. HA I want to be like my baby when I grow up! Think about it! Things would be so much more easier; the world would probably be a much better place if we all just relaxed and went with the flow!

This summer has been incredibly busy with Jud's work schedule and just life! Between keeping up on the house, working here an there for some family friends, and trying to squeeze in some family time, it has been nuts! But here are a few pics from about a month ago for a couple updates!





Well I have just been absolutely awful at keeping this blog updated, hopefully I will get better with with time. Well some updates! Raiden is rolling!! It's so amazing to see this little man continually learning and learning and LEARNING! I can't believe how much he has learned already! He is getting pretty good with using his thumbs; and is loving being able to hold onto rattles and fun little toys.

Raiden was blessed 8/7/11. What an experience! I know I know, your thinking... ABOUT TIME! But hey 4 months old isn't too bad.. it could have been later! But seeing my little boy held by his amazing father and almost all of his uncles, grandfathers, and great grandfathers was amazing! He is so loved! It was such a big circle. Thanks everyone! Jud gave such an awesome blessing. We were even able to write it down, and with some help of my amazing sister in law, Jenny Baker, we put his blessing on a cute little picture of him that she took that day! What a handsome boy!





Well hopefully I will get better at this updating thing because life is starting to give us some new surprises! A couple weeks ago we bought a new car! It's so awesome! We traded in our tahoe to get a new 2001 yukon! I'm so glad that we got rid of the Tahoe, it was SO unsafe for our little man! Then because we are almost done paying off snap on, we are buying a house!!! We put an off in last saturday and we should hear something back in the next couple days. So they will either accept our offer; or counter it. I sure just hope they take it! We love it, and it has TONS of storage and a garage!! What could be better? It needs a really good cleaning, and some paint. But other than that, it will be perfect for us! It has so much potential and so much character! We already have so many ideas for it!

Well I guess my next blog will be about whether or not we got the house and our futur plans! So stay tuned! :]]

Raiden James Parkinson

Yup, as I am sure you have heard, our little man has made his way into the world; and let me tell you, it has already been quiet the journey and its only been almost 2 weeks! So lets start at the beginning!

Monday April 4,2011: Raiden's Birth Day
We woke up at 7:30 am... I guess you could say we were a little excited since we didnt have to be at the hospital till 10. Once we were awake we showered and got dressed for the day, then ate some breakfast and packed a few last minute things. by that time it was only 8:30. So we packed everything into the car and headed over to my mom and dads house to drop Charger off and say good-bye. Of course that took awhile since Charger is like my child. So after saying good-bye, shedding some tears, and wasting a little time we finally left my parents house, and headed to the hospital. The whole morning seemed surreal to me. I couldnt quiet get it through my head that after all of our hard work making this baby, we were about to meet him face to face in a matter of hours.
We made it to the hospital and checked in right at 10. Since I was scheduled for a c section at 12:30 they started me on an IV and started preping me for surgery. This all was a little scary since I had never been in the hospital. I've never even broke a bone or had anything removed from me! So I was VERY greatful to have my wonderful husband there to hold my hand. We passed the time by watching random shows on tv and talking to the anesthesiologist. (if thats even how you spell it)And just as an off note, Paul Bisser was my anesthesiologist, he was AMAZING! He made everything sound so easy and I felt completely comfortable! He was such a fun guy! Finally it was 12:30 and when my nurse came in I was so incredibly nervous, only to find out that we were following a surgery that was running late, so we were moved to 1pm.
FINALLY it was 1 and we were both so ready to get this done and meet our baby for the first time! I always thought that they only wheeled people around in hospitals on beds in the movies. HA! I was wrong! I got to be wheeled back to surgery on my bed. Which I will admit, was prety cool. :]] Once back in the OR they started to get me ready for my spinal. Now let me explain the difference between a spinal and an epidural. A spinal is a form of morphine called duramorphine, so it is perfectly safe for the baby. They inject this into your back like an epidural oter than it goes into your spinal fluid, unlike an epidural that only goes into the nerves I believe. This stuff is awesome, other than the itchiness.
Anyways I was moved onto the operating table and told to hunch over best I could with my belly. During this time they stuck a needle three times into three different spots on my back to numb the area for the spinal. Now having a spinal was soooo weird! When they pushed the medicine into my spinal fluid I could feel the warmness from the medicine go down one leg and back up and down the other. Then I was unable to feel anything from my shoulders down. It was SO weird! I could see them moving my legs around but couldnt feel it! I could also try to move my legs, and I knew that the message was being sent to them, but they wouldnt move! During all this Jud was out in the hall waiting and getting his scrubs on! As I was laying there I couldnt help but laugh! We were having a baby! He was finally coming!!
So while I was laying there and they were cutting me open to get our little man out Jud was standing my head holding my hand and watching the whole thing! He kept describing everything to me! I kept wishing I was able to at least see what was going on! After feeling a little pressure on my ribs I heard Raiden emerge into this world! His tiny little gurgly cry brought an overwhelming sense of pride and joy! They held him over the screen infront of me and I was able to see his tiny scrunched up face! We made him! I still cant get over it, that he came out of me!
Raiden and Jud were sent to the nursery for him to get weighed, measured, bathed and fed! While all that was happening and Jud was filming it all. I was still in the OR getting put back together. They use disolvable staples! That are on the inside!? You cant even see them! Its so crazy! While laying there getting put back together I layed there and listened to Raiden in the nursery crying and screaming and Jud laughing. Best sound I've ever heard!
Finally I was wheeled in recovery for the next three hours where my aunt and parents were waiting. After a few minutes Jud came in with the clean Raiden. There I was ale to hold my sweet baby boy for the first time! What a feeling!
The doctor said that the 8lbs 7oz 21in Raiden wouldnt have fit through the birth canal anyways. So it was a good decision that we decided to just have a c section; because it would have ended that way anyways! Saves me and him lots of stress!
We stayed in the hospital the rest of Monday, all day Tuesday and Tuesday night, then Wednesday we stayed until about 6pm. We were having steak and shrimp for dinner. So of course we didnt want to miss that!

Thursday April 7, 2011: Our first day home
Jud had to go back to work this day which was sad. But we got bills to pay! So my mom came over and helped me out TONS. Well I mostly slept and helped as much I could but recovery is going to take me a little while!
The rest of the week went by in a blur and this week hasnt been much better! I'm able to care for Raiden on my own now! Which is an awesome feeling! I knew that a baby was a lot of work, but HOLY COW! Every night I feel like I've just got done working a 16 hour day! :]]
This last Tuesday April 12 Raiden went in for his check up along with me. But he also go circumcised. What a horrific event for me! I wont go into the details, but at the end of the day I felt like the worst mother in the whole world to do that to my little guy. But its the healthiest solution, and I'd rather he go through that experience now when he cant remember it, instead of when he is 45 and is in a ton of pain and able to remember it. Its amazing how fast they heal! Its been 4 day and he already looks like he is all healed up!

Can I just brag about my baby for a minute!? He is AMAZING and SO strong! He can already hold his head up; well for like a minute he can, and then he gets tired. He has slept all night a couple nights! Yes that is right, my week and a half old baby will go to bed at 11 and not wake up till 6! Be jealous! :]] Of course this has only happend 3 or 4 times. But the rest of the nights he goes to bed at 9 wakes up at 11 eats about 4 oz. (he's already an eater!) gets a diaper change and goes back to bed till about 3:30 or 4am. We do the same routine and then we is back to bed until around 8am! He burps SO good, and hardley ever really cries. He just fusses a little and does a little whimper! Good thing he is so patient with his momma cuz it has been a learning experience for sure! Once he is awake at 8am he stays awake and just looks around and tries to talk until about 11am. Then he eats and hits the hay till about 3pm. Then he wakes up eats goes back to sleep till about 6 or 6:30pm. Then eats and is awake and looks around until about 9pm. Then he repeats the whole thing over again! Of course I'm his mother so its only expected that I think he is the greatest! What mother doesnt think their child is simply amazing!?
I cant believe that he already almost two weeks old. His umbilical cord fell off a couple days ago and it made me want to cry like a baby! He is getting so big! So this Tuesday April 19th we are headed in again for mine and his two week check up! Now that I have everything all caught up I will post some pictures hopefully tomorrow of us at the hospital and new born and maternity pics tomorrow! :]]