Last Minute

Just a few last minute things done during the evening last night, like cleaning, laundry, list making, gas filling, packing, etc. and I think we are ready this morning!!! We leave this afternoon for our flight to Ft. Lauderdale, and hang out there till tomorrow afternoon. Then we are set to sail around 4pm Sat.!!! Brett and I are really excited and I just hope I feel well the entire time. I went ALLLL day yesterday with no pill taking, no nauseousness, just a little tired. So I'm hoping that'll continue, although we haven't started on the right foot this morning, oh well, positive thinking. Brett's back diagnosis isn't great, but not bad, we'll get it fixed when we get back, so until then...muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories!

I'm STILL super sad to be leaving Kaden and I cry thinking of it each time. I just have never been away from him this long, and the worst part is not being able to talk to him either. I know he's in good hands, I know Brett and I need this, I know all that, but it's hard when you are with your child almost ALL the time to leave him with others. I'll get over it I know I will, but prego hormones probably don't help either.
Mom, Steph and I went and got pedicures and I got a manicure last night before the big trip, and I just LOVE doing that!! So my toes are nice and pretty, my nails almost look fake b/c they are growing so good (pre-natal vitamins!) and the french manicure topped it off and I'm set. A few last minute laundry things this morning, working till 1 or so, then home with Kaden for a few last minute hrs together and Grandma and Grandpa Ballard will be here to see him when he awakes from his nap, he might freak out at first, but he's pretty pumped they are coming.
I just keep telling him that he gets to hang out with some cool people while mommy and daddy are gone for a few days and then we'll be back to pick him up and then go to the lake together. (like he understands, but it makes me feel better I'm explaining)
So that's it, I'll post in a week or so and hope to have some cool pictures! Pray for us on our travels!!
Take care!

Camps done...cruise here we come!!

Well camps finally finished up on Sunday, so Brett's father's day was morning full of camp, then afternoon coming home to me laying in bed(not feeling so great) getting a lawn mower out of the car by himself and hurting his back, then out with the managers for the night! Sweet huh!
On the note of his hurt back, come to find out yesterday with an x-ray, he has a crack in his bone and other "problems" in his lower back. He can hardly, well really can't, stand up straight, sit comfortably, and is ok when he lays down. It really hurts me to see him like this b/c most of you know, Brett is NOT a complainer at ALL. Me, yes, all the time, but Brett, NEVER EVER complains, and he's in a lot of pain. So he is getting an MRI today to find out more. They think the crack in his bone is from back in the day from playing ball, he's had a HORRIBLE back since way back then, and just never does anything about it. I think this is literally just the straw that broke the camel's back. So for a quick fix before we leave for our cruise we hope he can get a cortisone shot to help the pain, and hopefully we'll find out more from the MRI today too. I feel sooooooo bad. All he wants to do is play with Kaden since we really haven't seen/talked to him for close to a month, and it's a struggle. Plus we are leaving for 6 days without our little guy!!!
I'm most distraught about leaving Kaden, I think 2 days or so is the longest I've left him, plus I cant even call him to say hi until we are back in the states, this is going to be tough!!!! I am however EXTREMELY excited for our cruise. We were booking excursions for our stops last night and it made it more exciting. We cant wait and I know its a much needed break for both of us.
As soon as we get back thur afternoon, we'll either leave thur night or fri morning for P-burg and then out to the lake for our annual 4th of July with my mom's family. I LOVE going out there, it's soooooo much fun and its just great memories we've had since we've been little kids. So a lot going on in the next week and 1/2 and soo much fun!!!
I'm sure I'll overload with pictures after our cruise and lake adventure, so get ready. And I'll update on Brett when we find out.
Baby is doing good I guess too, we'll go back in 4 weeks. Still feeling sick off and on allllll day, thank goodness for meds!
Until later.......we leave in 4 days!!!

Round 2!!!

So I think most of you readers have gotten the email, but I thought I'd post on our blog as well. We are expecting baby #2!!!! Brett, Kaden and I couldn't be happier right now. I have been feeling ok the past few weeks, it comes off and on, good days and bad ones, but almost out of the first trimester, so hopefully I'm almost clear of the yucky days! Here are a couple sono pictures we got yesterday.
I'm right at 11 weeks and due date is Jan. 9th. Still in basketball season, but at least not March Madness time this go-around! Thank you to everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers. We are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives and I know baby #2 will agree!!
Take care.

Weekend Update!

So as most of you know, I dont get to see my husband very much in June due to camps, so we are on our last leg though of camps, this week and through the weekend and we'll be done with all 5 camps!!! Then we get to go on our cruise, yeah!!!
But this last week/weekend was crazy...
My cousins and aunt came in on wed and we got to see/hang out with them almost everynight and they even made an appearance at Dog Days with us, which was very cool. We had nice dinners, great play time with Kaden and McKenna, and long naps (for us all). After work friday Steph and I went out to the Expo for the Ironman and the 5k/10k run that she was doing sat. and I was part of the Ironman 70.3 triathalon on sunday. So we went and got our stuff, strolled around and headed back to grams. Friday night rolled around and we got the very very sad news that Dr. Fredrick had passed away from a freak bike accident, so we were all very somber that night. Dr. Fredrick and his family have been great friends of my grandparents, sister, dad, and we've all known them forever, so its a great loss for a great family and he'll be dearly missed. Late that night (1:30AM) my brother called me and told me that our papa was in an abulance to the ER, so I freaked out! I called my sister, she came and got me and we headed to the ER. Still not knowing what was going on and with Dr. Fredrick's death hours before, my mind was racing. We got there, finally got to see him and he was in much less pain than I guess when they had to call 911. He ended up having diverticulitis (sp?) and now they are saying he'll also have to have a colonoskopy. So with meds and rest, he got to go home that night, but is now just laying low for the next step. So we were there till almost 5AM and Steph had her 10K race at 8AM. I was planning on going, but woke up an hour and 1/2 later and was not feeling well, so I skipped out, but she made it to her race and did AWESOME!!! Mom went with her and said she was great!
Sunday rolled around and I honestly was hoping for the big bad thunderstorms we were supposed to get, but when I woke up it was really nice out! My teammates headed out at like 4:30AM b/c Claudine, Kadens' swim teacher, started her swim at 7:15 and with 2,000 people trying to get out there at once, was a mess. But I got to go around 9:30 to meet up with them since I wouldnt be running till Cristal got back from biking. Claudine did AWESOME and swam her 1.2 miles in 32 mins!!!! Cristal bike her 56 miles in 3 hr. 8 mins, and then I pulled in the rear and did the 1/2 marathon in 1:44. Not my best time, but had slight hurdles along the way. I think we are going to do it again next year and give ourselves more than 3 weeks to train! But we pulled out 2nd place!!! Out of all the women relay teams we were just hoping to finish, but we got 2nd! We were pumped and got a true yellow brick (for yellow brick road-kansas you know!) and a medal. It was quite the experience out there and I'll for sure do it again, never the whole triathalon by myself, but relay any day! There are some unbelievalbe atheletes out there and it was so cool to watch!
Then sunday evening we started up with camp again and we'll go through thurs, then Brett has one final one, team camp, through sunday.
Hope I didnt bore you all, but thought it was a good update.
Oh, and our neice Bailey turned 1 yesterday!!! I cant believe she's 1 already, and we miss them so much. It is to bad they are in Utah for her 1st bday, wish we could celebrate together. Oh well, she probably wont remember! Happy belated bday Bailey!!
Till next time....

Here's more...

Here's some fun ones out at the Legends Mall area when Aunt Stephanie let Kaden get ABSOLUTELY soaked in the water, which he had a BLAST at!! It was so funny, this was a few weekends ago, but wanted to post. He also got a whole new outfit out of it afterwards b/c he was drenched!!









These were from this weekend spending time with Papa in the backyard...

ok finally some pictures posted...sorry

I tried to put these in order, just trying to get some out there!!! Here's the fence project...

A lot has gone on..

Quick summary for those out there...
*Brett dug post holes for our fence over a week ago, HARD WORK!!!
*Dad came in town this past weekend, and WE HAVE A FENCE!!! It was lots of hard work, but with my dad, Brett, Papa, Steph, me (a little) and Kaden of course, we got it all done! It looks awesome and I'm sooooo excited to have it.
*Kaden is great, but either not feeling well lately, or we are just wondering if this is what a 2 yr. old does and acts!? Who knows, but he's still my little baby!
*Brett and Amber moved back in town, officially last night, move to my sister-in-laws house, officially today.
*My sister-in-law moved to Utah this morning, Brett took the gang to the airport, soooo sad, not sure when we'll see them, hopefully sometime later this summer, Kaden wont understand if we don't!
*Training for the half ironman(I'm doing a relay, so I'm the run part!) So I've done my 10 mile route, 8 mile route, and will do a 6-8 run this weekend, then next weekend is the race, so it'll be a half marathon. I'm excited to be a part of this ironman even if I'm not doing the entire thing, not ready for that. I've had a few set backs in training, but nothing bad. Kaden's swim teacher is doing the swim part and a sales girl at LAC is doing the bike. I think we'll do ok!
*Red Dogs started yesterday and I'm soooo excited. I love seeing everyone and getting to do a huge group workout. It's a social time, but also we always have a great workout out of it, especially if you are pushing a 2 yr old in a running stroller all over campus, up and down hills, that'll push ya!
*Camp starts this sunday for my duties, Brett starts Friday and literally doesn't end with all the camps till the 21st of June. So we'll see him very little in the next 3 weeks.
* My cousins and aunt are coming in town next wed for a little while, and I'm excited to see them, it'll be fun.
*I have a baby shower for our good friend Meaghan Briscoe this sat, that Kaden will have to attend with me, and I can't wait to see her and her baby bump. She's having a little boy too!
Hmmmmm, I think that's it for now, I have TONS of pictures I want to share from the fence building extravaganza, and it's one reason I haven't posted lately b/c I like to put them along with the post, but I still don't have them all downloaded, I'll try to get them up tonight or tomorrow!
Till next time...take care!