Christmas Time! Better Late that Never!

I put this at the top because it is so funny. Us girls thought it would be funny to wrap some lingerie and put it under the tree from my Dad to my Mom. My dad just played right along, it was hilarious!

These are the cute boys in my family. I have six brothers (Mark missing in the picture) and one brother-in-law so far, also my cute Dad, and my HOT husband. J/K...really he is hot though. :)My little brother Stephen had knee surgery the Friday before we came so this is what it took to get a seat in the house.

Jayden's school had a store this year and he was able to buy presents for his family and Grandparents. This was one of the highlights of my Christmas. He was so excited to give the presents that he picked out. This is him giving his presents to my parents. I thought it was so sweet.

Christmas is so much fun when your kids are small and they get so excited! I love it!

Santa left all the stockings on the couch!!!

On Christmas Eve we all opened PJ's. Hailey got kitty PJ's and Derek and Jayden got matching Batman PJ's.

Some of the gang in their PJ's.

Elder Keith Jensen comes HOME!!!

We had a huge group at the airport to meet my little brother when he came home from his Mission to Florida. It was the 23rd of December so we all got an early Christmas present. We were sure EXCITED, especially the little kids!

Keith was really excited too.

We all rode in my brothers RV to and from the airport. It was a blast to be all together! The kids all wanted to be by Keith.

This picture was not posed. This is really how my little brother is. He is always playing with the kids and they adore him. It has been about two week since we saw Him and Hailey still asks to see him every day. WE LOVE YOU KEITH!

Escape to Mexico!!!!!! FINALLY!!

At the first part of the year Judd surprised me with a Cruise to Mexico for our 8th Anniversary! This is one of the Formal Nights on the ship!

We had a really fun group including: my big brother Jaren and his wife Britney, their friends and now ours Natalie and Paul, Some of our closest friends Jill and Paul, and my parents. It was such a great group of people. Britney dominated the karaoke doing her dances. Everyone on the ship knew her. I was surprised that people weren't getting her autograph. Jill and Britney both made it to the final competition for Karaoke superstars...Jill made it because of her skill singing and Britney because everyone loved her. It was so fun. Jill also made it to the championship ping pong match...she is quite the multi-talented girl. Everyone was so much fun to be with!!!

On Judd's 30th birthday.....that's right I said 30!!!!!.....we were at Mazatlan. This was my most fun port. We tried a little bit of everything. We kayaked out to a private Island and explored. We tried some para-sailing (very cool but a little scary)! We also did boogie boarding. It was a blast!!! Happy Birthday Judd!!

Me and Jill......Miss you tons already....When is our next trip???

Judd and I Celebrated our 8th Anniversary!! and instead of telling you all how much I love him I will just show you!!

Judd would kill me for this... He hates PDA!!! I love it...especially the lady in the background looking at us!

This is the whole gang on one of the formal nights.

We stopped at a scenic view on our way up to the Zip line place. We did the mountain top to mountain top extreme zip lines. There were 12 of them ranging from 200 and something feet to 1600 and something feet. It was a blast!! They wouldn't let us tack pictures...they wanted us to buy theirs for 40$$.

Last but not least of my memories from the trip is our new friends Kim and Mike. We had so much fun getting to know them and I think we will stay in touch. They were so nice and we just clicked right from the start. Kim and I met during the lifeboat drill on the first night. Don't they look like so much fun. Miss you both:)!!!

Some of our Family Photos

Kevin and Emily took these pictures!! They are getting really good at picture taking!! Lucky us!

Jayden's First School Program

Jayden's first school program was so cute. It was all patriotic songs to celebrate Veterans Day. It was nice that the 4th grade and the Kindergarten were combined for the program; we were able to watch Eden at the same time.

I was on the front row watching and during the flag ceremony I was trying to help Derek and Hailey and Jayden yelled out to me "Mom you are supposed to put your hand over your heart!!" It was really quiet and many around us knew who he was talking to. It was really embarrassing!

Detroit Trip Two!!!! Results! Emotions!!

This trip was full of sleepless nights, stress, and being on the Go! I am really glad it is over and WE SURVIVED!!!! This is how my trip went...

FRIDAY NIGHT: Halloween...fun, fun, fun, but we get to bed too late!! Way too late!!!

SATURDAY: 4:30 AM wake up to catch our flight!! WAY TOO EARLY!!!!!
We were traveling most of the day Saturday. Bonnie picked us up from the airport and we got to their house about 5PM.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Jayden and I were up all night. He was crying because his stomach hurt. NO SLEEP! Really, I mean none!!!! He said he was praying all night to Heavenly Father to make his tummy stop hurting.

SUNDAY MORNING: Go to Church!! Jayden slept through all three hours. NO SLEEP FOR ME. But church was a great experience! Bonnie and Lynn serve in a Downtown Detroit ward and it was fast and testimony meeting. I knew it would be interesting when the first testimony the lady was using the word Jack___ over the pulpit. After Church we spent the day hanging out with Bonnie and Lynn. I really don't know what I would do without them. Thanks for taking care of us again!!!!!

SUNDAY NIGHT: Jayden crying again, this time really bad about stomach pain. Jayden asking why Hevenly Father didn't make his tummy feel better. Lynn takes us to the ER.... after about 3 hours, a urine test, and x-rays.....we find out Jayden had lots of gas in his tummy. Poor Jayder-bug. RELIEF.....then anger...dang...how much will that cost us!!!! Our medical bill are enough already!!! We finally get to bed about 12:30 or so.

MONDAY MORNING: 4AM Hailey wets on their sleeping bag, blankets and floor!!!!! Wake up and wash her and try to clean up. REALLY, REALLY tired!!!!! Try to get more sleep.
We had to be at the Hospital at 11:30 for check-in.
The procedure went well and the staff was really quick. We got right in which was nice because Jayden and Hailey we both fasting!

The kids came off the the anesthesia really well. Actually, it was like they had the best nap in their life. They were full of energy and ready to eat then play!!! I was ready for bed!! Bonnie took us to Red Robin - Jayden's choice, and we got full, WAY TOO FULL.

MONDAY NIGHT: The kids get lots of energy out outside with Bonnie, THANKS BONNIE! At about 11PM the kids finally fall asleep and I think we will have a nice night to sleep...event free. PULL-UP for Hailey just in case.

TUESDAY MORNING: 4AM, on the nose, Hailey wets and it leaks onto the bed. Dang!!! Up bathing her and washing sheets. She hardly ever wets anymore, I don't know what was up. By the time I was done with that I only had 45mins until my alarm would go off. We had to be up, ready, and packed, to leave at 7:30AM. More tests at the Doctors office and then strait to the airport to go home.

TUESDAY: Hours of tests and waiting at the Doctors. The kids are restless and tired of being still. We grab Subway and then off to the Airport to catch our flight. Bonnie took me to the Hospital and the Doctors and stayed with me. SERIOUSLY an ANGLE!!!! I promise it wasn't as much fun as it looks!!

After a long flight we make our connection in Denver and I thought I only had a hour to go. When the flight attendant announced just under two hours for the flight I started bawling. I was tired not only from the lack of sleep and the traveling but from all of the mixed emotions. I didn't know if I could handle much more. Luckily, Jayden and Hailey fell asleep.

When we get there I was thinking YES.... finally!!!!!!! I had to pour water on Jayden to get him to wake up and we headed out to the curb. Judd was going to pick up the kids and then drive around while I got the car seat and the bags. We get to the curb there was no Judd. The kids were crying, they wanted me to hold them. Through the glass doors I see the bags coming out so we run in and get them. Jayden continued crying because he was so tired and I wanted to cry but I was too mad. We come back out to the curb ...still no Judd. My cell phone was dead, OF COURSE! We wait 41mins on the curb for our 15min ride home. Needless to say I was a little angry!!! Don't worry, Judd was really sorry and we already made up.

This is Jayden and Hailey waiting. If I could have fit I would have been on the curb with them. Too bad for Judd I have a picture ....one of his worst husband moments ever.

RESULTS: Hailey had no fluid behind one eye and only a little bit behind the other!!! One of her retinal folds had flattened out and the other was reduced by 50%. Yeah! The Surgery worked! Great news!! .... BUT....I understand something now that I didn't understand before. Hailey has an under-developed posterior (back) of eyes. This under-development is causing the pressure in the eye which is causing the Retina to detach.

I knew all that but this part I didn't know. Along with this under-development she has Fovial Hypoplasia. Which means under-developed Fovia. The Fovia is your central vision where your optic nerve leaves and where all vision signals come. This can cause reduced vision and there is nothing they can do about it. FRUSTRATION!!! I thought that if her retina layed back down she may have normal vision with her corrective lenses. She is seeing 20/100 right now and may never see better than that. I don't want to sound un-grateful, I am really glad that her retina is responding to the treatment, but just bummed to understand the other effects of her problem. Dr. Trese still can not tell me what he expects for her long term. He said there is just not any research to go by.

Jayden has the same structural problem with his eyes with the small back of the eye and the under developed fovia. He does not have the presser problem though, which is good news. I was not prepared to hear anything about Jayden. He is seeing about 20/60 right now. In the exact words of Dr. Trese..."He will live a very high functioning life, he may not want to be a micro-surgeon or a jet pilot but there are many other jobs he will be able to do. He probably will not drive." Disappointment!!

Good News: Hailey did so well at her office visit that Dr.Trese thinks he can do the tests next time without putting her to sleep. My next visit is on April 7th and I don't plan on thinking about this whole thing much until then!!!!!

Thanks to all of those who have been praying and fasting for my kids and their eyes. We love you all so much and have really needed all your support. Special thanks to Lyndi and Leslie for watching Derek and taking care of Judd while I was gone.

Happy Halloween!!!!! A Little Late....

This was my favorite Costume of the Night!! Michael Phelps!! This little boy was so cute in his little speedo and cap with 8 medals. Only in Arizona would this be possible.

My mom was here to pass out candy!! We really enjoyed having her for the holidays. We were so glad Vivi is doing better so she could come play. We miss you mom! We had fun trick-or-treating with my sister's family.

The Group!!

Jayden's class dressed up as Dalmatians for their school parade. He had fun making his costume!

Hailey had a party at school and she got to decorate pumpkins. Emily, Mom, Abby, Jaxon and Derek all came to celebrate with her. The Kids had fun!

Hailey and her friend Tanner

Beautiful Cinderella!!! Jill this picture is just for you:)!!

Our ward party is always amazing with horse rides....!

booths and games...!! A balloon-man....!!

Food....! Friends....! And much more...!!

Jaren, and Emily and their families were able to come!!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love all the treats and how it brings a neighborhood together. I only wish I didn't have a huge bag of candy to resist now!! Anyone what some candy????

Halloween Party!!!

Judd and I dressed up for Shannon's Halloween party as Drew and Mimi on the Drew Carey Show. We tried to turn Judd's hair blond but it turned Green!! Hilarious!! Thanks Shannon it was a blast!

Some of the Girls.

Austin Powers and Girl

This one wins costume of the night!! Russ shaved his head to look like Dr. Phil. AMAZING!