We are still around!

How could she be more loved?


Ten hours beofre her big debut.

For those of you who haven't completely given up checking our blog ( I don't blame you at all if you have, I would have too). Here is the update. We bought a house and spent a VERY frustrating summer trying to close. We had to itemize everything that needed to be done then get price lists for all of those parts. This was no small task. We have build walls and ripped them out. Ripped out both bathrooms all except one tub. The kitchen was nonexistent for a few months. Everything was remudded and textured. The flooring had to all be replaced. Along with new wiring, a new roof, new lighting, new windows, new doors. Literally everything was redone but that one tub that we had to put a hole in the wall so Tony could get in under it and brace it. Anyway we were finally able to close one week before I started nursing school. We spent endless hours that week scraping popcorn off of the ceilings and on our hands and knees (me with my then six month belly) popping up the old tiles with hammers and chisels.

Then school started and things really got crazy. I have never known stress like the last few months. It was intense and demanding and a whole lot really fast. On nights I didn't have school we were working on the house until really late. When I did have school the kids went with Tony and I'd pick them up around ten when I was done. We'd go home, have baths and Tony would work longer. On Saturdays I'd leave for clinicals at 6:00. Tony and the kids woke up and got to work. When I got done, I'd come here and we'd all work until late that night. That went on until October 31 when we moved in. It was a month later than we had hoped, but still probably too soon. We didn't have a kitchen because the granite wasn't done. I did have cabinets, but no sink and no appliances other than a fridge. We didn't have any heat which wasn't a big deal because the weather was still perfect. The gas guy came a few days after we moved in ran into a problem and we ended up going ten days without gas ( no hot water, no fun). Finally all of that started to work out.

On November 21 we had our baby. Yes, I am lucky enough to get to share my birthday with her. Her name is Anabelle Grace and she has every single one of us wrapped around her little finger. She came out with a ton of hair (a novelty in our family) and a dimple in her left cheek. She's an amazing baby. She is so patient and happy and has brought a lot of peace to a very crazy home.

Two weeks after she arrived I finished my last final. They went really well and I'm excited for next semester, particularly because the hardest semester is behind me and now there will be more time for fun with my family.

The last few months have created emotions like I've never known. I was scared going into it and considered turning down my spot once accepted. My dad gave me a blessing that said I would be provided with everything I needed to be successful. Heavenly Father proved that over and over; making impossible situations and overwhelming circumstances work out just fine. I went to bed sobbing more than once and was always blessed with the peace and hope that I needed to continue. Especially now looking back I am absolutely in awe at the miracles we have experienced. Paricularly with the strength that we have all needed. I am so indebted to my family who sacrificed so much to help us out. They came down four or five times and put in long days over the weekend to make as much happen as possible. They have been endlessly supportive in so many ways. Most of all Tony has been amazing. He has been mom and dad as well as everything else. He has cooked and cleaned and done my jobs on top of his. I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Our house is coming along. Not completely done, but getting better and better every day. I am now starting to unpack everything that wasn't an absolute necessecity and things are getting more organized. I'm grateful for the whirlwind we have been through. It has brought us closer and made us really recognize our blessings. It's a great time of year and we have so much to be grateful for. Even the little things. Last night Hope and I were reading a Christmas story about baby Jesus while we were holding our own little baby and it was all perfect.

Here are a couple of pictures. Our camera is still packed somewhere. I will post more when I can find it and you can all finally see our house that you've heard so much about.