Overdue Update

Lots has been happening on the Adams front. Besides being pregnant, of course, we have had a lot more surprises come our way. First, I quit my job the beginning of October. I was working at Art City Nursing and Rehab as the Activity Director. It was a great job. I loved the residents, the staff and the location. My boss was super understanding about family matters, or emergencies that causes me to miss work. However, once I became pregnant the absences started to steadily increase. My morning sickness, AKA all day barfing while dealing with migraines, made it especially hard for me to work. I did my best for 2 months, but then my husband, boss and I decided that it just wasn't working. We decided I would try to be On-Call, and they would hire a new Rec. Therapist. Nate and I weren't happy about this, since I made about half of our income, but we couldn't figure out what else I could do with being so sick.  If you don't know, Pregnancy is seriously awful for me. I love that I can get pregnant, but my body is not cut out for it. With this understanding Nate and I decided to move forward and have me stay at home with Autumn. I would work on managing our already tiny budget and he would look for a new, higher paying job. We did LOTS of praying and visiting the Temple. I had several break downs about feeling worthless and guilty and that it was all my fault that we were struggling so bad. Even with me working full time we still didn't meet our monthly bills. We were still paying on my C-section from almost 2 years ago. Still paying on Autumn's surgeries. Still paying on our crazy high credit card bill, due to Nate losing his jobs 8 times in our 7 year marriage. Plus we had our normal everyday bills. I became so overwhelmed I started have my panic/anxiety attacks again. Which obviously is not good for the baby. Nate was very stressed as well, but kept reassuring me that it would work out. He didn't know how, but it would...and of course he was right,.... I just had to be patient,... Not my specialty. 

Nate's Grandparents live in Layton. His Grandpa grew up in the house right next to where they live now.  They paid off the property and kept it through all the years to rent to friends and family. An older couple had been living there for about 15 years, we all assumed they would be living there the rest of their lives. A few weeks ago, this couple decided to move out suddenly, leaving the house next to Nates Grandparents empty.  Nate's father called us with an interesting proposition. He knew Nate was looking for a new job, and I needed to stay home full time. He also knew that we had been wanting to rent our Condo out for quite sometime, so we could get some rental history under our belt to eventually buy another home. He suggested that we could move up to Layton... with reduced rent, and rent our Condo out.  This was quite the proposal. 

Nate and I knew we wouldn't survive another month with the income he was bringing home.  We prayed, and decided that Nate would tell his work about this opportunity in Layton. We were nervous that they would just let him go on the spot, however they surprised us and gave Nate an 6 dollar an hour raise to stay working for them.  This was very unexpected. We went through our finances to see if we could stay in Springville with the raise. We still wouldn't be able to make ends meet, but if he continued working at his job in Provo and we moved up to Layton, we would be able to pay our bills and actually put extra towards paying down our medical bills. 

We went to the Temple with some questions and recieved some answers. We decided that Nate would commute on the Front Runner from Layton to Provo.  It will be over 3 hours on the Train everyday, but Nate said he was looking forward to it. He has been wanting to catch up on some reading, watch shows, and just have time to decompress each day.  It will cause him to be away from home 13-14 hours a day, which is going to be lonely,....but we feel like it is worth it to finally get a handle on our debt.  
Its amazing how all of this happened so suddenly. Just a few weeks ago Nate and I were talking Bankruptcy, and now our prayers have been answered.  The Lord knows when to step in.  He knows that even if you think that there is no hope and that you will never make it, that there is a way. We just have to continue to be faithful. That's the Key.  Although I was so overwhelmed at times I couldn't get myself out of bed, we would still go to Church. We would still prayed and read our Scriptures. We would still visit the Temple to get answers and confirmations that we were doing everything that we could.  I am no saint by any means, at times I have felt like I have been doing all the right things, but the Lord has forgotten me. With all the trials I have gone through, I have thought, Okay... I made it through that one,...barely.... I should be good for a while..,right? But then another Trial would come barreling at me, just when I was catching my breath. I knew it was the Lord helping me be Stronger, but it  sure felt like He was picking on me. I did my best to stay faithful. I know that because I have literally dragged myself/ or had others help drag me through my trials, the Lord has given me Blessing beyond measure. I am so thankful for Him. I love my Savior with all my Heart and know that I would not make it through this life without HIM!

Baby girl update will be coming soon. 

Surprise

This was quiet unexpected, seeing that we weren't trying to get pregnant and it took us over a year to get pregnant with Autumn, but we are excited to welcome baby Adams to our family April 2015. Hopefully baby will come in April, we are at least shooting for March. Lets pray baby doesn't come in February, Yikes.

I am extremely nervous,.... obviously, since I lost my first baby at 31 weeks, then had my second baby at 33 weeks. Plus all the health challenges missy has had and her surgeries. You could say I am just a bit nervous. Plus being pregnant isn't exactly a walk in the park for me. Between the migraines, throwing up my entire pregnancy, sever depression and anxiety, constant heart burn, acne, horrible back pain, swelling, and the emotion trauma I have had, I can say with 100 percent asurity that I HATE being pregnant.I am sorry to those that it offends, but it is true.

 Of course I love that I can get pregnant, that is such an amazing gift. I love the feeling of having a baby inside me, moving around, it truly is a miracle. But that my friends is about it. So please pray for me. I wasn't planning on having another baby for a while, so the Lord must think that I am ready and strong enough. If I could have a baby without being pregnant and know that it would be health I could have 10 more today. But that's just not the way it happens.  I just hope I can keep this little one in a little longer than I did with Autumn! I really don't think I can do the NICU thing again. Besides all my worries, I am excited for Autumn to have a sibling. If baby comes on time they will be 28.5 months apart, which I think will be great! So here goes nothing!!!

18 Months

It's hard to believe that my little Autumn is 18 months old. I am in love with this age! She is so hilarious and sweet and stubborn and I can't get enough of her.

 

 

Here are a few fun facts about My Tiny:

She can finally WALK! it took her 17.5 months, but she's doing it. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

 

She fake laughs all the time. She laughs at herself, laughs when anyone else is laughing, laughs for no reason. She just loves to laugh.

 

She loves drinking from an adult cup. If she sees one, she has to have it. She can't hold it and do it by herself yet, but she sure loves drinking from it.

 

She says Mama, Da-da, Daddy, Hi, Bye, Ollie, Thank you, Love you, Grandpa, Cheese, Yes, Na-Na (No) Dog, and Okay. She jabbers all day about things and has her own cute little language.

 

She loves animals, even if they don't love her back.  She thinks that all animals are called 'Ollie" our dog's name. I love the way she says Ollie as she points to a cat, or horse or any dog. I am correcting her, but I don't think she

understands yet, she just wants to hold them.

 

 

She get's nightmares if she doesn't have a nightlight. We couldn't figure out why she was waking up 2-5 times screaming and wouldn't calm down, till my dad suggested nightmares and to get a nightlight. Now she sleeps like an angel.

 

She is still scared of almost everything! She the most timid baby I have ever known.

 

She still eats like a rabbit.  She eats about 5 tiny little bites of food and is done for hours. She prefers veggies over anything sugary.

 

She likes to mimic others. Especially when your on the phone.

 

She takes super long naps. She is down to one nap a day, which is usually 2-4 hours. But of course that's only during the week, when she is at the babysitters. On the weekends she hardly naps!

 

She started Nursery. She only cried for a minute and then just sat on a ladies lap that she liked and observed the other kids play the whole time.

 

 

 

She loves bedtime. We have had the same routine for her whole life. Dinner, Bath, Lotion, PJ's, Story, Bottle, Bed. She starts squealing when I zip up her jammies because she knows she gets a book and book and then lights out. She basically puts herself to bed now.

 

She loves music and loves to sing. Anytime there is music she will start dancing and singing. She knows how to get to my music app in 0.2 seconds. 

 

She loves to snuggle and give kisses.

 

 

 

She is so Fun and I am so glad that I get to be her Mommy! I love you

Autumn Elizabeth Adams!

 

 

 

 

Life is Good

I  have been neglecting my blog lately. Life has been going pretty good, and has been none eventful.  Then I thought, Nate and I have gotten new jobs! That's pretty eventful! We both work Monday through Friday, 8-5 now! This is the first time in our 7 year marriage that we have both had the same work schedule! Let me tell you, It has been amazing, beyond amazing... Miraculous! I feel like we are a family again. We get spend every night together playing with Autumn and getting to know each other again. What a blessing it has been. I also work in Springville now, so I barely have a commute to work. I work at Art City Nursing & Rehab as the Director of Recreational Therapy. Woot! Woot!

 Nate is working in Provo for MISO as a consultant for independent Truckers. We are finally feeling stable with our income. This past year has been so tough with all of Autumn's medical bills, but she is officially paid off! She's ours! We still are working on paying my C-section bill off, since I had to go out of network to deliver missy but it is nice to see an end in sight! I have also had to have several procedure's done on my throat to figure out why I can't swallow very well, so that hasn't been cheap. Plus our little dog Ollie, was hit by a car, broke his leg and had to have surgery.

That definitely was a pretty penny, but the point is, is that we are finally able to pay our bills and not have to keep pilling them on to our credit card. I am just praying that Nate is able to stay at his job long enough for us to get ahead. It seems like as soon as we get out of the hole, Nate loses his job. (He has lost his job 8 times in our 7 year marriage, by no fault of his own) I am grateful for how much we have been blessed considering all the financial burdens we have faced. I know that the miracles we have seen are because we pay our tithing and try our best to live righteous. I have been humbled so many times, through family and friends helping us out with our temporal needs. I hope that someday, I will be able to return the favor. I am so thankful for my life. Especially for the little family I have been blessed with. It is so wonderful to have a Husband that loves me and trust me and cherishes me. It is so wonderful to have a daughter that truly is my Hero. It is so wonderful to have an angel son up in heaven watching over us. It is so wonderful to have the Gospel in my Life. I am so happy to be in such a good spot in my life right now, and I hope it continues for a long time!

 

 

 

Autumn's 1st

This sweet little girl turned ONE on January 3rd!

The Hot Chocolate bar was a success!

         

 We did a WinterOnederland Themed Birthday! It was full of snowflakes, sparkles and sweet treats!

All things Autumn Chalk board

 

 It was a perfect day! Lots of Precious moments!

 Homemade cake, by yours truly!

 Autumn wasn't interested in smashing the cake, so I helped her by smearing frosting on her face. I thought she just needed to taste it, but apparently she doesn't like frosting. She never did eat any, but she eventually got the hang of it and cake went flying!    

 

I love this little miss more than I can express. She is such a sweet, tender, loving, silly, curious little girl and I am so thankful that she is mine! Happy Birthday Darling!

Porters 3rd Birthday

Of course I am a few months late in writing this post, Life seems to be getting busier, busier everyday. Our little angle baby, Porter Owen Adams, turned 3 years old on November 18,2013. We have a tradition that every year on Porter's birthday we write letters to him and do a ballon launch. I like to think that he gets our letters, or at least can feel that we are thinking about him.  This year was particularly special because Autumn was able to send our letters to her heavenly brother!

Letter from Mom

Dear Porter,
Happy Birthday darling! I can't believe you are three years old! It would be so fun to see you running around chasing Ollie and rolling on the ground with Autumn. I am sure you are watching over her all the time without us realizing it. I love you so much Porter. I can't wait to be with you again and have you and Autumn play together. The pain of when you died was so intense, I thought it would never stop hurting....but the Atonment of Jesus Christ has helped heal the hole in my heart that you were supposed to fill.  Also as time passes I find that I gain more perspective and understanding on what your purpose was.  It was to teach us that we can be together forever and that we can overcome anything with the Lords help. Thank you for being such an example to me.  I am sure you are up in heaven teaching the gospel and being an amazing missionary.  I love and miss you so much. Continue to watch over us. I can feel you often. Happy Birthday my sweet angel!
                            Love always,  MOM

Letter from Dad

Porter,
Happy Birthday! I am so glad to have a day to celebrate you.  We miss you. We hope that you are doing great things.  We love you so much and cannont wait to meet and talk to you. Your little sister Autumn is doing so well.  She has had some struggles as I am sure you know. She has done so well to get through it all, and continue to gow and learn. We are glad to know that she has an older brother waching out for her. This year has been very busy. We have been thinking about you and what you would be doing if you were here with us. We know you would be playing and laughing with your sister all the time. You have changed our lives by visiting us. When the day comes we are excited to see what you have been accomplishing up in heaven.
                             Love, DAD

Birthday Letter

Dear Autumn,
I have decided that I am going to write you a letter every year for your birthday. Then you will have letters from me throughout the years to hopefully love and cherish as I have loved and cherished you!

My darling little miss tiny, this year has been one of the hardest and happiest years of my life. I never thought I could love someone so much. The 6 weeks you were in the NICU, were one of the roughest parts of my life. Then when you had your reconstructive surgery on your skull 5 months later, I could bearly keep myself together. I thought at any moment my heart would break in two. The only thing that kept me whole was your strength. You were resilent through all of it. You are truely a fighter my dear. You showed me the power of prayer and faith. As well as the support and love all around us.
Autumn, I am so thankful that Heavenly Father sent you to me. You are so special. You have such a sweet spirit about you. Everyone you meet can feel it. You are magnetic.  When I tell people about your story, they immediately tell me how they could sense something special about you.
Autumn, you make me laugh everyday with your fake coughs, snorts, grunts and giggles. I feel that my heart will explode with all the love I have for you. You are so curious. You are constantly looking around and examining your surroundings. You have to be the center of attention.  You are such a social baby. Always teasing others with your adorable shy smile and jibber-jabbers. You light up my life.  I love what a snuggle bug you are. You love to cuddle up with dad and I, or even our dog Ollie. You are so tender and gentle. You softly touch my face as I rock you to sleep each night, and it always brings tears to my eyes. Your voice is so soft and sweet, and when you sing everyone stops to listen. 
I want you to know that Mom and Dad love you so incredibly much! I can not adequately express how much you mean to me. I hope you can feel it, because I can feel your love.
 Its hard to believe a year has already flown by. I can't wait to see what joys this next year brings. Happy Happy Birthday Autumn!