Halloween Highlights!

Halloween Party with the Munn's

Every year, I have made it a tradition to have a big Halloween Party.... but being on bed rest for most of this Halloween season, planning a party was not an option. But, it didn't mean we didn't have a party! Every Halloween as a Munn family, we carve pumpkins together. This year, with the help of my sister in law Sarah and Shayne's grandma, they made a wonderful Halloween meal to make it more of a party.

For dinner they had dragon eyes (deviled eggs), feet of meat meatloaf, tombstone potatoes, bone bread sticks, purple monster goo cottage cheese, chips and dips, and a creepy drink with a frozen green hand in it. It was a delicious meal! Ellie and my two nieces, Kaede and Arisa, loved the thought of eating "monster toes" for dinner!

After dinner, the girls put on blindfolds for "Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin." It was funny to see them playing the game as it was the first time for all of them. Kai and Ellie got really close, but Kaede won the prize Halloween lantern she can use on Halloween night.

Later that night, we carved pumpkins. Every year Shayne picks the hardest one for his pumpkin and carefully spends all night on it. In closing we had icecream cake shaped like a monster head for dessert. It was a really great night full of memories! I love Halloween and I can't wait for the holidays that will follow shortly!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

12 Weeks and Counting!

Today was my 12 week check up. After such a rough start to this pregnancy, I was really nervous for the appointment, and to tell you the truth wasn't truly celebrating this pregnancy until I knew what today's outcome would be. I brought Shayne and Ellie with me to my appointment. Ellie was excited to hear the heart beat.

We decided to hear the heartbeat first. My certified nurse midwife took her fetal heart rate finder and pressed it against my belly. I thought I could hear a heartbeat, but I guess what I was hearing was mine. No baby heartbeat. Of course I was worried, and they scheduled another ultrasound to check on the baby.

After the rest of my appointment was over, we rushed over to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center for the ultrasound. I was nervous to what we might see, and told Shayne and Ellie to stay outside just in case. My worry was all for nothing though because as soon as she put the ultrasound stick on my belly, we saw the baby and it was kicking, flipping, and moving everywhere. The ultrasound tech said, "that baby is definitely alive!" The heart rate was 167. Measuring at 12 weeks, 3 days. Perfect!

I still have a very small blood clot, but they say it's too small to really worry about. If I don't overdo it, I can resume a normal life again. We are so happy to be 12 weeks now! We're very happy and feel like now we can start planning for our next sweet little baby.

8 Weeks

(READ THE BLOG ON SEPTEMBER 7th. FOR SOME REASON, I JUST POSTED OCT 2nd IT AND IT PUT IT DOWN THERE....)

(I started this blog Sept 23... Just updated and posted it today on OCT 2, 2009)

I have to admit, I posted that blog on Sept 7th a bit earlier than was comfortable. Unfortunately, when you find yourself in a difficult position, sometimes it's easiest to tell people what's going on rather than battle it alone. So far, this pregnancy has been less exciting, and more emotional. From the very beginning (my birthday in fact) we have had our challenges with it. All I can say is we've overcome a lot already and as of my last doctors appointment I have what is called subchorionic bleed, or a blood clot under the baby's placenta and between the uterine wall. I have had some spotting with it, which comes and goes, and obviously this puts us as a higher risk for a miscarriage.

Right now, there is not much we can do medically for the problem. I am on a modified bed rest - which basically means, I rest most the day, but I can walk from time to time. Lifting and exercise of any kind are not recommended. I'm trying as hard as I possibly can not to aggravate the situation. So far, the baby seems to be handling it well. Still growing at a normal rate, and making sure it's Mommy get's her share of morning sickness a long the way (which I'm actually happy about because IT'S NORMAL in pregnancy and I'm glad to see something normal happening).

I am at 8 weeks right now. I have my next ultrasound October 29th. We hope that the clot will have dissolved by that point, or hopefully being in my second trimester that things will be more stable. For now, all I can do is pray and take one day at a time. I've been on bed rest two weeks now.

Shayne has been a great help during this process. Besides cooking and cleaning, he makes sure that I have water bottles set aside in the fridge for me throughout the day. Same with Ellie and her milk and juices. He packs me a lunch every morning, something that Ellie can pull out for the both of us to have. Family have stepped in and helped with Ellie's childcare, cleaning around my house and even taking my dog out. I've had a couple of friends bring over meals, and more offers for meals coming. I receive many emails from compassionate people with kind uplifting words, and the phone calls to check up on me keep coming.

Even though things are uncertain about this pregnancy, I am happy to know now that we can get pregnant again. We've waited three years to get this far, and despite the problems we are happy. I feel joy to be having this baby inside me. Ellie loves the idea of being a big sister. She kisses the baby goodnight before every bedtime and is talking about it around the clock!

We still really need your prayers and support. Thank you to all the prayers that have been made for us. We hope and anticipate the best!

My Birthday!

It's hard to believe that last week, September 10th, I turned 27 years old. To celebrate, we gathered some close friends and family together for a birthday lunch at my favorite restaurant LOS 3 AMIGO'S in Provo. It was amazing that at 1:30 p.m. on a Thursday, and all but two people I invited could make it. I feel blessed that I have so many supportive friends and family. Thank you to all who came and helped make my day extra special. I love you all.

Also, a quick update. I have new neighbors! Evan and Monyka (my brother and sister in law) moved in around the corner. It's been fun to have them near by, and to spend time with them more often. Ellie finally earned her new 16 inch Pricess bike this summer, and rides it nearly everyday. Ellie is also back in school, and her and I are enjoying a Mommy and Me Art Class in Provo at The Center. It's been a lot of fun to see her enjoy making ceramic Christmas ornaments (guess you know what you'll be getting this year!), ceramic beads, and use the pottery wheel. It's been fun bonding with her this way. Also! I have wheels again. It's hard to believe after TWO YEARS of staying home without transportation that I can finally hit the road whenever I please. I have my 1990 Bronco up and in running condition, and enjoy it so much. Shayne is still plugging away in school work, and anxious to be done. I am so proud of him and everything he does for our family.

Thanks again for the wonderful birthday and all the birthday wishes I received. I am looking forward to this fall, and the holidays that are coming ahead.

Memories of Grandma LaVerne Gordon

March 23, 1931 – January 17, 1997

My Grandma LaVerne Gordon was a “professional Grandma” because she fit the definition in almost every way. She loved her three kids and thirteen grandchildren immensely. Grandma seldom put herself first and has been one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known.

From a very early age, I remember Grandma sewing on her large industrial sewing machine (which I was never allowed to touch!) and making us dresses. Sarah and I always had some matching newly homemade dress to wear to wear to church. Love was sewn in the stitches. I was touched even after her passing to go through her sewing room to find two unfinished dresses with tiny papers pinned on that said “Laura” and “Sarah” on them.

Grandma was also a skilled artist. She could draw, cross stitch, paint, and make things from clay. I enjoyed her paintings and drawings most of all. One year, Grandma was teaching Sarah and I how to paint. We each picked a picture to paint on the canvas. Mine was a picture of a house on the prairie, and Sarah’s was a natural scene. Grandma took each step slowly to teach us. Our paintings were looking professional. One day our lesson was interrupted by a ring of the door bell. It was Grandma’s visiting teachers. Grandma told us specifically to keep doing what we were doing and she would hurry back downstairs to help us. Must have been all the “Bob Ross” we had seen with her growing up, but Sarah and I “knew what we were doing,” and finished our paintings. I had added many “wild flower creations” to my painting, and Sarah mixed up some dark turquoise color for her “sky.” Grandma was not too happy about us skipping ahead on our lessons but we all laughed about it later.

Grandma’s house was only 2 and a half blocks away from my home most my life so naturally their house was a second home to me growing up. We watched BED KNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS at least 100 times together. We slept over often too. I remember my sweet Grandma putting extra blankets over me at night when she thought I was sleeping at night.

During the school year, Sarah and I would count down for the summer because that was when we would go out with Grandma, Grandpa, and our cousin Kristl and camp in the RV. We usually went to various Camperworld’s and would stay for up to a week at a time. We loved it. Grandma and Grandpa walked us out to the pool at some point every day when we camped. We would play games together, Pictionary, Go Fish, and Pit.

One night during our camping trip, I remember going through a phase of anxiety when sleeping over places. I would lay awake at night, and watch the clock in the VCR of the RV and watch the minutes blink in green. After some time, I quietly walked through the trailer to where Grandma was sleeping. “Grandma? …. Grandma???” I was whispering, but she heard me. Her head popped up and I whispered, “I can’t sleep…” Grandma quietly got out of her comfortable bed, and took me back to the sofa couch I was supposed to be sleeping on. She told me to lie back down, close my eyes, and she would tickle my back until I fell asleep. Grandma slowly tickled me for a while, and then when she thought I was asleep, crept back up to her bed. Even though I wasn’t fully asleep when she left, I was calmed down enough that sleep finally came.

Every summer Grandma and Grandpa grew a large garden in their back yard. At least two rows of this garden were raspberries – my favorite. It wasn’t uncommon growing up that many of her grandchildren would go through the raspberries and pick them and eat them as we went. I remember eating bowls full with milk for a great dessert. Another big part of her having a garden was snapping beans. During the summer, Grandma and Grandpa would pick buckets full of beans and we would sit around the cool basement of their home in Lehi snapping them while watching a movie. It was so great.

I miss Grandma’s cooking also. Whenever I made my way towards her house, she was giving me something tasty. Sometimes it was a slice of delicious banana bread or peanut butter cookie, and other times she would insist I eat a banana or some other fruit. Grandma made homemade pizza that I will never forget. Extremely thin crust, and thick pepperoni. The year she got sick, for my birthday she made me a meal I requested… Tuna Noodle Casserole. She was so thrilled that I requested that meal, and took a lot of pride in making it for me.

One thing I loved about my Grandma is how she could stretch a dollar. Of course, sometimes this would be a cause of argument too. During a long trip to Salt Lake City once, I recall sharing one three piece meal from KFC with Sarah and Kristl. Grandma would take Kristl, Sarah, and I to the gas station with a 32oz fill up mug, and would fill it up with the drink of our choice, and later at home we split it three or four ways. Thrift shops were a popular stop for Grandma, and I got plenty of treasures growing up from them.

During my years as a ballet dancer, it impressed me that Grandma knew how to make a real tutu because she used to sew for Ballet West of Utah. I always hoped that she would make me one. She was proud of my dancing, and loved to hear me talk about it.

Things haven’t been quite the same without having her around. I have thought about her a lot this last few weeks since my Grandpa Gordon passed. I spent a lot of time with her in 1996 around the time of her passing. We moved from Ohio to Utah that summer and I realize now how lucky we were to spend that time with her before she passed away. I remember decorating her home for Christmas one year while we were watching CHORUS LINE. Just two days before her passing, Grandma squeezed my hand as if to tell me she loved me.

Grandma was a special lady, and she has been missed. She helps inspire me today and I know she would be so proud of me and all her Grandchildren, and especially her little great grandchildren. I’m sure she is close by and watching over us. We love you Grandma!

Now Is As Good a Time as Any

(Yes- those are positive! It's faint but it's there!)

(Written Sept 7, 2009 - POSTED OCT 2, 2009)

About a month ago (August 2008)- I could tell that my luck was changing. August 8th was my six year anniversary with my handsome husband. We had a fabulous day together. He surprised me with some diamond earrings I had been asking for almost four years or maybe even longer. Then, that night, at the show Cirque Du Solieli I won tickets to see the show again the next day! 418 people entered the drawing and MY NAME was chosen! "How strange" I thought - "I'm feeling more lucky lately."

Surely, my Grandpa Gordon passing away was not what I would consider lucky, but everything else was starting to go my way.

You should also know that when we got pregnant with Ellie, it happened during a very sad time in our lives. Shayne's Grandma Elthora Underwood passed away, and two weeks later, we found out we were pregnant. We always joked that Grandma Elthora sent Ellie down to us (and Ellie is a partial name sake of her and my father Dan - elle). I started to joke (and wonder )that Grandpa Gordon would send down a baby for us to.

I even had a dream around that time I was taking a pregnancy test and it was positive. I started getting my hopes up. A while later I found myself falling asleep during one of our favorite TV shows, and became more confident that MAYBE this month. MAYBE.

The morning I took the pregnancy tests was a morning I'll not soon forget. I had bought the tests the day before (I wasn't even LATE yet) and decided to take them the following day. That morning I kept saying to myself, "I don't know if I can handle another NEGATIVE test!" But, I sucked it up and took it anyway. I have to admit that for about 20 seconds, I watched it.... after a little while, I resolved that it was probably negative again or it was too early to tell because it already seemed clearly negative. I left the bathroom with the test still on the counter almost giving up on the hope I had for the month. A few minutes later, I went back.....

AND

I have some news..... WE ARE PREGNANT, Due May 15,2010 or around there. After 3 years of heartbreak, we find ourselves PREGNANT! Right now, I am about 5 weeks, and I haven't told anyone yet (except Shayne - not even Ellie knows!) and I don't plan to start talking for a while but we are very excited and are welcoming the changes we know are happening. Part of me is in a state of major disbelief. It's easy to not tell you all at the moment because I am still trying to convince myself that YES THIS IS HAPPENING. Three years in the making - we are finally expecting again.

I told Shayne that morning. If I would have been thinking I was pregnant, I might have told him a more memorable way than, "SHAYNE SOMETHING WEIRD IS HAPPENING! I JUST TOOK THAT PREGNANCY TEST, AND IT SAYS POSITIVE!!!!" He said, "Did you take the second test?" I took the second test, and it confirmed it again. We were extremely overjoyed.

That morning, I decided to take a long walk while Ellie was in preschool. I remember looking up towards the heaven and taken back with tears, thanking Heavenly Father for trusting me with another of His children and for this baby finding it's way to our family. I really find it ironic that someone died both times I got pregnant, but I feel special that during the hardest of times, that I am being watched over.

I'm sure now that the word is out - we will have many blogs about this upcoming BIG news, and I'm sorry in advance if it gets old but I wondered if we would ever have children again and I'm still unsure if we'll have anymore after this one, so we are going to enjoy every moment - even the morning sick ones.

We have truly been blessed and I am so thankful.