What is wrong with this picture?

OK Besides his funny facial expression If you look at his ear you will notice one is remarkably bigger then the other. I woke up this morning and found MD's ear swollen and red and apparently itching because he kept scratching it. After a trip to the Doctors office I learned that he was bitten or stung sometime in the middle of the night. He is now on 3 prescriptions and seems to be doing fine.

Battle with MD's Bottom

For the Last couple of months Michael Dunn has sported this red leathery rash that every once in a while bleeds. It causes him to scream in pain and he struggles through every diaper change. This rash comes and goes but never fully heals. I have been doing all that I know what to do for it from taking him to the doctor and the doctor prescribing something that made it 10 times worse, to putting every different kind of ointment on it (Budrows butt paste, Desitin, and a kind that my pharmacist makes) and different kinds of powders (Caldiseen and Baby powder with Cornstarch) I have even taken him off milk products because I was told that this could be due to a Milk allergy, and then also taking him off certain foods that seemed to make his bottom sting after he digested it. None of these worked. So I tried giving him baths every day and letting him air dry before putting his diaper back on. I have also tried blow drying his bottom so it got completely dry-no such luck. I know that there is an answer out there, and I just don't know what it is and so if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them.

My Memorial Day/Anniversary

Happy Belated Memorial Day! I never thought to much about this holiday until recently and I am so grateful for those people who do stand up for what they believe and Fight for their Country, I love the legacy that my own husband can pass down to his children and the example he is setting.

Two Year Anniversary! (Yesterday)
Wahoo! Well I didn't technically do much celebrating yesterday because when Michael gets here we will celebrate then, but I did go shopping! (My Last time for a couple of months, I could barely walk afterwards! And who likes to be told not to hit someone elses buggy with your belly? I won't hit your buggy with my belly...my buggy however....)
Anyway I was excited about some purchases

This new rug for my Kitchen And a New Mop! I never thought I would get this excited over cleaning supplies :)To close the day I made myself a sugar free concoction that did not taste very good. Happy Anniversary to me!

Also Here are some pics of this wonderful day two years ago-I will forever be grateful for this decision. It is truly one of the best decisions I have ever made and I am so grateful to be this wonderful mans wife for time and all eternity.

New addition!!!!!

Ha ha -nope no baby! instead we received courtesy of my Home Teacher John Poole, a window unit! It was getting pretty hot in our house despite having the Central AC unit on full force.

MD was sweating pretty bad the day before we received it-but he was a good sport!
So I decided to let him run around Naked! (only for a little while-I don't trust him to be diaperless for more then a couple of minutes) I think it helped him cool down :)


And the end result was : One happy baby and one less sweaty pregnant woman in the world.

37 weeks

Yesterday was one of those exhausting, seemed to drag out forever, yet action packed day that I don't experience very often (And most of the time I am glad not to)

I had a doctors appointment at 8:45 so at 8:00 I brought MD over to my moms and went to Beaumont. Everything is fine with the baby. I am at the once a week visits and I think I might be down to just one more doctor visit before the c-section. I hope so! Afterwards I stopped at the store to pick up this weeks supply of groceries. It's alot of fun going to the store in my current state because I get LOTS of comments and advice. Most of them are sweet like: "When are you due? CONGRATULATIONS!" or "What are you having? A boy? How wonderful" then you get the fun ones "Did you read the newspaper about pregnancy and cell phones?" or "dang girl! you need to go home and lie down!" I agree with you completely there. All this talk is giving me a headache.

Getting home several things happened:

1) MD followed me into the bathroom, saw one of my bras sitting on a chair and then threw it into the toilet. I felt like I was in a slow motion film as I leaped to rescue my bra yelling "NOOOOOO!" MD watched all this with a smile on his face. He then got upset at me for not letting him be the one to reach in and take it out.

2) I decided to give MD a bath and so I opened the curtain to find that MD has been throwing my things into the tub without me realizing. There was my lotion, some bubble bath soap and a cookie. I cleaned out the tub and tuned on the water when Md came in and apparently did not appreciate me cleaning out the tub. In went the lotion and the bubble bath again-and the cookie. I have never seen a cookie dissolve that fast. In seconds it had spread through all the water and I had to re clean out the tub and start all over.

3) Wasp attack. I am terrified of wasps! It has just intensified as I have become the sole wasp slayer in my house and is a job I will gladly turn back over to my husband. Today I was grabbing some cereal to eat when I felt something wiggling under my fingers. I screamed dropped the box and saw a wasp fly onto my stove. I run to my room (Luckily MD is screaming in his crib and sees me run into the room, which just makes him scream even more) I try to compose myself-deep breaths, reassurances to my self and prayers that the Lord will kill the wasp for me. For a minute I thought my prayers were answered as I hear a sizzling noise. The wasp had flown up into the light and was frying itself. Unfortunately it didn't do much and soon flew away onto another part of the ceiling. Finally I inch out of the room thinking 2 things 1) I guess this is how a mother bear feels (Because at that point I knew I had to kill the wasp because I didn't want it to sting MD, and 2) I wish I could move right now and just not deal with the wasp. If he wants this house he can have it! I crawled into the kitchen and then into the bathroom where I grabbed my hairspray. Somehow I was thinking that maybe if I sprayed him enough he would drop dead from the fumes. Unfortunately I had the wrong kind of hair spray. It squirts instead of sprays and never even reached the wasp. Finally hiding behind the bathroom door I grab my broom and whack the wasp from the ceiling. It got caught in the bristles of my broom so I start whacking it on the floor. The wasp is still not dead so I take the broom outside and leave it there. It is still there today. I am going to go buy a new broom as soon as I can. Md who hears all of this is screaming even louder, so I went to go pick him up and he got a 45 minute delay to his nap.

4) My Home teachers called and wanted to come by. I am looking around at my house-floor dirty because I can't sweep it with a wasp stuck in the broom, dishes dirty and MD's toys everywhere. I of course want to give off the appearance that I have everything in order and under control. Well not going to happen today. MD wakes up right before the Home teachers get here. I know he is hungry but not having time to get his dinner ready I grab some of my left over fruit smoothie in the refrigerator. He did not appreciate that! He sat on the floor and whined during the visit and kept coming up to me and biting my knee. finally in desperation (He apparently was starving to DEATH) he dropped on the floor and started sucking on his big toe. Needless to say my Home teachers wasted no time in offering to help in anyway they could from Manuel labor to having their daughters come and watch my kids for me.

5) To end it all MD woke up in the middle of the night screaming again (This is the third night in a row) The first night I got him up knowing he had probably had a nightmare or something had scared him, after that MD started waking up just so I would get him out of bed. Last night I just listened to him scream and decided that I want my children's rooms on the opposite end of my future house.

I think Days like this make me feel the monotony and the responsibility of being a mother. Not everyday is full of wonderful, spiritual and special experiences that make me so grateful for the job I am doing. It is WORK! Luckily I do have those "other" days enough to where I can remember that "Oh yeah I love my life...and my kid"

Michael has been on another base for the past week. He won't tell me where and won't tell me very many details so I am guessing most of this is classified. He did tell me that right now he has been in meetings for days negotiating with the Afghanistan leaders about building new schools and clean water facilities. Michael says they will try to get them somethings but they are trying to encourage the Afghanistan government to come and help out, and if possible take over. He should only be on this base for a day or two more and then he flies back to Gardez.

Came across this picture the other day. This is Michael at Boot camp. I think he is 17 years old in this picture. Who knew 6 years from then he would be married with 1 and 3/4 children? Lucky guy :)

Good Grief

Flu burps.. trips to the bathroom at 2 in the morning and nausea -those are my symptoms. I looked it up on line and my diagnosis is.......I am Pregnant! Woohoo... well luckily for me this will be the shortest pregnancy ever since I only have two weeks left :)

My cute kid. Last night I was doing his routine to get him ready for bed. We read our scriptures, sang some songs and watched a daddy video. MD LOVES these video's and will sit and laugh. After he finished his second video I put him on the floor so I could go grab his allergy medicine and I came back to him laughing and pointing at the screen. His daddy's face was still there because I forgot to close out the movie!

You can actually see Michaels face on the computer. I'm really liking MD's cute outfit! I couldn't find any other pajama bottoms besides this so I decided I was going for warmth and not for style.

Sunday Lunch

My dad started a new Family tradition sometime last year with having Sunday Lunches. Every family is suppose to provide a dish and it is a fun time to get together and enjoy family






Here we had Staek Patties with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, beans and sausage with Cornbread, a broccoli and rice casserole and a corn casserole, backed MAcaroni and Cheese and a Salad and Fresh Baked Bread. For Dessert we had Some Brownies and Some leftover Mock Eclairs. I always feel like I am at an all-you-can-eat buffet

Some of the Fam. and activities. We had an Old missionary come and Join us for lunch, Drew Kimball and His wife Stefanie. It was so nice to visit with them. Kimball and Michael served together and are still pretty good friends. Also Gavin and Rui had fun running through the house and making noise with MD running right behind them trying to copy everything they did.




The Kids had alot of fun and I believe all of them are down for naps.

36 weeks

36 weeks. Luckily I only have 2 1/2 weeks to go! There is not much more room to keep growing! (I Hope!)
This is what I wore today and I was told 1) I look like a bumblebee! (Kenneth) and 2) Horizontal stripes did nothing to improve my figure (My mom and I were Joking about how big I was) It is true, you want to see me look really big I should turn to the side in this little number. (I use my sons blanket, as well as my son, as an accessory! Anything in front makes me look better:) Anyway my shirt is like a dress that hangs down to my knees-well the back does, the front now goes up to my mid-thighs because of the massive gut it covers, but it does the job and not once today did I have to pull down this shirt to cover my belly! YAY!

Guilty.. until proven innocent

The other night I was looking at MD (Michael Dunn) while he was sleeping. He is so innocent and angelic when he is asleep and so I thought what a moment to catch on film. Well i went to grab my Camera which I thought was on my desk, but I couldn't find it. Immediately I think "Michael you rascal! you stole my Camera!" I look on the floor, in his room and even in the trash can where I last found my cell phone. Not there. I then start thinking of an elaborate story I was going to post about my "angelic son" who is constantly hiding my things and making me huff and puff. Finally resigning myself to not finding it I start to get on the computer to post this story about my guilty son when I see my camera on my desk right where I left it. Whoops! Well sorry Michael Welcome to the rest of your life where I blame you for anything that goes missing-you and your brother!

The Victim: Well I guess He is as innocent as he looks

MD's Gift

My mom took MD to Nursery with her on Sunday and they made Mothers day cards. I LOVED receiving this!

Sweet Moments of Motherhood

I am not a hormonal pregnant woman. I really am not. I take after my mom in this respect. When I get pregnant my moods actually even out and I am much more laid back and relaxed (Sometimes I wonder if that is part of the reason I have been pregnant 18 months of the 2 years we have been married :) However because it takes more to make me upset, I also get much MORE upset and angry wen something does get to me.

Yesterday after church I brought over my contribution to our family dinner, sour cream and tomatoes and some red velvet cake balls that I got the recipe off a friends website. I was VERY proud of my dessert. I had them arranged very artistically arranged on a dessert platter and was excited to have people try them. It had taken me a while to make them (In my overlarge state it takes me a while to do ANYTHING these day) and so I was pretty proud of myself.

I was helping my mom get the rest of the dinner ready while we waited for everyone to get there and trying to pacify Michael Dunn who was so exhausted and cranky and had moved to only one nap a day and it was time for that nap, on top of it I was hungry and then I saw my brother walk off with something in him hand eating it quickly and leaving the room quickly. I thought he was eating some of my chocolate covered donuts that I had brought for myself (Sundays are sugar days for me) and so I called after him a little bugged,
"Those are NOT up for grabs!!!!"
I went to put them up and noticed that my artful arrangement looked a little off and I realized that he had been sneaking my Velvet cake balls! The hormones came really quick and I was furious.
I sought out this brother who was not remotely sorry and who just informed me that why would he have eaten the donuts when there were cake balls
"Because they are for dessert!" I resisted saying something else and trying to control myself I went and sat on the couch and Michael Dunn came in screaming. He was mad at me because I wouldn't let him sit on Grandpas lap because Clayton was sitting there and Michael Dunn for some reason feels like Grandpa is HIS. Anyway I was mad and tired and hungry and I had had it. I grabbed Michael Dunn, grabbed a plastic bag and put some of my cake balls in them for me to eat, and then took Michael Dunn home and went and layed on my bed and cried. (When I get really mad I cry) Michael Dunn heard me cry (Who I had put to bed) and started crying himself. I realized pretty quick that he was crying because I was and (This is really the point of this super long and drawn out story) So I got him up.

He saw my face and layed down with me and let me cry and cuddle with him. Every once in awhile he would pull up and stare at my face and see that I was still crying and then lay back down next to me. He did that for a long time and it helped me calm down. I was surprised to see that my 13 month old was aware of me and my feelings and comforted me! What a sweet gift he gave me. Makes the scripture "Become as a little child" take on more meaning. What a sweet boy.

Anyway I calmed down, realized It was completely my hormones and that my poor brother was not acting out of Character. I remember stealing desserts so what right do I have to be mad really? Poor guy though I think he got chewed out by my dad after I left because he didn't eat anymore that day.

I found out some really good news last week and thought that I would share. Michael is coming for the birth of our son!!! He has known about it for a long time and wanted to surprise me (Though he is learning that I am not someone you can surprise very easily.) But I just happened to ask him the right question, and my husband being the extremely moral man that he is, couldn't lie and so I found out this wonderful news! I am so excited, it is the best gift I could have been given and I am so grateful that he gets to come home.

I had gotten use to the idea that I would have our son without him here, but the closer I got to the due date the more frightened I became. I would never have told him how scared I was about delivering a baby via c-section alone because I knew that he would feel bad, and I didn't want him to feel worse about not being there then he already did. I had talked to my mother who agreed to be in the room with me to hold my hand, but I still felt terrified. I cannot explain how grateful I am to have my husband be able to be there. I feel like I have been blessed beyond measure and I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for being so kind to me.

I have learned so many things from this experience of having him away, but the most important lesson I have learned is that the Lord loves me. He has blessed me in so many ways that I had always been to busy or narrow minded to notice. I have grown to recognize his hand daily in my life and know that his trials for us are just ways for us to draw closer to him so that he can bless us in ways we never realized.

Hair Cut and then outside

Michael Dunns hair grows REALLY fast and so that is why 2 moths after his last hair cut we had to pull out the clippers and do it again. He was so good and sat really still for most of it until the end and then he decided he had had enough and struggled and fought. But I was impressed he did so well considering he hates haircuts and he hates sitting still, so I gave him a treat. Afterwards (after we both took a bath as we were both covered in hair) We went outside and played. it was a fun day for Michael and I have to say I loved watching him play and have a good time. I realize that I love every stage he enters even more then the last one and that everyday I realize that I fall more and more in love with him. Crazy to think sometimes as he is also learning to throw fits and is constantly messing up the house, but he has such a cute smile I can't help but laugh and lots of times it makes me give in and do what he wants (Which usually is to go outside.) I am a sucker and Michael Dunn has learned how to win me over. Oh well...
Drinking out of Grandmas cut is a right of passage-basically you are a big boy and is something Michael Dunn takes very seriously

I was reading through this talk when I came to this story that really touched me. It was told By President Thomas S. Monson

Many years ago I spoke of one who took his example from the Savior, one who stood firm and true, strong and worthy through the storms of life. He courageously magnified his priesthood callings. He provides an example to each of us. His name was Thomas Michael Wilson, the son of Willie and Julia Wilson of Lafayette, Alabama.

When he was but a teenager and he and his family were not yet members of the Church, he was stricken with cancer, followed by painful radiation therapy, and then blessed remission. This illness caused his family to realize that not only is life precious but that it can also be short. They began to look to religion to help them through this time of tribulation. Subsequently, they were introduced to the Church, and eventually all but the father were baptized. After accepting the gospel, young Brother Wilson yearned for the opportunity of being a missionary, even though he was older than most young men when they begin their missionary service. At the age of 23, he received a mission call to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.

Elder Wilson's missionary companions described his faith as unquestioning, undeviating, and unyielding. He was an example to all. However, after 11 months of missionary service, illness returned. Bone cancer now required the amputation of his arm and shoulder. Yet he persisted in his missionary labors.

Elder Wilson's courage and consuming desire to remain on his mission so touched his nonmember father that he investigated the teachings of the Church and also became a member.

I learned that an investigator whom Elder Wilson had taught was baptized but then wanted to be confirmed by Elder Wilson, whom she respected so much. She, with a few others, journeyed to Elder Wilson's bedside in the hospital. There, with his remaining hand resting upon her head, Elder Wilson confirmed her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Wilson continued month after month his precious but painful service as a missionary. Blessings were given; prayers were offered. Because of his example of dedication, his fellow missionaries lived closer to God.

Elder Wilson's physical condition deteriorated. The end drew near, and he was to return home. He asked to serve but one additional month, and his request was granted. He put his faith in God, and He whom Thomas Michael Wilson silently trusted opened the windows of heaven and abundantly blessed him. His parents, Willie and Julia Wilson, and his brother Tony came to Salt Lake City to help their son and brother home to Alabama. However, there was yet a prayed-for, a yearned-for blessing to be bestowed. The family invited me to come with them to the Jordan River temple, where those sacred ordinances which bind families for eternity, as well as for time, were performed.

I said good-bye to the Wilson family. I can see Elder Wilson yet as he thanked me for being with him and his loved ones. He said, "It doesn't matter what happens to us in this life as long as we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and live it. It doesn't matter whether I teach the gospel on this or the other side of the veil, so long as I can teach it." What courage. What confidence. What love. The Wilson family made the long trek home to Lafayette, where Elder Thomas Michael Wilson slipped from here to eternity. He was buried there with his missionary tag in place.

Pregnancy fun

I have started hearing a lot of comments lately and thought it would be fun to put them down in case I ever try to forget this experience.

First comments with this pregnancy:
"Girl when are you due!" Asked by a grandmotherly type lady in the doctors office a couple of weeks ago.
"In about 6 weeks"
"I don't think you will hold out that long."
"Thanks" (How else was I suppose to respond?)

Also when asked how far along I was someone at church said (I am sure meaning to be kind)
"I thought you were further along then that"

A couple of weeks ago I was informed that a bunch of the primary kids weren't even aware that I was pregnant-just that I was gaining weight!

Today at church my home teacher asked me how far along and then kindly told me I looked small for being as far along as I am. I laughed not really believing him, but then to prove his point he asked a lady walking by when she thought I looked like I should be due- "tomorrow!"
was the reply.

The winner, of course this was when I was pregnant with Michael Dunn but I will always remember. (This is from my grandma)
"Laurie you look like you put on five pounds since I last saw you!"
"You saw me this morning"
"I know!"

anyway I think they are funny and for the most part they don't bother me (How can they when my brother-in-law Kenneth comments every time he sees me that I look REALLY PREGNANT-Love you Kenneth, and my son has started using my belly as his own personal trampoline?)

New Job

From Michael
They just gave me a new responsibility last night. I am going to be the key contact (which just means I will be working closely with the director of Hjag.) It is the religious leader here in the province, So I will get to work with him and find out the kind of things that the people need , and want, and the religious aspect and impact that is going on in the culture and province. Fun stuff huh? I think it will be fun and I look forward to working with him.

Experiance

I received an email from Michael telling me about an experience he had night before last. He has been friends with this one guy, Sargent Coffee since he left for Afghanistan. He has talked about the church to him and has had some really good discussions with him. The other night They had a discussion and The spirit was really strong, strong enough that Michael had to explain to Sargent Coffee what he was feeling and that it is the spirit. Michael says that Coffee knows the church is true and they have been talking about baptism. It is amazing how the spirit will touch someones heart and can witness the truth of what they are hearing. Once again I hear stories like this and realize that Michael is where he needs to be and doing what the Lord wants him to do. I know I am blessed here at home and I am so proud that my husband has such a strong testimony and wants to share it.

Thoughts

Lately the thought of having another baby fills me with mixed emotions. I am of course exited and at this point really ready to meet the little guy who wakes me up in the middle of the night and kicks me in my bladder at just the right moments. And I love feeling the baby move. Saying that I have noticed lately another emotion that has been coming slowly and is always behind the initial excitement.

I am sad. I am not sad to be having another baby, but am sad to lose the one-on-one time I have grown to really love with Michael Dunn. I am sad that I won't be able to give him all my attention and I am sad that he won't be my baby any more. It makes me sad to think that he will resent me for bringing another baby into this family and I am paranoid that he will grow insecure around his mommy. I have started to understand what people say when they wonder how they will ever love another baby as much as they love the first. I feel like that. I watch Michael Dunn sleep and am overwhelmed with gratitude for him being my son. I love his smiles and the wonderful mornings when he cuddles up to me and drinks his bottle. I love him being my baby, and I feel like he loves being my baby and I don't want to lose that.

I really don't want to be misunderstood. I know I will love this new boy who is sent to us. I know he will be sweet and special and I will grow to realize that I can love two children as much. It is just hard giving up what I already have even though I know it is for something more and better.