Lucky Number 7!

Yesterday, the 14th, marked our 7th wedding anniversary. I heard a saying once that said if you can survive the 1st, 7th and 15th years of marriage, then you've got it made forever. We had an AMAZING 1st year of marriage where life was so simple and free of responsibility. The biggest decision we had to make was what movie we wanted to see or what was for dinner that night.

We just finished our 7th and have had more chaos this year than all the past years combined...

I was pregnant with baby #2 for a good portion of our 7th year. While this should be a celebration, I'm here to say, I HATE every moment about pregnancy. I don't have pictures taken, I don't cradle my belly as I walk around, I don't keep a journal of weird pains or take notes during my Dr's appointments. However, at week 14, I was happily in the middle of teaching school when I thought I was going to pass out from pains that I've never felt before. After throwing up all over the main office, I was taken straight over to the Dr.'s office and he admitted me into the hospital for a week with kidney stones. Positive point: during ultrasound after ultrasound, we found out we were having a boy!

3 weeks after kidney stones, we move into our new house in Santaquin. We decided that my kitchen table was just too big for the space it needed to fit in and also allow room to go out the french doors to the patio. Because I loved my table more than the countertops that were in, we decided to get new counters that didn't include the bar area. This wouldn't have been so bad had the contractors not measured wrong, and left us without countertops for 5 weeks. I think the whole, "measure twice, cut once" philosophy should be their company motto. (this time period also had no kitchen floors, no lighting, no trimwork, no appliances hooked up, etc)

A few weeks after we finally get a kitchen again, and didn't spend our entire salaries on fast food 3 meals a day, Willie starts feeling major pains in his lower abdomen Diagnosis.....DOUBLE HERNIA SURGERY in February. So NO lifting moving, bending, driving, sitting, etc for 2 weeks and then only light lifting for the next few months. This means a pregnant wife, an energetic 2 year old, and a slug of a husband (and a kitchen that still needs the floors finished, trimwork, paint, grout in the tile backsplash etc)

In the midst of all of this, I had my district portfolio due which was a pain in a half to do as well as my state test. So I was basically writing and studying all day and night while enduring the most challenging bunch of 4th graders every day. Willie was also hot and heavy into his BioMedical, Pathophysiology, Pulminary Anatomy classes etc....which means he was going a few days without seeing the kids during the week because he got home so late and left so early.

A few weeks after hernia surgery, we had Jace in the middle of April. He was born and had aspirated the meconium which made him a delightful shade of green and blue. He was rushed to the NICU and later developed a pneumothorax condition (tear in lungs) because of his mechanical ventilation. He also was Coombs Positive and had horrific jaundice so lived under the lights round the clock. This resulted in him being incredibly dehydrated and so was put on a feeding tube along with IV's in his arms and head. Jace was finally able to come home when he was able to maintain his body temperature and oxygen levels and eat on his own. Yahoo! Thank heavens for PROZAC!!!! (for me, not him)

We hadn't even been allowed to bring Jace home from the hospital when Willie went to the dentist and had 3 major root canals in one day! He was NOT pleasant to be around during this time, let me tell you. If you want to see a grown man cry, touch his teeth! He thought he was going to be strong and not have any pain pills after....HA! You couldn't pry those little white pills out of his hands when he got home.

A few other side notes, we got a dog, got rid of a dog, potty trained Addison, bought a new car (I know, we do this every year), went on a few mini vacations, enjoyed doing our yard, getting to know our new ward, had family dinner at our house each Sunday and basically have tried to keep our heads above water most days. By the way, the tile in the kitchen still does not have grout...any volunteers?

If our 7th year was this crazy...what will year 15 be like?

Enjoy some pictures from 7 years ago....