2011 Wraps Up

So the wording on the christmas card I designed is not just coincidental.  For us, 2011 has been an incredible year full of faith in God, hope for the future, and overwhelming love from others. We were so incredibly blessed in 2011!  The Lord was surely mindful of us, which was well needed after the heartbreak and disappointment we experienced in 2010. 

It all started out with another fertility treatment in January - which resulted in a beautiful, albeit early, little boy on August 16th.  Although our little Ammon Ray had a rough start - spending some time in the NICU and being on oxygen for a few months - he is now a healthy little boy who is growing well and bringing such joy and enrichment to our lives. 

In February, Eric left Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) to become a Portfolio Manager at Zion's Bank.  He loved his position and the people he worked with but couldn't pass up an opportunity to leave again in December to become a Risk Manager for American Express.  He's excited that this new position will be similar to his work he did when he was with Merrill Lynch and hopes we can be there for the long run.  We feel like we've finally been able to ride the "Banking Bubble" and come out on top. 

In June of this year, Eric finally passed the second level of the CFA after studying many long months for about 20 hours a week.  I was especially ecstatic since it meant that he could help out more around the house and with Alex in my last months before Ammon arrived.  Only one more level to go that we hope he can pass this coming June!!!  Keep your fingers crossed!

Last of all, Eric took the GMAT and received a score that will give us a good chance at getting into any MBA program we would like.  I told him we'll have to wait a few years for me to recouperate from his CFA study sessions, but it's nice to know that the option is available for us when we are ready for it. 

We cannot forget to mention our sweet, little first-born, Alex, who has accomplished much this year.  He has moved (successfully) into a big-boy bed, potty-trained, and started pre-school.  He is also such a wonderful big brother and such a big helper to me :)  He still doesn't eat anything and is as stuborn as his Mommy, but at least he's out of the terrible twos!  We love him so much and could not imagine our lives without him. 

We are especially grateful to our friends and family who helped us this year -especially with our difficult trial surrounding Ammon's birth.  We have been shown such tender care and love from those we hold as our closest friends, and some of those we barely know.  We are so overwhelmed that so many would be willing to help in our time of need.  We only hope that with our many blessings, we will be able to give back to others who may be experiencing difficulties in their lives.  We are also mindful, without a doubt, that God is in our lives continually and loves us unconditionally.We hope that you will be able to feel of that love this special time of year and in the year to come. 

MeRrY CHriStmAS!

The Story of Ammon

Now that Ammon is one-and-a-half months old, I figure I better post about him. We have been through so much to get this little guy here that we're still playing catch-up. It all started after two-and-a-half years of trying, unsuccessfully, to have a baby. Finally, as a last resort, we decided to try superovulation with IUI. Very surprisingly, it worked!!! On January 4th of 2011, I was pregnant. It was very sketchy in the beginning and we didn't know if I would keep the baby. It wasn't until we saw his ultrasound at 20 weeks and determined it was a boy that we knew this was to be and could relax. I had a relatively normal pregnancy until at 30 weeks I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I didn't think too much of it as I just needed to control it with diet and exercise and my doctor was confident it wouldn't cause any complications if I stayed on track. I was religious about taking my blood sugar, getting daily exercise, and eating right - and I felt great. I lost a lot of water weight, I was much less tired, and I kept my blood sugar levels down.

At 32 weeks I was feeling pretty huge and I could tell the baby had already dropped. I knew I would come early - I just didn't think there was any room left for the baby. However, I didn't know I would come that early! I was in Michaels one day when I had a contraction that left me breathless. Not really experiencing contractions off of pitocin, I was unsure of what had happened. I waited to see if it would happen again - false alarm I didn't have any more that day. A few days later, Eric and I spent a night in Park City for our anniversary. While there, I had quite a few contractions in succession. Still thinking I was overracting, I just took some tylenol and made a note to call the doctor on Monday. The next day I had a few more, but they had died down. By Monday, I was unconcerned even though I had a few more while at Walmart. That day I must have been nesting because I vacuumed and dusted the entire house. Still awake and cleaning up at 1:00am in the morning, I bent down to pick something up and felt a gush of water - I knew immediately what it meant and I was scared. I hobbled upstairs to wake Eric. I was litterally gushing at that point whereas with Alex it had just been a little flow (sorry for the TMI). We called a friend to come stay with Alex and immediately rushed to the hospital. I had only packed a little of my hospital bag and I was able to grab a few more things but on the whole was totally unprepared - I was only 34 weeks exactly.

My Dad and sister Cherie met us at the hospital. I was only dialated to a 1 so we knew it would be awhile before he would arrive. Eric and Dad gave me a blessing before Dad left and we settled in for a long night. The on-call doc suggested we wait awhile to see if I would progress naturally which was fine with me because I hate pitocin. When Dr. Frorer showed up in the morning, I hadn't moved much and was only dialated to a 3. He suggested we start pitocin right away as we were running out of time. I made sure to have an epideral immediately - which was more painful than I remembered but I didn't want to have any narcotics or drugs beside the epideral so that might of had something to do with it. From there I still progressed slowly. The baby was starting to get stressed and his heart rate began to drop. They started threating c-section, put me on oxygen, and monitored the baby internally. Finally, they were ready to go to c-section and checked me one more time- luckily I was dialted to a ten and could deliver vaginally. They rushed me to the operating room (just in case) that had a pass-through window into the NICU. It took four pushes and about five mintues to deliver him - and he was beautiful! As I was delivering him, Eric told me he had hair and I started laughing I was so happy. When he was born they placed him on my tummy while the cut the cord and I held his little hand. Then the quickly rushed him to the pass-through window and to the NICU. He weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21 inches long! Pretty big for a 34 weeker!

After the delivery we found out that his lungs were not developed and they had to aspirate him, put him on surfactant and a CPAP machine. We were unable to see him for about two hours after the birth. We weren't expecting him to have problems so this was a little scary - it was finally starting to dawn on us that we wouldn't be able to take home our newborn for awhile. My GD had contributed to his lungs being undeveloped and might have also caused me to go into preterm labor. I also don't think my body could handle him getting any longer. I just hope that the next one does not come earlier!!! Finally, as I was wheeled up to Recovery in a stretcher, we were able to visit Ammon for about ten minutes. I started to cry when I saw him! I couldn't see his face and he was hooked up to soooo many machines! We could touch his hands and feet but couldn't hold him yet. It was really scary. That night we were allowed to come down again for about an hour and I got to hold him for about five minutes. Dad came to visit and gave Ammon a blessing with Eric.

The first couple of days were REALLY rough - Ammon would not open his eyes and was incredibly sensitive to any touch. After three days, the nurses started to get apprehensive and said that he was not getting better and they didn't know why. Of course, this is the last thing a mother wants to hear and it sent me into a nervous breakdown. On top of Ammon's lungs not being developed, he had contracted pneumonia. They did daily x-rays of his chest to watch the pneumonia. He also didn't seem to be digesting his food so they did an x-ray of his stomach. In the x-ray, they caught the bottom tail of the lungs and found a pneumothorax (a hole in the lungs with air leaking around them) which they hadn't caught in the previous x-rays. Once they treated the pneumothorax, Ammon finally begain to improve. I believe it was a blessing that they were able to find the problem so quickly - I know that our prayers, fasting, and blessings were answered.

Ammon stayed in the NICU for a total of sixteen days and fifteen nights. It was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. I just wanted to hold and love my newborn and yet I had people telling me what I could and couldn't do. Every night I'd go home empty-handed. We didn't even really get to see what he looked like for a week until they took him off the CPAP. It was one of the best days when we finally brought our little one home! We had to take him home on oxygen, and up to this point he is still on it. We can't really go anywhere because his lungs are still not fully developed and he is very susceptible to infection. We are just so glad to have this little miracle in our lives! We know Heavenly Father blessed us with him and we couldn't be happier to have him as a part of our family! We couldn't wait to meet him and apparently he couldn't wait to meet us either!!!!

A budding Testimony . . .

I am SO Proud of my little three-year-old! Today I took Alex to Fast and Testimony meeting. I was explaining to him what we do in church - "Now we sing a song . . . now we say a prayer . . . now we eat bread and water to remind us of Jesus Christ . . . " When it came time for testimonies I said, " Now it's time for people to get up and talk. Anyone can get up and talk . . . even children." Alex said, "When is it my turn?" And I replied, "Do you really want a turn?" and he said, "Yes". We waited until the people who had gotten up said their testimonies and then he asked, "Is it my turn now?" I said "yes" and he took me by the hand and led me up to the pulpit and I helped him bare his testimony. He has taught me so much, I feel inadequate as his Mother. I wish I could have the same simple faith as a child.

HE PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so I'm about a year-and-a-half behind on my posts. I really do apologize and have every intention of catching up some day - course with the baby almost here that might take awhile yet.

At any rate, there are lots of reasons why I haven't posted (last year because it was just a horrible year) and this year because it's been a wonderful, but incredibly busy year. Not only are we pregnant (after trying for so long) but I'm still working here and there on photography and Eric was studying for Level 2 of the CFA (the hardest level), dare I say, AGAIN.

Yes, this is the third year he has taken it but all his hard work has paid off!!!!

HE PASSED!!!!!!

We just found out this morning and it's a good thing he did because if he didn't, we were going to drop the whole thing (not to mention all the time and heartache we've put into this certification for the last five years).

For those of you who are thinking, "Wow, it took him 3 times to pass this level, what's so great about that?" should know that it is an EXTREMELY difficult certification. Professionals who have masters degrees and who've been working in the field for a long time don't pass. When Eric took it this time, he was sitting between someone who had taken that level 3 times already, and the other had taken it 4 times already. It consists of memorizing (and knowing how to work up) hundreds of complex financial formulas so yeah, it's a big deal.

I am SO RELIEVED and SO PROUD of him! I knew he could do it and he has such dedication and determination. All of this is self-study and he has always been able to put other things aside and make this a priority - studying about 20 hrs. a week six months out of the year with a not-always-so-supportive wife.

The next step is level 3 next June which should be a breeze (fingers crossed) now that he has passed level 2 and he will be a fully-certified CFA! It will be the equivelent to, or better than a masters degree. After that, we've been looking into a full-time MBA program or we might just take a rest for awhile :) We'll see. But for now, we couldn't be happier! WAY TO GO BABE!!!!

SURPRISE!!!!!!!

Introducing the next little boy McFarland, due to be born Sept. 27th, 2011!!!!

Sucking his thumb?

Little feet

Leg

It's a boy!!!

Yes, I have managed to keep it a secret from at least a couple of people this long which is absolutely amazing since I usually can't keep anything a secret for 10 minutes. I have to admit, mostly it was due to anxiety that I wouldn't keep this one either but now that we've determined the sex, I guess I have to admit it's really happening. We couldn't be happier!!! After last years failed IVF treatment, followed by a natural pregnancy and then a miscarriage, we had lost a lot of hope. At the beginning of the year, before Eric changed jobs we decided to try and use up the rest of our "infertility money" and try some more treatments. Luckily for us, the first one worked! We did superovulation combined with IUI (don't ask - it's complicated). It's been a scary road but everything is looking great and I'm well on my way.

We are sooooo thrilled to be welcoming another little boy! Alex will have a little brother to tease, wrestle, and hopefully mentor. Alex seems to be excited as much as a two-and-a-half-year-old can be. I didn't think he really got it, but one time I said to him, "Did you know that you were once a teeny, tiny little baby inside mommy's tummy?" And he said, "Just like Baby Brother!" Which was what he determined it would be when we saw the baby for the first time at seven weeks.

At any rate, we feel truly so blessed to be welcoming another soul into this family. It is something we have hoped and prayed for a long time and we can't wait for our precious baby boy to get here!

2011 Turning out to be a Wonderful Year!

My posts are so boring lately - I need to post more pictures but I spend so much time working on other people's pictures that I never want to work on my own. And I have to convert my RAW file pictures into JPEGS in order to post them. I need to stop being so lazy and just get it done. Sorry.

Anyway, I just wanted to write a post about Eric's new job. Eric's job at SVB was, well, not exactly what we thought it was - to put in nicely. We were very unhappy there and we decided he needed to make a career move. At the beginning of the year, Eric got a job offer from Zion's Bank. It was a good offer, but we wanted to wait until we got our bonus at SVB (which was a couple of months away) before switching jobs so we turned it down.

Well, those couple of months came and went and things got a lot worse at work, not better and so we couldn't wait to leave. Eric called up a recruiter he'd been working with and said he wanted to interview again and the recruiter said the job at Zion's was still available and they were still interested in him. The job description had changed to even a better position, and Eric was able to negotiate even more money and accepted the position right away. YEAH!!!!! We lucked out! Or maybe God gave us a second chance. At any rate, he's SOOOOO much happier where he is and I'm so proud of him! His title is Portfolio Manager for the Equiptment Commercial Lending group (I think) and he has a big office with a window on the 13th floor of their downtown building - pretty cool! Last year was pretty stinky but we feel like this year is going to be so much better.

I'm terrible . . .

I haven't written a post in forever. I really want to keep up my blog because it's the only way I journal but things have been pretty crazy the past couple of months. We've taken on way to much and have a lot in the works. I won't go into detail about all that right now - that is for another day. At any rate, I just have to capture some of the things Alex does because I feel like he is growing up WAY too fast.

The other morning I went to get Alex up. We was lying in his crib and didn't want to get out yet (he's not a morning person just like his Mommy). I settled onto the rocking chair until he was ready. He kept saying over and over, "two and then seven, two and then seven." I had no idea what he meant but I repeated it too to reinforce it (that's what I read you're supposed to do to develop language skills). I wasn't really paying attention, thinking this was just silly baby talk and it took him twice to say it before I got it. He said, "That makes twenty-seven!" My jaw dropped. I have NO idea where he learned a concept like that. He's only two-and-a-half and I've never taught him anything like that. I guess he just figured it out on his own. What a SMARTY!!!

He is the sweetest, kindest little boy. I was a little sad when he was little and he wasn't much of a cuddler, but he's making up for it now. His new thing is to stroke my face and say, "Hi, sweetheart!" or "Hi, sweetie!" Since that's what I always say to him. He also occasionally says, "Hey, Ang!" to which I reply, "No! I'm Mommy!" He must hear it from his Daddy. He also said, "I wuv you, Mommy" for the FIRST TIME the other day! I have been trying to make him say I love you for a long time but he never would. Daddy told him to tell me he loved me and he did! It melted my heart into a pile of goo. :) I love him soooooo much! He and his Daddy are everything to me!

Where'd He Learn That?

We were watching the beginning of "Finding Nemo" when the Disney Castle appeared on screen. Alex pointed at it and said, "Temple, Momma? Temple?" It was so adorable. I don't even know where he thought of that because I have shown him pictures of temples a couple of times, but not a lot. He must have gotten it from nursery. Thanks for doing my job better than me :)

May Your Days be Merry and Bright!

Here's our Christmas card for 2010:

Sorry! No letter this year - if you want to know what happened to us you have to read through the blog!

I designed the card myself and printed it on beautiful pearl paper. Not trying to toot my own horn or anything but just getting the word out that I design beautiful cards for clients. Let me know if you want the prettiest Christmas card in the neighborhood and I'll hook you up!

I also took the pictures of Alex. My good friend, Lauren took the family picture and the picture of Eric and I. Thanks Lauren!

Ketchup or rather . . . . Catch Up

So the title of my post reminded me of a funny story. Years ago we were on a family vacation in Grand Tetons National park. We were taking a little hike to the grocery store and back from our campsite. After we had left the store and were on our way, my sister said, "Oh no! I forgot to buy diapers! Stan (her husband), will you get some and catch up?" About fifteen minutes later he showed up with the diapers and a bottle of ketchup! Now that I'm married to a man I totally understand how that happened! LOL! Gotta love 'em!

Anyway, this is kind of a lame post letting every one of my doating fans (all three of you) know that I am trying to repent of my lack of journaling in the past six or so months. I'll admit, the lack of posts was due partially to the fact that I was busy with my new business but also because I didn't feel very positive and didn't want to project my negative vibes through this site. We didn't have a ton of good news in 2010. However, I will try to record some of the highlights so that in looking back, I will remember this past year for the good points :)