I'm a NICU nurse

It feels so good to say that. I realize it's cheesy, I really do, but I feel like I've ignored a big part of my identity for the last few years! I miss it. I mean I really miss it. More than I thought I ever would. It's been 2 years since I have been into a NICU and worked with those sweet little spirits. Sometimes it will hit me so hard my heart aches with it. Working in that unique and special place was a huge part of my life before moving here to Washington. I spent 8 years doing it, 6 years full-time, before I left. More time than I have been a wife or a mother! Maybe that is why I feel that longing to be there again so much lately. It's kind of funny that it has taken me this long to realize how important it is to me. I still don't think I'll get my license while we're living here (just too much hassle for a short period) but I can't wait to get back someday!

Here are some pictures of a precious few babies I took care of. I LOVED being around those little miracles every day. That is what they are too. This first little sweetheart was teensy tiny (that pic does not do her justice) and yet she did not need any respiratory support at all! She was breathing room air, no prob! :) That's a miracle! These other little people were babies that I truly bonded to. They were so precious! I have even kept in touch with most of their families!Here is my most special little girl... Lindi. She was another sweet little miracle. She started like this:And was a cute little "chubber" before she went home! Now she is a beautiful little girl. I cherish my relationship with her mom even now.
Is there any place on earth better to work than the NICU?!! I don't think so! :) For the most part you get to be a part of miracles and healing... and I can't imagine a better work environment than being surrounded by all those fresh little spirits from heaven. I can't wait to get back there someday! But for now I'll focus my love and attention on my own sweet little spirits from heaven! :)

Ward Campout!

We took the kids on the ward campout this year. It was a lot of fun! Nyah gloried in the dirty dirt everywhere and Gabe became the absolute best 4-year old fisherman in the world! Now those are just he highlights... there was also homemade snowcones at the campfire along with magic tricks, homemade ice cream, and of course smores. Before the campfire the kids all put glow sticks on like bones and walked around the campground like a bunch of skeletons! The campers LOVED it!!! Gabe proudly wore a glow hat that he loved. I have to add here that half way through the walk around, Gabe told me that is was really late and he was tired (in an almost accusatory manner!) and that he needed to go to bed. When we got back to the campsite Daddy could not talk him into staying up for the campfire even! That little boy knows when he needs to go to sleep!! :) Nyah was already sleeping by then too - both kiddies got to bed pretty early for camping and slept well all night!The next morning donned early - as it usually does camping. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of pancakes and sausage cooked by the bishopric before heading off to the lake beach to fish. Gabe has been itching to go fishing ever since Aunt Erin's family gave him a real fishing pole for Christmas. His little pole even came with a small, plastic, orange fish to use tied to your line to practice casting. Gabe has pored over the packaging and exclaimed excitedly about that fish for months. So you can imagine his reaction when Eric went to show him how to cast the first time and off flew the fish! (Not a good fishing knot Daddy?!!) To say Gabe was disappointed would be an understatement of the year. He was DEVASTATED. Absolutely beside himself. It was painful to behold, I must say. So what else could Eric do but swim out in the glacial water and try to find it... Unfortunately that didn't work. It was far too deep and murky and to be honest, Eric was having a difficult time catching his breath to dive in the freezing water! But seeing Daddy out searching made Gabe want to join so in he went! Brrrrrr!! Nyah did her best to completely douse herself in water as well. My goodness, I discovered I should have packed swim suits! :)After Gabe recovered from his lost plastic fish, I tied a key onto the end of his line instead (from Eric's key chain - a fitting punishment for losing the fish I thought, haha!) and Gabe practiced casting for a good hour with it. It was incredible to watch. He got the hang of it so fast and was absolutely in the "zone"! He waded out to this log and climbed on and sat there casting and casting away. It was so cute! After about an hour he came back to the beach and asked me why the fish weren't eating the key!! I was shocked that he had somehow misunderstood that he was practicing, not really fishing! Poor little guy! So we talked about how fish don't like to eat keys, they usually like to eat yummy things like worms. :) He seemed ok to keep practicing but I can't wait for him to actually go fishing and catch something!
The scene in the car driving home. Gabe was happily watching a movie next to her. What a fun weekend!

swim lessons for Gabe!!

This was Gabe's first year of swim lessons and I'm thrilled to say he did fantastic! With how cautious our little man has always been, I wasn't sure how well swim lessons would go over. But I knew he really needed them to start to feel comfortable in the water. His teachers were great and really helped him have FUN in the water! He loved every minute of it! After a month of lessons (2 sessions) he can submerge his face all the way up to his eyebrows, blow bubbles under water, and bounce like a frog through the water taking breaths with each bounce! He is also learning to float front and back, kick his feet and many other fishy skills. :) He has had a blast and has come a long way! His teacher even dubbed him the best shark ever!

Gabe's #1 fans!!