Vacation

We recently returned from our vacation to Chicago, Nauvoo, and Saint Louis. Pappa and Grandma took my whole family and also my brother, his wife, and two children. Even though there was a lot to do in a short time, it was still a wonderful vacation.

We started our trip staying the night at the Manhattan Beach Marriott, so we would all be close to the airport in the morning. Very comfortable beds, and I was ready to buy one, til I found out they cost $3000! In the morning on the way to the airport, Ethan woke up sick. Here we are, twelve people trying to get through security at LAX, and Ethan is walking from trash can to trash can just waiting to throw up. We were actually boarding the plane while he was in the bathroom. Luckily everything came out of him before the flight, and he boarded with paper towels and a trash bag in case of emergency! He made it through the whole flight, even though he continued to suffer on and off for the next four days!

We made it to Chicago, and had a chance to go through the Natural History Museum there. We drove along the waterfront so we could view Lake Michigan. I was highly impressed with all of the parks and greenbelts present there. I did get a bit frustrated trying to navigate my way around the city, and Steve and I actually ended up at the airport twice trying to follow the GPS to the museum. I was ready to throw that GPS out the window! View of the lake front from the museum.


The kids enjoyed the T-Rex, but their main focus was on the pirate exhibit at the museum.


The boys have been into pirates lately, so we were luckily to be able to visit while this exhibit is still at the museum!

The hotel we stayed at had a very warm pool and we swam every night. Swimming at the hotels were one of the kids priorities, and I thought to myself, 'isn't it great when life is so simple that the kids just look forward to swimming on vacation?'

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My favorite part of the vacation was our trip to Nauvoo. It took us almost five hours to drive there from Chicago, but was well worth it! I was ready to tell my family to just leave me there, except I think the humidity would get me in the end. Nauvoo is a small town, and I was impressed at how green everything was. The weather was pretty cool while we were there, and we had rain along with thunder and lightening storms at night. I think every Latter-Day Saint should have the experience of visiting there! I have to say that some of what we did there turned into pretty humbling experiences, especially for my family that comes from pioneer heritage that once resided in Nauvoo.

My very favorite part of our time in Nauvoo was the hand cart trek. Ethan wasn't able to go, because he was still sick, which I was pretty bummed about, so my dad stayed with him back at the hotel. My brother wasn't excited about going either, but I am so glad he did, considering we probably wouldn't have made it without his help!

(These pictures are a bit out of order, but I will do my best to explain)

Basically, we started with a one mile trip pulling this handcart. We thought that would be pretty easy until the very beginning when we crossed the first stream and ended up wet to our ankles! My brother was the smart one who walked around the stream on the road in order not to get his shoes wet. However, there was no hope for him or anyone of us of staying dry and not muddy after that point!
Then we hit out first hill. Since it had rained the night before, the mud was very thick and slippery. It was gooey enough to loose your shoes in if you weren't careful. As a matter of fact, Steve ended up throwing his shoes away after this experience, because they were ruined. Steve and Mom pulled the cart up the hill while Matt and I attempted to push it. Being pregnant, I could only do so much! We quickly learned to empty the cart of the kids when we came upon a hill and to just walk them down through the mud! Oh, let me not to forget to mention the bugs! I saw some that I have never seen before and hope to never see again!
The kids weren't very happy at first, as you can see from the expression on Averi's face. She was scared to cross the stream. But they quickly got used to everything, probably knowing that there was no way out of this one!

This was the last hill we had to go down. Luckily the handcart wasn't bogged down with food and clothing! On one hill, after we got everyone safely down, and me slipping in the mud while carrying Averi, Matt and Steve just let the handcart go...and it safely found its way to the bottom.

Crossing the stream for the second time!

This picture was actually taken right at the beginning of the trail. As you can see everyone is happy and basically clean, with only our ankles wet from crossing the stream.

Steve helping Gavin down one of the small hills we encountered. It was actually quite slippery here, and you can see how muddy it was!

One of the beautiful meadows we went through. I love the trail where you can see the tracks of the handcart. It gives you somewhat of an idea of some of the weather conditions the pioneers faced on their journey out west.

We were a bit dirty at this point. I was so impressed with Gavin along the trail. He was such a trooper, and really enjoyed himself. He helped to scout out the way and was ready to help in any way possible. He pulled the handcart for his share of the journey, and he really enjoyed crossing the streams.

The last crossing of the stream. I was pretty much useless at this point! It had rained on us a couple of times throughout the trail, and the weather was getting warm. It actually felt pretty good on the feet to cross the stream again!

Toward the end of the trek, Gavin was walking through the field and fell in this mud hole. I was surprised how quick he was to get out of it, especially without loosing a shoe!

This was the group at the very end of our trip. Tired...dirty...wet! When we got back to the car, we basically had to not only take our shoes and socks off, but the kids took off their pants. Luckily there was a laundromat right by the hotel!

We only went one mile, and at the beginning, the missionary told us that it would take about an hour. Actually, it was more like two! We had a lot of fun and laughs, knowing that we only had to go for a mile. But, I can't imagine adding about a thousand more onto that! We had it easy with an empty cart, knowing we could go back to our cars and hot showers and food. It is hard to imagine pulling the cart weighed down with food and other living items for many, many, many miles. Along with all of the other problems experienced by the pioneers, it made me thankful to live in these modern days!

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Along with our time in Nauvoo, we had the opportunity to drive out to Carthage. I was excited to be able to go inside and visit the jail where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed. This too was a humbling experience. At the end of the tour, as you had a chance to be in the actual room where the murder took place, they played the song "A Poor Wayfaring Man Of Grief." Humbling.

The actual window that the Prophet fell out of after being shot and killed by the mob.

The door to the room with the bullet holes still in it. Of course, this was Ethan's favorite part of the tour!

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The Nauvoo temple was beautiful. It sits on top of a hillside overlooking all of Nauvoo and the Mississippi River.

I had the opportunity to go through on Wednesday and do a session with my parents!

There was so much to do in Nauvoo, but one thing that I made sure my family did was to walk down Parley Street and see the "Trail of Hope." Basically this is a monument to all of the Pioneers who were driven out of Nauvoo. They lined their wagons along Parley Street in order to cross the Mississippi on their journey west. As you look back to the town from this point, you can see how beautiful the temple is and all that they were leaving. Along this trail there are various plaques that the church placed there from journal excerpts of different pioneers.

(Of course these pictures are once again out of order).

This is the Homestead, which was the home of Joseph and Emma Smith.

Right next to the Homestead is the the Smith Family Cemetery. It is a beautiful setting and only a stones throw from the Mississippi River.

This is the "Trail of Hope" along Parley Street where all the wagons lined up to leave.

(For obvious reasons)...this was my favorite plaque that I read along the "Trail of Hope."

This is the very end of Parley Street where the wagons and Pioneers actually crossed the river.

One mystery that my family didn't know the ansewer to was why the Angel Moroni faces west on top of the Nauvoo Temple. Does anyone know why?????

This is the field directly across the street from the temple. Steve waited out there with the kids for our session to finish, and they had a lot of fun playing there! See how green everything is! Very beautiful!

In Nauvoo there is so much for families to do. Steve and the boys really enjoyed their visit to the Browning Home (the famous gun maker). There was also a family Living Center where the kids were able to see Pioneer life, and got to bring home the rope that they made there.

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After a stop in Hannibal, Missouri, our vacation ended in Sain Louis. Talk about humidity. It was so hot and humid that it actually took my breath away when I stepped outside of the hotel! My ankles and feet started to swell pretty bad!

We went the the giant arch, and only my Mom, Steve, and I had the guts to go to the top! We took Wyatt with us too and he seemed to really enjoy looking out of the windows at the top. I am scared of heights but once you get up there it really isn't that bad, as long as you don't think about being 630 feet up in the air!

This is at the very top!

This is looking west into Saint Louis from the top of the arch.

It was a wonderful vacation and I am so thankful for the opportunity to go. Thank you Pappa and Grandma!

My Week....So Far....!!!!!

So, this week has been crazy. I have spent everyday trying to get ready to go on our family vacation. I am attempting to pack everyone into carry-ons, so that I don't have to pay the extra fee to check in baggage....(because we all know how much of a fan I am of that!) So far, I am doing pretty good, as long as Averi doesn't fall over from the weight of her and Wyatt's clothes in her backpack! I have decided that packing for four children isn't that easy, and there is a lot of laundry to do before the process is complete!.....On that note, just a funny story. I was starving the other night, and Steve decided to b-b-q up some of the steaks we bought in bulk. I was doing laundry in the garage, when I heard the kids scream, "Forest Fire!!! Forest Fire!!!" I'm thinking in my head...what the heck???? I go outside to see that the grass in the backyard was splotched with fire, along with the wood bench and Christmas Tree stand (please don't ask why that is still out there!) Steve was running into the house while I was running out to turn on the hose. Luckily, he knew where the fire extinguisher was, and despite all the smoke and confusion we managed to put it out within a couple of minutes. Luckily the neighbors didn't call the fire department. Actually, I am glad I still have a home, despite the chard back lawn!...To make this long story short.....Steve couldn't get the coals lit, so he was going to put some gasoline on them! When he opened the gas can, it sprayed, and caught his whole face and hair on fire. The gas can somehow ended up out on the grass, proceeding to burn parts of it up, along with the wood bench. Averi was in the backyard, with eyes as wide as can be! When Steve finished with the extinguisher, the gas can was still on fire. He tried to get it into the kids pool to put it out, and it proceeded to pop the pool, and ended up in the garden, where Averi began to scream,"My Pumpkin Plants, My Pumpkin Plants!" I think we only lost one of them though. Believe it or not, it was a very funny scene that I laughed at for a good 15 minutes afterwords, until I realized what had happened to Steve. He is burnt pretty bad and is blistering on his hands, nose, and forehead! He is going to kill me for posting this, because of course he doesn't want anyone knowing!
Then, today, Steve got home from work early, and he offered to clean the house while I took Gavin to his baseball game. Sounded great to me. I had some last minute errands to run before we head out tomorrow, so this was the opportunity! I took Averi and Gavin with me, and before his game we ended up at Walmart for various thing for our trip. Averi was complaining that her stomach hurt, which is what she always says when she is hungry. I kept telling her I would get her food before the game. We made it to the checkout, and while I was paying, Averi proceeded to empty what seemed like and entire week of stomach contents all over herself and the floor! I think she just sat there for about two minutes throwing up. Everyone was staring at us, and I lifted up her dress to catch the puke, only to realize she is not waring any underwear! (she is famous for leaving the house without any on!) I thought, "oh well, you'll jut have to puke all over the floor!" I look up at the lady at the checkout and just say, "cleanup at check stand 3!" She continued to throw up until she went to bed tonight, and I am hoping she will be better tomorrow considering we are leaving on vacation!
So far, an interesting week. Hopefully next week, I will have some good pictures of Chicago, Nauvoo, and St. Louis!

Is School Really Over?

How sweet is this......for the last day of school, the kids wanted to walk there. Since we always walk on the first day, I decided it would be a good idea. I think I kind of forgot that I am pregnant and really slow! Since we were walking, I didn't take my camera, and I really wished I would have. When we got to school, Ethan told me he drew me a picture. He wanted to show it to me, and when I got to his classroom, all the kids had drawn different things with sidewalk chalk all over the ground. It was super neat to see all of their pictures. Ethan took me over to where he had a chance to draw, and instead of a picture, it said, 'I Love Mom So Much, Love, Ethan.' Yes, I was in tears, and I thought, what a sweet boy I have to do something like that.

Test Results

The last couple of nights have been rough. I have turned into an insomniac, due to anxiety over the test results. Now that I made it through the amino, I need to prepare for what comes next. Today, I had a chance to take a nap, and I actually prayed that I would just be able to get some rest so that I will have all of the energy and strength that I need to deal with the test results. I immediately felt such a sense of comfort and peace, knowing that I will indeed have the strength to deal with this, and I crashed for 1 1/2 hours!
This afternoon, the lab called me. Since I didn't expect the results for another week at the earliest, I was immediately thinking that they didn't collect enough amniotic fluid to do the necessary test, and that I would have to go back for another amino! But, the lady said, "I have some good news for you. Your baby is fine and all of the chromosomes are normal. She doesn't have down syndrome and is in fact very healthy from what we can tell." I immediately lost it! I was in such tears and she asked me if I was OK. I told her, "Yes, it has just been such an emotional roller coaster." She went on to confirm that we are indeed having a little girl.
To be honest, at this point I don't even know what to say. I immediately gave a prayer of gratitude for being blessed with another healthy child.
A couple of days ago we decided on her full name. She will be Reagen Dorothy Smith. Dorothy is my mom's name, as well as her aunt's, and it means 'gift from God.' We knew that whether she had down syndrome or not, we were still blessed to be able to have another daughter, and has always been our 'gift from God' since the day she was conceived. Oh how blessed my family is.

My House Is Too Small!

I was complaining yesterday about tripping over Gavin's shoes on my way down our very narrow hallway! Then I thought to myself....someday I will have a home with a wide hallway, and someday there won't be any kids shoes to trip over anymore....(looking 20 years into the future)...so I thought to myself...I am so thankful that Gavin left his shoes so that I could trip over them!

Amino

I was pretty calm all day considering my appointment wasn't until 1:00 p.m. I think I only had about three anxiety attacks before I got there! I started with genetic counseling, which was actually very helpful. They went over the results of my actual AFP test with me, and determined that the odds are 2 in 10 that Reagen has down syndrome. Then, I went through the ultrasound, which showed no markers for down syndrome. Her heart, brain, and kidneys are all fine. I got a bit of relief out of that. It does not mean that she is free of down syndrome, but if she does have it, there are no major defect with her heart, kidney, and no cysts on her brain! Then came the amino....I was so nervous. It actually was not that bad. The initial prick of the needle only hurt like when you blood is being drawn. However, when he went through my uterus, it was a bit of paralyzing pain! I started singing my favorite hymn to myself, and by the time I got through the first verse of "How Firm A Foundation" it was all over with! I was shocked that it went so quickly! Now, we only have to wait two to three weeks for the results! Thank you to all who kept me in their thoughts and prayers. I felt a lot of comfort and strength today!

Needing Prayers

So many emotions are running through me. Last week, I took the expanded AFP test. I found out yesterday that it came back positive for being high risk for down syndrome. I am calling on all my family and friend to please pray for me and the baby at this time. Next Tuesday, I am going to see a specialists, who will give me genetic counseling, a specialized ultrasound to look for certain traits of down syndrome, and then an amniocentesis. I am more scared about a needle going through my stomach than anything, and just pray for the strength to get through this! It will take two weeks for the results to come in, and I know in the long run I will be able to find the necessary strength to deal with the results.