Sorry no pictures in this post, but I will get to that shortly.  Now that Christmas is past and New Years nearly there I have a few birthdays to plan for and then maybe a rest. 

This last week has been a whirlwind of emotions for us here in the Anderson household.  As you saw in the last post I found out 10 days ago I am expecting #4 Anderson critter.  I was surprised, to say the least, and excited but managed to keep that tidbit of news to myself for 3 days so I could surprise Brian Christmas morning.  It came off without a hitch and now he is reeling as well.  For those of you that don’t know, it has been an adventure to obtain each one of our children.  Pills, needles, and surgeries were required for each one and there were 3 miscarriages in there as well.  (Brian jokes that we may have the kids paid for by the time they move out)  We made the decision that Weston would be the last time we involved fertility treatments.  We would do what we had to do to get that third one and then we would just relax. 

The day I found out we were out on an FHE excursion with the kids and Brian and I were discussing finances.  He said he was going to cancel our health insurance the next day until things with the business picked up or he found other work.  I asked him to hold off until after Christmas.  I’m glad he didn’t cancel without letting me know that was on his mind. 

I was able to get a doctors appointment for the following monday, the 29th.  So for a full week I could only guess at how far along I was.  When I say “guess” I mean really guess because I have no cycle to speak of.  I thought I was probably 6-7 weeks along because of when I started noticing symptoms.  I was feeling a little anxious because two of my previous miscarriages were around week six and the third was sometime between 8-11 weeks.  I asked Brian for a blessing on Sunday morning.  He was able to give me the reassurance I needed.  This pregnancy will go full term.  Heavenly Father is pleased with the way we are raising our children and so is entrusting us with another.  What a blessing!  I went into my appointment on Monday excited to find out my official due date.  It has to be done by measuring the baby by ultrasound since I have no other dates by which to measure.  So I was SHOCKED when the baby was measured and I was told I am at 9WEEKS already.  This is going to be the shortest pregnancy ever.  Usually I know before the 4 week mark.  Holy Cow!  And since I tend to go 2-3 weeks before my due date this babe will be here before I know it.  So THAT is why we are reeling around here.  Little Weston will only be 18 months which to me is still a baby. 

I am now taking the progesterone as a added precaution which increases queasiness.  I don’t mind it too much though as it is manageable and the sicker I feel the more reassured I am that baby is doing good.  So many things make sense now as I look back.  I typically gain 5-10 pounds the first month and then not anymore until the 2nd trimester.  Right around Thanksgiving I gained 5 pounds and I attributed it to the feasting with the family for days and the sitting around for a week.  However, upon returning home I was doing my gym routine from Jeff 4-5 days a week and watching the food intake.  I gained another 2 pounds.  I was getting really frustrated.  I was willing to let that slide but I had also felt a little flu like for a few weeks.  Nothing serious but I felt off.  I mentioned to a few people including Brian who asked me “are you pregnant?”  No.  That’s not possible.  I also broke out in teenage like acne which I barely had even as a teenager.  I attributed it to the increased sweating at the gym and possibly the increased chocolate intake (although there wasn’t too much of that because it just didn’t taste good to me-another obvious symptom)  Also, I haven’t had a Big Mac since I was 12 but a few weeks ago I just had to have one and it tasted sooooo good.  But when that particular Monday before Christmas I almost hurled my breakfast back up I thought I better take a test…just in case…it will be negative of course…but just in case.  When it came back positive I put it aside went to the store and got another one and retested.  When Brian found out that the second one came from the dollar store he wanted another test done but I reminded him the first one was from the drug store that I paid more than a dollar for it.  At least all my clothes still fit and should for a bit longer. 

So wish us luck.  2009 is going to be full of adventures.  I get to be maxed out pregnant during the HOTTEST part of the Las Vegas summer.  My due date is August 5th but if history repeats itself I will have a gigantor baby and deliver 2-3 weeks early.  My sister Julie is due July 10th.  So if she goes late at all my mom is going to have to make a choice.  If both babies are girls the blessing dress situation is going to be complicated.  ( We share a family heirloom dress)  So here is to Julie going at least a week before her due date and to at least one of us having a boy.  If anyone in the family is thinking about getting married and wants either of us to attend or be available to help with pictures may I suggest a spring wedding.  (Early spring)

Twas’ four days before Christmas,

I was feeling quite sick.

If you want to know why…

Just watch this clip.

Wonders never cease.

This never happened to me.

Not getting pregnant.

But getting pregnant for free!

Doctors, drugs, and needles

Are the typical recipe.

But this time it happened

the way it should be. 

So keep us in mind

When you are on your knees.

We need your good vibes

So this will end happily.

At nearly 7 weeks

It’s a really good sign

I was puking this morning

With a smile all the while. 

Two out of three times I miscarried right around the six week mark.  I am past that now but don’t feel secure until after the first trimester.  So we are letting our fans in on the news early this time hoping for good vibes sent our way….that and we are so excited we can hardly stand it.  We planned on Wes being our last fertility effort.  We decided that if Heavenly Father had any more little spirits for us then he would send them to us.  The next few weeks will tell. 

So I think I got all the pictures up.  I think the best thing to do is just go through and look at those.  I don’t think I’m going to get to much of a dialogue.  We went to Logan for Thanksgiving.  It was great to spend time with nearly everyone.  We took the kids on an outing to the places where Brian and I first met.  Serra loves that mushy stuff.  Also since we have been back I have tried to be a good mom and do holiday related stuff every week with the kids.  We went to the Bellagio and saw the gardens all decked out and the fountain set to music.  (Josh Groban-Oh Holy Night)  That was cool.  We also attempted a light tour for FHE this last week but were thwarted slightly by the wind.  We have done the tree decorating, gingerbread houses, Christmas shopping where the kids pick out gifts for others, candy making, and tree decorating.  We also use our Christmas plates every night.  I don’t know if anyone noticed.  Tonight is Christmas Eve and we are having a fancy dinner here so I really gotta get going.  But the stockings are hung and the gifts are wrapped and I THINK we are ready.  Pictures. 

I don’t go out onto the patio very often and one day in late November Brian brought to my attention that I hadn’t thrown out the pumpkins from Halloween yet.  Ooops!  They were oozing and moldy.  I had to use a shovel.  Gross.

Brian finished his Bridge project. 

Sister Serra had a baby shower.  She obviously needed some help opening gifts. 

It seems Wes always needs a haircut.

Katrina boogered the only picture I had with Serra.  Rosie didn’t help either. 

Chilly day.  Cozy fire with the cousins. 

Adventure walk…it was COOOOLD.  The kids had fun and collected such treasures as a battery, key, some striped rocks and some reeds.  The little ones wanted to ride rather than explore. 

Serra had my camera for a while and took this lovely shot as well as many of Olivia.

I love it when Wes sits like this. 

Lot’s of folks for the big feast.

The kid table. 

The newlyest wed ones first official T-day. 

Wes joins in the feast and eats all but the turkey.  Vienna sausages were on his menu.

A beautiful sight. 

Nice mom. 

And the tryptophan  kicks in.  I didn’t know Vienna sausages had it too.

This is the site and the fire ring where Brian and Pam got to know about each others stupid human tricks on the first night they met. 

Some cousins pause long enough from playing to take a picture.  I literally didn’t  see Serra for the whole week we were there. 

I took the pictures at Serra’s shower and I promise you will get them Serra.  Julie was very excited and enthusiastic. 

This was at the Bellagio gardens.  The background didn’t turn our so well but Rosie’s faces did.

Wes missed the whole thing. 

This kid can sleep anywhere.  Here is some more evidence.  And below…the kids decorate the tree.  Notice how Rosie put all hers in the same spot.  The tree got very heavy on that one side. 

This is going to be a problem.

The gingerbread houses.

Wes sat with us and ate graham crackers and milk. 

I got up the next morning to Mo on the table eating the windows and candy off one side.  There were plenty of foot prints on the table to indicate he tried other areas.  Those who have made these know that the frosting is like cement once it dries.  I think this was the only part he could get loose. 

And The Santa…

Wes was not impressed at all…I don’t think Santa was either. 

The angel choir.  Nice Rosie…

Oh boy! Another tree to dismantle.  That’s it folks.  Merry Christmas. 

My first two tatting projects.  I copied two that I had here from Mom.  It’s not as hard as I always imagined it would be. 

Ok so I know I haven’t updated for T-day yet or for all the Christmas festivities that we’ve been up to but this was just too good.  It started snowing yesterday morning and continued allllllll day until 9-10pm.  The palm trees are failing and trees have been uprooted all over the valley from the weight of the snow.  We got five inches.  It is unheard of to get snow in the valley here that sticks let alone inches.  The roads were a mess last night.  We don’t have plows or salt and sand trucks around here.  So it was pretty nasty last night.  We got word over the airways that school was canceled for today so we actually got a SNOW DAY!  Serra had yesterday off for parent teacher conferences so she gets a bonus day.  Then tomorrow is the last day before the Christmas break.  I guess I better wrap presents tomorrow.  I know all you Utards are balking that we get a snow day out of this…just keep in mind Vegards are lousy drivers without weather…if it’s raining it’s bad…with snow there is no way I would trust bus drivers out there to brave unplowed snowy roads.  We took advantage and built a snowman at the park and had a snowball fight in which I dominated my infant children.  We finally called it quits when Serra threw one at Wes and he started screaming.  He didn’t get that it was all in fun. 

This was our house this morning after the melt began.  I actually went out last night and shook off our trees.  They fared better than our neighbors.  The second pictured is last night before it got too dark.

You can see how heavy the snowfall was here and how the palms fronds were starting to bend.  My kids have no clue how to dress for weather. 

It didn’t take long for Rosie to figure out that snow is edible.  She ate alot of it.  Here is Serra trying to peg me with a snow ball only to have it hit part of the playground equipment and explode. 

We built a snowman

This is what the palms looked like this morning.  Ooops. 

Greetings my peeps

This years been a long one

This letter is Brian’s job

But it ain’t getting done.

So I guess I’ll just do it

Let him keep working still.

With all the expenses

He’s out paying the bills.

Not to be outdone

By siblings and Pop-C

This year we’re rhyming

Get your thinking caps ready.

So what’s the new news

In the Anderson household.

Eleven months now

Weston’s nearly a year old.

Last January 11^th

He arrived 3 weeks early.

But we were not worried

Amnio said lungs were ready.

Started off at 9 pounds

25# now and walkin’.

One year makes a toddler

Can’t imagine life without him.

Rosie turned 3

Last mid November.

She is a delight.

With a smart sense of humor.

Shades of the two year old

Sometimes show through.

That kid can scream louder

Than a Banshee or two.

Fully potty trained now

Even at night.

Mom thanks the heavens

For that blessing alright.

Serra finished Kinder

Moved on to grade one.

Is doing so well

With reading and sums.

She loves her friends

Thinks her cousins are IT

Wishes we lived closer

Not enough time on visits.

Incredibly helpful to Mom

And the kiddies.

Loves cuddles, ice cream,

Root beer, and movies.

And what about Brian?

What’s he been up to?

He built a huge house for us.

Every room has a loo.

Still working construction

Keeps our heads above water.

In this crazy economy

That’s no laughing matter.

Built cool things this year

Besides casitas, additions

Our home took the most time

And a bridge was a challange.

With the new house comes change

So we’re in a new ward.

New callings have come

So now we’re not bored.

From Exec. Secretary to

Elder Quorum presidency

Brian has meetings.

And Pam gets Primary.