MITCH IS 9!

 Wow!  I can't believe it!  Nine years ago my life was forever changed.  My sweet baby boy was having complications in the womb.  We knew he had a brain bleed but we didn't know how bad.  I was admitted into the hospital to try and keep him in there as long as possible... well, that lasted exactly a week.  I had an abruption early in the morning on the 31 day of March, 2001.  I was 25 weeks pregnant.  Mitch was born weighing 1lb 2oz and was 12 inches long (that is NOT a typo).  He was immediately wisked off to the NICU.  He was blessed by his father and our Bishop that same night just in case he didn't make it, which we kept hearing, was a big possibility.  He did really well for about 2 weeks, which was what the nurses kept telling us was the "honeymoon phase" (I like to call it "the calm before the storm") because that is when it really got bad.  I didn't get to hold him until he was 2 months old and the only reason I got to hold him that night was because the doctors didn't think he was going to live through the night.  This sweet angel endured more in his 9 months in the NICU than anyone should ever have to in a lifetime.  I don't have the words to explain what it was like to sit and watch my sweet baby suffer like that. I feel so special to have been blessed with such an important spirit.  He has taught me so much more in 9 years than I would have ever expected to learn in a lifetime.  He has changed my life in every way for the better.  I am so blessed to have you in my life Mitch!  I love you sweet angel.  You are so special to your family.

Here are a few pics from his party... Not everyone was feeling well tonight but that didn't stop us from CELEBRATING!

Friends (for now):)

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Layton!

Thanks Aunt Sissy, Uncle Scott, Shon and Syd!

Thanks mom and dad!

Thanks Aunt MaryAnn and cousins!  I love the diving toys!  My FAV!

the sickies

5+4=9

The cake was soooooooooo good! hahahaha!

Our week in a nut shell...

My sisters-in-law sent me these beautiful Tulips just because:)  I felt so special!  I love you guys!

Major picked a fight with the bicycle and the bicycle won:(  Poor baby.

Maddock started soccer!  He is so excited!

MADDOCK TURNS 6!

We had so much fun today for Maddock's 6th birthday! I can't believe he is already 6. Time flies by so fast, too fast. This child was my one and only full term baby with zero complications, if you don't consider being breach and needing a c-section a complication:) Compared to my other kids, this was CAKE! I remember how exciting it was to actually hear my baby cry after he was born. I was so excited to hear that cry I could hardly wait. We didn't hear Mitch cry at all so this was the one thing I was looking forward to. After he was born, I vividly remember watching Will as we both held our breath until we heard him cry. It was the sweetest sound I had ever heard! He has been entertaining us ever since! He is such a special boy and is adored by our family. We love you so much Maddock!

Here are some pictures from our party...

Friday night we met Micky and Suzy and their kids at Hollywood Connections and had such a good time with them

Mads first time rollerskating! 

Bumper Cars!

We also went swimming at their hotel... fun filled night FOR SURE!

My parents are so sweet to drive all the way up here from California just because Maddock asked them to be here for his birthday:) I love them so much

Maj is ready for the party!

King for the day

The glow dome!  Thanks Aunt MaryAnn and cousins!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Layton!  I will be super handsome at church!

More clothes?  Thanks mom and dad.

Thanks Aunt Sissy, Uncle Scott, Sydney and Shonn

The hit of the night... Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Morton!  LOVE the dinosaur!  So much fun!

We love our boys, they make us so happy!

Chrissy and Lance are always so good to come to all of our little birthday parties!  Maddock LOVES the book!  Thank you so much you two!

Mitch snuggling with Grandma and Grandpa

Pinata time!  Will had to bring out the protection for this one!

LOL!  Will is so funny!

Blessings

We had a very interesting day today... My parents drove up yesterday and so we went to my sisters house for Sunday dinner.  When we got there, Mitch started his little "episodes" immediately and so we decided just to go right back home with him.  When Mitch is not feeling well, it is just so much easier to be at home with him.  On our way home, he started to seize.  When we got home we gave him his medication to stop it and probably 10 minutes later we heard a knock at the door.  I opened the door thinking who the heck is knocking on my door right now... but to my surprise, it was our Bishop.  As tears were streaming down my face he said "Well, I guess I am at the right house."  He told me that as he pulled into his drive way, something told him that he needed to come over to our house.  He stayed and gave Mitch a blessing and within 5 minutes, Mitch was settled and sleeping sound.  Then he gave Will and I both a blessing as well and stayed to visit for a little while.  I am so grateful for the inspirations and promptings we get from our Heavenly Father.  He truly knows each of us and tonight I am so aware of His love for me and my family.  I am incredibly blessed to have the gospel in my life and to have such a sweet little spirit in my home.  Mitch is such a joy and even though we have hard times with him and it is so hard to see him suffer, he brings so much joy into our lives that I am truly amazed by him.  I am grateful for Bishop Barclay for listening to the promptings to come to our house today.  I know that our bishopric is very in tune to the Spirit because the last time Mitch had a seizure, our second councelor knocked on our door that night too.  My cup is full today:)

Fun things that happened this week...

It was Dr. Seuss week at school this week and so I had a cat in a hat show up on my doorstep!  Too cute!

Also, my sis and I went to the mall yesterday to get a few things for Maddock's birthday and we had a little too much fun in the hat section...

We always have so much fun together!  Love ya sis!

One of my sweet visiting teachers brought a little snack over this week because she knew Mitch had been so sick therefore I had been completely house bound.  I have to say it was a little taste of heaven!  Haha!  I don't eat sweets at all so this was REALLY good.  Very simple yet so satisfying!  YUM!  NUTELLA and BANANAS how I love you!  Thank you Annette!