The Pedersen Family

FiNALlY!!!!!

2012-01-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

Done with school!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! Its been forever!!! I cant believe how long I've been working on this. Its seemed longer with the kids here and a husband. I definitely recommend going to school before marriage and kids come along! Anyways its done and now I can start working toward another goal. L/D is a specialty among nurses that you can't just get into when your brand new. I will work with whatever job I can get until I can get into the hospital settings and then I will try to work my way into the baby field!!

Channing is just growing so big and I cannot believe it. I look at him and just think how grown up he is and how much he has learned in the last year. He is so sweet to his baby sissy and I can tell he loves her just so much. I'm so blessed to have them, such sweet spirits, in my life. I have no idea what my husband and I did to deserve them!
Londyn is 7 months old growing on 15. She is such an inquisitive little thing and nothing stands in her way of what she wants!! She absolutely loves her brother and laughs at every single thing he does! He just has to look at her and she busts her gut! Shes a little thing at 14 lbs but has a ton of spunk and we will have our hands full with these two!!

We started a couple projects, putting shelves up in the garage, painting the baby's crib/dresser. Its fun to think of all the things that can look different with just another coat of paint but the work we have to put in is enormous!! I've also wanted to become better at baking but every single cookie that doesn't turn out drops my spirits.

WE are trying to sell out a bunch of stuff to de-clutter our house!! Its amazing the things you collect over 3 years.

I will try to update more often and hopefully I will have a job and Brandon will be in his program by the next blog!!!!

wow sorry people

2012-01-12T07:09:00.000-08:00

I'ts been forever since I've written!!! Londyn turned 7 months yesterday and today is my little sister Kalie's 18th birthday!! Time fly's let me tell ya! Londyn is crawling a ton and getting anywhere she wants to get! She is the most ambitious baby I've ever seen! Channing continues to amaze us all and is totally potty trained and saying things that just blow our minds.

Ive been sewing alot lately and doing that instead of studying for my NCLEX which I take SOON! I need to buckle down and just study till its over. Priorities!
Brandon got his hunting license and will put in for something this year and hopes to be chosen!! It would be so exciting!

I have many things Ive sewn and would love to post pics so more to come! Dresser and crib pics coming!

She's Here!!!!!!!!

2011-06-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

yeah she finally came!! Londyn Kate Pedersen decided to come at 38 weeks to the day on 6/11/11 at 1254am at 7lbs 10oz 20in long. She was almost two lbs bigger then channing!!!

I had my morning appt at 10 where I asked her to strip my membranes (I hardly felt it, many people have said it is very painful but I didnt feel a thing except pressure.) I was at 4cm and she said she would be surprised if I was still pregnant by Monday. She said get walking and be active. I felt cramping and pressure the rest of the day but for the most part, not different. I decided that I wouldn't skip my nap luckily. Brandon got home around 4pm and we were watching tv and decided to get up and clean. Contractions started slightly and stayed steady. We went on a walk and they got stronger. They were about 8 min apart and I decided to take a shower. My dr had said to call if they didnt go away after 30 min of being painful since she predicted Id go very very fast. The baby was low and I was already 4cm and she would be my second baby. I called and unfortunately my dr was not on call. A man dr was on call and he was very nice but I was nervous. he said if they dont stop to come in but if they stopped in the hospital he would send me home. NOt wanting that, I decided to go on another walk. They got stronger around 730pm and we decided to go in. My mom was at work, Cindy was at the cabin and 2 hours away. We let everyone know we were going in and Chan went to his uncle tylers. We got admitted at 830 and she check me. I was still at a 4 so she sent me walking. At 10pm she checked me again and I was at a 5-6cm. She called the dr and he said start the IV and she asked if I wanted the Epidural. I said not yet and then she said that she would take 30 min to get there. I decided to call since I had no idea how bad they would be in 30 min! She came in like 10 min and I got it. The contractions weren't really bad yet but I figured why not. She checked me again around 11 and I was at a 7-8. My water broke and suddenly I was at a 9cm. We called to see how far away my mom and Cindy were and they came right in the room as I was complete and needed to push. She called the dr and he came pretty fast too. Three contractions and she was out! I tore pretty bad just like with Chan. She was bigger then he was but came just as fast. She was pretty bruised but it has gone away. LOTS of dark hair haha. Very different from channing. Were happy to have a healthy baby this time and are nervous because this is a whole new experience!! Pics to come soon!

family pics before baby comes

2011-05-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

School ended early May and summer has gone by so fast! Brandon continues to work full time at SHC and I am at home with Channing. That is a job in itself. He is so curious about everything and wants to do things himself which is great but it takes twice the time and three times the clean up afterward. Its ok, hes 2. He is getting excited for the baby to come. I think he generally understands what's going to happen. Too bad I don't. I am not fully getting how busy having two will be. I look at my friends with two and they make it seem so easy. I have great inlaws and parents who have taken numerous times this summer so I can rest and get things done. Everytime I try to clean a room with him home, he comes right behind me to undo everything I have done!! He is talking so much and I cannot believe some of the things he says. He makes me laugh everyday and is my budd. He is getting quite the imagination and will sometimes make me the queen while he is the king and we will play or sometimes he calls me daddy so he can be mommy and boss me around. I think he puts me in time out more then I put him in. He is working on listening and is doing pretty ok at it. He has had trouble with running from me and laughing because I cannot catch him. Wait till I"m not 9 months pregnant and then he will see how fast I can be. Bedtime is getting alot better which a few set backs due to his imagination and saying he is scared of a giant (Golith in his David and Golith book) but we're working on that.

I am 9 months pregnant today (36 weeks) and I have never been this pregnant before. Channing was the easiest pregnancy looking back. I had no swelling, no backpain, no sleeping problems, no shortness of breath, no nauseousness.... With this baby I have all the above plus more!! I cant believe how big my feet can get! I have logs now, no ankles haha. This pregnancy has really been very normal, its the dr making it dramatic.
At 28 weeks she did a test to predict preterm labor and it was positive so into the hospital for monitoring we went. We got the betamethasone injections for her lung development then. Then at 30 weeks she did the same stupid test, positive again so back in the hospital for monitoring. All the while, me in school, worrying Id have her early and she'd be in the NICU for months!! All that stress and nothing happened. NO contractions. School was over and I was 34 weeks and so ready for baby to come and nothing. Nothing nothing nothing. I am 36 weeks and cant wait to be induced. I am making my husband miserable I'm sure but he is being so great. Nightly walks and massages are great and I will miss them after we have her. I am dilating somewhat (2cm) and she is engaged and far down. I just wish everyday that contractions come or my water breaks. My dr said she will not induce me till I'm at 39 weeks unless my water breaks. I have been doing everything to try to make her come but no go. I just have to wait. I just want her so I can have the most time with her during the summer. I go back to school the 24th of Aug. She will be only 8 weeks. It makes me sad but class is only 2-3 days a week. It will go by fast I hope.

Pics of May 2011 Family pics!

pics

2011-04-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Time flys!

2011-04-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry its been so long. Time has just flown by.

Channing turned 2 on March 12th and I just cannot believe it! He is just talking so much and putting sentences together that I had no idea he knew! He loves to run and jump and flirt with girls. He loves to dance and play outside with dad and go to the park. He loves helping Brandon in his garden. He has plucked a few unripe things but he's learning. He had only his top front teeth for forever and last night we noticed two more! yeah for more teeth!

Brandon is still going to school as well as working. It gets pretty busy around here. He may start reffing volley ball for a community center two nights a week which he is pretty excited for. Besides that, all our focus are on the kids.

Im almost done with 3rd block. It's been alot of fun and alot of work. Little time for anything else besides school and family. We are so excited that at the end of the semester our lil girl will be here! She has tried to show that she wants to come early but we are doing everything in our power to not let her!
Im currently 30 weeks and my school ends in just over 3 weeks. That will put me at 33 1/2 weeks and my dr wants to get me to 34 at least. I had a test the other week that is supposed to be 90% accurate at predicting labor within the next two weeks. Mine came back positive on 4/8/11 and so she sent me to the hospital to be monitored for 24 hours. During that time I had very minimal contractions and baby did great with accelerations. I got the steroid shots of Betamethasone to help her lungs develope faster in case the test is right. She also put me on modified bed rest, mainly no pushing,lifting, or pulling. And rest as much as I can. No more long walks with Brandon and Channing. I am going weekly to the dr so she can monitor everything. She said she can stop anything except my water breaking which is exactly what happened with Chan. Well see, all we can do is put our faith in the lord and do whatever we can to prevent it. If she comes then she comes. We have come up with a name for her but Brandon wants to wait a bit longer before putting it online.

baby is a girl!!!!!

2011-02-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

We were so excited to find out the baby is a girl!! Were not completely certain on a name yet. The name we've had picked out for years we are questioning now.
They are doing ultrasounds every two weeks to make sure baby is staying in there this time and starting 28 weeks they will be doing more testing every two weeks. Its alot of trips to the drs office. But if it will keep her in there longer, I'm all for it.

School is the same, busy! We just had our first exam, a month into school, and we are waiting to see how it went. Grades take so long to be posted. Brandon started our history class (I have to take it too but he's pretty much done all the work). We are looking forward to spring break when the big potty training will take place... Brandon really wants me to do it all... I do not blame him at all.

Weve all been pretty sick around here. First Channing got the bad croup and had a hard time breathing, we made it without taking him in to the hospital, then the bad colds hit so were watching him to make sure it doesn't become RSV. That's going around alot right now.

Time to add

2010-12-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

Time flies. Simple cliche that is so very true. The semester is over on Monday. I am so happy to be done with 2nd block. NExt block we study OB and that is my most fav subject ever!

Channing continues to be such a blessing in our lives, he grows and learns and teaches us everyday. He can count to three and will repeat the alphabet after you and can say all the letters pretty clearly. He is running and jumping and climbing over everything! He needs to get more social interaction though, sharing is very hard at the moment. He loves watching toy story and playing with his grandparents and cousins and uncles/aunts. Im so glad all our family is close enough that they take the time to get to know him. I didn't have that growing up since everyone lived so far away. I knew I had family somewhere and we'd get together sometimes but its just not the same. Family is the best! His Nana Cindy got him a little people nativity set that he just loves! He carries baby Jesus around everywhere. Even in the bath, he will wash him and say he stinks.

Brandon continues to work at Scottsdale healthcare and is loving that. He is almost done with his prereqs to apply for the radiography program at Gateway. His hospital has an affiliation with them so once he applies hopefully it wont be that long of a wait.

We are expecting again and are due in June. We weren't exactly planning on this baby right now but are very thankful it was able to happen during summer break. I will be done when the baby is 5 months. Grandma Penny and Nana Cindy said they are willing to help us out and watch the kids. We are so thankful for them! We couldn't do school without them! I am 12 weeks along right now and already showing. I started showing a bit with Chan around now but it seems I showed very early with this one. I have been sick alot and this pregnancy seems very different from his so maybe its a girl, but a lil boy would be nice too. Channing would LOVE a lil brother. He is so sensitive to babies. Anytime he hears a baby cry, his lower lip comes out and he says baby sad, baby sad! He is very empathetic to anyone that is sad. His cousin Jager bumped his head the other day and has a big scratch on his forehead. Channing just points to it and wimpers poor jags. Grandma Penny broke her wrist early November and everytime he sees her cast, he has to give it a kiss to make it better. He is excited for the new baby and will poke my stomach and kiss it goodnight. I know he has no idea what hes doing it for but it makes mom and dad happy so he does it haha.

Not a baby anymore.....

2010-09-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

Today my baby is an official toddler. At 18 months Channing James is a spunky beautiful boy! He is amazing and very curious and loves to find out how things work. He is fascinated with putting things together and anything with wheels. LOVES cars and other kids. He also started nursery today. I sat with him for a bit last week and did he notice me at all? Did he come up to me once? NO.... But this week we walked up there, he went right in, took a toy from a lil girl and started playing like it was the best thing ever. Well I guess 10 min into it he started crying. I peeked into the door hole and he was being held each time. I went to relief society and when I came back, they had gotten Brandon and had him sit in there for lesson time and snack time. Owell, well try again next week.
He has learned the infamous word... NO. You ask him anything, its "noooo!" He says it in the cutest lil voice so I have no choice but to laugh. He is learning so much and out of the blue yesturday he pointed to a toy and said... yellow! And it was yellow! Such a smarty pants.

Pic is him not feeling well at all, he had been throwing up all morning, he wanted to wear his yellow hat though.

Even more busy!

2010-08-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hawaii was amazing!! A much needed vacation! However I will say, a week without chan was hard. Our fav island was either Kauai (bc it was beatiful) or Maui. There was alot of stuff to do!

The first day we got there we visited PCC and then saw the show that night. We also went and hiked up Diamond head. Thats ALOT of stairs!! We also went to pear harbor for a bit. We didnt have enough time to ride out to USS Arizona but maybe next time.

We went from Honolulu to Maui where we went out on a catamaran to Molikini crater to snorkle then to turtle cove and swam with some sea turtles! Then left there Sunday over to hilo MON and tues we hung out on the beach then wed we headed to kona, did some sight seeing. Then to Kauai for other stuff. Not too sure what all we did bc its all a blurr right now but it was amazing! The cruise ship had such great food, we both gained some weight! :(.

We came home to chan and he was so very excited!

Whilw we were there I got a call that I got into nursing school!! I FINALLY am going back to school!!!! Very overwhelmed yes but in the long run it will serve our family greatly! I do feel bad about leaving Channing so much but its only a year or so and he wont even remember me being gone i hope!! My mom said I was in day care alot and I have no recollection of it. I just remember a happy childhood. Thats what I want for my son! I got into the Paradise Valley nursing school. I is about a 45 min drive but I do have a friend who ended up being in the class that I carpool with. This year will go by very fast and I have to study sooooo much! Its been about 4 years since Ive been in school and alot of things have changed. I just hope I can do it!! Brandon is also taking his last few prereqs before he can apply to his radiography program so we hope he can get in that soon as well!!!

Sloan is getting big and we hope that she can make things very easy as she is in her kennel alot. Poor dog in this heat but she will LOVE the winter weather here!

Channing is becoming such a lil man! He shows us things each day and is getting to be quite the little smarty pants. He loves connecting things and putting things together. He LOVEs wearing my stethoscope and listening to peoples hearts.

thats about it, nothing else is really going on!

Finally walking!

2010-07-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

At 15 months and two weeks our Channing has FINALLY decided to take the huge leap of faith and LET GO! It was fathers day in june and he took his first few steps and has not stopped since. Its so cute to watch how wobbly he is. He has been alot better lately and soon he wont remember what crawling is. He has changed so much even in this last month. A personality that noone has seen has just come out! Hes so sweet and in a great mood all the time except when hes tired. He never really gets hungry, just eats whatever we give him. Hes thinned out some but hes still a whoppin 24lbs and its killing my back trying to carry him everywhere so I'm super glad hes walking. Last night, he brought me two different shoes to put on. He actually got mad when I took them off for bed. He loves his puppies, he will go up to them and give them a big bear hug and make a kissing noise. Hes giving people alot more kisses too lately, so thats been nice.
The other day when auntie Kalie was watching him, When Brandon came home I was able to take Kalie home. When I came back Brandon had asked if I had checked on him in a while, I said no. We went in there and what do we see? A bear bottom poking up at us!!! What the...he took off his diaper and was SOAKED in pee. He felt freezing but surprisingly it had been his best nap ever! It was like 3 hours long.

The nursing advisor called me and said there is not a spot open but this girl is trying to transfer to another school. She said if the girl succeeds then I can have her spot. So for the girl to transfer, someone at that school has to fail....so I'm sorry but Ive been praying for failure for someone, do I feel bad? Yes and no.

Sloan is getting bigger and is potty trained now. I still wont trust her in the house for like 8 hours but at least 4 hours. Lady is adjusting well, they are still competing with each other sometimes for attention.
I have been working alot this summer. 4 days a week and two weeks have been 5 days a week. LOVE the extra money but its making me soo tired and Im just about done with the whole thing!

Vacation is coming fast, so is Brandon's 24th bday.... Hes SO old! We are heading on an interisland cruise to Hawaii. Im so excited even though travel for me in the past has been torture. I get carsick very badly as well as plane sick..and boat sick. I have no business going on this trip!!

changing things up

2010-05-07T00:15:00.000-07:00

Busy busy busy is the motto around here. Its like that in every household I guess. Painting shutters, redoing our shower, painting our laundry room door, and of course rustling up Channing... all that wasnt enough for us. We had to get a puppy. Charlie our lil male shih tzu had an accident and unfortunately didnt make it through. Lady was devastated so we all decided that it was time to get her a friend. But we chose to go big or not go at all. SLOAN is who we decided to get. She is so amazing and sweet. Training is alot more time consuming then I remembered from the other pups but it will all be worth it in the end. She is a bernese mountain dog. She wont get much bigger then a lab but will get alot thicker. Shes a great dog and were happy to have her.

I will be applying for my last year of nursing school this month! Pretty nervous I will admit. But it IS time! Ive been graduated for almost 5 years now! That is just crazy in and of itself! I cant believe time has flown by this fast.
I remember like it was yesturday, just being a senior at Mountain view, checkin the clock every ten min and counting down till I got to see my boyfriend! Oh the butterflies! I would LOVE to be that carefree again. Of course back then I wanted nothing more then to be married with the perfect house, perfect husband and perfect baby! Which all of that I have but you just miss the freeness of it all. Now there are bills and baby spit up and baby to worry about and husband to worry about and spills and laundry and dishes and family.... oh the drama!!! OH AND NOT TO MENTION THE CRAZY HORMONES... and no Im NOT pregnant. Just normal hormones.

Brandon started his new schedule this week. Although we were sick Monday and Tues with the flu that our lovely son Chan gave us haha. So he hasnt fully had his full week. He works Monday through thurs and has a three day weekend! Thats great!! He switched to 4 10 hour shifts rather then 5 8's. I LOVE it so much better!!

Channing has gotten two more teeth so total of four on top and two on bottom. Hes a stinker and pushing his limits every chance he gets! We love every minute though! Hes such a cutie! Ill try to post some pics here but I may fall asleep. Brandon is at the midnight premier of iron man and Ill have to admit... Im kinda afraid to fall asleep bc Im all alone here!

teeth away!

2010-03-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

Channing is now 1!!! I will post pics when I find the card there on...(im always losing that card!) A couple weeks before his bday he finally got his first tooth. Then a week later both his top teeth came in at the same time! And then on his bday we noticed his other bottom middle one pop through, so in one month we got his first four teeth! Hes not walking yet but is crawlin everywhere and will hold on to anything and walk along that, even walls. He LOVEs balls and airplanes, and the moon, he would sit outside all day looking for them. He also loves fans and lights. Every morning, we get him up and he has to point out the fans in the house. If he is cranky, all you have to do is ask him where the fan is. He can find it! Balloons are also one thing he loves.

Heres a pic of him watching arther, its the only time ever even really looked at the tv. Hes getting tall.

He loved his cake, smashed it all over his face. We had his party at the park by our house, invited family and a few lil friends in the ward. It was fun, it was elmo themed. He got alot of great presents. A few cute outfits and lots of toys. Now our house is full to capacity of toddler toys!! And still all he wants to get into and play with are things he cant have.. Don't get that one but owell.

Now the question is....are we ready for another one? Well have to discus that one and see..
The chickens are doing great! Still only one laying but soon the others will too we hope. We built them a lil pen around their coop so they can have some run around space. Another thing we are very excited about is that we planted a garden and our green beans and our squash have sprouted!! Still waiting on our carrots, chard, herbs, and our lettace.

School is ending and we are both getting a 96%! Thats great for us! THe day grades are in, I have to turn in my application for nursing school so then its just a wait... could be two weeks, could be two years, who knows. Brandon is continuing on prereqs, he can only do about one or two a semester so who knows how long that will take!! But thats ok for now, paying for my school may just be enough for us!!

Well see what happens! Exciting to be together on this ride of life!!!

First night watching Channing

2010-02-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

So, there was a free concert at Toby Kieths Bar and Grill this past friday that Amber and I were gonna go to with Tara and Garrett. HOwever, Garrett went hunting and we were unable to find a baby sitter so... I, being the good husband I think I am, convinced Amber to go with Tara and I'd babysit my boy. Man, was I excited. I mean, this would be the first time I had watched my son for more than an hour. Things were going great, I was chasing Channing, he was chasing me, we were dancing, playing, I even fed him dinner! Yes! Victory! Then, I looked at the clock, it had only been a measly half hour... I was pooped! Channing, as odd as it may be, has out lasted me! So, I did what any tired dad would do... I put him in bed....and was consistent.... in getting him back out every 5 minutes as he would cry and say "dada, dada". And we would play and play and play. His bed time is supposed to be between 630 and 700... he didnt go to bed until a little after 800. But it was fun and I loved every minute of it.

Amber finally got home around 11pm. She had a fun time at the concert. I think the past part of the evening for her was when she was waiting for Tara to come with the car, a mexican, a white man, and then a black man (all at separate times) came up to her and offered to give her a ride home. All in all it was a fun night. Amber got a well deserved night out with her friend and I had a fun night with my son. I love being parent!

NEW things!!

2010-02-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Oh wow, we knew Channing was teething but he like really was!!! One bottom one popped through today! Very exciting at the Pedersen household considerang he is almost 1. Weve been waiting for them since he started teething at four months! fcvmj;ppoijbgfgjyk--chan had to get that out of his system. Tomorrow night we are going to see danny gokie in concert...not sure on the spelling. I really didnt like his music on idol but we get to eat too so Im happy!

1 here we come!!

2010-02-15T08:10:00.000-08:00

Almost 1. I just cant believe that almost a year ago I was looking into an incubator wondering if my small baby would even make it. Well not only did he make it, he is thriving! No developmental delays at all. I cant tell you how thankful I am to have a healthy happy baby boy. I remember crying the day I found out I was having a boy bc I wanted a girl soo bad. Now I cant imagine having any other lil spirit! He has been such a blessing to our family! Were going to have a small party for him at candlelight park right by our home. Cowboy theme~ cowboy beans and hotdogs haha. Its going to be fun, we have this small bouncer for the babies. Ill put pics up as soon as I get them.

Lady came through surgery well, got her home, she was very very lethargic as to be expected. WEll then th e swelling and redness happened with the warmth....infection! So I call the vet and she said ok bring her in before 230pm. So I got off work early and rushed home to her (during the day I guess her incision split open!) So I scoop her up and rush her into their office (made it by 215pm). Im drenched in her blood and Im panicking all over.... and what do they tell me? The vet left around 1pm that day. I couldnt believe that they were sending me home with and open incision that was infected and a lil girl in pain! Well no other vet would see me bc of liability issues. So we waited. Rushed in at 7am right when they opened and still I waited... She saw me, just glued the incision back up, sent me home with anti-inflammatory and antibiotics... No other words were exchanged.... SO she recovered and within a couple days shes back to normal. Kinda a sad though that she will never have another puppy. Sad thought that I will never have lil puppies running around my home. Oh I loved it so much!

Update....

2010-01-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

OK update, I have to get better at this.... Helmet--over! It has made a very very great improvement! The insurance ended up paying for 1500 of it so that was helpful! Lady's pups helped paid for the some of the rest. Lady is scheduled to get spayed on 1/14! I'm pretty nervous about it. But many many dogs have been through it so I guess she will live.
The chicks are doing very very well they are in their coop outside now, still have a heat lamp by them but they are about a month and a half now. I think their names are sunny (sunny side up), ego, deisel, sami (saminilla), poach. They are fun.

Brandon is still working at Scottsdale healthcare and I am still working at MGA homecare with the same lil boy, hes doing a bit better, not so sick all the time!

Channing still has no teeth... no sign of them! He started to crawl a bit, we got a back massager for christmas (its hot pink) and he LOVES it! We had him on one side of the bed and we put it on the other side and he got on his knees and started rocking all hard! And before we knew it he was moving his lil knees and he got to that massager. We just cant get him to do it on the floor.. its carpet so idk whats wrong. Over the holiday he got the croup really really bad. Humidifier didnt help much and he was weezing so bad one night that he had to take him to urgent care.... steroid meds, steroid breathing treatment and some antibiotics for his double ear infection (he wasnt even acting like they were tender). We got home at 130 and channing got up at 6 the next morning! It was hard.

We have his follow up appt today so Ill update after that too... Promise!!

its working!!!!!

2009-10-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

The helmet is working!!!! Yes! I'm so excited! We however did get a letter from the insurance saying they wont pay it, so we ahve to appeal it! I hate insurance companies, they wont pay for anything and we pay them big bucks a month for nothing it seems!!! Pics soon

2009-10-07T20:13:00.000-07:00

So its been a couple weeks since Channing got his helmet and you can already see some change in his head. It looks rounder and a little skinnier. He tolerates it pretty well, but let me tell ya, it sure makes his head stinky. haha. hopefully this will be his only one.

Last week we had family pictures. First on thursday with the Harper family. Ambers bro. Clay was leaving to the Phillipines for work for awhile for work so and Channing was also 6 months (almost 7) so it was time. It was fun. We went to the classic Woodridge lakes and got some good shots.

Saturday we had pics with the Pedersen family up in Cave Creek. We went to some little marker place area that kinda had a western style to it. It was nice. Pretty fun, the photographer had to jump at Channing and then back out real quick to get him to look at the camera it was kinda funny. Towards the end Channing got tired and started fussing and by the last few pics. He was asleep.

Channing and Amber are sick. They both have had fevers and coughs, not just a cough, but like coughing up a lung cough. I feel bad for them. It started for them on Friday. Now Im starting to get sick. It seems like its going around bc Tyler (my bro.) my sister Emma and my mom are sick now too. Hopefully we will be over it soon!!

Ill put some pics up of our photo shoots when we get them.

changes arent always a bad things

2009-09-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

Im refering to his new helmet for his plagiocephally. Hes getting it early tomorrow morning. Im very nervous about skin breakdown. The skin is very thin on the head and is very delicate. He already gets red spots just from sleeping on one side all night. Imagine having to wear a helmet 23 hours a day!! I do think he will adjust quickly being a baby. THey say we should see results in about a week and continue throughout treatment. We have to go once a week. They said all of the bumps on his head cant be fixed because some happened when he was in utero with me. His head was down from the get-go. Im going to work on still thinking of him as a normal baby. With my profession, I see kids in braces everyday and all of them are severly handicapped. My baby is not, he just has a funky head shape! I will have to find a way around that in my mind.

Brandons truck wouldnt start Sunday.. we all thought..oh no! we JUST bought it! Turns out the battery just had to be charged. So everything turned out fine. Were lucky! My car however needs new brakes and we were quoted 180 for just two of them! Crazy! So needless to say we will be shopping around for the best price. But for now I am just being really careful but brakes arent something you wan tto mess with.

Charlie and Lady are doing well. They are putting up with the baby wonderfully! The other day, Channing had ladys ear in his hand and he was swaying her in the air! (she weighs about two paperclips) She has pretty much stayed away from him since.

Nothing else to update. Will update with pics when he gets the helmet!

next step...

2009-09-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ok so the next step is getting insurance to pay for it... The therapist said she can see alot of his wierd head shape happend in utero... She asked when the dr said he was head down and I told her that ever since the dr could feel his position, he was head down. So nothing we could have done there. Plus with his torticollis (tight neck on right side) she said we probably couldnt have helped his head. And with the whole "back to bed" movement... he was destined. Anyways...

we sold the car! YEAH! we went to our credit union to get a loan and we were approved and now we have to go get that through. He loves this truck from this nice family who are actually related to some neighbors we have. Small world.

The boy I was working with started school this year and now his schedule doesnt fit with Channings babysitters... so I have to find a new patient. It makes me really sad bc I really like this family, they are so awesome and he is such an inspiration! Hes making some progress, but not lately. Its like no doctor will do surgery on him so how can he be helped??? Idk its so sad to slowly watch his back twist more and squish his lungs making it harder for him to breath. When I look in his eyes its just like he wants out. He just wants to run and play with his brothers. He just wants to be freed from his body. And I hate leaving but truthfullly I do not want to just stay and eventually watch him die. I care too much about that poor lil boy. He had a very short life but I guess he fulfilled what God had intended for him to do. He has taught many people including me alot of things. I wont ever forget him! Thanks to him and your family.

Tomorrow is Cindys and Rennys sealing. Its so wonderful that she found the man of her dreams! Tomorrow is also Wayne Gunnels funeral. SO sorry to the gunnel family for the loss of their son. You all will be in our prayers! Tomorrow is ALSO Rennys son, Taylors, wedding reception. THey got married in Utah and are coming down here for the reception. So needless to say.. busy day tomorrow!!

Keep you updated with the insurance thing...

Time to go to cranial TECH!!!

2009-09-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well today is the big evaluation at Cranialtech to see if he will benefit from a DOC band AKA helmet. Poor baby. I cant imagine him having to wear a hot sweaty helmet 23 hours a day. He HATES anything on his head anyways so this should be fun.... Problem is insurance. They dont want to pay and they will try everything first to see if it will help rather then just doing the expensive treatment. WEll I have two PT friends (physical therapy) people I know that can write their observes about him. I hope that will do it. They will say that positioning wont help and that nothing they can do will help as best as the helmet. They say very few babys really need the helmet but everyone feels that he does. Premies heads are softer and therefore are more prone to the flat head syndrome... Ill keep you updated.. wait, who am I talking to/ DOes ANYONE even read this? Am I wasting my time? I wonder. If I stopped this, who would know. I doubt my own mother even reads this.

Channings 5 months old!!

2009-08-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hes getting so big!! Hes over 15lbs! I cant believe the skinny little baby we brought home has grown so much! Hes starting to roll over and he can lighten any room with just one smile! He loves loves his reflection in the mirror. He thinks its another baby. I'm continuing to work with the same little boy but also looking for any dr office positions that may open up. I'm currently studying for the exam to get back into nursing school.... its very intimidating! Brandon is loving working at scottsdale healthcare. Great hours, great pay and great benefits! Its been a great blessing. Hes also starting school in a couple weeks. Were going to be busy! We went to a barbeque and he fed ducks for the first time. His reaction was cute, he got so excited! His friend Miles Mckay turned one on the 10th. His birthday party is tomorrow (sat) and Channing gets so excited everytime I mention it. Its a swimming party! Miles is the bigger baby in the pic above.

2009-07-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics. Will add some of his 4 month old photo shoot. ITs SO cute!!In these pics, he ranges from 3 weeks to 3 months.

Poor Channing

2009-07-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

He got his shots yesturday. then we took him to a birthday party for two little of his friends. He was SO cranky because of his legs. I feel really bad. Everyones gone through it yes but he is just so innocent.

Things with work are great for both of us. The lil guy I work with isnt doing well though and thats really discouraging. Brandons job is an amazing blessing! We have great insurance through it and its great pay and good hours. Hopefully he can keep that all through school...which they pay for. Then I will go to work full time while he is in the radiographer program. He starts back in school in Aug. for evening classes.

Channing is starting to eat semi solids now, just rice cereal but its still good. HEs laughing and smiling alot more now. Its so cute! We love him so much!!!

2009-07-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Nothing new here since our last blog. Were just keepin busy I guess. Channing goes to the doc tomorrow and we find out how much he weighs and then he gets his dreaded shots.

We are going to a birthday party for some four yr olds Brandon worked with. They are twins that were premature and have many problems. I hope they like their presents!!

Channing is doing well, growing like a weed. If you check out our facebook page, I put up some new pics of his photo shoot. Hes four months and started on some applerice cereal.

Well gtg, will write again soon.

Tomorrow...

2009-05-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we go to get shots. I'm so nervous because I know he will be in pain. I never want my son in pain again. While this isn't the worst he's gone through but he hasnt gotten hurt like that since hes been home and I just feel so horrible. I know I'm a nurse and Ive given babys shots before but not my son.

Vaccinations themselves are not my favorite thing. I really think the medical field does too much to our bodies. I'm not a complete naturalist but I believe that if its what God intended then it would be in our food or grow naturally in our bodys. Disease is out there, I'm not in denial but viruses (dead) arent the only thing in those shots. They have all these perservatives that will hurt the lil body. Plus theres mercury in most of them. If the virus isnt dead then it can change and grow into an even bigger disease then we know. They also give so many at one time. I'm just not comfortable with that. I think well space them out and not give any live viruses AND OF COURSE no mercury.
My wont my doc be happy with me!

grouting, painting, and cleaning OH MY!

2009-05-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

We took down the walpaper which was horrible! Then we had to have a guy come texture, then we painted (I was prego so I couldnt help or even be home) It drove me nuts cause I'm a person who likes to do the job myself so its the way I like it...
The carpet was next to take out... Gross under 15 yr old carpet! Living on concrete was great.... We got carpet the day Channing came home so we had to stay at grandmas house for the first night. Every little sound would scare me about him. He turned, I was up. He was still a sick lil boy in my mind.
Were painting the front door today! RED! I Love it! We got a new lock too. Its gonna look real nice. Ill take some before and after pics.

HOme now

2009-05-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

He is now 10lbs 3oz and was due last week!! He is a chunky monkey and the love of our lives! He has such a personality and can lift his head and is almost turning over! He has succeeded once already! We are getting into a schedule of sleeping most the night which I hope he sticks with.

Our dog also decided to have puppies on our brand new carpet! Thank heaven for peroxide! It takes the blood right out! The pups are three weeks old and have opened their eyes and are just so cute! Ill put pics up soon.

The baby!!!!!

2009-05-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

Channing James Pedersen cam e into the world on March 12, 2009. I was only 33 weeks when my water broke at 1am that Thurs. We rushed to the hospital at 330am. I was admitted and got the epidural at noon and he was out with three pushes at 2:58pm. The cord was wrapped around his neck and he was 6lbs 2oz. He screamed beautifully for the first ten min. He started grunting and they took him away. I had no idea what happened to him for about two hours. They took me to my postpardum room and asked if before I went to bed, did I want to see him? I said of course and they took me in and I wasnt prepared. He had a cpap, IV, and moniters everywhere on him. I stayed only a few min before I felt lightheaded. The next day I felt great. THey discharged me and said I could hold him after! I was so excited! We put everything in the car and we were walking back when.... The Cpap ended up blowing out his R lung. They did a pleural effusion where they stick a huge syringe into his chest cavity to pull out the air and they put a chest tube in through his ribs. He also had to be put on a ventilator. The world was spinning. My MY perfect little boy wasnt doing good. All I remember was sitting on the hospital bed in my old room in the arms of my husband and praying to God that he will pull through and be ok. We were balling and didnt know what to do. We couldnt understand why this was happening to little Channing. He had just come from Heavenly fathers presence. Why did he have to experience this. Was this a learning experience for us? Of course it was. We had to learn that in this life we have trials and we have to trust in the Lord and humble ourselves to get through it.

Well he got better day after day and all the tubes came out. FINALLY I got to hold my son. It was about four days after and they let me hold him and try to bottle nipple him. With oxygen in his nose and a tube going down to his stomach, he gulped those 10cc down like it was no bodys business!

He got better and was able to come home with us March 21st.
He was 5lbs 12oz when we brought him home.

Wedding and life since.

2009-05-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

We got married March 13, 2009. We married in the morning at the Mesa temple and had the luncheon at Rigatonies on Brown. We had the reception in the Clarks backyard and it was so awesome. We left the next morning for our honeymoon in Sandiego. We stayed at a timeshare. We went to Sea World and Zoo. We got home and life began. We rented a small triplex near Westwood high school. We had some dramatic neighbors and decided to get out of that place. Brandons mom had been dating Renny Rogers and they had announced their engagement. So the plan of us moving into her old house with Tyler was thought. It was two weeks after we moved in that we found out we were prego! We were so excited as was the family.

2009-05-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

We dated until Jan 18, 2008. He took me to dinner at ALTO in Scottsdale. I was thinking this was an ordinary date until he took me on a gondola ride. It was sooo romantic. I waited and waited for a purposal but it didnt come. I was disappointed but knew it was coming sometime. We started driving home and he got off at the wrong exit. He drove to a park and we walked to this huge huge statue of LOVE. It was bright red and was so big. He got down on one knee and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him. I said yes and it was wonderful!!! I love him!

How we met...

2009-05-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

One boy... One girl... sitting quietly in seminary. To put it mildly it was love at first sight. She wrote a note, he answered back. It went from there. Our first date was the first of April 05. IT was bowling with my friends. Brandon, trying to look like a hunk went up there, swung the ball back, and swoosh... flat on his butt... Laughter filled the alley. I fell in love with him that night. He was so cute all red faced. From there we dated until he left on his mission in Dec of 2005. I was heartbroken that he had left and tried to fill the two years focusing on school. It didnt work so well. I moved out with my best friend and got a job working as an LPN. I went to MCC and GWCC for a while doing prerequs for the RN program and somewhere along the line stopped. I currently would love to go back. Brandon was serving in Cordoba, Argentina. It was a long two years and he loved it. He met alot of friends he still has today and he still loves the people and culture. He came back on the 12th of Dec 2007. That night was amazing.