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Lots of big, fun and important things leads to a lot of stress. A lot of stress leads to a lower immune system. A lower immune system could lead to a lot of things, but for me, it means STREP THROAT. Yuck.

I woke up on Sunday feeling nasty and it hasn't gotten better. Yesterday someone mentioned that perhaps I had strep throat, I doubted it, but last night I looked up the symptoms of strep throat and "checked" them all off because I had them.

So, the feeling of my throat being swollen and the possibility of Isaac catching this illness freaked me out enough that I called the doctor today. (Those who know me know that I HATE doctors and will avoid them at all costs! So it was a big deal that I went!)

Anyway, after a rather quick doctor appointment I was "diagnosed" with strep throat and headed out the door with a prescription. The antibiotic is for 10 days, but I sure hope I feel better before that's up because I can't take it anymore!

I do have to note that when the nurse was checking my vitals Isaac stood there watching me like, "hey, what is she doing to my mom??" It was pretty cute.

And all my worries and fears about the possibility of Isaac catching this illness was apparently not needed, because the doctor said that they don't typically worry about kids 2 years and younger getting strep throat. (So I hope I saved someone from making a trip to the doctor in the near future with my new-found knowledge).

So, while the timing couldn't have been worse--Friday is my last day of work--here's to getting better!

(P.S. Housley Family--I am not contagious 24 hours after starting antibiotics, so I will not pose a threat to anyone this weekend when we are down there!)

Secret is out!!!

Well folks, if you didn't know already, we've got a big secret to share....we are moving!! Yep, that's right, we are moving from our sweet town home in Pocatello, Idaho to a brand new home in Colorado Springs, Colorado!

I don't even know where to start....we have known about this for quite some time now, but we didn't want to announce it like this until a few things were solidified.

First of all, Taylor will graduate with his bachelor's degree in two weeks! YAHOO! So, with graduation upon us, we knew we were going to be moving. We just didn't know where.

We talked about Utah and Colorado-- mainly--since that is where our families are. And one thing led to another and before we knew it, Colorado became the spot.

Back in October, Taylor interviewed with several companies. Some of which offered him a job. But there was this one company that stuck out to Taylor, and he wanted that job. That one company had a very....very....very long hiring process. Taylor interviewed with them on October 6, and three interviews and two months later, he got the official offer yesterday. Hip, hip, hooray!!!

So.....Taylor will finish his job here this Friday, and have a week or so of finals. My last day of work here is next Friday, Dec. 12. We will then have a couple of days to pack our place up and on Dec. 19 we are going to be relocating to Colorado Springs!

And you know what the best part of all this is?! (Besides Taylor being done with his bachelor's degree and getting an awesome job, of course....) I get to STAY HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am literally counting down the days and am so so so so so soooo excited!!! I can't even tell you how ecstatic I am to stay home with Isaac!

And speaking of home, we have been in the process of building a home in Colorado. It will be great for us with plenty of room to grow.

So, that's our big news! Graduate, move, start new job, new home, and me becoming a stay-at-home mom! Yippee!!!

Thanksgiving!!!

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Utah with Taylor's family. It was such a great break for us!!

We drove down on Wednesday evening and stayed in Salt Lake with Suzanne. Thursday morning all the boys went and played football while the girls got dinner ready. We met at Heather and Brett's house in Spanish Fork for the big meal. It was probably the biggest gathering I have ever had in my life! I believe there were 16 adults and 11 kids! It was so delicious and we had so much food!

Heather and Brett transformed their pool table into a big table!

Gotta love my sister-in-law's Kim and Jen!

The hosts...Heather and Brett

After the big feast, we watched the Dallas Cowboy's.

And, like usual, Isaac slept through the big meal, so I saved him a plate for when he woke up.

Apparently the Housley boy's love shirts with strips!

It was a GREAT Thanksgiving! We spent most of the day at Heather and Brett's house. We drove up to SLC to put Isaac to bed, and once he went down, Taylor, Cam, Jordan, Erin and I went to the movies. We saw the new James Bond movie. It was pretty good.

On Friday, Heather, Suzanne and I met for lunch in American Fork. Then Suzanne and I went to the mall together to grab a few things. That night, Theran & Kim and Cam & Jen and Clayton and Jordan & Erin came over for pizza. The boys decided they wanted to rent a movie and at the same time, the girls decided they wanted to go to Target. So, Kim, Jen, Erin and I went to Target and left the boys with the kids. We were there almost two hours and it was so fun to go out as sister-in-laws!! (We missed you Heather!)

Once we got back, we found out the boys waited to watch the movie with us--we watched Iron Man. Not bad either.

Isaac discovered he liked Pumpkin pie.

I just love watching Isaac play with his cousins!!

(Dane, Little Theran and Isaac)

On Saturday, Suzanne, Kim, Jen and I met at Tai Pan (a home decor store) and spent another two hours shopping together!

After Tai Pan, Suzanne, Taylor, Isaac and I met for lunch. Suzanne took Isaac home and Taylor and I went out on some errands.

First, we met up with Theran, Cam, Braden and Jay and went shooting west of the Utah Lake.

Grandpa teaching Braden how to shoot his gun

Cam

My hottie

I even did it! I was terrible, but it was fun! (This impress you, Dad??)

Following shooting, Taylor and I went couch shopping. After that we went back to Suzanne's, had dinner, and played scrabble as we watched a movie. Thank you Suzanne for watching Isaac for so long!!!

Sunday we went to church with Suzanne, had lunch, and then drove home! It was such a great trip, we had so much fun with our family!! We love you!

Back Tracking...

I haven't posted about our weekend before Thanksgiving, and I want to remember it, so bear with me!

First, Taylor and I had planned to go on a date and see The Forgotten Carols. We had talked and planned it for about a week and a half and I even called a girl to come babysit (who would be our first babysitter other than family!) I was really, really, really looking forward to the night out and when Friday actually came I kept saying to Taylor, "Are you excited for our date tonight?!"

Well, around 2:00 on Friday, it occurred to Taylor that he had class that night. DUH! Taylor has had a class on Friday night since the semester started in September, but for some reason, we completely spaced it when we planned our date!!! Sad! So, I cancelled the babysitter and Taylor went to class.

It actually turned out to be just fine because a few hours later I got a call from my friend Cori who lives in Idaho Falls! She, her husband and their son were coming down to Pocatello and wanted to meet for dinner. So, I met her at Craigo's and we had a fun dinner and then a quick trip over to Costco.

Our boys....Quintin and Isaac! Haha, they are holding hands. :)

Q was doing something in this picture that apparently caught Isaac's attention as well!

On Saturday, we went to the park as a family. Isaac learned to go down the slide by himself--well he learned how to push off by himself. He LOVED the slide!! And Cougar loved running around.

After the park we went to Taylor's cousin house to watch the BYU vs. Utah game. Lame-o. Luckily I was able to bow out early and have a girls-night-out. I went to dinner and the Twilight movie with some girls in the ward, and we had a great time!! It was so much fun!

And finally, Isaac loves feeding himself now! Yogurt is definitely the messiest so far!

(Good thing he hasn't let go of his juice, huh?!)

Scariest. Moment. Ever.

We just experienced the most scary moment we have ever had in the past 13 1/2 months.

To preface, Isaac has had a bit of a rough day. At church, he was a bear through Sunday School. We figured it was because he was so tired. (Which he was). We got home and he took a shorter than normal nap. Once he woke up he was ready for some food, so we fed him, etc. etc. etc...he was pretty whiny (entering a not-so-fun stage...I really can't wait for him to TELL me what he wants rather than "ehh ehh ehh" while pointing). Anyway, it was at this point that I keyed in on what was wrong....I felt his forehead and he was pretty warm. Click. He was cutting another tooth. His nose has been like a faucet all day, he has been irritable, and now the fever. Ding. Ding. Ding. He just cut a tooth, and it has typically been so long between each tooth that I wasn't expecting him to cut another one.

Ok, so now that you understand what type of mood Isaac was in....we were getting him ready for bed tonight and I gave him some Motrin. He really likes the taste of his medicine that it makes giving him medicine, very easy. However, he typically wants more than what we give him. So, tonight, once I had given him his medicine, he started crying when I walked away with the syringe. And it wasn't a whimper cry. It was a full-on, head back, stop all sounds and breathing type of cry.

At first, we thought nothing of it....at first, it wasn't anything we hadn't heard before, at first, it usually only lasts a second or two....but tonight was different.

I went in the kitchen to get his milk, and Taylor was holding Isaac. Well, the pause between when he let out the first cry to the second cry lasted much longer than a second or two....tonight...it lasted 6, 7, 8 or more seconds.... The typical "Isaac, it's ok" changed from a soothing to an urgent plea in a matter of seconds.

Isaac's lips were turning blue. Dark blue.

We started to panic. I started to clap while I said his name to get him to snap out of it, to start breathing. I was looking at him in unbelief, shock, horror... Taylor tried to get Isaac to breathe....

When he finally took a breath after who knows how long, it got really silent. I looked and as Taylor cradled Isaac in his arms, I heard Taylor say, "He passed out" My eyes got huge as I rushed over, but before I could finish "Is he breathing?!" Isaac opened his eyes.

Welcome scariest. moment. ever.

He blinked slowly once or twice and then continued to cry. At this point I brought him into the kitchen to see I was getting his milk so he would calm down. Color had returned to his lips, but not to mine or Taylor's!

He was completely fine after the whole incident, but I have never been so freaked out. When I told that to Taylor he said something like "And you didn't even see his face!" (As if to say, if you thought it was bad, you should have been the one holding him when it happened! Which is very true, I would have had a harder time with that).

Either way, I have gone in to check on him several times to make sure he is still breathing and even contemplated sleeping on his floor tonight!

Ahhh! Talk about heart-stopping.

Any tricks for calming a crying toddler before reaching this point again?! Someone please tell me they have had this happen to them and it was no big deal....!

This has never happened before, it came out of nowhere, and if it ever happens again....oh, well I don't want to think about that.....

Disgusting!!!

Those of you who know me, know what a big pet lover I am. For those of you who don't know, I am not the biggest pet fan....their licking, jumping and shedding less than thrill me.

Knowing all of this full well--I was ready for bed and waiting for Taylor, as we have not missed a night of going to bed without each other. But, Taylor had to let Cougar out. So as I was waiting and playing on the computer, Taylor goes to get Cougar out of the kennel, and when he came back inside he paused to give me a kiss. I thought, "ah, that was sweet," when all of a sudden, Taylor breaks out in a laugh. I was speechless--I had no idea what was so funny--luckily for me, Taylor didn't make me wait long as he said....

"Cougar just licked my lips!"

And proceeded to laugh all the way out as he said, "We got her, Cougar!"

8 Things

Alright, I know how long it has been since I have blogged....I'd like to say I was on "blogging vacation" but...the truth is, I haven't been taking many pictures of all the things we have been doing, so I figured the point in blogging would be boring.....

We have been very busy but I will save that for another post....so without further ado....here is the "8 Things" tag that I have been tagged for...


8 TV Shows I enjoy watching:

1. The Amazing Race
2. The Biggest Loser
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Brothers and Sisters
5. Kitchen Nightmares
6. Grey's Anatomy
7. Ugly Betty
8. ER (Speaking of ER...did anyone watch last weeks?? Talk about tear jerker!)

8 Things that happened yesterday:

1. Taylor's mom--Suzanne--came to visit us for the weekend!
2. Suzanne and I took Isaac on a walk
3. Suzanne made us waffles for breakfast
4. Suzanne took us (yes, US, meaning TAYLOR, Isaac and I) to Mamma Mia (I enjoyed it, Taylor said, and I quote, "Well that was an hour and 40 minutes I will never get back!" haha...)
5. Suzanne then proceeded to take us to Craigo's for dinner
6. After Isaac went to bed, we watched the movie, "Take the Lead"
7. I actually went a night without eating a bag of popcorn to myself!
8. Stayed up until who-knows-when talking to Suzanne

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. Spending Thanksgiving in Utah
2. The big "red-carpet event" in Pocatello that I will be attending this Saturday (more info to come!)
3. The date night Taylor is taking me on this Friday
4. Dec. 12
5. Taylor finishing school next month
6. Isaac starting to talk
7. Black Friday shopping with my sister-in-laws
8. Dec. 19

8 Things on my wish list:

1. Couches
2. A new outfit (...that I am going to order in the next few days...)
3. Be a stay-at-home mom
4. Get more organized
5. More/New Recipes
6. A big family
7. Our laundry to miraculously get done on its own tomorrow...:)
8. And, most importantly, BYU to beat Utah this weekend so 1) I can rub it in my brother-in-law Cam's face, and 2) So Cam will stop talking about Utah. :)

I tag...Heather Harris, Jen Housley and Kim Housley (And Erin if she is blogging).

It's that time....October birthdays!!!

Besides Isaac's birthday, we had two other birthdays worth mentioning in the month of October: Morgan's and Erin's!!

First, Morgan turned SIX on October 10 and even spent it with us here in Idaho!! I can't believe she is six already....that means I have spent the last three birthday's with her! I just love Morgan. She is just the cutest, sweetest, and most enthusiastic little girl!

Yes I know this picture is old, but this picture of Morgan and I is one my favorites and was taken in February 2007. That was the semester we lived with Morgan and her family. We have many fond memories of that time, including how Morgan calls me "Val val" it's so funny.

Morgan is one the most imaginative and artistic little girls I know! She loves to draw and is really good at it! When we lived with them she was always acting out something or pretending she was something...one of the things she always said was, "Let's pretend...." over and over and over, it was adorable.

Morgan is so full of life and is always so happy! She loves her sisters and is truly becoming such a wonderful, obedient, and beautiful young lady! I can't wait to watch her continue growing. I truly love her and am so glad I am her aunt!! Happy Birthday again Morgan!!

Second, it was my sister-in-law Erin's birthday on Sunday, October 26. Her birthday is so close to Halloween that we celebrate her birthday at the annual Housley Halloween party...unfortunately, we weren't able to be there, so this is an extra loud shout out to Erin!!!

Erin is fun. She is always up for a game, a walk or hike, or anything else. She is a perfect fit for Jordan and is so compassionate to everyone. We have had some great times with the two of them and always want to hang out with them whenever we go down to Utah. (and we're still waiting for them to come visit us in Idaho, *cough, cough*). :)

Erin is the most recent addition to the family and we're so so so so glad to have her! There is so much depth to her and her sweetness and caring manner extends far beyond just our family.

It's hard to be around Erin and not have a good time! Her willingness to help and serve is contagious and her passion for the gospel radiates! We sure love you Erin and hope you had a great birthday!

Happy Birthday Morgan and Erin, we are so happy to call you family--we love you so much!!

Happy Halloween!

So, to be completely honest, our halloween was kind of lame. Let me explain. Isaac is about 13 months, he doesn't eat candy, can't even say "trick or treat", but he did have a pretty sweet costume (thanks Nana!). SO...needless to say...we "enjoyed" our last year of not making Halloween a big deal. OH, and Taylor has a 2-hour class on Friday night, so that added to the lame-ness.

Work for both Taylor and I was pretty slow for the day, so in that sense it was a low-key day. But, Taylor's office had their annual halloween party that they open to the public. So, just like we went last year, we went this year. Here's a comparison picture...this was Isaac last year at the party....

And this year....

He has gotten so big!!! Another reason why we didn't make Halloween a big deal...I feel bad for asking for candy when you know it's not for Isaac, and we all know that I don't really care for a lot of it either, so it was really all about showing Isaac's cute costume off. He got comments from everyone--even strangers in the parking lot--about how cute he was! The lion head was heavy and big, so sometimes he had a hard time seeing! haha...

Look at that head! So, while I will use every excuse in the book for why Halloween was not a big deal this year, I will tell you--next year--I will be Halloweened out! I plan to make every holiday a big deal once our children are at an age to appreciate it and understand what is going on. Parties, parties and parties!

So, that's all folks!