Broyles

Broyles Family Update

2011-09-08T07:27:00.000-06:00

A quick update: Where do I begin? The past two months have been completely crazy. We successfully sold our house in Mountain Home (hurray, hurray!!) and moved to Boise! Todd is out of the Air Force (as of the end of June) and purchased a dental practice on the east side of Boise. We bought a home in Boise, close to the office, and are finally settling in. It all sounds so simple now in three little sentences -- the stress of buying a business, the unknown of where we were going to live, the hard work of getting it all done in a short amount of time, and the uncertainty are behind us. But the one constant throughout all of it is simple: God is in control and He continues to bless our lives. There is no other explanation for it coming together and working out.

Konor 1 year

2011-09-03T12:18:00.008-06:00

Our miracle baby boy is a year old. Where o' where does the time go? Konor is a happy boy and loves to "tell jokes". Okay, they aren't really jokes, but he will mumble some jibberish and then laugh when you ask him to tell you a joke. The fact that he gets the concept is just as funny as the jokes. As you can see, he still looks like his Daddy -- and loves him just as much -- as soon as he hears the garage door open around 5:00, he will say, "Hi, Daaad". He is so grown up and hardly a baby anymore. Konor loves music. He dances to the beat with his left hand in the air and loves to play the piano with Grama.

Konor - 5-7 months

2011-03-17T16:38:00.018-06:00

Konor is seven and a half months old. I find myself feeling like repeating what I wrote on my last post – “Wow, time is flying by. . .and yet it seems like he’s been here forever.” It is so true. Konor is growing and changing each and every day. One thing is still the same -- he is full of smiles.

Bath nights remain big fun at our house. Konor has “graduated” to Momma and Dad’s soaker tub and still manages to splash water on the walls.

Konor says, “Da”, “Dad”, “Daddy” and all other forms of the word for the guy he looks so much like. And it just melts Todd’s heart. He sits up like a champ, loves to play with toys but still hates being on his belly. To that end, he won’t roll over on a consistent basis. He is able to but as Aunt Stacy says, “It’s a matter of want. . .and he just doesn’t want to.” What a kid.

Konor has developed an infectious laugh. In fact, his Dad can get him to all out belly laugh when they play. You can't help but laugh just listening to them.

Here is Konor at six months. He fell over while sitting on our bed but was not in the least bit bothered by it and continued playing. He is such a happy baby.

Reading books. . .Konor loves to be read to. I read him stories before every nap and at bedtime. It is incredible how he responds and pays attention at such a young age. Some people say it makes your kid smarter. Who knows? I do it because he likes it and it helps to prepare him for sleep. Todd would say something smart like, “no state school for you, think Ivy league”.

When Konor was almost five months old, we started feeding him rice cereal. What an adventure it has been! For those of you that have seen his Buddha legs (as PopPop calls them) you know he doesn’t push away much food but learning to eat from a spoon was sure fun. And as you can see, he doesn’t mind eating straight from the bowl if we would only let him. Once he had the rice cereal conquered, we slowly added fruits and vegetables – the first being sweet potatoes. I’ll say this, Konor loves sweet potatoes. In fact, he cried when he realized they were gone and I had to capture his response to the last bite with a picture.

A quick update on the Disney Baby Einstein activity center: It has now been dubbed “Konor’s Poopin’ Stool”. Konor conducts business on a regular basis while playing in the chair. One day I texted Todd at work to let him know things had gone a bit far -- Konor figured out how to use the handles for leverage. It is actually quite funny to watch.

Konor - 4 months

2010-12-16T15:28:00.009-07:00

Konor is four and a half months old. Wow, time is flying by. . .and yet it seems like he’s been here forever. He is such a fun, happy baby who loves to laugh with his Daddy. Todd calls him “his little clown”. Konor does, however, have his Daddy’s temper too – which rears its ugly head when he’s overly tired. Not so good.

Konor sports the “Eat, Sleep, Poop (isn’t life great)” shirt Uncle Cody got him with pride. And as you can see he is not starving – in fact quite the opposite. He has turned into a chuck. He is growing up so fast and looking more and more like a little boy every day. He has so much to say! New sounds emerge all the time, but my favorite is his soft, “O” mouth that sounds like a cooing pigeon.

We have started putting Konor in the Disney Baby Einstein activity center and he loves it. He’s a little wobbly in it but shoving a blanket behind him does the trick for now. It is funny to watch him discover all the buttons and bright colors. His favorite seems to be the yellow bird. His facial expressions crack me up each time he looks the bird in the eye.

Bath Time

2010-11-18T16:35:00.004-07:00

Konor loves bath time. Todd and I bathe him in our bathroom (more room),on the counter, in his little tub. It doesn't have to be a two man job but we all enjoy it - so why not? So every other night is bath night. I undress him while Todd gets his water ready and the fun begins. Konor tests the water with his toes and then I lower him in. His facial expressions are hilarious. He has started to kick, which splashes water EVERYWHERE, so the baths on the counter may be short lived. I keep his head out of the water and wash his top half while Todd takes the business end. Todd wraps him up in his towel to get him warm and dry then we both lotion him up. Wouldn't that be nice? Then it's jammies and Konor is squeaky clean.

Konor - 3 months

2010-11-12T20:34:00.014-07:00

Let me start by saying Konor is a ton of fun. He is so much more expressive and his personality is emerging more every day. Todd props Konor on his legs shortly after he gets home from work and Konor "tells" him stories of the day. He is grabbing at toys and chewing on his hands. His smiles warm your heart and we have heard him giggle twice. Todd and I both laughed so hard - Konor looked at us like, "Why are you laughing at me?" He loves to snuggle into his blanket and Todd thinks it's never too early to show him how to ride a bike or be a Colts fan.

College Game Day

2010-10-01T18:46:00.007-06:00

College Game Day came to Boise! Lee Corso, Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Desmond Howard set up their ESPN desk in the middle of Boise State’s blue turf. Over 13,000 people showed up early Saturday morning for the event. Some fans were already tailgating for the evening game against Oregon State. Todd and I were crazy enough to wake up extra early (which included taking Konor in his jammies) to drive 45 minutes to check it out. We parked far enough away to avoid the crowds and walked along the Green Belt to the stadium. It was a beautiful morning. We bundled Konor up in his stroller and we were off!

Todd had a grand plan to use his cute son to con a picture with Erin Andrews but once we got close and saw all the people it was obvious that was not going to happen. Sorry about your luck Todd. The stadium was completely open and people were EVERYWHERE. The ESPN desk was facing away from the crowd but they had a huge TV screen facing the opposite direction so you could see them. It was cool to see all the support people and equipment that allows it to look so seamless on TV. Todd was even lucky enough to go to the game that evening. BSU won! All in all, great exposure for Boise.

Cutest Ever

2010-09-29T15:54:00.005-06:00

Konor is starting to smile!! It really is the cutest thing ever. He also tries so hard to find his voice. Half the time no sound comes out. But then he will oooo and cooo in the tiniest little voice which simply melts your heart.

Bright Eyes

2010-09-15T19:42:00.004-06:00

Konor's Spot & My Little Thumb Sucker

2010-09-15T19:16:00.008-06:00

Whenever Konor is fussy and we’ve tried the usual – change diaper, full tummy, etc. Todd and I have discovered if you prop him up on your chest, while patting his back, and let him fight out the gas bubbles his will always settle into what we call “his spot” in the nape of our necks. He can be all riled up but once he finds his spot he is instantly so content. In fact, most nights you will find Konor on Todd’s chest nuzzled in his neck. He prefers this spot over any other but it leaves me to wonder who likes it better – Konor or Todd?

Konor is a thumb sucker. Yep, I said it – a thumb sucker. More often than not, it is his right thumb with his fingers stretched across his face. My OB nurse claimed this fact way before Konor was born when we told her how often he got the hiccups. It’s cute now but I have a feeling it won’t be so cute when he’s older and we’re trying to break the habit.

Stories

2010-09-12T20:59:00.006-06:00

Todd is always saying to Konor, “Tell me a story.” Whatever response he gets from Konor, whether it be a squawk, cry or coo he will respond with a “Really!?” or “Are you serious?” It’s as if they are having their own conversation – which I suppose on some level they are.

The funniest and probably most priceless “story” happened a week after Konor was born. I was in the bathroom getting ready for the day and Todd and Konor were on our bed telling stories. They were literally nose to nose and Konor was taking in each and every word. (Luckily I was quick enough with the camera to get the picture.) I overheard just bits and pieces so I came out of the bathroom to see exactly what they were up to. When Todd saw me peeking over him, he asked Konor if he was ready to tell Momma the story they had been rehearsing. Todd started in with the series of events that had happened one week prior. . .”A week ago we drove to Boise, went to Momma’s doctor, got a test ran, went to the hospital to wait for the results. . .” About this time Konor let out a wail – WAAAAAAAH! Todd immediately responded with, “We aren’t to that part yet! That didn’t happen until we were in the operating room! You totally jumped the gun!” I was laughing so hard I had to sit down and hold my incision – afraid it would split open. Too funny and totally precious.

Our First Days at Home

2010-09-09T20:07:00.006-06:00

The first days home from the hospital are a total blur. I will say this: Sleep deprivation does some funny things to you. I could list many stories that would make one wonder where my brain has gone. Poor Todd would get up for each feeding (since I couldn’t jump out of bed), change Konor’s diaper and hand him to me to nurse. Try as he might to stay up he would inevitably fall asleep and end up saying extremely funny things in his sleep. Too funny. So we have learned to grab sleep when and where ever we can – as shown by Todd napping while holding Konor on the couch.

The green and white outfit was one of the few things (that was not pink) we could use of Kloe’s. Green looks good on Konor and this picture will always be special to me. I also use Kloe’s Boppy multiple times each day with Konor. My friend Stacey in Indianapolis bought it for me – a must have for a nursing Momma. Todd propped Konor up in one morning in his Silly Bug pjs – I had to get the picture.

We were all so grateful Aunt Stacy was here for Konor’s birth. It was so nice for me to pick her brain about all things baby. Big sisters are simply the best. She came to the hospital everyday to help me shower and brought Todd his egg sandwich for breakfast. Once we were home she brought Joey and Deanna to meet their new cousin. They were very sweet with him. She also brought his baseball jammies – we ran short on newborn clothes.

Konor's Newborn Pictures

2010-08-27T18:14:00.013-06:00

We got Konor's newborn pictures taken at B&B Photography in Boise. They did a great job! Here are a few of them. Konor was so alert when we first got there and then zonked out for the rest. We were worried about having him naked since he hates having his diaper changed and heaven forbid chaning his clothes. But they had heaters in the room so he wasn't cold. However, he did manage to pee four times over the hour and a half! The first one is our absolute favorite. A classic Konor look for sure.

The baseball mitt was Todd's grandpa's and of course Todd had to get Konor a personalized Louisville Slugger bat. I loved how the picture turned out.

Proud Grandparents

2010-08-26T12:25:00.003-06:00

I had to post pictures of the first time the grandparents got to hold Konor. They are all so excited for the little guy. Going clockwise: Richard or Papa Ricky (Todd's Dad), Fabian or Pop Pop (my Dad), Debby or Grama (my Mom), Jo or Grama Jo Jo (Todd's Mom), Jim or Grampa Jim Jim (Todd's Stepdad), and Gwen or Grama Gwen (Todd's Stepmom). It has been fun for Todd and I to watch each of their reactions to Konor. One thing is for certain, he will definitely have lots of love to go around.

Konor Todd Broyles

2010-08-25T09:05:00.003-06:00

Born: August 6, 2010 12:36 pm
Weighing: 6 lbs. 15 ozs. 20 ½ in.

Our baby boy is here!! And we couldn’t be happier. He is healthy, strong and simply the best. . .more than we could have ever imagined.

As many of you know, I was scheduled for a c-section on Monday the 9th. At my last doctor’s appointment, Dr. Seyb informed me he was going out of town and would not be there on Monday. The panic quickly set in. His first option was to do it later in the week – I said no before he could even finish the sentence. We discussed having one of his partners fill in – I wasn’t so comfortable with that either. I suggested moving it up to Friday since after all it was my birthday. And he went for it!

We arrived at his office at 9:00 am on Friday. I had to get an amino to see if Konor’s lungs were developed – hospital policy for anyone under 39 weeks (I was three days away from it but rules are rules). The number we needed was 55. Todd and I walked over to the hospital after the procedure so I could be monitored and await the results. We sat and listened to Konor’s heartbeat on the monitor and watched my contractions go up and down when the call came in – it was 75 – we were good to go. They started an IV and prepped me for surgery. My leg started shaking uncontrollably as the anesthesia doctors came in to explain their part . . .I was getting really nervous. By the time they wheeled me back to the OR, my teeth were chattering. Poor Todd didn’t get to watch as much of the c-section as he would have liked to because he was too busy settling me down. Being awake this time definitely had benefits but as they say “Ignorance is bliss” and for that, I have to say, being sedated has its benefits too.

Words cannot describe the feeling and emotion that engulfed the room when we heard Konor cry for the first time. It was perhaps the sweetest sound I have ever heard. Dr. Seyb held him up so I could see him for a brief second before he handed him off to the pediatrician and nurse who were there to make sure he was okay. Todd went over to be with Konor (as previously instructed) and I just laid there crying while they put me back together. I heard Todd talk to Konor and he immediately quit crying and started looking for that all familiar voice who had talked to him from the outside of my belly every day.

Konor and Todd moved over to the recovery room and I was soon to follow. A nurse was there to run some tests on Konor while another monitored me. We didn’t anticipate being there longer than the 2-3 hour time set (we knew family was anxiously waiting to see little Konor) but when they checked my vitals one last time, they discovered my temperature was only 94 degrees. They put a blanket hooked up to a machine that blew warm air into it on me and we waited for it to warm me up. Meanwhile the nurse allowed Todd to shuttle in one family member at a time to visit. My Mom, Dad, sister (Stacy), brother (Cody), Todd’s Mom and Stepdad came back one by one to say hi for the first time. Their faces said it all – joy, relief, excitement but mostly pure happiness.

Because of the c-section, I had to stay in the hospital a total of four days. They also monitored Konor closely because he was a high risk for jaundice. We found out that Todd and I’s blood types don’t necessarily mix well – I am O negative and he is A negative. Kloe must have been A negative as well because my body developed some AB antibodies which I passed on to Konor. All would be well and good except Konor’s blood type is A too. His poor little body contained antibodies that were fighting his own blood type, thus putting him at a high risk for jaundice as the red blood cells were breaking down. They poked his poor little feet so many times over those first few days checking his bilirubin levels – it was so sad. Luckily and thankfully, he took to nursing really well (after the first night) which helped flush out the bad stuff and he never had to go under the lights.

The day to go home finally came. We dressed Konor in one of the two outfits we had brought along with us to the hospital. His last growth ultrasound at 36 weeks estimated him at 7 lbs. 5 ozs., in the 88 percentile so naturally we thought he was going to be big. We packed 0-3 month clothes – so you can see in the picture the poor kid drowned in his “take home” outfit. We quickly changed him into a newborn outfit when we got home and Todd had to go out and buy some more newborn clothes to get us through. Too funny.

Todd and I are extremely thankful for all our family and friends who have prayed on our behalf and held us in their thoughts over the past couple of weeks. We truly couldn’t have made it through without you. We thank God each and every day for this miracle baby and pray we will be the parents He wants us to be.

Konor's Nursery

2010-08-04T14:50:00.010-06:00

As promised in an earlier post, here are some pictures of Konor’s nursery. We aren’t “officially” done decorating it – we are looking for a few specific things – but it is done for the most part. I love the light blues and browns together and of course Todd has added the baseball/sports touch wherever he can. My sister, Stacy, masterfully made the beautiful quilt hanging on the crib edge and the blanket draped over the glider. She is amazingly talented.

Grandma Jo Jo got Konor the “Little Slugger” baseball piggy bank, along with some of the other books and toys on the window seat. Joey and Deanna (Konor’s cousins) made K-Rod, the stuffed ball, at Build-a-Bear. Stacy had to convince Deanna to quit playing with him so she could send it for baby Konor and after he was here a few days, I had to do the same with Todd! Pop Pop made Konor’s shelves – and after much debate on size, materials, and color – they turned out perfect! Todd ordered Konor’s personalized blue bat from Louisville Slugger in hopes he won’t want to play with his sister’s pink one. Konor will get to use some of Kloe’s things. . .most notably in the pictures are the pink bunny on the window seat, green dog on the changing table, and Topps, the giraffe on the shelf from my Mom.

Todd and Dad's Mountain Biking Adventures

2010-08-04T08:35:00.002-06:00

As you all could probably guess, Todd lost his mountain bike partner this year. . .in a good way. Well, not to worry, because Dad gladly stepped up and took my place. Not only that, but they have both cranked it up a level and go riding any chance they get. One such example was Memorial Day weekend. Todd had the long weekend off and they decided that if one day was fun to ride, why not four in a row? Am I the only one who sees the problem with this idea? Although neither one of them would admit it at the time, they agreed with me in the end – fatigued, sore muscles along with a few crashes makes a big difference in perspective. Boys.

I have to say, and Todd would whole heartily agree that Dad is awesome! He is 61 and goes at the foothills like he’s 31. He is in great shape and doesn’t let anything stop him. Some of Todd’s friends from work have ridden with them over the summer and they all ask, “How old is he?” So as modest as you are, Dad, great job on staying fit and having fun!! You set a good example for us all to follow.

My Mom and I have enjoyed hiking the foothills while the guys ride. The views of the Boise valley are amazing from up high. But as the summer progressed and my belly grew, we took to the downtown streets instead – exploring the farmer’s market, and the green belt.

Konor's Baby Showers

2010-07-28T12:12:00.005-06:00

The dental group at Todd’s work had a potluck and baby shower for us. It was fun to see the people he works with, spend a little time with them, and meet the new faces that have come in. Sylvia organized for everyone to fill out a “birthday advice card” ranging from Konor’s first birthday to his 18th to be given to him on each corresponding birthday. Obviously the advice varied based on the age appropriate year and who was filling out the card. She had each person read them aloud – it was a lot of fun.

Angela, (who puts “craft” in crafty) made us a diaper cake. It was totally comprised of diapers and wipes, with all sorts of baby accessories tied to it for the decorations. She rolled up baby washcloths for candles – it was too cute! I hated taking it apart so I had to get a picture of it.

A small group of wonderful ladies from church hosted a shower for me at Lori’s (second picture on left) house. Everyone who came was extremely generous and supportive. I was a little overwhelmed but it felt so good. My Mom and Grama sat on either side of me while I opened gifts. Mom compiled a great list for me to help in the thank you card writing later, while Grama checked stuff out and passed the gifts to be organized. My sister-in-law, Jennifer, came with my nieces, Bailey and Cassidy (first picture on right). It was great to see them – I don’t get to all that often – and they were a great help. Bailey took some awesome pictures, while Cassidy organized gifts and hauled out chairs when it was over. Todd’s Mom, Jo, and sister-in-law, Kelli, (picture on bottom right) were there along with Todd’s Aunt Norma and three cousins. It was a beautiful day, we enjoyed great snacks, had fun, and Konor got spoiled for sure.

Happy Birthday Kloe

2010-07-24T15:42:00.003-06:00

July 24th. . .our little curly haired Kloe girl would be 2 years old today. This year, her Daddy brought home two pink roses (with a balloon) for her and I got a dozen - just like a year ago. It’s truly amazing how much our lives have changed in just two years and yet the impact of our angel is still as strong. We were so blessed to have her. Happy Birthday, Kloe. . .your Momma and Daddy love you.

Portland - Round 2

2010-06-15T15:57:00.005-06:00

Todd and I decided to take “one last trip” before Konor comes in August. We debated on several places before we chose to go back to Portland. Portland is a great city – great shopping, good food, cooler weather for my hot pregnant self – and we enjoyed our time there in October. We picked a long weekend, booked a hotel downtown and we were set. We visited Powell’s Books (a bookstore that spans a whole city block) which is full of new and used books – a reader’s paradise. Of course we had to go to Chipotle – the best burrito place ever – a couple of times, Voodoo Donuts, and Nordstrom Rack. I even talked Todd into talking me to Tiffany’s. What could be better? I know! Leaving Tiffany’s with a little blue box – which I did. Yep, Todd totally surprised me when he bought the ring I’ve had my eye on for some time now. What a guy.

Our big discovery and adventure this trip was the waterfalls. We had seen Multnomah Falls from I-84 our first visit to Portland and made a mental note to check it out sometime. Well, we did. Just outside of the city, off of the Interstate runs Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway. The strip of road stretches parallel to the freeway and has to be one of the prettiest drives in the Northwest. On both sides of the highway is lush, green foliage, combined with native flowers, and beautiful waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is the second tallest year-round waterfall in the nation, dropping 620 feet. We hiked halfway up to a bridge that passes in front of the falling water. The sound of the crashing water was loud enough you had to raise your voice to talk and you could feel the mist of the water as it sprayed up from the force of the fall. The temperature dropped dramatically the closer you got.

Further down the road is Horsetail Falls. We hiked up a very steep trail to the top of the fall. I had to stop several times to catch my breath – my lung capacity is certainly not what it used to be before I was toting around a watermelon. During one such stop, Todd found a tree with the center carved out and waited patiently. (I had to get the picture.) As we weaved back and forth on the switchbacks up you could look down and see a tiny dot that was the car. The really cool part about this particular waterfall is you can walk underneath it! It was amazing!! The trail continues on but we'll have to save that for another day - one where Todd can carry Konor.

We also stopped at the Vista House at Crown Point. The Vista House was build in 1916 and serves as the symbol for the Columbia River Gorge. It has recently been restored - the marble and stained glass are beautiful. The basement contains a neat gift and coffee shop. The views from Crown Point were breathtaking. A nice volunteer gave us a map showing all the falls and recommended his favorite stops along the way.

Belly Shot

2010-06-09T15:46:00.003-06:00

Okay, as promised (Taige. . .and Cassie), here is a belly shot picture. I am right at 30 weeks pregnant and as you can see, he is all out front. Wow! Here I thought Kloe was out front but sometimes I think this kid is trying to pop out my belly button. My stomach is soooo hard. Todd and I went to Portland for a long get-a-way weekend. . .more to come on our trip later. . .and I had him take this in our hotel room before heading out for the day. I wanted to get this posted for all those wondering what I currently look like.

Konor is doing great. He is a very busy boy. . .lots and lots of movement. He has been known to wake us up on more than one occasion before 4:00 in the morning with what I call “Konor calisthenics”. Todd simply claims he is on Pop Pop’s time.

We are getting more and more excited to see who little Konor looks like. I have a feeling he will look a lot like Todd. All in all, not a bad thing! His furniture arrived yesterday so his room is starting to come together nicely. I will post some pictures once we have it completed.

Konor's 20 Week Appointment

2010-04-07T11:03:00.011-06:00

Baby Broyles’ name is Konor Todd. . .for now. We’ve been calling him that for awhile now so I think it will stick but who knows? Using Todd for a middle name is somewhat of a family tradition -- Richard is Todd’s middle name and his Dad’s first name – same goes for his Grandpa and Dad – you get the idea.

March 31st was my 20 week doctor’s appointment. They did a thorough anatomy ultrasound – it was soooo cool. Todd and I got to see the different sections of his brain, all four chambers of his beating heart, urine in his tiny bladder (kidneys are working), diaphragm, arms, legs, hands, feet, nose, lips. . .it was amazing. They also confirmed once again that he is a boy – he is definitely not shy when it comes to that.

The first ultrasound picture is a profile of his face. He had his feet up by his head the entire time. So yes, that is a foot at the top of the scan. The second picture is a perfect picture of his nose and lips in the center of the scan. You can see his nostrils on the left and his perfect lips just below. They were checking for a cleft lip but the detail is awesome. You’d think it was a 3-D ultrasound.

We took this picture the following weekend on Easter Sunday.

I remembered wearing this shirt on Easter two years ago with Kloe.

Phoenix

2010-03-30T18:54:00.004-06:00

In early March, Todd and I attended the “Wild Out West” dental conference in Phoenix, Arizona. We hadn’t been back to Phoenix since we moved from there -- nine years ago. Where does time go? Our trip was also planned around seeing some of our great friends who we have kept in contact with but don’t get to see nearly enough. Sooooo much has changed in the valley of the sun over the last few years – we were amazed by all the growth. A new Cardinals stadium, dozens of shopping centers, and many houses now exist in all the fields we used to drive by to get to the base and our home. Speaking of our home, our old base house has been torn down and a new built in its place. A much needed improvement.
Our classes ran from Thursday to Saturday. We stayed downtown so we could walk to the convention center. Spring time in Phoenix is the best. The palm trees are magnificent, all the grass is green and the flowers are in bloom. The air is warm and fresh with orange blossom sweetness. It is great. Friday night we drove up to Scottsdale to meet my friend Elizabeth for dinner (picture was taken this summer in Mtn. Home). Elizabeth and I worked together at Albertsons for a short time in Phoenix and then again in the Boise office. She is fun and adventurous. Saturday, after the conference, we drove out to Goodyear and stayed with Earl and Barbara. Todd and I attended church with them while living in Phoenix. I transferred to Boise for work five months before Todd and he finished his undergrad degree at ASU. Earl and Barbara "adopted" him during that time and we have been close since. We love them dearly and had a great time.

We also managed to sneak in a spring training baseball game. The Indians and Reds built a new ballpark in Goodyear – so of course, Todd had to check it out. We had great seats for a good price, awesome weather, and enjoyed watching the pros play ball.

Todd's Colorado Ski Trip

2010-03-10T14:47:00.002-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Todd spent a long “guy’s” weekend in Colorado skiing with some friends he went to dental school with. His trip started out on a low note when his flight out of Boise got cancelled – the first flight they could get him on was for the next morning. Super bummer. So after some planning and more than a few phone calls, he rented a car in Denver and met up with the guys a day later. He missed out on a day skiing but he did get the opportunity to drive a Kia Rio. Tradeoffs right? When he was describing the car to me over the phone I asked him if it was the kind of car you’d expect a bunch of clown to jump out of – he responded with a laughing yes. So for the rest of his trip, whether it was choking up the mountain passes or stuck in the snow in front of the condo, it was only referred to as his clown car. The weekend picked up, however, once he met with the guys and he got in two great ski days on the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Todd, much like everyone else who gets the chance, fell in love with the state’s beauty and wonder.

Ted, who planned the weekend, lives and practices with his dad in Loveland, Colorado. His parents have a condo near the resort they skied (Copper Mountain) so it worked out great for the guys to have a place to stay. Jeff and Marc flew in from Indianapolis – Jeff works with his brother in a practice and Marc is a pediatric dentist, working with his dad, in Lafayette, Indiana. It may make you ask “Where is Todd’s dentist relative so we will know where we are supposed to end up?” Its okay, I had the same question. Another Todd, Ted’s roommate from undergrad, was able to join them for a day also. So for a couple of days the boys got to be boys – no girls to bother them. I know I didn’t get all the stories, and I’m sure I don’t want all the sorted details but I do know Todd had a great time and that’s all that matters.

Fica Family Visit

2010-02-23T16:07:00.011-07:00

The first weekend in February, Todd and I drove to Pocatello (a city in Eastern Idaho) to visit the infamous Fica family. Mike, Todd’s cousin, is an Assistant US Attorney, married to Ila (super Mom) and has five children -- yes I said five. Zak (17) is the oldest, flowed by Emily (11), David (10), Joey (8), and Ben (5). Todd’s Aunt Dorothy, Mike’s mom, lives there too, along with a dog, a cat, three turtles, and some hissing cockroaches. Why not? Uncle Tom (passed away eight years ago) and Aunt Dorothy were like grandparents to Todd growing up and therefore, he spent a lot of time with Mike.

You have to be one tough character to hang with the Ficas. They are non-stop, on the go, busy folks (that’s where the five kids come in). We arrived Friday afternoon and met Mike at work. He gave us our own private tour of the courthouse which included the attorney’s offices, courtrooms, security and the US Marshal’s offices. It was really cool. Todd and I thoroughly enjoy talking to Mike – he is extremely smart, humble, and open minded – plus he is always good for bad guy stories.

All of their kids are extremely respectful, smart and just fun to be around. Mike and Ila have done a phenomenal job when it comes to parenting. In fact, Todd and I will borrow pages out of their book to apply to our children. Todd enjoyed playing checkers with David (Aunt Dorothy looked on) and rough housed with Joey and Ben.

Late Friday afternoon, we were off to the house to round everyone up to go to dinner and Zak’s basketball game. Zak goes to Century and that night they played Poky High. It was a big game. After sweating it out (the fans and the players) into triple overtime, Century won!

Saturday morning we all got dressed up for Joey’s baptism. It was a great day for him. Ila had planned a party for him afterward and he invited friends and neighbors. He looked so handsome in his suit!! But before the party began, we squeezed in a basketball game for David. Ila is the coach. How she does it all is beyond me. . .super Mom, remember?

After Joey’s party, we went to the stables and watched Emily ride and jump her horse. Ila and David helped get the horse all ready to go and then we walked over to the arena where Emily rides. She was amazing.

The final highlight was feeding feeder gold fish to the turtles. The whole family cheered on the event. It was too much fun. Todd and I had a great weekend, and although we left tired, we had smiles on our faces. Thanks guys!

Our Miracle Baby Boy

2010-02-10T10:36:00.002-07:00

Todd and I are expecting! And yes, it is a miracle. I truly believe this is an answered prayer for all the people who have prayed for us. So thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. God is so good. I am 13 weeks, just entering the second trimester, and here is the latest ultrasound. The baby was laying face down so the tech couldn’t get a good profile shot. His head is to the right with his legs tucked up under on the left. You can see his spine along his back. I have a picture clearing showing he is in fact a boy but Todd (of all people) thought it was inappropriate to share. Too funny.

For those that want more details. . .here is “the story”. After years of fertility treatments, we felt we had reached the end. . .but we still had so much love to give. So in September of last year, we decided to adopt. We discovered a great agency, with two of the best social workers around, ran by the Idaho Youth Ranch. Anyone who has adopted knows it is a long, laborious, humbling process – but we were up for the task. We attended classes, sat though interviews, got fingerprinted, background checks, filled out stacks of paper work, read countless articles, completed a home study, got physicals, and assembled a profile package for a potential birth mother to chose from. At the end of all that, Kitty and Lauri (the social workers) knew more about us than most of our family did! And then the waiting begins. It could be two months, it could be a year, no one really knows.

We kept our minds occupied with training for the marathon and the beginning of October we went to Portland. It was such a great trip -- very healing and rewarding for us. I got pregnant a month later. Reluctant to take a pregnancy test (of which the outcome has never been good), I was sick with a sinus infection and was looking for some relief by way of Benadryl for sleep. I was late and in the off chance I was pregnant, I didn’t want to take any risks with medication so I found myself peeing on a stick. (Todd was in the other room pretending the whole scene wasn’t happening.) The stick turned immediately – the three minute wait was not needed. I called Todd in the bathroom and he came running in, took one look at the stick, turned white as a ghost and sat down on the floor. I thought he was going to pass out. After a brief second, he grabbed the box and looked back and forth from the stick to the box to see if we were reading it correctly. Of course, I just sat there and cried.

It was two months before our feet touched the ground. Thanks to Dr. Ivette Suber, (Todd’s OB friend from work) for our early OB care, and our great friend Dr. Eve White (the OB we started our infertility plight with in Indy so long ago) for the endless phone calls, advice, love and support – we wouldn’t have gotten here without you.

I have been really sick -- unlike Kloe in every way. I have had headaches and nausea all day for the last three months. I am starting to feel better, slowly, and I tell Todd to hold on for when I do -- I'm going to be dangerous. For that reason and Murphy's law (we have a whole closet full of pink) I have been thinking boy from the beginning. Before we found out the sex, Todd and I both secretly wanted another little girl, but now that we know, we are extremely excited for a boy. Immediately after the ultrasound, Todd said, "I think God is giving us exactly what we need." and Eve said "Of course it's a boy, there's no way you could have had another girl as cute as Kloe!" I think they are both so right.

Garage Shelves

2010-01-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

My dad offered to build us some shelves for our garage to help organize our “stuff”. So after a few discussions of where to install them, how high and long we wanted them, what we were going to store on them, etc. my dad came out to build them. If there is one thing to know about my dad (aside from how great he is) it would be he doesn’t do anything half way. In the case of our garage shelves, he made them strong enough for Todd to lay on and my dad to hang from. Todd got home from work to help him with the final screws and lift some of the heavier items up for storage. They turned out great! Our garage feels less cluttered and more organized. Thanks Dad – you’re the best!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-06T16:12:00.025-07:00

My sister, Stacy, and her family got to come for Christmas. They were able to stay for over a week and we took full advantage. They stay at my parent’s house and their visits consist of Little Grama and Papa Kirby coming over each and every day to play with Joey and Deanna. My Grama has to be the most patient person I know. She will play dress up, “office”, “store”, read books and whatever else comes up for hours on end. Joey even taught her how to play games on his iPod Touch this visit. The rest of us (except Todd – he despises it) thoroughly enjoy putting puzzles together. This year was no exception. Stacy and I started with a reasonable (1,000-1,500 piece) puzzle of Santa and my mom busts out a 3,000 piece monster of various ocean animals! It took up a full conference size table just have the pieces all turned over! Needless to say, it took us more than a couple of days to put it together. But it sure was pretty when we did. Thanks Mom!

Living close to all our family sure makes Christmas fun, yet interesting. Todd and I “make the rounds” which makes for two FULL days. We started Christmas Eve afternoon at my parent’s house to open presents. Joey and Deanna dutifully passed each present out. They were so excited. There is nothing better than a kid’s excitement on Christmas. The rule in my house growing up was you had to try on and model any item of clothing you received. (This made Mom’s annual gift of underware interesting.) My Dad loved his new bike shorts, and Joey and Deanna looked ever so cute in their new clothes.

The first year Todd and I were married, Little Grama sent Todd a bag of mini marshmallows with a clever poem about snowman poop. They had yet to meet but all Todd had heard about Little Grama was how sweet she was. He was not convinced. To this day he calls her “Trouble” and gives her grief about the present. So this year he unwraps his gift to find a box of chocolate covered almonds labeled “Reindeer Droppings”. The whole room was in stitches and the look on Todd’s face was priceless.

As per tradition, Christmas Eve is spent at Aunt Norma’s house. Most of Todd’s immediate and extended family (on his Dad’s side) go – we eat dinner and Santa arrives sometime later bringing gifts for the little kids. In fact, 13 years ago Todd proposed to me while I sat on Santa’s lap. Ahhh, the memories.

Christmas morning we were at Todd’s Dad and Mama Gwen’s house at 7:00 am. They have always made Christmas morning special – a stocking stuffed full of awesome treats, presents and Mickey Mouse waffles!! It’s the best. Todd’s younger brother, Steve, and his wife were there too.

Then it was back to my parent’s house for the best Christmas dinner there is: Turkey, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, beans, rolls, cinnamon apples and pie. It was sooooo good. Todd and I got to take my older brother’s kids shopping for their gifts the week of Christmas. It was great to see them and spend some quality time. In fact, the kids got to come for dinner. Everyone really enjoyed seeing them.

Final stop: Todd’s Mom and Stepdad Jim’s house. We exchanged gifts, visited and we were officially pooped. It was back on the road for us to our house in good ‘ol Mountain Home. It was a great Holiday for us and we loved spending time with all our family. We are truly blessed.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-06T15:29:00.012-07:00

Since we struggled last year to find the Christmas spirit, we didn’t decorate. It was just a tough year all the way around. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and we enjoy making the house look festive. . . so this year we drug out all the decorations and went to town! I especially enjoy nutcrackers, and my mother-in-law, Gwen, spoils me with a new one every year. We usually display them on the mantle over the fireplace but ran out of room. Todd put them on the planter shelf instead and added some green and red rope lights behind them. It turned out really nice. When finished, while surveying our work, I called it our “Winter Wonderland"!

We always make a special place to put my Grama’s nativity set and Todd’s Grandma’s Christmas dolls. While they’re no longer with us, it’s great to have a part of them still here.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-30T12:35:00.007-07:00

Todd and I had Thanksgiving at our house this year. My parents came out the night before for a “sleep over”. They were great help in getting things ready for the following days feast. We (well not so much Todd) also took advantage of the time and our new table to work puzzles. What fun!

That night the news reported that conditions were right to see the space station and shuttle track across the sky. The shuttle had just undocked from the space station and was on its way home. So at the opportune moment, Todd and my Dad went outside to see what they could see. After a few minutes in the freezing cold, they were about to give up when two bright lights popped on and quickly moved across the sky. They called my Mom and I out and sure enough for about five minutes you could see them. It is hard for me to get my head around all the technology that allows us to explore space and then there’s the debate on if we should be spending money in that way but I have to admit it was cool to see. (Todd, Cody and I got to see it again the following night – on the opposite side of the sky.)

Thanksgiving morning Cody brought Papa Kirby and Little Grama out. It was funny to see how Grama got in and out of his big truck but she was a sport and used her “little stool”. Everyone chipped in to get lunch ready – Mom made her famous stuffing, Grama made sweet potatoes, Dad mashed the regular potatoes and Cody and Todd carved the turkey while I filled in with the veggies, salads and rolls. It was sooooo good. After lunch we all crowded around to watch football and nap. . . pure heaven. I am so thankful for all God has blessed me with, not only on this day, but every day.

Oregon Coast

2009-10-11T20:27:00.012-06:00

Before Todd and I left Portland, we had to visit VooDoo Doughnuts. We first heard about it on Man vs. Food (an awesome show on the Travel Channel), when Adam Richman visited Portland. They, like the rest of Portland, are a little weird. Some of their creations are topped with unconventional toppings such as cereal (Fruit Loops, Cocoa Puffs); others have even more bizarre like bacon, peanut butter and Oreos. Their token doughnut is in the shape of a VooDoo doll, filled with raspberry filling, topped with chocolate and finished off with a pretzel stabbed in the center. Definitely weird but all in all a tasty treat.

We stopped at Yaquina Head to visit the coolest lighthouse. It is located in one of Oregon's National Parks. Built in the 1800's, it can be seen for 19 miles with it's "signature" signal (unique to every lighthouse) -- on for 2 seconds, off for 2 seconds, on for 2, off for 14. I was a BIG fan!

A short distance from the lighthouse, there are stairs that lead down to some tide pools. We debated going down since we were walking like we were 80. I drastically underestimated what running 26.2 miles would do to me afterward. But considering we probably wouldn't be back there we sucked it up and went down to check it out. I was fascinated by how the ocean shapes all the rocks into perfectly round stones. As we walked closer to the ocean, they became smaller, but still perfectly round. Todd found a bunch of mussels growing on the sides of the big boulders. Although I thought they were gross, he liked them.

We stayed the night in Newport at the Elizabeth Inn. We were pleasantly surprised to see our room had it's own private balcony looking directly down to the beach. The sight was simply breathtaking. We slept with the door open so the peaceful sounds of the crashing waves could roll in.

We ate dinner at Georgie's (a local restaurant). It was a little later than our usual dinner time but it seemed like we arrived in perfect time. From our table we had the colorful view of the setting sun. I have heard about people watching the sun set before but I never took it so literally. The sun dips below the horizon in a matter of seconds. Todd and I watched the beautiful scene without uttering a word as our waitress waited patiently to take our order. One of God's wonders for sure.

The following morning we took a walk on the beach. The ocean is incredible. We found various ocean life that had washed up on the beach but mostly we enjoyed the water. Now that is something I could get used to.

26.2 Baby!

2009-10-10T18:44:00.004-06:00

I never thought I would run a marathon. . .ever. Todd has tried, unsuccessfully I might add, for the last few years to convince me I wanted to and my answer has always been “No, are you crazy?” So what can I say now? Well after a particular low point in May, my defiant, mad at the world side got the best of me and I told him if he wanted to run a marathon now was his chance. So we printed off a 16 week training course from Runner’s World’s website and signed ourselves up for the Portland Marathon!

As friends and family heard we were training for a marathon, most began asking me the same question, “Are you crazy?” and at times I would have completely agreed. There were even moments when I feared for what it was exactly I had got myself into. The first came when reviewing the training schedule and I saw our first long run was 8 miles. 8 miles? I hadn’t run 8 miles in 2 years. But we took the training head on – some runs were better than others, we learned things along the way like proper hydration and nutrition before, during and after long runs, and trained our bodies to run for hours at a time.

We recruited my mom and dad to ride their bikes behind us for water, Gatorade, and fuel snacks on our really long runs (16-20 miles). They quickly became known as “Team Broyles”. I cannot say enough about how much that helped both physically and mentally. The sacrifice on their part was huge – to spend their time helping us achieve our goal is one thing but how boring that must have been!! Todd and I have discussed many times how we couldn’t have done it without them. Thanks Mom and Dad –you’re the best!!

As race day approached, I got more nervous. Had we trained enough? Was I ready? We had booked our room at the downtown hotel sponsoring the event and arrived the day before to get our race packets and chips. They converted their entire parking garage into marathon headquarters, complete with the various athletic company booths and mazes to shuffle the over 10,000 participants through. It was a sight to behold. All the volunteers and event staff did an outstanding job. It was well planned and executed.

The morning of we walked 3 blocks to the start and we were off and running. Literally. Despite my nerves, I was happy to be running alongside my best friend and partner in crime. Another Todd and Karen’s big adventure. I wouldn’t have wanted to be with anyone else. He gives me constant encouragement and praise in life and definitely during every run. Between mile 17 and 18, I started fading – Todd was still feeling great so after a few discussions, I sent him on his way at mile 20. He finished in 4 hours and I was right behind at 4:09. I still can’t believe it.

I have been asked by more than a few what I think about running for that long. To be honest, I pray. I prayed before, during and after the race -- Lord give me air in my lungs, strong legs and a determined mind; help me make it. (And I never forget to thank Him after.) I think about my little girl – how much I love her, how she fills me up and watches over me, and how great it will be to see her again. I think about my good friend (and trainer), Mark, who has constantly pushed me to be better than I am. I think “I can, I can, I can.” It really all comes down to mind over matter. And before you know it, you’re crossing the finish line. What an amazing feeling.

Thank you Cassie!!

2009-09-29T21:04:00.004-06:00

I would be sorely mistaken to not post a huge THANK YOU! to my great friend Cassie Larson. She is a sheer genius when it comes to capturing life’s precious moments in pictures, arranging them in Photoshop, and sharing them through blogging. Over a year ago she helped me start my blog and has continued to assist me in learning Photoshop. She has created countless images from our maternity photo shoot to Kloe’s announcements, individual pictures of Todd and I to this awesome new header at the top of this blog. She has a real talent for all things creative, but more importantly she has taken time out of her busy life (raising 3 young boys) for me. So thank you Cassie for all your talent, your time and mostly your love.

San Francisco!!

2009-09-26T18:56:00.009-06:00

Todd got to go to a dental convention in San Francisco earlier this month. It was a great opportunity for him to get CE (continuing education) credits and go somewhere fun. Since I had never been to San Francisco before, I was very quick to respond with a “Yes!” when he asked me if I would like to go along. We stayed downtown at the Prescott Hotel; by Union Square and a short walk to the Moscone Center where the convention was held. I could not believe the shopping! There is every imaginable store from Louis Vuitton to Niketown, Barneys to Tiffanys, Saks, Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, De Beers, Ben Sherman, Crate and Barrel, and on and on. . .all within a few block radius. Simply incredible. Of course who can afford all that? I have no idea, but certainly fun to look.

We walked everywhere (well, only the safe places, Mom). I think we walked at least five miles each day. I had heard about the steepness of the streets but until you walk up one, you really have no idea just how steep they are. Whew! The first day we walked through Chinatown, on our way down to Fisherman’s Wharf. Just outside of Chinatown we pasted through several Italian blocks. Todd stopped short at a little bakery with the entire front window filled with pastries. He got a cherry turnover that was yummy – so yummy we went back two more times during our stay and enjoyed not only the cherry turnovers but the apple as well. When we finally reached Fisherman’s Wharf we ate at In & Out Burger -- Todd had it mapped out before we left Boise – a very tasty burger indeed. We toured Alcatraz and saw Al Capone’s cell firsthand. (I even got a picture of Todd inside one of the solitary confinement cells.)

The dental convention was quite informative. I picked my own seminars to attend from the schedule and learned a ton about insurance, collections and estate planning. I only had to text Todd a few times for the definition of terms like alveoloplasty. What?? We walked the floor where all the dental reps were ready, willing and able to hit you up with the latest and greatest stuff. I was overwhelmed to say the least.

Todd and I thoroughly enjoyed being back in a big city. It is fun to get “lost” in the crowd of people and observe all the sites. The diversity of cultures was also refreshing. Aside from the huge Asian population, we noticed many European languages spoken by those around us.

Cody's Tattoo

2009-09-21T20:07:00.002-06:00

A couple of weeks after Kloe's first birthday, Cody (my brother) came out to our house to hang out. We were in the garage messing around -- Todd and Cody were doing pull-ups on our cool double chin up bar. My eyes were drawn to the inside of Cody's arm, just up from his elbow, to what appeared to be a tattoo. I immediately said, "Cody! What did you do?" because I know he doesn't have any tattoos. This got Todd's attention as well and Cody quickly pulled down his sleeve and said, "I don't want to freak you guys out." I had no idea what to expect other than he got some huge tattoo that went down half his torso. He pulled back his sleeve and Todd and I's mouths dropped. Tears filled our eyes next and we were utterly speechless. Wow.

Todd and I have received an incredible amount of support since we lost our little girl. It has affected people more than we could have ever imagined and the responses have been just as amazing. For Cody, who doesn't say a whole lot about it, to go down on Kloe's birthday and get a memorial tattoo just blew us away. So Kloe lives on -- and she will continue to do so in our hearts and through the stories we tell each and every day.

Todd's Tattoo

2009-09-20T20:34:00.010-06:00

Todd has been talking about getting a new tattoo forever. . .well at least for the last eight months. He wanted to do something to memorialize Kloe but the biggest problem was who could meet his expectations? Of course it had to be perfect. He got his answer shortly after Kloe's first birthday when Cody (my brother) showed us his new tattoo. See the post. . .

We went to visit Nate Lauerman at Inkvision Tattoo in downtown Boise. We took him the picture of Todd holding Kloe's feet and the black and white version our great friend Cassie Larson made for her announcements. A consultation, and two sessions later Todd had a work of art on his arm. Nate did an amazing job -- the detail is incredible! Todd absolutely loves it.

Riding with Dad and Bill

2009-09-18T14:48:00.010-06:00

My sister and her family came to visit in August. Bill, my brother in law, loves to mountain bike. He's used to riding the trails in Texas so we thought it would be fun to show him Idaho's version. My dad (who turned 60 in January) rocks it! He is in great shape or maybe it's more of his stubborn personality, but bottom line -- he doesn't quit. Todd took this picture of him when we stopped for a break. His intent, in the event that we killed him, was to give to my mom to show her he died happy. Todd smoked us all on the climbs, while Bill sacrificed his body on the downhills (he's crazy). All in all, a great day.

Summer Fun. . .Mountain Biking

2009-08-07T15:16:00.006-06:00

Todd and I have picked up a new sport (for us) this summer - mountain bike riding! We have enjoyed our road bikes for a number of years, but given all the foothills surrounding Boise, we thought it would be fun to try the mountain version. It is fun to explore different trails and a challenge to adjust to a different riding style.

Todd even got a new bike rack for the 4Runner. We fit in with the Boise crowd now! This is Rocky Canyon. You climb about 5 miles and 2,000 vertical feet to Aldape Summit and the tree line starts. It is famous for the annual Race to Robie Creek -- the hardest 1/2 marathon in the Northwest. Todd ran it in April. I think he's crazy.

Another favorite spot - half way up the climb you get a great view of the Boise valley. The best part about the climb up is the ride back down! Too fun.

Updated House Pics

2009-08-02T16:32:00.011-06:00

We love how our house turned out! Larry and John did a fantastic job and offer great customer service. Here's how it turned out. . .

My father-in-law made the planter boxes for our anniversary. Todd and I painted them to match the house. A good summer project. Now if I can only keep the flowers alive. . .

My great friend David from Indianapolis helped with the interior decorating. I would be lost without him.

Kloe's 1st Birthday

2009-07-24T18:34:00.005-06:00

On July 24, 2008, Todd and I said hello and goodbye to our precious baby girl, Kloe Elizabeth. It has been a year, and only now can I find the strength to update my blog. The intention of the blog in the beginning was to post and share pictures of our little Kloe with loved ones who were far way and couldn’t come see her. But now I feel compelled to add to it. . .albeit for different reasons. Most people don't understand what happened and it's human nature to let your mind wander to crazy stuff. We didn't fully understand until 2 days after my emergency c-section. Let me start by saying, Kloe was an absolutely perfect baby. . .not one single thing was wrong with her. She had curly hair like me. . .in fact Todd swears she looked just like me. She was 7lbs. 3ozs. and perfect. I know I am biased because I am her mom but everyone who saw her or a picture of her says the same. The problem was with the placenta. The medical name is Velamentous Trivascular Cord Insertion. But basically, the cord attached to the bag of water instead of directly on the placenta so the blood vessels and arteries had to stretch across the bag to supply the nutrients to her. All was good until my water broke. The pressure of it severed both of the fetal arteries and Kloe started bleeding. Because of her size they say she could only sustain that for about 3 minutes. It took them 20 to get her out.
The doctors said it was good that I was in the hospital when my water broke because I was bleeding out too. The chances of Todd getting me to the hospital in time to save us both was small. Not much consolation at the time but a blessing just the same. We have talked to multiple doctors since about how Vilamentous cord insertion happens and why. They all have said it extremely rare, has nothing to do with fertility treatments, it is not genetic and almost impossible to detect on an ultrasound. My good friend in Indy who is an OB said, "It's like, girl, go buy a lottery ticket". . .only not the good kind. The single thing that would have saved Kloe was an elective c-section. But who would have known? No one would sign up for a c-section with a first baby following a perfect pregnancy. No one.

During this past year Todd and I have learned that grieving is a process. Some days are better than others, nothing fixes what has happened, it will always hurt, and we will always miss her. But we have hope that there are brighter days ahead and that we will have joy and happiness in our lives again. We don't know how or when and it is extremely hard. We hold on to each other and to our faith so that one day we will see her again. She brought so much to our lives -- and given all that has happened, we would do it all over again. She was the best.

New House

2008-07-20T19:00:00.014-06:00

The house is coming right along in good 'ol Mountain Home. Hats off to a great builder. . .Larry Stancil and Blue Ridge Construction!

Waiting for Kloe

2008-07-18T16:26:00.009-06:00

Sunday after church.

Todd went to Louisville for a dental lab tour. He stopped by the Louisville Slugger factory and bought me a shirt, but I couldn't wait to try it on.

Kloe's Clothes

2008-07-18T14:52:00.016-06:00

Piles for washing. . .

Hopefully we have enough clothes for our little girl!

How cute are the little socks?!

Car Seat for Rookies

2008-07-18T11:32:00.001-06:00

Todd has read all there is available about which car seat is the safest, easiest to use, etc. So one night in our birthing class, a car seat expert came in to talk about car seat safety. . .he asked the class if anyone had tried putting anything in our car seat. We both looked at each other, thinking we had thought of everything, and now this? He pointed out that the first thing you put in the car seat should not be your child since you don't know how the straps work and how to adjust them. Who knew? So upon getting home that evening, I find Todd busy in the other room strapping Caesar into the car seat. Too funny. And by the way, I don't care how much education you have you are a total rookie when it comes to installing the thing in your car. It took us 30 minutes and two manuals to get the crazy thing in there.