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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
