The Surro weekly Dec 20

So my new experiment will be to post about my Surrogacy Journey. I haven't gotten very far yet, but the exciting part is coming soon so if I start now maybe I'll have a good momentum going.

So far I have met my intended parents (very nice couple from Utah) had my interview with a psychologist (yay, I'm not too crazy!) and went through all of the pre-tests at the reproductive clinic to make sure that my body will support a pregnancy. I started taking the required medications around Thanksgiving time. I'm done taking birth control and Doxycycline. I am still taking a prenatal and a baby aspirin and a Lupron injection in the belly every day. Tomorrow I start my twice weekly estrogen shots in the butt, not really looking forward to those, but I made it through the belly ones without being too emotionally scarred!

Week of fun!

This was such a busy and fun week! Lots of babysitting, short school week for Ashlynn and the much awaited .... student lead parent-teacher conference. Jaime and I went to a concert for one of my favorite bands and then to top it all off Ashlynn and I ran in our first 5K and did awesome I might add ;-) We were supposed to go up to Cascade this weekend with my parents for their birthdays, but sadly things didn't work out. The girls were pretty bummed about not getting to go to the hot springs, but we are planning on going as soon as the cabin is ready.

Ashlynn's conference went awesome she is a great student and she has such passion to learn. I love that she is excited everyday to go to school and learn something new; & we both love that she can brag on herself a little bit during conferences :-).

I was so excited when I heard Crash Kings were coming to the knitting factory. We got there early enough to be right next to the stage. The first band, Civil Twilight was awesome, the base guitarist played one song with a violin bow! Then the Crash Kings played, they rocked and even people who weren't really fans had their minds changed by the time they were done. The girl next to me got their set list, but then the drummer tossed his sticks to the crowd and on of them landed right at my feet, I stepped on it, but a big guy grabbed before I could. When the last band, Anberlin came on they were amazing, but everyone knew that and so the crowd really started to press forward... and because I watched Selena, I started to get nervous, and when they started to jump around and mosh I really got nervous, especially because the 300 lb guy in front of me didn't look to steady! I wanted to move back a little bit so we were making our way, but I couldn't see a way out of the pit.... and basically started to freak out! When I saw a small ledge with no one I stepped up on it, and this old lady behind me tried to push me off, I was able to keep my balance but then she did it again! There was space for us on the ground right there in front of it so we stood there for another song, but people were pushing and spilling beer so we left when the song was done. Pretty exciting no?!?

My friend Traci and I joined Ashlynn and Girls on the Run for a 5K called Boise to Barber. I love Girls on the Run, not only do they teach girls a little bit about proper running and how to stay physically healthy, they also talk to them about emotional health and mental health. It is such a good thing for them to start focusing on their health now, so that it will be easier to maintain as they get older. We didn't eat anything before the race so that slowed us down a little bit but we still did awesome. Ashlynn's friend Annika raced with us too, she really encouraged Ashlynn when she started to get tired and hungry towards the end. We all finished in 35 min or less. I am already looking forward to the next time :0)

The problem is....

So I always have these good intentions of posting on my blog, so I log on and get my fingers ready for typing; then I notice all the awesome new posts from my favorite blogs so I decide to just skim through a few "real quick"ya know it'll only take a minuet. Then as things happen I get "inspired"and just have to____ (fill in the blank) Before I know it quiet time is up and I have to get back to life, not just write about it! Well I managed to actually write down something this time! Maybe I can do it again! if it would only actually show up!

2009 Recap

So it's been almost a year since I've posted anything...I keep hoping that life will slow down enough for me to catch up to it, not likely! There has been so much that has happened here goes.....

May:
We had an AMAZING trip to Seattle with my parents for both of our Anniversary's (us 8 them 27)

we bought a pig (sally) sorry no pic's

Participated in the largest yard sale in Idaho.

Celebrated the birth of our friends Bill and Traci's baby boy (Micha)

June
Started Time to Shine Day Camp with my sister Dody, so much fun and not just for the kids!!

Helped my Mom and Dad move into a new house...In town!!

Gave Ashlynn her first cooking lesson...Mac and cheese of course.


went and picked strawberries over in Adrian Oregon (they are seriously THE BEST!) with my good friends, Traci, Veronica and Melissa. Took Gabrielle to get her first "real" haircut. Came back to the house and had a "canning bee". Then later that evening partied the night away @ Jaime's cousin Brianna's graduation party....Whew!....that was one busy day, even for me!

Had a HUGE family BBQ, Jaime's family from Washington were in town so we had 75-100 people over that night, it was insane!! but so much fun!

July

Went to the God and Country Rally with the whole fam, YUM!!

Headed up to Cascade for the 4th, I just can't get enough of that place!

Went to Jump Creek with friends Ryan and Veronica, we all had a blast and the good news is no
one got poison oak!

Went to a beautiful wedding for an amazing couple Henry and Anna...It was beautiful, even though it was all in spanish....

Jaime's friends (our friends now really, but he knew them first) came to visit from Virgina

Bought an awesome fire pit and had a few friends over for a wienie roast, delish!

took the girls to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, we sat on the grass and had a picnic dinner, they LOVED it, we will definitely make it an annual family event.

we also celebrated Ashlynn(8), and Jaime's(28) birthdays.

August

On August 4 our family had one of the most traumatic events of our lives, my Mom, who has been diabetic for 20+ had a sugar low that caused her to lose consciousness at work, her coworkers tried to give her orange juice, but because she was not fully conscious she aspirated it into her lungs and stopped breathing, we aren't sure if her heart stopped as well but paramedics preformed CPR for about 3min and they say she was "dead" for about 6. Thankfully God had other plans for her and they were able to resuscitate her and she was able to come home after only a few days in the hospital, there was no permanent damage and she is fine now, they have still not regulated her blood sugars though... I pray that there will soon be a cure for diabetes.

That same day was Ashlynn's first day of Church camp, she had such a fun time, I can't believe she is growing up so fast!

Ashlynn started 3rd grade, and I joined PTO... :-P

We had our annual Harlow family camping trip up at Goose lake, it was so beautiful and we were all so thankful that everyone was there.

Dody found out she was going to have a baby! Sometime in March, we all wondered if it would be born on her birthday.

We celebrated Gabrielle's 4th birthday with a tea party, she was such a princess! We had her party early because on her actual birthday we were going to be in Texas

September

we also took a trip to Lubbock Texas for the Rodriguez family reunion. I still can not believe how much family my husband has, I felt very privileged to meet Grandma Matilda's Mother Francis. We are all looking forward to taking another trip to Texas.

Jaime accepted a new position within Bank of America, he is now in downtown Boise...BODO!!

We celebrated Natalia's 4th birthday, she is such a sweetie.

I walked in the Women's fitness celebration, with my friend Traci, I love that girl!!!

October

We celebrated my Mom and Dad's birthdays.

I also started babysitting again, Julianna and Abby, they are so cute!

Lots of fun for Halloween! We had a "Grown-up" Halloween party it was a blast! Jaime was a swami and Ashlynn and I were gypsy's, Gabrielle was a gypsy butterfly. The next night we took the girls to our church's trunk or treat and then a little trick or treating around the neighborhood with Keeko's girls and my MIL.

November

My Grandma, Traci and I made apple butter with fresh picked apples straight from the orchard.

we celebrated Jasmine's 5th birthday Kindergarten here she comes!!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving day celebration, I am never quite as thankful for our big house as I am during the Holidays.

We made some super yummy gingerbread houses, the Christmas season doesn't "really" start until they are made.

December

My MIL Jackie and I made 10 dozen tamales, to sell, they were muy delicioso, everyone is wondering when we'll make more ;-)

I chopped of my hair!!! and if I do say so myself, I look HOT!

Christmas was beautiful, we were able to celebrate with all our family.....we had no idea that it would be the last with Grandpa Harlow.

We didn't have much snow this year but we enjoyed what we got.

We went to a super fun new year's Eve party, yummy food and drinks, some twister, a little rockband and a soak in the hot-tub....FUN!!

January

This year had a sad start, we found out that Grandpa Harlow was very ill and would probably not be with us much longer. It was a shock to everyone. All our family gathered together to be with him and also to support my Grandma and each other during this hard time.

We celebrated Grandpa Bud's & John's birthday's

I got a new car, it's a Hybrid!!!!

We went up to Cascade for the winter carnival, Jaime's mom and my parents came up too we all had such a blast!!!

I decided that instead of just celebrating my birthday on one day I would celebrate it all week!! I'm glad that everyone went along with it, including my darling husband!

February

Grandpa went to be with Jesus on February 4th. I am glad that he didn't have to suffer for long.

Grammy and Grampy bought the girls a trampoline.... I... er... we LOVE it!!!

Lily joined us a little early...very early on the morning of feb 21 (the day my Grandma Saner died years ago) What a blessing that she could come now to bring such joy during such a sad time.

March....

I colored my hair RED!!

We are getting my Grandma ready to move this June, gonna start out with a HUGE yard sale

Went for our first "walk on the greenbelt" of the season, what a beautiful day it was.

We'll see what the rest of this month brings....