Val Day

For Valentine's Day, Tyson and I made rice crispies - heart shaped! And then printed out these cute Star Wars cards and used them for his little friends at primary and at dental school.  It was fun cooking with him (if you count melting as cooking!??!) and teaching him how to give to others was very sweet.  He wrote his name on the back of each of them too, awe.

6th Wedding Anniversary

Yay!  Can't believe it's been 6 years!!  A great 6 years.  About all of them D has been in some sort of school.  We've now been in 4 homes.  Have 1 kid.  Accomplished a lot.  Have a lot of keepsakes and holiday decor to cart with us forever too haha.

Feb 12th was Friday, D had school and Ty and I just hung out.  Kind of a chill day.  We all went out as a family for dinner to Training Table, cute!  Ty sure has a personality and was a bit wild at dinner but was good enough that we could all enjoy dinner at least.

Saturday the 13th we had a babysitter, Autumn came over, for the afternoon!  So we did get some time to celebrate with just A & D.  We went to the Jordan River Temple and did sealings - one of the last times we'll be there for 2 years as it's closing for some renovations!  It was nice to do together.  We also had dinner at Olive Garden and then dessert at McDonalds.  Dinner at Olive Garden reminds me of the time we did this for a date night before we decided yes to getting married (at least that date was when I knew it was a yes...).  We did a few extra sealings because we joined a group that was an earlier time and then we did our scheduled time.

We came home and put Tyson to bed and had a nice time chatting about our last few years.  And then the 14th we exchanged our presents - I got some candy and $10.  D got some candy in different baggies put into a wood display case (that we returned to get a different size later on) - 6 years was candy or wood so it worked ;)  I haven't spent my cash yet.

A few thoughts on ACDC....  Sure am glad to have this guy in my life.  He makes everything more fun, just ask Ty, haha.  But, not getting too sappy, just saying, I wouldn't survive without him.  I'm so glad we found each other and just happened to be in the same singles ward and that he went for it and asked me out and kept at it.

Provo City Temple Tour

Tyson's first temple visit - Feb 10

I've been the Secretary for YW's since last October... may not have mentioned that here.  It takes me out on Wednesday nights and a few other times as needed.  It's nice to have fun with the youth and try to be an example for them, but I'm guessing mostly us leaders just are silly oldies.  It's also nice to have a few friends as leaders in there too - a nice time to chat about mom issues and such ;) haha.

We got tickets to go with the youth of the ward to the new temple opening in Provo Utah - the Provo City Temple that was built to replace the Provo Tabernacle that burned down in a big fire a few years ago.  It was early afternoon before David got home, and most of the leaders worked... so Tyson and I got to cart a few youth down to Provo.

First temple walkthrough for Tyson - yay!  I taught him a week or two ahead, or tried, so he knew what he'd be seeing.  But as we walked through I kept telling him everything and lugged him up and down all the many stairs in that temple (like 4 floors or more!).  It was beautiful and lots of pretty wood work.  Tyson liked the baptismal font and the oxen below.  And he'd point out pictures of Jesus and then also other random stuff like vents and hallways and such.  It may have been a little long for him, but he did well.

Loved taking him there, wished David could have joined us or gone another day!  But next time.  It's very nice to be in Utah where we can get a chance to walk through a few new temples every once in awhile.  The drive up and back went well, quiet with the girls and Tyson being shy - I tried to keep us all entertained with kids music hahah!  Here are a few pictures of the afternoon.

Tyson 2 1/2

As of Feb 9 - Tyson is 2 1/2 - what??  Oh wow it goes by so fast.  I need to be better at documenting these things as they happen rather than trying to remember the last 6 months (or as I'm writing this as he just turned 3, sorry buddy!)


Movies: Brother Bear; Pinnochio; Aladdin; Toy Story
Toys: New Puzzles; Pretend Food with other small toys (alphabet, pixar, milk lids, marbles); Water cups or squeezers; Guess Who; Hi Ho Cherri-O;
Food: Tyson isn't a veggie guy at all, and will eat them only when necessary. Some fruits are okay but he eats them strangely - apples he doesn't eat the peal, etc. He is a carb and cheese guy still.  He loves yogurt, pasta, and candy - just like his dad.  We deal with constipation no matter what we try so we have been adding powder to his milk to try and combat that.  Hoping it calms down soon.


Schedule these days:
Up @ 7ish
Still in crib
Play and learn
Lunch
Nap @ 12:30/1pm, sleeps till 3/3:30
Play and learn
Wait for Daddy
Dinner @ 6
Bath (every other day)
Bed @ 7ish

First Movie @ Theatre
Big Helper these days
Knows his letters and numbers
Ready to play outside at parks again
Loves nursery as long as Bud is there
Loves watching 1-2 shows a day, Mickey or Goldie & Bear

Andrea's Gum Graft

So, most of the pictures and such below aren't the prettiest - also yucky details.  Just FYI.

Back in September I had a cleaning and the dentist over David suggested that I had some gum recession that should be looked at - a possible frenum or gum graft or something to help with the gum loss.  I've always had it mentioned at cleanings usually.  (thanks genetics and dad haha!)  We made an appt in December to see Dr Okano, a periodontist (gum specialist) ---- and he did suggest that the gum down at the bottom front teeth area is VERY thin.  Not as much worried about the lowering of the gums, but the thinness - my bone is very exposed and needs more gum.  So, after hoping I was still free cost with the school - yes... We signed me up for a possible $2k procedure for free in early January.  I heard it was bad, so I was pretty afraid.

Jan 7 2016
This date came sooner than I wanted, but better get it over with right?  And so glad David was there to assist.  Ummm, yeah I'm a not as supportive wife as I could have been.  I was the first gum graft at the U of U so while David could have done with Dr. Okano assisting, I voted for David to do the assisting.  Later he said it was okay and good to watch - and that the stitching up was the boring part that took most of the time anyway.

Before pic in the waiting room:

Right after - yes I was on gas...

Well, if I wasn't an ookie person and hated body/blood etc talk - the proceedure probably wouldn't have been that bad.  But it was a bit over an hour and that hour was BAD to me.  I was worried about the gas, would rather be put out, and didn't want to stay crazy things ha.  Anyway, I think I felt completely immoveable but I think I probably wasn't.  I mostly just sat and tried not to listen to the educational chat going around me - sometimes it was about the procedure - where and how much to cut and put it where else.  Then there was lots of tugging and such.  Also, I had a few shots - near the bottom gums and then in the top right roof of my mouth (this is where the new gum came from).  And half way through I had to ask for another shot cuz I was starting to feel it all.  I was fine to have others watching from David's class but the chat - was not good - so David got me his ipod and I remember just turning up the music louder and louder and switching back and forth between a few songs over and over that were loud and made me happier.  YUCK.  But, the pain - not much - just tugging and chat - so it could have been much worse, right?  I felt compliant and a good quiet patient, but we'll never know huh?  David said I did talk but he hasn't told me much still... Dr Okano was very nice through it all and I felt very safe with him so that was good, and David right there too was wonderful.

Next up, recovery.

So, the first couple days - horrible.  The first week, still bad.  And by the second week, still bad, but slightly better.  I can't even share it all probably.... but will try for my memories (and lets hope I don't have to do this again, or our kids get it)
In a few words... the pain is bad, sleeping is hard, and the eating is the worst.
We did the procedure on a Thursday, so I had a weekend to recover with David helping.
The roof of my mouth hurt the most the first several days.  I wore my retainer to help protect the spot but it would dig into it.  It's basically an open wound, well it had stitches and a flap of skin on top - but the flap came off, we noticed later, so it was extra painful.  Next the gums at the bottom.  The first few days it was just open, until we put this perio gauze stuff on it to cover it for a week or when it would fall off.  Being open just made me nervous ALL the time.  And even covered too - not good.  But Tyson did whack that area a few times (mostly not on purpose) and that was bad!  The gum was very tender and it was hard not to look at and see how it was doing.  The perio pack didn't just fall off so I had to pry it off because it was stuck to stitches - yuck! And bloody.  I also didn't brush much the first week and my mouth was so yucky and full of plaque.  I couldn't suck from a straw or swish anything either, yuck.
Food wise - I really didn't realize how inhibiting this was going to be, for at least 6 weeks I couldn't bite on ANYTHING with front teeth.  Even a banana or anything.  The first few days I ate frosty's, sundaes, yogurt, etc.  But cankers came fast and I needed real food.  We did mashed potatoes and broth types, but I just never found anything great to eat.  After the first week or so we did soft foods such as rices and pastas (but pasta was too hard and killed my jaw) and I really can't think of all that I ate - it just didn't seem like a lot.  Shayla brought Zupas - so nice! I ate that for a few days. And Brooke came and helped watch Tyson on that first day by myself and she brought a frosty too - yum.  I felt definitely taken care of.  And I also felt grumpy about the food situation.  Our family meals were hard to plan and each week we'd think of so many foods I'd want to eat but can't.  Burgers were ones I craved - not possible.  And corn or apples or anything.  I still don't bite apples or corn with my front - they say it will take up to 6 months to fully heal.  And biting anything at first was scary.
Later on the hard parts were - flossing, then watching the gums change different colors and also I had lots of gum "tags" that would show up and pull off some of the thickness and recede some.  Dr Okano would check and say he expected that though - although I had no idea so was worried!  It looks LOTS better though and while I would pray to never ever do it again - it was definitely worth it.
After 3-4 weeks Dr Okano pulled out the stitches - yuck! But felt nice after they were all out - there were tons weaved back and forth and on the back side to hold it all together too.  We'll see how it looks 6 months down the road, but I'm excited to have more gums and hopefully less problems later down the road (no teeth falling out down there please!!).

BEFORE

AFTER

Gum protector (perio pack) that was added a couple days later as they didn't have it right away - it really helped keep the gums protected that were stitched on, but it was definitely uncomfortable.

AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS LATER:

This is what check-ups looked like --- my boys are cute and silly.

Christmas Celebrations 2015

We had a great Christmas this year!  Seriously, experiencing Christmas through your kids - is awesome.  Tyson made it even that much better.  Even though we may have gotten up and ready a bit earlier because of his excitement ha.  Love making memories like these together.  And love finding presents for them that they will just love.  Can't believe the season is already over though.  It will be nice to have some of the decor cleaned up, but the fun spirit and music is gone too.  Tyson loved Christmas music this year just like last year.

Christmas Eve:  On Christmas Eve we 1) went bowling with the Evans/Speirs and then went home for 2) our traditional Italian dinner gnocchi.  Tyson was hesitant to bowl at first but warmed right up and even did it in his santa hat - cute!  He played with Andy's kids around the area too.  David and I didn't do our best, but hey it's been a year or two.  Gnocchi was a nice treat, along with brochette - so delicious!

Christmas Morning: We woke up, got ready and then went downstairs with Tyson so he could see all the new presents under the tree for us all.  He was pretty excited but was good to wait his turn so we could each open presents watching each other.  He'd do a few then D & I would open one and such.  He definitely helped each one of us.  Each present Tyson wanted to do more than unwrap but he wanted to play with them too!  The marble run they got right out and played, adorable.  He also was excited about the chalkboard/dry erase board so we played with that and a few other toys in the morning also.  We tried for an early nap so we could head to the Clarks (can't recall if he slept or not)

Christmas Afternoon: We then headed to the Clarks with presents for them and to hopefully go sledding since there was fresh snow.  Tyson was pretty hyper knowing he'd get more presents and was excited to play with the kids.  He got a few nice toys that he'll like a lot.  We got the Clarks more home videos made - that has been fun for all of us to do!

Sledding: Once presents were over and food snacked on - we all (yes all!) headed to go play in the snow and sled.  Tyson wore a small snowsuit that the Clarks had, but it was still pretty big.  He didn't enjoy much of it at all really.  He was cold (we need better gloves) and afraid to go down the big hill.  He did a few times but then wanted me to hold him or Grandpa and him hung out in the car too.  I went down a couple times with D, D was doing it a ton with his siblings.  It was biting cold but fun for a short period.

Merry Christmas everyone!  We sent out Christmas cards, nothing too new to report except that we moved...  And had some cute pictures to share with everyone :)  Here's to waiting 365 days for another fun holiday celebration.