Monday, October 31, 2011

Fall has fallen.

We LOOOOVE fall in our house. Probably our favorite time of year, we just wish it would be a little bit "crisper" outside during the day, but other then that we love the colors and all the fun activities and food that come along with tihs time of year. This year is even more fun because Lilley is a toddler now, the photo opps are great! Last weekend we headed out to a family friends pumpkin patch and had a great time while we were there... Lilley has a favorite toy these days, and it happens to be a "bawwll" or ball. So you can imagine as we walked through the patch how excited she was... she was running literally from pumpkin to pumkin screatching with shear excitement about the bawwlls that were everywhere.





We had such a great time, I just wish Sawyer had been a little bit older to enjoy our day as much as we did... he just slept in the stroller
while we cruised the pumpkin patch, walked the corn maze

enjoyed the petting zoo... Lilley had a full on meltdown when it was time to leave. She loved petting the goats and chasing the chickens, (the picture is blurry, but you get the idea)

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tender Mercies...

So, since pretty much everyone who reads our blog is also my friend on facebook, you are probably aware that little miss Lilley gave us a MAJOR scare a few weeks back. So much so, that i now have her baby monitor glued to my hip and the slightest little hiccup has me calling her Pediatrician. Ive never been the "worrying" type of mom, i had a lot of baby and kid experience before my own babies arrived, but that all flew out the window the night of October 2th. Readers beware, this post might get rather lengthy, but its a great story, and one I have been trying to record in both mine and Lilleys' journals without balling each time. (Note: IVE YET TO SUCCEED AND ACTUALLY FINISH).
So,it all started Sunday afternoon (oct. 2nd). We were home listening to conference, and Lilley woke up from her afternoon nap with a low-grade fever. Not too out of the ordinary because she is 16 months old and teething still. I attributed her heightened temp to her teeth and didnt think much of it. Before her afternoon nap she was totally fine, no fever or sign of discomfort, she was busy rolling around on our bed and playing her version of tag with Frank. AS the afternoon progressed we noticed she was a little grouchy and rather sleepy. My dad happened to be in town for a few hours so we spent some time with them and by the time we had finished dinner we thought Lilley was more sleepy then normal because she didnt want to eat anything or even dring a cup of milk. (she loooooooooooooves milk) so I was getting her ready for bed and noticed that she felt warmer then a few minutes ago, almost hot to the touch. I gave her some tylenol and put her to bed. Frank had to leave for work at that same time, so i said bye to him, got sawyer ready for bed and went about the rest of my night as normal. A couple hours later Lilley woke up crying, which is really rare since she's a 13 hour a night sleeper, so i checked the monitor and figured maybe she needed more tylenol. I went in got her out of bed and we ended up watching part of a movie before her fever broke and i put her back to bed. The first two times i checked her earlier she had been right around 100. degrees. this 3rd time she was at 102 something. I remember telling Frank around 9pm to say a prayer for Lilley because something just didnt seem right. As we finished the movie and i put her back to bed, it was around 11:30 so then i went to bed right after.

Now there is a major key here- WE HAVE TERRIBLE, I MEAN TERRIBLE, PHONE RECEPTION AT OUR HOUSE. i NEVER get service, rarely even text messages... so when my phone beeped at 12:29 am with a text from Frank asking how Lilley was, it was the first in a series of tender mercies from Heavenly Father. When it came through, it was 30 minutes later then when he had sent it. The very second it came through is the very second that Lilley started having what we later found out was a horribly traumatic FEBRILE SEIZURE. As i read his text, i immediately glanced at our video monitor as i periodically still do thoughout the night... for exactly this reason. Well much to my horror i saw my baby shaking violently in her crib so i ran in there i swear in a milasecond, and stood over her as i thought she finished seizing... i picked her up when i though she was done only for her to continue to shake in my arms, i ran in to my bedroom layed her flat on my bed and frantically called Frank... first off- HE ANSWERED! HE RARELY ANSWERS WHEN HE'S AT WORK, SECOND, I HAD FULL SERVICE. i NEVER HAVE FULL SERVICE. ALL I COULD GET OUT WAS LILLEY IS HAVING A SEIZURE CALL MY MOM AND TELL HER TO GET OVER HERE. (SHE LIVES ABOUT 300 FT AWAY) I NEEDED HIM TO CALL BECAUSE I DIDNT KNOW HOW LONG MY SERVICE WOULD LAST. I HUNG UP ON HIM AND CALLED MY SIS IN LAW WHO LIVES ABOUT 100 FT AWAY AND ALL I SAID WAS LILLEY IS HAVING A SEIZURE I GOTTA GO TO THE ER... ( I WAS THINKING SHE COULD STAY WITH SAWYER). IT WAS 12:30 IN THE MORNING AND SHOCKINLGY SHE ANSWERED TOO!! WELL A FEW SECONDS HAD PASSED AND I FRANTICALLY PUT ON MY PAJAMAS, I WAS JUST IN MY GARMENTS, AND FROM THE TIME I GOT DRESSED AND STARTED TO CARRY LILLEY DOWNSTAIRS SHE HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED BREATHING AND HER ENTIRE BODY, STARTING WITH HER FACE TURNED BLUE... AS I CARRIED HER DOWN THE STAIRS SHE WAS BLUE AND BREATHLESS IN MY ARMS, LITERALLY LIFELESS, EVERY PARENTS WORST FEAR AND NIGHTMARE WAS COMING TO FRUITION RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES... AS I GOT HER DOWNSTAIRS MY SIS IN LAW CAME RUNNING IN WITH 911 ON THE PHONE, SHE TOOK LILLEY FROM ME AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO GIVE HER CPR I MANAGED TO GET THE INFORMATION THE DISPATCHER NEEDED AS I WAS BALLING AND BEFORE I EVEN HUNG UP WITH HER I COULD HEAR SIRENS COMING TOWARDS MY HOUSE... FIRST TWO POLICE CARS SHOWED UP, THE OFFICERS RAN IN AND KNEALT BY LILLEY, THEN SECONDS LATER THE AMBULANCE AND FIRETRUCK CAME. IT WAS LESS THEN 5 MINUTES SINCE THE FIRST WORDS WERE SPOKEN TO THE DISPATCHER THAT THE FIRE ENGINEER WAS GIVING MY BABY GIRL CPR TO SAVE HER LIFE. AMAZING RESPONSE TIME! I AM FOREVER INDEBTED TO MY SIS IN LAW AND THE MURRIETA FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR SAVING MY BABY GIRLS LIFE! ONCE THEY STABALIZED HER BREATHING, THEY GOT HER ON THE GUIRNEY AND WE WERE OFF IN THE AMBULANCE TO THE ER. AT THE TIME, I WOULD HAVE JUST LEFT SAWYER AT HOME, I KNEW EITHER MY MOM AND OR SIS WOULD BE THER WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES, BUT FORTUNATELY BOTH WERE THERE BEFORE I LEFT IN THE AMBULANCE. WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY WENT FOR LILLEYS EARS, IT WAS LIKE THIS TUNNEL VISION- NO JOKE, I SAW HIM IN THE HALLWAY HE WAS WALKING TOWARDS US AND DIDNT SAY A WORD TO ME, HE WENT STRAIGHT TO LOOK IN HER EARS AND FOUND A HORRIBLE EAR INFECTION JUST ABOUT TO RUPTURE HER LITTLE EAR DRUM. BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, LILLEY HAD A FEVER OF 105.5. NOW POOR BABY GIRL WAS SCREAMING AND WHEN I CALLED FRANK TO TELL HIM WHERE WE WERE, HE TOLD ME HE WAS ALREADY MORE THEN HALF WAY HOME, BY SOME MIRACLE, HIS WORK FOR THE NIGHT HAD GOTTEN CANCELED BEFORE I EVEN CALLED HIM ABOUT THE SEIZURE AND HE WAS ALREADY ON HIS WAY HOME. HE WOULDNY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE HIS JOB OTHERWISE. ANOTHER MIRACLE! SO HE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, WE CALLED A DEAR FRIEND TO COME HELP WITH GIVING LILLEY A BLESSING AND ALL WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS WE WERE BACK HOME AND OUR BABY GIRL WAS PEACEFULLY ASLEEP IN OUR BED.
There is so much else i could write and say, but the experiences were far too sacred to share at this time, all i need to say is that Heavenly Father was truly watching over my little girl that night because the ER doctor plainly stated that had i not woken up wheni did, i would have found my baby girl dead in her crib in the morning. The fact that she had stopped breathing for so long without her body naturally starting to breath on its own shows the severity of her seizure and it's all because of these tender mercies happening in the time and manner in which they did that my little Lilley is still with me tonight. I THANK GOD EACH DAY. I couldnt even imagine the alternative ending to that night. She has since had 2 high fevers and i turn in to a complete wreck, and of course it only happens at night, and the nights when Frank is at work. I still close my eyes and see that blue lifeless baby in my arms and my heart just aches. Its by far the most traumatizing experience of my life, and i just can't get those images out of my mind. Now maybe you can empathize with my paranoia and newly inherited fear of the night.Whew! Happy to report however that she is in good health now.
Later that morning when she woke up for the day she was pretty much happy, just wanted to lay on the couch with her blankey, two favorite balls, and favorite stuffed animal and all i could do was hold her so tight and cry my eyes out with joy that i could still hold her.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

baby Sawyer is here!

Not any good pics to post yet- theyre coming soon...

in the meantime, SAWYER BENET VELASQUEZ is here, and perfect.
He was born Tuesday August 16,2011 at 10:42 am. He weighed in at 7lbs 4oz and 20.5 in. (Lilley weighed exactly the same weight and was the same length when she was born too).
My labor was pretty much awesome, started contractions around 12am Tuesday morning, headed to the Hospital around 3am got all settled in, pushed for 20 minutes and then, this red headed little angel was here. :) He's such a sweet little guy. He loves to be held and snuggled. We're so in love, and happy to report that miss Lilley adores him too... she's already a good playmate for him. She loves to give him hugs and kisses and sit right next to him whenever we have him in our arms.

Life is great... stay tuned for some pics. :)

Monday, August 8, 2011

ANY DAY

any day now... we'll have a baby boy any day... in the meantime, I am spending my days enjoying my little girl and our time to ourselves... these have been the most precious days, days ill cherish forever!!!!!


I have kind of fallen off the face of the earth lately, not because I don't want to talk to anyone. I am just enjoying my time with Lilley so much and i love that it is uninterrupted mama and baby time. it's a little bitter sweet though. I've loved every moment ive had with her over the last 13.5 months and part of me isn't ready to give that up and welcome a new baby, mostly just because we have such a routine and im a little nervous to add a new baby in to the mix. BUt i am super excited to have a little boy, and to experience the joys of motherhood from both perspectives! The news of baby boys arrival is just days away, so stay tuned!! :)

Friday, July 15, 2011

Just wondering...

Where do you put anything boyish in here? (the pictures aren't very good) but you get the gist... it's all girl, and atleast, for a little while, Lilley and baby boy will be sharing a room, even if it's just for clothes and stuff. Theres no room for boy stuff!

Friday, July 8, 2011

4TH OF JULY


Every year since I was born ( i think) my family has spent the 4th of July at the beach. We've gone to the same beach with the same friends forwever. When Frank and I started dating I introduced him to the beach 4th of July, and he's hooked! So now it's become one of our family traditions to spend the entire day and night at the beach for the 4th of July. We usually get there around 10 am and stay until the firework show at 9:00 pm. This year was the first year we didn't bbq there. We invited some good friends to spend the day with us, and they obliged and we spent the day at the beach, left for a little while to get some food( but mostly so the kiddos could nap in the car) and then came back for the show. It was a really nice day... I learned that swimming in the Ocean at 8 1/2 months prego causes extreme water buoyancy! I was making fun of myslef because i cuold lay in the water on my tummy and totally float! It was awesome, who needs a raft when you have a gut to make you float! :) Here are just a couple pics from the day. :)
PS- have i mentioned how much Lilley loves the water? pool, ocean, blow up pool at the ocean... doesn't really matter, the kid loves water! She was so good at occupying herself in her splash pool we brought her, and then taking a few trips in to the ocean with mommy and daddy. too much fun!




Posing at 8 1/2 months prego


here i am again 8 1/2 months prego with baby boy! :)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

it's my party and ill cry if I want to!


Overall- Lilley had a nice birthday. She got tons of clothes and toys and a new pool, and all kinds of fun stuff, but the birthday party day itself, wasnt our best day. the poor kid was teething soooooo bad, her top two teeth decided it was time to come in between Tuesday (her actual birthday, and Saturday when we had the party). She was such a little fuss bucket, but she looked so cute we couldnt help but still adore her. :) and then on top of that, the weather was so not cooperative, hence the lack of pictures from the outdoor part of her party. It was so darn windy at the lake, we ended up having to take the party back to our house inside. I felt really bad for Frank actually, he spent the morning decorating the gazebo so cute, and by the time the party started he had to abandon ship on most of the balloons we got and that he hung from streamers and the flowers kept blowing over, etc... etc.. so we ended up just moving the left over food and remaining party guests to our house. It turned out just fine in the end, just a bummer about the wind. Here are a few pics from the day... pretty much all i got were of the cake and cupcakes that i made and a couple of her hating her own cupcake! :) two tries in a week and the kid still doesnt like birthday cake. Good to know. :) atleast she eats every other kind of food! haha









All and all it was a nice day, and now were moving on with the summer with Franks birthday this coming Friday, and the arrival of our baby boy in just over a month. It's starting to get a little hectic around here.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

"1st" birthday day

We were very fortunate to have Frank home with us for Lilleys birthday ALL day, he had to work overnight so we had a very pleasant family day, before we had just a tiny little party. We started off the morning at my bi-weekly doc appt for baby boy, then came home and made Lilley some strawberry and banana pancakes. Then we headed off to the park before nap time. Then, after the park, we came home, ate lunch, put her down to sleep, watched a movie, and when she woke up we spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool. Dumb me, I forgot to bring the camera out, but Lilley is turning in to a water baby. She loves the pool now and loves to splash around. She was exhausted so she came home and took a nice afternoon nap (which rarely happens these days) and then we had a couple of our good friends over to celebrate her special day since they wouldn't be able to celebrate with us at her party this coming Saturday. I think she had a nice day, Frank and I sure enjoyed our time together with our baby girl and now are looking forward to her party and then the rest of this busy summer with his birthday, and the arrival of our baby boy.

















Wednesday, June 22, 2011

"B" is for...


BOY!!!! Yep thats right- im only 32 weeks prego and we found out yesterday on Lilleys birthday that baby #2 is FOR SURE a baby boy! Were excited for a boy in the house- not going to lie- it's a totally foreign world for me, ive never even changed a boy diaper, never-the-less, we're so excited to welcome him in to our little family in mid August. ")

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Our Birthday Girl. xoxoxo


Today is Lilleys' 1st birthday- I CANNOT believe it! A year has gone by all too quickly. Time please slow down. If i keep writing i'll get all emotional, so i'll just keep it short-ish. :) The past year has been the very best year of my life so far, welcoming Lilley in to our family with Frank has been the greatest blessing and watching our family grow has meant so much to us. She is truly such a joy and I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father gave me the privelege of being her mommy. She is such a delight to be around, I could not have hoped, or asked for a better baby. She puts a smile on everyones face who gets to interact with her and although I want to keep her this innocent little baby forever, I know that she is going to grow in to a strong and beautiful woman, and honestly, I am excited to see the woman she will become. I love my baby girl so much and I hope with all my heart when she looks back on the memories we created together as a family in her early youth, that she will know that, and know what a special loved little spirit she is. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET SWEET BABY GIRL. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART.
~Mom

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Daddys' Girl


So miss Lilley and her daddy are like kindred spirits- she has already inherited so many of his traits and she has this uncanny love for anything her daddy touches. His clothes-his shoes- his plate, cups, etc... When he walks in the door from work she's usually sitting in her high chair eating her dinner and the minute she sees him she yells out (in a very loud voice)- "DADA"!!!! Which is then followed by an ear to ear grin and shriek at him to come over and give her kisses. She just adores him, and I LOVE to watch the two of them play together and interact. This week is a big week for us, we're celebrating Lilleys first birthday and i cannot believe a year ago this weekend i went in to labor with Lilley. We thought for sure she'd be born on Fathers Day, so i tried to make it special but i think I failed miserably, mostly because I was contracting so bad. I sent Frank and my dad off to go play some golf, it was a new hobby he was really starting to get in to- and now, a year later, he still LOVES the game of golf just as much if not more then he ever has before. I was trying to come up with ideas of things to get him for his first "official" Fathers day, and one of the things I thought, was his own picture of Lilley with some of his gokf gear- why not combine two of the things he loves so dearly in his life. LILLEY, AND GOLF. and since Lilley loves anything her daddy touches, it wasn't hard to capture her with her hand inside of Franks golf shoe just pushing it around and playing with it. My silly baby- she's too cute!




Anyways, wishing you all a happy fathers day! We love our daddy here in our home, and we hope he has the most wonderful relaxing day. He deserves it! We love you tons my love and were so glad to spend the day honoring you. HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Monday, June 6, 2011

"KISESSSSS"






recently Lilley has discovered her own reflection in the mirror and she loves to give kisses to it. :) She loves to give kisses anyway, but she gets so excited to crawl up to the mirror and lay a big slobbery open mouthed kiss on it. And then sit back and stare at herself. hahaha. too cute.