Bella dog

So today was one of those incredible days that I felt so on top of everything. Steve Shallenberger had stayed the night and I had been working on the house for weeks, to get it cleaned and organized (a reason for a deep spring clean). Finally it all came together last night, and I was even able to meet up with Steve and Tommy for dinner. Emmy had napped and the whole shebang! Glen and I got up at five this morning, got an amazingly delicious breakfast ready, ate it with him, got Emmy and Porter fed and ready, the house was tidy and we were off to the Mormon Helping Hands service project with our stake. Both kids were happily seat belted in the car, all was well in the world, and just as I thought of my accomplishments and how happy I was with everything, and how I felt like a super Mom. I reversed and heard Bella yelp! I ran over her leg and possibly hip. She couldn't get up and I started crying so hard. Glen came home and we got her loaded up to go to the vet. She is happily sedated. Poor puppy was in so much pain whenever we tried to move her, she wouldn't eat or drink anything and let Glen bundle her up (which is not normal). She is such a sweet dog, and we aren't sure if she is going to come home. I feel so responsible for her pain, and keep crying more and more. SO far, we know that her hip is broken in four spots, and possibly there is spinal chord damage. Which means no recovery if  the latter is true.

Hopefully writing this out will help me get some of my feelings out.

Things I love about Bella.....

She has a wonderful heart! Is kind and gentle, would never bite or snarl at us. Listens to my commands for the most part, except when I tell her to stop licking me. Loves unconditionally, Emmy is always telling her no, hitting her etc., yet she continues to lick and want to be around her. She let Emmy pour tons of sand on her back, dug holes to get gophers so much that she pinched a nerve, loves running next to us on bikes, and motorcycles, stays close by on walks, and if she looses us she comes straight home.
She loves being inside with her people....last night I couldn't figure out where she when we got home. I even called her to give her food, but to no avail. Then as I am showing Steve the house, I turn on the front room's lights and voila, there is Bella laying on the love sac, as though she belonged there. :) Haha she is like an ox to try and pull if she doesn't want to cooperate!

It is going to be hard to find a dog that is as sweet and easy to own as Bella.

Power of Moms Rocks!

I woke up to feed Porter at 4 am last night and couldn't fall back asleep because I was thinking of a few great plans, brought to my attention  and inspired by the Power of Moms website.

First: I am going to host a park day at my house each Monday. Moms can come with their little ones if they can. That way Emmy can have a play date (Ends aka friends) over at her house and I can continue with my daily duties if no-one comes.

Second: I am going to do a fun activity once a month for the kids (like a valentines party etc.) This is going to be on a Wednesday at 10. The fingerprints museum,  are going to start getting fresh food from a family in our stake who is growing eggs to veggies. They have goats etc and it should be fun to go see them and have the kids enjoy a petting zoo type experience.

Third: Glen and I are going to start having a date night once a week and I am going to orchestrate a group date night for any of our friends that can make it as well. It will be once a month at a certain day and time and we will DO IT no matter what. We will get a babysitter once a week signed up for four nights a month on a regular day. This way every Friday or Sat is our date night and we will just make it happen despite being tired at the end of the day. Even if it is only for an hour it will be worth it.

Fourth: We are going to make a family motto and chant, and decide on traditions we want to do yearly.

Fifth: I want to choose recipe to make each week to find a collection of them that Glen likes! He is a picky eater!

Porter's blessing and an update of our lives!

We threw Porter's baby blessing together kind of last minute and it wasn't half the occasion that Emmy's was but since Heinz was here and none of the other family members could make it this time we held it today. Porter was the perfect baby and while getting ready and during the blessing. Emmy wanted to stay with Daddy and was standing holding Glen's leg while all the men were circled around Porter. I ran up and got her and everyone smiled at us on the way back. Glen did a beautiful job and I just wish that I had had more energy to make it an event.

Lately I have had a difficult doing anything more than take care of the kids and house. My energy levels are getting better but the major fatigue isn't helping the case. My visiting teacher Crystal is amazing!!! I can't get over her or the support from our ward. It is an amazing ward  and we feel so blessed to be here.

 It is interesting how my body dropped all but 7 pounds within the first week but is staying here despite feeding Porter 24/7 or at least every two hours. I need to work on my belly tone and fitting into my jeans. I don't fit any of them right now!!! Yikes. I hope my hip bones haven't gotten wider, if so I will have to buy all new jeans.

We are going walking every day and have gone to Preschool Reading Time at the library a few times.

My billion projects are all on hold, while I try to get the guest house kitchen design sent out, Jesus Cabrera will come and do this for us! Hooray!  Herman's hot water heater blew out two weeks before Porter's birth and ruined the kitchen cupboards.

We just got approved for a loan for energy upgrades, which are going to be amazing. New windows, solar panels and insulation are a few that we can't wait for!!!

Glen is so clever at figuring out all of the cool programs available. The whole house program that he is the sales manager for is going well and he made the first sale, and has been working really hard at getting it going for the other sales guys. He is definitely motivated by selling, which is fun to see. He started on TaiSlim again, after I said one comment about his face not being as cut as it usually is, and his belly being bigger than usual....mine is too. When I get pregnant so does he (in his belly). Anyway, I didn't call him fat, despite what he might tell any of you. Within two days he was more energetic, happier, and has more definition in his jaw line.

I have been fully enjoying the two kids and being a stay at home mom. I feel so sad for all the woman that miss out on the firsts and precious moments while they are working outside the home. I also have come to totally appreciate why so many people stop at two.  It is the perfect number. So simple and doable. For now we are stopping at two :) Most people would say that at our stage of parenting....having a newborn is like boot-camp that seems like it is always going to be brutally tough.

The update on Porter is that he is soooo cute! I love this boy. He started really cooing, chatting,and smiling a lot tonight. His blue looking eyes are getting both of us very excited to see what color they are going to be in a few months. Emmy's were basically black at this point so the fact that his aren't gives us reason to believe that Glen's dream about his eyes will come to fruition. He loves looking around seeing everything that is going on but especially loves the fan in our bedroom.

Mommy is his favorite necessity! Which I don't mind since I am pretty well addicted to him too! Nobody else has what it takes to keep this boy happy. That is most likely due to the two never ending supply of  always accesable goodness, names "Lolo" or Mommy's milk. He just recently let Glen hold him for more than five minutes, while he was awake, and twenty minutes while asleep. The other night he slept for four hours, which felt like a whole nights sleep for me.

The Ergobaby baby carrier with the infant insert is invaluable. I can't imagine what Mom's did without good carriers like that. I still have to get Paige's out of Emmy's old stuff.  Nothing is what they would do or go crazy listening to the baby crying. He nestles in there contentedly and falls promptly asleep, for hours on end.  He loves to be swaddled and I follow the 5 Ss techniques taught in The Happiest Baby on the Block, which work great...Swaddling, Shhing, Swinging, Sucking and Side Sleeping. He is an easy baby most of the time because of that. The Startling Reflex still wakes him if I lay him unswaddled on his back. Today he slept through both two hours of primary singing time, which was perfect. He is the prize at the end of if the kids are good during the entire thing, which they were, and they all (even the sr primary boys) oohed and awed both times. I love Aden and Anais's swaddling blankets made of muslin, and the bouncer chair. When nothing else seems to make that 10 minute shower possible those two are life savers.

He grew out of his newborn size diapers and clothes and is quickly moving through the 3 m onsies. He was 9.5 lbs and  22 inches when I measured last but I am sure is a lot more than that now. He looks like the epitome of health and is so aware of what is going on, and his eyes are wonderfully bright. His little eyelashes are starting to be viseable and he is really starting to hold his neck up well. He turns his head from side to side, as though contemplating what he is seeing.

Every time that Emmy gets near him, he knows it is coming because she loves on him so hard, big hugs, kisses, etc that are a bit to much for a little one at this stage. He squirms and fusses, but I don't want to discourage her form loving him. She says "Porter likes Emmy" "Moa" "Me Porter's big Shursta (sister)"

Glen has been taking care of Emmy during the nights which I couldn't do without, but it means that both of us are exhausted, all of the time, tonight we took about thirty seconds to the two of us while Emmy was on the pot and Porter was with Opa.

Oh this is the life!!!!

Emmy came out of her room the other day and said Heinz!!! then asked me "Ou est mine Opa Heinz Mommy?" "Opa Heinz!" Hilarious. She also says "Dana, Dana, Dana etc." Which I crack a gut at so she continues. It is funny what they pick up on without us knowing. She said her first nine word sentence the other day as she was talking to Opa about Mommy. When I call her my "Cherie" (sweetie in french) she corrects me by saying  "My name Emmy".

Her interests have changed a lot since I wrote about her last. Monkey and "Gunkie" have taken a back seat  to purses, the mermaid barbie, and hiding. She loves to hide herself and her toys under blankets, and in boxes and "Emmy's house" that Opa made her out of a box. She reads like a fiend, loves Dora the Explorer, tells me to "Say backpack" etc from Dora, and plays matching and puzzle games on Mom and Dad's phones. She is really good at all her colors, and has learned (can identify and say the following letters; O E I A M T D P B S K L R H J. She can count her 1-10 in English, French and Spanish and sang her ABCs while we played the piano the other day, she now likes to play it every day and I LOVE that! I really want our kids to play the piano well! She likes her toys and some I thought she would use a lot later in life. For example we have a little clock puzzle with numbers etc. and she can do them all already.

Helping Mommy is another thing she loves doing. While I make smoothies or crack eggs in the kitchen, sweep the floor, feed the dogs, weed, dig or change Porter's diaper (she gets a clean one for him and puts the dirty on in the garbage). I love it all even though it takes longer most of the time with her "help".

Everything comes second to pink. She loves it and calls it "Emmy's Pink". She collects all of the pink utensils, and dishes in her drawer, uses them first then makes collections of blue etc. She would prefer to dress herself in only pink, every day, but I did manage getting an adorable green outfit on her around St. Patrick's Day.

Dressing her has already become an issue of her own. Not only does she like to decide what to wear, she throws a big fuss about it if she doesn't wear it. She likes skirts over pants and doesn't like jeans, which is a bummer since I bought about five pairs of 2t pants.  The funniest thing about her selections is that she loves tights and thinks they count as pants, and when wearing them doesn't want to wear anything else. The other day I got a tutu over her tights, she threw on her pink polkadot rainboots and headed out to Home Depot and Boba drinks with Daddy on their Daddy daughter date. She turned a ton of heads and everyone that passed said that she was simply adorable.

She pulled my yoga mat out today and proceeded to do yoga, downward dog, plank and cobra. She does yoga in the tub too. Soo cute. We love walking to Mrs. Norton's house where she gets a "baby orange" and then she visits her friend Kobe's house. She can find her way back home to "Emmy's home" from anywhere on our walk in the grove, and even in the car.

She asks about family members on a daily basis. Wants to know where Dora (Victoria), Oma, Tia Ita (Anita), Beezy (Breezy), Paigee, Baby Holland, Gunka (Grampa), Muey (GrandMary), Unkabrock (Unkle Brock), etc. She knows the answer but want to ask anyway. She also tells me that "Jesus is coming" and asks where he is "When I tell her he is in Heaven, but sometimes comes to His houses the temples" she asks me again, then points to the sky or a picture of the temple and says "Jesus House". She especially talks about that when she is swinging, looking up at the sky. Sunsets are her new favorite thing, we make it a ritual to watch it nightly, and find the moon and stars if she is awake.

I love being a mom

So I haven't uploaded pictures for a while so here they are!

I found out that we have a 10% chance of having a blue eyed kid, 40% chance of having a green eyed child, and 50% chance of having a brown eyed child.  I loved learning about that in high school biology but it is even cooler learning about it as a mom!    

This eye color calculator kicks but!

http://museum.thetech.org/ugenetics/eyeCalc/eyecalculator.html

Here are some of the latest pics of the kids!

 Emmy  is such a great big sister!!! She loves laying on the love sac and holding her baby brother "Porter". She finally got his name down. She gives him hugs and kisses all the time.

Glen's birthday!

I threw Glen a party with  Heather and Her Mom who brought dinner, and I made Ghirardellie's brownies (Glen's fave), cleaned up the house and even put up a Happy Birthday sign. Considering I had a baby 9 days ago, I was quite proud of myself for pulling it off. The Evans, Nortons and Evans came.
It was supposed to be a chocolate fountain party. I did all the work to make it beautiful and perfect, followed the directions to a T yet the chocolate in the fountain got to the top of the pillar and stopped!!!! We tried to save it, but  added milk instead of oil to thin it out, so the chocolate was ruined. Plus with all the craziness I forgot to take pictures.... So I felt like it was quite the disaster of a party, but later Glen told me that it was the perfect party!  We had fun and that is what matters!

Here are some hilarious shots of "The Rusche Boys" that I took, and no it was not planned.

Porter is a week old and Emmy is 25 months!

He is such a sweet little guy, easy as can be, still sleeps a ton (almost all of the time), and is a good little eater! Has gained over a pound. I still can't believe how little he is! Amazing how fragile and delicate he seems. 


At his checkup, Porter was laying tummy down in the nude and Glen's comment was "Man, he reminds me of your Dad!" Funny timing for such a statement don't you think? Hahaha! It is true he still is a little Harris baby, doesn't look much like a Rusche yet, except that Glen's ears and toes are coming through again! 




Emmy is so sweet with Porter! Hugs and kisses all over the place, plus she wants to tickle him all the time. Yesterday she started pulling her shirt down to give "Baby Porter Bud" some "Emmy's Lolo" (Breast milk) :) She cracks me up so much!


Emmy is 25 lbs and is growing like a weed. She loves to go on walks, go to church (who wouldn't love Nursery?), dance, do yoga (anything that is on her tummy or on hands and feet at once), give baby brother kisses and head hugs, as well as tickles on the head. I realized that she is still kinda clumsy when she is trying to hug him etc.when I keep having to protect his little head. 


These are my Facebook posts from the past week! 


Precious Moments! Porter and I gazed rather in the eyes fire the first time today. Emmy gave him big hugs and kisses and said: "I love Porter. I love you Porter!" That made all the tantrums and fatigue with it.


Glen took Emmy today while I was resting with Porter! How nice was that. Emmy is calling Porter her little "Baby Buddy Porter" and gives him kisses and helps him access Mommy's milk :) 
I just have to say that I have the best ward in the world! I never really understood the dinner for a new Mom until now. I almost cry with gratitude each time the food arrives! Thanks Sisters!!!


Feb 19th! My sister Paige had her baby boy this morning. They named the little angel Holland Anthony! I love the name and the baby already. How fun that our boys are only 5 days apart!


I forgot how often newborns eat and poop. I don't feel like I slept more than a few hours last night. Good thing he's so cute and cuddly. Breast feeding is sure the way to go! Heavenly Father sure designed things just right.


Porter is a week old today and I can't get over him! We feel so blessed to have a healthy little angel in our midst!

Emmy is TWO!!!!

Summary of how she is now....

Wakes up happy, jumps out of her toddler bed (her old crib with one side off) and comes into Mommy and Daddy's room silently. Hits her baby monkey on the bed and when I turn over she smiles and says "All done night night Mommy"
Getting her ready in the morning is a breeze, she chooses her outfit, sits for her hair to get done and is very cooperative! She loves going places, and asks to go to "Chuch" all week long! Who wouldn't look forward to Nursury?

She can repeat most things and can communicate all of her thoughts in a mixture of French and English and uses a very throaty "ARRGH" (trying to say it how Mommy does) for some french words like Coeur and Beurre.
She has doesn't even attempt GrandMary and Grampa Greg but instead says: "Meh-wie" and Ganka.
Her response to everything is a very quick "Thenx" or a "No Thenx" if she doesn't want it or to do it.
She notices everything, like usual, and points it out. A few recent examples are: the couple behind us were sleeping in Stake Conference and she pointed to them and said "They night night", everyone around us heard her including the couple, they woke up and said  "Oh we got busted" :) and Daddy licking his fingers this morning. She is a little police woman with Daddy, and doesn't like it when he hugs Mommy or does anything with me for that matter, she competes for every second of attention that I give him. Poor Glen!

Differentiating between who is a boy and who is a girl is a favorite! She delites in pointing to all of the family members, whose pics are on our fridge, and telling me who is what. She calls girls "goys" and is sure that Baby Brother is "No boy, Goy!!!"  She kisses my belly over and over, saying "Hi to "Baby Pottarh", asks for him to "Bouger" (move in French) while keeping her little hands on my belly! I think she thinks my belly button in the way to see him so she is always trying to open it up. We graduated from her telling me "No Ahhh baby out Mommy" to the other day when she told me that "Baby Pottarh is coming Mum" with a big smile on her face. We are reading a bunch of books about baby brother coming etc. and she loves them.
When she is eating and likes it she says "Good Cookie (Cooker) Mom" with the intonations like our family does! Hilariously cute!
She says "I...Uv... You" with the person's name at the end...Favorites include Mommy, Ganka, Meh-wie, Dora (Victoria) and Daddy.
When my phone rings, she tells me calling it a "Nown", she can't quite pronounce the letter "f", and tells me that Either Daddy, Dora or Uncle Brock are calling :) For some reason she loves Uncle Brock even though until her birthday she'd only seen him once since her baby blessing.
Lynkhan graduated from Lynkie to Lynka. Every morning she and Daddy go feed Lynka/Bella and when she sees them after a trip out etc. she greets them by saying "Hey Guys".

Almost every sentence that comes out of her mouth ends with Mom
Her little intonations are so expressive now....especially when she is displeased.
She said her first six word sentance "Unca Bock's coming my birstay Mom" a few days before her birthday.

On Jan 17th I wrote:
Emmy is in her room for nap time. Not sure if she is on her new toddler bed or not but she has been singing Twinkle Twinkle/ABCs and talking happily to herself for the past 15 minutes. Today she has been telling me, "It's my birthday Mum", "I love you" and singing sorry followed by a big hug.
Her song is all mixed up, her birthday isn't until the weekend, her " I love you is so quick, it's almost indiscernible, she shouldn't do things that require a sorry, yet spending today with her has been pretty close to perfect and I can't help love her more than ever....if that's even possible!

 On Jan 21st we held a birthday party for Emmy!

This is the invite we sent out...
Babies, babies everyewhere, but wait....Emmy isn't a baby anymore!
We are going to celebrate her second birthday and we would love it if you would come! We will be serving food and a princess cake!

Here is Heather and her Mom who made the beautiful Princess cake!

The day before her birthday and about 40 people came! It was such a fun party and we really enjoyed hosting the party. It has been a long time since we had one here and we have attended so many at other peoples houses.

Emmy was kind of hesitant at the beginning to play with kids. But caught onto the cake blowing out and present opening idea quickly!

Her favorite! Who she was so excited about having him come to her party! Unka Brock!

 His dog Scrotty!