Some morning are like this...

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A much needed update....

So I know what your thinking....Finally an update.  No we didn't fall into a black hole but it kind of feels like it.  Lets start with the new year.... Sterling got really sick the tail end of Christmas.  So when we got home from WA we took him into the doc to figure out what was wrong.  Long story short- After a couple of X-rays and other scans our family doctor advised us to see a pulminologist (lung specialist) due to an abnormal growth.  We didn't wait to schedule a doctors visit with the top specialist in the state- Dr. Shamus Carr from the Huntsman Center.  Sterling was diagnosed with a thymus tumor- medically speaking Thymoma.  For those of you who don't know what your Thymus gland is- a small organ just behind the breast bone in the front part of the space in the chest between the lungs. The thymus sits just in front of and above the heart.  After the first couple of visits we had surgery scheduled for the first available time Dr. Carr had.  Can I just add that having a spouse diagnosed with a tumor and going in for surgery on something that is literally connected to your heart is SO STRESSFUL!!!!!!!!!  There were many sleep-less nights.  Sterling parents came up to be here for the surgery and help with the kids.  The surgery is normally two hours with a two week recovery.  BUT Sterling's surgery was anything but normal.  The procedure is all done from the sides (under arms)  they deflate the lunge on the the side they work from and slowly remove the thymus and tumor. When Dr. Carr started to pinch off blood vessels to the thymus one vessel was twice the normal size causing a bleed out.  Due to the intense blood loss and other risk they had to crack him open.  In the end the surgery was no different then that of an open heart surgery.  I knew something was wrong when hour four had passed and still no update.  I can honestly say that day was by far the longest day ever!  A full week recovery in ICU with about three months recovery at home. It was painful to see the one you love the most in the most pain imaginable. Thinking about it still brings tears to my eyes.  I was so glad to have him home but so worried I couldn't care for him the way he needed.  I am so grateful for all the help I had during this time.  I seriously couldn't of been as strong as I was with out my support from those helping at home.  The Lord most certainly answers prays.  

Sterlings scars from surgery about two weeks post op

Under arm right side- where surgery started

March- With Sterling still recovering from his surgery we had were able to celebrate Lucy's birthday with Jamie!  Lucy picked out her own cake at the store, she loved this cake!  Thank you for all the gifts-  It was truly a special day for Lucy.

April-  Easter!  Coloring Easter eggs after church!  The Easter bunny visited the house while we were napping and left us a bag of goodies!  Of course Liam approved!

April-  As many of you know Liam was born on my-well OUR Birthday!  He turned the big 1!!  We opened gifts and gave him his birthday cupcake.  After one little sample it was clear he was hooked on sugar.  For both Lucy and Liam their 1st birthday was the first time they had ever tasted of frosting.  Liam loved all of his gifts!!

July-  Grandma Ricks shipped us a 4th of July box with these cute outfits.  I couldn't help but taking the kids to the park to get some pictures.  I just wish I had two of me to keep up with these kids.  I love them so much.  They are growing up far to fast!  Time for baby #3??? Nah- not just yet.

Liam and his morning cartoons- namely Elmo.  We love Elmo in this house.  If not Elmo then High School Musical 1, 2 or 3 will do.

Mom thought it was time to show Lucy how to paint.....I think we are confused with make up??? Nope we just like to paint on our face to look like make ups. LOL Lucy told me "pretty like make ups". LOVE IT! What you cant see is that all of her fingers and toes are painted too!

In other news Sterling now has a 2nd job...again. But this job will push us in the in direction we desperately want faster.  Once all the paper work is in order with the NYSE Sterling will be a proprietary trader on the New York Stock Exchange!!  He will be trading with a company out of New York- T3 Trading.  Luckily this job doesn't force us to relocate to New York but allows him to work via remote location unless he needs to go into the office.  But who wouldn't want to make a trip or two to NYC a couple times a year!?  Once we he is up and running I will finally be the stay at home mom I have always dreamed of! Hopefully that means I can get some of these DIY projects off my wish list and from pinterest done! 

yard work in progress

Liams 1st birthday

Happy birthday Liam!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was an all day event this year. With Christmas falling on a Sunday church as at noon and my poor parents had to give talks! We spent the morning with the gift Santa left us in our stockings and then got ready for church. The talks were perfect (so much better then some of the musical pieces) and FINALLY Grandma and Grandpa could relax and enjoy their Christmas (last time Christmas fell on a Sunday they had to give talks!). After Church we then opened the gifts. What fun it was to spend Christmas at home with family! Nothing is better then family!

The night before Christmas 2011

Christmas...My FAVORITE time of the year! This year we spent Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Gropp in WA. I love going home for Christmas, my parents decorate every inch of the house and I love it! Not to mention the mounts of cookies and goodies just begging to be eaten. Relaxing on the couch with Dad (aka Grandpa)enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and helping mom (aka Grandma) in the kitchen making all sorts of yummy things!
This Christmas was especially fun. Lucy is getting old enough that she can start to understand what Christmas is about and participate in all the fun. Below are pictures of Lucy talking with Santa (aka dad)and the yummy cookies she made with auntie Summer for Santa. Also pictured is Liam, he had the most fun crawling around the house pulling down all the beautiful decor.

Thanksgiving/Vegas

This Thanksgiving was spent with the Ricks family in sunny warm Las Vegas NV! We arrived Wednesday and spent the day with family. Once the kids were down for the night Sterling and I hit the strip. This was my first experience in Vegas so I was realy excited. The first thing we did was hit New York New York and rode the huge roller coaster. That was totally awesome! I wish we could have purchased one of the pictures they take while on the ride....it was so funny. After New York New York we headed up the strip going in and out of various casinos. We hit some slots at he Bellagio, kind of a wast of money if you ask me but I had no clue what I was doing haha. After that I needed something for my dry mouth (I hadn't slept in 24 hours so I was in over drive trying to keep up) so we headed over to the Caesars Palace. After Caesars Palace we headed back to the Bellagio and looked at their fall display...wow...seriously the coolest thing ever. Please don't judge how I look in some of these pictures it was like 1 in the morning and again I hadn't slept in 24 hours.
There is so much to do on the strip and we didn't even get to half of it! As we walked from casino to casino I couldn't help but think why are there so many family's out this late! Seriously it was midnight and later and we saw SO many family's out and about.
Thanksgiving was great! We spent the day in with family eating loads of delicious food. Later that night Jeanie, Jamie and I went to the theater (located in a casino lol) and watched twilight!! I loved the ending!! Seriously cant wait for part 2. Day after Thanksgiving we were surprised with tickets to a show called Le Reve at the Wynn. What an awesome show! After that we enjoyed a wonder dinner located at the fashion show mall. Loads of things to do in Vegas but never enough time! Maybe for a little weekend get away Sterling and I can head back and hit some more rides and all you can eat restaurants :). Never a place I will take the kids, just to much smoke and "garbage" shoved in your face.