Christmas 2009

Awaiting Our New Arrival

So, here we are in the last stretch of this pregnancy and I feel like I'm just ready to pop. I'm just happy that I made it past Christmas, I was afraid at one point that the baby may just decide to arrive a few days before Christmas. That's what I get for not slowing down.

These last couple of weeks have been filled with Doctor appointments and getting everything coordinated with my delivery and my MS treatments. I have another appointment next week and everything should be set to go. I'm also down to the final appointments of my pregnancy, I now go every week until delivery. I'll try to give updates, however, I say I'll do a lot of things and never follow through. I suck at blogging, it's just another thing that I just don't have time for that I try to keep up.

I've been losing a lot of sleep that last few weeks, but it seems to be getting worse. I've been having contractions during the night and they just don't seem to go away for an hour or two and it's making it uncomfortable, as if it wasn't already sleeping with my bowling ball and all.

We have almost everything ready for Mason's arrival. We have all of the furniture and baby clothes cleaned and ready to go. We cleaned up the car seat, swing, and bouncy seat that have been sitting in the crawl space and storage since we moved from West Jordan. I just need to get the bottles cleaned, new nipples and pacifiers and a new rod for the valance I made over the weekend and we are set!

So now I'm taking bets. I don't think I'll make it past mid January, at least naturally, all bets are off if I'm induced for any reason (fat babies with BIG heads).

So on top of all of this stressfulness, Christmas decided to come this year, right in time for more stress. All in all it was a pretty low key Christmas, we kind of did things on our own time. And, the difference this year is that Dylan is finally at the age where he really likes Christmas. The last year he really wasn't getting it at all. It was fun to see him "freak out" with all the presents that Santa brought. According to Dylan, Santa brought him "everything". Hopefully next year he'll start to understand the real meaning of Christmas, but I think that's going to take a while to really understand.

Well, until next time, maybe I can get more blogging it, but I'll take it day by day and see what I can do.

Good Guy Bad Guy??

Dylan has been fascinated lately by what good guys do versus what bad guys do. This has to do with TV shows that Dylan insists on watching with Jeremy, which would be Dog the Bounty Hunter and Cops. Yes, my 3 year old watches these shows, not only does he watch them, but also sings the songs (he did this to my cousins in church last Sunday, which was not inviting the spirit during Sacrament Meeting).

Now if I tell him not do to something he will always ask, "mom is that what bad guys do?" I have to explain to him that just because I tell him not to touch a hot pan, it's not because bad guys do it, it's because it's hot and it'll burn him.

He was so obsessed by good boys and bad boys that I finally had to explain to Dylan that he will never be like the bad guys that he sees on Cops and Dog the Bounty Hunter, and just because he gets in trouble the cops are not going to come and get him.

Because of all of this, Dylan's favorite person is now his "uncle police officer", which t0 the rest of our family is his uncle that works security and drives a security car. If he gets in trouble for something he says he's going to call his uncle police officer on me because I'm not being nice.

I think it's time that Dylan stop watching so much television and maybe focus on reading or drawing or something other than Dog the Bounty Hunter.

It's a BOY!!!

Yeah, I found out today that I'm having a baby boy!!! I'm so excited. I'm over half way there and still have a lot to do before out little boy arrives.

I just got the babies new crib over the weekend, so I'm excited to start getting the rest of the room put together.

I will have another post in the next day or so, we just got back from Yellowstone and the Cabin and have a few other things to blog about with pictures (yes more than one Jen).

Going Private

So, after watching the news the other day and seeing someone's baby show up for adoption I have now decided to go private with my blog. It was the scariest thing, some lady posted pictures of her son on her blog and then someone lifted the photos and posted a picture of her son for adoption on Craig's List as part of a scam.

So, if you want to continue reading our blog I will keep it up for one more week, after August 12th you will have to be invited to read my blog. Please email me if you would like permission to read our blog.

Thanks,
Mandy

Life Is Crazy!

It's a baby! I found about a month ago that I'm pregnant, this will be our second child. I'm excited but not the same as the first time. The first is always exciting because you know, it's the first. I don't think I would have been so excited if I knew I was going to be deathly sick for the first 6 months. Did you know that I lost 28lbs when I was pregnant with Dylan? I only gained 2lbs from my first weigh in to my last weigh in, all because of morning sickness or in my case, morning, noon, and night, couldn't keep a glass of water and crackers down sickness.

As much as I wish I could lose another 28lbs with this baby, I'm affraid that's not going to happen with morning sickness. I'm very lucky this time around, I really dont have any morning sickness all, just a little in the evening. So, if I want to lose weight, I get to do it the old fashion way, diet and exercise. Yes the thing I use to do all through high school with my 4-5 hour drill/dance practices. Well, I never dieted, just straight conditioning and dancing.

I couldn't hurt to lose 30 to 35lbs, I'm a fat cow lately! So tonight I'm getting on the eliptical for an hour at the gym to start with, and then I'll bring weights in once I get into my groove.

So, on top of being pregnant and wanting and needing to lose 30-35lbs., I just found out last night that Jeremy has decided to go back to school to get his MBA. You heard me correctly, back to school. I was very surprised seeing that he hasn't said anything about it for a while and then all of the sudden he has a completed application for Westminster and starts in the fall. Best thing about this, Goldman Sachs pays for all of it! No more student loans!

So coming this fall, I'm going to be a single mom for the next 2 years, pregnant, and going to the gym all by myself. Gotta say that's going to be exciting!

I'm really excited for Jeremy, he's talked about doing this for a couple of years now, so I'm glad he's decided to take this challenge and get his MBA.

Oh, did I tell you I love the 4th of July!

MY Favorite Holiday!

Finely it's getting closer to my favorite holiday, The 4th Of July!!! I love the 4th of July and also the 24th of July, even more than Christmas, always have, always will!!!

Why is it my favorite holiday you ask? Because you get to get together with your family and relax (unlike Christmas where relaxation doesn't exist). There are fireworks, BBQ's, Parades, and HEAT, HEAT, and more sweltering HEAT!!! Did I mention that I love the HEAT? I just love July all around and of course my birthday is in July, so that's another plus!

I like the colors and the patriotism, I mean, the whole nine yards! Everything about the 4th is awesome!

Jeremy on the other hand, hates the 4th of July, he does not like crowds whatsoever, heading down to the parades aren't that bad, but fireworks (especially the 24th), well that's another story. Don't get me wrong he likes the patriotism, but would rather stay at home and chill with the family and friends and stay clear of the crazy mobs.

This year we're going to go to all the festivities, we're going to go to the Bountiful parade on the 3rd and later that night we're going to the fireworks. Then the next morning we're going the the Magna parade (I cannot not go to the Magna parade), head to my mom and dads to chill by the lake and relax, play around, and BBQ with all the fam. Later in the evening we're going to head over to my mom and dad's friends house just down the street to attend yet another BBQ and watch fireworks, let me tell you, they know how to do fireworks!

I hope that I can get Jeremy to go to the 24th fireworks this year, last year was the first time since I was probably about 5 or 6 that I missed the 24th of July and it was torture!

I'm so excited, now I can officially start getting ready for the 4th without feeling like I'm a few months early!

Cabin Fever

I've got cabin fever. I've got it toooo. (It's from a Muppets movie).

So, it's getting to be that time again where we get out of dodge and head up to Island Park to Jeremy's dad's cabin. YEAH!!

So this is one of my favorite pictures of Dylan up at the cabin while snuggling with Cheryl. He was 18 months old in this picture. Isn't he just so cute!!!

And of course one of my favorite scenes up at the cabin, isn't it just beautiful!! The opposite side is lush and full of pine trees and wild flowers. It is so peaceful and relaxing.

Last year we only went up to the cabin a couple of times, which has to be a new low since we've been married, in fact we went up to the cabin more the year before we were married than we did last year. Finally, the snow has melted and we will be on our way next week!!

It's so fun to go with Dylan now that he's older, he loves going there and he really loves going into Yellowstone. The entrance to West Yellowstone is only 20 minutes from the cabin so we visit frequently over the summer. Dylan loves seeing the bubbling water and all the animals in the park. Of course my favorite part in the smell of sulfer, mmmmm..... I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Hopefully Jeremy's Dad and Cheryl are there, we all like to visit and have a good time when they're there. Maybe some more campfire fun while Jeremy and his dad talk about the governments conspiracy to get rid of the second ammendment and take away everyones guns and eliminate the NRA; as well as a discussion about how Global Warming is just a bunch of crap. Gotta love politics. Cheryl and I usually go into hiding around this time.

I'll have pictures again when we get back.

Disneyland & California Adventure 2009

Trip to Disneyland

So,a couple of weeks ago we headed down to California for a few days in the sun. I got off work and came home to pick up Dylan, made some sandwiches and get out of town. We were staying in
Las Vegas the first night and we were going to be arriving pretty late.

So the trip starts out without a hitch until....Nephi. About a mile out of Nephi Dylan throws up, and I'm not talking about any old barfing moment, but 3 separate moments before we were able to get off the freeway. It was sooooooo sick! We ended up taking a 40 minute stop to clean up everything. Needless to say, I was concerned the rest of the drive that day worried that it was going to happen again.

We get about a mile from the MGM Grand were we were staying and we hit road construction, one lane for two miles, took us 45 minutes to get through it. So we ended up arriving in
Las Vegas at 11:45pm Vegas time, almost 8 hours after we left. It should have only taken us 6 to 6 1/2 hours to get there.

We arrived in Irvine the next afternoon to sunny, warm, breezy weather. It was so nice! We headed to our favorite place to eat when we go to Southern California, Wahoo's, they have the best fish tacos EVER!!!

I forgot my contacts so I had to wear my glasses the entire time, not fun, I look like a dork in ALL of the pictures.

Next morning we head to Disneyland. Of course we hit the rides that would scare the crap out of Dylan first and get those out of the way. Dylan was only 1 inch short of going on the majority of the adult rides, but that was ok, he still was able to go on Pirates, The Matterhorn, Tune Spin, The Haunted Mansion, etc.

We went with Angie and her girls and they wanted to take Dylan on some of their favorite rides when they were his age.

Dylan was able to meet a lot of his favorite characters mainly do to very good timing and meet a greets starting right as we were passing by places. Last year when we took Dylan he wouldn't go within 30 yards of Mickey.

We spent out last day in California at Disneyland and Huntington Beach. The water was freezing, but what started as wading my feet in the water, ended up with water above my waste waiting for a huge wave to come in and tripping and falling all the way in.

The drive home again was eventful, we drove to Vegas again and stayed and then drove the rest of the way in the morning. Again, Dylan threw up just out of Cedar City, ugh. Jeremy and I are now pros at cleaning up puke.

So, now that we are home, I get to steam clean the car and get the smell out.

Enjoy the pictures, it's always good to come back home after a vacation and sleep in my own bed.

Disneyland Here We Come!!

Tuesday we are heading to Disneyland with Angie's family for a few days of fun in the sun!

Dylan is so excited. He asked almost every hour if we are going to Disneyland yet. I keep telling him that it will be a few more days, but since he doesn't have any concept of time it's only hours before he asks again.

I will be sure to post tons of pictures of our trip. I know I say that all the time, but I'll make sure more than one picture makes my post!

Have fun in the snow and rain, we're off to sunny California!!!

Trip to Idaho

Last weekend we went up to Idaho to visit Jeremy's Dad and Step-mom. It's always nice to get out of the city and go somewhere quiet, relaxing and has clean air.

Dylan had fun playing in the yard and swinging with his cousins, jumping on the bed at the hotel and playing with the dogs.

I was on the hunt first thing Saturday morning to find Twilight in Bluray. After going to 3 other stores before finding out that the movie was only sold to exclusive stores for the Blueray, we finely bought it at Best Buy. YEAH, I've watched it only a couple of times, but well worth the buy.

Sorry, this is suppose to be about our trip to Idaho; I'm a little of course.

So, Cheryl made us an amazing Turkey dinner! I almost exploded I ate so much. Cheryl isn't exactly helping me loose any weight, she's helping it stay where it is and plump up even more than ever.

Dylan was an angel for most of the trip. He use to hate staying in hotels, but his time he had fun because we had an adjoining room with Jeremy's sister Stephanie, her husband and their kids. Also jumping on the bed also makes the room so much more fun! Dylan also liked it because the continental breakfast was a kids dream, sugar, sugar, and sugar. He could have anything he wanted (with moms approval), while mom and dad opted for cereal and juice.

I enjoy going up to Idaho it's always a nice relaxing trip, however by the time I drive home I need another vacation.

Anywa, enjoy the pics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERM!!!

Tomorrow is Jeremy's birthday! He'll be the big 38! Wow!

I love teasing him about how old he is, I call him my dirty old man all the time, as he is 6 1/2 years older than me. I like to remind him all the time that when he graduated from High School I was only in 6th grade and better yet when he returned from his mission I just a Sophomore in High School and only 15.

Jerm (that's what I call him, but never GERM unless I feel like getting his back hand, he hates it) loves guns and anything guns so I got him a gun cleaning kit and some ammo. We're headed up to his dads in Idaho this weekend, I'm sure he'll have used all the ammo before the weekend is out.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

My Life With MS

As some of you already know I suffer from Multiple Sclerosis. I've now had MS for 6 years that I know of and most likely another 5 years before I was actually diagnosed.

It has been an interesting road since my diagnosis in 2003, ups and downs have been all over the place. I think the most activity I've had with this disease was right after I had Dylan; my MS went off of the charts, so much in fact that I was in the talks with my doctor to take drastic measures; by that I mean chemotherapy treatments. After long discussions with Jeremy and my doctor I tried to take a different direction and just by luck that direction worked.

As for right now I'm yet again having another treatment as we speak. I went to the IHC Homecare office today to have my IV put in for a 3 day Solumedrol treatment (steriods). So what does that mean in the Biehn house? PARTY!!! I'm going to be bouncing off of the walls for the next 72 hours!!! But with each 72 hours of non stop fun comes the week trying to catch up on the 24 hours of sleep that I didn't get due to the treatment.

Anyway, I've attached some fun photos of my weekend adventure. Peace Out!

My Song Selections

I know my song selections are a little out there, but I just have to go with the mood I'm in. There is always one song that doesn't fit, but that's because it's my favorite song during my post.

Right now I've got a little late 80's early 90's going on. I had to post some Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer, they are coming in concert and I couldn't resist! No, I will not be going to see them.

I've posted House of Pain, because it's St. Patty's Day in the next couple of weeks, so I had to have something from the Irish boys of Boston.

And because I posted House of Pain it reminded me of another high school song I loved to listed to and warm up to in drill almost every morning and that's a little PM Dawn.

Enjoy!

It's Official I'm Obsessed!

Hi, my name is Mandy and I’m addicted to the Twilight Saga! I’m not sure that addicted is really the right word, maybe obsessed is better. Not only is this my problem, but now I’ve invited others to join my obsession.

It all started when I bought the first book in the series. I only bought it because everyone was talking about it and how great it was, I thought it would end up being another book I would start but never finished; besides how good could it really be, it was about vampires for crying out loud.

I finished the first book in 2 days, the second 2 days later ( I threw the second book across the room and almost stopped reading this one all together , those who’ve read it should know what part I’m talking about, its about 3 chapters in), the third 4 days later (only because I got sick and couldn’t even read without the room spinning) and then had to wait a couple of more days for the 4th book to come out in which I finished in a week.

It didn’t end there either! The movie was to come out in November and I now had to anticipate that for almost 4 months. I’ll tell you if it wasn’t for youtube with all the previews and scenes that were posted there, I would have lost my mind.

I’ve seen the movie now 5 times, yes, 5 times! Yes I do have better things to do, I’m just lacking the motivation right now. I’m rearing up to get the movie on Blueray next month. I will add the movie to my soundtrack collection as well as my Twilight Sweethearts that I bought over the weekend. I WILL NOT BUY ANY DOLLS, JEWLERY, T-SHIRTS, ETC! I draw the line there! I keep this as private as possible, so those that see me shopping or something won’t think I’m a freak from the start. I’m a closet Twilihard (other than this post).

I feel like I’m 14 all over again! It’s pretty pathetic!

Oh yes, before I end my blog, go Team Edward!

Sorry boys, no perfection this year! Ha ha ha!

New Years Resolutions

Before I start my New Years Blog I must say GO UTES!!!!!

Ok, now that that's out of the way, I can move on with this years resolutions.

I'm not huge on New Years resolutions, who says you have to make them at the beginning of the year? I know, I know, it's a fresh start blah, blah, blah. I really would rather make resolutions or goals if you will, any time of the year. Why do you have to make a resolution that most likely you will break within the first couple of months of the New Year. I set my goals as I go so I don't bite off more than I can chew or feel overwhelmed with 5 different goals going on at once (my goals are pretty significant so they aren't just things like, stop biting my nails, which I already accomplished last year).

So, with that said there are things I want to work on this year, one being CHURCH! I'm horrible in this area; however I use to be very good. I was the YW Secretary for a couple of years, the Assistant Camp Director and a Visiting Teach all at the same time. What went wrong? I call it laziness. But this year, I've committed that there is nothing more appropriate than correcting my sinful ways and getting my butt to church every week.

I don't know what I want to do next, but I'm sure through the year I will contemplate on some area in which I know I can better myself. I always like to learn more and improve more, so there shouldn't be a problem finding something to become better at or learn.

Till next time.