Cali trip

So we got home this morning about 12:30.  I was so ready to be home.  I swear the drive home takes longer then the drive to where ever we are going.  We had lots of fun at the beach, Disneyland, and the Long Beach Aquarium.  They had big tanks where you could touch small sharks and huge sting rays when they swam past you.  They also had a tank inside that had jelly fish that you could touch.  It was one of my favorite things from the whole trip.  I take a blood test on Thursday and Saturday to see if I'm pregnant so I'm looking forward to that!! 

Bed rest :)

Sorry I haven't posted for so long.  Here's a quick update on our trip-

We got here late Friday night and spent some time on the beach on Saturday with the Sanfts.  All 3 boys loved being in the water.  I would go back and forth between the water and sitting on the beach.  It was so nice.  This is the first time I've been to the beach that I actually remember.
Sunday we spent most of the day in the hotel and then we went with the Sanfts to their ward and then had dinner with them.  After that we went and walked around the Pier for a little while.
Monday was Disneyland.  SOOOO much walking!  I remember as a kid just running around and having all this energy, but as the old parent it is much harder!  Chase will take Collin back tomorrow since I will still be on bed rest.
Tuesday Chase had to do some work so most of the day was spent inside trying to get things clean and food ready for my bed rest.  We left for the clinic at 3 and got home at 7:30.  It took a lot longer then I was told because they did an acupuncture treatment before and after which was very interesting.  It wasn't bad, but I don't think I'll ever do it again :).  As soon as I got home I was to go on bed rest.
I've been talking a lot to Collin about it because I can't lift anything over 10 pounds or have any thing on my mid-section for a couple of weeks.  As soon as I got home last night Collin asked me to pick him up.  I got down by him and told him that I couldn't pick him up and that he couldn't lay on me for a few days because I had some babies in my tummy and I didn't want him to hurt them.  He got very serious and told me he would be very very careful so he wouldn't hurt the babies.  I told him that some mommies get very sick if they get a baby in their tummy so I am going to help this baby grow and when its born we will let the baby go home with his (we know that they are all boy embro's) mommy and daddy.  He said, no, we are his family.  I told him that these babies were for another family and after I have these babies then I will try to have a baby for our family.  I think we will have this conversation for the next 9 months over and over again, but that's ok.
Wednesday morning (today) I've just been hanging out in bed.  Chase took the boys to a park close by and my mom just left to spend the day with the Sanft's so I'm just chillin at the hotel room.  I'll stay on bed rest all day today, tomorrow and most of Friday, which was a little disappointing.  I thought that Thursday would be the 3rd day and I would be able to go see some things on Friday, but that's ok.

I have been taking a TON of med's for this- 5 pills, one shot in the hip everyday, and then twice a week I have to get two shots total and an internal pill.  I feel bad for my mom and Chase because they are the ones who are giving me the shots and I know its hard for them to have to stab me all the time.  I will start testing on Saturday to see if it was successful and have an official blood test in 8 days just to be sure.  Then at the 8 week check up they will see how many heartbeats.  We have high hopes for 2, but the doctor is expecting just one because of the condition of the embros.

That's it so far!!  Once somebody gets home I'll see if I can't find a camera cord to put some pictures up from the beach and Disneyland.

Little alarm in my head

I told Collin last night that I had an alarm in my head that goes off everytime he gets out of bed.  He said he was quite enough that he could sneak out, but I told him that my alarm goes off when he leaves the room and at night when hes supposed to be in bed is the only time the alarm works- so during the day when he is being a spy I can't see him or hear him but at night it goes off.

I forgot about it until this morning when I was taking my mom to "work" (volunteer at the distribution center at BYU). 

I told Collin- Mommy and daddy are SOOOOO proud of you for staying in bed last night!

You did so great! We were talking about how great you did last night when we went to bed, and we are so happy!

Collin said- Thanks mom! Ummmm, can you lean back here so I can take the alarm out of your head....?

Captain America and Batman

For the last few weeks Collin has been Captain America.  He will correct you every time if you call him Collin (No, I am Captain America.).  A few nights ago a friend in the ward brought a Batman mask over and Collin stayed up for hours wearing it.  We went to the store a few days later and found some different masks on sale.  Ever since then he has worn his Captain America outfit everywhere.  Its really funny when we go to the store and people will say "Oh, I'm so glad Captain America is here!!"  

Now that Collin has a different mask then he will let Landon wear the Batman mask.  He likes to wear it for a few minutes at a time.

I spread some seeds around the front flower bed a little over a month ago and this popped up.  No idea what it is.  I'm kind of excited to see what ends up growing on it.  Chase is trying to use positive thoughts to make it into a watermelon plant.

Making boats for snails

There was a small break in the rain and wind (makes me SOOOO happy, but the wind was a little intense) so I ran and cut up a milk container and a juice bottle and let the boys play in our "lake" in front of our house.  Our yard is full of snails so both the boys found one and put them in their boats.

Collin's snail was named "Snaily" and Landon's was "Buddy"

Collin decided they should kiss.  Kind of weird....

Then Landon decided they should kiss.  Weirdos.

Then Landon kissed one.  SO GROSS.

Collin went inside for a while and when I finally went in to find him he had put on his swimming suit.  Sadly, by the time he got back outside the wind had majorly picked up and we had to go back in.

I have loved this rain!!  I love it for all the reasons I used to- cools down the temp, helps so we don't have as many fires, but now I love it because it makes it so my lawn is alive!!  We have tried and tried to water our poor grass but its just...sad.  But it is getting better.

Randomness..

Yesterday, right after I finished mowing the back lawn, a friend came down the path by our backyard and told me "Wow, my husband wishes he had a wife like you!"  We laughed and chatted for a minute, then she left.  As she walked away I decided to do one last trim around the edge of the lawn.  Didn't notice the BRIGHT ORANGE extension cord under the mower.  It ended up in 4 pieces.  Awesome.

We bought a membership to the zoo with Kim and went for the first time today.  The new stuff is really cool- otters and seals and a polar bear.  One of the workers said they hoped to have a 2nd bear within the next 5 years.  The bear was very active and liked to do the back stroke :)

I know you are SUPER jealous of my amazing pictures with my $20 camera.  Yes, Landon is wearing his batman cape.  He loves it.  And usually wears it for the first 15-20 minutes where ever we are and then he wants to take it off so I have to hold it or try to fit it in my purse.... super fun.  Collin was mad that I didn't bring his.  But he didn't ask me to.

Backstroke.

SOOOOO excited for the Olympics.  I have always loved the Olympics and as a girl would go out on my back patio and pretend to do all the stuff I saw-mostly gymnastics- but some diving as well, which didn't work out as well as one might think....

It gives Chase and I (and probably Collin) time to sit and talk and eat junk food while watching some of the most "in shape" people on tv.... which is what we usually do, we just don't usually watch healthy people.  It kind of takes away from the enjoyment of the junk food.

We signed Collin up for a month long soccer team through the city.  It starts in a month.  Be prepared for LOTS of pictures.

I just had to laugh

Today the boys were in Collins room and Landon started crying.  I went in and asked Landon why he was crying.
Collin: I think he's crying because he saw a spider coming at him.
Me: What did the spider look like?
Collin: Ummm, it had really long legs and its eyes and mouth were looking up.
Me: I don't think you really saw a spider.
Collin: I'm so sorry mom.  I think he was crying because I accidentally beat him up.
Me: SIGH


I'm sorry I haven't posted any great pictures lately.  I only take pictures on my great cell phone camera and I don't ever take my Rebel out anymore.  So sad.  Anyway, my card reader broke (I bought it like 6 years ago for $5 so I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.) and I keep forgetting I need to buy one until I'm home and trying to put a picture on my blog.  So get excited that at some point of time you will get a huge overload of pictures from my life.

Bed side lamp battle

So pretty much every night Chase and I have a bedside lamp battle.  First, we try to wait for the other one to turn on their lamp first.  Usually Chase will turn on my lamp before I get in the room.  Then once we get all settled in bed I realize that now I have to sit up to reach my lamp.  I usually lay there for a while saying "its too far....I can't reach it...." Sometimes Chase will just get out of bed and turn it off.  But usually I'll almost kill myself by leaning the lamp over and it almost falling on my face, or almost breaking it when I try to stand it back up.

Landon's a little mommy :)

Collin: Mommy, I need to put my rocks away before dinner!
Landon: After dinner honey.
Collin (turns to Landon): But Mommy!!  I need to put them away!
Landon: A-F-T-E-R D-I-N-N-E-R HONEY.

Then Landon looks at me, rolls his eyes, and starts eating his dinner.  Collin let out a big sigh, and sat down.

My job is done.  I think Landon would make it just fine in the world.

About 4 years ago Chase and I started talking about me becoming a surrogate.  I was pregnant with Collin at the time and knew that it would be a while before we would really look into that.  During that time I was able to go to the temple by myself one night and thought and prayed about the decision to become a surrogate.  I felt very... interested and peaceful as I thought about it.
I knew that I wanted to have one more baby close to Collin, so I became pregnant with Landon.  When Landon was about 6 months old I submitted my profile to become a surrogate.  I talked with 4 different couples over the next year, all of which wanted to have the option to abort if there was a physical or mental problem with the baby.  I wasn't feeling good about the experience, so I asked for my profile to be removed and I would let them know if we decided we were interested again.  4 weeks ago I received an e-mail from the surrogate center asking if I might be interested in working with a couple from China who just moved to California.  Chase and I prayed and talked about it for several days, and decided we felt very good about moving forward with this couple.  Last Wednesday I flew out to California (flew out at 8:30 AM and arrived back in SLC at 8:45 that night) and met the doctor, other surrogates and the couple.
I was nervous and worried about taking this trip by myself, but it ended up being an amazing experience.  I had a good talk with my 1st cab driver about being LDS (which he did not know much about but we had a very open and good talk) and about how important families are.  The couple I will be working with are so sweet, and they are so loving.
If all goes as planned I will have the transfer end of July in California.  We will be there for a few days this time.  I'll keep you updated :)

Our month....

OK, here is a picture update of our lives from this month.

I got this picture taken on Valentines day.  They turned out really cute.

I let them choose between Superman and Batman and they both chose Batman.

Collin likes to ride his jeep on the grass, but the battery will slow down when going uphill on grass, so he'll tell Landon: Get out and push!  So Landon will get out and push.  The funniest thing is Collin isn't strong enough to push it when it's empty, much less with an extra 28 lbs like when Landon pushes it.

Landon found some "binoculars"



He was my best mover.  He had his own little dolly and when I told him it was time to stop for lunch he got very upset and told me he didn't want to stop.





This was the perfect spring night- my mom's sprinklers made a little stream in front of her house and the boys were throwing little stones in it and stomping in it.  It was so nice.





This is a picture from our front window.  My mom's house is a little hard to see because it's behind our cute little tree in the front yard.  We had to teach the boys how to cross our street so they can go to grandma's house.  Collin does great, Landon likes to walk in the middle of the road instead of crossing the street. So we're working with him.  Its a good thing we don't have a busy street.

The move has gone well.  Collin has been having kind of a hard time, partly because we are in a new place and partly because I've been very busy and haven't been able to just sit and hold him for the past week.  But he's getting better.  Landon hasn't had a hard time at all it seems.