Merry Christmas!

Since I keep forgetting to send out Christmas Cards in the mail this will have to do. I am planning on doing it next year if I can get my kids and husband to take family pictures. So from our family to yours, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas. We have a new year ahead of us and lots of changes (which I divulge in another blog post soon). But 2012 is going to be the Year of Change for our family :D Merry Christmas!

1 and 2 year Checkups!

Well two birthday's have come and gone and Halloween has been put away for another year. In the mean time, we were able to go and get the boys' 1 and 2 year checkups yesterday and they went incredibly well!

I love checkups at the doctor, mainly because I like to see how much the boys have grown. It seems like they are growing so fast and when we get them weighed and measured it just proves my point. haha

Here are their stats for their checkups.

Colt's Stats: Weighs 26.9 pounds and is in the 91% for weight. For height he is 31.5 inches tall and in the 83%. (Cash at his first year checkup was at 23.3 pounds he had lost weight because he had been sick and he was 31 inches tall) So pretty much my little goober has decided to out-chunk him! haha

Cash's Stats: Bug weighs 29.10 pounds and is in the 70% for his weight and in height he is 35.75 inches tall and is in the 81%. I still think that Cash is too skinny but he is so lean and has grown a lot, so it's nice to see that he is doing well (even though he is too skinny for me since he is a picky eater lately).

Needless to say I have some big boys on my hands. Their dad is hoping they play College and NFL football one day! haha

Cooking Blog

For those of you who have followed my cooking blogs in the past, I have decided to forgo those last couple of blogs and have started a new cooking blog that I am actually keeping up with. I have added a few recipes and I hope you enjoy them. I am trying to keep it up to date, but a lot of the times I start the post and then go back and edit when I have time. I have added three new recipes tho in the past two days, so go and take a look.

Also, my friend and I are probably going to start a baking group, so anyone interested please let me know.

Colt Turns 1!

Colt on his birth day 10/29/10

1 years old

Hi I am Colt Jefferey Hawkins

My favorite color is: Any color

My favorite food is: Anything that I can shove into my mouth. I'm not lying either - ANYTHING!

My favorite toy is: My footballs

My favorite movie is: Whatever my brother is watching

My favorite sport is: Football, I have been obsessed with it since I was 3 months old

My favorite thing to do is: Cry

I can’t wait for: The day I can chase my brother and beat up on him like he beats up on me.

Why? Because I hate being the target

I love to: Cry over everything and play catch with my dad

My favorite treat is: Anything I can shove into my mouth

My 2^nd favorite treat is: dum dum suckers

What my mom says about me...

• Colt has been a difficult baby, but the older he gets the better he is becoming
• Colt loves to play with anything his brother is playing with
• Colt is very much a mama's boy (which is something his brother never was)
• Colt will tell you when he is tired and hungry. He will not be nice about it!
• Colt was weened off his formula at 11 months old :D
• Colt's first word was "Dada" but his favorite word is "mamamamama"
• Colt is trying to walk and would really like to take up running because he tries to run instead of walk.
• Colt has the best smile and best eyes!
• Colt is a fast learner and loves to copy his brother
• Colt is a lot like his dad in many ways, but he is a lot like me as well. While Cash is our social butterfly, Colt is more reserved when it comes to strangers - even family strangers. He has to check you out before approaching
• Even though difficult for a lot of his early months, Colt is becoming a little man and I love him for challenging himself everyday.

Well our Goober has finally hit the big milestone of 1 years-old. It hasn't been the easiest year of his life, but he has hung in like a trooper and made it out alive. Colt is the total opposite of his brother, but he has so much fun with Cash and idolizes him to the fullest. I couldn't imagine a better set of brothers. After almost losing Colt at 9 weeks (in womb) I am so happy he is with us and can't wait to see the little person he turns into. Although he is extremely emotional, he makes up for it in the way he carries himself. He is so smart and loves what he loves (like his dad) and hates what he hates. He has been a blessing to this family and I am so excited for this milestone - and sad as well. My little guy is growing up and it can only get better from here! Love you Goober! Happy Birthday big guy!!!

Here is the story of Colt's Birth:
Well, Colts Finally Here!
Well, this post has been a long time coming (and warning, this is a long post) and I'm sorry it has taken me forever to get it posted, but I have been extremely busy and sleeping every chance that I get.

Well, Colt Jefferey Hawkins finally came into the world on October 29, 2010 at 8:02 a.m, weighing 6 lbs 6.2 oz and was 19 inches long. It's weird to think that my children are only 1 year and practically 1 1/2 days apart! haha But it's true.

My scheduled C-Section for Colt was supposed to be on November 5, but at 3:30 a.m. on Friday, 10/29/2010 my water broke and I went into labor. Let me tell you that once my water broke, the contractions came fast and furious and I was not happy about it. It was weird too, because I had heard a huge pop in my lower section and I wasn't sure what it was and then all of a sudden I started having pains. I got up and went to the bathroom where the water came out and then I went back to bed and told Jeff "I think I'm in labor".  He told me to call the hospital so I did and they told me to come in. I had to call my mom to come watch Cash, because she was coming from Midway and my brother was able to bring her down.

Everything was calm while my mom was on her way and I started having really painful contractions. I was able to get freshened up a little and Jeff loaded the car with our stuff and went and grabbed something to eat because he was starving. Once my mom got to my house, Jeff and I left. All the way to Jordan Valley I was in major pain because of the contractions. Once we got to the hospital they put me in a room and of course had me answer a million questions and sign papers (all of this during my contractions). Finally they got the drug doctor and boy was I happy to see them. After going to the bathroom, they put me in a wheelchair and took me into the O.R. for my c-section. My doc was funny and was like, "Isn't this the wrong Friday", which helped calm me. I was able to finally get my epidural and boy was I a happy woman after that.

While they were getting everything prepped, I ended up throwing up due to the drink they made me take before we went into the O.R. Poor Jeff had to hold the little trays while I just laid there throwing up. He is a trooper! Needless to say, that after throwing up I was in much better shape! Once they started, I didn't know what to think because this c-section was a totally different experience than my last one. This time I knew what was going to happen and I hadn't been drugged for the past 24 hours. Finally, they were able to get Colt out of me and when they put him up over the curtain to show me, I couldn't have been happier. The first thing anyone said was, "wow this boy has a lot of hair!" And boy does he! I instantly started crying once I heard him cry (this happened with Cash too haha) and I was just so happy.

After getting Colt all cleaned up, Jeff was able to bring him over and show him to me and we hung out while they sewed me back together. I have never been so happy to see a baby before!! The reason? This was a tougher pregnancy for me this time around. (We almost lost Colt back in April when I had a placenta blister pop and cause me to bleed all over the place causing a fake miscarriage). Needless to say, both my boys are miracles!!

After getting sewn up and into my bed, they wheeled me and the baby into my room. I was so happy to have him with me because I didn't get to see Cash for almost four hours after he was born due to him being preterm.

All-in-all this was a much better c-section all around and I was happy that everything went smooth. I do have some healing to do and have a pocket of fluid in my c-section line so I have to keep it open and go to the doc every week to get it checked, but I am hoping I am almost done with this. It's hard having to have Jeff pack it twice a day and clean it out for me, but he is willing to do it. God bless him!! But overall I am doing well and Colt is doing well too!
I want to say thank you to my mom for watching the bug (Cash for me while I was in the hospital)... Also, thank you to Jeff for always being by my side during everything. He is such a wonderful father!!

Anyways, that's my story about Colt. Not as drama filled as Cash's birth, but still a great story!! I'm just glad he is healthy and ready to be in this world!!

Cash Turns 2!

Hi I am Cash Michael Hawkins

(P.S. I stole this list from my cousin hehe)
My favorite color is: Bue

My favorite food is: Oodles (noodles)

My favorite book is: Anything my mom will read to me

My favorite movie is: Alvin and the Chipmunks, Marmaduke and Yogi Bear

My favorite sport is: Fooooo baaahhhh! and bakbah

My favorite thing to do is: Play at the park and go play bakbah

My favorite hobby is: Being a kid

I can’t wait for: My dad to get home and to see the buh (bus) everyday

Why? Because I get to play with my dad and I love the bus!

I love to: Be a boy - I love climbing, I love playing with my trucks, I love playing with Eeee (Harley) and Aider (Raider) and I love to tackle my brother and wrestle him. I also love to play chase with my dad

My favorite treat is: Chocolate Chips

My 2^nd favorite treat is: dum dum suckers

What my mom says about me...

• Cash loves to be independent
• He loves to help keep his brother in check
• He loves to crawl in bed and sleep with his dad
• Cash is very opinionated and will tell you how it is
• Cash is being very picky at eating, but will eventually eat if he gets hungry enough
• Cash knows a lot more then he can actually say
• He is such a good helper
• He loves to jump - off everything!
• Cash is a very fast learner
• Cash has the best heart and loves to make everyone smile.

Well, my bug has turned 2 and it seemed like yesterday that he was born. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. I am so in love with this boy and I'm obsessed with him. I guess most mom's will say this about their first born child, but honestly I'm obsessed with both my boys. Cash is the best big brother and is a little rough with Colt, but he loves that kid more than anything. I have gone ahead and included my story of when he was born - warning it is long but I will put it in small type. Both Jeff and I are amazed at this little dude. Our Bug is growing up and he is becoming the best little man ever. We love you Bug and hope you have the best birthday!

Happy 2nd Birthday Buggy!

Story of Cash's birth...
Here is the story...
HE'S HERE!
 Well, our little man is here - four weeks early! Yes you heard me right - four weeks early! Because of the storm that hit Utah on October 27, when the pressure changed, it also decided to break my water for me.

I get to work on the morning of the 26th and was going through my emails, checking my voicemails, etc. Well I got hungry, so I went to bend over to reach for my bagel that I had just bought before work and when I bent to the side, I felt this gush of water hit me. I was like, "um..." and then I moved back into regular position on my chair and it kept coming. I didn't know what to do, so I just slowly got up, grabbed my phone and started to walk towards the bathroom. I called Jeff and basically stated this, "Hun, I think my water just broke." He was like, "what?" Then I proceed to tell him what happen. He told me to just come home and he would call into work and let them know he wouldn't be in.

When I got to the bathroom, an older lady I work with commented to me, "I bet you're ready to have that baby huh". I was like, "Um, I think he's coming sooner than expected because I think my water just broke". She waited for me to get out of the stall and she took one look at my pants and was like, "oh boy your water did break, do you have someone coming to pick you up?" I told Rose that I only live 10 minutes away so I am just going to drive home and then I will go to the hospital.

I let my bosses know that my water broke and they were like, "go home!" I was like, "sorry" and they laughed at me and said, "you are fine, go".

When I got home Jeff was already on the phone waiting to talk to a charge nurse to find out what we needed to do. They basically told us to come in and they would test me to make sure that it was my water that for sure broke. Well, on the drive to the hospital we didn't say a thing until we actually pulled up to the Women's Center at Alta View Hospital. I was like, "this is weird," and Jeff agreed. When we got to the elevator my water decided to gush some more so I walked in all weird because I had water (fluid) running down my legs. They put me in a room, the nurse came in and checked me and then they were like, "you are staying".

The staying part they didn't tell me about though - was for the long haul of the entire week! haha

Basically they got me started on the pitocin, had my doctor come down and talk to me and when we asked her about why my water broke 4 weeks early she let us know it was probably the change in the barometric pressure. I was like, "can it really do that?" and she said, "yep".

Well this is where I began my long labor (even though it started at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning). Needless to say that everytime they checked me on Monday I hadn't dialated at all. I went for as long as I could go without getting the epidural and by 10:00 p.m. that night I told the docs I had to have it. They came in and that's when I got comfortable. haha They checked me again at 1:00 a.m. and I had only dialated to a one. At 3 a.m. I was at a 2. By 5 a.m. I was at a 3+ and stayed there for awhile. During the night though, they had to take me off the pitocin for a few hours because everytime I had a contraction Cash's heart rate would drop so they wanted to see what would happen if they took me off. During shift change at 7 a.m. they turned the pitocin back on and turned it up and my contractions got stronger. By 11 a.m. I had dialated to an 8 and by 12:30 p.m. I was finally at a 10. At 12:50 p.m. I started pushing and at four p.m. I was completely and utterly exhausted. My doctor came in and told me that there were some alternatives they could do but frankly I was too tired to do any of them.

Needless to say the end result wasn't what I expected but since he wasn't coming through my pelvis, I had to have a c-section and I knew if I started stressing then the baby would start stressing. Once Jeff and I agreed to have the c-section then within minutes they had everything being done and I was taken into an O.R.

After more drugs, the docs came in and at 4:45 p.m. Cash Michael Hawkins was born!! I remember them putting him up over the curtain but most of all I just remember the pressure from him being pulled out - it wasn't too fun! haha But once I heard him cry I just started bawling! The drug doc asked me if I was okay and I was like, "yes, I'm just so happy". I can't believe that my son was actually here. The first thing I did ask the doctors though was, "is he really a boy?" Because you never know if the ultra sound was wrong haha... Then the next thing I asked was "how are his lungs?" I needed to know since he was early and considered premature. Jeff was able to show him to me but I honestly don't remember seeing him because I was so drugged up. I was told too that I had all the doctors and nurses laughing in the O.R. when they were stitching me up because I kept referencing food. It seriously smelled like pizza and then it smelled like fritos. Weird I know, but it did! haha

Once I got through recovery, I was able to go to my room and my parents were waiting for me. Jeff was able to already show the grandparents Cash in the nursery so I was happy to see my parents had stayed. They talked to me for a bit then had to get back up Parley's because of the storm. I loved watching it snow all day, but I was also happy to finally be done with labor!

About 8:30 that night I finally was able to meet my son. Jeff went down to the nursery and got him and I was just so in awe of this little man that layed in front of me. Honestly I couldn't have been happier than I was at that moment. I was a mom and had been waiting for that moment for a very long time.

Cash is seriously a miracle child and Jeff and I couldn't be happier. We didn't think we could have children and all of a suddent we have a son. He weighed in at 5 lbs. 9 oz and was 19 inches long. I'm sure he would have been over 7 lbs if he would have gone full term, but I couldn't be happier. He is healthy and happy and the only thing we have had to do is work on his jaundice.

So after a marathon labor and a week in the hospital, we were able to come home. It is still so surreal that we have a child in our home but I wouldn't trade anything in the world for it. I love being a mom and I know Jeff loves being a dad. It's just miraculous that this little man came to us. Hopefully one of these days we'll be able to give him a brother or a sister.

So Close...

This time last year I was counting down the days until my second baby was set to enter this world.

Two years ago around this time of year I was anxiously waiting the arrival of my first born after having a wonderful baby shower.

Now, as I sit here on the third year I can't help but be overwhelmed by the fact that my two adorable boys are about to turn 1 and 2 in a couple weeks. It makes me want to cry. They are growing up so fast and even though there are days I want to literally tear my hair out, I can't help but be thankful these two little guys were sent to me. God knew I needed them and I will be grateful every day for the fact that they came to Jeff and I.

So when two weeks is up and they are celebrating their birthdays - I will be smiling from ear to ear and crying inside.

My babies are turning into little boys :(

Holy OUCH!!!

No that is not nail polish - its a bruised sore toe!

So I was putting away some groceries yesterday and as I turned around to grab something, the coke bottle that was on the top shelf (unopened) fell directly onto my toe! It hurt so bad that I screamed in pain and Colt got startled and almost cried haha But it hurt so bad and it started bruising instantly. I went and cleaned off the nail polish that was left and saw a bright blue bruise. Then I woke up this morning and found that my whole top of my toe was completely swollen. It throbbed forever last night and made my whole foot ache. Needless to say I ended up drinking a couple really strong drinks to help the pain go away a little. It hurts still and I'm mad because it's hindering with my running. :( BOOOO!! But I thought I'd show you what happened cuz I haven't had a toe bruise like this before.