A little bit of Za

March 23 2017- I figured I needed to jump on here quick and put up a little post about our little cupcake Ziah. She recently turned 18 months. How can it be? Time for another? Haha, Andy says not a chance. 

Ziah 18 months (Photo by: Mama)

Ziah currently weighs in at roughly 22 pounds and is roughly 32 inches. She thinks she is quite comical these days. She is quite the talker which is so different from the twins. It seems (which they did) that they just started talking and are still learning. She is constantly saying "Mama, Mama." Neither Zoe nor Zayne did that, they do now! She has signed "more" for awhile now. I recently went through a bunch of sign language that I know and that I had taught the twins, not thinking she was paying attention. But, she was.. as I know can go through it all with her and she knows all the signs, "please, more, thank you, eat, drink, sorry, no, etc." She is so smart. Well, that and she tries so hard to keep up with her Brother and Sister. I am sure it won't be long before she passes them. 

She is such a complete joy. So easy. The best eater and the best sleeper in the house. She goes down for naps and bedtime the easiest. Lately she has been a little grumpy. As Zoe says, "Ziah Grumpy" or "Ziah mad." I thought maybe a ear infection but turns out those ears are clear and then maybe teeth but she has all her teeth. The other night she was grumpy and fussy. We sat down for dinner and she sat on my lap because she was fussing. She sat and ate about 6 big shrimp. Shoved the whole shrimp in her mouth. She couldn't get enough. Andy says (laughing) "Maybe she is just hungry." 

Blowing Mom a kiss. 

She is little miss independent also. Although she really loves to be with her MaMa (and secretly I don't mind). But, I think she realize how much work the twins are and how needy they can be and she looks at us like "don't worry about me, I am fine." Like, we were just in Red lodge. We spent a couple mornings swimming. Zoe and Zayne want you holding them, or they want this or that, but either way it's always something and not just with swimming. But, not Ziah. We put her little floaties on and she would just float by herself around the pool with out us holding onto her. Zayne at one point had a little freak out moment when he realized that no one was holding onto Ziah. It was so sweet to see him so scared and afraid for his little sister. 

So, that's Ziah. Sweet as can be. She always has her eye on Zayne. Tries to be a climber but as Andy says "she is the worlds worst climber." Loves to play with Zoe. And recently her new thing is to copy you. I truly, truly can't imagine our lives without her. Like I always say, she is the best gift we never asked for. I joke that she should of been a colicky one because she is so sweet she makes you want more.
Love you to pieces sweet little one. 

A special visitor

March 14, 2017: This past weekend we were lucky enough to get a visit from one of our Favorite Primaries from our NBICU stay. Miss Maureen was here in Bozeman, and the good thing is she will (at least we hope) she will be visiting more often now that her Brother and his family have moved here and he is the city developer for Bozeman.

It always leaves me reflecting back on our stay. Being ever so Grateful for the University of Utah Hospital. I/We really do put them on a pedestal and in my opinion is one of the greatest hospital around. I do feel that we got lucky and we got the best nurses on the planet to care for not only the twins but also for me. I feel fortunate that I am still connected with most of them. Maureen, Barb, Sue, Lindsey, Virginia, Jace, Dr. Yoder, Dr. Fung, Dr. Null, Dr. Digeronimo, Dr. NANCE (my favorite), Dr. Clark, Nona, Yvonne, Emily, Stephanie, Rosemilli, those come to my head right away. But, I know there are many others that were there and part of our journey and I feel ever so grateful for all of them. Our door is always open for a visit from any of you and we look forward to our next visit to the U.

Having Maureen here for a visit was great. I will always tell the kiddos about her how important she is in there life along with the others. By the end of her visit, when putting Zoe to bed, Zoe says "Reen back." Meaning Maureen come back. Love it. She is their angel. I know that her knees hit the floor 165 days in a row, praying each and everyday for Zayne, sometimes even more. I am so grateful for that. Words can't even explain it.

"We don't meet people by accident, they were meant to cross our paths for a reason."

Home.

MARCH 14, 2017: Home. What does home even mean? I am sure I have wrote a blog about this once already, maybe I find myself reflecting on it for 1. We have been through so much, tossed here and there, staying in this little home to the next. or 2. I often question if we are where we should be, it this where we really should put our roots? and 3. Sometimes you find yourself in a rock and hard spot being away from some family. 

So, Home...Too some it's where they are from, their actual home they live in, where their family is etc. To me/us home has become so much more. It has a whole knew meaning a new definition. I feel fortunate that we have experienced what we have experienced in ordered to know what home really means.

When we spent a year in Utah, not even the year... just spending 10 weeks inpatient in the hospital, people would always say, "it's going to be so nice to get out of here." Well, No not really because we are leaving without the 2 most important little beings of our lives. And then that stay extended to over a year in Utah and we would here the same, "it's going to be so nice to be home." Was it nice yes, but something happened it that year we were gone. We grew, we gained a strength most will never know, we learned that if needed we could live in a tent and that is home. We spent 10 weeks inpatient on bedrest, and we remained a family. We stayed at the Ronald McDonald house, we remained a family. From there a studio apartment, to a small 2 bedroom, and we made it our home, this was where we brought our kids to for the first time. No, I didn't get to bring them "home" to their sweet nursery that we had prepared. Instead, Zoe came "home" to the RMD house. Zayne came home to our little apartment... and this was "home." Perfect in our eyes. Perfect because we were a family of 5.

From there, home to Bozeman. But things changed. Our hearts in Utah. We are now sure and convinced we could live in a tent, a cardboard box, and call it home. We can make it and we can survive the circumstances.

So why this blog. Less than 2 months after moving into our new home here in Bozeman, (Utah almost became our home.) Our kids flooded the house. Not just a little flood either. It required all new hard wood floors 800+ square feet, sheet rock repair, and carpet in 2 bedrooms. We didn't even finally get to move in until now! After Christmas when we got home, things were suppose to be done and they weren't, I told Andy, I am having my own pity party and I freaking deserve it.

So, we get home from a wicked long Christmas trip to Minnesota to find our house isn't done and we now need to leave yet again for 4 days. And...so we do. And again, it proves to us that are "home" is wherever it's the 5 of us. I am certain that not many can or do experience this. But if it were a cabin in the woods (fingers crossed), a trailer, a tent, a cardboard box, we will survive I can promise you that.

Trying to get them all to  smile and look at me.

Papa stomped out Zoe's name in the snow as we are trying to pass time at the cabins. 

"Catch me." Papa catching the kiddos as they jump off the table. 

Be still my heart. PS. Why don't they sleep like this all the time. 

Family night out...Fudruckers for the win. And the twins both take the win.