Thanks Thanksgiving Point

I am almost 35 weeks! I really can't believe that these babies are so close to making their grand entrance. I had two appointments yesterday, one super-ultrasound and one with my doctor. At the super-ultrasound they measured the babies and said Baby Boy was roughly 5 lbs 9 oz and Baby Girl was 7 lbs 2 oz! That's nearly 13 pounds of baby that I'm carrying around every day, people! They did say that their weights may not be as accurate as in previous ultrasounds due to their ever increasing size, it's just more difficult to measure them. But the baby girl, who is in "top bunk", will be bigger than her brother. Poor little guy is just squished down there in the "bottom bunk." My doctor said that if the size of the babies could guarantee healthy lungs, we'd have the babies immediately. But, because we can't be 100% sure, we're going to attempt to carry them at least 1 more week and maybe even 2. He informed me that if I went into labor on my own (ya right), they wouldn't try to stop the labor, we'd just deliver. In the meantime, my ankles and feet are constantly swollen.

Last night, my good friend, Whitney, invited us to come to Thanksgiving Point to see the Gardens. She works there and was able to hook us up with a golf cart so that I wouldn't have to walk around. The weather was perfect and the boys absolutely loved riding around in the golf cart. We took the opportunity to feed the Koy Fish and explore the Secret Garden area. Of course, I forgot my camera. So here are 2 cell phone pics. It was a lovely night out of the house, exactly what this pregnant mama needed! Thank you Whitney!

Goodbye Summer, Hello 3rd Grade

Granny Jane, Uncle Ryan, Aunt No'el, and Abbie, Avery, & Jette came to Utah to meet Miley this weekend. While they were here the boys got to go swimming with their cousins (twice) and meet Miley too. Gavin & Owen were very sweet with Miley and wanted to hold her and touch her hair & face. Cam was interested in her but knew enough to keep a little more distance. I'm sure they will all be big helpers in our future.









Ryan & No'el and family only stayed a couple of days but Grandpa Rick came down to meet his newest granddaughter and pick up his wife. While he was here, he babysat Gavin and Owen while I took Cameron to his first day of third grade! I honestly cannot believe Cam is so old. He was a little nervous until we got to the school. I thought it was a little funny when he saw his friends because he has such a laid back personality. All the little girls were jumping up and down, excited to see their friends. Cam & his buddies just said, "Hey" with little to no excitement in their voices! It's entertaining. I think he's going to have a great year.


Cameron had to say goodbye to summer a week earlier than Gavin will. Gavin still has a few more days of summer before he starts Kindergarten next week. Cam's last hurrah before school started was going to the Bee's game with Spencer, Gavin, Owen, and some of the people Spence works with. It's become a tradition each summer and the boys loved it all. There were even fireworks at the end. What a good way to welcome the school year. And a little birdy told me that Gavin and Owen get to do something with Grandma Tisa & Grandpa Dave on Wednesday as their last hurrah. Then we can happily invite Fall into our house. I'm looking forward to officially saying goodbye to summer, hot weather, swollen feet & legs, and an achy body because then it's hello to fall, school, and babies in the near future. (We may even have a date set for the Twins arrival by the end of this week. *cross your fingers*)

Quick Update

Just a quick update for those of you who are just dying to know what's happening at the Styer house: I've been going for non-stress tests twice each week. Everything looks good, babies react great, just a little high blood pressure for me. Because of the slightly elevated blood pressure, one of the nurses told me I should not be doing much..."modified bed rest" she called it. So Spence has taken over cleaning and cooking duties and has done a great job. Luckily, today at my appointment with my doctor, he told me I could do anything I felt like doing, that I didn't have to be on the couch all day, just to listen to my body and do what felt right. And STAY HYDRATED!!!!! That's the big one. Doctor also told me that if I went into labor on my own after 35 weeks, we'd deliver! Only 9 days til 35 weeks. But we're hoping I don't go into labor and we can wait to have them around 36 or 37 weeks. I can see the end in sight and it has done wonders for my attitude.

Cameron starts school in 5 days and couldn't be more anxious. Gavin goes for Kindergarten Assessment in 6 days and then starts school August 30. We're so ready to be back in school.

We welcomed an adorable niece to our family on Monday, August 16th. MILEY GRACE was born to Emily & Jeff. She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. She is such a cute baby with blond hair! She is so nice and pretty. She's fun to look at. She makes me excited for the arrival of our babies. I woke up suddenly on Sunday night at 1:30 while Emily was in labor. My babies were going crazy and moving around a ton! I decided they were just having a farewell party for Miley. I'm glad they'll be reunited soon. I'm sure they had fun in heaven together and they'll be the best of friends on earth too.

Doctor's Orders :)

We saw my doctor yesterday for my 32 week check up. He told us that we are at a critical 3 weeks because if the babies make it to at least 35 weeks, we're so much better off. He instructed me to become a couch potato! That does not mean that I am on bed rest...rather, that any chance I get, I'm supposed to lay on the couch, rather than sit. My blood pressure was a little high because the babies are getting so big that they are putting pressure on my aorta. So, if I lay instead of sit, it will help relieve that pressure and help my blood pressure stay in check. I was glad that Spence was at the appointment because I couldn't believe that my doctor is ordering me to chill! I can definitely obey his orders.

Also, starting Monday, I have to go in for 2 non-stress tests (NST) each week. Basically that means I have to go to Labor & Delivery where they will hook me up to two belt monitors...one will monitor the babies heart rates, the other will monitor if I'm having any contractions. I'm told this is standard when expecting multiples so I'm not worried about it at all, just wondering how I'm going to find someone to watch our other boys twice a week. My doctor will attempt to come see me after my first NST of the week so that I don't have to keep my regular appointment with him but if he's in surgery or something, I may end up having to go to his office on top of the NST appointments. Busy, busy.

My doctor talked a little about scheduling my C-Section and it looks like, if all continues to go well, it will be somewhere between September 3-17. When looking at my ultrasound, he said that they will be able to tell if the lungs are fully developed by the condition of the placenta. Once we know we're in the clear, we'll set the date and get these babies here!

School starts in 18 days for Cameron. Gavin starts one week later due to Kindergarten screenings and evaluations. I hope we can get them both started and in a routine before the babies make their grand entrance. We are all anxiously awaiting the start of school.

Happy Anniversary & Baby Update

Today we will celebrate our 10th year of marital bliss! We will honor this special day by going to a doctor's appointment. Don't be jealous of our awesome life! It's very hard to believe that it's been 10 years. Last year I did a countdown of some of the things we'd accomplished in 9 years. You can see that here. The only changes from that list to this year is that we traded in our mini van for an SUV and, of course, we'll soon be parents to 5 children instead of 3. WOW! Here we were ten years ago:

I'm happier today than the day we got married, which I think says a lot! I love you, Spencer!

We really celebrated our anniversary over the weekend when we went to a REAL game with our friends, John & Kama. We went to Chili's for dinner and then to the game. The REAL won 3-0, we had great seats, and it rained almost the entire time. For that reason, I only have a two pics to share, one of our view of the field and a self portrait of the four of us taken by Spence. Thanks to Callie for babysitting!



A quick baby update: Last week we had a super-ultrasound. The babies are getting very big and are healthy. At the ultrasound, they measured the Baby Boy at 4 lbs 1 oz and Baby Girl at 4 lbs 10 oz! Here's one picture of our sweet baby girl and one picture of my newest trick! LOL

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime (Part 2)

Spencer's best friend from their single days, Beaver and family were in Utah over the 24th of July. They invited us to join them at Willard Bay for the afternoon. They had the family boat out on the water and by the time we got there, they said it was our turn on the boat. After getting on life jackets, Beaver's brother, Brian, asked who wanted to go first. With no hesitation AT ALL, Gavin jumped from the boat to the tube. He joined Brian and Beaver's nephew, Nathan.



After a lengthy ride, it was time to change passengers on the Tube so Spencer, Beaver, and Owen took their turn.


Both boys LOVED being on the boat and on the tube. We ended up back at the Seamon's house for the rest of the afternoon. Beaver's parents are serving a mission in New York but we still used their house as the hang-out. They grilled hamburgers & hotdogs for lunch and let the kids run & play with the rest of the family. (Most of Beaver's siblings and their children were there.) We had a great time but, like always, our time with Beaver & Amelia was too short.

As soon as Cameron returned from his Granny Getaway, we had to finish up on the final touches for his first Pinewood Derby Car. He had a lot of help making this...Grandpa Dave helped cut it out, mom helped paint it, dad & Uncle Jeff helped in designing, putting the wheels on, and making sure it weighed the right amount. Unfortunately, we figured out after the competition that Cam's car raced down the track faster when it went backwards. Oh well, you live & learn and Cam had a good time. He's already thinking about next year. :)



Last but not least, a few random pictures taken by Aunt Callie of Owen & Gavin. I just thought they were too cute not to post:

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime (Part 1)

Our boys have been more than spoiled by their grandparents this summer. They have all had time away from home...sometimes just for the afternoon, sometimes over night, and recently for 5 days!!! If these are your grandparents, here's what you did on your most recent visit to Granny & Grandpa Tew's house. (I'm not sure why the pictures are so small, I'll work on that.)

Owen & Gavin stayed in Idaho from July 18-July 22. (It was during this time that Cam got to go with Grandma & Grandpa Styer to the Kennecott Mine & fishing that I mentioned in the previous post.) Five days is a LONG time for a 3 & 5 year old to be away from mom & dad. And yet, they didn't even miss us. That's because they stayed busy going to Tautphaus park:






Coloring, blowing bubbles, and playing with cousins:


And visiting the Idaho Falls Temple Grounds & Visitor's Center:



They also swam at Aunt No'el's, fished for crawdads with Grandpa, and picnic-ed numerous times. Then they rode to Utah with Granny on July 22nd and when Granny went back to Idaho the following day, she took Cameron, who stayed until the 28th!

Cameron & Abbie went back to the Temple:


Then they went through Mesa Falls on their way to West Yellowstone to the Playmill, where they saw "Beauty & the Beast." (They even brought us back a hunk of fudge.)




Then one afternoon Granny called to let me know that they were going swimming at the Blackfoot Pool with No'el and girls. Only to call me a few minutes later to let me know that since the Blackfoot Pool was "broken", they were going to Ross Park instead!

Our boys had such a great time! Thanks, Granny & Grandpa, for taking them off my hands for a little while. It was nice for all of us.