Not enough time! Small update.

Where has time gone? I feel like I only have time to post monthly...which is a lot less than I'd like too. So here is a little update on our little family for the past month!


Kymani is now 5 months...almost 6!!! Here are just little tid bits on what he is now doing!

Kymani rolls all OVER THE PLACE!!! He is getting so mobile, I turn around and he is on the other side of the room.

He squeals so loud and loves to make all those fun baby noises. He just started saying "daaadaadaa" (dad) and it's so stinkin cute!

He still eats like a piggy!

Loves to smile.

Favorite thing to do is look out our apartment window.

He loves his big sister Roxy dog.

He hates when we walk out of his view, he'll whimper.

As for Benson he is finishing up this semester at BYU. So far he has done really well! He will continue on for next semester. 

For me I've just remained busy with work and taking family pictures! Here are a few of the families I've taken pictures of.

Fit...to Pregnant..to Fit Again!!!

Woot Woot 10 more pounds down 15 to go!!! I am back into 2 pairs of pants (one of them skinny jeans!!!) Weight loss is going well. I am eating clean and it seems like change is happening quickly. It feels good to look at myself and see the "normal" me peeking through. It makes me feel really good! Hopefully at the end of the month I'll be in all my regular clothes. That's my goal lose the last 10-15 by the end of October. Wish me luck!!!!
Continue on!!!

7 years together...2 spent married...eternity to go!!!

Oh  my goodness yesterday and today (October 8th and 9th) it has been two years that Benson and I have been married!
Bense and I met in high school, and we just couldn't get away from each other. No matter what we always ended up back together. He truly is my better half and is so sweet and so good to me! Even though he has little quirks that can drive me nuts, it gives our marriage some character.
He works so hard at work and school and is the best daddy. I've seen a whole new side to him. I enjoy watching him make baby smile and baby talk to him. Kymani enjoys the comfort of his daddies arms. I think he might be a daddies boy!
Being together for 5 years before we got married, I thought I knew Benson very well. And I did, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be with him that long before we made the big decision to be married. (unlike most Utah couples) He is so smart, tender and very caring. Family means the world to him and he would do ANYTHING for Me Kymani and his other family members. I thank Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an amazing husband. I am so blessed to have him for the rest of my life, and eternity after that. It's a comfort knowing he is going to be my partner in crime forever!

HAPPY TWO YEARS MY BABY LOVE!!!!

4 months...

My little Kymani is 4 months now! Where has time gone! He is so sweet and has the sweetest spirit about him. I truly cannot find one little imperfection about him. He is perfect. I do not know how I was blessed with such an easy baby. Here are just a few things going on with Mr. Kymani this month.

He never cries, whines.
He is easily content with his little toys. Loves tummy time.
Doesn't mind who hold him or watches him while I work and Bense is at school.
He loves to play on the floor with his toys, sit in his walker, lay in the swing and watch the ceiling fan.
He constantly has his hands or clothes in his mouth.
Biggest drooler!
Doesn't take very long naps. (only for Grandma Gina)
I think he is now teething, but still a little angel.
We took him to the state fair for 9 HOURS! He did not make a peep, except for when he wanted his bottle (which was twice, and then stopped when he was fed)
Likes to get out of the house and go bumming with mom.
Loves his stroller rides.
He can lay out on a blanket in my parents yard for hours, and loves watching everything around him.
HE LOVES TO EAT! He eats sweet potatoes, rice and mixed grain cereal, squash, veggies, apples and pears! Oh otter pops and ice cream....hehehe oops!
He loves Roxy dog and she loves him!
He has started whimpering when I walk out of his view, he likes to be able to always see someone.
He has a deep voice, and a cute deep giggle. (only his auntie and uncles can make him laugh, Bense and I have a hard time to get him to giggle out loud)
His face in the morning when I go to get him out
of his crib is priceless, it is the biggest sweetest smile EVER!
He sleeps much better in his crib than with us. (Thank Goodness)
Truly he is our pride and joy and I do not know what I would do if I didn't have my little guy. I love him SO MUCH!

Here are some fun photo's I've been working on.

Fit to Pregnant to Fit again...

To be honest with working nights...I've been quite the slacker with my exercise. Eating has been pretty much the same.

I haven't gained weight...but I am very slowly losing.

So in order for me to get my butt in gear...I created a better motivation for myself.

Bense and I have been talking about visiting Hawaii again for the holidays. I fell in love with Laie when we went last August for Benson's Mama's funeral. So we decided that we would go again while baby is still free to fly...wahoo! Our tickets are purchased and we are going in December!

Bring on the motivation! Now I have something I truly need to work towards. I'm down 36 lbs since giving birth, and have another 20 to go! I can do this.

Here we go, no more starting over and no more disappointing posts.


Here's to Hawaii in December!

Three months old

My little guy keeps getting bigger and bigger. It kills me, but yet I love it! Here are some of the little things he is up to now days:) Enjoy!!!

Kymani was put in his own crib on August 12th to sleep in there for his first time. I eventually broke down crying because he was in the other room. I was so sad and was sobbing so Benson and I went into his room to sleep on the floor...well that didn't last long due to me not being able to sleep well on the floor. Benson told me that baby and I could sleep in our king bed while Bense slept on the floor. What a good daddy :)

Kymani is a little giggler, it's still hard to find things that make him laugh out loud but when he laughed for the first time it made my heart melt. He is a silly boy. Uncle Soli, and Aunty Abish are the ones who can get him to laugh out loud. As for daddy and I we have to work pretty darn hard. 

Kymani is for real sleeping in his crib, and sleeps MUCH better now. He will sleep from 10 or 11pm until 9 or 10am the next day. SOOO nice! Sometimes we miss him and he'll sleep in our room, but he always moves around and is a light sleeper...so mommy has a rule of no baby in bed because no one gets any rest except daddy who sleeps like a bear. So he is in the crib full time now.

Look at my little paco. Kymani is still loving bath time :)

He is a monster eater. 5-8 oz bottles a day...we are going through formula like CRAZY! So the other night I decided to see if he would like baby food. He DID!!! He loved it. Sweet potato's and he ate the entire jar. So looks like my 3 month old is ready for food, he ate like a champ and would get so frustrated when I didn't get it to him fast enough. 

I love this little boy so much. He keeps us on our toes and I can't wait for what he has in store for us in the future.

Blessing day...late post

Kymani Mosese Powelson Purcell

We blessed our little man on August 5th. Oh what an amazing day!!! We had an ie faitage made for him and he looked SO handsome in it. We blessed him in our Samoan ward and man was it a full house that day. 2 baby blessings and a missionary homecoming.
The whole week leading up to Kymani's blessing I was kind of nervous for Benson. I didn't see him going over the material or semi reciting what he should be saying in the blessing. Obviously after the beginning of the blessing it all comes from the spirit, but to tell you the truth I thought my husband might freeze up. (I'm awful I know!) So when Sunday rolled around I had never seen my husband so nervous, I kept asking him if he was okay, and if he was mad at me. He just kept saying no I'm just nervous! We then were asked by the Bishop if we could come talk to him. That made me semi nervous because I know this is awful too but I thought he may ask us to speak in sacrament ( I don't do well with public speaking). When we arrived to the chapel we met with Bishop and he just wanted to welcome us to the ward....whew!!! We weren't asked to speak...not yet anyway!
Alot of my side of the family came to the sacrament meeting and Benson's immediate family attended as well. I sat there just feeding Kymani so he wouldn't squack during the blessing and kept saying little prayers so that he would sit nice and quiet for his daddy. When Benson and Kymani's time came, I also said a little prayer to comfort my husband. As the men all gathered in the circle I took little notes so I could write down in his baby book of what his daddy would be blessing him with. To my surprise my husband did not stutter, flub or pause. He gave such and amazing blessing!!! Kymani was such an angel and didn't make a peep!!! Once he was done and raised baby so the ward could see him, I had never seen Bense so relieved!!! I was so proud of him, he did a million times better than I thought he would. I was then told later by the men in the circle that he was smiling the entire time, and that melted my heart knowing he with the veil being so thin that he felt the spirit and it made Kymani happy :)
After sacrament meeting we then had a family eating. My family kept coming over to me and saying thank you for inviting them, and that they really enjoyed attending the Samoan ward. They wanted to make it their regular ward hahaha.
All in all I have a testimony of this gospel and I know it's true with all of my being. People wonder how do I know? I know because I feel it, it is so overwhelming to me. I can just feel that it is so right with in my heart. I've seen things happen that I know that could not have been possible with out my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for those men who honor their priesthood, and cherish it. I am grateful that I grew up with such a strong priesthood holder in my home (my father), and having a brother who served a full-time mission. I now have an amazing husband that keeps himself worthy of his priesthood and I'm grateful he was able to bless our son. I would definitely not be the individual I am today with out the guidance and direction from the gospel. I know that if you are ever in doubt..ask...ask your Heavenly Father and he will answer you. Maybe not right when you want him to, and it may not be right away, but you will get an answer.  I know my prayers are heard and answered, my son is living proof of a prayer answered.

I now say these things in the name of thy son Jesus Christ Amen.

Fit to Pregnant to Fit again....journey on!!!!

So it's been a month of watching what I eat and tracking every bit of it. I've planned out healthy meals that add up to about 1200 to 1400 calories a day. Weight has always been an issue for me. I gain it very easily and as a woman its very frustrating. So I've had to buckle down and focus on losing this baby weight. I try and get to the gym when I have someone to watch baby, but if not I take Kymani and my Roxy dog on a good long nightly walk. I remember taking my first walk a week after having Kymani and I Could tell that I was going to work real hard to get into shape. So far I've lost 10lbs (since my meal planning and work outs) and I was able to get my fat jeans zipped up...doesn't mean they looked good but hey they were zipped! Everything feels soft...so I am lifting weights to get my muscle back. I will look at this whole experience as a lesson for future pregnancies... Just because it's hard for me to get back to my normal self. As you can tell I'm a bit obsessed with my physical self but if that's what keeps me from letting myself go then that's how it's going to be. Though Kymani being my first and having the epidural I feel I have manage to heal quickly. I was up and moving with in an hour or two of having him and back to work a week and a half later. I am able to run a 8 minute mile and I'm feeling really good. I just wish it was a bit easier to get to the gym. I just feel that I need to come home and put baby to sleep before I am able to go to anything else, and well sometimes baby doesn't go down until 11:30-midnight. So I am at the gym really late at night, I have found I really like going late due to it being COMPLETELY EMPTY. I don't like working out in front of others...especially when I want to try new machines, and all the guys aren't hogging the free weights. We are planning on going to Hawaii in December so my ultimate goal is to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight and look good in a swimsuit. I've got a long way to go but in the end it is worth it!!! All is well with baby and daddy :) and the journey continues on! :)

Laptop went MIA...

So... about a month ago my laptop of 5 years went MIA. I was really sad and still have to extract all my photos and memory from it but now I got a pretty new toy to play on. Anyways so that is why I have not updated in such a long time.  So much I need to update it going to be long week!!!

THE FAMILY UPDATE:

Benson is returning to school this coming week. His last day at the State Hospital was last week on the 17th, and I can tell he is really relieved to not have to work full time and he is able to focus on school full time. He is getting very excited to go back and I am so excited for him. I am glad he has the desire to return to school.We have just been running around this week trying to get him ready for school. It's been nice having him home all week so I am able to leave baby with him and not have to find a baby sitter.
Now that school has started my mom has returned to work and my last minute baby sitter is no longer. I could depend on her last minute to be able to take baby anytime I needed. I will miss that until next summer :(
Can I just tell you that I am SO grateful for the family support Bense and I have, and how they take care of us! Benson's parents and family are always SO willing to take baby and watch him while I work. I don't know what I would have done with out the support and love that is shown to us everyday.
I am still working as an aesthetician instructor and I LOVE IT!!! I'm so grateful this job opportunity opened up for me and it is going so well. My students are great and I am doing what I love. I myself am constantly learning from my students and it is just an amazing environment.

Last week our sweet Alo family (Glo, Kaeo, and baby Jethro) made their way back to Hawaii so Kaeo can return to school. We spent their last days just hanging out, joking around, and spending quality time with them. The morning of their departure we all drove to the airport and said our goodbyes. It was very bitter sweet and we will miss them. But it just encouraged Benson and I to return this coming December to visit them and go back to Hawaii.

Our sweet beloved Adelyn and Avery turn the big number 1!!! Oh my goodness I can't believe it. They are the sweetest little souls and I cannot get enough of them. They are beautiful and have so much character. Unfortunately I had to work so I was not able to attend their birthday party, but Benson took pictures and told me all about it. I am so happy I have such adorable little nieces!!!

That is just for our little family update. I will be posting more often now that I have a computer to work on :) I'm glad to be back!!! Happy reading everyone!!!

Working mommy...

My house is never clean, laundry is piling up, grocery shopping isn't getting done, and bills are being forgotten. My mind is definitely not focused between learning the in's and out's of my new job and all my love and undivided attention going to my little man. I'm slowly learning how to prioritize everything and learning to raise a beautiful human being that everything else has been put on the back burner. I went back to work to train for my new job a week and a half after I had given birth to Kymani. I like to work, but now I'm a mommy and I would just love to sit home and take care of my little guy. I would love to be able to have a clean home and a hot meal prepared for my husband every night, but that dream looks as though it can only be in the future. There is just not enough time in the day for all the things I'd like to get done. Benson is returning to school full-time and so it is kind of up to me to make some income so we can live. It's going to be hard, because I have to depend on so many people to help watch my little man while I work. But on the upside I love my new job. I am an aesthetic instructor and I LOVE IT. I feel I have so much more to learn and I am very eager. I am grateful for this job opportunity and how well it works with my schedule. It truly is a blessing for my little family. Being a working mommy is very hard, maybe over time I'll learn how to handle it all. But for now I'm having a little bit of a hard time. But all in all it is the sacrifice I have to make so my husband is able to continue his education and in the long run it'll all pay off.

Getting healthy update...

When I was pregnant I enjoyed myself by eating things that I love. I didn't pig out or have crazy cravings or anything. But I definitely ate until I was full, and didn't hold back on eating anything I wanted. I have lost 40 lbs already but have another 30 lbs to lose to be back to my previous weight. So finally this week (6 weeks post) I have started logging everything I eat and doing portions along with calorie counting, and exercising for about 1.5 hours at the gym on nights that I have someone to watch my baby Kymani. So far I've lost 3 lbs. in a week with just doing those 2 things and I feel so great!!! I ran a mile in 10 minutes and I'll admit I was HANGING at the end of it, but felt so accomplished. It's not too bad of a time for just having a baby and not running for 11 months. It's all looking up from here :) I hope to have lost 6-10 lbs by the end of this month. I'll keep you updated!!!
I'll also be taking weekly pictures as well to track my progress :) I'm making a life style change and I'm loving it.

Fit to Pregnant to Fit Again...

So now is the time that I feel I have fully recovered and getting the hang of things. My energy level is slowly regaining and I plan to start my exercise regime again. I shamefully gained quite a bit of weight during my pregnancy...but I have to admit I did enjoy my pregnancy. I have already lost about 35-40 lbs so far, but still have quite a bit left to go. I know it's going to be hard, and it will take time. So I will be recording my journey and what I'll be doing to shed the baby weight. I plan to do clean eating, and exercise. So here we go!!!!

 

1 month old...

KYMANI MOSESE POWELSON PURCELL

I can't believe how fast time has flown by! My baby is growing all too quickly, and it's so bitter sweet. I love him more than anything and cannot get enough of him. I wish I could stop time, stop time so I wouldn't have to go back to work, and I could just hold my son and be able to admire this miracle that my Heavenly Father has trusted me with. He is so perfect. But here are a few things that my little man has been doing for the past month....

Kymani is now responding to my voice, he smiles and coo's at me. Every crooked smile melts my heart and lets me know that he is starting to recognize who I am. He also has the cutest dimples I've ever seen, just like his daddy's.

Kymani has been in my opinion a very quick developer. He has been holding up his head very well since birth, and can do it for longer periods of time.

He loves tummy time, and learned to roll over from tummy to back at 3 weeks!!! I about died when he did it for the first time, I didn't think their were supposed to do that until a few months old.

He is also a big eater...maybe the Samoan side is coming out in him!!! Even though it took us 3 weeks for him and I to learn to latch and nurse correctly, persistence, pain, and patients were totally worth it!!! I love that bond I'm able to have with my son. Even though he takes his time, and could eat for hours we still supplement with formula.

I weighed him the other day...drum roll... he weighed in at 11 lbs 3 oz!!! Growing boy!!!

He has lost all his hair on top of his head...and it's long on the sides and back. He looks like an old man !!! hahaha but a fuzz is starting to come in :)

Kymani is very alert and wide awake...all the time. Most newborns sleep the first month...ummm nope not my little man. His eyes are still the newborn slate gray blue color. So his eyes could go either way, brown black like his dad or blue like me!

Kymani and I cuddle EVERY morning. I have kind of spoiled him with holding and cuddling him. I'm kicking myself now because it's hard to get ready in the mornings when I don't have help and Kymani feels the need to be held. But I just can't put him down, I would love to hold him in my arms ALL DAY LONG!

He loves stroller rides on warm summer nights. We unfortunately were delayed due to the fires in the area this summer. I didn't want to expose him to the nasty air we were having, but it has since rained and the fires contained so we are out and about again.

He is sleeping from 12:00AM to 5 or 6:00 AM, unless him and I fall asleep together he'll sleep soundly until 8:00 AM :)

Kymani LOVES bath time!

Kymani has several Mongolian spots located on his bum. They look like bruises, but they are just pigmented spots. The doctor said it's common in ethnicity's that have darker skin tone. Even though Kymani is fairer skin toned now, he said most likely he'll darken up with time.

I love the spirit that is now in my home. I feel so happy all the time and cherish the feeling of love with in our home. He brings such a pure feeling, I cannot stand to listen to any music, watch any TV show, or talk about anything that would disrupt what he has brought into our home. I feel we have been so blessed that Kymani didn't have to go to the NICU at birth, he didn't have jaundice, and hasn't had any health issues. We truly have been blessed.

Our birth story...

Last morning of pregnancy...bitter sweet.

On May 29th I heard the best news ever, after enduring my diagnosis of PUPPS, my doctor wanted to induce me right away due to PUPPS potentially causing problems if we waited for me to go into labor naturally. I also was not about to sit around and wait for my little man to come, with the stupid rash. I came home from the doctor with Benson and we were both beaming with excitement!!! We tried to stay busy and keep our mind off being so nervous. We definitely did not sleep at all that night. We had to be at the hospital at 5:00am!!! So there wasn't really a point to sleeping in my opinion.
I got out of bed at 3:40 to shower and ready myself to go to the hospital. I woke Benson at 4:15 so he could shower and get ready as well. I had the biggest pit in my stomach. I had never been so nervous in my life!!! I Hannah Purcell was about to go and give birth to my first child. Of course me being the cry baby basket case that I am, cried off and on all while getting ready that morning. I was so worried about the baby and hoping he was going to be okay, and that I was strong enough to give birth to him. Finally 4:30 rolled around and we headed out to Orem Community Hospital. I offered a prayer in the car and couldn't control my tears, but felt very comforted by the spirit that everything was going to be okay.
We walked into the hospital, bags in tow. I registered myself and we were taken back to our room. It was very large and nice. I would be delivering and finishing out my stay in the same room. I immediately was made comfortable by the nursing staff. I got dressed in my hospital gown...(I'll admit I loved the excuse to be able to wear nothing and just a gown, it was so much more comfortable!!!) I jumped up on the bed and my admitting nurse started hooking up my IV. I must say the IV and blood draw hurt SO bad!!! I am not a bleeder, and have a hard time giving blood or finding a decent vein for IV's. I wanted to cry. Our admitting nurse finally found a vein that'd work and we got the pitocin and saline started. I was checked and was only dilated to 2cm. After being all hooked up, and made comfortable we started the waiting game. Shift change had come along at 6:00am and I received another amazing nurse. She checked me and I had been dilated to 3cm 100% effaced. So things were slowly moving along. At this time I was feeling slight contractions, but nothing too bad. Time went by, I kept myself entertained by catching up on Glee episodes I have missed and sleeping. by 7:00am my nurse came in to check me again and she said "Okay, do you want the epidural?" I didn't know what to say... I was afraid to make this decision for myself. Benson had just barely left to grab something to eat and I was all alone. I asked the nurse " When is the best time to get the epidural? I'm so nervous." She said " Get it now before he breaks your water, because after he does that, that's when the real pain starts." I think I am someone who is not meant to experience the pain of child birth. So I made the immediate decision that I was going to get the epidural.

Catching up on some Glee.

The nurse put in my order to the doctor and he came right away. I didn't think he would get there so quickly, it was like getting my Jimmy Johns order...freaky fast delivery. I was still alone due to Benson getting food. I was told to sit on the edge of the bed and Dr. Lyman started his procedure. I was trying so hard to hold still and not shake. My sweet nurse came over and held my hand because I was so nervous. To my relief Benson walked in just as I was receiving the numbing shot. I wasn't going to have to go through this alone!!! 10 minutes later Dr. Lyman said "okay your done lay back and enjoy!" I was so surprised, I didn't feel a thing!!! I sat back, let my body get warm and tingly and I could no longer feel from the waist down.

For the next hour I would sit and watch my contractions and babies heart rate on the monitor. My nurse then came in and took my blood pressure. When the machine released the pressure off my arm the machine went crazy and was beeping. The nurse checked babies heart rate, he wasn't doing so good. My blood pressure was so low that I wasn't getting oxygen to the placenta so when ever I had a contraction baby had a really hard time recovering from it. I was placed on oxygen.

On my oxygen for the whole duration of my labor.

 I was placed on nurse checks/ blood pressure checks every 15 minutes. An hour later my blood pressure was not coming back up. There were high concerns for the baby at this time. My nurse finally came in and said, "I'm going to try a couple more things if it doesn't work then we are pulling you in for an emergency C- section." My pitocin had to be lowered, and then I was given a medication to increase my heart rate. Still being on my 15 minute checks, I began to get really worried. I didn't want to have a C- section, but I was so worried that baby wasn't going to be okay. I said a quiet prayer to my Heavenly Father that my baby and I would be okay. After giving me several doses of the heart rate medication, and being on constant oxygen things started to improve. My nurse finally figured out that if she keeps giving me doses of the heart rate medication it improved our situation and we wouldn't have to rush me in for a C-section. I was then put on 30 minute checks, and my pitocin was put back at the normal dose but baby was still on a close watch.
Finally feeling at ease the next few hours went by fairly quickly. I took lots of naps, watched more episodes of glee and surfed the Internet. I did hate when the nurse would bring in my food tray, but unfortunately I wasn't able to eat any of it. I was told I couldn't eat, except for clear liquids. I was STARVING!!! I hadn't eaten since 10:30 the previous night. So Benson got to eat my food trays... and I ate my Popsicles.

I was then 5:30 pm and my Mom and Dad joined Benson and I in our room. I wanted my mom there for the delivery. Next thing I know my nurse is coming in, checked my cervix and said "Okay you are a 10! I'll call Dr. Judd and we'll get this little guy here." This was the part I was nervous for, I was nervous that I wasn't going able to bring Kymani into this world. My nurse came back and said okay we are going to have you start pushing. She got me all prepared and I started to push. I had heard embarrassing stories of women who had a bowel movements while pushing. I was more focused on trying not to embarrass myself (because I couldn't feel a thing due to the epidural). Finally Dr. Judd had joined us and had asked me to start pushing. He said " This is a big baby, and he's not moving a whole lot. You can sit here and try to push for the next two and a half hours, or I can have him here in 5 minutes with the forceps." By this time I was pretty exhausted and decided that forceps sounded like a pretty good idea. When we got started, (sorry TMI) I felt as though my insides were being ripped out of me. The epidural had slightly wore off so I had a little bit of feeling, I had never wanted to be over so badly as I did then. Finally our little man was out! I instantly was trying to listen for his cry. I was hoping everything was okay and he wouldn't have to go to the NICU. He was making gurgling noises and as they cleared his mouth and lungs he was crying. Hearing his cries were instant relief. I had noticed he had some rolls on his legs and arms. He had a little bit of wavy hair. I sat there in the bed, while Benson, my Mom and Dad were over in the corner of the room watching baby get weighed and wiped off. Finally they swaddled him and I was handed the love of my life.
Everything had changed for me when they handed me my son. I hadn't seen anything more perfect in my life, 10 fingers and toes so little and perfect. A sweet head, with baby fuzz. I had never seen anything so sweet. I never knew I could fall so in love so quickly with anything, but it is possible when you see the sweet face of a newborn. My Kymani Mosese Powelson Purcell had finally arrived on Wednesday May 30th, 2012 at 6:08pm weighing 8lbs. 10oz.

Youngest Steelers Fan

Skin to Skin with Daddy

Skin to skin with Mommy

Sweet sweet boy

Heading home!!!

A thing called PUPPPS...

So Saturday May 26th I had developed this awful itchy rash that was becoming unbearable! It was on my large pregnant belly, thighs, hips, feet, ankles, and on my arms. It had started about a week ago, just on my belly. My doctor said it's just because of the stretch marks that your itching so bad. Try not to use your nails when scratching, just rub it and it'll all be over in a couple weeks. So I was sent on my way. At work the following days I noticed small ant looking bites showing up on my feet and ankles, and they ITCHED like CRAZY!!! I started freaking out thinking I had bed bugs in my house, and was stressing about bringing a new baby  into a home with bugs that are biting us in our sleep. But the funny thing was that the bites weren't showing up on Benson. I went crazy cleaning and disinfecting, bleaching everything in the house...even the mattress!!!
Slowly the ant looking bites started turning into huge red welts that continued to itch. It started creeping up my legs, to my thighs and then finally to my hands and arms. I was very concerned but it was memorial day weekend and I let my pride get the best of me and didn't want to disturb my doctor. So I just told Benson that I really needed to go to the insta-care. When I went it the doctor knew right away after me answering a few questions of his. I had a condition called PUPPPS or the scientific and medical name is Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.
This rash only happens in 1% of pregnant women!!! I know right!!! What are the chances of me getting it????!!! Well my chances were 1/200 of pregnancies. Also 75% of cases the woman was pregnant with a boy. They don't know much about it because it usually happens late in pregnancy and it won't really hurt mom or baby so not much research has been done. But in a nut shell of what the condition is, is I am allergic to pregnancy and get a rash. The only cure for the rash...is to give birth to the baby, or steroid medication.
So the insta-care doctor sent me home with a cream to help soothe the itch. Slowly my feet turned purple, and swelled to the point that they looked as if I had elephantitis. It was so awful and hurt. It was so hard to sleep and not scratch off my skin. I took oatmeal baths, put baking soda on them, used my prescription cream. NOTHING helped the itch. Benson kept saying I look contagious or like a leper. I felt so ugly and just didn't want to do a darn thing. I hid in my house for 2 whole days, I did not step a foot outside. On Monday (Memorial Day) I emerged from my cave to have family dinner. My family was in shock and wanted to take me to the hospital after seeing my body. But I reassured them I felt fine, I just look awful. Finally my next doctors appointment rolled around (On my due date May 29th) and I couldn't wait until I was able to go in. The insta-care had informed my doctor of my diagnosis. I was there in the exam room, hoping and praying that he was going to help me out. My doctor came in and said he had heard of the diagnosis, and wished the insta-care would have reported the severity of it. He said my case was really bad. Then he had some news that was music to my ears!!! Meet me tomorrow morning at Orem Community Hospital and we'll get this baby out :)!!! Ahhh that was such a relief... I truly was so miserable, induction sounded so amazing!!! So he prescribed a steroid anti-histamine so we could start fighting the rash, and then we'll have the baby the next day so it can start going away.

These pictures aren't the worst of it, nor give it justice!!!

Last week of pregnancy...or so I think.

I am dying to meet my little guy. It is weird to think that I will be a mommy in about a weeks time. I've had 2 weekly appointments and my doctor check me and said " You may not see this baby until June!!!" My hopes were a little dampered to hear that I was dialated to a nothing and I was effaced to a nothing....sad face. To make me feel better the doctor did tell me that 4 out of 5 first time mothers go over their due date. I really wanted to make him a May baby...but we'll just have to wait and see. We finally have the nursery all finished!!! I love it :) We'll slowly obtain a dresser, rocking chair, and futon later to put in the room. Now I'm just sitting and waiting for any sign of labor. I have continued to work pretty much until my due date. I though I'd give myself at least 4 days to have to myself before my due date. My next doctors appointment is on my due date...so we'll see what doc says!!!

New niece...23 more days...

In the middle of April we were blessed with the birth of our sweet little Langi Reid. She is beautiful and I think she looks just like mommy!!! Lots of dark hair and she is just beautiful...welcome sweet girl you have been born into an amazing family!!!

Here are our sweet Purcell girls!!!
Langi (up top), Adelyn, Brooklyn, Avery.
I love these girls SO much!

Well Bense and I are next in line!!! Our little Kymani will hopefully be joining us very quickly. I am currently 37 weeks today. Finally we'll be able to fit the first little boy in that picture above!!! Kymani is very squirmy in his little space, and he keeps on growing. Doctor keeps saying " This is going to be a big baby." with every appointment we have. I am currently still working full time...and a ton of over time. I feel I may just induce myself with how much I've been working. People at work are really surprised that I am still coming to work, and it puzzles me because as long as I feel I can do it, I'm still going to. I don't plan on leaving work until May 25th, that is 4 days before my due date (unless he comes earlier). I am getting nervous excited about giving birth. There is just so much that is unexpected when giving birth. I am nervous that I'm going to be out in public or at work if/when my water breaks? Will I have the car and have to pick up Benson from work first before heading to the hospital? Will I be induced? Will I be able to handle with out an epidural? Will it be too late for an epidural when I really want one? Will labor take it's time and slowly progress or will I have him quickly like the rest of the family? ( Grandma, Mom, and Sister all are known to having their babies withing 45 minutes of their first contractions!!!) Not knowing or having control over the unknown gives me lots of anxiety.

Babies room is almost put together!!! It has taken a long time...but it's almost there. We just need to pick up the crib, buy a mattress, and store Benson's knick knacks. Benson has been working diligently on the art work that will be going into the room and it is finally finished!!! It's amazing and I wish I had that kind of talent, and here it is.

Purple marks, Lymph, A Wrench In Our Plans and Conference Weekend

Pregnancy Moment...Fat Feet. I was so happy to have been able to keep my ankles and normal feet. Then the warm weather came...and I was treated to fat feet. The lymph circulation had slowed in my ankles and feet making them very puffy. I could push my finger on my puffy skin and the skin would not spring right back. It would leave an indent in my swelling for a good few minutes. I had a good time making designs in my ankles. But I know this isn't healthy at all, having the lymph coagulate like that is a bad thing. So I have to rub my feet and ankles out to get all the toxins and lymph moving. Benson just stares at my feet and says...dang. Here is a picture from a long day after work...my toes are so swollen they squish each other...hahaha oh dear.

Pregnancy Moment...Purple marks. Lets just say I was so prideful and kept saying I refuse to let these buggers show up on my body....Stretch Marks. I was a definite advid lotion putter oner. I would slather my belly, legs, and back with creams and oils. Checking in the mirror every night to see if there were any changes or hints of them showing up. I am 32 weeks and I was pretty confident I wouldn't get them if I hadn't seen any by now. Well I was wrong...once again. My first pretty (NOT) silver purple lightning streaks showed up. They are super little...but still my pride was dampered. I wanted to be able to say I walked away from my first pregnancy with out them. But while on Pintrest I found a fun little quote that made me feel better. Hahahahhaha I love it :)

Well I must say everything has been going perfect. Benson and I have been balancing our money, paying bills, paying tithing, being able to put away money into savings and to be honest I was so confident and comfortable in our budgeting. I was so happy being more dependant than a lot of newly wed couples that have a baby on the way. I felt so good about our future. We definitly don't make a lot but we make enough to not qualify for state assistance so we have to be careful on what we spend money on but we were comfortable. Then the wrench came....taxes. It has ruined everything messed up our savings and has me stressing so much. I now feel overwhelmed and have no idea what we are going to do. I personally hate relying on others for finacial situations. I don't want to be the money mooch. I don't want others to look at me like I'm being lazy and not making an effort to be independent from the assistance of others. But we are definitly in a rut. With Benson going back to school full-time, having our little man coming in May, and now this set back....I feel so overwhelmed.
In reality I know that this whole thing is just a trial that has been sent to us, and that there is a lesson to be learned from it. I know Heavenly Father knows us and he won't give us anything we can't handle. He wanted to push us out of our comfort zone and wanted us to recognize that this will test our faith. I have been praying to let Heavenly Father know my thoughts and feelings and I really need guidance right now. My answer came when Bense and I had an amazing conversation with Benson's parents. I just love them so much. They have the greatest advice and are just some the most amazing individuals I've ever known. I'm so grateful for my relationship that I have with them (because I know many people who don't care for their in-laws). I am now feeling a lot better about our situation after listening to their insite. I know that we have full support from both sides of our family and in the end it is going to be fine and work out. I know personally that we just need to involve the Lord more in our lives. He is always waiting to hear from us and he wants to help us. But we need to have humility and come to him in prayer.
I think this trial has also prepared me for General Conference this weekend. A couple weeks ago Bense and I had been invited by our married friends to come over and have Family Home Evening. It was one of the best lessons that I've had. It was about preparing yourself for conference. I had made a goal for myself that this year I need to sit down and really take in and appreciate conference. But I thought to myself...I don't really feel like I'm looking for anything specific to be answered or for and particular advice. Well...a couple weeks later I am realizing how wrong I was. I do have many things that I am searching for in Conference this week. I have my notebook, snacks and my comfortable home to sit by myself (Bense is working :( ) and really take in conference. So I am patiently waiting for 10:00am to start...I am ready for a spiritually uplifting weekend!!!

Accepted... baby news...and a new addition!!!!

We found out last week that through Benson hurrying and pulling things together (THE NIGHT BEFORE it was due) for his BYU application that he was ACCEPTED!!! So in the fall he will start attending BYU. I am so excited and so very proud of him. He wants to move on to bigger and better things for himself and our family. These dead end $9-$10 an hour jobs just aren't going to support a growing family and he really wants us as a family to be comfortable. I couldn't be more happy for him and his mature decision. He's also may want to try and walk on for football, or play club rugby. That decision is still in the making. What ever he decides to do I support him 100% because I know that many blessing will come from his hard work and dedication.

As for us we went for babies 28 week appointment. His heartbeat was a strong and steady 150 bpm. The doc also said that he is pretty big for 28 weeks and he'll be well over 8 or 9 lbs when he arrives!!! Oh dear...and to think he's only half Samoan. With the doctor saying that it only made Bense very very happy. He keeps telling me to eat because our baby is going to be "skinny" I tell him " By me eating  a lot only effects my hips and butt!!! not babies weight!!!" Oh well I'll let him think what he likes :) Also with being an -A ("A" negative) blood type I have to have blood test done. I guess I have a rare blood type that if it comes in contact with a positive blood type I create an antibody against positive blood types meaning my body can attack babies blood "if" I happen to have created the antibody...confusing I know. So blood test was done today and I'm hoping I haven't created this antibody and I will be given a shot so I won't create that antibody against baby. AHHHHH just more stress to our first pregnancy...and this will have to be done with every pregnancy I have...


Earlier this week we welcomed a beautiful new addition into Benson's family!!! Lola and Nathan had a sweet little girl. She is so perfect and beautiful and she makes Benson get all giddy and excited for Kymani to be here. So congratulations to Lola and Nathan on such a beautiful little girl. We love her sweet spirit so much already.

Can you tell how excited he is :)

Had to steal this from her mama's fb page. I love this picture very much.

26 weeks and counting...

6 and 1/2 months...14 weeks to go...oh my goodness. I keep thinking to myself every weekend "Man I better hurry and get some maternity pants..." But before I know it this pregnancy is going to be over!!! I'm feeling great and am continuing to exercise...and continuing to put on the weight...oh well I'll just have to work extra hard afterwards!!! We've FINALLY made progress in the baby's room! We've moved out and given back the queen bed that was in there. So next comes the paint and organization of Benson's things. We only have 13 weeks left!!! Baby continues to grow and make my belly very heavy...big 1/2 Samoan boy growing in there...whew he's wearing me out already.  I love him very much and we are anxiously awaiting! My nephew Jaxon is so sweet, he loves to say hi to baby, kiss my belly and tell me my tummy is as hard as a rock. He seems excited for the new addition. His twin Abbie is a little wary. I don't know if she likes the idea of her auntie having a baby, but she's slowly warming up to it. I think because her mama is having a baby as well in August!!! Babies all around!! Here is the updated belly picture 26 weeks. Also a picture of the twins kissing my belly :)

Benson's update, along with waiting for baby we are also waiting for the acceptance letter from BYU. Bense has decided to go back to school and we are so happy. There was a stressful weekend at the beginning of the month where Bense was running around trying to get everything together to get his application in on time. He was able to get it all in and now it's just the waiting game. Benson continues to work full-time, but now has Sunday's off. I am so excited to start attending our new ward. We've been warmly accepted and I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and the gospel in our lives.


VALENTINES DAY!!!
We kept it really simple this year. I had to work later than I expected and was in a grumpy mood because of it, then I had to drive home in Valentines day traffic. I just wanted to be home with my loves. I completely procrastinated Valentines day and it ended up being real simple and we celebrated at home. I was craving L&L's katsu chicken, Bense grabbed a kalua pork plate. We went home watched a redbox and chilled in our jammies. Bense gave me a gift basket of bubble bath supplies and to have a home bath night. It was so sweet and I'm very excited to use the basket he he he :) Bense rubbed my feet and legs and it was so nice!!! He made a grumpy girl into a happy girl. The weekend before Valentines we went had bought Bense some new sharp looking church clothes. He is so handsome, I love him in a shirt and tie. So that was his Valentines gift that we decided on.

All in all things are going amazingly well. I can't wait to be able to take some time off working to learn and grow to be a mommy. Then I'll start looking for work again to help with finances again. How we'll do it in the mean time? No idea but I trust that the lord will guide us along.

The Nesting Is Setting In...

I feel so anxious...ALL THE TIME. I hate when things are mismatchy, all messes throw me for a loop and all of Benson and I's things... well lets just say we are already outgrowing our apartment. We don't have a ton of storage space and it is starting to drive me crazy. We were using our spare bedroom to store everything that couldn't be put into the front closet, hall closet, our bedroom closet (which my things has TOTALLY consumed), and our spare bedroom closet (Benson's clothes are now housed here). I am getting so anxious to start on baby's room, but we have NO where to put our things. We truly don't have a lot of junk either so it's not things we need to get rid of. So I've decided now that I have weekends off, I'm going to start consuming myself in home projects to get things decorated, organized, and kept tidy just the way I want so I can cut out some of this anxiety.I just feel like I constantly need to be consumed in a project so I've made a list of things I'd like to get done before baby comes :) Lets just say my nesting instincts are setting in and I need to do something about it. Hopefully Pintrest can help me out with cute, cheap, DIY things to help me out. Here is my own personal list of things that NEED be done...here we go and wish me luck!

1. Clean out spare bedroom and find places for Bense's things.
2. Pick out and Paint Baby's room.
3. Find chic organizing tubs, containers, or baskets that go with the theme of our rooms.
4. Refinish our bedroom dresser to match our bed.
5. Get bedding stuff for our bed (it looks so plain) pillows, new sheets.
6. Paint our bedroom to add some flavor to our little space.
7. Make a weekly "duty" list for Bense and I.
8. Start designing and decorating baby's room.
9. Go through my things and see what I can donate or get rid of.
10. Reorganize all closets and spaces.
11. Get more creative (if you see a fun project start it and finish it).
12. Create a work out list to keep mommy and baby healthy :)

I'd die if my house really looked like this...but this is what I feel like right now! Too much stuff not enough room!