2008

I thought it was only appropriate that I post today about some memorable events that happened in 2008:


January:

• Brett and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary.
• My blood pressure started going up and the dr told me to start slowing down. He put me on weekly visits.

February: (WOW where to begin on this month!)

• On a weekly visit to the dr's on Valentines Day my blood pressure was so high (even after laying down at the dr office for over an hour) that the dr told me I was done teaching, that I was to go on bed rest and that I needed to check into the hospital the next day to see if we needed to have Jaxson (Jaxson was due March 23).
• Had a stress test done on Jaxson and he was great. Me on the other hand my body was done being pregnant. Stayed the night at the hospital and was released on the conditions that I would be on bed rest, do urine test, blood test and visit the dr every 2 days. We would evaluate every test and determine if it was time to take Jaxson or if we could give him time till he reached 36 weeks old (a better chance for his lungs to be developed)
• Hit 36 weeks and went to the hospital on Monday, Feb 25 to be induced
• Things weren't going so well with the pitocin and my body so we stopped the meds and went and had an amniocentesis (where they put a VERY long needle into your belly, draw out fluid, and test the fluid to see if the baby's lungs are developed).
• Tuesday (Feb 26) got the call that Jaxson's lungs were healthy and returned back to the hospital to be induced again.
• Wednesday (Feb 27) at 5pm Brett, Dr. B and I decided that the best thing for Jaxson and for my body was a c-section
• 5:31pm on Feb. 27 We finally met our precious Jaxson Brett Erickson

March

• Jaxson had jaundice and we had to bring in the lights into our home for a couple of days
• Received a call from the State Department of Health that we need to come out to SLC
• Found out that our son's body is very special and unique and that he has PKU
• Found out that Brett and I are carriers of PKU, what PKU is and what we have to do since we now have a PKUer in our home
• Started our son on Phenex-1 and a low phe diet--basically this month we saved our son's brain!
• Met two moms that have children with PKU and they gave me so much hope and great advice!

April

• Took baby massage classes (a trained professional came into our home to teach me) and gave massages to Jaxson. Supposedly massages have all these benefits one being weight gain and I'd say by looking at Jaxson's checks it worked.=)
• Found out that Uintah School District was granting me paid time off till May
• Went to my cousins Kathleen's wedding in Orem, UT with all the family. It was a much needed get away.
• Chopped off my long hair. I was ready for a change!

May

• Went back to work for the last 9 days
• Finished my teaching responsibilities and packed up my room
  

June

• My best friend, Kathryn from HS came out to Vernal to visit. We email and talk but it was so fun to be around her. I miss you Kathryn move back!=)
• Went out to Dave and Marcy Taylor's wedding
• Uintah High School Drill Team did a fundraiser (their Kick-A-Thon) in Jaxson's name.

July

• Went to the Erickson/Moore Camping reunion. We didn't camp as long as Brett would have liked but I had a 4 month old, was pumping and I'm not that big of a camper so the fact that we were there for 1 night (in a tent) is pretty amazing.
• Got my bike and bike trailer
• Started taking daily morning 4 mile stroller rides with Jaxson
• Read the first 3 books of the Twilight series

August

• Stopped pumping
• Started hosting my wards RS monthly book clubs
• Had my "Golden Birthday" turned 26 on the 26. I had a massage, got my hair done and Brett and Jaxson surprised me with renting a cabin at Red Canyon Lodge. It was such a nice peaceful birthday.
• All the baby weight was off

September

• Went to a Low Protein Cooking Workshop and for the first time tasted, touched, smelled and saw low protein foods that I will cook for Jaxson
• Met Stephaine at the workshop who has quickly became one of best buddies. You're amazing Steph and I just love talking with you and having you be apart of my life!
• Started our family blog and became addicted to blogging

October

• Enjoyed watching Brett play flag football and basketball
• Made many visits to the care center to spend time with my Grandma Olsen
• Celebrated our first Halloween with Jaxson the ever so cute bat

November

• My wonderful and amazing grandma passed away
• Was able to see all my Olsen family
• Went to the PKU breakfast
• Was called as the Sunbeams teacher

December

• Stopped feeling daily pain and sorrow in my heart that Jaxson has PKU. I still have moments that I feel very sad about it but I don't feel on a daily bases this over-whelming sadness in my heart
• Went to some great Christmas parties
• Did gingerbread houses
• Started experimenting and ordering low phe foods for Jaxson
• Played Santa for the first time
• Enjoyed having a child in our home to celebrate Christmas!

What a memorable life changing year 2008 has been!

December

10 Things I'm Loving About You In December:

#10 I loved how you thought the Christmas tree was this new fantastic toy we put in the living room just for you to explore.

#9 I love that every time we put you in the walker you seem to find the dish towels and wash rag and have such a great time pulling them down.

#8 I love that you army crawled this month.

#7 I loved that you were so fascinated with one of dad's gifts, the red box with the green bow you untied that gift 2-3 times every day this month.

#6 I love that I got to feed you new foods this month (cupcakes, hash browns, ketchup, pancakes, jello salads, ice cream Sundas, rolls, chocolate, breadsticks, candy canes, grahm crackers, Grandma Erickson's green slush, and Rice Milk). You love food.

#5 I love how excited you get when you know your bath is coming.

#4 I love that you learned how to sit yourself up when you are crawling or when you are on your belly. That's so helpful.

#3 I love that you went back to being that really great sleeper and formula drinker this month!

#2 I love that you have started to crawl on your hands and knees

#1 I loved having you in our home to share Christmas and all of our family traditions

Jaxson "helping" me take down the Christmas tree decorations.

Our Christmas

Christmas was a great family filled day. We started the day with opening presents at our home. Jaxson enjoyed the first 3 gifts from Santa and then was done and just wanted to play with the firetruck he had opened. Brett surprised me with a flat screen TV for our room along with a DVD player so I can watch movies in bed (nothing better). He also gave me UGG boots (light brown) and clothes. I surprised Brett with Jordan basketball shoes that he really wanted but had absolutely no idea he was getting, a 1 hr massage and clothes. My parents then came to our house with their great gifts. Afterwords we went to their home for Christmas breakfast with my brothers (David and Eric) and their families. I feed Jaxson his first pancake and Rice Dream (loved it). We then went down to Brett's house where we all got even more spoiled with more fantastic gifts. We ended the evening at my parents for Christmas dinner. Here are some pictures of our day.

Santa came!

Jaxson with all of his great new things from Santa and Mom and Dad!

Christmas Family Photo at my mom and dad's.

Testing out his new beenie from Aunt Nicki (Brett's sister) and Uncle Joey down at the Erickson's.

Cousins RyLee and Kylen checking out what Jaxson got.

Opening the last gift. You finally made it to the last gift son! Christmas with a child is so much fun!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent with Brett's family. We had dinner at his sisters house (Heidi's). We ate really yummy food, let the kids open their Christmas Eve pj's, and visited. Here are a few pictures of Christmas Eve.

Jaxson playing with Grandpa Darwin

I made reindeer cupcakes

Jaxson after eating his yummy Christmas Eve dinner and cupcake.

Opening Christmas Eve pj's

We left Santa a low phe Gingerbread cookie, Rice Milk and a few carrots for his reindeer.

Merry Christmas

From our computer to yours we wish you a very

Merry Christmas!

Santa

Last night Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause came to town! While in town they stopped at David's house, my oldest brother, where we just all happened to be. This was the first time Jaxson has seen Santa. Jaxson just watched Santa and took him all in. When it was his turn to sit on Santa's lap he explored Santa's white bread. He thought that was different and something he needed to touch and feel. Jaxson asked for big boy toys. We're ready to upgrade from our rattles and simple baby toys. Jaxson checking out his bag from Santa!

The whole gang with Santa and Mrs. Clause.

Jaxson enjoyed Aunt Danielle's piano. He didn't like it when I took him away from it when it was time to go home.

Jaxson hanging out with Grandpa.

Here are some pictures of Jaxson in his Christmas church outfit.

I love this picture because I was able to capture for the first time his two front teeth!

Update

Here is a little update on the pant situations if any of you are curious. After going to three different stores I now have pants I can wear on Christmas. It was finally the Bull Ring that had the winning tool. The crazy thing is that even though they didn't go off at the Buckle every store I took them in I was beeped. Go figure.

A New Accessory???

After almost 6 years of marriage Brett knows that no Christmas or Birthday is complete without a new outfit to wear that day. So when we were out in SLC he was determined that we didn’t come back to Vernal without pants for me since I’ve had no luck finding any. Not to mention girls pants are so funny and I have to try them on to know they are going to work.
So after going to different stores and trying on pants after pants I found a pair at the Buckle. Jaxson was in the stroller and ready to move after being in a dressing room for a while so I rolled him out of the store for Brett to make his “surprised” purchase.
Yesterday I got the pants out because I wanted to try them on again. You see we had just eaten lunch at the Olive Garden and I really hate trying on clothes after eating at a place like that. I had grabbed the next pant size down and wanted to make sure they were going to work. Well they fit great but I noticed a “button” on the bottom of the right pant leg. I lifted the pant leg up only to find that they didn’t take off the security strip they put on clothes to stop shoplifting. So crazy that one they forgot to take it off and 2 that Brett got out of the store without it beeping. So now I have to go see if a store in Vernal can take it off before Christmas. If not maybe I can start a new trend. What do you think can a security strip be a new accessory?

Gingerbread Houses

This Saturday we met at my mom's to make our annual gingerbread houses. It's a tradition we started a while back. It's a lot of work for my mom but it's always a lot of fun. Jaxson and I working on our gingerbread houses. I made them so they matched. Jaxson was into "trying" to taste the gumdrops. They are an okay candy for him to have but it made me nervous having that small of a candy in his mouth.

Jaxson taking a candy cane break. Making gingerbread houses is hard work! This was the first time he has had a candy cane and he LOVED it!

Cousin Graice loven' on Jaxson

Playing with cousin Kole before we leave

Later that night Jaxson got to go down to Grandma and Grandpa's again to hang out with his fun cousins while Brett and I went to the Galleries Christmas Party. It was such a fun time. We had super yummy food and played some fun games with fantastic prizes. I went home with a Christmas bowl set I have been eyeing, Christmas hat boxes, a diffuser, and Bath and Body Works soaps. Jaxson had a fun PJ party while we were away.

Sunday we packed our bags and headed to SLC. Jaxson had an appointment on Monday with his doctors. He is doing fantastic. We finished up our Christmas shopping and luckily made it home safely.

Go Thundercats!

Last night we went to Brett's basketball game. One of the guys he plays with sponsored the team so he made jerseys with his business logo and number for the team to wear. Well get this he made a matching onesie for Jaxson. For the longest time he just sat right there beside me and watching the game. I would cheer when we would get a basket and every time Jaxson would them scream out it was so adorable I wished I could have been recording it. I'll have to get some more pictures of Jaxson and Brett in their matching basketball shirts they are pretty cute together.