Utah 6/17/08

On Tuesday June 17, Katrena had a dentist appointment with her long time dentist and a family friend of my family, so after swimming lessons she headed to my parents house where she spent about 6 hours with them. They ate pizza and she was able to spend some time with some of her good friends. When Trena was little she had two really close friends that lived next door to my parents she had her first play date with them when she was only about 13 months old. They are stepping stones, caroline is 9 and her sister Charlotte is 8 and Trena is 7. They have always gotten along really well. She was sad to find out that her friend Amy was in California, and was hoping to be able to see her friend Nicholas. She was able to spend time with my mom and Dad, as well as both of my sisters.

Katrena and Grandma




Charlotte, Katrena, Paige and Caroline

Katrena and Aunt Karey

Katrena with Grandpa

Katrena with Dr World, she requested a picture with him. They have what is called "The Zero Cavity Club" and I am happy to report that she has been in it for 7 years straight!!!


Katrena says that she has been having a lot of fun taking swimming lessons and staying at Grandma Karen's house, they have gone to the park and were going to plant flowers together last Thursday. Tonight she is staying at my parents house and will be able to go to church with them tomorrow, this is great because it is the ward she went to from the time she was 6 months old till we moved to phoenix in January. Brent's parents and Grandma are also in the ward so she will be able to see and spend some time with them as well.

Hope you are having a fun time little bit, we miss you here!!!

ABC Tag:

My ABC Tag: This one is from Sara Farrer about myself in the ABC sort of way.

A. Attached or Single: Attached
B. Best Friend: Brent, Angie and my siblings.
C. Cake or Pie: Gotta go with with a cool creamy pie, of course there is always chocolate zucchini cake?
D. Day of Choice: Fridays (This means Katrena is out of school the next two days and home with me!!!)
E. Essential Items: AIR CONDITIONING!!!
F. Favorite Colors: My new one is sage green, and my all time stand by is a cheery canary yellow.
G. Gummy Bears or Worms: 6 one, 1/2 dozen the other as my mom would say.
H. Hometown: Raised: West Valley City, Utah, Current: Glendale, AZ.
I. Indulgence: reading (this definitely includes Stephenie Meyer), crafts, chick flicks, and snuggling.
J. January or July: Depends on which state I am in, AZ lets go with January, UT gotta go with July.
K. Kids: one seven year old daughter, with another coming soon. And two beautiful little boys waiting for me on the other side of the veil.
L. Life isn't complete without?: My family.
M. Marriage Date: December 28, 2004 (this was also my Grandad's Birthday).
N. Number of siblings: 1 brother, 2 sisters
O. Oranges or Apples: when I am pregnant oranges hands down, but usually apples.
P. Phobias or Fears: SNAKES, SNAKES, SNAKES and did I mention SNAKES!!! I also fear something happening to Katrena, and although I am not afraid of heights, when I peer over a cliff or the side of a cruise ship my stomach definitely does a flip flop.
Q. Quotes: "No one stays in love by chance, it is by WORK, and no one falls out of love by chance, it is by CHOICE" ~ unknown
R. Reason to smile: My family, when Brent tells me I'm beautiful. When everything comes together just right in that one moment and you feel like the happiest most loved person in the world. (This doesn't happen often, but when it does, wow does your heart feel it could burst).
S. Superwoman or Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman ( what can I say that's who I grew up watching).
T. Tag 5 people: Krystal, Lynette, Annie, Aubree, and Katie,.
U. Unknown fact about you: I seriously can't think of one, I am like an open book. So I will ask Brent and get back with you on this one.
V. Vegetable?: Zucchini, squash, bell peppers, lettuce.
W. Worst Habit: Being a hermit!!! Losing my patience, I do this way to easy. And being overly emotional!!!
X. X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound, they definitely cause less overall damage, and they are usually for a happy reason (at least if you are a woman).
Y. Your favorite food?: Cafe Rio, sweet pork salad. Someone please open one in Glendale, it would do awesome!!! Can you tell how bad I want one, right now!!! There is one in Gilbert and Brent is doing rotations out there, wouldn't it be nice if he brought it home for dinner one night this week? Its only a 45 minute drive...
Z. Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Baby update...

Well I am officially 7 months today, yeah!! Baby is moving like crazy and I couldn't be happier. I can tell a difference between her and Katrena in movements. Hers feel stronger and are definitely more frequent. I can remember being concerned about Katrena and thinking that she did not move as much as others complained about. At least now we know why and are correcting the problem.

I have been having some major difficulty being able to obtain heparin, so my Doctor has established me with a pump, this is similar to what a diabetic on insulin would wear. It is inserted in my belly and gradually pumps heparin into me all day. I have been told this is more accurate than the shots I have been giving myself the past 25 weeks, and it is definitely more convenient. Although it is a little tender I can do anything to get our little girl here healthy.

I currently have ultrasounds done twice a week for her BPP tests and except for the one time she has gotten 8/8 each time. Every fourth week they also do a growth ultrasound to make sure she is growing adequately and what percentile she is in. 4 weeks ago she weighed 2 lb, 7 oz and was in the 40th percentile, today she weighed 4 lbs and is right on. So she has put on a 1 1/2 in 4 weeks, I am so proud!! 1 more pound and 5 oz and she will have surpassed her sisters birth weight. As of right now they are planning on delivering me when I am 37 weeks, so as to prepare for this and also to prepare in case of an emergency were they would need to get her out quickly, they gave me two steroid shots last week to help her lung development to speed up. I can't believe that in 6 weeks I am going to be able to hold both of my little girls in my arms.

While I am talking baby, I also wanted to share some other miracle news in our family ( I hope they don't mind my sharing). I have put off sharing this news as it is not mine to share, but when I think about it I get as giddy as with my own, and I want to shout it from a mountain top. My Uncle Wade and his wife Traci have struggled to have kids and were blessed to have had my two cute Cousins Tyler and Megan with the miracle of science, well Traci found out in April that she is pregnant again and I am so very thrilled for them. I truly know that God is blessing our family this year. We have had so many struggles and heartache to have our families grow and we are truly getting a double miracle and I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven and his love for all of us that he is giving us the beautiful miracle/gift of having a new little girl in our home and my wonderful Aunt and Uncle their miracle as well. I feel that our family is being truly blessed.

Proof

She's off...

So my little girl left today, she will be in Utah for 6 weeks. This was her first time flying by herself and although she said she was scared, I don't believe her, I know that I was more afraid than she was. She was so excited to go and I know she will have a great time visiting Scott and Stephanie as well as all of her other extended family. (I even scheduled a dentist appointment for her while she is there). I only cried for about 10 minutes after she got on the plane, and off and on the rest of the evening as well as yesterday.

While waiting at the airport we read the Kissing Hand, its a children's book about a raccoon that has to leave his mom to go to school and she kept kissing my belly and telling the baby how much she loved her. And then she would tell her to wait till she got home to be born. I highly doubt the baby knew that she was being told to stay inside, but she was certainly moving around a lot, I think she knew her big sister was leaving and that she wouldn't hear her beautiful voice for awhile. I wrote her a little note to read on the plane and then I hid a really cute and cuddly stuffed dog in her carry on bag so that she could find it on the plane. My mom hid a monkey in my suitcase with a letter when I was younger and was going away for awhile and I still remember how I felt, knowing how much she loved me and was going to miss me.

I am looking forward to hearing about all of her fun adventures and I will share any news that I hear. As for those in Utah whom may have a chance to see my little girl in the next few weeks, please give her a hug and kiss for me.


Be safe Little Bit, I'll see you in 6 weeks!!!

Saturday 6/7/08, Tempe Lake Splash Park...

We have a very limited summer with Trena this year, so we have been trying to think of some fun activities to do with her. At ASU there is a free splash park, so we went there Saturday afternoon. They have two small water slides and water falls. As well as multiple places where water shoots up and out and you can spray others.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Saturday, June 7 2008, Cousin time

Saturday we got up early and went to Gary's house. The kids swam for awhile and then while I was running around trying to find my heparin, Allie, Katrena's cousin took her to get her first pedicure (she even paid). I was going to meet them there, but when I arrived the lady said they had no one by that name, so I went out to the car to wait with the camera, when out they walk!!! I was a little sad, but you can't be at every first, right? Afterwards they went accross the street and got Starbuck's Fraupachino's. Katrena felt so grown up. She loves to spend time with Allie.

Here is a cute photo of Allie and Katrena



Their cute toes, Katrena's are slime green.

Caleb, Trena, and Allie

Allie thank you for the cute photos!

The Kindness of Strangers... (sorry so long)

As everyone knows in order to get our little girl here I have to have heparin injections twice a day. Well my Doctors upped my dose a few weeks ago so I ran out of my previous prescription a little faster than normal. My insurance will only pay for my heparin if I go through a mail order pharmacy company (pain in the butt and I worry if I will get it in time). Last Wednesday I contacted them and said that I would be taking my last dose Monday morning and due to the weekend would need it delivered on Friday, they said no problem and put the order in. On Thursday at 6pm I get a phone call that heparin is on back order and they will not be able to get it to me until Tuesday, umm too late. So I explained the situation and they said I would need to call back in the morning. Friday I call and they say there is no way they can get it to me, so they contact my insurance and they say that they will allow it to be filled by a local pharmacy 1 time. I call my Doctors office and they write a prescription and I pick it up. Now the real fun starts. With all the garbage going on with Heparin in the news because some company royally messed with theres (thank heavens not the brand I use), and people have been dying, there is a shortage everywhere. I went to multiple pharmacies today (by Brents brothers) and each of those pharmacies contacted all of their sister pharmacies (by both of our homes) and searched their computers, nothing! Someone finally suggested I contact the hospital that I will be delivering at and plead my case. I did, and they said they couldn't help but they knew where I should be able to get some ( I was beginning to feel like I was trying to find my next hit or something). They gave me the number to the biggest Walgreens in Phoenix and another company. They also told me if I couldn't locate any to come in they would not let me go with out, I thanked them over and over. So the company they were sure would have it was closed till Monday (of course). Walgreens said they didn't have any but they would contact there manager and get back with me, about 2 hours later I get a phone call they have 11 vials which is 11 days worth. At this point I am in Gilbert (east) and the pharmacy is west of my house. By the time I got there it was 6 pm, they were going to give me all they had when they come back and say my insurance won't pay because I am not using their pharmacy! AAAGH!!! Didn't we take care of this already. So they call the insurance pharmacy, sorry closed for the weekend, then they call the insurance, sorry closed. So we ask the man how much it would be for the 11 days $167!!! ya right, we have NO income remember. So I asked the man how much for one vial (and a prayer that mine really comes on Tuesday). And that sweet man just handed it to me, and I said how much and he said I can do one vial and I know you really need it. It was the sweetest thing ever. I thanked him over and over and then left clutching my vial of heparin (which by the way I felt like I was stealing).

***sorry so long, but I wanted to really express what an angel he was and how he came to my rescue.***

Wed. June 4, 2008- Out of Africa

On Wednesday we took a little family trip 90 minutes north of Phoenix to Out of Africa, we had a great time. It is similar to Bear World in Idaho only much larger and has safari animals as well as bears. We went first to a snake show where they talked and showed you two different kinds of snakes. Then they allowed everyone who wanted to to come in and touch the snakes. Now everyone that knows me knows that I am beyond terrified of snakes. I won't even go in the snake house at the zoo. I am the type that if I saw a snake in the wild I would pee my pants, burst into tears and probably pass out. My only experience with snakes has been with poisonous snakes in North Carolina. So guess what? I went in the gate!!! I was literally standing within 5 feet of these snakes. Brent went over and touched the first one and I told Katrena to go by Dad and she could touch one too. And she said no, so I knew I had to be an example, so drum roll please... Yes, I Kimberly Ann North not only touched a 12 foot python, but also a 7 foot boa!!! My husband told me how proud he was that I even went in there, let alone touched a snake. Unfortunately there are no pictures of this, but Brent and Katrena will vouch for me and Brent says he got it on video.

Next we walked around and saw some of the animals and then went to hear someone talk about the cougar and black bears. And then went to a Tiger Splash show where the workers are actually playing with the tigers. It was very cool to watch. Then we went on a safari ride where Katrena fed a camel and a giraffe and we saw many different types of antelope, a goat, zebras, ostriches, etc. Brent fed the giraffe by putting the treat in his own mouth, he was rewarded with a tongue kiss from the giraffe, see video below. When the safari was done we took the tram back to the animals where we walked along beside the feed truck to watch them feed all the animals raw meat. They do not feed any animals any living animals. Thank goodness, this includes the snakes. (I forgot to mention the yellow python had not eaten in 3 months, by choice.) The hyenas were hilarious to watch eat, they laugh when they want to attack. While waiting for their food they were laughing like crazy. Now, the gross part. I overheard a worker saying that they were feeding the lions a horses head!!! gross!!! and sure enough you could see the ears and mouth. We all lost our appetite after that. It was a wonderful hot day.

Lion guarding his horses head...

Brent and Katrena on the safari ride...

2 week old zebra named Mirage...

Camel, Katrena fed...

black ostrich...

tram ride, Trena and mom...

Entrance sign...

12 foot banana python...

Laughing hyenas

One of the many tigers, I forgot to mention they like to pee on you through the fence...

Tiger Splash, tiger jumping through the air...

Brent cheated on me

End of May- catch up

I really do love to blog, but I have been a terrible slacker the last few weeks, so I really do apologize.

First order of business Katrena's last day of school was May 22nd, she exited the school bus shouting I passed first grade, I am a second grader. I thought this was quite funny, seeing as how as a first grader I don't think I ever thought that I wouldn't pass.

Next, Grandpa (Brent's dad) came to visit. And even though we only spent about 24 hours with him, Katrena was in heaven!!! Dad flew into Arizona on Friday night and we didn't go to Brent's brothers till the next afternoon to see him. Katrena told her friend she couldn't play on Friday because her Grandpa was in town. When we pulled up at Gary's on Saturday she darted out of the car screaming Grandpa. Katrena has really missed having Grandparents nearby. We enjoyed some time visiting and BBQ and then it was home to our place where Dad kindly helped Brent rearrange Katrena's room to make room for the baby and all of her stuff. On Sunday we drove Grandpa and Brent to the Airport where they caught a flight to San Antonio.






Brent was going to a PA conference in San Antonio for a few days and being that I am high risk I couldn't go with, so Brent asked his Dad to join him. They got in on Sunday, May 25th and on Monday the 26th he attended classes in the morning, they did some sight seeing in the afternoon and then Brent participated in a challenge bowl between different colleges that evening. Tuesday they spent the whole day sight seeing. They went to the River Walk and took a boat tour, visited the Alamo and went to the snake farm (eew!!!) they said there were other animals there too. They had a great time together and headed back to phoenix and Utah that evening.

Last weekend on Saturday the 31st we went to Gary and Jody's and had a BBQ and then went to a free outdoor concert at the mall by their house. It was a Beatle's tribute band, they were pretty good and pretty decent too!

Baby update: things are still going relatively well the baby is growing on schedule and measuring good. My blood pressure and weight and babies HR is good. I go to the doctor's three times a week and two of those times I have biophysical profiles done on the baby. This is where they measure the amount of amniotic fluid around baby, HR, movement and position, and if they are doing the action of breathing. Each is worth two points for a total of 8/8. She has gotten a perfect 8 every time until Monday the 1st of June. She only got a 6 so they sent me over to have an NST done, everything looked fine on that so we will follow up on Thursday. In the meantime I am constantly counting kicks because I am paranoid, I know I have good reason to be. Anyways her kicks were good all last night and today. We will keep everyone updated.

Love to all!!!

Which Disney Princess am I?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?