SHE IS WALKING!!!!!!!!!!!

At 2 years and 4 months I am HAPPY to announce that Laynie is walking!!! We were pleasantly surprised when she decided on her own that she wanted to walk. We didn't know when or if this day would ever come!!! It is amazing that she does so well, considering she does not have semi-circular canals in her ears which controls her balance. She is still a little wobbly and has us on pins and needles when we watch her, but SHE IS TOTALLY WALKING!!! She took off right before Christmas and we consider it the best gift we got this year!!! We are so proud of you Laynie. You continue to amaze us every day! We know great things are in your future!!! This video shows her first steps, when she first took off walking on her own, and then her balancing even better... so watch all three little clips!!!

Free picture slideshow made with Smilebox

Our quick getaway...

 Trevor's work took us down to Salk Lake City for a fun little overnight trip. We went to Tucanos for dinner and to the Utah Jazz vs. Clippers game. Then they got us a hotel for the night. Our plan at first was to take Laynie with us and I would just stay at the hotel with her during the game. But, we ended up having Drake stay with Grandma Debbie and Laynie stayed home with her nurse, Holly!!! It was less than 24 hours that we were gone, but I was sooooooo nervous to leave her. I hate the way that my mind always thinks of the worse. The closer it got to the day we were leaving, the more I started worrying about leaving. Everything went completely smooth though and after I shed a few tears, I was fine and we had a great time:)

It is so much fun to be able to spend time with just Trevor!!!

 

Dinner at Tucanos was delicious. We ate way too much, but it was really good!!!

After our enormous dinner we ordered dessert. Don't ask me why????

This was Trevor's piece of chocolate cake!!! It was so huge!!! That was an average size plate, not a small plate.

 I didn't get any pictures at the game, but the Jazz ended up losing at the very end. It was a good game though. Trevor's parents and brothers were also at the game and were actually sitting pretty close to us.

After the game we walked around down by the Gateway and we met up with Trevor's family for a bit.

Of course Drake had a blast with Grandma. He didn't want to come home!!!

 It was a fun and quick trip. Laynie was happy to see us and we are happy to be home!!!

We had a great time!!!!

Our wonderful Christmas...

 Our Christmas was absolutely wonderful this year!!! The fact that we were all healthy and together made it perfect!!! There are a lot of people that I have heard of (mostly in my CHARGE groups) that are very sick or even spent Christmas in the hospital, so I am so grateful we were healthy for Christmas!!! We have had a really great break from doctors appointments and trips to Primary Children's. Our break is about to come to an end soon, but we have loved our time off. It just really makes us feel normal!!!

Anyways, back to Christmas..... It is so much more fun when you have kids. Trevor and I had fun eating cookies and carrots and laying out all the gifts. We woke up before the kids and couldn't wait to go out and see what Santa had brought. Drake understood a lot better this year and he was just loving the toys, like any 4 year old would. Laynie doesn't really like playing with toys. She just loves to copy and do whatever her brother is doing. Grandma and Grandpa Petersen gave her a little Woody doll on Christmas Eve and she thought she was so cool to have her OWN Woody!!! It was pretty cute. Drake's favorite toys are his shark ship, Jessie doll, and his Bumblebee transformer. Laynie's favorite toys are bubbles and this octopus ball toy. Trevor and I also got spoiled.... especially me!!! I kind of feel embarrassed because I got so spoiled this year!!!

It is so nice that we live so close to most of our family. We loved spending time over at both of our parent's houses. I love this time of year, and I love the spirit that I feel during the Christmas season.  

I didn't take very many pictures because we were having way too much fun, but here are a few that I took!!!

I love these two soooooo much!!!!

 Our family on Christmas morning at Trevor's parent's house.

 All the Petersen cousins on Christmas morning. We went to my mom's for Christmas dinner, but no pictures were taken.

We even got a white Christmas!!! Seriously, Christmas couldn't have been better this year. I am sad that it is over. I am so grateful for my family and for our Savior!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Happy Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the NEWS!!!!!

A few days ago my sister called me and asked if I wanted to be on a morning news show (Good Things Utah) with her. She was going to be on for her gLockets and she wanted me and Laynie to be on and talk about CHARGE syndrome because she was going to give 20% back to CHARGE research, outreach, and going to the CHARGE conference. Of course I wanted to go, but Trevor couldn't get off work, and I need a someone to drive me because I can't drive alone that far with Laynie. My mom came to our rescue and we went. It was such a fun experience. I was so nervous the night before. I always really dislike the way I look and especially sound on camera. Once we were there and it was getting closer I wasn't as nervous. The interview went good. It wasn't perfect, but I was very pleased I didn't make any massive mistakes. My sister is so kind to give back to Laynie's cause!!! She is always so giving- thank you Afton!!!!

 

Us right after the show with the host... Necea

 Drake was so excited to go and play with his cousins. He was in heaven the whole time we were there!!!!

 Here's the lady that made it all possible!!!! Thanks mom!!! Laynie sure loves her grandma!!!

 Laynie even got her own gLocket. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. It has her birthstone, a L, and a ladybug in it. She LOVES wearing. You can barely see it in this picture...

And here is the link to watch the video!!!

Understanding Charge Syndrome

Flat Charlie

Our family is participating in the Flat Charlie Project!!!

It is a little paper guy that travels all around the world to different CHARGE families.

During his stay with us we are supposed to show him our part of the world, raise awareness about CHARGE syndrome, and do some fundraising for the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation.

As everyone knows, Laynie has CHARGE syndrome and has faced so many health challenges.

CHARGE syndrome affects every person differently and many doctors and other health care professionals have never even heard of CHARGE syndrome before.

It is our families goal to raise money for further research and outreach for children affected with CHARGE syndrome. If you would like to help in our efforts, you can go here: http://FifthAnnualCIFC.kintera.org/laynieflatcharlie

 Thanks:)

Laynie meeting Flat Charlie

 

Also, here is a video that I made for a class project for Trevor's brother. It shows how Laynie has been affected by CHARGE syndrome!!!

We are ready for Christmas

 We got a tiny bit of snow and I finished my shopping!!!!!!!!!!

We are now ready for Christmas!

I am loving all my Christmas cards:)

BLONDE in the kitchen

 If anyone wants to feel better about their cooking then keep reading......

I don't mind cooking, but I seem to mess something up every time I try something new!!!

So, I decided to make homemade hot chocolate.

I got all the ingredients and went to work.

One of the ingredients was coffee creamer.
I am not a coffee drinker.

I did not know that there was a powder coffee creamer.

I thought it only came in liquid form.

I did think it was strange to be pouring liquid into powder and hoping to get a powder as the end result.

Yes, my hair color is blonde:)

Here is what it looked like......................

Anyone want some hot coco?????

 

Back to the store I went.

I got the correct coffee creamer this time.

As well as all the other ingredients I wasted!!! (URRRGGGG)

This is what it is supposed to look like...................

 Much better:)

The best part is...... I tasted it........ and it isn't very good. But it isn't horrible.

Sorry neighbors!!! You are getting it anyways because I went through way too much work and money for this hot chocolate!!!!

Plus it looks pretty cute when it's all wrapped up in these jars!!!

I guess I am going for "looking good" instead of "tasting good" this year!!!

 

 I made some cookies today for a church activity tonight.

If at first you don't succeed...

Try again!!!!!

Perfection!!!

Once again, I am going for "looking good" instead of "tasting good".

They aren't the best tasting cookies, but they are so festive!!!!

I decided I kind of hate pinterest.

It gives you so many great things to try.

But mine never turn out!!!

Remember these????? These were supposed to be yummy oreo cookies last spring!!!

Snowman princess

She is the cutest snowman princess I have ever seen!!!

gLockets

 My sister's company gLockets is doing a promotion right now. If you use the code: CHARGE then you get 20% off AND she will give 20% to our family to use towards going to the CHARGE syndrome conference in Arizona. A gLocket is a glass locket that you can put birth stones and charms in. I love mine!!! They make awesome Christmas gifts and they now ship to Canada!!! The code is available from now until Christmas!!! Thanks so much!!!

 

www.glockets.com

Breakfast with Santa

 These pictures are all from my phone so they kind of stink, but oh well...

I was in charge of planning the Ward Christmas party for our church this year. Two other awesome girls helped me:)

We had Breakfast with Santa!!! It was fun and we got to wear our pajamas!!!

We actually had a weekend of parties, because on Friday night we had Trevor's work Christmas party at Stockmans.

 

We had a hot chocolate bar, juice, cold cereal, a yogurt and fruit bar, and fruit. Then we had volunteers bring cinnamon rolls, muffins, and other breakfast pastries. It was all so yummy!!!

 We had a fun program with a few musical numbers and the nativity reading while people dressed up as the nativity.

 Then we had a special visitor...... Santa Clause!!!! Santa was actually my Grandpa Ivan. He loved being Santa and all the kids loved him.

 Drake didn't catch on that it was Grandpa Ivan!!!

 Laynie was not happy about sitting on Santa's lap!!!

 And my mom came to entertain this little girl so Trevor and I could do what we needed to do to help at the party. She loves walking the halls!!!

Cute kids and oxygen weaning....

There is nothing better than listening to both of your kids giggle while being swung in a blanket swing. Trevor and I couldn't help but laugh ourselves!!! It's so fun to be a kid.

 

This kid is a smarty pants at putting puzzles together. He can do them just as fast as I can. He can do a 50 piece puzzles on his own. He didn't get this talent from me, because I don't like puzzles.

 

 During the summer Laynie was getting weaned from her oxygen and she did really well for about a week. I would check her numbers on her pulse ox and they would be in the 90's. She went most of the day without oxygen. Then one day I checked her numbers and they were hanging out in the 80's so I had to put the oxygen back on. This continued and I was so bummed because we were so hopeful that she was going to get rid of it. Well it has been about 3 or 4 months and I thought I would give it another try. This is yesterday..... those number are PERFECT!!! Her face says exactly how we all feel... so excited about it!!! She went most of the day without oxygen yesterday and some of the day today. I check her frequently. She has needed her oxygen this afternoon, but I know she is slowly improving. It would be so awesome to get rid of this leash that she is attached to all day!!! Keep up the good work lungs!!!