It's a Snell World

I sit here a see that it has been two months since I posted, shame on me. I guess I really haven't had my heart into blogging much.

Since my last post we have celebrated Kenna's 8th birthday. We took a short trip to Zion's NP for some r&r and fun with her. We went to see The Little Mermaid at Tuachan. And really just had a good time being a family. Arianna is back in school and loving it, they are doing swim therapy this year, but she has yet to go because she got a cold. She is still fighting the snot, but doing good otherwise. And the biggest news of all, we are having an BOY!!!! Kenna is so very excited, that's what she wanted. I had a feeling early on that it was a boy, just felt so different from the way I did with my girls. He is very active and growing very fast. We still have not found a good name for him, hard to find a good boy name that goes with Snell that has not already been taken. So for now we call him Ossie.

Kenna is very excited for Halloween this year, she is Tiger Lilly from Peter Pan, and Arna is a Peacock. We have been to a few Halloween parties already and their costumes are a hit. My mom made Kenna's and I found Arnas at Gymboree(on sale).

Next up is Kenna's Baptism on the 5th. She is so very excited, and so are we. She is such a wonderful example to her family. She loves going to church and makes sure mom is awake and ready on time.

My next post, which will be soon will have pics of the girls and their costumes, a pic of the boy, and maybe my profile. Thanks for keeping tabs on us even though I slack.

Since I really don't find the energy to do much these days, lots of things have been neglected, such as this blog, the laundry, the dishes and well just about everything in the house. I do however manage to bathe, clothe and feed the kids, me on the other hand I really don't like much of anything to eat, I still struggle to get food to the baby in my belly but I keep trying.

So Kenna has been in the second grade for 4 weeks now and is really enjoying it. She has one really good friend in her class, makes her feel better. She is doing well with spelling and math, and loves art time. It really brings me back to the days when i didn't know how to read and spell, and math was a struggle, I hope I can be a good teacher to her.

Arianna will start school on the 29th, she wishes it was now, she is bored and done with summer. She needs her own time to learn and play away from home. I remember when I first put her on the bus two years ago and thought how will I get through the day with out taking care of her? How will she be without mommy there to watch over her? Now I know better. Although it is still hard to say goodbye on the first day, I know that she is in good hands and that she loves to be there. I know I can not provide everything for her everyday and I am glad there is a school that can do all that she needs.

We had our 14 week baby check last week and I am measuring at 15 weeks. Very interesting. Either my dates are off or this is a really happy and big baby. I can alreay feel little thumps and flutters. Can't wait until the end of September to find out if it is a boy or girl.

We also went camping over the weekend, Kenna had so much fun riding on her four wheeler, she even took me for a spin. On our way to our camping destination we stopped in Heber to have some dinner at Arby's. While there a gentleman walked up to our table and put his hand out to Matt and said, 'It would make me very happy to buy your dinner tonight. You have such a special family.' and gave Matt money. I of course started to cry, being that I am pregers I do that. We all said thank you and the man left. I asked Matt yesterday how much the man gave us, and he told me $50. I could not believe the heart of this man. Someone we don't know and would never meet again. All I can figure is that he must have been touched in a very personal way by someone with special needs. I will be forever grateful for his example to my family, to the gift of love he shared. I will someday pass it forward.

just a few of my favs!

The Internet is up and running and I have my own computer!!! I will be spending time here getting the pics from Florida up.

Oh and by the way....Today is our birthday!!! I still can't believe Arianna is 5.
I will also be spending time talking about the last five years and the joys we have shared!


More to come!!!

We have been to and returned from our Wish trip to Florida. What a wonderful time we all had. I am still weepy when I think of all that was done for us from those who volunteered to make our time there worry free. no cooking, no cleaning, and lots of love shared.
There are so many pics and some good videos to share, and I will I promise. I am trying to get it all worked out on the computer.

I just wanted to say to you all for now that we are doing really well, and Arianna is as happy as ever. I will spend a few days with my laptop and try to post all the good and fun stuff that we have been up to, please be patient with me.

We did it, and we survived the flights. Let me tell you flying with a kid on oxygen and in a wheelchair is no easy feat. But we had great help and admiration from many flight attendants and many other passengers. Arianna did so well on all four flights, never once complaining. I however was a bit cramped sitting in the middle seat, Arna got the window because she was in a car seat and for safety and evac purposes that was the best place.
The island was beautiful and warm, so lush and green. Our hotel room had a great view of the ocean and you could hear the waves crashing! The beaches are pristine and the water was warm enough that Arna took a dip. We mostly played in the pool so that we could keep the water out of her nose, how do you explain to docs that your kid aspirated sea water! Kenna is a natural in the water, I had a local tell me she would be great on a surf-broad, she wasn't to keen on the idea yet. We had a Monk Seal that liked to hang out on the same beach with us sunning himself, Kenna loved to just watch him.
We took a hike with Arna in a pack on Matt's back, she laughed to whole 2 1/2 miles. It was on the cliff coast line, the only way to get to ship-wreck beach and the great shell hunting. Kenna only complained on the hike back, she had got her shells and wanted to be back in the car.
We got Kenna to snorkel at Lydgate park, very calm waters due to the man made wave break. We ate fabulous local food, my fav was the Kahlua Pork.
Kenna found a coconut and we tried to bring it home, but it had bugs and the USDA would not let us take it, that's ok Kenna still thought it was cool to have one for a little while.
We did some shopping and a lot of relaxing and enjoying the company of our family. I say a huge thank you to Marilyn, this truly was the greatest gift for us all. to be able to celebrate the birthdays of two very special women in our lives. Thanks for the trip, we will never forget!

I have many pics and videos to share, and will do as soon as my computer gets fixed.

Upon arriving home I learned that sweet Lily had gone to be with Jesus and her big sister Charlotte on Sunday morning. Our hearts are broken, and she will be missed. Thank you sweet girl for sharing your sweet spirit with us all. Please pray for comfort and peace for her parents and family.

I saw today that I have not updated since Nov, and that is just wrong. So much goes on and I just don't want to miss it, and I forget that I should share it with you all.

So in December, Arianna had surgery on her eye, they found an impacted sac connected to her tear duct system that could have lead to serious and unknown infections. The new duct tubes are working well, and her eye is looking great. She did get a small infection and over it quickly with meds.
We had a wonderful and quiet Christmas, our first in this house. It was great to decorate, hated putting it all away.
The new year has been good, no illnesses!!! I was, however, beginning to get concerned with Arianna's weight, she is really thin and long and bones started to poke out. After a visit with our ped we found that she is under weight by about 3 lbs( she weighs 32.9lbs). And with a full blood panel we found that she is anemic, has low blood glucose, low vitamin D and her calcium is low. Her ped is working with nutrition to get all the right stuff into her. I have been slowly increasing the amount of food she gets, its hard when she doesn't tolerate high volumes of fluid in her tummy.
She is burning allot more calories everyday, she is crawling like a pro. I am have a hard time keeping up with her. I will try to catch it on video and post it soon. She has also learned that you can stand up in a crib, not good for me. I am now totally scared that she is going to fall out on her head. The bed we would like to get for her is still under development, and we don't know when it will be available. My neighbor has offered to help Matt design and build something that will suit her needs and grow with her.

In just two weeks we will be heading to Kauai as a family. My MIL is taking hers boys and their families to the island to celebrate her 60th b-day and her mothers 91st b-day. This is going to be fun. Kenna has been talking about this trip for two years, and as the departure date approaches she is getting more and more excited, she can't wait to see the ocean.
I on the other hand am getting a bit nervous, not because I am flying, I am good with that. It is the traveling with Arianna that has got me on edge. All of the things that must be packed and all of the new rules for flying with liquids and such. I spent an hour on the phone with the airline and with TSA just to get all the info for her meds and food worked out, and the proper documentation for her oxygen concentrator. i have had to have both her ped and pulmo docs with letters stating why she must have all of her stuff, not that TSA will really read it, they just want you to have it. I will have to bring all her food in my carry on luggage to prevent it from freezing. Our flight goes from SLC to LAX with an 1 1/2 hour layover, and then five hours to Lehuie. I hope I can keep the kids happy and entertained.
I will post as many pics as I can of our wonderful vacation!

Hope all of our friends are doing well. Please know that I do think of you all often.