What just happened? years of not updating

Alan finally finished DENTAL SCHOOL! FINALLY!!! 7.5 years of marriage and he's done with school. What a relief... right? NO. It wasn't. Not only did we have less money loaned to us the last year of school, there are piles of fees- tests, certifications, and licenses to pay for, literally thousands of dollars. And then on top of that absolutely NO loans available for summer while we wait for things to process. Luckily Alan comes from an amazing family and they have a place for us to stay and loaned us money to pay our bare minimum- groceries, cellphone, my student loans, storage unit. So another person we owe money to. But we had no other options. Imagine having all the time in the world and nothing to do. That was our summer. A BIG blessing did happen. Alan was able to work for a week at Texas Property Tax loans- for my dad. The last week of June just happens to be the busiest for property tax loans. That paid our bills for a month. We went from Mid May- Mid August with out any money.

Tyler, Texas is our new home. Something about moving makes me want to cry. I really LOVED everyone I met in Dallas. I could stay in contact, but it's just so hard.... I have to replace all my Dallas friends with Tyler ones and that going to take a lot of time. If I use my time in the past- I'll never enjoy the present.

Grace was born February 3rd, 2014 at 2:50am at BIG BAYLOR in Dallas, TX. Exactly a year after I became a body pump instructor. The pregnancy was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I complained to Alan every single time I talked to him, to the point he stopped caring(because he was just so used to it). The last month of Dr appointments, I went to the appointment holding back tears, on the verge of begging them to put me out of my misery by inducing. Man, varicose veins are the pits. The birth of Grace was the happiest moment of my life. It's truly a blessing to sacrifice ourselves for another. I was able to convey a limitless amount of love. The pain and sickness I felt was worth it. I would do it again.... maybe.... in a few year. I was able to give birth pain drug free. Of course after, I didn't want to feel another ounce of pain so I drugged up. It was such a great experience.

Anyone who's has a baby knows how vivid the memory is of the birth. I still remember my first REAL contraction at 12:09am Feburary 3rd, it woke me up. We had gone to bed about 10pm and I had absolutely NO contractions that whole day. Waking up to that contraction at 12:09am, I thought "HOLY COW I'm in labor NO DOUBT'. I started to time contractions immediately...it went from 9 minutes, to 7 minutes.... to 5 minutes. The most powerful contractions ever.  This baby was coming. After those 4 contractions I got up and frantically got things ready to leave... while Alan was sleeping. I texted our AMAZING friend Dani Emory and she came immediately. I told Alan we are going to the hospital ASAP so get ready. After feeling those insanely strong contractions, I needed an epidural. Luckily I wasn't against epidurals and the desire to get one led me to get to the hospital ASAP. We arrived at the hospital at 2am. I was checked about 20 minutes later and I was at 5cm, then I got up and went potty and saw lots of blood. This whole time I was begging for an epidural. So they started an I.V.. This possibly had pitocin in it- because after they started it, my water broke like a water cannon. Then I had an intense sensation to push, so the nurse checked me and I was a 10. Then the anesthesiologist poked his head in to see if I wanted an epidural, but it was too late. I was SCARED to death, the emotions poured over me. I started to cry. I can't do this, but I have to. It's time to push. The nurse pretty much delivered Grace because the resident in the room wasn't ready.  It was an amazing whirlwind of events.
Grace is a doll. Emily and Aiden can't get enough of their little sister.

What we believe :)

During the past few days Alan and I have been talking a lot about our beliefs and how strongly we believe in them. In light of recent political moves by our current president I felt like posting what we believe in. As well as a picture I saw hanging on the wall of our home that inspired me to post this.  Every child deserves a mother and a father.

The Family

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A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

May 2012 Update

Alan is at his end of his second year at Baylor and I am dying to call him a 3rd year already. I am so thrilled to be in the last 2 years of school, well ALMOST- one more month. It's been a long road, but it has been very blessed.

Our kids are growing up so healthy and happy and FAST. Aiden is 4.5 years old and Emily is 1.5 years. Aiden is going thru a poop in his underwear phase. Emily is going thru a bump her head on everything phase. I got to love their phases.

We moved in March to a place that is within walking distance from Alan's school and almost 2 times the size of the apartment. He has been able to walk to school and it's been a perfect place for us. The only down side is that there are homeless people everywhere and you have to be very cautious. We finally have a back yard! Its been perfect for the kids. They have been spending enormous amounts of time outside, and at the end of the day they are filthy and tired. 

Emily is also learning how to speak and she also surprises us with learning songs too. I love this age. It's so exciting! And Aiden gets to share those moments with me. The moments where Emily does something for the first time and it's so amazing! Aiden is such a great big brother. He loves his sister and enjoys teaching her her letters and numbers... and he loves seeing her progress.

I just finished my first semester of online classes since the year before I married Alan, 2006! It was quite the transition. I survived! We moved in the middle of the semester and I survived. Being a mom is a full time gig, and I feel as though taking those 2 classes did interfere with it, but not too bad. They will survive.

Our latest addtion- Emily Nanette Anderson

I've missed quite of bit of events but I should probably blog this one!

1pm October 27th, 2010, I went in for an appointment at 40 weeks and 4 days. Luckily my doctor decided to put me out of my misery and sent me to the hospital to be induced. I don't remember being asked if I wanted to be induced, it was more like a command. All my stats weren't going in good directions: blood pressure higher, weight lower, stomach measured smaller. Alan and I wanted to experience the excitement of it happening on its on. But this was pretty exciting. I went straight over to the hospital with a huge smile on my face and told them I was "in labor" per instruction by my OB. The labor and delivery was completely packed and they weren't accepting any inductions or planned c-sections. They thought I was crazy. When I told them I was 4 days passed my due date, they started taking me a little more serious. So I got all settled in and all the paperwork completed. Alan made it over. As he left his class he said that there was applause! 4pm they got the ptocin going and the pain starting hitting. Then an hour later they broke my water and increased the ptocin. OMGsh- I was begging for immediate pain relief. I got an epidural about 30 minutes later. Never again will I think I can handle the affect of ptocin. BRUTAL! So about 5:30 I am being seen by the person we all LOVE most, the anastethiolgist. I got some relief but still was very uncomfortable, so he gave me LOTS and LOTS of the medicine. And it only seem to be working on my right leg. But I wasn't in the same amount of pain, still a great amount, but tolerable. So after the love of my life leaves, they check me and the baby is coming. After a several pushes, I delivered the most precious baby girl at 6:50pm. She was a whopping 8lbs 9 oz and 20.75 inches. The doctors commented "she just kept coming". They did not expect a baby her size.

From day one she has been the sweetest baby. Her "cries" sounded like a mad jibberish.

I pierced her ears in January, when she was a little over 2 months. They sell everything you need to pierce ears at walmart at the jewelry counter.

She is now 4 months and 3 days. She is rolling onto her side, but not all the way over. She is in 6-9 month clothes. Some shirts she wears are 12month. She basically has been sleeping thru the night her whole life. She is just the epitome of a perfect baby and I feel SO blessed to have her in my life.

Hospital Stay July 10-11th

This picture was taken about an hour after we got to the hospital when we didn't know how serious things were. He had just taken a pill to stop the throwing up and could finally fall asleep. Little did we know he was going to throw up minutes later and get an I.V. put in. We knew he had to be taken to the hospital but we thought for maybe 2 hours... not 2 days. Aiden burned his foot on the 4th of July by stepping on a sparkler and almost a week later it got infected while at a family reunion in Vidor, TX. The infection got into his blood/lymphatic system so we had to take him to the hospital to receive antibiotics. We were transfered from a level 2 hospital in Beaumont, TX to a level 1 because the test were showing something wrong with his kidneys. The doctor kept asking us if any relatives had kidney disorders... and he wanted us to get to a Children's Kidney specialist.



We took an 1.5 hour ambulance ride to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. There we were started on IV antibiotics until he was stable enough to go home. They tell us there he has cellulitis.

They also tested his kidney funtions again and his kidneys were performing better than most adults. He continued showing improvement so he was released Sunday night at 7pm. It ended up being the best case senario. I am so happy we took him when we did!

We thought we spoiled Aiden before... it's alot worse now!

Aiden is very proned to skin infections. Every mesquito bite he gets swells to an alarming size and needs to be treated with bactroban. Let's hope this is the only hospital stay he ever has. I will take even better care of every scratch/bite/burn he ever gets.

Motivated to do this blog

Now that I am settled in this apartment and feel like I have time, I am going to do this! I have lots to do to catch up, but will take it slow to not be overwhelmed.

I renewed my membership membership to the Dallas zoo for the summer and we've been going alot. We went today and Aiden loved it. We just went to the children's zoo- so I could sit down and relax while Aiden played in the water. Amanda and her girls (Maya and Jade) came and played with us. It was really nice weather. Pictures are to come! I just keep forgetting my camera!!

I've been doing ezmeals recommended by Dave Ramsey. I highly recommend it myself now. Although we've had one or two meals so far we didn't care for, its mostly been yummy and healthy. What I like most about it is I am not wasting food. Everything I buy for the week, I use.

7 Months old ALREADY!

Aiden turned 7 months June 14th. I can not believe how fast he has grown. At his 6 months appointment he weighed 17lbs and 14oz and was 26 1/2inches long. Aiden still hates tummy time and is far from crawling. He is a cuddler. He loves hugs and laughs at kisses. He is happy almost all the time except for when he is trying to go to sleep. He is interested in everything he shouldn't touch... he could care less for his toys. He is a destroyer, he loves knocking things over. If I leave him for a second in the bumbo on the kitchen table Everything is knocked over and I make it a point to put things out of reach. He is sitting up very well. He loves bathes. He loves rubber duckies. He kicks and throws his arms in excitement when he sees his rubber duckies. His hair has grown in thick on top but the sides and back are lacking. People ask us if we have cut his hair, sometimes in disgust. Why would we cut a babies hair to be a mow hawk? But it is super cute!
I have a seasons pass to Hurricane Harbor, so Aiden and I will get to go as much as we want.

Here's a picture to show Aiden's mow hawk.

Aiden got his hands into his Cousin Samantha's spaghetti.

Daddy is teaching Aiden how to be a boy.

Aiden loves bathes and ducks!

Aiden got his third tooth and here's a picture of him teething.