We hope you had a very very Merry Christmas & look forward to a fabulous 2011!
All the best & much love,
your higgins fam
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Eat Sleep Poop... and rock my family's world
Hi there!
It's me, baby Eli.
My mommy has wanted to update this blog for quite some time, but, well, the forces of life (mostly me and my brothers) seem to defy even her best efforts. She actually has several unfinished drafts of posts, and, I'm sure intends to fill you in on the crazy goings-on of the past few months very soon. Even so, in between cat-naps, diaper-changes, feedings, and tummy-time and playtime, I thought I'd hack the laptop and at least just let you all know we're doing well.
It's been quite a crazy few past months-- in my short life I've had 3 IVs, a NICU scare, an ER visit, a surgery, and have been 'put under' twice. I'm fine, though-- it all could've be much worse! I'm a pretty happy little guy despite it all.
My Daddy graduated medical school and is an official doctor-- he's tired and gone a lot for his residency, but I can tell he really enjoys his job.
My big brothers are really great. Jonathan is leaving me the only one in diapers and is almost potty-trained. Benjamin just started Kindergarten.
Mommy spends pretty much all of her time taking care of us and the house. I can tell she enjoys our new home. Our house is just right, the trees and green are beautiful, and people have been so welcoming and good to us. She was also just called to be a Young Women advisor.
I can also tell, though, she misses her Arizona friends (and family), too...
Oh, mommy caught me... I'd better get back to sucking my fingers...I'll make sure to remind her to blog soon, though. She said to tell you your love, thoughts, emails, notes, and support mean a lot to her. Thanks for thinking of us! She'll update you soon! If I let her...
Bye now!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Surprise! He's Here! Hurray!!
Elias Dan Higgins
May 16, 2010, 11:18pm
7 lb. 7 oz., 20 in.
We are so thrilled to have our little Eli with us at last! He is perfectly beautiful and we absolutely adore him. Thank you to all for your love and support. Mom, Eli, and family are doing so well. His arrival story and other details to come (eventually). :)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
I Know How You Feel...
We've had some busy days and some consecutive late nights, so both boys have been tired lately (if not low on energy somehow).
When we dropped them off at Grandma & Grandpa's yesterday so mom and dad could go to the temple, Benjamin seemed kind of grouchy. We asked what was up, and he answered:
"I'm SO tired, but I really want to play... but my body's ignoring me!"
:)
Buddy, I so know how you feel.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Our Happiest News of the Year...
Yes, you've guessed right. ;) We are expecting! And we couldn't be happier!
Some of the FAQs:
How far along? 20 weeks-- half way, yay!
So when is the due date? Around May 20-ish
Morning sick? The nausea wasn't nearly as bad as I remember (thank goodness!), which I'm sure had quite a bit to do with the fact I spent that trying first trimester virtually stress-free with my supportive, loving, and helpful family-- I can't thank my mom, dad, and sister enough for the tremendous blessing of their patience and help. I'm afraid, even being blessed to not be as sick, the fatigue was more than I remembered, so I wasn't the upbeat self I would've liked to have been during our three months living with them. Though still feeling the normal oh-so tired-ness, now that I'm well into the second trimester, I believe I'm in the clear and the worst of the sickness is finally over.
Gender? Why, yes--- I wasn't able to go to the doctor while out of town, so our first appointment was the delightful "find-out-the-gender" ultrasound when we returned.
We are all very happy to announce that it's a....
We are thrilled to continue to build our little Army of Helaman and have a new son join our family this spring! Our Benjamin and Jonathan bring us so much joy, we know another sweet little guy will fit right in and bless our family. Both our boys are very excited to meet their new "baby brother". He is healthy and growing just as he should. We are so grateful and love how our family is growing! :)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
About Time!
We're back! Both home and the blogosphere...
For curious and inquiring minds, here's some of what these past 6 months have held for us...
Cheers and love to all!
What We've Been Up To
Now, as part of the elusive medical school senior class, we've joined the ranks of student families disappearing for months at time from home as we support our beloved future doctor in out-of-state rotations and pursuing interviews for the long-awaited residency.
Having heard horror stories of the massive working hours usually required of residents (particularly the first year or two), we decided our residency location of choice would be in the midwest near my family-- which is actually now just my parents and baby sister at home. But, after almost 10 years away from home, it's time I was near my mom for a season, especially during what we expect will be a very busy and intense time for Dustin, and thus our family.
Since Dustin has decided to go into Internal Medicine (which he loves), and it is a relatively non-competative field, we can make location more of a priority, rather than searching all over the country for program options.
SO, from mid-September to post-Christmas December, we've been away from home and living at my parents' house. They live in a remarkably scenic area and have a beautiful spacious house, with a large basement which our little family has been blessed to have all to ourselves. We've been very comfortable the past couple months as Dustin has fulfilled three IM rotations and done interviews in the area. We feel very blessed to have things work out so well, especially that we haven't had to be separated from Dustin, as often happens with student families that final year of applications and audition rotations.
Besides spending great quality time with my parents, we've also enjoyed filling our days with a nice routine and fun memories, especially during the holiday season.
Just after we got settled out here, through referral, I was able to find the perfect little preschool for Benjamin! Everything just fits, from the semester start and end date (Sept. 30-Dec. 18-- we got here just in time!), to the daily schedule (MWF 9:15-10:45am), to the location (just 15 minutes away), to the price (only $58 for all 3 months). Where did we find such a great little school? It's actually a high school and the teachers are about a dozen darling senior gals who mastered their Child Dev I class and now teach this preschool class as their hands-on Child Dev II class. The teachers are so much fun as they absolutely adore the kids and take turns teaching lessons. They are very enthusiastic and always do lots of crafts and involved activities. Each week has a fun theme, from Science to Healthy Foods to Animals. There's about 12 kids in the class, all which are impressively well-behaved. Benjamin LOVED it. It's been the perfect thing for him these past few months.
It's been great for me, too, as a couple other preschool moms go to church with us and were my awesome running buddies, so while the kiddos were in preschool, we went running. Very nice set up. We were never super hard-core, but, rain or shine, we tried to get a good work-out in a few mornings a week. :) I love how the Lord orchestrates these sweet and subtly perfect opportunities to help us be that much happier, productive, and fulfilled.
Since we settled here just before October, we've enjoyed being with my family for the subsequent holidays. Benjamin's been talking about having Halloween at Grammy's house all year. We lived it up with fun decorations the whole month and cookie baking and an over-dose of candy (which we still have yet to finish...) with treat-or-treating at Benjamin's preschool party, the church trunk-or-treat, and the traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating.
We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving at my sister's house near Washington, DC. It was a long drive-- both my little family and parents and sis in our van-- but more than worthwhile. We enjoyed a week basking in the Mari-&-Josh atmosphere, playing games and even sightseeing a bit at the historic mainstreets nearby and a couple Smithsonians. Both Benjamin and Jonathan were completely awed by the Natural History and Air and Space museums! We topped off a marvelous holiday break with a delicious traditional Thanksgiving feast perfectly hosted by my darling sister and then early that morning some very successful, if exhausting, Black Friday shopping. Thanks for having us, Mari and Josh! We love you SO much and truly enjoyed our special time with you.
We also made many wonderful memories between holidays, with fun outings to the park, walks around the neighborhood, the Botanical Gardens, a trip to Kentucky to see Jo and fam, Six Flags, the Children's Museum, and, of course, just hanging out at home, basking in the love of our family!
Christmas closed our time there-- we loved spending the holiday season with my parents, Mollie, and my brother Bryce, home from college. Being so close to the ones you love seem to accentuate all the joy that Christmastime brings. From making holiday goodies, to preparing gifts, to cuddling up and watching Christmas classics, it was yet another wonderful Christmas. We feel so blessed and spoiled! Thank you to everyone!
We are so grateful for the tremendous and much-appreciated love, generousity, and support of my amazing momma, daddy, and sister these past few months. It has been a treasured time. We love you so much and miss you already!
We headed home on Boxing day and arrived late on the Sunday after Christmas. We're gradually getting back settled in and prepared for the already full new year ahead... medical school graduation, residency, new home, and new... well, we'll spill the news soon. ;)
We hope 2009 has brought you blessings, both in the ups and downs, and that 2010 will be overflowed with all the more.
"news" in our later 2009
We've had a lot of "news" these past 6 months...
Right before we left home in September, I decided to try the life of a brunette. :) I needed a change, but didn't want to cut my hair. I've always wondered if I could pull off dark, too. So my talented friend Maria helped me take the plunged and she dyed my hair. It was strange at first, but I love the dramatic change. Dustin, who encouraged me to try dark brown, liked it once he got used to it (but won't deny he prefers blonde). Jonathan was a little disoriented at first, but didn't seem to care either way by the end of the day. Benjamin, however, was very dismayed. Right after I got it done he said, "Mommy, I don't like that black hair." Poor guy-- later I cuddled him and discussed in essence that though his stable constant (me) had changed, I was still me and life would still go on as it had and I still and always would adore and take care of him. Mostly comforted he asked, "but will it ever be blonde again?" "Yes, bud." "Tomorrow?" "No, but someday." "I don't want my hair to turn brown..." "(stifled laugh), don't worry, your hair won't turn brown." "Dora's hair is brown. I like Dora." "Yes, see? Brown it good." And then, reassured he smiled and went his merry way. Awhile later I asked him, "So, do you still not like my hair?" His cute response--"Hm, no, I like it.... but just a little bit!" I guess I'd better return to my normal color eventually. Till then, I'm really enjoying the change.
New missionary
Right after we arrived at my parents', my amazing brother, only 19 years old, left on his two-year Church mission. It was wonderful to be a part of his farewell and ordination. I am one proud big sister!
He is called to serve the people in the Salt Lake City Utah Mission, Spanish-speaking. He finished his 10 week training at the MTC and is now officially out in the field! I LOVE reading his weekly emails and updates-- he is so full of enthusiasm and faith. Love you, Cody!!
New Smile
In the middle of deep cleaning the house and packing for our "move" in September, Benjamin fell and knocked his mouth on his train table, pushing his front tooth irreparably backwards. I am SO grateful for my thoughtful friend who took Jonathan early the next morning so Benjamin and I could go to the dentist and figure out what to do. Our family dentist told us he would have to have the tooth removed and sent us to the pediatric dentist that afternoon for the extraction. Everything really went incredibly smoothly and Benjamin handled everything perfectly, I was so impressed! After discussing the tooth fairy, he didn't mind having a hole in his smile at all. He was thrilled to get quarters the next morning for his tooth and now has a bit of a jack-o-lantern smile. They said it would grow back in a couple years. I was more sad about it than anyone, just not a milestone I was ready for. But, then, he sure is cute, isn't he? :)
New Diet
For the first almost two years of his life, Jonathan was the awesomest little eater-- he enjoyed all tastes and textures and would down anything we gave him. However, since he started solids, he's thrown up a lot-- starting from occasionally to almost daily a year later. We've always watched his diet carefully and discovered some obvious irritants, such as straight soy and eggs. Then he starting breaking out in rashes and becoming a very picky eater, still throwing up often. So, off to the allergist we went, hoping to pinpoint any other personal allergens he may have. Pinpoint we did, with a much longer list than anticipated, including all nuts (we actually haven't tried nuts, due to Benjamin's experience), all lentils and beans (including soy, green beans, peas, etc.), fish, and pineapple. We're also suspicious of pears, bananas, and citrus fruit. Oh-SO thankfully dairy and gluten are not a problem-- I have dear friends who struggle much more than I do with their children's diet due to those restrictions. More gratefully, as far as we know, none of his allergies are lethal, like Benjamin's peanut deal. Yet still, in our own way and with our own challenge, we're learning to adapt. It's not all figured out, as our little guy often still feels so itchy with minor break-outs, but at least the vomiting is generally under control! We are grateful to have the resources we do, both with healthcare and easily accessible food to make the best of it all and take care of our Jonathan.
New ride
We got a van in July! It was an amazing deal and we feel very very humbled and blessed. We LOVE it and have already put thousands of new miles on it, driving from southwest to midwest, up to New York, down to DC, back to the midwest, to DC and back again, and back southwest! Despite some unfortunate cosmetic battle wounds, she's still running smooth and beautifully-- and, if the Toyota track record holds true, should for last us well for a good 5-10 years.
New memories
Also in July, we went to San Francisco for our annual family vacation! We toured Fisherman's Wharf (including the Bay Aquarium), took a bay tour past Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, a couple museums, and toured the city on a late-night trolley ride. Thanks to my wonderful Aunt Julie and Otto for the marvelous room and board-- and to my awesome Uncle Chuck for the high-light of our trip, taking us up in the jet plane and letting us fly it!! Memories never to be forgotten...
In September, we first drove to my parent's house and dropped off our three months worth of stuff-- and the kids (thanks, mom, dad, and mollie!!!!)-- and then just Dustin and I took a couple road-trip for two weeks to New York and then Washington DC. In New York, we toured the city by subway and by foot, finally saw Wicked at the Gershwin Theater, went to the top of the Empire State Building, strolled through Central Park, ate at some unique restaurants, enjoyed our stay at our Bed and Breakfast, saw a quarter of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and, of course, cruised to the Statue of Liberty.
After a few intense touring days, we relaxed with Dustin's brother and his family-- a perfect, happy weekend with an amazing family.
Then we drove down to DC to visit my sister and tour yet another lengendary city. Mari was the BEST tour guide-- we saw almost all the monuments and smithsonians and enjoyed it all so much. We also enjoyed having my sis and her hubby join us for the road-trip back to my parents' house for some family time before my brother headed out for his mission.
All the way around, an amazing trip to remember!!
... and stay tuned for our biggest news of all, in a day or two. ;)
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