Cameron turns 1

This year has FLOWN by!!!  I can't believe that this 19 pound baby sleeping on my shoulder is the same 4lb 14oz sweet pea we welcomed to our family one year ago.   Come to think about it I can't believe it has been a year, and wow what a year this little boy has had!!  

I will never forget the phone call I received at Starbucks on Oct. 9, 2012.  I was with a friend and Justin called me 3 times in a row.  He never does that so I knew it would be important.  When he told me that our social worker called and there might be a baby I almost dropped my drink.  Sure enough right there in Starbucks I learned that not only was there a potential baby, but he was three days old.  I learned that he had Down Syndrome and a heart condition.  I was asked if they could give his birth parents our profile.  

One thing led to the next and a week later we were meeting our baby.  I look at his pictures and the change is incredible.  His first year was extremely busy.  This year our sweet boy has experienced a major open heart surgery, came off of his full time oxygen, been on several trips, gone to Disneyland and so much more.  

Cameron is by far the most pleasant baby I've ever met and literally an angel on this earth.  We are so blessed to have him in our family.  Happy Birthday my sweet sweet baby! We love you Cameron!!!     

OCTOBER 2012

NOVEMBER 2012

DECEMBER 2012

JANUARY 2013

FEBRUARY 2013

 MARCH 2013

 

APRIL 2013

MAY 2013

JUNE 2013

JULY 2013

AUGUST 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013

 OCTOBER 2013 

CAMERON TURNS ONE!!!!  

Don't be deceived, I really don't think he put any in his mouth.  He sure did have fun destroying his cupcake though!!!

Another miracle has happened

I cannot believe I am writing this post. I have anticipated this day for the last three months and yet I sit here in my car waiting for rehearsal and it is still hard to believe that it is true. 

After 10.5 years of marriage I am pregnant. When I took the pregnancy test I was caught completely off guard!!! I couldn't believe my eyes, but there it was... 2 very dark blue lines!!! 

I was nervous for many different reasons. First I don't get pregnant, so with all of my infertility issues over the years it could just as well have been a tumor or a blighted ovum, so we wanted to wait until we could get an ultrasound and find out what we would be announcing. Second I was worried about miscarriage. Having only been pregnant once before and having such a horrific miscarriage made me really scared this time around. 

I had to wait a long time to get an ultrasound and the month was really hard on me. I've been very sick and very tired. When the day of my ultrasound came I was a bundle of nerves. I really was hoping for the best but trying to prepare my mind for the worst. I didn't know what we would find during the exam. 

I was soooo grateful to have my amazing husband by my side to hold my hand. I get so much strength from him and I am so grateful to have a partner who loves me through all my crazy. 

The technician started the exam and there on the screen was a baby!!! A real baby with a heartbeat!!! The thing that completely caught me off guard was that I could see it moving!!! Because this is my first time around doing this I didn't know that you could watch the baby kick and stretch. It was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen in my life.

As anyone who knows me could have guessed I was a puddle of tears on that table and the rest of the day. I cannot believe that I have been given this gift. 

I can't believe that God loves me enough to bless my life with the adoptions of my next to perfect boys and now I get to know and experience pregnancy and delivery! Wow!!! 

I think the thing that excites and scares me the most is how close in age this sweet babe will be to my angel Cameron. I have always been a little sad that Cameron wouldn't have a sibling as close to him in age as Evan and Landon are to each other. The older boys have such a good relationship because they're so close in age, and now Cameron will have that too. It is a little terrifying how close they'll be (18months) but I know it'll be
a gift. And really who am I to question God's timing? With a 3% chance of getting pregnant this is no accident. I know this is Heavenly Fathers plan for our family and I am extremely excited to embark on this new adventure, whatever it may bring.

And so I am happy to announce that baby Palmer is due April 19,2014.

INSANITY

Our latest trip was INSANE and I feel that the insanity continued right on through to the end of the summer!!!

I feel like I am just now recovering from it all.  It started with a trip to the Shuswap lake, followed immediately by SMA Family camp, followed immediately by a flight to California, followed immediately by a road trip back home.  It was crazy and super tiring, but we survived and I am happy that we got to experience all that we did.

The trip even started out a little tricky.  We got ready to pack up our van, which is a hard task in and of itself, and it started to DOWN POUR!!!!  We are talking what I call a Florida style rain hit us and my poor hubby tried to do everything he could so that we could get on the road.

We took 2 days to get out to the Shuswap to be with some of our dear friends, who invited us to their cabin on the lake.  Their cabin is water access only and it was a new and interesting experience for our family.    

We celebrated Landon's birthday at the lake with our friends and while the whole experience as a whole was awesome I have to document something that happened that was pretty darn scary for me.

I guess it is fairly common for some pretty nasty winds to blow through that lake.  While we were coming home from a hike that we had done we got caught in a pretty sudden storm.  The waves were gettting quite large and the ride was getting very scary.  This is the kind of moment that I really never like to contemplate or feel as a mother.  In my head I am trying to figure out how to take care of and comfort all three of my kids who are sitting in different places in the boat.  The wind was insane.  We were drenched, but I'm not sure whether it was because of the rain or the waves.  Through the constant slamming of the boat I was very concerned for Evans back.  I kept trying to brace each hit as much as I could while giving him comfort through the experience.

Landon was sitting on the front of the boat with two other kids and Justin.  Here is where I am going to make a side note and say that I am so grateful for divine guidance in my life.  Before we took off for the trip I insisted that Justin sit up at the front with Landon because I didn't feel comfortable with him being up there with no adult, just in case something happened.  Well that something did happen.

After driving in the storm for a while (it seemed like ages, but that could've been because I was so scared) they switched drivers and the nose of the boat went under the water.  I watched my middle baby go under the water with it and that is about when I lost my mind.  The nose did this 3 times when our amazing friend got control of the boat and got it back up.  Everyone in the front was ok and I was just thanking my Heavenly Father that Justin was there to provide comfort and help keep Landon on the boat.

At this point I am pretty hysterical and Evan kept screaming that he didn't want to die.  My own mind kept racing to the worst case scenario and how I could protect my children.  I knew the likely hood of the boat going down was low.  If we were thrown from the boat I knew Landon would be scared and tired, but he is a strong enough swimmer he would be alright with his life jacket on.  I would have a hard time keeping Cameron and Evan's heads above the waves, even with the life vest on.  They both have breathing issues and this is where my mind kept coming back to.

Finally someone made the decision to pull into the last available town we could pull into.  We got off the boat and took refuge at a convenience store.  We were all drenched, a little shaky, and waited out the storm together.  I feel the most telling thing was the owners saying that they were watching us and they saw the boat go under the water and they were surprised that it came back up again.  I also have to say that they kept praising Dave on his stellar driving skills.  They said that they were so impressed and rarely see such stellar driving on the water.  The fact that he was able to safely maneuver us to shore was amazing.

The hospitality of the store owners was incredible.  I'm pretty sure they let us use all of their extra blankets and sweatshirts so we didn't freeze.  It was dinner time and the only thing the baby (who had no bottle) could eat was ritz crackers.  So Justin purchased a box of ritz crackers and I started to feed Cameron the best I could.

We waited for a little over an hour, but the storm did indeed pass.  We did make it home safely.  Evan still talks about the day we as if it was a near death experience for him and I can understand how he felt that way.

Oh, and I failed to mention that while it was complete mayhem on the boat ... my sweet baby Cameron slept through the whole thing!!!    

The rest of our time at the lake was lovely and very relaxing!  I feel so lucky to have such great friends who invite us out to their home and treat us so well!

Landon turns 4!!!!

 I wish this was more organized but I am limited by being out of town. Please forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes (I blame my phone ;-) 

My Landon turns 4 today!!! How is my energetic middle 4 already? Landon has been his stubborn self since birth. He was 11 days late, induced, and still needed to be delivered via forceps. Still today he has to be forced to try new things. He has his own idea how things should be and curse the one (usually me) who is telling him otherwise. 

I remember the first time I heard Landon. His tummy mummy had called us a couple of hours after she gave birth and while we were talking Landon started to cry. I'll never forget the strong lungs our new baby had. At only hours old he didn't have a newborn cry, but sounded like a 6 month old. Landon never slept and was always on the go!

Landon has continued to voice his opinion to this day and he is definitely still the most active person I have ever met. I wish I could bottle his never ending energy so I could keep up. 

Landon can be a difficult child to parent but I try very hard not to stifle any of this because I KNOW it'll be these qualities that will make him a STELLAR adult! Already they serve him well. He did a fantastic job at bike camp and after one week of practicing he can ride his bike without training wheels. 

I am always amazed at how smart Landon is. He really is a bright little boy! Landon is also a comedian by definition. I believe that his daily goal is to make others laugh. He does this with the things he says, the way he moves his body, and  his facial features!!!  

Landon loves to cook with me and is pretty good at it too! He adores his daddy and his brothers are some of his favorite people ever.

I love this little big boy more than words can say!!!!! Happy birthday Landon!!!!! 

Kid update

Alright it is high time that I write another update about the funny things my kids have said or done lately.  Here goes ...

p.s. you WANT to read Landon's

 EVAN-isms: 
-This picture was taken at a good friends wedding this past weekend, where he made very good friends with the lady he sat next to during the reception.  He planned a play date with her, gave her our address, and this is when they are exchanging phone numbers.

-While pointing to two dragonfly's that were mating he says, "Look mom, they are hanging out together.  They must be really great friends."

-He has been requesting a bit more privacy as he is going #2 and I guess I poked my head in one too many times to check on him because I got a HUGE eye roll and he said, "Mom, the poop is there but every time you come in you make me lose my patience!" K:"Evan do you mean I make you lose your concentration?" E: "YES, whatever, please leave" (I can see what he will be like as a sassy teen!)

-Our care giver for the summer has been taking Evan to camp all week and he pulled her aside one of the times and said. "Um, now that I have you alone I need you to know that I love you so much!  Will you marry me?" He then gave her strict instructions not to fall in love with anyone else.

-I was mowing the lawn the other day and he got very excited and said "Mom, Daddy will be so proud of you because you have a real job now! " "Evan, being a mom is a job" "yes yes I know, but this is a real job and that is so great" "Evan, what do you think being a mom is?" (at this point he thinks long and hard and says "you know, preparing the house for Vampire Diaries" (my jaw drops at this point) "Evan what about [and I start to list all the things a mom does]" "yeah yeah, I guess, but Daddy is funnier than you" (I can't win!)

LANDON-isms: 

-He is still the most active child I know and has such a zest for life that is beautiful!  He doesn't really say much, but is constantly making noise.  It could be a scream, a cry for joy, a yip or many other various and intentionally funny sounds. 

-Landon woke up before anyone else the other day (ok thats everyday) and we were cuddling in bed together.  He keeps poking me in the chest and so I ask him to stop.  I have to ask him several times when I finally said "Landon, please stop now.  Those are my privates and you aren't allowed to touch other people's private parts"  He stops everything he is doing and with confused amazment in his voice says ... "you pee into the air??!!!" I DIED laughing and tried to tell him that girls have more private parts than boys and I do not pee into the air, but he still thinks that I pee into the air from my boobs! HA!!!!  

CAMERON:

Cameron is thriving and blowing everyones minds everyday with his development. He has almost mastered sitting (he still falls sometimes) and is starting to move around more on the floor.  He propels himself backward and will do circles with his arms.  In fact I heard to him really cry today (which is rare) when he had backed himself underneath the couch and got stuck.  His head shaping helmet is already making a difference and we are feeling happy that we made the very expensive decision to get it.  Cameron literally attracts attention everywhere we go, usually because of his infectious smile.  He is a very smiley boy, but if you are new he doesn't pull it out until he has studied you intently first.  He is very vocal, but not to people or in a conversation.  He will talk to things, but once someone speaks to him he is too focused on that person to make any kind of verbal response.  He now weighs 16 lbs 10 oz. 

Celebrating our special man

I feel so lucky to have the family that I have!  We had a very special weekend to celebrate our perfect little man and almost everyone was there to celebrate with us.

As Mormons we have the option to be married in the temple if we promise to live a certain lifestyle. When we are married in the temple we call it a sealing. This is not a marriage for time but an eternal marriage. There is no "till death do you part". Any children that are born are born under the covenant and are sealed to their parents through the marriage sealing. With adoption that sealing is not automatic and so we get to be sealed to that individual child in a ceremony within the temple walls. It is such a special, beautiful ceremony and I feel so blessed that I have gotten to experience it 3 times now, in addition to my marriage to Justin!

We were surrounded by our loved ones in that room.  During the ceremony Cameron just stared at Justin the whole time. I knew he would because the other boys did it too. Evan stared at Justin, Landon stared at me and Cameron could not keep his eyes off Justin through the whole ceremony. This special ceremony that makes our family eternal is by far the highlight of my life.

We spent some time taking pictures outside the temple and then met everyone afterwards at Peters Drive In!!! (Best fast food in Calgary!)

That night Evan said the cutest prayer. He thanked our Heavenly Father that Cameron was sealed to our family and that Cameron can now know he can be with us forever, even when he dies and is living with Jesus again. I love that he gets it!  He really gets it!!!

The next day we had the privilege of blessing Cameron in church. I loved that we even had some men wearing "Mormon helping hands" shirts in the circle. I feel honored that we have friends who are sacrificing time with their families, and their weekends to help those in need. I hope Cameron grows up and knows that there were truly great men standing in that circle to give him a name and a blessing on that day.  They are men that I hope he emulates throughout his life.

Cameron's blessing was beautiful. Between mine and some family members notes here is a summary of his blessing.

Cameron Justin Douglas Palmer
We bless you with the love of our Heavenly Father.  You will be an example to everyone of love, compassion, and a spirit of happiness.  People will see that happiness and the love of Heavenly Father.  You will be a strong example to your brothers and others.  You will know that you are a choice spirit.  You will grow strong.  Your next surgery will be successful.  You will grow strong surrounded by the love of your family and friends.  You will be an example of a person who brings other people closer to our Heavenly Father. 

It truly was a beautiful weekend. 

and one from his blessing day until we get our professional pictures