Our attempt at baby photography

Brendon discharged from the hospital a lot sooner than we had planned which meant we never got to have professional baby pictures done. So here is Grandmas and my attempt at photography; these are the half descent ones. We warmed up the bedroom, put him in the buff, and thought he would just stay asleep. Yeah right. We couldn't stop laughing at our pathetic attempt.

Brendon is home from the NICU!

Brendon surprised everyone and came home from the NICU a month early. We think Brendon wanted to show the nurses that he was no "whimpy white male." According to statistics, premature white males have the most difficulty progressing. Brendon just kept moving forward and became some of the nurse's favorite patient.

Our little bundle of joy! Welcome home Brendon!

Weight 5lbs 6oz and 18 inches long

15 Weeks Pregnant

I'm finally in the beginning of the 2nd trimester. One down, two to go! I'm 15 weeks today and starting to show, a little. I can't wait to feel the baby move but that won't be for a few more weeks. Right now Baby Fetzer measures about 4 inches long and is the size of an apple.

Yahooooo...We're having a baby!

Friday morning, July 15th, Mark and I woke up thrilled that the day had finally arrived to see our little baby or (according to Mark) our little twins. We had been waiting anxiously to know that there really was a little one inside my tummy. We couldn’t wait to hear the heart beat and know that what we have been waiting and praying for all this time had come true.

Everything happened so fast when we got to the care center. The nurse took us into the ultrasound room, had me lay down on the chair, and within seconds Baby Fetzer was up on the screen with his/her little heart beating away. A rush of emotions came over me as I saw the little hands and body. I looked at Mark and he was just starring at the screen in amazement. We sat there holding hands just loving the sound of the baby's heartbeat. It was going 165bpm. We were quick to ask if that was normal. I think we were or are a little more jumpy after losing a baby last year.

Mark and I felt such a sense of relief that the baby was doing well and growing. I think we were both not letting ourselves get too excited about the pregnancy until we made sure there was a heart beat. Pheeeewwww there was and what a glorious sound!

Mark still thinks we are having twins. He says the other one is hiding behind the other. Mark...so determined to have twins. :)

As soon as we got home, we couldn't wait to tell immediate family and close friends. We sent them a picture text of the ultrasound and here are some of the fun responses we got back:

“Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaw!!!!!” Richard Cunningham

“Holy crap! That was an unexpected picture and exciting! Ya frieking hoo!” Elaine and Jaime Hunt

“Oh my goodness!! Yeah!! I am so excited for you both!! You made me tear up! Yeah!!” Rachelle Cunningham

“Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah! That makes me soooo pumped. Do you realize our kids will be practically the same age? Sooooo excited for you guys. Can’t say enough.” Stuart Fetzer

“Yyyyyaaaaahhhhoooo!!!!! She looks like me so I hope you name her Rachel.” Rachel Rudd

“Wow!!! I mean wowwzy!! Does this mean what I think?” Nate Roberts

“Baby Fetzer!!!! I love him/her already! Oh my gosh! My two BFFFFF’s are going to be the best parents ever! Love you both!” Cami Crawly

Oh the morning sickness

I think this picture sums up what my summer has been like. The couch, T.V., computer, dirty plates, books, and my best friend...the puke bucket which was definitely loved and used too much.

I was hoping to be one of the lucky pregnant women who don't get very sick during the first trimester. So much for my luck. The week after my brother's wedding in Utah, everything went downhill. The nausea kicked in and took over my life. I did everything I could to make it through a day of work without throwing up. But upon arriving home, I would always throw up. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a night. Oh the misery! Why they call it “morning sickness” and not “all day sickness” is a good question. I would come home and try to find something to eat. Everything I saw or even thought about sounded awful. Cereal became the only thing that remotely sounded edible to me. So my diet consisted of cereal, crackers, popsicles, Ramen noodles or certain soups, fruit, and Pringles (for my morning snack before I got out of bed). So much for my healthy eating habits that Mark and I had been working on and implementing for the past few months. I was lucky if I could even keep my unhealthy foods down.

Mark and I had a good laugh the other day when we realized how pathetic my life had become when I could quote all the commercials or quickly change the channels because I knew which commercial were terrible or had food in them. (Note: Mark and I never watch T.V. so this was unusual.) My life had come down to making it home from work without throwing up, laying down on the couch, and turning on the T.V., to be my distraction from the awful nausea. I quickly learned that:

1. There is nothing worth watching on T.V., hence the reason I haven't watched it in years.
2. Indiana is obsessed with the weather. There is a weather channel on every other channel. I’m so sick of hearing about the weather.
3. Eggies are the way to go for hard boiled eggs. J T.V. repeats 3 or 4 commercials over and over. Ahhhhh...
4. We need to invest in Netflix or something.

The Orchid Bet

Two months after our orchid bloomed with two flowers, Mark and I were talking about how cool it was that the flowers hadn't died yet. Then Mark bet me that “those two flowers will not die until we find out we are having twins”. I just laughed. “Twins…yeah right…those flowers are going to have to live a long time”, I said. So we made a bet. If we found we were pregnant with twins before the flowers died, I had to make Mark his favorite dinner, lasagna. If Mark was wrong, then he would have to take me to a cool hotel for us to spend the night. I was sure to win. There are no twins on my side of the family. He should have said one baby and then he would have won. The flowers are still alive (6 months now) and we did find out I’m pregnant but with one baby. Sweet…what hotel should I choose? Hee hee.

Shortly before we found out we were pregnant, another flower bloomed making it three orchids. Our little family to be. Because the orchid is a Phalaenopsis, we joked that we would have to name our little Baby Fetzer “Opsis” or “Phalae”. What do you think? :)

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

I can't believe it has been 2 years already. We have already experienced and grown so much together and I'm amazed by Mark all the time. I'm so lucky I married such a great man. I've heard that when you get married, you should find your "field trip buddy". I definitely have and love it!

Mark and I planned to spend the our anniversary in Southern Indiana, Brown County. Everyone said that is the place to go in Indiana so we had to check it out. Plus we heard there were biking trails down there. We were itching to get out and bike. Mark took me on a little detour though to Columbus, Indiana for a little surprise to Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum. It is known as one of the finest ice cream parlors in America and one of the top 20 historic destinations in the world said National Geographic Traveler, 2008.

The food was good and we had fun trying their green soda. Not our favorite (actually it was terrible) but part of the whole experience. The ice cream was amazing though as it always is. Mark knows me too well.

We stayed at Hilltop Cabin and Suites. The view was amazing.

We enjoyed hiking and biking at Brown County State Park. It was nice to be outdoors and away from city life. The trails were actually a lot of fun. We weren't expecting much being in flat Indiana but we really enjoyed it. We got a few tips from other bikers on where to ride but had to laugh when they said that the trail we picked had a big uphill climb. It took us a few seconds but then we realized we just drove up to the top and it took like 10 minutes, if that. Sorry, but nothing compares to puke hill on the Crest!

Our Ward's Spring Fling Activity

Joanna and baby Ruth Little Issac, Moung and Kim

The Primary presidency prepared Scripture Olympics for all the kids. The Primary kids loved it. Here is what they did:

The Anti-Nephi-Lehi Sword Searching

Pea Shoot at Goliath

Noah's Ark Race

Oil Lamp Racing

Promised Land Regatta

Pot luck and bake off sale for the Young Women's girls camp

Karen, Moung, & me The Hunters

The Tew Family

Hanging out with the Giffords and celebrating Elder Ashton's birthday

Christina's Baptism

What an exciting and special day for Christina. She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We have loved getting to know Christina. She is loving, energetic, faithful and ball of fun! She was just glowing the day of her baptism. It was her special day and she made it that way. It was fun to see her get up and hug each of the speakers after they shared their thoughts on baptism and the Holy Ghost. We also all laughed and enjoyed her excitement after she splashed the glass where the kids and friends just witnessed her baptism. Mark and I were happy to be apart of her special day.

Eden Grace

Baby Eden...isn't she sooooo cute!

I was excited to meet her for the first time while home for a few days. I couldn't get over her little fro hair and chubby cheeks. I love being an Aunt!

In Memory of Grandma Jones

Grandma Jones left us so suddenly. My mom called me on Tuesday and said Grandma was in an ambulance, on the way to the hospital. They were on their way to see her. An hour later, I received news that she had passed away, most likely from heart complications. The next day, I flew out to Utah to be there for my mom and family. My mom and I spent the next few days staying with Grandpa and helping him prepare for the funeral. I'm grateful I got to be there to sit around the table and listen to my mom, aunts, uncles, and Grandpa reminisce about Grandma Jones. She will definitely be missed.

Mark and I were able to Skype with her from Indiana the Sunday before she passed away. She had never Skyped before and thought it was so weird. We just laughed and enjoyed talking to her. I also remember well when Mark and I were home for Christmas how Grandma hugged me more tightly and longer than normal. It was as if she knew she would be leaving us and wanted to treasure the time with her family. Mom had noticed the longer hugs too.

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend Marilyn Twede Jones passed away suddenly on April 5, 2011 at the age of 75 in Tooele. Marilyn was born on Sept. 13, 1935 in Santaquin, Utah to Jesse Woodrow Twede and Iona Larson Twede. She was the second daughter of four children. They moved to Tooele where she attended school and graduated from Tooele High School in 1954. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life Gary Graydon Jones on June 25, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple. They celebrated 56 wonderful years together. The first years of her marriage were devoted to being a homemaker and raising their four children. Later, Marilyn started working for Commercial Security Bank in 1973 as a teller and retired in 1993 from Key Bank as a commercial loan officer and secretary to the branch president. Marilyn’s first love was her family. She loved being with them as they created wonderful memories while camping, boating and four-wheeling. She was extremely artistic and loved the creativity of scrapbooking, sewing, painting, and adorning our homes with her beautiful crafts. She loved doll collecting with her sister and doing genealogy. Marilyn was active in the LDS church and served in the primary, was a Relief Society work director for over 10 years and ward organist for many many years. She will be missed by her husband Gary, children Kathy (Richard) Goddard, Shauna (Jim) Richards, Dewayne (Kari) Jones, Steve (Tristen) Jones, 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Brandon Richards. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 9 at noon at the Little Mountain Ward located at 777 E. Skyline Dr. A viewing will be held preceding the funeral from 10-11:45 a.m. Her final resting place will be in the Tooele City Cemetery.

Our Orchids, a Tender Mercy

Mark and I made it a goal when we moved to Indiana that we were going to get a least one of our orchid plants to bloom. We were determined to have green thumbs. After doing a lot of reading and researching, we are proud to say WE DID IT! But wow, do you have to be patient with orchids.

I have to say the timing of the orchids became a sweet tender mercy from Heavenly Father for me. The orchid bloomed the week we would’ve had our first child (March 3rd). Jessica, Monique (my two sisters-in-law), and I were all due within a few weeks of each other which made it all the more exciting. I had seen pictures and heard about little Jacob and Eden being born and as March 3^rd came closer, I was a little down that there was no little baby coming to our house. But in a simple and tender way, Heavenly Father sent a message to me of his love through the blooming of my favorite flower. What great timing! :)

Indiana Ice Storm

Mark and I felt like we were little elementary school kids again when we found out school and work had been canceled for three days because of an ice storm. Yipeeeeee! Plus Wednesday was Mark's birthday so we had a blast celebrating all day starting off with Goblin Valley Pancakes.

Indiana was hit hard with a terrible ice storm. The news was warning Indiana that everyone might lose power and to be prepared for the worst. I had stopped by Target on the way home from work on Monday and the bread aisle was practically empty. I wasn't really worried about the storm which maybe I should have been. From past experience, I had learned that Hoosiers freak out about 2 inches of snow let alone an ice storm. Luckily, we never lost power and we had all the food we needed to make it a fun adventure. The storm was terrible though. Tuesday morning we woke up to a four inch sheet of ice everywhere. Later that day the falling snow turned to little ice balls. It felt like you were walking on the beach...so weird. We got together with our next door neighbors, the Tews, for dinner and then had them over at our place to watch Star Wars The Phantom Menace.

Have you ever...ice skated on your front lawn?

Most important is that:

We, as well as our neighbors, were safe and comfortable during the storm, Mark had a great birthday, and Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow. Yes! Here we come Spring!