Our journey with baby Valencia 2020

Our timeline:

•October 15th my dad tested positive for Covid

•October 19th I suspected I might be pregnant

•October 27th I took a pregnancy test at 6am

It was positive

I felt so excited and cried tears of joy

I picked out a shirt to buy and asked Joe if he thought I should buy it for myself for my birthday...that’s how I told him

He was so excited too

I called my OB at 8am to schedule an appointment

They scheduled me for a phone appointment on November 3rd and then my first ultrasound on November 17th

•Moved my mom into our house on October 28th so that she could recover at our house in case my dad wasn’t covid free yet

•Mom had surgery October 29th

I cried way too hard on my drive home from dropping her off and watching her hobble away on her own

It was a day full of waiting and nerves

I was a little nauseous but kept stress snacking on salt and vinegar chips

Finally heard moms surgery went well and she was in recovery

She was told she would have to stay in the hospital longer than expected and then move to a rehabilitation center for a few weeks

I was a nervous wreck and was crying over everything 

•October 31st my mom FaceTimed me and the emotions were so high but I had to keep them under control because I didn’t want to tell her I was pregnant yet and worry her 

•November 3rd Ranger got out and ran away. It was 6am and 20 degrees outside so I spent the morning working and posting on every Facebook page I could think of. A neighbor found him by my parents house and I ran the entire way there and carried him back home. Then I had my over the phone appointment and updated all my health history and the nurse congratulated me on baby #3 and told me I’d be a pro

•November 6th I had to log out of work and rush to get taetum (because she was having potty issues later to find out that it wasn’t potty issues but a boy kicking her in the privates) then rush home and keep working

•November 6th we told my mom, dad, hannah, tiara, joes mom, joes grandma and joes siblings

•November 7th we rearranged the living room because I envisioned it differently for when the baby comes

•November 11th was my sisters birthday and I so badly didn’t want her to feel forgotten with all of the hullabaloo going on in our family so I made her dinner and pumpkin roll on •November 8th

The beef stew I made was so hard for me to choke down without throwing up. 

•November 9th I had to leave work again to pick up taetum due to the same boy kicking her in the privates then rush home and keep working

•November 10th I had to rush on my lunch to pick up Ezra due to him hitting his teachers then rush back home and keep working 

•November 13th I made chicken teriyaki and rice. The minute the chicken started cooking I knew I was going to be sick. I kept it in the oven until Joe got home and made him throw it out. From that moment the thought of chicken made me want to puke

•November 14th my mom came home 

I checked on her constantly and wanted to make sure she was perfectly ok and had everything she needed 

•November 15th was my birthday and we were supposed to get tacos but my favorite taco place was closed and I was so terrified to get chicken tacos so we opted for a different taco place and got shredded beef tacos rice and beans. I can usually eat 4 tacos and some rice and beans but that night I only ate 2 and a few spoonfuls of rice and beans

•November 17th we went to our appointment full of hope and excitement. In the ultrasound the tech measured the baby’s heartbeat at 81 bpm I knew that was too low and instantly started googling and so did joe. I messaged my sister instantly and told her something wasn’t right and she told me to stop googling. The doctor came in to talk to us and let us know I would need to come back in a week to follow up and the odds weren’t good. 

The next week was full of fear, stress, dry heaving and so much praying. We were still full of faith and were so sure God would give us a miracle 

•November 21st my sister threw me an amazing birthday party and more people than we anticipated showed up and my heart was so full. To keep positive we opted to tell our close friends that we were pregnant. We were positive that God would give us a miracle and everything would be fine

•November 23 we went in for our follow up full of so much worry. Sure enough the second the tech found the baby I saw there was no heartbeat. She still measured for one anyway and then let us know that she didn’t see one. I wanted to jump off the table and just leave then and there. I couldn’t stop crying. I was so full of hope that we would give Taetum and Ezra another sibling. The sibling taetum had been praying for for years. I kept thinking of how I would break the news to her and my heart just kept breaking over and over. 

The doctor came in and told me I had a missed miscarriage and that there were options. We were advised to do the wait and see how it goes method over medication or d&c. 

•November 27th exactly 1 month after finding out I was pregnant. I’m numb and don’t know what to feel or think. 

•November 29th I started to feel weird. Just not myself. That night I started getting lower back pain. Almost like contractions. Putting the kids to bed I got about a 45 second abdominal contraction but no bleeding and still had nausea and sore chest and extreme fatigue

The back contractions have started tonight around 5pm. I read one lady’s story that said she had contractions for 2 weeks before passing her baby and seeing any other symptoms go away. 

•November 30th is exactly 1 week since we confirmed the baby’s heartbeat was gone but my body was still hanging onto that baby with every ounce of hope it had. 

I have cramping but it just feels like implantation cramping. My back though is killing me!

•December 1st the contractions are getting stronger. I sat on the toilet begging God through tears of pain and sorrow to let me pass the baby and to be able to move on from this awful time. It’s the first time since our ultrasound that I’ve actually allowed myself to bawl freely. 

Contractions get worse as I try to sleep. They wake me every time I start to doze off. I move to the couch because the whole family is in our bed and taetum is yelling out and thrashing. At 1am I have strong contractions and just completely break down crying thanking God for the contractions no matter how badly they hurt because I know it’s my body at work. I thank God for the miracle of conception and life and that even though this baby wasn’t meant for me to keep here on earth I know God blessed me with a guardian angel. The pain emotionally is so much and I cry for a solid half hour. I don’t think any sleep is coming tonight. I know I’ve been trying too hard to be strong for taetum and for Joe but being honest with myself tonight I realize that I’ve been strong for them because I knew that if they were sad or crying that I would be too and I don’t want to be sad or angry. I don’t want to wallow and fall into the victim hood hole. I don’t want to fall so deep into depression again that I feel there’s no way out like I did so many years ago. I want to be understanding that this is part of Gods greater plan. That God is in control not me. But the harder I cry the contractions stop. I get myself together and write this all down. Hoping and praying I’ll get a little sleep tonight. 

•December 2 my coworker announced she’s pregnant today. It caught me completely off guard and it felt like I was punched in the gut. Of course it’s not her fault she has no idea. I feel bad that I don’t feel excited. I instantly started bawling and wanted to log out of work but I know I can’t run away. 

The emotions today have just been so heavy. I thought I was ok with this. I haven’t had many contractions today though. So at least I’m not dealing with emotions and cramping. 

•December 3 so far no cramping still. OGA called to check in. They are worried that we are on week 2 with no serious movement and because I am RH negative they want to make sure everything is ok so my body doesn’t attack itself or I go septic or anything. I am scheduled for next Thursday to do blood work and talk about further options depending on what they find. It will be 3 weeks since the baby’s heart stopped at that point. I’m a little nervous. 

•December 5 I woke up with the worst cold. Dry nose, sore throat but no fever. Still no more contractions or signs of passing of the baby 

It’s 9pm and contractions have started again. I’m praying so hard that this is it. 

•December 6 I’d be 10 weeks today...I’m just ready to pass the baby and not worry about this every single day 

•December 7 and still NOTHING. To say that I’m getting frustrated is probably an understatement. On top of it all we are all still congested and our humidifiers are not giving any relief. We have oils running because at this point what do I have to lose and the oils are not helping. I’m starting to lose my mind. 

•December 10 I had a follow up appointment today. Got my Rogham shot in the butt. I got home and started spotting. Still no cramps or any other symptoms so it’s induction medication for me. 

•December 11 4:20 I could not sleep so I decided to take my first dose of medicine. I laid down and in 2 minutes I started cramping. The contractions were far worse than being in full term labor. I was able to lay down and rest but not fully sleep. At some point Ezra came and snuggled up to me and he whispered “I got you mommy” and when I asked “what” he was sound asleep. 

8:20 took my second dose and already dying again within a minute. I have pain medication but I mean I don’t feel like this is something I absolutely can’t handle. Maybe it would make it more bearable? 

11:30 and I feel so much pressure it feels like my bladder is going to explode! I slowly creep my way to the bathroom and sit on the toilet. As I start to pee I feel the most pressure and then I feel the sac slip out and hear it hit the water. 

I sat there for a minute contemplating whether to look or not. I finally muster up the courage to look and it’s pretty gross. If you’re squeamish stop reading now. It was a big blob of blood. I picked it up because the dr said once it happens I have to confirm and make sure it is the sac and sure enough you could see a tiny little white/creamish color baby inside. It is so so tiny like around the size of my big toe nail but I can see the umbilical chord, the head, the arms and legs, it still has a little tail...and the dark red heart. It’s so so tiny. I don’t know what to do. I just stare at it for a good 5 minutes not knowing what to do. I burst into tears and whispered “I’m so sorry baby”. I wrapped it in toilet paper and laid it back in the toilet. I can’t bring myself to flush it though so it’s just sitting there. I feel so horrible. I texted Joe and my sister “what do I do? I literally don’t know what to do right now. I legit cannot flush this toilet!” My sister suggested talking to the baby and saying goodbye. I talked to it a bit. Apologizing that it didn’t get to grow the way it should have and that my body didn’t develop its genes and chromosomes properly. That I’m so sorry I can’t hold it longer. That it’s daddy never got to meet it. I apologized for a million things and told that baby how much I love it and then left it there because I still can’t bring myself to flush. 

After passing the baby I went to lay down. But was freaking out about what to do with the baby so much that I ended up back in the bathroom and threw up...all over the baby. It made me cry so much. Before I knew it I was flushing out of instinct and then panic whisper shouting “no no no stop!” but what could I do I had already flushed.  So I cried some more. 

Finally got back in bed and was about to text my mother in law to come to the room but she walked in just as I picked up my phone so I told her and we both sat in my bed and cried. Then I texted my mom and my best friend to let them know it finally happened. About an hour after my dad texted me to check in and tell me he loves me and that he’s praying for me. I told him I passed the baby and he said he was so sorry I had to go through that and that he loves me so much. My mom texted me too wishing the baby to Rest In Peace and telling me how much she loves me. The support system I have is honestly the best. My sister checked on me frequently to be sure I was ok. I appreciate her so much. 

Why am I posting this? Because miscarriage is still so taboo and it shouldn’t be. I’ve miscarried before, nothing like this, but I’ve always been so ashamed to talk about it and that’s not right. Women need to be able to talk about their experience and hold each other up during these times. The statistic is 1 in 4....it’s got to be more common than that because I know so many people who have been affected by miscarriage. If you’ve been affected by miscarriage and need someone to talk to please reach out to me. I’m here for you! 

Thank you to my friends who keep reaching out and praying for us and sending me the kindest and most heartwarming texts and phone calls. I love you all so so much! 

Miscarriage is hard...don’t keep silent. It is NOT your fault, miscarriages and missed miscarriages are mostly due to chromosomal abnormalities. Reach out, get support, don’t do it alone! 

HE ASKED AND SHE SAID "IT'S ABOUT DANG TIME!"

SO AFTER 2 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS OF HINTING AT WANTING TO BE MARRIED JOE FINALLY POPPED THE QUESTION! I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT HIM ALL MONTH TO MY ROOMMATE, BROOKE, AND SHE JUST LISTENED TO ME WHINE ABOUT HOW STRANGE JOE WAS BEING AND HOW I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS BREAKING UP WITH ME OR PROPOSING TO ME. GOSH I PROBABLY SOUNDED LIKE THE BIGGEST BRAT. IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY AND WE WERE SITTING ON MY PARENT'S LOVE SEAT OPENING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND JUST WHEN I THOUGHT ALL MY GIFTS WERE OPEN, JOE CAME IN WITH ANOTHER FOR ME TO OPEN. IT WAS A PHOTO ALBUM. I FLIPPED THROUGH THE PAGES AND I JUST KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP. THEN I CAME TO A PAGE THAT SAID "IF FOREVER IS ALL WE HAVE THEN LET'S START RIGHT NOW" AND BEFORE I COULD TURN THE PAGE I KNEW WHAT WAS COMING. MY EYES STARTED FILLING WITH TEARS AND I TRIED AS HARD AS I COULD TO HOLD THEM BACK, BUT AS SOON AS I TURNED THAT PAGE AND SAW A RING I KNEW THERE WAS NO HOPE FOR HOLDING THOSE TEARS IN. I CLOSED THE ALBUM AND LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS JOEY ON ONE KNEE HOLDING OUT A RING ASKING "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" WITH ALL THE EMOTIONS FLOWING AND TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE I SHRIEKED OUT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A "YES!" HE PLACED THE RING ON MY FINGER AND MY MOM SQUEALED WITH JOY. MY DAD WAS STANDING BY THE TREE MISTY EYED AND MY LITTLE SISTER READY TO JUMP FOR JOY. SHE COULDN'T YET THOUGH BECAUSE SHE WAS HOLDING THE PHONE WHICH HAD JOEY'S SISTER ON THE OTHER END WATCHING VIA FACETIME. WHEN JOE TOOK THE PHONE TO SAY HELLO TO HIS SISTER AMANDA WE SAW SHE WAS CRYING TOO. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A HOLLYWOOD PROPOSAL, BUT TO ME IT WAS PERFECT <3

"THANK YOU" ISN'T ALWAYS THE MAGIC WORD

GROWING UP I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU. I WAS REALLY GOOD AT USING MY "MAGIC WORDS". WELL LATER IN LIFE I FOUND OUT THAT THEY AREN'T ALWAYS "MAGIC WORDS" THEY CAN ACTUALLY SOMETIMES HURT. JOEY AND I HAD BEEN DATING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS OR SO AND I HAD BEEN HINTING AT THE FACT THAT I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM, BUT I WAS WAY TOO AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE I HAD RECENTLY GOTTEN OUT OF A FAIRLY SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP (THE GUY PROPOSED TO ME ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE JOEY AND I HAD MET, BUT IT JUST WASN'T RIGHT SO I RAN). SO EVERY TIME THE SUBJECT CAME UP OF HOW WE FEEL ABOUT EACH OTHER I WOULD KIND OF CLAM UP. WELL WE WERE AT HIS SISTERS HOUSE WATCHING A MOVIE. NOW WHEN JOEY WATCHED MOVIES HE LITERALLY WATCHED MOVIES PLURAL! HE COULDN'T SIT THROUGH JUST ONE, HE'D WATCH ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF ONE AND THEN TAKE IT OUT AND PUT IN SOME OTHER MOVIE. I DON'T THINK WE WATCHED A FULL MOVIE TOGETHER FOR MONTHS AFTER WE STARTED DATING...MAYBE EVEN UNTIL WE'D BEEN TOGETHER FOR A YEAR. WELL ANYWAY...WE WENT THROUGH MAYBE 3 MOVIES AND DURING ONE OF THEM WE WERE LAYING ON HIS BED AND HE ASKED ME HOW I FELT ABOUT HIM. OF COURSE I CLAMMED UP AND WOULDN'T TALK, COULDN'T TALK, AND WOULD JUST SHRUG. SO HE EVENTUALLY GREW FRUSTRATED AND SAID "FINE YOU KNOW WHAT I'LL SAY IT FIRST, I LOVE YOU CHLOE!" I WAS SHOCKED, AMAZED, BEWILDERED, SPEECHLESS EVEN. I WAS STILL TOO AFRAID TO SAY IT SO I USED ONE OF MY MAGIC WORDS AND EVER SO QUIETLY, LIKE SERIOUSLY BARELY EVEN AUDIBLE SAID "THANK YOU..." I INSTANTLY KNEW THAT THIS WOULD HURT HIM SO I COULDN'T EVEN TURN TO LOOK AT HIM. I JUST LAID THERE HOPING THAT THINGS COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE. HE ASKED "REALLY? I TELL YOU I LOVE YOU AND YOU SAY THANK YOU?" JUST LIKE OUR DISASTROUS FIRST FIRST DATE, THIS TOO TURNED INTO A JOKE. WHENEVER A PERSON ON A MOVIE OR TV SHOW SAYS "I LOVE YOU" AND THE OTHER PERSON SAYS IT BACK JOEY WILL SAY "AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T JUST SAY THANK YOU" AND WE WILL BOTH LAUGH. A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS AWKWARD ENCOUNTER, I TOLD JOEY THAT I LOVE HIM TOO AND HAD LOVED HIM, BUT WAS SCARED TO SAY SO AND HE COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I LOVE HIM TOO :) HE IS SO UNDERSTANDING. IT'S NEVER EASY BEING THE FIRST ONE TO SAY THOSE 3 MAGIC WORDS "I LOVE YOU", IT ALWAYS MAKES YOUR STOMACH TURN IN KNOTS AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET NAUSEOUS OR DIZZY...I'M GLAD JOE MADE THAT BOLD MOVE AND WAS THE FIRST TO SAY I LOVE YOU. I LOVE SAYING IT, I LOVE HEARING IT...I LOVE THE WORD LOVE HEHE.

WHAT WOULD A FIRST DATE BE IF NOT AWKWARD

FIRST DATES ALWAYS HAVE SO MUCH PRESSURE ATTACHED TO THEM. THEY EITHER GO WELL AND YOU GET A CALL THE NEXT DAY...OR THEY CAN GO COMPLETELY WRONG. WELL OUR FIRST DATE WE LIKE TO JOKE ABOUT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST THAT AWKWARD. IT STARTED OUT I WAS HANGING OUT WITH MY FRIEND LUKE AND THEN HE WANTED TO GO SEE THE NEW PLANET OF THE APES MOVIE SO HE INVITED OUR FRIENDS AIMEE AND JOEY. I COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL A LITTLE AWKWARD RIGHT OFF THE BAT BECAUSE I CLEARLY SAW THAT AIMEE WAS LUKE'S DATE AND COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO SET JOEY AND I UP ON A DATE. WELL IN ANY SENSE WE WENT ALONG WITH IT AND HAD FUN. WE ALL DROVE TOGETHER IN LUKES CAR AND US GIRL PARTIED IN THE BACK SEAT TO JUSTIN BIEBER SONGS WHILE WEARING THE GUYS HATS TO LOOK "GANGSTER".

WE GOT TO THE MOVIE THEATER AND I SAT NEXT TO AIMEE AND JOEY. THE MOVIE STARTED AND I JUST FELT SO AWARE THAT JOEY WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME TRYING TO SHARE THE ARM REST, BUT I'LL ADMIT I'M A PRETTY TERRIBLE ARM REST HOG. SO SINCE I WAS TAKING OVER THE WHOLE ARM REST, POOR JOEY SAT THERE WITH HIS ARM HALFWAY ON THE REST HALFWAY OFF, NOT KNOWING WHETHER TO TAKE THE WHOLE THING OR PUT HIS ARM DOWN OR JUST TAKE MY HAND AND HOLD IT TO SHARE THE SPACE. SO I FELT HIS ARM MOVING SLIGHTLY WHILE HE TRIED TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO AND I REALIZED HOW MUCH I WAS HOGGING THE DARN REST. SO JUST AS I FEEL JOEY REACHING HIS ARM CLOSER TO MINE I TAKE MY ARM DOWN AND JUST FOLD MY ARMS. I FELT SO BAD FOR BOTH DENYING HIM THE PRIVILEGE OF HOLDING MY HAND AND HOGGING THE ARM REST FOR SO LONG. SO WE CONTINUED THROUGH THE MOVIE EVER SO AWKWARDLY. AT ONE POINT IN THE MOVIE JOEY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE AND ACTUALLY ASKED FOR MY PERMISSION TO HOLD MY HAND. I THOUGHT IS WAS THE SWEETEST THING! OF COURSE I TOLD HIM YES, WHY WOULD I SAY NO TO A CUTE REQUEST LIKE THAT?! NOW JOEY AND I WEREN'T LIKE "A COUPLE" OR ANYTHING YET AND WERE STILL GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER SO IT WAS STILL A LITTLE AWKWARD FOR ME TO HOLD HIS HAND BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID HE'D BE LIKE ANY OTHER GUY AND GET THE WRONG IDEA SO I COULDN'T HELP BUT LET OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER THE MOVIE WAS OVER. I HAD FELT SO INCREDIBLY AWKWARD THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO JUST SIT THERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE, YES I HAD TO TALK MYSELF THROUGH SIMPLY SITTING IN A MOVIE! PATHETIC RIGHT? WELL I FELT LIKE IT. AFTER THE MOVIE WE WENT TO LUKE'S HOUSE AND HUNG OUT THERE FOR A WHILE JUST TALKING AND JUST AS WE THOUGHT, LUKE AND AIMEE WERE TRYING TO HOOK US UP! THEY KEPT TEXTING ME SAYING WE WOULD LOOK SO CUTE TOGETHER OR WE SHOULD BE AN ITEM AND OTHER GOOFY THINGS LIKE THAT SO THE WHOLE TIME I SAT THERE BLUSHING AND POOR JOEY HAD NO IDEA WHY, HE PROBABLY JUST THOUGHT I WAS A NERDY GIRL THAT RANDOMLY TURNED RED! I FINALLY HAD ENOUGH AWKWARDNESS AND DECIDED I SHOULD HEAD HOME TO GET SOME SLEEP SO WHAT DOES JOEY DO? HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO HEAD HOME TOO AND WALKED ME OUTSIDE. WE TALKED A LITTLE MORE, YOU KNOW THAT AWKWARD RANDOM CHIT CHAT WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY, YA AWKWARD! I NOTICED THAT WHILE WE WERE TALKING WE HAD MOVED CLOSER, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS CHILLY FOR A SUMMER NIGHT OR BECAUSE WE WERE WHISPERING OR IF IT WAS JUST WEIRD AWKWARD CLOSENESS, BUT IT FREAKED ME OUT SO I TOLD JOEY GOODNIGHT AND THAT I WAS HEADING HOME AND THEN THE SHOCK OF A LIFE TIME ARE YOU READY....HE LEANED IN TO KISS ME LIKE IT WAS OBVIOUS HE WAS GOING FOR A KISS AND I COMPLETELY DODGED IT AND TURNED IT TO A FRIENDLY HUG. POOR GUY GOT SHUT DOWN! I FELT SO BAD I GOT IN MY CAR AND CALLED LUKE AND IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE AND AIMEE JUST LAUGHED BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING BETWEEN JOEY AND I AND IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE ADMITTED TO IT. I FELT NERVOUS, BUT GIDDY, YET ALSO GUILTY. I AVOIDED TEXTING HIM THE NEXT DAY WHICH I KNOW IS TOTALLY A BAD SIGN, BUT LUKE TOLD ME TO GET OVER IT AND JUST TALK TO JOEY SO I SUCKED IT UP AND TEXTED HIM AND HE PLAYED IT OFF LIKE HE DIDN'T MEAN FOR ME TO GET THE WRONG IDEA AND HE WAS JUST GOING TO HUG ME...HE LATER ADMITTED THAT HE WAS IN FACT TRYING TO KISS ME AND MADE A FOOL OF HIMSELF HAHA NOW AS A JOKE HE ASKS ME FOR PERMISSION BEFORE GIVING ME A KISS OR MAKES A JOKE ABOUT ME TURNING AWAY, AWKWARD FIRST DATES MAKE FOR GREAT EMBARRASSING STORIES TO TELL IN THE FUTURE ;)

MY SUPERSTAR SISTER

MY LITTLE SISTER, HANNAH, IS A USAG GYMNAST. SHE STARTED WHEN SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND IS NOW ON THE COMPETING USAG CERTIFIED TEAM AT GEM STATE GYMNASTICS ACADEMY IN BOISE. SHE IS CURRENTLY A LEVEL 5 AND IS TRYING OH SO HARD TO MAKE SCORES FOR LEVEL 6! WHEN HANNAH FIRST STARTED GYMNASTICS, AT AGE 3, WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING FUN FOR HER TO DO, BUT SHE QUICKLY GREW TO LOVE THE SPORT AND IS NOW A SERIOUS COMPETITOR. HANNAH HAS COME SO FAR IN HER GYMNASTICS JOURNEY. SHE STARTED AT A GYM IN CALDWELL AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER GYM WHERE SHE ADVANCED SO QUICKLY. THE WAY SHE FLOATS SO SWIFTLY ON THE UNEVEN BARS IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL AND THE WAY SHE RUNS DOWN THAT VAULT LINE MAKES YOU FEEL THIS INSPIRING POWER WATCHING HER USE ALL HER MIGHT TO GET OVER THAT VAULT TABLE WHILE MAKING IT LOOK SO EFFORTLESS. THE BEAM IS HER PLATFORM TO SHOW HER GRACEFUL SKILLS OF BALANCE, AND THE WAY SHE MOVES SO EFFORTLESSLY ON HER FLOOR ROUTINE COULD MOVE YOU TO TEARS. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT HANNAH EARLY IS, IN MY OPINION, THE BEST FLIPPIN’ GYMNAST OUT THERE BECAUSE OF HER MOTTO “I CAN ONLY GET BETTER FROM HERE.” SURE IT’S NICE TO PLACE HIGHLY, BUT TO HANNAH, RANK DOESN’T MATTER AS LONG AS SHE’S HAVING FUN AND CHALLENGING HERSELF. AS SHE GETS TO THE HIGHER LEVELS IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER FOR ME TO WATCH HER BECAUSE I’M SUCH A WORRYWART THAT I JUST CAN’T STAND TO LOOK SOMETIMES. SHE REASSURES ME THOUGH THAT SHE’LL BE FINE AND GOD IS TAKING CARE OF HER. HANNAH’S GYMNASTICS HEROS ARE NASTIA LIUKIN AND SHAWN JOHNSON. THIS SUMMER WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SAN JOSE PRE-OLYMPIC TRIALS WHERE HANNAH GOT TO SEE NASTIA AND SHAWN UP CLOSE! OH BOY WAS SHE EXCITED! I WILL NEVER FORGET THE PRICELESS LOOK ON MY LITTLE SISTER’S FACE. IT WAS SO MOVING I HAD TO TRY NOT TO CRY BECAUSE SHE WOULD JUST THINK I WAS SUPER WEIRD. THEN OF COURSE THERE WAS THAT MOMENT WHEN NASTIA LIUKIN FELL FROM HER BARS ROUTINE AND THE ENTIRE STADIUM GASPED AND THEN WENT QUIET. OH MY HEART JUST STOPPED AND I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT HANNAH WHO’S FACE WAS JUST TORN SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHETHER TO REMAIN SHOCKED OR CRY. IT WAS SO HEARTBREAKING! UNFORTUNATELY NASTIA DIDN’T MAKE TEAM USA’S OLYMPIC TEAM, BUT HANNAH WAS OK, SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT AS GYMNASTS GET OLDER IT IS HARD TO KEEP COMPETING AND THEY SOMETIMES HAVE TO MOVE ON. HANNAH STILL ABSOLUTELY ADORES BOTH SHAWN AND NASTIA, BUT ALSO HAS NEW FAVORITE GYMNASTS, GABBY DOUGLAS, KYLA ROSS, AND MCKAYLA MARONEY. HANNAH AND HER FRIEND MADDI, WHO HAS BEEN IN GYMNASTICS WITH HANNAH SINCE THEY WERE 3, SAID THAT THEY WERE SHOOTING FOR THE 2014 OLYMPICS IN RIO. THEY’VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THEY GET THERE, BUT WITH ALL THEIR PERSEVERANCE WE KNOW THEY COULD DO IT IF THEY REALLY PUT THEIR MINDS TO IT. HANNAH EARLY AND MADDISON MOSS FUTURE GYMNASTS OF TEAM USA!!

FAMILY REUNION

IN AUGUST 2012 WE HAD A HUGE FAMILY REUNION IN KLAMMATH FALLS, OREGON.  THERE WAS ABOUT 50 OF US ALTOGETHER. WE ARE ALL VERY CLOSE KNIT AND LOVE BEING TOGETHER SO IT WAS SUCH A BLAST HAVING JOEY GET TO KNOW MY FAMILY. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A FEW MISSING FACES, THEY WERE REMEMBERED AND VERY MISSED BY ALL OF US, YES EVEN JOEY AND TY (MY SISTER’S FIANCE) WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN MET THEM. ON DAY 1 WE ARIVED TO THE CAMP SITE AND SET UP OUR TENT, WHICH I MIGHT ADD HALF OF OUR TENTS WERE LIKE THE SIZE OF HOTELS. OK NOT LITERALLY THAT LARGE, BUT THEY WEREN’T YOUR AVERAGE 5 PERSON TENTS.  IT WAS A FAIRLY LAX AFTERNOON AND WE ALL JUST HUNG OUT AROUND THE CAMPFIRE WAITING FOR THE WHOLE CLAN TO ARRIVE. INTRODUCTIONS WERE MADE AND YES THE BOYS WERE TESTED ON NAMING EVERY RELATIVE. :) WE ARE CRUEL LIKE THAT HAHA, BUT I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT JOEY NAMED EVERYONE WITHOUT STRUGGLE AND THEY WERE ALL SO IMPRESSED, GRANTED HE DID STUDY NAMES AND FACES BEFORE THE TRIP. DAY 2 CONSISTED OF HIKING AT CRATER LAKE, YES ALL DAY LONG! IT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE HIKING WITH 40+ PEOPLE. WE SANG, WE DANCED, WE SHOUTED, WE TOOK SO MANY PICTURES, AND ATE A LOT OF SNACKS. REACHING THE TOP WAS SO REWARDING FOR BOTH MYSELF AND JOEY BECAUSE WELL LETS FACE IT WE WERE BOTH SO OUT OF SHAPE AND DIDN’T THINK WE’D LAST LONG. WELL I’M A PERSEVERING TYPE OF PERSON AND I KNEW I WOULDN’T HAVE GIVEN UP BECAUSE I JUST DON’T LIKE QUITTING, BUT I KNEW IF JOEY WANTED TO STOP I WOULD STOP WITH HIM. THERE WAS ONE POINT WHERE HE WANTED TO GIVE UP, BUT MY HONEYBEAR KEPT ON TRUDGING ALONG AND I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM. LET ME TELL YA WE ALL SLEPT SO GOOD THAT NIGHT, NO REALLY, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE SNORING IT ECHOED AND I’M POSITIVE IT WAS THE SNORING THAT KEPT BEARS AWAY. DAY 3 WAS FUN IN THE SUN…AND WATER. YES RIVER RAFTING! A GROUP OF US WENT RAFTING IN A NEARBY RIVER AND PADDLED OUR WAY DOWN THROUGH STILL WATERS AS WELL AS CLASS 4 RAPIDS! OUR GROUP WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HIT THAT CLASS 4 RAPID, BUT OUR TOUR GUIDE WAS A LITTLE BUSY TELLING STORIES ABOUT GOLD MINERS AND TALKING SMACK TO THE OTHER TOUR GUIDES THAT HE DIDN’T SEE OUR TURN OFF IN TIME AND WELL LETS JUST SAY THAT WAS ONE OF THE BUMPIEST RIDES I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED. I THINK MY GROUP ALL LEFT WITH BRUISES IN ONE PLACE OR ANOTHER. DESPITE THE SCARY PART OF OUR RAFTING ADVENTURE IT WAS SO FUN AND EXHILARATING!  DAY 4 WAS PACK UP AND LEAVE DAY. WE ALL GOT UP AND STARTED BREAKING DOWN CAMP AND THEN SPENT A GOOD HOUR TAKING PICTURES. YES WE ARE A VERY PHOTOGENIC FAMILY AND HAD TO HAVE EVERY SHOT IMMAGINABLE. NOW YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT THE PHOTO SESSION WAS WITH 50 OF US. IT WAS CHAOTIC, YET FUN AT THE SAME TIME. THUS BEGAN THE GOODBYES WHICH FOR US ACHANZARS IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT. EVER SINCE MY GRANDPA PASSED AWAY IN 2002 AND MY FAMILY MOVED SO FAR AWAY IT’S BEEN SUCH A DIFFICULT THING TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR COUSINS WHOM WE GREW UP WITH AND WERE OUR FIRST BEST FRIENDS. SO THERE WERE PLENTY OF TEARS AND REALLY CORNY JOKES MADE AND FINALLY WE ALL WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS. AFTER LEAVING THE CAMP SITE WE HEADED TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO MEET MY DAD’S SISTER FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE HAD A COZY LITTLE CABIN NEXT TO THE WATER. SHE SHOWED US HOW AFTER YEARS OF WEATHERING ABOUT 100 FEET OF THE CLIFF JUST DROPPED OFF AND THE BEACH IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO HER CABIN. WE ROAMED THE CHILLY BEACH, BUT DIDN’T DARE GET IN THE WATER BECAUSE OF THE LARGE RIPTIDES AND NOT TO MENTION THERE WAS A 100 FOOT DROP OFF A FEW YARDS INTO THE WATER! JOEY AND I HAD OUR LITTLE SCARE WHILE PLAYING CLOSE TO THE WATER AND TESTING MY JUDGEMENT OF WHEN THE WAVE WOULD HIT US. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY, JOEY DISTRACTED ME AND A STRONG WAVE CAUGHT OUR FEET AND I SWEAR I HAVE NEVER MOVED FASTER IN MY LIFE! WHILE RUNNING FROM THE WAVE, HOWEVER, MY SANDLE GOT TAKEN BY THE WAVE AND OUT OF INSTINCT I RAN AFTER IT AND GRABBED IT AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AND GOT AWAY FROM A SECOND WAVE HEADED MY WAY. AFTER THAT MY HEART WAS POUNDING SO FAST I DIDN’T WANT TO GO NEAR THE SHORE LINE! SO WE HEADED TO A LAGOON AREA AND HAD FUN OVER THERE WATCHING TADPOLES AND WADING (ONLY TO OUR CALVES) INTO THE WATER. HANNAH HAD SO MUCH FUN PLAYING WITH OUR AUNT’S DOG AND THE LOOK ON MY DAD’S FACE TALKING TO HIS SISTER WAS PRICELESS! FAMILY IS A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE AND ANYTIME I CAN SEE THEM HAPPY MAKES ME HAPPY AND THE FACT THAT I GOT TO SHARE THAT WITH JOEY WAS ABSOLUTELY REWARDING IN EVERY WAY.

FROM SILLY JOKE TO RELATIONSHIP BLISS

ON AUGUST 4, 2012 JOEY AND I WERE CASUALLY CHATTING OVER THE FACEBOOK MESSENGER APPLICATION. I WAS ON MY WAY TO GO LOOK FOR A WEDDING PRESENT FOR MY SISTER’S FRIEND, CAMILLE. BEING THE GOOF THAT HE IS, JOEY ASKED ME WHAT I WAS GETTING HIM AND I RETORTED “PSH YOU’RE NOT GETTING MARRIED” AND HE SO GOOFILY REPLIED “SURE I AM” AND ME BEING THE SMART ALEC THAT I AM ASKED “OH YA TO WHO?” AND HE COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED ME IN SAYING “YOU I’LL MARRY YOU SO THERE BUY ME A GIFT” SO THE CONVERSATION CONTINUED AS FOLLOWS: CHLOE: HAHA YOU’LL MARRY ME? JOEY: ACTUALLY YOU’LL MARRY ME CHLOE: I’LL MARRY YOU? WHO SAYS HAHA JOEY: YOU JUST DID LOL CHLOE: I DID? JOEY: YUP CHLOE OH…WAIT WHEN? JOEY: JUST NOW CHLOE: NO I DIDN’T JOEY: DANG WELL THANKS FOR TURNING DOWN MY PROPOSAL CHLOE: HEY YOU DID NOT PROPOSE HAHA YOU SIMPLY SAID ‘YOU’LL MARRY ME’ THAT IS SO NOT A PROPOSAL JOEY: WILL YOU MARRY ME CHLOE: YOU BETCHA JOEY: HAHA CHLOE: GOOF

AND THUS IT WAS A JOKE THAT FINALLY BEGAN OUR RELATIONSHIP (I WAS STILL A LITTLE ON MY GUARD ABOUT JOEY SEEING AS WE DIDN’T KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL SO WHEN I SAY “RELATIONSHIP” I MEAN WE HUNG OUT AND GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP FALLING IN LOVE, BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY) <3