We are a happy family!!

for the girls at work.

2008-12-29T17:35:00.001-08:00

Testing out a new sleeping bag

Weirdo!

Rene and our brother in law Marc!

The secretaries that Rene works with asked for some crazy pictures of him. Here you go!!

It's been awhile.......

2008-12-22T19:40:00.000-08:00

new jammies

she's walking!

I love my push up!

I haven't updated in a while! Things are going good. Porter started pre-school and LOVES it. He is a little dissapointed that he dosen't get to ride the bus but once he gets there he is fine. Stela is still thriving. She can walk! We are so excited and proud of her. Porter asked me the other day if he could change his name to Stela is my princess. He loves her so much. Anyways, hopefully I can keep up with this thing! Here are a few random pictures.

update on Stela

2008-08-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

Stela has been doing so well! She had an ultra sound on her kidneys, ( she had surgery on them at 6 months old) and they look great! Her right kidney still has a lot of fluid in it, but they said that it is to be expected. Her ENT said her ears look good as well. She had a well baby check up and she is on the charts! She is in the 20th for her weight and the 5th for her height. I know she is still small, but she is on the charts and that is a hupe accomplishment for her! Poor, thing, we can't even walk into a place that even remotely looks like a doctors office and she crys from the second we open the door until the second we leave! She is also about to walk. She is very fiesty! She loves to tease her brother and do whatever he is doing. She is surprising a lot of people, but Rene and I knew she was stubborn and determined- and that she definately is!

Porter's 4

2008-08-26T19:54:00.001-07:00

Porter turned four on August 3. We had a party planned for him, but our plans changed so we had a little get together at my moms house. Our entire family was there-all 26 of us-for my brothers setting apart. (he became an elder) Then, we had a get together at Rene's parents house. We were a little late and had a few people upset with us, but all in all Porter had a blast and thats all that matters! I can't believe he is 4. He is my little buddie and he loves his sissy so much and is such a good, sweet, caring boy.

Finally!

2008-08-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

I hope my sister dosen't mind, but, We are so excited that my sister Marcie finally had a boy! For the last 4 years, Porter has been the only boy among 10 girls on my family's side. Little Marc Hudson was born on Friday and he is so cute and definately a little Lopeman!!

Porter

2008-07-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

What can I say about this boy! I was asleep Sat morning and I'm usually up before my kids. But this morning Porter was awake. When I got up I noticed that is face was all read and scratched. I asked Porter what happened to his face and he said he had to shave this morning. Are you kidding me? I will admit, POrter does have a little mustache, but apparantly he didn't like it to much! Instead of shaving up and down, he shaved from left to right. Grrrrrr! Oh well, he wants to be a big boy!

Family pictures

2008-06-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we had family pictures taken. They turned out really well, considering Stela was being a STINKER! Our photographer did a really good job, if anyone needs her info let me know!

My brother graduated!

2008-05-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Uncle Jay with 5 of his 10 neices and his only nephew (until August!)

Jay with 5 of his 7 sisters! Marcie, me (yuk!), Tammy, AManda, and Terri.
Jay and my mom and dad

We went to Thatcher for my brothers graduation. It also happened to be my moms birthday, what a great present, your last kid is graduating! He was the 8th one! Congratulations Jay!

swimming

2008-05-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

It was so hot last week. We went and bought the kids a little pool. They love it. Stela would copy everything Porter did. He would go under water and make bubbles and so would she. We really have to watch them around water, they are both fish!

She's 2!!!

2008-05-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

Stela enjoying her cake
Taking her baby for a ride

Presents!

Grandma Talina made her "curly top" a cake when we went to Pima for the weekend

I can't beleive that my baby is 2! The first year of Stela's life was full of frustrations, the unknown, and doctors! This last year has been a lot better on her and on us. She has grown so much and does so much now. We hope this year continues on the same path! We love you Stela!

2008-05-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to a D-backs game a couple of weekends ago. They had a blast with their grandma and cousin Kiana. Rene's mom has been down here watching my kids for the last few weeks while I am in between sitters. Stela's new thing is hats. We bought Porter a new hat at the game so Stela thinks his old one is hers. She loves her brother and copies EVERYTHING he does! I love that they are so close

Miss Independent!

2008-05-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Stela eating her ice cream that she WOULD NOT let me feed her. She is wants to do everything herself! Considering everything she has been through, we aren't complaining!

2008-05-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Porter and Baxter at a D-Backs game!

Auntie Terri...........

2008-04-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Do I not look just like my Aunt Terri in this picture?

DISNEYLAND!!!

2008-04-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

Porter and Stela playing in the sand

Mini-Me!

All bundled up at Disneyland

Dinner with the princesses

Porter and the High School Musical people. They were teaching them the dances

POrter got a kiss from Cinderella and walked around all day teasing Rene that Cinderella kissed him and not Rene!

notice my drenched pants. I had to sit in the very front of Splash mountain!

He was so excited he got to drive!

Sadie and POrter

We look thrilled, I know

We decided kind of last minute to go to Disneyland. We went with Tammy and Dale and their 2 daughters. We left Friday night and came home on Tuesday. We had so much fun. I think I figured out Porter is afraid of heights, he didn't want to ride anything that was going to "Fly" He loved Pirates and Finding Nemo. Stela loved everything. She just let it all in and was a really good baby the whole time. We went to California Adventure so he could see his favoirte, High School Musical and Playhouse Disney. We went to the beach and he didn't want to leave! We had a lot of fun and are glad we got to go with Dale, Tammy, Sadie, and Savanah!

Easter............a little late

2008-04-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Ready for church

He wouldn't let his eggs go! We couldn't even eat them!

Maci, Matti, (Marcie's girls) and Porter showing off their eggs

Sadie (Tammy's daughter) and Porter

We had a nice Easter. Marcie and Tammy brought their kids over and we colored Easter eggs. The kids had a lot of fun. They always have a blast when they are together. Porter always crys when they have to leave!

Hip Helpers

2008-04-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

Stela's developmental specialist requested that I buy Stela these things called hip helpers to hopefully get her to walk and crawl. They are basically spandex sewn up the middle. My mom could have totally made them, instead I spent 30 dollars! Oh well, they seem to be helping and Stela is getting better at keeping her legs together ( which is what the hip helpers do)

Porter lately

2008-03-21T22:34:00.000-07:00

I know I am going to forget all the cute things Porter does and says, so I decided to put them down.

I called Porter "Papi" the other day, He looked at me and said, Mom, only my grandma can call me "Papi" He is a huge Grandma's boy!

His favorite move lately is Mary Poppins. We were in Wal-mart the other day and he wanted a spiderman umbrella. He kept saying it was going to rain. I bought it for him and we came home and he started singing "Supercalifradulic (you get the idea) he was singing and dancing with is umbrella!

Porter did something the other day and I said Porter why did you do that? He looked at me and said "Because the Chicks dig it"

He always tells me I'm his favorite girl in the whole world and he loves me from the moon back to the dirt!

I LOVE my Porter!

Update on Stela

2008-03-21T22:26:00.000-07:00

Stela had new tubes put in her ears at the first of the month. She had tubes put in in July, but her ears are constantly draining! She has very small ear canals so all this fluid gets stuck in her ear. Her ENT is at a loss so decided to take out the plastic tubes and put in titanium tubes instead. So far so good! I can tell she is feeling a lot better.

She had to get another MRI on her head. These are the worst things ever! Poor thing screams her head off. Her neurosurgeon said that the fluid in here head hasn't increased so he isn't anticipating having to put a shunt in. THANK GOODNESS!

She is doing so well right now. She learns something new everyday. We finally decided to start having her occupational and speech therapists come out to the house. So far, it has worked out well. We still take her to her physical therapist at the hospital because Stela loves her. Hopefully it won't be long for her to start walking!

Humiliation!!

2008-03-21T22:20:00.001-07:00

On Sunday as we were leaving church, I totally biffed it! I was holding Stela and just lost my footing. I fell hard on the pavement. Stela was ok and I couldn't stop laughing! We came home from church and Rene did a replay of me falling. I started to fall on my stomach and to protect the baby, I guess I rolled over, spread my legs and ended up on my back! I was lucky that there was only one lady who saw that was outside, but it happend right in front of the church doors. SO EMBARRASING!! Porter was so worried and kept telling me I better not ever fall when I am holding him. He took some pictures of my battle wounds!! So humiliating!

random happenings

2008-02-17T17:23:00.000-08:00

Porter thinking he is leaving the house like this. This boy dosen't like clothes!

Stela all ready for church

My Sunbeam

These are a few random pictures of the kids. Some are of Stela eating an oreo cookie and POrter on a four-wheeler that he just has to have now. There is also one of Porter before his first day of being a Sunbeam! They are the funniest kids!

Fun with daddy

2008-02-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

Rene was off work early on wed. so he took Porter and Stela to a little resivoir on Greenfield and Guadalupe so Porter could go fishing. I met them when we got off work. We had alot of fun! (Rene dosen't do Stela's hair!)

Presidnet Hinckley

2008-02-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

As I watched the funeral and celebration of President Hinckley today, I couldn't help but thinking of how I want to be better. What a perfect example to everyone. I couldn't hold back the tears. I am sad for selfish reasons, I'll miss hearing him at conferance and his wisdom and humor, but I was also happy. He is in heaven and with his wife. It really makes me reflect on my life as a friend, aunt, sister, daughter, wife and mother. I want to be better in paying my tithing, saying my prayers, reading my scriptures, attending the temple and being more positive. He did so much for the church and the world for that matter. He gave so much and did so much, putting the church first in his life. Hearing the testimonies from his friends and family only made my testimony of him stronger. I will miss him and I thank him for the love I have always felt from him.

My princess Stela

2008-01-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

For those who don't know, my daughter was diagnosed about a year ago with an extremly rare( 300 cases worldwide) genetic disorder. It is called cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome. It is not something that Rene or I gave her, she is her own mutation and it just happened. It affects each child differently but can be a life-threating thing. Fortunatly, Stela is not as severe as a lot of other kids with the syndrome. Currently Stela see's a cardiologist for her heart, she has pulminary stenosis, a neurosurgeon, she has hydrocephaly, a developmental specialist, a G.I. specialist, an Ear Nose and throat doctor, for her awful ears, a geneticist, an optimologist, an immunologist, a urologist, she had kidney surgery at 6 months old, and her 3 therapists, one for physical, occupational, and speech. She is such a strong and resiliant baby. Through all of this she continues to smile and amaze me. Stela is so lucky to have such a awesome big brother who is very protective over her and makes sure no one messes with her. I can't wait for them to get older and for him to continue to protect is baby sister. A family whose son had this syndrome and passed away at 26 months old, said that they would tell him every night of his birth story. They said not his real birth story and all the pain and problems, but of the story of how there were so many children that wanted them to be their parents but that they chose him and wouldn't change that for anything. I feel the same way about Stela. All though it is sometimes discouraging to see other children Stela's age walking and talking and eating, we try not to let it get to us because we are so proud of Stela and everything she has acomplished and continues to accomplish. She is our angel and our hero and has taught us the importance of health and family. For more information on Stela's syndrome, visit http://www.cfcsyndrome.org/.

Christmas!

2008-01-03T19:50:00.000-08:00

all Porter wanted was his Garbage truck!

The Tree before unwrapping presents! That isn't even all of them!

This picture is us leaving Mesa for Thatcher. Our Durango was loaded!

This year we were in Pima/Thatcher for Christmas. We stayed with my parents and all of my sisters and my brother were there. Thats right, between siblings,brothers- in law and neices, there were 26 of us! It was crazy and we had presents galore! It was a good time though, and the first time we had been all together in a while. I think next year though, we are staying home!

pictures

2007-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

we went and got the kids pictures taken on Saturday. Porter did really good, we would tell him to sit up straight and as you can see, he did. Stela was not so good. She wanted me to hold her so I had to leave the room! She was also tired. We didn't really get a good one of them together but the ones of them by themselves turned out good.

Porter in action

2007-11-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Porter loves his t-ball and his "coach". Here he is in action (#6)

Rico Suave

2007-11-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

Porter found one of my old high school shirts and put it on and decided to do this weird pose he likes to do, don't know where he learned it, but it is hilarious!

Stela and the hospital

2007-11-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

So, last week Stela started to throw up bile again. We took her to the ER and they ended up keeping her for 3 days. Poor Stela, a year and a half and been in the hospital 5 times. She is such a strong and special girl. She didn't cry when they drew blood and was fine with nurses and doctors coming to check on her. That in itself is a miracle! She usually throws a fit to anyone who even remotley looks like a doctor or nurse. Any way she ended up having bad concstipation , which is common with kids diagnosed with CFC syndrome and a really bad stomach virus. She is home now and we are glad!

Halloween!

2007-11-12T17:09:00.000-08:00

We had such a good Halloween. Porter was so cute. He would ring peoples doorbells and they wouldn't answer quick enough so he would start banging on their doors. Everyone though he was sooooo cute. Stela had fun being in her stroller outside. Porter was very polite and told everyone thank-you and you could tell he had a great time.

spider bows

2007-10-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

My sister Amanda made Stela the cutest bows ever! They are little spiders and they were the hit of the town when Stela wears them! Thanks Auntie Amanda and cousin Sophie!

Porter and teeball

2007-10-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

Rene and I decided to sign Porter up for tee ball this year. He just turned 3 in August and we felt like with everything that we have going on with the baby and her doctors and all, he kind of gets pushed aside. We thought this would be something just for him. He loves it.............when he gets to bat! He had his first game last Saturday and actually did really well. I thought he would cry and whine when the ball didn't come to him, but he didn't. My sister Terri went out in the feild with him because Rene was out of town. He didn't want his mom to go with him, he wanted Auntie Terri. Anyway, he did so well and we are so proud of him!

fun with cousins!

2007-10-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

Porter loves playing with all his cousins. We went back home a few weeks ago and he rode his grandpas horses with his cousins Maci,Matti,and Kiana. He also played hopscoth, which is his new favorite game. I have no idea where he learned it. Anyways, he always loves to go hang out with his grandparents and cousins.

Graham County Fair

2007-10-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went back home to go to the fair. Porter and Stela had soooo much fun! Porter and I rode a few rides his favorite were the race cars! We saw all the animals and exibits and had an all around good time. Porter keeps asking when we are going to the "ferris wheel" to see the animals again.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-10-03T21:25:00.001-07:00

Porter and Stela's Sippy cups

2007-10-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

Porter was drinking milk from his sippy cup and Stela kept trying to take it from him so I got her her own. She thinks she is such a big girl! She can't drink from it but she likes to pretend!

ASU

2007-10-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

So Rene was at work last Saturday and we were bored. We bought Stela this little ASU cheerleader outfit at once upon a child and Porter had this jersey, so we felt like taking pictures. Porter wouldn't open his eyes (TRACY!) j/k.