FALL!!!

I know I live in Vegas and it's still summer weather but today it was just a little overcast and now I've got the bug! I've been watching The Cosby Show and the latest episode is a huge Thanksgiving dinner and now I've got the bug! I've been thinking about what to wear for Halloween and now I've got the bug! Kailyn's turning 2 on October 17 and now I've got the bug! Joseph Jet is due the first week of November and now I've got the bug! Kailyn wore tennis shoes today instead of sandals and now I've got the bug!

Does anyone else want to go shopping for sweaters and boots? I'm so excited for FALL! I don't decorate for fall because financially it is way low on my priority list but if I had it my way the house would be decked out in pumpkins, fall colors, leaves, scarecrows, plaid, and spiced scents. I am so excited for the next few months...and then I'll get even more excited for Christmas! I've stopped worrying about everything that has been going on and have stopped worrying about some uncertainties that are fast approaching. I'm going to just relax and remember that this is an amazing time of year. The weather is changing, my family is growing, Kailyn is learning, and everything looks promising. Happy Seasons!

Our incredibly horrible "vacation"

va.ca.tion - noun
1. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.
2. freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.

It all started Wednesday at the store. Kailyn was having a TERRIBLE day. I had so much I had to do. I was cleaning the store before we left, doing last minute training with a new girl, taking care of customers, getting deposits to the bank, and just the general day to day responsibilities. But of all the things I had to get done one of them was to talk to my case worker for Medicaid and give him an update from Daniel's employer that was especially important and time consuming. Medicaid is time sensitive. You turn in your application, are given a date to have all your paperwork turned in by (usually a week and a half), and then are given 10 days ONLY to get anything extra turned in whether it's something you missed or you are waiting for someone else to get something to you. Another thing to know about Medicaid is you aren't ever given your case worker's direct contact information. You have to get through to the representatives on their "800" number and leave a message with them to direct to your case worker and then the case worker is supposed to call you within 48 hours.

Well, as crappy as the day was, I had called the "800" number and got through to a representative with all the things Daniel's employer needed from my caseworker. I got home at it was time to pack and clean my house as we were leaving at 5:30 in the morning to head up to Utah. So I was multi tasking packing, laundry, cleaning, and Kailyn while Daniel ran some errands with a friend. Long story short: Daniel and I both pulled an all nighter and were on the road by 6 am. We made the drive to Provo by 1 pm without any accidents, although I did see Danny doze off a couple times when he was driving.

Here's where we started having issues. We got to Provo to see Daniel's sister who just started at BYU. After that quick stop I decided to drive the rest of the way to my parents house. While I was adjusting the settings I noticed a warning light. Neither of us knew what it meant, but Daniel assumed it was his regular maintenance check light since it was about time for him to go in. So we drove the 40 minutes to my parents house and didn't drive our car until the next afternoon when we went out to get lunch. Before we pulled out onto the busy road the car was making a funny sound in the back. But, instead of checking, we kept heading out and decided to just looked up the warning light symbol in the owner's manual. I couldn't find it so Daniel pulled over and found it: Low tire pressure. Fantastic! We don't know how long the light had been on except for sure in Provo. So Danny changed the tire to the spare and we headed back to the house. After a quick shower we loaded up, went and got lunch at one of our hot spots in Utah, and headed over to Costco to get the tire fixed. Well, the tire wasn't fixable. I new tire cost us roughly $180 and after talking to the Toyota dealership in Vegas we found out that the tire wasn't covered in our warranty so it was all coming out of pocket.

Note that this was all on Friday, the last day that my caseworker could call me to be within his 48 hour time limit. He never called so that added to the stress of the day, especially since Monday was a holiday and we wouldn't even be in town until Wednesday.
The next morning we picked up Michelle and headed up to Idaho for Daniel's family reunion (after making a couple stops for errands that had already put us all in a bad mood). On the way up Daniel was in another car's blind spot and they kicked up a piece of metal that hit the front of our car. We saw something fly up the front of our windshield and assumed it was whatever the van kicked up. When we stopped to get gas about 3-4 hours later Daniel showed me the front of his car and the Toyota emblem was missing. So that was what flew in front of our windshield. Our car is, by the way, 2010. Practically new. GRRRRR!

After another hour or so we finally got to Daniel's family property. It was beautiful. A river runs right next to it, pretty trees on most sides, and a TON of loose dirt everywhere. My allergies went nuts. That dirt was in everyone's eyes, nose, and throat. And it didn't help that the younger kids were all rolling around in it and throwing it at each other. I kept Kailyn away from it even though everyone told me she was going to get dirty. I still couldn't encourage her to go get dirt in her eyes. We got to spend a little bit of time with some of Daniel's favorite cousins but it was cut short since everyone was going to tubing down the river. We all had lunch together and that's when the worst part of the trip happened.

Kailyn starting acting like a wild child after lunch. She couldn't sit still. It's hard for Danny to get around because of his ankles and I can't get around because I'm pregnant. It got super frustrating when we asked Kailyn to do things (come here, don't touch, go see Grandpa) and she flat out ignored us. She's usually well behaved. So finally we set her in a camping chair while we helped clean up lunch. We were both, literally, within 3 feet of her. She tried to lean over the edge of the chair and I caught the chair before she could fall over and warned her to sit still of she was going to fall. We continued helping, still just as close as before and about 5 minutes later she leaned over the edge again and no one could catch her. I saw her hit her head on a cinder block but it didn't look like she hit it hard enough to have anything worse than a nasty scratch. Danny got to her first and when I asked if she was ok he said she was fine. But then he looked at her head and said she would need stitches. He told me afterwards that he could see her skull. She was bleeding everywhere.

After we got her bandaged up we headed to the closest emergency clinic in the area which was only about a half hour away. The staff was great but the actually facility made us a little nervous that things wouldn't get done right. But they glued her up (no stitches!!) and got her a tetanus shot and everything looked great. We don't have insurance currently so we are going to have to pay for that. Still no bill in the mail, but we're hoping we'll be able to get Medicaid by then.

The rest of the trip was great. Kailyn was right back to normal. We stayed in a motel room that night (no camping when I'm 7 months pregnant), headed back into town to spend the day with cousins, went to the Idaho State Fair, drove back to my parents house, Danny went shooting with the boys and I went window shopping with the girls... we were also able to spend time with Kenneth's family our first night in, which was a blast. Anyways, the trip all together was a bust financially and stressed us out beyond belief. Especially because we had seriously considered not making the trip at all. But spending quality time with my family and Daniel's family was great. But we are definitely taking a vacation from taking vacations.

The morning after.

On our way to the motel.

The bear the nurses gave her for being so brave.

There's more blood on Danny's shirt hiding in the folds.

Patched up and tuckered out.

A record of the last year

Daniel and I got pregnant at the end of December unexpectedly. I think we got so caught up with Christmas shopping and spending time with the family that we weren't being careful. The biggest problem is that I do not have any insurance. When we had Kailyn we applied for Medicaid and were approved so we thought we would just give that another go. But I felt so stressed out about not being insured and felt like the timing was off. We had planned on waiting until Kailyn was 2 to start looking into our options as far as having another baby. But I was pregnant and I tried to be happy about it. I just didn't feel as excited as I should be.

Then, in mid February, I had my miscarriage and it was really hard. Not only was it physically hard and painful but emotionally. Daniel took it pretty hard, too. I think he was more excited than I was about my being pregnant. But after sitting down and talking it out we decided that the timing was off and that we would just plan on waiting like we had before...within a week and a half we were pregnant. Haha! I was suspicious when I hadn't started my period. I got that feeling and decided to take a test. Daniel and I took 3 to be sure and there it was. 3 positive tests. This was all right before we got sealed. When I was in the temple I knew the timing was right. We were sealed and could bring this new life into our home knowing that we had prepared ourselves.

I got my application turned in by the end of April. Our assigned case worker was very meticulous. She wanted proof of EVERYTHING, including proof of closure on 2 bank accounts that Danny and I had over 2 years ago. Even the banks didn't have anything on file from that long ago. but we tried to get everything in order and turned in what I had. We were denied because Daniel's old employer didn't send in their paperwork and because Papa John's forgot to list the month he worked at a different location. SO FRUSTRATING! So the case worker told me I could immediately reapply (even though she told me at the beginning of the application process that I had to wait until after I had the baby) and that's what we started on. Then in June we went to New York. Then in July I went to Craig's wedding and then we went to see Daniel's brother in Reno.

So I finally got it in the beginning of this month. I did my best to be precise and hoped for the best. When I applied a few months earlier they sent back a letter within 4 days telling me I had an appointment set up to meet with my case worker. This time around I was kept waiting and nervous. I was realizing how close I was to my due date and starting to consider other options, including a home birth.

Then, on Sunday the 14th, while I was driving to the store to pick up something I had forgotten, I started to pray. I told Heavenly Father that we needed a miracle and I didn't know how to get one. And then the thought came to me that I should pay my tithing. Daniel and I pay at the end of the year because it's easier paperwork wise for the store. But I had the thought that miracles are promised to those who pay tithing. So I told Daniel that next Sunday I was going to pay off my own personal tithing up to date and encouraged him to do the same. The next day my new case worker called. He was really relaxed. and slow of speech. He kind of sounded like he didn't know what he was talking about. But as we got talking about my application and talking about what else I needed to turn in he told me he had my old file with all the information from my previous application. Now, that might not seem like a big deal, but my case worker a couple months back told me that once you're denied your application and all the paperwork with it are instantly sent away to a warehouse where they have no access to it. So, I went from being worried that our new case worker wasn't taking his job seriously to realizing my old case worker figured it was easier to deny me than to work with me.

So, to wrap this up, I've paid all my personal tithing for the year and Daniel and I are working on figuring out if he's paid anything yet so we can get him caught up early, too. I'm feeling really good about everything right now. The application is due Monday and I have almost everything I need. I'm not saying that I'm going to be approved because I paid my tithing. I'm not even saying that something over the top miraculous is going to happen. But it has been a miracle to be stress free for the first time during my pregnancy. I'm not worried about the insurance or whether or not I'm having a baby at home. I just don't have to think about it anymore because I've paid my tithing, I'm doing the work, and whatever happens is what God wants. That to me is a bigger miracle then getting approved for Medicaid a couple months before the baby is due.

Well, this isn't something that is super interesting to read but I feel like it's a huge event in my life right now and I should keep an account before I forget it. :)

Hormones!

Holy Cow! Do women actually feel this way when they are pregnant? Am I behaving normal? The last 4 days, especially evenings, I have turned into an emotional wreck. I don't even feel like the same person. Everything is turning into Daniel's fault. If he wants to become intimate then he's being insensitive. If he makes a comment about my dirty dish then he's being a jerk. If he verbally admires an attractive model then he doesn't love me. If he does something I'd rather he didn't do then he doesn't respect me. And all I can do is cry, cry, CRY about it!

I never went through anything like this with Kailyn (although Danny did say I was this way after I had Kailyn, but to a much lesser extent). It's so frustrating! I love this baby and cannot wait to get him here, but I don't know if I can deal with myself, my sweet husband, and our darling daughter for another 2 months if I'm going to be THIS nuts. Well, this is more of a venting session than an update, but that's what's going on in my life right now. I've got about 8 more weeks to go and I cannot wait!

Not much going on

My cousin, Heather, came and stayed with us for a couple days last week. But it wasn't all play. In fact, most of it was hard work...frustrating work. Heather and I have been brainstorming for a while now about what she should do for her 1 year anniversary. We finally made a decision and planned out what we needed to do to get it ready. Anyways, it was a lot of work but we're almost finished. Sorry, but I can't share what it is. I will leave that to Heather should she wish to share. All I have to say is I know for a fact that Brock will love it. It is the perfect gift for Heather to give and for Brock to receive.

She left on a Thursday morning and Daniel and I headed up to Reno that night after work. Danny, the trooper, stayed awake the entire 7 hour drive...while I slept for 3-4 hours. It was really difficult for him to stay awake once I had dozed off. But we made it safely. Good job, babe.

The next day Danny and his brother, Joe started their day with a workout while I went to Wal-Mart to get milk (Joe's wife, Shaela, had to work at her new job). After we were all ready we went and did a tour of UNR's new medical facility for the students (Joe's a pre-med student). It was really impressive. It was all new and was decorated with clean, modern lines and colors. The worst part about the whole experience were all the mannequins they have in their simulation rooms. Kailyn is not a fan of statues, mannequins, or anything that looks lifelike. Even the cut up brains and stuff didn't bug me. After a quick tour of the school, lunch at a diner, and a few errands we went out to dinner (with Shae) at a mexican restaurant. It was starting to get stormy outside so the lights flickered for a while in the restaurant...haha. That was interesting. When we got home we saw a couple places where lightning had struck the ground. We drove out to get a better look and there were literally cars lined up and down both sides of the street to watch the fire. It was nuts! Thankfully it wasn't to close to the condo.

The next day we headed to Lake Tahoe after some shopping for the girls and working out for the boys...HOLY HUGE LAKE!!! And blue! It was just like the beach except the water seemed colder and ducks and geese were waddling everywhere. Kailyn has never been around that large a body of water. And she took to it like a fish! She kept insisting someone take her to the water. She didn't even mind the freezing waves that hit up to her chest. The day started out overcast with mild breezes but eventually it got to be too sunny and hot for Kailyn and I too sit their and bake our bodies.

We ate at a casino (I can't remember the name of) buffet which was really, REALLY good. They didn't have a huge selection but what they had was really good stuff. Of course, Kailyn only at rice...typical Asian :)

That night we walked the "strip" in Reno and saw the river that ran through it. We came across this guy who was just jamming away on the guitar in a little park. He didn't even have his guitar case open for money or acknowledge people who passed by. He was in the zone and was not coming out anytime soon. He seriously had to be one of the best musicians I've heard in a long time.

The next morning we went to breakfast with a couple new friends of Joe and Shae's. We got an AMAZING breakfast! I got a short stack which is basically 2 super fluffy pancakes 12 inches round. So glad I decided on that because I almost go the full stack. After breakfast we headed home. And the weather was NUTS! It was windy the whole way home and raining for the larger half of it. The roads out to Reno are in no way prepared for flash flooding and are 2 lanes. We hit a rough patch where the roads were flooded and almost hit one at full speed but the semi truck coming the opposite direction flashed his high beams at us which gave Daniel enough warning to slow down to about 60 MPH. We definitely hydroplaned. It honestly sounded like we had run over hundreds of rocks. There cars behind us were far enough back that no one would have even come close to hitting us, but I sure hope they were close enough that they saw us slow down because they were all traveling within close proximity of each other.

And, after passing a ghost town and a couple of whore houses, we made it back to Vegas. Whew! It was an crazy, fun trip but I'm definitely glad to be home and takin' easy in the hot, Vegas weather. So, that's what's been happening here.

*About 3 more months on my pregnancy to go and then Jet will be here :)

The little white arrow on the screen

So this is a few days late and I'm sure all my relatives know this by now but I'm pregnant with a boy! He is due the second week in November and will be named Joseph Jet Wray. We will be calling him by his middle name since his Uncle's name is Joseph (although I have always been opposed to calling your child by their middle name). We are all REALLY excited about having a boy for several reasons...which are:

1. It'll be nice knowing that no matter what happens we will have one boy and one girl.

2. Joseph is a family name that came attached to a blessing from the prophet Joseph Smith as long as 1 child in each generation was named Joseph. Daniel was given the rights to use that name by his own brother, Joseph.

3. Kailyn was the first child in her generation to have the last name Wray but now we will have a boy who can carry on the family name.

4. On the Shunn side of the family there are currently 9 grandchildren: 3 boys and 6 girls. All the boys belong to my sister, Karena, as well as one girl. We've all been wondering who was going to relieve my sister from her duty of bearing sons. Well, I'm happy to say that I was able to break the chain. I was determined to be the one to do it and lo and behold! it was me after all.

5. On the Wray side of the family Kailyn is the first grandchild. Now Daniel's parents will have a granddaughter and a grandson to spoil.

6. I've been nervous about this for some time. I knew that if I had 2 girls in a row that I would be totally lost if we ever had a boy. I would get stuck in a girly rut and never want to have a boy. Now I'll be able to have a boy, go through the motions, and it will help me feel prepared for whatever comes next. Especially since I've always had a harder time with boys.

7. Once when Kailyn was "playing" with the baby (rubbing my tummy, saying hi, giving it hugs and kisses, etc) I had a quick image, almost like a memory, of Kailyn holding a baby boy, talking to him, and giving him kisses. I tried really hard to get the image out of my head so that I would be open to the possibility of a girl but I ended up saying "he" whenever referring to the baby without even realizing it. I'm glad that I had that impression and that feminine intuition (or revelation) really do work.

8. I am SO excited for Danny to have a son. He is so amazing with Kailyn. They are best buds. He has patience with her when all mine is spent. He can just reach her in a way I can't. Those 2 are the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. And now that he has a son on the way I know he is going to be the same amazing dad with a twist because it'll be "his boy". Father and son. It's going to be great to watch the differences.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited. I could think of a million more little things to say. "I know he's going to be handsome" and "I can buy cute boy clothes". But the all around best thing about us having a boy is that it will be a whole new adventure. I'm nervous and excited about a getting to know this little boy. To find out what makes him happy and what makes him sad. How long will it take him to walk? When will he start smiling? I'm just so grateful that our little boy is coming to join our family and make it a little closer to being complete.

Wow...

It's been a long time. I am so bad at this...but my excuse is that my computer was infected with 20 different viruses so I was out a computer for a few months until we decided it was time to get it fixed. So, I'm back :)



Here are some things that have happened since Kailyn's birthday (sorry, no pix):

Got pregnant right after Christmas

Danny got a job at Papa John's to work around his school schedule

Had a miscarriage in February

Took a pregnancy test 4 weeks after miscarriage: POSITIVE

Danny and I were sealed to Kailyn on March 26, 2011

Danny had surgery on right foot to correct extremely flat feet at the end of April

Kailyn stayed in Utah while Danny and I went to New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York at the beginning on June

Had an ultrasound on June 19 and found out the baby is due November 5, 2011

Danny had surgery on his left foot June 21

I finally updated my blog on June 23



As far as things to come it's mostly just that my brother, Craig, is getting married next weekend to Breanna. I'll be going up to Utah with Kailyn for the wedding and we'll be leaving Daddy at home to recover.

Well, I hope I can be better at this blogging. It's lots of fun when I keep up on it and it's a huge pain when I don't do it for a long time. We'll see :)