You're looking well

On November 8, 2011 just six days after Noemia was born, my Grandpa Don passed away.  He is and will be greatly missed.  For those of you who knew him you will know that the world has lost an amazing man, and those who didn't I wish you could have.  He was an amazing man, who taught me how to love unconditionally and to accept all those around me.  I am forever grateful for his example to me and for his love.  He has missed my Grandma these last five years and I know he his happy to be with her once more.  I am sure he is up there telling jokes and making everyone's day a little brighter.  As he would say whenever you called him "you're looking well, and stay sober."   You're looking well Grandpa,  and until we meet again, All is well, all is well.  I love you!

Noemia Marie

Noemia Marie Dutra joined our family on November 2, 2011, and has every one of us wrapped around her finger.  She was named after Ze's Grandma who passed away when he was just two. Truthfully she had us wrapped around her finger long before she came, the boys started asking for a sister months before we even decided to have another baby.  She weighed 8lbs 1oz and was 19.5 inches (which for us was short).  My pregnancy with her compared to the boys was relatively easy, the hardest part was that Ze was traveling through the whole pregnancy and was pretty much gone the last three months.

My c-section was scheduled for 7:30 in the morning and we had to be at the hospital two hours early.  Since the hospital was 40 min away we decided to stay the night before in a hotel close by.  The night before we had the boys come down and swim at the hotel then my parents, my cousin Sarah and us went out to dinner.  During dinner I started having contractions, and they lasted through out the night.  I debated all night if we should go early but figured since we were going at the crack of dawn it wouldn't make a difference.  However, I spent all night contracting, and being sick.  It defiantly made any nervousness I had about having a c-section again leave, I just wanted it to be over.

The hospital staff was AMAZING! it was such a great experience.  I was so nervous to get the spinal block, because it was so painful with Gavin, and my nurses were horrible.  This time was totally different.  My anesthesiologist was wonderful.  Everything went great and I hardly felt it.  Unfortunately I was sick during the whole delivery, especially once they gave me the morphine for the pain.  I always have a little regret that I am unable to have normal deliveries and feel there is something missing sometimes.  I think this is because, during the surgery and after my blood pressure keeps dropping so I am not always quite there.  This time was no exception, as soon as they told me she was here and showed her to me, I kind of went out of it.  I remember them saying here she is, and all of the commenting on what a good sized baby she was and how beautiful she was.  Ze went with her to show her to the family and be checked out while they finished stitching me up.

To be honest I don't remember much of the rest of that day. I know that my family came to visit and were there  however I was very out of it the rest of the day.  I had a bad reaction to the morphine and continued to be sick throughout the day. So along, with the pain medication, and then the medication to help with the nausea, and the reaction I get to the anesthesia I was in and out of sleep and.

Ze stayed the night the first night, we were lucky to have been put in a room with two beds, so he had a bed to sleep in.  However, the poor guy was freezing, because I was hot (another side effect) and I had had the room turned down so low.  After the first night, he went and stayed in the hotel, and Noemia stayed in the nursery while she slept.

I was only in the hospital two days, we went home on Friday the 4th, which is Ze's and my Dad's birthday.  I am so grateful for my beautiful daughter.  I am grateful for a loving and supportive husband who not once complained that I chose a doctor who was 40 minutes from our house and who was so supportive and loving during all of this.  Noemia we love you, and you are a joy to have.

Gavin

Gavin turned 5 at the beginning of the month!  It just seems so unreal, that he is this old, and no longer the "baby" of the family.  He is full of personality and so much like his Dad.  He is in his second year of preschool, and has had a great teacher also.  I put him in a different school this year than last year, because this teacher really focuses on having them reading before they are done this year.  When I told Gavin this was why we switched school, he was VERY excited.  His first day of school when he got in the car, I asked him how was school, he said "well, I can't read yet, so not very good."  It took a couple weeks before he understood it wouldn't happen in one day. 

His birthday was on a Sunday this year, (I always hated it when mine were on a Sunday, so after church, everyone came up for dinner.  Once again my aunt and her family were all here, my grandparents, my sister, sister-in-law and of course my parents since we are at their house until we move this month.  Gavin wanted a chocolate cake, with chocolate ice cream so that is what he got.  However, he was worried about what Drake would have and wanted me to make brownies for him, since Drake doesn't like cake.  I think he had a fun birthday.  The only thing missing on both boys birthdays' was their Dad.  Unfortunately Ze was gone for both their birthdays.  On Drake's we were able to Face time on the ipads with him, however on Gavin's he was on a plane and we weren't able to. 

Gavin loves his computer games.  It is amazing how well he is able to maneuver on the computer, thankfully he likes playing games that encourage learning along with a few that don't.   Gavin is able to use his imagination in everything he does.  He doesn't need much to be entertained, and is constantly making up his own games and stories.  His little sister loves him!  From the first days at home, she has responded to him.  Sometimes when she is crying he is the only one who can distract her and get her to stop.  He also loves his big brother, many times his response in asked what he wants to do, or eat, he responds whatever Drake wants.  We love him, and are so grateful for him in our family.  He brings a special joy and light into our family and is always able to make you laugh.  

Drake

*Well, since it has been almost two years since I last updated, I am just going to start from today and go forth.  There is no way I could catch up on the last two years there has been so much.  So two years later here is where we are starting with Drake.*

Drake turned six at the end of last month! I can't believe how fast these last six years went by!  He is in kindergarten this year and loves it.  His teacher Mrs. Kagie is great, and he has made a lot of friends in class.  When I went into volunteer at this class, she told me that she had never seen a class respond to one student quite the way this class had.  She said that he is the leader of his class, and whatever he says to do they all do it.  She is sad to lose him when we move after Christmas, and he his sad to go.

Both boys birthdays were pretty low key this year.  I just wasn't quite up to anything more this year with all we have had going on the last two months since Noemia was born.  On their birthday's I always let them chose what they want to do for the day.  Drake wanted to go to Chik-fil-a for lunch before school, so my mom, aunt, and cousin met us at chik-fil-a for lunch, later my dad felt left out so he let him choose what he wanted for dinner, and he chose Panda Express.  After meeting all the family there, we came back to my parents house and opened gifts and he had brownies and ice cream.

As a joke, my cousin had told him that Justin Bieber was going to come to his party because he was here visiting.  (Drake loves music, and loves his music, but will no longer admit it because his dad has brainwashed him into thinking he is not cool)  So she went and bought a life size cut out of him, and walked it in, you can tell drake is trying not to smile and show he likes it.

Drake is our little protector and responsible big brother.  He LOVES LOVES his new little sister.  He is always checking on her and wanting to help feed her her bottle, give her her bath etc.  It is amazing to see how much he has grown in maturity over the last year.  He is able to make friends with kids all age, I constantly have the eight and nine year old neighbors knocking on my door to see if Drake can come and play.  He is learning to read and is constantly reading words as we drive around or as we read books together.  I am so proud of how much he helps and how much he loves his siblings.  Him and Gavin are still the best of friends and the worst of enemies at times.  He loves BYU football, and watched almost every game with my dad this last year.  He can't wait until next fall when he is old enough to start. 

Okay so my kids are so much fun right now. They are each going through their own phases that drive me crazy but all together I love it. Here are some of the things they have done or said lately:

Drake- Is getting to be so old. He can be such a great helper and big brother when he wants to be. Right now he is very into playing games, for Christmas he got Chutes and Ladders, Sorry and Candy Land. We have to play all three at least twice a day. I try to push for Chutes and Ladders or Go Fish, they go much faster. His latest thing is "Mom, I want to do you a favor...I want you to play a game with me." Is that not the best favor. Or if he doesn't get what he wants or I tell him no, he tells me that I won't be able to go and see his friends, and he won't let me play with him.

A couple of weeks ago we were at Ze's MMA Academy and there were some girls there waiting for their class to start. They were probably around 6 and 8 or 9 maybe. Anyway the one girl was showing Drake her jiu-jitsu moves, and Drake goes and finds Ze and says: "Dad she has moves.." and then to the little girl "I've got moves, I've got the moon walk."

Gavin- Oh what happened to my sweet little easy going boy? Oh he turned three! It is not the terrible twos it is the terrible threes! He has what we like to call nuclear meltdowns. Let me tell you they can last up to 2 hrs, plus! Two weeks ago he had one that lasted 2 hours and 15 min. And he looked like a rabid dog, I am not joking. He gets a crazed look in his eye like he isn't even there,with his crazy curly afro, and then he starts spitting and he was spitting so much it started bubbling and looked foam. Oh and lets not forget screaming that he doesn't like me. Yes, I was so desperate at an hour (we were supposed to be meeting someone) that I tried a cold shower to see if it would shock him out of it. HUGE mistake! So I left him in his room with my mom here, and she said an hour later he just stopped and laughed and said he was happy and was ready to go get Mommy. When she brought him to where we were and I asked him, why he was so upset, (because he started crying when I told him he had to stop hitting the door with his feet and that we were going to go meet his friends to play indoor soccer). His answer: "Because I wanted to be angry, and now I want to be happy." Um, what I am I supposed to say to that?

On a cuter note. We have been practicing our full names, of everyone in my family, and their phone number. It his me that I should probably make sure they know in case of anything. Well Gavin got them all right away. So every once in a while we say them all and practice. Last Sunday my mom was driving home from Church with Gavin and doing the names, and when it came to his he said "Gavin Bola Dutra." Well for those of you who don't know we call him Bola, (ball in Portuguese) we have since he was born, don't know why we just did. Now, he thinks that is his full name. And I am so evil, I don't correct him because I think it is cute.

Update

Wow, life is happening so fast, I swear it was just August and now we are at the end of November! My little boy is going to be 4 on Monday, and it seems like he was a baby yesterday. It has been such a crazy year for us as many of you know...and I have to say I am grateful that this year is almost over. However, as crazy as it was I am grateful for all that has happened and all that we have gone through. It has brought many blessings upon us, and I know that many times our blessings come with the trials.

The holiday season is my favorite time of year. From the day after Halloween until New Years, I am listening to Christmas music, and it is the start of the holiday season. I have loved this time of the year for as long as I can remember, it seems there is just something different during this time. I feel especially grateful this year for all my blessings. So I just wanted to take a moment and express some of the things I am grateful for.

1. I am grateful for my Savior, and his love for me and my family. I am grateful for my testimony and understanding of His atonement, and how that applies to my daily life. I am grateful that he has been there to carry me, and encourage me, comfort and me and my family this past year.

2. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. It is what keeps me grounded and anchored when the rest of the world and even sometimes my own life is in chaos. It is where I can turn for peace and comfort and calm. I am grateful for my testimony in and knowledge that is is the true gospel, and for my understanding of how that applies to me.

3. I am grateful for an amazing husband. Who is patient, loving, understanding and kind, and above all who makes me laugh everyday. He is my best friend and is always there for me, and I am grateful for his being a worthy priesthood holder and such a good example to our boys. I love being married to him, and though some may think our life a little crazy, I wouldn't change a thing. It is so much more fun this way don't you think?

4. MY KIDS. How I love them! They may drive me to the brink of insanity sometimes, but it is all worth it. I wish I could just freeze time for a little bit, and not have them grow up right now. I love this phase of their lives, and especially love seeing them together. They are the best of friends and the greatest of brothers, and I truly hope and pray everyday that this bond they share now never changes. I feel so blessed to have been given these two sweet and crazy little boys to raise. Like most moms, feel though they are the ones I feel sometimes who do the teaching, it is amazing the simple things your children can remind you of, that sometimes you have forgotten.

5. My family, (extended Mom, Dad, brother sister aunts grandparents etc.) I love my family all of them. I truly feel blessed to have such a great family. I have wonderful parents, and grandparents who I am very close with and our always there for me and my kids. I am lucky to have siblings, (and now a new sister with nellie) who are my friends and I enjoy to spend time with and hangout with, and who love my kids. I married into an amazing family and gained two sisters who I love. (If Marilia ever moved back to brasil, I don't know what I would do, I think i would have to sink into a depression) And wonderful in-laws, who treat me as their daughter, and I can always count on. (Teresea please come home soon, we miss you! I MISS YOU). And last but not least my aunts and cousins. Who are truly more like Moms and Sisters. I thought everyone had the type of relationship I have with my aunts, but I have come to realize that they are truly unique. I call my aunts and talk to them often, and seek their advice, and they call me and see how life is. It is great it is like I have 3 other moms I can go to. I love them all and am grateful for all these family members who have supported me and loved me.

Okay well that is a way too long of post, but I just had to express some of the things I am so grateful for. I am going to truly try to get back on the blogging express. I am hoping that our lives will calm down and it will be easier to do.

Yes we are sitll alive.

Okay, well it has been almost three months since I last posted, where did the time go? This is just a quick note to say that yes we are still alive, and yes for those wondering we are still moving to California. Right now we have been living between Utah and California, well mostly the kids and I. Ze has pretty much been there since the end of May. It has been harder than I thought it would not having a house for a while and imposing on relatives. However, I am so grateful to wonderful parents on both our sides for letting us impose on them. Hopefully by the end of this month our lives will have settled down and we will be a little more settled as a family. We have had so much going on these past few months, the best thing being, my little brother was married on July 31! So that will be next post, and I will try to do it soon. Maybe even later today who knows, just for you Ashley there will be pictures.