8 years!

Yesterday we celebrated eight years together. I love this man and all he does for our little family. I can't imagine my life without him. He is the best father to our boys. I love you D-VO!

Random Zander fact...

Zander has never once gone to the bathroom on us...all moms should have a baby like him! His the best!

Did I mention?

That COHEN is no longer a binki baby? We pulled the plug about three weeks ago and he hasn't had one since!

Zander Update!

Zander had his two month check and his three week follow up with his surgeon, Dr. Scaife. All of his surgical tape is off and only one stitch is still inside (it will dissolve soon). He has made a full recovery!

Here are his stats:

length 22 inches

weight 11 lbs 7 oz.

head circ. 40.1 cm

all just above 50% except for his head...75%

Zander loves:

to be held (mom loves this too)

to take a bath (as long as his body is covered)

he loves to kick his legs

he loves his brother

Zander hates:

being cold

getting his diaper changed

Kendahl

Of course I am way behind in blogging and in life...but I am taking a break to edit a few of these pictures I took of my beautiful nieces.

We were rushed but got a few good ones...this is one of my favs.

Our miracle (this will be a long one)

Our Tuesday started off like any other day. Zander wanted his first morning bottle around 8 am. After his bottle I dressed him for the day and started getting ready to go shopping with my best friend Jess who was in town for the week. A few minutes later Zander threw up, it was bad enough that I decided to give him a bath and redress him. Once dressed I continued to get ready when he threw up a second time. This was defiantly out of the norm and I started thinking that maybe his tummy was having a hard time with a sample formula (Similac Sensitive stomach) I had decided to try the night before. I decided to change back to the normal formula and called a nurse to see if he needed to be seen for the flu...with no fever I wasn't too concerned. I also called my babysitter and told her not to come today because I didn't want to leave Zander if he was sick. I wasn't too concerned until I saw the color start to drain from his face...it was subtle at first until the third time he threw up and it was the throw up was yellow. I knew something wasn't right when no one could comfort him...Zander really only cries when he hungry and getting his diaper changed. The look in his eyes was pure terror, it was if he was pleading for us to help him. I asked Dustin to give him a blessing before he left for work...it was now after 11. I wasn't in the room when he blessed him but as I passed Dustin on the stairs I glanced down at Zander and his arms were hanging down at his sides and his eyes were glazed over. He was white as a ghost and we knew it was time to rush him into the Emergency room. I called to see if the doctors office could get him in sooner than 2:30 but they couldn't. I asked the nurse if she thought we should go to the ER and she said she couldn't decide for me.

At the ER we breifly told the nurse at the desk what was happening she too said it was our call. Dustin and I took a second to decide whether or not we should stay...it was now just around 12:00. We were admitted and patiently waited to be seen. The nurse came in to our room and did some basic checking. She said things looked normal except his blood pressure was high (about twenty points and that could be a sign of infection). We waited for the doctor and explained why we thought we needed to be seen. He ordered an I.V. and some blood work. He asked us tons of questions one of which was..."Has he had any blood in his diapers"? I breathed a sigh of relief (because the answer was no) and he asked me if we could try to feed him. I pulled out a bottle and watched Zander take a few sips and then loose interest.

He ordered a CT scan of his brain incase he had a seizure. When he left the room 3 nurses tried to give Zander an IV the first three pokes were unsuccessful and Zander was limp and lethargic as they tried. With three failed attempts they called the NICU nurse. She was extremely patient and finally got one...they also needed a blood sample...and instead of bleeding his blood was almost impossible for them to get out. It was like he was drained dry.

The doctor decided to order a CT of his stomach. We walked over and he was filled with a dye that was ex-rayed as it traveled through his stomach. While we waited for the results the nurse came in and gave us some great news that some of the results came back normal. I was starting to think we would be going home soon until I looked down at his diaper. It was dark and when we opened it, it was blood red. We called the nurse over and she went and told the doctor who was overwhelmed with ER patients. He came right in and told us that the CT had confirmed his worst fear.

MALROTATION! Malrotation is when the large and small intestin start to twist and turn on each other. This cuts of blood flow and the bowel starts to die.

He didn't wait to call our pediatrician he called for the Life Flight Helicopter. It all happened very fast from that moment.

Our brother and sister in law came into the room while I was whispering to Zander to stay strong and that we would meet him as soon as we could. Zander was given a blessing as the helicopter landed. The pediatric team from Children's Primary Hospital rushed into the room, changed his nose tube, and strapped him to the gurney. As we ran to the helicopter pad they took down Dustin's cell and told me there was no longer room for me in the Helicopter. He was loaded by the medical team as we kissed him good bye. This would be the last time we would see him until the recovery room.

After the helicopter took off we drove home and packed our bags. We are so lucky that my best was there to take care of Cohen. She took over and kept us together. We left as soon as week could but we knew we wouldn't make it before the surgery.

When we arrived at the hospital he was already 15 minutes into surgery. As we prayed and cried in the waiting room we got a call from the anesthesiologist saying they went in without our approval because Dustin's cell phone number was written down wrong. He told us that they had made it in time and there was now bowel death...they also had removed his appendix. He told us it would be another hour and that the Head surgeon Dr. Scaife would come and speak with us once they were done. My aunt and Uncle came and sat with us while we waited.

Dr. Scaife and one of his residents walked calmly into the room and told us that they had finished the surgery and it was successful. It was when he began to explain Malrotation that I realized the gravity of the situation. This was a congenital problem (present at birth) and it was only a matter of time before the bowel began to twist. He explained that Zander's bowels did not twist and turn like Heavenly father designed...his were unorganized which allowed them to twist like a wet towel. He said we only had a 4-6 hour window where this problem changes from something they can fix to fatal. Dr. Scaife said there was a baby upstairs that had not been seen in time. He said Zander was very lucky and should make a full recovery.

His nurses were amazing and each day Zander was in the IMSU he improved. His color started to come back and tubes were slowly removed. On Saturday Dr. Scaife said most babies that have the LADDS procedure done don't do as good as Zander. We were expecting to be there until Tuesday...instead we are home today.

We cannot thank Zander's Doctors and nurses enough. We know that Zander is one of the lucky ones. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives. He is our miracle baby.

Thank you for all your prayers in our behalf...we could not have made it without all your support!

Zander's Blessing day!

Our baby Zander was blessed by his father on Sunday, November 7th. It was a very sweet day for our family. So many close friends and family traveled to share it with us...we are so lucky. Zander's cousin Emery was blessed too...we are blessed to have these sweet babies in our lives.

Halloween took a back seat this year...a first and a last I hope. We did manage to fit in a little bit of fun. Our friends had an amazing Halloween party and we took Cohen to our wards "trunk or treat". I hope to get some better pictures of the boys in their costumes...if I do I'll post them!

2 years and 2 weeks

Zander had his 2 week check on the 15th:

weight: 7 lbs 14 ounces

length: 20 1/4 inches

head circ: 36.2 cm

Cohen had his 2 year check on September 17th:

weight 27.8 lbs

height: 33 1/4 inches

Picture Overload!

We just got our family pictures back from Peekaboo Photography....and I am in love!

Zander's Story

Zander came into our family in a much different way than his brother. On Friday night Dustin came home late from an APX award banquet after talking about our days we decided to call it a night. (12:00) I was feeling uncomfortable and a little sick (which was nothing out of the norm) and told Dustin maybe I was in labor and just didn't know it yet.

At 3:00 I woke up to a sharp pain, cringed and shot up in bed...that woke Dustin right up and he asked if I was alright. I told him I must have had a contraction... told him to get some more sleep and I would time the next few just in case. Two contractions later (10 minutes) I felt a pop and my PJ's get wet...My water broke! Dustin jumped out of bed and turned on the light and we confirmed it, I was officially in labor. Since my water never broke on its own with Cohen I didn't know exactly what was next. We started to get ready for the hospital, nothing was packed so we rushed around trying to pull everything together. Dustin "wisely" advised me to call the Doctor. After answering a few standard questions about my general state of being and my previous labor he said, "get to the hospital." I called my good friend and neighbor Iliana to come and stay with Cohen while my cousin could drive down to stay with Co.

We arrived at the Timpanogas Hospital around 4:00 am and admitted in room 104 (the same room my sister in law, Natalie, delivered my niece Emery 9 days before). They checked me and I was dialated to a 6.5! The next few contractions really started to hurt...so in came the epidural. That was a great sight until the doctor told me the epidural was having a hard time catching up to my body (which was dialated to a 9.5 at that point). I about died! However, a few contractions later there was no more pain and it was time to push! This shocked me because with Cohen I had felt the urge to push and this time I didn't my Doctor just told me too. I pushed twice and at 5:18 am Zander was here.

Introducing...

ZANDER JACKSON VOHS

born: October 2, 2010

at: 5:18 am

20 inches long

more details and pictures to follow

Moma Lisa!

My sister in law, Natalie, called this morning to see if I was home. I was...five minutes later she pulled up with this! Natalie always finds the best gifts...this was no exception! I love art history (would love to get a second degree or masters someday) and it is exactly who and what I am at the moment...a Moma Lisa! Thanks Natalie.

Girls night out!

My friend Lindy offered to throw me another amazing "Lindy shower"...but I insisted instead on a girl's night out! We had so much fun eating and talking down at La Jolla Groves in Riverwoods. I love that place! Thanks girls for a much needed fun night before I become a mother of TWO! You were all to generous!

Choo Choo Cohen's Two!

Today our little guy turned two! I can't believe it has been two years already! He has blessed our lives. Cohen loves trains so we waited to give him this train set on his birthday! We also planned on taking him to the state fair tonight...but our little guy is sick. I was sick last year on his special day and now he is sick this year...poor guy!

Two Totally Tubular Two year olds!

This past Saturday we celebrated Cohen and Maddix's second birthday! We met at the Lindon pool for lunch and cake...then stayed and enjoyed the pool one last time before they closed for the summer. We had a blast hanging out with family and friends all day! Thank you to everyone that made it so special for them. They were SPOILED! I can't believe our little guy is almost two!

I need help deciding!

I know some of these are hard to see...but I need help deciding! Baby number two will be photographed by Peekaboo photography just after birth. I wanted to buy two hats for him. These are the two styles Dustin and I like. Here is where I need your help!

The first hat will be in grey and cream...but all cream bill or just the trim?

The second hat...should I match his room (basically the first one) or do a fall color scheme adding green to the hat (since he will be born in October)?

23 months and 30 weeks

Today Cohen is 23 months! Almost 2 I can't believe his birthday is almost here! One month later there will be another Vohs boy in the house! It feels like forever away...but really only 10 more weeks!

Happy Anniversary! (a day early)

Happy anniversary to the best parents and grandparents out there! Thanks for all you do for our family. We love you!

Bear Lake and Park City

We just had a great week of family reunion fun one on Dustin's side and one on my side! It started in Bear Lake on Monday the 18th and ended the following Monday in Layton. Cohen had a week of firsts and seemed to love them all. He went boating, tubing (behind the boat with dad), swimming in a lake, jet skiing, ridding a horse, and going down the alpine slides. We had a great time catching up with both sides and meeting new cousins. Our new addition will be the 112th person on my dad's side of the family! Can't wait to add him to the bunch!

Texas Trip

I have not posted some big events of the summer...this is one. A few weeks ago we traveled with Dustin to Corpus Cristi Texas. Dustin has an office there it was a fun visit because we got to see our good friends the Bakers and my brother Matt. The guys were busy working but we were able to fit in some fun too! Lindy took us to these cool fountains right by the ocean...co loved them. We went to the aquarium, beach, fun restaurants, and of course a little shopping. It was really hot but we had so much fun.